laurajanedoula

24/01/2024

14/11/2023

It's no wonder todays parents feel burnt out

https://www.facebook.com/100044102210070/posts/940956514051080/

Children from hunter-gatherer tribes were looked after by up to 10 adults, giving mothers more chance to rest

28/02/2023

Update on Entonox ✨

Update on the suspension of gas and air at Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospital maternity units

We are working hard to safely reintroduce gas and air (nitrous oxide) in our maternity units as soon as practically possible. Sadly this is not something we can do overnight, but please be assured that the experience of our birthing women and the safety of our staff are of paramount importance to us.

While we work with our Estates and Health and Safety teams to resolve the situation, we wanted to say how much we appreciate the support of the women in our units in the past few days. We continue to work closely with our women to ensure they can make the best alternative pain relief choices for them and their baby.

Meanwhile, women who are expecting to give birth in the coming weeks, and are concerned at the potential lack of gas and air for pain relief, can do the following:

• Speak to your community midwife to discuss your options, this may include a change to your birth plan, switching to a homebirth or switching to another maternity unit.
• If you are unable to talk to your community midwife, or your request is more urgent, then please call either the Maternity Helpline at PCH on 01733 677266 or the Labour Ward at Hinchingbrooke on 01480 847480/81.

Thank you for being patient. We are looking forward to sharing better news soon.

24/02/2023

This is frustrating and worrying news for anyone expecting a baby soon.
The latest CQC report stated 80% of labouring women used gas and air.
If I can help with anything, perhaps to talk through your options as you prepare for labour, please don't hesitate to reach out x

You may have seen concerns raised recently at other NHS Trusts around the use of Entonox (also known as gas and air) in maternity units in England.

There is no risk to women or babies using Entonox during labour but after testing the air quality in our maternity units, we have identified a potential risk of prolonged exposure for our staff. We have therefore made the decision to temporarily suspend the use of Entonox in our maternity units with immediate effect to protect our midwifery, nursing and medical teams.

We understand this may cause some concern for women and their birthing partners using our services and want to reassure you that our teams will be speaking to everyone using our services about alternative pain relief options. Our home birth service remains able to provide Entonox to women and people in their homes as we are able to permanently ventilate these spaces, eliminating the risk of prolonged exposure.

This is a decision that we have not taken lightly and we thank you for your understanding. We will update you further as soon as we have more information.

For FAQs on this matter, please visit our website:https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk/_resources/assets/attachment/full/0/21235.pdf

23/02/2023

Are you expecting a baby in May or June? Live in Peterborough? Want to make life long, local friends whilst enjoying a fun, engaging and interactive antenatal course?
There are only 4 spaces left on this upcoming course, come and reserve your spot today!
👇
https://www.nct.org.uk/course/C013254?ctype=NCT+Antenatal+course

16/02/2023

Food for thought?
Swaddling is often the go to practice after a baby is born but research is seeping through around whether it might not always be the best idea because it suppresses those newborn reflexes and subsequently their ability to breastfeed. Link to research below 🤍

The impact of swaddling upon breastfeeding: A critical review

New study published 14th February found infants swaddled immediately after birth show a delay in initial breastfeeding, less successful suckling at the breast, reduced intake of breastmilk and greater weight loss compared to un-swaddled babies.

Swaddling visually obscures feeding cues and reduces crying, thereby eliminating two key feeding prompts typically used by parents/carers.

As swaddled babies cry less, and are fed less frequently than un-swaddled babies some clinical trials position swaddling as a ‘novel weight regulation tool’ to combat obesity. However, in the case of breastfed babies, by reducing feed frequency swaddling may impede maternal milk production and thereby infant growth.

https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23878

15/02/2023

PANDAS host online zoom support groups for Dads ❤️ 🙌

If you are a Dad and feeling the strain of parenting, or simply want to connect with other Dads, then this is the place for you.

The calls will take place between 20.00-22.00 every Monday. The calls are drop in, so please feel free to join and leave the call when it suits you within that timeframe.

The group will be hosted by our amazing Dad volunteers, and you will be able to chat to other dads who maybe experiencing a similar journey as you. You will also be able to offer support to other Dads. We hope it will be a chance to reduce isolation and to get more support.

For more details and to sign up head over to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pandas-dads-support-call-tickets-299908653857 There's a direct link in our instagram stories above too (labelled "Online Dads")

07/02/2023

Did you know that there is a word, coined in 1973 by medical anthropologist Dana Raphael, to describe the huge physiological and psychological transition that women make when they become mothers?

That word is 'Matrescence'.

The fact that most have never heard of this word is a good example of how under-researched, misunderstood and undervalued this tremendous transformation is for new mothers. But understanding is so needed. As the Rajneesh quote goes: “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.”

This is why in 'How to be a Calm Parent' there is a whole chapter devoted to tackling transitions as a parent - including maybe the most important of them all; Matrescence.

Tag any new mums you know who would benefit from this ❤️

How to Be a Calm Parent: Lose the guilt, control your anger and tame the stress - for more peaceful and enjoyable parenting and calmer, happier children too: https://amzn.to/3Yfkxmi

07/02/2023

Is your baby due between May and June? There are still a couple of spaces on my upcoming St Ives Antenatal course beginning 16th March 2023 💚
Here is the link to book your place:

https://www.nct.org.uk/course/C013255?ctype=NCT+Antenatal+course