• I could wear my eye glasses in the operation theatre
• I could put music (the Rosie has Bluetooth speakers in the theatres)
• I could participate more: there is a thing called “active caesarean” or “gentle caesarean” where the team lower the screen and follow the pace of the baby to get him/her out. I did not find anything about that on the NHS/NICE websites but when I mentioned it to the team they were familiar with it and happy to discuss it

I watched some videos (but not any!) either animation or active caesarean, nothing else, to understand what will happen.
I also rang a friend who had a caesarean to ask her what I could do to be ready. Her answer was: “Getting ready for a c-section? This the great thing: you do nothing and you end up with a lovely baby!”. I asked the nurse if I could meet with an obstetrician to ask a few questions.

Once I had done all that I drafted a five-line birthplan for the team. At the end I did not give it because I wanted the team to focus on the baby and don’t bother about me (the caesarean was decided because the baby was unwell so it is specific to me). At first, when I mentioned the gentle caesarean, the medical team suggested they could play it be the ear but I thought I did not want to have any clue about what was going on. The only thing I did was keeping my eye glasses to see my baby. Even though this was not a natural birth breathing techniques proved very useful: they helped me to stay calm and… to breathe!
I was very impressed by the atmosphere in the operation theatre. They were lot of people in it (and more than usual in my case due to the baby’s risk) but they spoke very softly and the room being big it never felt crowded. It was very calm and I felt the team was in control which was so reassuring.

Going through the preparation of a birth plan helped me greatly. Planning for a gentle caesarean helped me moving away from the natural birth I was longing for; once that done I was able to get my priorities right, and the type of c-section I would have did not matter anymore.

The day after the birth I took a picture of my scar because I wanted to see it. When I did, I felt my baby had left a smile on my belly.
Today having had a caesarean is just part of the story.

I want to stress that the teams at the Rosie were wonderful before, during and after the birth. I cannot recommend them more. The only advice I can give is: feel free to ask anything, they will do their best to help you. They can provide basic stuff such as earplugs as well as find a consultant to discuss with.

Maud

The post Smile on my belly – my birth story appeared first on Joyful Babies.

Each Tuesday it gave me something to look forward to, some ‘me time’. I met with a lovely group of mums to be and it helped me to switch off from the daily pressures of work. It also provided a forum to chat about the things no one ever mentions about pregnancy, in a safe and supportive environment. Sally was a great teacher, always very open, honest and approachable. We had a lovely chatty group which made me feel comfortable. Each session we’d start with how our week had been, followed by some gentle yoga and breathing exercises and ending with a much welcomed relaxation session.

To start with the classes were easy but enjoyable, having a big bump seemed so far away! As our bumps grew, the classes became more challenging and I could see how the yoga helped. However the classes provided much more than a good stretch, the positions really helped me out when I had backache throughout my pregnancy and the breathing techniques were invaluable throughout my long labour.

Along the way I met some amazing ladies, we chatted about things we were experiencing and there was always great advice on hand. Since finishing the classes and having our babies, I now meet up with several ‘mums’ who I met through yoga. It’s so lovely seeing our little ones grow up together and we now share our new challenges together post pregnancy!

Faye Pendall

The post Pregnancy Yoga Classes with Joyful Babies appeared first on Joyful Babies.

I had heard the rare story of a good birth, mostly by mothers dismissing their ability as being one of the ‘lucky ones’. I was much more used to the tales of difficult, painful births, such as those on One Born Every Minute, and so, expectedly proceeded to have that kind of birth with my first child.

A wonderful friend I made soon after that told me how much she absolutely loved giving birth! That it was an empowering and beautiful experience! She sparked a seed of curiosity in me, albeit sceptical, it now existed. This led me on an educational discovery of the importance of relaxation, self belief, and acceptance of this ancient, natural and safe experience.

