What the F is Hypnobirthing?

Day One Hundred- Hypnobirthing is a Revolution Mar 18, 2021

Episode 100! I wanted to make this episode special and so, in some ways it is a summary of my learnings, experiences and opinions of Hypnobirthing and in some ways, I expect this to be the start of a new conversation, and that’s really exciting! This episode explores the idea that Hypnobirthing is a revolution. Which, I wholeheartedly, believe it is. Although the idea of people, particularly women, taking control of their birth is not a new idea... it’s one that has been clouded by the medical world over the last century. Controversial as it may sound, many women have lost trust in their own bodies to birth and handing over all decisions and processes to the medical world has seemed the only way forward. Hypnobirthing is changing that. Everyday, women are going into their births informed, in control and confident about birth! But, is there a downside to this? Not women being in control of their own births- that’s incredible! But is there a downside to joining a revolution when your pregnant? Is it the right time? Can it create anger, frustration? Distrust? Can it create guilt and even feelings of failure.... In this episode I explore the idea of Hypnobirthing as a revolution, it’s pros AND it’s possible cons...

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Day Ninety-Nine- Pregnancy 2- What am I doing differently? Mar 03, 2021

In this episode I am going to share with you how I am preparing for my second pregnancy! Yes, heaps of you have messaged me about this and I PROMISE to keep this podcast going long enough to share my second birth story!

I am sharing how I am preparing practically, physically & mentally for this birth, I am also exploring a BIG shift I have had in my mindset since starting out on my Hypnobirthing journey!

Speak soon, I hope you are all having the most wonderful pregnancies!

www.hello-parent.co.uk

www.facebook.com/helloparentuk

www.facebook.com/groups/helloparentuk

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Day Ninety-Eight- Pain in Labour Jan 28, 2021

*Potential Trigger Warning* I am talking about pain in labour!

Yes a controversial topic but one that CANNOT be brushed under the rug. People have very real fears and experiences of pain in labour and I think it is important this is honoured without women feeling like they have failed or done something wrong.

Yes, I agree that labour CAN be pain free, but for a MULTITUDE of reason (which I discuss in the episode) it may not be.

But let's stop avoiding the topic, it needs to be addressed and honoured as a very real fear & experience.

Would LOVE to connect with you:

www.hello-parent.co.uk

www.facebook.com/helloparentuk

www.facebook.com/groups/helloparentuk

www.instagram.com/helloparent_

Day Ninety Seven- Birth Preparation- a quick guide! Dec 17, 2020

I have had lots of messages from people, which read along the lines of "HELP! I am due in 2 weeks and have done no prep!"

and so, I am REALLLY, excited to give you this episode. It is your quick (I say quick, i mean it is an hour but that is quick in antenatal education terms!) guide to birth preparation! So whether you are due in 2 weeks, at the start of your pregnancy or, like me, mid-way, this is a great check in point. A summary of the key points... see it as your checklist!

As mentioned in the episode if you want to hear more from me, then you can find me here:

www.hello-parent.co.uk

www.facebook.com/helloparentuk

www.facebook.com/groups/helloparentuk

www.instagram.com/helloparent_

Day Ninety-Six- Scans Nov 20, 2020

How has it been this long and I have not recorded an episode about scans?! Well, because they are routine, we just go to them. They are exciting, they give us life-saving information and allows us to see our baby.

BUT, have you ever thought that there might be side-effects to Scans?! I had not thought about it either! (probably why I never thought they warranted a whole podcast) but they do!

Listen to this episode where I explore the amazing impact having scans has for our pregnancy experience but also hear me explore the little evidence which has been done into having them and whether we should be having them (spoiler alert, I still do !!).

Also, do not forget to visit www.helloparent.co.uk , my antenatal classes are now live and bookable!!

Day Ninety Five Parent Guilt Oct 23, 2020

GUILT. Why do we have it? What makes us feel guilty? How do we banish it?? OR does it actually have a purpose in parenting?

In this episode I explore the above questions, and attempt to answer them for my own sanity as it is my daughter's first day of nursery and I am full of it!

Don't forget to join the HelloParent Hub, it is FREE to join for October!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/helloparentuk

Day Ninety Four- The unpredictability of Parenthood Oct 22, 2020

We are living in an unpredictable time, throw in it the unpredictability of birth and parenthood, then as pregnant women we really have the potential to spiral right now!

But, we are not going to let the unpredictability hinder us! In this episode I divulge into the unpredictability of, well life in general, but also birth and parenthood and what we can do to ease our way through these life-changing processes.

Don't forget to join HelloParent to explore more about all things Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/helloparentuk

Day Ninety Three- My motherhood journey continued Oct 21, 2020

It may have been a few months between recordings BUT I can assure you that this episode comes with some BIG news... which I hope makes up for my absence!

In this episode, I talk about what has been going on for me the past few months, stages of pregnancy and my thoughts on modern Hypnobirthing courses.

