Reclaimed Birth with Hannah

Reclaimed Birth with Hannah UK Christian private midwife, calm birth teacher & birth trauma counsellor. Covering Yorkshire & East Midlands.

As Christians we can often sit in an uncomfortable tension. We are taught to sit in a position of gratitude & that is a...
17/06/2026

As Christians we can often sit in an uncomfortable tension.

We are taught to sit in a position of gratitude & that is a good thing. God has provided so much for us, we should be thankful for that.

Yet, also, there are times when what we have right now is not meeting a need that we have.

And sometimes that expectation to be grateful can be distorted.

Verses like 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus"
Feel like they are being used to tell us off if we are struggling with what our current circumstances look like.

But elsewhere, Jesus Himself tells us to pray for what we need and that God will provide (Matthew 7:7-11).

It isn't wrong to need more than basic, checklist care.

To need more time to discuss the topics that matter to you.

To need to be known and not have to keep repeating yourself.

To need all of you to be welcomed into your care, not just the body that is growing a baby.

We can be grateful that we live in a country that has a NHS (I certainly am!) And appreciate how hard everyone works within the NHS to provide safe care. Whilst also recognising what is on offer fro. The NHS is not enough to meet your needs.

One of the things I love most about being a midwife is that there is always more to learn.I'm currently undertaking my N...
15/06/2026

One of the things I love most about being a midwife is that there is always more to learn.

I'm currently undertaking my NIPE (Newborn Infant Physical Examination) training, which will allow me to offer newborn screening examinations as part of my independent midwifery care.

But this isn't really about adding another qualification to my CV.

It's about continuity.

Families choose independent midwifery care for many reasons, but one of the most common is the desire to build a relationship with someone they know and trust.

At the moment, if a family wishes to have newborn screening at home, I ask another independent midwife to come and carry out that examination. Once qualified, I hope to be able to offer that service myself.

I never want to become complacent in my practice. Healthcare evolves, evidence changes, and there is always more to learn.

The day I think I know everything is probably the day I should stop being a midwife.

Until then, I'll keep learning.

Anyone who has known me for a long time knows that I don't really like to make a fuss on my birthday. But God has been d...
12/06/2026

Anyone who has known me for a long time knows that I don't really like to make a fuss on my birthday. But God has been doing a lot of healing in me this year and I thought why not use this day as an excuse to share a little more about myself with you!

I've actually had a really lovely birthday. No loud, huge parties, that's really not me. But quiet & joyful, spending it doing the things I love with a couple of people that I love.

Photo one: board game cafe date with my husband. This is our favourite thing to do with our date time.

Photo two: One of my highlights was going to the cinema by myself. I've not done this in years, but used to do it loads (pre marriage & kids 😅). So I treated myself to a date with myself 🥰

Photo three: I struggled to find the right picture to show you from New Zealand. Should I go for something from Hobbiton, a Marae or hot springs? But what truly encapsulates that time for me was the stunning nature. Specifically the gorgeous waterfalls. Sorry TLC, I certainly did go chasing waterfalls that year 😅

Photo four: The beach picture is one of my favourite pictures of myself. To me it was a moment of freedom & that is the core of what my faith brings me.

Photo five: I couldn't do a post about me without mentioning birth now could I! My births have fundamentally changed who I am. Not just me becoming a mother, although that is earth shattering! But how I practice as a midwife and my understanding of what birth does to you, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Photo six: I spent 2 years teaching midwives and I loved it! I was fortunate to be nominated both years & win the second. And tbh, that ruffled some feathers with staff that had been there longer. Consistently the feedback my students gave was that I was so passionate about midwifery and maternity care that it was infectious. To the point where I couldn't just stay in a building and talk about it, I had to get back out there and do it. I am now the midwife I always dreamed (but didn't fully believe) that I could be.

What is one thing people couldn't guess about you?

In the spirit of getting over myself and embracing social media, I am doing the garbage post challenge. If you haven't c...
10/06/2026

In the spirit of getting over myself and embracing social media, I am doing the garbage post challenge.

If you haven't come across this before, I will be posting something daily for the next 100 days 😱😆

Sometimes it might be in my stories, sometimes in my posts or reels.

The motivation behind this is that I want you to know me. I want you to know what goes on behind the scenes.

I know that the work I do is transformational, but I also know that you won't believe me unless you truly get to see who I am.

So I am practicing what I preach. I am going to shed my inhibitions and show you the real, authentic, vulnerable side of me. Because I truly believe that matters.

