Lucinda Rae - Bramble Birth

21/09/2024

Another beautiful straightforward 1st birth yesterday 🎉🥳🙌🏻

26/07/2024

05/01/2024

My tips for physiological birth

A labour ward is not the optimal environment for healthy women planning a physiological birth. Labour wards are led by obstetricians who are experts in disease in pregnancy and complications in birth. Seriously consider birth centres and home birth.
Look after your body and mind in pregnancy with good food, exercise, mindfulness, good rest/sleep and reducing stress.
Learn about birth physiology and how the labour environment influences oxytocin and stress hormones. Hypnobirthing courses are particularly good at this.
Keep well nourished and hydrated in early labour.
If you are planning a hospital birth, wait until you are having strong, regular contractions before going in. Learn about coping mechanisms to use at home.
Epidurals can completely remove sensations and allow for much needed sleep. Know that epidurals come with associated interventions including continuous fetal heart rate monitoring, a catheter in your bladder, the need for drugs if contractions slow (synthetic oxytocin), and instrumental birth such as forceps. You will also likely have a longer stay in hospital after birth.

To read/explore

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckley
In Your Own Time by Sara Wickham
The Positive Birth Company
Kathryn Graves Hypnobirthing

29/12/2023

Were you good at resting after you have a baby? I know I wasn’t but then, even as a midwife, I had spend all my time planning for and thinking about the birth and no time planning for the postnatal period. This is a mistake!

The postnatal period can be tough and looking after yourself in the form of good food and rest can go out the window if you get swept along with hospital midwife visits, family and friends, and just the assumption that the goal is to get back to ‘normal’ asap. But let me reassure you that around the world this is NOT the norm,
and rest and retreat are considered essential.

So if you need permission from someone, let it be me. Go back to bed!

08/12/2023

Four years ago, on a wintery night like this, there was an almost full moon in the sky and my Independant Midwife was making her way to me in labour. ❄️✨🌔

The special skill of Independant Midwives is watchfull waiting. Emilie and Rebecca barely said a word to me, until I needed their closeness at the very end. They left the process to unfold, as it does. They knew I didn’t want or need or expect to be told how to do it. They followed my lead, as I moaned and groaned and swore my way around the house.

Forever grateful to them and forever proud of my great strength in birthing baby Magni.
💙💙💙

28/11/2023

It usually goes something like this…

At the first signs of labour we are in contact via whatsapp. Mild surges, diarrhoea, mucus show, full moon, an urge to nest? We discuss it all! I receive a LOT of photos of underwear, mucus, contents of the toilet, stained sheets etc and this is really helpful. This goes on for however long and sometimes I might want to call you to check in or ask about something specific, or you might want to speak for reassurance. We usually discuss again what labour might look and feel like for you, and when I should be on my way over to you. This is different for everyone and depends a lot on which number baby this is and what your specific needs and expectations are.

I am often called by Dads/birth partners and I like this as it allows the woman to get on with whatever she is doing. Skip the baffling hospital switchboard. I ask about how long, strong and frequent surges are and since when. I am not prescriptive about this as every birth is unique, but if I can hear a woman moaning and groaning in the background that is usually good enough for me. Often with a first baby I don’t come out on the first phone call but reassure you all is well and advise you to call me back when xyz…

If I am expecting to be called out overnight I usually sleep on the sofa to avoid waking Jimi and Magni. I make sure my car is full of fuel and my kit is all in the car. If emergency drugs aren’t already in the clients fridge I take them along in a cool bag. I lay out my clothes and toothbrush and pack some snacks, coffee, spare socks (birth pool = wet socks). I have been known to take pjs incase of a long one…

The point of all this is that my dedication to you and your birth is significant (and I speak for all the independent midwives I work alongside here). We will also have met many times by this point and I will be a familiar and friendly face to everyone in your house. I am always excited at the prospect of attending your long awaited birth and am available to provide whatever support is needed 24 hours a day, for as many weeks as it takes for your baby to arrive.

07/11/2023

Blood, sweat, tears, poo, amniotic fluid, some loud, some quiet - and all basking in their strength and glory when it’s all over (the birth part at least). What an autumn it has been so far! This is the power of choosing your place of birth wisely and knowing your midwife.

01/10/2023

I PROMISE you will never regret giving them so much love

22/09/2023

All too common. Causes midwives to leave too.

Our advice service receives a high number of enquiries about home-birth provision, with an increasing number of people reporting home birth services that are currently suspended or cancelled across the UK. We are also writing to those Trusts and Health Boards who are suspending choices of where to give birth without any reference to human rights law.

Choice of place of birth is a key right for women and birthing people and should only be restricted in very specific circumstances. It’s very concerning that this choice is not being supported in some parts of the UK.

Birthrights continue to campaign for better support for and investment in maternity services so that everyone who is pregnant has access to every option when it comes to places to give birth.

Visit our website for more information or you can contact us directly for advice and support via the contact form on our website (link in our bio).

17/09/2023

I will soon be offering the detailed examination of the newborn or ‘NIPE’.

The NIPE is a top to toe, examination of your babe within 72h of life. We specifically examine the lens of the eye, heart and cardiovascular system, hips, and te**es (boys). I also provide reassurance and signposting surrounding all things newborn - wet and dirty nappies, jaundice, safe sleep, rashes and skin, growth and development and much more.

Coming in November! But first I have to write this blasted essay 😵‍💫😱📚✏️

17/09/2023

I will soon be offering the detailed examination of the newborn or ‘NIPE’ to all my clients, and anyone else who would like one.

The NIPE is a top to toe, examination of your babe within 72h of life. We specifically examine the lens of the eye, heart and cardiovascular system, hips, and te**es (boys). I also provide reassurance and signposting surrounding all things newborn - wet and dirty nappies, jaundice, safe sleep, rashes and dry skin, growth and development and much more.

Coming in November! But first I have to write this essay 😵‍💫😱📚✏️