The Birth Coach Mallorca - by An Bleu

That one comment
 
Have you had that, that one comment that brings you down, makes you worry, confuses you, upsets you.
 
During pregnancy lots of women experience this, me included. 
 
That comment from your doctor, a friend, your mother or even a stranger on the street.
 
It can be anything, 
‘Your baby is on the bigger side, we will have to keep an eye on that’ your doctor says, 
‘I wanted a natural birth, but I was so happy I took that epidural’ says a friend,
‘Oh I had to push for hours to get you out’, says your mother,
‘Looks like you are having that baby any minute now’, says a stranger, when you are only 30w pregnant. 

The list can go on. And most of the time we can let it slide beside us, especially if it’s a stranger saying something. But when it’s your doctor or your mother it might be a little harder.
 
Here a a few things you can do to protect yourself for fear mongering and negative comments.
 
 
1)    Don’t share details
 
If someone asks details about your pregnancy or birth plans and you don’t feel like sharing with them, don’t. It’s private and you don’t have to share with anyone. It’s not being rude; it’s just protecting yourself. 
 
For ex. I wasn’t sharing that I was planning a homebirth, only a few people know.
 
2)    Every mother and baby is different
 
If a friend had a traumatic birth, this doesn’t mean you will have one. But also, if something really helped someone at birth, like using visualization techniques, this doesn’t necessary means they will be helpful for you. 
Every birth is unique, like every mother and baby is.   
 
3)    Learn about pregnancy and birth
 
You can stay in your power a lot easier if you know about pregnancy and birth. So when you get a negative comment you will understand better that this is not something to worry about. Or you will be in a position to ask the right questions about it. 
 
For ex. If your doctor says, your baby looks big. You will know that an ultrasound accuracy can be 15 to 20% off. And more importantly, large babies aren’t any problem to birth. Lots of women have large babies naturally without any problems.

Birth debrief videocall

What you can get out of a birth debrief session?

Better understanding about what happened during your labor and birth.
Having your birth story been heard. Holding space for all the emotions.
We can discuss a personalized plan for your next birth.

Why have a birth debrief session?

Because birth matters, not just having a healthy baby in the end. But also how your birth went, how did you feel. Did you experience birth trauma or did things just went very different than you expected.

Would you like to book a birth debrief call with me, contact me at
[email protected]

Oxytocin
stimulates powerful contractions that help to thin and dilate the cervix, move the baby down and out of the birth canal, push out the placenta and limit bleeding at the site of the placenta. 

To help increase oxytocin levels,
it is important to have privacy, stay calm, comfortable, confident and free of any emotional or psychological anxieties. 
Avoiding disturbances, such as unwelcome people or noise and uncomfortable procedures.   

It’s only normal that lots of women choose to birth outside the hospital. It’s very hard to avoid disturbances, noise and uncomfortable procedures in a medical setting.

Choosing your birthplace is a very important choice to make.

Today I want to share with all pregnant women,

You Can Birth Your Baby!

You don’t need a doctor, midwife, nurse or a Doula to tell you what to do!

~Wait what? But, An, you are a Doula, don’t I need you?~

No you don’t need me to birth your baby, you do that! It’s your birth, your baby.
Your body knows how to do that, your inner wisdom knows.
I’m just here to help you find that power you have already inside of you. That all women have.

I’m just a guide, I serve you, I stand by your side and I share my wisdom.

If we hope to create a non-violent world where respect and kindness replaces fear and hatred, we must begin with how we treat each other at the beginning of life.
For that is where our deepest patterns are set.
From those roots grow fear and alienation OR love and trust.
by ‘Suzanne Arms’.

My first baby came early, and he didn’t latch well, the start of my breastfeeding journey wasn’t easy.

I was lucky to have great support of my lactation consultant. And I’m grateful for the experience it gave me. It helps me a lot supporting women now as a lactation consultant myself.

Breastfeeding is not always easy, find support soon. Sometimes just 1 consultation can make such a difference, so well worth the investment.

Did you have breastfeeding difficulties? Or was it smooth sailing?

Preparing together with your partner is one of the most important things to do for a beautiful start of parenthood.

Join us at:

The birthpartner day:

It’s a morning for you and your partner preparing together for Birth and Parenthood.
With lots of information, exercises and practical tips.
The day will be tailored towards your birthpartner, so they feel confident and calm. You will get to meet other couples (partners) And the birth partners will be able to ask their questions and share their worries in a safe and supportive environment. So they will feel Ready to support you!

The Birthpartner day will be on

Saturday November 4th
from 10:30 till 14:00.

At our beautiful Finca Can Ros in Llucmajor.

-10:30 till 11:30am,
introduction and discussing partners role during birth and early parenthood.

-11:30 coffee/cake break

-12am till 13:30am
Movement, breathing and massage practice by the pool(weather permitting)

-13:30am till 14:00
Practical info, birthplan, hospitalbag/what to have at home.

only limited places, contact me to reserve your spot.

It would be great to have you! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Join us

Pregnancy and new mother circles

Come and join us in October on Thursday morning the
5th and 19th from 10am till 11:30am.

