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
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Personal Stories, Reflections & Local Advocacy | Birth Stories | Home Birth Suspension | Community & Events | Personal Reflections | Self-Care | Herbal Wisdom | Womb Wisdom | Hormones | Rites of Passage | Menopause |
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All Pregnancy Wellness Topics | Pregnancy Yoga | Nutrition | Supplements | Vegan Pregnancy | Keto Pregnancy | GBS | Microbiome |
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All Pregnancy Risk Factors, Monitoring & Complications Topics | Low Iron | Blood Tests Older Mothers | Young Mothers | Diabetes | Gestational Diabetes | Graves Disease | Twins & Multiples | Breech Baby | Posterior Baby | Small for Gestational Age | PROM - Premature Rupture of Membranes | Pre-eclampsia | Growth Scans | PAPP-A | PCOS | Thyroid Conditions | Worms in Pregnancy | Preterm Birth |
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All Normal Labour & Birth Topics | Baby Positioning | Birth Biomechanics Doulas | Birth Companion | Antenatal Classes | Partners | Birth Partners | Relaxation | Pregnancy Massage | Shiatsu | Reflexology | Hormones | Oxytocin | Rebozo | Breech Birth | Twin Birth
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Postnatal & Baby | Breastfeeding | Babywearing | Sling Support | Postnatal Support | Postnatal Recovery | Bonding | Fourth Trimester | Birth Trauma
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All Baby Loss | Miscarriage | Stillbirth | Abortion | Death | Rites of Passage | Rituals
PAPP-A - Part 2, Placental Physiology, and the Science of Growth
This second part dives deeper into the science behind PAPP-A and the Insulin-Like Growth Factor system — exploring how placental enzymes, blood flow, and vascular growth interact throughout pregnancy.
Aimed at birthkeepers and midwives (but valuable for anyone curious), it unpacks the research, physiology, and evidence behind how lifestyle, nourishment, and calm continue to shape placental health long after the first trimester. 🌿
Real Nutrition in Pregnancy: Beyond Supplements, Towards Real Food
Pregnancy is one of the most nutritionally demanding times in life. Your body is building not only a baby, but also a placenta, an expanded blood supply, and the reserves you’ll need for birth and breastfeeding. While modern advice often says “just take a prenatal,” the truth is deeper: nutrient density and bioavailability matter most.
In this blog, I explore why certain nutrients — like choline, DHA, iron, zinc, and collagen — are almost impossible to get in sufficient amounts from a vegan diet, and why cravings for animal foods during pregnancy are signs of your body’s wisdom, not weakness. We’ll look at the gaps in vegan nutrition research, the dangers of modern monocropped grains, and how ancestral, wild, and locally-sourced foods can provide everything you and your baby need to thrive.
✨ Plus: a free Yoga Nidra meditation to help you release food guilt, trust your cravings, and reconnect with your body’s instincts.