Natural Nurturing Doula

07/09/2022

Great advice from the Lullaby Trust 👇
If you use a rain cover on your baby's pram, make sure you only use the cover when it's raining and take the cover off when indoors.
Regularly check that your baby isn't getting too hot under the rain cover by feeling the back of their neck or chest. If their skin feels hot or clammy, remove a layer of clothing or their blanket.

21/08/2022

Due dates can be really helpful in some ways, and a real pain in others.

And it’s important to realise what they can and can’t do.

Can they give us a rough idea of when a baby might be due?

Yes.

Is that helpful for planning, ordering the birth pool, arranging for childcare and to guide some of the care we might want during pregnancy?

Of course.

On the other hand, though…

A due date is not a 'best before' date.

It's not an expiration date.

It's a guess.

And research shows that only about 5% of babies (that’s one in twenty babies) are born on their due date.

So as I often say to expectant parents, plan to do something nice on your due date.

You’ve got a really good chance of being able to do it.

And it might help you remember that due dates are a guide, not a guarantee.

My website contains lots of information about normality, due dates and induction of labour.

I have also written two books about this: Inducing Labour: making informed decisions and In Your Own Time: how western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop.

Find out more at www.sarawickham.com/iol

15/08/2022

Breastfeeding and Saliva

Did you know that your baby’s saliva is a messenger service?
 
When your baby is breastfeeding, their saliva enters your body through the ni**le and tells your body exactly what it needs. Breastfeeding is a private conversation between mother and baby where your baby asks and promptly receives what they need. It’s really quite amazing. 
 
The composition of breastmilk changes in response to your baby’s saliva; if pathogens are detected, your body creates antibodies to fight the infection and those antibodies travel through breast milk back into your baby. The same goes for nutritional composition; breastmilk changes every day, according to the specific, individual needs of your baby. 
 
Your breastmilk is an ever changing, bespoke recipe that’s guided by your baby’s nutritional and immunological needs. 

Want to learn more with me? Check out .birth.class my online childbirth education course

📷

Repost

09/08/2022

28/07/2022

Hold the mother, not the baby.⁣
⁣
Because the baby’s being taken care of—⁣
fed, snuggled, and given all the love in the world—⁣
by not only the mother,⁣
but her partner, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and friends.⁣
⁣
But the mother,⁣
may have gaps in her mind from lack of sleep,⁣
may be mechanical in her motions as she’s healing,⁣
may feel more like a mess than a mother,⁣
may be sitting in bed, crying, feeling overwhelmed in her body and life,⁣
may be full of mom guilt because in her mind, "she's not good enough,"⁣
and she’s bleeding, wincing in pain, swollen and emotional.⁣
⁣
And the mother’s that baby's whole world and needs to be seen, so she doesn't disappear into that postpartum fog.⁣
⁣
So, hold the mother, not the baby.⁣
⁣
A mother agrees that her baby matters more.⁣
But she’s hurting, while she’s the person behind the baby,⁣
in the background, making it all happen:⁣
feeding her baby at all hours,⁣
snuggling her baby close to comfort newborn cries,⁣
and being that baby’s everything.⁣
⁣
So, it’s the mother who needs your love.⁣
⁣
And a mother will remember who held her up.⁣
⁣
So instead of “I’m coming to see the baby,”⁣
try saying, “I’m coming to see you 𝘢𝘯𝘥 meet the baby, too.”⁣
⁣
Because the mother needs to be held more.⁣

📸: This Mama Doodles
....................................................⁣⁣
My Children’s Book 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 is out everywhere: https://amzn.to/317TvVc

24/07/2022

Did you know that in 1933, the average age that babies started solids was 7.5 months old?

Who wants to guess at why by 1960 80% of babies were having their first taste of solid food at 4 weeks of age?

𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘼𝙉𝙎𝙒𝙀𝙍?

Commercialisation of baby foods including formula. In my Starting Solids Workshop, I share an advert that proudly declares “Nothing builds babies like MEAT so feed it to ‘em DAILY! (Suitable from 3 weeks old.)”

Meat. For 3-week-old infants.

Sadly, we’re still battling commercial interests when it comes to feeding our babies. Those jars in the supermarket that say “suitable from 4 months”? They’re only there because of a loophole in British law. We are pretty confident at this point that babies do NOT need solids at four months old, but the companies want another two months of your custom.

If you want evidence based information and to bust the myths about starting solids out of the water then I would love to see you at my next starting solids workshop on 5th August.

https://lucyruddle.co.uk/product/solids-august/

All other workshops for the rest of the year are also available to book in my shop.

I’d love to see you at my next starting solids course. Feedback includes “This was far more in depth than the one I did with my eldest!”

“Thank you! I’m now excited, not scared to start solids!”

“I was going to start solids this week (baby is 5 months) but I’m going to hold off now I understand that solids won’t fill her up!”

15/07/2022

Hot weather and babies...

Skin to skin with a baby in this heat might feel a bit slippery, but your sweat helps to cool baby as well as you. I know, that's a bit gross...

You don't need to give an exclusively breastfed baby water - but please make sure YOU DRINK PLENTY.

