Peace of Birth, Maidstone (2026)

09/10/2019

I would 100% recommend listening to this awesome podcast if you haven't already!
chats with .hill about positive birth, choices, and how we need to change the narrative surrounding birth putting women back into the driving seat. I thoroughly enjoyed listening as both a woman, and a midwife and would encourage anyone to listen. Whether you are pregnant, a birth worker or neither, it's a great listen.
Knowledge really is power and if you don't know your choices then you don't have any. Giving birth should be the most empowering and positive experience, however it happens, and to achieve this we need to educate ourselves, arm ourselves with knowledge know how we can navigate our individual birth journey. Ella and Milli speak so highly of hypnobirthing in the podcast as a way to do this as Ella herself practiced the techniques taught by in her pregnancy.
In a peace of birth hypnobirthing course run by me 🙋🏻‍♀️, a midwife and hypnobirthing teacher, you will too learn all the same KGHypnobirthing techniques, as well as equipping yourself with all the knowledge you need about your choices, what happens to your body in pregnancy and birth, navigating the maternity system, how to manage unexpected changes and so much more additional extras. Get in touch for more details! Let get ourselves empowered and change the way we view birth 💪🏼

24/09/2019

How to get a bit creative with what is around you 💦
Whether you are birthing at home, labouring at home before heading in or labouring and birthing in hospital, there are always ways to get creative with what is around you and utilise what you have :)
A powerful shower head on your back works in the same way as a massage, the warmth and the power of the shower can do wonders for relieving discomfort in your back and increasing relaxation. It may also be nice to have the water over your bump (just make sure the water is warm not hot). This is something you can do at home in the bath, in a birthing pool or in the shower room in hospital to help through the surges 🚿.
It can enable you to adopt new positions such as being on all fours, standing, or even sitting on a ball while in the shower all which help baby get into an optimal position for birth 💪🏼. Did you know these upright and forward positions can also give you up to 30% more room in your pelvis? Happy days!
For more information on how you can utilise what you have around you, create your own birthing nest and get the best out of your birth wherever and however that may be, get in touch for details of my private antenatal education and hypnobirthing courses where you can learn this and so much more :)
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23/09/2019

*Shared with permission*

For me, midwifery was a true calling, a vocation and a lifestyle. Where you are supporter, protector, advocate and guardian of normality. These are just a couple of the wonderful pics taken of me by during a birth I was privileged to be a part of and will cherish 💕
It is also a wonderful example of no matter where you birth, the room is yours, the choice is yours, and use what is around you for your benefit. This lovely lady was most comfortable on the birthing ball, and standing leaning over the bed during surges, find whatever works for you!
Birthing positions and inspiration of how to use what is around you is one of the many topics we discuss in my antenatal education and hypnobirthing courses, for more information please get in touch about upcoming availability :)

09/07/2019

There is no right or wrong position during labour...
Lots of the time we talk about keeping mobile and active in labour, which is great and can be super beneficial. However, one thing to try and remember is not to over think! Listen to your body and follow where it takes you, its never wrong 💪🏼.
If you want to lay down and rest then do it... Forcing yourself to be upright and walking around when all you want to do is just rest will exhaust you and can increase feelings of worry and stress. Your body will tell you if a position is not right or comfortable so trust it knows what it's doing :)
It's great to experiment with different positions and find which is the most comfortable, this could be on the floor, standing and leaning over the bed, sitting on the loo, in the pool, laying on your side or on all fours, none of these are bad positions! So follow where your body takes you and remember it is never wrong. Don't over think it and trust your body... One less thing to think about!
Love this pic by that demonstrates this so well, she probably didn't 'plan' to birth on the floor but hey! She's following her instincts and going with her body, its natural and its amazing :)

01/07/2019

Active birth in hospital 🌟
This image beautifully shows so many wonderful things and I feel I could look at it all day 💞
Firstly it demonstrates how even though this super mum is birthing in hospital and her baby is being continuously monitored, she is active, using the space around her and the tools she has to her benefit. My experience as a midwife has taught me lots of people assume that if your baby is being continuously monitored in labour it means you should be on a bed, on your back, strapped to a machine. That is absolutely not the case and this incredible picture shows that perfectly. Use the bed as a tool, or not at all, your choice completely :)
Secondly it shows the amazing bond and incredible support of her birth partner. They are a complete team, going through every surge together, so connected and in tune. Lots of birth partners express to me how they want to feel more involved, have a role and a way of being an active birth partner, this is a great example of that 💪🏼
Lastly it also shows a wonderful birth environment. Despite being in hospital, the lights are low creating a relaxing atmosphere. You may have noticed, her midwife waiting patiently for baby to make their appearance, and letting mum and dad do their thing. This is how birth should be, whether you birth at home, at a birthing centre or on a labour ward. There is ALWAYS a way to bring the oxytocin into the room and create the right environment for you to birth your baby. This picture shows that even if your plans may change direction, you can make the best of it and have an incredible, empowering birth experience 💆🏻‍♀️🙌🏻💪🏼👶🏻👶🏽.
If this is something you would like to learn more about or know someone who would benefit from my bespoke antenatal preparation and hypnobirthing courses then get in touch for upcoming availability :) I will teach you how to keep your mind focused and body calm, how to create the ideal birth environment in all settings, give your birth partner tools and techniques to support you and be an active birth partner, understand how to be in control of your decision making and feel empowered plus SO much more! ❤️

