Bloom and Flow

15/04/2026

This story is from Izzie, who completed my hypnobirhting course in Darenth with her partner Eddie. Izzie also attended pregnancy yoga in Dartford from 16 weeks until the week of giving birth. At her last pregnancy yoga class Izzie was very fed up! And told everyone that she was going to book a c-section as she was uncomfortable. I advised that a c-section was a good option if that’s what she really wanted, but to maybe wait a few more days to see if anything changed, and a few days later she had a very straight forward birth.

Even though Izzie gave birth at the delivery suite, instead of birth centre as planned, she had the tools and knowledge to adapt. If you would like support through your pregnancy and birth I offer pregnancy yoga in Dartford on Mondays at 7pm or Saturdays at 10am. I also have another group hypnobirthing course starting on Saturday 25th (next week). This is a four week course (9.30-11.30am) and will take you from scared to prepared for birth. All classes can be booked on my website or dm me for more info 💞

Birth: 39+ 6 days

I’d joined Bloom and Flow Monday yoga sessions from 16 weeks of pregnancy and found them so helpful – especially the birth stories Colleen shared at the end of class and the useful tips on postures for birth. My partner and I also decided to do the hypnobirthing course in Darenth with Colleen, which was super helpful in understanding what actually happens during birth, the different techniques we could use to support me through it, and the relaxing MP3s.

Based on the course I’d decided I did not want to be induced, and would like to aim for a water birth at the birth centre. One key lesson I took from the course was that there are only certain things I can control, and that part of birth is embracing what is within /without of my control and being OK with going with whatever happens.

On the days leading up to the birth I’d been feeling very hormonal and impatient for the birth to happen! Now looking back the hormones were my body preparing me for labour, but at the time I felt super frustrated and decided to book in a c-section at 42 weeks if nothing had happened.

The day after I did that, I woke up with some period like pains, Eddie and I discussed whether he should go in to the office – we decided he should as it could be Braxton Hicks, and the pains stopped after he left. I had a relaxing day cooking and seeing a friend and then decided to have a nap around 5 after a raspberry leaf tea and some time on my exercise ball.

I woke from my nap to period like pains again and decided to open the app I’d chosen to use to time them. They were abut 15 mins apart. Knowing from the hypnobirthing course that labour can sometimes last for days, and the key was to ignore things for as long as possible. When Eddie came home I sent him off to boxing and started to get my Aromatherapy oils/fairy lights/cards/snacks out, all the while using the posture of leaning over the exercise ball to open up my pelvis every time I felt a contraction and the breathing techniques i’d learnt through the course. I also found i needed to poo a lot and knew from the course this was also a sign things were happening.!

Once Eddie got back from boxing, the contractions had started to get a bit stronger, and closer together so we brought out the tens machine. Eddie massaged my back every time I felt one and I used the breathing techniques learnt in the course, plus the app to count me through them. We also lit candles and put on some relaxing music. We continued like this for a couple of hours until they were 4 mins apart and then rang the maternity unit at darent valley hospital – they said to wait until it got to 3 mins apart. We had another hour of breathing through them and they were continually getting stronger, but the tens machine/leaning over and exercise ball/breathing helped me get through them. Suddenly, with one contraction, my waters broke and we realised we needed to go in now – it was a bit of a mad rush to get everything together, in the meantime my mucus plug also went and I was a bit concerned as thought there could be blood in my labour waters.

We rang the maternity unit and they said to come in now and put a pad on so they could check my waters. We left the flat and I had two really powerful contractions before I got into the car – once in the car I felt again like I needed to poo and the contractions were a lot stronger. A friend had given birth in an uber a few months ago (!) And I was keen that didn’t happen to me!, I focused on breathing/tens machine to get me through and the time in between them to rest.

We eventually made it to the birth centre (there were roadworks at main entrance to hosp so we ended up going to ambulance entrance and I was wheeled up by 5x paramedics up to the birth centre and they offered me gas and air). By this time I felt like I was entering a transition like stage and I kept feeling the need to poo (looking back this was defnan urge to push)!

I got to birth centre and they asked to examine me – I said yes (remembering from the hypnobirthing course it ‘ matter how dilated you were- as it wasn’t an indicator of how long the rest of labour would take) but the midwife was quite shocked when she examined me – as I was fully dilated!

