Steph

@supernovabirthservices

❤️Mother 🤰 Homebirth Doula & Birth Educator 🌳 Nature Lover ✨ Magic Maker
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A PREGNANCY GUIDE As your doula I’m here to walk this journey alongside you, not to lead you and tell you when or where to go, or how is best to complete this adventure, but to let you know about the paths not shown on the map, the hidden gems, the various ways you could get to the same goal with a different experience to remember forever, depending which route you choose. You might stick to the main path, following the signs and the footsteps of the masses. You may take a sharp turn into the wilderness, forging a brand new route. You may take a few hidden shortcuts, veering off the track a little just to your comfort. Whatever you decide, I trust that with caring support, your inner wisdom, evidence based information and the experience of the women who have been here before you, that you’ll make the best choices for you at all times. You are always the expert your pregnancy and birth. You will always know, intrinsically, if a route is right or wrong. You may not always feel supported by others around you, but I am here, judgement free, cheering you on. You may have questions, I can answer them, or find a suitable guidebook or a specialist in the field if it’s needed. You are build for this adventure, built to face and conquer the physical and emotional challenges it will bring, built to lead the way. If you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, supportive, caring, trusting (in both you, and birth itself) and invested in your experience to join your birth team, book your free discovery call today as I may well be the doula for you ❤️ (and if I’m not, that’s okay, I can share the details of many others with you - choosing your doula is just one step of many where you’ll know what’s right for you!) Steph x #doula #pregnancy #pregnancyguide #instinctivebirth #highriskpregnancy #wildpregnancy #freebirth #homebirth #naturalbirth #naturalparenting #gentleparent #essexparents #southendonseamums #essexmums #essexmumstobe #maternalmentalhealth #essex #leighonsea
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9 bulan yang lalu
THE BIRTH CIRCLE Starting next Thursday 6th July with a free session. Investment £15 thereafter (2 flexi-price spaces per circle for those in need). The Birth Circle has been welcomed by many as a safe, supportive space to explore their feelings about pregnancy and birth, to ask the questions they rarely have time to discuss with care providers and to connect with others in a similar journey to motherhood. We start on Chalkwell Beach with flexible, affordable summer sessions which will include: ✨Sharing Circle - to share your experiences, reduce your worries, ask questions, and set your birth intentions. ✨Fear release and Manifestation for birth. ✨Mindful crafts and relaxation time. ✨Sound bath, chanting or singing. ✨Opportunity to ‘ask an expert’ with two doulas holding space you can lean into our knowledge and experience. ✨Nourishing snacks - just bring yourself a flask of your fave drink! We will set up the circle with mats, blankets and pillows, just bring your comforts - cosy clothing, a big jumper, something to add to the altar (maybe a scan pic, fave crystal, a handmade trinket etc) and let us take care of you ❤️ Steph & Louise x #thebirthcircle #birthcircle #pregnancycircle #womenscircle #womensupportingwomen #pregnancy #naturalpregnancy #naturalbirth #birthphysiology #homebirth #gentlebirth #empoweredbirth #hypnobirthing #intuition #crystalhealing #soundhealing #beach #chalkwell #mumtobe #mums #mother #morthersblessing #childbirthchoicesmatter #birth #doula #essexdoula #birthkeeper
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8 bulan yang lalu
Spot the small person! Motherhood is such a wild ride, and I’ve been feeling it here lately. With me being out of the house for a birth last week, followed up with full days of work then a sixth birthday over the weekend it’s been intense and both my kids have been displaying their emotions in their own ways! This morning was super tough, after a solid hour of screaming and crying, my youngest had to join us for the school run without having had breakfast as we were out of time, I did of course feed him once we got home but in what really was a short space of time, I had to lean on my village to get through. Vent, grounding, reassurance and offers of support or guidance helped keep me sane! Thankfully we made it outside for our weekly nature walk with friends, fresh air to blow off the cobwebs and reconnect us. I’m sharing this because I want you to know that it’s not always easy or smooth sailing for any parent, but we live in a society which demands perfection from parents - impossible! We aren’t supposed to do this alone, and we all need somewhere safe to be our authentic selves as we navigate the ups and downs of motherhood. @naturallylouise and I are holding space at @therapylifecentre on Sunday 7th April for the mamas needing space to focus on themselves, to recentre and connect with their parenting ethos, to release unhelpful emotions or blocks, and to build upon their connection with their little ones. Mama Circle is running 2-3.30pm and can be booked by sending a DM to myself or @naturallylouise See you there, Steph x #motherhood #mamacircle #motherhoodunplugged #womensupportingwomen #essexmums #ittakesavillage #womenscircle #essexmumstobe #newbaby #parenthood #navigatingmotherhood #community #release #holisticwellness #selfcare #therapylifecentre #southendonsea #leighonsea #thorpebay #rayleigh #hadleigh
