Resources for birth and motherhood
Here are some of my favourite go to links and books...
Podcasts
Our mothers talking podcast is HERE
Me and Natalie Meddings (author of How to Have a Baby and Why Homebirth Matters) have open and honest conversations about pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
I was a guest on the mushmums podcast talking about postnatal emotions, it’s a great episode if you’re a new mum or about to be.
Free downloads
For a free visual birth plan from Milli Hill’s Positive Birth Book
http://www.pinterandmartin.com/the-positive-birth-book-visual-birth-plan-free-download.html
Go to links
For mine and Natalie’s antenatal videos
For positive birth stories
For lots of free birth info all in one place
https://birth-ed.co.uk/birth-ed-hub
For evidence based articles
Hospital guidelines
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance
Breastfeeding troubleshooting
Breastfeeding support
La Leche Helpline - 0345 120 2918
ABM helpline - 0300 330 5453
Breastfeeding videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56YzjsZr4hQ
Homebirth
Mummapod podcast with Kingston head of homebirth Frances Rivers
Breech birth
Birth-ed podcast with Kingston’s new consultant midwife Emma Spillane
If you need to find out what your rights are
http://www.birthrights.org.uk/
Birth trauma healing
http://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/
https://www.makebirthbetter.org/
Maternal mental health
https://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/
My featured guest blogs
I realised it was all my choice (trigger warning: birth trauma)
MUMBOD on the Huffington Post
Pregnancy and the corona virus
Being a Positive Birth Movement Facilitator
Is Birth Prep Becoming a bumpy ride?
Articles
For a gentle caesarean birth
Info
https://newburydoula.co.uk/2013/08/20/the-natural-caesarean/
Birth plan
https://newburydoula.co.uk/2014/05/25/gentle-caesarean-birth-planpreferences/
For when you are waiting for baby...
https://www.mothering.com/articles/the-last-days-of-pregnancy-a-place-of-in-between/
For induction
For a positive induction story
https://www.thecalmbirthschool.com/beautiful-positive-induction-story/
http://www.tellmeagoodbirthstory.com/birth-stories/ruth-s-story-an-unexpected-induction
Useful facebook groups
the positive birth group - for evidence based articles, positive birth stories and community
induction of labour - for support with questions and decision making for induction
Birth Books
For a one stop shop about everything birth
The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill
For a common sense, down to earth, mother to mother guide to birth with lots of practical ideas
How to Have a Baby by Natalie Meddings
For Home Birth
Why Home Birth Matters by Natalie Meddings
For a debate about medicine vs mother intuition and how to learn to trust yourself
The Heart in the Womb by Dr Amali Lokugamage
For going on an emotional journey to prepare for your birth. Pam England says that there is one question every woman needs answered to birth with ease...
Birthing From Within by Pam England
For lovely stories and information around water birth
Water Birth, stories to inspire and inform by Milli Hill
For practical ideas on how to manage pain in labour (I also have a one page cheat sheet on this, please email me if you would like it)
Birth Skills by Ju Ju Sundin
For Hypnobirthing
More involved
The Hypnobirthing book by Katherine Graves
More relaxed
The Calm Birth School by Suzy Ashworth
For preparing your mind and body in pregnancy, these meditations and simple yoga poses are lovely
Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful by Gurmukh
For learning about the microbiome
The Microbiome Effect by Toni Harman
For learning about doulas
Why Doulas Matter by Maddie McMahon
For knowing what your options are
Am I Allowed? by Beverley A Lawrence Beech
This book is from AIMS and they also have downloadable e books on lots of topics
The Why It Matters series of books by Pinter and Martin are a wonderful collection of birth and parenthood books helping you get a balanced and evidence based view on lots of topics from home birth to induction, as well as breastfeeding, caesarean birth, postnatal depression and more.
Postnatal books
For understanding your baby's development and knowing when they are fussy it's just a leap...a helpful one page guide is inside so you can see when the next leap is coming. Basically everything is a growth spurt ;) (There is also an App which some women prefer)
The Wonder Weeks
For looking after yourself after baby, a new mindset and lots of nourishing recipes
The First Forty Days by Heng Ou (I also have a short summarised word doc on this, please email me if you would like it)
For understanding baby's sleep patterns and what's normal
The Gentle Sleep Book by Sarah Ockwell-Smith
For gentle, practical tips to support your baby to sleep better
The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
For relaxed parenting
Do Not Disturb; The Benefits of Relaxed Parenting for you and your child by Deborah Jackson
For Co Sleeping
Three in a Bed by Deborah Jackson
Most of the books mentioned are in my own personal library so please do ask if you would like to borrow any
Birth Videos
A positive hypnobirth waterbirth homebirth
My recommended local practitioners
Hypnobirthing - Megan at birth-ed course
Breastfeeding support - Anna Page, lactation consultant
Anna also runs a free drop in through the NCT Kingston Facebook page at her home on Wednesdays
And at Ace Osteopaths in Surbiton on Thursdays
Acupuncture for fertility, pregnancy and postnatally - Sam Patel
Placenta encapsulation - Maggie Vaughan
Amanda - Placenta Practice
Cranial Osteopathy - The Osteopathic Centre for Children in Putney
Women's Health Physio for Mummy MOTs and pelvic floor health - Lisa Few
