Rebel Birth

Aberdeen Doula Training
30th August-1st September
Come and join us
With Nicola of and
doulas Sarah .moon.shala and Arleen
Be part of the revolution, and the next chapter of Aberdeen Birth Collective.

ABC clients especially welcome - I know many of you have been bitten by the birth support bug already... Your community needs you and your experience.

Payment plans available. This is going to be a really special weekend with a gorgeous bunch of humans.

DM any of the above accounts for more info or to discuss whether this is the right course for you.

I said a resounding bye-bye to my comfort zone for a few minutes last week, on 's Mornings with

Catch me umming and erring my thoughts on unattended birth in response to the recent statement from RCOG on birth without any medical intervention around 11.35am with the brilliant

So often in the world of birth support women and those who birth are pitted against one another. It was really nice to have a few minutes' sensible conversation about what is usually quite a divisive topic.

You can listen on or on this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001w775

Hello! I've had a last-minute cancellation on my weekend course happening two weeks from now.

I'm offering this space for anyone who can't justify the cost of independent birth prep just now.

No questions asked, just drop me a message with your email address letting me know you'd like a registration form.

Happy Mother's Day weekend to all the mamas, parents, and parents to be I've known and supported over the last four years ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm doing a wee refer a friend offer for you. Send a pregnant pal my way this weekend - either a course booking, voucher purchase, or introductory call - and get a treat gift from me.

Open to anyone, whether we've worked together formally or just chatted birth and babies like two nerdy peas in a nerdy pod, or you follow my page and we've yet to connect directly!

Either tag your pal in this post, or share it with them and ask them to mention your name when they book or message. They can get 10% if they book before Wednesday, so everyone's a winner!

Thank you all for making this work so freaking amazing and awe inspiring 🥹

I heard an amazing story today where a warrior birther declined medication to stop contractions while having spinal anaesthesia administered, because they KNEW they could remain calm, still, and in control while the anaesthetist was doing their bit.

I was blown away, and I bet their care providers were too.

If you are planning to birth in a hospital or a birth centre and you've done a brilliant hypnobirthing course, this graphic is perfect to print out and stick on your door (better still, get your birth partner or ask your midwife to put it up for you) to let people know:

- you've done your homework
- you're prepared for birth
- you know your rights
- to protect your oxytocin

And... They might be surprised with what you can handle 💪🏻

In honour of National Pizza Day, and combining two of my favourite things (snacks and human rights in birth) - I'm here to remind you that you are free to eat or drink WHATEVER you like in labour. And pregnancy for that matter!

Birth can be a marathon, and you need to keep your strength up! Energy and hydration are both key (make sure you keep emptying your bladder as well, it can be a right pest if it gets too full).

If you are being induced with artificial hormones, there is a good chance you will be *recommended* not to eat or drink anything except water, and this is because of the increased risk of Caesarean section. It is YOUR CHOICE whether you choose to follow this recommendation, and there's probably more chance of ending up in surgery if you're knackered and starving anyway.

If you want to mostly follow the nil by mouth recommendation and steer clear of solids, or maybe you just don't feel like eating, my top tips are honey, glucose tablets, gummy sweets, and miso soup or a stock cube in hot water, if you're feeling like something savoury.

My doula bag always contains glucose, stock cubes, and coffee bags for me!

Hit me with your top treats for labour! 👇

Hellooo! Whether you have no idea where to start writing your birth plans, or you're feeling totally clued up, or somewhere in between... Come along to my free class and help me road test my all new and inclusive birth plan icons!

It's on Sunday the 5th February at 10am on Teams (SORRY 🤣)

Link to get tickets in bio, or at buytickets.at/rebelbirth

Swipe for a preview 👉🏻

And do share wi any preggo pals! 🫶🏻

A wee bit about me!

I've had a few enquiries recently that I've had to pass on (😭) so I realised it was time for a life/work update.

I live and work mostly in Aberdeen now, but do the odd bits and bobs in Fife from time to time.