So we got to work. My husband and I attended a Hypnobirthing course which taught me above all how to relax, birth in an environment which relaxes me and anchor myself in positivity and belief. I had a few aromatherapy pregnancy massages to learn what smells calm me. I joined Sally’s Joyful Babies yoga classes where I learnt to listen to my body and move in the way my body wants. I researched a lot and read that homebirths can be safer for low risk pregnant women. We hired Sarah and Siobhan from Cambridge Independent Midwives who did all pre and postnatal checks at our house as well as supply everything we needed for a waterbirth at home. (Including an abundance of moral support and expertise!) Importantly for me, they were overflowing with success stories of countless, easy, natural homebirths.

My contractions started two weeks before Sofia was born, which gave me plenty of time to warm up and start to put into practice all I learnt. After a ‘show’ the day before, I woke at 12.30am with contractions that were stronger and closer together than before. I woke my husband and we excitedly played the relaxing playlists we prepared and started to fill the birth pool. I was so relaxed being in my bedroom, listening to music, nibbling on the delicious food buffet my husband made for me and smelling my relaxing aromatherapy oil scents. I sat or layed down for rest in between each contraction and during them I swayed in whatever way felt good, whilst focusing relaxation on my birthing muscles. I listened to the Hypnobirthing relaxations and affirmations which all led to me being in a very calm and comfortable state. Sarah arrived at 7.45am when my contractions were every 6 minutes. She knew me well and how to unobtrusively support me. I didn’t have any intrusive checks for dilation – it made no difference to me or my midwife how dialated I was… Sofia will arrive when she and my body was ready. At 10.20am I felt she was close to coming and so went downstairs to our dining room which was now hosting the birthing pool. My husband had lit candles and played our playlist: it was just like getting into a relaxing bath at the end of a day

Soon after my contractions changed to stronger pushing ones. I relaxed through them and let my body do what it was made to do, without pushing, tension or uncertainly. This was it!  My baby was coming to me!

A few contractions later Sofia floated into our world where she was lifted into my arms and silently took her first breath. Without crying or causing any tears or soreness to my body. It was beautiful, gentle and peaceful.

Now I hold her close, breastfeed her whenever she wants and shower her with love. Our son is a proud brother; my husband and I incredibly proud parents. Not just because of creating a life but because we worked hard at ensuring she arrives gently and safely, for her benefit and for mine.

Since then I’ve been full of energy and even took both children to the park on my own on day 5!

I hope this story encourages you that your body was made to give birth and can do so seamlessly, gently and beautifully.

The post Baby Sofia’s Birth Story appeared first on Joyful Babies.

As my daughter Maya bubbles and fizzes with energy towards her first birthday, my mind recounts with awe her journey into the world.  I relive the profound sense of gratitude and wonder I felt for my partner, Eirene (a totally brilliant midwife), Joyful Babies and Francoise Freedman (founder of Birthlight), for helping Maya come to us with such grace and presence.  I am moved to shout out loud about Birthlight Yoga, the beautiful practice which enlivened, honoured and protected my growing baby and me with gentle yoga techniques throughout my pregnancy and childbirth.

I taught twice weekly and went to Birthlight classes whilst pregnant.

1. Yoga encourages feeling good

Pregnancy yoga sequences are relaxing and help us produce oxytocin, the baby bonding hormone which orchestrates the bodies’ natural pain reliever and contributes to our level of happiness. When our breath and body flow together, the body moves with greater ease and balances our internal systems, helping our bodies cope well with stress.  In fact with a regular yoga practice, situations which were once stressful often disappear.

When women come together for these nourishing practices the magical hormone of ‘oxytocin’ weaves its way through the air, our bodies and babies, creating the lovely warm fuzzy feeling of happiness, security, and relaxation.  Once we’ve got it running through our bodies, it’s far easier to recreate this beautifully abundant nourishing cocktail in our labour and birthing experience.

Many students come to class with a big grin saying that yoga time is the highlight of their week, when they really get time to bond with their babies and relax their bodies.  Whilst pregnant in class, I felt like I was right where I needed to be.  Surrounded by beautiful women with growing babies,  every session left me feeling rebalanced and reconnected with myself and my baby.  As the teacher, it brought a glow to my heart to hear our local caretaker remark how happy these women are!

