Omama ∣ Birth Education & Empowerment

You may have started to look into pregnancy yoga for the physical benefits, sure, but swipe through to discover the incredible benefits that you can expect from a regular yoga practice in pregnancy, far beyond just the physical ✨

Intrigued and want to know more?
🗨️Let me know in the comments

I saw this quote and immediately thought of how it applies to birth & motherhood and the level of TRUST that it takes to go through each of these journeys, so I thought I'd share ☺️

(I've also been using it as a mantra to conquer my fear of heights 🙈 .. "choose faith choose faith choose faith")

Hey there how are you? 👋 And I don't ask this hoping to get the reply 'I'm fine how are you?"

I've learnt over the last 8 months just how important community and support is in motherhood... those early months especially

So I want to make a habit of checking in with you regularly, to ask how my community is (really) doing and to see if there's anything I can do to support 🫶

I'd also love this to act as a reminder for you to check in with one (or many) of your mum friends today 💞

An affirmation for you this weekend 🫶

This is a powerful affirmation to use for birth preparation and during birth to help you ride the waves of labour 🌊

If you're planning a c section birth this affirmation can totally be used, it's still SO relevant for postpartum! Use this to remind yourself of all the healing your body innately does, the amazing process of breastfeeding and the connection between your baby & you ✨

Comment 🌟 to let me know if you resonate with this and definitely hit the save button 🔖

Seated side stretch // Parsva Sukhasana

One of the simplest, yet most satisfying yoga poses in pregnancy, which can be practiced on a daily basis

This pose offers accessibility, a sense of grounding and, best of all, opening of the side body when you might otherwise be feeling a bit tight.

Your growing baby starts to take up much more room as you move through the second and third trimesters of pregnancy which can make you feel uncomfortable and make breathing feel more challenging.

Spending just a few minutes a day in this pose will be sure to help you feel more comfortable, give you more room to breathe and give your baby more room to wiggle.

Practice this pose in stillness focusing on one side at a time and breathing deeply to experience opening in the side body

OR practice in a mini flow, moving from side to side, focusing on movement with the breath to experience a gentle stretch of the side body and hips

Choose what feels best in your body and enjoy ✨

I'd like to wish my friends & followers here a very Happy New Year; may your 2025 be a time of joy, light and new beginnings 🌿

I thought the new year would be a good time to reappear here, after my own recent adventures of birth and motherhood.

2025 fills me with excitement & hope for bringing OMAMA to life. While I have been quiet here, my mind has been busy with how I can best create a platform which wholeheartedly and holistically supports and encourages women on their journey through pregnancy, birth and motherhood...

Here you'll find me posting about

✨Education for pregnancy & motherhood
✨Birth & motherhood preparation
✨Yoga & movement
✨Health & wellness
✨The OMAMA platform

Please send your pregnant friends my way 😘

Y is for Yes, because as much as saying no to anything during your pregnancy to motherhood journey is your absolute right.... So is saying YES, if you so desire or if it feels right for you, your body and your baby.

Sometimes it can feel like there is outside pressure to say no to things, but I want to encourage you to tune in and follow your intuition, you know what is best for you!

and just in time, that's (finally) a wrap for the empowered alphabet! Feel free to flick through all the way back to A, especially if you're new here ☺️

Over & out

Eva // OMAMA x

Little update as everything has changed a little over here...

My baby has decided to come sooner than planned, so I will be switching off and signing out of here for a little while, again much earlier than planned!

I've had to put everything on hold for now and hope to get back to supporting & empowering you all through yoga & education after enjoying my little babe for at least a few months...

To the mamas to be, I wish you all the best for your pregnancies, your births and your transition into motherhood!

