Birth Planner

Giving birth to your first child is the closest you can ever come to magic " - unknown

Birth of a baby is a natural physiological process - and just like conceiving a baby - it could be pleasurable, orgasmic, pain-free, intense, painful, traumatic, medically-managed or undisturbed and free. It’s your rite of passage into motherhood!

➜ Babies determine when to be born, usually between 37-42 weeks gestation.

➜ 75% of first time mothers will give birth by 41 weeks and 2 days.

➜ Only 4% of babies are born on their due date, so call it a due window!

In giving birth to our babies, we may find that we give birth to new possibilities within ourselves " - Myla Kabat Zinn

Every birth is unique each time to each and every woman. Start fresh without being attached to the outcome of your last birth. Your next birth will be different and special in its own way - each and every time!

➜ The first and second stages of birthing are likely to be shorter and easier the second time around.

➜ Your second baby might be bigger and born a bit earlier than your first baby, though every baby is different.

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood " - Marie Curie

Rh-negative means your blood type lacks the Rh factor - a protein found on red blood cells. If your baby has Rh-positive blood, a condition called Rh incompatibility can occur.

➜ If your blood and your baby's blood mix, your body may begin producing antibodies that can affect your baby's red blood cells.

➜ About half of children born to an Rh-negative mother and Rh-positive father will be Rh-positive.

➜ A shot of Rh immunoglobulin (RhIG) at around 28 weeks - and again within 72 hours after birth - can prevent your body from producing these antibodies.

One of the most empowering outcomes of microbiome awareness is rooted in the intrinsic ability of the body to heal " - Amanda Ledwith

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria that approximately one in three women carry in their vagina. It can come and go at any time and most women experience no symptoms or health effects - however, GBS can potentially be passed to your baby during birth.

➜ Only 1-2% of babies exposed to GBS develop an infection, which may include lung infection, blood infection, or meningitis.

➜ You have the choice to accept or decline IV antibiotics during your birthing time.

➜ While antibiotics can reduce the risk of passing GBS to your baby, they can also disrupt healthy flora and affect your newborn's developing microbiome.

Although the popularly desired outcome is ‘healthy mother, healthy baby,’ I think there is room in that equation for ‘happy, non-traumatized, empowered and elated mother and baby " - Midwifery Today

Birth trauma is distress experienced by a mother during and/or after childbirth. While it can be physical, birth trauma is often emotional and psychological — and can have a long-lasting impact on your life.

➜ 45% of women feel they had a traumatic birth experience.

➜ 66% of birth trauma survivors name obstetric violence as the biggest contributor to their trauma.

➜ Unprocessed birth trauma can be deeply triggering. Giving yourself space to process your birth — privately, with a friend, a support group, a postpartum doula, and/or a therapist who specialises in birth trauma and PTSD — can help you move forward.

➜ Your trauma is valid, even if: it took a while for you to recognise it, you can't remember it clearly, you haven't told anyone, someone dismissed your experience, and/or it no longer affects you the way it once did.

The way a culture treats women in birth is a good indicator of how well women and their contributions to society are valued and honored " - Ina May Gaskin

Obstetric abuse — also called obstetric violence or birth rape — includes physical, sexual and/or verbal abuse, neglect, bullying, coercion, humiliation and/or assault carried out by medical staff, including doctors, nurses and midwives.

➜ Obstetric abuse can include: refusal of care unless you consent to exams or procedures; performing procedures without informed consent or medical justification — such as induction, vaginal exams, episiotomy or caesarean; ignoring questions, requests or pleas; using physical force; and mocking, belittling or dismissing your birth choices.

➜ Obstetric abuse can lead to birth trauma, postpartum PTSD, postpartum depression and anxiety.

➜ You have the right to address your provider's behaviour at any time. You can say "I DO NOT CONSENT. I REFUSE further treatment," request a new provider and/or file a formal complaint.

Health care providers can empower survivors, or re-traumatize them. Let’s give new moms and birth professionals the tools they need to make childbirth a positive, rewarding experience, rather than a trigger for very bad memories " - Sarah Beaulieu

It's fairly common for pregnancy, birth and/or the postpartum period to trigger memories and emotions related to past sexual assault or abuse.

