Ruth Jenks- antenatal

12/05/2022

I had one of these carriers and they are great for summer.

Can be used with babies from birth, super cool and UV protection in the material.

https://www.facebook.com/47921131170/posts/10159943839916171/?sfnsn=scwspmo

25/04/2022

Very specific and robust evidence that induction of labour for gestational diabetes alone does not provide any clinical benefit. But...... it does increase the chance of a caesarean birth.

https://www.facebook.com/100044290876294/posts/565374668282224/?sfnsn=scwspmo

A few weeks ago, I wrote and shared a blog post about induction and gestational diabetes.

In a nutshell, there's no evidence that induction is beneficial. No matter how you define gestational diabetes.

Now, researchers in Australia have published a population-based study comparing induction of labor with expectant management in women with gestational diabetes and without specific medical conditions.

Seimon et al (2022) looked at data from "women with GDM, but without medical conditions, who had a singleton, cephalic birth at 38–41 completed weeks gestation.”

“Women who underwent IOL at 38, 39, 40 weeks gestation (38-, 39-, 40-induction groups) were compared with those who were managed expectantly and gave birth at and/or beyond the respective gestational age group."

The analysis included data from 34,799 women and their babies.

Their conclusion was that, "In women with GDM but without specific medical conditions and eligible for vaginal birth, IOL at 38, 39, 40 weeks gestation is associated with an increased risk of caesarean section."

induction doesn’t offer any benefit in this study either. The babies born to those who were induced at 38 weeks were more likely to be sick, although there was no difference in perinatal death or admission to special care.

All of this means that we need to think very carefully about whether induction is justified.

TL:DR - there's no evidence that induction is beneficial for women with gestational diabetes.

You can read more about this in my blog post, which is at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-for-gestational-diabetes/

If you’d like to get regular updates on birth-related research, sign up for my newsletter at www.sarawickham.com

The original study is: Seimon et al (2022), Maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with gestational diabetes and without specific medical conditions: an Australian population-based study comparing induction of labor with expectant management. ANZJOG https://doi.org/10.1111/ajo.13505

21/04/2022

I have had countless clients who reported that cranio sacral therapy gave them a baby who was so much more settled.

There haven't been any really big, robust studies showing its benefits (because who would pay for that?) But anecdotally it can be a very wise investment.

https://fb.watch/cx8C3VhcyV/

20/04/2022

Oh yes!

Gorgeous advice! https://fb.watch/cw8zABlAW0/

16/04/2022

I didn't know this!

Amazing!

https://www.facebook.com/brilliantbirthacademy/photos/a.212176116050805/1045021166099625/?type=3&sfnsn=scwspmo

In the last trimester, the placenta begins to secrete a corticotropin-releasing hormone, or CRH, which enables the mother to mentally and physically handle extreme amounts of stress; by the time of birth, most mothers have up to three times their pre-pregnancy levels of CRH[1] (or what we like to call the super-hero hormone).

I clearly remember wandering around my home in the postpartum period, unable to figure out how to accomplish my daily tasks because of an inability to act decisively in the presence of normal toddler activity, mess, and demands.

The ability to multi-task, overcome problems, and discover new solutions when obstacles arise are all skills directly affected by CRH hormones.

When the placenta is born, the feedback system that regulated the hormone’s production is interrupted, and the mother is left with only the CRH production of the hypothalamus. Because of this, postpartum mothers have low levels of this stress-fighting hormone making them more vulnerable to depression and less able to perform well under stress.

Studies from the National Institute of Health have found that consuming the placenta stimulates and stabilizes CRH levels. Endocrinologist George Chrousos, who led the NIH study, concluded that since the placenta contains large amounts of orally-active CRH, ingesting the placenta will stabilize CRH levels resulting in “a more stable emotional life for the mother.”[2]

[1] Chrousos, G. “Baby Blues-Postpartum Depression Attributed to Low Levels of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone After Placenta Is Gone.” Brief Bnet., 1995.

[2] Makrigiannakis A, Zoumakis E, Kalantaridou S, Chrousos G. “Endometrial and Placental CRH As Regulators of Human Embryo Implantation.” Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 62(1-2), 2004, pp 53-9.

11/04/2022

I'm not really a ticktock person (I feel a bit old) but every one I have seen from Your Black Doula is on point!

This is a bug bare of mine too. Why are we surprised when a starved person runs out of energy and "needs" intervention?

08/04/2022

Lorna is really a beautiful person doing some wonderful work.

If you are a Black mama, or you know one or love one please send this link their way.

https://www.facebook.com/172205803242840/posts/1375261462937262/?sfnsn=scwspmo

25/02/2022

Knowledge about safe bed sharing is essential for everyone entering parenthood

Culture tells us that bedsharing is unsafe and puts babies at risk for SIDS. But is this true? Let's dive into the science of safe sleep to learn more.

29/01/2022

Hug your babies!

You can hold your baby as much as you want or as much as they need.

It’s nobody’s business but yours.

On another note: newborn and small babies usually want to be held LOTS. (Mostly, personality matters). As they grow they start to engage with the world and want to be part of it - and will then want some more space and more freedom. So the intense holding early period does pass.

No there isn’t a specific length of time a baby can be in a carrier, just as there’s no specific length of time you can hold a baby in arms, especially the softer, mouldable ones; carriers aren’t like car seats. Baby will need feeding and changing and to play, if they’re happy in a carrier, asleep or awake, it’s fine, and it may make your life easier (especially if you also have a toddler!)

No, you won’t make them more “clingy”. Yes, they will learn to walk. Yes, they will learn to sleep in other places and accept comfort from others (do work on ensuring the other primary caregivers- (if there are any) get to BE that primary caregiver often, the sling is a great way for them to be that close contact provider away from you.)

Do what works for you and don’t worry too much. If something feels wrong, ask for help.

15/01/2022

I quote the finding of this study often. More important than actual birth outcome- interactions with health care professional dictate the liklihood of birth being registered as traumatic or not.

Words matter. Actions matter.

Background Many women experience psychological trauma during birth. A traumatic birth can impact on postnatal mental health and family relationships. It is important to understand how interpersonal factors influence women’s experience of trauma in order to inform the development of care that promo...