May your journey be blessed with love & light ✨

Eva // OMAMA x

W is for water 💦

Whether we're talking about water consumption or water birth, there's no denying that water holds significance in the journey of pregnancy, birth & beyond… for it is the stuff of life, and you're creating life, mama! 🤍

During pregnancy, water becomes a sanctuary of relief and rejuvenation, particularly in the third trimester when the weight of your growing baby can feel overwhelming.
Whether swimming in a pool or relaxing in a deep bath, the buoyancy of water can offer a welcome release of tension in the body

Beyond its physical benefits, water also serves as a powerful tool for relaxation and visualisation
By likening contractions to the rhythmic ebb and flow of waves, you can feel supported to embrace the natural progression of labour with a sense of calm and acceptance 🌊

In the birthing room, water takes on a more literal role, providing a supportive environment for labour and birth. Using water can offer you the freedom of movement and the relief from intense sensations, as well as a gentle transition for your baby into the world 🥰

Have you considered using water to help in these ways?

V is for Visualisation 👁️

Your mind is SUCH a powerful tool to use when preparing for labour & birth

Visualisation uses the power of your mind to conjure up images which you want to be associated with birth, allowing you to let go of any unwanted images or negative feelings that you currently have

There's the saying "where the mind goes, the body follows", which gives some explanation of this process

If you focus on pain, or concentrate on a sensation, it is likely you will feel it with great intensity, whereas if you focus instead on your breathing and feelings of calm, you're more likely to have the experience of calm, relaxation

Visualisation involves a more structured approach than this, where you might mentally rehearse calming images and positive birth scenarios, imagining yourself coping with labour effortlessly, picturing a serene and empowering birthing environment or imagining your cervix opening like a flower 🌸

Not sold yet? ...there are many benefits of practicing visualsation in pregnancy, such as

🤍 Reducing anxiety and fear related to birth by mentally rehearsing calm and positive scenarios

🤍 Promoting relaxation throughout pregnancy and during labour

🤍 Enhancing confidence and trust in your bodies' ability to give birth

🤍 Providing coping strategies to use during labour, by offering a mental focal point to help manage pain sensations

You can practice visualisation with a guide or by yourself, whichever method works best for you. Next time you're relaxing in the bath give it a go ☺️

U is for unique 🤍

I encourage you to embrace your uniqueness and celebrate that your journey through pregnancy, birth, and motherhood is totally unique to you

Try not to compare your journey or take on stories from other people's experiences… while hearing from others can be useful, I can assure you that your pregnancy, your birth and your baby will be an entirely different story

..your own masterpiece woven with threads of your experiences, emotions, and choices, made up of little moments – the flutter of your baby's first kicks, the journey through labour and birth and the first time you see their face 🥰

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to experience this, only to embrace your own story wholeheartedly, accepting that your path is your own

Cherish each and every moment, soak up every second, you will not have this same journey again 🫶

T is for transition 🦋🤍

Transition is about change... from one state to another; a specific moment or period of time within a bigger journey

There are two main transitions that happen within the course of becoming a mother, each as significant as the other

The first transition to know about is within the process of labour - have you ever heard of this?

Often referred to as ‘the transitional phase’ or even simply ‘transition’, it is the period of time between the two ‘stages’ or phases of labour -

~the first and second stage
~the opening and the expelling;
~the mindful and the primal

During the opening phase of labour your body is in an oxytocin state which can feel dream-like, in another world

During the expelling phase of labour your body also creates high levels of adrenaline which gives you the strength to bring your baby into the world

Usually these two hormones do not mix, so the occurrence of this cocktail, as well as the experience of your body gearing up for birth, can feel overwhelming and intense
.. It’s often when women feel like giving up, feeling like they ‘can’t do it anymore’

But knowing that this transitional period happens and how it might feel allows you plan how with coping strategies and allows your birth team to offer you encouragement & support, because guess what…
✨It is the shortest phase of labour
✨AND it means you get to meet your baby soon!
… two of the things I encourage partners to remind their amazing birthing person in this transitional moment!

The second transition is that which happens shortly after, when you meet your baby and become a mother.
This transition into motherhood should not be underestimated or played down because the shift that you will experience over the next hours, days weeks and months is enormous
…Not intended to overwhelm you but instead encourage you to give yourself patience and grace and allow yourself moments of awareness of the transformation that is happening within you… a metamorphosis! 🦋

➡️ How will you be planning for transition?
If you're not pregnant yourself can you share this with a friend? 🫶