Author Archives: Gabriella

1. Feed your baby within the first hour of birth. Why? After this they become sleepy and have a recovery sleep. Get that colostrum in ASAP.

2. Skin to Skin ++ Strip your baby down to their nappy, pop them on your chest and have snuggles. As well as it being a super lovely time having these cuddles it will also benefit you both greatly. Skin to skin helps regulate your newborns temperature and helps stimulate those hormones that produce milk. It also helps regulate their blood sugar levels and steady’s their heart beat. You will notice their early feeding cues much more easily in this position too.

3. Night 2 is EXHAUSTING! Feed, Feed, Feed. Cluster feeding is NORMAL during this time, go with the flow, they are bringing in your milk which is a GREAT thing.

4. Get the latch right. If you are unsure ask for help! Nipple tenderness is common for the first 7-10 days and peaks day 3-4. Nipple pain that extends beyond 14 days is not normal. See a Lactation Consultant.

5. Breastfeeding support is the key to a successful journey. If it’s not going well, ask for help!

Or fail to progress in medical terms …

Im excited to meet my baby

Im scared to give birth

I don’t know what I want

Im not worried about the pain

I don’t want to tear

Im ok with what ever happens

Im unsure what I want to see happen at my birth

The ups and downs that may dictate an out can be a mine field, SO, I always suggest start with a birth class … know everything but learn it from a professional .. not Facebook horror stories.

Lets chat …

Notice how each phrase contains a fearful word. It is so common to feel nervous about giving birth- particularly if this is the first time you’ll do it! It’s a hugely transformative event in your life. But, let’s talk about what effects this fear can have on your body, your mind, and ultimately, on your birth experience.

Your body cant tell the difference between fact and fiction so when you starting worrying your body releases hormones like adrenalin and noradrenalin which can stop all the positive hormones and restrict blood flow to your uterus ..this results in F_T_P syndrome ( fear tension pain syndrome ) to learn more book in with Gabby for a chat on 0414406814 or email [email protected]

Lets Do This!

What is Antenatal Expressing of Colostrum?

It is the hand expression and collection of colostrum during pregnancy (yes so before your baby is here!). Once your milk is collected you can then freeze it and give it to your baby after the birth.Did you know that from week 16 of your pregnancy, you will start to make colostrum?We recommend expressing from approx 36/37 weeks. Always let your LMC/OB know if you are keen to express colostrum and get the go ahead from them first.Having a wee stash of milk can be super helpful post-natally especially if your baby is at increased risk of having low blood sugars in the first few hours after birth. Here are times when it is good to think about Antenatal Colostrum Harvesting.

Women:Diabetes in pregnancy (pre-existing or gestational). A baby born to a mother who has diabetes during pregnancy is at risk of low blood sugar after birth. Receiving extra colostrum at this time can help a baby’s blood sugar level to stabilize.Elective caesarean sectionsBreast hypoplasiaPCOSBreast surgery (including breast reduction)HypertensionStrong family history of dairy intolerance or inflammatory bowel diseasePrevious poor milk supplyInfants:Diagnosed with cleft lip and/or palate and other congenital abnormalities (Babies with these conditions may not be able to breastfeed well and so you may need to express your milk to be able to give it to your baby. Expressing colostrum antenatally can mean you have extra on hand if needed)Intrauterine growth restriction – IUGR/SGALarge for Gestational Age (LGA)Be mindful that if you are harvesting colostrum you may experience some uterine contractions (Braxton Hicks), this is not a concern unless they become regular and painful. STOP hand expressing and rest. Notify your LMC.Contraindications:Reduced fetal movementsAny vaginal bleedingHistory of threatened/actual preterm labourCervical incompetencePlacenta PreviaMultiple pregnancyCervical suture in situHIVReceiving chemotherapySome maternal medication, e.g. some anti-epileptic medication, some antidepressants.Check with Lactation consultant.Elicit drug useLyme disease

The easiest way to collect your milk is in 1ml syringes or a colostrum collector then just pop the milk in the freezer in a snap lock bag until you need it. Just don’t forget to grab your syringes before you head to the hospital to have your baby.The amount of milk you can express will vary and this is normal. The Diabetes and Antenatal Milk Expressing (DAME) 1 study (Forster et al, 2014) found that the volume varied depending on the number of expressions, length of time between onset of expressing and birth, and the time spent expressing, with a median of 14 days of expressing and 40mL (range 5 to 310mL) obtained.

