The Smart Doula| Virtual Doula Blog

Pain relief in labour Before you start reading this blog, I would recommend you hop over to my other blog about non-medical pain relief in labour. Not because I want to discourage you from using medical pain relief in labour, but all of the things in the first blog can be used alongside medication - layering up is a great strategy for labour and one you need to get in on! Paracetamol for pain relief in labour What is Paracetamol You most likely already know about this one! Pa

If you are pregnant and reading the news right now, you may feel anxious. Homebirth can feel unsafe because of media headlines. Freebirth can feel terrifying because of extreme stories shared online. It is hard to make a confident choice when everything around you sounds dramatic and confusing. So let us slow everything down. Let us look at what homebirth and freebirth actually involve. Let us explore the similarities and the differences with calm evidence and clear explanati

Once a cesarean, always a cesarean? Didn't it use to be once a cesarean, always a cesarean? Yes, and unfortunately for some, this mindset persists for some today! At the time of this saying, rickets, malnutrition, and pelvic deformity were common, and the surgical procedure was much less refined. It was accepted that once it had been performed, most women would not give birth vaginally again. Today, the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (RCOG) states: ‘Planned VBAC i

Is my newborn's sleep normal? They won't sleep in their cot! They only want to sleep on me! If I had a pound every time my Virtual Doula...

'I tore from front to back' In almost every childbirth horror story shared online, there is somebody in the comments saying they know...

Breastfeeding using a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) Its World Breastfeeding Week 2025 and this years theme is 'Prioritise...

A crochet hook that has similarities to the tool used to artifically break your waters What are 'your waters'? Let's start with a brief...

Whether you are reading this while you are planning for your elective cesarean, have found this blog from your hospital bed after an emergency caesarean, or you had a cesarean years ago and are still struggling with your scar, I promise you will find something here that is helpful! Cesarean recovery time is MUCH more than being discharged from the hospital and then being signed off for 'normal' activities at the 6 week postnatal check. Your birth requires both physical and em

Choosing where to give birth. It's entirely possible that if this is your first baby (or even if you have given birth before), that when...

The most important thing to remember as you walk into your pregnancy and birth journey is that EVERYTHING is a choice, once you...

As a child I was drawn to gem shops, their shiny stones, and pretty crystal angels, it felt almost impossible not to reach out and touch...

With babywearing in the news recently because of a very sad story about a six-week-old baby who died while being in a sling due to an...

Why drink pregnancy safe mocktails? Well there are a few reasons! You enjoy a cocktail when not pregnant and you don't want to miss out...

Ultrasound scans or pregnancy scans have become a rite of passage when you are pregnant! From that 12-week scan where you see your baby...

My First Birth was nearly in the Leeds Lotus Midwifery Unit You can't write about one without the other! My first birth was a classic...

Discover the surprising benefits of using heat in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum! From easing aches to reducing labor pain

5 things you can do right now to set yourself up for an empowering birth experience

My first experience of hypnobirthing When I was pregnant the first time around I honestly felt like I could not be doing more to prepare...

A Brief History of Vaginal Exams, Why They Started Being Used, the Evidence Behind them, and Your Rights

Have you heard of using positive birth affirmations but feel like they are a little 'hippy' or alternative for you? You might be...