The Do Birth On Purpose Approach is for you as an expectant parent, to think about how you are planning for the birth of your baby, the information you might need and how to say what you need.

It’s important to know more about all births rather than just your idea birth – no-one ever knows which way birth can go so effective knowledge can make a huge difference.

Through regular posts – as well as my courses and sessions – I aim to encourage you to have a more strategic and informed approach towards labour, birth and the early days with your baby.

Being educated about birth is important so you know your options and so you can keep gathering the information you need to keep yourself at the centre of your care.

• It’s about thinking about the birth you want – or need – and how you prepare for that.
• What is helpful for labour and birth, for an induction, for a caesarean and what could be unhelpful.
• Doing labour & birth on purpose can be about asking questions and being involved.

These posts will be ongoing, to help create a positive habit of individual & informed birth preparation so you can plan effectively, so you can be involved with decisions and manage any challenges and changes with more confidence and knowledge.

The Do Birth On Purpose Approach

As part of this approach. I will posing some questions and encouraging you to focus on what you need as part of your preparation for birth as well as for the first few hours and days with your new baby.

There will be regular posts and prompts here on my website and on my social media to encourage you to think practically about your birth preparation.

Do Birth On Purpose will also feature as part of Notes For Parents, which will be sent straight to your inbox each week.

My philosophy around labour, birth and early parenting is about gathering knowledge and asking questions so you can use that knowledge to know more about your options, so you can manage any challenges and so you have more realistic expectations.

My aim is for you to have a foundation of knowledge with a practical mindset so you can do what works best for you.

Keep it simple

When it comes to birth preparation, my aim is always to provide basic essentials so you are not overwhelmed by too much information.

It’s important to know:

• how birth works – what your body and your baby need to do
• what helps and what doesn’t
• how to manage pain and tiredness
• how to stay calm
• to listen to your body
• to say what you need
• to ask for more information, support and reassurance

Labour and birth is unique for everyone, there isn’t a right way to do it. If your birth is different from your plan or your expectations, it is important to be reassured and to know what to do next.

Why have I created Do Birth On Purpose?

After running antenatal classes for almost 20 years, I want to introduce a fresh approach to include robust knowledge and skills with the confidence to be included in decisions, to ask questions and to know your options.

Only 27% of labours are without any intervention. So it is important for birth preparation to focus on working with and managing contractions as well as knowing more about induction, caesareans and epidurals.

This means knowing more about what to expect, your options and being informed and better equipped if labour becomes more complicated.

Just send me a message if you have any questions.

Janine Smith | A specialist in pregnancy, birth and early parenting

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