Packed full of evidence and expertise, these birth guides will provide you with a foundation of knowledge, strategies and options.
Each guide is clear and practical, based on evidence, experience and listening to parents. With resources to use in your own time, each one is interactive and can be personalised to you – you can also arrange a conversation with me to talk it through and ask any questions.
These guides enable you to focus on specific issues as part of your birth preparation and to use as a pocket guide for tips and reminders when you are in labour. For comprehensive birth preparation with a range of information and resources, the antenatal course is a great option.
You can also join the Birth & Baby Community for ongoing access to all guides and courses or you can buy them individually here.
Providing an overview of how labour and birth works, what it can involve and what can be helpful to you:
- an overview of labour & birth
- what helps and what might not
- contractions & managing energy
- positions & being active
- pain management
- using your birth space
- writing your birth plan
- expectations & options
- birth partners
- being at the centre of your care
You can use this birth guide in your own time and, with a 1:1 session, you can talk through your questions with me.
To focus on the common issues that can impact labour and birth, the decisions you make and your options:
- the position of your baby
- having a long labour
- feeling overwhelmed
- if it’s a fast labour
- how being induced can affect your options
You can use this birth guide in your own time and, with a 1:1 session, you can talk through your questions with me.
To focus on being induced, what it can involve and your options:
- the reasons for being induced
- how to encourage labour to start
- how induction works
- prostaglandins
- breaking your waters
- oxytocin drip
- your options, what you can do and how you can manage induction
You can use this birth guide in your own time and, with a 1:1 session, you can talk through your questions with me.
A guide to using positions and movement for pregnancy, labour and birth:
- useful positions to use in pregnancy
- different positions for labour & birth
- using a birth ball
- standing positions
- leaning positions
- sitting positions
- using the bed
- birth pool positions
- managing your energy in labour and birth
You can use this birth guide in your own time and, with a 1:1 session, you can talk through your questions with me.
A guide to using a birth pool in labour and for birth:
- who can use a birth pool
- pain management
- benefits
- birth partners
- labour in the pool
- birth in the pool
- tips for using the pool
You can use this birth guide in your own time and, with a 1:1 session, you can talk through your questions with me.
To focus on having an epidural as part of your labour:
- when and how it an epidural is used
- the effects and the benefits
- managing it
- using positions on the bed
- birth partner support
- what to be aware of
- tips for using an epidural
You can use this birth guide in your own time and, with a 1:1 session, you can talk through your questions with me.
As an antenatal and postnatal specialist, I love talking about birth and babies and working with expectant and parents.
I have a parent-led approach: listening and learning from experiences, providing realistic information and encouraging you to focus on your needs so you can find what works for you.
I am passionate about being able to connect with parents so you feel more informed, reassured and confident.
Working with parents since 2002
My face-to-face sessions are ideal for parents across Newcastle & Tyneside. With video sessions, I work with parents everywhere.
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For birth & baby education and support
- With 1:1 sessions and resources, I work with parents everywhere
- I also work with employers and organisations to provide knowledge, support and reassurance for parents with a young family
Copyright: Janine Smith
antenatal & postnatal specialist 