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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
7 myths and truths about inducing labour, from dancing to spicy food
"Been pregnant for way too long." These lyrics, from the song Baby Mamma Dance, no doubt resonate with a lot of women in their third trimester – particularly if their baby is overdue or they're in the delivery room trying to induce labour. And although we can't be sure that that was the goal of those killer moves, Meghan Markle's video of her and Prince Harry twerking in the hospital to this song as they awaited the birth of their daughter Lilibet seems to speak to this. Of course, it's also quite possible that the pair were simply killing time and trying to lighten the mood before Meghan gave birth – or both. But dancing is, in fact, a good way to naturally encourage the baby along. Ruby Handley-Stone, midwife and professional advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, tells Yahoo UK: "Anything to help being upright and mobile is encouraged and will help with engagement of the baby's head and rotation. Equally, listening to music you love will help oxytocin and relaxation." Here, we take a look at seven myths and truths about inducing labour. A herbal tea high in vitamins, minerals and tannins, raspberry leaf tea is thought by some to help tone the muscles of the womb for when you go into labour. It can also help combat nausea. That said, health professionals don't suggest drinking the tea to induce labour, and it's unsure how safe it is in pregnancy. According to Tommy's pregnancy and baby charity, if you are going to consume it, it should be in the weeks leading up to your due date, starting with one cup a day and steadily increasing to three cups, spread throughout the day. They also advise speaking to your midwife or doctor before trying any herbal remedies, like raspberry leaf tea, as it may not be safe for everyone. The theory is that by eating spicy foods, you can stimulate your gut and in turn prompt contractions. But it can also bring on heartburn, so if you are prone to indigestion and acid reflux, it's probably best to avoid. Although the NCT says there's no evidence to suggest that spicy food can induce labour, there also isn't any harm in trying it. Whether you go for a stroll or rock on a birthing ball, gentle exercise has been linked to inducing labour. Being upright and moving about may help your baby settle into your pelvis. It is a common misconception that having sex while pregnant may hurt the baby. But, thanks to the amniotic sac, your child is protected from infection – plus a penis or sex toy cannot penetrate beyond the cervix. While having sex during pregnancy won't harm the baby and is perfectly safe for most people – unless a health professional advises against it – there isn't any evidence to suggest it can bring on labour. What may happen as a result of an orgasm in the later stages, though, is that you experience Braxton Hicks contractions (also referred to as "practice contractions"). This is perfectly normal, albeit uncomfortable, and you might want to lie down and relax until they pass. You can read the NCT's guide to sex during pregnancy for more information. Rich in fibre and antioxidants, dates are nutritious at the best of times, but there is also a theory they can help induce labour. A small study by the Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2008, for example, examined 69 women who ate six date fruits each day in the four weeks prior to their due date and compared them to 45 women who consumed none. The researchers found that spontaneous labour occurred in 96% of those who consumed dates, compared with 79% women in the non-date fruit consumers. Research suggests that breast stimulation increases the number of women in labour within 72 hours, as it encourages the body's production of oxytocin – the same hormone that prompts contractions in labour. Before trying any methods, though, it's always best to speak to your health team first. Previously, ingesting castor oil was recommended as a way to bring on labour, and there is some evidence to suggest it can work. That said, it is not advised you take castor oil while pregnant as it can lead to nausea, high blood pressure and digestive distress. Handley-Stone stresses: "There's very little safe evidence for midwives to recommend many of the 'old wives' tales', and techniques such as hot baths, castor oil and sexual intercourse aren't advised in official guidelines. "Similarly, there is little research that herbal teas influence the start of labour and some may actually be harmful – this is the same for essential oils. There is also some evidence to suggest that acupuncture may help the cervix to soften, but this is also limited." She continues: "Generally, although some methods may offer relaxation (which is the best thing to start labour!), it's always worth consulting your midwife before trying any complementary therapies to ensure they are safe and appropriate for you. Your baby will come when they're ready!" Read more about pregnancy and giving birth What Jamie Laing has said about parenthood as he announces pregnancy with Sophie Habboo (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) How the most popular baby girl names in the UK compare with the US (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read) Why it's not OK to speculate if someone's pregnant (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
