Information Sheets
The Maternity Information Initiative is a new project with the goal `To develop a series of consumer information sheets on key maternity topics.'
Infosheets are designed to assist women to question and communicate with their care-givers, and make informed decisions about their maternity care. This will help to ensure that the care offered is appropriate for the woman, her pregancy, her goals and her individual circumstances.
Infosheet topics are:
Preparing Your Birth Plan
Your birth plan … is a personal statement of issues that are important to you. This INFOSHEET is intended to assist you in preparing a birth plan, and is particularly focused on protecting natural, physiological processes in labour, birth, and the early postnatal period. Download here.
Breech Birth
At term, 3-4% of babies will be presenting in the breech position. … Whether to plan for natural vaginal breech birth, or a medically managed (either vaginal or caesarean) birth, is an important decision. Download here.
Baby's First Feed
“A healthy newborn baby who is kept in skin to skin contact with the mother from birth will begin to seek her breast, usually within minutes of birth.” Download here.
Baby's Transition
“Birth is a time of enormous change for a baby. The transition from life inside the mother’s womb, to life in this world, requires many important natural or physiological changes to take place.” Download here.
A Healthy Pelvic Floor After Childbirth
“… many women experience injury at the time of birth which may lead to leaking of urine or faeces (incontinence), sagging organs (prolapse), and related problems with sexual intercourse, and with their feelings of self worth.” Download here.
The Third Stage of Labour
The third stage is a pivotal time for the health and wellbeing of mother and baby, and the beginning of their life-long relationship. Download here.
Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes
For a small number of women, the membranes rupture (water breaks) prior to the onset of labour. The medical term for this is Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes (PROM). Download here.
Induction of labour
Understanding what induction is, and why it may be an important and even life-saving intervention for some women, will help you to make informed decisions. Download here.
Births After Caesarean
If you have already had a caesarean birth, and plan to have more pregnancies, an important decision for you to make will be whether you should plan vaginal or surgical birth. Here are some facts for you to consider in making an informed decision. Download here.
Labour in Water
How you will manage pain is a decision that you need to consider in planning for spontaneous, unmedicated birth. Deep water immersion is a valuable, non-medical, drug free ‘comfort measure’ for women in labour. Download here.
Bearing Down or Directed Pushing?
Whether to follow the instinctive urge of bearing down, or to have another person direct the pushing efforts, is a decision that each mother needs to consider in planning for spontaneous birth. Download here.
“Who Cares?” Choosing a Model of Care
The model of care that you choose in pregnancy may have an impact on the options and choices that are subsequently available to you during childbirth. Download here.
Infosheets are designed to assist women to question and communicate with their care-givers, and make informed decisions about their maternity care. This will help to ensure that the care offered is appropriate for the woman, her pregancy, her goals and her individual circumstances.
Infosheet topics are:
Preparing Your Birth Plan
Your birth plan … is a personal statement of issues that are important to you. This INFOSHEET is intended to assist you in preparing a birth plan, and is particularly focused on protecting natural, physiological processes in labour, birth, and the early postnatal period. Download here.
Breech Birth
At term, 3-4% of babies will be presenting in the breech position. … Whether to plan for natural vaginal breech birth, or a medically managed (either vaginal or caesarean) birth, is an important decision. Download here.
Baby's First Feed
“A healthy newborn baby who is kept in skin to skin contact with the mother from birth will begin to seek her breast, usually within minutes of birth.” Download here.
Baby's Transition
“Birth is a time of enormous change for a baby. The transition from life inside the mother’s womb, to life in this world, requires many important natural or physiological changes to take place.” Download here.
A Healthy Pelvic Floor After Childbirth
“… many women experience injury at the time of birth which may lead to leaking of urine or faeces (incontinence), sagging organs (prolapse), and related problems with sexual intercourse, and with their feelings of self worth.” Download here.
The Third Stage of Labour
The third stage is a pivotal time for the health and wellbeing of mother and baby, and the beginning of their life-long relationship. Download here.
Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes
For a small number of women, the membranes rupture (water breaks) prior to the onset of labour. The medical term for this is Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes (PROM). Download here.
Induction of labour
Understanding what induction is, and why it may be an important and even life-saving intervention for some women, will help you to make informed decisions. Download here.
Births After Caesarean
If you have already had a caesarean birth, and plan to have more pregnancies, an important decision for you to make will be whether you should plan vaginal or surgical birth. Here are some facts for you to consider in making an informed decision. Download here.
Labour in Water
How you will manage pain is a decision that you need to consider in planning for spontaneous, unmedicated birth. Deep water immersion is a valuable, non-medical, drug free ‘comfort measure’ for women in labour. Download here.
Bearing Down or Directed Pushing?
Whether to follow the instinctive urge of bearing down, or to have another person direct the pushing efforts, is a decision that each mother needs to consider in planning for spontaneous birth. Download here.
“Who Cares?” Choosing a Model of Care
The model of care that you choose in pregnancy may have an impact on the options and choices that are subsequently available to you during childbirth. Download here.