All the work I’d done at home using hypnobirthing techniques had really paid off! However, after examining the pad they said there was meconimum in my waters so we would need to go to delivery suite. I asked if the two midwives could come with me which they agreed to. I knew that part of having a positive birth was accepting change/things you can’t control and happily went to the labour ward – we used BRAIN to ask about risks/benefits etc to this situation and agreed together that due to the risks we want him out as soon as possible so agreed to a ventouse and epsiiotomy. I felt calm and very present in the decision making throughout, continuing to use the breathing to get me through the contractions. There were quite a lot of people in the room, and once I had pushed the head out I even had the time to say my contractions had probably slowed because there were so many in there.

He cried as soon as he came out and the other Dr’s left the room (they’d been there in case there had been complications). We had skin to skin time, and tea and toast and a shower and then were taken for observation and left at 6pm that evening. The midwives and Drs were amazing – I was blown away by their kindness and pofessionalism and I’m so glad i was at Darenth for the birth! They were sorry I hadn’t had the water birth I’d wanted, but they hoped I understood why.

It felt like the perfect birth because even though it ‘ go exactly to plan I had the tools to help me with that and I had the majority of the labour at home – it was around 7 hours start to finish. I doubt I would have had this birth if it hadn’t been for pregnancy yoga and hypnobirthing. Thank you so much Colleen!

09/04/2026

Five ways hypnobirthing can help you prepare for a c-section - even if you are planning a natural birth. Whether you’re planning a c-section or your birth takes an unexpected turn, you deserve to feel calm, informed, and supported every step of the way. Hypnobirthing isn’t about a specific type of birth—it’s about how you experience your birth and how you feel within it.

By learning simple techniques and understanding your options, you can approach your baby’s birth with confidence and trust in your body and your choices. You are an important part of this experience, and your feelings matter. At Bloom and Flow, classes are designed to support you in preparing for birth in a way that feels empowering, realistic, and reassuring.

My next hypnobirthing course in Dartford starts on Saturday 25th April, and runs for four weeks 9.30-11.30am. Book on via my website or comment ‘link’ below for more info 💕

07/04/2026

Update from DVH - maternity notes are going digital!

As of 14 April 2026, the majority of paper maternity documentation at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust will be replaced with digital records.

This means that from this date, maternity service users will be able to record and access their maternity information via the digital patient portal, My Pregnancy Notes. This will reduce sole reliance on handheld paper notes and promote greater accessibility.

Please note: existing maternity service users with paper notes will need to continue to bring these with them to appointments.

More information and some frequently asked questions can be accessed here: https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/maternity/more-information/digital-maternity-records

02/04/2026

Our daughter, Eleanor, was born on the 19th June at 12:14pm, her weight was 7 pounds 12 ounces, at 39 weeks and 4 days gestation. We are all doing well and enjoying being parents. So far, Eleanor has been a dream and little angel and we are so in love with her. Thank you very much for the pregnancy yoga classes in Dartford, and all the support and useful information you share during these classes. I don’t think I would have got through pregnancy without them.

As a healthy, first time Mum, my pregnancy was originally low risk – until I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Because of this, and baby’s tummy measuring large, I was told that I would not be able to birth at Darent Valley birth centre as planned. Instead I would have to go to the delivery suite.

Then, later in my pregnancy, baby’s tummy was back to measuring ‘normal size’ and I was told that the risk of her shoulders getting stuck was now low, so I could go to the birth centre after all.

For my baby shower, we did prediction cards and Luke predicted the 18th June that I would go into labour/Eleanor would be here, and I was going to predict that date too but I changed my mind and put the 16th instead.

Well on the 18th of June at around 11pm, we were in bed laughing and joking about how wrong we were with the date. Then Luke went to sleep and I was up for a bit playing on my phone. Then at 11:45pm my waters broke whilst I was in bed. I woke Luke up and we phoned tambootie ward at Darent Valley Hospital and they said to come in to check if it was my waters.

I showered, made sure we had everything in the hospital bags quickly (by checking the check list we had as Luke had packed them weeks before) and then we left the house. We got to the hospital at about 1am and they confirmed that my waters had broken. They did loads of tests on me and the baby and said to go back home and to come back when my contractions were 3-4 in 10 minutes and 1 minute long. If the contractions hadn’t started they said to come back in at 10pm on the 19th for an induction.

On the way home my contractions started and when we got home Luke put my tens machine on for me and I had the contraction app as well. The contractions app flashed up on my phone telling me to go to the hospital, we were literally only back for 30 mins at the most so I got annoyed with the app and threw my phone and said stupid app.

