Birth Story – Holistic birth preparation, birth and postnatal doula

Holistic support for pregnancy, birth and new parenthood.

Our birth stories are vivid, powerful and vital chapters in our lives, so let’s honour, support and celebrate them!

About Birth Story

About Anna

Birth Preparation – Group and One-to-One

Doula – Birth and Postnatal

Postnatal Massage

Birth Trauma Recovery

Dads and Partners

birthstoryanna

These are rhetorical questions that I often ask m

These are rhetorical questions that I often ask my birth clients....they don't demand an answer but instead invite the birthing woman to think about these vital elements for her birth.
Safety can look and feel wildly different from one person to another.

⭐birth at home - alone or with health professionals
⭐in a hospital with or without medical management
⭐with partner - or without (some people do NOT feel safe with their partner)

It's all good, if it comes from a decision made without fear and coercion.

Birth without fear.

#birth #birthsupport #birthpreparation #birthdoula #londondoula #safetyinbirth #positivebirth #birthwithoutfear #safetyinbirth #hospitalbirth #freebirth #homebirth
#physiologicalbirth #medicalbirth

Time to get the doula birth bag out! #doulaoncall

Time to get the doula birth bag out!

#doulaoncall #birthdoula #doulasupport #birthsupport #birthteam #prepareforbirth #supportingfamilies #birthstory #confidentforbirth #calmbirth #massageinlabour #birthenvironment #doulasnacks

I'm often asked by dad's and dads-to-be, if there

I'm often asked by dad's and dads-to-be, if there are any dad groups - just for dads.....uh uh...not many.... though I do have a selection of fave courses that I signpost too (including the rather fabulous Mark Harris's online course @birthing4blokes ). But what do I offer? I hear you holler! 😊

🧔Well, as a birth and postnatal doula I act as a gentle guide for dad's to learn how best they can support their partner during pregnancy, birth and life as a new parent.

🕺I offer a '3 Step Rewind' for dads wishing to neutralise the symptoms of past traumatic experiences and also a debriefing service (in person or online).

🌰 In a nutshell, I am here for dads as much as I am for mums 👫
🙌

#birthpreparation #newdads #newparent #dadssupportingdads #dadgroups #dadsmentalhealth #3steprewind #birthdebrief #birthdoula #postnataldoula #perinatalmentalhealth
#supportingdad's #supportingfamilies #fatherhood #parenthood #youngdads #paternalmentalhealth #fathersmentalhealth #dadsrock #howareyoudad #dadtobe #supportingbirth

Some clarification on terms used when 'prolonged p

Some clarification on terms used when 'prolonged pregnancy' is being discussed, particularly women being put under pressure to be induced. Taken from Dr Rachel Reed's (@midwifethinking) blog 'Post-Dates Induction of Labour: balancing risks'.

#induction #postdatespregnancy #prolongedpregnancy #42weekspregnant #41weekspregnant #40weekspregnant
#informedchoicepregnancy
#birthpreparation
#spontaneouslabour
#waitingforlabour
#homebirth
#hospitalbirth
#birthdoula
#antenataldoula

Let's not sugar coat the birth experience or bury

Let's not sugar coat the birth experience or bury problematic experiences 'under the carpet'. Birth trauma is real, is being experienced by many, many birthing women, partners and health professionals. It can be really difficult to accept to yourself and to others that you are struggling. Feelings of shame and guilt are rife. Many traumatised parents blame themselves for something that they did wrong BUT the system has failed them, with a lack of trauma informed care, and practises in maternity care which leave women feeling frightened, helpless, out of control , unsupported and that their autonomy has been as stripped from them.

There's some fantastic support out there.

Check out the following links and pass on to someone you think might be struggling.

@makebirthbetter
@birth_trauma_association_uk
@traumatic_birth_recovery

https://everymumshouldknow.wordpress.com/2018/11/29/10-ways-to-recover-from-birth-trauma/

https://thebirthhub.co.uk/2018/12/21/birth-trauma-the-emotional-ripple-effects

Birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

makebirthbetter.org

Traumaticbirthrecovery.com

Xxxx

#birthtraumarecovery #birthtraumahealing #birthdoula #postnatalmentalhealth #postnatalanxiety #postnatalptsd #postnataldoula #birthpreparation #birthtraumaprevention #birthtraumaawareness #3steprewind #3steprewindpractitioner
#antenatal #prenatal #dadsupport #mumsupportingmums #dadssupportingdads #birthstories #parentsmentalhealth #birthcommunity #northlondonbirthpreparation #newparent #newmum #newdad

I waded across a muddy field yesterday with a preg

I waded across a muddy field yesterday with a pregnant woman and her partner. At one point in a particularly treacherous part of the field, we all stopped and turned our faces to the sun, took a deep breath in and then let out a big sigh.....we squelched on ......sometimes you don't need words to convey understanding 😊🍃🌳

#walkandtalk #pregnancy #doulasupport #northlondondoula #northlondonparents #birthstories #birthexperiences #pregnancyduringcovid #homebirthuk #homeorhospitalbirth #birthsupport #birthpreparations #parentsmentalhealth #pregnancymentalhealth #birthtrauma #unobservedbirth #activebirth #informedchoicebirth #newmum #newdad #positivebirth #sharingbirthstories #motherhood #storytelling #birthcommunity #parenthood

Lovely words from an amazing mum of twinnies 🤜😊 👶👶

#mumoftwins #doulasupport #londondoula #postnataldoula #twinpregnancy #dadoftwins #teamtwins

My happy place....😊 I'm hoping this year I'll m

My happy place....😊
I'm hoping this year I'll make time to read some more books on the bookshelf 🤓, and welcome in people to my birth preparation groups when hopefully we're all vaxed up to the max 💉🤞 xxx

#birthpreparation #antenatal #doula #northlondondoula #northlondonbirthprep #postnatal #supportingparents #3steprewind

And relax....Happy Christmas everyone, let's hope

And relax....Happy Christmas everyone, let's hope 2021 brings us more cheer! 🥴 X

#christmasinlondon #candalsandholly
#lettherebelight

TECHNO BLIP 🤯 Best stick to the old communicati

TECHNO BLIP 🤯 Best stick to the old communication ways!

