Hand in Hand Midwives in Duncraig, Western Australia, Australia | Pregnancy care centre

Hand in Hand Midwives

Locality: Duncraig, Western Australia, Australia

Phone: +61 409 422 287

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24.01.2022 I have had many conversations with new mums about this recently. Everyone is really FEELING isolated. Make sure you are all still finding the time to have phone calls or FaceTime chats with all the other mums. The supportive conversations we have when together still need to continue whilst physically apart. Dont forget to check in with each other..... often

23.01.2022 Love this so much I am sharing again

23.01.2022 Dana Raphael coined the term matrescence to help new mothers understand the physical, emotional, mental changes that occur, powerfully, not necessarily overnigh...t but gradually (sometimes lasting a lifetime) as we become a mother. Like adolescence, it can be a confusing time, where we navigate this new us, knowing we feel different but finding it hard to understand. Dana says Childbirth brings about a series of very dramatic changes in the new mothers physical being, in her emotional life, in her status within the group, even in her own female identity. I distinguish this period of transition from others by terming it matrescence to emphasize the mother and to focus on her new life style. Yes mumma, youre changing, and that never ends. Be kind to yourself as your navigate you over and over again. We must make this common knowledge so we all feel a sense of companionship not comparison. Hey mumma, youre doing amazing .

23.01.2022 This looks amazing!! Great job ladies! Just what other mums need. Thank you

21.01.2022 **New coronavirus and breastfeeding research** Milk from breastfeeding mothers, who have recovered from COVID-19, *may contain antibodies to the novel coronavir...us.* In a preliminary report, 15 human milk samples obtained from donors previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 10 negative control samples were tested for a variety of antibody activity. The data indicate that there is strong SARS-CoV-2 immune response in the majority of human milk samples collected after infection. Study leader, Rebecca Powell of The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, was quoted by Reuters, Nursing mothers who are infected with the novel coronavirus should continue to breastfeed throughout their COVID-19 illness and beyond, because (other researchers) have shown transmission does not occur via milk, and we have determined that antibodies are almost certainly there, and may protect their babies from infection. Her teams report, posted on 5/8/20 on the preprint server medRxiv, has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal. Read more at: https://bit.ly/2WHvJcA Read more about breastfeeding and COVID-19 at: https://lllusa.org/coronavirus-and-breastfeeding/ See more

20.01.2022 We love these words by Julia Jones @newbornmothers . Newborn Mother - A recently born mother whose strength is asking for support. She acknowledges that the ...birth of a mother is even more intense than childbirth, and that she is as sensitive and vulnerable as her baby. Her heart is wide open and her needs are high. As she nourishes herself, she nourishes her children. . Episode with Julia out Monday morning .

19.01.2022 "Birth trauma research is really important right now. You dont have to travel very far around the world of birth information these days to encounter discussion...s of birth trauma. It is clear from a number of sources that traumatic birth experiences (which are experienced differently from person to person, of course) can significantly affect a mothers experiences, well being and mental health." Todays blog post from Dr Sara Wickham, available at https://www.sarawickham.com/research/birth-trauma-research/

19.01.2022 BOOM we just completed DAY 2- its literally life changing!! In the group today, but it is recorded and its not too late to jump on board, just join the group xx and we are there for you

18.01.2022 Join the birth army! Help us get funding to keep women safe in their choice to birth at home. #maternityconsumernetwork #womensbirtharmy #forcedtofreebirth #birthathome #fundourbirthchoices #humanrights #covidbabies #giveusmedicare #giveusfundedhombirth #stayinghometobirth

17.01.2022 They need us. They need connection. They need contact. They need security. And if were being honest, we need the exact same thingsweve just been taught to bury our feelings. To doubt our instincts. To deny the very customs that make us human.

