Pregnancy and Birth

Babies Can Absorb Their Mother's Stress in the Womb

2008-05-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Research carried out by the Harvard Medical School has shown that women who suffer from stress and anxiety during pregnancy may pass some stress on to their foetuses, in the form of increased sensitivity to allergen exposure, with a possible increase in risk of developing asthma.

In the study, researchers analysed levels of maternal stress and mother's exposure to dust mite allergen in their homes while pregnant. These were compared with cord blood IgE expression - a marker of the child's immune response at birth - in nearly 400 infants. They found raised levels of IgE expression in cord blood among babies whose mothers experienced higher level stress even when exposed to fairly low levels of dust mite during pregnancy.

The lead researcher, Rosalind Wright, said the research added to a growing body of evidence that connected maternal stress - such as that precipitated by financial problems or relationship issues - to changes in children's developing immune systems, even in pregnancy.

"This further supports the notion that stress can be thought of as a social pollutant that, when 'breathed' into the body, may influence the body's immune response similar to the effects of physical pollutants like allergens, thus adding to their effects," she said.

Stress related illnesses such as asthma and hayfever are still increasing in children, and it is possible that one factor could be the affect of more mothers having to work late into pregnancy for financial reasons. There is often little that can be done to totally eliminate stress, however, several activities can help. Pre-natal exercise has been shown to be a good way for mothers to relieve stress, and of course a healthy diet and plenty of sleep (not always easy in later stages of pregnancy) can help women to cope under stressful conditions at work and at home.

Baby Sling Carriers Bring Mother and Baby Closer Together

2008-03-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

Babies are generally never happier than when they are being held by a parent. New born babies especially find it very comforting to be in constant contact with mother or father. The continuum concept encourages constant contact with a newborn baby, as this is how humans would have looked after newborns before human domestication.

One of the best ways to stay in constant contact with a new born baby is to use a baby sling, or baby carrier, which is a cloth which wrapped tightly around the body, creating a snug pocket to hold the baby. Babies can be carried in a sling all day, and only need to come out for feeding and changing. In fact, some mothers even manage to breast feed while the baby is still in the sling. Many parents find that babies which have had a traumatic delivery respond well to being carried in a sling.

Putting your your baby in a sling takes practice, and sometimes a baby can become distressed while being place in the sling, but this distress soon subsides once they are comfortable. For your benefit we have a series of photos which you can follow to help learn how to use a baby sling.

There are many different styles of baby sling, and several different ways to tie a cloth sling. The method shown here is once of the simpler ways to place a baby in a sling. The sling should be tight enough to provide good support for the baby, but not too tight.

Pregnant Women Should Avoid Caffeine

2008-01-21T12:20:00.000-08:00

Recent research has shown that coffee can increase the chances of miscarriage. The researchers suggest that women should consider giving up caffeine during pregnancy, as even moderate consumption in early pregnancy increases risk of miscarriage.

The Food Standards Agency guidelines currently set an upper limit of 300mg during pregnancy, which equals four cups of coffee a day. However, an American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology study found more than 200mg of caffeine a day doubled the risk, compared to abstainers. Experts said they would review the data to see if advice needed changing.

Pat O'Brien, spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, has already started advising women to totally abstain from coffee, tea, coke and other caffeine based drinks during the first three months of pregnancy, when miscarraige is of greatest risk.

"The first 12 weeks is a very vulnerable time for the baby. It's when most miscarriages occur," - Pat O'Brien.

Pat O'Brien also said that a majority of women, in early pregnancy, naturally went off caffeinated drinks, and so should not find abstaining from them too difficult. Research is still unclear whether pregnant women needed to avoid caffeine in later pregnancy.

Miscarriage risk

"20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, which affects approximately 250,000 women in the UK every year. There are a number of well-established risk factors, such as increased maternal age, a previous history of miscarriage, and infertility. But the causes of the majority of miscarriages are not fully understood. Caffeine has been mooted as a risk factor before, but studies have yielded conflicting results. For the latest research, Dr De-Kun Li and colleagues at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, studied 1,063 women who had become pregnant in the last month or two." - BBC Health.

Abstinence is the Safest Option

The increased risk appeared to be related to the caffeine itself, rather than other coffee ingredients because other caffeinated beverages such as tea and hot chocolate showed a similar trend to coffee. Caffeine is able to cross the placenta to the foetus, but it is not clear what affect this has on the growing baby.

Dr Li said: "The main message for pregnant women from these findings is that they probably should consider stopping caffeine consumption during pregnancy."

Zoe Wheeldon from the British Coffee Association has pointed out that the latest research did not change the current Food Standards Agency recommendation of a safe upper limit of 300mg of caffeine per day for pregnant women. "This evidence must be reviewed in conjunction with existing research and it is important to review all the available data rather than taking one study in isolation."

