Zen Em Yoga and Hypnobirthing

💛Rory💛

👶Born at home on the 8th October
👶7lb 8oz
👶Natural water birth
👶No pain relief
👶3 hrs 10 mins from waters breaking

Full birth story pending! But a few thank you's in the meantime...

Thank you to the lovely staff at Broadbridge Heath Tesco for looking after me when my waters broke in the middle of your store!

Thank you to our amazing midwives, Rachel and Debbie, from the SASH Maternity homebirth team for guiding and supporting me through the birth that I'd dreamed of.

Thank you to my Mum, Sandra, who looked after all of us including our 2 year old so he could see his baby brother being born.

Thank you to my husband, Max, who breathed with me through every surge and kept me focused.

Thank you to myself, for trusting my body, trusting in the process and believing I could do it.

A truly amazing experience we will never forget

💙Homebirth💙

🤍What if you need to go to hospital?
🤍What if you need pain relief?
🤍What if you need a doctor?
🤍Will it be messy?
🤍Is it safe?

These are some of the questions that usually arise when homebirth is mentioned. It's often met with raised eyebrows and an assumption of being a bit 'hippy-ish'!

But no matter where you choose to give birth, there are lots of things we can learn from homebirth. Environment and privacy play a huge role in boosting our hormones for birth.

For me, giving birth at home feels natural as it's somewhere that I feel safe and supported. I can create the ideal atmosphere to welcome my baby, and go straight to my own bed for those amazing newborn snuggles. If a curve ball arises along the way that challenges this plan, then I'll calmly and confidently adapt as I need to.

On a Hypnobirthing course my job isn't to tell you where to give birth, but to support you in figuring out where you feel most comfortable.

👶Baby we're ready when you are!

Nesting nesting nesting!

Whether it's washing all the baby clothes (and crying at the cutest washing line ever 🥲), or cleaning your fridge 10 times... Nesting is a completely natural urge during pregnancy to help you mentally and practically prepare for your new arrival 👶

You may find the instinct increases during the final trimester, or even in the final days as a sign your labour is due!

At 36 weeks pregnant I'm certainly feeling the the need to get EVERYTHING in order 😅

So you've thought about birthing your baby, but have you given much thought to birthing your placenta?

During pregnancy your body grows this entire extra organ in order to nourish and grow your baby. It's truly amazing!

Once your baby has been born, the placenta also needs to come out. In many cases you can opt to do this naturally, but there are some instances where you may want to consider using drugs to help it along.

Your baby will need to be detached from the placenta, and it's up to you when this happens! Ideally the cord will be cut after it has turned white and stopped pulsating, meaning the remaining blood has transferred across to baby. You can wait to do this after the placenta has been born! Some people even like to keep the placenta attached and wait for it to detach naturally.

And after that... It's entirely up to you what happens to your placenta! It's your organ, so you own it! This time I'm super excited to be sending mine to in order for it to be turned into gummy bears 🐻. There are amazing benefits to consuming your placenta, as it's full of hormonal and nutritional goodness! Why waste it 😁

https://www.facebook.com/SLKAquaYoga/

Throughout my pregnancy I've really enjoyed attending Aquanatal Yoga Classes with SLK Aqua Yoga . Sue, Lizzie and Toni have been fantastic and I've loved taking my yoga practise into the water!

To anyone in the Horsham area, I'd highly recommend giving the pregnancy and postnatal classes a go!

I'm currently on Maternity leave so I can focus on my son and our future arrival, but I hope to be teaching back on dry land soon enough ☺️ xx

SLK Aqua Yoga Aqua Natal Yoga
Aqua Tone (suitable for post natal and menopausal ladies)
General Aqua Yoga ('me t

We've had a lovely Mumma, Daddo and Oliver day at PYO strawberries 🍓

As it often does, my mind made connections to birth... How you ask?

Normally we go to the supermarket and have limited choices presented to us. Someone else has selected that punnet of strawberries and there may be some in there that you don't want. This is often what happens when we enter the hospital. We feel like the medical teams are in control of our birth. We don't have any choice. We get what we're given and do as we're told.

At PYO, you are in control of which strawberries you choose or don't choose!! So why not make your birth like this too? YOU choose where and how you want to give birth. YOU choose what does and doesn't happen. YOU choose the things that will make your birth amazing.

Even if you need assistance or intervention, you still have choices and rights! You just might be picking your strawberries from a different selection 🙂.

To learn how to create a PYO birth experience, join my hypnobirthing course starting 26th July!

5x Monday evenings, on Zoom. £50 deposit to secure your space 😁. And it's the last course I'm running before my own little strawberry arrives 🍓👶😲

www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing to book and find out more!

Learn how to create an amazing and positive birth experience!

5 live sessions covering mindset, techniques, what-if scenarios, the labour process, and informed decision making, to empower you and your birth partner. Also includes a full session on postnatal planning.

Monday evenings from 26th July-23rd August on Zoom. Secure your place with a £50 deposit today!

Visit www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing to book and find out more

BLACK WOMEN IN THE UK ARE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH (MBRRACE, 2020)

This should not be happening in this day and age! But the answer is not to generalize the issue and recommend induction at 39 weeks!! Instead we should be listening to their experiences of maternity care and researching why this is happening! Absolutely mind blowing.

Hi! So I haven't posted on here since May ...🤦‍♀️ What with a trip to the Isle of Wight, returning to in person teaching, toddler fevers and colds, life has been a little busy!

I'm 24 weeks pregnant now, so starting to feel baby moving more and more! Also trying to make time to do things for myself and actually practise what I preach! First time round I was able to give so much more attention to my pregnancy, but that's different when you have a toddler to run after!

Keep an eye on my posts to see what teachings I'm offering in my final couple of months before I take a break ☺️

Namaste,
Emma x

Join me in June for my online group Hypnobirthing course! But be quick, last few spaces remaining!

💙5x Monday evenings from 7th June to 5th July

💙Secure your place today with a £50 deposit

💙Learn how to feel prepared, confident, and relaxed about birth and the 4th trimester

💙Book online at www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in my bio)

Take the first step towards creating your positive birth!

Making decisions during pregnancy and birth can feel overwhelming. Surely the Doctors and Midwives are there to tell us what to do? 🤷‍♀️

Your medical team are there to guide and advise you with their professional opinion. But YOU have the ultimate decision. Everything that happens during your pregnancy is your right, and your choice. You don't have to say yes 'just because'.

Within a big medical system, a lot of procedures and interventions are offered as standard practise. However, in reality one size doesn't really fit all! Sometimes those suggestions might be the best option for you. Sometimes you might want to find out more about the benefits and risks, or whether there are alternative paths to explore.

On a Hypnobirthing course I will help you to understand how the maternity system works, and how you can ensure you make the best possible decisions that feel right for YOU and YOUR baby 🤱

My mission is for birth to happen WITH you, rather than to you 💙

Book now for my June course on Zoom! Last few spaces remaining!
www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing

💙Book now for June!💙

Join me on our pregnancy journey together. Find out how I used Hypnobirthing in my first pregnancy and what I've learnt for my current pregnancy!

My next Hypnobirthing course in June includes a brand new extra session, all about the 4th Trimester! In this bonus session you will learn:

💙How to plan for the postnatal period
💙How to put support in place for the 4th Trimester
💙How the 4th Trimester can impact your emotions, hormones and relationships
💙The importance of physical recovery after birth
💙Recipes to help nutrition and health after birth

Limited spaces available, don't miss out!

Book online at www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in my bio)

When you think about birth partners, most people just think they are there to be shouted at and have their hand squeezed until it breaks 🤝! This is pretty much all you'll see on TV too 📺!

Most birth partners don't know how else they can support you.

In reality, they can offer you so much more during your birth.

Whether it's massage, breathing with you, keeping you nourished, helping you make decisions, or keeping your environment calm there are many ways in which they can play an active and crucial role in your birth experience.

This is something we explore in detail during a Hypnobirthing course! So by the end of it, both you and your birth partner have a huge toolkit of ideas and techniques so that they never feel useless or inadequate 💙.

Join me in June for the next 5 week Zoom course, on Monday evenings! Secure your place now with just a £50 deposit!

For further information and to book, visit www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in my bio!)

💙Power Hour💙

BOOK NOW for my next Zen Birth Power Hour, on Monday 24th May

For just £5 its the perfect way to learn what a full Hypnobirthing course can offer you!

If you book onto a full course within 48 hours of the Power Hour, you'll receive 10% off the price!

To book visit www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in my bio!)

Why I'm not fearful of birth

The birth of my first born, Oliver, didn't remotely go to plan but it was amazing none the less and a positive experience despite sounding traumatic. Now I'm pregnant again I don't have any fear or worries about birth. Here's why! #positivebirth #hypnobirth #hypnobirthing #pregnancyyoga #loveyourbirth #antenatal #firsttimemum #secondtimemum #parentstobe #growingahuman #babydue #secondtrimester #pregnant #pregnancyjourney #pregnancyannouncement #calmbirth #bump #bumpcare #bumpie #bumpic #maternitystyle #maternityleave #givingbirth #birthpreparation #babycomingsoon #babyinside #pregnantyoga #pregnantandperfect #pregnancy_beyond #pregnancyshoot

💙Pregnancy Announcement💙

Baby number 2 is on the way...!