Feel free to hold me accountable 😘. If you haven't seen a post in a while, slide into my DMs & ask me what's going on. Alternatively if there is something that you would like to know about me, write it in the comments & I will make sure I include it in my posts ❤️

You may have noticed that I've been a little quiet on here lately 🫣I could say this is because I have been busy with my ...
09/06/2026

You may have noticed that I've been a little quiet on here lately 🫣

I could say this is because I have been busy with my clients (and I have), but honestly I've been having a toddler tantrum about social media, because in all honesty, I don't find it easy.

But today my wonderful business coach reminded me that posting content isn't really about the content. It's about the mission that I feel God has given me.

I truly feel called to work the way I do with the amazing women I get to work with. I am so privileged to be present on such a transformational journey and make a difference to those around me 🥰

I would love to know what you feel called to...

11/05/2026

I am still genuinely angry after watching this.

Not because a doctor recommended induction after prolonged rupture of membranes, that is a completely reasonable conversation to have.

The issue was the attitude behind it.

“At what point do we force her hand?”

That sentence should stop every healthcare professional in their tracks.

And then to later blame the woman for “not agreeing quickly enough” after admitting nobody had properly explained things to her sooner?

Absolutely not!

If somebody does not fully understand their options, that is our responsibility to address properly as clinicians, not something to shame women for afterwards.

And just as an aside, because I know somebody will ask: yes, infection risk does increase with prolonged rupture of membranes, but maybe not as much as you think...

The commonly quoted figures are around:
• 0.5% risk of serious neonatal infection with intact membranes
• increasing to around 1% after 24 hours of ruptured membranes

So the risk roughly doubles — but it is still important to talk about the absolute numbers, not just scary language.

And importantly: we also do not know whether this baby would have developed an infection anyway.

OR on the other hand if she went home to await contractions if she might have laboured sooner because she was in a more comfortable, pressure free environment that helped her oxytocin flow.

An induction is not a magical guarantee that infection cannot happen.

And a difficult outcome does not retroactively remove a woman’s right to informed consent and bodily autonomy.

Women deserve honest information. Not coercion dressed up as care.

You do not have to put up with feeling bullied, steamrolled, or pressured into decisions you do not feel comfortable with.

Ask questions. Take time. Request clearer explanations. Say no if you need to.

Consent still matters in maternity care. It always should.

This is the moment many women find the hardest.When things suddenly feel urgent, and it’s difficult to know whether ther...
08/05/2026

This is the moment many women find the hardest.

When things suddenly feel urgent, and it’s difficult to know whether there’s truly no time…or just pressure.

There are situations where decisions need to be made quickly.

But there are also many where a few minutes to think, ask questions, or breathe… is completely appropriate.

You’re meant to understand what’s happening. Even in the moment.

A lot of women worry that speaking up will damage the relationship with their care team.But advocacy doesn’t have to mea...
06/05/2026

A lot of women worry that speaking up will damage the relationship with their care team.

But advocacy doesn’t have to mean conflict.

It can be quiet, respectful and clear.
AND it can still be very effective.

You’re supposed to understand what’s being offered.

You can take a moment.

You’re integral to the decision making process.





I see this more often than people realise.Christian women trying to balance faith, trust, and doing “the right thing”…an...
04/05/2026

I see this more often than people realise.

Christian women trying to balance faith, trust, and doing “the right thing”…and ending up feeling like they can’t speak up in their own care.

But faith was never meant to silence you.

It gives you the grounding to ask questions, seek wisdom, and make decisions with clarity — not fear.

If your faith matters to you, it should be respected in your care. If you're looking for care where that is gaurenteed, send me a DM





The client I discharged this week wrote me a beautiful letter. There’s a moment it that stopped me:“I now know what care...
01/05/2026

The client I discharged this week wrote me a beautiful letter. There’s a moment it that stopped me:

“I now know what care is supposed to look like.”

Not because she’d never had care before. But because she’d never experienced it like this.

After five difficult births, she came into this pregnancy carrying fear, distrust, and trauma that had impacted far more than just birth.

This wasn’t about getting her “ideal birth.” It was about being listened to, respected and treated as a person, not a risk.

And yes — her birth was beautiful. But more importantly…

She left it feeling different.

Not just relieved or “glad it was over.”

But held. Heard. Whole.

That’s the difference continuity of care can make.

If your previous experience has left you anxious about doing this again — you’re not alone.

And you don’t have to just get through it this time. DM me if you'd like to find out more.

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Eckington

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