tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68005766778728521132024-03-14T05:10:50.009+00:00DeverraPhysiological birth and riskSelina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-77297240276344329452011-12-01T13:06:00.005+00:002011-12-01T13:32:44.857+00:00Finn's birth<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1REnWSE_knU/TteBQcr7qKI/AAAAAAAAAHk/J0Z_Zw5j418/s1600/283165_10150321851439120_607654119_9331254_3452914_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oFIQydG_58/TteAvB754RI/AAAAAAAAAHM/ssBTTJVNa90/s1600/216698_10150321851669120_607654119_9331261_7593840_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oFIQydG_58/TteAvB754RI/AAAAAAAAAHM/ssBTTJVNa90/s320/216698_10150321851669120_607654119_9331261_7593840_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681151000413069586" /></a><br />After a long break I would like to start contributing to this blog again.<br />I recently (Aug 11) had my baby boy Finn at home in water.<br /><br />Wonderful to be able to experience the difference it makes being in your own environment.<br />It was a lovely sunny day and I was out walking alone in the park whilst having contractions every 4 minutes or so.<br /><br />I was in the pool for the last hour, and as vocal as in my first hospital birth, but no-one told me off this time!<br />Finn was lovely and alert after birth, unlike my first birth when I'd had diamorphine, and that made a real difference to breastfeeding.<br />I had to transfer in after for tearing, I had a 3c tear and had to have a spinal, but as I had already had my homebirth and physiological third stage, I did not find this too traumatic. I had Finn with me for the transfer and his Dad held him while I was in theatre.<br />I found the spinal stressful and I could have done with more support at that point, trying not to panic whilst the staff were very routine about what they were doing.<br />I was in over night and kept Finn on me all night and fed, I was the only one on the ward breastfeeding and felt sad in the morning when I heard one woman after another tell the midwife that they had planned to breastfeed but their babies wouldn't latch so they were giving bottles, all had had cesareans.<br />I'm hoping to train as a peer supporter now as I know how hard the first few days can be, I fed my daughter for over a year, so I knew when Finn found it hard to latch, that with perseverance and a calm attitude, that it would be ok.<br />For a doula, this was a pretty unplanned birth, even up to 3 days before (birthing at 40+6) I was 3 hours away from home, I was on my own for most of the labour and called a friend to come at the last minute who arrived with her dog, we hadn't discussed her being there and she had never seen a birth, but she was a fabulous birth partner, taking gourgeous photos, loving me unconditionally and tidying up after I transferred!<br />Having run a homebirth support group for 6 years, I'm glad I can now speak from experience!<br /></div>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-68405482302895996962009-11-10T11:13:00.006+00:002009-11-11T00:01:42.092+00:00Natural Twin birthI had the privilege of Doulaing at the birth of twins last week.<br />It was a beautiful birth for many reasons, the babies were born at 40+3, in a Midwifery Led unit at Liverpool. She laboured in the pool and the birth was intermittently monitored, no cannula sited or paeds present.<br />We were lucky to have a fantastic Consultant midwife who drove a few hours in the early morning to be with us and support the midwives in the unit who were concerned about conducting a twin birth without constant monitoring and in the low risk area and also a lovely obstetrician who had supported the birth plan throughout the pregnancy and birth.<br />It was a lovely, calm and normal birth, she used a tens machine and entonox and both twins were head down. The first twin (a boy) was 7lb 2oz and the little girl was born 15 Min's later 5lb 5oz. The midwives were great, checking with two handheld Doppler's that they had two heartbeats and stabilising the little girl after her brother was born to help prevent her turning transverse.<br />After the birth they left us alone so she could have skin to skin, she had no tearing and I left her happily breastfeeding the babies.<br />This birth was calm and relaxed and normal and shows that how low risk twin birth should be!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SvlPKMJzdTI/AAAAAAAAAGI/OywvgbdHhP8/s1600-h/twins1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SvlPKMJzdTI/AAAAAAAAAGI/OywvgbdHhP8/s320/twins1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402436264487253298" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SvlPQmDcIOI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/5w1jmCn9PpA/s1600-h/Twins2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SvlPQmDcIOI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/5w1jmCn9PpA/s320/Twins2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402436374519095522" /></a>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-36322257194194015142009-10-14T21:59:00.004+01:002009-10-14T23:31:04.680+01:00New build Midwife led units and Birth Centers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/StZALPosvbI/AAAAAAAAAGA/6bk2hik_TMQ/s1600-h/dscf0556.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/StZALPosvbI/AAAAAAAAAGA/6bk2hik_TMQ/s320/dscf0556.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392568165742722482" /></a><br />I have been lucky enough to visit a birth Center in the South West of England and a newly built Midwifery led unit (Co-located) in the North of England, in the last few weeks.<br />I was looking forward to seeing what they had done with the birthing rooms, as they had a 'blank slate' (so to speak).<br />Sadly I was dissapointed with both centers.<br />Whilst the rooms were clean and bright (and I could argue that dim might be better!) they were hardly 'fit for purpose' to encourage normal labour, mobilisation etc<br />In the new MLU the rooms were a good size, but still had hospital delivery beds and resusitaires (I was told these were going to be moved out soon)<br />Its a same that even in these new builds health professionals are not being more innvative in the design.<br />We are currently in the process of writing up a paper for publication so will post details when this is finalised.Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-23179008027160907002009-09-02T16:50:00.003+01:002009-09-02T17:09:37.971+01:00Arts and Health ConferenceWe will be presenting our work on collaberation for Maternity room design at the University of Northampton Arts and Health Conference - Inspiring Transformations on September 10th.<br />http://www.northampton.ac.uk/artsandhealth/Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-81455685497993089392009-06-09T00:23:00.000+01:002009-06-09T00:24:13.118+01:00A Space to give birth in film<a href="http://blip.tv/file/2174226/">http://blip.tv/file/2174226/</a>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-16301333666046637232009-06-04T23:31:00.004+01:002009-06-05T01:15:43.752+01:00Conference<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will be presenting my dissertation "</span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMe%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:200%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Incidence of Women giving birth in Liverpool in 2005-07 having a ‘Physiological Birth’ as compared to ‘Normal Births’ and ‘Cephalic Vertex Births’: Are there differences in health outcomes for mothers and babies by type of birth?"
<br />Next wek on Friday June 12th at the Normal Labour and birth 4th Research Conference at Grange over Sands.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(100, 86, 182);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><b>
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<br /></b></span></span></span> Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-21358529205144663502009-05-28T13:08:00.027+01:002009-05-28T23:05:47.215+01:00A Space to Give Birth in event 2<div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6F6VqBExI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/Y7kStbcTVtM/s1600-h/Casper+and+Selina.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853445400269586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6F6VqBExI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/Y7kStbcTVtM/s320/Casper+and+Selina.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Deverra and LJMU ran another fantastic event at the Climate for Change experiment at FACT, Liverpool on May 18th.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853566692056402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6GBZgO3VI/AAAAAAAAAEY/EmlhEAMWwVk/s320/Selina2.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This day focused on gathering the views of health professionals on the need for change in Maternity room design and it had a great turnout with over thirty Midwives, Managers, Architects, Designers and students from around the North West.</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853962557498914" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6GYcN6JiI/AAAAAAAAAEo/cpnkVozlh_I/s320/general3.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The day sparked off lots of interesting debates and discussions and I will posting up some of the presentations, photographs, videos and feedback from the event in the next few weeks.</span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The day started with a delicious breakfast of fruit and juice.</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340860524170037058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 238px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6MWYIPx0I/AAAAAAAAAF4/n-0uvkk6zYI/s320/Food1.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We then presented the work from the previous event and summarised some of the work we have been doing, looking at innovative maternity room design.</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340854410671494146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6GyhknFAI/AAAAAAAAAEw/fHWjL32oeiM/s320/Casper.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We showed a film with footage from the first 'A Space to give Birth in' event in March, both filmed and edited by Neringa Plange ( <a href="http://neringaplange.wordpress.com/">http://neringaplange.wordpress.com/</a>)</span><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We also had a presentation from the National CHildbirth Trust about their, 'Better Birth environment' campaign.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We had a really interesting talk from Aquabirths (</span><a href="http://www.aquabirths.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.aquabirths.co.uk/</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">) about designing bespoke birthing pools and we were all inspired by their enthusiasm and the possibilities for new and exciting pools that could be used within UK maternity units.<br /></span></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340854733570362002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6HFUdsypI/AAAAAAAAAE4/5blCvEfqq1s/s320/Aquabirths1.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340854909125198626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6HPidPAyI/AAAAAAAAAFA/hgSErP3ZrbU/s320/Aquabirths2.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">During lunch we had Gafro (</span><a href="http://www.gafro.com/GAFRO/HOME.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.gafro.com/GAFRO/HOME.html</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">) a very talented percussionist, from the Liverpool Lark Lane Drummers group, run a workshop on African drumming, he introduced us to a rhythm which is used culturally to ease childbirth and I thought it was interesting to feel the mood change as the powerful, melodic music was heard throughout the FACT building, As we played, the music also depicted the changes of rhythm that women experience in Labour, from fast to slow, relaxed, to invigorated.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340855240996616674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6Hi2xi-eI/AAAAAAAAAFI/otwnuO8REjo/s320/Drumming1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340855405466078322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6HsbeHzHI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/hrKb5nrEuUA/s320/Drumming4.JPG" border="0" /> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >It also reminded us, that for many women birthing for the first time, they are unsure, feel uncomfortable or they 'don't know how to do this' or lose their way (I think anyone joining in with the workshop could agree that we all lost the way rhythmically many times) but with a skilled and non judgemental facilitator (or musical midwife) we were able to rejoin the rhythm and enjoy the experience!