16.01.2022 This sums it up perfectly

16.01.2022 As a private practice midwife, it is such a wonderful thing to offer... true individualised care and allow fully informed choice

16.01.2022 Babies are amazing

16.01.2022 Good to see these reassuring messages coming out

15.01.2022 During your care, or when giving care there are always times when decisions need to be made... the decision making sweet spot is at the intersection between wha...t the woman wants (the most important consideration), what the research has shown and the clinical picture of what is happening for the woman and her baby #evidencebasedcare #womancentredcare #melaniethemidwife #transformativebirthwork See more

15.01.2022 HOMEBIRTH RESEARCH There is a wealth of quality evidence from around the world and right here in Australia supporting the safety of planned, assisted homebirth.... Below we will outline some of this research as it pertains to Australian women accessing care in Australia today. . The most recent piece of research on homebirth (Reitsma et al., 2020) was a meta-analysis of 16 studies providing data on 500,000 planned homebirths. The study reported that among low-risk women, those intending to birth at home experienced fewer birth interventions and untoward maternal outcomes. . They found no reported maternal deaths and women intending to give birth at home compared to hospital were less likely to experience: .caesarean section operative vaginal birth epidural analgesia oxytocin augmentation maternal infection . by the talented Central-Coast based @janemccraebirthphotography Words and Repost by @homebirthnewsouthwales . #midwives #childbirth #childbirthchoices #childbirtheducation #childbirthpreparation #childbirthsupport #midwife #birth #pregnancy #baby #homebirth #homebirthnewsouthwales #homebirthsydney #homebirthaustralia #birthaustralia #families #family #waterbirth #positivebirth #powerfulbirth #naturalbirth #birthphotography See more

14.01.2022 Im still seeing lots of discussion about womens rights in birth and I wanted to share this thought. Its from a book that Im currently writing - and more on ...that later in the spring/summer - and Im explaining the difference between situations where systems can and cannot impose rules. When people say things like, I have to, this may or may not actually be true. If you want to take a commercial flight to Paris, do you have to go through airport security? Yes. Sorry. If a doctor advises you to have a procedure or take a pill, do you have to? No. You might choose to, once youve considered all the information and weighed up the pros and cons. But you dont have to. Its not the law." Its worth being aware that, even if your decisions are being affected by what local facilities can offer and are putting in place, you still retain the right to make decisions about your own body. If you go into a hopsital setting (or any other setting) to give birth, you have the right to decline procedures, tests or medication that you dont want. Many of us talk as if we dont have agency, even before we were in the current situation. "Theyre not allowing me to ..." ... Ive got to..." ... The nurse said if I dont lose weight Ill have to..." Its certainly true that, in times of crisis where people need to pull together towards a common goal, we have less agency than usual. But that doesnt mean we give up our bodily autonomy. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend. For loads more information about decision making and how to navigate maternity care, please see my book: Whats Right for Me? Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth. www.sarawickham.com/wrfm #midwife #midwifery #doula #birthdoula #homebirth #naturalbirth #pregnant #birth #childbirth #duein2020 #drsarawickham #childbirtheducation #childbirtheducator #whatsrightforme #hypnobirthing #humanity #humanrights #covidpregnancy #pregnancy #birthright #positivebirth

14.01.2022 Happy Mothers Day!

13.01.2022 When it comes to sleep, using the toilet, self regulation of emotions, rule following, sharing, manners, alphabet, counting, reading or any other topic - think ...about how can you teach or model for your child vs train your child. Remember that all of these processes take time to develop in the brain and every childs brain is unique. Learning shapes the stress system, dopamine system, relationships and confidence. There are lots of get behavior quick schemes out there and they have potential to put the developing brain at risk- so be careful who you trust with your childs brain. Learning or A Developmental Neuroscience and Psychology Approach -Can take months or years -Can involve hundreds of teaching moments -Has intrinsic reward which fosters curiosity, cognition, independence -Involves physiologically healthy amounts of stress -Can create long lasting positive associations, memories, confidence, connection. -Reflects our current understanding of the brain. Training or A Behaviorism Approach -Can take days or weeks -Involves punishment and/or reward -Can use praise and shame -Involves extrinsic reward which motivates behavior to please others -Can involve high amounts of stress -Can create long lasting negative associations, memories and trauma -Outdated approach for over 70 years Follow me here https://www.facebook.com/NurtureNeuroscience/ or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nurture_neuroscience_parenting Check out my Infant Sleep Educator Course https://classroom.bebomia.com/~access/a1c331f