6 weeks ago Max and I went for our 12 week scan to see our little baby for the first time ☺️

It was just as amazing as we remembered with our first born, Oliver. Seeing their little hands, feet, nose and the heart beating. Simply magical!

I'm now 18 weeks pregnant and beginning to feel a bit more 'with it' again! Safe to say I've had my share of sickness and exhaustion with this one 😅. Looking forward to that 2nd Trimester glow to arrive!

Oliver is being very cute... he gives my belly hugs and says "bubba!" 😍. Literally makes my heart melt.

Join me along the way for Pregnancy Yoga, Relaxation and Hypnobirthing courses on Zoom. We can share our journey and grow together! Check out my website to see what I offer, or drop me a message for a chat!

www.zen-em.co.uk (links in bio)

💙A F F I R M A T I O N 💙

Throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal recovery it's important to surround yourself with loving support.

Make sure the people you invite to offer that support are people who:
💙You trust
💙You relate to
💙Help you to feel calm, supported and listened to
💙Understand you and your wishes
💙Respect you and your decisions

Your birth partner is whoever YOU choose them to be. Think about who you'd like by your side whether it's your partner, a family member, a friend, or maybe a Doula!

Although most people mean well, if anyone is surrounding you with negative energy then you can distance yourself from them! Surround yourself and baby with love and positivity 😍

⭐To find out more about using birth affirmations, and how your birth partner can really support you during labour join my next Hypnobirthing course in June!⭐

For further info and to book, visit www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in bio!)

Yep, even as a Hypnobirthing teacher there are things that frustrate me about Hypnobirthing!

So here are 3 things I'd like to change...

1.) The name
Hypnobirthing isn't a very helpful title. A lot of people see it and assume we're all about hypnotising and brainwashing people with a swinging clock. If I could rename it, I'd opt for something like 'Positive Birthing', 'Calm Birthing', or 'Logical everyone needs to know this birthing' 🤣

2.) The Myths
If you mention Hypnobirthing it often comes with comments like "you know birth is still going to hurt right?" and "thats great and all but take the drugs!". Hypnobirthing isn't about promising you a pain free, drug free birth. It's not about persuading everyone to have homebirths to the sound of whale music. It's not about discouraging anyone from having medical assistance.

It IS about giving you knowledge on how birth works. It IS about giving you confidence to make informed decisions that feel right for you and your baby. It IS about giving you tools to stay relaxed, calm and positive in ANY situation. All birth is equal, no matter where or how it happens.

3.) That not enough birthing parents know about it
Hypnobirthing could benefit so many more parents if it was just more widely known about, and better understood. I've heard first hand from Midwives that they see a big difference in people who have taken a Hypnobirthing course.

That's my rant over!

Book now for my next zoom course, starting 7th June!
https://www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in bio)

Join me tonight on zoom, for Pregnancy Yoga at 19.30! A safe, gentle, relaxing class to help you unwind for a good nights sleep.

£6, or sign up for a class pass at just £25 for 5

Suitable from 14 weeks until birth

See you on the mat 💙

Book online at https://www.zen-em.co.uk/book-online (ink in my bio!)

So excited to have embarked on another AMAZING course with Sally Parkes Yoga

After having Oliver 18 months ago, I realised just how lacking women's knowledge is of our own postnatal bodies. We spend so much time researching pregnancy and birth, but we don't give much thought to what comes after! Having had an episiotomy and tear during birth, my physical recovery took much longer than I expected and I simply wasn't prepared.

This inspired me to enhance my knowledge in Posntatal Planning and Postnatal Yoga so I can help other women understand what's happening to them at an amazing but unknown time

💙My Hypnobirthing course is now 5 weeks. I've added a whole extra session dedicated to helping expectant parents plan for the 4th trimester, ensuring they get the support and care they need once baby has arrived

💙I am now offering private Postnatal Yoga Care classes! Tailored to your individual needs, helping you to recover from birth and rebuild you core and pelvic floor health

To find out more visit my website www.zen-em.co.uk (link in my bio!) or get in touch!

R E S T

Hello! I've been a little quiet on here lately, but I just wanted to say hi... I'm still here!

How are you?

I decided to slow down a little and take the pressure off my social media. Sometimes its good to take a step back. It feels good right? I've been focusing on my postnatal studies, teaching yoga, resting (thats a biggy!), and most importantly giving my little boy my energy 💙

At 18 months he's spent so much of his short life in lockdown. I want to give him my full attention as we enter into the new 'normal', and help him discover all the fun and wonderful things beyond life with mummy & daddy at home!