2. Yoga prevents and alleviates pregnancy ailments

The myriad of experiences we encounter as women journeying through pregnancy is huge and can be all encompassing. It can be joyful, uplifting and exciting, and it can be niggling, painful and downright frustrating too. We need to find ways to enjoy living on a day to day basis for nine whole months and to synchronise with the ebb and flow of hormonal, emotional, physical and mental changes.  The wealth of ideas and practices that Birthlight taught me, kept me so positive and empowered. There are moves to counterbalance all kinds of challenges. I had pelvic girdle pain throughout my pregnancy and my yoga practise was as ever my best friend, my practice alleviated my pain, relaxed my body and mind and helped me find new ways to move.

3. Yoga connects with our instinctive nature and inner voice

The beautifully flowing, rythmic nature of the yoga moves when practised regularly enables our body memory to store the moves, so we can move and breathe more and more instinctively, leaving thoughts to the side.  When in touch with our instinctive nature we have a heightened awareness of what we need, what is instinctively right for ourselves and our babies.  This important inner voice becomes louder and clearer the more relaxed we are and the greater our ability to relinquish control, to let go.  We can find this through our yoga practice, with our breath and movement combined.

Finding my inner voice and hearing it whisper its way clearly through my contractions was a turning point in my labour.  As my labour progressed and the contractions intensified, my ability to distance myself from the pain began to fall apart, and I became more and more anxious.  I knew that the less relaxed I was, the more difficult our labour would become.  There was an angel midwife, Eirene who came by our poolside at times, giving me focussed unwavering,  caring eye contact. I became aware that when she left the room, my anxieties rose and when she returned with her caring eyes, I settled again. I found strength to ask her to stay.  She stayed until the very end, my voice and Irene’s presence changed the course of Mayas’ journey into the world.

4. Yoga uses sound

I used fun, soothing, simple and most importantly, deeply empowering sound practices and wow did these help me through our labour. Sound can help release the cervix and prevent tearing, and this is how I birthed Maya, without stitches.  In my mind I thought I would be very quiet, I had a good idea that I would deeply internalise the experience (having spent 10 days on a silent meditation retreat the year before!!), but oh no, using sound really helped me centre myself and release my birthing muscles!

5. Yoga improves blood circulation

We become our growing babies’ life force, without us they cannot survive. We grow a placenta and our babies are nourished through this powerful tree of life.  We focus on many practices that energise our bodies and improve our blood flow, to carry vital nutrients via the placenta to our babies.

After Maya was born, a little later, I rose on wobbly legs from the birthing pool in a haze and daze, a time in life for which there are no words, and my placenta pulsed and charged with life into the empty pool.  In that moment, there was a deep instinctive knowing, that Maya had been filled with all she needed, and I will carry that with me for the rest of my life. Quality blood circulation is crucial in pregnancy.

6. Yoga brings friendship

Women coming together and feeling a sense of inclusion and shared experience, is central to us feeling emotionally supported in pregnancy.  When we get this support, we feel resourced, and when we are resourced, our babies know!  An absolute essential ingredient to a positive pregnancy is to feel nurtured and not alone. It has been a truly precious, deeply important and necessary first year, for Maya and I to spend time with our ‘yoga mums’ and their beautiful growing babies. Sharing the funny moments along with the tiredness and anxieties too, we are now celebrating first birthday parties together.

7. Yoga is empowering

Birthlight yoga helped me take responsibility for my pregnancy experience, perhaps the most potent gift of all.  In the past I experienced a physically and emotionally traumatic miscarriage that left me feeling very unwell for a year, through extreme blood loss and hormonal and emotional upheaval.  Using yoga on falling pregnant again gave me a strong sense of purpose and focus, where I took responsibility for the pregnancy challenges as they arose.  In society, pregnancy can be a time where there is alot of fear and avoidance, and I found that by practicing regularly I was able to stay in the celebration and power of motherhood, embracing the ups and downs with yoga modifications and lots of breathing and relaxation.  Importantly this gave my partner confidence in me and our growing baby too.