➜ 1 in 4 women have a history of sexual violence.

➜ It can help to identify what may trigger distress, flashbacks or dissociation — such as: being naked; pain and/or strong emotions; strangers; certain body positions; procedures and examinations; where and how you're touched; your environment and smells; or certain phrases and words.

➜ Know that it's possible for your baby's birth to be a positive, healing and transformative experience for you.

It seems that many health professionals involved in antenatal care have not realized that one of their roles should be to protect the emotional state of pregnant women " - Michel Odent, M.D

Protecting your birthing experience as something sacred and intimate may mean choosing care from female providers only.

➜ Only you can know what you need to feel safe, secure and supported — and that knowing is enough.

➜ Intentionally creating your ideal birthing environment helps you stay present and focused on the joy of birthing, bonding and feeding your baby.

Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes " - Desmond Tutu

Your mind believes and responds to the words you tell yourself. Using neutral and positive language around birth and pregnancy can powerfully influence your entire birthing experience.

➜ Positive words and phrases can eliminate automatic fear responses and create a more relaxed, soothing birthing environment.

➜ Consider reframing the words you use:

• Due date → due window / guess date
• Fetus → baby
• Labor → birthing / birthing time
• Delivery → birth / giving birth
• Contractions → surges / waves / sensations / pressure waves
• Dilation → opening
• Complications → special circumstances
• Pain → discomfort / intensity / sensation
• False labor / Braxton Hicks → practice for birthing
• Failure to progress → resting birthing
• Push → breathe down
• Transition → transformation
• Ring of fire → powerful stretching / stretching sensation

Birth should not be a time in a woman’s life when she has to FIGHT for anything " - Carla Hartley

Coercion is the use of force, threats or intimidation to obtain compliance. Coercive language can range from emotional appeals — 'All we want is a healthy baby, right?' — to misrepresenting your options — 'You are not allowed to eat or drink' — to outright intimidation — 'We won't provide care until you consent to a cervical check.'

➜ You are the authority of your own body, pregnancy and baby. You — not your provider — choose what you allow.

➜ Remain in your power by expecting informed discussion about benefits, risks and alternatives, free from coercion, so you can make a truly informed decision.

➜ You can address your provider's behavior at any time and say "I DO NOT CONSENT. I REFUSE further treatment."

You have the right to say yes or no.That simple sentence embodies the spirit and the critical importance of informed consent in any area of health care " - Amanda Lowe

You are the authority over your body — you choose to allow something to be done, not your provider. Every procedure suggested by your care provider should include a clear discussion of risks, benefits and alternatives.

➜ Remain in your power by expecting informed discussion about all procedures — so that whether you say yes or no, it is always your choice.

➜ Trust your intuition when making decisions throughout your birthing experience.

➜ Remember — you very rarely need to decide at that exact moment. It's always okay to ask for time to consider your options.

Too many times parents lack the information they need, are asked to make decisions under duress, or are presented with options in such a way that they are gently let to make decisions that fit comfortably with caregiver’s and hospital’s protocols, rather than the parents expressed needs or desires " - Andrea Robertson

No one can touch your body without your permission. Not even a doctor" - Unknown

You have the right to receive information, ask questions, and make a voluntary, informed decision about your care. Along with the right of informed consent comes the equally important right of informed refusal.

➜ Use B.R.A.I.N.S. to help make decisions — Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, Nothing, Second opinion.

➜ Use F.R.I.E.S. to check for true consent:

• F — Freely given: no pressure or coercion
• R — Reversible: you can change your mind at any time
• I — Informed: you have all the information you need
• E — Enthusiastic: you genuinely want to say yes
• S — Specific: consent to one thing is not consent to everything

➜ At any time you can say "I DO NOT CONSENT. I REFUSE further treatment."

Birth is safe. Interference is risky " - Trust Birth Initiative

Birth in a hospital setting has become normalised as a medical experience — and while it often is, it doesn't have to be.