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After lunch we facilitated a group discussion exploring ideas about ideal birth environments and how we can move actual maternity room design towards this ideal within the UK.<br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340856525921838130" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6Itpfl5DI/AAAAAAAAAFY/fe7bSjhF-zs/s320/Discussion1.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The findings from the discussion will be posted in the next few days, and make very interesting reading and have given us lots of ideas about ways to move this project forward.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next we had a presentation from Bianca Lepori (Rome), Architect and author of ‘Architecture Inside Out’, prioritising human needs in design of spaces, she specialises in redesigning birthplaces and furniture to meet women’s psycho-physiological needs in birth.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She introduced us to the ways in which women move and inhabit space when in labour and how maternity design can facilitate this need for movement.</span> </div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340858028642925298" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6KFHkN-vI/AAAAAAAAAFg/i8Ncp1zYNHo/s320/general4.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Marc O’ Riain (Cork), Interior designer of an award winning maternity room at Cork University Maternity Hospital presented his design process for a hospital which was designed to be 'More like a hotel than a hospital'. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I found it really interesting that the designers interviewed people about their time in hospital, their fears about the clinical feel of the space and an over riding feeling that pregnancy is not an illness!</span><br /><br /></div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340859986830161698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6L3GYb9yI/AAAAAAAAAFo/CiteTQHF1FA/s320/Marc.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I found it very inspiring that the designs were implemented in a functioning hospital and are currently being used by labouring women in Cork, they are truly an example of innovative design!</span><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340860180712539634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sh6MCYpmRfI/AAAAAAAAAFw/dLZmj9YOod8/s320/Marc2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Findings from the day will be published in the near future, and a second film produced from the footage of this second event (massive thanks to Marc Mcdermott </span><a href="http://services.creativecow.net/s/596/mcmedia"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://services.creativecow.net/s/596/mcmedia</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for his filming)<br /></span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I want to thank everyone for coming, sharing your expertise and creating a thought provoking and inspiring event.<br /></span><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 6px auto 3px; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></div></div>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-83306979285257696762009-05-11T22:50:00.000+01:002009-05-11T23:17:45.997+01:00A Space to Give Birth In 2 Flier<a href="http://groups.google.com/group/a-space-to-give-birth-in/web/flyer_sspacetobirthin2.pdf">http://groups.google.com/group/a-space-to-give-birth-in/web/flyer_sspacetobirthin2.pdf</a>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-14583671986803731142009-05-06T21:57:00.003+01:002009-05-06T22:13:39.580+01:00Sensory roomsAs part of our research we visited a Multi-sensory (Snoezelen) room. These rooms are designed to deliver stimuli to various <a class="mw-redirect" title="Senses" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senses">senses</a>, using lighting effects, color, sounds, music, scents, etc.<br /><div>They are usually used for children with learning difficulties and autism, but some research has recently been done on the use of Snoezelen rooms to give birth in.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332821906455242274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SgH9RPivpiI/AAAAAAAAAEI/BakAisk3P24/s320/DSCN2654.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>This was a qualitative study, with in depth interviews of sixteen women that used Snoezelen rooms to give birth in.</div><br /><div>The findings of the study found six themes from the data which providing insight into what a Snoezelen environment can offer a labouring woman: distraction; relaxation; comfort; environmental control; choice of complementary therapies; and safety in a home-like atmosphere. </div><br /><div>Additional categories revealed factors that facilitated and/or detracted use of the room such as familiarity with features, being offered information and choice, timing in labour, the support person's response and working order of the room's features.</div><br /><div></div><div>Reference</div><br /><div></div><div>Women's experiences of using a Snoezelen room during labour in Western Australia,<br />Yvonne Hauck, Catherine Rivers, Kathleen Doherty, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02666138">Midwifery</a><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=PublicationURL&_tockey=%23TOC%236957%232008%23999759995%23701177%23FLA%23&_cdi=6957&_pubType=J&view=c&_auth=y&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b75ea849c955cd4a4836c8b926f2b7a6">Volume 24, Issue 4</a>, December 2008, Pages 460-470 </div>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-23342077353928905162009-05-05T15:13:00.002+01:002009-05-05T15:18:44.026+01:00A Space to Give Birth in event FACT, Liverpool May 18thWe now have confirmation of a fantastic line of speakers at our next event.