Birth Baby Balance

Birth Baby Balance Guidance, support and information through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

Sarah, Charlotte, Kirsten, and Lucy are birth and postnatal doulas, passionate about supporting women through their pregnancies, labours and transitions into motherhood. We also provide antenatal education classes, breathing for labour classes, baby massage classes, postnatal pilates classes, placenta encapsulation and breastfeeding support. We have produced an audio download of Visualisations for Labour, to help pregnant women learn to breathe and relax effectively when the time comes.

I was blessed over the Easter weekend to be called to a beautiful home birth. What made it extra special was that I had ...
07/04/2026

I was blessed over the Easter weekend to be called to a beautiful home birth. What made it extra special was that I had been this family’s doula for their first baby too, and it is always deeply humbling to be invited back into the birth space for a second birth.

Being a doula is an amazing job to have. Each birth is different, you never know exactly what’s going to happen or how you can be the most help to that couple.

Sometimes you are really involved, other times you sit quietly in the background, observing how well they are working together and knowing that you’re there if they need you.

Even when it appears that you’re not really “doing” anything, the research is clear that having a doula at the birth has the power to significantly reduce interventions and help the process to unfold smoothly.

I feel so lucky to be able to provide this service to women in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

Please get in touch if you’d like to find out more about what a doula does, or how I can help at your birth.

A surprisingly warm and sunny Walk and Talk today ☀️, and a new location for everyone on the walk. It is always lovely t...
31/03/2026

A surprisingly warm and sunny Walk and Talk today ☀️, and a new location for everyone on the walk. It is always lovely to introduce people to new places to go 🥰

There’s no walk next week, but we’ll be back from 14th April, so come and join us then.

Find out more about this mum and baby group with a difference here: https://www.birthbabybalance.co.uk/walking-and-talking-groups

It's World Doula Week (in case you missed it!), and this morning I received a lovely testimonial from a recent doula cli...
31/03/2026

It's World Doula Week (in case you missed it!), and this morning I received a lovely testimonial from a recent doula client ❤️.

Setting up the birth pool in her house required some creative thinking as the kitchen was so far from the sitting room, and the hose only just reached! It also meant we all had to limbo or crawl under the hose as it crossed another doorway... 🤣

This is what she said about having me there as her doula:

"Sarah’s support and care played a very important role in my home birth experience. From the outset, she became someone I trusted, bringing a calm, reassuring presence alongside a wealth of practical knowledge.
Our pre-birth meetings were especially helpful, with thoughtful guidance on comfort, pain relief—including techniques using a rebozo—and how my husband could best support me during labour.
On the day itself, having Sarah there made a huge difference. The midwives only arrived shortly before the birth, and so Sarah’s steady, capable support helped me remain at home and feel confident throughout. She supported both me and my husband—helping manage practicalities like the birth pool while also guiding me through contractions with hands-on and emotional care.
Although I needed to go into hospital shortly after the birth, Sarah ensured the transition was smooth and calmly took care of everything at home, including tidying away the birthing equipment—something we were incredibly grateful for.
We would wholeheartedly recommend Sarah. My husband and I are both extremely grateful for her support."

I am now waiting for a baby who will hopefully decide to arrive sometime in the next few days - maybe it will be an Easter baby 🐣🐇🐓🐥👶🏼!

If you'd like to find out how I can support you through your birth, please drop me a message. As one of the most experienced doulas in Oxfordshire, I would love to be there for you 🥰

A quick at-a-glance look at what we've got coming up in April/May. You're welcome 😊
30/03/2026

A quick at-a-glance look at what we've got coming up in April/May. You're welcome 😊

30/03/2026

Just a quick heads up that there is no Baby Group this Friday, as it is Good Friday and so a bank holiday.
Walking and Talking is on this week (tomorrow), but not next week (7th April).
Happy Easter everyone! 🐰🐣🐇🐓🐥

I often get asked, "Should I take an antenatal course or a hypnobirthing course, or both?"This question puzzles me, as a...
27/03/2026

I often get asked, "Should I take an antenatal course or a hypnobirthing course, or both?"

This question puzzles me, as a hypnobirthing course is an antenatal course. Antenatal means "before birth", and both courses are designed to attend in the latter stages of pregnancy to prepare for labour and birth.

I think there is a misconception around what a hypnobirthing course is, and I think the word hypnobirthing puts a lot of people off attending. Perhaps they have images of stage hypnosis, of being under someone else's control, of being made to do things they don't want to, of being powerless. In fact, hypnobirthing puts the mother in control, helps her to understand how her body works, gives her the power to know what is important to her through her labour and how to achieve it.

A good antenatal course (whether hypnobirthing or not) should include information on:
💚 the physiology of labour (how it works and what happens during it)
🧡the physicality of labour (using different positions to help baby's journey through the pelvis)
💜what can help and hinder the process
💚signs of labour starting
🧡induction of labour
💜Caesarean birth
💚skills to help you cope with what's happening to your body (you'll probably learn more of these in a hypnobirthing course) 🧡medical pain relief options
💜your rights in childbirth
💚the role of the birth partner
🧡what's available in your local maternity services (especially places of birth).

