cocos_sleaford

20/03/2026

👩‍⚕️ Is it better to see the same midwife or a small team of midwives throughout pregnancy and labour?

Evidence from 17 studies involving 18,533 randomized women was included in this updated systematic review.

Women or their babies who received midwife continuity of care models (seeing the same midwife or team of midwives) were:

⚕️ Less likely to experience a caesarean section or instrumental birth with forceps or a ventouse suction cup.

⚕️May be less likely to experience an episiotomy (a cut made by a healthcare professional into the perineum and vaginal wall).

⚕️More likely to experience spontaneous vaginal birth.

⚕️Reported more positive experiences during pregnancy, labour, and postpartum.

⚕️Additionally, there were cost savings in the antenatal (care during pregnancy) and intrapartum (care during labour and birth) period.

Further evidence may change our results, and future research should focus on the impact on women with social risk factors and those with medical complications, and understanding the implementation and scaling up of midwife continuity of care models, with emphasis on low‐ and middle‐income countries.

Read the full Cochrane review: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub6/full

15/03/2026

How lucky are we, to see the moment somebody becomes a Mum and to see and support those early days of motherhood 🩷

🌸 HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 🌸

No matter what your experience, at Tommy's, we see every mum. And we’re with you. Mother’s Day, and every other day you need us

13/03/2026

🏡 B I R T H S T O R Y 🏡
Thank you so much to Emily for sharing her Sleaford CoCos homebirth story. Photo and story shared with permission.

“During the early hours of Monday 9th February (I was 40+5) I started having some cramps, my midwife Di was already due to visit that day. Di came to my house around 9.30am and did a sweep (we laughed about Mr Tumble being on TV in the background for my toddler 🤣). I was 3cm dilated at this point. We were planning on having a homebirth again and Di let me know she was now on call for the home birth service.

Throughout the day I was having contractions but they were inconsistent, starting then stopping again. We arranged childcare for our 2 boys and I spent some time resting before things started to ramp up around teatime, with my contractions coming every 5 minutes. Di and Catherine arrived around 7.30pm, I got in the pool and was focusing on my breathing and squeezing my birth comb (I had the shakes and also puked once inbetween 😅).

My waters broke and not long after, our baby girl Ettie was born at 9.44pm weighing a chunky 8lb 8oz.

I've been lucky enough to have two homebirths under the care of Sleaford cocos now with Di being my community midwife for both but this time the stars aligned and she was there for the birth too, which I'm so grateful for.

Thank you to the whole cocos team, you're all wonderful humans 🫶🏼”

12/03/2026

It's usually done innocently, but it can cause great hurt and upset. If you are honoured enough to find out about the birth of a baby, keep it to yourself until the parents have announced it themselves.

A personal pet peeve of mine is also people who comment things like "so glad we can finally talk it about it" or a similar comment that lets everyone know they knew first. There are lots of reasons people may not have been told yet and comments like this can cause unnecessary drama.

10/03/2026

We excited to announce that we are now live with the BadgerNotes App! 📝

Get the app downloaded then speak to your midwife to register you! ☺️

09/03/2026

Just because it’s on the shelf doesn’t mean it’s suitable for sleep. 🤔

Baby sleep products aren’t always designed with safer sleep in mind, even if they’re marketed that way.

When it comes to your baby’s sleep space, keep it simple to keep it safe. You don’t need to buy lots of products or spend money on expensive items.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is on their back in their own clear, flat, firm sleep space.

There are just a few items that we recommend – the baby necessities:

- Cot or Moses basket
- Portable sleep space such as a travel cot, carry cot or Moses basket
- Firm, flat, waterproof mattress
- Sleeping bag or sheets and a lightweight blanket
- Room thermometer
- Car seat – this is not intended for sleeping when not travelling, but is essential for safer travel.

Discover expert advice on everything you need to know about baby product safety: https://bit.ly/4uaPUhY

08/03/2026

💜 Today we celebrate International Women's Day 2026.

As midwives in a continuity team, we have the privilege of walking alongside women during one of the most powerful and transformative times in their lives.

Every day we witness strength, courage and love in the women we care for throughout pregnancy and birth.

We are proud to support women as they grow families, and to welcome the next generation into the world - including the baby girls who will grow up to shape our communities in ways we can only begin to imagine.

While midwifery is a profession historically led by women, it is strengthened by the contributions of ALL midwives who decided they wanted to be “with woman”.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the support, guidance, and care midwives provide to women throughout pregnancy and birth, helping them to feel confident, safe, empowered, and ready to welcome their babies and nurture the next generation of strong women.