13.01.2022 We are very excited to announce that the Birth Experience Study (BESt) is now approved and the survey details are below. If you have had a baby in the last 5 ...years in Australia please do our survey! It will take 20-30 minutes to complete. This study is a joint production with the Birth Time Documentary team and has support from all the major consumer organisations in Australia. The survey is supported by: Safer Motherhood for All, Maternity Consumer Network, Maternity Choices Australia, Homebirth Australia and Homebirth NSW, PPB Media, the Canberra Mothercraft Society, Lamaze Australia and Human Rights in Childbirth. Please share and participate. We want to get the largest number of women responding so we can really see what is happening in the birth world. Translations of the survey coming soon. Link below and QR code in the attached image. https://surveyswesternsydney.au1.qualtrics.com//SV_d7lb1dy Follow us on Facebook too The Birth Experience Study

12.01.2022 "Birth trauma research is really important right now. You don't have to travel very far around the world of birth information these days to encounter discussion...s of 'birth trauma'. It is clear from a number of sources that traumatic birth experiences (which are experienced differently from person to person, of course) can significantly affect a mother's experiences, well being and mental health." Today's blog post from Dr Sara Wickham, available at https://www.sarawickham.com/research/birth-trauma-research/

11.01.2022 Our bodies are bloody amazing

10.01.2022 http://edu.ibirthtoday.com/courses/midwifery-essentials/ "Postdates, by itself, is not associated with poor pregnancy outcome. Extreme postdates or postdates in... conjunction with poor fetal growth or developmental abnormalities does show an increased risk of stillbirth. But if growth restriction and birth defects are removed, there is no statistical increase in risk until a pregnancy reaches 42 weeks and no significant risk until past 43 weeks. The primary "evidence" of a sharp rise in stillbirth after 40 weeksoften misquoted as "double at 42 weeks and triple at 43 weeks"seems to come from one study based on data collected in 1958.(1) The first question one should ask is whether neonatal mortality statistics from the 1950s should be compared to modern statistics, since labor anesthetics and forceps rates were very different. Early labor monitoring was scanty and prenatal monitoring not yet developed. The McClure-Brown report shows a rise in stillbirth from 10/1000 at 40 weeks to about 18/1000 at 42 weeks. Yes, that is nearly double. But think about those numbers. Even the beginning point is nearly ten times the modern mortality rate. Either modern delivery methods are vastly different or something is wrong with the data collection. This study should be updated by research conducted at least in this century! Modern statistics show an almost flat rate of stillbirth from 40 weeks to 42, with a slight rise at 43 weeks (all numbers being close to 1/1000).(2) There is a creeping overreaction in dealing with postdates pregnancies. It is true that the stillbirth and fetal distress rates rise more sharply after 43 weeks, but it is also true that less than ten percent of babies born at 43 weeks suffer from postmaturity syndrome (over 90% show no signs). We should react to this rise by monitoring postdate pregnancies carefully and inducing if problems arise. But the rise in problems at 43 weeks does not imply a similar risk at 42 and 41 weeks. Postmaturity syndrome is a continuum. It becomes more likely as weeks progress past the due date but does not start on the due date. And the risks need to be compared to the risks of interventions. Induction, as already noted, is not risk free. In addition to the risks of prematurity, induced labors have higher rates of cesarean section, uterine rupture, cord prolapse, meconium aspiration, fetal distress, neonatal jaundice, maternal hemorrhage and even the rare but disastrous amniotic fluid embolism. Large studies have shown that monitoring pregnancy while waiting for spontaneous labor results in fewer cesareans without any rise in the stillbirth rate. One retrospective study of almost 1800 postterm (past 42 weeks) pregnancies with reliable dates compared this group with a matched group delivering "on time" (between 37 and 41 weeks). The perinatal mortality was similar in both groups (0.56 /1000 in the postterm and 0.75/1000 in the on-time group). The rates of meconium, shoulder dystocia and cesarean were almost identical. The rates of fetal distress, instrumental delivery and low Apgar were actually lower in the postdate group than in the on-time group.(3) This is only one of several studies showing postdate pregnancies can be monitored safely until delivery or until indications arise for induction. Even the famous Canadian Multicenter Post-term Pregnancy Trial Group (Hannah) of 1700 postdates women showed no difference in perinatal outcome among women who were monitored past their due date, as compared with those who were induced at term.(4) In some studies, postterm births have shown a higher cesarean rate for suspected fetal distress. However, when a group of researchers conducted a case-matched review of nearly 300 postdates pregnancies, they concluded that the increased rate of obstetric and neonatal interventions "does not appear to be a result of underlying pathology associated with post-term pregnancy." They suggest that "a lower threshold for clinical intervention in pregnancies perceived to be 'at-risk' may be a significant contributing factor." In other words, the perceived risk is greater than the actual risk and can become a self-fulfilling prophecy!(5) When monitoring demonstrates that fetal growth, activity and amniotic fluid levels remain within expected norms, the baby can safely wait for spontaneous labor to begin. Spontaneous labor gives the greatest chance for vaginal birth, even though the baby may be slightly larger than if the mother were induced at 40 weeks." Gail Hart, from the article published in Midwifery Today Issue 72, Winter 2004 More: http://edu.ibirthtoday.com/courses/midwifery-essentials/ 1) McClure-Browne, J.C. 1963. Comparison of perinatal mortality rates versus gestational age through the past three decades. Postmaturity, Am J Obstet Gynecol 85: 57382. 2) Eden, R.D., et al. 1987. Perinatal characteristics of uncomplicated postdates pregnancies. Obstet Gynecol 69(3 Pt.1): 29699. 3) Weinstein, D., et al. 1996 SepOct. Expectant management of post-term patients: observations and outcome. J Matern Fetal Med 5(5): 29397. 4) Hannah, M.E., et al. 1992 Jun 11. Induction of labor as compared with serial antenatal monitoring in post-term pregnancy. A randomized controlled trial. The Canadian Multicenter Post-term Pregnancy Trial Group. N Engl J Med 326(24): 158792. PMID: 1584259 5) Luckas, M., et al. 1998. Comparison of outcomes in uncomplicated term and post-term pregnancy following spontaneous labor. J Perinat Med 26(6): 47579. PMID: 10224605. #midiwfery