South Wales Guardian
12-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
NHS programme to reduce brain injuries in childbirth to be rolled out nationally
The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme will help maternity staff to better identify signs that the baby is in distress during labour so they can act quickly, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. It will also help staff respond more effectively to obstetric emergencies, such as where the baby's head becomes lodged deep in the mother's pelvis during a caesarean birth, the DHSC added. The Government programme, which will begin from September and follows a development phase and pilot scheme, will reduce the number of avoidable brain injuries during childbirth – helping to prevent lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy, according to the DHSC. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'All expectant mothers giving birth in an NHS hospital should have peace of mind that they are in safe hands. 'This vital programme will give staff across the country the right tools and training to deliver better care to women and their babies, reducing the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries. 'Under our Plan for Change, we are supporting trusts to make rapid improvements and training thousands more midwives – but I know more needs to be done. We will put women's voices right at the heart of our reforms as we work to improve care.' The national rollout follows a pilot in 12 maternity units that was launched in October and delivered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute. The pilot has shown the programme will fill a gap in current training by bringing multi-disciplinary teams together to work more collaboratively to improve outcomes, the DHSC said. It added that the programme will give clinicians more confidence to take swift action in managing an emergency during labour. It is expected to reduce inequalities in maternity outcomes across England – so that most maternity units achieve outcomes comparable to the highest-performing 20% of trusts. Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said: 'The ABC programme supports multi-disciplinary maternity teams to deliver safer, more personalised care. 'Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthesiologists have been involved in developing and testing this quality improvement programme. 'We have heard what a difference it makes, supporting teams to work effectively together in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations. The RCOG is extremely proud to have been part of this fantastic collaboration.' Gill Walton, Royal College of Midwives chief executive, said: 'Every midwife, maternity support worker, obstetrician, anaesthetist and sonographer wants to provide good, safe care – and the best way to do that is by working and training together. The ABC programme has brought together all those involved in maternity care, offering practical solutions to some of the most acute clinical challenges. 'Crucially the ABC programme tools and training have been developed based on the voices of women, families and maternity staff. This has been the key to the success of the pilot programme. 'Equally the will and drive of midwives and the wider multi-disciplinary team to improve safety and outcomes for women and their families has been evident across the course of the training at the pilot sites.' Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, said: 'The ABC programme design is based on the principle that evidence-based, co-designed patient-focused standardisation of clinical practice can reduce unwarranted variation and improve care and outcomes. 'Crucially, this needs to be supported by comprehensive improvement resources, including training, tools and assets to enable good clinical practice and teamwork and respectful and inclusion communication and decision-making with women and birth partners. 'The pilot has shown that it's possible to train people effectively and efficiently. A national commitment to implement the programme at scale will be important in ensuring that the benefits are seen.' Professor Donald Peebles, national clinical director for maternity, NHS England, said: 'The national implementation of the ABC programme will make a huge difference to babies and their families, helping to prevent the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries and ensure more healthy babies are returning home with their families. 'This is hugely welcome news for maternity teams across the country who are set to benefit from this important training programme that will help ensure women and babies receive high quality, safe and personalised care.'
