As the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it seems that fear has become a routine part of life. If you have a loved one who is pregnant, she may be having a harder time overcoming her anxieties and feeling reassured about the future.   You can support your friend by sharing the resources on the Birthing Instincts website and blog. Further, here’s a list (presented by Kent Hypnobirthing) filled with practical, safe, and budget-friendly resources for helping out during the pandemic.   Virtual Baby Shower Gift Ideas   Just because in-person gatherings are ..read more

It's not always easy to admit to feeling lonely as a new mum. You have a small child permanently attached to your hip, have a million things to do at home - not to mention find time to have a shower yourself - and yet somehow there's that constant feeling of being lonely. Loneliness is very different from being alone. You don't have to be a mum to understand that sometimes you can feel very lonely even when you're surrounded by people. When you have a baby, you are never alone. But you may not have adult company from early morning to late evening. If you are a single mum, you might not have ad ..read more

There can be a lot of confusion around the humble birth plan. Are they really that necessary? Will anyone even read it? Is there any point in writing one? Well, I strongly believe the answer is yes! You wouldn't throw a party without some sort of plan. And you wouldn't promote your business without a firm plan in place. So why wouldn't you plan for the birth of your baby? Birth plans are definitely necessary, and it is absolutely worth your time and energy to write one. And there are several reasons why you need a birth plan. Everyone should be on the same page Whether or not you have strong i ..read more

Induction of labour is becoming increasingly common in UK. The number of births where the woman was induced has risen from 20% in 2007-08 to 32% in 2017-18 (NHS Maternity Statistics). Induction can be offered for a number of reasons, most commonly because of “prolonged pregnancy” - over 42 weeks gestation. It is also offered if there are health concerns for mother or baby, or if for some reason, it is deemed to be a safer option to have the baby sooner rather than later. Do I have to have an induction? No. You do not have to have any procedure you do not want. Of course, induction is usually ..read more

Is it going to hurt? I hear so many women ask that when they find out they are pregnant. I remember it was the number one concern I had when I was expecting my baby. It has to be the biggest cause of fear and anxiety among first time mums (and maybe even some mums who have already given birth!) Well, I’m not going to tell you that doing hypnobirthing will give you a totally pain-free birth - if I could guarantee that I would be a very rich woman. But I am here to say that it can make a huge difference in your pain levels during labour and in how you manage that pain. How can hypnobirthing help ..read more

Words by Sophie This blog is for those walking alongside their pregnant partners. Helping, guiding, preparing, and supporting. You are vital to the whole act of birth because you have a most wonderful ability which no midwife or doctor can do quite as well as you. You can make your partner feel loved, cared for, and supported. You know better than anyone else what makes her feel safe, calm, and loved. You know better than anyone else what makes her feel scared, anxious, and daunted. Just by being with her, holding her and encouraging her will be creating more Oxytocin (the hormone so important ..read more

Something to consider as you are preparing for childbirth is skin-to-skin time with your baby in the minutes, hours, and days after birth. Skin-to-skin is holding your baby close to your body with ideally no clothing between you.  1.     Bonding – Perhaps one of the most obvious benefits. Having this closeness with your baby as soon as you can helps to stay in the flow of childbirth. Your body continues to work after the birth and having this time (sometimes called the golden hour) slows everything down. Gives you, your baby, and your partner space to adjust. The smel ..read more

Words by Sophie I find this subject an extremely interesting one to tackle and one that is very much like marmite. It’s seems to me that mostly it is either the only focus or it’s hidden away and not discussed, both extremes are not necessarily the best course of action. We do need to talk & share our experiences but we must be mindful of some of the ways we have been conditioned as a culture to fear birth & mistrust our bodies and how this has had a HUGE impact on how we as a nation birth. ( and as a result how we talk about birth ) In plain terms we have been lied to. We have had wha ..read more

Words by Sophie So labour is beginning, your baby is on their way! All those months of pregnancy have been preparing for this moment. You might be feeling an array of emotions; perhaps excited, anxious, restless, relieved, daunted (or something else) You may realise the process has started by feeling sensations building, you may have lost your mucus plug as you begin to open, your waters may have released, you may have felt sick, maybe restless or you may have just had a feeling (or a combination of these). Before we start delving into what to do during this phase of labour let’s just cover br ..read more

Words by Sophie It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas and so a seasonal blog for you this week! How can a Christmas song help us to prepare for an empowering birth? Good question you might say! Well firstly I would like you to think about the feelings conjured up when a song like last Christmas comes on the radio or better yet take a moment to stick on a Christmas tune and note the feelings conjured. You might (like myself) feel so excited and flooded with good memories associated with the season or if you are not a fan (especially if you work in retail and have been hearing them since ..read more