Birth, baby and beyond Care at home
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erson Centred Homecare is a, small privately owned business providing home care and nursing care for any individual requiring assistance to maintain activities of daily living at home. Based in Fife, the founder of the service Patricia Cobain, is a Registered General Nurse with a Degree in Midwifery. She is also a qualified Infant Feeding advisor with many years of experience gained through her career in General Nursing, Midwifery and as a Breastfeeding Advisor. Patricia explained to Families that the ethos of this service is to ensure that clients have a bespoke service unique to their requirements that maintains a consistent and personalised approach. Person Centred Homecare can help families who require help with care of a relative by providing care in the relative’s home on a regular or temporary basis. All care packages are individualised and could include for example, respite care or postoperative care after surgery or a period of being in hospital. New mums can also benefit from their Post Natal Midwifery service. Here maternity care is provided by a Maternity nurse who works with families that have just had a new baby, to support them in the adjustment and aid in implementing a routine. The maternity nurse will assist with all aspect of baby care, bottle-feeding and allowing the family a peaceful sleep during the night. Mums choosing to breastfeed can benefit hugely from infant feeding advice and support. The maternity service is can be provided from birth until 6 weeks postnatal for the first six week, but again the package is bespoke to each family. Further Information can be accessed via Facebook, telephone 07913690773 or email personcenteredhomecare@mail.com
In support of homebirth
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ost people don’t realise that having a baby at home is a safe and realistic option, and it could be the best decision you’ll ever make. The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists agree that there is ample evidence showing that labouring at home increases a woman’s likelihood of a birth that is both safe and satisfying. Planning a homebirth is a very effective way of keeping your birth normal and reducing the risk of complications, with studies backing that up. There are many reasons women choose to give birth at home; lack of childcare; guaranteed access to a pool, if desired; fear of hospital; lack
of transport; previous fast labour, but most often it is for access to home comforts. Your own couch, your own shower, your own bed, and your other children close by, if you wish. Midwives become guests in your home and the labouring mother stays ‘queen of her own castle’! A little bit of prep is required, particularly if planning a water birth, but a cheap shower curtain is the only essential item. Two midwives will attend
Scars run deep
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ost of us have a scar of some sort on our bodies and if we are lucky we forget about it after a while, it just becomes part of us. Other scars, such as after caesarean surgery, can be more painful inside and out. Caesarean scars are often so tied up in the emotions and memories of the birth that mums can go for a long time without even touching or looking at their scar. So when their pelvis or back aches years later most don’t associate the pain with the scar. Scar tissue is an important part of the healing process, however it lays down fibres in a very haphazard way. This can cause it to adhere to other tissues in your body such as your muscles and organs restricting free movement and often causing pain. After the birth you may have been told to keep an eye on your scar, watching for signs of redness and infection for example. However, there is one simple activity that can aid both your recovery and long term prognosis – massage! Scar tissue massage helps to break
If you are planning a homebirth, or even just curious about it, find us on Facebook, or email Leanne at leakaledonia@gmail.com. Another useful resource is www.homebirth.org.uk
down the adhesions at superficial and deep layers, facilitating blood flow and healing. It is best to work with an experienced Massage Therapist initially who will treat the area and show you how to massage your scar at home. Just 5 minutes a day can do great things and it’s never to late to start! Scar tissue massage works on so many levels. Often by teaching my clients to massage their scar themselves at home they begin to come to terms with it and eventually reach some sort of peace with the birth and their new body. Orla Beaton MFHT, Remedial Massage Therapist. www.orla-beaton.co.uk
3yoga3 stretch & relax 3 pregnancy & birth baby & postnatal general mixed ability
Baby massage, baby yoga and pregnancy massage to nurture you and your baby Contact Alex on 07855 840842 or alex.mitchell@mamababybliss.com www.familiesfife.co.uk
you in labour and a kit will be delivered to your house with gas and air, and other medical items as you approach full term. The Fife Homebirth Support Group was set up with the aim of supporting families considering a homebirth. We offer moral support as well as practical advice, such as how to empty a birth pool, and where to get the cheapest shower curtains! We have monthly informal meet-ups (with cake) and a facebook group for chat.
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Dunfermine, Inverkeithing S. Queensferrry & Edinburgh Susannah Dean IYT, BWY, YogaBirth, IAIM 01383 413121
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www.theyoga.co.uk
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