Beautiful Beginnings Yoga & Pregnancy Yoga

07/09/2025

Over the next 6 months I'll be working with the Maternity Voices Partnership to listen to women and family's experiences of pregnancy, birth and their maternity care, with a focus on West Cumbria - Maryport and surrounding areas.

This will be an opportunity for women and families to reflect and share their experiences, share what went well, where they felt supported, ideas for change and what they would have liked to be different.

If you would like to share your experiences, or know someone who may be interested, please do share.

I look forward to hearing from you, and holding a space for the voices of women and families.

To arrange a time to chat please contact Clare

Email: milestonesofmotherhood@yahoo.co.uk

Whatsapp 07906 188345

07/09/2025

Becoming as informed as you can helps you to have meaningful discussions with your care providers to find a way forward where you feel listened to, safe and involved in the decision-making around your care.

A few years back, I was in conversation with a hospital-based midwife colleague about a shared frustration.

We were both so tired of hearing that women who had been told they had gestational diabetes (or GD, which is a debatable label in itself) were also being told they needed induction.

"The problem is," she said, "that some obstetricians tell women they're at high risk because they have GD, and that induction is the solution, but there's no evidence for that. But the lack of studies mean the issues are complex and there's no easy place I can point women to, so they can read more."

I knew just what she meant.

I had written about GD in my Inducing Labour book, but our conversation made me realise that I didn't have a blog post on this topic.

I wrote one that week.

Since I wrote it, my blog post on Induction for gestational diabetes: what's the evidence? has become one of my most popular.

And today I have checked and updated it, to ensure that it stays relevant and useful for the thousands of women, families, midwives and birth workers who visit it every year.

You can read it at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-for-gestational-diabetes/

I hope you'll find it useful.

30/08/2025

Looking forward to welcoming new mums to our Pregnancy Yoga and Birth Preparation class tomorrow.

These classes are running weekly Sunday mornings 10-12 in Broughton Village Hall - with weekly and monthly booking available

Each week we focus on simple yoga breathing, postures and relaxation to support you through the changes pregnancy brings

And everything you learn in the class is also valuable for supporting you during your baby's birth.

Alongside the yoga classes, we also explore all aspects of birth, so mums are able to approach birth feeling knowledgeable about:

Your needs in labour

The stages of labour

Ways of supporting yourself with contractions

Partner support

Decision making

Birth Planning

And much more

I also offer one to one birth preparation, hypnobirthing and doula support

New mums always welcome

To book your place and find out more please message Clare on Whatsapp 07906 188345

24/08/2025

No Pregnancy Yoga class today as I'm at Solfest offering Pregnancy Yoga and Birth Preparation circles for the weekend

A great session yesterday talking all things birth, oxytocin, partner support and decision making with a fabulous group of women, partners and grandparents 😍

Looking forward to today's session

21/08/2025

19/08/2025

In much of Western society, cosleeping is considered “unusual” or even discouraged. Parents are often told that babies should sleep alone, in their own crib, from the earliest weeks of life. This shift is relatively new in human history, emerging largely in the past century alongside industrialization, formula feeding, and cultural ideals of independence.

From a biological and anthropological perspective, however, cosleeping is the norm. For thousands of years, human infants have slept next to their mothers or caregivers. In fact, in most parts of the world today, babies still sleep within arm’s reach of a parent. Research shows that close nighttime proximity can support breastfeeding, help babies regulate body temperature and heart rate, and promote bonding.

The idea that infants “should” sleep alone is a cultural construct, not a biological one. While safety guidelines must always be followed, it’s important to remember that cosleeping is not abnormal, it’s deeply rooted in human history.

And the sweetest part of the night is knowing they feel safest right here, next to you. 🤍✨

16/08/2025

Pregnancy Yoga and Birth Preparation class tomorrow Sun 17th Aug
Breathe, Stretch Relax, Connect

14/08/2025

Solfest Pregnancy & Birth Sessions
Pregnancy Yoga
Doula Q&A
Birth workshop

14/08/2025

Over the last couple of weeks in our Pregnancy Yoga and Birth Preparation classes we have had an in depth focus on birth physiology and how everything we learn in the yoga class is valuable to support you during your baby's birth.

We looked at birth preferences, physiological and emotional stages of labour, value of free movement and active positions, birth pool, induction and decision making.

The key thing to keep at the forefront of your mind in preparing for your labour is that birth is hormonally orchestrated

Therefore understanding that keeping your stress hormones low helps to allow your oxytocin birth hormones to flow and stimulate regular contractions.

Breathing and relaxation plays a big part in being able to bring yourself back from feelings of stress or worry, help to lower adrenaline stress hormones and support the flow of your contractions.

Weekly Pregnancy Yoga and Birth Preparation classes, Sundays 10 til 12 Broughton Village Hall near Cockermouth
New mums always welcome

14/08/2025

Here is a link to the NHS guidance on registering your baby with freebirth / unassisted birth

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/your-guide-to-birth-notification-after-an-unassisted-birth/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMLLXJjbGNrAwssk2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeaPXbvsyRzOd04CbAyPvdBqdu2Vsc5v32rDDq1HtcRokAbi5_fOv3Uo6ljmw_aem_NS-UxDPHcGVISxjerVFeQQ

NHS England » Your guide to birth notification after an unassisted birth

26/07/2025

No Pregnancy Yoga class tomorrow due to hall refurbishment
Back weekly through August onwards

19/07/2025