Lactivist.net sponsors Welcome World have joined together with Relaxed Birth and Parenting to become the Home of professional antenatal training. After a combined accumulation of over 60 years teaching experience they have decided to celebrate this by offering the first of a new era of antenatal teaching. Their teaching will benefit from the experience and knowledge of 3 accomplished UK teachers.
Amanda from Welcome World said:
“One of the things I often hear myself speak of on the antenatal teachers trainings is that birth and postpartum offer the opportunity to make contact with an awareness beyond daily life, not to deny, simply to see beyond. I choose to call it life providing, what do I mean when I say life provides? At the birth of the baby there is an involuntary action taking place, birth has to take place, we may not know in what form but the baby will be born. Just as when a baby is in the womb legs, arms, and toes grow. The mother doesn’t actively think today I am going to assist my child to grow toes today. It simply occurs, life provides. This contact with the fact life provides is there after the baby’s birth colostrum and then milk is in the mother’s breast. Then when the time is right and the baby’s digestive system is ready for more than just milk, teeth appear. Again life provides, the mother need do nothing except simply respond, moment to moment.
Sometimes it can almost be that we have become casual about the fact life provides. We are so busy attending to the details, to the problems. We can miss the blessing. So how do we continue to nurture this contact with life? So we experience more of what is real, more of what is our true nature, more of what is natural? Here is the foundation if you like of where an antenatal teachers training can start from; what is natural what is real what is true? Of course in terms of form this will be unique for each woman but the answer is the same for everyone to come back to our self. What does this mean to come back to myself? We could say this is responsibility; do I want to mould myself into somebody I believe I should be? Or do I want to rest in my natural, true self? Sounds simple but we all recognise it is not always easy. Most of us have so many beliefs that we have to fit in; we have to do what is right, what is sensible, what the experts say, what our peers tell us is best and the other side of the coin of not feeling capable, of not deserving. As a result we have no idea what is natural or true for us or other times we hold firmly to something that is important to us and believe we have to fight for our right to have this. Neither of these formulas in my experience brings us lasting peace.
I believe birth and parenting offer us the opportunity to walk through another door, one which reveals an ease of living that is more aligned with our true nature. How wonderful is this? To be offered the opportunity to question all the stories we have told about our self, the opportunity to meet our child in a way that we would like to be met; with acceptance, with awareness, and with willingness to hear and see them for who they truely are. So whether we experience birthing, breastfeeding and parenting as a walk in the park or the most challenging aspect of our life we have encountered the same opportunity which is to walk through this other door to the nectar of who we are.
The blessing available to antenatal teachers in holding steady that the answers are there in the woman’s heart as to how best to respond to birthing, breastfeeding and parenting is that they are learning this for themselves by being willing to offer this to others. Of course as on all antenatal teachers’ trainings we as the tutors teach modules on physiology of birth and breastfeeding, group dynamics, relationships birth preparation and more; As my personal enthusiasm is sharing my herbal knowledge students explore the use of herbs and the other tutors share their enthusiasms of yoga and active birth. What makes the antenatal training that Welcome World and Relaxed Birth And Parenting have joined together to offer unique is the trust and belief we extend of resting back into parenting in whatever way supports each parent and child.
“I have seen contradictory information about breastfeeding whilst pregnant. Some people seem to imply milk dries up so u have to stop? I’m hoping to bf my lo for a few yrs and hope to b pregnant at the same time…. Any advice? “
Aunty Lactivist is all of us and here are some of the answers to this question that were on the Lactivist facebook page.
If you can help with any ideas, links or your personal experience please leave a comment.
