Empowerment

Folic Acid, you hear lots about it but what is it? Basically it’s the man made – synthetic – version of folate which is in green and leafy veggies. Most people absorb folate well and it is essential for splitting those cells and growing a baby. Your body needs it supplemented in case your modern diet is lacking in natural folate. Around 50% of people have a tiny genetic defect (referred to as a SNIP) on the MTHFR gene which, to put simply, makes it difficult to break down and absorb folic acid. Look for pre-natal vitamins with ‘methyl-folate’ listed on the ingredients or you can use folinic acid. These types are more readily absorbed than straight out Folic Acid. You’re looking to take 500mcg per/day unless you’ve already had another baby with spina bifida/cleft palate then consult your doctor. Look for ‘folinic acid (activated vitamin B9) Levomefolate calcium (calcium L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate) equiv. levomefolic acid (5-MTHF) (active vitamin B9)’ on the ingredients list. Caruso’s also sell folinic acid tablets which are cheaper. There’s no harm in taking the Folinic or MTHF supplements as directed instead of the standard folic acid.

Iron is also vital for your developing bub. Consider your iron needs and if you want a supplement with or without, as it is constipating but your body’s almost doubling the amount of blood it has in it and growing a blood rich placenta so it takes a lot of iron and anaemia is common in pregnancy, again if your modern diet leaves a bit to be improved. Floradix/floravital is a gentle non-haem (plant) iron which is well-absorbed by the body, gentle on the tummy and vegan. Take Iron with Vit C (Orange Juice) to increase its absorption. Avoid calcium near the iron because it blocks absorption. So have the iron with Vit C at a separate time of the day to your milk in a smoothie for example.

Just so you know, while pregnant your heart rate increases by about 15 beats per minute and your heart moves out of the way of your growing uterus. And it’s not just your boobs that grow, your lung capacity expands to deal with increased oxygen demands so your whole rib cage expands! There are so many changes, and the best bit? Your body just does them. It knows what to do. Sit with that for a second. You don’t need to plan to split cells, grow bones or make a little human heart, your body just does it. So how’s that for trusting in the process!

Even if it’s never been a problem, pregnancy often causes constipation because it changes the smooth muscle contractility in the gut. Constipation can cause haemorrhoids before the ‘birth’ pushing (which is what a lot of people think causes them). Look for a simple stool bulking agent like psyllium husks or flaxseed and keep very well hydrated. Fibre supplements can make constipation worse if you don’t keep your bowel well hydrated! Psyllium will turn gluggy if left for more than a couple of minutes so stir it into juice and leave for 30 seconds then down the hatch. It can also be gritty if you drink it too soon after mixing. Metamucil is made from very finely ground and flavoured psyllium husks and is suitable. Or you could buy fibre capsules if you don’t like the drinks. You can get those easily from the supermarket, or chemist if you can’t find anywhere else. Flaxseed will need to go into a smoothie or on cereal as it’s not as palatable just mixed with juice. If that’s not enough go for a softener like coloxyl or one that draws water into the bowel like movicol. Senna can give you cramps as it stimulates the bowel to contract and empty so steer clear.

There’s a huge range of prenatal vitamins if you choose to take one.  Bioceuticals sell a pregnancy multi called InNatal with a good amount of easily absorbed folate. I’m using NaturoBest with this current pregnancy as I’m pretty sensitive to multi-vitamins, I get pain and nausea. I’m tolerating it really well and I’m happy with the ingredients and their amounts. It’s not making me sick but I do still make sure I eat when I have them. I’d recommend it and will stick with it but had no issues with the Bioceuticals one either. Avoid regular multi-vitamins during pregnancy as you want to avoid Vitamin A.

Lentils and chickpeas are great for both iron and fibre so try and add in to meals where you can. You needs lots of protein in pregnancy so increase your intake of eggs, milk, yoghurt, tofu, hummus, tuna/salmon, oats, cottage cheese, almonds. Heck even substitute your toast spread for peanut butter, it all adds up. This is especially important if you find your intake isn’t great due to nausea or reflux. If you can’t tolerate meat proteins with meals make sure you definitely increase your protein rich snack intake. Lots of those things are high in calcium too, which you also needs lots of… Bonus!