A spokesman from the Food Standards Agency said: "In order to provide a more robust basis for the FSA's advice to pregnant women on caffeine consumption, an FSA-funded study, involving around 2,500 pregnant women, was commissioned in 2003.

"This is almost complete and the results will be presented to the Committee On Toxicity in closed session for consideration.

"We will ask the committee to also look at this new American study. When the committee has reached conclusions the agency will, if appropriate, revise its advice on caffeine consumption in pregnancy."

Caffeine Facts

300 mg of caffeine is roughly equivalent to:
Four average cups or three average mugs of instant coffee
Three average cups of brewed coffee
Six average cups of tea
Eight cans of regular cola drinks
Four cans of so-called "energy" drinks
400g (eight standard 50g bars) of normal chocolate
Caffeine content in a cup of tea or coffee varies by different brands and brewing methods

Pregnant women are advised to stop drinking alcohol entirely

2007-11-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

Official advice on alcohol consumption for pregnant women seems to change every year. Not so long ago women were advised that a glass of wine a day was not a problem, then the advice changed to say that drinking during the first three months was not recommended, as no-one really knew what effect alcohol may have on the developing foetus. The latest research now says that alcohol consumption should cease completely.

"Women who are pregnant or trying for a baby should give up all alcohol, the Public Health Minister suggested yesterday. Dawn Primarolo said the best way to end confusion could be to adopt the approach taken in the U.S. and tell expectant mothers to avoid drinking altogether. She told the Commons Health Select Committee: "Maybe we should go to a precautionary principle with recommendations to women who are pregnant or trying to conceive - which the Americans do - which is to just say, Don't." Some doctors say there is evidence that even very small amounts of alcohol can damage the health of the unborn child. Dangers include foetal alcohol syndrome, which affects around 100 babies a year, causing low birth weight, flattened features, heart and kidney abnormalities, deafness and brain damage. In addition, as many as 7,000 British babies a year are affected by the less serious foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which causes attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and poor co-ordination."

We at Motley Health have always stuck by the rule of no alcohol while pregnant, and will be glad when government guidelines follow suit and make it clear that any amount of alcohol could potentially harm an unborn child. For those that always like a drink, just ask yourself, how would you feel if you gave birth to a child with learning difficulties, and later found out it was because of one glass of wine too many while you were pregnant. Is one drink worth the risk? We do not think so. Celebrate after you have given birth to a health baby by all means, but while carrying your child, do all that you can to keep healthy. To some extent everything that you consume is passed on to your baby, so make sure you only consume healthy food and drinks.

Source: Daily Mail

The loneliness of motherhood

2007-10-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

A new survey carried out by Mother and Baby magazine has interviewed 2000 women and concluded that just over 53% of mothers feel lonely and isolated and about two thirds of them feel disconnected from a normal life. While tiredness has always been part of early motherhood, isolation has recently started to become more common between new mums.

When a woman leaves work to have a baby, her life changes abruptly, it is like being in a different universe, as old friends without children tend to drift away, grandparents normally live far away, neighbours are not always available to help and other mums are not always your "cup of tea". Also, as babies are very demanding, it is difficult to restore the old social life back.

On average first time mums spend 90 minutes a day with other adults, which involves going along to play groups, where mums can meet other mums. In most cases mums of newborn babies goes along a playgroup feeling very tired and the babies are too small to enjoy themselves. So, it ends up being a frustrating exercise. Although it is a good idea to go to play groups when you feel ready, as it is a great way to meet other mums and share your experiences. In this way you don’t feel alone and you realise other mums are going through similar experiences and you can learn from one another. It is great when you get to know other mums that you identify with, and a new friendship is formed.

Women that live in the countryside have even less social life than city mums, as they are more isolated and there may be no many activities available for mums with newborns, whereas city mums can go to shops more easily and meet up with other mums in town.

These days mums are left by themselves to look after their new arrival, as grandparents tend to live far away in most cases. Having to look after a newborn by oneself can be very hard for new mums and the taboo of postnatal depression make mums keep their frustrations and desolations for themselves. Pressures from society discourage mums to discuss solution for ‘baby blues’ and postnatal depression, so mums tend to put on a brave face in fear of being misunderstood by others.

People tend to assume that mums and babies bond straight away and mums are quite happy looking after their little bundle of joy. However, in reality mums feel physically and psychologically drained as new babies are very demanding, and sleep deprivation takes its toll, making it hard for mum to enjoy quality time with baby. Luckily the maternal instinct kicks in, making mums pull it through and some how be capable of caring for their new arrival. Having said this, the more support the mum gets the smother is the adaptation to motherhood. There are many organisations that can help. See the links below for further help with coping with motherhood and guidance about postnatal depression.