There’s a really good book called “Adventures in Tandem Nursing” Think it really does depend on your body huni. I’m still bfing my 2 yr old and would like to be pregnant at some point this yr. what I have deduced that some toddlers self wean because the taste changes. Some ladies find the change of hormone balances can decrease milk supply, some still have oooodles! Maybe it’s going to be one of them situations where u just see how it goes xxI’m 39wks pg and still feeding my 2.5yo It varies from mama to mama though, some find their milk stops during pg, others (like me) only notice a slight dip in supply. Some also find it painful or uncomfortable to feed, but I have been fine. Some LOs self-wean due to changing taste or supply, others like my LO feed without seeming to notice any difference! It really does vary but can be very possible.I’m out and about so don’t have my peer supporter folder with me which has info on this bit do remember that you can successfully feed throughout pregnancy, the milk might change but it is possible to continue to feed your first!I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant and breastfeeding my 2 yo. I have found it more uncomfortable and, to be honest, was hoping he would self wean now but he is showing no signs of doing so.I tandem fed two children while expecting my third, having continued to feed my first child during the second pregnancy. My first son weaned himself during the third pregnancy at the age of 3 years 10 months, but my daughter carried on right through. It did get a bit painful, but we persevered.I was one of the 30% whose milk disappeared almost overnight at about 20 weeks. My nursing was 23 months.I am pregnant and still nursing my almost 15 month old no problems so far.. just have to eat a lot lol My milk dries up when I am pregnant but my kiddos still nurse through it. Generally speaking even if your milk dries up they will still get colostrum (which starts to appear at about 20 wks). You don’t have to stop just because your milk dries up though well if it really did dry your milk up or was risky I think the human race would have died out. It can change the quality of the milk because more of the nutrients will go to the baby in your womb, but you can eat more healthy food to compensate I think. Some kids self wean because of the change in the taste of the milk when you’re pregnant, but I think they’d only do that if they were ready to self wean anyway. My friend carried on breastfeeding her 2 yr old through most of her pregnancy with no problems. Around 7 months pregnant her daughter stopped asking for feeds and she stopped offering them. (she’s 9 months now so we’re just waiting for the new baby to arrive!)I’m still nursing at 39 wks pg. I think I lost most milk around 19 weeks, but my Ds was happy to dry nurse / comfort nurse and something that meant I heard swallowing (!) came back around 32 weeks I think. The Adventures in Tandem Nursing has helped me massively deal with lots of things around the feelings of nursing aversion and resentment so it is definitely worth reading if you get the chance xI was lucky enough to continue to feed my 2.5 year old right through my recent pregnancy. She was quite happy and only seemed to notice a difference in the milk, two weeks before I gave birth my dd told me “the milks changed mummy”. I experienced some discomfort at times but persevered with it and am now tandem feeding both my daughters. Also found my milk returned within 2 days . I agree it seems to be a personal thing, good luck.For me DS1 self-weaned I think because the taste changed but I believe my supply dried up causing DS2 to self-wean. It really does depend on your body as well as how often you’re feeding LO. I do know a few people who’ve continued through and beyond subsequent pregnancies though, so I know it’s perfectly possible!I got pregnant with no5 whilst bf no4…. She self weaned at almost 14 months tho when I was about 13 weeks, there didn’t seem to be much going on in the milk dept so not sure if it did start drying up maybe? I think you just need to do what your body and your little one tells you. I was hoping to tandem feed but it wasn’t to be!I’ve not read all the replies but I know a lot of them do wean around 20 wk or so. I’m 28wk pg and still feeding my son who will be 3 in July. I have very limited supply now and am unfortunately experiencing breastfeeding aversion:-( its not put him off at all though and he is still interested x x although I know it’s just comfort nowI have nursed through 2 pregnancies. My ds self weaned when I was about 34 weeks as he didn’t like the taste he was just over 2. He did have a few feeds after she was born but wasn’t that interested. L fed throughout Ms pregnancy and am happily tandem feeding her at 2 and 4 months and M who’s 8 months. Good luck.Every mom’s baody is so different. I fed my toddler during the first half of my current pregnancy. I am 35 weeks right now. My supply was fine (pregnqant with #8) it always was OK. My toddler didn’t complain and my health was fine. AS a CLC I see moms all teh time with this question. Start healthy, eat healthy, and everything should be fine. I weaned my toddler because of my personal reasons during this pregnancy. Milk may dry up and come back. Some moms have a lot of nipple sensitivity some none at all. Take it one day at a time…..I nursed my dd all the way through my pregnancy and even when the supply dropped to zero weeks 19-25 (I knew because I couldn’t hear dd swallow anymore) she kept nursing without complaint. The book “Adventures in Tandem Nursing” is well worth a read for excellent factual info and other mum’s experiences. I found nursing through pregnancy very worthwhile. I wish you all the best.I’m 32 weeks and still nursing my 18 mth old. Like anything everyone is different so my advice would be go with the flow. We hit a ‘rough’ patch about 20 