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3 hari yang lalu
MAMA CIRCLE The perfect space to unwind, connect with other mothers, ask for and offer support and knowledge for parenthood and to embrace the whirlwind of emotions that motherhood brings! Suitable for all conscious mamas with children of all ages, babies in arms welcome though it can be tricker once they get moving. Each circle we will gather with intention, offer you nourishing snacks and drinks, and provide opportunity for mindful moments such as meditation (we can even hold babies for you if it’s helpful for focus!), craft and holistic healing. The first circle is Sunday 7th April 2:00-3:30pm at @therapylifecentre and the first Sunday of the month from then on. If you’d like to reserve your spot, drop me or @naturallylouise Louise a message today Steph ✨ #mamacircle #womenscircle #mama #motherscircle #mothersunite #findyourvillage #parentingsupport #newmum #experiencedmum #southendmums #essexmums #southendonsea #essex #leighonseamums #leighonsea #gentleparents #motherthemother #postnataldoula
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6 hari yang lalu
Last night I enjoyed the Southend screening of the @bornathomefilm with the company of friends, clients, unknown families and my almost nine year old daughter. It was poignant. So much harm caused by the maternity systems rigid views on birth, safety, health and ‘care’, not just the physical interventions, but largely the emotional ones with over 2/3 of the 700 women interviewed as part of the data gathering reporting that their birth trauma was caused by their care providers words 💔 A healthy and safe birth doesn’t just look one way, a healthy and safe birth doesn’t just mean mum and baby survive the experience, a healthy and safe birth doesn’t need to happen on hospital, or with doctor support in the majority of cases! Choosing to birth your baby at home dramatically increases your chance of having a birth you feel is safe, healthy, empowering and trauma free. Not only did this film show us this, but the many studies conducted over the years and my experience in the world of birth confirm this too. The first intervention in birth is leaving your home. Highly recommend that you give this short film a watch before you get pregnant or give birth, or perhaps to have an understanding of why your birth(s) unfolded the way they did if you had hospital births you aren’t satisfied with. In short, the hospital setting and maternity system isn’t geared up to respect and support the hormonal physiology of birth, the conveyor belt of care means you’re less likely to be treated as an individual and more likely to have birth and interventions ‘happen to you’ rather than being a part of the decision making process. Steph x 📸 by @olivejuicelifestyle and beautiful birthing mama is Jess from @mothermoon_hypnobirthing . #bornathome #birthfilm #homebirth
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13 hari yang lalu
The first Sunday of the month at @therapylifecentre starting 7th April Time for yourself, to nurture and prepare for birth and motherhood. @naturallylouise and I met earlier today to plan our first gathering, it’s getting me fuzzy and excited knowing it’s drawing close. Expect a warm welcome with your choice of nourishing hot drink, holistic pregnancy support, listening ears, experienced guidance and connection with other mamas just like you, feeling their way through pregnancy and working out what a positive, safe and healthy birth needs to look like for themselves. Louise will lead you through a grounding meditation to get settled into the space, before I open up sharing over a gorgeous, simple, mindful craft which will open the doors to your mind, and build connection with your birthing blueprint and baby. Louise will finish off with some sound healing allowing you to float out feeling calm, invigorated and with a better birthing mindset. To reserve your spot, you can DM @naturallylouise or myself Steph x #birthcircle #womenscircle #pregnancysuppprt #birthpreparation #doulasupport #pregnancyguide #naturalbirth #doula #essexdoula #prepareforbirth #essex #southendonsea #westcliff #leighonsea #southendmums #essexmumstobe #essexmums #parentingsupport
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15 hari yang lalu
