Tanya's home birth story during the pandemic

‘The pool was amazing and allowed me to get on my hands and knees during contractions. I was sick at one point but I remember telling Jenna I felt like I was at the spa with the water and my twinkly lights and affirmations everywhere!’

birth preparation, birth without fear, doula, positive birth movementJenna RutherfordJuly 6, 2020birth in a pandemic, home birth, independent midwife, doula, big baby, hospital transfer, tens machine, hypnobirthing, natalie meddings, mum of two, positive birthComment

Dear Midwives...we need to talk

‘I know the system is letting you down. Midwife means ‘with woman’ and I see how this has been taken away from you, how you have been stripped of the very reason you would have got into midwifery in the first place, to be with women.’

birth, doula, positive birth movementJenna RutherfordMarch 11, 2019doula, midwife, letter to, birth team, birth supportComment

My Positive Birth FOMO

‘So slowly over time I have practiced this feeling of FOMO, this shift to not being where I thought I wanted to be, often staying home with the kids while I live vicariously through my friends and their cool insta stories. And it has faded, dimmed, that feeling that I'm missing out. I started to focus simply on what I was doing and all the loveliness in that.’

birth, motherhood, positive birth movementJenna RutherfordNovember 5, 2018positive birth, positive birth movement, fomo, sisterhood, letting go, acceptance Comment

Self Belief is Your Super Power

‘Imagine what it would feel like to totally and utterly believe in yourself? Imagine how you would behave in the world? Confident, beautiful, strong, powerful, decisive, life grabbing, fearless.’

birth, doula, motherhood, positive birth movementJenna RutherfordJuly 31, 2018self belief, super power, positive birth movement, positive birth, strong mother, empowering women, empowered birthComment

Are we trying too hard at giving birth?

‘There has been a noticeable shift in birth preparation. Women seem to think that they have to do something to give birth. Get informed, get aligned, breathe in a certain way, like they're taking a test they need to pass. Everyone seems to have forgotten that birth is a natural process, an absolute right of passage, as natural for the body as going to the loo, it is a bodily urge to release your baby and bring them into the world. You don't have to do anything.’

birth, positive birth movement, birth without fearJenna RutherfordJune 26, 2018positive birth, intuitive mama, pregnant, natural birth, birth without fear, birth preparationComment

A positive birth does not mean an easy birth...

‘I can't beat myself up forever but I can make sure I never feel like that again and so that's what I did. I became a doula and had an amazingly healing second birth. I'm not saying everyone should run out and train as a doula, although the experience has been life changing for me, but I would say, forgive yourself, go gently and get the right support for next time.’

birth, motherhood, positive birth movementJenna RutherfordJune 13, 2018birth, positive birth, milli hill, positive birth movement, birth trauma, first time mum, second time mum, the positive birth book Comment

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