Adela
Stockton

Preparation for Birth
...a holistic approach towards supporting gentle birth...

Giving birth is perhaps one of the most challenging, yet potentially fulfilling events a woman will face during her lifetime. Making a real commitment to preparing for your labour can make all the difference towards safeguarding a positive birth experience for you, your baby and your partner. Being well informed of your choices and what impact the people and space around you can have on how your labour proceeds, as well as what effect any intervention may have, all helps to protect your chances of enjoying a normal birth and a gentle welcome for your baby.

One-to-one sessions

During this two hour birth preparation session, I offer you practical information on ways of working with your partner (and doula) to give birth to your baby avoiding unnecessary intervention. (I fully recognise and respect the value of medical intervention when implemented appropriately, and accept that it can become necessary during some women's labours/births despite everyone's best efforts.)

We cover the following issues (not always offered in mainstream antenatal classes) and any other areas you would like to explore:

• encouraging your baby into an optimum position for labour & birth
• enlisting the emotional support that is right for you and your partner
• protecting your birth environment & freedom of movement during labour
• exploring your choices for the birth of your baby's placenta
• useful homeopathic remedies for birth and early parenting

To gain most benefit from the information I offer, ideally being around 30-34 weeks through your pregnancy still gives you (both) time to prepare both physically and emotionally for the birth of your baby. Cost: £40 (plus mileage if further afield). Please contact me for further information.

"I wanted to say thank you for our session:  we both found it fascinating, encouraging and empowering.  Bob especially feels like his role in all this is much clearer and he realises how important a part he has to play.  And I feel better equipped to navigate my way through the obstetric jungle too. I think the work you're doing is fascinating and so worthwhile.  I feel more confident in my own ideas … so hopefully things will work out okay."
Michele and Bob, Glasgow

Blessingway

Blessingway was originally a Navajo Native American ceremony held to bring 'good luck, good health and blessings' to a person embarking upon any particular rite of passage during life. Held during the 8th month of pregnancy, it is a powerful way of honouring the mother and baby before birth and gathering spiritual support in preparation for the life-changing event soon to take place.

Each ceremony is different according to the mother's wishes and the dynamics of the women attending. You can plan your Blessingway just exactly as you would like. Traditionally, a peaceful candlelit space is prepared for the gathering where rituals such as circle dancing, singing/chanting, meditation or weaving a web of yarn can take place, as well as pampering the mother with, for example, henna paints for her belly, oils to massage her hands, hairbrush to brush out her hair, herbs soaked in warm water to bathe her feet and cornflour to dust them. Each guest offers a symbolic gift, such as music, poems, songs or images to be placed around the birth space, and one bead. The mother threads the beads into a bracelet or necklace to wear during her labour reminding her of all the positive support from her women friends and family. The ceremony may close with a reading or blessing before the feast - which all the women prepare and contribute to!

If you would like to hold a Blessingway for you and your baby, I can help you to prepare for the event, or lead the ceremony if you wish. Cost £50 (plus mileage if further afield). Please contact me for further information.