How does the meadow-flower its bloom unfold?
I led a circle discussion last Sunday at Mangreen Wellness and Creativity event near Norfolk, organised by Sue Bayliss. The topic was making alternative choices in pregnancy and birth. As I was...
View ArticleEvery person at your birth is an intervention!
Before I begin, let me start by saying this isn’t a post saying all interventions are bad. You and only you can judge what you do and don’t want to accept or decline for you and your baby....
View ArticleNatural homebirth – not just for hippies!
There is a myth and a misconception that really needs to be overhauled once and for all. I want to help shake off the idea that natural birth is only possible for a selective group of earth mothers...
View ArticleBlooming Marvellous
” How does the meadow flower it’s bloom unfold? Because the lovely little flower is free down to its root, and in that freedom bold “ ~ William Wordsworth Isn’t it amazing how a tiny, tiny bud...
View ArticleWhat is a natural birth?
Something struck me today about the term ‘natural birth’ and I had a little ‘aha’ moment to myself. So I thought I’d share my thoughts with you on this. The term ‘natural birth’ conjures up certain...
View ArticleBreastfeeding needs time, loving care and support
Breasfeeding is an activity which seems to be harder for some women to do these days. I have been one such mama. After experiencing no problems breastfeeding my older three children, at the time I was...
View ArticleHomebirth – is it really that dangerous in 2015?
There’s a gameshow here in the UK called QI (which stands for Quite Interesting). When a contestant says a wrong answer, gigantic screens behind the contestant flash on and off whilst very loud alarm...
View ArticleHow society tells women to be aspirational… just not in their birth choices
I’ve been thinking today about the mixed messages we receive about how and when we women are encouraged to be aspirational, and by contrast, when we’re told to stop whining and suck up our lot. We are...
View ArticleDear Healthcare provider….
Dear healthcare provider, Please think very carefully before you say the words you are about to speak. Before you laugh at my birth plan, snigger at my choices, try to bully or trick me (for the safety...
View ArticleExtortionate fees or extreme value for money?
If you think doulas are expensive, trust me, you are about to find out just what good value we actually are. This as an open letter to Dr Ahmed Rashid, an NHS doctor, in response to his comments about...
View ArticleThe 12 Ancient Midwives
Have you ever wondered how women give birth without assistance? The ones who have their baby rather dramatically and unexpectedly in such places like the back of a taxi, in a lift, or alone in the...
View ArticleHow you can help women avoid birth trauma and PTSD
What causes birth trauma? According to the Birth Trauma Association, it’s caused by a number of things: Lengthy labour or short and very painful labour Induction Poor pain relief Feelings of loss of...
View ArticleHow to have a positive birth when the maternity system is on its knees
In 2018 you would think we would have it sussed when it comes to how we treat and educate birthing women. We’ve had a long time to figure this stuff out – millennia in fact. So why are some women still...
View ArticleHow doulas can help you navigate your birth journey
I’ve been staying in wildest Dartmoor, in a beautiful yurt for a few days. Today I made my winding way up to Bel Tor and I had some realisations and thoughts about birth as I walked along the twisting...
View ArticleDear Mama-To-Be, I’m not who you think I am….
Dear mama-to-be, When you first contacted me, you came with shattered dreams and a broken heart from a time before when you lost faith in your body, and lost faith in the system that was supposed to...
View ArticleWhy it’s NEVER ok to ‘wash your hands’ of a woman’s birth plan
Unless it’s happened to you, you might think I was making up some of the comments I’ve heard from GP’s, Obstetricians, Midwives and Health Visitors either first hand, from clients, from other doulas,...
View ArticleMother’s Guilt!
Keeping a large family fed, watered and clothed in these modern times can be a complex web of decisions for us mums. It feels like there isn’t a single choice that doesn’t mean either our kids miss out...
View ArticleDear midwives, I need to tell you something
I’m so sorry. In the years I had to campaign and fight for all women to have the same rights to homebirth, I heard from so many mothers across the country who were tired, hurting and broken by their...
View ArticleDoulas help you in ways you maybe can’t even imagine yet!
Why would you need a doula? What do they do? To give you an idea, I’ve written a list of some of the many ways I have supported parents in the birth room and in the hours and days immediately...
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