Your breastfed baby will probably want to feed more often and you might see some green poo. This is because baby is taking lots of smaller feeds, which are made up of a higher water volume and a lower fat volume. As long as baby is happy and gaining weight well, it's not usually a concern.

If you are combination feeding you can offer extra breastfeeds if you'd like to.

The NHS does suggest small amounts of cooled boiled water for exclusively formula fed babies. However, remember that water will fill up a tummy, possibly reducing nutritional intake, and can cause electrolyte imbalance. Some sources recommend that you give extra feeds, rather than water.

If you're out and about, make sure baby is wearing a wide brimmed hat. Do NOT cover a pram / car seat etc, to keep the sun off, even with a thin cloth. This will raise the temperature inside the pram considerably. Instead, consider a parasol that clips on to the pram.

For nights - I remember being told that it's better to slightly underdress them than to overdress them because a cold baby or toddler will wake up - a hot one might keep sleeping. It's very likely that your little one needs nothing more than a nappy at the moment.

Remember that a flat sheet is about 0.2 - 0.5 togs, but it can be hard to find sleeping bags lighter than 1 tog! If you're using a sheet it should be tucked in though, and away from baby's face.

If you're using ice in front of a fan - keep it away from electrical devices because you don't really want to push water particles that way...

It's going to be a rubbish few nights. For all of us, whether we have tiny humans or not. Be kind and patient with yourself as well as your kiddos.

08/05/2022

Absolutely amazing photos of an en caul caesarean birth!

13/04/2022

Breastmilk is perfectly designed to feed and nourish our babies in so many different and amazing ways! Love this article ❤️

https://raisedgood.com/life-changing-magic-nursing-baby-to-sleep/?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com&fbclid=IwAR2Ca4KLrn11QJ21fc0W2_32btvOFoPbkle5LAAh3FXTubnlmUIVj9zI9Rc

Have you been told breastfeeding your baby to sleep is a 'bad' habit? Here are six science backed reasons nursing your baby to sleep is normal and healthy.

23/03/2022

What is a Doula?

doula
noun
noun: doula; plural noun: doulas
pronounced: doo-la
a woman, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman during labour.
a woman employed to provide guidance and support to the mother of a newborn baby.
Origin: Greek
1960s: modern Greek, from Greek doulē ‘female slave’.

What can I offer you as a Doula?
🤰🏽
Dependable👍🏼
If you choose me as your birth doula I will be there for you throughout your labour and delivery. Having a consistent, friendly face will help you feel safe and secure and therefore more relaxed and happy. This will help your labour to progress in a natural way, reducing the need for intervention, shortening the length of labour and allow your body to do what it knows how - to birth your baby!
🤰🏽
Observant👀
As your Doula I will be observing what is happening around you so you can go within and focus on your labour. I will already be aware of your birth wishes so part of my job is to ensure that these are respected. I am there to protect your birth space and ensure you have the environment you wish for, whether you are at home or on a delivery suite. I will be aware of any concerns the medical staff may have and make sure you are fully informed so you can make decisions and choices about your care knowing all the options.
🤰🏽
Uplifting😊
Your body works really hard during labour and it can sometimes be a long process. I will be there to support you, keep your spirits up and help you through in any way you need. In early labour this could be going for a walk together, putting on your favourite music or just having a cuppa and a chat. The aim is to keep oxytocin levels up as this hormone is what gets the cervix to dilate, therefore helping labour progress more quickly.
As active labour progresses I will be there to encourage and reassure you. I can help with words of support or affirmations, visualisations to keep you feeling positive while getting closer to meeting your new baby.
🤰🏽
Listener👂🏽
I'm there to listen to you and how you are feeling/coping and suggest ways to help you feel better. During your pregnancy it could be you just need a listening ear or you could feel worried for a range of reasons such as your babies health or how you will cope afterwards. If you need extra support I am able to signpost you to other organisations who can give you more information
During labour I will be there to help you through and will truly listen to how you are feeling. If you are struggling I can suggest ways to ease your discomfort such as changing positions, moving around, breathing, pain relief, massage or trying the pool (if it’s available). You may be anxious about how labour is progressing but I will be there to reassure you.
🤰🏽
Advocateℹ️
Pregnancy and birth can be daunting, especially if it's your first time. Hopefully all will be well and you will sail through with no complications and achieve your ideal birth and delivery. I will be there to ensure that your wishes and preferences are listened to and respected but should any assistance be needed I will be there to make sure you fully understand the situation and that you give your consent for any intervention required. If you need to go to any extra appointments during your pregnancy I am happy to accompany you.
🤰🏽
Support ❤️
Support, support, support! As a doula I am there to support you either throughout your pregnancy and labour or postnatally to help you with your new baby. I offer practical emotional and informational support in all areas of pregnancy and birth and can signpost you to other organisations if needed.

23/03/2022

Doulas meet with you during pregnancy to help you prepare for your birth and for life with a newborn.
During the meetings we give informational support and provide evidence-based resources to empower you to make decisions that are right for you.

We like to get to know you during these meetings, building trust and rapport, and finding out how we can be your advocate and uniquely support you and your choices.

If you know someone who is pregnant why not give them the gift of a doula? Vouchers on our website can be used for any doula on our directory. https://doula.org.uk/product/doula-gift-voucher/