For those interested, Join the HelloParent Hub below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/helloparentuk

Day Ninety Two- Mum, your new identity Oct 21, 2020

In this episode, you get a much closer look at my personal life as I delve into purpose, passion and identity! As a parent, you take on a new identity and getting my head around that was not always a simple journey for me!

I really was not sure whether to post this episode and after finding it on my laptop today, I had to! I hope you enjoy/resonate with it.

Day Ninety One- Giving Birth Alone Jun 16, 2020

In today's episode I explore the scenario, that many women do find themselves in, of being in labour alone. I do not mean without a midwife, but without a Birthing Partner. There are many reasons you may find yourself in labour without a birthing partner; sometimes out of choice, sometimes for a short moment in time and sometimes due to a worldwide pandemic (yes, believe it or not it can happen!).

The episode includes reassurance, techniques & practical advice for birthing alone. and a key message, you are never alone! You are your beautiful bundle of joy are in it together!

Day Ninety- What Hypnobirthing techniques did I use in labour? May 26, 2020

In this episode I will explore the techniques that I ACTUALLY used aka what should you spend on your time on, what is all wish washy and what is actually birth preparation genius. Obviously, every single birth is different and every person is but I will run through all the main techniques Hypnobirthing teaches us and what I actually applied to my labour. I also give some controversial conclusions on my opinions on the practice of Hypnobirthing.

This episode comes directly from someone asking me this question on instagram; If you want me to explore a topic in an episode or just give me a good old stalk (fair enough) then you can follow me @what_the_f_is_endometriosis.

Day Eighty-Nine- Baby Sleep (or the lack of) May 21, 2020

In today's episode I will share my experience of SLEEP (or the lack of!). If you are looking for advice, this is not the podcast for you but if you want to listen to the ramblings of sleep deprived mum run through what has worked and what hasn't then give this a listen.

Being a mum is the most responsibility you will ever have in your life, and you have to do this job on no sleep- it is a crazy beautiful time but also hard and you can feel alone. Listen to this podcast if any of this resonates with you.

Day Eighty-Eight- Pregnancy and Corona Virus Apr 24, 2020

I want to keep this series as timeless as possible; for any pregnant women to pick up at any time and listen to an experience and hopefully learn a thing or two about Hypnobirthing BUT I cannot go without doing a podcast on being pregnant during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Listen as I explore the current guidelines, the effects and some positive techniques to get through this time.

I have referenced the following:

https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/coronavirus-covid19-advice-during-pregnancy/

Day Eighty-Seven- Mum Time (and I'm back!) Apr 23, 2020

... after 3 months, I am back to talk to you (ironically) about time management! I will update you on what I have been up to, how I managed time with a new born and how I manage my time now. This is all about expectations, nourishment and replenishing yourselves through the whirlwind that is motherhood.

For more updates, follow me on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/what_the_f_is_endometriosis/

Day Eighty Six- Happy mum, Happy baby Jan 07, 2020

In today's episode I explore the baby blues; the sadness, anxiety & fears that, unfortunately, most of us will face in early parenthood. I will share my own experience, some tips for support and an overall message that these feelings are nothing to be ashamed of, they are normal and should be recognised and given some attention. A happy mum is a happy baby!

Day Eighty- Five- Healthy mum, Healthy Baby Dec 12, 2019

In this episode I explore the mum & baby connection that is beyond the womb; and just how real and important that connection is. This week I have put baby's needs first (well I thought that was what I was doing) but by neglecting my own health this impacted on baby too. It is so important to see yourself and baby as one during these early weeks; hear more about this and my beautiful bacterial infection (TMI WARNING).

Day Eighty-Four- It's all gone tits up! Dec 04, 2019

...Literally! From a week of bliss to a week of milky chaos! Keeping my podcasts open & honest, I am sharing my week so far. The crying you hear half way through this episode pretty much sums it up. From an over-supply to an under supply, breastfeeding issues has led to an unhappy baby and a rather tired mum...

Day EightyThree- Week One of Parenthood Dec 02, 2019

In this episode I will give you the low down of my first week as a parent; we are talking sleep, poo, milk & a whole lot of love!

Day 82- Did Hypnobirthing hinder my birth? Dec 01, 2019

In this (kind of) controversial episode I analyse whether all my Hypnobirthing practice hindered my birth in anyway. I will look at how Hypnobirthing practice may have influenced my view of the medical world, how I created a very distinctive set of birth preferences and I will talk about pain... WARNING... yes, I will talk about PAIN. I discuss all of the above with the intention to educate and support anyone who is approaching their labour.

Day Eighty- One- Did Hypnobirthing work? Nov 27, 2019

...that is the million dollar question isn't it! In short the answer is yes, Hypnobirthing worked. Did it give me the exact birth I hoped and planned for? No. But did it allow me to go through my birth with confidence, knowledge and techniques to utilise? yes! In this episode I break down exactly how Hypnobirthing helped me through my labour.

