Hello Baby

Post-Course Pregnancy and Birth resources

Hello! 

My aim with these post-course resources is to provide you with everything you need when planning your positive birth, by way of signposting you to lots of great stuff. Some are links to websites, some to positive birth videos and stories, and others to great, evidence-based information and more detail on things we covered in our course together. 

Many of the links are through to Instagram posts which are super quick to read and absorb, with a new way of looking at a topic, encouragement or statistics. There are A LOT of links below; this is designed to dip in and out of when you’re looking into a topic, or specifically interested in. If you can work your way through the document between now and giving birth then that would be great.

If you’re viewing Instagram links on a laptop, when it opens you just need to scroll to the top of the ‘comments’ section to see the original caption.

And lastly, one piece of admin… this is a hidden page, designed to support parents-to-be who have completed a Hello Baby hypnobirthing course. A lot of hard work has gone into this, so please don’t share the link. It’s exclusive to you!

I hope you find it all useful! 

Love, Laura

In this page, you’ll find links to useful information on:

  • Recommended Practitioners

  • Recommended Websites

  • Pre-Birth

  • Early/Established Labour (stage 1)

  • Birth Phase (stage 2)

  • Post-birth

  • positive birth stories

Recommended Practitioners

Brighton & Hove, and Online practitioners specialising in pre and postnatal treatments.

  • Massage (pre and postnatal)

Beccy Hands: http://www.beccyhands.co.uk (also offers remote Doula phone calls)

Hannah West Therapies: https://hannahwesttherapies.com/

 

  • Acupuncture and Reflexology

Jo Darling: https://www.hovenaturalhealthclinic.co.uk/book-online

 

  • Osteopathy

Beki Tamkin: http://www.brightoncityosteopath.co.uk/the-osteopath-beki-tamkin/

Olivia Rowley: https://www.osteopathinbrighton.co.uk

 

  • Fitness

Bumps and Burpees: https://instagram.com/bumpsandburpees?igshid=19kzqvqs4u2im

Pregnancy and postnatal yoga: https://instagram.com/shakti_mama_?igshid=38zq0j2jp7hl

Prenatal Pilates: https://www.brightonpilatesstudio.com and

Emma Bradley at Physiotone: https://www.physiotone.com

Ubermummies classes in Brighton & Hove (she can tell you variations for pregnancy): https://www.instagram.com/ubermummies/?hl=en

 

  • Physio and Women’s Health / Pelvic Health

Emma Bradley at Physiotone: https://www.physiotone.com

Tina at Women’s Health Brighton: https://womenshealthbrighton.co.uk/about

 

  • Tapping / EFT (for healing and anxiety)

Sarah Tobin: https://www.tappingformums.com

 

  • 1:1 Pilates and Gyrotonic

Hayley Oxley: https://www.hayleyoxley.com

 

  • Counselling, therapy and Relationship coaching

Catherine Topham-Sly: http://insightconnection.uk

 

  • Baby First Aid (class can be taken while you’re pregnant, or with your newborn)

Sarah Russell-Davis at Daisy First Aid Brighton & Hove: https://www.facebook.com/daisyfirstaidhove/

 

  • Doula Services

Me! Contact me for info on Birth and Postnatal Doula packages.

 

  • Postnatal Pilates

Emma Bradley at Physiotone: https://www.physiotone.com

 

  • Instagram Accounts I recommend following

@emma_ashworth_birth_rights : https://www.instagram.com/emma_ashworth_birth_rights/

@mamastefit : https://www.instagram.com/mamastefit/?hl=en

@aims_uk : https://www.instagram.com/aims_uk/

@birth_ed : https://www.instagram.com/birth_ed/?hl=en

@_thedoulaassociation_ : https://www.instagram.com/_thedoulaassociation_/

@the360mama :

https://instagram.com/the360mama?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

@bsuhmaternityservices : https://www.instagram.com/bsuhnhstrust/?hl=en

@drsarawickham : https://www.instagram.com/drsarawickham/?hl=en

@themindfulbirthgroup: https://instagram.com/themindfulbirthgroup?igshid=172p7nrtoce6v

