Mindful Mamma's guide to pregnancy and birth

Thank you Sophie for speaking on behalf of so many...

2011-12-19T08:42:27.657Z

Thank you Sophie for speaking on behalf of so many, wise words.

Thanks Alice and Kate! Yes Kate, it is wonderful,...

2011-12-07T13:04:12.333Z

Thanks Alice and Kate! Yes Kate, it is wonderful, I wish I'd known about it for my first birth. The power of the mind is extraordinary. It's amazing to experience birth instinctively and to feel in control of any decisions you make. Enjoy listening to the MP3s.

Great blog, currently listening to hypnobirthing mp3s and feeling very lucky to have found out about this wonderful technique.

Love this blog... It sets out all the issues very ...

2011-11-18T14:07:25.614Z

Love this blog... It sets out all the issues very clearly. Great work!

Alice - independent practitioner in Cornwall

ABSOLUTLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! have said pretty much the ...

2011-10-09T21:41:31.072+01:00

ABSOLUTLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! have said pretty much the same to all the people i have spoken to. It definately helped me deal with the event of our vbac attempt ending in csec. i've barely thought about it again really - dave shed a tear for me when he knew they thought it would go that way - but I was just pleased that until that point it was all so fabulous and i'd had chance to try in an empowered way because of the knowledge we gained through MM.

Fantastic.

Too true Sophie! I have been so tempted to dress u...

2011-06-14T19:21:34.230+01:00

Too true Sophie! I have been so tempted to dress up in a long flowing velvet kaftan with my hair plaited and bells around my ankles so many times as a practical joke at class 1. One day I may have the guts to do it!

Fab blog - shared it everywhere I can. Already ha...

2011-06-14T12:57:57.916+01:00

Fab blog - shared it everywhere I can.
Already having been labelled as a hippy, god knows what people are making of the hypnobirth - I do know that everytime I declare that I am not worried about my labour and birth because I am only thinking positively, that whatever happens it will be the best birth it can be, People can't help but tell me how I am wrong and clueless and that it won't be easy.. I guess they haven't done this course -or read this blog - or had a supportive partner.I suppose they forget I have done it before and therefor know a difficult labour and birthing experience- and can tell this one is going to be totally enhanced by taking positive expectations in and no worry or stress...

Thanks for sharing xxx

That last passage is really useful. As i wondered ...

2011-05-14T10:43:21.081+01:00

That last passage is really useful. As i wondered how I would feel this time about having done so much work to attempt for a vbac- if i end up with an em csec.
I have to say when they pulled her out - i heard a baby cry and was like awww - how lovely, someone had a baby - before my brain kicked in and i realised it was mine.
But the one thing i got from the 3 day stint in hospital was time alone with her to learn her cries and i found i knew what was her sleepy noises rather than a cry that was going to go full blown for food or nappy change - and because it was such a pain getting to her, having to rely on mw for 24 hours, i started recognising immediately which was which and whether i needed the help. i only realised I had done this naturally once we got home and I had to hold my hub down on the bed to stop him getting up to the slightest squeak. eventually he also learned what i knew.

SOOOOOO useful - love it.

2011-05-14T10:34:33.767+01:00

SOOOOOO useful - love it.

Much good luck to your friend! She must be nearly ...

2011-05-14T10:31:57.343+01:00

Much good luck to your friend! She must be nearly due is she?
Amazing - all of these are going straight on my birth plan- some already were in the case of another section. The biggest one i wanted was skin to skin asap- i only knew it was possible when my friend had her planned section and said she did that. it helped her bf that time as well - so a biggie for me.

I love this - just going back over your older post...

2011-05-14T10:28:31.001+01:00

I love this - just going back over your older posts to see if I can gleen even more fab info.
Now reading this - i realise my body made me do exactly that first time round. It was the best thing I ever did - god bless those swollen ankles- it made me just sit down and prepare mentally- the yoga definately helps with that too.
Second time round i am finding that even more, and I am so glad I have not gone back to work as i know number one would be suffering even more than me from my shere exhaustion when i do too much.
I am very lucky that my hub is supportive in me doing yoga, aqua, having time to meditate and listen to the hypnobirth cd, having reiki and reflexology every few weeks -and is willing to come to the two birth related courses we are booked on. But he knows it makes me a happier calmer mummy and wife - which all has to be good for me, him - and for his children.
I am just glad i know this as i have seen some of my friends get into awful states over wanting it all. As far as I am concerned by not going back to the career I trained for, for being 'only' a mummy for the next 5 years at least, i have everything i need and the time in which to enjoy it. It has also made me look at how i want to take my career - and how i can use my skills in a totally differnt direction that keeps me mentally - and physically available for the family too.
It is totally up to each individual to do as they will and I would never force my opionions on someone else - but I do feel sorry for those caught up in generation now.

Thanks - Interesting - i didn't really get tha...

2011-05-12T20:46:11.720+01:00

Thanks - Interesting - i didn't really get that - wheeled into a bright recovery room, to attempt to feed my little new born - post section it took them 45 mins at least to stitch and in that time she was held by hub - which was lovely for him - if it were to go emcsec this time i have said that if baby is well i want her on me as am sure that might have helped with the bf too - we went from no contact to rip my top open and try to stick the poor child on my nipple. ...... ah the benefit of hindsight though ....

I think it's also important to know that Sarah...

2011-05-12T14:09:32.409+01:00

I think it's also important to know that Sarah talked of 'Nature's back up plan', breastfeeding and the time post birth, which I think is a wonderful turn of phrase. These actions also support that important 'bedding down' of the hormones in case everything doesn't go to plan during the birth.

WOW. Really given me loads to think about, Thanks!...

