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.

Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications Emma Gleave Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications Emma Gleave

PCOS, Pregnancy & Insulin Resistance: What It Means and How to Support Yourself

Living with PCOS can make pregnancy feel full of questions. What does it mean for your health, your baby, and your birth choices? In this blog I explain what PCOS is, how it can affect pregnancy (including a slightly higher chance of complications like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes), and — most importantly — the gentle, practical steps including yoga for pcos pregnancy, you can take to support your body.

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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.

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