Better Birth Stories: Hypnobirthing Classes & Birth Doula

04/12/2025

Yeah, yeah…so I’m back, burning away my life (well, lunch hour!) on Instagram.
Anyway, this made me chuckle 😁

…..
No doubt you’ll get asked this question now we’re approaching the silly season 🎄

Feel free to steal this response 😉😂

04/12/2025

Do listen to on this. So, so many of you are or will struggle with a diagnosis of GD and the whole conversation needs to be more nuanced and far more women centred than it currently is.

Repost
I’ve just updated my blog post on gestational diabetes, an area that frustrated me when writing both In Your Own Time and my Plus Size Pregnancy books.�

That’s because, in both cases, what women are told about gestational diabetes isn’t supported by the evidence.

I’m not saying that gestational diabetes isn’t a thing. There are many interesting arguments on this, and I don’t think we have enough understanding yet.

I’m also not saying that women with this diagnosis can’t have problems. Clearly they can, but it’s sometimes hard to tease out what’s going on.

And social media is NEVER the place for nuanced conversation.

But we really need nuanced conversation.

There is such a discrepancy between the mainstream medical perspective on this, and I think women and families need both perspectives.

So, when I saw a new study which looked at overdiagnosis, I decided it was time to update my blog post.

The newest study shows that, “The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus is increasing globally, reflecting intensified screening efforts alongside substantial international differences in how, when, and by which criteria screening is conducted, and diagnoses are determined.” (Karentius et al 2025).

It’s just one of many resources that you’ll find on my updated blog post - Gestational Diabetes - and I really hope you’ll find it useful.

Read it at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/gestational-diabetes/

04/12/2025

Do you really need a doula — YES!
Repost: .billchun

Hell Yes!!
Think of it this way - You are travelling to a foreign country and you possibly don’t speak the language. No fear though as your doula will be right by your side and she absolutely has your back.

Having a doula isn’t combative, it’s full on team work. It places the focus, the understanding and the process on you and your needs. It’s the safety and comfort of having someone walk alongside you both during this hugely life-changing, life-affirming moment in time 💕💕

28/11/2025

Head on over to https://www.betterbirthstories.com/hypnobirthing-online-course
the online hypnobirthing course is on sale half price.
Hope you love it.
Melanie x

28/11/2025

24/11/2025

💗💗

Mice aren’t usually tied to cooperative caregiving, but researchers just filmed something extraordinary inside a nesting box. When a mother struggled to deliver her pups, another female stepped in — tugging a newborn free with her paws and mouth, then staying close through the rest of the birth. These helpers were almost always experienced mothers, suggesting they can detect distress and react in a targeted, purposeful way.

It’s one of the clearest examples of cooperative birthing ever recorded in rodents and raises new questions about how social bonds shape survival in small mammals.
Check comments for the full story ⬇️

24/11/2025

Brilliant post. Do have a read, especially if you are based in the UK.

A recent article in The Conversation by Hannah Dahlen attempted to clarify the difference between a “home birth” and a “freebirth,” offering what appeared to be a tidy explanation. But the reality driving women’s decisions about where and how to give birth is far more complex, and a major ...

17/12/2024

I know that I'm not the only one who eye-rolled into oblivion when reading the Guardian app this morning... and then the BBC app after.
So, why is this reporting so bloody annoying?
Well, firstly, it's inaccurate. One in four would be 25% and for 25% to be accurate then they would be counting only planned caesareans where the woman did not go into labour prior to the operative birth.
If we add in those births where the woman laboured prior to the casearean then the actual figure is 42%.
So really this is simply lazy journalism.

On top of this it punches down onto women for both their size and age... and really, haven't we done with that yet? It simply isn't evidence based and it is horribly misogynistic.

If these reports worried you because you feel that your wonderful body may be an issue for birth I highly recommend grabbing a copy of 's excellent book 'Plus Size Pregnancy', where she dismantles this kind of nonsense page after page. Getting the right info for birth is so important and clearly our press isn't doing a great job!

And remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with caesarean birth (my twins and I are very thankful for it) but we do need to be very honest that a 42% rate is pretty scary.

I assure you that we wonderful women are NOT the problem though.

Melanie x

17/09/2024

🤰 Pregnant and ready to start preparing for you birth? 👶
🤰 Want to feel excited, calm and confident?
🤰 Want to learn how to embrace labour, make great decisions throughout your care and have an excellent, helpful and informed birth partner?
Then get on down to our One Day Group Hypnobirthing Class held in SW11.
This course is expert led, Googe 5 Star Rated, award winning and has free parking outside! 😁
Hypnobirthing is a full antenatal education for the mum to be and her birth partner. This in-person course is accompanied by a full online hypnobirthing course & handbook (so you don't have to take notes!) and 7 excellent Hypnobirthing MP3's to ensure that you are absolutely birth ready.
You can find all the details and book here: https://www.betterbirthstories.com/london-hypnobirthing-classes
Prefer private classes in the comfort of your own home? Then we offer that too with availability from October: https://www.betterbirthstories.com/private-hypnobirthing-class

31/05/2024

I’m not very fond of Instagram right now.
😑😑😑🤯

AI is NOT the way to go. I’m getting bored of appealing.
Birth is a normal, physiological event.
People are not harmed by seeing birth.
The people that follow birth accounts are usually interested in birth and unafraid of women’s bodies.
Sigh give it a rest! Please!

23/05/2024

Need some Induction info? In this video I give you my top 6 things that you need to know before you make your decision. I also include my best reads on the subject and a few handy website links.
I do hope that you find it helpful.
Melanie x

Welcome to this induction of labour information video ✨ 6 really helpful things that you need to know before you consider whether induction is right for you....