Gingham Maternity Nurses UK & Overseas

Good enough for a Queen.
Queen Elizabeth after her fourth homebirth.
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Her Majesty was the first royal woman to have her husband accompany her at childbirth when she welcomed her fourth child Prince Edward with Prince Philip present.
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"The Queen, by then aged 37, had asked him to be there; she'd been keenly reading women's magazines that stressed the importance of involving fathers in childbirth and had become fascinated by the idea. Thus Philip became the first royal father in modern history to witness the birth of his child.”
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Like her mother, the Queen gave birth to her first child, Prince Charles, at home via caesarean, after a 30 hour labor, but went on to have three VBACs although with scopolamine.
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Eventually Charles was born by a Caesarean section in a music room in Buckingham Palace which had been converted into a theatre. She was attended by Obstetricians Sir William Gilliatt and Sir John Peel, and also midwife Helen Rowe, who was thought to be present for all the births. Caesarean sections were also less common in the general public at that time; in the 1950s only around 3% were caesarean section. It would have been of some concern that the Queen required one.
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The midwife Helen Rowe was known to be present as letters written to her by the Queen were discovered after her death. There is an irony in this as, in 1970, Sir John Peel, the queen’s obstetrician, was lead author of the report “Domiciliary midwifery and maternity bed needs”, which recommended 100% of births should be in a hospital.
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There have been considerable changes that have taken place in maternity services since the births of the Queen’s children. The accessibility of research and information is only one thing! The Queen, in all her experiences as a woman and mother in the role, has paved the way for royal births to be different and opened the door for many of her subjects to challenge the status quo at the time. The importance of looking back in history to see how we have got to where we are should not be overlooked and I challenge others to investigate history of our profession over the past 70 years.
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From Dr Jenny Hall

https://www.maternityandmidwifery.co.uk/queen-elizabeths-royal-births-transforming-the-monarchy/

Can you make baby smarter before birth? Can you make your child smarter before she’s born? Here’s what the experts are saying about the latest trends in prenatal education

Breastfeeding helpline!

Questions? Need support? Our wonderful volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellors come together with The Breastfeeding Network (UK) to answer calls on the National Breastfeeding Helpline.
We are open 9:30am-9:30pm, 7 days a week.
0300 100 0212

How things changed ...

Stressed out about home schooling during lockdown?

Ex-Headteacher Caroline Zwierzchowska-Dod will be here to give tips and guidance on how to support primary aged children with their learning at home.

Includes: the myth of 'lost learning', ideas for daily routines, balancing work, school and home life, year group expectations, ideas to help the reluctant learner, where to go when you don't know how to help and how to communicate with school.
ZOOM meeting ID will be send to you directly upon purchasing a ticket - please follow the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/home-school-support-tickets-138827000295

Only one day to go! Don't miss out - limited tickets left!

Challenging twos - meaning behind challenging toddler behaviour by Caroline Zwierzchowska-Dod

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/133065116345

Challenging twos - meaning behind challenging toddler behaviour by Caroline Zwierzchowska-Dod
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/133065116345

Challenging twos - meaning behind challenging toddler behaviour by Caroline Zwierzchowska-Dod

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/133065116345

Here you are again. The most important post of the Summer Season for caretakers of little-ones. (up to the age of 100) 🥰
(FYI: Give small amounts of cool, not cold, water with a teaspoon of salt per quart. (Cold water and salt tablets can actually increase cramping symptoms.) Sports drinks are not for the little ones & especially not for babies, Give Pedialyte on recommendation of your doctor.)
(You need to clarify that these tips apply to babies over 6 months. Infants under 6 months should be rehydrated with breast milk or formula, not water.)
HEAT STROKE IN BABIES & TODDLERS
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke don’t just appear out of the blue. There are signs of heat stress, which, if left untreated, can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The initial signs of heat stress include:
• Heat rash that doesn’t go away when the skin is cooled, called “prickly heat”. This rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters on or around the
NECK - UPPER CHEST – GROIN – ELBOW CREASES.
• Heat cramps happen as muscles and bodily systems deplete their supply of electrolytes, particularly salt and water, and as a reaction to lower blood volumes. These cramps usually occur in the ABDOMEN – LEGS – ARMS and are accompanied by MOODINESS and FUSSINESS. If a baby, toddler or young child starts showing signs of crankiness or fussiness this can be an early indication of heat stress.
• Watch for unusual erratic and repetitive behaviors, such as repeatedly standing and sitting.

If the above symptoms worsen and start to include:
• Intense thirst
• Dizziness or fainting
• Pale skin
• Rapid but weak heart rate
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Concentrated p*e & decreased output (yellow/orange)
Then your child is becoming dehydrated and likely has heat exhaustion.

TREATMENT:
• IMMEDIATELY STOP ALL ACTIVITY !!!
• Remove clothing
• Move to a cool place
• Give cool water with a teaspoon of salt per quart, or sports drink. (Cold water and salt tablets can actually increase cramping symptoms.) (not for babies - give Pedialyte on recommendation of doctor)
• Gently massage child’s muscles
• Elevate feet on a pillow if they will lie down

Rest and rehydration is usually enough, though some children may need more time to recover than others. Hospitalization is rarely needed.
DO call your family doctor.

What Happens to a Woman's Brain When She Becomes a Mother From joy and attachment to anxiety and protectiveness, mothering behavior begins with biochemical reactions.

Home Sleep Baby Sleep is a local, Maternity Nurse and Sleep Consultancy service run by Tina Southwood. Based in East Anglia and covering Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Suffolk she has been a maternity nurse and a baby sleep consultant since 2005, offeri...