A caesarean birth, or c-section, is an operation. In a caesarean birth, c-section, or caesarean section, the surgeon will deliver your baby through a cut in your uterus (womb). A caesarean birth may be recommended as a planned (elective) procedure or recommended in an emergency. Planned caesarean births are usually recommended from the 39th week of pregnancy.
Find out more at Just One Norfolk: https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/pregnancy-early-days/your-pregnancy-journey/c-sections/
#Pregnancy #ParentEd #Birth
A caesarean birth, or c-section, is an operation. In a caesarean birth, c-section, or caesarean section, the surgeon will deliver your baby through a cut in your uterus (womb).
A caesarean birth may be recommended as a planned (elective) procedure or recommended in an emergency. Planned caesarean births are usually recommended from the 39th week of pregnancy.
Watch the video below for more information.
#Pregnancy #ParentEd #Birth
Did you know that doing pelvic floor muscle exercises daily can help prevent urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy?
This video provides advice on how to do your daily pelvic flor muscle exercises.
Make sure to approach a healthcare professional if you are experiencing any of the following issues;
1. Difficulty feeling your pelvic floor muscles squeeze when you are practising them
2. Leakage of urine when coughing or sneezing
3. Not making it to the toilet in time
4. a feeling of something coming down below in the vagina
5. Urgency or leakage of wind or poo.
World Continence Week aims help remove stigmas and taboos of such conditions through raising awareness.
#commitmenttocollaborationincontinencecare #WCW2024 #continencematters #supportincontinence
Are you pregnant and looking for support to quit smoking? The SmartStart pathway can offer you nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and support to quit smoking for good! Talk to your midwife for more information.
#SmokeFree #Pregnancy #HealthyLiving
Watch the animation video to find out more about your Personalised Care & Support Plans during your pregnancy 👇
What are perineal tears?
Your perineum is the area between your vaginal opening and back passage (anus).
It is common for the perineum to tear to some extent during childbirth.
Tears can also occur inside the vagina or other parts of the vulva, including the labia.
Up to 9 in every 10 first time mothers who have a vaginal birth will experience some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy. It is slightly less common for mothers who have had a vaginal birth before.
For most women, these tears are minor and heal quickly.
What are the types of perineal tear?
First-degree
Small tears affecting only the skin which usually heal quickly and without treatment.
Second-degree
Tears affecting the muscle of the perineum and the skin. These usually require stitches.
Third- and fourth-degree tears
For some women (3.5 out of 100) the tear may be deeper. Third- or fourth- degree tears, also known as obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI), extend into the muscle that controls the anus (anal sphincter). These deeper tears need repair in an operating theatre.
How can I reduce the severity of tearing?
First- and second-degree perineal tears are most common type and are unlikely to cause long-term problems.
For third- and fourth-degree tears, there is often no clear reason why this happens, and it is not possible to predict. However, it is more likely if:
-This is your first vaginal birth
-Your baby is over 4kg (9lb)
-You have a long second stage of labour (the stage during which you push your baby out)
-Your baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the pubic bone (shoulder dystocia)
You have an instrumental vaginal birth (forceps or vacuum assisted).
Perineal Massage during pregnancy
From 35 weeks onwards, you or your partner can use daily perineal massage until your baby is born which may reduce your risk of tearing.
Please refer to the video for guidance, alternatively you can visit the following links for further information:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/perineal-tears-
Personalised Care & Support Plans in Pregnancy
Watch the animation video to find out more about your Personalised Care & Support Plans during your pregnancy 👇
Did you know it is recommended to start short pelvic floor exercises as soon as you feel able to after birth because it can promote tissue healing?
Did you know that it is recommended to wait at least 3-6 months before returning to running and other forms of high impact exercise because the pelvic floor is still recovering following pregnancy and birth?
For more information on return to physical activity or exercise after birth visit: https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/pregnancy-early-days/new-baby/pelvic-health-after-pregnancy/.
Or why not join the pelvic health Physiotherapy teams in Norfolk & Waveney for one of their after pregnancy information sessions where they will discuss the recommended timeframes for returning to physical activity after pregnancy & birth, and which exercises to start with, and how to progress these in a beneficial but safe way.
To book a place visit: https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/pregnancy-early-days/pelvic-health-advice-sessions/
#pelvichealth #pelvicfloor #pphs #pregnancy #afterpregancy #birthrecovery
Are you booked for or thinking of an Elective Caesarean Section for your birth?
There are a number of ways your team can support you to optimise your experience, such as immediate skin to skin when the baby is born.
If you want to know more speak to your Obstetrician (Doctor) or midwife who can personalise your plan for your needs.
