Leto’s Love Birth & beyond for South East London and North Kent

17/11/2023

WORLD PREMATURITY DAY 2023

I will forever be in awe of my boys who were born early and forever grateful at how they grew I know not every family who experiences premature babies are so lucky.

With premature deliveries the excitement of birth can be replaced by fear and trauma. Bonding can be delayed. Mental health can be affected in both parents.

There can be lasting concerned about development, health and learning issues which can last a lifetime, even in a seemingly well child.

Those of you experiencing early babies I see you.

#ᴡᴘᴅ2023

15/10/2023

WAVE OF LIGHT 2023

Remembering all those babies lost or born sleeping and their families.
Say their names.

03/10/2023

This week is the UK’s FIRST Physiological Birth week! Australia already have then and now we do too!!
What is it??
It’s a celebration of the incredible miracle of unhindered birth, as it was intended, hands off deliveries and breastfeeding to grow our newborns!!!
It does not in anyway lessen the miracle of c sections, birth interventions (when needed) or formula feeding. Medical interventions have saved many lives but also physically and mentally damaged more!
It’s simply a way to highlight what nature intended for us!
The majority of women, if left alone have all the tools needed to birth their baby!!!
This is being sphere headed by

As women we should celebrate the incredible power of our bodies!

21/09/2023

My eldest is going to secondary school next September 😱 and we’re embarking on the arduous task of viewing and picking a school.

Like every parent we have heard others horror stories, looked at Ofsted reports, done virtual tours and are now doing school visits.

This is very different from choosing a school when we moved to this area during covid. We liaised with the council, were given the nearest school with spaces and told we could not view it due to the restrictions so ended up at the nearest one to the home.

Surprisingly this is how many women treat birth planning. They find their nearest hospital, hear others horror stories, get told by the “professionals” to go there and just accept that’s their choice.

Listen up it’s not!

Read the CQC reports, take virtual tours, go and view the birthing centre and labour ward, meet with the home birth team and visit more than one unit. This with give you ALL the information to make an informed choice.

The councils choice of school is not my choice for my children, it wasn’t an informed choice and I still don’t know what facilities is even on site and I’ve never actually been around the school. Our secondary choice will be OURS it will be made with facts, visits and information.

Don’t walk blindly into your birthing choices, don’t presume the professionals are giving you the right information for your decisions.

Over 10 years of having babies I’m more informed and knowledgeable that I was with my first, having learnt the hard way, that the only way to get an informed decision is to get the information for myself!

30/08/2023

I know it’s scary to think of but as a children’s nurse I believe it’s imperative that EVERYBODY CD-ROM child through to grandparent earns to do CPR it’s a ove ski you never know when you will need it or h who you might save. Please watch tiny hearts video below

24/08/2023

Hear me out! I’ve been reflecting on my birthing journeys over the last 10 years.

With my first I attended the hospital birth education session. It covered the meaning of words such as induction, epidural and on which ward you could have which intervention BUT that was it.

Hypnobirthing was new and I had a book I read and decided that was the path for me HOWEVER there was no courses or practise and the midwives laughed at me! I went into labour at 35 weeks and was told I would give birth on labour ward and be induced if I didn’t progress in the next 24 hours. I did as I was told.
At 5 cm my 4th midwife told me I was close to giving birth and I needed gas and air and I took it. It was downhill from there to an epidural and episiotomy. To be honest i thought that’s how most delivers went.
Baby 2 the focus was on if I was at risk of another preterm birth, I got pre eclampsia and ended up in a forced induction despite me and hubby trying to get the consultant agreed c section. It was beyond traumatic. A placental abruption under GA, PTSD and severe postnatal depression.
Baby 3 I was massively supported by a named midwife and the perinatal mental health team who supported my right to choose. I had done my hypnobirthing teacher training. We had a robust birth plan signed off by the consultant midwife I had a wonderful water birth in the midwife led unit. My wishes were honoured.
Baby 4 I felt emotionally strong enough to advocate for myself more, my same named midwife got me in to see the consultant midwife early and she agreed a midwife led birth but also supported my wish for a homebirth. You see by now I learnt I needed to know more than terminology I needed to understand my rights, know I could challenge policy or guidance and advocate for the birth of my wishes within the realms of safety.
I got my home water birth!

When looking for your antenatal classes be aware of your choices, options and alternatives and that’s what I offer. Whether it’s a hospital labour ward, c section or home birth we work with you to give you all the tools you need to make informed decisions.

22/08/2023

IM BACK!

