Every Birth Experience Is Unique

What happened to your friend, your sister, your mum, the woman down the street etc. during their birth, is their unique birth story. Your story will be unique to you and whilst you can’t control exactly what happens, you can influence your birth story by getting informed during each pregnancy, gathering a fantastic birth support team around you, and getting clear on what you want from your birth. Read our clients birth stories here.

Birth Doesn't Have to Mean Excruciating Pain

This may sound hard to believe to some, but head over to @orgasmicbirth on Instagram to see some amazing photos and videos of women in ecstatic birth. Even if you don’t experience birth as orgasmic, it is good to know that birth doesn’t have to mean excruciating pain. Most women and birthing people describe birth as hard work to us, but those have had an intervention-free birth often also say they feel they could do it again!

You Can Choose Where to Give Birth in the UK

Your options are: home, at a midwife-led unit or in an obstetric-led unit. You can even choose an NHS trust that suits your needs, rather than just the closest one. Despite having this right to choose, access to midwife-led units and an NHS home birth can be difficult to come by due to nationwide midwife shortages and restrictive hospital policies. Choosing an independent midwife guarantees you access to home birth.

The Hormones Released After Birth Are Incredible

Oxytocin helps to contract your womb, release the placenta, and decrease bleeding. It also facilitates mother-baby bonding. A rush of beta-endorphins (your body’s natural painkiller) can create a high, which is why some women and birthing people feel euphoric after they’ve given birth. Prolactin levels soar, to tell the body to start making milk. Pretty cool, right? Sarah Buckley has done heaps of research into the hormones of labour – her work is well worth a read.

You Might Poop During Birth (And That's Completely Normal)

But you know what? Nobody else cares – literally nobody. It is a completely normal thing to occur during birth. Try not to overthink this or it let throw you off course – it really is very minor in the grand scheme of things. Often in the lead up to a spontaneous labour, women & birthing people report pooping more frequently, or having loose stools – your body’s way of having a clear out and creating more space for your baby to be born!

Birth Isn't Over Until the Placenta Is Born

It’s so important immediately after birth for your care providers and/or birth supporters to maintain an environment of calm, warm and quiet once your baby is earthside. These conditions support that big release of oxytocin discussed above, which helps the placenta to release. In that first, ‘golden hour’ you don’t need to be doing anything other than meeting your baby. Put the phones away, delay the newborn check (if safe to do so) and enjoy these special moments meeting your baby. Read more about the importance of continuity of care when it comes to physiological birth of the placenta here.

You Can Give Birth in Almost Any Position

You may instinctively know what position feels right for you – that may be standing up, on all fours, lying on your side, kneeling in a birth pool, squatting on a birth stool. It may even be on your back (although in spontaneous labour this is not usually the case!) – the point is, do what feels good and right to you – rather than what you think you ought to be doing. If you have an epidural, you may not feel this so instinctively and it’s worth taking a proactive approach to different positions during labour and birth to help your baby through your pelvis – using a peanut ball can be super helpful!

Birth Has the Power to Be Transformative

Ultimately you have to do it yourself, albeit with support. It is considered a rite of passage – you will learn things about yourself you didn’t know and hopefully come out the other side feeling strong and powerful. As with any big life event, you need to prepare. Sign up to antenatal classes, follow birth educators on your socials, listen to the podcasts!

Who You Have in Your Birth Space Matters More Than You Think

Choose wisely! You need people who aren’t afraid of birth, who you feel entirely comfortable with and who you know will advocate for you when you’re feeling vulnerable. This may not be your partner or your Mum. It may involve investing in doula support, to have someone by your side who is truly able to advocate when you’re vulnerable.

You Don't Have to Give Birth With the NHS

You can choose to have an independent midwife who can provide all your midwifery care, including labour and birth care at home. You can choose to have some NHS care with some independent midwifery care. You can choose to not have any care at all if you don’t want to. You always have options.

Read…

Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed

Follow…

Orgasmic Birth on Instagram

Listen…

The Hormones of Labour – The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast