grow antenatal

28/03/2025

Only two spaces remaining on my April course! Come along and join 6 other lovely couples from your local area to get ready for birth, parenthood, and everything in between!

Our informal, chatty, and friendly groups give you the chance to ask as many questions as you like, to find out loads of useful info, and most importantly - to make a group of friends who will be there doing those 3am feeds at the same time as you 😊

Drop me a message or email me at rebecca.egan@icloud.com for more info or to book your place.

16/06/2024

I now only have three spaces remaining on my July course, so if you're thinking of booking please do get in touch!

You can email me at Rebecca.egan@growantenatal.co.uk or drop me a message on here for more info or to book a place.

10/06/2024

Well I hadn’t planned to run any more courses this summer, but I’ve had a flurry of interest, so I’ve decided to add just one more!

It’ll be on Saturday 20th & 27th July at Sedgefield Parish Hall, and we’ll look at everything from water births to bathing your baby, caesareans to safer sleep! We’ve got you covered for everything you need to know to feel confident, skilled up, and ready to meet your little one. Plus, you’ll meet some lovely friends to travel on this parenting journey with. And we’ve got nice cake 😁

To book, or for more info, drop me a message or email me at rebecca.egan@growantenatal.co.uk

15/05/2024

Because, let’s face it - we’re all watching our pennies at the moment (mostly as they’re leaving our bank account 🥴) Are antenatal classes really worth it - can’t you just Google all the info you need?!

Well, you could. But the first hurdle is knowing *what* you need to Google - you don’t know what you don’t know. And then, how do you know which information is reliable? What’s evidence-based, and what’s just someone’s opinion? What about all the questions you’ve got, and never have time in your antenatal appointments to ask your midwife?

A good antenatal course (like Grow Antenatal for example 😁) cuts through all this. We consider *who* and *what* to listen to, and most importantly how to use all of the information to make an informed decision, so you get the birth that’s right *for you*. No matter what type of birth you’re planning or hoping for, we’ll talk about it, share reliable evidence, and help you make a plan to feel calm, confident, and ready.

And then we also think about the *after* - when you get to actually meet your baby, and what on earth you’re meant to do with them. We’ll practise all the stuff that’s going to help you feel confident - how to pick them up, how to calm them when they’re crying, how to change a nappy… and absolutely loads more.

Plus you’ll get to meet some lovely fellow parents-to-be and make some great new friend. And we have the good biscuits. Not bad for £160.

21/04/2024

The RVI is an extremely busy maternity unit, which usually offers a lovely birth centre alongside their labour ward. Unfortunately, due to staffing shortages, the birth centre is currently closed - although it is worth ringing to check if it’s open when you go into labour, as it has had short periods of opening over the last few months.

This closure is a huge blow to the region, and it further limits options for women in an area that already has very limited choices for birth. However, I know the midwives on the labour ward are doing their best to support women who wanted to birth in the birth centre, and I’m hearing lots of positive stories about high standards of care, active births being encouraged and supported, and women being listened to and enabled to make informed decisions 👏🏻

28/02/2024

Our next birth place option - by popular demand 😊 - is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead, known as the QE. The QE offers a labour ward with some active birthing facilities, including a birthing pool. They currently have two continuity of care teams - which means you will see the same midwife throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care - with the aim of all women being looked after under a continuity model by the end of the year.

The QE is notable as being one of the few Trusts in the North East that are continuing to support home birth - in fact, they’re working hard to increase the numbers of home births in the area.

14/02/2024

Such a great new resource for Dads in the Durham area 😃

❗️❗️ DURHAM DADS TOGETHER ❗️❗️

Calling all DADS & Male Carers of Durham ... this one's for you!

DURHAM DADS TOGETHER is a Brand New, Free - Local Workshop for DADS during the perinatal period.

❔ Are you an expectant DAD.
❔ Just had your Newborn baby.
❔ Approaching the toddler stage

If so, we would love for you to come along to our Free, Peer-2-Peer workshops to gain advice, tips and discuss all things baby, with DADS, just like YOU❗️❗️

The first session is TUESDAY 5TH MARCH, 6pm -7:30pm at Stanley Family Hub, and will run each Tuesday until Easter half term.

📧 For more information and to book on call us on ☎️ 07554 422162

06/02/2024

The Rowan Suite is one of the few Midwifery-led units (MLUs) in the area.

Having your baby at a MLU means you are less likely to have interventions, and are more likely to have a ‘spontaneous vaginal birth’ - which means you are more likely to go into labour on your own, without medical intervention such as induction. Giving birth at a MLU means you are more likely to feel satisfied with your care, and the Rowan team operate a continuity of care model, which means you’ll be cared for in labour by a midwife you already know.

So, a Midwife-led unit could be a good option for you if you are keen to reduce your likelihood of having interventions - such as an induction, or forceps - and also if you don’t plan to have an epidural. MLUs will usually only be able to care for you if you are ‘low risk’, however even if you have some risk factors present, it’s always worth discussing this with your midwife to see what arrangements can be made to support you.

21/01/2024

Next up we have Darlington Memorial Hospital, which together with UHND makes up the CDDFT (County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust). So, lots of similarities with Durham around policies and visiting, and unfortunately home births are not currently supported under this Trust (although please see the North East Home Birth Facebook group for support and advice if this affects you). However there is some good news, as their pool has finally reopened after a long time out of action!

17/01/2024

Starting with the University Hospital of North Durham, as this is where most of the women I work with choose to have their babies!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions 😊

17/01/2024

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be sharing info about place of birth options in the North East. Lots of women that I work with have no idea that they can even choose where they have their baby, let alone what their options are!

You can decide to have your baby wherever you choose, right up to the point of going into labour (although obviously it’s better to make your decision a little way before that if you can 😁)

Your place of birth will have different levels of support, facilities, and pain management available to you, but it also has an impact on the outcomes for you and your baby. For example, birthing in a midwifery-led unit can make it less likely you will need interventions. Conversely, if you are planning on interventions such as an epidural, then a labour ward would work better for you.

So, let’s have a look at where you can have your baby in the North East…

13/01/2024

I only have two spaces remaining on my February course, starting on Saturday 3rd February in Sedgefield. Have a look at my website for further details, and please do share with any pregnant family members and friends!

A comprehensive antenatal course to get you ready for birth, baby, and feeding