Midwife FAQs

When you first decide to TTC our Midwives recommend thinking about your whole lifestyle including diet, exercise, losing weight, quitting smoking, alcohol, caffeine and processed foods. This applies to both you and a male partner as we know sperm health is equally important to a successful conception. Read our series

Based on a 28 day menstrual cycle ovulation typically occurs around 14 days before a period, however this can vary by a couple of days either side. There are kits you can use to track your ovulation but other signs to look out for include changes to your discharge (cervical mucus) and monitor your basal (resting) body temperature as a rise can indicate ovulation. Some women physically experience ovulation pain, which is short-lasting and nothing to worry about.

If you are planning to start a family our Midwives recommend starting to take a pregnancy-specific dietary supplement at least 3 months before TTC. Alongside other lifestyle changes such as losing weight, stopping smoking,ibcreasing exercise, reducing stress, alcohol and caffeine, this will give your body the best chance of a successful conception, however don't worry if you have already started trying or are already pregnant just start taking them as soon as you can.

Unfortunately, there is nothing on earth that will prevent you from developing stretch marks. They are caused as your skin literally stretches more and at a faster rate than it ever has before and tears just below the surface.  Using a nourishing, soothing and hydrating  skincare product such as our Midwife-developed FSE can add elasticity into the skin to reduce the chance of any stretch marks becoming angry and sore, and also helps them to fade quicker following birth.

Congratulations! Our Midwives recommend letting your local NHS Trust know so they can organise a booking appointment with one of their Midwives. This will be a long appointment where your full medical and pregnancy history will be taken. They will offer screening tests such as ultrasound scans and blood tests and will give you lots of information about what to expect. They will also advise you on what foods to avoid and other useful advice about a health and wellbeing throughout your pregnancy. Read our blog You're pregnant what happens next? for more useful information.

The perineum is the area of skin between the anus and the vagina and is at risk of tearing during birth. However, extensive research into reducing severe tears has demonstrated that massaging the perineum with a pregnancy safe oil regularly  from 35 weeks of pregnancy adds elasticity to the area allowing greater stretch during birth and therefore significantly reducing the risk of severe tears. Our Peri Prep Your Bits is a midwife-developed perineal massage oil that along with our Perineal Massage Webinar and How To Guide will support you with this new skill.

Water-birth is a wonderful choice if you enjoy relaxing in the bath or the shower and can be a  fantastic option for anyone hoping for a medication-free birth as water is well-known for it's pain-relieving qualities. Discuss your options for a water-birth with your Midwife, many Trusts across the NHS now have birthing pools on their maternity units, however, they are allocated on a "first come first served" basis due to the very nature of labour and birth. The best thing to do is to let the Midwife on Labour Ward or Birth Centre know you'd like the pool when you are invited ito the unit in labour, this way if it is free they can allocate it you and start to prepare it.

Although you may fear opening your bowels in front of your partner and/or your midwife we want to reassure you that it is a very normal and reassuring sign that things are progressing and often that birth is imminent. As your baby's head descends through the pelvis it puts pressure onto your rectum simulating the muscles to empty your bowels. Not all women will poo in labour but our Midwives want to reassure that if you do your Midwife will very discreetly dispose of it and you may not ever be aware it has happened. And did you know that your baby will actually benefit from coming into contact with some of your poo as it is packed with beneficial bacteria that can actually kickstart their immature immune system, so if you are aware you need to poo in labour just let it happen and don't be afraid.

Pain relief options depend on a number of factors including where you are planning to birth your baby (home, birth centre, labour ward, in water), mode of birth (vaginal or c-section, instrumental), personal preferences, and allergies. But in general think of pain relief options as a ladder of options: paracetamol, codeine, Entonox (gas and air), opioids (pethidine, diamorphine, meptid), spinal block, epidural and general anaesthetic. You can layer these different analgesics to find what works for you meaning that if you have had paracetamol and that doesn't work you can then have codeine, and then try opioid and an epidural - having one doesn't exclude you from trying something else and Entonox can be used safely alongside any of them. You can also try water, massage, hypnobirthing and other non-pharmacological methods you would like and which can be facilitated by the Trust you are booked with.

This is old advice and our Midwives encourage you to have a soak in a warm (not hot bath) whenever you want at least once a day. The warm water will not only keep the area clean it will also help to soothe any soreness or bruising. Add in a handful or two of our Midwife-developed Soak For Bits high grade Epsom Salts with Arnica, Bergamot, Calendula, and Tea Tree to  reduce inflammation, soothe aching muscles. and promote healing.

You need our 100% naturally-derived Nipple Balm developed by our in-house Midwives. It contains just three ingredients (Lanolin, Coconut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil) to provide fast  relief from sore and cracked nipples and protection when breastfeeding.