At the risk of you all getting the impression that I only ever think of my stomach, I am reminded today of the way I used to eat biscuits when I was a child - still do in private, if I'm honest. I first revelled in the anticipation: just knowing they were there, a whole packet of bourbons or jammy Continue Reading
The First Days of Feeding
Babies are usually born with a jolly good covering of brown fat. This is to sustain them in the early days. They don't really need 'feeding' as such in the first few days, in fact, in an average 'feed' is only about 5-7mls at a time. Nature is therefore perfectly designed to start this feeding Continue Reading
Breastfeeding Blues: Feeling Sad When Nursing
This is a guest post by an inspiring mother called Alena Lewis. Her determination to nurse her baby despite the challenge of D-MER. Don't know what that is? Read on! Many thanks, Alena for sharing your story. Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex What the duck is that? I hear you ask... well apart from a Continue Reading
A Call to Action
I was recently told that a senior obstetric doctor said in a hospital meeting that if we stopped routinely inducing women for 'post-dates' then the stillbirth rate would go up. I'd like to say here what would have said to his face had I been there: "Dear Doctor, we could argue all afternoon about Continue Reading
Breastfeeding Support-Doulas: Boundaries and Benefits
I've spent my working life thinking about boundaries in one capacity or another and have been through the pain of working out why it's important for me to understand where my role begins and ends as a doula, breastfeeding counsellor and doula course leader and believe me, sometimes it's difficult to Continue Reading
RCM Reports new Doula UK Initiative
During World Doula Week, a new doula initiative is announced. Reported here by the Royal College of Midwives - doulas are working to provide support to those most in need. http://www.rcm.org.uk/midwives/news/new-doula-initiative-is-announced/ Continue Reading
Sharing the Tongue Tie Knowledge
This short summary of the Tongue Tie Study Day with Alison Hazelbaker was written with breastfeeding supporters and doulas in mind. If you are a parent hoping to learn more about tongue tie, you may like to start with this article and the articles on the Analytical Armadillo blog. It heartened me Continue Reading
Nibbling The Biscuits
At the risk of you all getting the impression that I only ever think of my stomach, I am reminded today of the way I used to eat biscuits when I was a child - still do in private, if I'm honest. I first revelled in the anticipation: just knowing they were there, a whole packet of bourbons or jammy Continue Reading
When Push Comes to Shove
At some point when contemplating how this baby is going to actually come out, most of us naturally turn our minds to labour and how we might cope with the contractions. Few of us think about the second stage of labour - after all, isn't it as simple as the instruction on the door above? Once labour Continue Reading
Dear Younger Self…
We asked a group of women from all over the world to write a short note to their Younger Selves just before having their 1st child. This page is not meant as advice to you, but we hope you'll find these women's comments amusing, educational or just food for thought. Add your own note to your younger Continue Reading