weeks where my milk either changed in taste or slowed down. I did find my boy wanted to nurse more which on sensitive nipples I found really hard. Adventures in tandem nursing by Hilary flowers is an excellent book for advice. XI tried to bf my 14month old while pregnant but it didn’t work for me. I still had milk but it seemed to be less than she wanted – she was frustrated and I was exhausted, she would be nursing for 2 or 3 hours at bedtime and still not be satisfied. I agree it depends on your body and your baby. Mine was very dependent on the breast and didn’t really start eating properly until I stopped. There’s nothing to lose by trying though )I got pregnant with number 2 when my eldest was about 16 months old. I did keep breastfeeding her. She ended up self-weaning at about 19-20 months or so. However, she had already started to take cow’s milk before that and I was quite happy for her to gradually drink more and more of that and less breastmilk. Also, she didn’t feed again until her brother was about 6 months old when all of a sudden she asked for “booby juice”. I saw no good reason to refuse so she had some. She has had the odd feed (maybe once every month or 2 ever since and she will be 5 next month. I don’t encourage her. I did not want her to start feeding full time again. I have seen some friends struggle with older toddlers becoming quite obsessed with it again and wanting to feed many times a day and I was a bit scared that would happen. So whenever she asked, I usually offered another drink first or told her she had to wait until I cleaned up the kitchen or something like that. But if she still wanted to, I let her. I didn’t want it to cause jealousy issues. I do not mind occasional feedings. I think it’s quite lovely, really.We finished nursing at around 24 weeks pregnant as he lost interest. Throughout that time i had hyperemesis and was hospitalised for dehydration and not once did my milk dry up. I don’t think ds2 liked the taste change. If he wants to go back to nursing when the baby arrives that’s fine by me as he is only 2 1/2. Though it will be on a only if requested basisMy daughter was 4months when i got pregnant and i stopped bf when she was 7 months. I didnt notice a change in supply and she didnt go off it at all. Think our midwifes suggest stopping 6wks before due but not sure on what grounds. A friend of my aunts continued feeding successfully throughout and beyond pregnancy. I guess it would bring your milk in quicker? In any case i certainly never fully stopped lactating after my little girl stopped feeding.Hilary Flower is the author of Adventures in Tandem Nursing.http://kellymom.com/blog-post/links-nursingpregnant/My daughter was 6 mths wen we fell preg so really really wasn’t keen to give up that early. Dd carried on until I was 8 mth prg, no sore nipples/aversions, and we had a lovely time as she wud feed and talk to bump. She just stopped one day wen we were on holiday, kept offering even after no 2 was born but no interest until dd2 was about 12 mths and since then she’s been on and off, once or twice a week. All snouty, ur body, what makes u n ur family happy n comfortable. Oh and before dd2 came back to the breast, any milk u expressed for the fridge/freezer went to her…. Even tiny amounts proved to be a lovely treat. Far better received than anything else. Good luck with it hon and read the tandem feeding book. If the Lll doesn’t have it at the moment, I’ve got a nct homebirth group copy u’d b welcome to borrow
“Dr. Frederick Leboyer was the first physician to challenge society’s deeply held beliefs about awareness in the newborn. His pioneering works on birthing, including “Birth Without Violence”, have forever revolutionized the course of prenatal care and the way babies are introduced to the world. He also pioneered introducing infant massage to the Western world.”
“Birth without Violence revolutionised the way we perceive the process of birth, urging us to consider birth from the infant’s point of view. Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body?”
This is an interview with Frédérick Leboyerin 2006. He is an amazing man with a vast expanse of knowledge – anyone who says ‘pregnancy is not a sickness’ gets the thumbs up in my book!
To win a copy of Birth without Violence just enter using the fantastic Rafflecopter system!
Karen from www.boobiemilk.co.uk says she can’t move in the house as it is full of beautiful nursing bras, so she is having a great Mother Day special sale -
Use march15 for 15% off your purchase.
Spend £50 or more after deductions and receive a FREE Emma-Jane 361 nursing bra.
Spend £100 or more after deductions and receive a FREE Emma-Jane regular length nursing vest.
The 3rd Love baby Festival will take place on Sunday 29th of Jan at the Paintworks Studio on the Bath Road in Bristol. 10.30 – 4pm
This is a free to visit event and the only baby show with a focus on natural birth and parenting. There will be free workshops throughout the day provided by Relaxed Birth & Parenting, a breastfeeding and chill out area, plenty of interesting stands and great food too.
This is a joint venture with Born and The Love Food team.
If you have a Website, Blog, Facebook account, or are ‘Tweeter’ we’d really appreciate a mention
The anthology will be roughly split into the following subjects:
Pregnancy and Birth
Babymoon
Everyday Life
Extraordinary Times
Remembering Mothers
Thanking Fathers
And any original, thought-provoking artwork, poetry and prose on these topics will be considered.
The aim of the anthology is to harness the creativity of anyone who has been inspired artistically by ‘mothering through breastfeeding’ and to also raise funds for La Leche League Great Britain.
Artwork in any medium will be considered. Poems (of any style) to be no longer than 40 lines, and prose to be around 1500 words. The deadline for submissions is 29th February 2012.
