Birth Choices West Yorkshire

19/12/2021

Imagine how intense hunger must feel when you’ve only ever known complete satisfaction...

Imagine how lonely a crib must feel when you have only ever experienced the cramped tight embrace of your Mama’s womb...

Imagine how deafening silence must be when you have never not heard the beating of your Mama’s heart...

Let’s all have grace and patience for the babies as they adapt to life in the big wide world. These first few months should not be a race to be separated as soon as possible. This season too shall pass 🌿

07/07/2021

There are some stunningly good reasons to offer to induce someone’s labour.

Serious pre-eclampsia, for one. That’s a brilliant reason to recommend induction.

Or where the baby has a health problem or condition that will certainly get worse if they stay in the womb for longer. Also a great reason to recommend inducing labour.

Being Black, Brown, Asian or mixed race?

😮🙄🤦🏿‍♀️

Being older or a bit fatter than average? Or having conceived via IVF or ARTs?

Not so much.

In some of these situations, some data show that there’s a slightly increased chance of stillbirth in those groups compared to some other groups.

But it’s complicated.

Sometimes, different studies show different things. The difference can be tiny. Most importantly, we often don’t have any robust studies showing that inducing labour will reduce the risk. And we DO have studies showing that induction has long-term health consequences, leads to more intervention, can cause distress and trauma and a whole load of other things that aren’t ideal.

So there’s more to it than just recommending induction for anyone who is deemed to be “at higher risk.”

If you want the evidence for all of those things, see www.sarawickham.com/iol, or read my recent blog post at www.sarawickham.com about the reasons that we should be concerned about the draft NICE guidance on inducing labour.

Today is the last day on which NICE are accepting comments.

That doesn’t mean we’ll stop talking about this.

It does mean that this is the final day on which you can make your voice heard as far as NICE is concerned.

Look at my insta stories for direct links and instructions. I’m

Sign the petition created by .i.c.e

See feed and insta lives for more ideas and instructions.

If you do nothing else, or if the comments form feels too daunting, send NICE an email and tell them what you think, in your own words. They're at nice@nice.org.uk and at InducingLabourUpdate@nice.org.uk

Please do something to make your voice heard.

Today.

Thank you.

12/04/2021

☆☆ Hypnobirthing @ Babyccinos ☆☆

Seems like Hypnobirthing is everywhere now... and that's for good reason!

But only one is held at the place you'll likely spend most of your time once the little one arrives 😁

So meet new friends and form a post-birth support bubble at the place you'll find your second home, and sign up now 🙂

🌿Are you expecting a baby in the next few months?

🌿Haven't had the chance to meet any other pregnant couples?

🌿Not really sure what your birth might look like and what roles your birth partner might play?

🌿Don't really know where you would like to birth and how you will stay comfortable?

🌿Would like to know more about your choices?

Only a few spaces left on my April Course.

Starting Wednesday the 14th of April at 7pm and will run for 4 weeks.

Secure your space now via https://app.tickettailor.com/event/641843

02/02/2021

Great campaign by Birthrights

Day 2 of our campaign: when you make a request of a maternity service, they must start from "yes". The service must only say no if they really cannot safely support your request, and they should be able to explain why.

In other words if you want to give birth in the midwife led birth centre, or to have a caesarean, or to have your mum attend your birth as well as your partner, a Trust must first look to accommodate your decision, and only say no if they have a good, evidence based reason, having considered your individual circumstances. It is not good enough simply to say it is not their "policy". Care should be orientated around you. It is your right to decline any recommended option and to choose something which healthcare professionals might regard as unusual or “outside of guidance”.

For more specific advice, have a look at our factsheets at www.birthrights.org.uk or email us at advice@birthrights.org.uk

Then Screwed, , Institute, Trauma Association - UK, Birth Better, Not Maternity, BirthBliss Academy

11/12/2020

Caesarean birth IS birth.

We recommend every woman makes a caesarean birth plan no matter what kind of birth she is hoping for. In this way, you can still feel at the centre of decision making, heard and respected, and you can still feel like you have choices and options, even in birth in theatre.

Check out our newly launched online course Your Positive Birth Plan that covers all of this and more.
https://courses.positivebirthmovement.org/birth-plan



Posted • Twin mum on her way for a scheduled c section. We are so lucky to have this option available when it’s needed.

I keep on telling everyone to prepare themselves for birth. C sections is no exception. Find out what you need to feel safe to have an empowering experience.
I want to give a shout-out out to all you c section mums out there!

