Pregnancy and childbirth are of course natural, but in this day and age, getting a little help from modern medicine is often advised, for complications like gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. This makes both safer, with highly trained midwives and follow-up support.
The Positive Birth Company offers apps and courses for an easier birth. Founded by a woman trained in hypnobirthing (after her own difficult birth that involved a lengthy induction and forceps delivery), this company offers courses accredited by the Royal College of Midwives, for pregnancy, hypnobirthing and post-partum.
Defining Natural Childbirth
Natural childbirth simply means delivering a baby without medication or surgical procedures, without relying on interventions like epidurals or C-sections. This is great in theory, but sometimes for the safety of both baby and mother, intervention may be needed.
NHS site has an overview of different types of childbirth. It does not recommend water births for high-risk pregnancies. Though statistically as safe, in rare cases there has been cases of drowning, waterborne infections, breathing problems and rupture of the umbilical cord. Also read why breastfeeding is (nearly) always best.
National Childbirth Trust has good information on labour and birth, with pain relief options. To reduce risk of stillbirth and miscarriage, expert advice includes:
- Eat well, and avoid smoking and alcohol. Avoid caffeine or reduce to no more than 1 cup of mild coffee or 2 cups of tea daily (avoid cola). Most coffee house drinks are higher in caffeine, so reduce accordingly.
- Obviously eat well and avoid smoking or alcohol. Also limit caffeine (no more than 1 cup of coffee or 2 cups of mild tea per day – ideally none). Know that ‘coffee shop’ drinks are higher in caffeine.
- Protect against infections like flu (wear a mask).
- A baby’s movements should increase up to around 32 weeks, then stay static until the due date. If something is not normal, contact your GP immediately. Attend all ante-natal appointments.
- Try not to sleep on your back, as this can compress your inferior vena cava (large vein) which reduces blood flow to a baby. The Lullaby Trust has info on the safest ways for babies to sleep, to reduce risk of crib death (they do not recommend cot bumpers).
- Preemie Care is a guide by experts on navigating the first year, if you have given birth to a premature baby.
Foods to Avoid When Pregnant/Nursing
Pregnant (and breastfeeding) women must avoid certain foods to keep them and babies safe. Also wash soil off salads and vegetables and avoid caffeine. Ensure food is well-cooked. Read more on food safety for people & pets.
Foods to avoid include:
- Alcohol and caffeine
- Some herb teas (check labels)
- Raw meat, liver and cold-cut meats (salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, chorizo)
- Game meats (goose, partridge, pheasant)
- All pâté (including vegetarian pâté)
- Raw or partially cooked eggs
- Liquorice and liquorice root
- Too much ginger (contracts uterus to cause early labour)
- If you eat fish: avoid raw fish, and no more than 2 weekly portions of oily fish or tuna steaks (no more than 4 cans of tuna)
Pregnancy Supplements in Sustainable Packs
Dr Vegan Pregnancy Multinutrient is sold with a metal tin for the first order, then buy refills in sustainable pouches. The supplement is formulated with 27 vitamins and minerals for a healthy pregnancy. Formulated by expert nutritionists, to support you and your baby through all trimesters and breastfeeding.
Before taking supplements, check with GP if pregnant/nursing or you have medical conditions or are taking medication. Keep supplements away from young children & pets.
The supplement includes the recommended 400mg of folate (folic acid) to help prevent spina bifida and vitamin B6 for hormonal health. It also includes nutrients to help your baby, along with ones to help prevent fatigue and nausea for mothers.
Ingredients include choline (to help develop a baby’s brain), plant-based vitamin D3 (from algae) and magnesium (the ‘superhero of minerals). Just take 2 capsules per day as instructed. You can also take this supplement, if you are trying to conceive.
A Book of Safe & Smart Prenatal Exercises
Training for Two is a book of safe smart prenatal exercises, written by a fully qualified personal trainer. Many women often find they comfort eat during pregnancy, and end up ballooning in weight, which they then find difficult to lose after their babies are born. This book can help!
Organised by trimester, this book helps to prepare your body for childbirth, then uses strength-based exercises that are safe to perform in most cases, and can even lead to a smoother delivery, faster recovery and healthier newborn.
Back by research, this book features over 200 photos to help you perform the movements with confidence and absorb the material. You’ll find:
Common strength exercises like squats, deadlifts, lunges and rows, modified to be safe and comfortable, while pregnant.
- Easy exercises and workouts to prepare the body for labour.
- An overview of common pregnancy complications, and how they affect exercise.
- A postpartum chapter on recovery and mobility, in the first six weeks after birth.
- What to expect (and what questions to ask) at prenatal appointments.
Support for Bereaved New Parents
The charities SANDS and CRUSE offer free bereavement services (use the Baby Mailing Preference service to remove junk mail related to baby items, to avoid further upset).
The charity Dresses for Angels creates beautiful ‘Angel burial gowns’ from people donating wedding and bridesmaid dresses, so contact them if you have a lost a baby.