Luke was also keeping an eye on the contractions on the tens machine and apparently he thought to himself that the contractions are getting pretty close together and that he should probably phone the hospital. He phoned the hospital and they said to come back in.

When we got there they said I was 3cm dilated, so I was a little defeated by that as I wasn’t in active labour yet but in a lot of pain. I asked for Pethidine and got put into a room and given this but it unfortunately did nothing for me pain wise, and didn’t even make me feel sleepy. I kept to my tens machine and breathing while we were in that room.

At 7:25am I was 6cm and being transferred to the birth centre which was part of my birth plan. I was incredibly happy that I was listened to and able to do part of my birth plan. I was asked what pain relief I wanted after the pethidine didn’t work and I said to try a bath and gas and air.

I tried gas and air first and it helped straight away. I decided not to use the birthing pool as the room was so hot that I didn’t want to get in to hot water, I also couldn’t get in the water until the pethidine had worn off. This was fine for me as I didn’t want to birth in the pool, as I wanted skin to skin contact laying down on a bed. I also knew I didn’t want an epidural as I have a phobia of needles, so carried on with just gas and air. Towards the end gas and air wasn’t doing too much as pain relief, but was helping me along with the pregnancy yoga moves, as well as Luke and a student midwife helping me to breathe properly.

I couldn’t wee for some reason so had to have my bladder drained twice – once during labour and the other time when I was trying to push my placenta out.

The first stage of active labour took 4 hours and pushing Eleanor out took 49 mins. So less than five hours over all.

I had a second degree tear because her little hand was stuck underneath her chin but other than that there were no complications. We have a few scan photos with her hand there so I guess I should have known that’s how she would come out. The midwife said if her hand wasn’t stuck then I probably wouldn’t have been torn.

It took 43 mins to get my placenta out, it wasn’t part of my birth plan to use the injection but things change. So all in all it was 12 hours and 30 mins from my waters going until birth. The midwife said that I practically breathed Eleanor out! And that if I should have a second baby that I would need to go to the hospital straight away and not wait around, as I had the first one pretty quickly.

Thank you so much again for all your help, I will definitely be at mum and baby yoga with Eleanor soon.

31/03/2026

Shout out to all the Mums that are doing it all! For me, I love working with new mums and mums to be - it’s such a special time of anyone’s life. Becoming a Mum is often overwhelming, chaotic, monotonous, magical and amazing. Come find your village and some support in the Bloom and Flow classes in Dartford.

Mondays at 7pm - pregnancy yoga
Wednesdays at 10am - mum and baby yoga
Saturdays at 10am - pregnancy yoga

Hypnobirthing birth prep - starts Saturday April 25th

All classes can be booked via my website, or comment ‘class’ below and I’ll send you some more info 💕

27/03/2026

Peer support and mental health help for new mums 💕

If you are a new mum, why not sign up for our Mindful Mums postnatal wellbeing peer-support groups?

We are running groups in Belvedere, Bexleyheath and Erith.

These baby-friendly groups are in April and May. They offer a relaxed, supportive space for mums to connect, share experiences and focus on their own wellbeing. Each programme runs for five weeks.

Our new group in Belvedere will take place at the Bedonwell Centre (Bedonwell Primary School) on Wednesdays from 12.30pm till 2.00pm, starting on April 15th.

The Erith group is at West Street Family Hub and is on Thursdays from 10am till 11.30am, starting on April 16th.

Our group at Danson Children’s Centre, Bexleyheath takes place on Mondays from 10am till 11.30am, starting on April 13th.

To register your interest, or to make a referral, please sign up via our Mindful Mums webpage – link in the first comment

26/03/2026

Mum and Baby yoga, Dartford, Wednesdays at 10-11am. Join me for some gentle, post natal stretches with sensory elements and nursery rhymes to keep baby happy during the class. From 11am you are welcome to stay for a free cuppa, snack and get together with other local mums - a great way to get moving after birth and to make friends for maternity leave.

This class is always fully booked, but over Easter I have 1-2 spaces available. Join from 6 weeks post partum (vaginal birth) or 12 weeks (c-section, assisted birth), each class is £10 PAYG, or £35 for a block of four. Book online via my website or comment ‘yoga’ below and I’ll send you the link 💕

25/03/2026

Tea and pastries for all the mums today after mum and baby yoga 💕

Because movement is important in your post natal recovery, but connection and friendship for your mental health is even more important

16/03/2026

Motherhood asks so much of us – physically, emotionally, and mentally. Some days feel magical and full of love, and other days can feel heavy, tiring, or uncertain. All of it is part of the journey.