For those of you who don't know me (yet!) I am a fiercely inclusive birth nerd who is obsessed with evidence based practice, statistics, human rights and informed choice. I get very fired up talking about the patriarchy, and my neurodivergence means that I have a tendency to wander off on tangents... (often about birth rights/statistics/evidence/the patriarchy 😂)

My ND makes social media difficult for me - I tie myself in knots writing posts and end up only sharing about 5% of them in a rather sporadic fashion. And then I'll randomly post an essay like this one 🤣

Private in person doula work is currently taking a bit of a back seat due to small people and a lack of childcare, but that means more time to focus on birth prep classes, which I love ❤️

I have always been extremely passionate about supporting people who can't afford to hire a doula which is one of the reasons I love teaching - it's much more affordable and I get to basically train up birth partners to be the perfect doula for their team.

In my mission to make excellent independent birth preparation and support available to all, I have recently helped to start up a funded project offering services to people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. I will be doing some in person doulaing as part of this, working collaboratively in a multi-skilled team. I can't wait!

I also offer my services via the Doula UK Access Fund, mainly as a virtual doula. I have supported some totally awesome people doing this, for which I am so grateful! I always thought of a doula needing to be hands-on, but that is not necessarily the case.

If you would like to work with me then please check out my group classes in Aberdeen which run every three months. Link in bio,
➡️ buytickets.at/rebelbirth, or
✉️ DM me about private availability

(Before and after parenting photos! Five and a bit years - less makeup, more t shirts referencing systemic oppression of different groups of people 😂)

Fascinating results - get moving for an easier and less painful birth!

💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

Are you in Aberdeen and expecting a baby in 2023?

Do you want to learn about birth, make friends, and have a laugh while you're doing it?

Would you like to feel excited about birth, rather than fearful?

Come along to one of my group antenatal classes in Aberdeen!

Some of the things we will cover in the course:

⚡ How to write a kickass birth plan
⚡ Birth partner top tips
⚡ Pain relief options
⚡ Birth place choices
⚡ Rights and decision making
⚡ What happens in labour
⚡ What happens after!. and so much more 🫶🏻

In addition to ten hours of fun and interactive in person teaching, all students will be given a voucher to access the Birth Uprising Digital Hypnobirthing Pack (worth £45).

To find out more or to book a group class ⬇️

🎟️ buytickets.at/rebelbirth (link in bio) or
📨 DM me if you'd like to chat

We also do gift vouchers - share this post with someone who needs a hint 🎁

You got this! 💪🏻

Buy tickets for Rebel Birth

Ho ho ho! 'Tis the season for it, am I right??!

Sometimes takes the form of seemingly innocent questions or comments...

Until the last few days, whenever I set foot out of the house with four kids, someone would say 'ooh you've got your hands full there!'. No s**t Moira 🤣

Since the weather turned, it's variations on 'he looks cosy in there!' (baby wearing coat is LIFE)

Often these comments are so loud they wake said baby up 🤦🏻‍♀️

Let me know the best/worst ones you've heard, in pregnancy or parenting! 👇🏻

Is someone you care about expecting a baby in 2023?

Would you love to get them an original gift that could really help them to have the birth experience they deserve?

Perhaps you are pregnant and would love to spread the cost of a hypnobirthing course, by casually sharing this post with your partner/friends/family!

Vouchers are now available to purchase via the link in my bio, or at https://buytickets.at/rebelbirth. Ideal last minute gift, with immediate delivery! 📨

Don't forget to use code XMAS22 until the end of December to get 10% off 🎁

Buy tickets for Rebel Birth

✨ Are you in Aberdeen and expecting a baby in 2023?

✨ Wanna make pals, learn about birth, and have fun in the process?

✨ Do you want to get EXCITED about birth, rather than fearful?

This is the course for you! 💕👶🏻

Some of the things we will cover in this full antenatal preparation course:

💥 How to write a kickass birth plan

⚡ Birth partner top tips

💥 Pain relief options

⚡ Birth place choices

💥 Rights and decision making

⚡ What happens in labour

💥 What happens after!
.. and so much more 🫶🏻

Wanna get involved?? ⬇️

🎟️ buytickets.at/rebelbirth (link in bio)

⏳Limited tickets available for January; good availability for April and July!

