Curious, I started to research it and found only positive information…

A calm experience

The most positive piece of information  that I could find, was that birth for the infant was a traumatizing experience but when a child is brought into this world through a water birth, the experience is less traumatizing. This is because the infant goes from water in the amniotic sac, through the birth canal, into water again.

The water that the infant is birthed into has a calm and soothing effect. The researched I did also suggested that this will also make for a calmer child.

Pain management

Another huge plus is that waterbirth assists in pain management. I wanted to go natural as I am scared of hospitals and injections. I would rather experience the pain of an active birth than have an epidural or a c-section.

An individual, rather than a patient

I wanted to be an individual, not a patient with a medical condition which nurses treat as it’s their job. I wanted someone who is passionate about birth and babies to take care of me.

The more I researched water birth, the more I knew in my heart that this was the route I wanted to go.

The best of both worlds

Once I had decided on a clinic, I chose a gynaecologist and a midwife I felt comfortable with. They were both affiliated with the clinic that I had chosen.

I got to have the best of both worlds, as I saw the gynaecologist regularly and had my midwife on standby at all hours of the day. I messaged her on a regular basis and she always responded to all my silly questions and worries.

By the time I was ready to give birth, I knew my midwife personally and we had a great relationship. She knew what kind of experience I was looking to have and made it her mission to give it to me.

My birth story

The morning my water broke, I phoned my midwife immediately. She was calm and shared my excitement.

Researched suggested that labour for a first time mom who has chosen active labour could be anything from eight to 24 hours. So we had plenty of time. Or so we thought.

My midwife told me that I could wait at home, where I was comfortable, until my contractions were three minutes apart for at least an hour.Only at that point, would I need to make my way to the clinic where she would be waiting for me.

I downloaded an application to time the contractions. It started slowly, and could be timed at 15 minutes apart for a few seconds each. After about an hour it escalated to six minutes apart, lasting for about 30 seconds each.

Suddenly, I couldn’t determine where one contraction started and were one ended. It was just one big pain, which confused both my husband and I.

My mother kept advising us that we would need to make our way to the clinic. But, they had taught us at prenatal classes, that the  husband should wait until the wife is ready to go to the hospital, as she will tell him – there is no need for the husband to force it. So, not knowing any better, my husband stalled our trip to the hospital, waiting for me to give him the go-ahead.

In the meantime, my pain continued to increase. I couldn’t talk nor could I comprehend how I was going to make it to the clinic which was about 20 to 30 minutes away. So, I kept quiet and dealt with the pain.

Suddenly, my pain changed. The intensity dissipated and I jumped up exclaiming that we had to leave.

I couldn’t sit normally in the car, as I was in too much pain. I pushed the back of the seat down and kneeled down on the front seat. I could tell that my husband was speeding but it still felt like we took forever to reach the clinic.

On our way to the clinic, my body felt the urge to push and I did. I couldn’t resist it or stop it. I thought this was the norm as I was so early in the labour process. When we stopped at the clinic, the staff was ready for us and my midwife led me to the room that they had reserved for me.

Nicole’s water birth was a positive experience from start to end.

The midwife examined me and uttered to my husband and her staff that I was fully dilated. She looked at me, smiled and said: “Your baby will be here in a few minutes. It’s time to get into the water.”

The staff was so efficient and knew exactly what needed to be done. One of the midwives on duty stood behind me and massaged my back. It took all the pain away.

Within a few minutes I was in the water and pushing. The warmth of the water calmed my pain. My midwife guided me as to when I should push and when I should stop. This assisted in a gradual birth and thus I did not experience any degree of perineal tearing.

My husband assisted the midwife in pulling our son, Vincent out and he was also given the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord once it had stopped pulsating.

Dad, with his son shortly after birth.

When I took him out of the water, he did not cry. He was perfect and so happy. He laid on my chest and I couldn’t stop kissing him. He only cried when they took him away from me to weigh him. The moment they brought him back to me, he stopped crying again.

Breastfeeding assistance

My birthing clinic encourages moms to breastfeed and spent hours with me until I was comfortable and Vincent had latched properly.

It was the most amazing feeling to know that my body supplied Vincent with nourishment.

A love for water

At home, when Vincent is unsettled for some reason and I can’t settle him, I put him in a nice warm bath, keeping only his nose outside of the water. He falls asleep like this or becomes extremely calm and settled. He loves to bath and he loves water. Because of his birth experience, I believe water is now his comfort.

An experience I would go through again

My birthing experience was so positive, I will not hesitate to do the exact same thing again. I would also recommend a physiological birth (100% natural without any medical intervention, including pain medication) to any mom-to-be.

It’s well worth the experience.

Mom and baby, shortly after birth.

For more information on natural and water birth, visit Genesis Clinic www.genesisclinic.co.za

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How common are twins?

