Birthology

30/06/2024

Jess, the founder of GROVE Neurodivergent Mentoring & Education is an old client of mine and as a parent of an autistic teenager I have so much respect for the message that she is championing here ❤️

YOUR CHILD IS AUTISTIC... BUT WHERE IS THE HELP?!

Me: "Hey buddy, Chris found out something really awesome just then – you are Autistic! Just as we thought!"

Kiddo: Smiles. "Cool.”

Kiddo: A little later. “Mum – what exactly does that mean? And where can I meet some other Autistic kids?”

Something I found infuriating as a parent whose child had received an autism diagnosis was the lack of support and help available directly for them.

~ Who could help my child make sense of that?

~ Who could do that in a way that would be completely neuro-affirming? Not appearing to be neuro-affirming but still holding beliefs that my child needs to learn social skills or be 'fixed' somehow.

I searched... and searched... and searched but nothing worked in quite the way that my child needed.

What I did find was other parents/carers asking for the same things I was looking for...
... and that's why GROVE exists.

Our Individual Mentors (for which we currently have over 100 applications!) will be able to support your child to make sense of their autism identification in a way that:

~ Prioritises authentic connection

~ Is bespoke to your child/young person’s needs, preferences and developmental stage

~ Is truly neuro-affirming!

We will not try to fix them! Why? Because they are already perfect, just the way they are.

Join our no obligation waiting list now!

And please share so other parents/carers know there is help out there.

ALT: A black and white sketch of a stick person with a confused look on their face standing in the middle of a maze. There is a large speech bubble with the text 'Erm... help?' at the top.

21/04/2024

WARWICK BLUEBELL BIRTH STORY ❤️

I’m so happy to share this beautiful birth story from a couple who I recently worked with again to prepare for baby number two 😊

“Two weeks ago on the 5th of April 2024 our family was made complete, and I can safely say it has been the happiest week of my life.

Last Thursday I felt the beginnings of my labour, we have been working hard over the last 9 months with Leonie and our hypnobirthing to recognise and accept the signs of early labour in order to remain calm, relaxed and positive. When I knew it was starting, we made sure I had eaten, drank and slept. Jack was at nursery and my parents had arrived to stay with Willow (our whippet) and pick Jack up later, so all that was left to do was concentrate on myself. Side note:- my in-laws had been here for a week doing the same thing and had just left to go back to Cumbria, but unfortunately baby was too comfortable and waited for them to leave before making his appearance 😂 he apologies to his nanny and pops!

Throughout the Thursday we knew things were starting to ramp up, I was having three surges in 10 minutes by the afternoon and had already started my humming exercises to control and relax into each surge. By 6pm we arrived at the Bluebell maternity suite at Warwick as planned, and was offered a room, I instantly felt ready as I was exactly where I wanted to be... this had been a major anxiety for me previously as my son Jack was also born at the Bluebell, so I knew I wanted a water birth and the same experience again. This time I stayed out of the water for as long as possible to keep moving and working through each surge using gravity and Jordan to lean on, this helped so much during my transition into second stage labour. Around 9pm we knew it was time to get into the water, I gave my birth plan to the midwives and we discussed what was important to us; this included no internal examinations, no noise, no offers of pain relief or gas and air, no one using the word push, and basically no interference unless requested. All the staff were amazing and my wishes were respected.

At 12:18am on the Friday our baby boy was born, exactly how I imagined and with no interference, Just me and Jordan working through each stage. I placed Tarn on my chest instantly, the placenta was left to drain for up to an hour before Jordan cut the cord and I began my breast feeding journey. I was given an internal examination once the placenta was delivered and was relieved to have no skin damage or blood loss, so we were left to be alone with our new baby boy and I went home later that day.

My birth story was exactly the same with Jack, but one hour shorter this time, the time I arrived on the Bluebell was even the same and I'm so proud to have had this experience twice. Leonie at Birthology and The Wise Hippo hypnobirthing programme have helped make all this possible twice over and I could not be more grateful for her support and knowledge. I also could not have done this without my birthing partner and best friend Jordan, who is always there to keep me calm and relaxed, our boys (and me) are so lucky to have you!”

The Wise Hippo by your side for Bump, Birth and Baby

12/01/2024

It was great to see pelvic organ prolapse being openly discussed on BBC breakfast this morning. If you are at all worried this programme might just help you make sense of what you are feeling and seek support.

The stories of women hoping to lift the stigma around pelvic organ prolapse.

23/12/2023

I will forever be amazed by what the female body can do - a one in a million pregnancy 🩷

An Alabama woman gives birth to a pair of girls after a "one-in-a-million" dicavitary pregnancy.