The Relaxed Mama Club

What can decades of childbirth legal cases teach us about preparing for a safer birth?

In this episode of The Relaxed Mama Club, I’m joined by US-based childbirth attorney and bestselling author Gina Mundy.

Gina has spent more than 20 years working on childbirth cases, analysing medical records and looking closely at the decisions made during labour and birth. For much of her career, she represented hospitals and healthcare professionals. More recently, she has shifted her focus to representing families and using what she has learned to help parents prepare for childbirth.

Her book, A Parent’s Guide to a Safer Childbirth, brings those lessons directly to expectant parents.

This felt like a particularly important conversation to have right now. Here in the UK, recent maternity investigations and reports have understandably left many pregnant women questioning how safe maternity care is, and perhaps wondering what they can actually do to protect themselves and their babies.

But this isn't an episode about frightening you. It's about knowledge, preparation and knowing that your voice matters.

Gina and I talk about what she has learned from years of childbirth cases, the patterns she has seen when things go wrong, and the practical steps parents can take to become active participants in their maternity care.

We also explore the current conversation around "normal birth", how we can avoid creating a false choice between physiological birth and medical intervention, and why safer birth should ultimately be about receiving the right care for you and your baby at the right time.

Birth preparation isn't about trying to control every detail of your birth. It's about understanding your options, knowing what questions you can ask, involving your birth partner and feeling confident enough to take an active role in your care.

Check out the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts 💗

Hi! I thought it was time I properly introduced myself.

If you've only just found this page, welcome.

I'm Louise, and I'm passionate about helping women feel calmer, stronger and more confident throughout pregnancy, birth and early motherhood.

Everything I share here is grounded in evidence, shaped by my professional training and inspired by my own experience of becoming a mum.

Whether you're here for yoga, hypnobirthing, birth preparation, nervous system support, or simply because you want your feed to feel a bit calmer, I'm so glad you're here.

I'd love to get to know you too.

✨ Tell me in the comments: Are you currently pregnant, trying to conceive, or already navigating life with little ones?

Monday Myth #3: "A birth plan is a waste of time."

I actually prefer the term birth preferences because none of us can plan exactly how birth will unfold.

But that doesn't mean preparing is pointless.

The real value isn't in the piece of paper. It's in the conversations, the learning, and the confidence that come from creating it.

Thinking about your preferences encourages you to understand your options before you're in labour, when making decisions can feel much harder. It helps your birth partner know how to support you. And if your birth takes an unexpected turn, you'll often find it easier to make informed choices because you've already explored the possibilities.

A birth preferences document isn't about trying to control birth.

It's about preparing for it.

The irony is that women who spend time understanding birth are often the ones who adapt most calmly when things change, because they know *why* decisions are being made, not just *what* is happening.

Preparation doesn't guarantee a particular birth.

But it can help you feel calmer, more informed and more involved in whatever path your birth takes.

🤍 Did you write birth preferences? Were they helpful, even if your birth looked different to what you'd imagined?

✨ Just over 3 weeks to go... ✨

If you're due this autumn/winter and feel you'd like to be more prepared for birth, this is your sign.

The Calm & Confident Birth Weekend is designed to help you feel informed, prepared and genuinely confident about labour, whatever kind of birth you're hoping for.

Over two relaxed days, we'll cover:
🤍 Evidence-based birth education
🤍 Practical tools to manage pain and stay calm
🤍 Breathing, relaxation and hypnobirthing techniques
🤍 Birth partner support
🤍 How to navigate the unexpected with confidence
🤍 Gentle movement and body preparation to help you work with your body

This isn't about promising the perfect birth.

It's about helping you walk into labour feeling calmer, more capable, and ready to make informed decisions, no matter how your birth unfolds.

🗓️ Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th August
⏰ 10am to 4pm each day
📍 Claughton, Wirral
💷 £325 per couple

Places are intentionally limited so everyone gets plenty of individual support.

If you've been waiting for the right time to book your birth preparation, this is it.

Send me a DM if you'd like to ask any questions, or book your place via the link in my bio.

Monday Myth #2: Your due date is the day your baby will probably arrive.

If you've circled your due date on the calendar, you're not alone. But here's something that often surprises parents...

Only around 1 in 20 babies are actually born on their estimated due date.

A due date isn't a prediction. It's simply the best estimate we have based on your last menstrual period or an early dating scan. Your baby doesn't know what date is written in your notes.

Shifting your mindset from a due date to a birth window can help ease some of the pressure if your pregnancy continues beyond 40 weeks.

And if you do go beyond your due date? That doesn't automatically mean something is wrong. It simply means it's time to have informed conversations with your maternity team about your options, based on your individual circumstances.

Did your baby arrive before, on, or after their due date?

July is always the busiest month for us, I love that we have so many exciting occasions, but I also often find myself grieving the fact that I can’t give any one the full attention it deserves. This year I decided to embrace the chaos and to go all in on all of it, and it brought so much joy, even though work had to take a back seat.

We started strong with two birthdays 🎂

A trip to Gladiators Experience meant this one got to meet her heroes 🥰

And this one got to test out her skills as a real life gladiator 💪🏻

My new bathroom giving spa vibes, a well needed sanctuary from the chaos 🧖🏼‍♀️

Birthday party number two - a last minute pool party in a heatwave ☀️

Little pizza chefs 👩‍🍳

Always bubblegum ice cream 🙈

Slow days at the beach 🏖️

I may complain about him, but his card game is 💯

Where better to spend our anniversary? The girls are loving the bigger rides now which is amazing, even if we got stuck on the haunted house ride for half an hour 👻

Pregnancy Yoga classes at Wellness Studio at The Neston Club have been my sanctuary - a gorgeous group of mums to be whose friendship I’ve watched blossom over the past months 🥰

A trip to Deer Shed Festival meant climbing this huge tree for Audrey

And being let loose with real tools to build a shelter 😅

This one loved being her feral self 😂

Straight home from the festival to pick up our campervan, home for the next few days as we explored the Peak District 🚐

New glasses for this one 🤓

A fantastic dance show for both girls at Create dance and theatre arts and all the madness that goes with that 🩰🪩

And for me as well, performing with this wonderful bunch of ladies to a bit of Dolly Parton💃