Over the past 30 years there has been an increase in the number of multiple births globally.

Since 1980, the number of twin births has increased by 70% in the USA and the number of births involving three or more babies has quadrupled.The two main reasons for this increase are that women are having babies later, and more women are having fertility treatment, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

The biggest increase in multiple births are among women aged 30 and older. Older maternal age accounts for about one-third of the rise, and two-thirds is due to the increased use of fertility treatments.

Other factors that contribute to the development of a multiple pregnancy are hereditary;

• a history of multiple births on a woman’s side of the family increases her chances of having a multiple pregnancy
• race: women of African descent are the most likely to have multiple pregnancies

A high risk pregnancy

Multiples are termed ‘high-risk’ pregnancies. The most immediate risk is pre-term (early) labour resulting in premature birth. A normal gestation is about 40 weeks, but a twin pregnancy often lasts between 35 and 37 weeks.

Nearly half of all twins are born before 37 weeks.

In addition to the possibility of premature births, other medical conditions that are more likely to occur during a multiple pregnancy include:

• pre-eclampsia
• placental problems
• foetal growth problems

Multiple births can also be associated with long-term health problems in the infants. Developmental delays and cerebral palsy occur more commonly in twins than in single births, and there’s a higher risk of health problems with higher-order multiple births.

What to expect when you’re expecting two

When you fall pregnant with multiples, you may need more prenatal check-ups than you would with a single baby. Be prepared for the possibility of experiencing a double dose of everything – higher levels of hormones can mean more severe morning sickness.

Multiples place greater stress on your body: with twins, a weight gain of 20 kg isn’t unusual. You can expect symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue.

Prepare yourself emotionally that you may give birth prematurely, says Lousanne Terblanche, seminar co-ordinator of the South African Multiple Birth Association (SAMBA).

Your hospital bag should be ready and packed by 28 weeks. Plan to take maternity leave from 30-32 weeks, and aim to take five to six months off if possible, she suggests. Organise your home so that the babies’ routines can be managed as easily as possible.

“From 28 weeks of pregnancy, rest a lot with your feet in the air. Sleep on your back with pillows piled under your feet or on your side with a pillow between your knees and a pillow under your stomach.”

“It is possible to have a natural twin birth if the circumstances around your pregnancy are optimal.”

About the author: Dr Noluthando Nematswerani is a Discovery Health Clinical Specialist. For more information on Discovery visit www.dicovery.co.za.

The post Pregnant with twins – two for the price of one appeared first on All4Baby.

The collection and storage of cord blood and cord tissue taken from the umbilical cord of a baby at birth is becoming increasingly common. The reason for this is that the cells contained in the blood and tissue, have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of blood disorders, immune diseases and the emerging field of regenerative medicine.

Should you consider stem cell storage for your baby, Netcells have put together this parent’s guide to stem cell storage…

The difference that stored cord blood stem cells can make

Cord blood is collected from the baby’s umbilical cord at birth and contains haematopoietic (blood) stem cells.These stem cells are used to regenerate bone marrow and are routinely used to treat blood related diseases such as;

• Leukaemia
• Lymphoma
• Thalassemia
• Fanconi’s anaemia
• Sickle cell anaemia

New therapies are also being researched for cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss and type one diabetes.

Cord tissue stem cells and conditions

The umbilical cord tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells that are being employed in both research and clinical environments for a variety of aesthetic and medical conditions, that include;

• skin regeneration
• neurology (neurodegenerative diseases)
• orthopaedics (cartilage and bone repair)
• sports injury (tendon and ligament repair)
• cardiology (heart muscle regeneration) and many other areas

Why should I store my baby’s stem cells?

Apart from it being a valuable medical investment, there are other compelling reasons to consider storing your baby’s stem cells, such as:

• Having a family history of certain diseases
• Having a sibling who suffers from a disease treatable with stem cell therapy
• People of African descent and mixed marriages, who are less likely to find a matching bone marrow sample in existing tissue banks

What will it cost?

At Netcells, the storage of umbilical cord blood and tissue (for ten years) as well as maternal blood testing will cost you approximately R19 900. Although hefty, the insurance it can give your baby means it’s probably worth it. Fortunately, payment plans are also available.

What to look for when choosing your storage bank

• All-inclusive price with no additional charges that you have not budgeted for (for example annual storage fees and maternal blood tests).
• A laboratory that holds accreditation for the processing of cord blood and tissue stem cells. This is important because it gives you the assurance that the cells will be processed and stored according to international quality standards and that the laboratory will be inspected regularly by the accrediting body to ensure the safe storage of your baby’s stem cells.Also, if the stem cells are ever needed, that they will be accepted by transplant centres across the world.

For more information on Netcells, visit www.netcells.co.za.

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