Vaginal Twin Birth

I was really moved by a twin birth on a programme yesterday. She really wanted a vaginal birth and twin one was head down so it was looking very promising. I think they said something like 50% of twin births are done by caesarean section in the UK. I guess it's much harder to get 2 babies to co-operate!!

The woman looked completely in control and barely broke a sweat! Twin 1 was born and within 2 minutes (yes 2 minutes!!) she had pushed out twin 2! They were healthy weights and simply adorable. Their big sister came in soon after their birth and loved them!!

Absolutely incredible. I am very fascinated by twins in general so was very pleased to see that birth on tv yesterday! I would be overjoyed to experience one as a doula.

For more information on twin pregnancy, birth and post natal visit Tamba - Twins & Multiple Births Association

Which book first????

I ordered 2 books to read and they arrived this morning. I'm quandry as to which one to start with! lol!

Birth Reborn, What childbirth should be like by Michel Odent

"Combining the roles of romatic, philosopher, surgeon and obstetrician as only a frenchman coul... many of (Michel Odent's) theories have changed the way childbirth is viewed and conducted" The Times

"This is the man who has made childbirth a delightful, natural experience for so many women." Nursery World.

OR

The New Experience of Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

"A woman of remarkable insight, with a sharp and often very witty tongue" Leslie Kenton, Harpers & Queen

"She is the Earth Mother, or Birth Mother of the nation. If Britain is now one of the most progressive countries in obstetric practice, it is largely due to her" Polly Toynbee, Guardian

To be honest I am intrigued by the idea of a man writing a book about the rebirth of birth so I think I may read that one first!

My Homebirth Montage

We only have a few photos from our homebirth, think we were caught up in the moment of it all... next time I will have a doula taking me pictures ;o)

I thought I'd put together this little montage to try and show how relaxed, comfortable and enjoyable my homebirth experience was.

Breastfeeding & Support (or lack of)

When I last visited my friend in Surrey I met her mum who is a midwife. It took her about 5 minutes to ask me why I didnt BF! (it was the first time i'd met her in person and she lived in Aus for ages, in fact going back forever once she sells the house)

The thing is I have already been thinking about it more and more the last few months of how crap I did with it and how crap the support was. Even watching discovery home and health I see that if half the things said on there were said to me I would have done so much better! I already know that I would do better next time (if there is a next time) just from watching tv!

My friends mum is starting an antenatal bf class to promote bf more.

I actually feel quite sad about it now. Because the support I got was crap... well i didn't get any support. I think the only thing my mw said to me was my nipples were prefect on day 2 i think it was. that's it. Not even when I swapped to formula did she ask why or offer help or advice on how to bf properly/efficiently and I look back now and realise what a shame it is. I know it's not their fault. There's not enough midwifes, they're stressed and over worked.

I was already completely put off bf after bfing jake, it wasn't easy and the fact I was 17 and scared didn't help. His dad was a completely useless and made me feel quite crap about the whole thing. God knows how I managed to do it for a month with all what happened happening iykwim.

With these bad memories in mind I wasn't overly keen on the idea of bf Erin but said I would try and see how I got on... which again was crap.

So the biggest problem from what I've read so far is the aftercare oh and the lack of talk post-baby too. I was watching the programme earlier on H&H and the lady was saying all sorts that if I'd have known back then I think I could have struggled through. Also if my mw or hv even asked me how bf was going or offer advice... should we have to ask them for it? I don't think so, it's a nerve wracking time not to mention tiring I think they should talk things through with you more as part and parcel iykwim.

I'm looking forward to learning more about breast feeding in my training, hopefully it will arm me to succeed for longer with baby number 3 ;o) and not to mention the support I can offer other mums who have struggled as I did.

Pre-course Module

My pre-course module arrived yesterday from Nuturing Birth, the people I am doing my doula training with in September. It has got me really thinking and studying some more, I love it!

I have just bought 2 books from Amazon
Birth Reborn by Michel Odent and
The New Experience of Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

Can't wait for them to arrive so I can get reading. In the meantime I best get on with my module :o)

Has anyone read these books? what did you think? Any other good books you can suggest... I'm going to start a collection for me and my clients!

Volunteer Doula Work

I had already read on the Doula UK site about the hardship fund and it had got me thinking about working with the under privileged. Having been young single mum years ago, I know how hard and confusing such a time can be. I'd love to be able to share what I know now with mums in a similar situation to help them have a better birth and enjoy their newborn.

Then this week as I was again "researching" lol (that's what I tell James!!) I found a Sure Start site that was offering something that in my opinion is a great project! The Newland Doulas have developed a pioneering project to recruit, train and match up volunteer Doulas with pregnant women who need support at what can be a lonely and difficult time. How fantastic is that?!?!