Caffeine isn’t great as I’m sure you know, early on it can cause miscarriage and if you have too much late in pregnancy your bub could actually be born addicted (I’ve looked after little babes withdrawing from caffeine and it’s pretty nasty). Max 2 cups of instant a day is ok, but remember caffeine is also in chocolate, tea and soft drinks (even some non-cola ones!) so if your diet’s leaning to the junk food side of things, you might be having more than you planned.

And lastly but probably most importantly, DRINK WATER!! Start logging your water intake. Buy a nice glass bottle, make that your special water bottle and drink a set number of bottles per day. Your body is increasing its fluid volume exponentially and hormones decrease your blood pressure. It doesn’t take much to become dehydrated and lightheaded. If you start getting some early uterus tightenings, increase your water as they can be made worse by dehydration.

Here’s to your healthy pregnancy and birth!

Belle

*This blog post has been taken from my signature education program, available for purchase soon! It’s a fully comprehensive online program taking you through your entire pregnancy, birth and post-partum transition. It is a step-by-step program with 1:1 sessions with me, containing information, advice and tools to keep you in the flow and help you achieve your best journey <3

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So you’re pregnant!!! CONGRATULATIONS! …Now what?!

I’m writing this from the perspective of a woman who plans to progress through the pregnancy and into childbirth.

Here we are with those long awaited two little lines telling us we have about 8 months to get it together before a new human being enters the world and WE’RE the ones who will care for it!! (Don’t worry, fish and plants are a lot less resilient than kids. If it’s not your first child, you’ll already know this!)

So what’s the rundown?

Hospitals.

The maternity unit at your local hospital usually has an antenatal clinic. (Antenatal just refers to anything during the pregnancy period.) If you think you’ll probably have your baby in a hospital then call to book in as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed. Usually you’d go with your local hospital but there may be individual reasons why you would choose an out of area hospital for example their stance on VBAC. At the same time, you’ll probably also arrange a date for your first antenatal visit to the clinic (sometime between 10 and 16 weeks). There are other options to having your baby in a hospital though, I go through them later.

At your first visit to the clinic, a midwife will help you complete the booking process. This involves answering questions and filling in forms. If you or your midwife have identified any potential complications you might also see a doctor for a full medical examination. Or you might see one or several doctors (through the Doctor’s Clinic at the hospital) during your pregnancy. You can also be referred to other health workers (e.g. social workers, physiotherapists, dieticians) who can help you during your pregnancy.

Choosing hospital care means you’ll have your baby in the delivery/birthing unit of a public hospital. Midwives and/or doctors will provide care and support you through the birth. After the birth you’ll be cared for in a postnatal ward by midwives, doctors and nurses.

Your GP

If your GP offers shared care, you can choose to continue to see your GP for most of your antenatal care. You will see your GP for some appointments and attend the clinic for other checkups. It’s another option for women with normal pregnancies. Not all GPs do shared care. If your doctor doesn’t offer shared care, ask at the hospital if it has a shared antenatal care program and they can offer you a list of GPs in your area who do offer shared care. One of the benefits of GP shared care is that you develop a long-term relationship with a doctor who can continue to look after you and your baby once your baby arrives.

Midwives clinics, Caseload midwifery, Team midwifery.

Most public hospitals also offer midwives’ clinics. These clinics might be located at the hospital or a birth centre, or in the community (for example, at your local Community Health Centre). Midwives care for women with normal pregnancies throughout their labour and birth of the baby. Your midwife will refer you to a doctor if you develop any health concerns during your pregnancy. The doctor and midwife will work together with you to plan the best possible care.

In midwifery group practice or Caseload midwifery, a small group of midwives with an allocated ‘primary midwife’, will look after you throughout your pregnancy, birth and the first few weeks after your baby is born. You so you will get to know each other through the pregnancy. You will also have the chance to meet the other midwives during your pregnancy in case your allocated midwife is not available during your labour. Team midwifery is when small teams of public hospital midwives care for women throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the hospital stay, with one or more visits to a consultant or registrar.

