News & comments

Hypnobirthing Classes

11 February 2008

Sessions for couples are available to book for weekend and evening classes. To book, please call Helen directly on 01442 843064 or 07920 887414.

Weaning and Teething Classes

11 February 2008

Workshops will now be available at The Birth Company during the months of April, July and October. Please contact Lynda Leach on 01707 660318 for booking information.

Caesareans linked to womb damage

In the News – 3 October 2007

The risk of a tear in the womb (uterine rupture) during childbirth is significantly more likely if the mother has had a caesarean section in the past, a new study has found. Other factors identified by the study as increasing the risk of such a tear were induction of labour, birthweight, gestational weight and maternal characteristics. Uterine rupture involves either a full tear which requires rapid surgery or an incomplete tear where part of the womb stays intact. Researchers from Emory University and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm studied 32,000 women giving birth to single babies in their second pregnancies. The review, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is one of the largest population-based studies to examine risk factors for uterine rupture. It found that the overall rate of uterine rupture among women during an attempted vaginal birth was 0.91 per 1,000. But the rate of uterine rupture among women who attempted vaginal birth after a previous caesarean was 9.0 per 1,000 compared with 0.18 per 1,000 for those without a history of caesarean delivery. Women whose labours were induced had twice the risk of rupture; the researchers propose that in females who had a caesarean previously, induction methods could weaken caesarean scars and make them more susceptible to rupture. Babies with higher birth weights and older maternal age were also associated with an increased risk of rupture.

Dr Gibb: “We have known for a long time that there is a risk of womb damage with labour following a previous caesarean section. This should not discourage women trying to deliver normally under these circumstances. In the USA this is called a VBAC. If the baby is not too big and the mother is not too small then normal birth may be possible. In general we avoid induction of labour and prolonged labour. Supervision of the process by an experienced doctor should help to limit the risks. The chance of success is about 50 percent.”

Miscarriage linked to heavy exercise

In the News – 27 September 2007

Pregnant women who take part in strenuous exercise could increase their risk of miscarriage, a new study has warned. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark in Odense studied interviews with over 90,000 pregnant women about the exercise they took part in. According to the New Scientist, they found that those who exercised intensively were three-and-a-half times more likely to miscarry as those who did not exercise at all. Exercising for more than seven hours a week and taking part in high-impact sports including jogging and ball games carried the greatest risk. Women who exercised by swimming were not found to increase their risk, as was exercising after 18 weeks of pregnancy. The government advises that pregnant women keep active as it helps women to adapt more easily to changing shape and weight gain. It is also thought to help with labour and getting in to shape following childbirth. Pregnant women are advised not to exhaust themselves and to avoid strenuous activity in hot weather, with walking and swimming highlighted as some of the best activity to take part in.

Dr Gibb: “Keeping in shape with a good diet and exercise is important for any pregnant mother. This study confirms a common sense view that excessive exercise may be harmful especially in very early pregnancy. In the second half of pregnancy balanced exercise is valuable. Swimming, walking, yoga and Pilates are all good. If the baby is smaller than it should be then limitation of exercise is recommended.”