Ceara • Childbirth Educator • Doula

21/11/2021

14/07/2020

Do you know what I love the most about this photo?

The fact that no one is interfering with this sacred moment.

Mama is holding her baby close. No one is disrupting them. No one is checking if the cord is still pulsing, measuring babies head, weighing baby, putting a tag on baby, asking questions, giving baby a vitamin k injection, removing baby to a warming table... they are simply just left to enjoy the moment!

And that is my favourite thing ❤️

Photos Credit- Teresa Palacios

10/07/2020

In routine hospital based care, women are ‘offered’ vaginal examinations to assess cervical dilation progress at least every 4 hours. I’m a homebirth midwife and NEVER routinely suggest vaginal examinations. Vaginal examinations are an assessment OPTION that might be used in certain clinical circumstances or at the request of the woman. The is NO evidence that routine vaginal examinations for assessing progress of labour improve outcomes for women or babies at term. If you don’t want a vaginal exam or don’t think it’s necessary for you at that time in labour, you can decline (you can decline EVERYTHING if you want)... there is no evidence that this routine intervention has a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of women or their babies. Article: ‘routine vaginal examinations for assessing progress of labour to improve outcomes for women and babies at term’ Cochrane Database of systematic reviews

27/06/2020

Today is PTSD Awareness Day

While it is not something most of us like to think about some birthing people and their partners experience the birth of their babies as traumatic.

These parents deserve kindness, compassion and to be believed as what can sometimes look like a straight forward birth on paper is not how the family experienced it.

Research shows us that there are ways to prevent or reduce the risk of birth trauma. While much of this relates to the care provider parents-to-be can also help themselves in many ways.

💜 Be informed - having an understanding of the process and how things work in labour and birth can help parents to be feel more secure in what is happening.
💜Practice informed decision making - get comfortable with making decisions about your care as feelings of control and being listened too are key.
💜A supportive birth partner - be that the other parent, a doula or a known midwife or OB, having consistent support from someone you trust is protective.

If you have experienced Birth Trauma and would like support you can contact your GP or PHN or private psychological services directly
http://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/find-a-psychologist/
https://nurturehealth.ie/

16/06/2020

The connection between the cervix and the vocal cords is the largest nerve in the body called the vagus nerve.
The diaphragm that sits under your lungs massages the vagus nerve as we breath in and out. The way we breathe (or don’t breathe) affects
When we breath naturally and calmly, adding in our voice for good measure, the vagus nerve is happy and sends beautiful messages throughout body.
Those messages say relax, balance, and release anxiety. When we don’t have those messages, we have the opposite reaction - tension. Our bodies tense and eventually begin to curb our oxygen exchange. That makes us feel really tired. The more the cascade of tension happens, the more the vagus nerve stops getting those pulses.
No communication between all these parts is problematic. That’s why, in labor, we focus on low groaning noises, the noises that come naturally.
Anytime we are in discomfort or fear takes hold, our bodies tighten because of the adrenaline release. Think about getting a scare, is your voice low and balanced or high and shrilly?
Becoming conscious of your different sounds and their affects on the body can be beneficial to all parts of your life, especially in birth.
Repost .

11/06/2020

Affirmations aren't only for pregnant people, they can be super for partners preparing for the birth as well.

08/06/2020

Day One of Infant Mental Health Awareness Week - 'What is infant mental health and why does it matter?'

This baby you're soothing might one day be a man ringing to tell you he's split up with his partner and he's completely devastated.

This baby you're holding close might one day be a woman who rings to tell you she's had another miscarriage and that her world has fallen apart.

This baby you're chatting to might one day be a man who calls to tell you he's lost his job unexpectedly and he doesn't know how he will pay his rent.

Life 'happens' - it touches us all. There is no avoiding it. There are ups and downs, good times, hard times, easy seasons and stretching ones. When life is hard you subconsciously look to your 'mental health toolkit' in order to cope. 'Toolkits' vary hugely person to person, depending on the experiences they have had.

How we are with our babies in the early years matters. It's shaping what goes in that toolkit. These are future adults who, thanks to your care NOW, will have better 'tools' for managing the harder parts of life later.

Mental health relates to a person's psychological and emotional well-being. Mental health affects how you think, feel, and behave. Everyone has 'mental health' it affects us all.

So - where does it start?

Technically it starts developing in utero and is influenced by things such as maternal stress level. If Mum's stress levels are very high over a prolonged period it sends a message to the unborn baby interpreted as "Ok Mum, you're really stressed, it must be a pretty stressful place out there! I'll start getting ready for it.' This can begin to prime a baby's nervous system for high stress. But we're focusing this week on mental health once baby is earth side. So when does that start? When they start talking? Age 2? School?

No. It starts from day one, hour one. How do you treat me. How do you look at me. What does your face do when it sees me? Do you look engaged and pleased I'm here or do you not really notice me. Do you hold me when I need holding? Do you comfort me when I need comforting? Do you try to understand me? Do I matter to you? Is my emotional experience important to you? When I have a problem and need you do you try to help me or do you usually leave me, hoping I figure it out by myself? When my stress levels are high, do you help me calm down? Do you 'see' me? Do you hear me? Am I meaningful to you or am I "just a baby". Do you tune in and see the world through my eyes?

How you are with me in these early years matters. It's how I learn about myself and who I am. It's how I learn that I have value. It's how I learn that I should expect to be treated well. It's how I learn about my feelings and emotions, and how to manage them. It's how I learn to have the confidence to speak up and know my voice counts. It's how I learn to manage problems well - because my body hasn't been programmed to be overwhelmed by them, I know I can overcome and manage difficult things because when I was little we did difficult things together so now I'm an adult that means I'm better at doing difficult things by myself.