This brilliant idea is from The School of Babywearing™ who are very excited to have had ten colouring pages designed especially for the School of Babywearing by Delia Hubbard, author of Baby Carriers & Slings: A Child’s Colouring Book. The pictures are free to print out for use at Sling Meets or Groups – give them to children everywhere to colour!
‘I really love them because I feel, similar to breastfeeding (although admittedly less important!) that our kids need babywearing to be normalised & for it to be a part of everyday life so having these pictures to colour in is one way for them to feel that it is normal. My 2 year old was really excited & kept asking if it was me in all the pictures !’
A researcher at Swansea University is looking into the use of complimentary therapies during pregnancy and the outcome this has on the birth experience and postnatal period, particularly it’s effect on breastfeeding. They are looking for as many Mums with babies under 6 months old to do an online survey.
If you want to discuss this with the person doing the research, her contact details are Dr Amy Brown, University of Swansea – a.e.brown@swansea.ac.uk
Amy says – ‘The initial findings are really interesting – we have looked mainly at osteopathy and reflexology so far but in the sample we have they appear to be linked to both an easier birth and longer breastfeeding duration.’ - which must be good
COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING by Gabrielle Palmer
New book on nutrition by the author of The Politics of Breastfeeding.
Gabrielle Palmer’s groundbreaking book The Politics of Breastfeeding highlighted the controversies surrounding the aggressive promotion of breastmilk substitutes. She now turns her attention to complementary feeding the first foods that a child eats besides milk.
For most of human existence, children went without industrially processed foods and branded food products. Can we applaud the progress of the way children are fed today? In our unequal world one billion people risk their health through overconsumption while two billion people are hungry. The health problems of both groups start in early childhood.
The power and influence of the food industry has increased dramatically in recent decades. Seductive and often unethical modern marketing methods have led to the promotion of unsuitable, unnecessary and sometimes harmful baby foods. Yet not all industrially processed foods are bad and not all natural foods are good. Both poor and rich children may be inappropriately fed.
What lessons can we learn from history? How do cultural and religious beliefs influence the choice of food? Can government initiatives have any effect? How can we provide good nutrition for all infants? This brief, compassionate and thought-provoking new book will be of interest to anyone who is curious about the world, its children and their nutrition, and will stimulate discussion and debate as part of the campaign to create a world where health for all is a true goal.
Pinter & Martin is an independent book publisher based in London, with distribution throughout the world. We specialise in psychology, pregnancy, birth and parenting, fiction and yoga, and publish authors who challenge the status quo, such as Elliot Aronson, Grantly Dick-Read, Ina May Gaskin, Stanley Milgram, Guillermo O’Joyce, Michel Odent, Gabrielle Palmer, Stuart Sutherland and Frank Zappa. www.pinterandmartin.com
Giving birth is such a special, indescribable time. Those first few exhausted hours gazing into the eyes of your precious, newborn babe are some of the most rewarding a parent ever has. That recovery time on a maternity ward can also be a godsend for a weary mother, especially if she has other children at home.
But one maternity ward in Lancashire is being threatened with closure unless more women give birth there. The trouble is, they’ve made it so difficult to get ‘permission’, that very few do, and those that don’t face anything up to a 37 minute drive to other units.
Chorley is a lovely old market town in central Lancashire and is home to around 33,000 people. Like many areas at present, the hospital is facing budget cutbacks. And though there are many areas that rarefied cash could be clawed back, much of the cuts seem to be coming from maternity services. Already the unit has been reduced to ‘midwives only’ status, which means that only the most straightforward, textbook cases can be booked in there.
But the most alarming change is in the cuts to post-natal provision. Recently Rhona Hartley, Head of Midwifery, said: “I can see no clinical need to extend postnatal care services at Chorley from six hours to even one or two days”. Has she ever given birth herself? Or even attended a birth and watched the first six hours’ aftermath? Sic hours isn’t long enough to recover from a heavy workout, yet alone nine months of stretching and straining and who knows how many hours of contracting and pushing.
Six hours. That’s all our local women will get to recover. To bond with their baby. To establish breastfeeding. Six hours. That’s not even as long as most women labour, and yet they are expected to jump up from their beds and go home.
We think this has to stop, and already a high-profile campaign is under way to Save Chorley Maternity Unit. Led by a soon-to-be mother of ten, Melanie Webster, the Facebook page gathered 400 fans within the space of three days. That clearly speaks volumes about how people feel on this issue. Melanie was told she needed 1,000 signatories before the Trust would even entertain her – wouldn’t it be wonderful if mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers all over the country spoke out against these cuts, and they were bombarded with TEN thousand signatories instead!
