Birth Works Hypnobirthing

09/01/2023

Hey it’s me, how’s it going in the big, wide, world out there? Checking in from my *adjusting to 3 children* bubble 🤪, I’m finding the headspace and energy to get back to helping others is starting to sparkle back like this morning’s light after winter ✨.

Who am I and what am I about? I’m a mum to 3 beautiful kids, wife to Ali, I live in Edinburgh which even tho the winter sucks is still a brilliant place to live.

I live for movement, specially strength training, yoga, running, horse riding, golf and skiing. Some of these I’ve not been able to do for a while due to a hip problem. I’m down for a hip resurfacing at 37 this year 🥳.

I had pelvic floor reconstruction surgery 6 months ago following the birth of my last baby. The injury was sustained during the birth of my first child which sparked my passion for treatment of women in birth, the power of language, hypnobirthing and basically all things badassary of women.

Fundamentally I believe that birth is about the woman, the mother giving birth. Anybody else in the room is there to support, encourage and help her achieve this in the way that she wants.

I support mums to give birth anyway they want to, including using pain relief or by caesarean section. However, I believe that families should be given all the information involving interventions, including the potential impacts on mother and baby’s long term health, even though these conversations are difficult, I approach them with as much love as I can.

I’m looking forward to getting back to teaching how birth can be euphoric and fulfilling in 2023. Please do share this page with anyone expecting 😀.

🥰🌈👶🏼

21/06/2022

I’ve been quiet on here.

I don’t make timelines for returning to work postnatally as to me every experience has been different.

There has been so much learning and relearning to be done. A lot to integrate and to create headspace to do so whilst also feeding a baby and keeping all the other family plates spinning.

It doesn’t take me 6 weeks to “heal” my postnatal body. It takes me closer to a year to feel at home. And I don’t mean the look. I mean how it feels.

What I do know, I’m still here to talk. To have conversations about your birth and what you want it to look like. To help you plan and to help you execute that plan with grace, power and joy.

Birth work, I’m still here. I’m just rebirthing myself first.

📷

27/01/2022

The evidence shows that holistic care around the birth of the placenta significantly reduced the rate of postpartum haemorrhage for low risk women… like from 11.2% to 1.7%, in a hospital setting.
The researchers in this study concluded that ‘Active management was associated with a seven to eight fold increase in postpartum haemorrhage rates for this group of women’.
This means that when you attend a hospital as a low risk woman, at low risk of postpartum haemorrhage, the standard method of placental birth management (use of oxytocin injection and controlled cord traction) will result in an 11.2% chance of experiencing a postpartum haemorrhage… this is compared to if you had holistic midwifery led care to support placental birth to come out without medication or intervention, which results in a postpartum haemorrhage only 1.7% of the time.
There you have it, you can read it for yourself, it’s called ‘Holistic physiological care compared with active management of the third stage of labour for women at low risk of postpartum haemorrhage: a cohort study’

06/12/2021

'We are worried': The alarming rise in birth interventions in AustraliaBy Professor Hannah Dahlen| 3 days agoEvery year in November the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW) releases a report on pregnancy, birth and baby outcomes.The 2021 AIHW Australia's Mothers and Babies report has j...

27/11/2021

27/11/2021

It is utterly devastating to see these figures in black and white, but sadly it comes as no surprise. I have been in the birth world as a Midwife, Doula, Hypnobirthing Teacher and as pregnant and birthing women for 27 years and I'm not going to pretend it's ever been ok. The level of intervention back in the 90's when I trained as a Midwife and again in 2010 when I hung up my Midwife's uniform were high, in fact it was a key reason in me leaving the profession that I adored.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But these statistics go beyond anything we have ever previously witnessed and it's shocking. In 2020-21 less than half of women & birthing people went into labour spontaneously and there was NO significant reduction in adverse outcomes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Hearing these statistics has floored me, as I sit here close to tears I wonder how the f---k do we come back from this. How are we failing women and babies in such a catastrophic way.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As a Midwife I can with deep regret recognise that I was complicit, I was part of a system that was controlled by obstetrics, I was in no way an 'Independent Practitioner'. As Midwives, and yes even during the horrendous crisis in Midwifery, we have got to reclaim birth. We have got to take it back. We have got to start to question what has become normal practice, we have to give women their voice, we have to listen, we have to advocate, we have to empower and support.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As an antenatal educator I have to shout louder, I have to scream from the rooftops that you are powerful, strong capable, your body, your baby, your decisions ... every bloody one of them. I will point you in the right direction of accurate evidence based information and I will never stop sharing that birth is incredible and so are you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As a pregnant woman, I needed to take ownership of my own experience, I needed to get educated and informed, I need to ask questions and then ask some more.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Together, we must take birth back.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Wendy x

16/11/2021

・・・
Maternity services are at breaking point. There is a very real and worrying midwifery crisis in the UK and we need urgent action. Midwives are leaving the profession in droves, unable to continue working in an under funded, over stretched and neglected system. Staff levels and morale will and does affect the experiences of people giving birth, and in turn the outcomes of babies. The statistics for both midwives themselves and the families giving birth make for terrifying reading. If you’ve given birth, plan to, or know someone who has, or just care deeply about the outcomes of babies and new parents, please consider adding your voice to the outcry to the government by signing the petition and joining the vigils on 21st November 2pm.

