My Waterbirth, Homebirth & Hypnobirth...

My second birthing experience was beautiful, peaceful, gentle, ecstatic and enjoyable. But it wasn’t exactly as I had planned… The plan was to have a waterbirth at home, in our peaceful mountain village. I had ordered and shipped in an Aquaborn birth pool from the UK. I would be using Hypnobirthing techniques for a calm and gentle birth as I did previously. I had discussed all my requirements with my amazingly...

Tandem Nursing: A Personal Experience...

Breastfeeding has been an integral part of my daily life for the past 18 months. Now that I’m nursing my two babies, aged 18 months and 3 months, I’m sure if I added up all the time I spend breastfeeding in a 24 hour period it would total more than the hours of sleep I get! I recently read and reviewed the book ‘Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond‘ which I found...

The Baby Guessing Game - Enter to Win!...

I love surprises and I can’t think of a bigger and better surprise in life than at the moment of birth to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl! Even though we have no idea what our current belly bump is going to be, that hasn’t stopped everyone guessing! People in town stop me and tell me with certainty that ‘it’s a boy because I’m carrying all up front’ or ‘it’s a girl because my tummy is round’. With...

The Business of Being Born...

I finally got to watch this movie last night and just had to write about it. ‘The Business of Being Born’ was released in 2007 and is highly recommended for any woman who is pregnant and wants more information on the personal and political implications of her birthing choices. The film was the idea of Executive Producer Ricki Lake who, after receiving unwanted (and un-needed) medical intervention during the...

Hypnobirthing- A Book Review...

Can natural birth really be easy, relaxed and enjoyable? When I was pregnant with my first baby I wanted to find a way to birth that was peaceful and pleasant. Many people mocked the concept and related their own birthing stories filled with turmoil. However, I was blessed enough to find the book ‘Hypnobirthing – The Mongan Method’ by Marie Mongan. Through her evidence based information and outline of techniques...

Baby Carriers: A Personal Review...

For millennia, women have been carrying their babies tied to them with shawls and other pieces of cloth. With research into the benefits of carrying or ‘wearing’ a baby, many modern mothers are choosing to use a variety of baby carriers to keep their baby close for both emotional and practical reasons. Baby wearing is also an integral part of attachment parenting and I knew that I definitely wanted to keep my baby...

Writing a Natural Birth Plan...

With the unpredictability of the birthing experience, many people wonder if they should really bother making a birth plan. My friend and Hypnobirthing facilitator, Etta Deschamps, sums the answer up nicely as she explains to her clients that they would not consider turning up on their wedding day without having made the necessary plans and preparations so why do the same for giving birth?! Even though you cannot control...

The Benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy...

It has been proven that regular exercise contributes to a healthier pregnancy and a more relaxed, easier birth and many women around the world take yoga classes while pregnant as a gentle and beneficial form of exercise.   I attribute a lot of the success I had with my fast, enjoyable and natural birthing experience to the practice of yoga before and during pregnancy. Yoga provides a wonderful exercise during pregnancy...

Online Pregnancy and Birth Media – 3 of the Best...

As an expectant mother it is normal to want to saturate yourself with information. I know I did. I wanted to read every book and be well informed as to what was happening to my baby and my body and how I could enhance the health of both. Because I was often busy, there were limitations on time to sit and read all the books I wanted to. Instead I used the internet to find online radio stations that I could listen to whilst...

A Blessing Ceremony...

In many cultures around the world it is traditional for the expectant mother to have a blessing ceremony to honour her and the unborn child. This is a time for her women family and friends to gather and offer love and support for the journey ahead. The blessing event provides the opportunity for women to celebrate their womanhood, share stories and pass on expertise. A blessing ceremony (also known as a Blessingway)...