🎁 Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? Treat the special pregnant person in your life, with vouchers available from £25 to £250 💌

📨 DM me to arrange!

Share with someone you want to drop a hint to! 😉

Are you pregnant and wanting to find your tribe?

Join me at one of my group antenatal classes in Aberdeen where you can prepare for birth, and make friends in the process!

In addition to ten hours of fun and interactive in person teaching, for the next few days I am giving everyone who books a group course or private workshop immediate access to the Birth Uprising Digital Hypnobirthing Pack (worth £45).

This is a wonderful opportunity if you would like to do a more traditional birth preparation course, and also fancy trying hypnobirthing.

Classes are taught by a 5 star rated doula and hypnobirthing teacher, and are held in a beautiful Aberdeen city centre venue. Group places are limited, however if you miss out on your chosen dates, or you are expecting your baby before January, then I do have one to one spaces available. The digital pack offer also extends to private workshop bookings, so you can begin listening to the hypnobirthing tracks as early as you like! Self-hypnosis for relaxation gets easier with regular practice; start now and you'll be bossing it by the time your face to face classes roll around 😎

Access to the pack is granted for 18 months from the day you activate your free voucher. Offer ends midnight on Monday 28th November.

To find out more or to book a group class, please visit: www.tickettailor.com/events/rebelbirth or go to the link in my bio.

You got this!

In Aberdeen and expecting a baby in 2023?

Join me this Sunday while I share my favourite birth resources, tips, and hypnobirthing techniques, which you can start using right now to help you prepare to have a positive experience of birth.

We will cover:

✨ How you are feeling now about birth now, and how you would like to feel as you approach the big day
✨ How your hormones affect the way you respond to different situations, and things you can do to help you stay calm and relaxed in times of stress (the hypnobirthing bit!)
✨ Your choices, your rights, and how to approach important decisions to do with your perinatal care
✨ The hugely important role of your birth partner in all of this
✨ A nerdy wee bit about evidence and guidelines
✨ Social media accounts, podcasts, websites and books I recommend to help you get informed and excited for birth

Self-hypnosis for relaxation gets easier with regular practice, so the sooner you can get started the better! However, the techniques I will show you can be beneficial at any stage of pregnancy, so please pop along whatever stage you're at. Partners are very welcome too, positively encouraged in fact ❤️ They can be your best advocate and cheerleader during pregnancy, birth and beyond, and it's great if you can learn about the process together.

Book via DM, link in bio, or through this link: rebelbirthprepclass.eventbrite.com

I can't wait to meet you and geek out on birth together! 🤓

This never stops being important.

'Natural' induction is induction; sweeps are a form of induction.

You don't have to be induced if it doesn't feel like the right choice, or time for you.

You certainly don't have to have an induction because it's Christmas, or because your mother in law is coming to help out on a specific date.

And loads of other stuff in the full post and in Dr. Wickham's books.

In modern Western culture, most women and families know about induction of labour before they even become pregnant.

They know that induction is suggested when it is felt that it would be safer for the baby to be born than to stay inside its mother.

Many people also know that one of the main reasons for recommending induction of labour is because pregnancy has lasted for a certain number of weeks and the baby is perceived to be ‘overdue.’

Other reasons for offering induction include that the woman is older than average, that her waters have broken early and/or that she has a health problem or condition.

These days, induction is often suggested where someone has a high BMI, or has been told they have gestational diabetes.

But aren't necessarily evidence-based practices, as I write about in my books.

And there's a big focus these days on telling women when they are deemed to be 'at higher risk,' but not so much on explaining the downsides and risks of interventions like induction.

There are pros and cons to everything!

Some people think induction is oversold.

Some are concerned about how a lot of the 'official' information is geared to promoting induction and doesn't give the bigger picture.

There are many other aspects to the induction decision. That's one of the reasons that I wrote my book, In Your Own Time.

If you'd like to know more, I have a popular blog post which helps explain that bigger picture.

