BIRTH PREPARATION CHAT

When many people think of ‘preparing’ for birth, they may think about buying a cot or a pram, or some may go as far (and good for you!), as seeking independent birth education. 

But there is such an important aspect of preparing for birth that many don’t give the time it deserves – your mental preparation! 

As an experienced Midwife and a mother of two who has worked (and birthed) in many different maternity settings, I understand the system, processes, options, different birth types and ways to prepare on a deeper level for the experience you want and deserve. After this birth preparation chat, I aim for you to leave feeling much more informed, prepared, in control and excited for your pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal motherhood journey.

That’s right – birth preparation impacts your postnatal journey also. The pram you buy, the cot you buy, the fancy rocking chair… that stuff doesn’t impact your long-term mental health and experience of motherhood – but your birthing journey can, so let’s prepare to make it a positive one! 

A birth preparation chat helps you to: 

• If you’re a first time Mum, or working towards a different birth or setting to your last, ask any questions in relation to pregnancy, labour and birth
• Find out how and where to research to become educated and strive for the birth you want
• Acknowledge your fears and anxieties surrounding pregnancy, labour and birth, and learn strategies and tools for working through them to create and maintain a positive mindset (because we know above all knowledge - labour and birth is a mind game requiring a positive, can-do mindset)
• Define what you want from your pregnancy and birthing experience – through discussing what is important for you and how you can make informed decisions along the way to better your chances of making these hopes a reality 
• Discuss the scenarios you don’t want and what you can do to work towards avoiding them, if possible
• Discuss your many options - Such as maternity care provider, birth setting, analgesia, common interventions, and different types of birth. This is a great way to become knowledgeable around different scenarios which may arise for you, assist with informed decision making and feeling mentally prepared for whichever path your birthing journey may take
• Writing birth preferences and how they can help you and your journey (versus a birth ‘plan’)
• Acknowledge and debrief any previous pregnancy, labour, birth or postnatal trauma’s **

These sessions are 90mins, via Microsoft Teams (face to face online). 

For most, 90mins is enough. For others, depending on what comes up for you or what you need from this session, more time may be required – in this instance, I have an option for adding additional time or additional sessions.

**If you require a birth debrief, I offer birth debriefing (see link below). If you would like to bundle together a package consisting of a birth preparation chat + a debrief, I am happy to do a bundle price for you.