If I am honest, when I was pregnant, I was more scared about having a C-section than a natural birth. I understand that some women are very anxious about birth and labour, and for them a C-section is the lesser of two evils.
If the woman or the baby’s life is at risk during labour she will be rushed to theatre for an emergency C-Section, and this could safe one or both lives and we should be grateful for the skill of surgeons that do save so many lives in this way. What we are talking about here is elective C-sections, that is planning to have surgery instead of a natural birth. Some women do this for medical reasons, they have talked with their doctor and surgery will be the safest way to bring their baby into the world.
Other women are anxious about birth, this could be due to a previous difficult labour, or a perceived view of labour. This fear can be overwhelming. Read more »
Only the other day my hubby was talking about how great it would have been if he had been allowed to stay in the hospital with me when our son was born. He felt shut out and not important in the first day of our son’s life. Yes, he got to hold him and start that important bonding time, but then as it got later all Dad’s were asked (oh so politely) to leave.
I felt abandoned and very alone. There I was, a mum for the first time, a tiny bundle of joy next to me sleeping (for now) in his crib, and I really didn’t know what I was doing. What I really wanted was my hubby, and he was at home feeling very separated from the whole experience.
So imagine our relief when we read the news today! Midwives are being urged to encourage fathers to be more involved in their partner’s pregnancies. Some hospitals are now providing reclining chairs for fathers to sleep in overnight, so they can stay with their newborn and partner. Read more »
Your newborn has spent the last 9 months inside you, in the dark, in water, with strange echoey noises all around them. Then after a stressful time getting born, they find themselves in a whole new world.
The world as they knew it has changed forever.
If you think you and your partner are bewildered when you bring your newborn home for the 1st time – spare a thought for what the baby is going through. It takes time for you to adjust, and so it will for your baby too. OK you both may take to your new worlds like ducks to water, but it may just take a little time. Read more »
I’ve posted this video for 1 reason only – it is so funny!
Every time I watch it, it makes me laugh so much. She sings about the ‘joys’ of childbirth, in a way that is true yet is funny. You may have seen it before, but you never tire of watching a classic again!
What do contractions feel like? I had no idea. I asked a friend of mine who had 2 children. She said it started off feeling like period pain. That seemed easy!
I woke up at 6 in the morning 9 days after baby was due, with an achy period pain. I can’t really describe where the pain was, it was kind of between the top of my legs and bottom of my belly. After a minute or so it went. Half an hour later it returned. The same pattern carried on, I just thought I was achy. My partner said “You are in labour” I was sure I wasn’t. But he was right. The pain got slowly worse, and felt like my insides were tightening and loosening. You could tell when it was going to happen. It built up. Read more »
If I am honest, when I was pregnant, I was more scared about having a C-section than a natural birth. I understand that some women are very anxious about birth and labour, and for them a C-section is the lesser of two evils.
Your newborn has spent the last 9 months inside you, in the dark, in water, with strange echoey noises all around them. Then after a stressful time getting born, they find themselves in a whole new world.
What do contractions feel like? I had no idea. I asked a friend of mine who had 2 children. She said it started off feeling like period pain. That seemed easy!
