AD| Finding University Childcare with Childcare.co.uk

One of the first things that came into my head when receiving my University offer was childcare and how I would manage it. The way in which my university arranges their Midwifery degree is in integrated placements; I will have two full uni days a week and will also have to work on placement around this. The hours I work can range from 60 to over 90 hours per month.

An Open Letter to Aoife's Nursery Teacher

You may not have known at the time, but handing over my first born to you without having met you before was hard. When it came to childcare I had always met the providers first before entrusting them with my daughter. Yet, here I was, willingly waving my baby goodbye for a few hours that afternoon. 

Induced Lactation Protocol

Induced lactation is the practice of assisting a woman who has not been pregnant to produce milk; these women may have welcomed their child to the world via adoption or surrogacy. Induced lactation can also be utilised for women who have been pregnant but are not able to produce enough milk, if any at all. My cousin, who was also my IM, shared her story on my blog recently. However, how she followed the protocol was slightly different due to time constraints.

Bereavement Midwifery

Every day, approximately nine babies are born sleeping, an average of 3,400 a year. Keeping in mind that this only accounts for babies born after 24 weeks gestation and does not include neonatal deaths (a death during the first 28 days of life).

Malaysian Maze: Exploring The Cheras 9 Miles

Surrogacy Stories | Lisa's Story

A couple of weeks ago, I started my Surrogacy Stories series, and shared another surrogates journey. Today, Lisa has so kindly allowed me to share her story as an Intended Mother on my blog. There are many ways in which individuals are not able to carry their own child and I hope that this series will help to provide more knowledge to people.

Surrogacy | Can I Breastfeed My Child Born Through Surrogacy?

One question that I see asked constantly by intended mothers is "will I be able to breastfeed my baby once they are born?" ... the short answer is that yes, it is possible. The long answer is that you need to be prepared to fight to obtain the required medication, and that there is a chance that induced lactation may not be successful and if it is, then you may not have a full supply. Induced lactation takes perseverance, commitment, and a thick skin. You need to be prepared for the fact that it may not be successful, and that supplementing or combi feeding may have to be an option. Also, be prepared to smell of maple syrup for a while!