When labour begins it marks the end of your pregnancy journey and the beginning of a new and exciting chapter, parenthood. For some women labour can be quick, but for most women early labour involves a latent phase, which can last for quite a few hours or even several days, before active labour and the birth of your baby. Labour and birth does not follow a set pattern, as every pregnant woman is unique, and she will have her own individual way of labouring. Contractions or surges may be irregular and often sporadic as they work to prepare your body to labour and birth your baby. Staying at hom ..read more

What are they? Essential oils are the compounds from individual plants, which are extracted by distillation (steaming) pressing the stem, leaves, flowers or roots. Each plant has unique characteristics and aromas which are reflective within each individual essential oil. In effect they are representing the ‘essence’ of what that particular plant can offer.  How do they work?  Essential oils work by inhalation as they are said to stimulate the limbic part of our brain which can influence behaviours and emotions. The limbic system is responsible for our hormone secretions, emotional reactions an ..read more

Whether you are a first-time mum or a mum to be, it is definitely not uncommon as a midwife to hear pregnant women describe their difficulties with trying to get enough sleep. This blog will help you to understand what the causes of disturbances in your usual sleeping pattern could be, as well as giving you potential solutions to try and find how to get a better night’s sleep so you can face a new day feeling more refreshed. Why is sleeping difficult when you’re pregnant? There are many causes of sleep disturbance during pregnancy, which can begin as early as the 1st trimester. Trying a few si ..read more

Energy levels in pregnancy can be extremely variable from person to person. During pregnancy hormone levels can play a part in how energised or tired we feel at times, depending upon our responses to them as an individual. When tiredness strikes during pregnancy it can often be quite dramatic and you may go from being quite active during your everyday life, to needing to rest and sleep much more than usual. Fortunately, for most people, this feeling usually disappears as you move into the second trimester, at around 14-16 weeks of pregnancy. Once feelings of sickness and nausea begin to dimini ..read more

3 minute read Feeling nauseous in pregnancy is very common as there are lots of changes, especially hormonal changes, occurring in your body. Up to 80% of women experience some nausea and/or vomiting during their pregnancy, with 1-2% developing hyperemesis gravidarum, which can cause severe dehydration and hospitalisation. Nausea can occur at any time during your pregnancy and although it was often called “morning sickness”, it can happen at any time of the day or night. A few women may feel nauseous for their entire pregnancy, but the good news is that it usually disappears around 12-16 week ..read more

What are they?  Essential oils are the compounds from individual plants, which are extracted by a distillation (steaming) process or by pressing the stem, leaves, flowers or roots. Each plant has unique characteristics and aromas which are reflective within each individual essential oil. In effect they are representing the ‘essence’ of what that particular plant can offer.  How do they work?  Essential oils work by inhalation as they are said to stimulate the limbic part of our brain which can influence behaviours and emotions. The limbic system is responsible for our hormone secretions, emot ..read more

3 minute read Bump shaming has been in the news recently, so we thought we would discuss some of the issues it raises within a blog. Whilst the size of your bump is, naturally, a physical issue, it goes hand in hand with the inevitable psychological fallout which happens when others judge the size and shape of your bump. Comments can range from “Oh my! I’ve never seen a pregnant woman as big as you are” (yes, someone did actually say this to my face when I was approaching 42 weeks of pregnancy), to “Are you sure you’re even pregnant?”. Language can indeed be a powerful thing during pregnancy ..read more

3 minute read  Most people may not have given much thought to how they will give birth to their placenta during pregnancy, as the focus is on the birth of their baby. It is good to have an idea of what to expect and to know which choices are available.   There are two main options for delivering your placenta, (you may hear it referred to as the third stage of labour). Option one is to birth it yourself, this is called a physiological third stage, option two is to have a managed third stage where an injection is given and your placenta is delivered by your midwife or doctor, by applying tract ..read more

A doula is a person you employ to support you during pregnancy, childbirth or the postnatal period. Most families have a doula throughout all these stages as you can develop a rapport and a trusting relationship when you meet up regularly. A doula does not have medical training and is not qualified to give any medical care during pregnancy, birth or postnatally, but most doulas have been through training programmes and may be registered with organisations such as Doula UK. Their experiences and personalities may vary considerably, so it is good to meet a few before deciding on which doula bes ..read more

Mum of 6 (including 2 sets of twins!) and founder of Mini First Aid, Kate shares her first aid tips for new parents:- When we get ready for baby to arrive, we often focus on the softer side; the nursery, the change bag, the pram, the first outfit. Why not? Having a baby is an exciting time.  We then start to think about the birth, how we want things to go and how we plan to feed our baby. It is hard not to feel nervous as a new parent.  Everything is unknown. At Mini First Aid we cannot give you all the magic answers about getting your baby to sleep through the night, but we can help you to t ..read more