Empower Yoga and Healing

17/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CsqwVyBFa/

14/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/178F99A7PU/

historically, babies never needed to be covered while breastfeeding.

they only started needing “modesty”
when we started sexualizing the female body.

babies haven’t changed.
society has.

it’s time we catch up.
share if you agree.
comment if you’re done feeding in shame. 🤍

The Breastmilk Queen - Amy McGlade

08/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17LecRrTyb/

A Cochrane review determined that breastfeeding before and during vaccination injections helped to reduce pain in most babies up to the age of one year?

Results showed that breastfeeding reduced crying in babies having vaccinations. On average, breastfed babies cried for 38 seconds less than babies who were not breastfed, and pain scores were significantly lower too.

Similarly breastfeeding during blood tests in newborn babies reduces pain, and it’s likely has similar results for older babies too.

Breastfeeding is a useful tool for breastfeeding parents and babies for so many reasons, not least when it comes to unpleasant procedures; where possible breastfeeding through these can make the whole experience more bearable for both parties.

04/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17EWUaPfVd/

Understanding the various conditions that necessitate a Cesarean Section (C-section) is crucial for expectant parents and healthcare professionals. This informative illustration outlines several key reasons why a C-section might be recommended for a safer delivery.

​Let's break down some of these conditions:
​Maternal Medical Conditions with Obstetric Indications: This can include pre-existing health issues in the mother (like severe heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or certain infections) that would make the stress of va**nal labor unsafe for her or the baby.

​Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD): This occurs when the baby's head is too large to fit through the mother's pelvis, or the pelvis is too small for the baby's head, making a va**nal birth impossible.

​Fetal Malpresentation: This refers to the baby being in an abnormal position for birth, such as a breech presentation (feet or bottom first), or transverse lie (lying horizontally across the uterus), which are often not safe for va**nal delivery.

​Placenta Previa: This serious condition involves the placenta partially or completely covering the mother's cervix, blocking the baby's exit and potentially causing severe bleeding during labor. A C-section is almost always required.

​Selected Cases of Abruptio Placentae: This is a premature detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall, which can cause significant bleeding and deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients. Depending on the severity, an emergency C-section may be necessary.

​Fetal Distress: Indicated by signs like persistent and consistent late decelerations on the fetal heart rate monitor (as shown by the NST strip), fetal distress means the baby is not tolerating labor well and needs to be delivered quickly.

​Umbilical Cord Prolapse: This is an emergency where the umbilical cord slips down into the cervix or va**na ahead of the baby, potentially becoming compressed and cutting off the baby's oxygen supply. An immediate C-section is required.
​While every birth is unique, understanding these conditions helps in making informed decisions for a safe delivery journey.

​

02/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17DSJot6hX/

when your baby gets sick, their saliva on your ni**le sends a signal to your body. within hours, your breastmilk changes, filling with antibodies made specifically for your baby. it’s medicine, created in real time, perfectly tailored to protect them. no lab, no formula, no factory on earth can do what your body does naturally.

share this, because every mama deserves to know just how powerful she really is 💛

28/08/2025

🤯Fetal ejection reflex vs Fergusons reflex🤯

Well, this is a bit of a niche one, but one that nevertheless niggles me now and then (much like Rachel Reed who has also been bothered by this I think 🤣).

I think we are mistaking the Fergusons reflex for FER . The two are not the same.

🤯Currently, particularly in the physiological birth world, I see a lot of talk about having experienced FER, when the narrative of what happened describes a normal Ferguson’s reflex, working impeccably.

🤯So what is the difference?
Well, the Ferguson’s reflex is a normal reflex during (usually physiological) birth, but can also happen during interfered with births.
It is created by a feedback loop of oxytocin release creating contractions, then causing descent of the baby through the birth canal, which puts pressure on the tissues of the birth canal and pelvic floor, which in turn stimulates more oxytocin release and contractions.
Also known and the utero-pituitary reflex, it creates that juicy involuntary urge to push the baby out, completely involuntarily, and it often feels like ‘our body is doing it all by itself’.
Which it is doing I suppose!
It’s a normal part of birth and can cause a swift, sometimes overwhelmingly involuntary ejection of the baby.
It CAN also take a long time, depending on lots of factors.
The key factor is the feedback loop of pressure, oxytocin release, more pressure and the triggering of expulsive efforts that can’t be resisted.

🤯The FER (fetal ejection reflex) is more of a protective reflex when danger lurks, and our body needs to expel the baby quickly so that we can grab the baby and escape.
On the flip side, a similar physiological response can also SLOW labour so we can run away while still pregnant.
The theory is that it is triggered by a sudden surge of adrenaline and catecholamines and was coined by Michel Odent as a theoretical physiological reaction to fear and danger.

🤯I think I have only seen a true FER once, maybe twice. Both times happened after a big surge in fear/adrenaline/catecholamines.

🤯But swift, involuntary baby expulsion in normal and hopefully protected birth space —-> Fergusons reflex 👍🏻

22/08/2025

We are so sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Michel Odent. He was an incredible pioneer in the water birth community. May his influence continue to a new generation of birth care providers. He will be deeply missed.💙

💦 Michel Odent: The Doctor Who Brought Water Birth to Hospitals 💦

"Midwives are the primary protectors of a normal birth process." — Michel Odent

If you’ve ever considered water birth as an option, you have Dr. Michel Odent to thank. In the 1970s, while leading the maternity unit at Pithiviers Hospital in France, he introduced water immersion for labor and birth—not as a trend, but as a way to honor the body’s natural physiology.

What he observed was remarkable: less pain, fewer interventions, and calmer babies. His approach to childbirth focused on instinct, privacy, and respect for the birthing process—values that continue to shape water birth practices worldwide.

Our director, Barbara Harper, is deeply influenced by his work, and his research laid the foundation for Waterbirth International’s evidence-based training. The water birth movement exists today because pioneers like Dr. Odent challenged outdated medical norms and advocated for birth as nature intended.

💬 Have you read any of Michel Odent’s work or seen his impact in your birth care practice? Share your thoughts in the comments!