Your Maternity Care

In the UK, women have the right to choose the type of maternity care they receive as well as the type of birth they want, although your options will vary according to what is available in your local area. Typically, hospitals offer consultant-led maternity units, midwifery-led units and, in some areas, community units, which provide a more homely environment in which to give birth.

Of course, home birth is also an option for some women. You can find out more about your birth choices at (www.which.co.uk/birth-choice).

Independent Midwives

Independent Midwives are fully qualified midwives who have chosen to work outside the NHS in a self-employed capacity and are not covered by the NHS. Many women are now choosing to engage the services of an independent midwife to ensure that the person who has cared for them throughout the pregnancy, and with whom they have developed a trusting relationship, is the person who delivers their baby. Research shows that this kind of care from a midwife helps women to cope with the challenges of labour and the transition to parenthood.

Independent Midwives may also have undertaken extra training so that they can offer further services to their clients such as new-born examinations, tongue tie division, homeopathy, hypnobirthing, acupuncture and more.

To find out more, contact Independent Midwives UK at www.imuk.org.uk

Parentcraft Groups and Antenatal Classes

Your midwife will be glad to tell you about the free parentcraft groups or antenatal classes that operate in your area. The groups, specially set up for pregnant women and their partners by hospitals and healthcare centres, cover topics such as pregnancy, labour and birth, relaxation, exercise, and caring for the baby.

Organisations such as the National Childbirth Trust also run antenatal classes, in all instances, it is advisable to book early.

There is a wealth of information about antenatal classes on the Internet.

Private Antenatal Classes

Antenatal classes help the parent prepare for the baby’s birth and learn how to look after your baby. They also help you learn to stay healthy during pregnancy and giving you confidence and all the advice you require.

During a private antenatal class parents will spend time alone with an experienced birth professional. Private antenatal classes give parents extra time with an experienced birth professional so that they can feel fully prepared for the decisions they need to make in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Classes are offered which provide parents with an opportunity to discuss any anxieties and all of their options for labour, birth and parenthood. The main benefit of a private antenatal class is that it can be completely bespoke-created to ensure you cover the topics you are most interested in, and which are most relevant to you and your partner. Private classes often take place in your own home due to the privacy and convenience, but there are also private group classes that can be an excellent way of meeting local families at a similar stage of life.

Pregnancy Yoga

Pregnancy yoga focuses on gentle postures, breathing techniques, positions for labour and relaxations. The aim is for you to have a pleasurable and relaxing time, whilst developing your physical and emotional wellbeing and helping you feel more confident and positive about birth.

It helps women get through pregnancy with the least possible discomfort and helps the delivery and post-delivery stages.

What are the benefits:

• Helps improve quality of sleep
• Reduced anxiety
• Strengthens joints and muscles
• Increases flexibility
• Better blood circulation
• Reduces swelling from fluid retention
• Improves posture and body awareness
• Strengthens abdominal and pelvic muscles • Enhances digestive system

If you are not used to regular exercise then you should start slowly and if you are pregnant take it very easy at first. If you already practice yoga before becoming pregnant then it is good to continue. Although many mums-to-be prefer to wait until the 2nd trimester to begin again.

If you are new to yoga please find a qualified prenatal instructor. Please consult your healthcare professional before starting any new exercise.

Pilates

Many women find Pilates to be a good exercise to do both, before, during and after pregnancy. Pilates is good for building core strength, if your abdominals, back and pelvic floor muscles are toned they will support a more comfortable pregnancy and delivery. Pilates is also very adaptable, most Pilates exercise can be modified as your body and ability changes.

What are the benefits:

• Strengthens your tummy muscles
• Reduces back pain
• Strengthens your pelvic floor
• Helps with balance
• Take the strain off your back and pelvis
• Relax and control your breathing

If you have never done Pilates before it is important you discuss with your health care professional first and check that the Pilates instructor is experienced and trained in teaching pregnant women and choose a class that is for pregnant women.

To find a Pilates instructor please visit www.pilatesteacherassociation.org

Aqua Natal

Aqua natal is designed to benefit both your physical health and your emotional wellbeing. Its unique element is the cardio exercise that can aid muscle tone, immunity and support pregnancy related aches and pains. The classes are designed to help all stages of pregnancy with exercises that benefit mums’ direct immunity and blood flow to the baby.

The exercises can be adapted to all levels of physical capability and are often recommended for women with high blood pressure and pelvis pain.

Ladies are given a variety of exercises to build their pelvic floor muscle and recommended breathing techniques to help stay calm through the different stages of the birth experience.

As well as the physical benefits, the classes are a chance for mums to have some time focusing on themselves and their baby, meet other mums’ and able to ask questions about their pregnancy and birth. To finish they include that all-important relaxation-the feeling of weightless is invaluable and can really aid a good night’s sleep.

