After my last post, I took a step back, as I found it really emotionally draining to go back over the utterly shite treatment I had with my last birth in particular. But the state of post-natal care also needs to be addressed and was, on the whole, poor during both my experiences. There have… Continue reading Blog series post #6: Better post-natal care
Both my births were traumatic in different ways. My first son was born after a very long back-to-back labour, I didn’t dilate past 7cm and eventually his oxygen levels plummeted to the point where I had to have a category 1 c-section. I was whisked into a make-shift theatre because the labour suite was in… Continue reading Blog series post #5: Birth trauma
Today marks the end of the second UK Maternal Mental Health Week, led by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership. World Maternal Mental Health Day on Wednesday’s focus on ‘The Village’ emphasised the importance of giving access to the information and help that new mothers need. Much of the work needs to start with how we… Continue reading Maternal Mental Health Week 2018
The government announced recently that more than 3,ooo places on midwifery training courses will be created over the next four years. There also been the ‘promise’ to mothers that they will be seen by the same midwife throughout labour, pregnancy and birth by 2021. It’s an admirable aim, and one that would vastly improve the… Continue reading More midwives only half the answer
It’s now nearly five months since I had my second c-section and I’m slowly re-introducing some exercise. I’ve found it quite tricky to know the best things to do after a caesarean – you don’t really get any advice after you’ve had one, you’re just left to get on with it. It’s a bit weird… Continue reading Exercising after a c-section
With Birth Trauma Awareness Week having taken place a few weeks ago and a bit of a hoo-ha about the pushing or not pushing (excuse the pun) of ‘normal’ births in the news recently (there is a great piece about it here), it seems apt that after another difficult birth experience for me second time… Continue reading Getting caught up in process, not progress
I was debating posting this but in the end decided it helps to share, even if sometimes you feel you are shouting into an empty room.In the early days after having a baby, any mention of having down days immediately means people think you might have PND, and this discourages any talk of the times… Continue reading It’s ok not to feel ok
Once I was transferred to the post natal ward, I was put into bay ‘B4’. That was what was written on my notes, and my name was not even noted down above my bed. The experience on the ward with my first son had been noisy and stressful so another request of mine had been… Continue reading When birth doesn’t go to plan…again (Part 2)
He’s finally here. Gus Neil Whittle born at 7.27am on Saturday 10th June. After quite a traumatic birth with my first son, I had hoped that this birth experience could be more positive. Here’s what happened (it’s quite a long story so this is Part 1): LABOUR AND DELIVERY I had always planned to try… Continue reading When birth doesn’t go to plan…again (Part 1)
This week, I’m on countdown to the birth and I’m hoping that baby has turned as he was slightly back to back at my last midwife appointment. My firstborn was back to back, and it’s safe to say labour was absolutely excruciating with him pressing on my spine, but no-one had really discussed that position… Continue reading A waiting game
My Beautiful Diary of the Amazingly Mundane 