New members join the campaign every day and are encouraged to share their own birth stories on the site, whether good, bad or sometimes ugly. It all counts as evidence to present to the NHS Trust, to show why good post-natal care is so essential. It will be particularly enlightening for Rhona Hartley who, it seems, wouldn’t know compassionate post-natal care if its waters burst over her head…
So what can you do about it? Well, first off, we’d love you to join the campaign. “Like” the page, because every fan of the page is a fan of mothers receiving the care and respite they need and deserve. It also says that every new baby deserves the chance to bond with its mother and learn to feed in a safe and stress-free environment. Secondly, tell all your friends. Share the link with other like-minded individuals, and ask them to sign up too. It’s free and takes only seconds to do. It doesn’t matter if you’re not from Chorley – this is about women’s and babies rights everywhere. In fact, so much so, that the Royal College of Nursing has commissioned Stirling University to come up with a plan. This is a national problem, which needs a national voice.
Because if they get away with doing stopping the care in Chorley, we all know that they won’t stop there.
“Dr. Frederick Leboyer was the first physician to challenge society’s deeply held beliefs about awareness in the newborn. His pioneering works on birthing, including “Birth Without Violence”, have forever revolutionized the course of prenatal care and the way babies are introduced to the world. He also pioneered introducing infant massage to the Western world.”
“Birth without Violence revolutionised the way we perceive the process of birth, urging us to consider birth from the infant’s point of view. Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body?”
There is a chance to meet Frédérick Leboyer at the Pinter & Martin home/offices on the 28th May 2011. Mr Leboyer will read from his classic book and answer questions. The reading will be followed by drinks and a light buffet dinner and guest will have the opportunity to get books signed. The admission fee goes towards author’s fees and expenses.
This is an interview with Frédérick Leboyerin 2006. He is an amazing man with a vast expanse of knowledge – anyone who says ‘pregnancy is not a sickness’ gets the thumbs up in my book!
To win a copy of Birth without Violence just comment below with your top tip for a calm birth. Each tip gets you one entry and you can get extra entries for tweeting and sharing on Facebook, blogs and forums – please let me know how many entries you are claiming in your comment.
Comp ends on the 28th May 2011 and is only for people in Europe – sorry!
The winner will be drawn at random and notified by email.
Pregnancy Photography specialise in maternity photography in your own home or in our studio, offering a full service of pregnancy photographs in various styles including traditional portraits, creative, nude and semi-nude, with partners, husbands and children or just simply you.
Pregnancy is a fleeting moment in a woman’s life and we aim to create artistic, beautiful maternity and pregnancy portraits to capture this special time. We offer colour and also black and white pregnancy portraiture.
Based in Bristol, our female maternity photographer Tracy Vincent will put you at ease and ensure you get the pregnancy portrait you want. After all, pregnancy is your unique chance to capture in pictures, the most life changing experience anyone will ever know.
Exciting Changes
After listening to what clients really want and need so close to the birth of their child, here at Pregnancy Photography we are improving our packages offering our clients more choice, flexibility and freedom. We are introducing a brand new package and also introducing view-from-home for all of our packages.
Firstly our “Short and Sweet package” will be overhauled. During those last couple of weeks, time is precious and we understand that it might not be convenient to return to collect images, so we are now giving our clients the opportunity to view from the comfort of their own home on our private, password protected online gallery. When you have looked at your photographs, which will be between 4 and 6 images and made your decision we can pop your photographs in the post and have them delivered to your door. As our affordable option, the appointment is a brief 20 minutes, aiming to gain a minimum of one fantastic head-to-hip portrait and one beautiful close up bump shot. Nice and easy.
Secondly, we are introducing our new “Freedom” package. This is aimed at women who want more choice of images and formats and slightly longer appointment time. “Freedom” is a 40 minute appointment, giving you the chance to wear several different outfits and try out different poses. A 40 minute appointment is nice and relaxed and there is plenty of time to try out your ideas. You will be able to see all of the edited images from your shoot on your own private, password protected gallery, usually around 10 to 12 images. Two 12” x 8” prints are included in the price and the photographs will be sent to you at home. If you wish to have black & white, digital files or enlargements you can choose whatever you like from our price list.
Our “Bespoke” package is still our aspirational package with complete creative flexibility, tailor made to meet your needs.
“Short & Sweet” and “Freedom” packages are available on our “Photo Days” that will take place at various venues around Bristol. See our website, or join our mailing list to be kept up to date of when the next one is happening.
Our Packages
Bespoke
Tailor made for you
With our bespoke package, you have complete control over what you want to achieve with the shoot. The shoot can be in your home or at our studio. It lasts around an hour, with breaks if you need them. The shoot can incorporate different locations, studio and natural lighting. We can take individual portraits or you can be photographed with your partner or children, or just simply you. As part of this package, we can meet or talk beforehand to discuss the creative elements that you wish to incorporate into your personalised shoot.