It’s easy to focus on what you haven’t done, or what you feel you should be doing better. But take a moment today to notice everything you are doing.

The love you give.
The care you provide.
The strength your body has shown.
The patience you find, even on the hardest days.

All of it matters.

However today finds you - you are doing an amazing job! 💕

03/03/2026

Katie completed my group hypnobirthing course in Dartford and pregnancy yoga. She then came back to pregnancy yoga 18 months later in preparation for her second birth, a planned vbac at Darent Valley hospital:

My first baby was born in December 2023 via c-section at Darent Valley hospital. They told me Lottie was going to be a big baby, and I really didn’t want an induction so opted for a C-section instead. Although I did end up labouring and got to 7cm, a consultant still convinced me to go for C-section due to risks of a big baby.. she was, of course, not big!

For my second pregnancy in 2025, I wanted to prepare for a VBAC (vaginal birth after a caesarean). Baby girl, Edie, was born after a five hour active labour and I still can’t believe it did it!! This birth experience was amazing and everything I had hoped for and I really owe so much of it to Colleen at Bloom and Flow – your words each week in pregnancy yoga helped to keep me calm in pregnancy. Then during labour I kept thinking about you telling me to breathe in energy and breath out fear.

I have to say, Darent Valley hospital were so supportive of me having a vbac, and so the combination of support made me confident in my decisions. I was sure my body was preparing itself over the weekend before birth, and I wasn’t wrong. Fast forward to 2am Monday morning and I started feeling the odd contraction but told myself to stay in bed and rest as much as I could, so I did. Then my waters went at 4.30am so I jumped out of bed, got excited and went into hospital at 6am. Due to having a previous c-section and gestational diabetes this time round they wanted me in as soon as my waters went.

I was checked and sent straight to delivery suite as my contractions where there and I was 2cm dilated (I told myself not to listen to the number as it didn’t matter) I had Mark, my partner, and my sister with me for support. We turned down the lights and put on some music (Spice Girls, Ed Sheeran and Kate Nash – not everyone’s first choice for birth but made it me happy!) I also asked for the Bluetooth monitoring so I could keep walking around and using the birthing ball.

By 1pm I asked for an epidural as things had ramped up and I wanted to be more comfortable so that I could keep on enjoying the experience. I had the epidural at around 1.30pm. I was calm and continuously using my breathing techniques through each contraction, reminding myself each contraction was another step closer to meeting baby!

At around 4.30pm I was 7cm and then things took a slight turn as babys heart rate dropped, suddenly the room was full of doctors telling me I might be going to theatre. I kept breathing and remained calm, thankfully within minutes baby’s rate was back up and fine and I was telling them I wanted to push. I was told I had only just been examined at 7cm so it was too soon. I told her that I must be ready because I could feel the change, another quick check and sure enough I was given the green light to start pushing. Eight contractions later, my baby girl was born and placed on my chest at 5.04pm. A moment I will treasure forever!

Thanks to Colleen, I knew how to advocate for myself and listen to my body and tell the midwife what I needed to do. My recovery has been amazing and we are now soaking up all the cuddles as a family of 4!

I hope my birth story helps other ladies that are trying for a vbac birth, as I know hearing success stories did that for me.

28/02/2026

Pregnancy yoga in Dartford 💕

Join this gentle class that’s tailored for a changing body. As well as the physical aspects of yoga (asana) we also cover:

Breath work for birth
Positions for labour
Encouraging baby into an optimal position
Relaxation and mindfulness
Bonding with baby
Meet other mums to be
Pain coping techniques

Each class is £10 or £35 for four. Book via my website.

Mondays at 7pm
Saturdays at 10am

16/12/2025

Turns out you can just go to yoga to feel good! Because yoga is so much more than getting into awkward positions, or being able to touch your toes. There is no right or wrong way to do yoga (as long as you are not causing harm to your body) because yoga is not simply a physical practice. Yoga is also about calming the mind, living your life with purpose and integrity and so much more. Feeling good after is the bonus!

Join me on the mat every week in Dartford. My schedule is;

Mondays at 7pm - pregnancy yoga in Dartford
Wednesdays at 10am - post natal yoga in Dartford
Fridays at 11.30am - pregnancy yoga in Gravesend
Saturdays at 8.45am - yoga flow in Darenth
Saturdays at 10am - Pregnancy yoga in Darenth

All dates are on my website until February