Rainbow Mama Positive Birth

10/05/2025

I checked to make sure my baby was breathing at least 100 times every night.

No, I'm not exaggerating.

I'd stare at their chest for movement.
Hold my breath just to hear theirs.
Sometimes I'd even gently touch them, just to be sure.

And even when I knew they were fine, my brain would whisper,
"What if they're not?"

That's the kind of love no one really warns you about.
The kind that keeps you up all night just to watch them sleep.
The kind that fills your heart and wrecks your nerves at the same time.

Motherhood is beautiful... but it's also terrifying.
And if you've ever laid there in the dark, checking again and again,
just know you're not alone.

We've all done the midnight breathing checks.
That's what loving this hard looks like.

©️Caty Sanders

14/02/2025

Its all in the perspective!!🫶💕

cred: Filipina+Polish Family

25/10/2024

There's an important nuance in making birth and health decisions which doesn't always get mentioned.

That is:

It's not always about a yes/no, accept/decline dichotomy.

Often, there is a middle ground.

This middle ground is about making decisions as and about an individual within their own context and according to need.

Just not routinely.

Or based on what the guideline says.

If you're making decisions about your health or birth, you might want to bear this in mind.

Declining an intervention doesn't always mean an absolute 'no.'

You can say, 'I want to wait and see.'

Or, 'I don't want routine intervention / induction / screening just because I have a risk factor, but I'll consider things that are right for me or my individual circumstances.'

Your body, your baby, your decisions.

I have a longer explanation of this in a blog post for those who would like to know more.

It's at https://www.sarawickham.com/riffing-ranting-and-raving/deciding-to-decline-or-deciding-to-wait-and-see/

I hope it makes the decisions that are right for you.

There's also a lot more on this in my book, "What's Right For Me? Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth."

More info at www.sarawickham.com/me

02/10/2024

07/07/2024

"When will you have another?
A question we all know.
As if we click our fingers,
And inside of us they grow.

Don’t you want a sibling
For that darling child of yours?
Oblivious to the struggle
Many a mum endures.

You really want ‘just’ one?
Or is it ‘only two’ for you?
Isn’t three your magic number?
Perhaps four would be nice too!

When will it end- this narrative?
Opinions- never sought.
Where is it that this lack
Of sensitivity is taught?

They may want ‘only one’
And your views on that don’t matter.
Or perhaps their road’s been rough
And your words their heart might shatter.

So, next time you feel the urge to ask:
“When will you have another?”
Just don’t. And bear in mind
The path is different for each mother." ❤️

Maria Tempany (Therhymingone)
Artwork by

Therhymingone