You have complete choice over which images you wish to buy, how many and the sizes, and includes two 12”x8” colour portraits of your choice.
After the shoot, you will have the chance to view all of your edited images, usually around 25 photographs on your own private, password protected gallery and your prints or additional items will be delivered to you at home.
If you wish to purchase additional prints, digital files, enlargements, mounted photographs, or creative services please see our price list.
Freedom
Good value flexibility
Our Freedom package offers you a 40 minute appointment at one of our “Photo Days”, giving you the chance to wear several different outfits and try out different poses.
You will be able to see all of the edited images, usually around 12 photographs from the shoot on your own private password protected online gallery.
Two 12” x 8” colour prints of your choice are included in the price, but should you wish to purchase additional prints, digital files, enlargements, black & white images or other creative services, please see our price list.
Short and Sweet
Affordable
For our Short & Sweet package, make an appointment for a brief 20 minute shoot at one of our “Photo Days”. Our photographer will aim to photograph a head-to-hip portrait and a close-up bump shot. You will have the opportunity to view 4-6 edited images on your own private, password protected gallery. Your choice of two 12” X 8” colour photographs are included in the price. You are welcome to purchase other images or enlargements, please see our price list for details.
Pregnancy Photography will be offering “Short & Sweet” and “Freedom” packages at “Photo Days” in locations around Bristol on a regular basis. Please look out for our posters and flyers or check this website for news on where the next shoot will be.
Doulas are women specially trained to give emotional and practical support during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period – leading to more satisfying and empowered experiences, and a decrease in interventions, caesarean sections, postnatal depression and an increase in breastfeeding success.
Hi, I’m Sam. I am an experienced mum of four children based in Worthing, West Sussex so cover Worthing Hospital as well as the surrounding areas for home births and postnatal support.
I am a Nurturing Birth trained birth and postnatal doula so I’m happy to offer information and support with pregnancy, birth and the first few months after birth as well. I have experience with home and hospital births, as well as breast and bottle feeding.
Research has shown that having a doula present at a birth:
* Shortens first-time labour by an average of 2 hours
* Decreases the chance of caesarean section by 50%
* Decreases the need for pain medication
* Helps fathers participate with confidence
* Increases success in breast-feeding
(Findings taken from “Mothering the Mother” by Klaus, Kennell & Klaus, 1993)
Take a look around my website and see what other benefits having a doula can offer you.
It is beautifully set out and makes a lovely read.
Thank you so much Claire for letting me show it to people, it was on the original www.lactivist.co.uk site but got lost in upgrades, so I was really pleased when Claire found me on facebook and I could get it back again.
After over a years hard work ‘Just Call Me Daisy; Breastfeeding Mothers’ Stories’ is published. If you would like to purchase a copy please use this link:
Brief Description
A collection of 39 true and unique breastfeeding stories and poems. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always poignant, but delivering a fresh approach about the breastfeeding experience. An anthology to inspire mums who are thinking about, or are already breastfeeding. Written by mums (and some dads) for mums, this collection is not an alternative to professional advice, but a unique approach to explain breastfeeding from people with experience. Donations from the sales of this book go to the charity Baby Milk Action.
Author Profile
Lyndsey works for a Breastfeeding Support Company, supporting Breastfeeding groups in Derbyshire. She is also Managing Director of EAT…Derby Magazine. She is married to Mike, and has two sons, Jacob (3) and Nathanial (1) and a dog called Riley.
Author Events
Lyndsey Bradley, Talk and book signing, 5th December 2009, 11 am, Countrybookshop, DE45 1NW
A common question among women who consider nipple piercings is how it may affect breastfeeding. There is no evidence to suggest that proper nipple piercings can cause any complications with lactation[4]. A letter in JAMA suggests improperly pierced nipples and scarring may result in blocked ducts.[5]
Nipple jewelry may harm an infant during breastfeeding.
However, it is recommended that good care is taken to prevent infection by using a piercing professional and good body piercing aftercare. Frequent re-piercings can also damage the nipple and cause complications. It is also recommended that the piercing be healed before breastfeeding. Most body piercing professionals will refuse to pierce a pregnant woman for this reason and because piercing causes stress on the body that could potentially complicate a pregnancy.
Several complications have been noted involving breastfeeding with a piercing present, so it is recommended to remove nipple jewelry before nursing. Several complications resulting from nursing with nipple jewelry inserted can include poor latch, slurping, gagging, and milk leaking from the baby’s mouth.