My blog post is called 'Ten things I wish every woman knew about induction of labour.'

I've just updated it, and I hope you find it useful.

It's at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-of-labour/

Can you help bring Birth Time to Aberdeen?

20 days left to sell 26 tickets!

Saturday 10th December at 4pm, Vue cinema Aberdeen

Please let me know in the comments if you've bought a ticket, or you're planning to do so! And share share share this post to spread the word!

Birth Time: the documentary Three women embark on a mission to find out why an increasing number of women are emerging from their births physically and emotionally traumatised. Their discoveries expose the truth and lead them to join the birth revolution and forge a movement that hopes to change the face of maternity care in A...

Flying my wee doula flag around the north east of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

While being accidentally credited the sage words of pediatrician, researcher and founder of DONA International, Dr. John Kennell, who originally said, “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”

Head over to www.rebelbirth.co.uk or the link in my bio if you would like to book for any of the classes, groups or events mentioned in the article: NCT Bump Club at Breathing Space on Saturday 19th November chatting about winter car seat safety, free online birth prep class Sunday 20th November, Birth Time documentary on Saturday 10th December at Vue cinema, and my full birth prep weekend on the 7th and 8th January at Breathing Space. Pre-reg is also open for my hypnobirthing weekends in April and July!

As ever, please feel free DM me with any questions about booking, payment, or anything else ❤️

Hello!

I've been hiding away the last few weeks, so I figured it was time I did a wee (re)intro (hi if you're new here! 👋🏻)

I'm Arleen, mum of two and stepmum of four (holidays are... They just ARE 🤣)

My preferred pronouns are she/her or they/them.

I'm entusiastic about DIY, fantasy fiction, human rights in birth, inclusivity, parentheses, soup, hot drinks, babywearing, hummus, studying, and non judgemental support for parents and pregnant people.

I currently have The Witcher, Shadow and Bone, and Fire and Blood all in progress on my Kindle, and yes, I do bring this level of nerdiness to my birth support 🤓😁

The last wee while has included some mega full time intense parenting times (littlest is nine months old now, and does not like to be parted from me for a second), hence the increased sling and Kindle action.

I also did my first group hypnobirthing class last month, which was lovely. Forgot to take photos, naturally 🙈

I'll be sharing dates for my 2023 group hypnobirthing classes really soon, along with a streamlined booking process. Until then you can still drop me a PM if you would like to sign up for a group class in January, April or July.

Guys! Push when you feel like pushing! If your body is telling you to do something, then there is a reason. Some people never feel the urge to push at all, and that is also normal.

If you think you might benefit from coached or directed pushing, then it is worth looking into the risks and benefits, and weighing those up for your personal circumstances.

And is a healthy and helpful physiological process in particular scenarios eg. occipito posterior labour (baby's back against mother's back).
https://midwifethinking.com/2016/06/15/the-anterior-cervical-lip-how-to-ruin-a-perfectly-good-birth/

On Wednesdays We Smash The Patriarchy And Then Have A Nap Because That S**t Is Tiring

Loving my ridiculous amazing feminist t-shirts from

Add my name at checkout and we'll both get £5 off our next purchase 💃🏻

I am excited!!!

It is not too late to book on to the course via the link in my bio, or at www.rebelbirth.co.uk if you are viewing this on Facebook.

All registration forms and deposits need to be in by Friday evening, so that I can get cracking sending out all the bits and bobs for those who have booked.

Join us! ❤️

Some of the things that are included:
✨ Ten hours of in person teaching
✨ Course materials and other resources to download
✨ Eco friendly goodie bag (no tiny plastic samples here, sorry!)
✨ A lovely community of parents to be
✨ Kickass after care - I'll be with you every step of the way! Call me the WhatsApp doula 🤣
✨ SOUP and CAKE!

Eek! Birth Time is coming to Aberdeen!!

It's at Vue cinema, 4pm on Saturday 10th December, and you can register to buy a ticket here: https://tickets.demand.film/event/12018

You won't be charged until we reach the sales threshold. So please get sharing far and wide so that we can make it happen!