8. Yoga connects you with your baby

Love nestles itself deep within the heart of yoga.  Embarking on a pregnancy yoga journey brings so much potential for a precious, deeply connected beginning with our babies.  The sequences, meditations and breath work give lots of guidance into bonding.  I remember the first time I truly experienced my baby communicating with me in a class. I was surprised to observe that in the still of the yoga space it was very easy to listen to my growing baby communicating with me, it was a remarkable moment the first time I could truly listen and hear. It was as if the space had become purified through the shared silence, allowing a perfect, safe space for my baby to communicate and be heard. Also in this group I noticed my belly seemed to expand, seemingly with pride as if talking to the other bellies in the room. The potential for growth and human connection when women come together can be the truly magical.

It is an honour to work with women during this deeply transformational time, and learn about what works best for them. So if you have any comments, or know of anyone who would benefit from my classes, please get in touch.  We meet in Chesterton on Tuesdays, 7.30 pm, with time for tea and a chat after class, just perfect for keeping that Oxytocin going!
Warm wishes

Lisa xxx

The post Eight ways that Birthlight yoga helps pregnancy and childbirth appeared first on Joyful Babies.

Almost 10 years ago now, as I was happily expecting our first child, I remember excitedly asking my amazing community midwife if there were any active birth classes in our area. I had read about these in a baby magazine and understood it was a good thing to do to help the birth go smoothly. This was a much wanted baby and we wanted to do everything right. I was feeling pressured from work to ignore my pregnant state and press on with life as normal, but I wanted to carve out some time to focus on the miracle that was growing inside me. My midwife looked me in the eye and said, “you need to go to Birthlight”.

So, we looked up details and eagerly booked onto the antenatal course along with pregnancy yoga. I went to my first yoga session slightly nervous. What would it be like? Would I be out of my depth and would they be all weird hippie types?  But I came back uplifted and rejuvenated and was determined to get back from work in time to go each week. It was a rush on many weeks but oh so worth it. I felt so nurtured and learnt so much during those discussions and yoga classes. It was wonderful to connect with other mothers at similar stages of pregnancy to me and to see others further along. Hearing the birth stories gave me courage that I could walk across this bridge and bring our baby into the world. Seeing the little babies at the end of some of the classes made it feel more real. Having that special time to focus on my baby really helped with bonding to our baby before he was born. I would come home and show my husband some of the poses and stretches we had learnt and tell him of the birth stories and other bits of information I had learnt from both the teacher and the other mothers. It is true to say it was the highlight of my week going to those yoga classes.

The antenatal classes were really eye opening and enriching. My husband and I went to the same room where I had yoga classes and, along with a handful of other couples, we learnt about giving birth in a very gentle and relaxed yet informative way. Sally was so accepting of the whole process and we learnt so much about birth and how to have a positive birth experience. We covered both emotional aspects and practically what could happen or what things might be like. We learnt about how to make informed choices and to keep an open mind during labour.  We were lucky enough to also book onto a weekend workshop during that pregnancy where we were able to gain more practical experience of different ways to cope in labour and different positions. This was particularly valuable for my husband who was to be my birth partner because it gave him practical things he could do before, during and after the birth.

When I went on maternity leave I also did the Aqua yoga which was heavenly to be in the water at this more tiring, heavier stage of pregnancy. The stretches we learnt were fantastic for those late pregnancy aches and niggles. It was also another opportunity to deepen friendships that had begun in the yoga classes. We often had a chat and drink after the pool. I am lucky enough to be friends with one of these mums many years later.

As I approached my due date I was both excited and anxious about the unknown, yet also strangely calm. From the yoga and classes I had learnt that passing over the actual given due date was not such a big deal and I was relaxed as that day came and went. I didn’t have long after that to wait for our beautiful baby boy to start making is way from my womb into my arms.  It was indeed a positive experience although a long labour that resulted in the planned water birth in hospital. He was born to the same music that we listened to  during the relaxation part of our yoga classes. It was almost everything I had hoped for. But unfortunately I had a very bad tear that took months to heal. The friends I had made from the yoga and antenatal classes were towers of support to me during this difficult time as I struggled with soreness from the stitches and difficulties in breastfeeding for many months after the birth.