#OptimisingCSection #PersonalisedCare #SkintoSkin
Pregnancy and birth can have a considerable impact on your body. Everyone recovers at a different rate, and you must gradually reintroduce and build your exercise levels. It can take up to 9-12 months for your body to fully recover.
The following advice applies to women and birthing people who have had any type of birth:
In the first six weeks:
-Continue your pelvic floor exercises.
-Gradually increase your walking distance keeping within your comfort levels.
-Start gentle exercises.
6-12 weeks:
Before progressing to do more advanced forms of exercises, ensure any vaginal bleeding has stopped and your caesarean or perineal wound has healed.
Do low impact exercises and gradually build your endurance and strength. This could be:
-Pilates or yoga.
-Swimming or cycling.
-Cross training or power walking.
-Light weight training.
As you build up your exercise it should remain comfortable for you.
After twelve weeks:
If you have built up your cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength, you can progress to more advanced exercises, such as;A gradual return to running (the link below should assist you).
A gradual increase to the weight you are using for strength training.
A gradual introduction to high impact or high intensity training.
A gradual increase in the difficulty of abdominal exercises, including sit ups.
Should you have any of the following symptoms you should stop the exercise immediately, and speak with your healthcare provider and seek a referral to a pelvic health physiotherapist so that you can have a clinical assessment and guidance.
-Pain.
-Bulging of the stomach muscles.
-Concerns with your bladder or bowel.
-Or heaviness within your vagina when you exercise
#pelvichealth #afterbirthrecovery #afterbirthexercises #pelvichealth #afterbirthrecovery
Constipation is a common issue in pregnancy affecting up to 38% of pregnancies. Some women become constipated very early on in their pregnancy as increased levels of the hormone progesterone reduce the smooth muscle motility in the bowel.
Relaxin hormone also has a similar effect by slowing down the gut.
We have some first line advice to offer you:
Get to know your poo! Yes that's right, take the time to think about your toileting routine, Do you get enough time? Are you sitting in an optimal position? Has constipation become a normal part of day to day life?
A balanced diet - this can make all the difference with bowel regulation & getting the right nutrients in your diet to help support your gut health.
Fluid - fluid plays a key role in hydration and even our bowels need hydrating to keep all excess waste moving towards the exit, the recommendations are 1.5l - 2l fluid per day.
Postnatal early days - this can be a daunting time for some trying to regulate their bowel motions whilst adapting to their new postnatal bodies and supporting recovery. We recommend using a clean sanitary pad & holding it against the perineum (the area between the vagina and your back passage) whist you evacuate your bowels, this will give you support if you have any tears/grazes/episiotomy wounds. Again for those having a caesarean section, you can hold a rolled up towel against your abdominal wound, for support when evacuating your bowels
Help! - Do you need some more support? Has this been going on a long period of time?
Your midwife/GP or local pharmacist can also offer support with additional products such as laxatives which can be considered if simple management strategies are not effective, such as
Lactulose or Movicol.
For most the following top tips can make a difference. Speak to your midwife or health professional if you need further advice.
#pregnancyhealth #pregnancytips #pregnancypelvichealth #norfolkandwaveney #pelvichealth
Your pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that span the outlet of your pelvis. They attach from the pubic bone at the front, to the coccyx bone at the back, forming the floor of your pelvis. Pelvic floor muscles have the following uses:
Control - They help you to control wee, wind and poo.
Support – They act like a hammock to support your pelvic organs (bladder, womb and bowel) and keep them in the correct position.
Sexual function – They can help improve sex by increasing your sensation, your grip and orgasm.
Stability - They help to keep your pelvis and hips stable.
Pregnancy:
Anyone who is pregnant can be affected by pelvic floor dysfunction. This is when the pelvic floor muscles are not working correctly. It is important to be aware of how pelvic floor problems occur and what you can do to reduce them.
During pregnancy, the pelvic floor muscles come under pressure from the extra weight of your growing baby, amniotic fluid, placenta and the enlargement of the womb. This extra downward pressure and effect from pregnancy hormones (chemicals in the blood stream) causes stretching and tiring of the pelvic floor muscles. The stretching means your muscles do not do their jobs as well.
Childbirth:
During a vaginal birth, your pelvic floor muscles will stretch for you to deliver your baby. Some women may sustain tearing of the perineum and pelvic floor muscles which will take time to heal. This can affect how well the muscle works. After birth the nerves that make the pelvic floor muscles work may not be doing this so well and mean that your muscles feel weak.