I have been in contact with Heather but at the moment they are the only sure start doing it. They will be broadening across the UK over the next year or so. Watch this space!

Caesarean Statistics

I was watching a birth programme this morning and heard the narrator say that 1in 5 births are done by caesarean today compared with 1 in 10 in 1980.

I couldn't help thinking how high that was so conducted a bit of research myself lol. This is due to the rise in elective caesareans. I found this article in The Observer "The increase in Caesareans has coincided with a growing shortage of midwives in the UK"

I personally don't undertstand why some people would elect a caesarean with no medical factors. I would support anyone that wanted to but personally think caesareans should be saved for emergencies, after all giving birth is what our amazing bodies were made to do.

I do know that many women have an emergency caesarean with their first child and go on to an elective caesarean for any subsequent babies. Years ago I thought this was a necessity but since my growing interest in birth I have read so much about VBAC - Vaginal Birth After Caesarean. It is possible and many women do it. There is more information on VBAC here - VBAC on Babycentre

What ever women decide, they should remember that they have a choice either way. Never be forced into doing something you're unsure of or uncomfortable with. Ask questions!!

Doula - D.O.U.L.A!

9 times out of 10 I have to firstly spell out then explain what a Doula is to friends and family when I am telling them about what I want to do.

I got a pleasant suprise this weekend at a friends birthday party... Said it to a friend and she said "oh I know a Doula!" Hoorah! We then chatted about having babies (she's not had any yet) and childbirth and all sorts.

Why I'm Going to be a Doula

Thought it would be a good idea to explain my passion for bumps, births, babies, motherhood and doulas!

I had my son when I was 17, it wasn't planned and his dad left me about 1/2 way through my pregnancy. To say it was tough would be an understatement but I struggled on and did my best. My birth wasn't the best, although I slept through the worst of the boring wait, when it came to the nitty gritty it went from bad to worse. At the time I was young and scared. Although my mum was there (just! she had to travel back from Wales - my sister's graduation!!) I didn't know what was happening or what I wanted. None of the staff spoke to me or talked me through it and I spent most of it sucking on the gas and air to try and block out the pain. I was tired and the baby was getting distressed. The ruputured my waters, oxygen, episiotimy and forceps later, Jake was born weighing 8lb 2oz.

Years later I met James and we started trying for a baby. I was ready for a baby and planning it made it so much more relaxed! I couldn't believe the difference! I researched quite a lot to get pregnant and whilst I was pregnant. Someone mentioned homebirths on a forum I used. I really liked the sound of it. The personal touch to giving birth. After lots of talking and research with James we decided to go for it.

The experience of a relaxed, well-informed birth was simply amazing. I never ever thought it would be quite like that. We were fully prepared and I truly believe this made it the experience it should be, one of a lifetime. Unfortunately with the stretched nhs, over-worked and underpaid midwife's the personal and one to one care can be lost, through no fault of their own I might add. Knowing what I know now, I want to share it with other mums to be, help them on their journey and give them the chance to enjoy both their pregnancy and birth, as well as their first few weeks as a mother. Every birth will grow my knowledge and every day I talk more, read more, learn more and once I have completed my training course I will also be attended further seminars and training days.

A friend told me a while back that I would make a great doula after I helped her with her and other friend's babies. I also started up my own website helping mums with weaning www.babybanana.biz dedicated to Baby Led Weaning.

I looked into it some more and more. I found the nuturing birth website and called and spoke to Valerie at length about my passion of become a doula. The nearest and soonest course to me is in september so that is the one I have booked. There aren't many Doulas in Northampton, especially compared to the high demand in the south. I'm hoping that with word of mouth and good birth-doula stories more and more women will know about the option of having the emotional and physical support of a doula.

I will be training as an antenatal, birth and postnatal doula.

Discovery Home & Health!

I think I watched too much of it yesterday!! I had a dream I gave birth last night... It brought the pain back!!!

I do love watching portland babies and student midwives but I think I may need to watch some more between now and September as I cry everytime the baby is born! It's so emotional! I also find myself panting and holding my breath as they start to push... thinking "come on push" in my head!

I was supposed to be my sister's birth partner years ago but unfortunately I was called away from the hospital by my sons dad at the time so missed it! I was there for all the labouring and contractions but missed the birth of my nephew.

I can't wait to be there for other mums now.

Hello

Well I decided to start a blog to try and keep me occupied until september!

I have just signed up for the nuturing birth doula training course and I am more than excited about it!

It's taken me all evening to chose a name (which will also be my website name) and to set up the blog! So I shall post more about it in the coming days.

I have my lovely fiance to thank for my cool name!! I love it and him as we spent ages thrashing some ideas about!!

and so the Doula Mamma is born!