➜ Guidelines, timelines, routine procedures and policies exist — but they are simply offers of care. You always have the right to accept or decline.

➜ You have the right to individualised, respectful care from your midwives, doctors and nurses.

➜ Hospitals have procedures in place for true emergencies — and when genuinely needed, for your baby or rarely for you, they can be lifesaving.

➜ Even in a hospital setting, you remain the authority over your body and your birth.

The whole point of woman-centered birth is the knowledge that a woman is the birth power source. She may need, and deserve, help, but in essence, she always had, currently has, and will have the power " - Heather McCue

Birth centres are designed to provide a warm, homelike environment with a low-intervention approach to birth — while keeping expert medical care accessible if needed.

➜ Care providers at birth centres view pregnancy and birth as a natural life event, not a medical condition or emergency.

➜ Many birth centres offer an intimate environment with large beds, birthing tubs, showers, nitrous oxide and other comfort measures.

➜ Birth centres are typically for low-risk pregnancies — your midwife or provider can help you determine if it's the right fit for you and your baby.

The right place to give birth, would be the right place to make love " - Michel Odent

Birth is intimate and has its greatest potential to unfold naturally in a private, undisturbed and safe environment — like your own home.

➜ Personalised, one-to-one care from a midwife and/or doula — acting as a quiet lifeguard, present if needed without interfering — significantly supports better outcomes for you and your baby.

➜ Being in your own safe, familiar environment supports the production of peak birthing hormones, giving you the best conditions for a natural — and possibly even orgasmic — birth.

➜ And afterwards, the bliss of your own bathroom, your own bed, and your beautiful new baby — celebrating the most amazing day of all, your baby's birthday.

Undisturbed birth represents the smoothest hormonal orchestration of the birth process, and therefore the easiest transition possible; physiologically, hormonally, psychologically, and emotionally, from pregnancy and birth to new motherhood and lactation, for each woman " - Sarah Buckley

Freebirth means birthing your baby at home, unassisted — acting on your own authority and choosing to take full responsibility for your care and your birth experience.

➜ The ultimate trust in — and surrender to — your body's innate ability to bring your baby earthside.

➜ Learning to tune into your own sensuality and intuition, and listening deeply to what your body is telling you, is essential to birthing in an act of power and ecstasy.

➜ Freebirth is a deeply considered choice — one that calls for knowledge, preparation and an unwavering trust in the natural wisdom of your body.

It’s my assertion that EVERY woman can have a pleasurable, organic and orgasmic pregnancy and birth " - Kim Anami

Birth can be the biggest orgasm of your life! The same body parts, hormones and neural pathways are involved in making love, making a baby and birthing a baby. It's nature's design for birth to be pleasurable.

➜ An intimate, private and undisturbed environment is key to allowing your body to open fully to a pleasurable birth experience.

➜ Sex, clitoral stimulation and orgasm have an analgesic effect and can help restart a slow or paused birthing.

➜ Many women experience cervical orgasms while birthing their baby — and even while birthing the placenta.

My dream is that every woman, everywhere, will know the joy of a truly safe, comfortable, and satisfying birthing for herself and her baby " - Marie Mongan

Hypnobirthing is a GAME CHANGER! It's built on the knowledge that you and your baby were designed to birth peacefully — with true joy and ease.

➜ It reframes birth as a blissful, transformational experience rather than one defined by pain or fear.

➜ Hypnobirthing uses self-hypnosis, relaxation, breathwork, visualisation, affirmations, meditation, positive language and empowering beliefs to create a calm, deeply relaxed birthing environment.

➜ The result? Truly joyful, peaceful birthing experiences — for mother, baby and everyone present at the birth.

Remember that every year around the world hundreds of thousands of women give birth by VBAC. Your body still remembers how to [...] give birth. Your baby–like all babies, if given the opportunity–will start the [pressure waves], working in harmony with the hormones that instigate and maintain [birth] " - Diana Korte

Reclaiming your right to birth vaginally after a previous caesarean — a choice made from a place of power, peace and inherent belief in your body's ability to birth naturally.

