Sam came to Pregnancy Yoga classes with LushTums founder, Clare Maddalena in Brighton. She gave birth at home and here’s her wonderful positive birth story.

Am I “allowed” to eat in labour? Hell yes lady, you are allowed to do what you want to do. But here’s some interesting science too about your digestive system and what your uterus needs in labour…

“There are only two emotions Fear and Love. Go with Love” - Wayne Dyer

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Life at the moment feels pretty fearful. Asking the question “Is this decision based on Fear or Love” has been a very interesting exercise and not as easy to answer as my first appear.

Read full blog by LushTums teacher, Clair McGill

I had planned to have a home birth because I felt that home was where I would feel safest and more in control of the birth. I had hired a TENS machine and a pool, and had attended antenatal yoga and practised hypnobirthing meditations in preparation as I knew I wouldn't have stronger pain relief options unless I went into hospital. 

Nastasya and Tim's birth story - as they welcome baby Albert into the world.

Yoga is based on the principle that your Spirit is the core of your being and the part of you that can bring you joy. You job, your role at home, the person you are with friends, are all a role that you take in life – beyond that exists your true Self.

10 years ago when I had my second child, I knew of a local doula, Sally Cropper, @placenta_brighton_uk encapsulating placentas. I had a (homeopathic!) home birth….

Research has shown that massaging your perineum from approximately 34 weeks into your pregnancy reduces the chance that you might damage this area during birth

I had an incredible birth that I am so proud to share. It was the most amazing natural hypnobirth in the early hours of the morning on 17th March 2020. Meet Eden Isabella Higgins. She’s a dream.

We could never have predicted the uncertainty that we are all currently facing. Things are changing day by day.

Regular yoga and breath work practice will put you in tune with your body. Here are some breathing techniques to use during the birthing process.

It is now commonly accepted that ideally mother and baby should be able to have skin to skin contact immediately following the birth…

Reserve this for any time during labour when, or if your partner hits an emotional low. She may suddenly express despair, weep, cry out…

Stay calm and relaxed. Be there for her. The adrenalin levels of those near a birthing women can be enough to make her …

Points to remember about Birth: Notes for a Pregnant Woman With thanks to ‘Blessings’ by Binnie A. Dansby, 1996

Combined with all of the pain relief options available, having a positive state of mind is tremendously important.

Having a positive attitude to the sensations of labour really helps you manage your perception and response to any pain.

It’s important to prepare yourself for birth and one way to do this is to know what to expect. We’ve put together this blog full of things you’ll need to know for each of the different stages of labour

It’s important to acknowledge the effects of fear on the body, and during labour in particular, and to understand how staying calm actually helps labour progress.

Contractions are strong muscular tightenings of the womb (uterus), which are needed to open the cervix (or neck of the womb) and to help move the baby down and essentially, push them out.