Articles of the moment
Factsheet – Choices around Vitamin K following birth
Factsheet – Choices around Vitamin K following birth Sophie Rickett Student midwife, University of Nottingham @student_to_midwife (Instagram)...
Factsheet – Breastfeeding medically complex babies and children
Breastfeeding medically complex babies and children Lyndsey Hookway Paediatric Nurse, Health Visitor, IBCLC, Author, PhD researcher exploring the n...
Growth spurts, cluster feeding, what’s it all about?
Growth spurts, cluster feeding, what’s it all about? Lyndsey Hookway Paediatric Nurse, Health Visitor, IBCLC, Author, PhD researcher, Holistic Sl...
How to support your baby to sleep without stress
How to support your baby to sleep without stress Lyndsey Hookway Paediatric Nurse, Health Visitor, IBCLC, Author, PhD researcher, Holistic Sleep Co...
Bonding with your newborn
Bonding with your newborn Hannah Tizard Research Midwife Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Editor-in-Chief The Student Midwife Jou...
Factsheet – Optimal Cord Clamping
Factsheet – Optimal Cord Clamping Hannah Tizard Research Midwife Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Editor-in-Chief The Stude...
Articles
Factsheet – Choices around Vitamin K following birth
Factsheet – Breastfeeding medically complex babies and children
Growth spurts, cluster feeding, what’s it all about?
How to support your baby to sleep without stress
Bonding with your newborn
Factsheet – Optimal Cord Clamping
It’s so important to give yourself a well deserved break to keep the balance, we all know this, but how easy is it? Especially when you’re new to parenting! The wonderful @suzyreading guides you through the fog of tiredness and reminds you why self care should be a top priority 💕
“When we are born a mother we need self-care like never before but it can feel more out of reach than ever. We are pressed for time, space, energy and funds, and guilt can loom large. Many of the things we used to do to nourish ourselves become inaccessible and in the squeeze of parenthood it’s so hard to find the headspace to come up with alternatives. We literally need it spelled out for us and this is where a framework can be so empowering. In this piece we are going to demystify the concept with a simple, practical definition, we’ll examine why we all need self-care, and most importantly, focus on how to make it happen, overcoming the very real barriers mothers face.” - @suzyreading Link in bio to the full article ⬆️
#selfcare #selfcaretips #relaxation #rest #recharge #motherhood #parenthood
📷 @stacieswift
#Repost @the_practising_midwife_journal
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🌸 Normal Birth 🌸
Promoting and facilitating normal childbirth is considered an essential component of the role of the midwife. However with hospital protocols, regulatory bodies and public opinion to consider, the promotion of normal birth can be a difficult subject to navigate.
Over the years, birth has become much more medicalised. However, when asked, lots of women say they would prefer a normal birth. Additionally, lots of maternity services are now working towards a vision of a safe and personalised service which focuses on continuity of carer and physiological birth. But with a healthcare system which is predominantly risk-averse, alongside contention over the use of terms like ‘normal birth’, can midwives balance the desires of women with the policy and guidelines they must adhere to, to safely and sensitively promote normal birth?
In #ThePractisingMidwife Journal we have introduced a brand new series all about advancing practice for normal birth. This fantastic 10 part series seeks to revisit the midwife’s role in supporting physiological birth, providing both a re-cap of A&P information alongside the latest evidence, while offering practice tips throughout. The first article in the series, which is beautifully written by Evony Lynch (@cornwallmidwife) explores the concept of ‘normal’ birth and its contentions.
Evony (@cornwallmidwife) explores:
🌸The growing tide of medicalised birth
🌸The contentions surrounding normal birth
🌸The hopes women have for their birth vs the reality of the care they receive
🌸How we can overcome negative perceptions and enhance the public’s view of the safety inherent in physiological birth
It really is a fantastic read and we’re so excited to share the rest of the series with you! You can read Evony’s article in full in this month’s issue of #ThePractisingMidwife - head to the link in our bio for open access!
📸: @gentleseeddoulas 💗
#All4Maternity #TheStudentMidwife #midwives #midwife #midwifery #studentmidwives #studentmidwife #normalbirth #physiologicalbirth #physiology #birthphysiology
🌟 NEW ARTICLE OUT TODAY 🌟 Monitoring Your Baby’s Movements by Midwife Chelsey Turner. Chelsey’s blog answers some of the most common questions regarding monitoring your baby’s movements and provides you with additional evidence based resources.
