At the end of another "unprecedented year", I am reflecting on all the chaos and fear. The end is nigh, they say - earth's gonna burn If humanity can't see this lesson to learn. And yet we continue: daily rhythms and routines Love and laughter, joy and grief - all that life means. My year Continue Reading
Are You Sure She Wasn’t Asking For It? Shame and Blame in the Birth Game
The story of the female holiday maker in Cyprus who was raped and then not believed has brought back some strong memories and emotions for me. It's more than 25 years ago now, half a lifetime. And yet, the fear and fury can still be brought to the surface so easily. This poor woman has been Continue Reading
Modern Birth: The End of Pregnancy As We Know It?
The great feminist Gloria Steinem once said, Democracy begins with owning our bodies. By that measure, women have rarely lived in a democracy When I think about birth, and more specifically, the politics of the modern, mechanised birth factories, that quote often comes to mind. Recently, I've Continue Reading
Birth Choices: Shopping Around
I am frequently told stories by clients, or witness conversations between pregnant people and their care providers that perplex me. On one hand, care providers often seem to feel they have a duty to ensure my clients comply with the care pathway they deem to be 'appropriate'. On the other, my Continue Reading
Helen’s 6 Babies, 5 with tongue tie
"This is my story of six breastfed babies, five of them with tongue tie. I have done my best to keep it brief, but of course that’s a lot of babies! Emily My eldest child was born in 2013. I have some degree of hypermobility and had really struggled with SPD during the pregnancy. I hadn’t Continue Reading
Lou’s Tongue Tie Journey
This latest Tongue Tie story is from Lou Hirst, mother of two and doula. Her story shows that tongue tied babies can still put on lots of weight and their ties can therefore be easily missed. It is not until someone skilled enough to be able to assess the whole breastfeeding relationship spends time Continue Reading
In the Eye of The Storm: Ocular Melanoma, Maternity Care and Me
In May this year I was diagnosed with a very rare cancer called ocular melanoma. This means I have a tumour in my eye, behind my retina. This kind of cancer can spread to the liver, so as well as radiotherapy treatment for the tumour, which involves a hospital stay to have a radioactive plaque Continue Reading
The Hoaxer of Covid: The Strange Case of Munchausens By Internet
Munchausen by Internet in the Doula Community Dr Kathryn Newns, Clinical Psychologist Introduction There is an individual described who contacts a Doula – by text or telephone - saying that they are in labour and are alone. The doula then supports this person through labour. The baby is born, Continue Reading
Breastfeeding in Coronavirus Lockdown? A Cuppa With a Breastfeeding Counsellor Might Be Just What You Need
You see, someone who just thinks breastfeeding is cool and thinks you should breastfeed isn't a breastfeeding counsellor. Someone who tells you what to do isn't a breastfeeding counsellor. Someone who can't explain how breastfeeding works isn't a breastfeeding counsellor. That person who Continue Reading
Getting Breastfeeding Going When Your Birth Has Gone Tits Up
Let's face it, there are a lot of birth plans changing right now and a lot of anxiety and trauma as a result. I can't emphasis enough that building your team is more important than ever. Emotional support is always worth it's weight in gold but rat the moment, it's essential. Support from Continue Reading