To all of the women we care for, the mums, the mums-to-be, our wonderful midwifery and obstetric colleagues, the future midwives and the little girls born into our care, today we celebrate all of you. 💜

18/02/2026

Speak to your midwife for more information

Vaccines during pregnancy help protect your baby from serious illnesses — even before they’re born. 🍼

💉 The antibodies you develop pass through the placenta, giving your baby early protection. Speak to your midwife or healthcare professional to learn more.
nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vaccinations/

13/02/2026

🩵 B I R T H S T O R Y 🩵
Photos and story hared with permission from Asha. Thank you Asha for sharing.

“Throughout my whole pregnancy a home water birth was our preference and we did everything to plan for it. I had such a relaxed mindset going into birth which really helped my pregnancy. Mary, my midwife, was such a fantastic support throughout, and fully backed our decisions!

However, at 37 weeks I developed gestational hypertension (high blood pressure caused by pregnancy). My options became a little more limited, however a complex home birth plan was put in place and I could decide on the day how I felt and what the best decision was in that moment. It all hugely helped towards a more relaxed approach to birth!

I had weekly scans from then onwards. I went along to my 41 week scan and although the baby and blood flow was absolutely fine, they hadn’t grown in a couple of weeks. After a lot of discussion at the hospital, with my husband, and with my doula, we made the decision that a relaxed C section was the best option. Mary my midwife was actually not working on that day but specifically asked me to keep her updated, which was really appreciated.

Our C section, although not part of our original home birth plan at all, was incredibly relaxed, with minimal interventions. The consultant on the day eased any of my worries and told me to ask all of the questions (many were silly) that I needed to. After our surprise little boy was born (we had decided to find out at birth!!), I was able to have 4 hours of undisturbed skin to skin with him when he was just a few minutes old!

Once home we saw the lovely Mandy the day after and pretty much all of the Cocos midwives over the next few weeks. In particular, I had fantastic breastfeeding support from Michelle. Those visits in those first few weeks were invaluable and definitely contributed to our successful breastfeeding journey; we are still going 4 months later! Mary also made an extra trip to come and see us 3 weeks post birth in order to just see how we were and discharge us!

I am so grateful for everyone who helped us to have a relaxed birth, even though it wasn’t our plan. Thank you to the Cocos team for all your support. We are so happy and grateful that we have our gorgeous little boy!”

06/02/2026

https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/fsa-asks-parents-and-caregivers-to-check-their-infant-formula-products-as-danone-recalls-some-batches-of-aptamil-and-cow-gate

Further batches of Danone infant formula products have been recalled today (6 February 2026). The FSA is asking parents and caregivers to check the batches listed in the Product Recall Information Notices and stop using any that are affected.

21/01/2026

💕B I R T H S T O R Y💕
Photos and story shared with permission from Mariessa. Thank you Mariessa for sharing.

“Florence birth story

I had the absolute pleasure of having Mandy again as my Cocos midwife for my 2nd pregnancy! Anyone who knows Mandy or has had her as their midwife knows just how amazing she is, she supported me through every appointment and was always so accommodating to our eldest (who was only 9 months when we fell pregnant again).

At my 20 week scan was told I had a low lying placenta and a potential amniotic band. I was told this could result in a c-section if not moved by 32 weeks, this sent me into a bit of a worry and panic but Mandy was amazing at being at the end of the phone, even in the evening, to reassure me and fully explain everything, which calmed my anxieties no end! Luckily all was moved & well at 32 weeks.

My labour was a very speedy one with our little Florence! I was in the hospital on the Tuesday, with what we thought was labour starting however Florence moved to be back to back and everything stopped very quickly and we came home.

Mandy very kindly came and checked me at home to see what position baby was in on Wednesday evening and reassured me all it would take was some good contractions and they’ll be ready to go!

Mandy wasn’t wrong, I woke at 2:45am on Thursday 9th October, with my first contraction and they were coming back to back!! My husband luckily got us to the hospital in time, with me feeling babies head coming as we got near the prison!

The midwives at Lincoln hospital were amazing, I had a midwife & a student who were incredible and trusted everything I was saying and just let me and my body do the work, with the help of the amazing birthing comb (fab recommendation from Mandy in my first pregnancy, enabled me to have 2 births with no pain relief or gas & air)

After only 20 minutes of being at the hospital, our gorgeous Florence Iris was born at 4:55am weighing a lovely 7lb5oz.”