‘Feeling your baby move is one of many weird and wonderful experiences you will have in pregnancy. When you start to feel that new tiny human moving around in there, you suddenly realise that your body is no longer just your own. You may love the feeling, or it may take a bit of getting used to. What you feel, and how you feel about it will be completely individual to you but whatever your feelings towards them may be, your baby’s movements and your awareness of them is incredibly important.’ - Chelsey Turner, Midwife
We have a real life story too from Libby, highlighting the importance of monitoring your baby’s movements. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us 🙏🌈❤️👇
“I am currently in my third pregnancy and my experience of fetal movements, and my feelings surrounding them, has been very different with each. My first pregnancy was in 2014. Whilst I was aware of the ‘Count the Kicks’ movement which was active at the time, I didn’t actually count the kicks. I made a mental note of when she was usually still and when she would usually move and found that she would wriggle if I drank something cold which I did semi-regularly but without much thought to checking she was ok.” - Libby
To read the full article and blog, click the link in our bio 🔝
If you would like to write a blog, factsheet or a real life story for All4Birth, we would love to hear from you! Just email info@all4birth.com and we’ll send over some more info 💜
Following on from our post today about skin to skin contact and how your baby feels when you first touch them.... How amazing is it when birth partners, dads , other mums , other dads , parents and family members also get to have their own skin to skin immediately after the birth?
❇️To a newborn skin to skin time is so special, it can regulate their temperature, calm them, encourage bonding and it is so special for the receiver too!!!! Skin to skin can also stimulate digestion and regulate babies heartbeats! So whip off your top and snuggle in. This special time can be shared by both parents and birth partners. ❇️
✅ Skin to skin is part of Unicef UK's Baby Friendly Initiative standards. Recommended to help baby to adjust to life outside of the womb. ✅
And how gorgeous is this picture? Dad meeting his little daughter for the first time.
#All4Maternity #newborn #maternity #midwives #dads #dadswithdaughters #newbornwithdad #phisiologicalbirth #naturalbirth #normalbirth #unicef #babyfriendlystandards
Slippery aren't they when they make that first appearance into the world? So many birthing people share how surprised they were at how slippery their baby(s) were when they first arrived.
What was your babies skin like when they were first born? Did they have lots of vernix on their skin? What can you remember about the colour and feel of that first touch?
🔸Vernix is the white sticky substance that covers the baby to protect and moisturise their delicate skin whilst they are in the womb. It can be left on to absorb naturally over the initial days after birth.🔸
Your baby doesn't need to be washed immediately, although you may choose to do so. Washing their delicate skin with warm water in the first few days and weeks is fine.
#All4Maternity #newborn #maternity #midwives #phisiologicalbirth #naturalbirth #waterbirth
The trusty toilet 🚽 one of the best places to sit in any stage of labour! I cannot count the amount of times a woman I’ve been caring for has popped to the loo and declared baby is coming minutes later!!! Perfect for allowing the pelvis to open and I think psychologically being able to let go and release, as that’s where we naturally do!! The next time you’re doing a number two, practice your deep breathing for birth and really relax your pelvic floor 😉
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It’s the only place I get any peace and quiet anymore!! 🤣🚽
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📷 @willowsagephotography
When we give birth our belief in ourselves is so important. We love this sweet reminder from the incredible poet @rupikaur_ that from day 1 we already have everything we need within us.
What would your birth look like if you fully embraced this idea, this knowing that you are enough, you have everything you need to do this and as a birthing person have the resources of your strength and ability.
At @all4birth we believe in the power, magic and intuition of birthing people. We are also so grateful for all of the Birthworkers who strive everyday to bring choice and dignity to the birthing experience for others.
We belive you have everything you need within you. And just like this beautiful work by @rupikaur_ we want you to remember that it is the world that convinces you that you don't, not your capability.
#All4Maternity
#phisiologicalbirth
#normalbirth
#selfbelief
#womenempowerment
#yesyoucan
@the_holistic_midwife
@the_student_midwife_journal
@the_practising_midwife_journal
#obstetricviolence is never acceptable. The magic of birth and the capacity of women is undermined wherever it occurs.
@whiteribbonalliance
@wra_uk
Within thier #BraveVoicesPodcast are highlighting where and why we are seeing it and how to birth with respect by understanding your rights.
At @all4birth we appluad and support the work that is being done by White Ribbon Alliance to call this out.