Learn and share about your pregnancy and early motherhood in a safe and friendly environment.

Contact me to book your spot!

Contact me for online prenatal courses
Doula support and homebirth.

🤰🏻🫄🏼🤱🏻🤰🤱🏼🤰🏽👩🏾‍🍼

Call out

It’s time to stand up as women.
We don’t have to protest or stand on barricades.
But we have to let our voice and our stories be heard!

So many women come to me and tell me their birth stories. Unfortunately, many of them were treated disrespectfully during childbirth.
They weren’t allowed to choose their birthpartners, couldn’t have their Doula (mother, friend,…) with them, were pushed into unnecessary interventions, were spoken to in a rude manner, were left alone,… These are just a few examples.

Yes, a healthy baby and a healthy mother is the most important.
BUT it’s not the only thing important.

We deserve better treatment, we deserve more respect, we are not ill, we are birthing our babies!

And anyone knowing only a little bit about physiological birth knows that a women in labour needs to be treated with respect, love, calmness, and support. Support she can choose herself.

I ask all you mothers AND fathers! If you experienced or witnessed any of the above, write your hospital an email.
Even if it was 5 or 10years ago, it still matters. It matters for you, AND it matters for the families and babies coming behind you.

If you need help finding the correct email address to write to or any other kind of help understanding what happened to you, I’m here 🙏🏻💗

Carrying new life inside of you is so special. Such an exciting time

But also a time for self Love, taking care of yourself, because the better you learn to take care of yourself the better you will be able to take care of your little one.

So enjoy each moment of your pregnancy, and take it easy, you are doing to most magical thing there is, you are growing a little human inside of you.

We are back

After a summer full of family time, travel and celebrations! I’m looking forward to hold new Pregnancy and new mum Circles again twice a month.

Come and join us in September on Thursday morning the 7th and 21st from 10am till 11:30am.

Learn and share about your pregnancy and early motherhood in a safe and friendly environment.
Contact me to book your spot!

Looking forward to see some familiar and new faces. 🤰🏻🫄🏼🤱🏻🤰🤱🏼🤰🏽👩🏾‍🍼

Summer holiday is almost over… but not yet!

I’m starting to plan the rest of the year and I’m very excited to take on new steps in supporting even more women on their journey to motherhood and beyond.

In September we will start with our 2x monthly Pregnacy Circles again!
First one will be on Thursday 7th of September at 10am.
Contact me to reserve your spot.

42weeks pregnant

Add 2weeks to your due date!

That’s what I did when I was pregnant, adding 2weeks to your due date will give you a lot more peace towards the end of your pregnancy.
You give yourself less stress, and your friends and family will be calmer (not texting you every day to ask if the baby has arrived yet!)

If you know that 85% of all babies will be born passed their due date. With an average of 40w +5d for 1st time mothers.
It would only be logical to calculate at least 1 week longer.

Trust me, if you put your due date at least 1week later from the start of your pregnancy, it will give you calmer, less stressful days at the end!

Occiput posterior,

Or usually they will just say posterior.
Means when your baby is facing towards your tummy instead of your back.

Considered ‘normal’ at birth is when your baby is anterior, or facing your backbone.

34% will be posterior at the beginning of labor, but most will rotate during labor.
A small percentage will be born ‘sunny-side-up’.

You don’t have to worry if your baby will be posterior, she will be born anyway. But some mothers might experience longer labors and stronger contractions.

Seeing an osteopath or chiropractor during pregnancy can help the alignment of your hips/pelvis and back. What can help your baby, allowing more space to rotate.

But like the mother in this picture never feel like you aren’t strong enough, when struggling with strong contractions, she did so great! Sometimes having a posterior baby can make everything more intense. Giving birth is not a contest, and we all go through it in different ways.

Rebirth session

What is a rebirth session or rebirth bath?

You will take a ceremonial bath together with your newborn.
We will recreate the calm environment of the utero and let the baby been born in a gentle way. A little bit like a water birth.

Why would you do a rebirth session?
It’s very healing for mother and baby.

For baby:
If your baby has difficulties breastfeeding
If your baby has lots of tension in her body
If your baby cries a lot
If your baby had a difficult birth (forceps, vacuum, umbilical cord around the neck, medicated birth, very long or very fast birth, c-section,…)

For mother:
If you had planned a homebirth, naturel birth, water birth, vaginal birth, but the birth went different then you hoped for.
If you had a c-section
If you want a moment to connect deeply with your baby.
…

If you like to learn more about rebirth sessions, please contact me

Don’t feel guilty mama,

Don’t feel like you need to teach your baby to sleep on their own.

Feeding bouncing or rocking your baby to sleep is biologically NORMAL and a great way to help them sleep, this way will provide comfort and security as it replicates the utero.

Follow your instincts, you know what your baby needs most!

Eat dates and you will have a fast birth!

