Articles

Here I share what I have gathered through almost 2 decades of learning, teaching and supporting women and families, studying birth and listening closely to women’s experiences.

You’ll find writing about pregnancy, birth preparation, hormones, movement, breastfeeding, postnatal recovery and emotional wellbeing — alongside deeper explorations of maternity culture, autonomy and birth in the news.

My work brings together evidence, traditional wisdom, practical experience and a deep trust in women’s bodies.

Take your time here, use the index, follow what speaks to you. And if you would like someone beside you as you prepare for pregnancy, birth or the months beyond, you can explore my classes and support here in the Forest of Dean and online.

Topic Index

These articles have been categorised to the best of my ability!

Open one of the topics below to explore, continue on to explore in date order, or if you’re after something particular and can’t find it let me know here

Advocacy & Maternity Reform, Doulas & Continuity of Care, Maternity Rights, Informed Consent, Birth Choices, Homebirth, Hospital Birth, Caesarean Birth, Induction of Labour, Birth Trauma, Doulas, Birth Companion, Partners, Birth Partners, Antenatal Classes, Pregnancy & Birth, Community & Events, Forest of Dean, Personal Reflections Emma Gleave Advocacy & Maternity Reform, Doulas & Continuity of Care, Maternity Rights, Informed Consent, Birth Choices, Homebirth, Hospital Birth, Caesarean Birth, Induction of Labour, Birth Trauma, Doulas, Birth Companion, Partners, Birth Partners, Antenatal Classes, Pregnancy & Birth, Community & Events, Forest of Dean, Personal Reflections Emma Gleave

Take Ownership of Your Pregnancy Care: Why Personalised, Caseload Midwifery Matters

A recent BBC article highlights an ongoing crisis in maternity services. Despite years of warnings and recommendations, little has changed. Depersonalised, intervention-heavy approaches dominate, leaving many women feeling unsupported during pregnancy and birth. The result? Rising intervention rates, birth trauma, and an overall lack of trust in the system.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

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Personal Reflections, Advocacy & Maternity Reform, Doulas & Continuity of Care, Community & Events, Wellbeing & Holistic Health, Self-Care, Women’s Wellness, Maternity Rights, Home Birth, Forest of Dean, Pregnancy & Birth, Doulas, Birth Companion, Rites of Passage, Folk Medicine, Plant Wisdom Emma Gleave Personal Reflections, Advocacy & Maternity Reform, Doulas & Continuity of Care, Community & Events, Wellbeing & Holistic Health, Self-Care, Women’s Wellness, Maternity Rights, Home Birth, Forest of Dean, Pregnancy & Birth, Doulas, Birth Companion, Rites of Passage, Folk Medicine, Plant Wisdom Emma Gleave

From Burnout to Renewal: My Journey Back to Supporting Parents

For those of you who knew me before, you’ll know how passionate I was about making meaningful changes to maternity services. Becoming a parent opened my eyes to so much, and I threw myself into spreading evidence-based information, training, and networking. I truly believed it would make a difference.

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Pregnancy Topics, Older Mothers, Growth Scans, Blood Tests, Pregnancy Complications, Birth Choices, Maternity Rights, Informed Consent, Labour & Birth, Induction of Labour, Labour Interventions, Caesarean Birth, Nutrition, Pregnancy Massage, Pregnancy Yoga, Relaxation, Wellbeing & Holistic Health, Self-Care, Doulas, Birth Companion, Antenatal Classes, Forest of Dean Emma Gleave Pregnancy Topics, Older Mothers, Growth Scans, Blood Tests, Pregnancy Complications, Birth Choices, Maternity Rights, Informed Consent, Labour & Birth, Induction of Labour, Labour Interventions, Caesarean Birth, Nutrition, Pregnancy Massage, Pregnancy Yoga, Relaxation, Wellbeing & Holistic Health, Self-Care, Doulas, Birth Companion, Antenatal Classes, Forest of Dean Emma Gleave

Do Growth Scans Improve Outcomes for Older Mothers? Examining the Evidence

As a birth professional, I often get asked about growth scans, or fetal growth assessments, especially for older mothers.

Every scan, test, or procedure offered during pregnancy is just that—offered. It is not mandatory. Women are best placed to make decisions for themselves and their babies, provided they are fully informed about the benefits and risks of each procedure. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. To help bridge that gap, here is a summary of the evidence.

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Postnatal & Baby, Breastfeeding, Baby Feeding, Bonding, Fourth Trimester, Postnatal Support, Birth Choices, Birth Plans, Physiological Birth, Hormones, Oxytocin, Support in Birth, Doulas, Birth Companion, Partners, Birth Partners, Antenatal Classes, Pregnancy & Birth, Wellbeing & Holistic Health, Self-Care, Community & Events, Forest of Dean Emma Gleave Postnatal & Baby, Breastfeeding, Baby Feeding, Bonding, Fourth Trimester, Postnatal Support, Birth Choices, Birth Plans, Physiological Birth, Hormones, Oxytocin, Support in Birth, Doulas, Birth Companion, Partners, Birth Partners, Antenatal Classes, Pregnancy & Birth, Wellbeing & Holistic Health, Self-Care, Community & Events, Forest of Dean Emma Gleave

Laid-Back Breastfeeding: Instincts, Connection, and the Golden Hour

Breastfeeding is often portrayed as a skill mothers need to master, but what if it’s more about letting go and following instincts? Laid-back breastfeeding, also known as biological nurturing, encourages this natural approach by allowing mother and baby to work together in a relaxed, intuitive way.

This blog explores the benefits of laid-back breastfeeding, its connection to the "golden hour" after birth, and how creating the right environment—both during birth and postpartum—can set families up for success.

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