Generally, by 35/36 weeks of pregnancy is best! Just in case baby puts in an early appearance! I encourage clients to start getting items ready from 28 weeks so enough time to plan and think ahead. Keep bags in a central location once packed, and avoid leaving in car especially in winter, as newborn clothing would be very cold, which is not ideal from keeping newborns warm!
Category: MidwifeCare
What should I pack in my hospital maternity bag?
Firstly, have one bag for yourself and one bag for baby. Most women would use their changing bag for the baby. As you prepare for the birth of your baby, do get your husband/partner involved in knowing whats in the bags too, so that they know where to look and find items on the day! Helps to reduce stress!
Keep it simple! Kitchen sink is not required! As an experienced midwife with hands on years of support for women birthing – this is some of my top tips that I recommend as helpful for the bags! Its not a comprehensive list though!
For baby – 10 or so nappies, with some cotton wool. Best to avoid wet wipes initially when they are newborn. Just 3 vests & baby grow’s working on principle of one on, one in wash and one clean! I personally recommend baby nighties – long soft gowns with no poppers which makes frequent nappy changes so easy! Thin cardigan in case baby is cold post birth – must be thin for safe sleeping guidance. Pair of socks as newborns feet are often cold for a few weeks. A soft but thin large cotton muslin or even better, flannette sheet to wrap baby in post birth. Flannette is so cosy – brushed cotton – its perfect against baby skin – to keep them cosy. The hospital will supply a blanket but they are like cardboard! Standard size muslins for supporting with feeding.
For Mum – something to wear when birthing. Over sized t shirt or nightie; cotton; some like just a crop top though; but certainly nothing expensive in case of bodily fluid spills. Wash bag with all the usual, and bath towel. Flannels are not in vogue any more but they are perfect in labour – nice soft cotton square flannel – your partner can keep it topped up with cold water to place on your head/brow when in established labour – it works so well! Be sure to pack some vaseline or lip balm for your lips – as all the puffing and blowing with contractions can make your lips so dry! Water bottle with sports cap or straw to encourage easy hydration in labour, and snacks too! Sanitary towels – just one pack for the bag of heaviest type. Some soft loungewear for post birth wearing – if breast feeding with buttons down – nightie or pj’s. Loose fitting recommended so no annoying trousers to irritate vaginal area post birth. Cotton underwear – ideally high waisted to hold sanitary towels securely and also support tummy post birth. Feeding bras to support breasts; whether breast feeding or not – be sure to wear one post birth so that breast tissue is well supported in anticipation of milk coming in. Slippers or crocs or flip flops for your feet in the hospital – avoid at all cost walking around hospital floors with bare feet – not to be recommended!
If you would like to chat through your list for the bags, do contact me and we can speak over phone or a video call. See fee’s for options
Choosing where to give birth!
Informed choices are always best! Working out what feels right & safe for you, alongside relevant options!
Firstly, you do not have to choose a local unit – you can choose to book in another area, but I always advise clients, to consider & bear in mind the logistics of getting to your maternity unit of choice, if it were a Monday morning at rush hour! Local does keep it simple!
All places of birth have a “risk” assessment & criteria.
For low risk, straight forward, no complications history – then home birth & maternity midwife led units are safe & relevant choices.
Us midwives are trained in caring for women in normal pregnancy, birth & postnatal & we are experts in that! Even better is if we as midwives know the woman we are caring for, as continuity has been shown to make a significant difference for women/clients as they approaching birth. They have talked through their birth choices ahead of going into labour & the midwife can offer bespoke care planned according to clients wishes. A birth plan is helpful if you do not know the midwife ahead of your birth.
Pregnancy & birthing for most women is a normal healthy event and us midwives can support & guide clients through that.
For some women, maybe they have pre existing medical conditions, or they develop pregnancy related complications, or even complications in birthing process – then Obstetric Led Hospital births are more appropriate.
There is so much more to say! I offer clients the opportunity to discuss this subject in full – in person or over a video call if further afield to my geographical area.
Do get in touch if I can help!
Choices for location of where to give birth in UK!
In UK, for women with a pregnancy at term (37-42 weeks pregnant), you can choose to give birth at home, at a Birth centre or in Hospital.
All Trusts have a Homebirth Service run by midwives and Trusts are expected to run this service. Sadly this service is commonly restricted due to inadequate staffing levels.
Birth Centres are run by midwives, as part of a Maternity Service. Some are integrated into the Maternity Unit within a Hospital, whereas others are standalone community units.
Obstetric led Hospital Birth Units are run by Midwives as well as Obstetricians ( Drs trained in higher risk pregnancy, birthing & postnatal care).
Placenta
The placenta is the “source of life” for pregnancy. It is an incredible organ, linking the growing baby to its Mum!
It embeds deeply into the maternal uterus soon after conception, and maintains pregnancy in so many differing ways. It is essential for the baby for survival in utero.
