Blog

Here you will find a reviews of the latest research, pregnancy and parenting books, explanations of common pregnancy vocabulary. As well as information and sign-posting to resources for a variety of pregnancy and postnatal issues.

02.11.21

Top tips for introducing siblings

The arrival of a new sibling although wonderful also brings with it a massive change to the family dynamic. For the elder sibling(s) it can lead to inner turmoil. This might present as new behaviours as they to balance their feelings of love and care for their siblings with their feelings of jealousy at the attention the baby is receiving. For many children any attention will do, negative or not.

How can I make the transition easier?

1. Sibling gifts – a present from the baby or if they are a little older a gift from yourselves to congratulate them on becoming a brother/sister
2. Special time – as hectic as life with a newborn can be, try and fit in some 121 time with them, play games with them, check in with them
3. Get them involved – Ask them to pick outfits for the sibling, or a toy for them to play with. During pregnancy, let them choose a gift to give to the babywhen they arrive,
4. Activity bag – You can create a small bag of toys that you bring out when you are feeding baby for older siblings that you can invite them to play with next to you.
5. Visitors – Make sure visitors or callers are aware they should say hello to the elder sibling first, and perhaps a card or gift especially for them
6. Don’t load them with responsibility – Statements such as “You have to look after your little brother/sister now” are too heavy and overwhelming for children of any age. Statements like this can stay with them for a long time and cause them anxiety.
7. Don’t compare them – even statements comparing their behaviour as a newborn such as how ‘easy’ your newest addition compared to the sibling etc. it all builds resentment and damages the elder siblings self-esteem
8. Let them know they are loved, and cannot be replaced, it may be obvious to you, but they need to hear it!

Good luck!

02.11.21

What is induction? Why is labour induced?

If labour doesn’t occur spontaneously (naturally) or it is recommended that you do not wait for spontaneous labour then you may be offered to have your labour induced. Induction is the name given to any method or procedure that aims to trigger labour before it begins spontaneously.

The famous obstetrician Michael Odent has said “any induction natural or medical is asking your baby to come out before he or she is ready”.

Common reasons for induction

• Post ‘term’ pregnancy
• Maternal age
• Pre-labour rupture of membranes
• Foetal growth concerns
• Gestational diabetes. Obstetric cholestasis
• High blood pressure disorders of pregnancy
• Certain medical conditions

Stages of induction

Sweep

This procedure involves a vaginal examination and physical manipulation of the cervix, which is usually carried out by a midwife. If you consent, then the midwife will insert her finger into the cervix and sweep it around in a circular motion. The hope is that stimulating the cervix will trigger labour.

Pessary/Gel

The pessary is similar to a very small tampon and is inserted into the vagina, next to the cervix. Aternatively, the gel is applied directly to the cervix by a midwife. Both contain prostaglandins and hormones which help to ripen (soften and thin) the cervix ready for labour.

Depending on the policy of your trust, if you choose to have your labour induced by pessary you may go home after its insertion until contractions begin. However, you will be invited to return to hospital if this happens as your healthcare professionals may want to montior your labour. You may or may not be able to continue your labour in the birth centre, but usually you will be invited to the labour ward.

If the gel is applied then usually you will be required to stay in hospital to be monitored. All of this is subject to covid-19 restrictions as you may be required to stay for the duration.

Breaking waters (aka artificial rupture of membranes)

If the cervix is slightly dilated a woman may have her waters broken with an amnihook. The release of the amniotic fluid can stimulate labour by encouraging baby to press down onto the cervix.

Hormone drip

A synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin called syntocinon is administered intravenously via cannula to trigger contractions. It is given under strict supervision by your midwife, who will monitor both you and your baby closely.

I’ve been offered induction, what should I do?

Both fortunately and unfortunately, no one can tell you what to do, even if it might seem easier if they would. You need to make a decision that is right for you, taking in to account your unique circumstances, the advice of professionals and your own research,

Things to consider:

• Induced labour can be more painful and more women need an epidural.
• Induction increases the chances of you needing an assisted vaginal delivery such as forceps delivery, or a caesarean. (15 out of 100 women who have their labour induced will need an assisted vaginal delivery, and 22 out of 100 will need a caesarean section)

Whether to accept the invitation for induction is a personal choice, any form of induction requires your consent. You should listen to the medical professionals, but you should not feel encouraged or coerced into making a particular decision.

Do your research!

If you are invited to be induced, the book ‘Inducing Labour: Making Informed Decisions’ by Sara Wickham, is a great starting point. She has written a comprehensive guide for a variety of situations based tht may apply to you. The book has been created by collating various statistical evidence and research.

There are also lots of great resources on the AIMS website.

Be sure to use your B.R.A.I.N

Pregnancy often comes with a dose of brain-fog, making it hard to retain all the ifnromation or make even the simplest of decisions. Suddenly, “What’s for dinner?” make you feel million pound question, and no, you can’t ask the audience!

Luckily though, you can use the B.R.A.I.N tool to help you make an informed decision based on your unique circumstances.

B – What are the benefits?

R – What are the risks?

A – What are the alternatives?