➜ VBAC can be an incredibly healing experience after a difficult or unplanned caesarean — a powerful rediscovery of your body's enormous strength and wisdom.

➜ Many women describe feeling deeply confident, grateful and proud of themselves and their bodies after a supportive and joyful VBAC experience.

➜ A successful VBAC opens the door to your full reproductive journey — freeing you from the limitations that repeated caesareans can place on future pregnancies and births.

Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress" - Margaret Atwood

Giving birth in a warm pool of water envelops you in a sense of safety, privacy and calm — tapping into something deeply instinctual about water and birth.

➜ Water immediately transforms the atmosphere of any birthing space — a quiet calm seems to settle over everyone in the room.

➜ The deeply relaxing effect of warm water releases the hormones needed for pleasure, euphoria and bliss rather than pain or fear.

➜ Babies born in water transition gently — from the warm fluid of the womb directly into warm water, a peaceful and undisturbed arrival earthside.

If we want to find safe alternatives to obstetrics, we must rediscover midwifery. To rediscover midwifery is the same as giving back childbirth to women. And imagine the future if surgical teams were at the service of the midwives and the women instead of controlling them " - Michel Odent

The difference between the medical model of care and the midwifery model of care cannot be overstated. Midwifery care is rooted in belief in the natural process of childbirth — placing power firmly in the hands of the birthing mother.

➜ Midwives are skilled professionals and experts in holistic childbirth — present as lifeguards, ready if needed, without the compulsion to interfere unnecessarily.

➜ Midwives focus on continuity of care — building real relationships that create genuine safety, comfort and security throughout your pregnancy and birth.

➜ Having a provider who truly respects your autonomy and believes in your body's ability to birth naturally is essential to the joyful, empowering birth experience you deserve.

If doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it " - John H. Kennell

Doulas hold sacred space for you, your family and your birth team. Often described as 'mothering the mother,' a doula provides informational, emotional and physical support before, during and just after birth.

➜ Doulas are unique in offering continuous, dedicated support throughout your birth — their sole focus is entirely on you.

➜ Having a doula present significantly improves outcomes — including shorter birthing times, reduced use of medication and a more positive overall experience.

➜ Your doula will take time to truly know your goals, values and preferences — and will do everything in their power to help your vision for birth become your reality.

Spontaneous labour in a normal woman is an event marked by a number of processes so complicated and so perfectly attuned to each other that any interference will only detract from the optimal character. The only thing required from the bystanders is that they show respect for this awe-inspiring process by complying with the first rule of medicine – nil nocere (do no harm) " - Dr. Kloosterman

Trusting in the spontaneous start to birthing means believing that your body and baby know exactly when the time is right — without interference or rushing.

➜ When birth begins on its own terms, the hormonal cascade unfolds naturally — each process perfectly timed and attuned to the next, just as nature intended.

➜ Spontaneous labour gives you and your baby the best opportunity for optimal levels of oxytocin, endorphins and all the vital birthing hormones.

➜ Associated with higher rates of successful breastfeeding, fewer interventions and those first blissful, unrushed moments of bonding.

➜ A spontaneous birthing start significantly reduces the likelihood of a cascade of interventions — each unnecessary interference avoided gives your body and baby the space to do exactly what they were designed to do.

Experiences have clearly shown that an approach which ‘de-medicalizes’ birth, restores dignity and humanity to the process of childbirth, and returns control to the mother is also the safest approach " - Michel Odent

Rather than artificially releasing your waters, you allow them to release spontaneously — your baby remaining lovingly enveloped in the protective amniotic sac until the exact right moment.

➜ The amniotic sac keeps your baby protected, cushioned and supported while you both work together towards the birthing moment.

➜ Intact membranes help maintain optimal pressure and positioning — supporting your baby in finding the best possible path through the birth canal.

➜ Some babies are born en caul, still fully enclosed in their sac — considered across many cultures to be a sign of great fortune.

