The Birth Collective

⁣The Birth Collective just turned 2 💥⁣
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During the summer of 2019 we came up with an idea for an online birth preparation course. We brought together over 25 years of combined experience working in the NHS maternity system and created it.⁣
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We spent months writing, recording and editing and launched on Mother’s Day 2020. Little did we know what was about to happen with the pandemic! But how serendipitous to have launched at this time. ⁣
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Since we came up with the idea for The Birth Collective, 2 babies have joined our family. You’ll notice Brooke is pregnant in our original course. Carrie had the honour of being her midwife when she birthed her 2nd baby. Last year Leah welcomed her 1st baby to the world which is so exciting!⁣
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We have supported 𝟒𝟔𝟖𝟎 of you through our courses! Over the last 2 years we have created several pre-recorded courses & run a range of live webinars. We have collaborated with incredible birth workers and brands.⁣
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We have worked on the front line throughout the pandemic. We are navigating the current maternity crisis. But there have been so many wins too. Leah celebrated completing her Obs&gynae training and can now apply for consultant positions. Brooke has successfully passed her exams for her training. Carrie continues to enjoy learning about physiological birth.⁣
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Thank you to everyone who has joined us along the way!! ⁣
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To celebrate our milestone, we are offering 50% off ALL of our courses with code 50OFF⁣
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If we have supported you in some way over the last 2 years please share below ⬇️

*What is my baby covered in?*

Babies are often born covered in a creamy-looking substance called vernix caseosa, a protective film that benefits sensitive newborn skin.
The meaning of the name vernix caseosa is “varnish of a cheesy nature.”

A naturally occurring biofilm, vernix begins to cover your baby’s skin during the second trimester. The sebaceous glands — which are responsible for producing oil in the skin —begin to produce vernix at around 17 weeks of pregnancy.

The creamy, greasy substance mostly composed of water, lipids, and proteins. It contains enzymes and other innate immune proteins that have antibacterial properties.

The Benefits of Vernix in the Womb is to:

* Protect the fetus from damaging substances, like urea and electrolytes, in the amniotic fluid.
* Help with thermoregulation.
*During a vaginal delivery, vernix acts as a lubricant and a protective biofilm, and also acts as an antimicrobial cover against any bacteria in the ge***al tract.

The Benefits of Vernix Caseosa After Birth:
* It acts as a natural moisturizer to prevent dry skin.
* It may have antibacterial properties. Vernix could protect your newborn baby from getting a skin infection shortly after birth.
* It has antioxidant properties. Vernix contains antioxidants like vitamin E and melanin, which help slow down cell damage due to free radicals.

When to Wash the Vernix Off:

In the past, most hospitals and birthing centers would bathe babies within 1-2hours of birth. Now, however, this practice is changing, as more is known.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends waiting at least 6 hours before bathing and ideally waiting longer. The WHO also recommends not wiping off the vernix at birth.

The main reasons to wait with your baby’s first bath include:
* Keeping warmth and stabilizing blood sugar levels. The stress of having a bath right after birth could cause a drop in blood sugar levels.
* Allowing time for breastfeeding and bonding.
* Helping prevent dry skin. Leaving vernix on for a few hours can help keep newborn skin supple and hydrated.

Were you surprised by this?👇🏼

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The fear tension pain cycle⁣
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We enter this cycle when we experience fear. We sense danger. Our primal response to danger is to release the hormone adrenaline which triggers the survival response ‘fight, flight, freeze’. ⁣
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Fight or Flight causes blood to be diverted to the heart, lungs, arms and legs. Our hearts beat faster, we are on high alert anticipating whether to fight or escape. Our arms and legs are strong ready to respond.⁣
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Why is this unhelpful during labour?

Blood is diverted away from the uterus! The uterus is muscle. Muscles need blood flow to work efficiently and comfortably. The uterus is working out (contracting) during labour. If it’s working without optimal blood supply it will be lacking oxygen and energy required to cause contractions that open the cervix or push the baby downwards. The contractions are likely to become more painful, irregular and may even stop! Labour stops progressing and interventions occur.⁣
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How to free yourself from the cycle? Here are 3 easy ways:⁣
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😮‍💨Calm breathing in through the nose for a slow count of 4, out through the nose or mouth for 6⁣ anytime you feeling stressed. Practice for at least a minute
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🤫 Quiet, safe, unobserved, calm, warm environment
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🧠 Positive reinforcement about birth during pregnancy to help you acknowledge & release fears
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To find out more join our Live Hypnobirthing Course beginning Sunday 6th March and running over 4 x 2hr weekly Zoom sessions. Course pack posted out to you. Led by an experienced midwife and Hypnobirthing instructor. Visit our website to book your space. Save £50 with code RELAX


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We talk a lot about making birth a positive experience and this should be regardless of how birth happens. Vaginal birth isn’t always an option if baby is in a breech position or if you have had a multiple previous C section delivery. In some cases, you may choose to have a C section for your own reasons. Here are our tips on making an abdominal birth a positive experience for you:-

Stay informed and be involved in as many decisions as you can - have a flexible birth plan where you have considered the possibility of a C section and what is important to you will enable you to feel some control.

Consider dropping the drapes - during the procedure itself, the drapes are a barrier so that you don’t see what is happening inside, as baby is delivered you can ask them to lower the drapes so you can see them as they enter the world.

Delayed cord clamping - it is beneficial for the baby to have this as they receive some extra blood from the cord. This is now usually pretty standard during a C section, but may not always be possible if there are concerns with bleeding or a low lying placenta.

Skin-to-skin - although this is more difficult to achieve in a C section, it’s not impossible and the midwife can help. Wearing the hospital gown back-to-front allows for easy access and helps with this too.

Ask to play your own music - listening to something familiar and calming is a great way to keep calm and stay positive. Make your own playlist & bring a speaker in case there isn’t one already there. It may not always be possible, but the team will always do their best to accommodate putting yours and baby’s safety first. We included mp3s of affirmations and relaxation in our Complete & Hypnobirthing Courses.

Last but not least, stay calm - although abdominal birth and vaginal birth are different, staying calm will enable you to have a positive experience. Use Hypnobirthing techniques such as controlled breathing, visualisations and affirmations to keep you going. We cover these in detail in the hypnobirthing module of our Complete Birth Preparation Course, which is also available to purchase separately.

Share your experiences and top tips with us?