Who is kate bergamasco ?

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Who is Kate Bergamasco ?

Let’s throwback to student midwife Kate Bergamasco –

This was me when I began my midwifery career. Although when I was 17 and fresh out of school.I knew from the time I was 16 when I witnessed a birth on work experience that I wanted to be a midiwfe
So this photo is me living my dream 

I was 22 years old and this was me during my midwifery training at Modbury hospital.My midwifery training days were focused on learning about how birth happened.We were taught to listen to mothers, build a rapport with families and become proficient at monitoring mums and babies through pregnancy , birth and the postnatal period..

By the end of the 12 month course we were all too aware that while we had passed our exams and delivered many babies, we still needed to gain a lot more experience .There was so much more to learn and I acknowledge now, 33 years on , I will never know everything.

I was very conscious even as a 22 year old graduate that my knowledge about helping mums breastfeed was limited.

WILL  I be able to breastfeed if my mother couldn’t ?

In 1990 so many practises we adopted with breastfeeding caused so much pain for mothers.We used to bath babies within the first hour of birth, we cut the umbilical cord as soon as the baby was out, we wrapped baby and THEN handed b aby to mum for her first breastfeed.We didnt know then the value of skin on skin or the golden hour.

I can remember mums with bleeding painful nipples trying to tolerate breastfeeds.and then sitting with red lamps faced toward their nipples to dry them out with the belief it would +toughen + them up.

No wonder so many mothers stopped breastfeeding before they even left hospital..

This experience is what lead e to study to be a  lactation consultant  , I wanted to ensure i could have a positive impact on mothers feeding journey.

Fortunately over the past 30 years our knowledge and practises have improved greatly and Im always quick to reasure mums whose own mothers couldnt breastfeed (in the 1990s) that our techniques have improved .

How have things changed ?

  • Skin on skin 
  • The golden hour
  • Rooming baby in with mum 
  • Not bathing baby in the first 3 days of birth
  • Giving mums and partners antenatal education on breastfeeding 

If youd like o be supported by Kate BOOK a chat

 

 

How to have an active birth

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How to have an active birth

An active birth is often the key to achieving a vaginal birth with less need for pharmacological pain relief.

Your body i built for birth but with impact of TV, internet and medical involvement in this natural process, society has lost perspective.We see so many dramatic birth, we hear so many traumatic stories and medical science crates such a fear , that we have lost perspective.

In fact research shows that women who are well informed about how the female body , hormones and environment work in sync, have more positive bieth outcomes than women who only receive standard childbirth education.

What is the difference ?

In standard childbirth classes, women are informed about medications, procedures and hospital policies.

Information is often presented in such a way that women and partners feel they dont have choices about procedures.

STaff are employed by the hospital and therefore the content is dictated by the organization.

Independant childbirth classes

Provide evidence based, natural   , positive and empowering information.Couples are provided with more infomration on how the hormones worlk with the body to promote natural labour.

Youll recive information about different positions, breathing techniques, accupressure points and undrstand how they work with your body to promote natural birth

Accupre4ssure pointslight touchPr4essure points help labour

Join my next group class