Birth Centres

Birth centres look and feel more like a home than a hospital. You’ll be looked after in labour and birth by midwives. After giving birth at a birth centre, you’re likely to go home within 24 hours and have follow-up care by midwives at home. Birth centres are an option for women with normal pregnancies, but aren’t suitable for women with a higher risk of complications. This includes women who have heart or kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or who have had complications in previous labours. The guidelines can vary from centre to centre so check with your birth centre. In a birth centre epidurals are generally not available. You will be moved to the hospitals delivery/birthing unit if you need medical intervention. Birth centres at public hospitals are very popular so if you think you like the idea, phone the hospital as early in your pregnancy as you can. Not all hospitals have a birth centre so you may want to search a bit further from home if it’s important to you.

Homebirths

If you would love to birth at home but aren’t in one of those few areas which has a medicare funded program, you can hire a private midwife. You’ll pay cash, around $6000 AUD, or claim on your Private health insurance. You’ll get a little back from medicare. Some midwives have rights to come with you to hospital if things don’t go according to plan. Otherwise you’ll transfer through to your nearest hospital and get whichever team is on shift. There are so many benefits to birthing at home that I’ll save that for a post all of it’s own. homebirth services provided by public maternity services are very popular

Here’s a table from the NSW government explaining things.

So what’s available to you in South West Sydney? Here’s the rundown…

Public and private hospitals & birth centres.

Campbelltown and Camden Hospital Birthing Unit consists of 2 assessment rooms & 8 ensuite birthing rooms, 3 with spa bath. Staff actively encourage vaginal birth and can support water births, (VBAC) vaginal births following caesareans and skin to skin contact. Early discharge program after 6hrs where midwives follow up at the home. 3 support people are allowed (pre COVID-19) but no children or visitors while in labour. Midwifery group practice is offered for suitable women. Bookings prior to 8 weeks. (02) 4634 4963

Illawarra Shoalhaven offers home birth and midwifery group practice as publicly funded programs for approved individuals in their catchment, please contact to see if your area qualifies. Wollongong Hospital Homebirth Service Wollongong Hospital (02) 4222 5000 or SESIAHS – AMICHS Illawarra Shoalhaven, Shellharbour (02) 4295 2418

Westmead Hospital also have a publicly funded home birth program that birthed its first baby in 2020. Only available to people in area. Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Darcy Road, Westmead NSW 2145 (02) 8890 5555 

Complementary therapists and services in SWSLHD

Red Dragon Acupuncture. Park Central Campbelltown 2560 P:0421 305 399

In Touch Health Co. Osteopath, Remedial massage, Psychology, Naturopath. Shop 16, 1 Raintree Way, Mount Annan, NSW 2567 P:02 4648 3500 E:admin@intouchosteo.com.au

Private midwifery services

Geesje (Geesha) McGuire Area: SE & SW Sydney and Southern Highlands P:0477 999 845

With Woman Midwifery Care. Rachele Meredith Area: Sydney, Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands P:0421 721 497 E:rachele@withwoman.com.au

Melanie the Midwife. 16 Valley rd Springwood NSW 2777 P:0425 280 682  E:mkjackson@live.com.au

Midwives at Sydney and Beyond – Robyn Dempsey Area: Sydney suburbs and lower Blue Mountains. P:0412 678 765 E:midwiferobyn@optusnet.com.au

Jacqui Wood Area: Blue Mountains, Sydney and surrounds P:0430 109 400 E:midwifejac@gmail.com

Chantel Letertre. Registered, Endorsed Area: Sydney and surrounding areas P:0414 805 736 E:midwife.chantel@gmail.com W: midwifetomother.com.au

Midwife Jo – Jo Hunter. Registered, Endorsed Area: Blue Mountains, Western, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs P:0412 315 228 E:midwifejo@bigpond.com

Doulas

Nurtured by Karley Pregnancy, Birth and post-partum Doula services. P:0452 192 095

The Caring Collective. Chiropractor and Doula services. Campbelltown. 0491 758 428 

I hope you now have an idea of what’s coming without it feeling overwhelming. This is the first post for Little Maia Wellness! Sign up for the email list if you want to know when new info is released!

Take it easy lady, and congratulations! You’re about to entering the most transformative time in a woman’s life. I’m so grateful to be along for the ride.

Belle x