BS4 Birth Collective

27/01/2024

We are so looking forward to working with our lovely postnatal doula client who is due to welcome her baby earthside any day now!

So how does it actually work when you book with us as a collective?

As a collective of 4 birthworkers we offer you flexibility to choose the level of support that works best for you -
you can choose to book all 4 of us, which works well if you want that extra level of support or perhaps you’re looking for a high-intensity package with several doula visits each week, or you can choose to book with one of us for individual doula led care.

Plus when booking with us you get all the reassurance of a collective, meaning that if life (or children!) get in the way there is always someone else who is available!

Get in touch if you’d like to here more about how we can support YOU!

Lotsa love,
Carmen, Holly, Liv & Ellen x

24/01/2024

Looking forward to our next pregnant and new parent drop in! It’s been so lovely meeting new local parents and parents-to-be at these drop ins - an informal chat for you to chat to us birthworkers, to ask any questions you might have about birth/breastfeeding/postpartum, to explore how hiring a doula can help you, or just to have a chin wag over a cuppa ☕️

Our next drop in is on Saturday 27th January at St Anne’s House, BS4. Come and say hi between 10:30-12:30 👋

Got any burning questions? Let us know in the comms and we can answer when we see you 👇

(Thanks for the venue space ♥️)

from .mother.hood

11/01/2024

Apologies this is so late but we’d still love for you all to come join us Saturday 27th 10:30-12:30 at st Anne’s house bs4


Come chat all things pregnancy, birth and postpartum

06/12/2023

Posted • You’re not going to like this answer BUT there is NO natural induction method. Your baby will arrive when they are ready and any method used to make their arrival earlier is unnatural.

HOWEVER
There are some things you can try to get your body ready or some annicdotal things that some women have said have worked!

1. Eating dates. There are some studies that suggest eating dates for a few weeks before your due date can help your cervix ripen

2. Raspberry leaf tea. Now this won’t bring labour on but it’s said to tone the muscle of the uterus to help labour become more effective when it happens. You can drink this from 34 weeks. Or take it in tablet form.

3. Acupuncture and acupressure. Again there are small studies that suggest this can “induce” labour but not enough to confirm if it’s true

4. Spicy food/curry - the idea behind this is that it stimulates your bowel and your womb to get things going.

5. S*x - Now this is a little more likely but still not guaranteed. Semen contains a hormone called prostaglandin which softens the cervix. Prostaglandin is what is used for induction methods like the pessary.

6. Ni**le stimulation - again very small evidence to support this but ni**le stimulation release oxytocin the key hormone for birth !

7. Pineapple - pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain which again is thought to soften the cervix. I imagine you’d need to consume ALOT for it to have any affect

8. Clary sage - this should be used with caution. During labour clary sage can be brilliant to keep those contractions strong and efficient but it may not be very useful bring on labour.

That being said there are annecdotal evidence that all these things have worked for some to meet their babies

Did any of these work for you?
Comment below!

04/12/2023

It’s that time again! Another drop in session done, despite the horrid weather!

This week the discussion was around
🔵Siblings adjusting to new arrivals
🔵Post dates and what emotions that brings up
🔵Induction offers based off the post dates!
🔵Natural induction methods

As always we will try our best to post relevant posts and more links will be available on the page so do go follow us there if you haven’t already

04/12/2023

https://www.milescircuit.com

"I named this "circuit" after my friend Megan Miles, who shared and discussed it with me when I was working with a client whose labor seemed to be stalled out and no longer progressing. On the...

01/12/2023

📣 CALLING ALL PREGNANT PEOPLE & PARENTS OF BRISTOL

Decembers drop ins are here!.

If you’re pregnant or a parent come along to our FREE doula led drop in sessions.

Ask us anything you like!
Do you need to talk to someone about your breastfeeding journey? Maybe you have questions about birth plans?

We are here to listen and offer support.

So come grab a drink and chat with us and other people that may be in the same position as you!

Our first meeting will be at St Anne’s House on Monday the 4th December 12:45-2:45

Followed by Saturday 16th December at Grounded Brislington

Leave us a comment below if you think you’ll be joining us or just drop in!

Thanks to for the venue

01/12/2023

Posted • .mother.hood Rates of induction to kick start labour are on the increase in the UK, in some trusts as high as 45%!

The idea of induction can cause a lot of anxiety when you near the end of your pregnancy, and I will always advise clients to do their research and ask for all the information from their medical caregivers to understand why an induction has been advised and what this means in real terms.

Induction should always be an *offer* that is ultimately up to the pregnant person to choose or decline, and no pregnant person should feel pressured to do anything they do not want to. But if you do feel that induction is right for you, here’s some tips to make it positive ✨

29/11/2023

Posted • How often have you been asked what your plans are for your birth? Whilst birth plans are super important, what happens after that? Once you’re back home staring at your baby thinking… okaayyy what do I do now?!

I specialise in postnatal care and the value of having a postnatal plan is mega! It’s so important to have a plan in place for the fourth trimester as you will want to focus on your recovery and your baby whilst also dealing with a shift in hormones without the distractions of meals and washing etc..

This may be as simple as a meal train, booking in family and friends to support in different ways, outlining what is important for you to feel yourself to your partner if you have one (maybe as simple as a cup of tea in bed each morning or time to have a solo shower each evening before bed) or booking a postnatal doula!

I am apart of the and we can offer lots of wrap-around support so please do check us out and pop in to one of our drop-in sessions too!

28/11/2023

All about bishop scores.

Bishop score helps your healthcare provider determine if your cervix is ready for labor. It can help predict if induction will be successful based on five factors.

27/11/2023

Posted • The “big” baby “small” baby labels are something that my clients and expecting parents are hearing ALOT at the moment and the truth is you can only tell once baby is born.

Ultrasound scans are said to be accurate 70% of the time.

Now when I say “accurate” these scans can still have a 15% discrepancy each way! So your expected 8lb baby could be born anywhere between 6lb 8 or 9lb 2!

Knowing this information may sway your decision on what is being offered to you. Is your baby’s size/weight tracking well? Are there any other risk factors involved? Maybe it’s your baby’s disposition to be that size!

Were you told your baby was big or small? What size were they born?

Comment below!

27/11/2023

Shoulder dystocia

Same podcast but a great follow on from big babies

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7LxVU12h6ugYWUPq2KXbL1?si=il50tk4aTb6NZnNf3J_60A

Listen to this episode from The Great Birth Rebellion on Spotify. This week Mel and B challenge the mainstream management of shoulder dystocia and break down the fear to give you simple strategies to prevent and manage shoulder dystocia. Midwives will receive specific tuition on how to manage a shou...