People (especially those who haven’t given birth) commonly assume the causes of birth trauma as being specifically linked to physical factors such as birthing without pain relief, being at home, or labour lasting a long time. In truth, birth trauma is complex, and although some of these things *could* be a cause or factor in trauma, it is more often linked to the lack of emotional support or understanding through the journey of labour and birth. You are more likely to find birth traumatic, regardless of the physical experience, if 👉 You don’t understand what is happening inside your body during labour 👉 You don’t understand medical intervention being given / recommended 👉 You don’t have choices - in birth place, pain relief, intervention, support team, or monitoring 👉 You feel pressured or coerced into following someone else’s labour plans for you 👉 You are exposed to dramatic language or panicked energy - this is frequently excessive in hospital settings 👉 Your partner doesn’t have the knowledge or tools to emotionally support you, advocate for you and protect your birth space You can reduce your chance of birth trauma in various ways, focus your energy on the ways you intuitively know you need to ❤️ Get educated about labour with a trusted birth partner, creating birth plans right for you, learning coping strategies and creating your birth nest ❤️ Emotionally prepare for birth, learn calming and hypnobirthing techniques, ways to lean into the power of and embrace the journey - Birth Circles are perfect for this ❤️ Choosing where to birth based on instinct and factual information about safety and outcomes without external pressure ❤️ Have a known and trusted care provider or team - continuity of care makes a huge difference ❤️ Be open to shifting your plans on the day of the need arises, whilst having clear boundaries about when this is right for you so you aren’t pushed into unnecessary changes or intervention ❤️ Hire a doula - a professional Sherpa for pregnancy and birth, there to help you make the choices right for you and with experience to navigate whatever unfolds Message me today to see how I can help Steph ✨
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16 hari yang lalu
Thank you, to all the mothers and mother figures out there. For everything you do, both seen and unseen. 🪺Expectant mums (especially those in touching distance of meeting their new baby!) 🌺New mums transitioning to motherhood 🪷Experienced mums 🌼Step-mums 🌸Adoptive or foster mums 🪹Mums who’s babies have long flown the nest 🪻Solo mums 🌺Trying to conceive mums 🪷Mums who have experienced loss 🌼Mums who have complex, or no contact relationships with their own mums 🌸Those who have lost their own mums You may not always feel it, but to your family, you are truly their world 🌍 The way you choose to show up each day, show love, affection and connection, learn your child and meeting their ever changing needs, and totally rock motherhood in whatever way that looks for you, can never be underestimated! Celebrate yourself today, and if you’d like to celebrate this motherhood journey with others, @naturallylouise and I are holding our first joint Mama Circle at @therapylifecentre on Sunday 7th April 2-3.30pm - opportunity to connect, reflect and tune in to your inner voice. You can book your space by DMing either of us for the booking link. Happy Mother’s Day 🤍 Steph xx
5 1
18 hari yang lalu
I’ve been out teaching today, a lovely family who I was able to support at my Pregnancy Relaxation classes back in 2018 soon after my second baby had been born are expecting again! I LOVE getting to revisit families I’ve supported in some way before, maybe just a conversation at the park or a @cakeclub.parenting session, maybe I taught their full antenatal hypnobirthing course. It’s always great to revisit tools women know helped them before, to debrief any bits that weren’t as they’d expected, and to share things I’ve learned along the way since we last worked together. Most importantly, we get to focus on their needs for this particular birth, have valuable conversation about their fears, hopes, visions for postpartum and beyond. I often joke that I leave them with more questions than they had when I arrived, and I’m only half kidding. There’s so much value in the questions which come up and the time then spent exploring together as birth plans are created and cemented in their minds. Today we covered: ✨Previous birth and postnatal experience ✨Previous breastfeeding journey and hopes for this one, signposting to different tiers of support for if needed ✨What mammals need to birth effectively ✨When dads came into the birth room and how to be a better birth partner ✨Birth hormones ✨Birthplace - pros and cons of home and hospital ✨Hypnobirthing tools ✨Massage for pain relief ✨Decision making and birth plans ✨Helping siblings adjust to their growing family I’m sure there was even more as it was a jam packed 3 hour session, and it’s always tailored to your needs when you book 1:1 with me meaning you can ask me anything and have a deep enough conversation to come to your own conclusions and decisions. My availability for 1:1’s is mostly: Tuesday (in school hours) Evenings & weekends There’s a minimum 2 hour booking for face to face, and anyone booking with me gains access to my Online VIP (very important parents!) Resource Hub and can get in touch with questions that come up later too. So if you’re expecting a baby in 2024 please reach out and let me help you create and enjoy a birth which makes you feel safe, empowered and confident as a parent. 🤍✨
