Birth Prep With Joy

18/02/2026

Many people expect breastfeeding to feel instinctive straight away.

For some it does. For some, it doesn’t ... at least not at first.

Breastfeeding is biologically normal, but it’s also a skill that both parent and baby are learning together. Positioning, latch and finding your rhythm often change over the first days and weeks, and frequent feeding is part of normal newborn behaviour as your baby feeding helps establish milk supply.

Babies digest breastmilk quickly, which is why feeds can feel constant at times. Cluster feeding, particularly in the evenings, helps stimulate milk production and doesn’t automatically mean there isn’t enough milk.

Questions, discomfort and uncertainty are common in the early days. Having access to clear, supportive information or feeding support can make a real difference to how feeding feels.

Many people expect breastfeeding to feel instinctive straight away.

For some it does. For some it doesn’t ... at least not at first.

Breastfeeding is biologically normal, but it’s also a skill that both parent and baby are learning together. Positioning, latch and finding your rhythm often change over the first days and weeks, and frequent feeding is part of normal newborn behaviour as your baby feeding helps establish milk supply.

Babies digest breastmilk quickly, which is why feeds can feel constant at times. Cluster feeding, particularly in the evenings, helps stimulate milk production and doesn’t automatically mean there isn’t enough milk.

Questions, discomfort and uncertainty are common in the early days. Having access to clear, supportive information or feeding support can make a real difference to how feeding feels.

The NCT Infant Feeding Line: 0300 330 0700
Breastfeeding Network: 0300 100 0212

16/02/2026

One of the most common questions people ask in antenatal classes is how they’ll know when labour has started.

Labour doesn’t usually announce itself with one clear sign and ramp up like you see on TV. Instead, it tends to show itself through patterns and progression over time. Contractions that gradually become stronger, longer and closer together are often more informative than any single symptom.

Early labour can feel vague or uncertain. Some people notice cramps or backache, others notice pressure or a change in how their body feels. Waters breaking or a show can happen early, late, or not until labour is well underway, so they’re not reliable markers on their own.

Rather than trying to decide if something “counts” as labour, it’s often more helpful to notice how things are changing. And if you’re unsure, talking it through with your midwife is always the right thing to do.

13/02/2026

When I’m supporting expectant parents, I’m not just listening for questions. I’m listening for what’s underneath them.

*Why something feels worrying.
*Why a piece of information hasn’t quite made sense in a way I thought it would.
*Why reassurance matters more than another explanation in that moment.

The context around people’s questions are often just as important as the questions themselves.

That’s what shapes how I teach and support parents.
Not just covering topics, but helping people make sense of what’s happening and why it feels the way it does.

That's why my classes are small, so I can support everyone in the room if they need it. 💚

11/02/2026

Babies are much less able to regulate their temperature than adults, so their clothing needs to help them stay in a comfortable range.

A simple rule often used by health organisations is to dress your baby in one more layer than you are wearing in the same environment. Multiple thin layers are preferable to one very thick layer because you can add or remove them easily.

I know parents often find that guidance confusing especially if parents dress differently from one another but knowing how to tell if your baby is too hot or cold means you can adapt accordingly.

When the temperature in the room is around 16–20°C - a range considered comfortable for babies - simple layers such as a vest and bodysuit with a layer on top are usually enough.

Hands and feet are not reliable indicators of temperature. Instead, check the baby’s back or the back of the neck/chest with your hand. If those areas feel warm and dry, they’re probably comfortable.

If your baby feels hot or sweaty, or their clothing is damp, it’s a sign they may be too warm - removing a layer can help.

If they feel cool on the chest or neck, they may be too cold and could need an extra layer.

There isn’t a magic number of layers for every situation it’s about how your baby feels in the environment right now and responding.

09/02/2026

This is the kind of space I aim to create in antenatal classes. Of course there is learning, resources, activities and practical work but there is also time for group conversation, sharing experiences and creating your community.

06/02/2026

In classes, I am often asked whether you're allowed to eat and drink in labour.

Labour is physical work. Muscles are contracting repeatedly, sometimes over many hours, and that uses energy and fluid. For many people, eating small amounts and drinking regularly can help with stamina and coping.

What that looks like varies. Some people want light snacks, others only want fluids, and some don’t feel like eating at all for periods of time. Nausea and appetite can change as labour progresses, and that’s normal too.

This isn’t about forcing yourself to eat if you don’t want to. It’s about knowing that food and fluids can be supportive, and responding to what your body is asking for in that moment.

Clear fluids, sips of water, isotonic drinks, ice lollies, or small, easy-to-digest snacks are often what people find most manageable.

05/02/2026

I've created a downloadable, online evidence-based hypnobirthing course for anyone who wants to feel calmer and more prepared for birth.

This is for you if:
✅ You want practical tools, explained clearly
✅ You’re curious about hypnobirthing but don’t want anything rigid
✅ You want support that fits around real life
✅ You prefer calm, realistic preparation over hype or promises

It’s self-paced, flexible, and designed to complement NHS care and any type of birth plan - vaginal birth, induction, or caesarean.

If that sounds like you, you can find Self-Paced Birth Prep via https://payhip.com/infobirthprepwithjoycom

04/02/2026

People often ask whether they’ll have to give birth naked. The short answer is no.

Many people are surprised by how little they end up caring about clothes once labour is underway. Body temperature can change quickly during labour. Things that felt fine earlier can suddenly feel irritating or uncomfortable. This is why loose layers tend to work well.

Some people prefer a long t-shirt or nightdress. Some stay in underwear. Some end up taking everything off. All of that is normal.

If you’re using water, comfort usually matters more than coverage. Anything that feels tight, heavy or restrictive often ends up coming off anyway. It is fine to labour in your bikini or tankini.

After birth, soft clothes that are easy to move in and change can feel nicest, especially when you’re tired and getting used to feeding and caring for your baby.

The best clothing for labour and birth is whatever helps you feel comfortable enough to focus on what your body is doing, rather than what you’re wearing.

02/02/2026

30/01/2026

This is the kind of thing that gets talked about in antenatal classes.
Not just labour itself, but everything around it. The practical, the emotional, the slightly awkward questions people aren’t always sure who to ask.

I love this part of the work.

These questions tell you what people are actually thinking about, what they’re quietly worrying about, and what information they’ve half-heard but want to properly understand.

Good antenatal education makes space for all of it. Not just the headline topics, but the real-life details that help people feel more prepared for labour, birth and life with a newborn.

This is what my classes look like most weeks. Talking things through properly, asking questions out loud, and making sense of it together.

28/01/2026

Partners often carry a lot quietly. They worry about being useful. About staying calm. About saying the right thing. About not making things worse. And often about not knowing what’s expected of them.

I saw and heard this when I used to co-facilitate Dads2B classes at my local hospital.

These questions don’t always get a safe space to be heard, so it is why I make sure my antenatal courses feel protective enough to talk about this - so that birth partners don't feel so alone.

Support isn’t about having the perfect words or knowing exactly what to do. It’s about understanding what helps, what doesn’t, and how to stay present when things feel intense.

Making space for these conversations early can make a real difference. Not just during labour, but in those early days afterwards too.

26/01/2026

A lot of birth preparation focuses on what might happen, but it can be just as helpful to think about how you respond when things feel intense, uncertain or tiring.

What helps you feel calmer?
What makes things feel harder?
Who helps you feel steadier when you’re not sure what you need?

These aren’t questions with right or wrong answers. They’re about noticing what usually helps you and seeing if you can use your usual coping techniques for labour.

You may already have just the skills you need.