27/06/2019

Eating and drinking in labour 🥤🥪
This is something I like to stress a great deal with families I work with to be so important and one of the top things to remember. This is tough when you are working together as a team, working through the surges, staying focused and calm, often we forget "oh I haven't eaten since this morning". Our bodies work so hard in labour and it is important to fuel them and keep them strong 💪🏼
When we don't have enough energy through natural sources, our bodies start to use energy from our own fat stores in our body, this results in our bodies producing what is called "ketones". This can be seen when your midwife dips your urine and it is our body's way of telling us its running low on fuel and using the emergency stores. This can therefore cause us tire quickly, for the surges to become weaker and less frequent and for our bodies to work that bit harder to keep everything going. This is not a road we want to go down during labour ideally! Should this be the case you may find your midwife could offer you some fluids, or encourage you to drink more and make you snacks to try and give your body a boost of energy :).
My experience has shown me that early labour is a key time where women forget to eat and drink, and sometimes come into hospital tired and dehydrated. Whether you are planning a home or hospital birth, keeping well hydrated in early labour is just as important as in active labour for surges to be strong and powerful and for our bodies to keep going 💪🏼
Why not prepare before labour begins and make a little stash of goodies to bring with you or keep at home to use in labour, give it to your birth partner as a job to remind you to drink water and snack frequently so that it is not something you have to be too aware of when you're in the zone 💆🏻‍♀️.
My best suggestion is lots of lucosade sport, the electrolytes in this drink are AMAZING at keeping ketones at bay, juices and lots of water, snacks like jelly babies, cereal bars or any of your favourite sweet treats! Enjoy going shopping and preparing your snack bag together, so you have lots of options to graze on throughout your labour :)
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20/06/2019

Choosing your birth support 💪🏼
I see so frequently in my job women who feel obligated to have certain individuals at their birth because THEY really want to be there or "they've never seen a birth before" without really considering if it is what they really want and maybe feel too awkward to say no. Choosing your birth support is so important and can have a huge impact on your comfort levels, hormone balances and overall experience of birth.
I like to say to women, if you don't feel you can happily be naked around them or take a poo in front of them, they probably shouldn't be at your birth! You want birth partners that are going to ride this journey with you, encourage you, respect your wishes, comfort you and make you feel safe and loved. This is all going to promote that flow of oxytocin in labour, creating an environment of peace, love and safety. If there is any sense of awkwardness, feeling you can't completely relax or make the noises you want, or wander around naked for fear or embarrassment, or what they may be thinking, this is going to cause surges of adrenaline which will suppress your natural oxytocin. It can take you out of your focused mindset and into a state where your mind is running the show.
So even though it may seem like not a big deal who is there, the way your birth support make you feel in labour has a HUGE impact on how your labour goes. Take a moment and think about the people in your life that you feel completely comfortable around, that you know will support you inexplicably and make you feel safe, loved, and like the superhero you are 💪🏼 cherry pick who that person or people may be and don't worry about everyone else. This is your time, your body, your birth, no one else's.
If you want advice and practical tools for your birth partner to support you in the best way possible consider undertaking one of my bespoke antenatal preparation and hypnobirthing courses. I have complied techniques and tools for your birth support to use to help keep you relaxed, calm and focused during labour and birth and bring you closer together as a team during this wonderful time ❤️ get in touch I am always happy to help x

19/06/2019

Bladder care in labour 🚽
Something that we don't really think about too much but is really important in labour. Emptying your bladder regularly is really important throughout your labour and something your midwife will encourage you to do and here is why:
* Changing position from where you are labouring such as in the pool, on the ball standing or laying to moving to the toilet is great for encouraging baby into optimal birth position, sitting on the toilet is great for widening the pelvis and helping baby descend, also the motion of getting in and out of the pool is good for this too :)
* Your body is working hard in labour and you will inevitably be keeping well hydrated so emptying your bladder frequently is healthy for you and avoids the retention of urine which can potentially lead to further complications post birth. So even though you may not feel like going, it is always important to try frequently to avoid your bladder becoming too distended :) A full bladder can also get in the way of your baby's head coming down as your bladder can act as a little cushion in the way! .
*Passing frequent urine voids is part of your midwife's ongoing assessments of your labour which is why she may encourage you to go regularly. Dipping your urine can tell your midwives vital information about your wellbeing and changes in your labour in order for them to support you going forward. For example, presence of 'ketones' in your urine can be a sign of dehydration or lots of protein could be a sign of other developments in your labour which may require extra support and care.
As a midwife I always encourage women to try and pass urine every 2-3 hours if they have not already gone. If this is something you are unable to do but haven't emptied your bladder for a long time, a gentle in and out catheter may be offered by your midwife to help.
Something as simple as having a wee is probably something we don't tend to put much thought into! Especially in labour, but it is important to be aware of this as it would be encouraged by your midwife in labour and knowing why this is can save a lot of unnecessary conversations :) Happy peeing everyone 😊

