Theswallowsnestdoula

22/11/2022

Postpartum is forever 🤍

Words from my book; Beautiful Chaos
Www.jessicaurlichs.com/shop

19/11/2022

Celebrating my 3rd year as The Swallow Nest Doula Thank you for your continuing support. I could never have made it without you. 🙏🤗🎉

06/11/2022

This is the best news!!! 👌

From today we are welcoming a named birth partner to stay overnight on Shere Ward. This person can not swap during your stay.

We ask that your birth partner signs an agreement on arrival to Shere Ward outlining expectations during their stay.

If you would like more information regarding your partner staying please speak to your midwife on arrival.

If you have any concerns about partners staying while you are admitted. Please ask to speak to the midwife in charge

15/10/2022

The autumnal walk tired out this little one 🍂

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15/09/2022

*** Baby loss Trigger warning ***

This post has been playing on my mind for a few weeks now, and today I have the time and space to get it written down.

As some of you may know I was expecting my third baby early January 2023 but heartbreakingly my fiance and I received the devastating news on the 29th of July 2022 that our little baby had passed away at almost 5 months.
Nothing can prepare you for the utter heartbreak this brings as I'm sure many of you sadly know all too well. I've taken a short break from Doularing to let my body physically & Mentally recover and to also ensure I'm able to be the best version of myself for my wonderful Doula families in the future.

So that’s a little insight to why I have been quiet on socials recently (not just that I'm really crap at social media)

The short version
I called the maternity help line 4 times over a 3 week period concerned something wasn’t right with my pregnancy. Other than some mild cramping and a very small amount of brown discharge on 1 or 2 occasions there was no obvious cause for concern, but my gut knew something wasn’t right. Each time I phoned I was reassured everything I was feeling was totally normal and was told its stretching. I was even asked “what is it you want me to do?"
( I remember thinking I don’t know, ANYTHING, scan me?? Listen in for a heartbeat…)

The day before we received the devastating news I had been for a routine midwife appointment where the midwife reassured me that babies heart beat was all well and good, this should have put my mind at ease surely? But strangely that evening I felt the need to call the maternity line again! Thankfully due to being so upset and unsettled the midwife agreed we could go and been checked over,
On inspection Our baby had passed away and had been for 3 weeks!
I remember saying "but the midwife heard a heartbeat yesterday!" The lady just shook her head and said no its not happened recently.

3 weeks!

3 weeks I carried my baby around that was no longer alive, 3 weeks I had been calling to just be told “its normal” “its stretching” “ I had the same the more pregnancies I had” 3 weeks that I felt worried and concerned, 3 weeks I desperately concentrated to feel any tiny movement!
When researching a silent miscarriage the exact symptoms I had were the first 2 on every search engine.

So

How was this missed?
Why was it missed?
Why couldn’t I have been seen?
Why didn’t someone who should be trained listen to me???

I won’t go on as I would honestly be writing all day but
I guess the reason for this post is to let anyone that’s been through similar know you’re NOT alone and I see you! Also to say PLEASE, PLEASE trust your bodies your gut instincts and ensure you are listened too!

Your body, Your baby!
Lots of Doula love and hopefully see you soon

Katie

28/06/2022

Spot on! We are there to support you and your wishes ❤️

Doulas are for everyone, they support the woman or birthing person's right to decide what is best for them.

On our website you can find out more about what doulas do and how to find doula support, as well as where to start if you're thinking about stepping into birthwork yourself ⬇️

www.developingdoulas.co.uk

17/05/2022

10/05/2022

Aaaaamennnnnnn

04/04/2022

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sarah-ockwellsmith/fourth-trimester-newborns_b_9607642.html

The first three months of parenting are often the hardest. A quarter of all babies in this age group are diagnosed as suffering from colic, a diagnosis given when doctors don't know why a baby is so unhappy and parents are unable to stop their tears.