Birth Prep With Joy

19/11/2025

When I ask parents in antenatal classes what kind of birth they want, the answers are almost always the same:

“Quick.”
“Safe.”
“Manageable.”
“As few drugs as possible ... if I can.”
..and I would say that these are completely reasonable things to want.

But ...

You don’t get a physiological birth by “hoping for the best.” You get it by setting your body, your mind, and your environment up to actually work with you and this can be super important if you are having your baby in a more clinical setting.

Physiology isn’t woo.
It’s hormones. Positioning. Safety. Support.
It’s your body doing what it was designed to do when the conditions are right.

And the good news! There’s so much you can influence.

Swipe through and I’ll show you the exact things that make a physiological birth more likely.

We talk about this and more during my antenatal classes - next one Jan '26 in Linlithgow. Limited places available!

17/11/2025

Ever heard of the “purple line” in labour?
No? Well ... let me drop a little birth geek magic into your day. 😀

Some people get a reddish-purple line between their bum cheeks that can rise as labour progresses - physiology doing what physiology does best.

It showed up in around 85% of birthing people in research, which makes it a pretty cool, low-intervention clue for progress… especially if you’re not wanting constant checks.

💥 But here’s the real point ...
Birth isn’t just about numbers, centimetres or charts. Be with a mum, watch a mum. She may have a purple line, she may be moving or speaking (or not speaking) in a way that is a far more accurate measure of how close she is to meeting her baby.

So if you see it? Great.
If you don’t? Also great.

The purple line is just one more reminder of how beautifully designed you really are.

💜 Want more “nobody told me this!” birth facts? ... this is exactly what we talk about in my classes.

Next in-person antenatal course starts Jan '26. Book now to reserve your place at 2025 prices and get a free copy of my fave birth book. www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby

16/11/2025

📊 NHS Lothian Birth Statistics (Jan–June 2025 Combined)

I think these numbers are such an important reminder of what birth actually looks like in our area.

In NHS Lothian, spontaneous vaginal birth sits at 41.7%.
That means the majority of births take a different path whether that’s induction, assistance, or a planned/unplanned caesarean.

This isn’t about fear-mongering, it is about making sure you have
realistic birth preparation.

Birth isn’t something we can script… but we can try and prepare and have some knowledge of all eventualities.

✨ Understanding your physiology
✨ Knowing how to support your hormones
✨ Creating conditions that help labour unfold more smoothly
✨ Knowing your options if plans change

All of this can make a huge difference, not just in the likelihood of a physiological birth, but in how confident, calm and informed you and your partner feel throughout the whole process.

A spontaneous birth may not be guaranteed (and doesn’t define a “good” birth), but understanding how your body works and how to support it gives you the best possible chance.

Birth is unpredictable but you don’t have to feel unprepared.

What surprises you most about these stats? Comment below?

09/11/2025

Maternity care should feel like collaboration, not persuasion.

You deserve to understand your options and feel respected in every decision you make for your birth.

That’s what informed, compassionate care looks like.

It's ok to use your voice. Studies show that being involved in your care and respected plays a big part in how you view your birth experience, even if it not exactly what you had hoped for.

07/11/2025

There’s so much more to antenatal classes than learning about pain relief or changing a nappy 💛

My courses are about connection - sharing experiences, laughter and those “I thought it was just me!” moments. I am here to tell you, you are not the only birth partner wrestling with a pile of extra pillows in the bed!

Preparing for birth isn’t only about information; it’s about confidence, support, and meeting other people who just 'get it.'

The next Linlithgow antenatal course starts 7th January 2026, and spaces are now open.

🌸 Book any 2026 course this month to receive a free birth preparation book worth £14.99
🌿 Reserve your space with a small deposit and still pay 2025 prices before the January price update.

Come join us - it’s where learning meets laughter ... and plenty of tea ☕️

www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby

06/11/2025

Hi, I’m Joy 👋

⭐️ I support parents to feel calm, confident and informed - through antenatal education, hypnobirthing and trauma-informed emotional support.

☺️ My approach blends evidence with empathy, local knowledge with community so you feel grounded and prepared - not overwhelmed by information or “shoulds.”

🩵 If you’re looking for support, I’d love to help.

04/11/2025

🤔 Did you know that around one in three people describe their birth as traumatic?

That doesn’t always mean physical injury - it can mean feeling frightened, unheard, or powerless.

🌸 These experiences can linger, shaping how we feel in our bodies, our confidence, and even our sense of safety. They can also impact how we bond with our babies and our relationships with our partners.

Trauma-informed support focuses on helping the nervous system regulate again - through grounding, understanding, and gentle re-connection. You don’t have to revisit every detail, and you don’t have to do it alone.

If you’d like a calm, safe space to start that process, I offer one-to-one support online. Just reach out and schedule a free 15 minute chat and we can take it from there.

https://www.birthprepwithjoy.com/perinatal-anxiety-trauma-support

💜

04/11/2025

03/11/2025

🌸 November Gift 🌸

✅ Book any in-person antenatal course or online hypnobirthing session this month and receive a free birth preparation book worth £14.99.

✅ Planning ahead for 2026?
Reserve your space now with a 50% deposit and secure 2025 prices before they increase in January.

👍 Calm, confident, informed - that’s how birth preparation should feel. www.birthprepwithjoy.com

02/11/2025

There’s a lot of misunderstanding about hypnobirthing and I get it.
The name sounds a bit “floaty,” but it’s actually deeply practical and rooted in how the body works.

🧠 When we feel calm and safe, our bodies release hormones like oxytocin and endorphins - the same ones that support effective, comfortable labour. When we feel afraid or tense, stress hormones like adrenaline can interrupt that flow.

Hypnobirthing is about helping your mind and body work together - reducing fear, building confidence, and creating the conditions for a calmer, more positive experience.

It’s for everyone, and it supports every kind of birth - hospital, home, induction, or caesarean.

🌿 My new online hypnobirthing course blends evidence-based education with relaxation tools you can actually use.
You’ll learn how your body works, how to support it, and how to trust it.

✳️ If you’d like to feel more confident about birth - wherever and however that looks for you - check out www.birthprepwithjoy.com/online-hypnobirthing

💥 ALL BOOKINGS MADE IN NOVEMBER RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF MY FAVOURITE BIRTH PREP BOOK WORTH £14.99

01/11/2025

🌸 November Gift & Early Booking Offer 🌸

If you’ve been thinking about joining one of my antenatal or hypnobirthing courses, now’s the perfect time 💫

Book any in-person antenatal course or online hypnobirthing session this month and you’ll receive a free copy of my favourite birth preparation book, worth £14.99 - a beautifully written, practical guide I love to recommend to parents.

And if you’re planning ahead for next year, you can reserve your place on any 2026 antenatal course now with a deposit and still pay 2025 prices (prices increase from January).

📍 Based in Linlithgow | Online sessions available
💛 Calm, confident birth preparation for every family
⭐️

Antenatal courses, pregnancy, birth and feeding trauma support and feeding classes in Linlithgow West Lothian & Online. Build confidence with you local birth expert

31/10/2025

👻 This Halloween, let’s bust some of the scariest myths about birth.

Birth isn’t something to fear - but fear itself can make birth harder.

Understanding what your body is doing, learning how to support it through relaxation, movement, and good decision-making - that’s where real confidence begins.

Whether through antenatal education, birth prep classes, or relaxation practice, knowledge really is power and can help beat those myths!