Tickled Pink Birth

10/02/2021

Posted • Feeling happy 😃

Feeling happy is a result of the combination of hormones in our brains. There are four hormones responsible for happiness and we can increase their availability in these ways!

Interestingly oxytocin really is the king of these hormones, it can stimulate the production of the other hormones too. That’s why we focus so much on oxytocin when we practice hypnobirthing. Take a second to look at the things that increase oxytocin. It’s about connection, connection and safety.

To feel happy we need to feel connected to other humans, we need to feel safe. Children, teenagers, pregnant women, expecting Dads, menopausal women, ageing men.... we all need to feel this.

Reach out, connect, walk with a friend. Hug someone in your bubble.

18/09/2020

I’ve had “no va**na examinations” written on all theee of my birth plans. With the first and second I ended up choosing to have them during labour. One showed me I was 10cms and the other told me I was 6. The examination that told me I was 6 also told me that Ziggy’s head was in the wrong position. I was devastated. I thought I was in for another 6-8 hours.
I stood up and felt the need to lean foreword and thrust my pelvis forward a few times- proper Elvis style 😂- 1min later that baby flew out of me - well, with a few tiger 🐅 primal roars!!
10cms can mean 2 hours till birth
4cms can me 2 min
Don’t get hung up on numbers!

Posted • Vaginal examinations do NOT determine the length of your labour!

As a midwife, I have seen women have a 4cm dilated cervix and give birth 5 minutes later and on the other end of the spectrum, have a 9cm dilated cervix and not have given birth 4 hours later.

Your body is not a machine! An examination can only tell you what is going on right that second. Even during the examination, things can change.

For a first time mum, guidance says your cervix should dilate 0.5cm per hour and for subsequent births, 1cm per hour. Your examinations are plotted on a graph and if you do not follow the line, you may be told you have 'failed to progress'. You haven't FAILED anything - you just aren't following the line on the piece of paper. Your cervix wasn't aware it had to fit into a chart. Everyone will have a different length labour and that is ok.

It is things like this that no one tells you about birth. We have got you covered though - the amount of information we cram into our sessions will amaze you!

Click the link in our bio to find out more about your local hypnobirthing classes 😘💖

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15/09/2020

In an uncomplicated pregnancy there is no increased risk of miscarriage when the mother exercises. Amazingly studies show that babies are born with healthier cardiovascular and nervous systems when the mother has exercised regularly in pregnancy!!! THIS IS AMESOME!!!

So many women (including me in my first) stop exercising when they are pregnant. There are many reasons why this is
😴Exhasution in the first trimester and then not knowing where to start in the second.
😕Scared about the risk of miscarriage.
🤨Lack of understanding the adaptations that we need to make to exercise safely.
😩Aches and pains

There is no reason we can’t start moving again once our morning sickness as subsided. We just need to take things slowly and find something that works for us. Here is the good news though:

Regular training in an uncomplicated pregnancy can:

✅ Reduces the risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia
👍🏻 Reduce backache, constipation, bloating and swelling
🥳 Reduce risk of prenatal depression
😁 Increase mood and energy levels
😴 Help you sleep better
💪🏼 Promote muscle strength and endurance
🙏🏻 Shorten labour time
💓 Reduce risk of C-section
👶🏼 Encourage baby into optimal position for birth
👶🏼 Benefit baby’s cardiovascular and nervous system

Stay tuned this week for some great tips and advice on staying active in pregnancy!

10/09/2020

Throwback Thursday!

This photo captures utter ecstasy! The high that comes from an empowered, calm and confident Birth is indescribable. In this moment I could have taken on the entire world because I’d just birthed a human being, in a pool, in my living room.

I like to look at this photo every now and then when I need to summon some strength, when I think about how incredible and resilient and strong woman are.

We have this ladies. You will have the birth that’s right for you and your baby.

Tag a mama who needs to hear some positive birth stories...

10/09/2020

FEELING frustrated.

This is patriarchy at its best. The sloppiness and reluctance to create a national guidance to allowing trusts to bring partners into the birth space for all scans and appointments is disgusting.

We know how important it is for birth partners to be with their loved ones to help the release birthing hormones and encourage the onset of established labour. This hormone surge is so important for a safer, calmer birth.

The thing that I find most devestating is that women are finding out they have lost their babies or their babies are very poorly on their own in a scan. This is not acceptable.

We’re lucky that our local trust was one of the first to allow partners in all appointments back in July, but why are so many dragging their heels?

