Doula On Board

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Doula On Board

London-based birth doula, antenatal educator and Hypnobirthing instructor, here to help you change your mindset, find your power and get excited about birth!

29/03/2022

I don’t know much about algorithms…but I do know that if I’m trying to run a business I shouldn’t be spamming my community with pictures of my baby😂

So I’ve set up a personal account for said spam & will be back to work when it feels right💖

This absolutely is my first rodeo so I have no idea how long that will be, but the energy for making reels is dwindling as my bump’s getting bigger, so I’m winding it all down😴🥰❤️

And if you’re down for bump love, breastfeeding & a baby on a narrowboat, come say hi 💚💚💚

28/03/2022

BabyMoon ✅

22/03/2022

✨Listening to Our Bodies✨

Being pregnant has flagged up something massive for me:

I’m s**t at listening to what my body needs.

Well, I was, when it was just me I had to think about.

I would stay up late even though I was tired, I’d go for a run even though my legs were sore, I’d wait to eat later even though I was hungry NOW… etc. etc. etc.

When you have life growing inside you, you finally realise (after 31 years😂) that your body is giving you signals every day about what it wants & needs.

But ‘ambition culture’, ‘hustle culture’ & ‘work-until-you-burn-out culture’ has beaten than inner knowing out of us, encouraging us to go through our days believing that everything has to be done now now NOW🏃🏻‍♀️

Well, not now. Me and my cub take naps when we need them, we eat as often & as much as we want, we stop work as soon as we feel tired & we make very few plans to be sociable💁🏻‍♀️

I only hope that I can carry this lesson with me when I come back to work, as rest is medicine & I can’t believe it’s taken me getting up the duff to realise that🤣

20/03/2022

There are days when you feel like a Goddess & anything is possible✨… & days when you are a beached whale & walking to the kitchen is a struggle😅🐳

is a daily lesson in flowing with the ups & downs, listening to your body & giving it what it needs.

Today, I am whale energy & there will be minimal output.

If anyone needs anything, call me tomorrow😅

Happy Sunday💖

17/03/2022

30 Weeks💖

I am excited beyond words to meet my little🦁cub, but equally cherishing every moment of this magical time✨

(If I’m honest I’m completely obsessed with having a bump & wanna keep it forever🤣)

16/03/2022

Step 2️⃣: Protect Your Energy

It’s probably unrealistic to expect sunshine & rainbows for 40 weeks, but as a bare minimum we can protect ourselves from hearing people talk about how awful birth is😅🤦🏻‍♀️

Birth can be peaceful, calm, empowering & positive. Let’s surround ourselves with those stories instead✨

15/03/2022

Step 1️⃣: Get Informed.

To use myself as an example... I already know a fair bit about birth (you'd hope🤣), but that has not stopped me from completely nerding out about the specific circumstances of my pregnancy & the way in which I'm planning to birth my baby.

Knowledge is power, as they say, and the more educated & informed I've become over the course of the last few months, the more my confidence has grown & the more ready & excited I feel to enter my birth space!💥

'Go with the flow' is s**t advice, in my opinion.

You wouldn't 'go with the flow' & do no prep if you were running a marathon or making a sp*ech or doing a presentation, why are we all encouraged to do so with birth??

Yes, it's an instinctive bodily process & we could absolutely do it with our eyes closed if we needed to, BUT the circumstances under which we are all pressured to birth in these days are not conducive to a smooth, physiological outcome. They’re just not.

So we do need to do the work. We need to get informed. Know our rights. Understand all of the interventions being shoved in our faces & recognise the power of our mindset & the impact of fear on a "normal" birth.

💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

11/03/2022

💦Water Birth💦

Even if you aren't planning on actually birthing your baby in water, a shower or bath in early labour can be a great option for managing contractions before you leave for the hospital or birth centre🚿

Using water during labour is associated with shorter labours, less use of pharmaceutical pain-relief & increased reports of feeling able to cope with the sensations🧘‍♀️

If you've had the experience of labouring in water, I'd love to hear all about it! Let me know in the comments.

