Fife Health Charity recently awarded around £8,000 to fund an innovative initiative designed to empower women and their birth partners during labour and delivery.
Labour Hopscotch has been launched in the Victoria Hospital maternity unit and is helping to foster a more positive and informed birthing experience.
It features a series of colourful stations resembling a hopscotch board, strategically placed throughout the maternity unit. Each station offers guided exercises, relaxation techniques, and coping strategies tailored to specific birthing needs. These include promoting optimal foetal positioning, utilising birthing tools like stools and balls, exploring pain management options like water therapy and alternative therapies, and even simple yet crucial steps like bladder emptying.
Thanks to the generous support of the charity we have been able to implement a truly empowering tool for women and their partners.
Midwife, Louise Hepburn, has expressed her gratitude towards Fife Health Charity for making this program a reality. She said "Thanks to the generous support of the charity we have been able to implement a truly empowering tool for women and their partners. Labour Hopscotch arms them with knowledge and practical techniques well before labour begins, bringing them confidence and a sense of control during such a momentous time."
Pictured above: Louise Hepburn with parents
Labour Hopscotch has garnered international attention and NHS Fife recently welcomed a delegation from an Icelandic hospital eager to learn more about the program's implementation. This early international interest underscores its potential to enhance birthing experiences across the globe and Fife Health Charity is proud to be part of that.