Meet-a-mum association

Association for Postnatal Illness

Parentline

source: Telegraph

How to overcome common difficulties on breastfeeding:

2007-10-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

The quicker you sort out any problems with breastfeeding the better for you and your baby, so do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Ask you midwife for help or make sure you have the number of a breastfeeding counsellor.

If you baby is feeding restless at the breast and does not seem satisfied, it may be that he or she is sucking on the nipple alone and so not getting enough milk. Ask for help in making sure your baby feeds in the right position. Some times the baby may also stop feeding and cry if he or she needs to burp during the feed.

Engorged breasts: a few days after the birth your breast may become very swollen and uncomfortable. Try to breastfeed as soon as possible, it may help to express milk before each feed to help the baby to latch on properly. Massaging the breast before expressing can also help. Between feeds you can apply ice-cold flannels or ice packs from the fridge.

Sore or cracked nipples:
To avoid sore nipples make sure your baby's mouth is opened wide (like a yawn) before he or she latches onto your breast.
Change your position for breastfeeding. Be sure the baby's mouth is about one inch behind the nipple and on the areola, not on the nipple.
Rub colostrum or breast milk into your nipple and areola after each feeding.
If your nipples are sore and dry or cracking, start breastfeeding with the less sore breast first.
Use Lansinoh Lanolin cream on your nipples, as it is excellent to help heal the nipple skin if it is sore.
If your nipples remain sore, ask for help. It can be normal for the nipple to feel sore when the baby first latches on, but once she gets going it should stop hurting. If it does not, then start again. Once the breasts get used to breastfeeding, in about four weeks or so, it will stop hurting completely.

Lumpy tender breasts: this happens when milk gets build up in the ducts of the breasts for various reasons. Let your baby feed on the tender breast first, if he or she does not want to feed try to express some milk. While your baby is feeding, gently stroke the lumpy are with your fingertips, smoothing the milk towards your nipple. Try leading over your baby as you feed. It is important to deal with a blocked duct as soon as possible to make sure it does not lead to mastitis.

Mastitis: it is an infection on the breasts making them feel hot and tender, and you may feel as if you have flu. You should continue to feed and ask for help to you midwife health visitor. Try the suggestions above for lumpy, tender breasts and rest as much as possible. See your doctor if this does not improve in the next six to eight hours as you may need your doctor to prescribe you antibiotics, which is safe while breastfeeding, to clear the infection.

Remember breastfeeding on demand is most natural and can avoid the above difficulties; it is best to feed when your baby wants to be fed, which might be very often to start with, the feed will become more spaced out as your baby grows. It is also important that the baby latches on the breast correctly to avoid soreness. Every baby is different, so don’t worry about setting up a routine straight away, as the baby develops they gradually set into a routine, which may be different from other babies, so don’t worry if other mums and babies are doing things differently, as babies are individuals they won’t all be doing the same thing at the same time…

Babies also have periods of growth spur at 10 days, 6 weeks and 12 weeks, that can last for about two days, during this period your baby will require more milk, so he or she will feed more often and for longer, but things will settle down quickly, as your body start to produce more milk to satisfy your growing baby. So don’t feel that you have to offer the baby a bottle, as you won’t make more milk to satisfy your baby’s demand.

In the beginning, it can seem that you are doing nothing but feeding, but gradually your baby will settle into a pattern of feeding. Try to relax into it and take each day as it comes. Breastfeeding can be a bit hard at the begging, but it gets really easy afterwards, the difficult times may seem endless, but it ends very quickly.

How to breastfeed successfully:

2007-10-08T03:26:00.000-07:00

It is important to start from day one, as the body needs to be stimulated in order to produce milk. In fact it has been suggested that it is psychologically beneficial to the baby to breastfeed within two hours of birth. So, get all the help and advice you can from the midwives in the hospital, if the hospital is very busy it is a good idea to be transferred to a maternity unit, where the midwives have more time to go through the techniques of breastfeeding. Also it is a good idea to have someone available to you who knows how to help you once you return home, if this is not possible spend as much time as you need in hospital in order to be sure you come home breastfeeding as it may be more difficult to established breastfeeding on your on.

When starting to feed get comfortable, sit so that your back is straight and your lap is flat. Use pillows to support you baby and bring the baby to the breast, not the other way round. Turn your baby’s body towards your tummy. Tuck your baby’s bottom under your elbow or support your baby by using a pillow. Hold your baby behind the neck and shoulders.

Start with your baby’s nose opposite your nipple. Allow your baby’s head to tilt back. Move your baby’s mouth gently across your nipple until your baby’s mouth opens really wide. Bring your baby towards your breast quickly. Your baby’s bottom lip and chin should touch your breast first.

Your baby’s chin is in close contact with your breast. Your baby is able to breathe easily. You can feel your baby has a big mouthful of breast. You may need to support your breast.