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26 hari yang lalu
BIRTH & MAMA CIRCLES RETURNING IN APRIL! @naturallylouise and I have been cooking up plans for some collaborative workshops and circles this year and we are super excited to say that the first Sunday of the month starting Sunday 7th April will be our regular women’s circle day at @therapylifecentre so pop the dates into your diary to keep them free! Birth Circle 12:00-13:30 Mama Circle 14:00-15.30 Sunday 7th April Sunday 5th May Sunday 2nd June Sunday 7th July Sunday 4th August Perfect for energetically preparing for birth and navigating motherhood, with mindful craft, nutritious snacks, meditation, journaling, and most importantly connecting with other women on a similar path when it matters most! Keep your eyes peeled for more details and booking link - DM me or @naturallylouise to bookmark a place today Steph ✨🤍 #birthcircle #womenscircles #pregnancysupport #naturalchildbirth #gentlebirth #motherhood #findyourvillage #womensupportingwomen #doula #essexdoula #doulalife #mamacircle #essexmums #leighonsea #therapylifecentre #southendonsea
4 2
27 hari yang lalu
I don’t have to be at your birth, to support you to birth brilliantly 🤍 Sometimes what you need is a bit of empowering information sharing, someone unbiased to unpick what’s been said to you during your antenatal appointments, or someone to ask the questions which get your own mind turning, conversations happening between you and your partner, and your instincts acknowledged. These things will truly help you to figure out what you want and need from birth to feel safe, valued, respected, confident and trusted to birth your baby in the best way for you both. I love to listen to the concerns of expectant parents, the (often fear-mongering and untrue) ‘information’ being given to them during antenatal appointments, and help them unpick what it means for them. One of the best bits is being able to point out the plentiful choices actually available to them when they allow themselves to think outside of the box the maternity system has tried to push them into and seeing their power and confidence grow as they begin to take back their birthing power. So if you’d like your pregnancy and birth to feel different to the way it does now, less ‘having to’ and more ‘choosing to’ with confidence, knowledge and radical responsibility, then book in with me today. Typical availability for 2-3 hour consultations: Tuesday’s within school hours Evenings Weekends All in the comfort of your own home at a place one that suits your family. Steph ✨ #ownyourbirth #childbirth #pregnancysupport #antenataleducation #empoweredwomenempowerwomen #empoweredmama #doulasupport #birtheducator #birthplanning #evidencebasedbirth #homebirth #vbac #electivecaesarean #freebirth #firstbaby #secondbaby #twins #southendonsea #leighonsea #benfleet #brentwood #rayleigh #homebirthdoula #threesteprewind
3 0
1 bulan lalu
Signs of spring are popping up all around us, new shoots, blossoms, leaves and buds unfurling at exactly the right moment for them, without pressure to keep up with their fellow buds or the tree up the road. Because this is nature, and the cycle of life and fertility… it’s variable and needs to happen at its own pace, can’t be rushed. Interestingly we humans accept this about lambs being born, flowers blossoming, fruit ripening… but we don’t tend to notice that our babies too ripen in their own time. Babies aren’t all due at 40 weeks of pregnancy (that myth started in the 1700s and despite no strong evidence to support it, and much to show that the majority of babies will be born after this time, we still use it as a gold standard in working out when we ‘should’ meet babies!) and the methods for working out pregnancy dates are inaccurate too, it’s wild to me that we genuinely push medically demanding procedures on mums and babies simply for these arbitrary dates! So listen to nature, listen to the voice inside, and trust that your baby will know when their moment is, and that they’re just as eager to meet you as you are them - there’s no need to rush a healthy pregnancy to end, and doing so often causes more harm than good. ✨You are safe. Your baby is safe. ✨Your baby knows when to be born. ✨The final days of pregnancy bring vital preparation for baby to enter the world with strength. ✨You always get the final say on if you accept anything happening to your body, from sweeps to caesareans. If you feel like you need to talk through your options, reduce your fear around either waiting for natural labour, or accepting induction to help you make a balanced choice, or want more information about stillbirth rates, induction / birth outcomes and how to advocate for your wishes, just DM me for a 1:1 in person if you’re local, or online if you’re not. Steph ✨🤍
5 1
1 bulan lalu