With the exception of a few species, all mammals consume their placenta after giving birth.  Some speculate that this is because of the nutritional benefits that consuming a placenta can offer after having a baby.  Anecdotal evidence on placenta consumption in human beings is overwhelmingly positive. There are a few different ways in which a person can consume their placenta, but placenta encapsulation is the most popular method for human consumption.  The custom of consuming the placenta is centuries old and is a tradition that has been gaining popularity in the United States. The placenta is a temporary organ created by the body during pregnancy. The placenta delivers nutrients and oxygen to a developing baby and it is full of vitamins and minerals such as B6, B12, and iron.  The placenta is also hormone rich with progesterone and estrogen. 

Placenta Encapsulation 101

 Placenta encapsulation is the practice of ingesting the placenta after it has been made into pills.  Hearth and Home Midwifery encapsulates placentas by first steaming them with ginger and myrrh, dehydrating them in a food grade dehydrator, grinding the placenta into a powder, and encapsulating the powder into a pill for ingesting.  For those who choose to encapsulate their placenta, the encapsulation process typically occurs immediately after birth and the postpartum parent starts to ingest their placenta within a few days.

The placenta encapsulation process is typically initiated within 24/48 hours after birth.  The placenta is laid out on a chux pad or some other protected surface and is made of the placenta, if the recipient desires.  Next the umbilical cord is removed from the placenta along with the amniotic sac. Then the placenta is run under water and is gently massaged.  Then the placenta is placed in a steamer over stovetop. The placenta is steamed for approximately 20 minutes with ginger as it is a warming herb, and myrrh since it is a microbial.  When the placenta is finished steaming it is removed from the steamer and cut into slices. The placenta slices are then placed in a food grade dehydrator. The umbilical cord can also be placed in the dehydrator in order to make an umbilical cord keepsake, if the recipient desires.  Once the placenta is finished dehydrating it is placed in a food processor and ground into a powder. The powder is then processed into size 00 capsules. The capsules are stored in a glass bottle and are intended to be kept in the refrigerator until they are consumed.

Pros of Placenta Encapsulation

While there is little evidence based information available regarding placenta encapsulation, anecdotal reports suggest that it has many benefits.  The possible benefits of placenta encapsulation include: a decrease in postpartum mood disorders, increased production of oxytocin, a decrease in stress hormones, restoration of iron levels following bleeding after birth, and increased milk supply.  Data, in a small study, has demonstrated that following the preparation process, hormones do remain present in placentas. Researchers have found that levels of both progesterone and estradiol are present at high enough levels that they could cause physiological effects when consumed.  According to the American Pregnancy Association, placenta encapsulation has demonstrated to assist with mood stabilization through supplementing oxytocin levels. Additionally, this suggests that placenta encapsulation has a potential regulatory effect on postpartum hormones, which can affect both postpartum mood and milk supply.

…and the Cons

No large randomized study currently exists to suggest that there are any risks associated with placenta encapsulation.  On very rare occasions some women report that they feel jittery or have an increase in anxiety, much like feeling over caffeinated, after consuming their encapsulated placenta.  Some reports suggest that it’s possible for women to experience a decrease in milk supply as opposed to an increase in milk supply following the ingestion of their placenta. Each individual must evaluate the potential benefits verse the potential risks to decide whether or not placenta encapsulation is right for them.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently warns against placenta encapsulation, however there are limited documented risks in order to support this recommendation.

