Resources.
For now, I am going to direct you to the resource guru who saved my life. Rebecca Schiller, behind Birthrights.com, is my everything. I owe 95% of all below resources, some of which I have personally vetted (marked w a *BBS) to her. I found my post-birth EMDR therapist at the London Trauma Specialists because of her, which saved my life. A lot of these resources transcend borders, but many are tailored to the UK.
To Rebecca, I say a heart-felt thank you.
Hypnobirthing
Natal Hypnotherapy: http://www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/
Katherine Graves Hypnobirthing: http://www.kghypnobirthing.com/ (*BBS)
Calm Birth School: http://www.thecalmbirthschool.com/
Birth Books
New Active Birth, Janet Balaskas (*BBS, but don’t let the nuanced anger directed towards the healthcare model be directed at you, it’s worthwhile to have your birth partner read about birthing positions in this book)
Your No Guilt Pregnancy Plan, Rebecca Schiller (*BBS, excellent, concise postpartum advice too)
The Positive Birth Book, Milli Hill (*BBS MY NUMBER 1 book I’ll ever recommend)
The Father’s Home Birth Handbook, Leah Hazard (I want to read, but only available in UK for 110£+?)
Double Trouble, Twins and How to Survive Them, Emma Mahoney
Expecting Better, Emily Oster
Water Birth, Milli Hill
The VBAC Handbook, Churchill and Savage
Placenta, the Forgotten Chakra, Robin Lim
Caesarean Birth: A Positive Approach to Preparation and Recovery, Leigh East
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin (*BBS, the myth, the woman, the legend)
Birthing From Within, Pam England (*BBS, but with a grain of salt)
Why Doulas Matter, Maddie McMahon
Birth and Sex, Sheila Kitzinger
Fertility/Infertility
Fertility Network: http://fertilitynetworkuk.org/
Fertility Friends: http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/
IVF: An Emotional Companion, Brigid Moss
Antenatal Classes
Daisy Birthing https://thedaisyfoundation.com/
Active birth http://activebirthcentre.com/ (*BBS, but their site is stressful and outdated.)
Gowri Motha; https://www.gentlebirthmethod.com/ (*BBS, I used her for my first birth. She is very buzzy on the London birth scene (lots of celebs) and I like her ideology. But it was just ok for me. I think the online classes would be better rather than in person.)
Which?
Birth Choice interactive tool for local birth options: http://www.which.co.uk/birth-choice/
Foetal Positioning
http://spinningbabies.com/ - your one-stop-shop for all information, positions and labour tricks relating to getting your baby in to the best position
Your Rights
Birthrights, the human rights in childbirth charity, for support on your rights in pregnancy and birth www.birthrights.org.uk
Maternity Action: for support with your employment rights and a specialist advice service for migrant rights https://www.maternityaction.org.uk/
AIMS, http://www.aims.org.uk/
Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter, Rebecca Schiller
Am I Allowed, Beverley Beech
The Evidence Database (*BBS)
NICE for best practice guidelines for all aspects of birth including induction. https://www.nice.org.uk/
RCM Better Births Campaign - including great illustrations of birth positions: https://www.rcm.org.uk/better-births-initiative
RCOG leaflets for women: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets
homebirth.org.uk - lots of links to research on different options, not just homebirth
Induction: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg70
Birth place in England study: https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace
http://www.Birthrights.com/, for your human rights and advice
Getting Support and Feeling Confident
Positive Birth Movement: meets locally near you for no-judgement chat about having a good birth http://www.positivebirthmovement.org/
Listen to UK birth stories here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/british-birth-stories/id1537295758
Doulas
The place to find a doula: http://www.doula.org.uk/
Overcoming a Traumatic Birth or Dealing With Trauma
Make Birth Better, including map of local support services for birth trauma
Birth Trauma Association: http://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/
Birth Crisis, Sheila Kitzinger
London Trauma Centre, Clinical Psychologist Georgina Clifford specialises in birth trauma http://londontraumaspecialists.com/. (*BBS I personally found my EMDR therapist, Yasmin Pethania, from here and she has helped me begin to untangle my trauma. I have been seeing her nearly two years now and can only say thank you for this centre, and Rebecca for this resource.)
