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There has been articles appearing in the press in recent days claiming that the increase in the number of Caesarean Births in the past 50 years is having an impact on human evolution! This is due, it is claimed, to the fact that women and babies who would previously died in birth due to the
Essentially labour is a dance between mother and baby aided by the downward force of gravity. Now that we have some understanding of the physiology – lets turn to the protagonists. I believe it is essential that we think of labour starting in the final weeks of pregnancy when baby and mother are preparing, both
The concept of dilation of the cervix from 0-10cms during labour is unphysiological when we understand labour as a series of responses between mother and baby. It starts at the very end of pregnancy, when space in the womb is tight and the baby’s head starts to descend into the brim of the pelvis. Pressure
I have worked with mothers to be in pregnancy for more than 30 years and helped many hundreds of them to successfully access their mammalian instincts and to give birth naturally. As humans we have the disadvantage of our over-active rational brain and cultural conditioning to be afraid of giving birth. We are giving birth
The mammalian birth process is one of Mother Nature’s finest creations. It is a biological process common to all mammals, including ourselves, which occurs spontaneously when pregnancy comes to an end. On the physiological level it involves a complex combination of interactions between mother and baby, from the end of pregnancy, throughout the phases of
I’d been determined that I would not go overdue and had spent the weeks before my EDD doing lunges, squats, plenty of long walks, eating pineapple & dates, taking raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil etc. When I visited my midwife on the Tuesday morning, three days before said due date, and was told
These days the pressure from hospitals for healthy mothers and babies to give birth around the “Due Date”, or not much later than 9 or 10 days “post due” (or else a medical induction will be required) has increased dramatically. Strangely, not so long ago, the patience of obstetric caregivers extended to 14 days, then
This is the physiological birthing position and is great to practise in pregnancy. Variations of squatting have been used by women to give birth in cultures all over the world. It opens the pelvis to its widest and stimulates contractions. However in our culture we do not squat and the full squat with flat feet
I gave birth to Henry on 2nd April at the birth centre at the Whittington, two days after my due date and 5 days before I’d been told I had to be induced (as they thought he was too small). He was born a very healthy 7lbs 3oz, and is absolutely perfect. The birth experience
Firstly, I am really glad to have had the private session with you whereby you repeatedly encouraged meet to let go of my memories of ‘last time’. You were right, of course – it was a completely different experience to my first child. To start with, this time I laboured and had her during the