09.01.2022 We are long overdue for a ‘Village’ catch up’ Due to holidays, COVID and winter I have not done this. But I am missing catching up with all of you and meeting new families! Next catch up : Friday 30th October 9:30-11, at Mullaloo park at the beach North of the surf club!

08.01.2022 I wanted to create some awareness of an issue that is swept under that carpet and in a way by being silent it is accepted..... that is the bullying and scrutiny that a private practice midwife faces daily!!!! As a private practice midwife, we devote our lives to supporting women through their birth journey. Offering something more individualised and truly women centred than is possible in the system. When I first decided to go into private practise I did it to offer women c...hoice. By doing this I was one of the first private midwives in Perth to offer home birth and hospital birth so all women no matter of their place of birth or risk category could access this gold standard care. I have noticed how much more peaceful the lives of the other midwives that choose not to offer hospital birth is. My question is today as I feel like maybe it is a better option not to offer hospital birth, but dont want to take that option away from women. Who is supporting midwives to navigate the system while we support women and families??? The answer is no one. As no one can! What other profession has had the whole cohort of practitioners across the whole of Australia audited at once? What other profession is everyday under the threat of being reported to our governing body... not for doing anything against our statutory requirement but for going against what the system recommends???? By giving truly women centred individualised safe care?? Isnt it obvious that women are seeking care outside the system because they dont want to be part of the system? This model of care is supported by the government and is very well regulated. With excellent outcomes, why cant we be left alone and congratulated for our hard work rather than bullied and setting this model of care up to fail in WA!! I am sure I am not alone in stating that I have had enough!!! Time for change Perth!!!

