http://www.birthprepwithjoy.com/

Birth Prep With Joy, Linlithgow (2025)

12/08/2025

✨ From Bump to Baby and Beyond ✨

🩵 Last November, a lovely group of parents-to-be came through my antenatal course doors. This week, I got to see them again only now they had with them their gorgeous wee babies!

🧡 We chatted, laughed, swapped stories about sleepless nights and explosive nappies (the glamorous side of parenting 🤷‍♀️), but more than anything, I saw connection. That deep-down relief of being with people who just get it.

💜 It’s not just “nice” to have that kind of support, it’s vital.
Research shows that parents with strong social support are less likely to experience postnatal depression, recover more quickly from birth, and feel more confident in their parenting decisions That’s why every one of my courses is built around community as much as it is about birth prep.

🌸 If you’re pregnant and want to prepare for birth and find your people, I’d love to welcome you into a group where friendships and confidence grow side by side.

📍 Linlithgow
🟡 NEXT COURSE STARTS 3RD SEPT - link in bio

11/08/2025

✨ Introducing My Perinatal Mental Health Support 💕

Most people know me for my antenatal courses - the pink side of my work.
That’s the space for connection, learning, and preparing for birth and early parenthood.

But there’s another side you might not have seen yet — the teal side!
That’s where I support parents through anxiety, birth trauma, and feeding trauma, using approaches like:
🌸 3 Step Rewind - a gentle process for releasing the emotional impact of traumatic experiences.
🌸 Self-hypnosis - training your brain to switch from fear to calm.
🌸 Meditation - giving your mind and body a safe place to rest and reset.

🤰🏻 I’m currently completing my training as a Perinatal Hypnotherapist so I can bring together the best evidence-based tools for birth preparation and postnatal recovery.

👶🏼 Antenatal classes are easy to talk about. Perinatal mental health support? That can feel harder to ask for — which is exactly why I’m talking about it here!

🧡 If you’ve had a difficult birth, struggled with feeding, or find anxiety is running the show… you’re not alone. There is help that works. And it’s gentle. And it’s here. 💛

For more information - check out www.birthprepwithjoy.com/trauma

09/08/2025

✨ New look. Same bloody brilliant antenatal courses! ✨

As some of you may know, Birth Prep with Joy is growing in a new direction as I am now offering more perinatal mental health support to help with pregnant, birth and feeding anxiety and trauma. New direction, new look!

My in person antenatal course is still as fab as ever though and you'll still get:

💛 Calm, honest, evidence-based support
💛 Space for both you and your birth partner to feel confident
💛 Zero judgement, zero assumptions - just real, practical preparation
💛 A lovely local community to carry you through pregnancy and beyond

This isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about helping you feel ready for your birth, your baby, and your choices.

🎥 Here’s a wee peek at what my in-person antenatal courses look like now.

📅 Spaces for autumn courses are already filling — so if you’re expecting, now’s the time to book. www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby

06/08/2025

Hoping to give birth with minimal intervention?
Here’s something most first-time mums aren’t told but absolutely deserve to know 👇

💥 Where you give birth can actually influence your chances of a spontaneous vaginal birth!!! The location - hospital, midwife-led unit, or home can affect your birth outcomes.

📊 According to the Birthplace Study (a huge UK research project involving over 64,000 low-risk births):

In a hospital obstetric unit, your chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth is around 46%

In a midwifery unit or at home, that jumps to 62–70%

That's a big difference - and it’s not about pressure to birth one way or another. It’s about knowing your options so you can make the choices that feel right for you.

If you’re in the Central Belt of Scotland, you’ve got real choice:
🏡 Home birth
🏩 Alongside midwifery units
🏥 Obstetric units
And I can help you understand what those actually mean without the jargon or judgement.

I’m Joy - antenatal educator, perinatal therapist, breastfeeding counsellor and the person who reads all the stats and research so you don’t have to. 💛 I’ll help you feel calm, confident and properly prepared however birth unfolds for you.