Day Eighty- My Birth Story Nov 25, 2019

In today's episode I am sharing my birth story. Warning! This birth was not inline with my birth preferences and involved medical intervention. This birth also involved bravery, defiance, confidence & empowerment and is ultimately a positive birth story. Without Hypnobirthing I would not have had the knowledge or confidence to make (the many) necessary decisions I had to make during my labour & the tools for it to be such a beautiful experience despite the most unlikely setting.

Day Seventy-Nine- Life update; I am a mum! Nov 24, 2019

A quick episode to update you on why I have been so quiet this week... yes you guessed it, I am a mum! Baby Aura joined us earth -side this week in the most unpredictable, but beautiful fashion and I am so full of love! Listen to this episode for a quick update on my first week of motherhood and what I intend for the podcast moving forward.

To see more of my journey check out my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/what_the_f_is_endometriosis/

Seventy- Eight- Hypnobirthing Caesarean Part 2 Nov 14, 2019

In this, part 2 of 2, episodes about caesarean I am discussing; Emergency caesareans and how to write Hypnobirthing friendly preferences for all circumstances. I will, excitedly, discuss a new phenomena called 'Mother Assisted Caesarean' and lastly, share with you how I think that no matter your birth style, preference or turn you can still have control over it; it is YOUR birth and YOUR baby and at no point to you have to fully give it over to someone else.

Day Seventy- Seven Hypnobirthing Caesarean (part 1) Nov 14, 2019

In this, part 1 of 2, episodes about caesarean I am discussing; what are they? why would I choose one? What are the risks? and can I make it a 'Hypnobirthing Caeasarean'?. I believe yes you can and will talk about how you can use the techniques of Hypnobirthing with ANY time of birth.

Day Seventy-Six- Am I in labour? Nov 11, 2019

Spoiler alert, no I am not in labour. BUT I did have my first full day of thinking so. In this episode I discuss the symptoms i had, and what I did (including the very non-hypnobirthing reactions I had).

Day Seventy-Five- A Partner's Role Nov 10, 2019

In Hypnobirthing (and one thing I really love about it!) the birth companion has such a key role during the pregnancy and birth. But how do they feel about this role? and about the changing role, going from individual to parent? In this episode I discuss the the changes we all go through when coming to terms with the that we are going to be parents- I mean, come on, it’s scary stuff!

Day Seventy- Four Birthing Classes Nov 09, 2019

In this episode I am talking all things birthing classes; I say all things, I mean it is limited to my experience of Hypnobirthing & two, interesting, experiences of anti-natal classes. I will talk about what you should look for in classes, what I enjoyed (and didn't enjoy) and the differences between my experiences.

Day Seventy Three- My late pregnancy feels Nov 08, 2019

I am past the 38 week mark and things are changing, I think I am starting to feel stereotypically pregnant and along with that I am getting obsessed with googling pregnancy symptoms- I know, it does not sound too Hypnobirthy does it?! But, I said I would be honest about my experience. Listen to this episode for my 38 week symptoms & the affect it can have on mindset.

Day Seventy- Two- Positive Birth Stories Nov 08, 2019

A key teaching of Hypnobirthing is that we have to condition our minds to believe that birth is a positive experience; due to media and the narrative we have probably been told our whole lives, for most of us, this is a re-conditioning. And that is hard- especially when people are so obsessed with telling you their difficult birth stories. Now, do not get me wrong I believe every women has the right to share their story and for some women who have had a 'negative' experience, sharing is therapy for them which I get. But, while you are pregnant you, unfortunately, are not going to have the capacity to be this therapist. You, instead, need to focus on listening to and reading positive birth stories. What will surprise you is that so many positive birth stories have elements of special circumstances yet the women involved still sees the positive in the experience- most of the time because they felt safe & empowered; pretty incredible!

Below are some mentioned links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWK7LFmjiCA https://thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk/blog

Day Seventy-One- Hypnobirthing resources for birth Nov 07, 2019

As I hit week 38 of pregnancy a new fear sneaks in (I know I know fear is bad but I have to be realisticall here!). My fear is that I get into labour and I totally forget all of my Hypnobirthing practice. To avoid this happening I have put together a pack of resources and a revision session for my birth companion and I to study (I know I know I am geek). Tonight I am going to talk about the resources you will need, what to remind yourself and your birth partner of and quite practically, what to print!

As discussed in episode you can contact me via my instagram, https://www.instagram.com/what_the_f_is_endometriosis/

Day Seventy- Top 10 Hypnobirthing Daily Routine Nov 06, 2019

It is episode 70-woah! and in celebration I am doing (what I think) is a super useful episode on my Top 10 tips to making Hypnobirthing practice easy and part of your daily routine. Honestly, with Hypnobirthing there seems to be an infinite amount of information to learn but what is most important is your practice and fitting it into your everyday life- so here is how I do it.