#Repost @whiteribbonalliance
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Your right to #RespectfulCare IS NOT optional. Listen in to the #BraveVoicesPodcast to learn about YOUR rights with @GIRE_mx 's Isabel Fulda & find out how you can take action against #obstetricviolence. Now streaming everywhere you listen to #podcasts! Link in bio.
@moonandcheeze is amazing for empowering breastfeeding photos and how beautiful is this one? 🤱🏾🌸🌸👇#Repost @moonandcheeze
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Yep, Im still breastfeeding!
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Yep, the kid is almost one!
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No, I don’t know when we will stop. That is up to her.
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#normalizeblackwomenbreastfeeding
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Thanks for these beautiful Facetime images @delfiseefeld 🌸💕🌸
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#BlackBreastfeedingWeek #BlkBreastfeedingWeek #BBW2020 #BBW #blackmamasmatter #breastfeeding
As it’s ✨🤱🏾 Black Breastfeeding Week 🤱🏽✨ we thought we would share this very informative article from the 4you section, written by the lovely @midwifetiz discussing breast changes during pregnancy 👉🏿 “During pregnancy a woman’s body undergoes rapid changes. As soon as the female egg and the male sperm merge, the body begins to prepare for birth and taking care of the child during the first months of life. Even if the pregnancy is not yet noticeable from the outside, many women feel that their body is changing. This article discusses changes to your breasts during pregnancy and following birth.” - The link to the full article is in our bio! ✨🤱🏾✨
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#breastfeeding #breastfeedingmom #breastfeedingmama #breastfeedingtips #breastfeedingjourney #breastfeedingawareness #blackbreastfeedingweek
#Repost @thelearner_mommie
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The picture says it all.......
Happy Thursday family
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#thelearner_mommie #motherhoodthroughinstagram #parenting #momswithcameras #emmasdiary #motherhoodunplugged #mommasboy #justthetwoofus #mumbloggeruk #mumsnetparents #parenting101 #feelgood #begrateful #love #happy #londonmums #bountyparentingclub #mum #stayhome #motherhood #mumsnet #mummyblogger #picoftheday #mumsofinstagram #channelmumvillage #netmums #londonmum #babycenter
It is Black Breastfeeding Week🤱🏽🤱🏿🤱🏾To celebrate we will be sharing some amazing photography of black breastfeeding mothers ❤️ Brilliant post by @the_practising_midwife_journal 👇🏿
#Repost @the_practising_midwife_journal
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The 25th-31st August is Black Breastfeeding Week! 🤱🏽🤱🏾 An initiative originally founded in the USA, Black Breastfeeding Week is now in its eighth year in America and its third year here in the UK. This year’s theme is Revive, Restore, Reclaim and we want to use our platform to help educate, spread awareness and #amplifymelanatedvoices.
According to 2019 CDC data (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) the USA has a huge racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. Black women in the USA have a significantly lower rate of any breastfeeding when their baby is three months old (58%) compared to white women (72.7%).
Whilst those statistics aren’t mirrored in the UK (research in the British Medical Journal suggests UK Black women are slightly more likely to breastfeed) the UK’s total breastfeeding rate is poor. Black Breastfeeding Week highlights the unique cultural and historical barriers Black women face in an attempt to increase the rate of breastfeeding within the Black community.
@iamksealsallers, the founder of Black Breastfeeding Week, and @121doula who started it in the UK, say the barriers to breastfeeding for Black women include...
🤱🏾 A history of breastfeeding trauma - In times of slavery, Black women were forced to wet nurse slave-owner’s children, often to the detriment of their own children
🤱🏾 A lack of skilled breastfeeding support
🤱🏾 The inequality in mortality rates for Black mothers and babies
🤱🏾 A lack of diversity within the lactation field
We’ll be sharing some amazing photos and stories throughout the week so look out for our posts! If you’re a Black woman and you’d like to share your breastfeeding experience, we’d love to hear from you.
