Bonnie Kite / Midwife

28/07/2022

10/05/2021

05/05/2021

It is a hard lifestyle being on-call, and needing to drop everything and go when someone is in labour (or having an emergency). You never quite know what you are going to be walking into. The surge of care and adrenaline, and sometimes stress! The not knowing if you will be there for two or twenty hours. You need a great support team - it's tough on relationships, with the time commitments, the unreliability and, at times, the sheer exhaustion.

It can also be emotionally draining when you care so much for the women and families that you are looking after, and life doesn't always go as planned. But this closeness also allows you to see the needs of others, and hopefully fill the gaps, and offer some comfort and aroha. It’s can be disheartening when you know you can do better and provide more but you can’t because of time pressures and trying to triage the most urgent things. Lack of midwives, short-staffing, and poor resourcing of women’s health are constant battles. But when you are able to give your all, that’s what fills your midwifery cup and gives your soul satisfaction.

You are there for families during the most intimate and precious moments in their lives! The privilege that comes with that is felt every time. People are amazing, strong and resilient. There is no feeling in the world like being a part of the moment that a new human enters it. An indescribable feeling. Seeing a new person take their first breaths, open their eyes for the first time, make their first sounds! Or sometimes rarely babies sadly aren’t for this world, and the privilege of being one of the few people to get to know them during their short time is even more immense.

✨💕 Every day I think about how tricky my job can be, and how much I LOVE it! 💕✨

💜 Happy International Day of the Midwife! 🎉
To my amazing colleagues, and their supportive whanau and friends that make their lifestyle possible. So much love and respect to all of you.

12/11/2020

BENEFITS OF Dates During Pregnancy
Studies show that eating 6 dates during the last few weeks of pregnancy can have positive effects on labor and delivery.
🔅
Evidence from randomized control trials has shown that consuming date fruit could help in the ripening of the cervix, which may reduce the duration of labor, thus reducing the need for oxytocin and prostaglandins to induce labor.
🔅
They also provide energy that will supply the required sugars; they give relief from constipation as they are a rich source of fiber.
🔅
Dates provide proteins and Vitamin K which aids in clotting and bone development. If the mother consumes dates during and after pregnancy, the baby may get some amount of this vitamin through breastmilk.
🔅
Dates also contain Iron and may aid in the prevention of anaemia during pregnancy. Iron maintains haemoglobin in the body and strengthens both yours and your baby’s immunity.
🔅
Dates contain potassium, which maintains water-salt balance, regulates blood pressure, and avoids muscle cramps.
Magnesium is another essential mineral as it helps in the formation of teeth and bones in the baby. It also regulates your blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
🔅
Dates help in preventing magnesium deficiency in pregnancy, which may otherwise increase the risk of chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, placental dysfunction, and premature labor.
🔅
When To Eat Dates During Pregnancy? Dates can be eaten at any stage of gestation. You only need to be cautious about the amount you eat (max 6 per day) Did you consume dates during pregnancy? Do you like them?

27/08/2020

Dates have been used around the world for centuries as a natural approach to preparation for labor. Several studies now support their effectiveness. Though we don’t know exactly why, they do have an impact on the start and progress of labor - likely due to an impact on the hormone oxytocin which helps labor start and progress effectively.⁠
⁠
A 2011 study found that women who ate dates starting at 36 weeks were:⁠
🔸 Significantly more dilated when they got to the hospital⁠
🔸 Had a significantly higher rate of intact membranes⁠
🔸 Were significantly more likely to go into labor spontaneously (i.e. without induction)⁠
🔸 And had nearly half the length of first stage of labor⁠
⁠
A 2014 study found that women who ate dates from 37 weeks on had:⁠
🔸 Greater cervical dilatation at admission⁠
🔸 Higher success rates of labor induction when needed⁠
⁠
A 2017 study concluded that all the above was accurate and yet another study found that eating dates in pregnancy led to less bleeding immediately after birth.⁠
⁠
Any type of dates work! The ‘dose’ is about 2.5 ounces of dates ( ~6 to 8 small dates or ~4 larger dates) daily, starting at 36 or 37 weeks and until labor begins. I love eating them plain, but you can include them in my “herbal bliss bites” (recipe on my IGTV), use them to sweeten cashew or almond milk, or include them chopped in yogurt or oatmeal. Amazingly, they also haven’t been shown to be a problem for blood sugar.⁠
⁠
Did you use dates to prep for your labor? Do you know a pregnant mama who is prepping for labor? Tag her in the comments below so she can learn about the power of this ancient medicine!⁠
⁠

25/08/2020

THICK!😍


・・・
VERNIX CASEOSA....
Vernix is a thick creamy waxy substance that covers the body of the newborn (reminds me of cocoa butter!). It's seen more in babies born a couple of weeks prior to the 'due date' as it reduces towards the end of pregnancy. It is made up of water, fats and proteins.

The vernix protects and nourishes the baby's soft skin, has antimicrobial properties and acts as a barrier in the uterus to stop the amniotic fluid macerating the skin in the womb. Can you imagine how your skin would look after 9 months in the bath!
Vernix is thought to help with an easier transition through the birth canal and it thought to aid temperature regulation at birth.
When a baby is born, the newborn skin undergoes a number of changes and adaptions to the outside world in terms of PH and hydration. Vernix helps to regulate these changes so its worthwhile not bathing baby to soon. Think of vernix as a moisturiser and rub it in rather than wipe it off!
It is recommended by WHO to wait at least 24 hours before bathing a newborn (I would even say 2/3 days) as it has its benefits including reduced risk of infection, better temperature regulation, more skin to skin time leading to better breastfeeding outcomes and blood sugar regulation. If your baby has a little dried blood in their hair and it bothers you, you can always wipe the hair gently with a cloth and warm water.
Informative repost by
・・・
Pic: VIA

02/07/2020