Resources for Informed Decisions
‘If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any.’
Affirmation Cards
Download these affirmations cards straight to your phone. You’ll also get some physical copies in your gift bag too.
Birth preferences are not a test. You don’t “fail” if birth unfolds differently. Think of your preferences as a birth map: they show your options help you stay oriented and guide your next best step if plans change
When you’ve completed your hypnobirthing course, it’s time to sit down with your birth partner and write your birth preferences. Take the time to discuss what is important to you and focus on what you want your birth to look like, rather than what you don’t want it to look like. Don’t forget to research where you want to give birth and discuss your options with your midwife too.
Remember the importance of creating an oxytocin boosting environment.
- Focus on:
- what helps you feel safe
- what feels important to protect
- what would help if plans change
Remember your birth preferences are not a contract. They’re a reflection of your values, needs, and boundaries. Flexibility and preparation can exist together.
How to write your Birth Plan (Birth Preferences)
Recommended Reading & Podcasts
Doing your own research will help you make decisions that are right for you.
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Dr Sara Wickham - The benefits of water birth
Estimating blood loss in an inflatable birth pool
Free to access visual tool (PDF download) for estimating blood loss
How to prepare for water birth - Tommy's
Waterbirth International - organisation promoting waterbirth with lots of information on rights, risks etc.
Evidence Based Birth - Water birth - podcast (and transcript) discussing studies relating to the safety of water birth.
British Medical Journal - Water birth benefits
RCM - 'Clear benefits' to water birth - article based on research.
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Positive Birth Videos
Everyone has a birth story to share, whether it’s their own or a friend of a friend. What you see, hear, and read about birth shapes what you believe about it. So, it’s important to set boundaries when it comes to others sharing their experiences and to seek out your own positive versions of what birth can be.
This collection of empowering birth stories is designed to help you connect with the beauty and strength of the birth process. These videos are filled with positivity, calm, and real-life experiences, offering you encouragement and confidence as you prepare for your own unique birth journey.
Let these stories remind you that you are strong, capable, and fully in control of your birth experience!
You can also read positive birth stories on the blog.
