by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 11, 2025 | Birth Partner, Doula, Empowered Birth, Homebirth, Informed Decision Making, Instincts, Labour and Birth, Sovereign Birth
Pregnancy is a time where advice, opinions, and well-meaning suggestions seem to come from everyone you meet – family, friends, healthcare providers, and even strangers. From birth plans to decisions about your pregnancy journey, it seems like everyone has a...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 11, 2025 | Back to Back baby, Birth Partner, Breathing and Relaxation, Doula, Empowered Birth, Homebirth, Hormones, Hypnobirthing, Labour and Birth, Latent Labour, Long Labour, Posterior Birth, Prodromal Labour, Sovereign Birth
When preparing for labour, practical techniques that support both your body and mind can make all the difference. That’s why I developed two easy-to-remember acronyms: STOP and FLOP. These strategies have proven highly effective for my clients over the years, helping...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 11, 2025 | Back to Back baby, Birth Partner, Breathing and Relaxation, Doula, Homebirth, Hormones, Hypnobirthing, Instincts, Labour and Birth, Long Labour
When it comes to giving birth, the words we use to describe the experience can make a powerful difference. Many women are conditioned to expect ‘pain’ during labour, but what if we reframed this. By using the word ‘sensation’ instead of...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 10, 2025 | Back to Back baby, Birth Partner, Doula, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Homebirth, Hypermobility, Labour and Birth, Latent Labour, Long Labour, Posterior Birth, Prodromal Labour, Protracted labour
Both Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and joint hypermobility can influence a woman’s childbirth experience, but they are distinct conditions with different implications for pregnancy, labour, and postpartum recovery. Understanding these differences...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 10, 2025 | Doula, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Homebirth, Hypermobility, Instincts, Labour and Birth, Latent Labour, Long Labour, Posterior Birth, Prodromal Labour, Protracted labour
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of connective tissue disorders that can affect many aspects of a person’s health, including their pregnancy, labour, and postpartum experience. The condition often involves hypermobility, fragile tissues, and skin that bruises...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 10, 2025 | Birth Partner, Breastfeeding, Breathing and Relaxation, Doula, Empowered Birth, Homebirth, Hormones, Hypnobirthing, Informed Decision Making, Instincts, Labour and Birth, Postpartum, Sovereign Birth
When faced with choices regarding birth, no matter how big or small – decision making can feel overwhelming. Assuming you have weighed the pros and cons, sought advice, and overanalysed every detail about your answer, how can you be sure you will make the...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 10, 2025 | Birth Partner, Doula, Empowered Birth, Homebirth, Hormones, Instincts, Labour and Birth, Sovereign Birth
The privacy instinct during labour and birth is a deeply ingrained protective mechanism that your body and subconscious mind naturally activate. It’s part of your body’s wisdom to create the safest possible environment for birthing your baby. This instinct prompts you...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 10, 2025 | Birth Partner, Breastfeeding, Breathing and Relaxation, Doula, Homebirth, Hormones, Hypnobirthing, Instincts, Labour and Birth, Neurodiversity, Postpartum
The subconscious mind is a powerful ally during labour and birth, working hard to protect and guide the birthing process. By understanding and respecting its role, we can create environments and encourage practices that support its precautionary instincts, leading to...
by Sallyann Beresford | Jan 10, 2025 | Birth Partner, Breathing and Relaxation, Doula, Homebirth, Hypnobirthing, Labour and Birth
While much focus is often placed on the physical aspects of labour, the role of the subconscious mind—the part of the mind that functions beyond our conscious awareness—is equally essential to the process. It works hard behind the scenes to protect us both physically...
by Sallyann Beresford | Dec 29, 2023 | Birth Partner, Breathing and Relaxation, Doula, Homebirth, Hypnobirthing, Labour and Birth
Breathing and relaxation techniques can be beneficial during labour and birth – to help manage the sensations felt during contractions, reduce any stress or anxiety you may be feeling, and to support you in having a more empowered birth experience. ...