<br /><br />A free public event on Maternity Room design at FACT (<a href="http://www.fact.co.uk/">http://www.fact.co.uk/</a>) Liverpool on <strong>Monday May 18th 10am-4pm.</strong><br />With presentations from-<br /><br />LJMU Design department and Deverra- a video summary from the first ‘A Space to give birth in’ event in FACT in March 2009- a forum on requirements for women in the design of spaces for labour<br /><br />National Childbirth Trust- Better Birth Environment campaign update<br />RORSA Designers of the award winning Cork Maternity unit birthing rooms (<a href="http://www.idi-design.ie/awards/2007/grandprix.htm">http://www.idi-design.ie/awards/2007/grandprix.htm</a>)<br /><br />Bianca Lepori is an anthropologically, medically and psychologically informed architect and designer living in Rome. Over the past twenty years, she has researched women’s psycho-physiological needs at birth and successfully redesigned birthplaces and furniture accordingly. Her books, articles, lectures and consultancy on this subject have contributed to attitudinal change, practice and implementation. She is a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs in London.Author of: Creating Birth Space to Enable Undisturbed Birth in Birth Territory and Midwifery Guardianship(2008) by Fahy, Foureur, and Hastie (Elsevier) <a href="http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/Features/Bianca%20Lepori.htm">http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/Features/Bianca%20Lepori.htm</a><br /><br />A few more presentations to confirm so will add a schedule ASAPSelina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-3182396856693251602009-05-01T10:30:00.007+01:002009-05-01T11:06:46.467+01:00Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This maternity unit has a home from home area with seven rooms. This is a new unit within the Ulster Hospital. It is a midwife-led unit consisting of seven spacious rooms, all with en suite facilities and birthing pool. Opened in Summer 2007.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As you can see they have many innovative aspects to the rooms, I love the way the wall between the pool and the bedroom can be pulled back to make one space.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330787032892208130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfrCkAzMdAI/AAAAAAAAAD4/6TqxcTHx_o8/s320/ulster+birthing+room.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">They also have some equipment from the German company </span><a href="http://www.febromed.de/html_englisch/products_frameset.htm"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">FEBROMED</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> which makes equipment for birthing rooms, that I feel, could really improve the way women use the space within birthing rooms, and encourage upright positions to help babies descent and pushing in the second stage. And also to encourage partners to be involved and physically in contact with each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330787928879845058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfrDYKnSzsI/AAAAAAAAAEA/3l9nCxG7UXY/s320/ulster+combi+track.JPG" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Elaine Madden (Lead Midwife, Ulster Maternity Unit,. South Eastern Trust) said that the equipment is really popular and well used and that mums love it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Results of a </span><a href="http://www.birthchoiceuk.com/WomensSurvey.htm"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">survey carried out by the Healthcare Commission</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> to find out what women think about the maternity care they have received, found in Liverpool that:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>20%</strong> (England Average 14.8%) of women </span><a name="Q217"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">felt unable to move around and choose the position that made them most comfortable?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and when asked-</span></p><p><a name="Q227"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What position were you in when your baby was born?(Of those who had a vaginal delivery.) </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>8%</strong> (12% England average) were standing squatting or kneeling (as opposed to sitting, lying or in stirrups)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Considering that a recent </span><a href="http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003934.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cochrane review</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> also found that women who walk, sit, kneel or otherwise avoid lying in bed during early labor can shorten the first stage of labor and were less likely to seek pain relief through epidural analgesia, equipment like that used in Ulster hospital, should, I feel be in all Maternity units!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">References</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lawrence A, et al. Maternal positions and mobility during first stage of labor. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 2, 2009.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:0;"></span></p>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-21951062503835366042009-04-29T22:24:00.004+01:002009-04-30T07:52:57.353+01:00Interviews about birth environment from FACT Liverpool March 09<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwtz_y9kENYBrXMpnQdLAcrT4AZIZiYJcaJXl44Qu9z4b8fgrSTsRV1Fo2A3Vksxl84JnvJrDcq2ETPnQps2A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-22910915121410438292009-04-29T10:19:00.008+01:002009-04-29T18:47:31.255+01:00St Mary's Hospital, LondonI am going to start featuring pictures and details of birthing rooms which have been designed in an innovative way to facilitate physiological birth. <div><br /><div>I am hoping the new birthing center rooms in Liverpool (the Big Push project) will incorporate some of these ideas.</div><br /><div>The first hospital I want to feature is St Mary's in London. The midwife-led St Mary’s birth centre opened its doors on June 4 2008 following four years of planning and preparation.</div><br /><div>The center is open to women with low risk pregnancies. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330044030128443730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sfgezjz_UVI/AAAAAAAAADg/mnSw2ubaEq8/s320/Rm+1+birth+couch+St+Marys.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>All five bedrooms are en-suite, with a double bed, mats, birth stools and hammock as well as a TV for the whole family to relax together and welcome their new arrival. Three of the bedrooms are fitted with corner baths and the others with a birth pool and wet room.</div><br /><div></div><div>When we interviewed women at the 'A Space to give birth in event in FACT' one of the issues that came up was the difficulty in transition from one physical space to another, having to walk down busy public corridors in the second stage of labour or transition to get in a pool.</div><div>As you can see in the picture above, St Mary's have en suite wet rooms with pools, so women can get in or out of the pool as they choose.</div><div>I also love the hammock which women can use to hang onto, this technique of 'dangling' is described on the <a href="http://www.spinningbabies.com/techniques/during-labor/the-dangle">Spinning babies</a> website as 'allowing the pelvis to have the most mobility of any technique' and the "baby come out" position, so named by Penny Simkin.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330044659017807570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfgfYKm5dtI/AAAAAAAAADo/T9zSJUPMrW4/s320/Rm+1+bed+down+St+Marys.jpg" border="0" /> I think the pull down double beds are a FANTASTIC idea. With the beds up, there is lots of space to move around and there is less of that sense of a bed dominating the room. The bed is also low to the ground so may feel more 'Safe' than beds which are high up off the ground, in the Cork birthing room that I mentioned in a previous post, whilst I love the decor (much more like an expensive spa than a hospital) the bed does not look as comfortable or welcoming as St Mary's!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330045903478596002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfgggmleIaI/AAAAAAAAADw/rlOKMF9tQwM/s320/cork+birthing+room+2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>The beds at St Mary's are also <em><strong>Doubles, </strong></em>which means there's room for Dad too! This that they are valuing fathers and the creation of the family unit.</div><br /><div>This takes on board the recommendations of the <a href="http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/index.php?id=2&cID=735">Fatherhood Institute</a> (The Dad Deficit: The Missing Piece of the Maternity Jigsaw)</div><br /><div>Their research found that-</div><ul><li>70% of men and women (asked) agree that dads should be able to stay overnight in hospital with their partner when their baby is born. </li><br /><br /></ul><br /><p></p></div>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-20833515953524685082009-04-29T10:11:00.001+01:002009-04-29T18:50:28.847+01:00Sarah's Musings: Concepts of birth unit design<a href="http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com/2009/01/concepts-of-birth-unit-design.html">Sarah's Musings: Concepts of birth unit design</a><br />This is a really interesting blog from a Midwife in New Zealand who has been creating a virtual birthing center in the online world 'Second Life' based on the work of Italian <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">architect</span> Bianca <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lepori</span>.Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-58088101650585263172009-04-28T11:07:00.013+01:002009-04-29T18:51:14.336+01:00Liverpool Womens hospital visit<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfbVyL1RWqI/AAAAAAAAAC4/71PNxI85zxk/s1600-h/DSCN2520.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329682267185961634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfbVyL1RWqI/AAAAAAAAAC4/71PNxI85zxk/s320/DSCN2520.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>As part of the design process for 'A Space to give birth in' We visited the Liverpool Women's hospital and photographed some of the birthing rooms.</div><br /><div>Can you imagine walking up this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">corridor</span> in labour?</div><br /><div>I gave birth here and have also supported many births here as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Doula</span>.<br /><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329682790893300626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfbWQqy1K5I/AAAAAAAAADA/ZyUzlqPMZZY/s320/DSCN2542.JPG" border="0" /><br />This is one of the Midwife led unit rooms, as you can see, after two years on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MSLC</span> I managed to have the clocks moved from in front of the beds, to behind the beds!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329683134077791826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfbWkpQY7lI/AAAAAAAAADI/-C93HmshP74/s320/DSCN2524.JPG" border="0" /> Here's a slightly more Hi tech room.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329683826799290802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfbXM92EKbI/AAAAAAAAADQ/pBoa7ysULYs/s320/DSCN2536.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br />In contrast, here is a picture of an award winning new birthing room in Cork hospital.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329685059690019666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SfbYUuuHu1I/AAAAAAAAADY/CfqVUrUxfPM/s320/Cork+birthing+room.jpg" border="0" />I will be adding more photo's of birthing rooms which I think are innovative or encourage physiological birth.</p><p>We are hoping the designers of the Cork room (<a href="http://www.rorsa.ie/portfolio.php?category=2&project=87">http://www.rorsa.ie/portfolio.php?category=2&project=87</a>) will come to our next <strong>'A Space to give birth in'</strong> event at <a href="http://www.fact.co.uk/">FACT</a>, Liverpool on <strong>May 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span>.</strong></p><p>I will also add some of the words from the interviews with mothers in Liverpool from the March event, I was watching them last night and they were very powerful.