Birth is unique and dynamic, working alongside your midwife you will be planning and preparing for many months towards an ideal birth. Sometimes things can and do change which may mean that you as the mother cannot hold your baby for the first time; this may be in the event of a CS for example. If for any reason you cannot hold your baby for a while, skin to skin can start between baby and your partner –Baby will Settle to the rhythm of his/her breathing and his/her heart beating, it is a voice that baby will recognise immediately and can go a long way to start the instinctual process until you are ready to take over.
About half of “mums-to-be” experience feeling nauseous, particularly in the mornings. This is due to three main reasons:
- Hormonal changes
- Low blood sugar
- Sensitivity to environmental factors
The alternative approach to pain management includes a wide variety of techniques that address not only the physical sensations of pain, but also attempt to prevent you suffering by enhancing the emotional and spiritual aspects of your care. In this approach, pain is seen as normal but is separated from suffering and made acceptable.
I believe that women are wonderfully designed to give birth so when they are supported by midwives with whom they have developed a relationship of trust then amazing births will happen. My philosophy of trust in the physiology of birth differs from the Medical model of child birth that proliferates in our health care system. The medical model believes that birth is only normal in retrospect and is fraught with potential problems that need fixing at any moment! This form of care appears to disempower women and leads to the use of phrases such as “I was not allowed” or “I had to have and induction” evidence that the women did not have any choice in the matter.
I have been an Independent midwife for 8 years and have noticed that there are many things I view as essentials to my home birth kit that were absent when I was a community Midwife for the NHS. I am not talking about the standard equipment sonic aid, sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, thermometer, sterile gloves, etc.
No these are the idiosyncratic things that have made women’s birth and my life far better over the years!
I have been invited as a guest blogger by UK Birth Centres Ltd to speak about the importance of a home birth for both you and your baby. I have been an Independent midwife for 8 years and an NHS midwife for 20 years before that and it has been a privilege to work with women who are very sure of how they want to give birth.
A fifth of NHS spending goes towards insurance cover for clinical negligence, according to a report conducted by the National Audit Office.
The number of births in England has risen by almost a quarter in the last ten years, with the National Audit Office declaring that maternity services on the NHS were generally good, but there is still room for improvement.
A recent report in The Telegraph has revealed that half of UK women are not getting the birth care they want.
The findings, announced at the inaugural Birthright’s Dignity in Childbirth Conference in London last week concluded that British women are not receiving a dignified birth.
Mumsnet conducted a survey on 1100 women and found that only 50% of women in the UK are receiving their ideal birth care. A further 26% were not able to choose where to give birth and 24% didn’t consent to intimate procedures such as forceps delivery, vaginal examination or cervical sweeps.
Relaxing 5-star retreat for mums-to-be!
UK Birth Centres are holding a relaxing 2 day getaway to ensure you are totally relaxed and prepared for a positive birth experience.
The retreat, to be held at a five-star Hotel in Cheshire, is the perfect place to get away from it all and meet new people. Our experienced midwives will give you full 24 hour support and ensure you get the most positive experience possible throughout your pregnancy.