2011-05-12T13:18:11.549+01:00

WOW. Really given me loads to think about, Thanks! I am definately leaning more and more towards that kind of birth where it is as free of medicalisation sa possible. It has to be to a certain level because of a range of things - but there are a lot of things i can avoid - all of which was what i wanted last time but didn't know how to ask for - this time I do and am already writing it all down so i can get it as clear in my own head as possible so I can pass it to the staff.
Great reading - thanks.

That's brilliant. I love it. i can't wai...

2011-05-05T13:12:45.584+01:00

That's brilliant.
I love it.
i can't wait to do the day course.
Definately true - i need to focus on what can go right - really finding that easier than i expected - maybe because i know the things that can go wrong - i don;t need to think about them .
I have also found my consultants really positive in their support and that they think i will be able to do it, my body has already dilated so should go with it - and that I know what to do - not least helped through the meditation, hypnobirthing and yoga processes.
I also feel that knowing the sensations of contraction, i feel that i can imagine myself in a situation coping with the pain, rather than it becing a big shock out of the blue. Either the way i am actually rather excited and feel like " bring it on" when i think of labour.

City hospital also offer an active birthing class for vbac so am hoping to go on that so that i might get chance to see what they will offer - and ask some probing questions about how they will support hypnobirthing also.

Just attended the beautiful birth at home.. in wat...

2011-03-05T07:46:11.795Z

Just attended the beautiful birth at home.. in water of a baby who was 'term + 13'
He was so covered in Vernix that it was floating round the pool... so .. how many weeks was she?.....
All women should have impartial advice in order to make an informed choice... don't let your health care professional'assume' that you are going to go with whats best for them x x
we are grown ups with mental capacity.. we can make our own decisions

Thanks for reading Fiona. I think it's impor...

2011-02-20T11:00:27.472Z

Thanks for reading Fiona. I think it's important to make the distinction between relaxation and hypnosis, and the value of doing classes. I had used hypnosis CDs for my second son, long before I could find a class and it was much better than my first birth without hypnosis. However, if I'd been on a class I know I would have made different decisions and been more assertive when I was told to do things I instinctively didn't want to. I would urge anyone to do a class if they can. An empowering birth is priceless and lasts longer than the latest buggy!

I am a certified HypnoBirthing instructor in Orem,...

2011-02-18T22:53:47.992Z

I am a certified HypnoBirthing instructor in Orem, UT, USA and couldn't agree more! I often get asked what the benefit of taking the class is, and this sums it up perfectly. I feel sorry for the moms that don't want to pay the extra money and just "read the book" or "take a relaxation class." They aren't going to have the experience they truly want! It is worth every penny. I love what you said about the dads, too. This method really enables them and teaches them how to assist and protect the moms during the birth process. My husband was phenomenal during my two HypnoBirths. Really enjoyed this post! www.iHypnoBirth.com

Thanks Hayley, sometimes mum's can feel so ove...

2011-02-03T13:22:21.159Z

Thanks Hayley, sometimes mum's can feel so overwhelmed that they 'just go along with everything'. A colleague wrote and said that it should be an extended role of the birthing partner - to manage the flow of expectant friends and keep that space private for mum and baby just as they do during the birth!

Wonderful.....I think new parents need this 'p...

2011-02-02T19:29:54.325Z

Wonderful.....I think new parents need this 'permission' to not feel guilty about doing this....so here it is...lovely article I will be forwarding this onto all I know to avoid that mad rush in the 1st week.

Just a quick update on my previous post...We ended...

2009-02-05T11:45:00.000Z

Just a quick update on my previous post...We ended up declining the membrane sweeps and our little boy was born on 23rd January at 41+6after natural onset of labour. We had a fantastic labour and delivery using our hypnobirthing techniques and the pool and it's something we'll remember forever!
We're home now and everybody's really well. I'm so glad we listened to the advice from our hypnobirthing practitioners and followed our hearts and waited for our little apple to fall off the tree on his own!

Lou, Ross and little Finlay x

I was induced with my first baby and it was hell -...

2009-01-25T18:20:00.000Z

I was induced with my first baby and it was hell - a day and a half of agony and everything possible to get my little girl out on her due date. I think it's known as Active Management and I would NOT recommend it to anyone. They were literally watching the clock to see when they could run the next procedure. She was a big baby at 9lb 9oz but otherwise I'd had a fairly normal pregnancy. The main reason they gave was that I'd never had an anaesthetic before and if there was any emergency they wouldn't know how I would take to it. By 26 weeks the pressure was on to consider some form of induction. By 36 weeks I was being frightened with worse case scenarios and feared my massive baby would get stuck in my pelvis and we'd both die.

She is three now and has missed a fair few developmental milestones so has been subjected to every test going to try and decide why. No-one will admit it but I swear it was just because she wasn't quite ready to come out.

My little boy arrived ten weeks ago at home with only gravity to assist. I was more relaxed throughout my pregnancy as I knew that in no uncertain terms would I accept any interventions this time around. Labour was how it should be, hard work, messy, pretty uncomfortable but so, so rewarding.

Thanks so much for posting this! It was really us...

2009-01-18T14:11:00.000Z

Thanks so much for posting this! It was really useful to read the visualisation that we practiced in class again, and so reassuring to see the research. I'm now 41+1 and have been feeling pressure from family/friends and medical professionals regarding membrane sweeps and induction and, I must admit, some of the stats they tell you start to pool in the back of your mind and make you wonder if you're being selfish by wanting to leave well alone! It's nice to see different research and to be reminded that induction itself carries risks..I've noticed they're not very quick to tell you that!

After reading this blog (& speaking to you both)I'm feeling much more relaxed and confident that we're making the right decision for us & our baby so thankyou!! Lou, Ross & Bump! x