08/03/2022

Happy International Women’s Day to the Goddesses in my life✨

You are some of the most inspiring people I know & I am grateful to be held, supported, challenged & loved by you all💖

I have had some INCREDIBLE women in my life for many years & I continue to meet more & more each day. Thank you for showing up & just generally being fu***ng awesome. I love you!!!

05/03/2022

Morning Lovelies☀️

Following on from my last post about informed consent, here’s our trusty tool for gaining as much information as you can about what is being offered to you, therefore getting yourself equipped to make informed decisions about your antenatal care🤓

Get all the facts, ask for time to think about it & discuss it with your partner…& come back with your decision only when you are ready.

If you are made to feel rushed or hurried into a decision, ask the question: “is this a medical emergency?” If the answer is no… then asking for time to mull it over is completely reasonable & often absolutely necessary.

🧠💖

02/03/2022

🌟What do I do if my baby is breech?🌟

Well, first of all: don’t stress. A ‘breech presentation’ is much less common than a head-down baby, but it is not necessarily an issue.

It’s certainly not a medical emergency.

Caesareans are routinely offered as the standard mode of delivery for breech babies, but that has not always been the norm. Many years ago, babies were coming out of vaginas feet first all the time.

My number one tip on dealing with finding out that your baby is breech is to GET INFORMED🤓

Join groups, read forums, watch videos on YouTube, read books, connect with other parents who have been in a similar situation… you’ll soon discover that it’s not as uncommon as you thought & your confidence will soon improve. Even if you know that you definitely want a caesarean, connecting with others & getting your head around the fact that this is a variation of normal will minimise any panic or anxiety around it.

If you think you’d like to have a vaginal birth with a breech baby, have a conversation with your midwife about this. All you’ll need for this to be possible is a midwife with experience & confidence in this situation & although not every midwife has that, if you ask around you may well be able to find support💖

In uncomplicated pregnancies an ECV may be offered, which is (put very simply) where a healthcare profession will attempt to turn your baby from the outside of your bump with their hands. It has about a 50% success rate & is worth understanding the risks & benefits before you decide.

And do check out for physiological ways of helping your baby to turn.

💖💖💖

📸pc: .geboortefotograaf

26/02/2022

🌟Epidural🌟

🤷🏻‍♀️So how does it work then??

Well, put simply, it blocks the nerves that carry the pain impulses to the brain, providing decreased sensation in the lower part of the body & in most cases, complete relief from pain.

🤷🏻‍♀️Where is it available?

It is administered by an anaesthetist, so it is only available in the hospital.

🤷🏻‍♀️What are the benefits?

👍🏻It provides CONTINUOUS pain relief (as it is administered via a catheter, it can be topped up as & when it starts to wear off, either by you or by your midwife)

👍🏻 It won’t make you drowsy.

👍🏻 BUT it can give you an opportunity to sleep if you want to, as you will be pain-free😴

👍🏻 A lower dose can allow you to feel the pressure of your baby moving down, which may help you feel when to push.

👍🏻 It is VERY powerful & effective.

🤷🏻‍♀️Are there any risks?

- It can prolong the pushing stage of labour.

- It is associated with an increased likelihood of instrumental delivery (forceps or ventouse).

- You will have decreased mobility (with a ‘mobile epidural’ you should still be able to move your body & change position, but the additional monitoring that comes with an epidural means that you will need to be close to the equipment that is monitoring your baby).

- Raised Temperature (this isn’t dangerous but it will lead to increased monitoring, as a fever is also a sign of an infection & an infection during labour can’t be ignored)

- Headache (incredibly rare & can be treated with medication)

- Skin itchiness & nausea.

🌟As mentioned in the slides, the risks associated with an epidural are low & many many people feel that the benefits make it worthwhile🌟

Have you had an epidural before? How was it for you??

Let me know in the comments.

