If you are preparing for birth, chances are someone has mentioned vaginal examinations in labour, sometimes called VEs or “internal examinations”. For many parents, they are just presented as something that routinely happens during labour. But in reality, vaginal examinations are far more nuanced than that. They can sometimes provide useful information. They can also feel uncomfortable, emotionally difficult, or lead to decisions that deserve careful thought. And importantly,

Aromatherapy for Childbirth: What You Need to Know in Scotland Have you thought about using aromatherapy to help you cope with labour? Maybe you’ve had a massage with essential oils that left you blissfully relaxed, or maybe the smell of lavender makes you wrinkle your nose. Either way, aromatherapy is now a well-established option in maternity care across Scotland - especially here in West Lothian, Edinburgh, NHS Lothian & Forth Valley. ⚠️ Note: This blog is for information

Pacing Yourself: The Art of Coping with Contractions This Easter weekend in West Lothian, the sun finally made an appearance. Like half the street, I was out in the garden, tackling a spring clean-up. Weeding, mowing, scrubbing the patio and eventually, painting the raised beds we built a few years ago. After a couple of hours of painting, stretching, swapping hands, and shifting my weight to ease my aching joints, it struck me: this is just like labour. Labour and the Garden