To highlight just a few….It nourishes and feeds the baby with nutrients to facilitate growth, and is the point of gas exchange to deliver oxygen & remove carbon dioxide. It facilitates the hormones needed to maintain and grow the pregnancy, as well as the vital role of protecting baby form nasty bugs or “pathogens”.
Aside from the membranes sealing the baby in a “bag” to create that vital safe sterile environment, the waters or amniotic fluid around the baby, allow baby freedom of movement in utero as well as keeping baby at right temperature warm inside the Mum!
Delivery of the placenta is the 3rd & final stage of labour and it is often called the “afterbirth”.
It is crazy that such an organ is considered “medical waste” after it is birthed; its function is complete once the baby and the placenta itself is delivered. Of course many cultures around the world have a differing opinion on the placenta and they perform all sorts of rituals and ceremonies, amounting to a sign of respect for such an incredulous organ!
For me as an experienced midwife, when checking the placenta after birth to ensure it has been delivered complete, it fascinates me enormously. The intricacies & the detail of the human body never fail to astonish me!
Anaemia in pregnancy
Anaemia in pregnancy can commonly develop due to the demands of the growing pregnancy, and can be caused by a deficiency of iron in the diet.
Pregnant mothers are tested (blood test) usually at booking and again around 28 weeks of pregnancy, and these levels are used to shape care and advice.
Symptoms of anaemia can include tiredness and paleness of colour – breathlessness too on exercise – but essentially it can be common to feel tired in pregnancy due to the demands on the body so a chat with your midwife or GP to talk through any concerns you have is important.
Diet plays a key part – that saying “we are what we eat” is oh so true!
For my clients I always take a thorough history as well as review of blood tests results, and take the time to discuss in detail their diet – such as number of meals a day, home cooked meals from ingredients as fresh/ close to the source, food restrictions or avoidances, choices and intolerances.
If you eat very healthily and enjoy a full range of foods then supplements may not be necessary. I counsel women too regarding maximising the absorbency of iron from their diet/supplements if they are required. One simple trick is to increase vitamin C intake as this has been shown to improve the absorbency of iron.
If iron supplements are required it is important to have a repeat blood test 2 weeks after commencing the supplement, to ensure that the iron levels are improving.
I also counsel women regarding the unpleasant side effects of iron as these can come as a surprise, and deter women from continuing with the iron. It is important to find an iron supplement that “suits you” so if clients struggle with one type, I recommend another to try until one is found that is tolerable.
Testimonials
“It is impossible to explain how much Helen has helped us. I credit her with my positive pregnancy, birth and parenting experience to date. Her support has made a phenomenal difference for our family. She helped us make informed choices as pregnancy progressed – everyone commented how calm I seemed and I think this contributed hugely to a relaxed straightforward labour. Having a relationship with your midwife helps immensely and it is a real shame this isn’t the normal procedure.
Helen was a mentor, a friend and when necessary ensured i got the old-fashioned straight talking I needed to get through labour! When we had early issues with breastfeeding Helen was fantastic and without her support I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to continue. We were also impressed she supported us as a family and included my husband. I would not have another child without her support and recommend her services to everyone.” Jan 2019
COVID-19 guidelines for pregnancy
This is a very helpful update from RCOG – Royal College of Obstetricians.
Epidural in labour
A recent article in the Sunday Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/25/women-labour-denied-epidurals-nhs-amid-concern-cult-natural/) suggested that women are being denied an epidural in labour.
As an experienced midwife, I can only see that comments such as these will scare monger women, who after carefully researching all methods of pain, have made an informed decision to choose an epidural for pain relief in labour.
When I support clients for their births, yes I see the NHS is stretched and staff are over challenged by sheer volume of work, but I see staff – midwives, obstetricians and anaesthetists, listening to women and their requests and choices for pain relief, and providing that care within a safe framework. Yes sometimes client’s have had to “wait” for their epidural as there is an emergency on Labour Ward – but I witness good support in the meantime whilst they have to wait etc. So I seek to reassure that it is unlikely that you will be refused or denied an epidural, if requested. All pregnant women need to be mindful that of course sometimes all the best laid birth plans can be over ruled by Mother Nature though!
This is a balanced article written by an Anaesthetist you may find helpful to read!
https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/blog/epidural-denial-thoughts-frontline
Dr Bill Franklin “grandfather of allergy”
Dr Bill Franklin recently celebrated his 107th birthday and as an expert in allergies, was asked what practical steps parents could take to protect their children from allergies.
He highlighted that genetics plays a part in around 30% of allergies but that 70% are due to the environment.
He talked about parents smoking and whether the family live near a road and therefore the children breath in pollution.
But he also highlighted the importance of breast feeding as well as vaginal birthing, where clinically possible. There is increasing research into the importance of the newborn baby passing through the vagina/birth canal, and picking up on important bacteria – we call this the seeding of the newborn microbiome.
Both breast feeding and vaginal birth helps to properly prime the newborn baby’s immune system.
Independent/private midwife Helen Taylor 