bits, boobs, babies and more...
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What is an assisted birth and why would I need one?
Read more →An assisted birth is a vaginal birth where you need a little extra help for your baby to be born. Assisted births mean that forceps or ventouse is used to help your baby travel the last bit down the birth canal. Women don’t plan to have an assisted birth, so it can come as a shock to some women that this was the way their baby was born. This blog will explain why assisted births can happen, what types of assisted births there are, and what you can expect during the recovery process after having one. Why would I need...
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Recovery after a vaginal birth
Read more →4 minute read Allowing yourself time to heal and recover after childbirth is not often talked about in detail. We can sometimes expect to be up and about and resuming normal life just a few days after giving birth, but this can be both physically and mentally detrimental when trying to adjust to life with a newborn family member. Resting is essential to optimise the recovery process, so try to engage any help you can from your partner, family, older children and friends to help out during this period. Soreness around the perineal area (vulva, vagina, anus) after a vaginal birth is extremely common, whether you have a tear and/or any stitches in this area. What is a tear? With first babies some sort of tearing or an episiotomy happens in 9 out of...
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Recovery after a caesarean section birth
Read more →3 minute read When caesarean sections, or C Sections, are necessary they save lives, however, this type of birth is major abdominal surgery and recovery time can vary from one person to another. During your caesarean section operation, the large stomach muscle that has supported your abdomen has been weakened so you’ll need to take extra care when moving about and lifting things. What can I expect during my recovery? Take it easy, your body needs time to mend, so it needs rest and to have plenty of nourishment to do this. Eat healthily and arrange for help with normal...
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How will I know if my baby has a tongue-tie?
Read more →How will I know if my baby has a tongue-tie? 3 minute read Parents have often heard of babies having a tongue-tie and may worry that this is something which might affect their baby at birth or in later life. Up to 10% of babies can have some type of tongue-tie and this blog will help you understand more about what it is and whether you need further help and support. What is tongue-tie? A baby may be diagnosed with a tongue-tie if their frenulum has formed in a way that restricts or changes the movement their tongue has in their mouth. The frenulum is the piece of skin which anchors the tongue to the bottom of...
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Scans - when are they and what do they mean?
Read more →What is a scan? An ultrasound scan (USS) uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of your baby during pregnancy. The soundwaves are produced from a gel covered probe placed onto your abdomen and by moving it around the area where your baby is. The waves that bounce back create a picture of your unborn baby. The sonographer who performs the scan can see the image created of your baby via a screen, which you will also be able to look at too. You will be able to see your baby in detail and the sonographer will be able...
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How do I prepare for breastfeeding?
Read more →There is plenty of information available for women and families surrounding breastfeeding and how to problem solve if difficulties are encountered. However, there is less information surrounding how to prepare better for the reality and practicalities of how breastfeeding can be. We live in a society which has only recently started to accept that breastfeeding in public should be ‘allowed’ and where women can still encounter problems from café/restaurant owners and even strangers regarding breastfeeding their babies in public. Because of this we are not used to seeing breastfeeding as a normal part of life and therefore miss out on the learning opportunities to watch others doing it, before we have our own babies to breastfeed. Women in some western societies such as ours, can often...