Babies love to breastfeed, but they usually come off by themselves when they have had enough. It is common for a newborn baby to sleep on the breast before being full, if this happens you can tickle the baby gently on his body or face or gently blow his face so he starts to feed again.

You will know when breastfeeding is right: it will feel comfortable (it may hurt a bit at the beginning when the baby first latches on the breast, but it should be comfortable once he gets going); your baby will be relaxed; you will hear a soft swallowing; you can also see the baby’s jaw moving below his ears.

If it does not feel right…start again, slide one of your fingers into your baby’s mouth, gently break the suction and try again. With a newborn you will probably need to try several time before he latches on the breast properly, as they do not know how to feed when they are born, so you have to persevere until he opens his mouth wide, then quickly and gently hold your breast in his mouth – it also helps to compress your breast while feeding a newborn to encourage him to suckle. At the beginning it can be frustrating, as the newborn may not open his mouth wide enough to latch on correctly, so, you need to be patient and encourage the baby to open his mouth by rubbing the breast on his face. Support the baby’s head with your hand, while gently but firmly pressing the baby against your breast. Once he has latched on, the baby may find it hard to suckle the milk, so compressing the breast can help him to suckle. At first you may need to manipulate your breast into the baby’s mouth several times, as the newborn baby does not know how to feed, you have to help him.

Advice for breastfeeding mothers:

It is a good idea to put your baby to breast within 30 to 60 minutes after birth. Keep your baby with you so you can breastfeed often. Your milk should arrive in about five days, in the mean time the baby will be drinking the colostrums, which has all the nutrients the baby needs and will kick start the baby’s immune system. It is important to have a balanced diet to pass all the necessary nutrients for the baby. It can be difficult to make sure you get enough vitamin D; it is present in only a few foods, such as fortified margarines, oily fish, eggs and milk. The skin produces vitamin D when exposed to gentle sunlight, so it could be a good idea to give vitamin D supplement for breastfed babies during the winter.

Breastfeeding provides comfort as well as nutrition to your baby. Offer your breast whenever your baby cries, whimpers, or seems uncomfortable. Breastfeeding "on demand" is most natural.

Newborns breastfeed often — the average is eight to 12 feedings per day.

Every baby is different so they will feed for different length of time, as long as they are putting weight on, they are getting enough milk, it is normal for babies to get 80% of what they need during the first five minutes – other babies may be on the breast for about one hour for comfort, they may also fall asleep while feeding. It is a good idea to get reassured with your midwife or health visitor.

Breastfeeding should not hurt. But, do not be put off if it hurts at the beginning, be persistent and ask for help to your local maternity unit, if you have any doubts.

The more you breastfeed, the more milk you will make for your baby. Drink plenty of fluid, about four pints per day and eat healthily. Try to avoid caffeine, chocolate and fizzy drinks, as they may over stimulate the baby.

Once you and your baby learn how to breastfeed, breastfeeding will be a good time to relax and enjoy each other.

Even if you think you can not breastfeed or if you feel funny about it, give it a go, because once you start you will find it to be very natural.

Everyone is different, but every mother should be able to feed her baby naturally.

How to avoid sore nipples:

Sore nipples are common in the first weeks and are often caused by poor positioning.

To avoid sore nipples, follow these guidelines:

Make sure your baby's mouth is opened wide (like a yawn) before he or she latches onto your breast.

Change your position for breastfeeding. Be sure the baby's mouth is about one inch behind the nipple and on the areola, not on the nipple.

Rub colostrum or breast milk into your nipple and areola after each feeding.

If your nipples are sore and dry or cracking, start breastfeeding with the less sore breast first.

Use Lansinoh Lanolin cream on your nipples, as it is excellent to help heal the nipple skin if it is sore.

If your nipples remain sore, ask for help. It can be normal for the nipple to feel sore when the baby first latches on, but once she gets going it should stop hurting. If it does not, then start again. Keep using Lansinoh Lanolin cream after every feed, it has excellent healing properties. Once the breasts get used to breastfeeding, in about four weeks or so, it will stop hurting completely.

How to look after the breast while breastfeeding:

To provide your breasts with the support needed, it is recommend wearing a good fitting-nursing bra during the day and at night. (Be sure to bring your nursing bra with you to the hospital.)

Wash your hands before breastfeeding. A bath or shower once a day is all you need to keep your nipples clean. Do not use soap or other products when washing your nipples; use warm water only.

Allow your nipples to dry after a feeding. Leave the flaps of your nursing bra down after feeding and whenever possible to dry your nipples.

