Free Your Birth

16/06/2024

01/11/2022

01/11/2022

Saw this morning and just had to share with you! Hold your babies 👶🏻

31/05/2022

Look what we made today! 😍

We had some therapeutic mother and daughter painting time, making birth affirmation cards for mummy ❤️ we did 4 each and I actually love her 4 the most!! 🥰 so talented for a 21 month old. Thank you my little superstar Elaya you really will get my oxytocin flowing! So proud of your amazing little paintings ❤️

18/03/2022

Posted • "I called on my maternal lineage as well as my daughter's (as she had asked me to do while still in the womb) to protect and hold the space.

When the older kids were in bed, close to 8pm, my body started pushing on her own. I never doubted my choice to birth alone with my family at home, although at some point during the transition I was doubting that I was in the right position and I kept repeating "I don't know. I don't know. I don't know." My partner was by my side at that point and simply said "You know. You know."

And after about an hour of pushing on all fours leaning on the couch, during which time had completely stopped and the veils were so thin, I put my fingers in my yoni and felt her little head. It was the softest thing I ever felt in my life!

Her head descending in the birth canal was exhilarating. Her head came out halfway and the ring of fire felt much more manageable than with my son's medwife-attended homebirth.

I had my hand on her head the whole time and got ready to catch her myself as she came out after the next push.

And there she was in my arms with my partner by my side. It was total bliss!!! I felt so powerful."

-Aglaée, 💗

16/03/2022

F R E E B I R T H || What is it? is it legal? Why choose it?

Free Birth is perfectly legal and becoming an increasingly more common choice 🤍 many women are choosing to claim back their births and trust their innate power to birth alone and surrender to all that comes with it. Birth is raw, messy, healing and empowering and many of us feel it is something to be free from prying eyes and medical interventions. A radical movement is rising to take us back to our roots.

Unfortunately for some women free birth is a forced choice because the maternity system is on its knees. We know physiological birth works at it’s best undisturbed and in a safe place (which is usually home) and for those choosing this, that option is being removed or being sabotaged by in some cases harmful ‘standard procedures’ of the medical system. Over the past two years home births have been taken away in many areas (including my own) and has not been reinstated due to staff shortages and other reasons. So the only option for many is either free birth or to go to an obstetric led unit where they have to put up a fight for their physiological birth.

Although its choice is being minimised or removed, I genuinely feel it is a positive shift. I do not feel the birth world can be fixed anymore or we should waste our energy fighting it. It needs to be pushed into a new paradigm and a new foundation built. The benefits of physiological birth are phenomenal and whether you’re birthing or supporting birth, knowing more about it to remove any fear around it is an amazing way to start.

The medical system’s interventions have their place in absolutely necessary situations, in a true medical emergency. But it is currently the norm to intervene in unnecessary situations causing harm & trauma for so many. Not only those birthing but birth workers in and out of the system too. Knowing the difference between emergence and emergency is crucial.

My vision is to be a part of the movement for birth. I want to share with you how you can prepare for all eventualities where you still feel you have choices and are keeping your power ❤️ We used to own birth and we can again! Who’s with me? 🙌🏼

10/03/2022

An absolute inspiration in the birth world 🥰❤️

If you listened to the Physiological Birth Club on the Clubhouse App on Tuesday you know what it’s all about!

What an incredible session talking about how the system is crumbling around us for birthing women and people. Home birth choices being taken away and midwives walking out on women mid birth 💔 but Kemi as always making the most amazing and positive point!