25/02/2022

Hey you lot👋🏻

I’m running a free taster on Tuesday evening for anyone who is intrigued by the sound of Hypnobirthing, but not *quite* sure about it & would like to get to know a bit more🤓

It’ll also be a great chance to get to know me a bit better & ask any questions you might have about what the course entails & how I work.

It’s a leap of faith booking a course with someone you’ve never met, I know that, so come say hi, we’ll have a cuppa, you’ll figure out whether I’m fun or annoying, or a cute combination of both…& we can start getting you prepped, confident & ready for your birth!🌟

The link to book this is in my bio. It’s completely free & there’s no obligation to go on & book afterwards, so you could even just come for the free tips as there will absolutely be several😉

I love getting to know you all, so I hope to see you there💖

Sign up now!😆

13/02/2022

Who fancies this then???😉

The number one thing that pregnant people are nervous about in the lead up to the process of giving birth, is how they will be able to cope...

If that's you, you're not alone!

Join me for this short, sharp session, where I will walk you through all of the options at your disposal that you can use in the lead up to & DURING labour, which will increase your comfort levels, help you to cope with the surges/contractions, keep your energy & spirits high & all-round give you a much smoother, more enjoyable experience.

Some of these measures you may have already heard of (epidural, gas & air, etc.) & some may not be so familiar (position changes, breathing exercises & more), but for 30 minutes of your time, you will walk away from this class with a handful of different things to try out, some of which might not float your boat, but some that will be an absolute GAME-CHANGER.

What have you got to lose?🤷🏻‍♀️

This class is completely free & you will also be sent all of the slides from the presentation so that you don't have to worry about taking notes or remembering it all by heart. I got you!!!😘

Oh, and it’s on Zoom btw.

See you there💚

11/02/2022

“Be a good girl.”

For me, the ‘good girl complex’ looks like…

…agreeing to do things I don’t want to do, accepting cups of coffee I don’t want to drink, making plans that I have to eventually cancel because I only agreed to them to be polite…

And 25 weeks in, it has just shown up in my pregnancy journey.

I made the very personal decision to decline Gestational Diabetes screening, but when I was sat in front of my midwife yesterday I seemed to be more concerned about her opinion of me than what I actually wanted… so I let her book me in for it on 3rd March🤦🏻‍♀️😅

She was lovely & I’m sure she wouldn’t have batted an eyelid, but it just felt more accommodating in the moment to go along with everything she recommended. Even though I’m bloody really well informed & a grown adult who can make decisions about their own care. I know. Feel silly now.

So from my experience yesterday, I just wanna say this:

Taking some control over your birth journey does not make you difficult.

You are not a ‘diva’ or a ‘brat’ for standing firm in what you want & not accepting the things you don’t want.

You are not sick, you’re pregnant. And what interventions you accept are absolutely & entirely up to you.

07/02/2022

The Highs & Lows of Pregnancy😅

My Personal Highs Are:

💖 Feeling my baby move.
💖 People I love stroking my bump.
💖 Sharing excitement with friends & family.

My Personal Lows:

🌧 My entire body aching from head to toe😅
🌧 Scans & appointments in general - hate ‘em.

From the moment we p*e on that stick to the moment we meet our baby on the outside, it’s a rollercoaster to say the least - let me know how you’re all getting on😘

What are your favourite & least favourite bits about being pregnant??

Love you!

04/02/2022

✨Am I Allowed to Eat or Drink During Labour? 🍕🍔

Short answer… YES YOU ARE!!!

In fact, it can be incredibly comforting & helpful to have a burst of energy from a little piece of whatever snack floats your boat 🛶

The amount of energy required to birth a baby is enormous & we all know the importance of fuelling our bodies when we are about to undertake other physical challenges, so why should this be any different?🤷🏻‍♀️

See below for what I'll be packing in my birth bag, but I must stress that y'all need to pack what's gonna make YOU feel good😋

🌟My Labour Snack Ideas🌟

1. Fruit.

I bloody love fruit & I reckon an orange segment will kill 2 birds with one stone, as it'll be filling & thirst-quenchingly delicious all at once🍊Or how about a banana? 🍌The energy boost would be off the scale. And don't forget dates! Dates provide plant oxytocin, plus are sweet, caramelly & really bloody yummy.