  • Recommended Books

The Birth Partner, by Penny Simpkin

The Secrets of Birth: What every woman should know about birth and motherhood, Kicki Hansard

The Oxytocin Factor, by Kerstin U-Moberg

The Positive Birth Book, by Milli Hill

Informed is Best: How to spot fake news about your pregnancy, birth and baby, by Amy Borwn

The Little Book of Self-Care for Mums-to-Be, by Beccy Hands and Alexis Stickland

The Little Book of Self-Care for New Mums, by Beccy Hands and Alexis Stickland

Any book from the Pinter & Martin range ‘Why … Matters’ (eg. Why Induction Matters, Why Doulas Matter, Why Vitamin K Matters, Why Babywearing Matters)

The AIMS Guide to Induction of Labour, by AIMS


Pre-Birth

Links that will help you when thinking about the rest of your pregnancy.


  • Antenatal discussions about your birth preferences

Understanding these discussions are heavily loaded in risk: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLL-rr4gwpA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

And the risk study associated with the above link: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-021-03574-2

Humans vs machines: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFOoIrl2hq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding and the Covid-19 Vaccine

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK_9wbrjXrP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • Birth Plans:

The importance of plans: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ZbaC7pSO4/?igshid=jv1qw2516bi4

 

  • Reframing / Mindset:

Surrendering to birth: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5QcdkKF8Ne/?igshid=ls6kf5k6lew3

The birth / exercise comparison: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7g6etuhl0r/?igshid=d7agfoc6rqp

 

Positive Affirmations: https://www.instagram.com/p/B737VVPpGtK/?igshid=1qxqiqcxwrei7

 

“False” labour: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwuYmgvleUe/?igshid=encugg3jvk02

 

Language in Birth: https://www.instagram.com/p/BpPvBxUhGIu/?igshid=104j5z7jue2xf

 

  • Creating a vision board:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZXhC5gUvc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • The adrenaline cycle:

Fear/tension/pain: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1x1aSolSzA/?igshid=vtozgmkqf6ed

 

  • Oxytocin:

Oxytocin - why and how: https://www.instagram.com/p/B75N0dtAF33/?igshid=st3spyw4ufqb

 

Enjoying labour: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_wlFCsAKz3/?igshid=1gicfierw8kae

  

  • Placenta at 40+ weeks:

Placenta function: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3KWVbkg6fm/?igshid=1rqexlk5duqfj

 

‘Failing’ placenta: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrNRUK_F0by/?igshid=4glwy9u6zzkd

 

  • ECV

Turning breech babies: https://www.instagram.com/p/BnOcntuBlL7/?igshid=vutcmratru2p

  

  • Perineal Massage

Perineal massage: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8_8svkFjQm/?igshid=bgrf5hfg8da3

  • Practicing the pushing phase

Gentle pushing practice: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9bqJKEg0v2/?igshid=8hfe9collesm

 

  • Birth place/location

2020 Home birth research: https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7YypvlzSJ/?igshid=16zwjdjej5dsm

Home Birth facts: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AOEBQh55R/?igshid=92rly2eyye7r

Birth Place study summary: https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/after-birthplace

  

  • Triggers

The importance of Triggers: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9l7QGJggoU/?igshid=1ok211hcwe3d

 

  • Care Providers

What are Doulas: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8RtWmvJ7Up/?igshid=1nrf1b03x4ye0

  

  • Pregnancy Conditions

Pubic Symphysis: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6QXE4Rgwjb/?igshid=ubrfrcrwzj9o

  • Help engage baby for labour

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK350i9gB42/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • VARiation vs complication in pregnancy

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIz-aMGgtZJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

 

Early/Established Labour (stage 1)

Links that will help you plan for a positive and calm first stage of labour. 

