Raigan Hodgson - Midwife, Tauranga

30/10/2023

Homebirth Awareness Week 2023 starts today.
What words would you use to describe homebirth??

22/04/2023

01/04/2023

Joking please call me if you need anything but this is too good

29/11/2022

"Did you know that human babies are the most vulnerable, contact dependent, slowest developing social mammal on the planet?

Compared to other mammals, the human brain is tiny at birth; a mere 25% of its ultimate adult size.

Animals born into hostile environments tend to have larger infant brains to help them survive. Zebras, for example, need to be able to run with the herd just hours after birth – their relatively mature brains help them run and respond when a lion appears.

But, mother nature always has a survival strategy. So, what is the survival strategy for human babies? Easy. Mum and Dad. Without their parents, they couldn’t survive and so much of their behaviour is designed to keep us close most, if not all the time.

So, we need to give babies enormous amounts of love, touch and attention to allow them to thrive, not just survive, both day and night. And we should feel good about it - it’s what we’re instinctively driven to do. Despite what our society may say it’s biologically impossible to spoil a baby with love.

The first 3 years of life represent the most rapid period of brain development in our children’s lifetime. In the first 1000 days of life, a staggering 1M neural connections are made each second. These connections determine what kind of brain your baby grows. A brain that is balanced, stable, and resilient to stress. Or a brain that is unbalanced, over reactive and struggles to cope with stress.

While genetics provides a blueprint for brain development, it’s a child’s environment and their experiences that carry out the construction, forming the essential wiring of the brain. Repeated use of particular pathways strengthens individual connections.

Neural connections in the brain are vital in developing emotional regulation abilities. This is why it’s critical that we provide our children with experiences that contribute to healthy brain development.

So hug your baby, pick them up, hold them, nurture them, be with them.”

words 💛
artwork: 💜

29/11/2022

Some Things I Know.

Try to listen as if you have nothing to say after.
Water tends to solve restlessness, drinking it, splashing in it.
Stop worrying about their white clothes getting dirty.
Stop buying them white clothes.
You will not ruin them by sometimes saying the wrong thing.
Always buy more bananas than you think.
Hide spinach in smoothies, add berries for flavour.

Surrender to the sleep thing, it’s less exhausting than fighting it.
You will sleep again, sort of.
If they won’t eat their dinner, feed them off your plate, in their room, in the bath.
They will have a favourite book, it won’t be yours, but you will read it 100 times anyway.

You won’t need an alarm clock.
You won’t be a gentle parent all of the time, albeit trying.
If they’re playing & laughing it’s usually followed by crying.
Get a laundry hamper for each room, it’s easier.
Mum guilt gets the good mums.

Buy two of their favourite cuddly, if you know, you know.
You can try hide in the pantry but they will sniff you out.
You don’t need lots of fancy toys, they’ll enjoy the box it came in, the tv remote, the dog bowls.
Saying “it’s spicy”, only works for so long.
“I’ll race you to bed”, only works for so long.
Nothing is forever.

Be willing to unlearn so they can teach you.
Live in the moment when you remember to.
Don’t believe everything you see online.
Toddlers can be savage, it’s not just yours.
You don’t need everything in that nappy bag, but on the day you don’t bring it, you’ll need it.
Hours can pass by in 5 minutes but the years are short.

Get comfy with public tantrums, big emotions, yours too, and Blippi and Frozen.
Talk about how craft is for daycare.
Attempt said craft at home, cry.
Mess can be cleaned, but it’s OK if you’re triggered by it.
Remember you’re not just nurturing them but this life of yours together. Do things for you too.

Apologise to them if you need to.
Don’t apologise for them acting their age.
Keep reinforcing you said “truck”, it won’t work though.
Take a deep breath, teach them about deep breathing.
Most of us don’t know what we’re doing, but we show up.

Hold your arms out to them, even when you don’t feel like it.
You need that hug more than they do.

Words from ‘My After All’ www.jessicaurlichs.com/shop 📖

09/10/2022

✨💜~ New Offering ~💜✨

If you are pregnant (it doesn't matter whether this is your first baby or your tenth) and you desire the following, DM me now to sign up...