Day Sixty-Nine- Pain Relief Nov 04, 2019

A more Hypnobirthingy (yes that is a word) title for this podcast would be 'comfort levels' but I need to make it clear, I am discussing the ways we can natural maintain high comfort levels (naturally not feel pain) but also that I am discussing medical interventions & forms of pain relief. I fully believe in Hypnobirthing and have no intention on using any medicalised methods of pain relief but it does not mean I do not see the importance of understanding them, when they are used and side effects. Which I will share with you!

Day Sixty-Eight- 10 ways to have a gentle Hypnobirth Nov 03, 2019

As a recap of my learning so far, and as a way to introduce any newbies to Hypnobirthing I am sharing 10 ways to have a successful Hypnobirthing birth- these ideas come from women who have had successful births & encompasses both the teaching and practice of Hypnobirthing.

Day Sixty-Seven- Colostrum Harvesting Nov 02, 2019

Have you asked yourself during your pregnancy 'What the F is Colostrum?' and 'Why do I need to become a farmer of it?' (Or is that just me?). In this episode I am going to talk about what colostrum is, why you might want to get some expressed and stored before your baby arrives... and talk about my rather comical experience of this so far.

Day Sixty-Six- What the F is a Doula? Nov 01, 2019

Have you heard the term ‘Doula’ floating around loads recently? Especially with all the reading around birth it is a word that keeps coming up and so I decided, instead of using some vague idea I already had of what a Doula may be, to actually do some proper research and find out what they do, who they are and how they can benefit your birth. In this episode i share my findings and how I originally started by thinking it was just an expensive commodity that a celeb may have to seeing the true benefit in having an experienced advocate to ‘mother the mother’.

Day Sixty-Five- Finding out the sex Oct 31, 2019

Tonight I am discussing the age old question "what are you having?"; "I am having a baby" responded the sarcy feminist mother (that's me). I am discussing the reasons I am not find out the sex of my baby, gender stereotyping and social conditioning. Finishing with an extremely balanced conclusion; you do you. If you want to find out at 20 weeks absolutely go for it, or if you want to wait until 40- awesome! Either way baby will be loved & bring joy and that is the main thing.

Day Sixty-Four- Birth Bag Oct 30, 2019

I have been so torn on whether to pack a 'Birth Bag' aka a hospital bag, but with no intention at all of going to hospital I refuse to call it that! My dilemma comes from my belief in the law of attraction and the idea that what you put out to universe becomes reality... yes, sounds a little crazy when I write it like this but basically I was stuck on this belief that if I packed a bag for the birth then I would some how put it out to the universe that I was going to hospital. Anyway, after some thought, I have decided a birth bag is a sensible idea and in this episode I am discussing the why & what to put in it!

Day Sixty-Three- Nesting Oct 29, 2019

After having a beautiful baby shower & being spoiled with gifts, tonight I am discussing nesting; yup that uncontrollable urge to organise your books in alphabetical order and sort your spices in accordance with colour (okay a little much). This urge to get shit done is great; the more you do now the more time you get to bond with your new baby BUT this should not compensate on your time to relax- remember this is super important to! listen to hear why we nest, what it may look like and how best to make it productive.

Day Sixty- Two- Baby's transition into the world Oct 28, 2019

In this episode I am discussing the fact that although we clearly acknowledge the transition that we go through to become parents, we rarely acknowledge & discuss the huge transition that a baby is going through by entering the world. A baby is going from the comfort & serenity of the womb to the chaos and sensory explosion of the world. I will discuss some ways we can ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible for you & baby (and also rant a little about the pressure social media puts on this transition!)

Day Sixty-One- Post-Birth Bonding Oct 25, 2019

In this episode I will talk about Post-Birth Bonding; essentially why skin-to-skin is super important at building the foundation, both physically and emotional, between you are your baby. But not only between mum and baby but also between parents and baby and how there are many things you can do together to ensure the baby is feeling loved and safe; after all it has just made a really big transition into the world!

Day Sixty- Final Stage of Labour Oct 24, 2019

It is day 60 (oh my gosh I do not know how!!) and I am discussing the last stage of labour, yes your beautiful bundle of joy is with you but the labour journey is not quite over yet. I will discuss what your body gets up to during this stage, including birthing your placenta and how the incredible bond between mum and baby supports this stage. I will also discuss what else is going on around you during this stage, which at the time you will probably be too oblivious to at the time due to focusing on your new bubs.

Day Fifty-Nine- Birth Breathing & Crowning Oct 23, 2019

..and now, the baby will enter the world! In this podcast I will discuss the last stage of birthing baby (no not the last stage of labour all together, there is more of that to come). In this episode I will discuss the change you will experience in regards to your surges and with that, comes a change in your breathing- I recap birth breathing and give some hints & tips for birth breathing your baby out.

Day Fifty-Eight- The Pelvic Station Oct 22, 2019

Just when you think you have learned a lot and know most of the terminology out there, you hear something and and think "what the..." for me it was this term and the numbers related to 'The Pelvic station'. In the short episode I am talking about what this is, when you will hear it being discussed and what it means... because knowledge it power!