The same movements that get the baby in, get the baby out " - Birthing From Within

Moving freely during birth allows you to work with gravity and tune into your body's and baby's cues — helping you manage sensations and supporting your baby into the optimal position for birth.

➜ Freedom of movement helps you respond intuitively to your body's natural instincts — creating a deeply empowering and connected birthing experience.

➜ Swaying, rocking, hands and knees, squatting, walking and dancing are all powerful tools — each shift in position can open the pelvis, rotate your baby and move your birth forward.

➜ Freedom to move is freedom to birth.

Women have to open up to give birth, and allowing them to be calm and to feel secure can help this process. To help her to dilate, keep the lights low and the noise and commotion to a minimum " - Ina May Gaskin

The environment in which we birth our babies has a profound impact on our hormones and our entire experience.

➜ Dimming the lights creates a calm, peaceful atmosphere that signals your body to release the key hormones needed to relax, open and surrender to the birthing process.

➜ Soft lighting helps you feel safe, secure and private — free to turn inward and focus entirely on meeting your baby.

➜ Bright lighting can make some women feel exposed or observed — and this sense of being watched can slow or even stall the birthing process entirely.

➜ Candles, fairy lights or a simple dimmer switch can transform any birthing space into a sanctuary — and ease your baby's gentle transition from the warm darkness of the womb into the world.

To speak of birth, to touch people’s hearts and souls and to awaken that part of humankind that has forgotten that it matters enormously how a baby comes into the world – that is our task " - Vicki Chan and Nick Edmondstone

Maintaining a sense of reverence through quiet, soft voices allows you to dive deep into the physical and spiritual work of bringing your baby earthside.

➜ A calm, quiet environment protects the undisturbed atmosphere your body needs to fully open and surrender to the birthing process.

➜ Loud voices and sudden noises trigger adrenaline — working directly against oxytocin and your natural birthing rhythm.

➜ This quietness is a gift to your baby too — a gentle, unhurried welcome into the world full of calm and love.

Birth is an opportunity to transcend. To rise above what we are accustomed to, reach deeper inside ourselves than we are familiar with, and to see not only what we are truly made of, but the strength we can access in and through birth " - Marcie Macari

Music — like birth — can be a transcendental experience. Choosing music that makes you feel sensual and alive is your secret weapon for focus, relaxation, release and dance.

➜ Music and dance help you flow with intense sensations, release tension and reach deep relaxation — you can literally dance your baby out.

➜ Music that is deeply meaningful to you creates a completely unique and sacred soundtrack to one of the most extraordinary moments of your life.

➜ A familiar song during an intense wave can anchor you — bringing you back to your body, your breath and your power.

The issue of eating and drinking during [birth] should be reframed as one of bodily choice " - Rebecca Dekker

Choosing to eat nourishing food and stay well hydrated before, during and after birth is a natural and important part of the birthing process — and entirely your right.

➜ Food and fluids give your body and muscles the sustained energy needed to birth your baby — without relying on IV fluids.

➜ Many hospitals have a 'nil by mouth' policy — but this is an offer, not a requirement. You have the right to eat and drink as your body asks.

➜ Trust your intuition — light, easily digestible foods like dates, bananas, honey, smoothies and coconut water are wonderful choices during birthing.

People never sing...except in the bathroom. Birthing women also make their natural sounds next to running bath water. There is something about the power of water. People are drawn to water, spas, and sacred streams. Women in labor are drawn to water, too " - Michel Odent

In the shower, water pressure and heat running over your body create an incredibly relaxing and calming effect — tapping into something deeply instinctual about water and birth.

➜ Standing in the shower lets you work with gravity while the warmth and rhythm of the water provide natural relief from intense sensations.

➜ Water allows your body to open and release key birthing hormones — creating an immediate sense of safety, privacy and calm.

➜ During transformation especially, the shower can become your sanctuary — a private, warm space to breathe through the most intense waves and find your strength.

Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life " - Ina May Gaskin

Essential oils are a wonderfully effective tool for muscle tension release and deep relaxation. The molecules in essential oils are thought to stimulate the parts of the brain responsible for emotion, memory and your response to sensations — making them a powerful companion during birth.

