Water birth enables women to give birth in the way their bodies were designed. I feel that birth pools have brought a special quality to the environment of birth, helping midwives get back to the roots of being with women.
I have been an Independent midwife for 9 years and have noticed that there are many things I view as essentials to my home birth kit that were absent when I was a community Midwife for the NHS. I am not talking about the standard equipment sonic aid, sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, thermometer, sterile gloves, etc.
Oxytocin is the hormone that drives the rhythm of labour and birth and the great news is that it is released when we hug one another!
Breech presentation refers to the position of the baby being bottom first. If babies are left to their own devices the majority will have turned to head down before 36 weeks of gestation and only 3-4% of babies will be in a breech position at the end of pregnancy.
Here at the UK Birth Centres we are always looking to support women’s choice. We have a holistic approach which puts the focus on each woman as an individual. We know that by keying in to what will help them feel relaxed and more confident when it comes to giving birth is certainly worth pursuing and it is why many of our clients choose a home birth.
Judith's first clinical placement was at Effia - Nkwanta Regional Hospital that has approximately 4500 birth per year.