BIRTH PREPARATION FROM 34 WEEKS...
Preparing Your Body for Labour
Planning makes a big difference
Give yourself the best opportunity for spontaneous labour, understand how to reduce unnecessary intervention and know how to remain involved in every decision, even if your birth does not unfold exactly as planned.
You want your birth to be different
Perhaps this is your first baby and you have heard enough difficult birth stories to know that you do not want to arrive in labour unprepared, unsure of what is happening or dependent on somebody else to make every decision for you.
Or perhaps you have given birth before and the experience has stayed with you. You felt unheard, decisions seemed to be made around you and you did not know what you could ask, what you could decline or whether there were other options.
You may have experienced induction, episiotomy, assisted birth or events that left you feeling frightened and almost traumatised.
This time, you want a very different experience.
You want to understand your body and how your baby moves through it. You want to know how to support spontaneous labour, reduce unwanted intervention and recognise when an intervention is genuinely needed.
Most importantly, you want to remain informed, involved and in control of the decisions being made about you and your baby.
Birth cannot be completely planned, but feeling powerless within it is not inevitable.
“After having a traumatic first birth, I honestly feel the preparation made my second birth experience amazing. I felt in control and so much more relaxed going into birth.”
Ffion
(Birth Preparation)
Caesarean birth across England, Scotland and Wales increased from 25% in 2015/16 to 38.9% in 2023. During the same period, induction increased from 29.3% to 33.9%.
These figures mean that arriving in labour without understanding intervention, consent or the alternatives can leave you trying to make important decisions when you are tired, frightened or under pressure.
That is why preparation matters.
Preparing is MORE than a BIRTH PLAN
Amy told me "The community midwife hasn't got the capacity to have the time to talk in depth. Mums to be want reassurance and confidence in making decisions, knowing what they can ask for and what are the potential choices/options to them that you wouldn't get advised of in your 10 min appointment every 2-3 weeks".
A birth plan can record what you would like, but it cannot prepare you to understand what is happening if labour slows, your baby's position changes or someone recommends and intervention you had not expected.
True birth preparation gives you knowledge you can use. It helps you understand what your body is doing, how fear and your environment can influence labour and how movement and positioning can change the space available within your pelvis.
It gives your birth partner practical ways to support you and helps you ask informed questions when decisions need to be made and it prepares you for the birth from the inside out too. This means it helps in most cases to shorten 1st and 2nd stages supporting less intervention whilst ensuring you understand what is safe for you and your baby (not at all costs). Giving you the confidence to remain involved in any change of plans.
Birth Preparation In Amy's Words
Attended my clinic for Sciatica orignially and booked into Birth preparation -
because while you have treatment, you can ask me anything as a midwife.
Just how you described the breastfeeding process to me today, you informed me of the stages so well that I've come home feeling at ease and I've learnt a lot from our conversation and it has opened my mind about what I would like to do this time around. it's a conversation I know I won't ever have with my midwife, but because you have explained the steps and useful tips and a timeframe cycle of milk etc I feel I would be more confiendt trying again to breastfeed because I understand it more. Before our conversaton today I was petrified of trying it again, so for this thank you so much. You truly are a miracle worker"
Birth Preparation - A Different Way - From 34 weeks
Prepare for the birth you want and the decisions you may not expect
Birth preparation is not about trying to control every detail or promising that everything will happen as planned. It is about giving your body the best opportunity to prepare and be ready for labour, understanding how you and your baby must work as a team as your baby moves through your pelvis and knowing how to remain informed and involved if intervention is mentioned.
Your session will be shaped around your pregnancy, your previous experiences and what would help you approach birth feeling safer and more confident.
Give your body the best opportunity for spontaneous labour
As you approach the final weeks of pregnancy, it is understandable to worry about going past your due date, being pressured to have an induction or feeling that decisions are beginning to move beyond your control.
Beginning your birth preparation from around 34 weeks gives us time to work with your body before you reach that point. It is not about attempting to start labour before you and your baby are ready. It is about supporting the physiological changes already taking place, identifying anything that may be affecting your preparation and helping you understand your options should induction of labour be mentioned (including what that can lead to).
