Resources

Here are a few resources you may find useful

Having your baby at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
The Good Birth Practice Guide to being a Birth Partner
Some information about the processes of birth
Caesarean Birth Recovery - Top Tips from our Clients and Friends
Birth films

Want to chat to find out more? Get in touch and book an call by emailing me at: charlie@thegoodbirthpractice.co.uk

Having your baby at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

If you are having your baby under the care of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust you may want to take a look at their Maternity Pages, here. There's a wealth of useful information here, including how to self-refer to Midwifery care. You no longer need to see your GP to refer yourself to maternity care - you can also access that by following this link

Where do you want to have your baby? Under the care of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust you have four option;

To find out more about birth planning sessions, hypnobirthing classes

and doula support, click HERE

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Maternity team with the Maternity Voices Partnership have undertaken a significant piece of work explaining the role of vaginal examinations (VE's) in late pregnancy and labour, and clarifying that it is up to you to decide whether or not you want one. Remember that this isn't a 'one time only' discussion. You can consent to one and then later choose to decline, and vice versa.

This fact sheet about vaginal examinations was co-produced by MTW Maternity and the MTW Maternity Voices Partnership to give you more information about what vaginal examinations are, why they might be offered, and your options. I highly recommend that you have a conversation with your midwife, hynobirthing teacher or doula about what VE's are, why they are offered and potential outcomes as part of your birth planning. As with everything, it's more nuanced than writing 'consent/decline' in your birth plan and it will be important for you and your partner to have a clear plan so you can make informed decisions about VE's on the day.

VE's at MTW NHS Trust Maternity (page 1)

The Good Birth Practice Guide to Being a Birth Partner

It’s quite an ask, being thrown into an unfamiliar room and told to be a ‘Good Birth Partner’ during a process you’re not closely familiar with. It’s a big responsibility to be supportive, to help ensure her birth goes smoothly and positively, when you’re not familiar with the room, the processes, the people and the language. It’s pretty daunting.

So, take some of the pressure off, here’s are my Top 10 Doula's Birth Partner Tips for you. Click on the image to download (for free, no email address required!). Then discuss these with your partner and build them into your birth planning. Keep this on your phone, or write your own guide based on what you and your partner want and need.

The Good Birth Practice Guide to Being a Birth Partner

To find out more about birth planning sessions, hypnobirthing classes

and doula support, click HERE

Some information about the processes of birth

The important of the birth environment

A demonstration of how your cervix dilates

To find out more about birth planning sessions, hypnobirthing classes

and doula support, click HERE

The benefits of 'upright, forward and open'

The benefits of optimal (or delayed) cord clamping

(which is now standard practice)

Caesarean Birth Recovery hints and tips

Whether your caesarean is planned or unplanned, there's no getting away from the reality that it is a Big Deal and it may take you some time to recover. While some women heal more quickly than others, having some real life hints and tips from the caesarean Mothers is invaluable. There are some corkers here you may not hear elsewhere.

I'm super grateful to our clients and friends who have offered their Top Tips and allowed us to share them here. Click to download.