Your human rights and Birth Choices
aims.org.uk/ - The Association for Improvements in Maternity Services providing independent support and information about maternity choices for prospective and new parents. A 50-year-old mother-led organisation.
birthights.org.uk - Promoting and protecting women's rights in childbirth. In particular for useful fact sheets for parents click here.
homebirth.org.uk - Information on home birth in the UK
birthchoiceuk.com - Loads of useful information about UK maternity choices and statistics - find out what the caesarean rate is at your local unit!
which.co.uk/birth-choice - A wealth of information on every birth centre / labour ward / info on home birth. You can also find out from this website when tours of the labour wards etc are due to take place or this is something you could check with your midwife.
nice.org.uk/guidance/cg70/chapter/1-recommendations - NICE Guidelines for induction of labour.
The heart in the womb by Amali Lokugamage. Human RIghts in Childbirth
Positive Birth Support
thematrona.com/the-holistic-stages-of-birth/ The most beautiful description of the stages of birth
tellmeagoodbirthstory.com/category/good-birth-stories/ Positive birth stories
themergejournal.com/category/pregnancy-birth/ - in particular the Birth Stories
londonhypnobirthing.co.uk/ - Hollie de Cruz and her Hypnobirthing company
Breastfeeding
Dispelling Breastfeeding Myths
youtube.com/watch?v=xAorGJgXYGY - How a baby latches on.
youtube.com/watch?v=2IYtFrgbDUo - Nils Bergman video / skin-to-skin
youtube.com/watch?v=m5RIcaK98Yg - The Natural Caesarean video
contentedcalf.com - Nourishing recipes for breastfeeding mums
babymilkaction.org - Non-profit organisation aiming to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network to strengthen effective controls in the marketing of the baby feeding industry.
breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk - An independent source of support and information for breastfeeding women.
drjacknewman.com - Fantastic detailed breastfeeding support and help with video clips
HM4HB - Human Milk for Human Babies. Informed Milk Sharing Network (Informal - a woman who needs milk can be paired with a woman who has milk to donate, facilitated by social media).
UKAMB - UK Association for Milk Banking (Formal)
The 4 Main Breastfeeding Charities in the UK, where you can seek the help of a Breastfeeding Counsellor, are:
laleche.org.uk - Breastfeeding support from La Leche League
NCT - National Childbirth Trust
ABM - Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
BFN - The Breastfeeding Network
Your body
labourpains.com/ui/content/content.aspx?ID=332
rcmnormalbirth.org.uk/birthing-positions-in-practice/short-videos-for-birthing-postions/
(Royal College of Midwives website with short videos on positions and birthing aids.)
countthekicks.org.uk has a wealth of useful info on monitoring your baby's movements.
spinningbabies.com - Easier childbirth with foetal positioning. Breech and back to back babies.
valleycushions.com - Perineal pain relief after episiotomy or tearing of perineum.
pelvicinstability.co.uk - Support for women with Pelvic Girdle Pain (formerly Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction or SPD
Antenatal Classes
thegroupantenatal.co.uk - The Group, East Dulwich.
NCT National Childbirth Trust - (NCT) for courses and info
bumpandbabyclub.com - Bump and Baby Club
thedaisyfoundation.com/daisy-birthing - Daisy Birthing
Support for Dads
fatherstobe.org - Fathers-To-Be offers men effective preparation for fatherhood through practical education.
Men, love and birth, by Mark Harris, Midwife.
New baby practicalities
gov.uk/register-birth/overview - Exciting information that you need to know about registering the birth of your newborn and getting that birth certificate.
lullabytrust.org.uk/ - Safe sleeping information
The Fourth Trimester
http://thenaturalparentmagazine.com/ditch-pressure-bounce-back-baby/
Placenta:
http://midwiferytoday.com/articles/bridgeoflife.asp
https://www.nct.org.uk/birth/third-stage-labour
Post Natal Depression (PND)
It’s very important to recognise the symptoms of postnatal depression in both men and women and to seek professional help should either of the couple think that they may be suffering. The following organisations have lots of further information on PND and what can be done to treat it:
Here's the helpline. 0300 123 3393.
NCT - Postnatal Depression Support
Books
Birthing from Within, by Pam England
Mother's Breath, by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli
The Positive Birth Book, by Milli Hill
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
Podcasts
Documentaries
The Business of Being Born: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCiQrcP0Qas
The Beginning of Life: Netflix
Yoga Related
Womb Yoga - Womb Yoga is an evolving therapeutic approach to yoga specially developed to support women’s health and healing over the past fifteen years by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli. For everything to do with yoga and women’s health: classes, retreats and teacher trainings (including pregnancy yoga, postnatal recovery yoga, yoga for mums and babies, yoga for birth, fertility, menstrual health etc.
Yoga Nidra Network - For everything to do with yoga nidra, including FREE downloads, yoga nidra teacher trainings, retreats and foundation days.
Yoni Shakti - For details and resources relating to my Pregnancy Yoga Guru, Uma Dinsmore-Tuli’s latest book.
Yoga Nidra Network - For everything to do with yoga nidra, including FREE downloads, yoga nidra teacher trainings, retreats and foundation days.
Books
- Yoni Shakti, by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli
- Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, Sarah Buckley
- Spiritual Midwifery, By Ina May Gaskin
- Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin
- Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding, Ina May Gaskin
- The New Experience to Childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger
- Birth and Breastfeeding, Michel Odent
- Why Love Matters: How affection shapes a baby's brain, Sue Gerhardt
- The heart in the womb by Amali Lokugamage. Human RIghts in Childbirth
Other bits and bobs
Mumspo.com - Creative Inspiration for amazing mums
Smallish Magazine - A Magazine for Childhood
Mothers Meeting - for creative mums who want to keep hold of their cool
http://www.birthsource.com/scripts/article.asp?articleid=409 An article and studies on birth and the lunar calendar
Useful Apps
Additional optional information sheets (just ask me)
Birth plan decisions regarding caesarean birth
Pelvic floor
Vitamin K
Dad’s labour timeline!
C-section - who’s in the room?
C-section - Q&A
Baby feeding cues
Breathing and massage techniques for different stages of labour
Reasons to be proud of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding step by step
Bottle feeding for breastfed babies
Breastfeeding - how long?
Fathers and breastfeeding
Bottle-feeding
Bath-time tips
Safe baby-wearing
Biological nurturing.
Research supporting Doulas
Cochrane review of the effects of continuous emotional support in labour.
Also included in this article is research on the effects of early and prolonged skin to skin contact after birth.
Rosen, P. Supporting women in labor: analysis of different types of caregivers Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health Jan-Feb 2004, Vol 49(1), pp.24-31 Paper available from:http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/467128
evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
Believe it or not, this is my essential resources page to share with you all. If you have a specific question about pregnancy, your upcoming birth or life with your newborn baby and you'd like to delve into something that's not here, feel free to get in touch and chances are I'll be able to help point you in the right direction.