Amazing 📸: @_supersavyshots and @gemmedbyjewellb
#BlackBreastfeedingWeek #BlkBreastfeedingWeek #BBW2020 #BBW #blackmamasmatter #breastfeeding #All4Maternity #ThePractisingMidwife #TheStudentMidwife #All4Birth #midwives #studentmidwive
SKIN TO SKIN • There are so many benefits to having an undisturbed hour of skin to skin after birth. It helps to regulate your baby’s heart rate, breathing and temperature. The bonding process between you and your baby is initiated and promoted and this helps to soothe any stress hormones that maybe floating around. If you are breastfeeding your baby can root around using their senses and latch onto your breast. This exposes them to all of the good bacteria on your skin, to help boost their microbiome. There is a lot of new research in this area and having a healthy gut microbiome is thought to improve digestion, promote vitamin production, regulate our immune system and protect us against other bacteria that cause disease. Partners can also provide skin to skin anytime! So the checks can wait a little while, to help facilitate this special and important time ❤️
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#skintoskin #oxytocin #microbiome #newborn #baby #thegoldenhour #bonding #parenting #love
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📸 @phibrz
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Hello it’s Cheryl @the_holistic_midwife I’m sharing my post here today too because we need to talk more about postpartum psychosis (pp). Pp is a severe form of postnatal mental illness that develops, often out of the blue, in the days and weeks following childbirth. The charity @actiononpp has loads more info on their website and provides invaluable peer support to women and families, click the link in my bio to find out more! Here is one of their helpful IG posts below about recovery after having postpartum psychosis👇🏻👇🏾👇🏿
#Repost @actiononpp ❤️
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The ups and downs of postpartum psychosis
Many women find the first year of recovery is marked by significant ups and downs in mood. It can feel like a real setback if you have been feeling well and gaining confidence, but then have a period of low energy or depressed mood. Try to remember that all Mums of young children have good and bad days. You may also find it worrying if you have periods of sleeplessness and high energy. It is really worth talking to professionals about any concerns you have. In the first year, it can be important to adjust your medication slightly or try different medications to help stabilise your mood.
Tips to help with the ups and downs:
• Try keeping a regular weekly routine of activities for you and baby.
• Set yourself small goals and monitor your progress. Set backs can make you feel like you are back to square one, but it is important to be able to see how far you have come.
• Keep a mood diary to help you see whether there are triggers for low or for energetic times – get to know yourself and what helps to keep you feeling level.
• List activities that make you feel happy or energised and try them when you feel low. Do the same for activities that make you
calm and relaxed and try them when you feel stressed or high.
• Using a mood chart can help you explain your ups and downs to your psychiatrist.
• Don’t feel guilty about asking health professionals to talk through any concerns.
For more hints and tips, read our 'Recovery After Postpartum Psychosis Insider Guide', on our website.
Artwork by @tayneetinsley ❤️
📆 Due Dates, great post from @thelittlebirthcompany who are discussing when babies are likely to make their entrance into the world.
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📆 Did your little ones arrive on a due date or make an early or later appearance?
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Reposted from @thelittlebirthcompany Due date? How about the date that your baby is least likely to be born on 😂
Only 4% of babies will be born ON their due date. 75% will be born AFTER this time.
We are going on a journey! You are in the UK. Your 'due date' is at 40 weeks. Lets take a trip to France - your 'due date' is one week later, at 41 weeks. In other parts of the world, it will be at 42 weeks.
The average time for a first time mum to give birth is 41 weeks and 3 days and for subsequent births, 40 weeks and 6 days. So why is the focus so heavily on this 40 weeks!
There is some truth in the affirmation 'my baby will be born when my baby is ready' - they are NOT going to stay in there for a year. You aren't a zebra, or an elephant, who are pregnant for up to 22 months!
You are considered full term from 37 to 42 weeks - whether they come unassisted, with an induction or caesarean. Your baby will be born, generally by 43 weeks at the very latest. I understand that those last few weeks of pregnancy are exhausting and when you have people asking if the baby is here yet, you just want out! But we are all unique and our bodies and babies are doing important preparation for birth throughout this time.
It is not all for nothing!
Have you told people your due date?
If you have already had your baby, how many weeks were you when you had them?
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#thelittlebirthcompanyfamily #womensupportingwomen #hypnobirthinginstructor #thelbc #hypnobirthing #babyonboard #mumtobe2020 #20weekspregnant #midwifery #studentmidwife #thelittlebirthcompany #newbaby #babyontheway #birth #hospitalbirth #pregnancy
🤰🏽Great post about birth and the way film & TV depicts a woman in birth🤰🏿
Reposted from @birth_ed 'Instructions for Labour' from 1945 vs. Friends 2002
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In the 1940s less than 1% of households had a television.. modern day media has a lot to answer for when it comes to how we all *think* women should give birth..