So, so sorry to all the people who tried to contact me via email between October and early December for my doula and trauma recovery services. I've replied now to you all personally.

This technical blip has been sorted and won't happen again. I'm off to book myself into a techno know-how bootcamp (if it exists) for the New Year! 🥴

Anna x

#gettingtogripswithtechnology #technologyfauxpas #typewritersrock
#doula
#birthdoula
#postnataldoula
#birthrecovery

ARE YOU DREADING XMAS? For whichever reason - new

ARE YOU DREADING XMAS?

For whichever reason - newly separated or divorced, away from your kids for the first time, in a toxic relationship, or suffering a loss..
Xmas can be bloody hard and the pressure to be jolly can hurt like hell.

I see you.

I've been there.

I'm here if you need to reach out.

You can message me here.

I'm an experienced doula and work with parents after birth trauma. I'm also a parent.

www.birthstory.co.uk

❤️

#parents #relationships #singlemum #singledad #family #parenthood #emotionalsupport #northlondondoula #doula #birth #postnatal #birthrecovery #traumaticbirthrecovery #babyloss #miscarriage #pregnancy #griefandloss #griefawareness #anxiety

🍁Do you feel alone with the memory of your birt

🍁Do you feel alone with the memory of your birth story?

🍂Are you troubled by elements of your birth story?

🍁Would you like to share your birth story?

🍂Sometimes sharing your story helps to heal and process what happened to you.

🍁I would love to hear your story.

🍂I'm an experienced birth and postnatal doula based in North London. I also work with parents who feel that they've had difficult births or are experiencing symptoms of birth trauma.There's more about me, my services, testimonials and more on my website ➡️ www.birthstory.co.uk.

🍁We can walk and talk in a park, just get in touch via email anna@birthstory.co.uk or you can message me here on Insta or Facebook👌

#northlondondoula
#stroudgreendoula
#doulasupport
#birthdoula
#postnataldoula
#walkandtalk
#birthstory
#parents
#birthtrauma
#birthtraumarecovery
#3steprewindforbirthtrauma
#community
#parentsupport
#birthtraumacovid
#difficultbirth
#traumasymptoms
#mentalhealth
#pregnancy
#miscarriage

☀️OUR BIRTH STORIES COUNT☀️ Our grandmoth

☀️OUR BIRTH STORIES COUNT☀️

Our grandmother's birth, our mothers and our own birth form an imprint for who we are, how we manage life, how we mother our own children, how we look after ourselves and those around us

☀️Listening to others stories, sharing and telling our own is so important, not only to get them out in the open, but to learn and pass on knowledge and to feel that our stories are honoured☀️

☀️ I would love to hear yours ☀️

☀️I offer a birth story listening/sharing service, email anna@birthstory.co.uk to book in☀️

📷 Photo by my dad: Me pregnant with my first child 2007 😍

#birthstory #honouringbirth #birthstories #mum #dad #grandmother #parent #community #storytelling #shareyourbirthstory #birth #pregnancy #prenatal #antenatal #postnatal #postpartum #motheringstories #traumaticbirth #makebirthbetter

A heart warming review from a lovely birth client

A heart warming review from a lovely birth client 🥰

#birth #honouringbirth #doula #postnatal #birthsupport #family #mum #dad #baby #parents #birthstory

The logo says it all. What a brilliant organisatio

Birth and postnatal doula work has been busy for m

Birth and postnatal doula work has been busy for me this year 😊. It really is an honour, a priviledge and a joy for me to work with parents-to-be and to be present when their little ones enter the world 🙌 birthstory.co.uk

#birthstory #doula #postnatal #mums #dads #families #birth #tellyourbirthstory #honouringbirth
#birthduringcovid19

Postnatal nutrition for a new mum of twins 👶👶
Warming, comforting, pumpkin, chickpea and saffron soup ☀️....tasty 😋 but MOST importantly - being served homemade soup just FEELS GOOD! 🤗

#postnatal #postnatalnutrition #fourthtrimester #twins #postnataldoula #douladishes #recovery

POSTNATAL RECOVERY MASSAGE 👐 😊 What a lovely

POSTNATAL RECOVERY MASSAGE 👐 😊
What a lovely way to treat a mother. Yesterday I gave a massage to a lovely postnatal client who gave birth to her twins back in July. After having warming oils rubbed in and the abdominal, chest, shoulder and hip massage and gentle rocking of the pelvis, she was wrapped from top to toe in scarves/rebozos, tucked in, and left to rest. ❤️🤗

#postnatalrecoverymassage #nourishingthemother #postnataldoula #doula #rebozo #rebozomassage #fourthtrimester #pelviswrapping #wrappingthepelvis
#postnatalcare #timeforthemother #honouringbirth #honouringthemother

What a beautiful, peaceful image 😊 #breastfeed

What a beautiful, peaceful image 😊

#breastfeeding #mother #infantfeeding #quiettimes #breastmilk #bondingtimes #motherbabybonding #breastfeedingsupport #supporttobreastfeed #newparent

Yum 😋 raspberry upside down cake for new mums h

Yum 😋 raspberry upside down cake for new mums home from hospital. Keeps you going at any time of the day 🌅🌌
#cake #postnatalcare #postnatal #fourthtrimester #homemade

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