In this episode it’s us together again in the cauldron and Katie chats with Rachel about all things early weight loss… and gain in babies.

We look at:

· Why do babies lose weight?

· What is normal weight loss?

· Are there some babies who are more likely to lose more weight than others?

· What’s with the panic once we hit the (not so magical) number of 10% weight loss?

· And how can we best support mums and babies through this period of feeding difficulty, before we jump straight into the bottles of formula top-ups.

· What about IV fluids given to labouring women and the effect on a baby’s weight straight after birth? We know there’s been talk of a correlation right, but why do we not have any standardised guidelines for this yet?

· We try to straighten out the facts on one of those common anxiety causing parts of breastfeeding.

All this and the usual banter when us two get together.

LINKS:
Breastfeeding & lactation: the fundamentals course
BJM paper: Maternal intrapartrum fluids and neonatal weight loss in the breastfed infant. 2023

Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!

Support the Show.

• Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee
• MERCH here!
• Music Joseph McDade

Like this podcast? Leave us a review here
Want more from Katie and Rachel?
Katie's website
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Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness.

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

In this episode Rachel talks to Katie about all the wondrous and darn right fascinating things about the amniotic sac.

· Why is the baby surrounded by fluid, and what is it made of?

· Women are often told they have too much or too little fluid. Is this a problem?

· We also discuss why Rachel is (slightly!) obsessed with the function of the amniotic sac during labour

· We ask does breaking the amniotic sac (the waters) speed up labour at any point?

· What if your amniotic sac breaks before labour? We discuss the time the time-frames around augmenting labour when this has happened.

· And we discuss what if the membranes don’t break during labour?

All this and lots more for your eager lug’ols.

LINKS:

https://midwifethinking.com/2015/09/16/in-defence-of-the-amniotic-sac/

https://midwifethinking.com/2013/08/14/amniotic-fluid-volume-too-much-too-little-or-who-knows/

https://midwifethinking.com/2015/01/14/the-curse-of-meconium-stained-liquor/

https://midwifethinking.com/2017/01/11/pre-labour-rupture-of-membranes-impatience-and-risk/

Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!

Support the Show.

• Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee
• MERCH here!
• Music Joseph McDade

Like this podcast? Leave us a review here
Want more from Katie and Rachel?
Katie's website
Rachel's website

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness.

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

In this episode I discuss with Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly all things pregnancy sickness and Hyperemesis.

Just a few months ago the scientific evidence was published highlighting what causes pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis. This breakthrough discovery came from the work of Prof Sir O’Rahilly, his team and the team from Dr Marlena S. Fejzo in the US.

This ground breaking work gives hope to thousands of women globally who suffer terribly throughout their pregnancy with extreme nausea and sickness.

• I discuss what it is that causing this to happen during pregnancy.
• Why our human bodies could be making this hormone and what it’s use would possibly be for.
• And what the future holds for a cure, how Prof O’Rahilly and his team are working collaboratively with the pregnancy sickness support, a UK charity, women who have and are currently suffering from hyperemesis, and a team of obstetric specialists to find the answer to help stop this condition.

Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly FRS, is Co-Director of the Institute of Metabolic Science (IMS) and Director of the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit which is part of the broader University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories which he also directs. On the wider Cambridge Biomedical Campus, he is Scientific Director of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Head of the University Department of Clinical Biochemistry.

He was elected FRS in 2003, to the National Academy of Sciences, USA in 2011, has received five honorary doctorates and numerous scientific awards.

In 2013 he was made Knight Bachelor & for services to medical research.

His main research area is the aetiology and pathophysiology of human metabolic and endocrine disease and how such information might be used to improve the diagnosis, therapy and prevention of these diseases.

LINKS:
Pregnancy Sickness Support UK
Dr Marlena S. Fejzo HER Foundation
GD15 linked to maternal risk of nausea and vomiting during pregn

Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!

Support the Show.

• Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee
• MERCH here!
• Music Joseph McDade

Like this podcast? Leave us a review here
Want more from Katie and Rachel?
Katie's website
Rachel's website

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness.

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.