Many will also include information on:
👶🏼understanding, caring for and feeding your baby
💪postnatal recovery
😴what to expect in the early days/weeks.

So if you're wondering what sort of antenatal course to take, think about what you want to learn, and then look at what different courses (online or in person) are offering. You may be surprised at how much you get out of a hypnobirthing course, even if you'd previously felt it "wasn't for you".

Our next Empowered Birth course starts on 9th April in Witney, and has a few spaces available. It is aimed at June/July due dates, it lasts 6 weeks and it takes place on Thursday evenings.

Find out more, and book your place, here: https://www.birthbabybalance.co.uk/empowered-antenatal-courses

Are you due between June and August? Do you feel well prepared for your birth? Would you like to be?If the answer is yes...
23/03/2026

Are you due between June and August? Do you feel well prepared for your birth? Would you like to be?

If the answer is yes, then our Empowered Birth course, starting 9th April, is for you! A six week course in Witney which will leave you feeling well informed, calm and confident, as you approach this amazing event in your life.

Find out more and book your place here: https://www.birthbabybalance.co.uk/empowered-antenatal-courses

I absolutely love having the opportunity to share positive birth stories, especially when the couple in question have be...
18/03/2026

I absolutely love having the opportunity to share positive birth stories, especially when the couple in question have been to my classes and feel that the classes helped them to feel well enough informed to advocate for themselves in labour, and come away thrilled with the outcome 🥰.

Many, many congratulations to Clem and Henry for the birth of their gorgeous son Freddie, and many, many thanks to them for giving me permission to share their story and picture.

If you're due between June and August and would like to get similarly well educated, our next course starts 9th April in Witney, and still has a few spaces available on it.

www.birthbabybalance.co.uk

Today was our 200th Walk and Talk 🎉🎉! I hadn't realised it until I got home 🤦🏼‍♀️.We had a lovely, sunny, blowy walk aro...
17/03/2026

Today was our 200th Walk and Talk 🎉🎉! I hadn't realised it until I got home 🤦🏼‍♀️.

We had a lovely, sunny, blowy walk around Farmoor Reservoir, with 9 mums and babies aged from 2 weeks to seven months.

If you'd like to join us on future walks, we'd love to have you along. Anyone who is pregnant or has a baby is welcome (and please bring along partners, grandparents, older siblings, dogs, friends etc).

The walks take place every Tuesday at 1:00, either in Witney or within approx. a 10 mile radius. We announce the location the Sunday before, having decided where it will be once we've seen what the weather might be like ☀️⛅️🌬🌦.

The walks are all pram friendly unless we state otherwise.

Find out more and join our WhatsApp group where we announce the location of the walk, here: https://www.birthbabybalance.co.uk/walking-and-talking-groups

Our latest Empowered Birth course has finished, with four sets of parents-to-be feeling better educated, prepared and co...
13/03/2026

Our latest Empowered Birth course has finished, with four sets of parents-to-be feeling better educated, prepared and confident about their labour, birth and initial months with their new babies. I'm so excited for them!

The next course is filling up, so if you're due from early June-late August, grab your place now to get ready and empowered to have your baby.

The six week course takes place in Witney on Thursday nights, starting 9th April. As well as being factual and informative, it is fun and engaging, and a great way to meet other local parents due around the same time as you.

Amongst other topics, the course includes:
💚 what happens during labour and birth
🧡 relaxation and breathing techniques to help you through
💜 information on our local places to give birth
💚 complications in labour
🧡 Caesarean births
💜 your rights in childbirth
💚 questions to ask your health providers
🧡 feeding and caring for your baby
💜 how to have a positive birth, even if things don't go "according to plan"

Find out more and book your place here: https://www.birthbabybalance.co.uk/empowered-antenatal-courses

I am super excited to be attending this amazing, free, 5 day online learning opportunity! Breastmilk is such an extraord...
13/03/2026

I am super excited to be attending this amazing, free, 5 day online learning opportunity!

Breastmilk is such an extraordinary substance, and I can't wait to find out more about its impact on babies' gut microbiome and consequent long-term health.

If you're pregnant, a new mum or a health professional working in maternity, join me from the 23rd Mach to get better informed about all things breastmilk!

Our next two Comprehensive Antenatal Courses (running in March/April and May/June) are already fully booked - they are s...
11/03/2026

Our next two Comprehensive Antenatal Courses (running in March/April and May/June) are already fully booked - they are super popular!

Luckily for anyone due from early June-late August, we have an Empowered Birth course starting at the beginning of April which will be perfect for you.

So, if you live in or near West Oxfordshire and want to get really well informed and prepared for a positive birth experience, then come and join us! Bookings now open - don't leave it too late and be disappointed!

Grab your place here: https://www.birthbabybalance.co.uk/empowered-antenatal-courses

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Witney

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