My Expert Midwife
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What does 'breech baby' mean, and will a breech baby turn?
Read more →Most babies are born head first - also known as cephalic presentation - but between 3% and 4% of babies will be in the breech position at term (after 37 weeks of pregnancy). If your baby is breech before 36-37 weeks don’t worry, as they often move from one position to another before this time. If your baby is not in a head down position by week 37 they are most likely to be bottom down or breech. Your baby could also be transverse, which is where they are sideways, although this is very rare position. There are three...
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World Breastfeeding Week – your breastfeeding questions answered!
Read more →We’ve been overwhelmed with your responses to our #MumsKnowBreast campaign for World Breastfeeding Week on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks so much to everyone who’s contributed, either by submitting a question or by giving your thoughts and opinions. It’s so lovely to see mums offering their experience and advice to mums to be! There were so many fantastic questions, it was hard to choose which ones to answer, but please find below the top 10 questions answered by our Expert Midwife, Lesley. charleyamyc We’re expecting our first baby in September and planning on breastfeeding. The midwife keeps talking about ‘cluster...
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What to eat during pregnancy? The top foods you need to eat and avoid
Read more →During the first trimester of pregnancy many hormonal changes are taking place, which can affect your appetite. Every woman is different, so you may find your appetite increasing, or you could feel queasy and have little desire to eat anything, or you might have pregnancy cravings, or want to eat foods you disliked prior to becoming pregnant. During the second and third trimester, as your bump grows, you may start to feel uncomfortable eating a big meal, so eating smaller portions more often may work better for you. You need to eat a wide variety of foods in pregnancy so...
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What exercises can I do while pregnant?
Read more →Exercising whilst pregnant is not dangerous to you or your baby. If you are usually fairly active, or already have a certain exercise routine, you should continue as normal, as it is healthy for you and your baby to maintain a good level of fitness throughout your pregnancy. There is evidence to suggest that a more active lifestyle can help towards coping with pregnancy, as it prepares you well for your labour and birth and will assist you to recover quicker in your postnatal period. However, it’s important to be aware that certain sports and activities, for example horse riding,...
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How to stop itching when pregnant
Read more →About a quarter of women will experience itching when pregnant, which can be over all the body or just on the legs or stomach. It will usually resolve itself once your baby has been born, but there are ways to ease itchy skin, as well as leg and feet swelling, cramp or pain caused by pregnancy. When you’re pregnant your body goes through lots of changes to support your growing baby. Increases in hormone levels and blood volume start in the first trimester of your pregnancy, which can produce changes to your skin. During the second and third trimester of...
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Five uses for Spritz for Bits this summer
Read more →With the BBC announcing that this week had the hottest day on record since 1995, we hope our last blog – how to cope with being pregnant in hot weather - is proving useful. At My Expert Midwife, we want to give you all the best tools and tips to ensure your pregnancy is as comfortable as possible, so here are some more useful tips on using our unique Spritz for Bits this summer. This ‘lifesaver in a bottle’ – as its often referred to by our customers – isn’t just for your ‘bits’. Spritz for Bits has multiple uses, especially in...