Sorry! It’s not that easy

Although it’s proven that eating dates can help with softening of the cervix during labor. Eating six dates a day in those 4 weeks before your estimated due date can result in easier labor, a shorter first phase of labor, more intact membranes at birth as well as more spontaneous labor without the need for medical intervention or induction.

But it’s no guarantee!

If you like to prepare well for birth, you will need to work on your mental believes around birth. Limited and incorrect believes, blockages, fears,…
And on your physical health, prenatal fysio, stretches, relaxation and breathing exercises and eating healthy…

There is not 1magical thing that will give you an easy and fast birth.
It’s a combination of a lot of things.

You like prepare for birth and early motherhood. Contact me for private, group and online sessions.

Happy Birthday Oceaan! Thank you for making me a mother 10years ago. Love you so much x

Summer Pregnancy Circles

A safe, friendly place to share about your pregnancy and early motherhood.

A place to inform yourself and create friendships.

A relaxed environment to get empowered and feel ready for birth.

I’m An, mother, Doula and lactation consultant.

Join us in July for the circles, in August I’m taking a summer break!

Hope to welcome you soon!

July Circles:

6th
20nd (mums with babies also welcome)

Both times at Assaona beachclub in Portixol.

Online Doula support, a more affordable option.

From Mallorca to the world.

Are you not living on Mallorca or are you looking for a more affordable option, online Doula support prepares you for birth and parenthood.
Do you want to feel supported through this magical and sometimes challenging time.
Do you prefer to stay at the comfort of your home.
Do you want to understand what giving birth really is.
Do you want to know what you can do to have a positive birth experience.
Do you want to know how your partner can support you.
Do you want to feel ready for your breastfeeding journey.
Do you want to know how to have a calm, beautiful postpartum time.
Do you…

We can do all of this through online prenatal doula sessions.

Contact me for more info

Spanish general birth statistics versus my personal statistics.

70% have an epidural
15% is the epidural rate when I can stay with the mother till the end, when I can’t (not allowed by hospital) stay, this goes up to 32%

25 to 38% have a c-section
8% is my overall c-section rate

0,5% have a homebirth in Spain
35% of the births I assist are home births

23 to 37% of these home birth’s move to the hospital
12% of the home births I assist moved (without an emergency) calmly to the hospital.

I’m very proud of these statistics!
It’s always a good idea to ask your care provider for their statistics.
Sometimes we need medical assistance, but lots of the time we can avoid medical interventions.

🙏🏻picture

What is the Pregnancy Circle?

A safe, friendly place to share about your pregnancy and early motherhood.

A place to inform yourself and create friendships.

A relaxed environment to get empowered and feel ready for birth.

I’m An, mother, Doula and lactation consultant. Holding this space 2x a month for you.
Hope to welcome you soon!

June Circles:

8th
22nd (mums with babies also welcome)

Both times at Assaona beachclub in Portixol. 🌺🌸🌺🌸🌺🌸🌺🌺

This is me

Let me introduce myself again

I’m from Belgium, Antwerp.
Traveled lots and lived in a few places around the world before settling in Mallorca.

I have a wonderful caring and never boring husband and 2 amazing full of life kids, Oceaan and Charlie Beau

I’m passionate about birth and truly believe birth matters, it’s the start of everything!

I love dance, used to be a dancer and choreographer and recently started ballet classes again.

I love being in nature and by the sea

Can’t live without my friends, good food and sunny days!

Thank you Uli and Chris for letting me be there by your side for the birth of your 2nd child.

And your kind words :

‘An is empathy in person and with her ease and lightness compared with a strong confidence in the strength of women and birth, she was part of my perfect birth team. I cannot accentuate it enough: choose wisely whom you surround yourself with during birth. I had a powerful birth experience (a calm homebirth) that I love looking back on and I am so thankful for it. I would choose An to be there over and over again!’

(Longer testimonial in comments)

Thank you

To all the amazing midwives out there.

And a special thank you

To my favorite midwife

To many more births together 💛

May Pregnancy Circles

Thursday’s

11th and 25th
10 till 11:30
at Assaona in Portixol.

Join us, a great place to focus on your pregnancy and early motherhood.
Make friends, get empowered and enjoy the sea breeze.

Contact me to join!

During pregnancy lots of mothers can feel anxious, worried, afraid, or just confused by all the information out there.
Lots of people will give you advice about everything even without you asking, or even worse, tell you horrible frightening birth stories.

It can feel overwhelming

It can make you doubtful

It can make you sad

Surround yourself with people that are there to support you, give you positivity and love!

Our 2x monthly Pregnacy Circles are a great place for this. Get confident and enjoy your pregnancy.

Join us, more info in the next post

Fathers ask me,
‘What do I do during labour?’

Hold the mother

Fathers ask me,
‘What do I do after birth?’

Hold the mother

The mother is holding your child, during pregnancy and in early motherhood.
So she needs to be held, to be nurtured, and to be loved

Join us in April!

Pregnancy Circles outside by the sea

Learn about your Pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Meet other pregnant ladies and share your experiences.

Book your spot for:

Thursday 13th and 27th from 10 till 11:30

Looking forward to see you 🌺