Bump, Birth and Beyond - Horsham

01/06/2023

Sounds about right.... do you agree? 😅

01/06/2023

THAT FIRST YEAR

The year that two became three
No. More. Hot. Tea.

The year of not leaving your side
For more than an hour
And feeling revived
From a two minute shower

The year of white noise
Cuddles and baby slings
As you slowly adjust
To the outside things

The year of sleep regressions
Monkey impressions
Panicked Google searches
Too many to mention

The year I realised that women
Really do hold all the powers
Rocking and pacing
For hours and hours

Being more selective of
The company I keep
And dreading that question
So how does he sleep?

The year of building
All the rods for my own back
Binning the baby books
And not looking back

Endless walks with the pram
To help you to nap
Pounding the pavements
Looking like crap

One whole year to realise
That there's no wrong or right
There's what works
What you need
In the middle of the night

The year of doubts and fears
And bending the ears
Of family and friends
He'll sleep eventually
But when?

But you're more than
Your sleep struggles
So much more

You're that look of wonder
At a knock on the door
Your giggles
Your protests
And that tiny roar

Beaming with pride
As you take in your stride
Learning to roll, crawl and stand
And wave your wee hand

A sudden respect for those
Who've done all this before
But with two, with three, with four
Or more

The year of grand plans and dreams
Of these homemade cuisines
But some days just called
For eggs, chips and beans

And yet somehow you thrived
And we just about survived
The hourly wake-ups
And some almost-breakups

You really did shake-up
These two kids

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Words: Karen McMillan (Mother Truths)
Image: https://www.instagram.com/elinabraslina/

Poem is taken from the book:
MOTHER TRUTHS Poems on Early Motherhood
Available to buy worldwide: https://linktr.ee/mother_truths

31/05/2023

August/September dates available 💜

www.bumpbirthandbeyond.net

31/05/2023

How many? 🤣🤣

31/05/2023

17/04/2023

"The wound is the place where the LIGHT enters you." - RUMI

Pic from one of my favourite artists

17/04/2023

I will let my birth unfold with its own uniqueness.

16/04/2023

16/04/2023

In the 1920's a guy called Grantley Dick-Read talked about something that we frequently discuss today... the fear, tension, pain cycle.
He realised that when a birthing woman is scared she will become more tense and the pain she is experiencing will increase. If the pain increases, the woman usually becomes more fearful, tenses up even more and ends up feeling more pain.
Makes sense right!
So what can you do to avoid this cycle?
Ultimately what you need to do in labour is relax! This will help reduce the tension and therefore stop the pain from feeling worse.
But how do you relax during labour?
There are a few things you can do to help you relax in labour:
💜Breathing techniques - a nice slow long breath in and a slower longer breath out. This will stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system and help you to stay calm and relaxed.
💜Massage - hellloo birth partners, this is where you come in! A nice massage during labour can really help with relaxation and heighten oxytocin release which will help increase the body's natural pain relief hormones... those lovely endorphins.
💜Music - music can have a huge impact on the way we feel so a lovely relaxing playlist containing music that reminds you of lots of wonderful memories is perfect for aiding relaxation in labour.
💜 Positive affirmations - we are back to you birth partners, this is the perfect time to bring out your cheesiest 'you are amazing' lines - because let's face it, she is!
💜Hypnobirthing - hypnobirthing isn't quite as crazy as it may first seem. It's all about retraining your brain to think positively about birth which will ultimately reduce the initial fear in labour!
For more information on ways to avoid the fear, tension, pain cycle and for a free hypnobirthing course head over to www.bumpbirthandbeyond.net and book onto one of our antenatal courses.