I'm still teaching pregnancy yoga, pregnancy relaxation, and I have a Hypnobirthing course coming up soon! It's just my social media that's taken a little pause, but I'll be back posting tips and thoughts for birth soon!

Take care of yourselves everyone

Namaste,
Emma (aka Zen Em)
xx

💙Supporting women on their journey through motherhood 💙

Whether you're in need of yoga, relaxation or Hypnobirthing, I'm here for all your pregnancy needs. I'm on a mission to help you create a calm, positive birth experience.

Visit www.zen-em.co.uk to find out more! (link in bio)

Join me on Monday 12th April for a Birth Power Hour!

This session is a taster into what Hypnobirthing will offer you. We'll discuss what you will learn on a full course, and why relaxation, mindset and movement are so important for a positive birth experience. You'll also learn a breathing technique to use in birth, and experience a guided relaxation.

💙19.15 - 20.15
💙Zoom
💙£5
💙Receive 10% off if you sign up for the full Hypnobirthing course within 48 hours of the power hour!

For more info and to book visit https://www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in bio)

aaaaaand relax 🕯️

Pregnant? In need of an unwind?

Join me this Wednesday (7th) for a Pregnancy Relaxation Evening 7.30-9.00pm, on zoom 💙

We'll move through some gentle yoga, focused on breathing, birth preparation and positions to keep you comfortable 🧘‍♀️

Followed by a gorgeous hypnobirthing style guided relaxation, to help you restore and tune in with baby 🤰

The perfect chill out after the busy bank holiday weekend ready for a good night's sleep 😴

(Suitable from 14 weeks until birth)

For more info and to book online visit www.zen-em.co.uk/pregnancy-relaxation

I inhale what serves me, and I exhale what doesn't

I regularly use this affirmation in all of my yoga classes, not just pregnancy. When we learn to breathe and let go, our minds can feel that little bit more spacious.

Apply this to birth... and you've got a powerful affirmation to guide you through your surges (contractions). Inhale what serves you... energy, nourishment. Exhale what doesn't... tension, fear.

Join me for yoga, pregnancy yoga, or pregnancy relaxation to put this into practise and connect with your breath 💙

⭐️NEW CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT ⭐️

💙Mummy & Baby Yoga
💙Zoom- Easy and comfy in your own home
💙Suitable from 6 weeks until crawling (Please allow 12 weeks if you've had a c-section, episiotomy or 4th degree tear)
💙A gorgeous class to bond with baby
💙Simple movements and fun for baby
💙Safe movement to aid postnatal recovery for Mummy
💙Feeding friendly
💙A chance to chat with other Mumma's

Exact details to follow, watch this space...!

Bookings will open soon. If you're interested in signing up then please comment 👇 or drop me an email 📧 so I can keep you posted!

[email protected]

Why is it worth me paying for a live Hypnobirthing course?

You might be wondering why you'd pay for a live Hypnobirthing course, rather than just reading a book or downloading some pre-recorded videos.

I had the same questions myself when I was pregnant, and I knew nothing about birth or hypnobirthing at the time.

In short... you get personal access to someone like me!

You might be wondering why you'd pay for a live Hypnobirthing course, rather than just reading a book or downloading some pre-recorded videos. I had the same questions myself when I was pregnant, and I knew nothing about birth or hypnobirthing at the time. In short... you get personal access to someone like me! #hypnobirth #hypnobirthingcourse #hypnobirthing #pregnant #pregnancyjourney #pregnancy #pregnancyyoga #pregnancyworkout #pregnantstyle #pregnantchoices #antenatalclass #babydue #expectantparents #expectingababy #bumpie #bumpic #bumpstyle #babyclothesuk #genderreveal #babyshower #maternityclothes #maternitywear #maternitycare #westsussex #birthchoices #birthchoicesmatter #loveyourbirth #growingahuman #babydue2021 #parentstobe

Is birth just mind over matter? 🤯

Well, kind of. But it’s not always that simple.

In our society we have a tendency to throw this phrase around, as if mind over matter is as easy as saying it. In reality, our psychology shows us that this works more effectively through repetition, understanding, and practise.

This is where Hypnobirthing is a powerful form of birth education that teaches you the HOW as well as the WHY.

You’ll learn what happens to your body and baby during birth, so that you understand why preparation is so helpful. You’ll learn and practise techniques to keep you calm during birth. You’ll learn how to reprogramme your mind so that you view birth positively. You’ll learn how to stay relaxed and avoid panic even if birth throws you curve balls.

When we can embody these things, they become instinctive and learned. Rather that just telling yourself you can do it, you'll BELIEVE you can do it.

Spaces available for my next Power Hour taster session and Hypnobirthing course in April. Book now to secure your place!

www.zen-em.co.uk/hypnobirthing (link in my bio) 💙