Your treatment will be personalised according to your pregnancy, your medical and birth history, how your baby is positioned and the stage of preparation your body has reached. As the weeks progress, the focus of treatment changes. We work on what you need, for example cervical preparation if you feel 'sweeps' are not for you (yes they are a choice, and yes there are other ways of determining what your cervix is doing)
If you are considering raspberry leaf tea, we can also discuss whether it may be appropriate or risky for your individual pregnancy (same for essential oils and aromatherapy). This means you are not relying on general advice that assumes every woman and every pregnancy should be treated in exactly the same way.
What does the research tell us?
Research into birth preparation acupuncture is still developing, and not every study has reached the same conclusion. However, some findings reflect the patterns I have seen in my practice during almost 10 years of supporting women in my private clinic.
An NHS maternity acupuncture service reviewed the outcomes of more than 6,000 births. It concludes that women who received birth preparation acupuncture from 37 weeks had
• A 24% lower change of a caesarean section
• A 26% lower chance of requiring additional pain relief during labour
• A 26% chance of receiving elements of medical induction
• A shorter hospital stay
An a separate NHS service evaluation, which offered women a combination of acupressure, reflexzone therapy and aromatherapy massage (which is exactly the training I employ in my practice as I trained at the same organisation), reported that post-dates induction fell from 26.8% to 21.5% after their service was introduced with a notable reduction in caesarean sections.
With dilation from 4 to 10 cm being a big influence on labour we discuss this.
Research tells us that labour often takes far longer than most women are led to expect. For women having their first baby, the median* time from 4 cm to fully dilated (10 cm) was around 4 to 6 hours, but for women who still went on to have healthy vaginal births, it stretched to 14 to 17 hours at the slower end of the range. For women who had given birth before, the median* was closer to 2½ hours, extending to around 9 to 10 hours at the slower end.
Look at those numbers next to the NICE guideline, and something becomes obvious: NICE recommends at least 2 cm of dilatation over four hours, yet the research shows that pace simply isn't realistic for a large proportion of women having straightforward, healthy births. It's not a fringe minority moving more slowly, it's a substantial number of women and babies who are entirely well.
And yet, when that four-hour mark passes without the expected 2 cm, it's often treated as a problem to be solved. Waters get broken. Intervention gets offered, sometimes pushed. But slower doesn't mean something is wrong. If you and your baby are doing well (considering your wellbeing, your baby's wellbeing, your contractions, your baby's position, descent and rotation), then time alone is not a reason to intervene. The guideline should prompt a closer look, not a countdown to action.
*Median - Half the women took less time and half took longer.
Sources: Abalos et al. 2018; Oladapo et al. 2018; Lundborg et al. 2020.
Remain informed and involved if intervention is recommended
Induction, breaking the waters, hormone drips, continuous monitoring, vaginal examinations, epidural, episiotomy and assisted birth may all be discussed during labour.
Understanding these interventions before labour begins means that you are not trying to process unfamiliar information while tired, frightened or experiencing contractions.
We will explore why different interventions may be recommended, what the benefits and risks are and whether there may be reasonable alternatives.
You will know how to ask:
• Why is this being recommended for me?
• Is this an emergency or do we have time to discuss it?
• What are the benefits and risks?
• Are there any alternatives?
• What may happen if we wait?
• What could we try first?
• What happens if I decline?
This is not about refusing necessary care. It is about ensuring that you receive the information you need, that your consent matters and that decisions are made with you rather than around you.
Feel safer approaching birth after a difficult experience
A If a previous birth left you feeling unheard, frightened or out of control, it is understandable that another pregnancy may bring those feelings back.
Your preparation can include emotional and nervous system support alongside the practical work. We can explore what happened previously, what you need to feel safer this time and how you want to be supported if plans change.
This is not about telling you to relax or expecting positive thinking to remove genuine concerns. It is about helping you feel heard, prepared and better able to access the strength and knowledge you already have.
“You made me believe and find the strength. There is no way I could have done it without the help, support and guidance you gave me. What a way to end the healing process.”
Ella
(Birth Preparation after birth trauma)
When Birth Plans Change: Read Steph's Experience
When Steph came to me during her second pregnancy, she was carrying more than the physical considerations of diabetes. Her experience of her first pregnancy and birth had left her with questions that had never been properly answered.