➜ Lavender, citrus, jasmine, clary sage, bitter orange, rose and geranium have all shown reduced discomfort and increased relaxation in evidence-based research.

➜ Peppermint is highly effective for nausea relief, while clary sage has been shown to support shorter birthing times.

➜ Oils can be used in a diffuser, diluted in a carrier oil for massage, added to your birth pool or bath, or applied to a warm compress — experiment to find what works best for you.

➜ Sample different oils before your birth to discover the scents that feel most calming, grounding and pleasurable to you — and consider consulting a qualified aromatherapist for personalised guidance.

Take rest. A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop " - Ovid

When mother and baby are doing well but birthing begins to slow, this is the perfect time to rest. Trust your body to work and rest as needed — without rushing or unnecessary intervention.

➜ Rather than worrying or trying to restart pressure waves, use this time to relax, sleep and restore. When your waves return, you will feel genuinely renewed and ready.

➜ Stress and anxiety release adrenaline — working directly against oxytocin and slowing your birth. Rest dissolves adrenaline and invites oxytocin back in.

➜ Resting during birth is not stalling — it is your body's wisdom at work.

While the doula knows more than a partner about birth, hospitals and maternity care, the partner knows more about the woman's personality, likes, dislikes and needs. Moreover, he loves the woman more than anyone else there " - Penny Simkin

The choice of who is in the room with you during birth is entirely yours. Surrounding yourself with people who calm, support and love you creates the safe environment your body needs to birth freely.

➜ Your partner — whoever that is to you — can help trigger the release of oxytocin simply by being close, through touch, massage, kissing and quiet intimacy.

➜ Be clear with your birth team about your expectations and boundaries before your birth — confident, informed support makes all the difference.

➜ Sometimes less is more — a smaller, carefully chosen team often creates a more intimate and undisturbed birthing environment.

The instant of birth is exquisite. Pain and joy are one at this moment. Ever after, the dim recollection is so sweet that we speak to our children with a gratitude they never understand " - Madeline Tiger

Photos taken during your birthing process — without disturbing you — will quickly become some of your most treasured possessions.

➜ Looking back at your birth photos reveals the beauty, power and raw emotion of the experience — details impossible to fully absorb in the moment.

➜ Brief whoever is taking photos beforehand — quiet, unobtrusive, no flash, no interruptions. The best birth photos are taken by someone who understands their role is to witness, not direct.

➜ And if you prefer no photos at all — that is equally beautiful. Some moments are yours alone to hold.

The length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around " - Michel Odent

Birth is sacred — and who you allow into that space matters more than you might think. Research suggests that the length of labour is often proportional to the number of people present.

➜ Every additional person changes the energy — fewer people means less adrenaline, more oxytocin and a more freely unfolding birth.

➜ Whether intimate with just one or two people or surrounded by your chosen circle — that choice is entirely and beautifully yours.

➜ Protecting those first sacred hours after birth matters just as much as protecting the birth itself.

It is a little known fact, aside from a slight push or two in the last seconds of labor, pushing is not necessary or even desirable for the laboring women " - Laura Kaplan Shanley

When you instinctively direct your own birth and listen to your body's urge to breathe down, you allow birth to happen rather than making it happen.

➜ Fully relaxing into the instinctual process conserves energy, prevents exhaustion and keeps you deeply connected to your body and baby.

➜ Waiting for your body's natural urge to breathe down — rather than being directed to push — protects you and your baby and makes the process infinitely more effective.

➜ Like an orgasm or a bowel movement — birth cannot be forced or directed by others. It can only be surrendered to.

It is a little known fact, aside from a slight push or two in the last seconds of labor, pushing is not necessary or even desirable for the laboring women " - Laura Kaplan Shanley

By slowly breathing in and gently breathing out, you create pressure from above while relaxing from below — allowing your baby to descend softly and naturally.

➜ Breathe in deeply through your nose, let your body soften and relax, then gently breathe out through your mouth — sending your breath all the way down.