04/12/2020

The final month of what's been a crazy and largely unsettling year.

Lots to look forward to in 2021! Lots of new babies I'm sure, and lots of great help available from the Little Lavender Birth School.

Check out the website to see what courses are on offer.

There's also a positive cesarean workshop for anyone who needs some reassurance 😘 it's a private workshop so you can DM me for details and to book.

December 15th- FREE hypnobirthing taster session 8pm

January online group courses
Tues 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th at 7.30pm

Sat 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st at 9am

February online group course
Tues 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd at 7.30pm

20/11/2020

This was my fear 😔

A survey has found that women in labour feel they have no choice but to undergo an intimate exam, so their partner is allowed into the room

20/11/2020

"AIMS was pleased to sign the open letter to the CEO of NHS England drafted by our partner organisations Birthrights and Pregnant then Screwed pregnantthenscrewed.com/but-not-maternity/

The letter calls on NHS England to direct Trusts to ""treat maternity as a special case where women have the right to be supported and partners have a right to be present during each step of their maternity journey.""

New guidance from NHS England is expected soon.

See AIMS press release highlighting the impact of this issue www.aims.org.uk/campaigning/item/trusts-force-pregnant-women-to-attend-alone
"

17/11/2020

Our advice service is hearing from more and more people being told that if they decline a covid test, they will be treated as if they are positive and so not allowed their partner from the same household with them. This is NOT what national guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) says: you should be treated as if your result is pending, not positive ⬇️

https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

13/11/2020

❗️ IMPORTANT: If you are pregnant and notice a change in your baby’s regular movements contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately ❗️

ℹ️ Please remember that a change in your baby’s
movements can be an important warning sign that your baby is unwell 💔

ℹ️ Even during lockdown or if you are isolating, it’s vital you report reduced movements immediately. You shouldn't be worried if you need to come in and be seen at hospital.

If you are concerned contact maternity triage on: 01924 543003



Kicks Count

11/11/2020

From today, Wednesday 11 November 2020, all Auntie Pam’s Centres are temporarily closed due to the new national restrictions. We will not be able to accept donations or offer a collection service during this time. We have a fantastic remote service provided by trained volunteers if you need any support. Numbers are on the attached image.
We look forward to seeing you in December.
Take care and stay safe.

05/11/2020

20/10/2020

Support available for dads during the pandemic.

See Hear Respond is a partnership to help children, young people and families cope with the Covid-19 crisis.

19/10/2020

A review of 41 research studies has shown that "suspected LGA" (or being told that your baby is bigger than average), is only weakly predictive of the risk of shoulder dystocia and that routine ultrasound to check the size of a baby in the third trimester could do more harm than good.
🟣
Researchers looked at these studies becuase there is a growing trend towards recommending induction of labour for a variety of reasons, even though there isn't always good evidence to support this. Induction also carries risks and side effects of its own, and many women who experience induction of labour are not happy with the experience. This is especially the case at the moment, when many are still being told that they cannot have partners with them until they are in established labour. With induction, it can take up to three days for labour to become established, especially in first-time mums.
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This review looked at whether identifying larger than average babies by ultrasound was an effective way of predicting problems at birth, notably shoulder dystocia. They found that, although universal third-trimester ultrasound screening will result in more women being told that their babies are larger-than-average, it will not have a clinically significant effect at predicting shoulder dystocia.
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The authors of the review, "recommend caution prior to introducing universal third-trimester screening for macrosomia, as it would increase the rates of intervention, with potential iatrogenic harm, without clear evidence that it would reduce neonatal morbidity.
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The full review can be seen at https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003190
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It's important to weigh up ALL the pros and cons of induction of labour before deciding what is right for you and your baby.
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There's loads more info on induction and other birth-related decisions at www.sarawickham.com/iol
🟣

16/10/2020

Normality has a range.
☘️
It's not about a single date. A fixed due date (or, as some midwives like to more accurately call it, guess date) can be really unhelpful and X almost never marks the spot!
☘️
My website contains lots of information about normality, due dates and induction of labour and I have also written a book called Inducing Labour: making informed decisions for anyone who would like to know more. www.sarawickham.com/iol
☘️

29/09/2020

Well, that's one way to distract yourself during labour.

An eventer welcomed baby son after making it to the hospital in the nick of time after going into labour while at a horse show with her miniature Shetland

09/09/2020

😍