Birth & Baby Network

For parents on Tyneside

May 1

7 tips for a happy and healthy pregnancy

by Janine Rudin

1.     Eat well 
I know too well how this is not always easy because when we feel sick, tired and, generally, a bit rough it’s easy to eat junk and fall into the biscuit barrel. And some days we can feel like we are never full!  Try to eat a decent meal a day, with a splattering of fruit throughout the day to balance out the chocolate! Remember to drink water too –  being dehydrated can make you feel tired and give you headaches.

2.     Rest and sleep 
Getting through a day at work or with your toddler means you have to keep going but, when it comes to the evening, if you are shattered try not to fight it – go to bed! You are making another human being and the tiredness can feel like you have been drugged so you need to rest.

3.     Exercise
You might feel that you want to wait until you are out of the haze of the first trimester, when you have a little more energy but even just going for a walk is going to help you feel re-energised and healthy.

If you fancy a class to meet other expectant mums and improve your fitness, The Birth & Baby Network has Aerobics, Pilates, Aqua Aerobics and Yoga instructors, who provide courses specifically for pregnant women.

4.     Relax  
Relaxation is not indulgent it’s essential, especially in pregnancy. Being able to totally relax means you de-stress and ease tension, which is good for you and your baby.

Book yourself in for Relax & Breathe, pregnancy massage or reflexology sessions to help you relax and de-stress.

5.     Aches & pains
As your baby grows and your body changes, you can develop aches in your back, neck and/or pelvis. It’s worth contacting a Chiropractor for an assessment, to see if you could benefit from a treatment.

6.     Prepare for birth
At some point during pregnancy, most parents decide they need more support to help them prepare for the birth of their baby. Antenatal classes are a great way to gain information and ask all the questions you need to feel more informed and reassured.

7.     Talk
If this isn’t your first baby or you are feeling very anxious about the birth of your baby, it can be worth talking it through with someone. This can help you get to the root of your anxiety and provide you with opportunity of easing any stress you may feel in pregnancy. Ask to speak to you midwife or you can contact Birth & Baby Basics for support.

 

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Feb 6

6 ways to prepare for birth

by Janine Rudin

1. Get your head ready

So you can feel calmer, better prepared and able to believe in your ability to birth your baby

 

2. Antenatal Classes

Book on to some good antenatal classes, where your partner can also gain information and find out more about support in labour.  Antenatal classes should just be about gaining information - good classes promote discussion, enable parents to ask questions, and they provide breathing skills and positions to aid rest and comfort in labour.

 

3. Read some good books

  • The Encyclopaedia of Pregnancy & Birth by Janet Balaskas and Yehudi Gordon
  • Homebirth by Nicky Wesson
  • Expecting by Daphne Metland & Anna McGrail
  • Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
  • Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin
  • Birth Your Way by Sheila Kitzinger
  • Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

 

4. Decide where you are having your baby:

At home
RVI
Wansbeck
North Tyneside Midwifery-led unit
QE

 

5. Maternity ward tour

If you are booking into hospital, it can be useful to visit your maternity unit. This visit can help you familiarize yourself with the unit, ask questions and to find out practical information such as parking and what happens when you go into the unit in labour.

 

6. Relax

A great way to prepare for labour and birth is to learn how to relax and let go of tension, so your body can do what it needs to do in labour. Focusing on relaxing your body helps you get to know how your body feels when it is tense and how it feels when you slow your breathing down and let go of any tension, stress or anxiety.

 

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Jan 30

Looking after yourself in pregnancy…

by Janine Rudin

 You may feel absolutely fantastic throughout your pregnancy or you may feel a tad pants, especially in those early weeks. And, while I believe that you are not ill just pregnant, you are still growing another human being and that is pretty awesome so you do need to look after yourself and reward yourself with some pampering, me time and little extra attention.

