My Body, My Baby
by Midwives for Women
by
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Some call them pains….some call them surges. Call them what you will, contractions are not a naturally easy thing to deal with. Your cervix has done its job and kept your baby enclosed in it safe environment for the duration of your pregnancy. When you start your labour your cervix needs to relax, to soften and to open. This is something that happens when the action of your hormones, your baby, your pelvis and the rhythmic contraction of the uterine muscle are in the right balance. Let’s face it – opening up and letting out a new person is never going to be easy or comfortable. The uterus is a muscle. Whenever muscles work they fatigue and produce by-products (such as lactic acid) that build up and cause us pain or discomfort (if you have ever been to the gym imagine holding a 60 second squat then standing up and shaking it out, only to back it up with another 60 second squat). There are a number of ways to manage your labour. Some of these are natural methods, others rely on medicine and medications. Whatever you choose please make sure you are aware of your options and as always, ask whatever questions you need to ensure you are making an informed decision about your choices.
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About the Book
As midwives, it is our duty and responsibility to provide quality education and care for women through their entire birthing experience. It is a vital aspect of what we do, but at times, it can be very challenging providing this education. What has been provided for you here is basically what every midwife wished you knew when you walked in the door. While we cannot always give you this information in person, it is here as a guide for you to educate yourselves about anything and just about everything to do with pregnancy, labor, birth, and the next few days. Evidence-based practice and woman-centered care are the founding principles of midwifery practice. The information provided in My Body, My Baby reflects the most up-to-date research and evidence about any particular aspect of your journey at the time of publication. This is important, no doubt. But what is more important is how we use this evidence in our practice and how you use this information to educate yourself. A woman who has done her homework and knows to ask her questions and who knows her rights and the meaning of informed decisions and consent—those are the women that enable us, as midwives, to provide truly woman-centered care. Standing with a woman and developing trust and backing her up when she’s vulnerable are so much more effective when she has an idea of what she does and doesn’t want for herself and her baby, and in this case, the saying is so true. Knowledge is power. Please use this information to make sure that even in your most vulnerable state, you are working from a position of power. After all, it is your body and your baby.
About the Author
Janelle McAlpine is a PhD candidate with Griffith University and holds a Master of Medical research in addition to undergraduate degrees in Midwifery and Human Bio science. She is a registered midwife with current clinical experience across the entire pregnancy, birthing and postnatal experience. In this book she brings together a unique combination of midwifery and motherhood - knowledge based on personal experience, evidence and practice. Knowledge that she, as a mother, would want for her children. After working in both urban and remote Australian locations, Janelle now lives in Brisbane with her partner. She is the mother of three adult children, each of whom makes her proud every day, and each of whom will enter parenthood better prepared than she when they were born.