Day Fifty-Seven- Completion of the opening & thinning phase Oct 21, 2019

A long title for this episode! I am essentially discussing the end of the early phase of labour and the change or transition (which will feel smooth & euphoric- yes you read that correctly!) when we go from the up stage of labour to the down stage. I discuss whats going on in our bodies, how we may feel and what we can do- which is mostly nothing because this is the time we give over to our awesome bodies!

Day 56- Resting Labour Oct 20, 2019

In this episode I am discussing a slow or resting labour; why it happens and what to do... the good news is, IT IS NORMAL and for the majority of women your labour will rest at some point and you will not need medical intervention because of it. Instead, I will talk about some of the reasons out body needs to take a rest, when it happens and natural ways to get labour re-started again.

Day Fifty-Five- The Opening & Thinning Phase Oct 20, 2019

In this episode I will explore further early labour; particularly what is going on physiologically- because knowledge is power! The more we know about the biology of our body, the more we can trust it and relax into labour. I also go through some 'hallmarks' you may come across during this part of labour; little nods to tell you things are going in the right direction.

Day Fifty-Four- Early labour Oct 18, 2019

It is time to talk labour; how will I know, what will it feel like, what is happening and what should I do ?! Well most importantly you should trust your body and allow your instincts to tell you what to do.. but it helps to be a little informed. In this episode I will discuss the physiology of the first part of labour, what you can do to keep it calm & relaxed and how to put your Hypnobirthing practice into action.

Day Fifty-Three- Inducing Labour Naturally Oct 17, 2019

After a midwife appointment, and being told as a first time mum I am likely to go over my "due date" (the make belief concept!) I wanted to discuss some ways to induce labour naturally. So from hot curries to getting hot under the sheets; in this episode I cover several methods to induce your labour naturally.

Day Fifty-Two- Signs of labour Oct 17, 2019

Today I am talking about how our amazingly wonderful bodies give us signs that labour is getting closer; in this episode I am discussing those signs, what you might see, feel and experience as labour is approaching.

Fifty- One- Practice Labour Oct 16, 2019

...aka Braxton Hicks. But when I found out it is called Braxton Hicks, literally after a guy called John I prefer the term Practice Labour, after all that is exactly what it is! In this episode I will talk about what they feel like (or what I THINK they feel like), why it happens and what it means nearing labour.

Day Fifty- Pushing Oct 16, 2019

Tonight I am talking about the concept of pushing a baby out; how it has become mainstream but totally goes against everything we know about our instincts, not to mention how pushing can be a hindrance to labour. In this episode I will explore the Hypnobirthing friendly way for a baby to enter the world.

Day Forty-Nine- Instinct Oct 16, 2019

Today I am talking about our all powerful, all knowing, and bloody incredible instinct. Instinct is something that has seem to be forgotten by the mainstream when it comes to labour, but the truth is our bodies were made to birth and our instinct knows that. A huge part of practicing hypnobirthing is about learning the power of the female body, trusting in that power and switching off our our mind-chatter to let our instincts kick in and do the hard work for us. I will explore this further in today's episode.

Day Forty-Eight- Birth Release Oct 11, 2019

Tonight I am acknowledging that as I get closer to my birth some new and different fears start to surface and despite doing a lot of work around fear release & re-conditioning the mind. New and lingering fears do still appear. and so, tonight I am sharing with you a meditation to use to release some of these fears. This can also be used near your due time, at the start of labour or if you labour stalls.

Referenced Link: http://www.millbank.me.uk/Assets/documents/Baby%20Coach_HB%20Parent%20Manual_v2.pdf

My instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what_the_f_is_endometriosis/

Day Forty-Seven- Dating Oct 10, 2019

Tonight, I am talking about dating- yes dating!Dating yourself and dating your partner during your pregnancy. Doesn’t sound too much like breathing a baby out, huh?! Well that you would be right about, but it is about connection; connection to yourself & your partner and about enjoying the sacred time you have left not being parents. This podcast comes from the beautiful coromandel where we are currently enjoying our rainy baby moon, if you want to see more of that then also follow me on instagram @what_the_f_is_endometriosis

Day Forty-Six- Breastfeeding Part 2 Oct 10, 2019

As a continuation of yesterday’s podcast, today I am still talking about breastfeeding but with a focus on what to do if you face challenges, who you can turn to for support and how to create a support and resource network even before you start breastfeeding.

Mentioned link: https://kellymom.com

Day Forty Five-Breastfeeding Oct 09, 2019

Today is part 1 of 2 podcasts about breastfeeding; in this episode I will explore the benefits of breastfeeding and why I am choosing to give it a try but I will also discuss how overwhelming it can seem and the challenges seem to rarely be discussed.

