Goodbirth with Emma Goodburn

13/04/2026

This is typical labour ward equipment.
Do you know what it is for?
How does it make you feel looking at this?

If you are planning to avoid anything technical or clinical, are planning a home or birth centre birth, or it fills you with anxiety or a “hell no”. This post is for you.

If there’s anything that makes you uncomfortable or anxious, it can be helpful to know more about it, even if we never intend to be near to one of these! Knowledge gives confidence.

This is a CTG machine for monitoring.
There are two discs that are strapped to your bump, one is recording your baby’s heartbeat, the other is recording any uterine activity (contractions).

Often a little hand held button is given for you to ‘click’ if you feel baby moving.

The information is printed out in a graph, and your Midwife or doctor will interpret the results, and explain to you what they mean.
They may recommend further monitoring, or they may say that all looks well.

The information is often also monitored at the midwives station, so they can see what is happening even if they are not in the room with you.

Some people have a CTG during pregnancy, to assess baby’s wellbeing. It is a very common procedure that is pain free, but sitting can be uncomfortable.
You can try different positions, like standing, or sitting on a birth ball, especially during labour.

In labour, it is not a routine procedure, but is very often offered, or it may be recommended in some situations. As with everything, you can ask questions, and choose to have it or not. ⭐️ see lack of evidence in resources below.

There is also a wireless option which gives more freedom of movement, although this doesn’t always work as well.

Alternative ways to listen to baby’s heartbeat if you wish to have this checked are the hand held Doppler, or the traditional Pinard. A much more invasive way is the FSE (fetal scalp electrode).

It is important to understand that this information from a CTG is only giving a snapshot ‘in the moment’ result whist monitoring is in progress.

More information and evidence⬇️


Recommendations | Fetal monitoring in labour | Guidance | NICE

26/03/2026

When I was meeting a client at a hospital antenatal appointment, I saw this poster.

In BIG letters. Right in the entrance

💕MY BODY
💕MY BABY
💕MY CHOICE

▪️Always remember that▪️

〰️It’s on an NHS poster, so it’s expected that you will have opportunities to make choices.

〰️To be able to make choices for yourself, you need to know what the real options are.

〰️You then need to get reliable evidence to help you make your decisions.

〰️Ask questions 💕

Doula
Labour
Birth
Hypnobirthing
Maternity
Antenatal
Home birth
Hospital birth
Obstetric
South Devon

26/03/2026

26/02/2026

Thank you to Devon Matenity and neonatal voices partnership for this focus group. It was so welcoming and relaxed, with babies joining too. Anyone who wanted to, talked about their experiences of being discharged from hospital, what worked well, what didn’t.
I would encourage anyone to join these groups, it’s a really valuable way to share your thoughts or experiences, and influence change.

20/02/2026

Share your experience or thoughts to help make a difference to the process of discharge from hospital after birth. 💜

12/02/2026

This podcast is such a good resource. Listen to different birth stories from the UK on Spotify.

It can be so inspiring and informative listening to birth stories, it can also prompt conversations around birth preferences or options.

Hear this
💕POSITIVE TWIN BIRTH STORY 💕from Layla. She advocated for herself all through, navigating consultant care and Covid restrictions, and she had what she describes as a beautiful birth.

It was an honour to witness her ‘in her power’as her Doula.

04/11/2025

These words-
‘Active birth’
‘Labour positions’
‘Birth partner support’

sound like a physical workout, or a set of exercises, or perhaps some mysterious combination of postures to be done.
To simplify things-

🫟it means any position or movement that the person who is birthing is doing.
They might use ‘props’ or people to support them in the position they choose for themselves, for comfort.

🫟Ideally, they can move about freely, however they wish. They don’t need to do lots of different prescribed movements.

🫟Props may include furniture, walls, pillows, stairs, rebozo scarf, birth ball, peanut ball, water/pool, slings/rope, or loving hands arms or shoulders to lean into. Anything!

🫟If there are reasons that their instinctive movements are disturbed (e.g epidural, monitoring, physical or clinical restrictions) then knowledge of some adaptation or alternative positions may be helpful.

🫟There are some movements or positions that may be beneficial in labour in some circumstances (e.g baby not in an optimal position, prolonged labour).

🫟Free movement includes resting when needed.

These beautiful images from

If you want more ideas or practical inspiration DM about my private Birth prep or Hypnobirthing course options (next available dates in January).

08/09/2025

So wonderful to see and feel the loving support from family and friends for this Mama at her
Mother Blessing Ceremony ✨💫✨

24/07/2025

Little Squirrels Forest School will be looking for staff from September (Paignton) 💜

13/06/2025

In ‘The Snug’ at GOODBIRTH I offer private antenatal sessions, for pregnancy support, for Birth discussion, for Hypnobirthing, for labour, postnatal or parenting preparation.

My aim is to create a space where you have the opportunity to let it ALL out. You and birth partner or friend. Whatever is on your mind.

Then, my support is based on evidence, science, practical experience and gathered wisdom.

It is for those who want to prepare for birth, those wanting relaxation and nurturing during pregnancy, those who want to navigate the maternity system or are having a complicated pregnancy, or those who want science based facts.

We plan the session around what is important to you. Each session is for 3 hours and you can choose to have one or more.
Location-Brixham South Devon, or in your home.

ALL WELCOME, whatever your story or circumstances.
I’ve been around a while, so I’ve gathered different skills. I’m a Doula, registered Hypnobirthing teacher, NNEB Nursery nurse and former NHS Midwife.
Biomechanics, Rebozo techniques.

12/06/2025

It’s so good to see these statistics in visual form, thank you Torbay and South Devon Maternity Services
I know it says 26% of pregnancies were included, and it must also take time to collect information.

Just adding another birth to your info,
💜a home water birth in Torbay this May.

It would great to know about VBAC births too.
⭐️Congratulations to all the families.

16/05/2025

Each birth is different.
It is the most wonderful feeling to be invited to attend a birth. Yes, it is my work, but that doesn’t mean that I ever take it for granted.

It takes a lot of trust to choose a Doula. We start from a place of feeling that we are a good fit for eachother, aligned with what they feel they want and what I feel I can offer, comfortable in eachother’s space.

It begins with a connection that is already ‘fizzing’ with a good energy. There is a knowing that we are meant to be on this birth path together. It’s about trust and respect.

That beginning develops into a unique relationship, and my support will be different for every pregnancy, and each birth.
It may be practical, physical, informative, emotional, or something else, it will always be about sharing birthing wisdom, listening, nurturing and honouring what choices they make for themselves.

It’s always a privilege.
When I’m asked to be their Doula the second, third or fourth time. Well. That’s a whole other story of deep joy!







Images shared with consent.