Having a Baby at Home
Consider the following questions:
Can you have a domino delivery? This means that the community midwife comes to your home and stays with you until she thinks it is time to go to hospital. She then takes you to hospital, delivers the baby and takes you home a few hours after the birth. She will continue to visit you at home. Will you have the chance to meet the midwives who are likely to deliver the baby? Most hospitals operate a team midwifery system for antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. This means that the same midwives look after you before, during and after the birth.
- If you prefer a woman doctor, will it always be possible to see one?
- Can your birth companion be with you at all times if that is what you want?
- Can you talk over your birth choices and have a record of them put in your notes?
- Will you be able to move around in labor and is there a variety of equipment so that you can give birth in the position that you find comfortable? Can you use a water pool during labor if that is what you would like?
- Do you have a choice in the way your baby is monitored?
- HOW long might you be expected to stay in hospital after the birth (you can discharge yourself whenever you wish, but it may help to know the average length of stay)?
- Is there good breastfeeding support?
- What are the visiting hours?
- Will there be a chance to talk about the birth afterwards with the midwife who delivered your baby and ask any questions about the birth?
You can arrange for a home birth through your GP, or via your local community midwives. Many GPs are reluctant to support first-time mothers in having a home birth, because there is no way of telling how difficult a birth is going to be (your experience the first time gives some indication of the ease with which you will give birth subsequently). However, if you have young children at home already and do not wish to disrupt them, or feel that the birth will be more relaxed at home, you may decide that this is for you. You have the right to a home birth if that is what you want.
Your GP may be able to offer you antenatal care. If not, contact your local FHSA for the address of a GP who has an interest in childbirth_ And contact your local supervisor of midwives who still arrange your antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care.
You will see the community midwife for all your antenatal checks, and she is the one to call when you think your labor has started. She will stay with you through labor and, perhaps with another midwife, deliver the baby. She will call a doctor or ambulance if you need to get to hospital in an emergency.
StriaFade ; Stretchmarks – Mom’s Badge of Honor
Although stretch marks really look awful, these are considered honorable badge of being a mommy. But if 
there is a way to do away with it; moms might as well give it a try, right? Just recently, I found StriaFade on the net and their tag line goes “It makes your stretch marks thing of the past.” I am very curious to know it that is true and I am sure you are too.
I read a bit more on their site and according to them what makes StriaFade work is it’s StriaFade ingredients which include natural and extra ordinary ingredients combined to make this amazing stretchmark solution. I have not personally tested the product, but I am definitely considering of trying it out because I am starting to see teenie weenie lines on my tummy.
Now the question is where to buy Striafade?
Where we live, there are no big malls and department stores so I would just have to make use more of online shopping and it’s great that you could easily order StriaFade wherever you are, just visit the site and click the green button that says ORDER NOW.
I have always been a pro active person so I am preparing in case more stretch marks will come out as the much awaited day comes nearer and nearer. I would love to see myself back to its look before I got pregnant. But nothing beats the excitement of seeing my baby come out of this world.
Pelvic floor exercises
You will hear several times during your pregnancy and afterward how important it is that you do your pelvic floor exercises. The muscles of the pelvic floor support the internal organs, including your womb, bladder and hack passage. Keeping these muscles in good tone will, therefore, help you during and after the birth – as they have to stretch sufficiently to allow your baby to come out and risen go back to their normal state afterward. If these muscles are weak, you run the risk of stress incontinence – leaking of small amounts of urine from your bladder when you cough, run, laugh or sneeze. This can occur in the last few weeks of pregnancy but is more common after the birth.
The basic pelvic floor exercise is very simple and you can do it anywhere, sitting, standing or lying. For most women, the problem is remembering to do the sequence often enough. You need to tighten the muscles of your front passage as if you were trying to hold on to urine when you are ‘bursting’ to go. Keep tightening, first vaginal area, then rectum, hold for four seconds, and then relax. Repeat several times, and repeat the whole sequence several times a day.
Learning basic relaxation will help you while you are pregnant, during the birth and afterward.
The easiest way to start learning to relax is to make space in your day for l0 minutes’ uninterrupted, quiet time. Lie down, and starting at your toes and feet, alternately tense and relax each part of your body, right up to your head. Don’t forget your shoulders, arms and hands, or your face (frown, screw up your face and then let it go). Keep your eyes gently closed as you are doing this. Some people find it helps to have some soothing music playing; others to focus on a beautiful image. In time, you will be able to use this technique whenever you feel stressed to help you regain your physical and mental equilibrium.
This technique is particularly useful in childbirth. Coping with contractions is easier if you are relaxed; it also conserves your energy.
Of course, there are other ways to relax. Simply making some time for yourself, even once a day, is important. In late pregnancy, you may be advised to rest with your feet up to help combat mild oedema (swelling or puffiness). You can even do this at work in the middle of the day Take some time to have a proper lunch break, away from your desk, rather than rushing around the shops and grabbing a sandwich. Ask your partner to do the shopping.
Take care to look after your other physical needs. Many women find their skin and hair look better than ever before in pregnancy – especially from about four or five months. If you have a tendency to oiliness, this is likely to lessen while you are pregnant to give you that healthy bloom that makes you look and feel good. If you find that your skin is dry, add oil to your bath and be generous with the moisturizer. Treat yourself to a good haircut shortly before the baby is born. It may make you feel better in the days immediately after the birth if your hair looks good, and you will find it difficult to make time for an appointment for weeks afterward.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, particularly in the later stages. If asking a neighbor to pick up your toddler from playgroup – when he or she is probably going for their own child in any case – gives you ten minutes to put your feet up, then do so. Most people are only too willing to help. Remember that toddlers do not always need to be running around: after a busy morning at playgroup or with friends in the park, she may be quite happy to cuddle up on the sofa with you while you watch a video or TV programme together.
