Courageous Births and Beyond

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Courageous Births and Beyond

Here to support you through pregnancy, labour and early parenthood.

Hypnobirthing, birth and parenthood preparation courses in West Oxfordshire.

“There is no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one” Jill Churchill

19/03/2026

Before you follow me, here are a few things you should probably know…

Hi, I’m Kiki

I’m a hypnobirthing and antenatal teacher who believes birth can be an incredibly powerful experience for women.

I support mums to prepare for birth with knowledge, calm, and the kind of confidence that comes from actually understanding how birth works.

The kind where you walk away thinking wow… my body actually did that.

Because this work really matters to me.

Birth stays with you.
 The way you feel in it matters.
 And women deserve to feel strong, supported, and heard, whatever kind of birth they’re having.

Around here we talk about things like: • physiological birth • VBAC and caesarean birth • trusting your body • breastfeeding • matrescence and the huge transition into motherhood

This isn’t just about one day. 
It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter.

If you’re new here, I’m really glad you found this space

Tell me, where are you right now? Pregnant, in the newborn bubble, or chasing toddlers?

13/03/2026

I just put socks and shoes on a sleeping child.
Be honest… would this wake yours?

They’re fast asleep. I put on their socks and shoes.
Still asleep.
Honestly… I’m still a bit shocked.

On the walk to school I’m often asked, “Ahh did he fall asleep in there?”
Nope.
Two transfers. Socks and shoes.

Rewind 2 years. Actually rewind 7 years.
This would have utterly baffled me.

Babies are just different.

My older children would wake up if I breathed too loudly.
Transfer them into their cot?

Are you kidding me?

We learnt to enjoy naps on the move. In the sling. In the pram.
Taking the scenic route home because motorway driving was too smooth.
And we learnt to enjoy the baby snuggles of a contact nap whilst the house and all the jobs cascaded around me.

So do you want to know how I changed our sleep journey?

I did… nothing.

I had two babies who couldn’t be put down. Handled like a ticking time bomb.

Then I had one who wasn’t.
(Although I still never got the hang of drowsy but awake - I’m pretty sure that was invented to terrorise sleep deprived mums.)

With my first, I wasted so much time and energy trying to fix our sleep “problems”.

Third time round, I probably only realised he could be transferred because I had to put him down to help the other two.

Contact naps. Movement naps. Co-sleeping.

So actually…
I’m sorry. I have no advice.

Other than this:
Don’t feel like you’ve done something wrong if your child needs more help with sleep.
It’s just who they are.

And if you have one who sleeps easily… it probably wasn’t your sleep approach either.

Right now I’m walking to school with a child who slept through socks and shoes.

Please tell me I’m not alone…

Are your kids the “wake if you breathe” kind or the “sleep through socks and shoes” kind?

Love always, Kiki xx

11/03/2026

Hot cross buns always remind me of the final weeks of pregnancy with my spring baby.

The daffodils are out at Blenheim… and everything feels like it is about to change.

That strange waiting time,
when birth feels close but still a bit unknown.

And then six days after they were born, at the end of April, it snowed.

Spring babies are like that though, aren’t they?
 A little bit of everything.
 Sunshine, daffodils, and the occasional surprise snowstorm.

I know there are quite a few Oxfordshire spring babies on the way right now…

Are you expecting one? Or do you already have a little spring arrival?

Tell me your due date or birth month below so we can see how many spring babies are in this little corner of Oxfordshire 🌼

09/03/2026

What if one of the most powerful ways to prepare for birth… was simply learning how to relax?

Pregnancy relaxation isn’t just lovely, it’s genuinely powerful. 💗
 Here are 5 things regular relaxation can do for you (and your baby):

1. Helps your body cope with labour sensations When you’re relaxed, your body releases oxytocin and endorphins. Endorphins are your body’s natural pain relief, helping you work with your contractions rather than fighting them.

2. Supports more efficient labour Oxytocin is the hormone that drives labour. It flows best when you feel safe, calm and undisturbed. Practising relaxation during pregnancy makes it much easier to access that state during labour.

3. Can support a smoother recovery When birth is calmer and less stressful, it can mean fewer interventions and a gentler experience overall, which often helps mums feel physically and emotionally better afterwards.

4. Helps baby arrive calm and alert When fewer medications are needed, babies are often more alert at birth, making those first moments of bonding and breastfeeding a little easier.

5. Deepens your bond with baby Taking time to slow down and connect during pregnancy benefits both of you. Many mums notice their babies moving and responding during relaxation sessions, it’s such a special time to tune in together.

Save this and share it with a pregnant mum who might need a reminder to slow down. 🌸

06/03/2026

Are you overwhelmed by the thought of breastfeeding in public?

I seem to be having this conversation a lot lately. With mums in the Radiant Birth Club, brand new mums, and even older mums reflecting back on their feeding journeys.

And honestly… I felt exactly the same.

