Birth Prep With Joy

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Birth Prep With Joy

Linlithgow & online 💛

✨20 years experience helping expectant parents prepare confidently for birth & early parenthood ⭐️ 5* rated antenatal courses and support for antenatal & postnatal trauma & anxiety.

26/09/2025

Most antenatal classes give you the information… but still leave parents feeling unprepared.

That’s why my small-group antenatal courses in Linlithgow are different - interactive, inclusive, and designed to leave you calm, confident, and supported - with your partner included too 💛

📍 Limited to 8 couples per course - spaces usually fill a few weeks in advance.
👉 Check dates + book your spot here: www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby

22/09/2025

😟 Fear of pooping in labour? You’re not alone.

It’s honestly one of the top worries parents share with me in class (yep, even more than labour pain sometimes!).

Here’s the thing ... if it happens, it’s actually a good sign that your body is working beautifully to bring your baby down. I get if you're reading this on the train or in your lounge you might be thinking "but I'd be mortified" but trust me when I say that when you're in labour - allowing your body to do what it's gotta do is the best way.

💜 Midwives are also absolute pros - they clear it away so discreetly you probably won’t even notice.

Birth sometimes means forgetting about "dignity" and focussing on meeting your baby. Your midwife will be far more excited about seeing your baby’s head than anything else!

In my antenatal courses, we talk about all the real stuff nobody warns you about - with honesty, evidence, and plenty of reassurance.

✨ Want to feel calmer and more confident about birth?
👉 www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby
NEXT ANTENATAL COURSE STARTS NOV 5TH

20/09/2025

💛 Thinking of visiting friends with a newborn?

It’s such a special time, but also an exhausting one. The truth is, the way you show up can make all the difference.

Swipe through for 9 simple ways to be the visitor every new parent loves - from keeping germs away to bringing a hot meal!

Also, remember support isn’t just about cuddling the baby. It’s about seeing the parents too.

✨ Want to feel more prepared for those early days yourself? We cover postnatal life, recovery and real-life expectations in my antenatal classes.

👉 Book your space today www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby

19/09/2025

Being told your baby is “big” can sometimes change the course of your care and may lead to more birth interventions.

These 6 questions can help you slow things down and make choices that feel right for you.

✨ Read more in my new blog The Curse of the Big Baby

https://www.birthprepwithjoy.com/post/the-curse-of-the-big-baby-why-size-predictions-in-pregnancy-often-get-it-wrong-in-edinburgh-lothia

17/09/2025

We talk (rightly) about maternal mental health after birth … but dads matter too.

💛 Up to 1 in 10 new fathers experience postnatal depression.
💛 When mums are struggling, that number is even higher.

The tricky part? Many dads don’t speak up. They feel they “should be strong.” Instead, it can show up as:
⚡ Anger or irritability
⚡ Withdrawing or shutting down
⚡ Throwing themselves into work

Supporting dads isn’t optional - it supports mums, babies, and family life.

If you or your partner are struggling:
Talk to your GP
Reach out to groups like Fathers Network Scotland, PANDAS Foundation UK, or Dad Matters

✨ This is why I always include postnatal mental health (for both parents) in my antenatal courses. Because preparing for parenthood isn’t just about nappies and car seats, it’s about protecting the whole family’s wellbeing.

15/09/2025

If a woman is fighting in labour, she can’t relax. And if she can’t relax, her body can’t work the way it’s designed to.

💛 This is why advocacy matters.
Birth partners aren’t just there to hold hands, they can hold the space.

One of my favourite tools for partners is this simple phrase:

👉 “Can we have a few minutes to talk about it?”

It instantly slows things down, gives you breathing room, and keeps the birthing person at the centre of the decision.

✨ Birth should be about meeting your baby in a way that feels right for you. It's not a time to be defending your choices.

💬 Does your partner feel confident about advocating for you?

13/09/2025

Weekend survival kit:
☕ Strong tea (or coffee)
🍫 Emergency snacks
💛 And reminding yourself… you’re not the only one winging it!

12/09/2025

🌸Pregnant Nr West Lothian or Falkirk? 🌸

My next 5⭐ antenatal course in Linlithgow starts 5th November and I’d love to welcome you.

I’ve been supporting parents for nearly 20 years as a qualified antenatal teacher (trained with NCT). My courses are:
✨ Interactive - no boring lectures here!
✨ Inclusive - partners are fully involved
✨ Relaxed & friendly - ask anything, no judgement
✨ Community-minded - many parents stay friends long after the course ends

We’ll cover everything from labour and birth to feeding, baby care and life after baby - all in a small group (max 8 couples) so you get the time and support you need.

💷 £175 per couple (deposit options available)
➡️ Courses usually fill 4–6 weeks in advance.
www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby

11/09/2025

More than half of births in the UK now involve interventions like caesarean, forceps or induction (50.6% in 2023).

Caesarean births alone have risen sharply - from 25% in 2015 to nearly 39% in 2023.

Now, let’s be clear: sometimes interventions are necessary. They can be life-saving, they can be the safest choice, and sometimes they’re exactly what’s needed.

But what frustrates me is the constant narrative that blames women: too old, too fat, too complicated - instead of looking at the bigger picture.

👉 Chronic underfunding of maternity services
👉 Staff shortages and disillusionment
👉 Targets and time pressures that push women through the system
👉 Not enough time or space to support physiological birth

That’s the real story.

✨ Parents - your body is not broken.
✨ You deserve evidence-based, compassionate support.
✨ And you deserve a maternity service that works with you, not against you.

10/09/2025

✨ Did you know…?

Research shows that when pregnant women eat dark chocolate, female babies in the womb react much more than male babies do. 🍫

In other words, little girls might already be showing stronger responses to chocolate before they’re even born! (Tranquilli et al, 2013).

It’s a fun reminder that babies are their own little people from the very start with quirks and preferences 😀

08/09/2025

Hi, I’m Joy 👋

If we haven’t met yet, I’m an antenatal teacher, breastfeeding counsellor and perinatal therapist based near Linlithgow, West Lothian.

Since 2007 I’ve been helping families across Central Scotland and beyond prepare for birth, feeding and early parenthood with calm, confidence and connection. 💛

👶🏼 When I was pregnant, I was on a huge learning curve and later, I experienced postnatal depression without the right support. Those experiences shaped my passion for creating courses and support that feel honest, inclusive and genuinely helpful (not overwhelming or prescriptive).

🤰🏻 Over nearly 20 years I’ve supported thousands of families, and I’ve seen how antenatal courses can do so much more than share information. They build confidence, and often lifelong friendships too. 🌱

👉 If you’re pregnant and looking for calm, evidence-based support I’d love to welcome you.

Follow along here, check out my courses, or just send me a DM to say hi. 💌

02/09/2025

See you there!

Address

Linlithgow

Website

http://www.birthprepwithjoy.com/

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