The benefits of breastfeeding for the mother:

Breast-feeding is inexpensive.
Breastfeeding is always available.
With breastfeeding, there is nothing to mix, measure, or heat, and no bottles to wash.
Breastfeeding makes night time feedings quick and easy.
Breastfeeding makes travel with baby easier.
With breastfeeding there is often less vaginal bleeding after delivery.
Breastfeeding promotes a faster return of uterus to its pre-pregnant size.
Breastfeeding can help with weight loss.
Breastfeeding may decrease osteoporosis, ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer.

The benefits of breastfeeding for the baby:

Breast milk is the ideal food for the baby.
Breast milk is easy to digest and absorb, causing less colic.
The iron in breast milk is utilized more readily.
Breast milk changes to meet the needs of the growing baby.
Breast milk contains substances that promote nervous system development and brain growth.
Breast-fed babies have fewer allergies. In families with a history of allergies, breast-fed babies experience less asthma, food allergies and eczema.
Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses, such as ear infections, colds, flu and GI upsets. They also have fewer doctor visits and hospitalisations, because of the special protective factors in breast milk.
Breast milk may help babies to respond better to vaccines, as antibody levels have been found to be higher in breast-fed babies at seven and 12 months.
Breastfeeding may decrease SIDS (cot death).

Heavy exercises during early pregnancy is associated with miscarriage

2007-10-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

Latest Danish research shows that women who practice heavy exercise during early pregnancy are at a higher risk of miscarriage then women who do not exercise at all.

This research took place at the University of Southern Denmark, where scientists questioned more than 90,000 women about their exercise routine and associated it to the result of their pregnancy.

The research suggests that practicing high impact exercises, such as jogging, ball games and racket sports during pregnancy can increase the risk by three and half times, compared to women who do not practice any exercise. Also women that exercise for more than seven hours a week are also putting themselves at an increased danger of miscarriage according to the research.

Miscarriage is more likely to happen during the first trimester of pregnancy, so after eighteen weeks into the pregnancy the association between exercise and miscarriage recedes.

This research was published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, where authors confirmed that the results of this study suggested that “leisure time exercise during pregnancy, and particularly high-impact exercise, is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage in the early stage of pregnancy.”

In spite of this, the guidelines from the government in the UK are for women to carry on with moderate exercise throughout the pregnancy if possible. This issue is controversial, as some experts in the UK have disputed this research by saying that running is safe during pregnancy after all. Although, it is not recommended to perform any sport activity, which involves a high impact to the abdomen of a pregnant woman, some experts say that women can continue to run or jog during early pregnancy. It is all about keeping the balance and do not do take up any new activity, which may strain the body.

The research concluded that not all type of exercises contribute to miscarriage, swimming for instance is considered to be a suitable type of physical activity very popular between pregnant women.

The government in the UK recommends that pregnant women should continue with their normal exercise practice as long as they feel comfortable, women should listen to their bodies and respect their limits in order to avoid any physical strain during pregnancy. So, women that did not do any exercise before getting pregnant should start some moderate daily exercise, in order to increase their health and fitness, as well as improve their cardiovascular system and maintain the muscle tones, which can be helpful during labour. But, women should not at any point start a laborious exercises regime, which is new to them, as this can be harmful to their health and the baby’s health putting their pregnancy at risk.

source: BBC news

Exercise tips during pregnancy:

The more active and fit a woman is during pregnancy, the easier it is for her to adapt to her changing shape and weight gain. It also helps her to cope with labour and get back into shape after the birth.

Physical activities can help a pregnant woman to relax and sleep after a hard day at work. So it is recommended to keep up with normal daily activities and exercises for as long as she feels comfortable. It is important not to exhaust the body and allow for some slowing down as the pregnancy progresses. If in any doubt it is always a good idea to get some advice from a local doctor or midwife.

During pregnancy is not the time to take up strenuous exercises, as it may be more harmful then beneficial.

A pregnant woman should try to keep active on a daily basis, building in half an hour of activities like walking, swimming or yoga can help to keep fit. Swimming or other water exercises like aquanatal are often preferred during pregnancy as the water supports the increased body weight. If this is hard to fit in with other activities any amount of exercise is better than nothing.

It is important to drink plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous exercise in hot weather.

Also the exercise instructor should be qualified and know about the pregnancy and how far it has progressed in order to be able to guide the pregnant woman correctly.

Useful exercise routine for a fit pregnancy:

Stomach strengthening exercises: Start in a box position (on all fours) with knees under the hips and hands under the shoulders, fingers faced forwards and abdominal lifted to keep the back straight. Pull the abdominal the lift the back up, curling the trunk and allowing the head to relax gently forward. Do not lock the elbows. Hold for few seconds then slowly return to the box position taking care not to hollow the back. The back should always return to a straight position. Do this slowly and rhythmically ten times, making the muscles work hard and moving the back carefully. Only move the back as far as it is comfortable. These exercises strengthen the abdominal muscles and ease back pain, which can be a problem during pregnancy.