👶🏼 NEXT ANTENATAL COURSE STARTS 3RD SEPTEMBER LINLITHGOW - WEST LOTHIAN 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

04/08/2025

🌍 World Breastfeeding Week 2025

I don’t often talk about my own birth or feeding experience, but I think it matters to say this:

🌸 I found breastfeeding really hard.

It didn’t come easily. I wasn’t prepared for how all-consuming it would be and I definitely wasn’t ready for the constant questions it brought up ... am I doing this right? are they getting enough? why is this so relentless?

🧡 What I needed, and what I now help families to find, was clear, honest information and real emotional support. Not just about how to feed a baby, but about what’s normal ... because when you understand how newborn biology works, everything makes more sense.

👶🏼 Frequent feeds? Waking often? Wanting to be held 24/7? That’s not you failing, that’s your baby doing exactly what they’re designed to do.

You also need the people around you to get that too. When partners, grandparents and pals are on board, it makes all the difference.

⭐️ Mums who choose to breastfeed need love, belief, and proper support. Not pressure. Not side-eyes. Not “are you sure they’re getting enough?”

In my antenatal courses, we talk about all of this - not just the mechanics of feeding, but the emotional and practical side too. Including how partners and family members can bond with baby in all sorts of meaningful ways, whether or not they’re feeding.

Feeding your baby is never just about milk. It’s about connection, confidence, and community.

🩵 If you’re feeling wobbly, overwhelmed, or just want a bit of clarity I’m here or reach out to the helplines listed on this post or the many peer supporters, breastfeeding counsellors and IBCLCs who are in the local community doing their bit to support you, your baby and your family.

03/08/2025

👶🏼💕 You can love your baby and still think pregnancy is a bit crap - that doesn’t make you ungrateful, it makes you honest.

🤯 Swipe through for 6 things about pregnancy that are just a bit crap.

For every magical baby kick, there’s a leaky b**b or an unsolicited comment 🤨

This is your gentle reminder that pregnancy is different for everyone and if it feels hard, that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re human.

💛 You deserve support.
💛 You don’t need to enjoy every minute.
💛 You’re still a bloody brilliant parent-in-the-making.

👍 Anything I've forgotten, pop it in the comments below 🧡🦸‍♀️🦸‍♀️🦸‍♀️🦸‍♀️🦸‍♀️

02/08/2025

💛 Ever wondered what’s actually included in my £175 antenatal course?

Let’s break it down because it’s so much more than just “5 classes in a hall.”

⭐️ 12.5 hours of calm, in-person, evidence-based teaching
⭐️ WhatsApp group for connection and support
⭐️ 1:1 access to me for questions and reassurance
⭐️ A beautifully printed booklet + handouts
⭐️ 6 hypnobirthing scripts + caesarean birth scripts
⭐️ Online resources you can actually trust
⭐️ Unlimited drinks, comfy space and decent biscuits!
⭐️ Postnatal support – meetups, baby chats and local signposting
⭐️ Fully inclusive content: labour, birth, feeding, baby care & hypnobirthing
...... And the biggest difference?

This isn’t a franchise. It’s not a corporate brand. It’s just me -Joy. West Lothian-based antenatal teacher, breastfeeding counsellor and perinatal therapist with 20+ years’ experience supporting expectant and new parents.

Everything from the venue to the snacks to the ongoing support is chosen with intention and with you in mind.

You’re not just another bum on a seat!

You’re a parent-to-be who deserves to feel calm, confident and genuinely supported.

👶🏼 Courses often fill 4–6 weeks ahead - max 8 couples per group
👶🏼 Book your space: www.birthprepwithjoy.com/birthandbaby

31/07/2025

🤔 I didn’t feel that instant rush of love towards my baby, does that make me weird?

Let’s talk about something that not enough people say out loud after birth. That instant overwhelming wave of love we’re all told to expect? The one that’s meant to crash over you the second your baby is placed in your arms?

It doesn’t happen for everyone. It didn't happen to me - and if it didn’t happen for you, you’re not broken. You’re not a bad parent. You’re human.

This came up recently in one of my local postnatal meet ups. Several parents shared that they felt a bit... blank at first, A bit numb... and the relief in the room as they realised they weren’t alone was obvious.

