Confident Birth & Baby Care: Your Complete Antenatal Guide

Let' start with one of the first symptoms in pregnancy - morning sickness! If you are not experiencing any, feel welcome to skip to the next lecture :D

Morning sickness is a nasty reality for many moms. If you don’t really suffer from any nausea you are indeed one of the lucky ones! If however, you feel like you are dying and want to punch the next person suggesting to eat a cracker … then this is for you!

Pregnancy often involves a lot of scans and parents might wonder what these are all about, especially since these scans can sometimes come at quite an expense. We go into more detail in the following two videos. Find more answers to common questions about pregnancy on our website - link in resources.

This is just a quick discussion on the topic of when you start feeling your baby move and what kind of movements you can expect. Download a free template from our website - follow link in resources.

What do you do if your water should break but you are still preterm and your baby is not due for quite some time?

If your baby is lying in a breech position in your third trimester they might be settling into that position and then you should watch this video.

Let’s get right down to business and talk about some media portrayal about childbirth that is not necessarily the truth and can very easily cause some confusion to an expentant mom…

We dig into a birth plan and what it really represents and how to approach it. Download a FREE template from the website to take with you to hospital.

Let’s talk about some swelling and no longer being able to get your shoes on, right?!

NB: If you notice your face swelling up and you experience the following symptoms, please get checked out by your healthcare provider as soon as possible:

• feeling generally unwell

• stomach pain, especially in your right upper abdomen

• nausea and/or vomiting

• headache

• any blurry vision

Visit the link in our resource page to find out about warning signs in pregnancy and labour and if what is considered normal vs. red flags.

Sometimes bleeding in pregnancy is nothing serious and sometimes it indicates a more serious situation. We talk about more detail in this video but the bottom line is that any bleeding in pregnancy should get checked out by your healthcare provider.

Pregnancy is a beautiful time in your life but not everyone is glowing or feeling extremely sexy … it is tough on your body and can take all of your energy to get through the day.

A common disorder in pregnancy is related to high blood pressure and called Pre-Eclampsia and we dive a bit deeper into this condition and how to recognise the signs and symptoms.

NB: If you notice your face swelling up and you experience the following symptoms, please get checked out by your healthcare provider as soon as possible:

• feeling generally unwell

• stomach pain, especially in your right upper abdomen

• nausea and/or vomiting

• headache

• any blurry vision

This is not something that you will be able to pick up by yourself, this condition will be diagnosed based on an ultrasound and a care plan will be determined by your health care provider on the way forward.

This video talks about the changes your body undergoes in preparation for labour and is broken up in Part 1 and Part 2. In the first section we cover the baby’s positioning towards the end of your pregnancy and false labour. See the resource page to visit our website for more details on signs of labour.

In this second part we talk about losing the mucus plug and what to do when your water breaks.

Let’s unpack the hospital bag and what you need to take with you to the hospital.

Let's wrap this bag up!

This condition is associated with identical twins and you don't need to watch the video if it doesn't apply to you.

In this section we discuss what the first stage of labour is about and how to tell the difference between Braxton hicks contractions (false labour) and real labour.

We talk about what to expect when you go into hospital. Follow the link in resources to read more about what you can expect during admission and your hospital stay. Although this is focused on the South African setting, many things might also apply to your environment.

Labour is a very complex process and there is a LOT happening that you are often not aware of. The process can feel like it is dragging on forever or as if you are not making any progress, meanwhile things are happening. Understanding what happens to your cervix during labour is important because this is one of the key components in labour that indicates how your labour is progressing and understanding what happens, can put your mind at ease.

Labour is very demanding on you in many ways. In this video, we talk about coping strategies during labour to help prepare you physically and mentally.

Labour is very demanding on you in many ways. In this video, we talk about coping strategies during labour to help prepare you physically and mentally.

In this video we discuss the options you have for pain relief, from natural methods to medical (pharmacological) options, and what are the advantages or disadvantages of each method on you and your baby(ies).