Pelvic tilt exercises: Stand with shoulders and bottom against the wall, keeping the knees soft. Pull the belly button towards the spine, flattening the back against the wall. Hold for four seconds and realise. Repeat 10 times.

Pelvic floor exercises: close up the back and front passage at the same time and also draw in the birth canal. Repeat this exercise quickly, tightening and releasing the muscles immediately. Then do the exercise slowly, holding the contraction for as long as possible. Repeat both exercises 10 times, four to six times a day to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic, which is under great train in pregnancy and childbirth.

Foot exercises: bend and stretch the foot up and down 30 times – then rotate the foot eight times one way and eight times the other way. These exercises help to improve blood circulation, reduce swelling in the ankles and prevent cramp in the calf muscles.

Tips to protect the back during pregnancy:

Sit up straight with the bottom against the back of the chair. Tuck a small cushion behind the waist if needed.

Bend the knee to pick something up, not the back (do not carry any thing heavy).

Try to stand tall.

My experience on giving birth - Part III

2007-09-30T04:11:00.000-07:00

I left Beni with Jon and after just about one hour or so; I was reunited with them and able to feed Beni for the first time. I was really excited about Beni, it was really nice to hold and feed him. He was really tiny; Beni was born with 7 pound 2 ounces.

The next day after the delivery I went to St Peter’s in Maldon, for the aftercare. They were really nice and helpful. When I got there I was really tired because Beni did not sleep the night before, so they took him from me at night and looked after him for me for two nights, I was really pleased with that so I could get a rest. They also showed us how to bath him and look after his umbilical cord. More importantly they taught me how to breastfeed Beni, without their help I probably would not succeed. So, for that I am really grateful.

I did have a birth plan, but in the end I did not need to use it as the staff in St John’s were excellent and they did everything that I had thought about. When you are in labour things just happens and when you least expect it is all over. But I was glad I had prepared a birth plan, so that I knew how things were going to work and I knew exactly what I wanted.

I did recover well after all that and now just need to loose some pounds to gain my old figure back….

It took me about two months to totally bond with Beni. After getting home with Jon and Beni I was totally overwhelmed. I did not realised it would be so hard to look after and care for a little baby. He was really dependent on me and I almost did not get any sleep. Beni wanted to stay with me all the time. He did not like sleeping on his basket and did not like to stay on his own for any time. Which is totally understandable as he was just a little baby that had just come out of my womb. So, I did care for him with all my heart, but I felt really overwhelmed.

The decision to breastfeed Beni made things very hard for me at the beginning, as he wanted to feed all the time and did wake up every two hours during the night. But I am glad I persisted, because in the long run it is best for him and also became easier for me as do not have to worry about preparing bottles and Beni now sleeps a lot better during the night and also has longer breaks between feeds during the day.

He is now four months old and still wakes up twice during the night, but I don’t mind as my body clock got used to it now. I can also sleep with him during the day, as he is quite happy to stay in his cot.

Having a baby is very rewarding as I get to follow his progress and interact him with as he grows, which brings me lots of joy.

My experience on giving birth - Part II

2007-09-30T04:07:00.000-07:00

I woke up at four o’clock in the morning still in pain, and then I had another bath, which was really nice. After that I remember asking the midwife for another sleeping tablet, to which she denied for obvious reasons. So, I just laid hopeless in my hospital bed waiting to give birth. So, I decided to try on my tens machine that was in my bag and I was really glad I did. It did not stop the pain, but its tingly sensation really helped to take my mind off the pain.

At about 7.30 in the morning the midwife checked on my progress and to my delight, I was 7 centimetres dilated. She sent me straight to the delivery ward and I had to phone Jon in a hurry for him to go to the hospital.

After twenty-two hours since the induction started I got to the delivery room, and the first word that came out of my mouth was Pethidine, which is a type of analgesic given by intramuscular injection on the leg. It did not actually stop the pain completely, but I was determinate not to have an epidural, as it would be awkward to push while having no sensation to feel the contractions. So, I settled for pethidine, gas and air and the tens machine, which I used up to the end of labour. The gas and air like the tens machine worked as a distraction from the pain. Jon said I was a bit drowsy, but I did not noticed as I was concentrating on the push.

Jon was in charge of turning the vibration of the tens machine up or down according to my command, he got it right most of the time at least. He also held my hand and the tube of gas and air for me, he said I squeezed his hand so hard that his thumb turned blue – I don’t really remember this bit!!! Once I had settled down the midwife monitored the baby heartbeat, so I had to have the machine strapped on my tummy, after a while I was free to move around.

The midwife was really nice and helpful, she guided me all the way through the labour and I trusted her completely. I also had a doctor student with me; at one point she helped to hold my leg while pushing. The midwife guided me through different birth positions until I found one that I felt most comfortable with.