✨ a 6 week in-person course designed to help S et you up for an empowering, heart-fuelled birth and new motherhood experience
✨ an opportunity to connect with others who are giving birth soon
✨ being guided on your journey through the use of meditation, journaling, self-reflection, movement, art and relaxation
✨ unravelling any fears or self doubt that you have yet to unpack so that you can then focus on the birth experience you desire
✨ gaining tools and insights into how to work with your body and baby in birth
✨ developing trust in your innate birthing wisdom and inner knowings
✨ creating space to connect and communicate with your growing baby
✨ discussing and sharing with a supportive circle of women

Circles are held on Sunday evenings 6.45 - 8.15pm, House of Yoga, Mount Maunganui, 9th Oct - 20th Nov (minus 23rd Oct - Labour Weekend)
Investment is $225 - payment plans available

If you know of anyone who might be interested in attending, please share 🙏🏽💜

08/10/2022

I mohoi koe - Did you know...
We wrote a newsletter!
This will become a seasonal thing and it's pretty exciting. We are working hard to connect back in with our regional groups and community which has at times, felt hard over the last few years.
Simply email us at- admin@homebirth.org.nz and we will send you your copy (We promise not to spam you with mail!)
We would love some input also.. a poem, an article, a story, some musings. Send it through!

29/09/2022

What a birth ❤️

20/06/2022

Hi guys!

I’ve recently invested in a TENS machine and am hoping to hire this out to my mamas who are interested! Just asking for $50 to cover the cost of new pads. And I can deliver locally.

TENS machines are great for helping with labour pain. It gives you control over your pain relief, ensures you are still able to move around, and is non invasive.

The NEW 3-in-1 Elle TENS+ with contraction timer is undoubtedly the ultimate obstetric TENS machine. At last there is a TENS machine that covers all the different aspects of your labour and post labour needs and beyond. Essentially it is 3 fully functional TENS units in one. This versatile TENS unit can operate in either Birth Mode, General Pain Mode, or Pelvic Mode.     Features and Benefits: 3 units in 1 : treats birth pain,general pain and pelvic floor toning Uses 4 large pads Pre-set modes for ease of use Integrated boost button Built-in contraction timer Opti-max technology for extra power when you need it Neck cord for mobility Easy to read user display   Elle TENS Plus Modes: Birth mode: (Obstetric TENS) with contraction timer & Boost button Burst mode: generally used between contractions Boost mode: for combating additional pain during contractions General pain mode: suitable for many chronic & acute pain conditions such as back pain, shoulder pain, arthritis, sciatica, sports injuries, migraine, period pain and postoperative pain. Constant mode - Pulses are continuous and feel like a tingly sensation. This mode is generally used for acute pain conditions. Burst mode - Pulses are off and on in a regular cycle and will feel like a heartbeat sensation. This mode is generally used for chronic pain conditions. Massage mode - The pulses decrease and then increase in regular cycles creating a massaging sensation. Mixed mode - 3 seconds of Constant and 3 seconds of Burst as described above. Pelvic mode: vaginal probe for pelvic floor toning PROG 1 - Helps with urge Incontinence PROG 2 - Helps with Stress Incontinence PROG 3 - A combination of urge and stress incontinence. PROG 2 - After Care - an optional mode that can be used directly after treatment

02/06/2022

A little something I’ve been working on… watch this space!

02/06/2022

HELLO!

It has been a while! Almost six months ago I welcomed my third little boy into the world. Born beautifully at home, a healing birth that was everything I had hoped for.

Now I’m back in action and taking bookings for 2023 - please get in touch if you would like to enquire. Currently my little man and I are doing home visits but later in the year I will be offering appointments at my clinic in welcome bay.

I look forward to meeting new families again and helping them to achieve their own empowering births!

07/09/2021

Current Covid level 2 guidelines at the Tauranga Hospital

14/04/2021

25/03/2021

Such a privilege to be a part of this special journey ❤️❤️❤️

Monique is a beautiful example of embracing life with trust.
I met Monique early on in her pregnancy. She was excited to be expecting three precious babies!

We had a relaxation session together, as Monique was finding the Obstetric appointments stressful.

"At every appointment they repeat all of the risks in detail, and they talk to me about terminating one or two of my babies. I don't want to do that. I trust the journey, and accept whatever unfolds".

Moniques water broke at 31 weeks and she gave birth to her babies by cesarean. They are healthy and growing well- Monique has loads of milk!

"I have so much milk! I am pumping over two litres a day! And all of the babies are spending time at the breast. If I didn't have enough milk to feed them, I would accept that and say ok. But my body is producing more than enough, I already have a freezer full".

It is my pleasure to introduce this precious tribe:
Flora on the left, born weighing 2020g,
Laura in the middle weighing 1199g,
and brother Caetano 1875g.

Monique is one of the most graceful Mothers I have ever met!
Grace- moving through life with love and acceptance.

Photo- Sophia Paskell Mothers Circle