07.01.2022 Thought for the day...

07.01.2022 Each and every birth and each and every family is so unique. What a privilege it is to be a midwife

07.01.2022 Were seeing a high volume of enquiries about home birth again. So heres a quick note to say that my website has a home birth information hub, which offers lin...ks to all of my info on this topic and an overview of the most recent studies in this area. Yes, please feel free to share :-) www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/is_home_birth_safe/ #midwife #midwifery #homebirth #naturalchildbirth #childbirth #pregnancy #doula #birthdoula #midwifelife #doulalife #childbirtheducator #childbirtheducation #drsarawickham #homebirth #birthmatters #birthwithoutfear #childbirth #birthbecomesher #empoweredbirth #safeandsacred See more

07.01.2022 Happy homebirth awareness week 2020!! This week is homebirth awareness week, and it really is something worth celebrating Homebirth is an incredible birth o...ption, providing one of the only ways to truly access continuity of care with a known midwife for pregnancy, birth and postpartum in Australia! For low risk pregnancies, homebirth improves outcomes for mothers and babies with no change in neonatal mortality when compared to hospital or birth centres. Did you homebirth? Would you? Birth works best where women feel safest - follow your intuition If you're looking for information check out Homebirth New South Wales - we have so much info for you to read through, watch and consider

06.01.2022 More on CTG monitoring!

06.01.2022 I absolutely had to share these photos (with permission). What a magical moment to witness so calmly the birth of your sibling. To be happily playing around and then peek over into the pool and watch is wonder and excitement. It is this that normalises birth for the next generation. Allow birth to play out just as it does and trust. Whether it be in the still of the night while the little ones sleep and wake up to a baby in your arms, or whether it all happens with their presence, trust this is how it is meant to be.

05.01.2022 LAST CHANCE to register for my Newborn Essentials Course starting May 25. I still have a couple of places available. If you have thought about registering, ple...ase dont wait and miss out! For $129, I can honestly say it is one of the best investments you will ever make. My clients have been hassling me for some time now to create this course because they know the value of this information in creating a healthy, stable, physically capable body for life. Dont miss out! #myactivebaby #infantdevelopment #newborn #tummytime www.myactivebaby.com/newborn-essentials-course

05.01.2022 Choosing the place of birth and your care provider is so important in facilitating the physiological process of birth and the hormones involved in this! Our bodies are so amazing

05.01.2022 I would love to welcome these beautifully precious babies to the world. Each and every one of these babies had their own unique journey into this world. Something that was profoundly similar for me was that all Their parents showed strength, intuition, and trust to make informed choices about the way they birthed these babies. Birth is not always straight forward and sometimes we are faced with situations that leave us making decisions we had never ever considered or planned for. When families are central in these decisions they are left feeling at peace with the way things evolve. Congratulations to you all! I am feeling lucky to be able to observe all this hard work and its wonderful outcomes. Thanks for making my job so incredibly rewarding and fulfilling!

04.01.2022 I'm still seeing lots of discussion about women's rights in birth and I wanted to share this thought. It's from a book that I'm currently writing - and more on ...that later in the spring/summer - and I'm explaining the difference between situations where systems can and cannot impose rules. When people say things like, I have to, this may or may not actually be true. If you want to take a commercial flight to Paris, do you have to go through airport security? Yes. Sorry. If a doctor advises you to have a procedure or take a pill, do you have to? No. You might choose to, once youve considered all the information and weighed up the pros and cons. But you dont have to. Its not the law." It's worth being aware that, even if your decisions are being affected by what local facilities can offer and are putting in place, you still retain the right to make decisions about your own body. If you go into a hopsital setting (or any other setting) to give birth, you have the right to decline procedures, tests or medication that you don't want. Many of us talk as if we don't have agency, even before we were in the current situation. "They're not allowing me to ..." ... I've got to..." ... The nurse said if I don't lose weight I'll have to..." Its certainly true that, in times of crisis where people need to pull together towards a common goal, we have less agency than usual. But that doesn't mean we give up our bodily autonomy. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend. For loads more information about decision making and how to navigate maternity care, please see my book: What's Right for Me? Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth. www.sarawickham.com/wrfm #midwife #midwifery #doula #birthdoula #homebirth #naturalbirth #pregnant #birth #childbirth #duein2020 #drsarawickham #childbirtheducation #childbirtheducator #whatsrightforme #hypnobirthing #humanity #humanrights #covidpregnancy #pregnancy #birthright #positivebirth

04.01.2022 Here is the third part to this valuable evidence based information on CTG. I seemed to have missed the second one, but the link to it is within this article.

