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. 

I’m in beginning stages of my Post-Natal Yoga Training and have started reading around the subject and just come across this brilliant little book – I had to share it with you all!

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….

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.

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…

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.

To create the perfect birthing environment there are five elements that will help you feel relaxed and secure to birth your baby.

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.