My midwife told me when to start to push and each time I had a contraction I would push as hard as I could, my whole body was aching afterwards, as if I had run a marathon. The breathing technique I learned was also really helpful to help control the push. The actual labour lasted for 3.5 hours and I did not find it too painful, but hard work.

After 3.5 hours of intensive labour, the baby did not want to come out, he was coming down the birth canal on each push, but when it stopped he retracted in again. We found out later that this was because he had the umbilical cord trapped around his neck, poor thing!

So, because the baby was not coming out the midwife called the obstetrician for help, and she decided I need an episiotomy, then the baby was delivered via ventouse as his heart rate slowed down a lot due to the stress. In the end I was really grateful to all the staff at St John’s, as they really kind and did a brilliant job.

Once Beni was born, he was put straight on my arms, I was really pleased to see him and glad that the delivery was over. He was a curled up little thing. But he did not breathe straight way, so I panic a bit… the midwife then put he in the resuscitare and too my relief he started breathing with no further problems! He was a healthy little boy.

Beni was then given a vitamin K injection (all babies have this – with the parents consent) to avoid haemorrhagic disease in newborns. My labour then progressed to its third stage, which is the removal of the placenta. I was given an injection to accelerate the process, but unfortunately only half of it came out. So, I had to be sent to theatre, where I had an anaesthetic on my spine in order to have the rest of the placenta removed.

My experience on giving birth - Part I

2007-09-30T04:01:00.000-07:00

I remember being a bit anxious about giving birth, as I had not done it before and no matter what people tell you, it is something you just get to know once you have done it yourself.

Having said there, I felt very reassured about the whole thing after going to pre-natal classes at St John’s Hospital. During the classes the midwife go through what to expect during labour, how to recognise you are in labour, plus all the options available to the mother-to-be during labour as well as some after care for the baby and advice about recovery for the mother. I highly recommend first time mums to have some pre-natal classes as it may not stop mums from getting a bit nervous about labour, but it kept my mind at ease, as I knew more or less what to expect, as the midwife goes through the whole process with mums and dads, in this way dads know how to help his partner during this anxious but magical time.

The more I learnt about labour the more confident I became about giving birth, I think knowledge is very important as it reduces stress and help relax, because the mum knows what is going on and what is going to happen next, more or less.

Here I am telling about my experience about giving birth, but everyone is different, and what is best for one person, may not be the best for another.

Firstly, I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 37 weeks of pregnancy, then I was constantly checked at the hospital for the next two weeks and although my condition was stable my consultant suggested that I should be induced at 39 weeks in order to avoid any complications for the baby and myself.

So I entered the hospital at 9.30 a.m. on the 06 June 07. It was finally going to happen, the moment I have been preparing for so long and yet it was as if it wasn’t real, as if the penny had not dropped – I think it must be a way of the body to defend against stress – So, even though I was a bit anxious I was quite relaxed about it as well.

Thankfully, I had prepared the hospital bag in advance with all the bits and pieces for my stay; Jon also had one with lots of chocolate and biscuits. He also had the camera with him.

I had two sessions of stretch and sweep during the two weeks before I was admitted to hospital, to help dilate the birth canal, this was a bit painful at first. Once I was admitted to hospital the midwife monitored the baby for half an hour with a CTG machine that checked the baby’s heartbeat and his movement in the womb. She also did an overall check up on myself to verify my blood pressure etc. Then I was given a medicine to initiate the induction. At about lunchtime I was not feeling any pain and went for a walk in the hospital’s car park. Then early afternoon I started feeling a little pain in my tummy, just like period pain. About four o’clock in the afternoon I was given another dose of the medicine and then I just had to wait for it to take effect.

During the afternoon and evening the pain started to increase and became really strong. I found that the massage and breathing technique I had learned at the pre-natal classes was really helpful to alleviate the pain. In the evening Jon was there with me and he gave me moral support and also helped me to massage by back and support my body. I remember crying on his arms for a bit, I just wanted the pain to go away. Looking back on it now it does not seem that bad.

At this point I asked the midwife to check on my progress and to my disappointment I was only 3 centimetres dilated, in order to give birth, the canal must be 10 centimetres dilated. I was a bit frustrated, how could I be only 3 centimetres dilated with all that pain? She told me to have a bath and I did so, a bit reluctant to use the hospital bath, but I felt much better while in the bath, it was very relaxing and took some of the pain away. Jon went home and I had to wait until the next morning to check on my progress, so I was given some tablets for pain plus a sleeping tablet to help me to go through the night.

My Pregnancy Experience

2007-09-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

Being pregnant is a unique experience. When I decided with my husband Jon that we were going to try to have a baby, I started planning and found out I was not immune to rubella, which is have dangerous to the baby and may cause still birth or birth defect. Therefore I had to have the MMR vaccine and wait another three months before trying for a baby. I also started taking folic acid supplement during the first three months before and after getting pregnant, in order to prevent a birth defect called Spina Bifida.

