Births By You

There are many different positions that can be great for helping to open the three main parts of the pelvis - inlet, mid, and outlet.

But nothing trumps the intuition of the birthing woman.

What position was the most intuitive to you when you were in labor?

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Being failed by the medical system can look like a million different things. From medical r**e, to coercion, to not being taken seriously.

Regardless of what the situation is, blatantly ignoring women's experiences within our modern maternity systems is wrong and dangerous.

I have not experienced birth myself. But I believe women.

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Imagine if the only women who could give birth were freaking Olympians? That doesn't make much sense.

Movement in pregnancy is suuuper beneficial, as it is in every season of our life. But movement doesn't have to look the same as somebody else.

You're movement could look like walking, yoga, dancing. Nobodies movement is better than anyone else's.

Do what makes you happy because whatever movement you do will help when it is time to give birth.

For me? I walk 5k every Monday-Friday. I stick my headphones in and turn my birth podcasts on. It's the movement that makes me happy in this season of life.

What's the movement that makes you happy in your season of life? Comment below!

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No matter what your body size is you can have the birth that you want.

I've heard of so many cases where plus size women will think they need to have a highly medicalized birth just because they are in a larger body.

Girl, no. You too were made to birth.

Free Birth is for every body.

Comment below if you are a fat woman who has had a free birth.
I would love to hear your story😍

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What's that phrase? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The medical system tried to fix things but ended up failing for many. The ever increasing use of interventions and maternal death rate show just that.

Doctors and midwives are being taught in risk assessment and emergencies. No wonder there is no more standing opposite.

The art of silently witnessing birth is gone, and the age of overmanaging and fear is here.

So what's the answer? How do we go back to "the one who stands opposite"? Women are smart and we're good at smelling bu****it. Just look at all of these women who chose to birth outside the system.

As a future doula, I am going to continue with the art of silently witnessing birth. I trust birth. I don't fear it.

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I'll add another one here too: Just because your friends and family members did it, doesn't mean it's mandatory.

To often then not I hear women say: "I didn't know I could decline that" or "I had to get this done".

You can decline anything and everything and there's no "have tos" in pregnancy and birth.

You're autonomy and right to choose doesn't magically disappear when you become pregnant.

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This may be a stretch but I'm trying to find women's experiences giving birth in London ON hospitals and surrounding areas.

I would love to know how you felt while you were there. Were you listened to, how were you treated? Was informed consent practiced? Give me all the details! This includes your experiences with the midwives here and the OBGYNs.

If you could share this post, that would be amazing!!

A couple of years ago a study came out that debunked the previous fat phobic rhetoric that a 5% weight loss was needed before women in bigger bodies became pregnant.

The new study found that lifestyle change was more effective physically, mentally, and emotionally. This includes moving your body in ways that you enjoy: like dancing, walking, skipping, weight lifting, running etc. And adding good nutritious foods into your diet but not taking anything away. Practice intuitive eating not restrictive eating! Keep those fun foods around🌟. Yo-yo dieting and restrictive eating can actually inhibit conceving because our bodies go into starvation and survival mode.

These lifestyle changes may or may not release weight (again the goal isn't wait loss, but our bodies are meant to ebb and flow).

The study showed that with these lifestyle changes a lot of women began having a more regular cycle!

This study also debunked the fat phobic rhetoric that women in bigger bodies need to lose weight before seeking fertility treatment.

Can I let you in on a secret?

I'm actually planning on becoming a single mum by choice. I'm hoping to become pregnant in the near future.

I've actually wanted to do this for about 10 years now.

About a year and a half ago I started exploring the birth world. Found all the podcasts, Instagram pages, books etc. I read, listened, and watched until I knew exactly how I want my baby to be brought into this world.

My dream is to have a free birth, surrounded only by my closest women.

This will be the most life altering event of my life and I want to know it all.

Quit playing the good girl card! Stop making decisions based on other people's comfort level.

You do not have to appease your partner, mother, or provider.

This is your experience, not theirs.

As women we are taught to just keep our mouths shut and do what we are told. Yeah, f**k that. This is your birth, and your baby. Speak up.

You do not need to become another birth trauma statistic.

*If you are choosing to have a home birth/free birth and your partner is refusing to get on board, your partner does not need to be there 😉.

You have lived inside of your body for as long as your body has been alive. There is no one that knows your body better then you do.

You make the final call for yourself and for your baby.

Trust yourself. Trust your baby.

The fat phobia, and non evidence based care for fat birthing women is real.
I myself have experienced fat phobia in almost every single experience I've had with a medical provider.
Know your rights, your body can birth your baby, and you can birth your baby wherever you want and with whoever you want.
Find a provider who is Health at Every Size informed, and practices trauma informed care.