What are the benefits:

• Gain a useful insight into your body, the physicality of pregnancy and labour offering tools to help support pregnancy and prepare for the labour experience.
• Help reduce blood pressure as just being in water causes your body to naturally rid itself of excess water and salt and alleviate swollen ankles and wrists. Improves cardiovascular efficiency, pumping more blood around the body to the placenta, providing baby with more oxygen and nourishment.
• Emotional benefits with the water helping relieve tension and aiding the release of your body’s natural endorphins helping keep you and baby relaxed. Circulation is enhanced, helping to prevent varicose veins and haemorrhoids.
• Suitable and beneficial for those suffering with pelvic girdle pain. All exercise is in the pool so you can benefit from feeling cushioned by the water at all times. Suitable for all stages of pregnancy and safe for non-swimmers.

Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing is an antenatal programme teaching simple but specific self-hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques to discover the joy and magic of birth. Hypnobirthing helps reduce the fear, tension and pain of labour, resulting in a more relaxed birth.

Most significantly, you will discover how to put yourself back in control of your birth. What are the benefits:

• Create an easier, natural and more peaceful birth experience
• Often shortens the duration of labour
• Eliminate or reduce the need for any pain relief
• Reduce the probability of surgical birth • Present a supportive role for your birthing partner
• Support bonding of mother, baby and birthing partner
• Encourage a more speedier postnatal recovery
• You will be more prepared and in control.
• Allows your baby to enter the world drug-free into a composed and calm atmosphere

What you will learn:

• Special relaxation and breathing techniques for an improved birth
• Straightforward but specific self- hypnosis
• Massage techniques intended to optimise the release of your body’s own relaxants
• How to release any fears and anxieties you have about giving birth and how to overcome any previous upsetting births
• The vital role of dads-to-be: both pre-birth practice exercises, and throughout childbirth itself
• Fear release methods to permit you to be comfortable and positive for the birth
• Self-hypnosis inducing deep relaxation
• Massage techniques – stimulating endorphins, your body’s natural anaesthetic
• How your mind and body work together efficiently and comfortably

Osteopathy

During pregnancy your body goes through a lot of changes to accommodate your growing baby, which can put a great deal of strain on your body. For you to adapt to these changes your body finds new ways to walk, sit and sleep and can result in aches and pains on your body. The treatment of osteopathy whilst pregnant can ease some of these symptoms such as lower back pain, neck shoulder and upper back pain, sciatica, pelvic girdle pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, shortness of breath, insomnia, swelling and fatigue.

An osteopath can also give you advice on breathing techniques, stretches and exercise and help you prepare the way for a more trouble free childbirth and help you recover after the birth.

Doulas

A doula is a trained, non-medical companion who provides emotional, practical and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Their role is to walk alongside you and your partner; helping you feel calm, informed and confident in your choices.

Having a familiar and trusted person at your side makes a real difference. Doulas build a relationship with you before labour begins, so they understand your wishes, values and concerns. When it’s time to give birth, they become part of your team, working seamlessly with your birth partner and healthcare professionals. Many people say their doula helped them feel in control, even when plans changed.

This kind of continuous support has been shown to improve outcomes for both parents and babies:

• 39% lower chance of a caesarean birth when supported by a doula
• 15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
• 31% decrease in the risk of feeling dissatisfied with the birth experience • Shorter labours by around 41 minutes on average.
• 38% lower risk of babies having a low 5-minute Apgar score

Beyond the birth itself, having a doula can have a lasting positive effect on emotional wellbeing. Rates of birth-related trauma and postnatal depression are rising. Around 4–6% of mothers experience PTSD after birth, and up to 30% report their birth as traumatic. These numbers are likely to rise alongside the increasing rates of birth interventions. Research shows that continuous support from a doula significantly reduces the risk of both PTSD and postnatal depression, especially when the doula is present throughout labour and birth.

Partners often feel uncertain or under pressure during labour. A doula never replaces a birth partner, instead they support you both. Many partners find they’re more confident and involved when a doula is present, as they can focus on being emotionally available while the doula offers practical reassurance and guidance

Doulas also offer postnatal support in the early days and weeks—helping you adjust, rest, and care for your baby with confidence. This can include emotional support, infant feeding help, and light household tasks, all tailored to your needs

Together, you, your partner and your doula form a calm, connected team, ready to meet whatever birth brings, feeling informed and supported every step of the way

What are the benefits:

• Continuity of care: Most doulas meet with you one or more times before the birth, stay with you throughout labour, and make one or more visits after childbirth, therefore they know your concerns and priorities regarding labour and they can help you debrief and take in the labour experience
• Support for the father or partner: Fathers or partners can contribute to the extent that they feel comfortable. Fathers in particular need nurturing and care during this major life transition
• Accessible resource: You and your partner do not have to worry about forgetting what you learned in childbirth preparation classes
• Credibility: The doula, unlike the father, knows how hard labour can be, therefore you will trust that what the doula asks can be done because the doula is experienced with labour support and, usually, has laboured herself
• Advocacy: The doula is ideally situated to facilitate communication between you and the medical staff and to help ensure that you make knowledgeable decisions.
• Reduced rates of medical procedures and complications.