Michelle Bar

It is a bit of a sensitive matter but if you wish to support Melinda then PM me and I'll give you the full story. You may be interested to know that the alternative therapies service at the Jessops has just been closed down because management see it as "too risky". Michelle.

Can you please PM me if you have ever been cared for by midwife Melinda Pagden. I am trying to canvas support for this fantastic midwife who has worked on the One to One team for years and also run the alternative therapies service at the Jessops. Thanks, Michelle.

Some of the car park is shaded but I can't guarantee you will get a place in a shaded area. Parking is free and there is plenty of it on-site and on the road nearby. Michelle.

I didn't realise you wanted me to respond to your message as you asked if any forum members were going to the event. Michelle.

Hi Everyone, I have some taster sessions for tomorrow's event confirmed as follows: 12-1pm Yoga with Olivia Lester or Homebirth with Michelle Barnes 1-2pm Active Birth with Olivia Lester or HypnoBirthing with Lucy Atkinson 2-3pm Acupressure with Jo Moon or Homebirth with Michelle Barnes 3-4pm HypnoBirthing with Lucy Atkinson 4-5pm TBC 5-6pm TBC So if your thinking of coming along then why not time your visit to coincide with one of these free sessions. There are also a few creche places still available if you need one. See website for further details: http://www.sheffieldmaternityforum.org.uk Michelle.

If your intending on coming along to this event and you have children under five then why not use the free creche for 1-2 hours and give yourself a break - to register please contact Maureen Leach on Tel: (0114) 230 5073. Michelle. http://www.sheffieldmaternityforum.org.uk

I have just updated the website with more details about this fantastic FREE event - please visit http://www.sheffieldmaternityforum.org.uk Michelle.

Yes please PM me or email enquiries@sheffieldmaternityforum.org.uk

Hi, It is often all about the way health professionals communicate i.e. if they explain what is happening and do so in a calm and kind manner then it is less likely to be traumatic. Which is often why, for example, a woman who has had a nice forceps delivery cannot understand why another woman was so traumatised by what appears to have been the same experience. I had a traumatic emergency caesarean, in September 2003, because procedures were carried out without my informed consent and my babies heart rate dropped dramatically. I had to have the operation under general anaesthetic because there wasn't enough time for a spinal and when I woke up I truly believed that my baby would be dead. Thankfully my baby was born alive and well. Throughout my pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period I found the way that some staff spoke to me sometimes brusque and unhelpful. Taken individually this may seem minor but accumulated together it had a big impact. I wrote a letter of complaint, to the Chief Executive at the Hospital Trust, about my experience and the letter I got back explained a lot and was very healing. But then I found I needed lots of support during my second pregnancy and had to look outside the NHS and hire an Independent Midwife. It can be healing to talk to other women who have been through similar experiences, writing about your experience and/or speaking to a trained counsellor. I joined Sheffield Maternity Forum - a group of local women who work in partnership with NHS Sheffield to improve local maternity services. I also joined AIMS, a national group, and edited one of their quarterly journals entitled 'Birth Trauma' - if anyone is interested you can purchase a copy via the AIMS website http://www.aims.org.uk/pubs3.htm. There are lots of other national support organisation: http://www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol19No1/supportNetworks.htm. I also contacted the Birth Crisis helpline on 01865300266. About a year ago I went to see a Homeopath who was so understanding of my situation and helped to lift the final layer of baggage that was starting to affect me physically with constant tiredness and mental sluggishness that simply baffled my GP. I can now finally say that I am fully recovered from my traumatic birth and would be more than happy to lend an ear if anyone wanted to talk to me about their experience. Indeed Sheffield Maternity Forum are always on the look out for feedback from women about their experiences of maternity care in Sheffield so that, if needed, we can help to improve the service for others. If you are interested in joining see http://www.sheffieldmaternityforum.org.uk or PM me. Michelle.

Hi Just turn up on the day but book creche places, if require, in advance on the number already given. You can get to the Centre in the Park: •By Tram - the nearest tram stop is Arbourthorne Road. There is a five minute walk from the tram stop to the Centre in the Park. •By Bus - the number 41 passes the Granville Road entrance to the park. Other buses come nearer to the Centre in the Park, but are not as regular. •By Car - the Centre in the Park has its own dedicated car park, which is close to the building. The car park is located off Guildford Avenue entrance. The car park and the Centre are monitored by CCTV.

Sheffield Maternity Forum would like to invite you to a free event we are hosting on 14th May 2010, at The Centre in The Park, Norfolk Park, Sheffield, from 12pm to 6pm. This event is intended to provide information and advice to parents on a wide range of matters to do with maternity and childcare. The day will include the opportunity to: - Find out about the different services available to parents and parents-to-be in Sheffield - Meet other parents - Indulge with taster sessions Lunch will be provided and free crèche places will be available throughout the day to give mums a break – if you would like to register for a crèche place please contact Maureen Leach on Tel: (0114) 230 5073. For further details of the different services available on the day please visit: http://www.sheffieldmaternityforum.org.uk

I plan to have a homebirth group meeting on Wednesday 24 Feb, 07:30-9pm. If you would like to attend please let me know and I'll give you the address. Email: infor@sheffieldhomebirth.org.uk. Everyone is welcome so please feel free to come along and meet like minded people, share stories and ask questions. Michelle http://www.sheffieldhomebirth.org.uk

I think your feelings are completely understandable and normal given your past experience and the difficulty you have had trying for another baby. I am an experienced birth doula and would be very pleased to support you through your pregnancy and your birth if you would like to contact me. Best wishes, Michelle. http://www.sheffieldbirthdoula.com

Just posted the message about the Choices Workshop because we will be doing a Birth Pool in a Box demonstartion. These are the pools that NHS Sheffield loan to women for home water births. There are 20 of these pools available for use in community and they are free of charge. Making it much more likely for you to have a water birth if you have it at home as opposed to hospital where there is only one pool.

The last Home Birth Workshop for 2009 is scheduled to take place on Friday 4 December, 19:00-20:30, at Riverdale Studio, Riverdale, 89 Graham Road, Sheffield, S10 3GP. This informal session will cover: * Why homebirth? * Planning a homebirth (including how to deal with any difficulties you might encounter). * Practicalities * Birth Pool in a Box demonstration * Information to take away and ongoing support if needed * With plenty of opportunity to ask questions and hear some inspiring home birth stories. For further details and/or to book a place please visit the website http://www.sheffieldchoicesinchildbirth.com/page3.htm or phone 0114 2250254 and leave your name and address.