As is so often the case, the baby who was born was not the baby I imagined. He would not be put down without screaming and slowly showed me a new way to parent that I had not imagined.  I went to baby yoga with my new friends and gradually learnt more about different ways of handling babies. I watched both bottle feeding and breast feeding, listened to different ways to get babies to sleep or get more rest myself. I watched more experienced mothers than myself settle babies.  I experimented with these new ideas and finally found what worked for my baby. Doing the baby yoga helped me to gain confidence in dealing with my windy baby who was quick to cry. I learnt new ways of handling him, to soothe him and learnt to understand him better. It was a relief to be able to go somewhere where it didn’t matter if I was late, or turned up wearing odd things and in a state because leaving the house with a small baby proved to be so much more difficult than any of the challenges I had faced in my career to date.

We also took him to the Birthlight baby swim classes at the weekend so my husband could join in the fun. These classes showed us how to handle babies safely in the water and how to have fun with them and deeper our bond with our gorgeous baby. It was amazing to see our little one happily dive under the water, something we would never have tried without these classes.

3 years later we were thrilled to be expecting our second child. This was a very different pregnancy with a toddler to look after. We were not able to go to the antenatal classes but I felt very strongly that I wanted to go to the yoga classes. I had read and learnt even more about birth and the importance of nurturing the emotional state of the mother-to-be. I was consolidating much of what I learnt from the classes during the pregnancy of my son.  I wanted to surround myself with emotional support and going to the yoga classes was a big part of that. I went early this time, from the earliest you could start at 16 weeks and I was so glad that I did. It gave me time to focus on our new baby and the changes to come. This time we planned a home birth as, having done lots of research, we felt it was the safest and best option for us. Once again these classes were a real anchor for me and provided huge emotional support. There was something very special sitting in a circle with other expecting mothers and listening to their stories and practicing gentle nourishing yoga together. This time I would come home and show my son some of the stretches we did in the mornings after the class. I remember feeling totally calm and at ease as my due date neared and not at all anxious or worried. This was in no small part due to coming to these classes and taking home a little bit of nurturing each week.

We were lucky enough to have another positive birth experience and our daughter was born as planned at home in the water to candle light. This time I only had a small tear and a couple of stitches. It was such an empowering experience. It was wonderful to go back to yoga and tell our story with my little baby. It helped to give a sense of closure to that part of my life and readiness to move on to the next.

And finally almost a decade later, we wanted to have another baby. We felt truly overjoyed when I was expecting again. This was surprisingly my easiest pregnancy when I was expecting it to be the hardest given my age. I had so much energy throughout the pregnancy and very little nausea at the start. I was so busy with the other 2 children I marvelled at my body for being able to do the things we were doing while also growing a new life. Once again though I really felt it important to get a little bit of nurturing for myself.  It was a real struggle this time to make the yoga classes as my husband had changed jobs and it was tricky for him to be back in time to look after the other 2 children so I could go out. We don’t have any family or help nearby so I was relying on him. I did not start the classes until 30 weeks pregnant. That is something I now regret – I wish We had found away so that I could have started sooner as I did with my second child. It goes by so very quickly and I hold those classes in my mind which such fondness as the special time to celebrate each individual pregnancy. Because I was so busy I feel it was even more important to go to the classes for both myself and my unborn baby. I was lucky that it was the same teacher, the lovely Sally whom I now felt a special connection with. Her classes feel so nurturing and accepting of everyone and every birth as well as joyful and mindful with lots of practical tips. I cherished every moment I had in those classes even more the third time around. At the classes I had a much deeper awareness of the baby in my womb and this awareness continued during the birthing of our second daughter. The time really flew by for these classes and it felt like the blink of an eye that I was going back to tell my empowering and wonderfully positive home water birth experience to a lovely group of ladies.

