BirthWays

Although breast is best, there are cases where bottle feeding is necessary. It can be very daunting to figure out which brand of bottle to use - there are just so many and each with their own special purposes!

Some top tips for choosing a bottle:

1.  Don't choose what bottle you will use before your baby is born. The chances are that you might go through 3, or 10, or 20 different bottles and teats before you find out which one your baby likes most. So it's your baby that actually chooses in the en...

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These days your biggest worry about the your baby's birth might be whether it should be by c-section or by vaginal birth. However, it was only as long ago as when your own mother was born (or maybe your grandmother) that the biggest concern for a pregnant woman was whether she would live through the experience.

Three things we can be very grateful for these days: Modern Medicine, Good Nutrition, and C-sections! It is because of these three things that the potential deaths of women and their ba...
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The following are scanned magazine articles. click the image to see the article and read it.

 
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This is where a mother choses not to cut the umbilical cord following the birth, and instead, allows the cord to dry out and fall off naturally (as it would in the case of the small stump that is left when the cord has been severed). This means that both the cord and placenta will remain attached to the child until it falls away naturally.

For people who are not familiar with this idea, the initial reaction will be one of slight shock and perhaps some disgust as they immeadiately assume...

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A waterbirth can take place, in the home, in a hospital, birthcentre or even outdoors in a ocean tidal pool or other natural pool.

The first question that people always ask is "But doesn't the baby drown when it's born under water". The answer is an emphatic "NO!".

The baby has been surrounded by water, or more specifically amniotic fluid, for nine months. The baby "breathes" through the placenta and umbilical cord and continues to do so until the cord is severed. Another fascinat...

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Hypnobirth is method developed by an american woman which helps labouring women enter a state of deep relaxation in order to diminish the pain of childbirth. This technique can be used whether you choose vaginal birth or c-section. Women who have had emergency c-sections have reported finding the technique very useful in such a stressful situation.

International website - www.hypnobirthing.com/

Local Resources

Kim Young (Northern & Southern Suburbs, Cape Town) www.beautifullyborn.co.za

HYPN...

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This is a birth which happens in at a place which is not a medical facility ie. the mothers home or the house of a friend/family member.

Prior to the mid-1900's childbirth always happened in the home and was attended by a midwife or the local GP.

People often question the safety of childbirth, and it is the responsibility of each and every woman considering this option to do her own research.

The conclusion that I, personally, came to was the following:

Prior to the m...

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This is when a woman decides to have a baby, at home, without the help of a medical professional (ie. Doctor or Midwife). Sometimes there may be assistance from a partner/friend/sister/doula and other times to woman may choose to have here baby in complete privacy.

The reasons a woman may choose this option are many and varied. It may simply be the case that the woman does not have access to a medical professional who is able to attend a homebirth, or perhpas there are no Birth Centres ...

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