  • Birth Environment

Cosy hospital room set up (swipe for another photo): https://www.instagram.com/p/B9C3PgxAjOc/?igshid=17488341gbxnm

 

  • Upright birth

Why upright/gravity helps: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9Uow2AQv0/?igshid=18r9360i9kwr4

 

Upright Birth Facts: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7A3gZ8AQA-/?igshid=n1965ar12bqq

 

Squatting during labour: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ShfRYAIR8/?igshid=1kf5d6bo4mha8

 

  • Upright positioning

On the loo! https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ZsRQKFQsM/?igshid=1wevnodpsusz4

 

Positioning ideas: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9UfhikAoR4/?igshid=11qn0pmn7ktu9

 

Positioning images: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8G3Mn1l624/?igshid=bxs8akmmktk0

 

Labouring Lunge: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7YdtGigAED/?igshid=oaetm8fg1zmi

 

Using a hospital bed to your advantage: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn185LGB3B4/?igshid=gwh410cqrjn6

 

 

  • The Cervix

What is it? https://www.instagram.com/p/B7i8KYQgZNa/?igshid=8abgj1npmhgk

 

Journey of the Cervix: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzeXXHlAvjm/?igshid=1dn7owowa4cyy

 

Dilation/Opening: https://www.instagram.com/p/B787PcHAbHf/?igshid=18xl6cwe009mp

 

 

  • BRAIN

Making informed decisions: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwpVogYFMTe/?igshid=1qe29aynl9jrt

 

Hospital policy and your decisions: https://www.instagram.com/p/B56-MS7IaIr/?igshid=74gcm31yzg7n

 

  

  • Birth partners 

Support: https://www.instagram.com/p/B812FgBlQbh/?igshid=ey62s7x7yfhd

 

Role of men in birth: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5nqI03lm_y/?igshid=1rye8bh6vf7kv

 

Men in Birth podcast (Mark Harris): https://www.fearfreechildbirth.com/blog/birthing-for-blokes-interview-with-mark-harris-midwife/

 

  • Rest In Labour

Resting: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTZCIhPAaFL/

 

  • The Pelvis

The pelvis ‘inlet’:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B73VSHCAJhK/?igshid=1wtbj38m4nnpd

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5C7uRmAP4s/?igshid=1ueyqn5ldebd3

 

Mid pelvis:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7OIqvYgs4w/?igshid=1y2lxufn50hav

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8tsWieg8N8/?igshid=1fzlwwsbc1vwa

 

Baby’s movement through the pelvis:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7D2BM-g-Gc/?igshid=d0v9hrcm92m3

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4kGg7sAoc-/?igshid=vplfxfhmaii

The Purple Line (in correlation with cm open)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK9UbelgMfg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Baby ‘station’ in the pelvis:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8HjADKAWyW/?igshid=vwzdyaa01cg9

 

 

  • Massage in Labour

Sacral pressure massage:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_As1lHFLD8/?igshid=18c4t02fvobvo

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Z31B1A9Fw/?igshid=113iy3qj85yn2

 

The science of counter pressure massage: https://www.instagram.com/p/B-R7rKlA-_X/?igshid=2rws46javvna

 

What is it counter pressure massage? https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ST-EnFuen/?igshid=8c7vu22kho0j

 

  • Labour stalling

Why would this happen? https://www.instagram.com/p/B8odUCcgoGT/?igshid=5v793v3ep850

 

 

  • Intervention

Inducing for Due Dates (evidence based): https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/

 

Due Dates: https://www.instagram.com/p/B81s51MF7Nv/?igshid=1c0map7pqparj

 

Spontaneous Birth vs Induction: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7iNZCrgMZJ/?igshid=ueo7cufibb7x

 

Sweeps: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUCHT2dg0bn/

Sweeps and stats: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2pBtG_pPnb/?igshid=1kxvsn9lx6j5b

Benefits: https://www.instagram.com/p/B76ZoueB4VT/?igshid=xq8ksdlo6vyq

 

Epidural 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_u7HGxFuAR/?igshid=130oy8o5u9ph5

 

Epidural 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/B71BDoFAafb/?igshid=11jtmzeg3uoql

 

Epidural 3: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4RhNRdFukp/?igshid=kxbuxqcbguur

Birthing Phase (stage 2)

Links that will help you to plan a positive, efficient and powerful second stage of labour.