When Survivors Give Birth, Simkin and Klaus
The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk (*BBS)
Birth Trauma Trust: http://www.birthtraumatrust.org/
REWIND Therapy, http://iartt.com/ (*BBS)
Breech Birth Information
Miscarriage
Stillbirth or Infant Loss
SANDS, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, has support groups, information and a helpline: www.uk-sands.org
Charity providing beautiful funeral clothes for babies who have died: http://www.cherishedgowns.org.uk/
https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/: information, support and remembrance services
Premature Birth
Bliss charity, https://www.bliss.org.uk/
Kangaroo mother care www.kangaroomothercare.com
Disabled Women
www.deafnest.com, innovative ideas to support deaf parents in birth
Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood & National Centre for Disabled Parents: 0800 018 4730, http://disabledparent.org.uk/
Deaf Parenting UK: http://www.deafparent.org.uk/
Epilepsy Action UK:http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/mothersinmind
Arthritis Research Campaign: http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/Files/2060-Pregnancy-and-arthritis.pdf
Ricability (consumer reports for disabled parents) http://www.ricability.org.uk/consumer_reports/parenting/
High BMI
Evidence and support: http://bigbirthas.co.uk/
Epidurals and Spinal Anaesthetics
Royal College of Anaesthetist information leaflet http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/system/files/03-YourSpinal.pdf
Multiple Pregnancy
Double Trouble, Emma Mahoney
Mars Lord, twins doula extraordinaire, http://www.mammydoula.co.uk/
Twins and Multiple Birth Association, https://www.tamba.org.uk/
Preparing Older Children
101 Things to do with a Baby, Jan Ormerod
My New Baby, Rachel Fuller
Hello Baby, Jenni Overhand
Our Water Baby, Maclean and Nesbitt
Amy and the Feeling Basket, Debbi K
The Monica Calaf series on pregnancy, breastfeeding, birth and a new baby (for children), published by Pinter and Martin
Feeding Support
Why Formula Feeding Matters, Shel Banks
Fearless Formula Feeder, http://www.fearlessformulafeeder.com/
Unicef guides to formula feeding: https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/leaflets-and-posters/simple-formula-guide-for-parents/
Evidence-based guide to different formula milks: www.firststepsnutrition.org : evidence-based information on formula feeding
Breastfeeding Support via IBCLC Certified Help: https://lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/
NW London: Cordelia Uys, https://www.blossomantenatal.com/cordelia.php (*BBS, She is a hero, so generous with her help, the best resource to have. Also runs antenatal classes.)
Tongue Tie Divider Near You: http://www.tongue-tie.org.uk/
La Leche League, http://www.laleche.org.uk/
Parenting
It’s Ok Not to Share and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids, Heather Shumaker (*BBS)
The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk (*BBS, the single most important book I’ve read across all genres.)
Nobody Told Me, Holly McNish (*BBS, It’ll change you.)
Mama, Bare: The Birth of a Mother, Kristen Gail Hedges (*BBS, It’ll also change you.)
Pride and Joy, A Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Parents, Sarah and Rachel Hagger-Holt
Where’s the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad, Trevor Macdonald
The Conscious Parent, Shefali Tsabary (*BBS)
The Awakened Family, Shefali Tsabary (*BBS)
Attachment Play, Aletha Jauch Solter
Tears and Tantrums, Aletha Jauch Solter (*BBS)
Letters to My Daughter, Maya Angelou (*BBS)
Spread Out/Slower Vaccines:
Dr. Halverson, http://www.babyjabs.co.uk/ (*BBS)