Making Your Decision

There is little research available in either support or opposition of placenta encapsulation, although there are many reported benefits. The potential benefits of placenta encapsulation include both mental and physical benefits. Each person’s experience with their placenta is a personal one.  Individual assessment of one’s risk of developing a postpartum mood disorder, having milk supply issues, or possibly struggling from blood loss after giving birth may be the most appropriate guide in determining whether or not placenta encapsulation is right for that person. 

By Origen Doula

We all know and believe that very human being has the right to bodily autonomy.

To be far no one can touch you without your consent. No one gets to decide what happens to your body but you. Even when you’re unwell, a medical professional can’t touch you, medicate you, order tests or scans, have their hands on you or inside you etc. until they have (1) explained to you what they’re recommending and why; (2) gone through the details of the procedure including how it is done, and any potential risks, benefits, and side effects that may occur; and (3) asked if they may proceed AND you have given your clear consent.

Often friends and family tell of us instances when a medical professional has given advice that doesn’t quite sit right and we tell them to get a second opinion, to take some time and look at all the alternative options before making a decision, that medical professionals are not all equal, they are not gods, but human, and that they can make mistakes. Or we hear of medical professionals that have violated someone’s bodily autonomy and we’re angry and horrified (and rightly so!) and tell them it’s not acceptable, and encourage them to make an official complaint and never see that person again. That ultimately, you always have the final say. But, bizarrely, when you become pregnant, all that seems to go out the window…There’s so much ingrained social conditioning and belief that when you become pregnant you must just accept that your body is no longer yours. That they know best. That you need to just submit and hand your body over to a stranger (or even multiple of them) and they will poke and prod you, give you unending tests and scans, and have their hands on you and inside you whenever they deem it necessary. That you “leave your dignity at the door”.

That ultimately, they will have the final say.This belief is unacceptable. It’s infuriating. It’s degrading. It’s demeaning. It needs to stop. You still have the right to bodily autonomy. Your body is still yours, and yours alone. You are still more than capable of taking in information. You are still allowed to seek second opinions. You are still able to look at all the alternative options before making a decision. You still get to decide if/when something will be done to you and/or your baby. Ultimately, you still have the final say.But (there’s always a but) all of this is easier said than done. A lifetime of social conditioning to be “good girls”, to not make a fuss, to not rock the boat, to just let things go and give people the benefit of the doubt, to believe that others only have our best interests at heart etc makes it harder for us to advocate for ourselves and “just say no”. Know your rights, aim to birth in a space where ultimately you won’t be backed into a corner and need to say no, because those present already know your rights, know your wants and needs, and will respect them and hold that space for you. The reality is that this is actually quite hard to do in a hospital or with an OB, not impossible, but it’s genuinely rare.*Edited to add that if you feel there are people in your life that need to hear this, I’ve posted this publicly on my personal profile and you’re free to share it on yours so they can get the message.

By Bec Collier

Before you say it, I know what you’re thinking,Gabby , why are we talking about this?

simply, this is exactly what I needed to hear 33 years ago.

when my baby journey began, I was certain that childbirth would change my vagina.

My mother had a lots of tear with her first birth and her story scared the shit out of me. she was like if you survive, good luck its never the same again ( Hungarian women ) very dramatic ( immigrated at 14 with no mother )

I never understood how a baby could fit through a vagina and return to “normal” then again I couldn’t understand how breasts feed babies either.

It’s embarrassing to admit, but a Cesarean seemed far less painful. I mean, I was also terrified of epidural so no C-section was not an option at all.

 I also worried that sex reaching the big O would never be the same, Hahah Im sure you have all felt this and not spoken of it.

Just saying all I thought and felt is nothing short of what all women think and feel at some stage.

My vagina is perfect. And gurl, so is yours!

Vaginas stretch, a lot, like your mouth

Or like a lotus flower opens in the spring.

The beautiful skin and folds of your vagina open like petals on a flower in full bloom.

Try visualizing a flower opening during your birth.. It worked for me and lots of my clients!

Vaginas don’t always tear during birth.

True – not always do they tear

Sometimes – due to poor positioning or inability to let go fully

Always – not true

Never – also not true