At first I was really excited about it and a bit nervous too. I could not hold my excitement and bought a pregnancy test at the chemist, about five days before my due date I used it and not surprisingly the result was negative. When my period was actually due I tested again and to my amazement the result was positive, I was pregnant. From there on I knew my life would never be the same again….

I was a bit nervous during the first twelve weeks as I was waiting to have the first scan at the hospital and almost no one knew about it. During the first scan I saw my baby for the first time, Jon and I were both very excited. We could see all his features and he looked just marvellous. Everything was fine.

Then, my tummy began to grow and I started to feel hungrier, luckily for me I almost did not have morning sickness. In order to avoid it, I started having a light breakfast in the morning before leaving home and I did so throughout the pregnancy to keep a balanced diet and remain healthy. Also I did not have many cravings, maybe because I tried to have a balance diet with plenty of fruit and vegetable, I also tried to eat walnuts and mackerel in moderation, in order to pass sources of omega3 to my baby, which is very good for the development of their brain. Throughout the pregnancy I also had to think about what I could and could not eat. For instance, things like prawns, mussels, smelly cheese and raw eggs should be avoided as they can cause food poisoning. I realised that I wasn’t thinking just for myself, but I was responsible for the health of another human being. It is fascinating and gave me a sense of responsibility, care and empowerment.

I found it really nice to see the changes in my body; I had a big round bump, but did not put too much weight on. Overall I put about 2.5 stones, most of it during the third trimester. During labour I lost one stone, now I am still 1.5 stones heavier than before, but as I am breastfeeding, I cannot really go on a diet… need to be patient and wait a bit longer.

It was really exciting when I felt the baby kicking for the first time at about twenty weeks, my husband Jon was very good at missing the kicks, but he managed to feel it a few times with his hand. At about seven to eight months we could see my tummy moving along with the baby’s movement. Hearing the baby’s heart for the first time was very emotional and exciting. I just loved it. It beats twice as fast as an adult heart. Apparently the heartbeat of a baby boy is slower than a baby girl. So, boys are more chilled out than girls since before birth!!!

When we had the second scan, called anatomy scan at 22 weeks, we were given the all clear as the baby was doing really well and we found out it was a boy!

Throughout most of the pregnancy I carried on with my yoga routine and also started doing aqua-natal exercises. I found the exercises were very good to keep me active and at the same time build up my stamina for labour. At the third trimester I started to feel more tired and heavy. Just walking through the town centre to shop for baby things was very tiring and my feet would start to ache after just 10 minutes walking.

After going on maternity leave, six weeks before my due date, I felt so much better and started to chill out and relax more. I found the yoga exercises I was doing was not straining myself and I quite enjoyed doing them, I just had to do some adjustments to the postures and avoid postures that would put pressure on my stomach, so that it would not harm the baby.

As my tummy started to grow, I started taking more bed space and Jon was squashed at the end of the bed, he was quite good and did not complain too much. During the third trimester I found hard to have a good night sleep with my hips aching, as I spent the night lying on my sides. I thought I would go to the toilet a lot during the night, but my bladder coped with the pressure of the baby well and some nights I would go to the toilet just once.

Up to 37 weeks I had a pretty healthy pregnancy, with only mild heartburn, achy and tiredness. A full term pregnancy is 40 weeks and it officially starts two weeks before a woman is pregnant, as it is when the last period occurred. During one of my regular visits to the midwife, I was diagnosed with preeclampsia, the only symptoms I had was traces of protein in my urine and slight high blood pressure. Although I was feeling fine, I started to have regular visits to the hospital to ensure both the baby and I were coping well.

Throughout the pregnancy I had lots of support from my husband and his mum, as my family lives in Brazil, specially during the final two weeks, when I was going to hospital every other day to check on the baby. Have being diagnosed with preeclampsia was a bit scary, because I was worried about the baby. But, luckly for us, I was almost at the end of the pregnancy, so it did not matter too much if the baby had to come early, as he was already fully formed, but it is best for them to wait inside the tummy as long as possible.

Symptoms of preeclampsia may include high blood pressure, protein in the urine; pain on the right had side of the torso (where the liver is located – as preeclampsia can cause liver dysfunction), disturbed vision (including flashing lights, dizziness or spots of light). At 37 weeks and a half I had a little scare and was sent to the hospital as I was feeling pain on my torso. When I got there my blood pressure was very high, so they monitored me during the night and for a moment I thought I was going to have the baby there and then, as the doctor in charge sounded a bit concerted.

After two weeks of constant checks, my consultant decided to induce me at 39 weeks to avoid any complications and I went on to give birth to a fine little boy at St John’s hospital in Chelmsford.