The Purple Line in Labour: Why We Should Call It a Congestion Line

by | Mar 14, 2025 | Antenatal Course, congestion line, consultant obstetrician, dilation, Homebirth, Hormones, Hospital Birth, Hypnobirthing, Informed Decision Making, Labour and Birth, labour assessment, Midwife Led Unit, Physiological Birth, purple line, Uncategorized

Among the many physiological signs of labour progress, the purple line – as it is currently known – has been widely noted by birth professionals. Observed as a darkened streak extending from the anus upward along the natal cleft (the crease between the...

I Can Get Any Woman Through a Physiological Birth – If She Lets Me

by | Mar 12, 2025 | Antenatal Course, Birth Compass, Birth Manifesto, Birth Partner, Breathing and Relaxation, Discover Your North Star Course, Doula, Empowered Birth, Informed Decision Making, Instincts, Intentional Birth, Labour and Birth, North Star, Physiological Birth, Sovereign Birth

As a doula, I’ve walked alongside countless women as they navigate the intensity, beauty, and raw power of birth. I’ve seen it all – the quiet, instinctual labours that unfold like poetry, and the births that are clouded by fear, doubt, and external pressures....

Understanding Prodromal Labour: What It Is and How It Differs from the Latent Phase

by | Mar 6, 2025 | Antenatal Course, Back to Back baby, Birth Compass, Birth Partner, Breathing and Relaxation, Doula, Empowered Birth, Homebirth, Hormones, Labour and Birth, Latent Labour, Posterior Birth, Prodromal Labour

Labour can be full of surprises, especially when it comes to early contractions. Prodromal labour, often called ‘false labour,’ involves contractions that can feel intense but don’t lead to dilation of the cervix. It can go on for days or sometimes even...

Why You Need to Interview Your Hospital or MLU

by | Mar 5, 2025 | Empowered Birth, Hormones, Hospital Birth, Informed Decision Making, Instincts, Intentional Birth, Labour and Birth, Midwife Led Unit, Natural Birth, Normal Birth, Physiological Birth

When it comes to planning your birth, choosing where you will feel safe, is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Many parents-to-be assume that once they’ve selected a hospital or midwife-led unit (MLU), they can relax, trusting that their chosen setting...

Antibiotics, Mental Health, and the Postpartum Period: A Hidden Danger

by | Feb 21, 2025 | Antibiotics, Baby Blues, Family Support, Informed Decision Making, Mental Health, Postpartum, Postpartum Depression, Side Effects

The postpartum period is a time of immense change – emotionally, mentally, and physically. New mothers often experience a wide range of feelings as they recover from birth, bond with their baby, and adjust to a new phase of life. While it’s common to focus on...