Blackpool Victoria Midwife Led Unit

Official Opening

Professor Cathy Warwick Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives officially opened the Midwife Led Unit of Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Wednesday 26th February 2014.





Cathy Warwick "It is wonderful to see midwives, staff and managers working together as a team to give first class quality care to women.''

What is a Midwife Led Unit?

 "Midwifery units or birth centres are run by midwives without the medical facilities of a hospital.
They can be next to a main hospital maternity unit (‘alongside’) or completely separate from hospital (‘freestanding’). Because most women can give birth without needing medical interventions, these units can be a good choice. However, if complications arise during your pregnancy or labour you may be advised to change your plan and give birth at an obstetic unit." NCT

The Blackpool Midwife Led Unit runs alongside the Obstetic Unit giving the best of both worlds.

Netmums discuss Natal Hypnotherapy™

Natal Hypnotherapy™ FAQ

Netmums recently ran a webchat with Maggie Howell, founder of Natal Hypnotherapy. Maggie is a mum of 5 and has helped over 100,000 women have a better pregnancy and birth experience.
If you are interested in the use of hypnosis in childbirth, then her techniques may be of use to you...


Interview with Maggie

What is Shiatsu?

 

Shiatsu in Pregnancy & Labour

I must admit, before I met the lovely Hannah Mackay, I had little idea about what Shiatsu actually was.

The first thing that sprang to mind was a small fluffy handbag dog.

So, What is Shiatsu?

"Shiatsu is a physical therapy that supports and strengthens the body’s natural ability to heal and balance itself.

It works on the whole person - not just a physical body, but also a psychological, emotional and spiritual being.

Shiatsu originated in Japan from traditional Chinese medicine, with influences from more recent Western therapies.

Although shiatsu means ‘finger pressure’ in Japanese, in practise a practitioner uses touch, comfortable pressure and manipulative techniques to adjust the body’s physical structure and balance its energy flow.

It is a deeply relaxing experience and regular treatments can alleviate stress and illness and maintain health and well-being." Shiatsu Society.

Shiatsu can be used:

• Relax and engergise
• Help connect with your baby
• Reduce Nausea
• Reduce Back Pain
• Help reduce Pelvic Pain (SPD - Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction)
• Induce labour if you are overdue
• Decrease pain in childbirth
• Help with breastfeeding
• Post-natal: Help release birth trauma

Shiatsu Practitioners can vary in experience and knowledge when it comes to pregnancy and birth, so if you are interested in using shiatsu for pregnancy, birth & postnatal care - check out www.wellmother.org

Hannah Mackay is one of the leading Pregnancy and Birth Shiatsu Practitioners in the North West. For more information please see: Hannah Mackay - Shiatsu

Lots of Love

What is Oxytocin?

Oxytocin is one of the most important, if not the most important hormones in the birth process. Oxytocin has been dubbed as the hormone of 'love', by Dr Michel Odent. Odent recognises that the hormone is present whenever we have feelings of love, whether it be sex, birth, bonding or breastfeeding.

Low levels of oxytocin during labour can slow or stall the birth process, that's why it's so important for woman to birth in a safe and loving environment.

Today, Valentine's Day there is bound to be tons of oxytocin in the air - if you are soon to give birth it might be worth looking into ways of keeping oxytocin flowing in your birthing space.


For more information see:
Hormones for Birth

Hypnotherapy Antenatal Childbirth Classes - Preston, Lytham St. Annes, Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde

Natal Hypnotherapy™  Practitioner

I'm pleased to announce that I am now fully licensed to operate and practice as a fully trained and qualified Natal Hypnotherapy™  Practitioner.

I received my official certificate in the post this morning.

Really looking forward to working with local couples to help them let go of their birthing fears and reframe their perspectives on birth. Ultimately supporting them to have a positive birth experience.

Gemma xx

Antenatal Classes - Hypnotherapy for Birth

For more information on Calm & Contented Birth - Natal Hypnotherapy™ Classes see:

Calm & Contented Birth

Lancashire Area

• Preston
• Kirkham
• Wesham
• Wrea Green
• Weeton
• Warton
• Singleton
• Staining
• Hambleton
• Blackpool
• Fleetwood
• Bispham
• Thornton
• Cleveleys
• Poulton-le-Fylde
• Lytham
• St. Annes

Hypnobirthing

Natal Hypnotherapy™ was founded by Maggie Howell in the UK (2000). Natal Hypnotherapy™ has been designed alongside the UK maternity system and is accredited by the Royal College of Midwives. It is the UK version of the Mongan Method of Hypnobirthing.

Contact Details

Gemma Webster

Natal Hypnotherapy™ Practitioner

Direct Line: 07729275909
Calm & Contented Website

Positions for Birth

Go with whatever is Instinctive.

There is evidence to support women should go with their own instincts and adopt a birthing position that is most comfortable for them.

"Women should be encouraged and helped to move and adopt whatever positions they find most comfortable throughout labour (NICE 2007). "



Indeed moving around in labour and birth can help your body work with gravity. Upright positions can:

• Help the baby find the optimal alignment for birth 
• Result in less pain
• Shorter first stage
• Help a women feel in control of her birth

When you think of a birthing women how is she positioned in your mind's eye?
Usually on her back.

Most media images, television portrayal of birth and so on, show woman birthing on the backs, yet upright positions, kneeling, squatting or the hands and knees position according to evidence are more favourable than laying down.

The following study states that:

"On the whole women will "choose" to do what they think is expected of them and they are usually informed by the most common image of the labouring women as lying down."

Midwives have an important role in helping women to find and choose comfortable positions (Cotton 2010, Walsh 2007). By listening to your body and through the encouragement of your midwife you will find a position that is the most suitable for you.


Positions for Birth

My Baby is Overdue

Now What? There is no simple answer.

• The decision is yours.
• Every women is an individual.
• Guidelines are not mandatory. Hospital Guidelines
• Everyone's perception of 'risk' is different.
• Sign posting women to further information helps to support a women in her decision.
• Only 4-5% of women give birth on their due date.

"Each individual woman must decide which set of risks she is most willing to take – and be supported in her choice." Rachel Reed - Thinking Midwife

The following links give more information on:

• Due dates
• Post Term Pregnancy
• Medical and Natural Induction

40-week-pregnancy-myth

Induction-of-labour-balancing-risks

induction-of-labour-to-induce-or-not-induce

im-overdue-now-what?

natural-induction-methods

Good Luck with whatever decision you choose & may you be fully supported xx

Gemma Webster