Please don't think all this effort and 24/7 care of me is pointless or all for nothing. It's the opposite. How you are with me is my foundations going in. My foundations affect my mental health both now and in the future. Foundations when they're done well, make a building strong. You DON'T have to get it right all the time for me to thrive, research has suggested you just need to do it a third of the time (Dan Siegel). When you get it wrong, don't panic, just try to make it right again by 'repairing' our connection.

Please try to see my world through my eyes and keep me in your mind. When you do, it's not only my day that gets brighter, but my future too.
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29/05/2020

Dr Sara Wickham shares and unpacks four commonly-seen vitamin K myths, explaining why some information sources have got it wrong.

28/05/2020

Getting feedback makes me say YEAH!!

I have places available for online 1:1 antenatal courses morning, afternoon, evening or weekends - whenever suits you best 😊

DM for info

22/05/2020

• • • • • •
Today is World Pre-eclampsia Day 🤰Mild pre-eclampsia can affect up to 10% of first-time pregnancies. More severe pre-eclampsia can affect 1-2% of pregnancies. If you have pre-eclampsia during your first pregnancy, you will be more likely to have it again in subsequent pregnancies. 🤰It usually develops after 20 weeks or also straight after birth. 🤰Initial Symptoms include hypertension (high blood pressure) and proteinuria (protein in your urine). These will be assessed at gp and hospital appointments. 🤰As pre-eclampsia develops there may be fluid retention. While this is common in pregnancy, it is usually in the lower parts of the body- feet, ankles, lower legs. Whereas sudden swelling, particularily of the face or hands, can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia. 🤰As pre-eclampsia develops further symptoms can include headache, vision problems, vomiting, general unwell feeling.
If undiagnosed pre-eclampsia can develop more severe complications. 🤰For babies pre-eclampsia can cause slower growth compared to one unexpected by pre-eclampsia. 🤰It is important that pre-eclampsia is diagnosed. Once diagnosed there will be close monitoring of the women and the baby. The only cure for pre-eclampsia is birth.
More information on 👩‍💻www.efcni.org/downloads/factsheets/
👩‍💻Www.hse.ie

22/05/2020

Beautiful Elderflower🌼

We're going to make some yummy cordial later! Delighted to have found a better use for my basket - it was being used for school books!

15/05/2020

• • • • • •
It's KANGAROO CARE DAY!

Hello to all the parents engaged in Kangaroo Care of their precious little ones.
So just what is it?
Kangaroo care is form of positive touch where the baby is placed inside the parent’s clothes to their chest, with skin-on-skin contact as an intervention. In general, the baby is naked except for their nappy and, if necessary, a hat and/or blanket for extra warmth. It is particularly benefical as a mode of care for preterm and sick babies.
What are the Benefits of Kangaroo Care? 🌟It helps calm your baby.
🌟It helps regulate baby’s heart rate and breathing. 🌟It encourages deeper sleep which improves weight gain.
🌟It helps to maintain baby’s body temperature and keeps them warm. 🌟It helps conserve baby’s energy. 🌟It helps increase your baby’s blood sugars and stabilise their metabolism.
🌟It improves your baby’s immunity and reduce the risk of infection.
🌟It improves your baby’s neurobehavioral responses.
🌟It aids parent-infant bonding process and positive attachment.
🌟It helps stimulate breast milk production and increases milk supply.
🌟It helps to build a sense of well-being and self-confidence in parents.
🌟It helps promote an early discharge from hospital.

13/05/2020

Happy

12/05/2020

07/05/2020

• • • • • •
Let’s talk about sweeps
🔹
A sweep, or stretch & sweep, or membrane sweep, involves your midwife or doctor sweeping a finger around your cervix during a vaginal examination.
🔹
This is usually offered in late pregnancy to help stimulate the onset of labour. Midwife researcher (2018) states that for every 8 women that receive a sweep, 1 of those will go into labour. At the same time, it is difficult to tell if labour started due to the sweep, or if the body was about it go into labour anyway.
🔹
The same as every intervention, there are risks involved - discomfort during the examination, light bleeding, increased risk of infection and irregular contractions. Most studies show that a sweep may bring labour forward by about 24 hours.
🔹
If a sweep is being discussed during your antenatal appointment, make sure you ask questions, receive all the information you need and make an informed decision. As much you consent to a procedure, remember you can also decline. Weigh up the benefits and risks and do what is right for you, your body and your baby.
🔹
To read up more on sweeps, the following article has lots of information and definitely worth checking it out:

https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/what-is-a-stretch-and-sweep/

05/05/2020

THANK YOU MIDWIVES!

Today, we celebrate International Day of the Midwife! A day set aside to recognise and honour the amazing contribution midwives make in ensuring safe and evidence based care for mothers and babies.

In Ireland, midwives are at the core of our maternity services, providing care antenatally, through labour and birth and right into the postnatal period. Globally, Midwives work in a variety of settings including hospitals, DOMINO schemes, birth centres, homebirths and in the community.

Extensive research has show that midwifery led care is associated with increased positive outcomes for both mother and baby and is considered the ‘gold standard’ in maternity care by the World Health Organisation.

Thank you midwives - from all of us at Antenatal Ireland!

04/05/2020

What a day!

01/05/2020

When your mixer breaks but you have biscuits to make for this weeks Bake Off!!