<br /></p><p></p>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-14055811762412452582009-04-28T11:06:00.002+01:002009-04-29T10:18:15.584+01:00Rebozo - the action shots | Homebirth: Midwife Mutiny in South Australia<a href="http://www.homebirth.net.au/2008/09/rebozo-action-shots.html">Rebozo - the action shots Homebirth: Midwife Mutiny in South Australia</a><br /><br />Fantastic post showing how to use a Rebozo to help reposition a posterior baby.Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-958093051989300922009-04-09T14:32:00.009+01:002009-04-29T18:55:57.258+01:00A Space to Give Birth In<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sd36hHvB1UI/AAAAAAAAACI/Nyy8Nlg_304/s1600-h/Space-Birth_3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322685781540721986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sd36hHvB1UI/AAAAAAAAACI/Nyy8Nlg_304/s200/Space-Birth_3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>On the 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> March 2009, In <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">conjunction</span> with Casper Jones from Liverpool John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Moores</span> university we ran a session entitled '<strong>A Space to give birth in'</strong></div><br /><div>It was a very moving and inspirational day.</div><br /><div>We set up the large room with lots of photographs of births and an example birthing room, with pool, bed, candles, flowers (even a bottle of champagne!)</div><br /><div>We also put out lots of collage materials.</div><br /><div>We had lots of women come to the event, a really busy, productive atmosphere in the room, with people creating collages of their vision of an ideal birth environment.</div><br /><div>Watching Nadine Edwards film (from <a href="http://www.aims.org.uk/">AIMS</a>) 'Birth Matters' was very moving, I saw tears on many peoples faces.</div><br /><div>We had a wonderful yoga session (thanks <a href="http://www.yogabumpsandbabies.com/">Jenni</a>!) and people spoke on camera about their own birth experiences, how the environment effected them and what they think is required to help facilitate birth.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sd36qh1a7AI/AAAAAAAAACQ/kIqaeGcpRtU/s1600-h/Space-Birth_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322685943165676546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sd36qh1a7AI/AAAAAAAAACQ/kIqaeGcpRtU/s200/Space-Birth_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sd37Np-1BqI/AAAAAAAAACo/HZpqJoS_TB8/s1600-h/Space-Birth_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322686546648041122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/Sd37Np-1BqI/AAAAAAAAACo/HZpqJoS_TB8/s200/Space-Birth_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I will put up a link where you can see the footage soon.</div>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-30152184108407871302009-03-24T15:37:00.006+00:002009-04-29T18:56:39.529+01:00Birth EnvironmentAfter being involved with my local hospital planning a new Maternity unit, it got me thinking about birth environment.<br />I went round a couple of years ago <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">with</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NCT</span> Better Birth environment toolkit and as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Doula</span> I have been at births in quite a few hospitals in the NW of England.<br />I often feel that so much more could be done to improve the environment.<br />Whilst I am a committed advocate for birthing at home, some women are just not ready to choose this option.<br />Things have improved slightly with 'Home from Home' rooms and midwife led units, but hospital is never going to be home and so often these rooms look like cheap hotel rooms<br />There is no real commitment to design that <em>facilitates</em> physiological birth or reduces fear and pain and I have felt for a long time, much more could be done than the installation of disco balls!<br />To this end I have organised a Design <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">collaboration</span> and we will be exhibiting at FACT in Liverpool in March and May-<br /><br />A Space to give birth in* First of Two workshops within Climate of Change at FACT<br />Come to Watch - Breathe Talk + Do<br />There is a room made between the instinctive body and hospital practice where babies arrive. We are interested to design proposals to develop ways in which that space can help birth preparation, labour and recovery.<br />WATCH - Birth Matters- a Short film created by Nadine Edwards from the charity AIMS (association for improvements in Maternity services)<br />BREATHE- Group workshop and display of yoga, movement and breathing to facilitate birth by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Doula</span> Jenni Jones<br />TALK - contribute to our process by sharing your experiences or recommendations for spaces of birth<br />DO - Public creation of two giant collages/mood boards of 'Births - the experience and environment' - this may be an ideal or actual experience. We are a X-disciplinary team of students + health + design professionals. This is a collaboration between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Deverra</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Doula</span> UK, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">LJMU</span>, National Childbirth Trust, AIMS, Liverpool PCT and FACT.<br /><br />See this link for more info-<br /><a href="http://climateforchange.fact.co.uk/discussions:childbirthtrust">http://climateforchange.fact.co.uk/discussions:childbirthtrust</a><br /><br />I will update soon with photo's!Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-40662843458873678902009-03-24T15:15:00.005+00:002009-04-29T18:57:26.566+01:00Home BirthI was lucky enough to attend my first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">homebirth</span> last week!<br />After working as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Doula</span> for four years, it was an amazing experience.<br />After a previous traumatic delivery I witnessed the power of loving care. It was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">privilege</span> to be able to witness the love between this couple, the atmosphere in the room was heady with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">oxytocin</span>, low lights, the pool water, massage and oils in the air.