Day- Forty Four- Vitamin K Oct 08, 2019

Is it just me or do you feel that because you are pregnant people expect you to know heaps of stuff about random things that you have NEVER heard of?! An example for me has been the Vitamin K supplement; medical professionals, my midwife, even friends with children just start harping on about this thing as if I am suddenly an encyclopaedia of birth knowledge.. when in truth I had never heard of it! Lucky for you, I have now done my research and to save you some time I have explained the purpose of the supplement, and the pros & cons. WARNING- it is a little biased towards giving the supplement to baby BUT remember it is your decision, just ensure it is an informed one.

Mentioned links:

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/newborns-typically-get-vitamink-shot/

https://www.kghypnobirthing.com/hypnobirthing-app/9-what-is-a-vitamin-k-injection.html

Day Forty-Three- Perineal Massage Oct 06, 2019

It's time to talk perineal massage; why do it, how to do it (videos below help!) and the positive impact it can have on your natural birth experience. Not something we jump at the idea of doing but I can I ensure you it is super important so the quicker we learn about it the better!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2aqVOG6Tc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ3CKM1adjE

Day Forty-Two- Making informed decisions Oct 06, 2019

In this podcast I am sharing tips about how to make informed decisions about your birth. I will introduce an awesome acronym for you and your birthing companion to use when any decisions about the birth of your baby... even if those decisions have to be made when you are already in labour!

B- What are the benefits?

R-What are the risks?

A- What are the alternatives?

I- What do your instincts say?

S- Take some space to make the decision.

Day Forty-One- Birth Preferences Oct 05, 2019

It's back to Hypnobirthing, and less about my 'busy' life, and tonight we are talking birth preferences. I will discuss the importance of having birth preferences, not only for medical professionals to have quick access to your preferences, but understanding the birth you want and researching the facts you need to make informed decisions.

Day Forty- Life update Oct 05, 2019

For those interested, here is a life update! Mainly me explaining why I have missed a couple of days of podcasting (I know, I am sorry!) and some other semi-hypnobirthing related chat...

Day Thirty-Nine- Mother's Promises Oct 05, 2019

After a few podcasts about our (awesome!) birth companions, let's take it back to mothers and the promises we can make to our unborn babies. This is a beautiful exercise to get you connected and share your love with your baby!

Day Thirty-Eight- Partner's Affirmation for Birth Oct 02, 2019

Still on the subject of our (awesome!) birth companions, tonight I am discussing birth affirmations that they can write, say and/or listen to. I will provide you with lots of examples and explain how it is not only important for US to recall them but can be a great technique of support for our birth companions to listen to them too.

Referenced link: http://www.millbank.me.uk/Assets/documents/Baby%20Coach_HB%20Parent%20Manual_v2.pdf

Day Thirty-Seven- Daddy's Promise Sep 30, 2019

A beautiful activity for your birth companion to do during pregnancy is to write a set of promises to the unborn baby and recite them out loud. It is a loving way to make the baby feel welcome... and is really flipping cute! If your partner (like mine) is not that soppy/creative then they can use the set of promises I recite and refer to in this podcast.

Day Thirty-Six- Scripts for your birth companion Sep 29, 2019

Tonight I am talking further about bringing you birth companion into the birthing room; remember they are a vital part of the pregnancy and labour and can be your main source of support.Your birth companion can support you during labour by reading a series of scripts at different stages of your labour- tonight I will talk you through these.

Link discussed: http://www.millbank.me.uk/Assets/documents/Baby%20Coach_HB%20Parent%20Manual_v2.pdf

Another useful site: https://www.hypnobirthing-online.com/script.html

Day Thirty-Five- The role of the birthing companion Sep 28, 2019

One of the things I LOVE about Hypnobirthing (Okay I love lots of things, but this in particularly!) is that practising Hypnobirthing fully involves the birthing companion; also bringing them into the labour room with an integral role to play in the birth. This podcast explores the responsibilities your birth partner has....and is a great one for them to listen to aswell!

Day Thirty-Four- Nutrition Sep 28, 2019

Today I am providing you with a pretty ill-informed, probably misguided and, rather blabby, guide to nutrition from a novice. One thing this definitely is, is honest, as I share my experiences of attempting to stay super healthy whilst pregnant... easier said than done, I think we will all agree!

Day Thirty-Three- More on place of birth Sep 26, 2019

Today is a short podcast about your place of birth options; basically because I rattled on a bit too much about home birth yesterday I wanted to feel I was giving you information on all your options! Remember whether you birth is at home, in hospital or in a birthing unit it can still be a Hypnobirthing birth! It is about informed decision & a positive birth which you can all make part of your birth story.

Day Thirty-Two- Homebirth Sep 26, 2019

Tonight I am going to talk to you about having a home birth and not because it is where you should have your birth. You should have your birth wherever you feel most safe! But, I am talking about it as an option and an option that I am choosing- listen to the reasons why.

