Emily The Indie Midwife

10/12/2025

Something I get asked so frequently as a midwife is when do you think the baby will be born, particularly following a vaginal examination.

Listen…

🔮 You’re cervix is not a crystal ball 🔮

And if I had the ability to accurately predict when babies would be birthed it would be some sort of magic 🪄

🔮 The dilation of your cervix will not tell me when you’re baby will be born or how long it will take, but a vaginal examination can give your birth care provider information about other things…

🔮 Hydration, the length, effacement, position and consistency of your cervix, the position of your baby in the womb, if their head is flexed or deflexed and how low or high their head is.

🔮 All of these things can support with making decisions in labour if you wish to have a vaginal examination or VE. Particularly if your labour and birth is not going as you expected.

🔮 It’s also important to remember that birth is not linear, you could have a VE and be told you are 4 cm and your baby is born 12 hour later, or you could have your baby 45 minutes later.

🔮 There are also external signs that you are heading towards full dilation, the purple line that goes up the bum crack, the rhombus of Michaelis where the pelvis shape changes due to the babies position, vocal changes, movement changes and opening you’re bowels 💩

🌸🔮 It is not necessary to have vaginal examinations when birth is unfolding - they do however hold some value if birth is not going as expected and more information could support well informed decisions following thorough conversations with your midwife or doctor 🔮🌸

01/12/2025

This year has been a busy one, but next year will be even better ✨

20/11/2025

I was only going to write a couple of things, I didn’t even get onto the big baby trial.

If you are told you have a big baby on board, do your research, use your BRAIN, do not feel compelled to make a decision straight away.

Some babies are just well grown, and that is okay 🙌🏻

19/11/2025

✨Resharing this from ✨

Epidurals and strong pain relief have their place in childbirth, however it’s important to understand it can disrupt the flow of labour, there is pain for a reason, it has a purpose! But being well supported by a midwife or doula can reduce the need for strong pain relief 🙌🏻🙌🏻

What are your thoughts??

🫶🏻No shade from me... but sometimes the people around you want you to have an epidural so that they don’t have to experience the discomfort of your labour. These are not the right people to have if you want a medication-free birth. Full story episode 169 🫶🏻

18/11/2025

🩷 I will say this again and again and again 🩷

🧡 Mothers and birthing people need holding more than their babies 🧡

- take them food or batch cook for them
- make them a drink, don’t expect them to make them
- put a load of washing on
- hoover the floor
- wash up
- entertain their older children
- bring enough food for everyone
- don’t stay too long, unless they want you to
- change their bedsheets
- tell them how great they are doing
- listen to them
- hold them
- laugh with them
- dry their tears if they have them

Being a good support postpartum isn’t all about holding the baby.

04/11/2025

Bundle and Bond - Baby Wearing Basics

A 1 hour session in the comfort of your own home with an experienced Babywearing peer supporter.

We can troubleshoot any problems, complete a fit check for 1-2 different slings/carrier and discuss all important safety points when wearing your baby.

🫶🏻 £20 for 1 hour within a 5 mile radius of Ramsey.

💗 Mileage added as a flat rate of £5 within 15 miles

🩵 Option for session over video call for £20

03/11/2025

01/11/2025

This job isn’t always easy, but I’ll always show up for the people I am caring for.

Reading birth preferences, discussing our recommendations, sometimes going against recommendations, listening to their story, just sitting and watching as birth unfolds and women become the most vulnerable they will ever be, holding them, physically and metaphorically as they transition to parenthood, will never not be a privilege.

Enjoy your weekend folks ✨

24/10/2025

Post Night Thoughts 💭

We are purely witnesses to birth unfolding when intervention is not required.

Everything we do must be done with intention and thought.

And when things do not unfold as you would expect, still do everything with intention, calmness and thought.

Your actions and approach to someone’s care could be life changing 🫶🏻