➜ This instinctive, energy-conserving process works with your body and baby — bringing that moment of arrival closer with each purposeful breath.

The instant of birth is exquisite. Pain and joy are one at this moment. Ever after, the dim recollection is so sweet that we speak to our children with a gratitude they never understand " - Madeline Tiger

Watching your own baby being born is one of the most powerful and motivating experiences available to you.

➜ A hand mirror, large mobile mirror or ceiling mirror all offer a front row seat to the most extraordinary moment of your life.

➜ Especially beneficial with an epidural — when sensation is reduced, seeing your baby emerge can powerfully reconnect you to the experience.

The knowledge about how to give birth is born within every woman: women do not need to be taught how to give birth but rather to have more trust and faith in their own body knowledge " - BirthWorks

Your birth, your body, your experience — untouched unless you ask or it is absolutely necessary.

➜ Your care providers act as witnesses and guardians of your sacred birthing space — present if needed, not managing or directing.

➜ Power, authority and control remain exactly where they belong — with the person birthing life into the world.

Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart. Be ready. Here comes life " - Maya Angelou

There is no moment more powerful than reaching down and being the first to place your hands on your baby — pulling them up to your chest at the moment of birth.

➜ Sacred, powerful and complete bliss — the most intimate meeting of your entire life.

➜ Being the first to hold your baby refocuses the moment of birth where it belongs — with you.

Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart. Be ready. Here comes life " - Maya Angelou

Inviting your partner to be the very first to place their hands on your baby is a sacred, magical and utterly unforgettable gift."

➜ Let the first touch belong to the people who made this baby — a moment of pure love that will stay with your family forever.

I think one of the best things we could do would be to help women/parents/families discover their own birth power, from within themselves. And to let them know it’s always been there, they just needed to tap into it " - John H. Kennell

Keeping the discovery of your baby's sex entirely between you and your partner — one of the last great surprises life has to offer.

➜ Team green? This could genuinely be the best surprise of your entire life.

Contact with you activates your baby’s parasympathetic nervous system that switches off stress; enhances digestions, healing and growth, and imprints calm and connection " - Sarah Buckley

Immediately placing your baby on your chest, skin-to-skin, changes EVERYTHING — sacred, necessary and utterly transformational for you both.

➜ Skin-to-skin regulates your baby's heart rate, breathing, blood sugar and temperature — your body is your baby's perfect first home outside the womb.

➜ It releases powerful bonding hormones in you both, establishes breastfeeding and begins the most important love affair of your life.

At the time when Mother Nature prescribes awe and ecstasy, we have injections, examinations, and clamping and pulling on the cord. Instead of body heat and skin-to-skin contact, we have separation and wrapping. Where time should stand still for those eternal moments of first contact, as mother and baby fall deeply in love, we have haste to deliver the placenta and clean up for the next ‘case’ " - Sarah Buckley

Protecting the third stage of birthing is essential — trusting and honouring the entire birthing process all the way to its natural completion.

➜ There is no need to rush the birth of the placenta, just as there was no need to rush the birth of your baby — it typically arrives within 30-60 minutes naturally.

➜ The time between your baby's arrival and your placenta's birth belongs to you — skin-to-skin, bonding and basking in the ecstasy of what you just did.

For a few minutes the baby straddles two worlds as it were. Then slowly, slowly he can cross the threshold from on to the other peacefully and easily, and with all safety, as long as we don’t rush in, interfere " - Frederick Leboyer

Waiting for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing and turn white allows every last drop of placental blood to transfer to your baby — an essential step in their transition from womb to world.

➜ This extra blood delivers vital iron and red blood cells — supporting your baby's ability to oxygenate, adapt and thrive outside the womb.

➜ Delayed cord clamping also sets the tone for everything that follows — an unhurried, sacred pause that opens the door to the golden hour.

The benefits to the mother of immediate breastfeeding are innumerable, not the least of which after the weariness of labor and birth is the emotional gratification, the feeling of strength, the composure, and the sense of fulfillment that comes with the handling and suckling of the baby " - Ashley Montague

After placing your baby skin-to-skin, gently support them as they use their incredible instincts to wiggle their way to your breast in their own breast crawl — hands off, trust the process.

