Flow Birth & Postnatal Doula Services

03/12/2023

During the early (and not so early) days with a new baby, I often hear Mums/primary caregivers say they've "got nothing done" with their day.

Mothering, nurturing and meeting a child's needs are far from 'nothing', it's just that our culture does a good job of indoctrinating us that - as it doesnt directly contribute to the GDP - it , somehow, doesn't count.

Breastfeeding is more than just nourishment. It also meets a baby's need for love, connection, closeness and touch.

How a family choose to feed their baby and what is right for them will look different for everyone.

However, I love this piece of art as it shows just how much work and dedication is represented by breastfeeding, and mothering in general regardless of your feeding choices.

If you need some help in the postnatal days or are interested in any of my other services, get in touch via: flowbirthandpostnatal@gmail.com

www.flowbirthandpostnatal.co.uk

07/05/2023

Labour and birth are a bit like losing a milk tooth...

OK, so that's probably not an analogy you've heard often (or ever) before 😊 - but hear me out!

From hearing my boy's excited announcement that he had his first wobbly tooth, and witnessing it's long journey to - FINALLY - dropping out, made me realise there's a definite parallel between the two:

❤ The initial excitement at realising it's REALLY HAPPENING!!!

🧡 The benefit of being patient, relaxing, and not rushing the process.

💛 Recognising that the more you fiddle with it the more it'll probably hurt.

💚 Trusting that your body knows what it's doing, and can get this tooth out on its own.

Sometimes, teeth get impacted or infected or come out at a funny angle and get stuck - and when they do we're grateful a dentist can help.

On the very, VERY, odd occasion similar things can happen with birth - and then we're super grateful for the talented and caring obstetric and medical staff that can care for us and our babies.

However, the vast majority of the time babies are birthed just fine - when we're relaxed, patient and trust that our bodies know what they're doing!

Labouring and birthing a baby is a physiological process, just like losing a tooth - it will happen whether we fiddle with it or not.

Why fiddle with it, when we know it'll just hurt more?

❤🧡💛Trust your body - it's AMAZING!!!!!❤🧡💛

02/05/2023

Another gem from Sara Wickham!

Thought for the day:

If you put a handful of popcorn into the same pot, into the same oil and heat it all to the exact same temperature, it doesn’t all pop at the exact same moment.

Same with labour, birth and babies.

Be an individual.

Pop in your own time 😆😊

(For more evidence-based conversations about the timing of birth, see www.sarawickham.com/time)

08/04/2023

Totally recommend Becky at Calm in the Birth Room

Hypnobirthing is a great tool to use during pregnancy, and to prepare for labour and birth. There's nothing 'woo'- woo' about it, just straightforward, evidence-based information that will help you understand the importance of your mind-body connection, and learn techniques to induce a state of calm and relaxation, and support the natural physiologic process of labour and birth.

Don't hesitate, book yourself onto Becky's FREE Zoom session to learn more, and get some great hints and tips ready for the big day.

Alison x

Having done it this way twice I can confirm that its not terribly effective 😬 - I TOTALLY understand that birth may feel so overwhelming that you decide to just stick your head in the sand and ‘whatever will be will be’. While being flexible is beneficial it does not take into account the fact that there is a lot that YOU can do to make your labour and birth more likely to go the way you prefer. If you’d like to know more pop along to my FREE session How to make your birth better on Saturday 20th May at 11am to pick up some FAB tips for labour and birth. Link to book in instagram bio or via my website calminthebirthroom.weebly.com
Happy Birthing!
Becky Xx

06/04/2023

🪴🌻🌾 POSTNATAL SELF-CARE 🐾🍃🐞

Ready for my morning run.

As a teenager, I learnt exercise and movement were massively important for my self-care, helping to maintain my mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

When we're pregnant we can focus massively on labour and birth - understandably, birth is a huge life event.

However, preparing for the postnatal period, and thinking in advance about how to support our wellbeing - as we manage the demands of looking after a newborn and transition into parenthood - can be really helpful.

What self-care practices will you regularly prioritise after birth?

❤ A relaxing bath
🧡 Time in nature
💛 A cuppa and catch up with a friend
💚 Reading
💙 Mindfulness/Meditative practice
💜 Exercise

What support will you need to be able to make your self-care a reality, postnatally? Who can help you - family, friends, professionals (postnatal doula, childcare providers, health/wellbeing practitioners etc.)?

To find out more about my postnatal services and the support I can offer you after birth visit my website at www.flowbirthandpostnatal.co.uk/postnatal/

❤🧡💛💚💙💜❤🧡💛💚💙💜❤🧡💛💚💙💜

22/03/2023

Happy World Doula Day: https://fb.watch/jr4FwVvHGB/

07/10/2022

The 9th-15th October is Baby Loss Awareness Week, which highlights the scale and impact of pregnancy and baby loss.

In the UK, 1 in 4 people experience pregnancy or baby loss.

If you live in Sheffield, and have been affected by such a loss, you may be interested in the following event - which is intended for all faiths and none.

Event: Service of Remembrance for Baby Loss
Venue: All Saints Church, Eccleshall, S11 7PP
Date: 9th October 2022
Time: 3pm
Leading & Speaking: Jo Hird & Kate Cornwell

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

18/05/2022

Only 5% of babies come on their due date - that's just 1 in 20!!

I love Sara's tip to plan something special to do on your baby's due date.

What will you do to mark the day?

It's a date you'll likely have been working towards and focusing on throughout your pregnancy...but statistically it's much more likely your baby won't come on that day than will!

If your baby is here, you can celebrate it together. If not then enjoy the date in the knowledge that baby soon will be :).

In a world where we rush around and try to fit too much in, a baby’s ‘due date’ has come to be seen by some people as a kind of appointment.

Statistically, only 5% of babies are born on their due date.

That's one in twenty.

Some come earlier, and many healthy babies are born after this.

I sometimes suggest that people plan to do something nice on their baby’s due date; there’s a really high chance that you’ll be free to do it!

But the important thing to remember is that, on the whole, our bodies and our babies’ bodies know what they’re doing.

If you’d like more information about due dates, induction or birth in general, see www.sarawickham.com/iol

Yes, feel free to repost. We just ask that you keep the original pic, words and credit intact and don’t put Sara’s words into your own branding 💜