2. Sweeties.

Again, this is about a shot of instant glucose to perk you up & keep you going. I'm not a massive sweetie fan, but I reckon I'll stick some Percy Pigs in there, as you never know🐷

3. Honey.

If you fancy a shot of something, but can't face chewing, how about this natural, liquidised sugary goodness straight from the bees? 🍯

4. Chocolate.

Are you sensing a theme here?

🚨Don't forget snacks for your partner too! They will need sustenance to keep them going & the last thing you want is for them to be nipping to the hospital cafe for a sandwich at the crucial moment🥴

What treats will YOU be bringing for your birth?

Let me know😉

03/02/2022

🌟 5 Top Tips for Preparing for Labour & Birth🌟

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Videos

Oral Health During Pregnancy😵‍💫 🦷 60-70% of people experience gingivitis during pregnancy, so if your gums are giving you grief, you are not alone! Gestational Gingivitis can look like inflammation, swelling, bleeding gums… all the fun stuff🥴 Look after yourself, keep your mouth clean, don’t eat loads of junk, floss at least once a day, go to the dentist & you’ll be grand🥰💚 Corsodyl mouthwash has helped me loads, but I’ve also introduced weekly oil pulling into my routine, which is an ancient Ayurvedic practice known to kill bacteria in the mouth. I’m no oil pulling expert so I won’t go into it here, but if you’re interested you can find loads of info online. Also, I haven’t completely lost it, I’m aware it’s not Wednesday. I recorded this yesterday & then got distracted😂 Happy Brushing Smilers!😁 Love you! x #pregnancy #oralhealth #pregnancygingivitis #pregnant #secondtrimester #pregnancysymptoms #20weekspregnant

💫Alternative Methods of Induction💫 A very brief overview of just some of the things you can try when you are desperado to get that baby out. Top tip: try to relax🧘‍♀️And if that’s not coming naturally to you, try to do the things that’ll help you feel more relaxed. Rewatch your favourite series, listen to music, unwind, have a go with your Hypnobirthing tracks😉💚 Stress slows the progression of labour, so look after yourself during these final weeks & even consider having a chat with your baby. I’m sure they’d love to hear how excited you are to meet them🥰 #hypnobirthing #hypnobirthinginstructor #doula #naturalinduction #thirdtrimester

Understanding how this works could change your life💫💚💪🏻 Why the law of attraction is a science-based practice & how mastering your mindset can potentially lead to a f**king great birth. #hypnobirthing #lawofattraction #affirmations #hypnobirthinginstructor #doula #birthprep #mindset

Happy Friday Beautiful People🌟 Here’s my longer-than-planned ramble about the importance of community during pregnancy & how we can support one another through the ups and downs💕 If you get to the end, I’ll buy you a drink😉 And if you are pregnant and what I’m talking about resonates, head to the link in my bio to register for our day retreat, coming in January. Love you. #pregnancy #dayretreat #hypnobirthing #pregnancyyoga #soundhealing #birthprep

What is Hypnobirthing?? A brief explanation from me and the bags under my eyes about the process of Hypnobirthing and why it is so flipping great!💚😃🧠🌹✨ #whatishypnobirthing #hypnobirthing #hypnobirthinginstructor #birthwork #birthworker #birthsupport #inclusivebirthwork #pregnancy #childbirth #childbirtheducation #childbirtheducator #antenataleducation #visualisation #affirmations #mindsetmatters #releasefear

Hello all🥰 Thank you for being here! For anyone who doesn’t know me yet, here is an introduction explaining a little bit about what I’m here for☺️ Can’t wait to connect with you. So much love💖 #whoami #doula #doulasupport #doulalife #doulalove #hypnobirthing #pregnancy #childbirtheducation #childbirtheducator #antenataleducation #hypnobirthinginstructor #birthkeeper #birthsupport #birthwork #birthworker #boatlife #boater #narrowboatlife #london #aboutme