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.

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.

Being overdue is very common, especially with your first baby, so relax and don’t worry. Only 5% of babies are born on their due date…

Finally, you’re in labour! The culmination of months of anticipation, getting to this point can make you feel quite euphoric…

Today it is commonly assumed that a woman’s partner will take on the role of her birth partner. However this is a relatively modern expectation which only dates back to the 1970s/80s…

Here are some top tips to help when preparing for birth during the later stages of your pregnancy

We’ve put together this Birthing Wish List Template for you to fill in. There will be some things that apply to you and your baby and others that do not. Amend, add and edit as you see fit and share it with the people who will be present at the birth

We’ve put together some useful information if you are hoping to have your baby in hospital or a midwife-led birth unit or at home. Many women choose to have their babies in hospital where there is everything you need to help you birth your baby.

Dealing with due date pressure It is very exciting having a baby and when someone tells you your baby will arrive on this date you can’t help but get attached to that date. However as we know the realities of that happening are very slim.

We’ve put together some useful information if you are electing to have a C-Section or if you are worried that you may end up having one. Remember it is always your choice even if you have had an emergency C-Section the last time.

We’ve put together this Birthing Wish List Template for you lovely ladies that are electing to have a c-section. Some of the things in this template will apply, others will not; just use it as a guide. Amend, add and edit as you see fit and share it with the people who will be present at the birth.

We have put together a list of things for all you lovely ladies who are electing to have a c-section, that you may like to take with you to hospital.

Do you know what you’ll need with you at your birth? No? Mild panic now setting in? Don’t worry - we’ve put together these two lists to help you know what to bring for you and your new baby at your birth.

Birth is not an exact science. Midwives are very skilled but you know your body best. If you feel you need to go to hospital but your midwife is insisting that you should stay at home you have a decision to make.

I haven't been to class for a couple of weeks so you may have guessed, our little one made an unexpected and early appearance. I wanted to tell you the story of how it all happened because you played such a huge part in my pregnancy and getting me into the head space that allowed me to cope with what came next.