#todeliveryandbeyond

P E R I N E A L M A S S A G E This technique can be started between 34 and 36 weeks gestation. There have been studies to show that practicing perineal massage antenatally can help reduce the chance of severe tears (3rd and 4th degree) and also the need for an episiotomy. e.g.(Ugwu et al., 2018) You need somewhere comfortable and private, clean hands, short nails, lubricant and it works best after a bath (tissue is relaxed). Begin by pressing down on the lower part of the vaginal opening, inside the perineum. Gentle downward pressure should not be sore, but you should feel a stretch. After 30seconds - move in a U-shape (see video for demo). Do this movement for 30seconds. Go back to downward pressure for 30seconds, U-shaped movement for 30 seconds and continue this pattern for a total of 3-4 times. You can practice this 3-4 times a week in the lead up to labour. Have you tried it? Will you? Any questions - let me know⬇️ #todandb #todeliveryandbeyond #pregnant #pregnancy #labour #labor #birth #postnatal #newmums #newborn #antenatal #antenataleducation #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #hynobirthingclass #perinealmassage #antenatalinformation #pregnancytips #labourtips #due2021 #pregnant2021 #onlineantenatalclass #onlinehypnobirthing #irishmidwife #34weekspregnant #36weekspregnant #40weekspregnant (at County Mayo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQlHOqjnEiM/?utm_medium=tumblr

H O B B S L I N E Otherwise known as ‘the purple line’. It is know as Hobbs line due to the Midwife Lesley Hobbs who wrote about it in 1998. Swipe right ➡️ (I had to cover some of it because of Instagrams rules) and you’ll see a purple line running along the top of the bum and up the back. It grows longer and deeper in its purple/reddish colour as labour progresses. In darker skin the line can have a deeper colour or silvery look, but it can be harder to see than with lighter skin tones. It can be a very useful tool for care providers to help decrease the amount of vaginal examinations. A study by Shepard et al (2010) published in the BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth found that it was visible in 79% of labouring women with a medium positive correlation between the length of the purple line and cervical dilation plus the station of the fetal head. That's a fancy way of saying usually the line grew as the cervix dilated and the head went deeper in the pelvis. It was also seen to be more common in spontaneous labours. When we stand back and take in the complete picture of a labouring woman there are lots of signs the body gives us to judge progression. Discussing these with your care provider may help you avoid unnecessary Vaginal examinations and other interventions 📸 : @blackcherryphotography #todandb #todeliveryandbeyond #pregnant #pregnancy #labour #labor #birth #postnatal #newmums #newborn #antenatal #antenataleducation #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #hynobirthingclass #hobbsline #antenatalinformation #pregnancytips #labourtips #due2021 #pregnant2021 #onlineantenatalclass #onlinehypnobirthing #irishmidwife #37weekspregnant #40weekspregnant (at Ireland (country)) https://www.instagram.com/p/COdXj-WnUzJ/?igshid=1xw40500polfx

S H O U L D E R T I P P A I N This is a common complaint after having a c-section. Caused by the disturbances inside your body during the operation, your bowels can slow down, creating excess gas. This presses on the diaphraghm triggering referred pain in your shoulder. The pain is usually describes as a deep pain and can vary in severity. Some people may be concerned if they experience it, but there are ways to help. Generally analgesia, like paracetamol, is not as effective as something that will treat the production of the gas -like peppermint. You might be offered peppermint cordial, peppermint tea or Colperin (a tablet form) to ease this. Peppermint has been known to impact milk supply if you are breastfeeding and because I get asked about this I consulted with a lactation consultant to weigh up benefits/risks. The advice was that you would need to be drinking buckets of tea fo it to become an issue, so should be considered to help if you experience this discomfort. Have you felt this after a c-section? Let m know ⬇️⬇️ 📸: @thefirsthello #todandb #todeliveryandbeyond #caesarean #caesareansection #csectionawarenessmonth #antenatal #postnatal #labour #labor #birth #labouranddelivery #laboranddelivery #antenataleducation #antenatalclass #onlineantenatalclass #midwife #midwifeledantenatalclasses #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #onlinehypnobirthingclass #hypnobirthingmidwife #newmum #newbaby #newborn #birthisbirth #bellybirth #due2021 #pregnant2021 #pregnant #shouldertippain (at Ireland (country)) https://www.instagram.com/p/COPnGjnHTnS/?igshid=iczahjt8nkd4

