In episode twelve, we meet Olga and hear all about her first pregnancy, birth and beyond journey. Olga planned to birth in a birth centre and then late in her pregnancy changed her mind and had a home birth. She then transferred to hospital to have some retained placenta removed and a small tear stitched in theatre. Olga also talks about her experiences of establishing breastfeeding and learning to be content while parenting a new baby. 

Topics covered in this episode include: early pregnancy tiredness, low level morning sickness, pregnancy travel, doula support through pregnancy, planning water birth, changing from birth centre plan to homebirth plan late in pregnancy, being labelled high risk due to smoking before being pregnant, preparing mentally and looking after yourself physically  in pregnancy for birth, slow start to contractions, meet-up and massage in early labour, labour gradually increasing through the day and evening, calling out doula and midwives and then sending them home, calling everyone back and getting in the pool immediately ready to push, pool birth, physiological third stage, post partum hemorage and retained placenta, transfer to hospital, retained placenta removed and second degree tear stitched in theatre, three day stay in hospital, self advocacy with routine medical interventions, declining routine anticoagulant injections, resisting pressure to formula feed in hospital, mixed support levels in hospital, placenta encapsulation, postnatal recovery, breastfeeding with inverted nipple, sleep and small babies, sleep and small babies, protecting your peace when planning your birth, keeping going with a plan for if you have slow downs during labour. 

If you’re wondering whether a doula might be right for you or even what one actually is or does this might be a good place to start reading.

https://hampshiredoulas.uk/what-is-a-doula/

https://hampshiredoulas.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

If you are looking for a community of new families to be part of please do come and join ours in person if you’re in South East Hampshire or Online if you’re further away. Join our Facebook group here.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pregnancybirthandbeyondcommunitygroup

Find the details for our meet-ups here

https://www.informedpregnancybirthandbeyond.org/meet-ups

For information about the possibility of some or all of your placenta not coming out as expected and what can be offered to help this is a good place to start reading

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/retained-placenta

If you’re wondering if your baby is sleeping a normal amount you might find this a helpful website

https://www.basisonline.org.uk/hcp-how-babies-sleep/

Or this book

https://lyndseyhookway.com/product/lets-talk-about-your-new-familys-sleep/