07/06/2019

This amazing card makes my heart burst with happiness 💞 was an absolute pleasure teaching this lovely couple and I am over the moon for their new beautiful family 😍
If you too would like to enter your birth journey feeling positive, prepared and empowered or know someone who could benefit from my bespoke antenatal preparation and hypnobirthing courses get in touch for upcoming availability 🙌🏻

29/05/2019

Birthing balls! 🙌🏻
Birthing balls are amazing and such an awesome tool to use during pregnancy and during labour and birth! Birthing balls help you to remain active during birth and the upright bouncing position is great for encouraging babies into an optimal position for birth 🎉
It also encourages descent for baby and helps to widen your pelvis giving up to 30% extra room compared to laying on your back! That's a lot of extra room!
You can also see how this lovely mummy is being monitored during her labour but this is not stopping her being active, comfortable and getting into the zone. I will talk more about monitoring in labour in an upcoming post and talk about it in depth in my courses, but as a midwife, I always say to women, as long as I can hear baby you can hang off the ceiling if you like! Monitoring does NOT mean strapped to a bed, is doesnt mean you are restricted, your midwife can work around you, move the machine to where you want to be and be comfortable 😘
Every labour room in hospital should have a birthing ball it in, at my trust there is one in every bathroom! However you may want to consider getting your own to use at home and even bring in with you if you are planning to birth in hospital as it is important the ball you use is the right size for you, this is so your legs remain below your hips. A general rule to follow is if you are 5ft 8" or less, go for a 65cm ball, and if you're taller, go a 75cm ball :) this picture is a perfect example of how your legs should be below your hips when sitting on a ball to get the most benefit! I would definitely recommend as a must have!
If you want to learn how to get the best out of your birth sign up to a Peace of Birth antenatal preparation and hypnobirthing course, my experience as a midwife has enabled me to give you a unique insight into how to understand your pregnancy journey, the maternity system and protocols, and how to enable you to have a positive and empowered birth experience. Get in touch or visit my website
hannah@peaceofbirth.co.uk
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28/05/2019

Positions for birth!
How you can get creative with what you have around you at home or in hospital!
This position is great for many reasons...
1) Sitting on the toilet is often one of the most comfortable places to be, and this is definitely true in my experience midwifing! Sitting this way on the toilet really helps to open up your pelvis allowing baby to come down and encourage them into the optimal position for birth (it also works if you sit the other way round too!) 2) You can empty your bladder as and when you need it without having to move! Keeping your bladder empty during birth is so so important, a full bladder can really influence the progress of your labour! (another post on that soon)

3) This gorgeous mumma is leaning forward with her head rested, allowing her to keep her eyes closed, distractions away and completely relax in between surges. Why not even add a pillow to go on top to make it more comfortable! In addition, this position of leaning forward is also GREAT for encouraging baby into optimal birth position too!👍🏻 4) Her back is free to be massaged by her lovely birth partner, another comfort measure to help make those surges a bit more comfortable. I have written a previous post about benefits of massage, check it out! An alternative to this could be running the shower head and spraying that over your back, powerful warm water acts the same way as massage in relieving discomfort 💦
If you take a Peace of Birth antenatal preparation and hypnobirthing course, birth positions, how to get creative with what's around you, wherever that may be, and comfort measures in labour is covered in great detail along with everything you need to know to get educated and prepared for your positive birth experience 💪🏼🙌🏻 get in touch if you are interested in finding out more! hannah@peaceofbirth.co.uk or drop me a message! 📸

07/05/2019

Your superhero parade 💪🏼👑
This is such a wonderful moment, and one I always say to new mums "this is your superhero parade". You've just done the most amazing thing and given birth to your baby, you are totally in love, feel so proud of yourself and can't quite believe it's all happened, literally on cloud nine!
Now your midwife moves you from your birthing room to perhaps a postnatal ward and you get to show off your gorgeous baby to everyone on the way, as they all say congratulations and what a wonderful job you've done! I love watching women beam with pride as we make this little journey down the corridor and fellow midwives congratulate and praise them for what they have achieved.
Every new mum should feel like a superhero, a queen, and just damn right bloody brilliant because you have just given birth to your baby and that is incredible 💪🏼 love this image by who captures this moment perfectly. Did you feel this way too? Did you have your own superhero parade?

Peace of Birth

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