A new initiative designed to empower women and their birth partners during the labour and birth process has been launched in NHS Fife.
Labour Hopscotch empowers women and their partners through a series of guided exercises, relaxation techniques, and coping strategies.
Colourful stations resembling a hopscotch board are located across the maternity unit in the Victoria Hospital, each representing activities designed to help improve the birthing experience. Stations include:
- Mobilise: exercises designed to promote optimal foetal positioning.
- Stool: using a birthing stool to aid the baby’s descent into the pelvis.
- Toilet: helping empty the bladder to avoid blocking baby’s head from descending.
- Water: techniques for staying hydrated and utilising water therapy for pain relief.
- Birthing ball: exercises to help baby’s head rotate into the pelvis.
- Mat: techniques including getting on all fours on a yoga mat.
- Alternative therapy: exploring options including aromatherapy, acupressure, and massage.
NHS Fife has complemented the stations by building an online resource at www.nhsfife.org/labourhopscotch where local midwife, Louise Hepburn, provides step-by-step video guides on how to get the most out of each station.
She said: “Labour Hopscotch can generally be started from around 20 weeks of pregnancy and aims to enhance the overall birthing experience by helping move your baby into the best position for birth. It’s more than just a tool; it's an empowering journey for women and their partners. By providing them with knowledge and practical techniques, we hope to enhance their confidence and create a more positive birthing experience.
Louise's inspiration for bringing Labour Hopscotch to Fife came from a visit to the Victoria Hospital from the program's creator, Irish midwife Sinead Thompson.
She said: “When Sinead came over, we quickly saw the benefits of using something so visually striking and user-friendly and it was clear that this would be a valuable resource for our expectant parents. It’s early days but since the stations have gone up feedback from women and their partners has been good. We have even had international interest in our work with a delegation from an Icelandic hospital coming to visit us in October.”
The project was funded by Fife Health Charity.
For more information about the Labour Hopscotch initiative in Fife, please visit www.nhsfife.org/labourhopscotch.