C A R E A F T E R A C-S E C T I O N Having a c-section means you are left with a wound on your skin, but there is also tissue and muscle healing deeper than that. Your doctor goes through 6 layers of skin, tissue and muscle during this surgery and all of this needs to heal aswel. So taking care of the wound is important but resting and taking care of yourself is just as important. Say yes to help. Eat well. Stay hydrated. See a Women’s Health Physio Think of how long you would allow yourself for recover after any other major surgery. This should be no different. 📸: @belleverdiglione #todandb #todeliveryandbeyond #caesarean #caesareansection #csectionawarenessmonth #antenatal #postnatal #labour #labor #birth #labouranddelivery #laboranddelivery #antenataleducation #antenatalclass #onlineantenatalclass #midwife #midwifeled #midwifeledantenatalclasses #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #onlinehypnobirthingclass #hypnobirthingmidwife #newmum #newbaby #newborn #birthisbirth #bellybirth #due2021 #pregnant2021 #pregnant (at County Mayo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN7isn7H1dc/?igshid=1mggqjn1fjzzt

R E A S O N S F O R A C-S E C T I O N There are lots of different reasons why someone may need to have a c-section. Here are a few: Prolonged labour (the true definition of prolonged labour and the cut off point in the hospital can vary by A LOT. We cover this in my class) Fetal distress - baby not managing well in labour. This can be caused by a variety of reasons. Baby’s are made for labour so quite often it happens when we intervene. Birth Defects - it may be decided that it would be safer for you and/or baby to have a c-section rather than a vaginal birth. Some health conditions may mean a c-section is safer. Obstetric Emergency’s - e.g cord prolapse, placental abruption Multiple births - this depends on how many babies and the position they are in. Repeat c-section - if you had a previous c-section and choose not to have a VBAC Placenta Issues - this can be anything from a low lying placenta to one that is embedded deep into the uterine tissue or a placental abruption. Breech birth - the majority of people with baby in a breech position choose to have a planned c-section. This list is not exhaustive and everyone’s journey is different. Would you like to share why you had one below?⬇️ 📸: @thefirsthello #todandb #todeliveryandbeyond #caesarean #caesareansection #csectionawarenessmonth #antenatal #postnatal #labour #labor #birth #labouranddelivery #laboranddelivery #antenataleducation #antenatalclass #onlineantenatalclass #midwife #midwifeled #midwifeledantenatalclasses #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #onlinehypnobirthingclass #hypnobirthingmidwife #newmum #newbaby #newborn #birthisbirth #bellybirth #due2021 #pregnant2021 #pregnant (at Ireland (country)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN7IMScHTGY/?igshid=1hiz1tavh0gdy

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A C-SECTION Join me on Thursday at 11am over on @lactationtalkwithorla where I’ll be going through what to expect during a c-section and any questions that you may have (she has a question box up). 📸: @memories_by_mckenzie #todandb #todeliveryandbeyond #caesarean #caesareansection #csectionawarenessmonth #antenatal #postnatal #labour #labor #birth #labouranddelivery #laboranddelivery #antenataleducation #antenatalclass #onlineantenatalclass #midwife #midwifeled #midwifeledantenatalclasses #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #onlinehypnobirthingclass #hypnobirthingmidwife #newmum #newbaby #newborn #birthisbirth #bellybirth #due2021 #pregnant2021 #pregnant (at Ireland (country)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN7FqIPH0aq/?igshid=1ncnbjamh7dwz

T I P S T O R E D U C E C/S 1️⃣Avoid an epidural, or at least delay it, if possible 2️⃣Remain in an upright position in labour and for birth (see my highlights - you can do this with an epidural too) 3️⃣Hire a doula - you decrease the chance of having a c/s by up to 25% 4️⃣Choose midwife-led care instead of private care 5️⃣If it is available and you are comfortable with it - choose to have a homebirth 6️⃣Do an independent antenatal education class like the one offered here at To Delivery And Beyond 7️⃣Try and stay at home until active labour 8️⃣Request Intermittent Auscultation of baby’s heartbeat rather than continuous monitoring 9️⃣If it’s a time issue and both you and baby are okay, request more time 🔟Avoid artificial rupture of membranes (when the doctor/midwife breaks your waters) unless indicated for a reason such as to monitor the heart-rate via the baby’s head (not common but sometimes used) 📸: @elliana_allon #todandb #todeliveryandbeyond #caesarean #caesareansection #csectionawarenessmonth #antenatal #postnatal #labour #labor #birth #labouranddelivery #laboranddelivery #antenataleducation #antenatalclass #onlineantenatalclass #midwife #midwifeled #midwifeledantenatalclasses #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #onlinehypnobirthingclass #hypnobirthingmidwife #newmum #newbaby #newborn #birthisbirth #bellybirth #due2021 #pregnant2021 #pregnant (at London, Unιted Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNvNeY1nZey/?igshid=u4ngjkatx0qo