I'll add the link to my bio later today, or you can click through directly from Facebook.

Woooooo!

Hug your babies! All the time!

...and the best way to ensure they grow to their full potential? Hold the baby as much as possible, keep them close, reduce their stress as much as possible and help them to release as much oxytocin as possible. After all, the nights take up around 50% of your baby’s life, they matter just as much as the days!

Hugging grows brains, not bad habits! Day or night!

Want to learn more about physical and psychological development from birth to five? check out my brand new book 'Beginnings'! 🌱🧠

Grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/3flaNp1

Are you excited to meet your baby, but maybe avoiding thinking too much about the process of birth itself?

Are you tired of people telling you that you'll need to leave your dignity at the door and there's no point planning for what you want?

If you want to:
✨ Get clued up on how your body works in labour
✨ Discover techniques which will help you at different stages along the way
✨ Learn about the maternity system and your rights within it
✨ Make friends
✨ Have a laugh while doing it...

Then this course is for you!

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October
10am - 3pm
The Queen's Hall
Charlestown
West Fife

Registration is open until FRIDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER, and a £50 deposit will secure your booking 🥰

I am excited for you too! Let's do this!!

Check out the link in my bio to book, or DM for more info, payment plans, and hardship discounts ⚡

Informed birth for all 💪🏻

✌🏻 Arleen 💃🏻

If you've been around here for more than five minutes, you'll know I like to harp on about why a one size fits all approach often ends up fitting no one very well at all.

I talked a lot about this during my free class on Saturday, and wanted to share the nerdy highlights with you 🤓

The Green-top Guidelines published by the Royal Collage of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) provide recommendations which aim to assist clinicians and patients in making decisions about appropriate treatment for specific conditions.

A crucial, and often overlooked statement from RCOG themselves, about their own guidance:

'The recommendations are not intended to dictate an exclusive course of management or treatment. They must be evaluated with reference to individual patient needs, resources and limitations unique to the institution and variations in local populations.'

A further note on the guidelines

A 2014 study (K. Prusova et al, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) which analysed 52 RCOG Green-top Guidelines in order to establish the quality of research underlying the recommendations, found that only 9–12% of the guidelines were based on the best quality (Grade A) evidence. The study included 1,682 individual recommendations. Around 40% were based on ‘recommended best practice’, also sometimes termed ‘expert opinion‘. Dr. Sara Wickham has been known to call this 'practice based evidence' - i.e. 'this is the way we have always done things around here'.

If you're interested in reading the study, head to the link in my bio, and pop over to the page entitled Resources where I've linked it.

Not feeling very well and today realised that it shouldn't really have gone on so long. Will be calling the doctor tomorrow and trying to get an appointment.

So I've treated myself to some new books, and a very lame TV show on Netflix 🤣

I say new, this is my second copy of Am I Allowed! Loaned it out so many times I lost track of my original copy. But it's my first of the updated version ❤️

Why oh why are my "work" books so appealing to my little monkey though 🙈

Resource list for my free class gang! I've not forgotten you, honestly!

I decided that I might as well put it all on my website, which of course meant completing my long-procrastinated redesign, and thoroughly describing and referencing everything for anyone who didn't attend the class... 😂🫣

ANYWAY! Next time it will be way easier, right?!!

Head over to the link in my bio if you would like a sneak peek, and I'll email when it's finished!

✌🏻

✨Don't want to spend much money (if anything) preparing for birth? This one is for you ✨

I'm fully booked through the next few months so this is going to be my last online group class for a while, and I wanted to make it a good one!

The focus will be on your birth prep options, and I'll include lots of signposts towards books, podcasts and downloads that I use and recommend, different courses on the market, the role of a doula and how to find one, etc. There are lots of stuff wonderful free resources out there!

I'll also run through the basics of what happens in your body during labour, and recommend some things you can start practicing immediately, as well as other tools to use in birth.

Booking is via DM rather than faffing about with tickets. I'm not the most natural with technology, so I've decided to keep it simple 🤓

Drop me a DM if you would like the link to join, and please do share with anyone else you think might be interested ❤️