What to Expect from Your LMC: Your Guide to Support During Pregnancy and Birth
Your Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) is your primary support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the first six weeks postpartum. From your first pregnancy assessment to postnatal visits, your LMC provides personalized care, including regular check-ups, guidance on childbirth preparation, and newborn care. Learn what to expect from your LMC, from initial assessments and ongoing health monitoring to labour support and postnatal care, ensuring a smooth journey for both you and your baby.
Optimizing Baby's Position: Tips for Easier Labour and Birth
Understanding your baby’s position during pregnancy is key to making labour and birth easier. This guide explores the different fetal positions, how they affect labour, and tips to encourage optimal positioning for a smoother, more comfortable delivery. Learn how to support your baby's ideal position for a better birth experience.
Cravings, Pica, and Aversions: Understanding What They Mean for Your Pregnancy
Cravings, pica, and aversions are common experiences during pregnancy, but what do they really mean for your health and your baby? In this blog, we explore these unusual pregnancy symptoms, their potential causes, and whether they are good or bad for you. Learn how to manage cravings and aversions while understanding the signs of pica, and gain insight into maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Celebrating Fatherhood: Rituals and Traditions for New Dads
Discover the rich traditions and modern rituals that celebrate new dads, from wetting the baby's head to Dadchelor parties and thoughtful support presents. Explore ways to honour fatherhood and create lasting memories as you welcome your little one into the world
Everything You Need to Know About Epidurals: Benefits, Procedure, and Considerations
Discover everything you need to know about epidurals during labour, including their benefits, the procedure, and what to expect. Learn how epidurals can provide effective pain relief and support your birthing experience.
Water Births - a Link with our Aquatic Past
Discover the potential disadvantages of water births, including challenges with pain relief, infection risks, and emergency care. Learn about safety considerations, monitoring limitations, and suitability for high-risk pregnancies to make an informed choice about your birthing options.
Understanding Nitrous Oxide: A Pain Relief Option for Labour
Explore the benefits and considerations of using nitrous oxide during labour. Learn how this safe and effective pain relief option can help you stay calm, in control, and comfortable as you welcome your baby.
Creating a Safe Birth Space: Tips for a Comfortable Birth Experience
Creating a safe birth space is essential for a positive and empowering birth experience. By carefully considering your environment, support team, and personal preferences, you can foster a space that promotes comfort, relaxation, and confidence. In this blog, we'll explore practical tips for setting up a safe birth space, from lighting and music to emotional support and communication, ensuring you feel in control and supported throughout your labour.
Baby Showers: Celebrating New Beginnings and Building Connections
Baby showers are more than just a celebration of a new arrival – they’re a chance to bring family and friends together, creating lasting memories and strengthening bonds. Whether it's the joy of gift-giving, the excitement of sharing advice, or the fun of games, baby showers offer a unique way to unite loved ones in support of the expecting parents. Learn how this beautiful tradition can deepen connections and build a strong support network for the journey ahead.
Understanding Antenatal Anxiety: How to Manage Worries During Pregnancy
Antenatal anxiety is common and can affect up to 1 in 10 pregnant women, often causing worry, panic attacks, and physical symptoms. While stress is normal during pregnancy, excessive anxiety can impact your well-being and relationship with your baby. Learn about the common causes, signs, and effective treatment options for managing antenatal anxiety, including counseling, support networks, and self-care techniques. Don’t let anxiety define your pregnancy experience – seek help early for a healthier, happier journey into parenthood.
Do You Really Need a Birth Plan? Here's What You Should Know
Wondering if you need a birth plan for your upcoming labour and delivery? Discover the benefits of having a birth plan, how it can help you communicate your preferences with your care team, and how to create one that works for you. Whether you're planning a natural birth or have specific preferences for medical interventions, a birth plan can offer clarity and support during your pregnancy journey.
The Beautiful Journey: Embracing the Physical Transformations of Pregnancy
Discover the incredible transformations your body undergo during pregnancy. From physical changes like a growing belly as you prepare for parenthood, explore how this journey shapes and empowers you every step of the way.
A Letter from Your Newborn
Discover the heartfelt wisdom of a newborn in this touching letter. It's a gentle reminder to embrace patience, love, and understanding as you navigate the early days of parenthood. From feeding on demand to cherishing cuddles and prioritizing self-care, these words offer reassurance and perspective during this precious, yet fleeting, time.
Exploring Your Unborn Baby's Senses: How They Develop in your Uterus
Understanding your baby’s development in utero is crucial because it helps you appreciate the early foundations of their sensory, cognitive, and emotional growth. From the moment of conception, your baby’s brain begins to process stimuli, which influences their future behavior, preferences, and even their ability to bond with you. By knowing how your baby experiences the world while in the womb—whether through sound, touch, or movement—you can make informed choices to support their development.
Epidurals, not just a little prick!
An epidural is one of the most common pain relief options during labour, offering significant relief for many women. It involves the administration of medication into the epidural space of the spine, numbing the lower half of the body. Lets find out more about this procedure.
The Cascade of Interventions: Understanding the Impact on Your Birth Experience
The cascade of interventions refers to the chain of medical procedures that can follow one initial intervention during labour. While some are necessary, each can increase the likelihood of more, potentially changing the birth experience. Understanding this helps parents make informed decisions about their birth plan and know when interventions are truly needed.
Overdue? Offering ideas & Debunking suggestions
If your due date has come and gone, chances are you’re pretty eager to meet your baby. If you take a quick look online you will find a range of suggestions that are rumoured to induce labour! Keep in mind that these methods haven’t been medically proven (although there are several studies) and most of the popular legends are more myth than fact (sorry!).
Is It Safe to Have Sex During Pregnancy?
Sex during pregnancy is generally safe for most women with healthy pregnancies. Your baby is well-protected by the amniotic sac, uterus, and mucus plug. However, your desire for intimacy may fluctuate throughout each trimester due to hormonal changes, fatigue, and physical discomforts. Open communication with your partner and consulting your healthcare provider if complications arise will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Let’s find out more….
How to Involve Your Partner in the Pregnancy Journey: Tips for a Stronger Bond
Pregnancy is an exciting time, and it’s important for both partners to feel connected and involved in the journey. From attending doctor’s appointments to helping with preparations for baby’s arrival, there are plenty of ways to include your partner every step of the way. This article offers simple and fun ideas to help your partner engage, bond with the baby, and support you during this special time. After all, teamwork makes the dream work!
Protecting Yourself and Baby: What You Need to Know About Listeria Infection During Pregnancy
Listeria infection may not be something most people think about, but during pregnancy, it's important to stay informed. This bacteria, often found in certain foods, can pose serious risks to both you and your baby. In this article, we'll cover how to protect yourself from listeria, the foods to avoid, and the signs to watch out for. By staying aware and taking simple precautions, you can help ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your little one.