Not only was exposing myself in public something I wasn’t used to, but breastfeeding itself was just so hard at the start.

We had:
* tongue ties
* weight loss and hospitalisation
* emergency feeding plans
* ni**le shields
* a serious lack of coordination
* forgetfulness
* and the kind of sleep deprivation that makes everything harder

Somewhere along the way I realised I really wanted to keep going with breastfeeding. I hadn’t expected to feel that strongly about it beforehand, but I did.

And at the same time, I also know that feeding journeys don’t look the same for everyone. Sometimes the most loving decision is doing what works best for you and your baby.

If you’re struggling with feeding in public — or honestly just struggling with feeding full stop — you’re not alone.

If you’d like a little love and support while you figure it out, comment “breastfeeding” and I’ll share how I can help create a small support bubble around you.

Here are some of the breastfeeding support groups

Abingdon breastfeeding cafe

04/03/2026

Birth partners, here’s a question to keep at the front of your mind in labour:

‘When did she last go got a wee?

It’s one of the simplest ways to make space for your baby to move down.

Now I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
birth has its own time zone.
You might think, ‘she’ll just go for a wee when she needs one.’
But trust me…thinking about your bladder is the least of your concerns in the thick of labour.
Your understanding of when you last went?
Gone out the window.

Which is where birth partners come into their glory.
Keep a mental note of:
-how often she is weeing,
-how long it’s been since she last went

…then prompt her to go every couple of hours.

It genuinely might just make a difference.

If you’re in hospital and they are concerned that things aren’t progressing, try going to a wee. It certainly can’t make your situation worse.

And honestly, the toilet is a great place to get things started again.

Keep the lights low, just take in a battery operated candle or even the torch on your phone would do, rather than the bright over head lights.

It’s a small confined space, where you are unobserved and you have had many, many years of practicing relaxing your pelvic floor sat on a toilet.

A perfect retreat to allow your oxytocin to flow.

Send this to your birth partners now to put on their list of things to do in labour- trust me it’s essential!

02/03/2026

Early labour shapes everything that comes next…

Everyone talks about hacks to move things along, to speed the process along.

But the powerful truth is, those things are just as likely to exhaust you before you’ve even got going.

You can’t predict how long labour will last.
So be honest with yourself.
Could you keep this up for the next day?
Two days?
More?

If not, try something else.

The most radical thing you can do in early labour is to:

-save your energy
-protect your calm
-soothe your nervous system
-eat good food
-laugh
-don’t actively track (when things shift you will know)

Everything has a purpose here.
Your baby is almost here.

There is no rush.

27/02/2026

What’s your go to boost when you need a pick me up?

Mines dark chocolate, walking or just getting outside and when I really need it a few deep breaths, lying down in a dark room (because sometimes you need to regulate yourself before you can deal with the chaos). 🍫 🚶‍♀️ 🧘‍♀️

What’s yours?

25/02/2026

You’re not struggling in birth because you’re not positive enough.
 You’re struggling because your have real human emotions that do not need suppressing.

Real preparation isn’t fixing your thoughts. It’s helping your body feel safe enough to stop protecting… and start opening.

Comment ‘Radiant pause’ and I’ll sent you a free audio that encourages you to just pause.

P.s. if you want some help to meet your emotions where they are comment ‘Club’ and I’ll send you details on how to get a free taster session in the Radiant Birth Club.

23/02/2026

Birth happens in a time zone of its own.

Not clock time.
Not “how long has this been going on?” time.
Birth time.

When labour deepens, we stop tracking minutes.

We get forgetful.
We go quiet.
We go inward.

Not because something’s wrong.
But because we’re doing exactly what the body needs.

We’re surrendering the thinking brain…
and handing the job back to the body.

That soft, floaty, trance-like place?
That is where birth works best.

So here’s the bit birth partners need to really hear:

Your job is not to pull us out of that space.
Your job is to protect it.
Because when you ask:
“Do you want some water?”
“Are you hungry?”
“Should we message the midwife?”
…you’re asking a woman who has temporarily returned to her mammal like self.

She hasn’t forgotten because she’s incapable.
She’s forgotten because she’s doing something powerful.

This is what helps instead:
- You track time.
- You notice contractions.
- You message the midwife.
- You change the music.
- You protect the room.

And with basic needs?
Don’t ask.
Just offer.
A drink. With a straw. In her hand.
A simple, quiet:
“Drink.”
A snack, gently placed.
A soft:
“Eat.”
A reminder to wee.
A calm:
“Let’s go to the bathroom”

No big conversation.
No decision-making.
She can take it or leave it.
That part is still hers.

But the thinking?
That’s yours.
This is what birth partners need to do.

You become the keeper of time…
so she can disappear into her body.

And that is one of the strongest ways you can help your baby be born.

Send this to your birth partner and take a moment together to talk about how they can notice, offer and protect you and your space during labour.

Address

Bladon
Woodstock

Website

https://courageousbirthsandbeyond.co.uk/

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