Category: Newborn

Birth, Breastfeeding, Courage, Kindness, Learning, Midwifery and birth, New parents, Newborn, NHS, Postnatal care, Teaching, Women's rights

Seeing the whole picture 

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Each person we meet and care for  has their own story. 

As health care workers we must keep striving to tune into those that we care for – humility is needed and an ability to connect. Digital technology is a huge part of record keeping so it’s essential to realise that ‘CARE’ is not simply a tick box exercise but in fact a multi dimensional emotional process that may not have a solid beginning or ending . 

Trying to step into another humans story is a spiritual art form   – the way that we listen as well as the way we speak can have an immense impact on what a person imparts. A brusque manner can inhibit a connection, prevent sharing of valuable information, foster a disjointed attitude and is totally destructive to the priceless treasure of two way communication and empathy . A kind compassionate manner however, can help a person to open up and share information about themselves by helping them to relax and feel a sense of trust towards the other person. There are some people who have this off to a fine art and if you know such a person watch and learn from them you will gain so much. 

As midwives If we exude warmth and kindness we will send out positive connections – this will improve the oxytocin response and give women a feel good factor about themselves which will facilitate positive pregnancy ,labour, birth and breastfeeding . We underestimate the power we have to influence women and their ability to nurture themselves and their young . 

The midwife in the operating theatre setting who sends out signals of peace and calm by helping the woman to have skin to skin contact with her newborn is instrumental to the health of the world – she is brave and courageous and more than that she epitomises “human-kindness” itself.

The midwife who is able to read signals from the new father and help him to open up and see his strengths and yet embrace his own vulnerability is an asset to the family unit. 

The midwife who acts as an advocate for the same sex couple who want to avoid induction yet at the same time stay safe helps them to feel like they have been empowered and respected yet also like it’s their own choice . 

These are all examples of the wonderful work that midwives do and it’s time to celebrate all the admirable midwifery role models out there that inspire so many . 

Let’s all keep doing what we do well and try to improve a little each day . Let’s not stay still or remain where we are but let’s keep moving forwards for the mothers the fathers and the children of the universe. The world needs positive role models in midwifery some are visible some are hidden so seek them out shine a light on them and give them a loud cheer . 

Thankyou for reading – please be kind 

Jenny ❤️

Birth, Courage, Kindness, Midwifery and birth, Newborn, NHS, Skin to skin contact, Women's rights

Who interrupts skin to skin contact? 

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When a newborn is gently placed into skin to skin at birth with its mother complex intricate physiological and psychological processes begin. As midwives we must be mindful of the next stage and fight back the strange urge (that seems to be a part of our midwifery culture) to move the baby . 

Evidence shows that  if the baby is moved after any period of time before the first breastfeed then the whole process must begin again, it’s like restarting a stop watch. 

Patience and a detailed awareness about the physiology of breast feeding , mammalian responses ,the effects of intervention and why an early breastfeed will be an indicator of long term breast feeding success must be reinforced . The continually evolving fresh bank of ever expanding new research is gaining momentum. Emerging facts  about  ‘skin to skin contact’ such as it’s ability to reduce postpartum haemorrhage (this article can be read HERE ) , also the positive effect that skin to skin has on long term maternal mental health should be making us all sit up and think . If newborns experience skin to skin contact for long periods of time both at and post birth in combination with positive parenting the newborn will grow into a child and then an adult with an increased ability to socialise,  be compassionate and be kind. 

One thing stands like stone to me though and it is this 

Which mammal do we know that puts its trust in another mammal and then allows that other mammal  to take control of and/or disrupt the connection between the mother and the newborn ? 

I have had so many emails and messages from mothers, fathers  , future midwives , midwives , doctors ,peer support workers, friends  and family about ‘who owns the baby ?’ I feel the time has come for us all to challenge the constraints put upon us and to encourage women to shout out … 

 “this is my baby – I grew this baby I nurtured this child – I am the birth mother and I will not let anyone move my baby without my consent – I am part of the dyad and we work together – we two are one ” 

I would like to see more written about skin to skin wishes for birth if the situation becomes medicalised or complex – so that the other parent can have skin to skin contact . I would also like  other health care professionals  to consider whether they should be holding a baby without a reason. A family must also be fully informed and educated on the unseen detrimental effects of separation on the birth mother and the newborn . 

Can we honestly say that we inform future parents that if their newborn is moved out of skin to skin contact too soon that it will affect their baby’s ability to breastfeed and the mothers ability to lactate  ? Do we inform women that skin to skin contact gives a feel good factor ? 

Have we made birth a production line business ? For example how many times have you heard “is the woman in ‘Astra birth room’ ready for transfer to postnatal ward yet ?” Without the woman herself being asked ? Do we have a  constraint around time of birth to time of transfer to the ward ? Is it fair and equal that woman who give birth within a Midwifery Led Unit / Birth Centre can stay in the room they are in until they go home ? Whereas women who give birth on a labour ward are moved and then even separated from their partner in some hospitals ? 

These are all my thoughts and I am writing to provoke questions in my own practice as well as trying to help families and midwives . My skin to skin journey is an ongoing one and any feedback will be valued and appreciated 

Thank you for reading 

❤️Jenny ❤️ 

Birth, Courage, Kindness, Midwifery and birth, Newborn, NHS, Nursing, Skin to skin contact, Women's rights

Skin to skin

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This is my first blog day – blog sounds such a sad word it needs an injection of sunshine So here is my sunshine injection – all about Skin To Skin .
I want to inspire midwives to think carefully about the precious time before birth when the woman is approaching motherhood and the unborn child is about to become independent —- or is it?
Babies need their mothers love at birth they need to be held snuggled, have skin to skin and to feed – all those weeks inside and suddenly “POW”it’s lights, camera, Facebook,photos,text “what’s the weight?” Pressure to be back to normal for the woman (is there such a thing? Media pressure to run on a sandy beach holding a beautiful baby wearing white linen – this is not reality – reality is tiredness overwhelming love , sore perineum , visitors who don’t iron – midwives be honest – help the mother and child have so much skin to skin they overdose on love – talk about bed sharing honestly (Basis online is evidence based information about safe sleep for babies founded by Prof H Ball of Durham Uni is wonderful ) – remember we have become westernised – the cot , disposable nappies , and everything that goes against mammalian responses – let’s get back to nature and promote skin to skin for three hours – and let’s be real – let’s be human xxx #skinToSkin xxx