Day Thirty-one- Birth Breathing Sep 25, 2019

Tonight I am teaching you the third and final breathing technique that you need to know... and need to practice. Luckily, the practise of this one is easy to fit into your everyday life!

link to mentioned clip below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbAx5GgYL2Y

Day Thirty- 'Be the baby' exercise Sep 23, 2019

To continue with the theme of falling in love with your unborn baby, tonight's episode guides you through an exercise you can do to feel truly connected with your baby. This exercise gives you the opportunity to look closely at the environment in which you are bringing your baby into and may call for a couple of tweaks to ensure your baby feels the full force of your love!

Day Twenty-Nine- Falling in love with your baby Sep 23, 2019

Tonight I am talking about the beauty of falling in love with your baby and how it is possible for your baby to learn emotionally and socially from your connections with him/her even before they are even born! I share some amazing pre-birth activities you and your partner can do to evolve a connection with your unborn baby, making them feel loved, welcome & wanted.

Day Twenty-Eight- Hypnobirthing practice on the move Sep 22, 2019

This podcast covers how to practice Hynobirthing while on the move; how it can be incorporated into our busy lives AND how you can use some of the techniques to get through a bikini wax!

Day Twenty-Seven- Up/Surge Breathing Sep 20, 2019

Tonight I am discussing the second, and more important, breathing technique that you MUST know and MUST practice... I know I sound dramatic but seriously, from all the accounts I have read of successful Hypnobirthing births this breathing technique has been key!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmH0Hdq0tgg (referenced link!)

Day Twenty-Six- Breech Position Sep 20, 2019

Today I am talking about your baby being in the breech position, what it is and what it means for your birth. Most importantly, I am sharing that there are natural steps you can take to encourage your baby to move before taking a medical route, and one of those natural techniques is of course Hypnobirthing!

Day Twenty-Five- Exercising Sep 18, 2019

Exercise- that frightful word! Tonight I am divulging into the world of exercise during pregnancy, discussing the benefits of it, giving some of my experiences and generally sharing how great (and important) it actually is!

As mentioned in podcast, please watch this awesome video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsV70xXivH8

Day Twenty-Four- Positioning Sep 17, 2019

Tonight I am talking about techniques you can implement into your daily life to try and get your baby in the optimal position for birth. I will also talk about how cultural changes are said to have changed the position of our babies and,I will tell the tale of a very curious king who is said to have changed the way we labour... and surprise surprise not for the better!

Day Twenty-Three- Anchors Sep 16, 2019

Tonight I am going to talk to you about anchors or anchoring- actually one of my favourite Hypnobirthing techniques. In the words of Marie Mongan "..an anchor is a means of creating a lasting imprint or signal through an association with a gesture, sounds, image or touch". Essentially it is word association but with relaxation; relaxation association! Have a listen to get a better understanding of what the hell I am talking about and to learn a new way to condition our bodies to relax.

Day Twenty-Two- Light Touch Massage Sep 15, 2019

Sound nice right?! Well it is, even better it's another relaxation technique which is scientifically proven to produce all the good feels that we need for birthing. Even better still, it is the job of your birth companion to do the massaging; a great way to connect during pregnancy and to bring your birth companion into the birthing room!

Day Twenty-one- Disappearing Letters Sep 14, 2019

Tonight I am giving you a second technique to get yourself instantly relaxed. Now, I admit, I am finding these challenging too but practice makes perfect, as they say! I also spend some of tonight discussing my experiences of the third trimester so far!

Day Twenty- Floppy body Sep 13, 2019

It is day twenty! (not sure how but there we go!) and I am back to teaching you relaxation techniques because remember a relaxed birth is a calm birth- and that's why we are all here right!? So, you already know how to gradually put your self into a state a relaxation... okay maybe you forgot, don't worry I will remind you of calm breathing. Then I will introduce you to one of several methods to use toget yourself INSTANTLY into a state a relaxation- officially called 'Progressive Relaxation' or as I like to call it Floppy body.

Day Nineteen- Self-Hypnosis Sep 12, 2019

Today I am going to be talking about the Hypno part of Hypnobirthing, and yes it does stand of Hypnosis, but do not let that scare you off! I am not going to send you in some uncontrollable trance and make you cluck like a chicken. I am actually going to expel myths such as that and talk about how empowering self-hypnosis is and how it is essentially just deep deep relaxation which is exactly what we need for labour

Day Eighteen- Due Dates Sep 11, 2019

Tonight I will be discussing due dates, or 'guess dates' as we should be calling them. I will explain why these dates are so unreliable and how focussing on them can cause stress & fear (which we know, MUST be avoided). You will learn to ditch the due date and relax into the idea that baby will come, when baby is ready.

Day Seventeen- The Law of Motivation Sep 10, 2019

Tonight is 4 out of 4 podcasts where I look at the laws of our awesomely powerful mind! It is a bit of theory, but accessible theory which makes our practice make so much sense. The law of motivation is the theory that we can do ANYTHING that we really really want to, even if it seems physically impossible. However, we have to assess our own characteristics and work out how serious we are about our motivations.... it is heavy stuff!