North Wales Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
NHS programme to reduce brain injuries in childbirth to be rolled out nationally
The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme will help maternity staff to better identify signs that the baby is in distress during labour so they can act quickly, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. It will also help staff respond more effectively to obstetric emergencies, such as where the baby's head becomes lodged deep in the mother's pelvis during a caesarean birth, the DHSC added. The Government programme, which will begin from September and follows a development phase and pilot scheme, will reduce the number of avoidable brain injuries during childbirth – helping to prevent lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy, according to the DHSC. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'All expectant mothers giving birth in an NHS hospital should have peace of mind that they are in safe hands. 'This vital programme will give staff across the country the right tools and training to deliver better care to women and their babies, reducing the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries. 'Under our Plan for Change, we are supporting trusts to make rapid improvements and training thousands more midwives – but I know more needs to be done. We will put women's voices right at the heart of our reforms as we work to improve care.' The national rollout follows a pilot in 12 maternity units that was launched in October and delivered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute. The pilot has shown the programme will fill a gap in current training by bringing multi-disciplinary teams together to work more collaboratively to improve outcomes, the DHSC said. It added that the programme will give clinicians more confidence to take swift action in managing an emergency during labour. It is expected to reduce inequalities in maternity outcomes across England – so that most maternity units achieve outcomes comparable to the highest-performing 20% of trusts. Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said: 'The ABC programme supports multi-disciplinary maternity teams to deliver safer, more personalised care. 'Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthesiologists have been involved in developing and testing this quality improvement programme. 'We have heard what a difference it makes, supporting teams to work effectively together in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations. The RCOG is extremely proud to have been part of this fantastic collaboration.' Gill Walton, Royal College of Midwives chief executive, said: 'Every midwife, maternity support worker, obstetrician, anaesthetist and sonographer wants to provide good, safe care – and the best way to do that is by working and training together. The ABC programme has brought together all those involved in maternity care, offering practical solutions to some of the most acute clinical challenges. 'Crucially the ABC programme tools and training have been developed based on the voices of women, families and maternity staff. This has been the key to the success of the pilot programme. 'Equally the will and drive of midwives and the wider multi-disciplinary team to improve safety and outcomes for women and their families has been evident across the course of the training at the pilot sites.' Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, said: 'The ABC programme design is based on the principle that evidence-based, co-designed patient-focused standardisation of clinical practice can reduce unwarranted variation and improve care and outcomes. 'Crucially, this needs to be supported by comprehensive improvement resources, including training, tools and assets to enable good clinical practice and teamwork and respectful and inclusion communication and decision-making with women and birth partners. 'The pilot has shown that it's possible to train people effectively and efficiently. A national commitment to implement the programme at scale will be important in ensuring that the benefits are seen.' Professor Donald Peebles, national clinical director for maternity, NHS England, said: 'The national implementation of the ABC programme will make a huge difference to babies and their families, helping to prevent the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries and ensure more healthy babies are returning home with their families. 'This is hugely welcome news for maternity teams across the country who are set to benefit from this important training programme that will help ensure women and babies receive high quality, safe and personalised care.'
Leader Live
12-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
NHS programme to reduce brain injuries in childbirth to be rolled out nationally
The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme will help maternity staff to better identify signs that the baby is in distress during labour so they can act quickly, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. It will also help staff respond more effectively to obstetric emergencies, such as where the baby's head becomes lodged deep in the mother's pelvis during a caesarean birth, the DHSC added. The Government programme, which will begin from September and follows a development phase and pilot scheme, will reduce the number of avoidable brain injuries during childbirth – helping to prevent lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy, according to the DHSC. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'All expectant mothers giving birth in an NHS hospital should have peace of mind that they are in safe hands. 'This vital programme will give staff across the country the right tools and training to deliver better care to women and their babies, reducing the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries. 'Under our Plan for Change, we are supporting trusts to make rapid improvements and training thousands more midwives – but I know more needs to be done. We will put women's voices right at the heart of our reforms as we work to improve care.' The national rollout follows a pilot in 12 maternity units that was launched in October and delivered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute. The pilot has shown the programme will fill a gap in current training by bringing multi-disciplinary teams together to work more collaboratively to improve outcomes, the DHSC said. It added that the programme will give clinicians more confidence to take swift action in managing an emergency during labour. It is expected to reduce inequalities in maternity outcomes across England – so that most maternity units achieve outcomes comparable to the highest-performing 20% of trusts. Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said: 'The ABC programme supports multi-disciplinary maternity teams to deliver safer, more personalised care. 'Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthesiologists have been involved in developing and testing this quality improvement programme. 'We have heard what a difference it makes, supporting teams to work effectively together in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations. The RCOG is extremely proud to have been part of this fantastic collaboration.' Gill Walton, Royal College of Midwives chief executive, said: 'Every midwife, maternity support worker, obstetrician, anaesthetist and sonographer wants to provide good, safe care – and the best way to do that is by working and training together. The ABC programme has brought together all those involved in maternity care, offering practical solutions to some of the most acute clinical challenges. 'Crucially the ABC programme tools and training have been developed based on the voices of women, families and maternity staff. This has been the key to the success of the pilot programme. 'Equally the will and drive of midwives and the wider multi-disciplinary team to improve safety and outcomes for women and their families has been evident across the course of the training at the pilot sites.' Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, said: 'The ABC programme design is based on the principle that evidence-based, co-designed patient-focused standardisation of clinical practice can reduce unwarranted variation and improve care and outcomes. 'Crucially, this needs to be supported by comprehensive improvement resources, including training, tools and assets to enable good clinical practice and teamwork and respectful and inclusion communication and decision-making with women and birth partners. 'The pilot has shown that it's possible to train people effectively and efficiently. A national commitment to implement the programme at scale will be important in ensuring that the benefits are seen.' Professor Donald Peebles, national clinical director for maternity, NHS England, said: 'The national implementation of the ABC programme will make a huge difference to babies and their families, helping to prevent the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries and ensure more healthy babies are returning home with their families. 'This is hugely welcome news for maternity teams across the country who are set to benefit from this important training programme that will help ensure women and babies receive high quality, safe and personalised care.'
