Naomi's Empowering Birth and Breastfeeding and Mothering

09/09/2026

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Every Tuesday and Thursday, 73-year-old Dave Whitlow walks into the neonatal intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

He isn’t a doctor, nurse, or relative. He is a volunteer baby cuddler, holding the most important unpaid job in the building.

For eight years, Whitlow has shown up to cradle the hospital's most fragile patients—babies born too early, facing surgeries, or waiting for parents who must work to survive.

On a busy day, he cradles up to eight infants, some weighing under two pounds. The science is absolute: human touch isn't a cute extra; it actively regulates a premature baby’s heart rate, breathing, and stress.

But it’s his parting ritual that truly captures hearts.

Before placing each baby back into their incubator, Whitlow leans in close and whispers the same exact six words: "Grow strong. Grow smart. Grow kind."

A retired government manager, father, and grandfather, Whitlow has now spoken this powerful blessing over hundreds of Richmond's smallest fighters.

"It's the best gig I've ever had," he smiles. "It just feels right."

Some people search a lifetime to find their calling. Dave found his in a rocking chair.

08/09/2026

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25/08/2026

Anyone else NOT enjoy the cardbiard testing processed white bread after birth when you are really hungry?

After hours of labour or hours spent nil by mouth before a planned caesarean, you're likely to be pretty hungry! That first bite of food after the birth is usually devine 😋
In hospitals and birth centres in the UK it's commonly toast or biscuits but honestly, it's the best toast ever!

What did you eat after the birth? After my initial toast, I would start on the bag of labour snacks I never got round to eating 😆

Midwife Marley

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25/08/2026

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credit: Everyday People Cartoons

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14/08/2026

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It is only true informed consent when you understand the option to decline.

When preparing for birth, remember that YOU are in charge of your own body. You get to be an active participant in the decision-making process when it comes to birth, whether positioning or interventions.

Unsure if you're getting true informed consent? Try using B.R.A.I.N. to ask more questions.

Benefits - What's the benefit for me? For baby?
Risks - What are the risks to me? To baby?
Alternatives - What alternatives exist?
Intuition - What's my intuition, or gut feeling?
Nothing - What happens if we do nothing?

07/08/2026

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07/08/2026

😂

They love saying, “He’s just using you as a pacifier,” like pacifiers were not literally created to imitate the breast in the first place.

Baby is not confused. He knows exactly where the original source of milk, comfort, warmth, safety, and connection is. The plastic version might buy a few minutes, but when he wants the real thing, he knows exactly where to go.

Sorry. The knockoff just is not hitting the same. 😌

07/08/2026

If you've had a baby spend time in NICU, you'll understand the commitment and challenges that breastfeeding can bring.

Today we are rounding off World Breastfeeding Week by sharing Stephanie's story of establishing breastfeeding her baby while he was in the Oliver Fisher Unit at Medway 💛

"Being able to breastfeed my baby felt incredibly important to me. Naturally, after having an emergency c-section and baby unfortunately being sent to NICU I was so apprehensive that my feeding journey might not be what I had hoped.

I pumped round the clock by his incubator, in the ward and eventually from home hoping my milk would come in. Thankfully after 7 days when baby was taken off oxygen, I was able to put him to the breast for the first time, and he took to it straight away. The NICU nurses were absolute angels in guiding us through it all and I was able to stay in at the Oliver Fisher ward to establish feeding properly before we were discharged.

My aim was 6 months and 9 months on were still going with no plans to stop anytime soon. I’m incredibly grateful."

Thank you so much Stephanie for sharing your story. It's so important we share our experiences and help others going through similar things💜

The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust Medway Maternity

06/08/2026

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