Understanding Labour Induction: Benefits, Risks, and the Role of the Bishop’s Score
Thinking about labour induction? This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, including why induction may be recommended, the role of the Bishop’s Score, different induction methods like prostaglandin gel, balloon catheter, and misoprostol, as well as the benefits, risks, and how to make an informed decision. Empower yourself with knowledge to navigate your birth journey with confidence!
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.
Signs of Labour
Labour is a natural, beautiful thing – and perhaps a little terrifying too. Understandably, because it’s the great unknown. Even if you’ve been through it before, there’s no guarantee this time will be the same as your previous experience.
Having your baby on their due date is rare: only about 1 in 20 people manage this. Usually, labour starts somewhere between 1 week before your due date and 2 weeks after it. If this is your first baby, the start of labour is normally gradual. It can last hours and stop and start over multiple days.
How Does Labour Process Begin?
Understanding how labour begins is key to preparing for childbirth. The process typically starts with early signs like contractions, changes in vaginal discharge, and the loss of the mucus plug. These signals indicate that your body is preparing for delivery. In this guide, we'll explore how labour starts, what to expect during the early stages, and when to reach out to your healthcare provider. Knowing these signs can help you feel more confident and ready for the big day.
The Golden Hour: Why the First Hour After Birth is So Important
The "Golden Hour" refers to the precious first hour after birth, a crucial time for both you and your newborn. During this time, your baby is alert and ready to bond, making it the perfect moment for skin-to-skin contact and initiating breastfeeding. The benefits are immense, from regulating your baby’s body temperature to promoting healthy brain development. For you, it’s a time to begin forming a deep connection with your little one, setting the stage for a lifetime of love and trust. This sacred hour is not just for baby—it’s an essential bonding experience for both parents to embrace.
How Hormones Work Their Magic During Pregnancy and Labour
Discover the incredible role hormones play in pregnancy and labor! From nurturing your baby's growth to preparing your body for birth, these natural chemical messengers are the ultimate support team. Learn how hormones like oxytocin, relaxin, and endorphins help you through the journey of labour, easing discomfort and guiding your body’s amazing abilities. Find out more…..
1, 2, 3...... Ready for Birth?
There comes a time in every pregnancy after the books have been read, the nursery decorated, the car seat installed and antenatal classes attended and now all that's left to do is wait and oh my goodness, the wait, unfortunately, can feel like such a long time. But even though most women go into labour between 37 and 42 weeks, there's no way to pinpoint exactly when labour will begin, and it's often this not knowing that makes some people very anxious.
What do labour contractions feel like?
A contraction is a tightening of your uterus. The uterine muscle can contract at any time from mid-pregnancy on, and those contractions might feel like nothing at all, or they might be completely overwhelming.
Your uterus is a large muscle, and just like any other muscle in your body, it will flex when it’s stimulated, Hormonal changes can start contractions—but how you experience contractions depends on your pain threshold and what type of contraction you're actually having (yep, there’s more than one kind). In the first stage of labour, your contractions gradually open your cervix. In the second stage of labour, they ease your baby down through your vagina and out. In the third stage of labour, they dislodge your placenta and seal off blood vessels, as your uterus contracts down.
How painful is BIRTH?
Is this really that bad? How painful will it be, and can I handle it? While birth is different for everyone, birth is painful. But the great news, it’s manageable. In fact, nearly half of first-time mums (46 percent) said the pain they experienced with their first was better than they expected,
Does the position of your baby have an impact on your labour? You bet it does!
One of the things you can do to help your labour go well is to line your baby up so that it can take the easiest (optimal) pathway through your pelvis. Ideally, your baby should have it's back on your left and towards the front with feet kicking on your right, this is called an anterior position (or optimal fetal position).
Planning a homebirth?
Wondering if a planned home birth is right for you? guaranteed you have lots of questions such as, is it safe? Will you need a midwife? How do you create a backup plan? Is it messy (not as much as you think), Is it even possible?
What is Vernix Caseosa?
During your pregnancy, vernix plays an essential role, acting as a waterproof barrier to protect your baby’s skin against the amniotic fluid that surrounds them until they are born. Vernix begins to form on your baby at about 20 weeks gestation, partially to prevent your baby’s skin from getting too waterlogged
What’s it like for Dad’s during birth?
Labour is a huge experience for mums of course, but the role of the birth partner – whether that’s the dad, partner, close friend or relative – is often downplayed.
Dads go through their own huge physiological and psychological changes in the birth room, so don’t underestimate the emotional and physical impact of being a birth partner. It is a massive emotional rollercoaster where your feelings can change from excitement to fear, exhaustion to elation in a few seconds.
OK, so mums are obviously doing a lot of work but the role of dads or other birth partners is essential. Supporting a woman in labour is an incredibly exciting and important role. (Plus, research shows that women who have support during childbirth are more likely to have positive outcomes, including shorter labour times and decreased medical intervention). So dads and other birth partners really matter! Yay!
Signs of Labour?
Having your baby on their due date is rare: only about 1 in 20 people manage this. Usually, labour starts somewhere between 1 week before your due date and 2 weeks after it. If this is your first baby, the start of labour is normally gradual. It can last hours and stop and start over multiple days.
Stages of Labour.
There comes a time in every pregnancy after the books have been read, the nursery decorated, the car seat installed and antenatal classes attended and now all that's left to do is wait and oh my goodness, the wait, unfortunately, can feel like such a long time. But even though most women go into labour between 37 and 42 weeks, there's no way to pinpoint exactly when labour will begin, and it's often this not knowing that makes some people very anxious.
Let’s have a look at how labour works.
The Bloody Show
You might’ve heard the term ‘bloody show’ but not actually know what it means. It’s the term used for bleeding at the end of pregnancy.
You might’ve heard the terms ‘bloody show’ and ‘mucus plug’ as though they’re the same thing – but they’re not.
Let’s have a look at what the bloody show is.
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