<br />A midwife who was willing to step back and allow this birth to happen undisturbed, I could see the fear and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">adrenaline</span> kick in with any attempt to perform a vaginal exam etc so her midwife just waited in the kitchen whilst myself and her partner continued supporting and encouraging.<br />She was actually orgasmic (have confirmed this with her since) and just kept saying how happy she was, no pharmacological drugs and birthed a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">persistent</span> posterior baby. Within two hours was tucked up in bed with her older child, husband and new baby eating tea and toast!<br />After running a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">homebirth</span> support group for years, am so glad to see with my own eyes the difference between birth at home and in hospital!<br />After the birth I went straight on to the Sheffield <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Homebirth</span> Conference and really enjoyed hearing Denis Walsh speak and seeing the AIMS film Birth Matters (See my next post for more on this)Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-61235119049343814352008-11-07T14:04:00.008+00:002009-04-29T18:58:58.752+01:00Breastfeeding<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SRRZX8P3y1I/AAAAAAAAAA0/ddfFkrZ8qtM/s1600-h/bf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265932132147514194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 136px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XxthH2thEPg/SRRZX8P3y1I/AAAAAAAAAA0/ddfFkrZ8qtM/s200/bf.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Many women who plan to breastfeed are unsuccessful. This could be due to the initial practices around infant feeding in UK hospitals.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Common care practices that are routine post <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">natally</span> in UK hospitals could be contributing to the low breastfeeding continuation rates we see in the UK. UNICEF (The United Nations Children's Fund which runs the Global Baby Friendly Initiative-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">BFHI</span> programme with the World Health Organization to improve breastfeeding practice to enable and support parents to make informed choices about how they feed and care for their babies) advise that the first hour after birth is crucial to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">successfully</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">initiate</span> breastfeeding. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth is one the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding on which the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">BFHI</span> was based and launched in 1992. Step 4 states, “Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth” and whilst skin to skin has assumed a high level of importance after birth, this may not include suckling which is a crucial first step in the initiation of successful breastfeeding. </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><br />It has been observed that the suckling reflex of the newborn is at its height twenty to thirty minutes after birth. If the infant is not fed during this early period the reflex diminishes rapidly only to reappear adequately forty hours later (Riordan and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Auerbach</span>, 1993). This may be called “The fourth stage of labour” which includes putting the baby to the breast after birth and ensuring the intake of colostrum. </div><div><br />Although the practice of skin-to skin contact is commonly promoted by midwives, its duration can be short lived because of other priorities in care organization, including suturing or moving from a delivery room to a post natal room/ward.<br /></div><div>As well as interruption of early breastfeeding, it could be the position in which we initially encourage women to breastfeed that has a detrimental effect on breastfeeding duration.<br />Dr Suzanne <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Colson</span> has introduced the concept of ‘<strong>Biological nurturing’.</strong> In one study she found that mothers who breastfed their infants semi-reclined or 'flat lying' (as opposed to lying on their side), in positions that mirrored the feeding positions of other mammals, had the greatest success. </div><div><br />Dr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Colson</span>’s findings suggest that, the principle component of Biological Nurturing (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BN</span>), is that a range of semi-reclined maternal postures, release primitive neonatal reflexes (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">PNRs</span>) pivotal to the establishment of breastfeeding.<br /><br />Research has shown that both the timing of the first breastfeeding and the frequency of breastfeeding on the second postpartum day are positively correlated with milk volume on day 5, suggesting that frequent stimulation of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">prolactin</span> secretion in the period between birth and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">lactogenesis</span> II increases subsequent milk production (Neville, 2001). Infrequent suckling, on the other hand, is associated with delayed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">lactogenesis</span> II (Chapman & Perez-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Escamilla</span>, 1999; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Sözmen</span>, 1992). </div><div><br />In most maternity facilities, following 30 minutes of skin-to-skin contact post delivery, the provision for mother–infant contact involves rooming-in with the infant at the mother’s bedside. This is an improvement from the early practice of removing newborn babies to nurseries to allow their mothers to ‘rest’ however even this practice may be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">interfering</span> with successful breastfeeding. </div><div><br />In a presentation to the Healthy Child Conference, Dr Helen Ball presented findings from a study where infants were randomly allocated to sleep in the mother's bed (with side guard) or (attached bed side) crib or cot. Those allocated to the bed or bed side crib condition exhibited significantly more frequent attempted and successful feeds than those infants randomly allocated to the cot. </div><div><br />Post natal follow up at periods from 2-16 weeks found that although all mothers initiated breastfeeding on the postnatal ward, the proportion of infants from the cot group who were exclusively breastfed at home declined rapidly compared to those in the bed and crib groups.