Rhyl Journal
12-05-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
NHS programme to reduce brain injuries in childbirth to be rolled out nationally
The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme will help maternity staff to better identify signs that the baby is in distress during labour so they can act quickly, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. It will also help staff respond more effectively to obstetric emergencies, such as where the baby's head becomes lodged deep in the mother's pelvis during a caesarean birth, the DHSC added. The Government programme, which will begin from September and follows a development phase and pilot scheme, will reduce the number of avoidable brain injuries during childbirth – helping to prevent lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy, according to the DHSC. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'All expectant mothers giving birth in an NHS hospital should have peace of mind that they are in safe hands. 'This vital programme will give staff across the country the right tools and training to deliver better care to women and their babies, reducing the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries. 'Under our Plan for Change, we are supporting trusts to make rapid improvements and training thousands more midwives – but I know more needs to be done. We will put women's voices right at the heart of our reforms as we work to improve care.' The national rollout follows a pilot in 12 maternity units that was launched in October and delivered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute. The pilot has shown the programme will fill a gap in current training by bringing multi-disciplinary teams together to work more collaboratively to improve outcomes, the DHSC said. It added that the programme will give clinicians more confidence to take swift action in managing an emergency during labour. It is expected to reduce inequalities in maternity outcomes across England – so that most maternity units achieve outcomes comparable to the highest-performing 20% of trusts. Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said: 'The ABC programme supports multi-disciplinary maternity teams to deliver safer, more personalised care. 'Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthesiologists have been involved in developing and testing this quality improvement programme. 'We have heard what a difference it makes, supporting teams to work effectively together in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations. The RCOG is extremely proud to have been part of this fantastic collaboration.' Gill Walton, Royal College of Midwives chief executive, said: 'Every midwife, maternity support worker, obstetrician, anaesthetist and sonographer wants to provide good, safe care – and the best way to do that is by working and training together. The ABC programme has brought together all those involved in maternity care, offering practical solutions to some of the most acute clinical challenges. 'Crucially the ABC programme tools and training have been developed based on the voices of women, families and maternity staff. This has been the key to the success of the pilot programme. 'Equally the will and drive of midwives and the wider multi-disciplinary team to improve safety and outcomes for women and their families has been evident across the course of the training at the pilot sites.' Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, said: 'The ABC programme design is based on the principle that evidence-based, co-designed patient-focused standardisation of clinical practice can reduce unwarranted variation and improve care and outcomes. 'Crucially, this needs to be supported by comprehensive improvement resources, including training, tools and assets to enable good clinical practice and teamwork and respectful and inclusion communication and decision-making with women and birth partners. 'The pilot has shown that it's possible to train people effectively and efficiently. A national commitment to implement the programme at scale will be important in ensuring that the benefits are seen.' Professor Donald Peebles, national clinical director for maternity, NHS England, said: 'The national implementation of the ABC programme will make a huge difference to babies and their families, helping to prevent the devastating impact of avoidable brain injuries and ensure more healthy babies are returning home with their families. 'This is hugely welcome news for maternity teams across the country who are set to benefit from this important training programme that will help ensure women and babies receive high quality, safe and personalised care.'
