Birth mentoring with Midwife Marley
Work with Marley on a one to one basis with her birth mentorship programme.
Over the course of your pregnancy, Marley will meet with you at regular intervals in person or virtually, to explore your options, wishes, fears knowledge, and needs, creating a solid foundation for your birth and parenting journey.
Marley’s birth mentorship programme has five pillars; Knowledge, confidence, autonomy, health, and relationships
Her specialist programme uses coaching, self reflection & teaching methods to help you begin your birth and postpartum experience feeling informed, confident, and healthy both physically and mentally.
What is Birth Mentoring?
There are several momentous life events including graduation, getting married and buying a home. These events usually take time to consider and plan, costing large sums of money in the process. The biggest life event of all however, having a baby, is all too often left without much preparation or thought besides shopping for baby goods.
Everyone wants to have a positive birth experience and a smooth postpartum journey. What constitutes a positive experience varies greatly from person to person, and birth mentoring is a good way to work towards achieving an experience that is positive for you.
Birth mentoring isn’t simply childbirth education. It’s a form of coaching that really helps you to develop the skills necessary to make informed decisions, overcome fears around birth, have the confidence to advocate for yourself, tackle difficult or confronting situations, ensure your body is prepared and in optimal health, become a confident parent, and to be able to confidently manage the early postpartum days. Midwife Marley’s birth coaching sessions ensure you are also fully prepared in practical terms for your new arrival.
Birth mentoring is a fully personalised programme. It takes what you may have thought or heard about having a baby, and brings your focus to you, your body and your baby.
Birth mentoring gives you the time to increase your knowledge of birth and it’s variations, work through any concerns you have, consider what kind of environment would be most helpful for you, optimise your body and mind for birth, and lay down the foundations for caring for your newborn.
Numerous studies have reported the benefits of birth preparation. Here are some benefits and outcomes of the programme:
- Learn stress reduction techniques
- Nurturing your body for birth
- Learn how to create an optimal birth environment
- Enhance communication between you and your care provider
- Increased birth satisfaction
- Confidently address birth plan deviations including interventions
- Advocacy skills
- Birth partner involvement
Creating a ‘village’ - Navigating postpartum concerns
- Fourth trimester preparation and understanding newborn communication
Birth mentoring Sessions Content
Setting your goals
Discussing fears, worries or concerns about birth. Dispelling myths and exploring what your hopes are for birth and any challenges that may arise.
Reflection on any past experiences.
You’llbe given a work book which can be revisited during each session
Essential Knowledge
Discussing your current knowledge surrounding birth physiology and interventions. Understanding whats normal and whats not, different types of birth and what is involved.
Healthcare provider communication
Enhancing communication between you and your care provider.
Optimising your body for birth
Exploring how to create optimal physical health for birth. Including exercise and biomechanics positions, supplements & diet, and self care
Stress Reduction For Birth
Learning the importance of stress reduction for higher energy and optimal birth physiology. Breathing & visualization techniques, language and personal comforts.
Creating Your Optimal Environment
Discussing place place preferences, birth partners and considering what other factors would create a positive environment for you.
Making Decisions About Your Care
You’ll be given tools to be able to confidently make decisions regarding your care including how to seek stats and information surrounding interventions and treatments, and how to confidently ask questions
Birth Plan Deviations & Interventions
Strategies for handling interventions and potential deviations from birth goals
Partner Involvement
The importance of birth partner involvement and practical ways in which they can support the birth experience
Emotional Support Strategies
Learn methods for emotional regulation and support, including accessing support services
Recovery & Self Care
Practical guidance and preparation for recovery after birth.
Newborn care & Expectations
Understanding newborn communication, setting your expectations and promoting parental bonding.
Practical Preparation
Exploring what you will need to buy in preparation for your baby. This includes things for you too. You will receive guidance on what to take in your bag for labour, for you, your partner and baby.
Infant feeding Choices
Exploring infant feeding methods and deciding whats best for you. You will be given practical advice and preparation based on your choices
Parental Relationships & Family
Looking at how a new baby can affect relationships, and providing ways in which you can work together as parents to enjoy your new family