<br />Evolutionary medicine suggests the effective establishment of breastfeeding which is promoted by the evolved behavioural and physiological interactions between mothers and babies is hindered by the current model of post-natal care (rooming-in) and that despite recent alterations in maternity care practices, a proportion of breastfeeding failure still remains an iatrogenic (a condition caused by medical intervention) consequence of the restrictions imposed by a hospital environment.</span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>TIPS</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If possible avoid medications that may interfere with breastfeeding behaviour (Including Epidurals and Opiates/Pethidine)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ask that you and your baby be left skin to skin after birth without disturbance for at least the first hour (weighing, dressing and other medications like Vitamin K can then be given)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ask your hospital if they have any side cots available instead of a bassinet so that you can have easy access to breastfeed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">your</span> baby in your time at hospital.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If they do not have this available, consider bringing this up with a lay representative at your local Maternity Services Liaison committee (your local National Childbirth Trust should know who to contact.).</p></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><strong>Further reading</strong><br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.unicef.org/malaysia/Breastfeeding_First_Hour_of_Life.pdf"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.unicef.org/malaysia/Breastfeeding_First_Hour_of_Life.pdf</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.dur.ac.uk/sleep.lab/">http://www.dur.ac.uk/sleep.lab/</a></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div></div>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6800576677872852113.post-77597893315239572012008-11-04T14:56:00.005+00:002009-04-29T18:59:53.181+01:00The journey begins...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After attending the Sheffield <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Homebirth</span> conference last year, myself and my fellow Liverpool <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Homebirth</span> group organiser Christine were inspired to set up a social enterprise to provide consultancy in Physiological/natural birth and risk.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Having been involved in both the ‘Science’ and medical model of childbirth and myself in the holistic model used by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Doulas</span>, we have observed the huge impact type of birth and birth support has on a woman as well as families' confidence, ability to parent, bonding with their child and communication as a family. We are interested in bringing together the holistic model with the medical model to improve understanding and the experience of the process of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">physiological</span>/natural birth by women, their babies and their family.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We have been busy behind the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">scenes</span>, and have recently been awarded a start up grant by </span><a href="http://www.unltd.org.uk/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">UnLtd</span></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We are working on a book and next year hope to run workshops and other exciting events!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We would like to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">collaborate</span> with anyone interested in these issues, from midwives and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">doulas</span>, to mothers, artists and environmentalists.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You who have stood at the bedposts and</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">seen a mother on her high harvest day,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the day of the most golden of harvest moons for her.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You who have seen the new wet child dried behind the ears,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">swaddled in soft fresh garments,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">pursing its lips and sending a groping mouth toward </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">nipples where white milk is ready.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You who have seen this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">love's</span> payday</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">of wild toiling and sweet agonizing-</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You know being born is important.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Y</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ou</span> know that nothing was ever so important to you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You understand that the payday of love is so old,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">so involved, so traced with circles of the moon,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">so cunning with the secrets of the salts of the blood</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It must be older than the moon, older than salt.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">--Carl Sandburg</span>Selina and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05789275131695145562noreply@blogger.com0