Author Archive

Should my labour be induced?

Thank you to Helen for this week’s question: I am healthy and have had a normal pregnancy. Do I need to be induced at 40+ weeks? At her last check-up Helen was told that induction was strongly recommended if she didn’t go into labour within the next week or so.  I’m sure this is a

How can I encourage my breech presentation baby to turn?

I want to thank Oana and Ania for the question which is the theme of this newsletter. If you are not yet 30 – 32 weeks pregnant save this for later. At this stage it is normal for some babies to be breech. How can I encourage my breech presentation baby to turn? This is

In labour – when should I go to the hospital or birth centre?

I recently invited women attending my Pregnancy Yoga class or Active Birth Workshop to ask me a question. My plan is to start a regular newsletter called ‘Ask me anything’ and some great questions have already come in. The first is from Laura and thank you for this question: In labour – when should I

Hypnobirthing and Active Birth

Hypnobirthing works wonderfully with Active Birth. It builds towards the same goal of helping you become more confident and trusting in your body, and less fearful of giving birth, and it’s a beautiful way to connect more deeply with your body and your baby. Find out more about what Hypnobirthing can do for you in this blog by Janet Balaskas, founder of Active Birth…

How Does Yoga Help In Pregnancy and Birth?

Practicing yoga during your pregnancy is a great way to feel relaxed and comfortable and, at the same time, it is a deeply empowering way to prepare for your birth. Janet Balaskas – founder of Active Birth and pregnancy yoga – answers some questions…

Exercises To Help Your Breech Baby Turn

If your baby is breech around 34 weeks (head under your ribs rather than above the pelvis) you may want to know what you can do to encourage baby to turn head-down before the birth. NB: You should only start doing these exercises at 34+ weeks, and only if breech position has been confirmed by

Active Birth is the way to reduce the need for Caesareans

There has been articles appearing in the press in recent days claiming that the increase in the number of Caesarean Births in the past 50 years is having an impact on human evolution!  This is due, it is claimed, to the fact that women and babies who would previously died in birth due to the

Breastfeeding

A Labour of Love Part 1: Perspectives on Hormonal Labour

The mammalian birth process is one of Mother Nature’s finest creations. It is a biological process common to all mammals, including ourselves, which occurs spontaneously when pregnancy comes to an end. On the physiological level it involves a complex combination of interactions between mother and baby, from the end of pregnancy, throughout the phases of

Yoga Posture of the Month: Squatting

This is the physiological birthing position and is great to practise in pregnancy. Variations of squatting have been used by women to give birth in cultures all over the world. It opens the pelvis to its widest and stimulates contractions. However in our culture we do not squat and the full squat with flat feet

Birth Story no. 16: Laura’s Hypnobirth

I gave birth to Henry on 2nd April at the birth centre at the Whittington, two days after my due date and 5 days before I’d been told I had to be induced (as they thought he was too small). He was born a very healthy 7lbs 3oz, and is absolutely perfect. The birth experience