Tauranga Homebirth Midwife Kelly Pidgeon

08/03/2023

I love this. A gentle reminder that they grow all too quickly.
Enjoy the small person cuddles and drink in their warm sticky heady smell. Savour their chubby little hands reaching to connect with us

As I find myself with nearly an empty nest.
2 Pidgeons have flown off on far away adventures, while one have moved stomping upstairs.

I am reminded of summers day watching them play happily when a good friend brought us to the moment, saying for most mothers there are only 16-18 summers where our children will want to be with us to play in the sun. Take the time to stop and be in awe of our babies. For the seasons are ever changing as they grow up all too quickly and fly away as they were always destined to do....

Thankfully most return home often to connect and share their new learning of life beyond our nest.

You stopped napping six months ago. But yesterday, out of the blue, after an all-consuming tantrum, you fell asleep on me at 4pm. This was beyond a danger nap. Catastrophic!

Initially, I tried to rouse you. But my efforts were half-hearted. Because it felt like a gift. This daytime cuddle that I didn't realise I had missed so much.

So I submitted instead. I sank lower down into the couch and breathed you in. As though it were the last time. Because there will be a last time for everything.

You seem to be edging out of toddlerhood all of a sudden. The baby in you is leaving. A little boy now. Your face has changed so much, but somehow not at all.

My mind raced to all the shoulds. 'I should be making dinner', I thought. 'Bedtime's going to be so late'. I thought of all those articles that push the importance of a consistent bedtime.

Then I thought too about how the constant quest for routine drove me routinely mad in the early days.

And so I let go of my weird fixation with the 7.30pm bedtime. You woke as daddy came through the door. We all ate spaghetti together. Then we danced about the living room to 90s R&B in an effort to tire you out. We saved ourselves the stress of a long-drawn-out bedtime and you went to bed the same time as us.

It felt forbidden. I felt momentarily like a bad mum somehow. But mostly like a happy one. Maybe I'm finally starting to relax into this motherhood gig.

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Words: Karen McMillan (Mother Truths)
Art:

Words taken from: "Lessons: Reflections on Early Motherhood".
Available to buy worldwide: https://linktr.ee/mother_truths

08/03/2023

Here's what's on for Mums & Bubs in March 2023 🤍
Kia pai to ra- Have a great day 🤍

‼️ La Leche League Tauranga is now on the 14th March ☺️🤍

Tauranga Parent Centre Whānau Āwhina Plunket Te Puke Plunket Hei Tiki Pumau Antenatal Huria Trust Heru & Hapū Māmā - Western BOP Te Piripoho Poutiri Trust Bethlehem Birthing Centre Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation Te Puke Baptist Church The Big Latch On Big Latch On (Aotearoa/New Zealand) The Big Latch On

06/12/2022

Merry Xmas / Summer season to all my followers.

I want to do a cheeky shout out for my husbands business. Nick Pidgeon - KIT SET ASSEMBLY SERVICE.

I think he's an amazing patient reliable man, hence keeping him around since I was 18years old. I'm happy to loan him out to save "one marriage at a time" at this festive season and all of next year! 😆😉

He is taking bookings for anything that comes flat packed and needs assembling. He's methodical, professional and also great at puzzles and handy with an "Alan Key"

He can effeciently assemble many stressful Xmas gifts like: trampolines, play houses, swings, climbing frames, bbq's, gym equipment, sheds, gazebos, or any furniture and small jobs around house/garden etc....

Contact him via
email : nick@cas.co.nz
Or Tel: 0273881990

02/12/2022

So true. Homebirth is a very safe option for well healthy women.

Did you know that, in the UK, the data which underpinned the recommendation that women should give birth in hospital instead of at home were interpreted incorrectly?

Statistician Marjorie Tew pointed that out, but it took years until a medical journal would print her article.

By that time (1985), hospital birth had been established as the norm.

I wrote about this in in my book, In Your Own Time.

Many studies continue to show that home birth is safe and leads to less intervention for women and babies.

Because so many people ask, "is home birth safe?" (and yes, it is), that's the name of our home birth information hub.

It offers links to all of my info on this topic and an overview of the most recent studies in this area.

So have a look at our information hub, it's at www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/is_home_birth_safe/

And yes, please feel free to share/repost this pic with our text and credit intact.

25/11/2022

More stunning pictures of Davinia's house bus outside birth.

Facilitating whanau to birth where feels right for them is what keeps my midwifery heart alight. Especially when it is first time parents like these.

I so hope with all the changes that NZ maternity services will see over the next 10 years that we can still do informed respectful choice based care with continuity of care well.

It so improtant that womem get to choose the type of midwifery care they want, espcially for homebirth women that want a specific style of midwife.

10/11/2022

Thank you Hannah for letting me share your beautiful images of your birth at Bethlehem Birthing Centre
What a strong mama you are.
Such an honour to be able to support you and share your day. As a couple you were certainly entertaining. So special to see you both having your normal banter and getting on with gently birthing.

Also great to be able to share learning with my student midwife Ashley.

We will only ever have much needed future midwives thanks to families like yours that are happy to share your journey with students. Trusting that you will be well cared for with a student involved.

A visually great learning birth for Ashley to be involved in so she really can learn the art of midwifery and what support looks like. Aswell as gain confidence with waterbirth and how to handle a baby under water if called upon, when mums or dads are not in a position/or want to catch babies themselves.

It's experiences like your birth that help new midwives learn about the importance of informed descions and how to empower woman into motherhood.

Much Aroha to you. Xx

09/11/2022

29/10/2022

Some perspective in case you need it today ❤️
Thank you LMJ Infant Feeding Support

27/10/2022

18/10/2022

Sometimes midwifery support can be from a relaxed distance. Other times we are holding, dancing and wiping watery tears and brows.

I started this helpful back massage with some calming essentials oils and Dave took over. His role of support is multi layered and more important than mine. Something I have no doubt brings a couple closer together when birthing their baby. Dad's usually need a little guidance about what they can do to really help. Where, and how much slow massage pressure works.

Thanks Hannah for letting me share your birth images at the Bethlehem Birthing Centre. Such a strong mumma, and great comical support from dad. I haven't laughed at a birth so much! 😆😂. Being part of a couples banter and loving humour is an joy to behold.

I will share your birth video shortly.

03/10/2022

Kia Ora All.

I have decided to connect with my old midwifery page.
As many of you know I stepped away from LMC caseloading midwifery for 2 years between 2018 and 2020. I stopped posting on this page and left the amazing Averil Stacey-Hudson to admin it.

I have this week changed the name to reflect my focus and intention to support women that want to birth at home. Maternity services are going through a process of change and our distinct shortage of midwives is having a huge impact on women's choices through their child bearing year, especially those that want to avoid routine and often obstetrically focused care.

I will continue to advocate for informed decision enhancing continuity based care. Ultimately women's rites to choose what she feels is best for her and her whānau.