Episode eight of the second series of our birth stories podcast is another lovely double birth story episode. For the first birth story, we are back to hear the story of Elizabth’s third pregnancy and birth. During this pregnancy, Elizabeth moved across the country and joined our team. She had another difficult pregnancy with hyperemesis but by this point was used to that and knew how to care for herself. This birth although not as quick as her second birth was quick, uneventful, and relaxed. 

Topics covered in this birth story include tears and repairs, NICE guidelines on the assessment of scar repair, pregnancy with hyperemesis for the third time, planned home birth, labour at home midwives arriving at end of labour, instinctive birthing position, using heat for pain relief, warm compress on the perineum, physiological third stage, student midwife, tandem breastfeeding, afterpains, placenta consumption and postnatal emotional/mental health.

For our second birth story, we meet Gemma who tells us about her second pregnancy and birth. This is another quick birth story, this time planned as a hospital birth but never making it out of the front door. Gemma shares how unexpected her home birth was but also how she and her birth team stayed relaxed and kept everything calm.

Topics covered in this birth story include pelvic girdle pain, pregnancy and immune system, benefits of chiropractic care, planning a hospital birth, birth ball, tens machine, using noise in labour, birthing before leaving for the hospital, baby born en caul, caught by baby’s father, physiological third stage, ambulance responders at the birth, stitches for second-degree tear at home by midwives, taking care of yourself during postnatal recovery, positive and healing birth experiences after previous traumatic experiences. 

For information on support available following a serious perineal tear check out the MASIC Foundation website https://masic.org.uk 

If you would like to know more about continuing to breast/chest feed your first baby while pregnant and alongside your new baby this is a good place to start reading https://www.laleche.org.uk/pregnant-and-breastfeeding/ an LLL group is a good place to meet other people who are making this choice. 

‘Afterpains’ the cramping sensations that come (especially when feeding your baby) and go, during the first few days are a normal part of having a baby and you can take over the counter pain relief and use heat packs/hotwater bottle to help with them. But if you have constant pain or any concern over whether what you’re feeling is normal please contact your midwife or hospital and get checked out to make sure you don’t have any kind of infection. 

https://www.kentandmedwaylms.nhs.uk/after-birth/recovering-birth/after-pains 

If you have any pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy or you would just like to make sure your body is comfortable and balanced ready for birth you can find Philippa at https://www.alverstokechiropractic.com/ and https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkaboutpgp 

If you’re interested in the possible benefits of a TENS machine for labour this is a good place to start reading https://evidencebasedbirth.com/transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens-for-pain-relief-during-labor/ 

Making noise during labour is often something that just happens naturally. It's not about screaming in pain it's just part of your whole body being involved in the hard work you're doing. It's important to remember that using your voice shouldn't prevent you from continuing to breathe deeply and get oxygen to your body and baby. This video explains it pretty well https://youtu.be/krurni3nm_Y