During this pregnancy, we worked together to formulate questions that provided better answers when attending her birth choices appointments. So this time steph could understand what was happening and be involved in the decisions to prepare emotionally for the birth her circumstances required.
Things changed and Steph opted for a caesarean section but this time her experience was completely different, she used the breathing techniques we had adapted for her caesarean and she felt calm and prepared to work with what was happening.
“your advice really helped and I was definitely doing the box breathing throughout the caesarean. It went really smoothly and I already feel I am healing so much better this time around.”
The difference continued after her baby was born.
“I still feel I am processing the difference in this pregnancy and fourth trimester compared to my first. I really feel this time around has healed a part of me from the first time. I would now actually consider having another.”
Steph's positive experience was not created by achieving a particular mode of birth. It came from understanding her circumstances, having the opportunity to discuss her choices and being emotionally and practically prepared.
That is what birth preparation should provide. It is not about pursuing vaginal birth at all costs nor is it about accepting intervention because there is a protocol which you are trying to be moulded into. It is about helping you feel informed, involved and safe for the birth of your baby and experience of labour.
How we work together..
3 simple steps
Step 1
Choose which Package you would like.
You will book your first date in and make payment, other dates will be arranged at your first appointment.
Step 2
We Focus on What Matters to you
Your first session will shape our work together, so you feel heard, understood and excited about meeting your baby.
Step 3
You Move Forward with a CLEAR Plan
Supported through planning your birth, adaptable if things change and preparing you from the inside - out.
Which Option Is Right For You ...
You do not need to enter labour hoping that somebody will explain everything when the time comes.
You can understand your body, prepare your birth partner and
know the questions that will help you remain involved in your care.
Most importantly, you can approach birth knowing that your voice, your choices and your experience matter.
3 Birth Preparation Sessions
Focused preparation for what matters most to you - planning your birth flexibly.
Ideal if you are beginning later in pregnancy, already feel reasonably confident about birth or want targeted support with your most important concerns.
Across three personalised sessions, we will prioritise the areas that will make the greatest difference to you.
£235
5 Birth Preparation Sessions
From approximately 34 weeks, allowing us to support your body progressively and explore your preparation in greater depth.
The additional time allows us to respond to changes in your pregnancy, your baby’s position and any recommendations being discussed within your maternity care. It is particularly suited to women preparing after a difficult or traumatic birth, those anxious about induction or intervention and first time mothers who want comprehensive preparation.
£365
Words shared by the women I have worked with
Angharad - 1st Baby
Induction for small baby
Morning Sam I just wanted to let you know I had a lovely quick labour 12 hours after my induction I know this would not have been the experience without your birth preparation I have told everyone about the acupuncture. I think I would have had a complete meltdown about induction under 40 weeks without the birth prep. Thank you.
Ellen said
Brilliant Experience
Hi Sam just a quick message to let you know that our daughter has arrived safely the whole experience was brilliant from start to finish I would do it all again tomorrow so thank you for your help I'm convinced it has made a huge difference i'll be like a walking advertisement for you now to every one of my friends who gets pregnant thank you so much
Words from Sian
only needed gas and air
Just wanted to say thank you very much baby arrived early hours of this morning and didn't need anything but gas and air I think a lot of that is down to everything with you everything just happened so fast contractions started around 10:00 PM I was in active labout by 1am and baby was born 3 hours later thank you so much for everything
In Sarah's Words
birth preparation for her first baby
“I had a positive experience with minimal intervention
Our baby arrived safely. I went into labour the day after my due date.
Thank you so much for all your help with the preparation. I had a positive experience with minimal intervention, which is what I absolutely wanted.”
Bethan: "Not a Stitch in Sight"
preparing for her second birth after previously tearing
“He is here! Baby was born very swiftly and not a stitch in sight. I got to four to five centimetres before having any pains really, then boom, one hour later he was here. Thank you so much for everything you did preparing me. It has definitely helped.”
Ella
2nd baby after a traumatic birth.
“You helped me to believe in myself and find the strength.
There is no way I could have done it without the help, support and guidance you gave me.
We will be forever grateful. What a way to end the healing process.”
Emma
2nd baby after a traumatic birth.