Come on get your act together and think about the mental and physical health importance of sorting this out.


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09/09/2020

I’m Louise Charles, the face behind Tickled Pink Birth.

I am a women’s health and wellbeing coach. You’ll find me personal training through my fitness business and helping empower women’s birth choices through birth preparation and hypnobirthing courses.

I have been lucky enough to have three completely different but equally amazing and empowering births all thanks to learning hypnobirthing in 2014.

These life changing births inspired me to set up my own business. I could see that hypnobirthing could and should reach so many more people. It’s not just for hippies and people who are a bit alternative. There is a misconception that hypnobirthing is a bit woo and “not for me”, when really it just teaches great tools and techniques that benefit pregnancy birth, and the rest of your life

I am continually fascinated by the science in hypnobirthing. I decided to train with as it’s their program designed to empower and give education no matter what type of birth you plan.

08/09/2020

I am so excited to launch our in-person pregnancy relaxation course starting sept 14th @1230

This is a wonderful weekly class giving you the space and time to connect with other pregnant women, learn some fantastic tools and techniques but most importantly relax.

These one hour, socially distanced classes include topics on:

🧘‍♀️ relaxation
🧘‍♀️ sleep
🧘‍♀️ fears
🧘‍♀️ birth preparation
Plus loads more!

Follow the link in my bio to book your place now.

08/09/2020

You have the power to release your fear.

Positive affirmations are so powerful, if you have never tried, try saving some of these in your saved items on Instagram. Whenever you have a spare few min open up saves items and scroll through. Choose to save positive birth stories and affirmations only!

Clear out the junk trunk of a subconscious and fill it with the birth stories you want to hear and plan for!

08/09/2020

Posted • A reminder that expert researchers at Oxford Brookes University brought together research on childbirth, birth setting and the use of water immersion in labour and shared key points which highlighted the safety and benefits of the use of water for labour and birth, during and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
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Their points included that:
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Water immersion for healthy women is associated with a number of beneficial maternal outcomes with no known adverse risks to the neonate.
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COVID-19 is not a waterborne virus, therefore, the water environment dilutes respiratory droplet and faecal contamination potential.
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In the Coronavirus context, water immersion presents a lower risk of contamination risk for midwives compared with bed birth because it promotes the use of social distancing without interrupting normal midwifery care. Burns et al (2020)
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The authors also noted that:
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"The birthing pool environment presents a natural barrier between the woman and her midwife.
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Supporting women in the water reduces droplet, aerosol and faecal contamination, presenting a low-risk transmission activity for the Coronavirus.
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Water immersion for healthy women is associated with a number of beneficial maternal outcomes with no known adverse risks to the neonate.
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For primiparous women, birthing in midwifery-led settings (AMU/FMU or home) water immersion reduces transfer rate with the greatest benefit seen at FMU.
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Water immersion for labour and/or birth should be supported and encouraged as an effective method of analgesia."
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Burns E, Feeley C, Venderlaan J et al (2020). Coronavirus COVID-19: Supporting healthy pregnant women to safely give birth. Oxford: Oxford Brookes University.
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Loads more birth information at www.sarawickham.com
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07/09/2020

Another lovely upright and forward birth!! "We sat back, respected her privacy and allowed her to do what came naturally to her"

A Very Important Primate arrived at Melbourne Zoo last night when Gorilla Kimya delivered her firstborn at about 6:05 pm in the night dens. Primates Supervis...

07/09/2020

Got a bit lost in the rabbit hole of brith videos tonight and I wanted to specifically look at other mammals births particularly those who we believe we are fairly similar too. This is incredible, so calm, so confident.

Incredible, never-seen-before footage of the "miracle birth" of a Sumatran orangutan has been caught live on video by Durrell Staff. See an exclusive video b...

03/09/2020

This time last year I was 36weeks and breach with my third baby. So I was hanging upside down on an ironing board. A little tip from the fantastic

It’s not that uncommon to be breach at this time and you may be offered a ECV where the midwife or consultant will try and manually turn your baby.

It’s a good idea to do some research about the risk, success rates and alternatives to accepting this intervention.

In our hypnobirthing courses with discover various tools for helping make decisions like this. We discuss using B.R.A.I.N.S to help you and your birth partner make the choices that are right for you and your baby.

There are some awesome holistic therapies which have similar success rates to ECV too, so check out moxibustion and Accupuncture!

Last of all remember this is your birth, your choice.