In episode eleven of the second series of Our Birth Stories podcast, we meet Ellie who shares the story of her first pregnancy, birth and postnatal experiences. Ellie had a fast birth after arriving at the hospital for the second time (after having been advised to go home the first time as she was considered not far enough along in labour.) Ellie also shares the ups and downs of learning to parent with your first baby including feeding and sleep challenges and how she is now feeling much more confident in herself as she heads into her second pregnancy.
Topics covered in this episode include rhesus negative mum and positive baby, low platelets in pregnancy, human rights in pregnancy and birth, decisions not permission, early labour “not in labour”, fast birth after arriving at the hospital for the second time, early postnatal experiences in the first covid lockdown, newborn jaundice, tongue tie division, postnatal depression, breastfeeding with large breasts -unique challenges, support over zoom compared to in person, normal infant sleep, second baby feeling more confident, birth reflections service/midwife.
For information about low platelets in pregnancy, these are some good starting points for reading.
https://www.midwifery.org.uk/articles/thrombocytopaenia-of-pregnancy-low-platelets/
If you have larger breasts and are thinking about the possible challenges of feeding your baby this might be a good watch https://youtu.be/584nv1oNxvw
If you have any concerns with feeding your baby please keep asking until you find someone who has the training level you need to get the information and support you need. The National Breastfeeding Helpline is open on 0300 100 0212 from 9.30am-9.30pm
For information about tongue-tie and how it may impact your baby’s feeding you may want to check out this organisation for those who are trained to treat tongue ties.
https://www.tongue-tie.org.uk/tongue-tie-information/
Wouldn’t it be great if we could say, yes here’s a magic plan that will make your baby sleep all night every night and also not have any trouble feeding or putting on weight etc. Sadly no one has that but what we do have is the opportunity to share realistic expectations of how babies sleep that may allow you to know you’re not doing anything wrong and give you the opportunity to put in place support options that will allow you to cope during the intense early weeks months and years while your baby needs comfort regardless of the time of day.
Here are some more of our thoughts on baby sleep https://www.informedpregnancybirthandbeyond.org/post/normal-newborn-sleep
This is a fantastic resource https://www.basisonline.org.uk/
If you like a book to read “Let's talk about your new family’s sleep” by Lyndsey Hookway is a good one. You can also follow her social media https://www.instagram.com/lyndsey_hookway/ and if you’re thinking you would like some extra support with sleep the people who have completed the course Lyndsey teaches “Holistic Sleep Coaching” will all be trained to support you in a family centred and evidence-based way.
Many hospital trusts have birth reflections services, you may find your local one by doing an internet search on “birth reflections -name of the place you had your baby-” but in some places, you may need a referral from your midwife or to contact the maternity services for the up to date information.
Other perinatal professionals such as independent midwives, doulas and counsellors may also offer birth story listening services and be able to support you with requesting a copy of your notes for yourself and going through those with you as well as further support with healing from the effects of feeling sad or angry about what happened when you gave birth.