Its unlikely anyone has missed me on the crazy gram but end of January I had a baby girl! I decided to take time away from here to focus on us and protect my mental health post birth (something I have talked about extensively on here).
And you know what it’s been lovely!! She’s completed our family so all her firsts are my lasts and I’ve been savouring every moment!
We’re now starting solids so I’ve sent the morning cooking homemade foods for her to try! I’ve baby led weaned all my kids it’s so much easier to transition to the same foods than purées!
We’re still boobing and I’m loving it! Like all my babies I’ve just rolled with it and not put pressure on myself if it didn’t work. I have no plans on stopped anytime soon I’ll just be guided by her!
I had the most incredible homebirth which I will write about at a later date!

11/08/2023

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

106.6K likes, 1603 comments. “The superior gender”

02/08/2023

Well this is how to get labour going!!! A positive oxytocin filled environment while upright, forward and mobile!!!!!

02/08/2023

We are relatively lucky in the UK for the amount of maternity leave we are entitled to. However with the increased cost of living many can’t afford to stay off as long as they wish and breastfeeding is often cut short to accommodate a return to work.
Governments worldwide need to recognise the financial, health, social, emotional and environmental benefits to breastfeeding and support women to continue that journey as long as they feel able this should include full pay during at least the first 6 months, better support both in community but also in the work place.

World Breastfeeding Week starts today! Women shouldn’t require superpowers to juggle breastfeeding and work.

All moms everywhere, no matter their work or contract type, should have:
🧸 At least 18 weeks, preferably 6 months or more, of paid maternity leave
🧸 Paid time off for breastfeeding or expressing milk upon returning to work
🧸 Flexible return-to-work options

Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!

25/07/2023

I keep meaning to write my own version of this but sleep deprivation is getting the better of me with little miss! This is so true trust me by baby 4 she’s practically independent by 6 months compared with my first 🤣🤣🤣 it’s funny how we evolve as a mother with each baby. What things would you have told yourself as a first time mum now your further down the parenting road???

29/06/2023

BREASTFEEDING IN THE HEAT:

Watch this video for an explanation as to why you do not need to offer water during hot periods of you are breastfeeding:

https://fb.watch/lt4tNCrtz4/?startTimeMs=291000

03/03/2023

NHS website has updated its bed sharing and SIDS advice have a look to ensure safe sleeping

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or cot death, is rare. Find out how you can reduce the risk even further.

03/03/2023

Such a true explanation of breastfeeding I’m in the depths of early days again and the exhaustion is killing me along with a poor latch

What I didn't know about breastfeeding made breastfeeding hard. But what I learned was to cherish the moments spent breastfeeding. Category : Baby Feeding Guides & Schedules, Baby Feeding Tips, Real Feeding Stories from Real Mamas

17/11/2022

WORLD PREMATURITY DAY!

Since I’ve been a children’s nurse I have seen an increase in babies surviving younger and younger. We now see babies of 22 weeks surviving down to incredible advances in medical care but I want to focus on late pre-terms.
These babies are born after 34 weeks and often get overlooked as their treated as small term babies. These babies are not the same as a small term baby! I know I’ve had 2 of them!
My first two boys were both born in the 35 week and the important thing to remember is their not meant to be here yet! They can have problems with establishing feeding, maintaining their temperature and sleep most of their time while they need to gain weight. Don’t expect normal baby behaviour prior to their due date and reduce everything by from stimulation, passing the baby around, exposure to others germs and taking them out and about. Allow them that extra month to be as near to the womb experience as possible.

It can be a shock having your little one make a grand entrance early but by using all your Hypnobirthing training to remain calm and open to changes in your birth plan you can still experience a positive birth experience.

27/10/2022

If you have used this r not been able to use the feeding support in Bromley please respond to the NCT survey

If you've had a baby in the last couple of years, please help us to demonstrate that there is a real need for accessible face-to-face breastfeeding and infant feeding support in Bromley.

This survey will take 2-3 minutes and asks for your experiences of support, good or bad.

Simply click on the link in the comments below.

This will support our grant application to set up Baby Café Bromley.

28/09/2022

I love learning about traditional ways of supporting mums and this is a really easy way you can help create an imprint in your mind and body to help with relaxation when in labour!

Weird trick to prepare for your unmedicated labor and birth: holding ice cubes.

Your birth is more mindset over physical sensations; about 80% mental, 20% physical. When we can train our brains to keep mentally calm, we can feel it physically. Feeling fear creates what's known as the fear tension pain cycle. The more fear we have, the more it creates tension within the body, which causes us to feel greater pain. Therefore fear of pain and birth can actually lead to a more painful birth. The simple trick of holding an ice cube can help you mentally prepare by challenging your brain while your body is feeling uncomfortable.

Hold the ice cube for 60 seconds while staying calm and controlled. During this time, repeat your positive affirmations to yourself. This will create an imprint and muscle memory within your brain. It's just like when you study for a test while playing music. If you play music while you take your test, your brain and body respond just like it did when you studied and you get a better result. 🌸