Author: Janine Smith

Do Birth On Purpose Challenge

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This 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 put yourself at the centre of your care. This challenge is about encouraging 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. This challenge 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 …

mother cuppa challenge

Mother Cuppa Challenge

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The Mother Cuppa Challenge is about you as a parent – reflecting on what is challenging and why, how you coped and could you have done anything differently. It’s also about focusing on the good stuff each day however small or perhaps seemingly insignificant. However much we love our children, being a parent can be hard work, it can be relentless and exhausting and it requires a lot of giving. I want to challenge you to focus on what you are doing well, to develop strong coping strategies and to find the good in the day when you can pause for a minute and how you can focus on the positives. This aims to give you a boost and to create a positive mindset about what can seem tedious or overwhelming. As a parent you will be overlooking so much of what you do with and for your children and it is easy to make it to bedtime without giving yourself a pat on the back. Or focusing on the tiredness or the frustration of …

Free Resources

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There are several ways to access free resources about pregnancy, birth and early parenting. Notes For Parents Regular and brief emails, which won’t take up much of your precious time. They aim to be useful, giving you information, a boost, an idea, motivation and encouragement you to look after you. Podcast This will be launching soon. Mother Cuppa Magazine I am on a mission to provide a range of really good, practical knowledge so you can plan, do, adjust and look after you and the needs of your family. Mother Cuppa Magazine is about you. Guides & Checklists There are 5 free practical guides for labour & birth: Essentials For Labour & Birth Going Over Your Due Date Tips For Labour & Birth Your Birth Bag Your Birth Plan There are 4 checklists: Pregnancy Labour & Birth New Baby Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Again Challenges These challenges will feature on my social media, as well as with regular posts here on my website. Relax & Breathe Challenge – for everyone to use, to focus on …

relax and breathe challenges

Relax & Breathe Challenge

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The Relax & Breathe Challenge is about bringing some simple and effective techniques into your life. This is not just about boosting your wellbeing, it is about having tools to rely on for stress, anxiety or being overwhelmed. Relax & Breathe is something I have used for years – personally and professionally. I teach it to parents, my teenagers use it, it eases my stress and anxiety and I have even completed relaxation therapy training. It is just breathing but it really helps with calm, focus, being overwhelmed and heading off panic. And, while the main focus of my practice is expectant and new parents, this is for everyone. You can use it everyday, to do something for you. It is gives a great boost in pregnancy, helping with aches and discomforts. It is essential for birth to stay calm, to have a focus and to work with contractions. And it is beneficial when your baby is here – for feeding, settling, to stay calm and to help your recovery. But it is for everyone …

labour & birth checklists

Labour & Birth Checklist

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This labour & birth checklist works as a quick reminder to focus on you when you are in labour. There can be a lot going on so it is easy to forget the small, important details. There’s a lot of simple things that can make a huge difference to how you are feeling from those early contractions, right through to giving birth. Here’s a quick guide to your labour & birth checklist… are you using your breathing? You can use your relaxation and breathing techniques to remain calm, to help your contractions and to give you energy. can you rest? Using positions to rest and conserve energy can be crucial, especially if labour is over several hours. do you need to move/change position? Listen to your body, move about to be as comfortable as possible. do you need to eat? Food is important for both you and your baby during labour. You might need to snack regularly or you could be ravenous. are you going to the loo regularly? Your baby needs every bit of …