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Beautiful Births Doula Blog

TOP FIVE BREASTFEEDING TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING JOURNEY

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!

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Fear Tension Pain Syndrome

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

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ANTENATAL COLOSTRUM HARVESTING

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

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Placenta Pro’s & Con’s

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,

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SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW…?

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

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Being left with the PERFECT Vagina

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

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