The current state of maternity service isn’t sustainable or safe, and the lack of support and funding is and will result in dangerous and avoidable outcomes for mothers and babies, as well as the staff who work in maternity.

To all the midwives, working in really difficult conditions, thank you.

05/11/2021

Thanks so much for all the well wishes and sharing in our joy 🥰. In those moments straight after birth that’s all there was, the pain that’s gone before totally forgotten.

Hidden away behind those photos in every birth are the other moments, the secrets of birthing and feminine, the wild, the raw, the unpredictable.

One of the reasons I wanted a birth photographer, is with Kit’s birth there were the hard times I perceived afterwards as undesirable and unwanted. I even felt shame I hadn’t coped as calmly as I would have liked. I wanted to see what those moments look like from the outside, not clouded by the intensity of the moment. What if they were in fact desirable and necessary to life? The moments that prepare us for the challenges of parenthood.

The labour with Imogen was for the most part so enjoyable. I felt safe and in control and Ali was there with me every step.

As I reached what I perceived to be full dilation in the pool I actually felt high with joy and the whole room went white like I was in the clouds. It felt like a dream- maybe dilation elation is a thing? I thought baby would be born really soon.

And then there was the next hour where I kept checking her head with my hand and she seemed to just wait there, waiting to be born. Waiting for her perfect moment. This was so different from Kit it threw me and doubt crept in.

I said the words as most women do “I can’t”, “help me”, I need drugs”.

But everyone in that room understood I didn’t need saving. There was no way to save me. I felt panic but they showed me calm. Each reassured me, Ali stayed with me, our midwives both looked me in the eyes and said you’ve got this, you can do this. I leaned on all the reassuring conversations I’d had with birth worker friends of mine and the births I’ve witnessed. Becky our photographer carried on holding calm space around me reminding me just by being present that this is an event to be celebrated not to be feared.

It took me a while in the pool to work up the courage to think, right only I can do this now (I believe my exact thought was “f**k this s**t I need this baby out”) and with help from Ali and the midwives I got out the pool to change position. With one long, long continual push she was born and Ali caught her as the midwives continued to physically support me. Ali says it was the best day of his life, how amazing for the birth partner to also feel that power to 😍.

This is the shot. The moment “It’s a girl” and our lives changed forever.

Thank you Becky for being the most perfect birth photographer and now friend. I know that birth works best when it is unobserved. Becky was incredible at stepping out the room with the midwives when Ali and I needed to be alone. Stepping back in the room at all the right moments. We’ll treasure the photos forever and imagine when Imogen might be pregnant how she’ll feel having pictures of her beautiful birth. What confidence it will give her that she can do it too.

28/09/2021

Please do take the time to sign this if you have been affected by the midwife shortages in the last few years. It’s really important for all families.

8,311 signatures are still needed! Support urgent government investment into maternity services to solve the staffing crisis

22/09/2021

Pregnancy is such a rush of ups and downs and change and more change.

I’ve not been interacting on social media much since July. From about 30 weeks, I find my body and mind wanting to soften, soften, soften, shutting out external noise and distraction. I see causes I care about but I struggle to make noise about them. All energy gets directed back inside and to the family and space around me.

It kind of results in a full personality transplant 🤣 of being pretty direct, driven and active to being kind of pliable, docile, oxytocin running riot. I like this side of me and the more I step into it the more I prepare for the softening of giving birth.

At first it’s so jarring for someone that likes to do and achieve but I’d encourage anyone who also experiences this to let it happen. It’s all biological and all makes perfect sense. How it would change birth experiences for all women to have the space and support to prepare like this.

