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The Full Story
The Theory
I have carefully chosen training that aligns with my values and has a focus on non-judgemental, practical support.
Here you can look through the theory that underpins Blue Fern Birth and is infused throughout the services offered.
Antenatal and Postnatal Education Diploma
“Leading the Modern Antenatal Revolution ... Informed, Informal, Inclusive classes with ZERO judgement.”
The Our Baby Club Diploma is FEDANT accredited and is led by the inimitable Victoria Warnes. Our Baby Club believes that in order to be fully informed and prepared for anything in life it’s important to have both sides of the story. That’s why the course content is created by experts and parents to ensure that no important chapters are missed. Our Baby Club trains educators to cover everything that having a baby brings, both practically, physically, mentally and emotionally.
It is all about information, not opinions.
This non-judgemental and holistic approach really resonated with my personal values which is why I chose to train with Our Baby Club and develop a course that brings together information with the purpose of allowing families to find their own rhythm.
Mindful Hypnobirthing Practitioner-Sophie Fletcher
Sophie Fletcher is a clinical psychologist and a hypnotherapist and her theory focuses on creating birth mindset tools.It is not just about breathing, it is a pioneering mindset course, packed with unique and powerful mindset tools that work with the subconscious mind to unlock the power of birth, reduce anxiety, fear and apprehension.
I chose to train with Sophie because of the practical nature of her theory. There are many elements which can be used to make up this birth toolkit meaning that you, as a family, have many tools to pick from depending on the scenarios you find yourself in but also simply which feel most useful to you.
What is hypnobirthing?
Hypnobirthing is a practice which looks at understanding the natural processes of your body and mind. Such as the connection between our experiences and our perception, the fear/pain cycle, the impact of birth hormones, connecting with your baby, breathing techniques and the role of birth partners.This then allows you to connect with these processes and gently influence them to develop a calmness and confidence around your birth experience. Hypnobirthing gives you a range of ways that you could do this, a birth toolkit, aiming to help you develop a peaceful mindset, reduce stress, and create a more empowering birth experience.Many people find it useful not only for pain management but also for creating a sense of control and emotional preparedness throughout labour and indeed beyond into your postnatal journey and other areas of your life.
What is hypnobirthing not?
Hypnobirthing is not about dissociating, disconnecting or losing awareness. It does not guarantee a specific birth outcome but equips you with the tools to feel more able to allow birth to unfold in all the glory of its unpredictability.
Doula Certification with Nurturing Birth
What are doulas?
Doulas provide valuable emotional, physical, and informational support. They focus on the well-being of the birthing person and their partner, offering comfort, guidance, and advocacy throughout the pregnancy, birth and postnatal process.Research suggests that having a doula present during labour can lead to improved outcomes, such as shorter labour, reduced need for pain medication, and higher satisfaction with the birth experience.
What doulas are not?
Doulas are not medical professionals so would not provide diagnosis or medical advice and would not perform medical tasks.
Nurturing Birth have been training doulas for over 20 years. They are dedicated to equipping aspiring doulas with the highest quality guidance and support to build successful birth workers.
They are led by the incredible Sarah Sayer, who I was lucky enough to be trained by directly, and supported by a team of experienced, passionate doulas. The training encompasses: support antenatally and postnatally, supporting all kinds of birth, infant feeding and support to families from walking the dog and collecting other children from school, to birth debriefs and emotional sustenance.
Evidence shows a number of benefits to working with a doula, which may include:
Reduced risk of Caesarean birth
Reduced risk of instrumental birth
Reduced need for painkillers or epidural during birth
Reduced rate of induction of labour
Shorter labour
Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience
Increased likelihood of initiating and establishing breastfeeding
Increased chance of better mental health
Certificate in Birthing Biomechanics
Biomechanics looks at the anatomy of the pelvis and how you can optimise the space and support your baby's journey during labour.
This theory offers gentle techniques for use both during pregnancy, to help your baby into the best position, and during labour to support progress.
I trained with The Serenity Doula, Shellie Poulter. Shellie is an Osteopath, Cranio-Sacral Therapist, Acupuncturist and Doula. She focuses on working with the body and using the principles of balancing the body, creating space, using gravity and holding space for rest and observation.
Understanding the physiology explains many of the challenges experienced during labour.
Working with your body to support your baby, can unlock a positive birth experience.