It can also be a potential choking hazard for the baby. As the baby sucks, the ends on a barbell (if worn) may come loose and could possibly lodge in the baby’s throat (a captive bead ring, properly inserted, would lessen the risk of anything becoming loose, falling out, and lodging in the throat). The baby’s gums and tongue as well as the soft and hard palate could be injured by the jewelry.
”
The LLL have a more informative article with some useful links. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/pierced.html including one to this incredible article Nipple Piercing: Is It Compatible with Breastfeeding? by Jahaan Martin
that goes into the history of piercing. http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVJunJul99p64.html I didn’t know it was fashionable amongst Victorian Society Women!
And for a more personal view in Issue 4 of New Beginnings 2009 there is an online article called “Is there breastfeeding during or after tattooing and nipple piercing?
At every playgroup I go to there are mums who are pregnant again. How do people cope with more than one child? I find it hard enough to cope with the one and I feel a bit inadequate. I feel under pressure to breed again to prove that I too can cope with morning sickness and changing bums, sleepless nights and lively toddlers. I think it would kill me and I’d feel a bit unfaithful to the Moo. How could I possibly love another child as much as I love him?
Pregnant friends ask me about this sort of stuff so I thought it may be for other people as well. This is only based on my experiences just ‘cos I haven’t written about it doesn’t mean its no good! Some of it may be obvious to you but it wasn’t to me!
Clothes
Come in sizes according to weight and don’t last very long at all in the beginning. You will need a slightly larger size if you use real nappies. Some babygros have integral gloves that fold back – very useful for babies that want to scratch their faces off. Things that fasten at the front are easier than things that go over heads. Car boot sales are great for baby clothes. All socks are sacrificial; they don’t stay on feet for long so I prefer things with feet for colder weather.
Nappies
I am a big fan of the my real nappy service. They come to your house to show you how the nappies work and you get everything you need, including a bin to put the dirty nappies in until collection day. Even if I was going to wash my own I would start with a nappy service until the baby is big enough to fit medium sized nappy wraps. You can hire the small sizes, I don’t think they are worth buying in a small size. We experimented with different wipes and in the end I have found cotton wool and water the best and cheapest option. I keep a small wide necked bottle for water in his changing bag. I like the smell of the Weleda nappy cream, Vaseline works just as well though and is much cheaper.
Toys
My child likes noisy things, mirrors and things he can hold with his tiny fingers. Brightly coloured board books are good too. Maisy Mouse is a big hit and available in children’s sections of libraries. He likes the Mam teething ring best as it is tough and nobbly. He has a cot mobile that keeps him in rapturous beams and a baby gym with things to hit. The Early Learning Centre gym is good value as all the toys can be taken off and used in his car seat. The music is terrible though, if you buy anything musical remember that you will have to listen to it too.
Feeding
I use an Avent Isis pump to express milk ‘cos everyone else seems to. I pump in the morning while feeding after the small has triggered off the let down reflex. There is a bewildering choice of teats. I have just worked out that the Avent ones are numbered with more holes for older babies. I have had no luck with teats so am trying a soft spout with a valve, supposedly designed to get babies from breast or bottle to cup. I boil stuff to sterilise it, it’s not a hassle and I don’t think the sterilising equipment is really necessary, though it may make life a bit easier. I have read that the sterilising solution can increase the risk of thrush.
Sleeping
I had a Moses basket for small but didn’t like it ‘cos I had to peer in to check his breathing. If a cot is sturdy enough you can take one side off and have it right by your bed. This makes night feeds much easier. Grobags are brilliant and my small sleeps much longer since we got one. You can buy fleece by the metre for blankets that need no sewing.
Bathing
I think a bath thermometer is vital, what’s warm to me is boiling for the small. We share the bath and he loves it. You also need a soft sponge and ducks! I don’t use soap or shampoo on him, he smells fine with just a rinse.
Period type pains started becoming more regular and on Saturday morning I called the midwife who said to call back when they were longer and more frequent. I didn’t take them too seriously because everything I looked up said they were probably just Braxton Hicks and would subside. So we went off to a funeral in the woods that afternoon and as soon as I got there I had a show. People kept coming up to me and asking if it was true I was in labour, I just kept saying it was probably a false alarm, and it could be weeks yet. It was all getting a bit more serious when I was driving home (no other drivers!), with contractions lasting a good 30 seconds and getting more frequent. I didn’t bother to call Doula Sue ‘cos I still thought this was all going to go away.
