Are you Birth Ready?!

1.Are you feeling excited about birthing your baby?
2.Do you feel you have enough information to make informed decisions?
3.How do you feel you would cope if your birth was deviating from the 'birth plan'?
4.Are you aware of the most recent research, evidence and guidelines?
5.Do you know what comfort measures to use during labour?
6.Is your birth partner feeling excited and confident about their role on the day?
7.Do you know how to 'hack your hormones' for birth?
8.Are you supported in the kind of birth that you want?
9.ARE YOU BIRTH READY?!


If you were to ask me 7 years ago, I would have said HELL YEAH, I'M BIRTH READY with only being able to say yes to 1 and 9.
​At the time 8 would not have even entered my head, all I knew was that my baby was coming out one way or another and that is was something that must be endured.
I had strolled in to hospital like I owned the place but as labour went on, it quickly became apparent that I was not Birth Ready but most definitely unprepared. That confidence I had started my birth journey with soon turned into self doubt, fear and pain.

It does sound quite negative and a bit 'ah here,thanks but no thanks' but it  was a positive experience.
I had someone,who I had only met seconds previous but felt like he had always been here,I felt a love like no other and I completely embraced motherhood( this is not always the case if we have had a negative experience). I realise what I am describing is the baby and motherhood and not the birth experience but It showed me what I didn't want.

Deep down I just knew birth had the potential to be an awesome and empowering experience. 

I had done the Gentlebirth Instructor training and DONA Doula training  with Tracy Donegan to better support families but soon became pregnant with my 3rd. I was so excited to put everything I learned into practice,  I had seen and heard of countless women having amazing births and being able to deal with whatever came their way with a confident calmness ( It makes me think of the weather,  we can't predict what way it will be on any given day *nods and mutters of 'she's got us there' from the Irish folk*.So Lets plan for a sunny day,sure why not, it is the middle of summer and Gentlebirth will simply equip you with a jacket in case of rain...........If the jacket is not meeting your needs, here is a rain poncho...no......well here is an umbrella and so on.) 

In short, Yes.
Using Gentlebirth enabled me to have a hugely positive and empowering birth experience by using the strengths and resources within myself, by being supported in whatever birth I was striving for by the countless mothers and mothers to be, Instructors and now friends.

Gentlebirth left no stone unturned when it came to helping and supporting women during pregnancy and Childbirth, using the programme gave me the information, resources, support, tools and confidence to prepare and have the birth I deserved. 

The absolute joy and fulfilment from what I do is undeniable, I get to give these immensely informative and empowering workshops to expecting parents, I get to support them and nothing is quite as rewarding as seeing parents become totally empowered in themselves and stack the odd's in their favour for a positive birth experience( as I did)........One that they have prepared for and that really makes all the difference.   

Do you feel Birth Ready?
Does your partner feel Birth Ready?

​I run Gentlebirth Workshops monthly in Kilkenny and surrounding area's on request and it is never too early or too late to start the programme.
Gentlebirth have also made it easy and very practical to listen to your tracks which rewire the brian from fear to confidence with the Gentlebirth App. It has been descrided as your pocket Midwife......That can only be good!!

Don't take my word or even the word of countless Gentlebirth mum's, the evidence speaks for itself. 

How you feel( emotionally and mentally) when you birth your baby can play a huge role in how you feel in postpartum period and how you bond with your baby.The birth of your may just be one day (or two or three) but it has the potential to influence your experience of motherhood.

Birth Partners are often side-lined and often feel that they will be 'spare tools' on the day. This could not be further from the truth as their role is hugely important. Gentlebirth workshops are unique in that they equip birth partners with tools, information and confidence to support their partners.

(You can learn how to be The Lionel Messi of the Labour Room in this blog post!)

With preparation and support, we are giving ourselves the best chance of having an experience we can look back on with positivity, happiness and love. 

LETS GET BIRTH READY,YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT!