Articles
Birth
Jo, Jon & Baby Frankie
I was 10 days overdue and really starting to get stressed that my baby would never arrive. I’d had so many phone calls from friends and family asking how I was doing, and although I can look back now and see how lovely those phone calls were, at the time they were just reminders that I hadn’t had my baby yet and still was waddling around waiting for something to happen! I couldn’t complain too much, although I had a few aches and pains, and bad heart burn near the end, I had had a fantastic pregnancy, not even any morning sickness! I had... Read full article
Focus on Maternity Units
In today’s modern society, many hospitals have chosen to offer a midwife led facility giving mums the chance to labour and birth in a more relaxed ‘at home’ atmosphere. These midwife led, ‘home from home’ style units encourage a relaxed natural labour and delivery, in many cases reducing the need for intervention. Okehampton Maternity Unit A: Cavell Way, Link Road, Okehampton, EX20 1PN T: 01837 658013 Okehampton Maternity Unit is located in the Community Hospital at Okehampton, which was opened in 2003. It is a midwife led unit with three... Read full article
“Does my bump look big in this?” by Nicole Topham
"I’ll remind you of this one day", said my mum mockingly, ‘when your back is aching and you’re shuffling along like an old woman with her shopping.” I looked down again at my midriff, where the hem of my T-shirt smoothed over the top of my jeans. It was still relatively flat. I was only about 12 weeks gone but I wanted to prove it to the rest of the planet. A proper bump would give me that certain pregnancy... Read full article
I’m Home! First days…
July 3rd, the day I went home, at 6lb 9oz. Mummy finally got the knack of 'latching me on' and I haven’t looked back since – I did give her a really bad second night too and she paced with me at 4am whilst I wailed! We packed and waited for daddy to come and take us home. We were escorted off the premises by security……otherwise known as a nurse, to ensure I was going in a proper car seat and not chucked on... Read full article
Bluecoat Children’s Centre Multiple Birth Group
Here at Bluecoat Children’s Centre, we recognise the importance and uniqueness of families with multiple births. Every Monday between 10.00am – 12.00am, families with twins, triplets or more meet to share experiences, offer support to each other and seek out specific support should they need it. The group is an informal group within a friendly, welcoming environment. The room is set up for children, aged... Read full article
A guide to pain relief
What pain relief should I have ? When should I have it ? What pain reliefs can I use with each other ? These are all common questions that new mums-to-be worry about. Check out our guide to prepare you for the delivery room. GAS AND AIR How it works It is also known as Entonox (50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen). You breathe it in through a mouthpiece or mask at the start of a contraction ... Read full article
Here We Go!! Delivery…
Labour is a strange thing, and yes sorry girls, it more than smarts! However prepared I thought I was I really am a wimp! Having been told at my first scan that this baby was in no way coming out the same way it went in, due to a large fibroid growing on the neck of my womb…However as stubborn as any baby can be, mine had other ideas and squished into the engaged position just in time for the C-section... Read full article
Sally, Paul, Gracie and Gabriel
So, here we are having an early pregnancy scan! I am 7 weeks pregnant and want to make sure all is alright. When the stenographer looks at Paul and then myself and says “ There’s one heartbeat and here is the other!” TWINS. We just sat looking at each other “Twins”, “Yes, Twins!” It took a while to sink in and then he says “We had better go and look at buggies. We need to test drive them.” Not my first... Read full article
Seph, Pete and Charlie
My work as a pregnancy massage therapist had given me great insight into the wonders of pregnancy and birth but feedback I got from the majority of my clients regarding the continuity of care they received through the nhs due to the low midwife numbers in the West country had led me to decide to book the services of an independent midwife, and as luck would have it the wonderful services of Amanda Bellenger... Read full article
Mandy, Chris, Jacob and Baby Solomon
My first son (Jacob) was born 2 ½ years ago, 2 weeks overdue, a 72 hour labour ending by induction at hospital which naturally lent itself to a whole host of intervention including everything on offer bar a c-section. After his birth I dealt with the after effects of a highly medicalised birth as best I could with a fractious baby, exhausted mummy, breast-feeding issues and a damaged pelvic floor. I am a... Read full article
Chris, Claire and baby Harry
Harry was due to be born on Sunday 8th February 2009 so when he hadn’t arrived a week later I began to get a little concerned. This was mainly due to the fact that Chris and I had our hearts set on going to Okehampton Maternity Unit for the birth as Chris would be allowed to stay with Harry and I and we would be able to stay until we felt ready to ‘go it alone’! At 11 days past my due date I had an... Read full article