Birthlight do a very special kind of work helping families to have the best start possible through all the various stages – from pregnancy to the “fourth trimester” that is the early baby months. The teachers are gentle yet enthusiastic and passionate about their work.   I feel lucky and honoured to have had these opportunities of support open to us at this precious time in our lives. I would like to thank all those involved in Birthlight for the wonderful support and work they do and give special thanks to Sally who has become a dear friend to me.

Nancy-Ann

The post My Birthlight Experiences appeared first on Joyful Babies.

Tiffany, a certified Birthlight Fertility Yoga and Ante-natal Yoga teacher and part of the Joyful Babies’ family of teachers, runs a small, supportive weekly fertility yoga group in Cambridge. The sessions focus on nurturing and empowering practices to promote endocrine balance, establish an optimum flow of blood to the pelvis and gently bring harmony to the body’s natural rhythms. Tiffany – who knows from her own four years of personal experience the pain, the stress, the frustration and the sense of isolation of being unable to conceive – emphasizes practices that draw the body and mind into a deeply relaxed healing state that has numerous stress-busting, fertility-boosting physiological benefits. It is in this quiet space that women have the chance to reconnect with themselves and access their deepest creative resources, and – using breathing exercises and guided imagery practices to help overcome limiting beliefs and fears – transform the extraordinary power of the unconscious mind from a block to fertility into their greatest ally in nurturing a fertile state.

These weekly yoga sessions are a safe haven for the women in the group, an unjudgemental space where they can support and be supported, where they are empowered by discovering they are not alone and by sharing with other women on their own fertility journey who, for once, really understand where they are coming from.

Book Birthlight Fertility Yoga classes with Joyful Babies.  For maximum benefit, Tiffany recommends that these yoga sessions form part of a broader commitment by both partners to mind-body preparation for conception, ideally for a minimum of three months. Please visit www.nurtureworks.co.uk for details of Tiffany’s 6- and 12-week pre-conception and fertility packages, that bring together yoga, qigong, reflexology, naturopathic diet and lifestyle advice, and Fertile Body Method guided imagery into one integrated, mind-body therapy that nurtures fertile good health from the inside out.

The post Pre-conception and fertility yoga appeared first on Joyful Babies.

I wanted to let you know that I had a fantastic labour  I was induced which I was worrying about (u hear so many horror stories) but actually it wasn’t that bad at all. I went in and was seen about 6pm on 21st May but when examined it wasn’t looking good, they couldn’t break waters so they just offered me a pessary which I had in from about 7.30pm. We then walked round got some dinner, did the usual. I had mum with me and Nathan they had to leave though at 10pm so I was on my own. As soon as they left I started to feel something and thought maybe this is it but I didn’t want to get excited. I went to sleep for an hour on and off between the contractions but then at about midnight they got a bit more intense so my yoga kicked in and I was breathing through them.

About 1.30pm I thought I would have a bath to try and help the pain. I asked the midwife when I could call my mum and husband to get them back here, she said she doesn’t think I’m in “labour” so I was still breathing through them had no pain relief at this point. Then she left me but the pain was really intense so I  pulled on the call button. She offered to examine me but I wasn’t sure as was thinking I’m probably only going to be 3cm! This was about 2pm when she examined me and was in shock as I was 10cm!!!!!!!

Within 2hrs I got to 10cm and without pain relief. Well from there we called my mum and Nath to get back. I was panicking they wouldn’t make it but they did. At about 4pm my waters broke but they had meconium in it so they then had me strapped up and on my back. The real pushing started then as they wanted me to get her out. Her heart rate was dropping and time was ticking they wanted me to deliver. So with my mum and Nathan encouraging me I pushed and I pushed and she was born at 0439 on 22nd May weighing 7lb09 and we called our beautiful girl Mollie Patricia Brown. I did it all with out any pain relief just my breathing I did try the gas and air but couldn’t get on with. It. We then left hospital that day at 5pm. I was so happy. I truly believe that the yoga really helped me and I think next time it will be a home birth if I’m not induced.

