don't forget to add your birth story to complete it. And then why not start a new parenting blog?Home birth? - A friend of mine recently gave birth at home, with an independent midwife, an experience she raves about. I love the idea, but am a bit

of muslin cloths to keep your clothes clean when feeding and windingSuitable clothes to go home in, and remember, you’re likely to look about five months pregnant after the birth, however disappointing that may be, so the pre-pregnancy clothes can stay

’ve decided on a home or a hospital birth, make sure you have contact numbers of everyone you could possibly need. Although you have every chance of achieving your birth plan, there’s no harm in being prepared for last minute changes.Numbers you’ll need

Although some women do have relatively easy births without needing any drugs, using a water birth, for example, many more women do end up using some form of pain relief.Given that a woman's experience of birth - difficult or easy, long or quite

the presence of an anaesthetist and so isn't an option for home births or most birthing centres, but is usually available at hospitals. Conversely a birthing pool or other alternative therapies may not be available in all hospitals, but birthing pools

.”First outingInteresting fact time: In 1968 the recommended duration of a hospital stay after giving birth was 10 days. It’s now two to 12 hours. But exactly when you get to go home depends on what kind of birth you’ve had. Midwife Eleanor  says: “The decision

to assist you in some places.If you have a home birth then you will have complete freedom as to whether and how you use aromatherapy.You will most likely benefit from using different oils, or different combinations of oils, at different stages in your labour

turning there might be.Your midwife or specialist might begin to the discuss the need for a hospital birth if you were hoping to have your baby at home.As the due date nears, if the baby still cannot be turned or has not turned itself, and is not in one

pre-birth break for you and your partner to enjoy some quality time when you are expecting.The best time to travelIf you booked a trip before you knew you were expecting, don't reach for the phone to cancel just yet. Talk to your GP about the date you

,” she says.“It would be fair to say that this situation, throughout the 75 days, was like trying not to jog a live bomb,” Joanna’s doctor Professor Mariusz Zimmer explains.“This started with the premature birth of Mrs Krzysztonek’s first triplet, who had