Getting Help:
It is common to be embarrassed or to think that pelvic floor problems are normal while you are pregnant and after childbirth. Please visit Just one Norfolk website for more information on pelvic floor exercises, how to access the Squeezy app for FREE and how to refer for support with Physiotherapy if needed.
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/pregnancy-early-days/having-a-baby/pelvic-
Curious about knowing more in regards to exercise during pregnancy?
Exercise during pregnancy guidance recommend 150 minutes per week which can be broken down into 5 X 30minute sessions - or tailored further to suit your own needs.
We know everybody will be on their own individual fitness journey, and we encourage you to reach out to health professionals if you require further support and guidance during this time.
Some advice we would give you includes:
- moderate intensity - our golden tip would include, can you talk during exercise and catch you breath, (the talk test) if you cannot, we would advise you to slow the pace down so you are not causing extreme excursion onto your body. Increasing your heart rate is good, to encourage cardiovascular fitness maintenance or improvement.
- Try to include strengthening exercises twice a week: using resistance bands or light weights can be good to maintain strength or improve it during this time of change for your body.
- Risk assess your activity - or in other words - don't bump the bump, try to adapt contact sports such as netball/hockey/rugby to ensure you are minimising risk of high impact contact/falls/ and risk assess your self during this 9 month period.
-Any activity where you heart rate is increasing for 10 minutes or more is classed as exercise so count that into your weekly goal.
- listen to your body when exercising, are you managing well? Do you need to change the number of repetitions of certain exercises or the amount of time you are exercising for?
Exercise has so many benefits during pregnancy, including:
-helps prevent high blood pressure (hypertension)
- helps prevent diabetes in pregnancy
- help prevent weight gain
- encourages deeper, more efficient sleep (REM cycle) helping you feel more refreshed.
- Mood can be well supported by endorphin releases during and after exercise.
If you wish to find out more about exercise during pregnancy please do attend our public pelvic health sessions - https:/
The abdomen during pregnancy adapts to enable your baby and bump to grow.
The abdominal wall contains the rectus abdominus muscles (or 'six pack muscles'). They attach from the ribcage to the pubic bone, and are held together in the centre by a fibrous tissue called the linear alba.
During pregnancy the rectus abdominal muscles (or 'six pack muscles') stretch and widen apart. The fibrous tissue in the centre stretches and thins. This thinning can sometimes be felt as a gap between the six pack muscles. This can usually take around 8 weeks after giving birth to improve, however some can take longer.
The gap can be measured in fingers width, and it can be variable in different people. A gap more than two fingers wide is called a diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles. This can sometimes cause a bulging in the centre of the stomach, especially when doing certain movements like moving from lying to sitting.
If you have a diastasis here is some advice;
-performing gentle post birth abdominal exercises can reduce the gap or improve the tension across the gap. The exercises provided to you by the physiotherapy department after birth is a great place to start.
-Try to modify certain activities that cause any bulging. For example, roll on to your side to get in and out of bed, and try to breathe through activities rather than bracing with your breath.
-Seek a referral to Physiotherapy if the gap is not improving after 8 weeks post birth.
You can identify the best team to seek help from on here: https://www.physioselfrefer.co.uk/. Alternatively if you are still under the care of the Norfolk & Norwich hospital you can refer to the pelvic health team before 3 months postnatal by calling 01603 287130, and the Queen Elizabeth Women and Men's team via midwife or GP.
📢Check out the video below to see the maternity jobs on offer across Norfolk & Waveney currently- if interested read more at https://healthjobsuk.com
#Workforce #Maternity #WorkForUs
Vitamin d
It is recommended that all pregnant women take a supplement of 10mcg Vitamin d throughout their pregnancy. If breastfeeding, that supplement should be continued along with a 10mcg supplement for baby too
All Babies Cry
Crying is part of a baby’s language. Crying is normal, but can be hard to cope with.
Lots of babies don’t cry very much in the first few days after birth so it can feel a shock when the crying increases.
When your baby cries a lot it can be very stressful and may make you feel lonely. It might knock your confidence. It is important to remember that all babies cry.
You're not doing anything wrong
It won’t last forever
You're not alone; there are people and services to support you.
Follow the link below to the Just One Norfolk Website to find out more.
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/emotional-health/parents-emotional-health/all-babies-cry
Vitamin d
It is recommended that all pregnant women take a supplement of 10mcg Vitamin d throughout their pregnancy. If breastfeeding, that supplement should be continued along with a 10mcg supplement for baby too
Vitamin d
It is recommended that all pregnant women take a supplement of 10mcg Vitamin d throughout their pregnancy. If breastfeeding, that supplement should be continued along with a 10mcg supplement for baby too