Eat well

Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially in the first trimester when you may feel sick but a balance of healthy snacks and freshly prepared meals will keep you going. It can be tempting to fall into the biscuit barrel, but try the fruit bowl instead. And if you can’t face a huge meal, beans on toast will do the job, as will porridge or a bowl of cereal, and they are so much better for you and baby than a bag of crisps with a chocolate chaser.

Sleep and rest

Pregnancy can be a time of complete and utter exhaustion in the early weeks and then again towards the end of pregnancy as we carry the extra weight of baby and amniotic fluid. Chances are you are also at work and/or looking after a toddler, so the opportunity for rest is not great but it can be beneficial to make the most of some early nights and the chance to get some rest at the weekends.

Take it easy as your body changes

Listen to your body and try not to overdo it. As your bump grows and your body changes, you may find that you are unable to be as active as you were. This doesn’t mean that you can’t still be active –  you may just need to slow your pace a little or switch to classes with a pregnancy fitness specialist such as pilates http://birthandbabynetwork.com/pilates/
or pregnancy aerobics http://birthandbabynetwork.com/fitness/

Treat yourself to a massage

It is relaxing, wonderfully indulgent and very beneficial! http://birthandbabynetwork.com/reflexology-massage/

Aches and pains

If you have back ache, hip pain or discomfort in your pubic bone – get yourself along to a chiropractor to be realigned and the feed back from pregnant women is fantastic. http://birthandbabynetwork.com/chiropractor

 

Make some time to relax

Even a few minutes a day is completely achievable. Enjoy a soak in the bath, enjoy that few minutes of peace in bed before you drift off to sleep, go to weekly Relaxation sessions, where it’s just you and bump chilling together  http://birthandbabynetwork.com/antenatal-classes/

And looking  after yourself also means getting in touch with your GP or midwife if you don’t feel well,  don’t feel ‘right’ or just need some extra reassurance about your changing body.

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Jan 26

Beautiful Bump

by Janine Rudin

This website is all about pregnancy and being a parent, which means beautiful bumps and gorgeous babies – if you would like to share yours, you can send pictures to janine@birthbasics.co.uk

Thank you
Jx

birth&babynetwork

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Jan 16

Reassurance and support in pregnancy

by Janine Rudin

Pregnancy can be a magical time of excitement, fulfillment and change but, for many women, it can also be a time of vulnerability and a million questions.

Reassurance and support can come from your community midwife but, due to demands on their skills, time with them can be short and you can often remember the questions you wanted to ask as you walk out the door!

What do pregnant women need reassurance about? Day to day it is often about being healthy and safe and preparing for labour.

So where can you go for this reassurance and support? There are obviously a huge selection of websites and books to choose from and, for some, this will be all they need but many women still want to talk to a person to gain a clearer picture rather than making their way through different advice and information.

  • Your midwife – if you need more of her time, ask for it! Chances are she will be busy but if you request more of her time, she will give it to you.
  • Find yourself a pregnancy fitness specialist – pilates teacher and / or fitness instructors
  • Use a chiropractor with experience of pregnancy to help new aches and niggles
  • Treat yourself a massage with an experienced pregnancy practitioner – relax and let any stress fade away
  • Book some good antenatal classes – ideally small groups where you get to talk and to ask all the questions you need to gain information and reassurance
  • If you want to breastfeed your baby, it can be useful to find out more in pregnancy – your midwife will be able to tell you about the Breastfeeding Workshops at the local hospitals and Children’s Centres and it will be included in your antenatal classes. There is also La Leche League Tyne & Wear (http://www.llltyneandwear.edgoose.co.uk/) for more information and support.
  • Take a wander around the Birth & Baby Network and you’ll find everything from antenatal classes and a chiropractor to pilates, aquanatal and massage. And if we don’t have what you need, just ask us.

There is nothing wrong with seeking out this extra support as your body, as well as your life, starts to experience significant change. Physical and emotional wellbeing are important in pregnancy, so look after yourself and put you and the bump first!

(image by Donald Greenhalgh)

birth&babynetwork

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