➜ The first colostrum your baby receives is liquid gold — super concentrated, nutrient dense and packed with antibodies that build a powerful foundation for their immune system.

➜ Breast milk changes composition daily to meet your baby's exact needs — releasing oxytocin in you both, helping your uterus contract and deepening your bond with every feed.

➜ Breastfeeding reduces your baby's risk of infection, allergies, asthma and obesity — one of the most powerful things you can do for their long term health.

➜ There is no comfort measure more powerful than the breast — it soothes pain, fear, overwhelm and uncertainty for your baby instantly and completely.

➜ Breastfeeding slows everything down — it is nourishment, connection, comfort and love all at once, for both of you.

A person's a person, no matter how small " - Dr. Seuss

Gazing into your newborn's eyes for the first time doesn't need to include a layer of thick antibiotic ointment.

➜ Erythromycin eye ointment is given as a preventative for STI transmission — if you have had reliable STI testing during pregnancy, its necessity is worth questioning.

➜ Declining unnecessary interventions at birth naturally extends into your first moments of parenting — protecting that first sacred, unobstructed gaze.

There will be time enough for all the measuring and weighing — but these first moments will never come again" - Unknown

Routine newborn exams, measurements and procedures can wait — your baby has just arrived and deserves to be welcomed before being assessed.

➜ Weighing, measuring, reflexes and routine checks can all be done after the golden hour — or later in your stay when you and your baby are ready.

➜ A baby who is warm, calm and skin-to-skin on your chest is already being monitored by the most sophisticated system available — you.

➜ Put it in your birth plan, say it clearly on arrival and ask your birth team to honour it — these first moments are irreplaceable.

At a time when Mother Nature prescribes awe and ecstasy, we have injections, examinations, and [cord] clamping… Instead of body heat and skin to skin contact, we have separation… Where time should stand still for those eternal moments of first contact as mother and baby fall deeply in love, we have haste to deliver the placenta and clean up for the next case " - Sarah Buckley

Any routine newborn exams can be done right where your baby belongs — on your chest, skin-to-skin, undisturbed.

➜ Babies should never be separated from their mothers after birth unless there is a true medical emergency — not for convenience, not for routine.

➜ Exams on your chest protect bonding, skin-to-skin and the establishment of breastfeeding — all while you bask in the afterglow of what you just did.

Did god make man too perfect, So that a piece has to be removed through circumcision? " - A.J. Beirens

Protecting your child's bodily autonomy begins at birth — your baby's body is perfect, complete and entirely their own.

➜ Circumcision is a painful, cosmetic surgical procedure with no medical necessity for a healthy newborn — and is most commonly performed without adequate pain relief.

➜ The nervous system of a newborn is fully capable of experiencing and storing pain — the body remembers, even when the mind does not.

➜ Research suggests that the trauma of circumcision can have lasting effects on stress tolerance, emotional regulation and mental health later in life.

➜ Circumcision rates are declining significantly — the majority of boys born today are not circumcised, making it increasingly the exception rather than the norm.

➜ Declining circumcision and forced retraction communicates deep respect for the way your son's body is designed — absolutely perfect, just as your daughter's is.

There’s been a gentler view towards birth and the care of the baby, and that’s made a difference. There’s been really a revolution in skill level at bedside, which includes a more hands-off approach " - William Keenan

Waiting to bathe your baby for at least the first day — or longer — protects their microbiome, regulates their temperature and allows the magical vernix to soak deeply into their skin.

➜ Early bathing can cause hypothermia and blood sugar drops in vulnerable newborns — there is no rush.

➜ The beneficial bacteria your baby picks up during birth begins establishing their immune system immediately — an early bath washes this away at the most critical window.

➜ Those first hours and days belong to bonding, feeding and getting to know each other — a gentle wipe of the neck, armpits and skin folds is all that is ever truly needed.

➜ Your baby arrives perfectly prepared and beautifully protected — they do not need to be cleaned.