When they got to 45 seconds every 3 minutes I called the midwife who was there in half an hour. With a home birth you get whoever is on call, and I got a wonderful midwife who I will never forget. I was 7 cm dilated and battling with a broken TENS machine when she arrived. I kept the TENS machine on, because I wasn’t sure if it would be worse without it, but all the connections were loose so I don’t think it was much help at all. My lovely Shiatsu lady, Vicky had come round a few days before with colour coded diagrams of pressure points and taught my boyfriend how to use them when I was in labour. He mostly used the calming ones, and they really worked, and gave me a chance to collect my thoughts and energy before the next contraction. He was fabulous throughout, I am a very lucky woman. There is little point in me describing the pain as it is different for everyone, but suffice it to say I shouted all the traditional things like ‘this was a stupid idea’, ‘I can’t do this’ and ‘I want to die’. We got to a very dark, deep and intense place with the midwife so it was a bit distracting when midwife 2 turned up, but I managed to gasp out ‘don’t let her chatter’. She was fine, but I didn’t get a chance to look at her until afterwards so that was a bit weird.
I was on all fours leaning on the sofa and just as I was pushing for the last time the cat got off the sofa in disgust and stalked out underneath me, I think I was disturbing her sleep. The next thing I know, a small brown haired boy is lying between my legs. It was all so quick that my boyfriend didn’t have a chance to catch him, though he did cut the cord. The baby was fine apart from his breathing, so the next thing I know there are 2 paramedics in my front room and I am scrabbling under the stairs disentangling the car seat from the cupboard. The nurse in intensive care looked at me aghast when our midwife said I was the mother ‘What are you doing standing up, you have just given birth?’ ‘Homebirth, no drugs’ my midwife said proudly. We had an awful few hours while he was in an incubator, I just wanted someone to tell me he wasn’t going to die, but no one apart from the midwife would and she had gone back to my house to clear everything up. Things got much better a few hours later when he was taken off the drip and I could hold him. By lunchtime I was bouncing around threatening to discharge us if they wouldn’t, as we were obviously fine, I could be waiting for blood test results at home. A nice paediatrician gave us the all clear and we are now at home getting used to being a family, I love it!
I am so glad I did it without drugs, his breathing problems were nothing to do with having a home birth and I can’t imagine having to cope with that and being full of drugs and their side effects. When the drug trolley came around the ward in the morning I was surprised to be offered painkillers, I wasn’t in pain at all, just uncomfortable. I have some tears that I am hoping will heal on their own (good chance apparently) and we are now getting pretty good at this breastfeeding stuff. He is the most beautiful baby in the world, though I accept that I may be biased here!
What I wish I had done:
Taken the contractions seriously so I could get more relaxed about it.
Not been so hard on myself when I was in pain, I thought I was being a wimp moaning about it.
Packed a change of clothes for me in the hospital bag (they were in the wash!)
Packed more than one packet of maternity pads, I think a packet a day is about right though this will be different for everyone.
Packed clothes in different sizes for the baby, the ones I had were far too big.
Brought change for the phone.
Got the car seat out before I went into labour.
Cleaned the kitchen, I was leaning against the worktop contracting and all I could think of was the mess.
Trusted my instincts and booked the birthing pool for a week earlier.
Got someone to show me how to use the TENS machine before I went into labour.
Used contraception (only joking, I am the happiest woman alive)
The labour lasted 6hrs and 45 minutes, and The Moo boy was 6lbs and 7oz.
I am in a terrible mood and have decided that I don’t actually want to give birth to this baby at all, having just got used to it being inside me. I am already fed up with people asking me the usual ‘whensitduedoyouknowwhatsexitis’, and I may have to kill the next person who tells me how big I am.
I think the bad mood is because for the last few days I have had period pain type cramps, not bad, but naggy and it has dawned on me that this birth thing could be very painful and messy indeed. Also, I have been determined not to get excited about it all the way through in case anything went wrong, and I still haven’t grown an ‘ahh, isn’t that baby cute’ gene.
I dreamt that I had the baby, at least its head was half out between my legs but I had guests so I had to make them a cup of tea before I could finish off the delivery, then I finished off some sewing, then as I want a water birth I ran the bath. After all this the baby came out easily and vanished, I could get on with lots of other things that needed doing. I think this sums up as I AM NOT READY YET. Practically, everything is here, basket, pram, car seat, clothes, changing mat, millions of babygrows….. but emotionally it is a different matter.
It varies from mama to mama though, some find their milk stops during pg, others (like me) only notice a slight dip in supply. Some also find it painful or uncomfortable to feed, but I have been fine. Some LOs self-wean due to changing taste or supply, others like my LO feed without seeming to notice any difference! It really does vary but can be very possible.
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