Birth trauma
Birth trauma is a description for negative birth experiences which may (and often do) lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth. (PTB) Symptoms of birth trauma (Postnatal PTSD) ...
27 October, 2023
Birth Photography
by Darian Ryan My name is Darian Ryan. I am a mom to the most amazing human. Ok, I guess I’m being biased but don’t all moms think that their kids are the best? I come from a family of crea...
03 May, 2021
Balancing your Birth Wish List with Hospital Practice
By Anchen Verster – SA certified perinatal educator, registered nurse and midwife, mother of 4 including twins I was scheduled to give birth in a private hospital close to where I lived – my m...
06 November, 2018
The Perfect Dance of Birth Hormones
Our amazing birthing body working in total synchronicity! “The hormones that make birth happen, also prepare us for breastfeeding and mother-infant attachment” – Dr Sarah Buckley Our birthing ho...
27 September, 2017
Working with pain in labour
By Barbara Hanrahan – SACPE course developer Much is written on understanding pain and pain relief in labour. When new mothers are asked to describe the pain they felt in labour there are a variety ...
27 September, 2017
Labour – This is your moment too
It is very important to have attended childbirth education classes together, to have been taught various techniques to cope with labour. Also the crucial issue is to have communicated about both of yo...
27 September, 2017
Hospital Dash
One of the scariest images for a pregnant dad is the thought of having to deliver your own baby in the car! So the second she announces she thinks she might be in labour, you want to bundle her straig...
27 September, 2017
Your baby expects what? – You must be joking!
(This article is also available in an audio format) By Hettie Grove – Advanced midwife, SA certified perinatal educator, SA certified lactation consultant Everything in life comes with an instructio...
27 September, 2017
The Miracle of Surfactant and a Baby’s First Breath
By Barbara Hanrahan – Nursing sister and midwife, SA certified perinatal educator course develop and facilitator, masters in midwifery Foetal breathing movements have been identified as early as 11 ...
27 September, 2017
Sex after Natural Childbirth: Can it be better than before childbirth?
By Anchen Verster – Registered nurse, midwife, SA Certified Perinatal Educator – SACPE, wife, mother to 4 children including a set of twins Sex sells movies, music, magazines, clothes, perfume...
27 September, 2017
Regenerative medicine
Storing your baby’s stem cells at birth is a once in a lifetime opportunity to protect your family against serious illness or disease. It is important that all families are fully informed on the ben...
27 September, 2017
Love languages in labour
By Jennifer Van der Laan – www.birthingnaturally.net – childbirth educator and doula Few women go into labour realising that the strongest comfort measure is the love and encouragement of those su...
27 September, 2017
Informed choice
(This article is also available in an audio format) The buzz word in maternity care circles is informed choice! But how often are women exhorted to make an informed decision? How many times do these w...
27 September, 2017
Finding your childbirth educator
How to use the listings of Childbirth Educators on the following pages The childbirth educators listings are divided into provinces They are highlighted under which area they teach – areas appear in...
27 September, 2017
Date and way of birth – What would Baby choose?
(This article is also available in an audio format) #WhatWouldBabyChoose If your pregnancy is healthy, it is best to stay pregnant for at least 39 weeks. Staying pregnant to full term, or 40 weeks, is...
27 September, 2017
Choosing the right hospital for me
Often people think a hospital is a hospital and that they are all the same – this is not the case. Have a look around and tour different hospitals and see which hospital offers you what you are look...
27 September, 2017
Birthing Options
(This article is also available in an audio format) By Barbara Hanrahan – midwife and educator, SA certified perinatal education course developer and coordinator Childbirth is not an illness. Neithe...
27 September, 2017
Birth stories – celebrating birth!
A birth story is about the day your life changed forever – the day you became a mother, your partner became a father, your parents became grandparents, your siblings became aunts and uncles. A day y...
27 September, 2017
Writing a birth plan
(This article is also available in an audio format) No one cares more about your baby than you, its parents – therefore you are the ones who should be making informed decisions on behalf of your bab...
27 September, 2017
The Baby Clinic
The baby clinic should be a friendly, non-threatening environment for parents to receive advice and reassurance – a meeting place, support system and an information centre. Guidance and advice o...
27 September, 2017
A to Z of topics at Childbirth Education Classes
“Birth is a day you will never forget. A day that will transform you, your baby and your family. I have had the opportunity to be with women and men to celebrate their greatest joys. I have had the ...
27 September, 2017
A to Z of Informed Choice
“The Right Choice can give you a memorable birthing experience as well as the best start to parenting.” A = Ask questions and more questions till it makes sense to you and you feel you have...
27 September, 2017
Establishing Good Sleep Habits
By Megan Faure Occupational therapist – co-author of Baby Sense, Sleep Sense, Feeding Sense Sleep is absolutely critical to your health. It rejuvenates your mind and repairs your body. For cent...
27 September, 2017
Jaundice
Jaundice Your cute baby has finally arrived with his perfect little ten fingers and ten toes, and then suddenly two or three days later this very kissable soft skin has this strange yell...
27 September, 2017
What’s That About The Stork?
By Nicolette Ferreira Images of long-legged, delicate storks delivering babies in tied-up little bundles have been associated with babies and birth for years. This idea originates from European cultur...
27 September, 2017
To Push or not to Push?
What type of Delivery should I have? By Michele Hlava – Nursing sister, midwife, audiologist, behavioural optometrist Often, I have had to tell my patients about the pros and cons of the type of del...
27 September, 2017
The First Hour After Birth: A Baby’s 9 Instinctive Stages
The opinion used to be that if you wanted to breastfeed, put your baby to the breast as soon as possible after birth. However new research has come out by Ann-Marie Widstrom, a Swedish researcher on s...
27 September, 2017
Birthing Options
By Barbara Hanrahan – Midwife and Educator. Childbirth is not an illness. Neither does the birth of every baby have to be a medical procedure. Fit, healthy women can have the choice of being active ...
27 September, 2017
Childbirth Trends in the Private Sector in South Africa
Only 10% of pregnant mother’s/couples researched their options about birth 67% had a caesarean section (the acceptable rate should be 18%) 3,4% of births were accompanied by a doula 19% were ind...
27 September, 2017
Thoughts on Birth
(This article is also available in an audio format) Birth is normal, natural and healthy Women are made to birth The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families Create good birthin...
27 September, 2017
Choosing the Right Hospital for Me
The hospital where you birth plays an important part in your first step to parenting. The staff and the philosophy of the maternity ward can make your start to family life either blissfully wonderful ...
27 September, 2017
Choosing a Birthplace and Caregiver
By Barbara Hanrahan – midwife and educator Most women already have a gynaecologist by the time they fall pregnant. The question is do you know what you want from your birth experience? This is a sen...
27 September, 2017
Thoughtful Childbirth For Everyone
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