Here’s the truth: bonding is a process -
🌸 Some parents feel that instant connection.
💕 Others find it unfolds slowly - over hours, days, or even weeks.
✅ Both experiences are entirely valid.

There are so many reasons why love might take a little while grow:

A difficult or traumatic birth
Exhaustion, drugs or surgical recovery
Neonatal separation or NICU admission
Birth not going as planned
Postnatal mental health struggles
The sheer shock of what just happened!
Initially the relationship feels a bit one-sided with you doing all of the giving.

👍 Research backs this up too. A 2021 study in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth found that only 60% of mothers reported strong emotional bonding immediately after birth. The rest? They got there in their own time, and their babies still felt safe, secure, and utterly loved.

What matters most is not how fast you fall in love but how you grow into your relationship with your baby, day by day.

If this is you, or was you, please know you’re not alone. You’re in loving, exhausted, beautiful company. However, if you are concerned, please reach out to talk to someone such as a healthcare professional and my door’s open. 🤰🏻🩵

29/07/2025

🌸 I don’t love shouting about myself.
But the parents I work with? They’ve got plenty to say, and I’m honestly quite chuffed about it. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

🥳 This reel is a little taste of what people take away from the antenatal course I run here in Linlithgow. It’s small group, evidence-based, totally judgement-free ... and yes, the snacks are decent.👏🏼

💜 If you’re expecting and want support that’s actually useful, I’d love to have you join us.

🟡 Next course booking now - Sept '25 (more dates available)
🟡 Limited spaces - Only 8 couples per course
🟡 Link in bio or drop me a message for more info!

27/07/2025

🍎 Can I eat during labour?
Short answer? Yes, in most cases, you absolutely can.
And if you’re hungry, you probably should.

🤔 However, somewhere along the way, some people have been told they’re “not allowed” to eat or drink once labour kicks off. It’s confusing and frankly outdated.

Here’s the deal:

✨ If you’re low risk and planning a vaginal birth, there’s no solid evidence to say you shouldn’t eat or drink.
✨ In fact, keeping your energy up with small snacks and staying hydrated can actually help you get through labour feeling stronger.

💪 Labour is physical work. It’s a big deal. You wouldn’t do a marathon on an empty stomach - when you watch a marathon, you see them having swigs of a drink or a bite of a banana. Consider your uterus is doing its best impression of Mo Farah and you need to help it out! 🏃‍♀️

🤔 So why do some hospitals still say no?
Old-school policy, mostly to do with general anaesthetic risks that are now incredibly rare. That said, if there is a reason for restriction (like a planned caesarean), you deserve to have it explained clearly.

💬 Top tip: If someone says you can't eat, try asking:
“Is this based on policy or on my individual needs?”

💡 Quick snack inspo:
Toast, fruit, smoothies, jelly babies, flapjacks. Sip on water, squash or sports drinks
...and if you’re not hungry? That’s ok too.

You get to choose what feels right for your body and that includes fuelling it through one of the biggest days of your life.

25/07/2025

⭐️ Expecting a baby October-November 2025? ⭐️

I’ve worked with thousands of parents over the past 20 years and honestly? That quiet little feeling of “I should probably do something to get ready for this baby” usually starts around now - late July, early August - especially if you’re due in the autumn.

So consider this your gentle nudge:

✅ My next in-person antenatal course starts on Wednesday 3rd September in Linlithgow.
✅ It runs over five relaxed, partner-inclusive evening sessions.
✅ It’s not a lecture just a fun way to learn and meet other local expectant parents.

🌸 We cover birth, feeding, baby care and most importantly how to feel more calm and confident in your own decisions. It’s evidence-based, non-judgemental, and rooted in actual lived experience, not theory.

👶🏼 If you’re due in October or November, this is the one for you and there are JUST 4 SPACES LEFT. Reserve yours with a small deposit.

Birth Prep With Joy

12/08/2025

11/08/2025

09/08/2025

06/08/2025

04/08/2025

03/08/2025

02/08/2025

31/07/2025

29/07/2025

27/07/2025

25/07/2025

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