In order to cope with the demands of labour and childbirth you do not only rely on physical coping strategies, your mental state is equally as important. Not preparing mentally for childbirth is why many mothers wanting to deliver vaginally end up not being able to because physically their bodies might be ready, but mentally they are not prepared and do not have the coping mechanisms in place to push through (pun intended!).

This video covers the procedure for an epidural and what you can expect. If you are planning a caesarean section it is also worthwhile to watch as the procedure for a spinal is very much the same except that you won’t have a continuous infusion for a caesarean section.

Remember the following with an epidural:

• You will be bed-bound until the baby is born

• The monitor for the baby will stay on until the baby is born

• The epidural will be hooked up to a pump next to you to give you medication throughout

• You will have an Intravenous infusion running all the time ( a drip)

• You will have a urinary catheter inserted (into the bladder to keep it empty)

• You won’t be able to get up after the birth for at 4 – 6 hours until the epidural is worked out

• This is the only pain relief option that can fully take away the pain from contractions

Fetal monitoring refers to the method and equipment we use to monitor your baby either during a normal routine NST (non-stress test) when you are not in labour and also when you are in labour. This video explains how it works to give you a better understanding of the process when they connect you to the machines

The birth of the baby is what are working towards and preparing and knowing what to expect will help immensely with the anxiety that any mom will have about the upcoming birth, regardless of your birth plan. It can be a mixture of emotions but anxiety is very normal. Watch or rewatch the videos until you feel that you have a good enough understanding of what you can expect. Here we go!

Here are some more links to external resources for TVA Activation when it comes to pushing the baby out. Check out the Resources link!

This video explains the movement of the baby through the birth canal during the delivery, this is the one you have been waiting for ?

Check out the resources in the previous lecture about TVA activation.

We discuss how the placenta is delivered after the baby’s birth … and prepare for some proper demonstrations!

Giving birth to twins vaginally is not that much different to giving birth to one baby but there are certain important factors to take into consideration if you are planning to have a vaginal birth. You can find even more details in our article in the resource section and why you should or shouldn't consider a vaginal birth.

So what happens with all the babies and placentas with only one way out??

Let’s tackle the akwardness …

The defining factors to determine what type of twins or multiples you are the following: the bags that the babies share or do not share and whether their placentas are fused or not. We talk about more detail and what this means in this video.

Update: We had genetic testing done on our Di/Di girls who were born with a fused placenta that was in actual fact Mo/Di twins as they are identical! If you are wondering, genetic testing is worth it to know for sure.

What type of twins can be delivered vaginally?

So the risk of vaginal birth for twins depends on a number of factors, the first being the type of twins:

1. Monochorionic/Monoamniotic (Mo/Mo) twins. These are identical twins and are on the top of the list of high-risk pregnancies when it comes to twins. They share one placenta and one bag (they are in the same bag). Ideally, these twins should not deliver vaginally. The first baby is usually not the biggest concern, it is the second baby that is at risk when they share a placenta as the placenta can start detaching after Baby A is born, leaving Baby B at risk of no longer having oxygen supply. This can be a fatal situation for Baby B which is why these twins are preferred to be delivered via Caesarean.

2. Monochorionic/Diamniotic (Mo/Di) twins. This means that they share one placenta but they are each in their own bag. These can be identical or fraternal twins because two placentas can also fuse and form one placenta – increasing the risk for complications during a vaginal birth as Baby B is once again at risk of the placenta detaching after Baby A is born. These twins are also preferred to be delivered via Caesarean.

3. Dichorionic/Diamniotic (Di/Di) twins. These are almost always fraternal twins although there are cases with identical twins where an embryo has split before implantation and implanted into two separate places in the uterus. This is the lowest risk twin-pregnancy for a vaginal birth as the twins don’t share a placenta or a bag and after Baby A has been born, Baby B doesn’t have the risk of a shared placenta detaching. However, baby B will be monitored closely to ensure he/she is coping throughout.

Read more on the details of a vaginal birth in the resources article.