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Adverts, TV shows, Movies, even if you google 'woman in labour'- every single image is of a woman, in a hospital gown, lying in a bed.
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When I worked on the labour ward, I would go as far to say that every- single- woman- who walked into that birthing room (whether in labour or not)- got straight up on the bed.
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Why? Well, of course she does! 1. Because it's in the middle of the room- there's usually only one chair, and usually TWO people.. So it's the obvious choice and 2. because she's SUPPOSED to! Isn't she? They all do it on the telly? Dont they?
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All people need gowns and hospital beds but Pregnancy and Birth aren't illnesses. The impact that this kind of messaging can have on our subconscious, and therefore our expectations, choices and PHYSIOLOGY can actually impact what our births look like..
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So think now about what you can do to change the way you see birth at every stage- what are you watching on TV? Could you watch something else? Does your instagram feed look like scenes from friends? When you think about giving birth, what does the room look like? Could you move things around? Choose another place of birth? Or simply stand or sit elsewhere? If you DO choose to be on a labour ward, I'm going to set you a challene right NOW! When you get in that room- don't get on the bed straight away. Your auto pilot will send you straight for it- but check in with yourself.. Ask, 'am I tired, do I need a rest?'. If you do, snuggle up, rest away.. If actually, you don't then you won't get 'stuck' there and it could GENUINELY change everything. SUCH a simple tip but the impact could be enormous.
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DON'T BE RACHEL!! BE YOU!! (unless you're called Rachel, in which case be both 🙌 😜)
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Ps 10 points to anyone who spots why the woman 1940s photo is also unlikely to give birth😂 (I cant believe how long it took me to notice 🙈)??
All4Birth are delighted to welcome two new project leads for All4Birth.
Kay King is a Doula and has skills in strategic leadership, she works as a National Coordinator for White Ribbon Alliance and has built an extensive network of national and international maternity sector influencers. Her skills and values complement the philosophy of the website and we are very excited about the international outlook Kay will bring to this role.
Cheryl Samuels is an experienced midwife who has extensive skills in social media. She is passionate about parent education and believes the All4Birth project will help drive change towards a salutogenic model of care, from which women and birthing individuals can thrive.
Reposted from @the_bushey_midwife During times of hot weather like we are experiencing now (hooray!), your breastfed baby doesn’t need any other liquid other than your breastmilk.
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The components of breastmilk match that to your babies needs and the composition changes accordingly. You don’t need to give them water in addition to breastmilk, unless they’re also on solids. The female body is so clever!
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You may find that your baby is particularly thirsty/hungry, wanting to feed more often, and that‘s ok. In the same way that we‘re more thirsty when we‘re hot, the same applies to babies. Don’t withhold feeds because ‘they aren’t due one yet’ - it’s important that they don’t become dehydrated and that you allow them to drink to thirst and have plenty of fluids.
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#breastfeedingtips #breastfedbaby #midwife #midwifery #breastfeedinginhotweather #heatwave #hothothot #baby #newborn #infantfeeding #breastfeeding #thebusheymidwife
Reposted from @epinouk It’s World Breastfeeding Week!
The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is “support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”.
In line with this theme, WHO and UNICEF are calling on governments to protect and promote women’s access to skilled breastfeeding counselling, a critical component of breastfeeding support. While breastfeeding is a natural process, it is not always easy. Mothers need support – both to get started and to sustain breastfeeding.
This is why UNICEF and WHO are calling on governments to:
- INVEST to make skilled breastfeeding counselling available to every woman.
-TRAIN health care workers, including midwives and nurses, to deliver skilled breastfeeding counselling to mothers and families.
-ENSURE that counselling is made available as part of routine health and nutrition services that are easily accessible.
-PARTNER and collaborate with civil society and health professional associations, building strong collaborative systems for provision of appropriate counselling.
-PROTECT health care workers from the influence of the baby food industry.
#epino #epinouk #worldbreastfeedingweek #breastfeedingweek #worldbreastfeedingweek2020
❤ This wonderful post by @common_wild shows some of things that mums all around the world think and feel every day. ❤
Reposted from @common_wild I hope that all mothers can see all the other mothers, and take it upon themselves to create an inclusive experience of motherhood, where we hear each other’s stories, see each other’s faces and magnify each other’s voices. Where we fiercely protect each other and each other’s children. One thing we do all have in common in an unparalleled strength that is underpinned by love.