We’ve been fighting the system and trying to change it for so long .. but unfortunately it runs deeper than that.. The system is not gonna suddenly decide over night to change its plan or just flip the narrative. So let’s stop ploughing our energy into fighting something that is only wasting it. Use it elsewhere in something you wish to do to change the way women birth. Birthkeepers and doulas it’s time for us to step up and help our birthing communities and ensure they feel safe. Let’s create something new – a different system, a solid and beautiful foundation for supporting and preserving physiological birth ❤️

02/03/2022

🎤 Mic drop! Bet you didn't expect those stats, right? Posted • .better.birth.club
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Read it, believe it, save it!!
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Homebirth being seen as an always reckless, risky, dangerous affair is one of the biggest cons of the 21st century, I'm sure of it 🙄
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❌ One which means lots of parents-to-be don't even consider it as an option for them.
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❌ One which robs lots of mamas of an opportunity for a much more straightforward, efficient, positive birth.
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❌ One which promotes a very clear message, from very early on: "birth is always dangerous and scary and unbearably painful. Best to do it near doctors, so that they can save you when it will no doubt go wrong"
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Of course - birthing at home isn't the right choice for everyone! It's a very personal decision. And it's a choice which goes hand-in-hand with a commitment:
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To understand physiological birth, to understand our maternity care offering, to prepare your mind, to build your belief ✨
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But don't disregard it as an option from the get go based purely on a smear campaign and a hefty dose of presumption - the stats above come from a study of over 500,000 cases of birth outcomes in low risk pregnancies.
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An open mind about all of your options for birth is a great habit to work on. You owe it yourself to weigh up every single option that comes your way, if you're to find the best path for YOU ❤️❤️❤️
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ALWAYS here to talk things like this through - it astounded me, the first time I saw these findings!
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Would you consider giving birth at home?
Ash x
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Hutton et al, 2020.https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/eclinm/PIIS2589-5370(20)30063-8.pdf

17/02/2022

Physiological Birth 🥰 Birth works without intervention. Keep reading >>

Posted • .of.pearl_doula Physiological birth, so what is this I hear you say? This is when birth happens without intervention. Yes that's right without intervention.

B I R T H H A P P E N S !

We are mammals and for birth to be supported we need to be undisturbed and not watched. So when we are convinced that monitoring is the best way to support labour by the maternity system this is not always true. For you to create an environment where you feel safe, a cave like surroundings will serve you best. Low lighting, little noise, warmth and stillness will allow your oxytocin to soar through you. Oxytocin is a hormone that is one of the key pillars of birth, it is sometimes referred to as the 'love hormone'. As Doula's we are here to protect your birth space and your oxytocin bubble. We stay on the edge of your bubble and listen to your wants and needs while observing your body and reactions to labour to guide you through the stages of birth.

To read more go to my blog at https://www.motherofpearldoula.co.uk/post/birth-happens



Photo by Rebekah Vos on Unsplash

15/02/2022

💛 O X Y T O C I N // the LOVE hormone

I thought it’s the perfect time to talk about Luuurv hormones in birth..

Why’s it so important?
It facilitates birth in so many ways here’s just a few:
🤍Encourages strong, regular, long contractions
💛Thins & Dilates cervix
🤍Combined with endorphins acts as natural pain relief
💛Helps to relax and make you feel good
🤍Stopping heavy post partum bleeding
💛Helps placenta for birth naturally
🤍Support your precious bonding time with your baby
💛Bringing in your breastmilk and supporting the early breastfeeding journey

So what can boost this precious oxytocin?
🤍Cuddles/Touch of your loved one
💛A dark romantically lit quiet room
🤍Staying at home
💛Nice smells and things that feel good for the senses (diffusing essential oils can be a good one)
🤍Laughing
💛Stroking your pets
🤍Good Positive energy in your space with people you trust
💛Music that makes you happy, relaxed or brings you fond memories
🤍Dancing
💛Breathing techniques or guided meditations
🤍 Massage
💛Sex!! of course this is great in early labour before your waters go as the s***m also contains proglastins which are great to get your body ready for labour
🤍Orgasms not only are oxytocin releasing but cause uterine contractions
💛 Eating chocolate (or something you absolutely lurrrrv to eat)

How do you think you’ll boost your oxytocin in labour? If you’ve already given birth how did you boost your oxytocin? Sharing tips and experiences are so helpful for anyone planning their birth 🥰