 

  • The Transition

What to expect: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8HRidfF6EM/?igshid=1448cql2467yl

 

Encouragement: https://www.instagram.com/p/B632LEvgZls/?igshid=1wdoqye549p0r

 

 

  • Pushing/birthing phase

How rotation helps: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Zqj_SApvQ/?igshid=e7dtde59h8ra

 

Position of legs and knees: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5uuSImAshL/?igshid=1645jrq96c0as

 

Opening the pelvis for pushing: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ISGEVA15C/?igshid=xhh37wdy7pwf

 

 

  • The Fetal Ejection Reflex

What is it? https://www.instagram.com/p/B345U7dFkgZ/?igshid=c25rhxm7c9jj

 

 

  • abdominal Birth / Caesarean

Gentle Abdominal Birth (Gentle Caesarean): https://www.instagram.com/p/B27Qgf_gH9v/?igshid=1qr8tguftqshj

Video of gentle abdominal birth: https://www.instagram.com/p/CK__RDDAa77/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

History of abdominal birth: https://www.instagram.com/p/B0OQU-1HaWL/?igshid=a4nkmysc4joa

What’s involved in an abdominal birth? https://www.instagram.com/p/CKf7a1BACcj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

  • Instrument birth

Facts and info: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9NBWA4FaEt/?igshid=524ytohek58y

Ventouse delivery: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2hfTCCJXt9/?igshid=lpo4bfp7beku

Assisted Delivery (forceps and ventouse): https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFjs6elrvt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link  

 

 Post-Birth

Links that will help you plan for a positive ‘Golden Hour’ after birth, and beyond. 

  • Skin-to-skin

Why skin-to-skin after birth is so great! https://www.instagram.com/p/B9HsGLcAECY/?igshid=28mm4u5d48df

 

 

  • Vitamin K

What is it? https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zutthFSZ1/?igshid=2ukf0c7b5zxq

Sara Wickham Vitamin K resources: https://www.sarawickham.com/topic-resources/a-decade-of-vitamin-k-articles/

Vitamin K Factsheet: https://www.instagram.com/p/CK8V3SoAhYi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

  • Mental Health

Mental Health as a first time mum: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_sgxiwljUZ/?igshid=j9hlb1rp19g4

 

 

  • Feeding

Harvesting colostrum: https://www.instagram.com/p/B50cDnKF5N6/?igshid=7w2e1h94ywro

The first feed: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2dMV9klQg9/?igshid=qk8ylbclk3uv

 

 

  • Hormones

Post-birth hormones: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8l3zfylH2v/?igshid=kr8vu8d216ks

 

 I believe that exposure to positive birth stories - for ALL types of birth - is a huge part of planning for a positive birth yourself. Here are a few of my favourites.

  • Birth stories/videos

Hypnobirthing with Syntocinon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc2toPrgD9g

My Choice: A Home Birth in Paris: https://vimeo.com/161759259

Birth Centre birth: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B7CMiTllMv8/?igshid=1lty3x9sic3nt

 

Beautiful skin-to-skin after an abdominal birth: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CNN9Wvln1v0/?utm_medium=copy_link

Positive unassisted birth (when she originally thought she’d choose an epidural): https://www.instagram.com/p/B2wOfJEl2Iz/?igshid=h5k9s0iwzlq2

 

Positive Induction: https://www.instagram.com/p/BysMCoOnJ2D/?igshid=1l1l33i7omtbz

 

Gentle water birth: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl5krCWnLW-/?igshid=dr6y97a7u2qb

 

Twin Home Water Birth: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8w416Vg08w/?igshid=vvzfflur52q7

 

Enjoying labour: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_wlFCsAKz3/?igshid=1gicfierw8kae

 

 

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or are looking for services which I haven’t listed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m over on Instagram @hellobaby_brighton if you want to browse my posts or come and say hi!

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