It doesn’t matter how you bring your baby(ies) into this world, you will have some kind of pain after the birth. Some women experience it mildly while others can find it impairing their functioning after the birth. Here we talk about some pain relief options you have afterward.

Because we are dealing with the human body and during pregnancy we are dealing with multiple human beings within one body, nothing can be guaranteed. We can do our very best but at the end of the day, when we are dealing with more than one individual there is always a chance that one of the individuals involved might not be coping as well as the other(s). An in those cases, you will need assistance which comes in many forms. You don't have to watch the videos if you feel worried that you will become more anxious, but we would recommend watching these so that you can be prepared for these possible interventions.

An induction of labour refers to the procedure of starting labour with medical interventions when your body doesn’t go into labour spontaneously. There are a number of reasons for induction which we discuss here.

This midwife sums up a few useful tips about avoiding an induction in a natural way but remember the following:

1. Always check with your healthcare provider before trying anything

2. Nothing is guaranteed to work

3. DON’t overdo it

4. If you don’t feel well afterward, rather go for a checkup

An episiotomy is sometimes necessary during a vaginal birth and we explain how it is done.

A brief discussion on assisted births that is not required to watch but it is always good to have an idea of what it entails if you are planning to have a vaginal birth.

Regardless of your birth plan, it always helps to be prepared so I encourage you to watch this video to be prepared if things don’t go according to plan.

Continued discussion from the previous video.

The birth is the highlight of labour, but the immediate postpartum period is not glamorous and often not spoken about enough. Here we talk about what you can expect post birth and how to manage your pain.

Everything you wanted to know about delayed cord clamping and the benefits and risks associated with it. Bear in mind that it might be handled differently with twin or multiples births as time is an important factor for the second baby. You can talk to your healthcare provider about the possibilities of delayed cord clamping with your planned birth.

Everyone is so excited once the baby(ies) is born and all we talk about is caring for the newborn. But what about caring for the new mom? This is a reality check of what you can expect in the days after the birth. Although we mention vaginal births in the video, what happens at home applies to c-section moms as well. Pain relief is discussed in a different section.

NB: Your period might not return until after you stop breastfeeding. If you decided to formula feed you can expect your period to return anywhere from 4 weeks postpartum. Around 6 weeks you will usually have a checkup with your healthcare provider during which they will discuss your family planning options.

Sometimes babies are born in need of a little extra help to cope in this world they just entered. This is discussed under the topic of neonatal resuscitation where we talk about the reasons why this could happen.

Many babies develop neonatal jaundice in the first few days of life. We dive into more detail in this video so that you understand exactly what it is and how it can be (easily) treated.

Whether you plan a vaginal birth or caesarean section, I always advice to watch the videos on both topics because you never know if you birth plan might change and then you at least have an understanding of the process.

This video continues from the previous discussion and focuses on what happens in the theatre.

See the video on epidural as pain relief for more detail on the procedure.

Let's talk through birthing your babies (twins or more) via Caesarean section.

No one is going to be clapping their hands at your bravery to withstand pain … the bottom line is that a Caesarean birth is major abdominal surgery and you need to be kind to yourself during the recovery phase.

Whether you are choosing to breastfeed or formula feed is not the focus of this section, the decision is yours and what works best for your family and your mental health. The focus is on getting the technique right for the feeding method you choose and I always encourage moms to watch all the videos because you might change your mind later on about the feeding method you prefer … I know I did !

A great source to read further on breastfeeding and other parenting topics is Kelly Mom - check out our resources link.

In order to understand breastfeeding it is important to understand the details of the breast anatomy as this lays the foundation for proper feeding techniques.

This video covers the benefits of breastfeeding to you and your baby. There are many more benefits that we discover as research continues such as reduced risks against certain cancers and although breastfeeding physiologically benefits your baby in many ways, being obsessed with it can be less beneficial to your mental health. Always try to keep a balance, no one is perfect ?

How your milk changes and adjusts to the needs of your baby(ies).

Most new moms wonder what they are allowed to eat or drink during breastfeeding and yes, we talk about coffee and alcohol in specific!