I  – What does your intuition say?

N – What would happen if you did nothing at all?

11.08.21

What are the ‘Golden hours’ and why are they important?

The ‘golden hours’ is the term used to refer to the precious bonding time after birth between parents and their newborns.

Mothers and babies have a physiological need to be together at the moment of birth and during the hours and days that follow. Keeping mothers and babies together is a safe and healthy birth practice. Evidence supports immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin care after vaginal birth and during and after caesarean surgery for all stable mothers and babies, regardless of feeding preference.

What does it involve?

• Bonding with baby uninterrupted
• Skin to skin
• Establishing breastfeeding

Protecting your ‘Golden hours’

• Delay Cord Clamping
• Delay weighing and measuring of baby
• Avoid washing or wiping baby down
• Delay vitamin K injections and/or eye drops

Benefits of undisturbed hours post birth

• Baby-Led Initiation of Breastfeeding
• Body System Regulation
• Promotes Mother-Baby Attachment
• Improves Breastfeeding Success Rates
• Protects Against The Effects of Separation
• Boost Your Baby’s Immunity Naturally

What does the research say?

Compared with newborns who did not have skin-to-skin care, newborns who had skin-to-skin care:

• cried less
• had enhanced cardio-respiratory stability, including oxygen saturation levels
• more stable blood glucose levels
• enhanced thermal regulation.
• Significantly decreased Salivary cortisol levels (a biochemical marker for stress) significantly as the duration of skin-to-skin care increased beyond 60 minutes

Understandably, this is not always possible, but if contact with your baby is delayed you can ask about having uninterrupted skin to skin when you’re reunited with your baby. Fathers and adoptive parents are not excluded from these practices and it should be actively encouraged. You may have heard of ‘Kangaroo care’ which is where skin to skin practices are used to improve neonatal outcomes when a baby is born prematurely.

05.08.2021

What is an estimated due date and why does it matter?

It is the date everyone seems to focus on. How many of us have heard “Congratulations! When are you due?” as one of the first things people say when we announce our pregnancy? And how many of us are also guilty of doing the exact same thing ourselves when talking to other pregnant women? So, what is this magical date that dominates our pregnancy? Technically speaking is the point at which a pregnancy will have lasted for 40 weeks and 0 days. Well, in the UK at least, in France it’s 41 weeks and in Kenya 43.

Estimated due dates – the figures

• 4% – number of babies actually arrive on their EDD.
• 70% – number of babies who arrive within 10 days of their due date
• 8 days – how far FTM ago past their EDD on average

But why does it matter? In the medical world these numbers can seem as if they have a lot of power, for example medical advice you may be given and interventions offered by medical professionals are often determined by our estimated due date. Many hospitals/maternity units have a policy of recommending inducing labour before 42 weeks, however, whether or not you accept an invitation for induction is always a choice.

Where does this date come from?

Now we have looked at a few figures, lets talk about where this date came from? Maybe surprisingly it isn’t something that has been worked out using various experimental studies and modern medicine. In fact, it dates all the way back to Aristotle who died over 2000 years ago. He observed that pregnancies tended to last 10 lunar cycles, or 280 days. Then, a man named Franz Karl Naegele took this observation and developed it further, he said that a pregnancy should last 280 days from the first day of a woman’s last period.

This became known as Naegele’s rule, and this method is still used today. You may remember a circular dial that the midwife used on your booking in appointment which calculated your initial EDD. There are a couple of drawbacks with this method, it assumes that every woman has the average 28 day cycle and that the woman ovulated on day 14. As some of you may know, some women have longer or an irregular cycle, and if you have ever used ovulation strips to track your fertility, you’ll know that ovulation on that special day 14 isn’t always the case.

How accurate is my EDD? Will it change?

Given what I have just said, you won’t be surprised to hear that the initial due date given is often adjusted, usually at our 12 week scan, performed between 11 and 14 weeks, where dating is said to be the most accurate. How many of you had your due date change between your booking in appointment and your scan? However, again, it is not an exact science, and can rely on the experience and expertise of the person doing the measurements.

You may have noticed that these methods for estimating due dates do not take in to account much other additional information. So, things like maternal age, height weight and the gestation both parents were born at themselves can all influence when baby might decide to make an appearance. As humans, variation is in our nature and our babies don’t understand the concept of being “on-time”.

Dealing with being ‘overdue’

When we focus on a specific date and build it up, we can often feel disappointment when that date comes and goes. Often, this is not helped by the barrage of texts you are likely to receive as soon as we hit week 40, the “Any twinges yet?” texts, and the “Ooo it will be any day now, I’m sure”, from well meaning friends and family.

My advice is to focus on a window rather than a specific date, but also to accept that he or she will arrive when they are good and ready. It is beyond our control, but, we can control how we respond and react if our due date does come and go. So, what could you do if that happens to you? Maybe celebrate? Go out for a meal together and enjoy time as a couple. Relax, maybe have a nap, get the rest in while you can, do anything that gets your oxytocin flowing, maybe a massage, your favourite meal, have sex maybe. Space. Give yourself space, set your phone to do not disturb.