Mollie is now 14 wks and is such a content happy baby we have had no problems at all. Mum is a proud grandma and was amazing to have at the birth.

The post Birth Congratulations & Story appeared first on Joyful Babies.

Naveen attended the Trumpington pregnancy yoga classes during her second pregnancy.  She asked me about supporting her and her husband during the birth as a doula and I was delighted to accept. It was all rather ‘last minute’ and on the day I met her husband Jono she was already having signs of early labour. I encouraged her to rest and went home to organise my own family. At around 10.30pm I received the call.

Naveen and Jono were already at the Rosie Birth Centre and labour was clearly underway.  I met them there in one of the beautiful birthing rooms and Naveen was breathing through her surges, walking around and leaning on Jono for support.  The atmosphere was quietly supportive with a lovely midwife sitting in a corner intermittently listening in to the baby’s heartbeat.

Labour progressed through the night with Naveen moving from kneeling on the floor, to the bed, the pool, the birth ball and back to the pool.  The relaxing effect of the water obviously helped as she appeared to ‘drift off’ whilst resting in the pool.  It seemed that she needed some reassurance, which we offered, with Jono giving some positive affirmations and massage when necessary. I noticed lots of hip circles and spirals, groaning, roaring and raspberry blowing – all of which we do in the yoga classes. It was wonderful to see how she responded to her surges with all their strength and power, breathing and relaxing beautifully.

Whilst moving back to the pool, her ‘waters broke’ and the intensity of the surges increased.  With my midwife experience I knew it would not be long now, so Jono and I assisted Naveen back into the pool as swiftly as she could.  Within minutes of entering the pool Naveen let out her final roar and birthed her baby boy, lifting him gently to the surface of the water. The precious first moments as a family followed, while I sat back feeling joyful and privileged as I always do attending a birth.

I was reminded again of the strength and vulnerability of women giving birth, and how in supporting them I aim to honour both equally. The journey is always unknown, so love, trust and support, with acceptance and appreciation of medical help if necessary is what I hope to offer.

Baby Johan is doing very well now at home with lots of hugs and kisses from his big brother Leo.

(Written with kind permission from the parents)

Julia East

The post Birth Story – Julia East appeared first on Joyful Babies.

Well Summer has well and truly arrived, and to celebrate, we’re going to hold a Joyful Babies picnic. It’s a chance for you to catch up with everyone you used to (or still do) do classes with and of course do a little baby and toddler yoga under the sun!

It’d be lovely to see how your little ones have grown and greet any new arrivals. Please feel free to bring friends and family along too. There’ll be a couple of short baby and toddler yoga sessions for anyone who fancies it.

Cake and biscuits will be available for sale. Please bring your own drinks.

Please RSVP enquiries@joyfulbabies.co.uk if you can so we have an idea of numbers. See you there!

Vinery Park is between Ross Street and Vinery Road. Free parking available on Ross Street.

The post Joyful Babies Summer Picnic – 10 August 2013 appeared first on Joyful Babies.

As a birth and postnatal doula I’ve had the honour of witnessing how yoga can benefit mothers and their families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. I believe Birthlight classes work to prepare mothers both physically and mentally for the leap into motherhood. And the best bit of any Birthlight class is coming together, learning from each other and having fun.

I look forward to teaching Birthlight antenatal yoga with great excitement. It is a joy to do the work I do, supporting mothers and families. My aim is to create a calm environment in which women can come together to learn and share, move, relax, connect with their baby and feel supported as they journey towards motherhood.

My classes, whilst training will be at:

Trumpington Pavilion
Thursday 6.30-7.30pm
£20 for 6 weeks
Starts 6 June 2013

Contact Ashley MacDonald: ashleymacdonald1@googlemail.com

The post Birthlight trainee teacher looking for expectant mums for 6 week Pregnancy Yoga course appeared first on Joyful Babies.