Here we talk about the different positions you can feed your baby(ies) in for optimal latching.

The key to breastfeeding is latching and as much as people might love to tell you that breastfeeding is natural, it is in fact a skill that both mom and baby have to learn. And everyone learns differently so be patient with yourself and ask for help if you don’t manage. Find more breastfeeding information in the resources link.

When it comes to breastfeeding twins, it is totally doable but you might try a few positions before you find one that works for the three of you. Check out the fantastic article in our resources link with some extra videos.

You will often hear that it is recommended to swap your babies with every feed so that both breasts get stimulated equally, especially if you have one strong and one weaker drinker. In the end, this is up to you. If the swapping works, go for it. If you start allocating a breast to a baby, that is absolutely fine as well. (I got tired of the swapping and allocating a breast worked great for us).

If you plan to breastfeed triplets you can also use these positions to feed the first two babies and then when you latch the third baby, you offer both sides.

Quick tips to be able to tell if your babies have had enough milk. Until the latch is established and the baby falls asleep at the breast, there are also other factors to take into consideration to ensure that your babies are getting enough milk in during a feed which we discuss in the next video.

This is a topic that is not often talked about but so necessary and so real for many moms.

Hand expressing milk is often necessary in the early days. Knowing the correct technique can really help a lot to get as much milk as possible per session.

In this video, we discuss how to use a breast pump and choosing the right size pump.

Let’s talk about storage of milk in appropriate ways, both breastmilk and formula.

Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue associated commonly with breastfeeding and blocked milk ducts. Let’s talk about how to prevent this very painful condition.

Here we talk about the reasons we offer supplemental feedings to newborns and what this actually means as there is often a lot of confusion about supplementation and hesitancy from moms to allow it.

Here we talk about the how and the what about formula feeding so you can be fully prepared to keep that tummy full.

This video focuses on the birth of the second baby and the placenta as things don’t follow exactly the same route as singleton babies.

Let’s talk about signs indicating your baby is hungry.

Feeding on demand means to feed your baby when you recognise hunger cues. Moms often have a lot of questions on this so we go into detail here.

Let’s talk some techniques that can help get out the winds … but in reality you can sometimes do everything right and your baby is still crying from cramps or discomfort. Don’t feel despondent though, this is very much part of the newborn phase that will eventually go away.

You re probably wondering how you manage the milk, feed, pump or formula situation when you go back to work and leave your baby(ies) in the care of someone else. In this video we share a few tips.

A big question often asked when it comes to multiples, should you keep them on the same schedule or not? This is an answer you will have to figure out for yourself as each person is different, but we talk about the pro’s and con’s in this video.

We cover the best sleeping solutions to keep your baby(ies) safe at night and reduce the risk of SIDS when you bring them home. We do not cover baby monitors in this section in detail but breathing monitors and apnoea pads are often used by moms with babies who are at higher risk of apnoea (when a baby stops breathing for no apparent reason) or for peace of mind and that is absolutely fine.

Some useful tips on taking your babies home and settling in during the first couple of days to weeks. Soon you will get the hang of it!

Worried about bathing your baby? We’ll do this step by step so that you can easily follow.

Don’t stress about the nappy changes, it becomes second nature! This video takes you through step-by-step and you can rewatch until you think you’ve got it!

Remember to expect the following:

Wet nappies: From day 1 – 5 about the same amount of wet nappies as the days baby is old (1 wet nappy on day one, 2 wet nappies on day 2 etc.)

Dirty nappies: Meconium (black poo) at birth, about 2-3 days later it changes to dark brown, then it becomes lighter and yellow.

Breast babies will have runny yellow poo and can have a few in one day but also skip a few days without any dirty nappies. They don’t become constipated. Formula babies should have 1 – 2 poo nappies in 24 hours, if it is longer than that check for signs of constipation.

Bathing continued …

With twins, you can bath them at the same time if they both fit in the bath (each with a parent) and when they are bigger you bath them one by one. The same goes for triplets or more, you can bath babies together without any issues.