Day Sixteen- The Law of Harmonious Attraction Sep 10, 2019

Tonight I am talking about the Law of Harmonious Attraction, which is essentially the idea that everything we put out comes back to us. Put out positivity and we get positivity back, simple ey? Well not that simple but close enough. Listen as I delve a little deeper into this theory with a focus on our use of language. Language is powerful so be prepared to change the language you use around birthing.

Day Fifteen- The Law of Repetition Sep 08, 2019

Exploring further the powerful laws of the mind; tonight I am talking about the law of repetition. I divulge into the theory behind why practice is so flipping important. "What should I be doing daily I hear you say?!" I will also give you a list of daily practices and I'll let you into the little secret, your practice can be less than 20 mins daily and you can still achieve your ideal birth!

Day Fourteen- The Law of Psycho-Physical Response Sep 08, 2019

Belief in the Power of the mind can sound a little hippy dippy, a little airy-fairy but I can assure you it is not. Today I am discussing 1 of 4, of the Laws of the Mind- theory based concepts which underpin our Hypnobirthing practice. Love theory? give it a listen. Don't love theory but struggling to keep up with practice? give it a listen, because this knowledge will give your practice so much more meaning.

Day Thirteen- Life update Sep 07, 2019

Okay, so I missed day thirteen of podcasting ( and no it is not because I am super superstitious- although I actually am...) It was because life got in the way and I was SO busy. It's safe to say I have the least Hypnobirthingy 24 hours of my pregnancy! So if you want to know less about Hypnobirthing & more about my life then have a listen.

Day Twelve- The Power of the Mind Sep 05, 2019

Tonight I am going to divulge further into the power of the mind; yes the mind is so powerful, but as we know this can result in fear (the enemy!) disrupting our natural birth process. But there is good news just as fear can affect birth the opposite is also true: positive thought & relaxation can help the body & make for a calm birth (woohoo). So let's delve a little deeper into understanding this concept.

Day Eleven- Watching Hypnobirthing Births Sep 04, 2019

Now that we know the impact fear has on birth and how to release it, let's look at strategies to change our mindset around child birth. With the belief that thoughts become reality, we need to make our thoughts around birth as positive as possible. Hear about one way to do this; watching Hypnobirthing videos (yup it's that simple!)

Day Ten- Fear Release Sep 03, 2019

Yesterday I talked about the affect of fear on labour. Now, let's start looking at ways to shed that fear! I will start tonight by discussing an exercise you can do with your partner- a fear release. Sounds intense I know (sort of is!) but I promise it will be one of the best things you both do for your birth and baby.

Day Nine- The affect of fear on labour Sep 02, 2019

Ever heard anyone say they are "terrified" of giving birth? Yes, of course we all have! Let's unpick what we are scared of (FYI it's pain) and look at the negative impact a fear of pain can have on our incredible birthing bodies.

Day Eight- What to Read?! Sep 01, 2019

Today I am keeping it short & sweet and am giving an overview of my top 3 recommended readings. Whether, like me, you want to completely geek out, or whether you want an easy read and practical advice only- there is something for you!

Day Seven- The History of Birth Aug 31, 2019

Today I am taking a little break from talking about Hypnobirthing practice to divulge into the precarious history of women and birth. How has birth gone from a natural occurrence led by human instinct, to a highly medicalised phenominon saturated by fear? Let's take a look!

Day Six- Calm Breathing Aug 30, 2019

Tonight I am going to introduce you to breathing... yes I am going to teach you to breath! Sounds ridiculous I know but I can assure you this technique will teach you to calm yourself at any time, including during your labour.

Day Five- Facial Relaxation Aug 29, 2019

Did you know there is a direct correlation between your jaw and your pelvis?! (Crazy huh?!) Learn more about this link and how to relax your face to ensure a relaxed pelvis during labour.

Day Four- Daily Affirmations Aug 28, 2019

Today is all about changing that negative chatter you may have about birth or about your capabilities. I will teach you about the practice of daily affirmations & soon you will be believing that your birth will be beautiful and that you have full control over it. You are really bloody amazing; I know it, but sometimes your subconscious takes some convincing.

Day Three- Daily Relaxation Aug 27, 2019

Today I am exploring the topic of relaxation, and I am not just talking chilling on the sofa with your fav TV show on.I am talking about deep relaxation; the why and the how. I will introduce you to daily meditations to guide relaxation, an example which is free to download (woohoo!) can be found here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2018/yourbabyyourbirth/

Day Two- Hypnobirthing practise Aug 26, 2019

Today I am talking about the important of practise, practise and more practise! Hypnobirthing cannot just be read about but techniques to breath, relax & birth need to be practised on a daily basis and this explains why & introduces you into the how

Day One - What is Hypnobirthing? Aug 25, 2019

In this episode I explore what the actual F Hypnobirthing is. Breaking down the meaning of the word, what it entails, it's practice and it's benefits. With a focus on the understanding that Hypnobirthing is beyond just the birth itself and encompasses, not just a physical, but your psychological & spiritual journey too.

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