I wrote a blog post last month all about the Fear-Tension-Pain cycle in labour, and how it’s really important not to fear birth - as that can make your labour more painful and potentially longer too. So I wanted to do a short blog post to follow up to that, and to explain how ‘pain’ in labour is completely different than other types of pain. And how if you can think about it in a different way this can really help you to manage the sensations of labour and birth. So read on:

Tell Me About....Baby and Toddler Sleep

OK so this is a biggie in my 'Tell Me About' video series with amazing local pregnancy, birth and motherhood experts. It's something that is always being discussed in my Mum & Baby Yoga and Baby Massage classes, it causes a lot of worry and stress for all new, and not so new, parents - and it is of course BABY SLEEP! In this post you’ll learn all about baby sleep with the brilliant Lauren of Calm Family York.

Nourishing & Energising Treats For Labour & Pregnancy

At the end of my Pregnancy Calm & Relax Mini Retreat last week I loved to share a little something edible and homemade to restore and give energy back to the mama's to be. After an afternoon of letting go, relaxing and nurturing body, mind and baby it's lovely to revitalise with something delicious to eat. They are also perfect for energy in labour too. After many requests hre’s the recipes. Enjoy. Susan x

Managing food cravings & aversions in pregnancy

Often food cravings and/or aversions are often one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. You know when you start to feel weirdly nauseous at the thought of a morning cuppa, or you *really* need to eat salt and vinegar crisps for breakfast (cornflakes no longer cut it!)

While pregnancy is not the time to be watching your weight, you do need to be mindful about what you are eating and keep a really good supply of nutrients, vitamins and minerals both for you and your baby too. Here's some great tips on how to manage them and have a more positive pregnancy and food experience.

5 Brilliant Benefits Of Pregnancy Yoga

Even if you have never stepped foot on a yoga mat before, you may well be drawn to yoga during their pregnancy as many women are. Pregnancy yoga provides a safe and gentle way to move your body in pregnancy, working with your pregnant body as it grows and changes. But pregnancy yoga offers *SO* much more than just exercise appropriate for the pregnant body, and many mums to be discover they are reaping many many more benefits than they imagined from taking a pregnancy yoga class each week. Here's my guide to 5 brilliant benefits of pregnancy yoga.

Pregnancy What Ifs // What If My Baby Is Breech?

This week in my pregnancy yoga class here in York a women has found out that her baby, at 36 weeks pregnant, is in a breech position. This is not ideal for a vaginal birth but there is lots you CAN do and we spoke about some of the things she might do to encourage baby into the more favourable head-down position. So I thought I’d write a blog post to share with you about breech babies and what you might do and what your options are if you find yourself in this position later in your pregnancy.

From a Skeptical Dad to Hypnobirthing Evangelist! One Dads Birth Story

Partners, especially men, can be quite skeptical about hypnobirthing classes at the start, but often turn into the biggest advocates. Why? Because the tools that are taught are common sense, practical and very tangible. The other great benefit for partners, is hypnobirthing gives them a very defined support role during both your pregnancy and labour and that’s incredibly helpful for both of you. You can really become a ‘birthing dream team’ (love that phrase!)

Here's Ricks amazing story

What Is A Placenta? 10 Amazing Placenta Facts

Every mother is likely aware that a placenta goes hand in hand with pregnancy. Even if you don't know much about what a placenta does, you likely understand that a placenta plays a pretty important role for the baby, since it's right there in the womb with your developing baby.

But do you know what a placenta really is or how amazing they are? Well read on and find out more about the amazing placenta.

Here are 10 amazing facts about the placenta:

A 5-minute Practice to stop Fear from Photoshopping our Reality

Our reality is a reflection, not an absolute. There are so many social folk laws and cultural influences that influence our reality. Essentially, our beliefs, preferences, attachments, expectations, fears, emotions, and experiences all get rolled up into one big burrito and, voilà, we’ve got our subjective impression of reality. Hypnobirthing and Mindfulness can really help you find your own inner feelings, and remove the fear about birth thats been put upon us.

Blogs & Articles