Lets be real…

Being pregnant with your first baby is daunting, you have never done this before, the whole experience is completely new to you. It leaves you with so many questions, many of which often evoke feelings of dread, worry, fear, overwhelm and anxiety.

“How on earth am I going to give birth to a baby (its such a big thing to come out of my body!)”

“My pain threshold is non-existent, I’ll never cope”

“I’m scared I’ll lose control and things will happen that I’m not comfortable with”

“Will I poo when I give birth?”

“What about complications - will me and my baby be okay”

These are genuine concerns and if you have similar thoughts running through your head, please know that you are not alone.

Let me tell you a story about someone who had all of the above concerns. She was so fearful of birth that she didn’t even want to get pregnant. However, the pull she felt to become a mother was strong and so she decided to educate herself. Were there any women who spoke about their birth positively? To her surprise, they did.

Whilst listening to an inspiring podcast, she discovered hypnobirthing - a specific type of birth preparation programme - and everything fell into place. She was no longer scared; she felt ready, she was prepared - not just physically, but more importantly, mentally. It was an absolute game-changer; her mindset had shifted and she KNEW that she could do this.

When she went into labour, she was genuinely excited. She declined things that didn’t feel right for her. She accepted things that weren’t part of the plan, in a way she was happy with. She surrendered to the powerful sensations, allowing her body to take over and do what its perfectly designed to do. She embraced the experience. It transformed her in ways she never expected. It was the proudest day of her entire life.

Bringing her baby into the world in this way was more than she could have ever imagined and it couldn’t have been more different to her former self’s assumptions about birth.

She learned that birth doesn’t have to be approached with overwhelm, anxiety and uncertainty. Quite the contrary, by leaning into the vulnerability, embracing change and fully engaging in the birth preparation process, she discovered that its totally possible to feel calm, optimistic (excited even!) and in control.

Let me tell you a little secret…that story is about me and is the reason I founded Bloom in Birth - to ensure that women can access support during this special, yet daunting and vulnerable time. I’m leading the way for women everywhere to step into their feminine power; to be strong, to be resilient, to be empowered. And ultimately to have the birth they absolutely deserve.