The Mama Theory

16/03/2021

If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice before your baby arrived what would you say?
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I would tell myself that it’s ok to ask for help, it’s ok to not be able to “do it all”. I would tell myself to be kinder to my body, rest more and employ a post partum Doula!
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Rest, feed and bond with your baby. The washing can wait, the cleaning can wait, your recovery and discovery of motherhood is more important during the fourth trimester. Post partum doulas can support you in so many ways during those first weeks after your baby/babies arrive. We help take care of the dinners, washing and cleaning; we will hold baby while you take a nap or a shower and accompany you to appointments.
If this sounds like the help you want or need then please get in touch to see what I can do to support you 🤍

20/01/2021

Messages like this that make my day!
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One of my gorgeous Mums recently messaged me to let me know her gorgeous babe had arrived via VBAC ❤️ This Mama worked so hard to prepare her mind and body and overcame so many challenges to bring her sweet babe into the world, I couldn’t be more proud of her.
✨ Education, relaxation and mindset matter ✨

17/01/2021

Women’s circles ✨ Are you a part of one or have you attended one to celebrate a woman about to enter motherhood? These can be a beautiful way to honour our divine feminine and nurture the village we build around us ✨
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13/01/2021

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I have said it many times...... although nowhere near as eloquently as this!!
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05/01/2021

Midwifery led care for the win 🌟✨

I read medical and obstetric journals for a living. And it continually amazes me to see how much focus there is on introducing population-wide interventions which often make little difference, or make a difference but only to a few woman and babies, but which bring side effects and knock-on effects, such as increasing the chance of needing more intervention down the line. Some probably make more difference to the profits of the companies that make them than to those who they are purporting to help.
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And yet there is one thing that is known to make a HUGE difference.
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Caseload midwifery "outperforms standard care” for all women, even those perceived to have a higher chance of problems (Allen et al 2019).
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And, as the Cochrane review of this area shows, caseload midwifery offers so many benefits that its authors (Sandall et al 2016) concluded that, "Most women should be offered ‘midwife‐led continuity of care’. It provides benefits for women and babies and we have identified no adverse effects."
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But in order for this to become a reality for more families, as the World Health organization points out, socio-cultural, economic and professional barriers must be overcome so that midwives can practice to their full potential.
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For lots more information, pop "caseload midwifery" into the search box at www.sarawickham.com
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09/12/2020

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07/12/2020

Did you use visualisations to assist you in labour and birth? This is a powerful tool to have in your birthing tool box 🧰
One of my favourites is the opening rose or blossom 🌹🌸 The flower represents your cervix or your perineum (depending on which phase of your labour you are in) Picture in your mind your body opening, unfolding and blooming; gently allowing baby to emerge through the centre of the rose ✨
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25/11/2020

Obstetric violence should not be the norm 🙅‍♀️

At the end of the day......

Posted • On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women we recognise and condem violence against women in all its forms. The form I am most often confronted with is not often recognised or called out for what it is, but its effects are traumatic and far reaching. Emily wrote to me of her experience in labour:

'I was greeted by the on-call consultant obstetrician. She was more than rude, she was aggressive ... My body was touched and prodded without warning ... so aggressive was one unconsented va**nal exam, the student midwife asked the obstetrician to stop (but she didn't). I now know that what happened to me is called "obstetric violence".'

Violence against women is never acceptable.

13/11/2020

Did you know that perineal massage is a great way to help reduce the risk of tearing and also reduces the risk of suggestion by your midwife or OB to perform an episiotomy. 🙅‍♀️✂️
The perineum is area between the bottom of the va**nal opening and the a**s, it is made up of a collection of tight fibrous muscles that require toning to soften it and prepare it for birth.

So, how do you do it?
If massaging yourself, insert your thumb, up to the second knuckle, into the bottom of your va**na and with firm pressure sweep in a U shape. This may feel uncomfortable at first, try using a natural lubricant or a safe oil including olive, coconut, apricot or grape seed. If your partner can do it for you then they will insert there middle and index fingers to the second knuckle and apply pressure in the same sweeping U shape, including this practice into your love making might make it a little less awkward!
It is best started around 34-35 weeks into your pregnancy, two to three times a week for 5 mins will be sufficient!
Performing this simple little exercise can give excellent outcomes! A toned perineum will open more efficiently and easily, especially for first time mums 💖

Have you practiced perineal massage before giving birth?
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