“My first labour was 14 hours in active labour, with pain relief, an epidural and an assisted forceps birth. My second labour could not have been more different. It was 40 minutes of active labour, a lovely water birth with mood lighting and relaxing music, with no intervention or tears.
“I honestly feel the preparation made my birth experience amazing. I felt in control and so much more relaxed going into birth. I wish I had been recommended to Sam for my first birth.”
Elin: "Not a Stitch in Sight"
preparing for her second birth after previously tearing
"good morning Sam our little girl made a speedy arrival yesterday evening thank you for all your help in getting her here safely.
It was a much better experience this time she arrived in under 6 hours from the start to finish.
it all happened so fast I did ask for an epidural but it was too late and just to let you know the pelvic girdle pain was nonexistent through the labour Many thanks"
In Claire's Words
I would have lost my head without the preparation
“Baby arrived safely after one and a half hours of labour from my waters breaking.
It was fast and furious and I found it difficult to believe it was happening so quickly.
Honestly, I would have lost my head if it was not for the preparation we had done.”
Vicki
3rd baby Homebirth
Well Can you believe I have had another baby boy this morning and it all went perfect.
Midwife checked me at 3:30 AM and I was 3 centimetres and at half six he was born it was absolutely amazing.
I can't thank you enough
Elen said
didn't need the induction in the end
Morning Sam just to let you know I had the little girl this morning so didn't need the induction in the end thank you so much for all your help did it all with gas and air baby still was back-to-back didn't feel like turning but I didn't tear my episiotomy from last time so I am very happy
Lois
Couldn't believe it
Hi Sam just wanted to let you know that I gave birth to a beautiful baby earlier I was at this morning she's absolutely perfect I had a very quick labour delivered in the pool which I am absolutely pleased so pleased about the water helped me so much I had mild pain around midnight and she was born at 6 hours later, it's all about the acupuncture now thank you
Perhaps you want to give your body the best opportunity for spontaneous labour.
You may hope to avoid unnecessary intervention, protect your perineum or
experience a calmer birth than you did previously.
You may simply want to enter labour knowing what is happening,
what you can ask and how to remain involved
if somebody recommends changing the plan.
No one can promise exactly how or when your baby will be born.
But you can prepare your body, understand your choices and
develop practical tools that help you feel more confident and in control.
When should I begin birth preparation?
The five session package is designed to begin from approximately 34 weeks. It supports weekly check in and treatment, ensuring you are safely guided with complementary therapies and discussions around birth planning.
If you are already further into your pregnancy, you can choose three sessions or contact me so that we can arrange the remaining sessions at the most useful times.
Is this suitable for my first baby?
Yes. These sessions are ideal if this is your first pregnancy and you want to understand birth before you are asked to make decisions during labour. You do not need to wait until you have experienced a difficult birth to recognise the value of being properly prepared.
Likewise if this is your second (or subsequent) birth and you feel you weren't prepared last time and you want a very different experience this is exactly what you need.
Can I come after a traumatic birth?
Yes. Your preparation will be sensitive to what happened previously and what you need to feel safer this time. We can include emotional support alongside practical birth preparation without asking you to revisit anything before you are ready.
Can my birth partner attend?
Yes, absolutely. Your birth partner can attend with you to learn acupressure, positioning, practical support and how to help communicate your wishes during labour.
Can these sessions guarantee that I will avoid induction or intervention?
No practitioner can guarantee when labour will begin or how your baby will be born. The sessions are designed to support your body’s preparation, reduce avoidable intervention where possible and help you make informed decisions if intervention is recommended.
What if I am already booked for an induction?
You may still benefit. We can prepare your body, discuss the induction process, explore your choices and help you feel more informed and emotionally prepared. Birth preparation remains valuable even when spontaneous labour does not happen before the planned date.
In addition you will also find out what positions will help you to
Connect with us
(+44) 07464 627572
(+44) 07464 627572
Hours of Business
Mondays: 09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 09:00 - 14:30
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 09:00 - 14:30
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Natural Fertility and Pregnancy
Rofft, Isallt Road, Lllanddulas, Abergele
Conwy. North Wales. LL22 8ND
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Supporting women and couples in Abergele, Llandudno, North Wales and surrounding areas in person. Online UK wide and internationally.