This is my story of having a vaginal twin breech birth. For an unplanned pregnancy, we were certainly surprised when we discovered two little beings on the first ultrasound. We had initially planned a homebirth, with our midwife who had supported us at our daughter's birth at home one year ago. However, due to
Ryan McAllister is a parent, biophysicist and a research professor at Georgetown University. For over 10 years Ryan has studied maternity care. Ryan presents this YouTube video called “Unbreaking Birth” . This video is well worth watching. Ryan presents complex issues in an easy to understand manner. He explores the United States maternity care
Amongst all of the excitement and anticipation of having a baby, there are many decisions to make. One of the more important ones is where am I going to get my baby to sleep? Many parents and parents-to-be love the idea of having their baby sleep close to them but have some fears around
By Amie Steel, Jane Frawley The majority of women rely on health professionals, such as midwives, general practitioners (GPs) and obstetricians, during pregnancy and birth to ensure that both mother and baby are as healthy as possible. Are these the only practitioners providing care to women during this important time in their lives? New
What are the women's perceptions of midwifery-led care? The Family Birth Centre (FBC) is a midwife-led unit offering woman-centred care to low risk women and is adjacent to King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH), the only tertiary maternity hospital in Western Australia. The underpinning philosophy of the midwives working in the FBC is to empower
Optimising Physiologic Childbirth and the Humanisation of Birth. Birth in water is sometimes portrayed as a new-age hippy fad promoted by modern childbirth fundamentalists. This is to push the boundaries of normal birth. But, I see it as a small part of a much bigger and more sophisticated idea. Birth in water is connected
Many parents find that swaddling can provide comfort to fussy babies, reduce crying, and develop more settled sleep patterns. While parents and babies may enjoy these benefits from swaddling, care must be taken to swaddle properly to ensure the baby’s health and safety. Improper swaddling can lead to instability and dislocation of the hip,
Breastfeeding was always something I was determined to do with my babies, and for as long as possible. I remember a few hours after my first baby was born. The midwife came and asked me if he had suckled yet. When I replied no, she gave his head a firm push in the direction
Sarah had planned a home birth for her second baby. The birth of her first baby had taken place at the local primary unit and all went well. She had commented antenatally that she would rather have this baby at home. This is because she felt the constant interruptions at the primary unit made
Heartburn in pregnancy is a common problem. While harmless heartburn can be quite painful. Heartburn is often experienced as a strong burning sensation in your chest extending up to your throat. The burning sensation you feel is when stomach acids rise into your oesophagus (the muscular tube that food passes through to your stomach).