04.01.2022 Too early for pumpkin pics? I hope not! Dating pregnancy is not an exact science and there is considerable variation between women. It is normal that some ...women naturally have longer pregnancies than others. The idea that something terrible will happen if a woman remains pregnant for a moment longer than 42 weeks just isnt true. The baby doesnt turn into a pumpkin at midnight. Its so important that women have full information and are able to look at the pros and cons of different courses of action before making the decisions that are right for them. Part of that is sorting the myths from the facts. This quote is from my book, Inducing Labour: making informed decisions." You can find out more about that and my other books and explore birth-related information and decision making at www.sarawickham.com/iol #midwife #midwifery #doula #childbirth #childbirtheducation #pregnancy #informedchoice #informedbirth #positiveinduction #childbirtheducator #duein2020 #nopumpkins #women #birthinformation #writersofinstagram #drsarawickham #nopumpkins See more

04.01.2022 EPISODE 12: Reframing Our Perspective Of Tantrums is now up for listening. In this episode we talk about tantrums, or as we like to call them, emotional rel...eases. We discuss our relationships with emotion and how this impacts our interpretation and response to our children. We also delve into how we can be there for our children while they are experiencing these difficult moments. Emily shares so much wisdom, you will want to hear from her about her gentle, respectful approach. .

03.01.2022 If you read nothing else please read this Birth trauma week starts on the 6th and goes until the 12th September and I will be focusing on this a lot in the c...oming week. There is a common myth out there that is also often politically hijacked that birth trauma is just physical trauma and hence the focus ends up on the pelvic floor and manifests as anti normal birth. As over a decade of ours and others research has shown this is just the tip of the iceberg. Birth trauma is so often about not being listened to, disrespected and losing control. It often leaves no physical scars and so is dismissed as something women should just get over and be glad they had a healthy baby. I have heard leading health professional and others say no one is ever traumatised by Caesarean section. This reveals the reductionist, narrow thinking on this issue. We must work to reduce all kinds of trauma whatever the woman or her partner says that trauma is. Our book this year, Birthing outside the system: the canary in the coal mine, showed clearly that trauma is so often deeply psychological and also can be physical and we must work to reduce both. The safest birth is one that is supported by a respectful, competent and known midwifery care provider backed by an equally respectful and component obstetric provider. Doulas also play a critical role in reducing birth trauma. I have become a great advocate of these amazing people.This kind of supported birth has been shown to be both physically and psychologically safe. Do not let the agendas of some people derail the reality thousands of women attest to. Stay tuned as there is about to be announcement of a free, first ever fabulous event next week with a line up of speakers (consumers, obstetricians, lawyers and midwives) like you have never seen before. Announcement coming soon See more

03.01.2022 Hannah always articulates things so perfectly ...

03.01.2022 Tell us what you think about a Purple Book app We are looking for parents of newborn - 4 year olds to tell us what they think of a Purple Book app. All chi...ldren who are born in WA get a Purple Book to record things like their weight, height and Child Health appointments. We would like to understand if this would be easier to use and access as an app on your phone or device. The online consultations are being held on 1 December (10.30 - midday, 7pm - 8.30pm) online. You will receive a voucher for taking part. Register at the link below. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx

02.01.2022 So blessed to be a midwife

02.01.2022 Keep following your instincts and intuition, that leads us down the right path ....

01.01.2022 Have you ever wondered what a breastfeed looks like? Our Breastfeeding Peer Supporter Nicky has kindly made this video to help explain what a breastfeed looks l...ike. Lots of mums tell us they worry about breastfeeding because they cant see what their baby is getting. It is very rare that a mum wont make enough milk for her baby. So although you cant see what is going in there are others ways to can tell if your baby is feeding well. Take a look at their nappy!! We have attached a simple check list, but if you have any worries please contact the Health Visitor Service desk on 03003045076 Monday-Friday Peer supporter helpline over the weekend 07920466660 Your body is amazing it has the ability to make milk for your baby that is unique to them. Your breast milk is packed with antibodies that will help your baby fight infection. Mothers assessment tool how can I tell breastfeeding is going well - https://www.unicef.org.uk//mothers_breastfeeding_checklist

01.01.2022 When a mum says she’s exhausted, that she misses her old life, that she needs a shoulder to cry on or that she doesn’t know how she is ever going to get through... this...she is not asking you for sleep training advice, a pair of earplugs or a shortcut. She’s asking you for support - to make her a cup of tea, to care for her baby while she takes a shower, to make her bed and fold her clothes. She’s asking you for unconditional love - to see her at her lowest and love her through it all. She’s asking for you to see her - to acknowledge the sacrifices she’s making, to bear witness to the life-changing transformation she’s experiencing and give her reassurance that it will all be ok. She’s asking you to see her baby as she does - not as a problem to fix or a scapegoat to blame but as a brand new, immature soul trying their best in a world that is completely foreign to them...other than mum, mum was home on the inside and she still is on the outside. She’s asking you to accept her choices - whether they mirror yours or not. Approach her choices with curiosity and an open mind. She’s asking you to meet her where she is - to sit with her in the dark, to be willing to walk through discomfort with her rather than searching for a quick fix. Because she isn’t scared of her baby’s wakefulness. She isn’t scared of 3 am. She isn’t scared of rocking or nursing or holding her baby to sleep. What she’s scared of is feeling alone, judged and unloved. She’s scared of feeling devalued, weird and misunderstood. What she fears is being asked to justify her choices or feeling pressured to bury her maternal intuition and leave her baby to cry to sleep. And you have the power to change all of those things - by showing up with compassion, humility and a willingness to accept the way things are rather than trying to bend reality. Evolve alongside her and become part of her story. Remember, we can't mute the hard, without losing the good. So, be her safety net, become her greatest cheerleader and let her have her messy middle because that’s where transformation and growth truly unfold. #raisedgood

01.01.2022 The development of adult microbiome health begins at birth, and through age 2, sets the potential tone for lifetime health. For example, microbiome development ...influences the development of our immune system, and when it is disrupted, we run the risk of inflammatory and allergic conditions developing sooner or later - including allergies, food intolerances, eczema, asthma, and autoimmune diseases. It can also set the tone for depression, anxiety, stress response, endometriosis, and other chronic adult challenges. So nourishing our babies microbiomes from the start is so important - and something we can all do. The biggest risk factors that can interfere with the health of the newborn microbiome are: Dysbiosis (the overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria, yeasts, and other organisms, or lack of ample amounts of healthy microbes) Antibiotic exposure of mom in pregnancy/labor or while breastfeeding Cesarean birth Lack of breastfeeding for at least the first 4 months of life, and ideally the first year Antibiotics given to baby in the first 2 years of life What can a momma do? Naturally, whenever possible, avoid antibiotics, aim for a vaginal birth, and breastfeed. But sometimes life happens, and the best laid plans get derailed. To address this head on, you can take a probiotic during pregnancy, which can not only support babys microbiome, but can prevent UTIs, preterm labor, and other complications. I recommend taking a combination product with Lactobacilllus rhamnosus, L reuteri, L crispatus, or L salivarius. And if you have had a cesarean or needed antibiotics in labor (i..e, for GBS), give baby a probiotic for 6 months after birth. I use Klaire Therbiotic Infant (no financial relationship) in my practice, letting baby take a little off of moms finger, or diluting with some breastmilk and giving it by dropper. Have questions? Drop em in the comments and Ill circle back around! Want to learn more? Check out my article and podcast at the link below. Ill be back talking about vaginal seeding, soon! https://avivaromm.com/protecting-babys-microbiome/ xx, Aviva @parteramidwifery