My Expert Midwife
-
16-20 weeks pregnant – the development of your growing baby bump
Read more →You are now well into the second trimester of pregnancy. It is at this point that most women experience feeling more energised and want to be more active. Your baby bump will probably be starting to be visible to others and you may have started announcing your exciting news to a wider circle of family and friends. Week 16 Your baby is about 11cms long, is the size of a pear and moving around a lot, so you may start to feel fluttering sensations. Your breasts are preparing for feeding your baby, so they may be feeling larger and...
-
What is VBAC?
Read more →VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean section) is when a woman has a baby vaginally after previously having an emergency or elective (planned) caesarean section. Provided there are no other medical complications with you or your baby, it is much safer to plan for a vaginal birth even if you have had more than one c-section previously. Caesarean sections carry a higher risk of increased blood loss and infection rates than vaginal births, as well as increasing the chances of having problems with your placenta in any future pregnancies. For some women, a desire to give birth vaginally is very strong...
-
12-16 weeks pregnant – bonding with your growing baby
Read more →Congratulations, you have now entered the second trimester of your pregnancy! Women often describe this trimester as a time when they feel more invigorated and energised, as any tiredness, morning sickness and nausea in pregnancy they may be experiencing usually starts to subside. Here is an update on your baby’s development, and a checklist of things to think about and do during this time: Week 12 Your baby is fully formed. All their body parts, internal organs and structures are in place, and your baby now just needs to grow. You will probably have had your dating scan to...
-
How will I know if I am in labour?
Read more →Towards the end of your pregnancy your body will be making many subtle changes to prepare you to birth your baby. You may or may not notice all of these changes, as every woman is different, and every labour and birth can be different too. During your pregnancy your cervix is long, thick and firm, securing the entrance to your uterus to protect your baby. Leading up to and during labour the cervix begins to soften and thin down in preparation to open and birth your baby. Whilst your body is preparing you for the birth with hormonal changes, you...
-
Reflecting on our first Baby Show!
Read more →Last week, the My Expert Midwife team travelled to the capital for our exhibition debut - The Baby Show at Olympia in London! MEM OLYMPIA from Awakening Media on Vimeo. Celebrating our first birthday at the Show, we were joined by a whole host of celebrities, including our newly appointed brand ambassador, Georgia Jones. Georgia helped us officially mark our first year in business by talking to the media about her experiences of birth and motherhood, but also her thoughts on our product range. #Letsbehonest, she loves them – especially our Spritz for Bits and No Harm Nipple Balm which...
-
8-12 weeks pregnant – the forming of your foetus
Read more →You are still in the 1st trimester of your pregnancy but your baby is transforming rapidly. Once you have reached 11 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is no longer referred to medically as an 'embryo' and the term 'foetus' is used from now until birth. Week 8 Your baby is developing webbed hands and feet. They are making movements, but you won’t be able to feel these yet, as your baby is about the size of a kidney bean. If you haven’t confirmed your pregnancy by booking with a midwife, you may want to do so. This will enable...
