Client Portal

Welcome

Here you will find resources, links, research and more to continue your journey into your birth planning, hypnobirthing practice and fourth trimester (after baby is born).

There are discount codes for local services, podcasts, links to helpful resources and all my contact details for the support and other classes I offer throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions or need anything further.

I hope we meet again soon - I run pregnancy relaxation and baby massage classes..

Find out more on my main website.

My number is 07707 349648. I am always here for you.

Sophie

Audio files

Here you will find the Audio Hypnosis files to download for your course type, and the client manual.

The password is the second contained in the email, specific to your course type.

Workshop

Complete

Breathing Techniques

Hypnobirthing is a mindset, and as discussed, you need to work at it! The more you practise, the easier it becomes. Practise needs to fit in to your lifestyle, so tweak it as you need to.

A Relaxing Breath

Inhale for 4 and exhale for 8

You will make use of ‘A Relaxing Breath’ during labour in-between your surges, during pregnancy to lead you into your relaxation practice and generally in life whenever you wish to relax down.

The aim of this breath is to exhale for double the count of the inhalation - the ideal is inhale for 4, exhale for 8, but you can change to whatever suits you.

Square Breathing

5,5,5,5

You will make use of ‘Square Breathing’ during your contractions. As you feel the contraction start, welcome it with a relaxing breath (in for 4, out for 8) so you’re totally relaxed. The begin the surge breath, breathing in through your nose to the count of 5 and release the breath out through your nose or relaxed mouth to the count of 5, like you’re flickering a candle.

A simple yet powerful visualisation to accompany this breath is breathing around a square. You can either imagine a square in your minds eye or actually see a square. It is essential that you breathe around this square from the beginning to the end of your contraction.

What’s that tune?

The track on the audio files and when you arrive for your Course is: Adrift by Christopher Lloyd Clark

Open in Spotify

Preparing for a positive birth

Positive Birth Videos

Positive Birth Stories

Birth Stories

Royal Berkshire Hospital Rushey Unit

RBH Rushey

Daily Excercises - Spinning Babies

Spinning Babies

Royal Berkshire Hosiptal Facebook Page

RBH Facebook

Independent midwives

Independent Midwives

Frimley Maternity Unit Facebook Page

Frimley Facebook

Kicks Count

Affirmations

Birth is powerful and so am I

I am a calm and confident

The more I relax the more my body softens and opens

This too shall pass

Each contraction is bringing my baby closer to me

I surround myself with those who support me and my choices

My birth will be the right birth for me and my baby

My baby is coming

Breathe Relax Birth

I am strong and powerful

I am calm, patient and relaxed

I can do this

Breathing in I feel strong. Breathing out I let go.

I am empowered

Baby will come when baby is ready

I am ready to meet my baby

At some point I might feel like I can't do it - that is when my baby is coming

I draw strength from the generations of birthing people who have birthed before me

She believed she could, so she did

I make informed decision about my body and my baby

My body and my baby know the perfect time to birth

I breathe my baby down

I am empowered, knowledgeable and capable

I am a calm and confident mother

I trust my instincts, my baby, and my body

I feel loved, protected, and safe as I birth my baby

I can do anything for a minute

My instinct is a superpower

I have the perfect system to birth my baby

I believe in birth, and I believe in me

Everything I need is within me

Birth Planning

A birth plan is a plan for your perfect birth, but also all the ‘what ifs’. If you’re prepared, you will always be empowered and in control. Remember, this is your birth, your body and your baby.

You can find a birth plan template on Google, or Canva.

Work through everything you can think of, and discuss it in depth with your birth partner remembering that anything can be changed in the moment. A birth plan is a guide for you so you can do your research and work out what is right for you. You can ALWAYS change your mind at any moment, it’s NOT a contract.

Have a look through the links below and think about what is right for you, adding this into your birth plan. No explanation is required, just simple directions such as ‘I do not want...’ or ‘I will have...‘

I offer a 1-2-1 birth planning workshop to go through this with you in detail.

Birth Plan Resources:

Vaginal Seeding

Optimal Cord Clamping

Vitamin K

Reading (and surrounding areas) Home Birth Support Facebook

UK Home Birth Support Group

Sara Wickham - Is Home Birth Safe?

The Lancet - Home Birth

HomeBirth.org.uk

Royal Berkshire Hospital Homebirth Team

Evidence Based Research

Evidence Based Birth

Emma Ashworth - Birth Rights - Instagram

Sara Wickham - Researcher - Instagram

Sara Wickham - Researcher - Website

NICE Guidance

Birth Rights

AIMS

AIMS - Managing Your Labour (Pain Relief)

AIMS - Monitoring Your Baby's Heartbeat

RCOG Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Birthing 4 Blokes Mark Harris is a male midwife and does a birthing 4 blokes workshop, it’s currently free.

Spinning babies If your baby is in a undesirable position, you could try these techniques to help guide your baby into a better position.

Useful Links - Birthing Positions

Rebozo

Using a Rebozo

Peanut Ball

Biomechanics for Birth

Breech Birth

A breech baby doesn’t mean you can’t have a vaginal birth. There is optimal position for baby to be in, but it doesn’t mean breech birth isn’t possible!

Bit here are some links to aid you in your decision. If you’re thinking about a Caesarean, you’ll need to research that too and make your informed decision. Remember, it’s always your choice.

Spinning Babies

Moxibustion - During this therapy herbal moxa sticks are lit and placed close to acupuncture points on your feet to give a gentle heat. It is thought to increase the baby's movements, helping baby to become active enough to somersault into the head down position.

OptiBreech Programme

Facebook page ‘Breech Birth U.K.

Optimal Birth

VBAC - Vaginal Birth After Caesarean

A VBAC is when a woman or birthing person gives birth vaginally, after having had a caesarean birth previously. After one caesarean birth, about 3 in 4 women with straightforward pregnancy who go into labour naturally give birth vaginally. If you have had a previous caesarean birth, you may be thinking about how to give birth next time. It is so important to be fully informed, so you can make the best decision for you and your baby. It is always your choice.

If you’re under consultant care, you may notice language used plants ‘seeds of doubt ‘. Ie. “not allowed” or “won’t let...”. You may be feeling out of control, not listened to, not supported, failed or experienced birth trauma following your previous Caesarean birth.

TIP: How does the scar feel during pregnancy? Be in tune with your scar. Think about how it feels.

If you would like my extensive notes on VBAC, please let me know. I have added the links below:

https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/vbac-on-whose-terms

https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/barriers-to-vbac

https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/new-uk-vbac-guidelines-welcomed

HBAC - Home Birth After Caesarean

https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/hbac/

Where you can birth:

Midwife led unit - usually criteria states no high risk people. This is not a legal rule and they have to prove with evidence they cannot support the labour in the MLU. What to do if the HCP isn't being supportive - speak with a Professional Midwifery Advocate, consultant midwife or head of midwifery. You can also speak to PALS.

Everyone has the right to a homebirth - you don't need anyone to approve it. HBAC decreases the risk of having a C section by 39%, although transfer times can be an issue.

Due dates: going over due, doesn't increase the chance of a UR but does increase chance of unplanned C section.

Books:

VBAC After Caesarean AIMS

I’d highly recommend taking a look at Jodie (The Maternio)’s Instagram. She has a recorded session to give you all the info.

Don’t have to wait for emergency to request a repeat Caesarean. Take control of your birth choices. VBAC labour has an additional risk but isn't a greater risk than anyone else.

You can say no 'I am happy with my decision and grateful for your support and will review if I need to'.