In episode eight of the third series, we chat to Sinead a longstanding member of the Informed Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond team about her labour birth and postnatal experiences with her eldest child in Australia.

This episode includes Sinead’s experience of her baby being very ill and needing resuscitation at 9 days old. If you would find this distressing or triggering please skip this episode. 

Topics covered in this episode include: labour starting with waters going at 36 weeks, Natropath/herbalist support to conceive, planning birth in a midwife unit/birth centre, show at 35 weeks, placenta previa, eating in labour - being sick, nipple stimulation to increase contractions, using the shower in labour, counter pressure on lower back, baby born on birth stool in shower (water off), managed third stage, staying in hospital second night, establishing breastfeeding with a tiny baby, baby infection at 9 days, needing resusitation in hospital, baby in intensive care, baby in hospital, return to health. 

If you would like to know more about placenta praevia / low-lying placenta) this is a helpful place to start reading

https://www.nct.org.uk/pregnancy/worries-and-discomforts/common-discomforts/placenta-praevia-low-lying-placenta

If your baby is hospitalised as a newborn you may find the charity Bliss are a good source of information and support

https://www.bliss.org.uk

If you’re wondering about using a birth stool like Sinead or other options for giving birth in an upright position and why anyone might want to avoid birthing in the bed/on their back then you might find this a helpful read/listen

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-birthing-positions/