All is well with this pregnancy and we are expecting this baby to arrive any time in October 🍂 👶🏼. Kit says it’s a girl and Raife sensibly says he’s not sure 😊, time will tell. Xx

20/07/2021

Pretty high on the list of things I never thought I'd do is be a guest on a podcast 🤩

If you are wondering what different kinds of birth preparation there is, why understanding our fear is the key to a positive birth experience and how to deal with pain in labour, have a listen to me talk about all this and more in my first podcast interview 🤩 https://wellbetter.com/.../14-the-wellbetter-podcast.../

If you find it interesting and would like to learn more, I'm running a free session at 7.30pm on Tues 10th August with my next group course starting Tues 17th August. Sign up details are here http://eepurl.com/hiG7CT

p.s. I have to say I loved being interviewed on my specialist subject, I'll definitely be doing it again. If there is something out there that you've been putting off because of doubts (maybe ignoring preparing for your birth out of fear...) - just pull the plaster off and do it!❤️

This week on the wellbetter podcast our host Fiona Gray is joined by julie smeaton! Julie is a Hypnobirthing teacher, Birthing coach and Birth Doula! She joins us to discuss hypnobirthing and how it can differ from the more traditional route of birthing. As well as this she discusses the impact a co...

22/06/2021

✨Immersion in Water in labour is a form of pain relief✨

Its one of my biggest bug bears when people are denied use of water in labour for no good reason. Use of water is pain relief. To deny appropriate pain relief is a fundamental breach of your human rights.

If your healthcare professional is not facilitating water use for you, but would be happy to prescribe opiates for pain relief (pethidine) or anaesthetic for pain relief (epidural) it might be worth asking why they are prioritising methods which come with significantly more risk for you and your baby.

Water can be used for pain relief during labour and/or for the actual birth - you dont have to birth your baby in the pool unless you want to.

Previous complications in other births is not a valid reason to deny the use of water as pain relief- arguably water would be even more calming and helpful to make this birth straightforward.

Water also decreases your risk of medical intervention and decreases your risk of severe (3rd or 4th degree) tearing.

Did you use water? Did it work for you? Maybe you wanted to use water but were given a reason why you couldn't? I would love to hear 👂

💦 💦💦

19/06/2021

18/06/2021

Head to https://melissaambrosini.com/34 for full episode resources and more inspiring weekly episodes. This is Episode 34 with Mama Natural on Why You Should Eat Your Placenta And Home Birthing. Now

13/06/2021

Love her vulnerabilty and openness about a time that is so often hidden. My door is always open for anyone struggling with the highs and lows

01/06/2021

Induction of labour can be life-saving in some situations. But women are increasingly induced for non-medical reasons, and earlier in their pregnancies.

20/05/2021

✨Placenta birth video incoming (also known has the body’s actual wizardry)✨

I say share these videos far and wide. Knowledge is power. Knowing so much that you can trust the unknown is the key to cancelling fear.
......

Sometimes referred to as the third stage of labour, shortly after you birth your baby you will birth your placenta. It usually is not painful and feels like a heavy weight that naturally wants to drop down your birth canal with gravity. This usually happens within an hour or so of birth and having your first breastfeed helps this to happen.
⠀
The evidence we have suggests that the benefits of an active/ natural third stage (reduced chance of haemorrhage, less chance of developing anemia) outweigh the downsides (raised blood pressure, pain, slightly more like to return to hospital with bleeding later on) in women with a low risk of bleeding after birth.
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How to birth your placenta is your choice 😊 along with everything else to do with birthing your baby.

Sara Wickham is a great resource for more information.

🎥

20/05/2021

I shared this beautiful shot earlier and it raised a lot of questions about placentas.

You can see this baby is still attached to it’s placenta. This is not common/standard practice in our maternity care. The benefits to leaving your baby attached to your placenta are that it’s gets absolutely every last drop of blood and nutrients available from it and in the umbilical cord.

It’s more common in our maternity system to have a medically managed placenta delivery. This is because, if you are not in a place that optimally supports physiological birth (hospital) or have had any intervention whatsoever (any induction process which includes sweeps or any epidural or surgical delivery) it is safer to have an injection of synthetic oxytocin. The reason being once you disturb the body’s hormonal process in birth, it is safer to continue that right the way through to its conclusion- birth of the placenta.

✨HOWEVER✨- the research shows that in healthy mothers who have had a physiological birth (that means no intervention) having a natural delivery of the placenta is as safe or safer for mothers in terms of post partum bleeding and haemorrhage. The benefits of delivering your own placenta are a massive sense of empowerment of “I did it”!, no disturbance of your hormonal process for bonding, breastfeeding and general elation 😊.

I’m going to share a couple of videos of placentas being birthed as this “taboo” imagery is not widely shared or understood.

You might also want to think about what you do with your placenta afterward. You may just dispose of it obviously but it some cultures it has huge significance and there is ceremony over sperating the baby from their placenta that has nourished them so well.

Another option is to have it encapsulated so that you may consume it and reap the benefits of increased iron and energy levels.

If you are near Edinburgh I personally recommend for this practice. It makes sense when you consider most other mammals eat their placenta for the same reasons after birth where possible. Putting it dried in capsules takes any 🤢 factor out of it 🤣.