When I first discovered Sheena Byrom, I had no idea she was the midwifery queen of Twitter, passionate and expert in bringing mothers, midwives and all interested in maternity care together to debate, share and raise their voices in unison. She was the author of 'Catching Babies', a life story of a Continue Reading
Emma’s positive birth story: Hands off my baby!
This is a guest post, kindly donated by Emma, who decided to decline the kind offer of induction and await spontaneous labour. She does not offer this story to persuade you to do the same, should your pregnancy proceed past your 'due date', but to counter-balance some of the pressure society can put Continue Reading
Yo No Soy Una Bruja: or Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition
Yes, you heard right; I am not a witch, nor any kind of cannibal. Or part of a sect. Neither am I a fraudulent con-artist out to sting you out of your hard-earned cash or break up your family by undermining your relationship. I haven't got a 3rd nipple. Or warts. The only love potion I could mix Continue Reading
Book Review: All That Matters, by Rebecca Schiller
This short book written for the Guardian by writer, human rights activist and doula, Rebecca Schiller, is easily digested in an hour or two. But don't be misled by its brevity; Schiller has given us an important document. As a breastfeeding counsellor, a core part of my education was reading The Continue Reading
Doula-Sherpas: Finding Your Way through the Maternity Maze
Sometimes it seems to me that much of the world has firmly grasped the wrong end of the stick about doulas. I suppose us humans have quite a propensity to over-complicate and over-think things but in reality, this doula thing isn't so weird when you look at us in the same light as you Continue Reading
Why Doulas Matter: the book is born! (well, nearly)
So, some of you will know I've been writing a little book. It'll be little in size and word count - just 40,000-odd rambling words about what it has meant to me to be doula and what I have learned about how doulas make a difference. It's a little peek behind the scenes of our rather obsessive, crazy Continue Reading
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
The debilitating symptoms of PTSD are often mistaken for postnatal depression. Milli Hill investigates the causes of this trauma and what needs to be done to raise awareness and provide support for the parents Continue Reading
Because…by Maddie McMahon
Because birth isn’t like extracting a rotten tooth. Chemically, emotionally, it’s more like making love. Because when babies are born in fear and trauma, mothers are broken. Because women need to be treated with respect and love and be given choices. Because black mothers are more likely to die Continue Reading
Feminism and Birth, By Evony Lynch of Mamacafe
There’s a movement happening. #feministbirth. Birthworkers across the UK are joining forces to declare their feminism and what it means to them in their work with women. But what does it mean? Feminist come in all shapes and sizes and this one loves everyone – menincluded. I have two fab sons who Continue Reading
‘It’s not RAPE rape’, By Amity Reed
A flurry of reports on birth rape have prompted a backlash against women who use the term to describe their assault experiences. Amity Reed responds Amity Reed, 30 September 2010 Birth rape is not rape because: the intent was not likely malicious; you solicited the services of the midwife or doctor Continue Reading