Welcome to my Birth Info Collection

A space for women and families to feel informed, supported and inspired throughout pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of parenthood.

Here I share articles on everything from birth preparation, hormones and movement, to postnatal recovery, breastfeeding, emotional wellbeing, birth culture and birth in the news.

My aim is to make evidence-based information feel accessible and human — blending science, body wisdom and years of experience supporting families as a Doula (Birth Companion), teacher and massage therapist here in the Forest of Dean.

Take your time, explore what resonates, and if you’d like to work together, you can find my latest classes and support options here.

When Maternity Services Feel Unstable — What Women Can Do Now

With Gloucestershire’s home-birth service suspended and maternity wards under strain, many women are asking what to do next. This guide explores practical steps to restore calm and confidence — from nourishing your body and preparing intentionally for birth, to understanding your rights and creating your own continuity of care. Whether you choose to stay home, switch Trusts, or hire a doula or independent midwife, you do have options. Birth is powerful — and so are you.

Read More

The Truth About Continuous Monitoring – What Really Improves Birth Outcomes

Continuous monitoring (CTG) is one of the most common interventions in modern maternity care — yet it hasn’t been shown to make birth safer. Evidence shows it increases intervention rates, restricts movement, and undermines confidence.
What does improve outcomes is continuity, connection, and trust — the kind of support once offered by village midwives and birth companions. This blog explores what the research really says about CTG, and how women can take back their power through homebirth, skilled support, and radical responsibility.

Read More

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.

Read More
Pregnancy, Pregnancy & Birth Prep Emma Gleave Pregnancy, Pregnancy & Birth Prep Emma Gleave

Preparing for a Calm and Confident Birth: The Importance of Antenatal Classes

The journey to parenthood is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming—especially when thinking about labor and birth. Many expectant parents worry about how they’ll cope with the pain, the unexpected twists, or the sheer unpredictability of it all. But here’s the good news: you can feel calm, confident, and prepared for birth. One of the best ways to achieve this is through antenatal classes.

Read More