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I advertise myself very openly as a Christian midwife. It’s on my website, it’s on my social media, and I talk about my faith fairly regularly. I believe God has called me to the work that I do, and I’m not going to apologise for saying that. Part of the reason I’m so explicit about it is because I want Christian women to be able to find me. I want women who are searching for maternity care to know that their faith doesn’t have to be something they leave at the door. If praye

I can't promise you the birth you want. You might be surprised to hear me say that I can't promise you that you will give birth at home, that you won't need to transfer into hospital, that you won't want pain relief, that you won't need an intervention or that everything will unfold exactly as you pictured it when we first sat down together and talked about your hopes for birth. I'm a midwife. I'm not God. And actually, I think it's really important that I'm honest about that

I have breastfed two babies, and one of the places where I have sometimes felt most conscious of doing it has been in church. And I know I am not alone in that. There are women who feel unsure about whether breastfeeding in church is actually acceptable. Women who feel that they ought to leave the service and find a separate room. Women who feel that they need to cover themselves and their baby with a large feeding cover, regardless of whether that actually makes feeding more

“God will provide”… but only up to a point? “God will provide.” It’s something we say a lot as Christians. And rightly so. We believe in a God who knows what we need, who cares about the details of our lives and who can be trusted with them. But I wonder whether sometimes we say “God will provide” while subtly putting parameters around what we think that provision is allowed to look like. I’ve heard variations of this particularly when it comes to maternity care. “Be grateful

This is the final post in my little series exploring the idea of an “ideal birth”. In the first, I talked about what I mean when I talk about an ideal birth. In the second, I explored where some of the pressure to achieve a particular kind of birth might come from. I touched on the topic of faith, but shared that this is part of the conversation that I think deserved more breathing room. Because for Christian women, our expectations around birth aren't necessarily shaped onl

In my last blog, I explored the idea of the “ideal birth” and why I don't believe there is one particular type of birth that deserves that title. But that leaves another question... If women are feeling pressure to achieve an “ideal birth”, where is that pressure actually coming from? I don't think there is one simple answer. Natalie Morris recently wrote powerfully about her own experience of a five-day labour and the expectations she had absorbed about birth beforehand. Her

This morning, I was interviewed by Premier Christian Radio about the idea of an “ideal birth”. As is always the way with radio interviews, there was far more that I wanted to say than there was time to say it. And perhaps that is particularly true of this subject, because maternity care is complicated. It deserves more than soundbites. So I wanted to put some meat on the bones. Where has this conversation come from? Earlier this month, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper spoke to

What should you do if your midwife doesn’t respect your birth preferences? Calm, practical guidance to help you feel heard, supported, and confident in your care.

You don’t need a disclaimer to bring your faith into birth After sharing why faith matters in maternity care, one question naturally follows: “But how do I actually include it in my birth plan… without feeling awkward?” Because if you’re honest, it can feel that way. You might wonder: Will I be judged? Will this be taken seriously? Am I asking for too much? Let me say this clearly: You are not asking for too much. You are asking to be supported as a whole person. And that i

When we talk about personalised maternity care, I think we can be quite quick to focus on things like; where a woman wants to give birth, what pain relief she might want and how she plans to feed her baby. And obviously those things are important, but there’s so much more to a person than their preferences around the practicalities of birth. Their values, beliefs and the things that are fundamentally important to them all have a part to play too. And for some women, that incl

Feeding your baby isn’t always as straightforward as it’s made out to be. A supportive guide to what to expect, common challenges, and how to find what works for you and your baby.

Everyone talks about birth—but what about what comes after? An honest look at the early weeks with your baby, so you feel more prepared, supported, and less overwhelmed.

What actually happens during labour—and how will you know what stage you are at? A clear, reassuring explanation of each stage, so you feel more confident as things progress.

You can’t control how birth unfolds—but you can prepare for it. A thoughtful guide to getting ready for labour in a way that feels realistic, informed, and empowering.

What can you actually do during labour to cope with the intensity? Practical hypnobirthing techniques to help you stay grounded, calm, and supported throughout.

Is hypnobirthing just breathing techniques and positive thinking? A clear, grounded introduction to what it really is—and how it can help you feel calmer and more prepared for birth.

Another set of blood tests—but what are they actually checking? A simple explanation of your 28-week tests, what they look for, and why they matter as your pregnancy progresses.

Feeling your baby move for the first time can bring both excitement and uncertainty. A calm, reassuring guide to when movements are usually felt, what influences them, and how to understand what’s normal—so you can feel more confident as your pregnancy progresses.

Most pregnancies are straightforward—but knowing what to look out for really matters. An overview of important symptoms and conditions, so you know when to seek support and when to feel reassured.

Not sure what your workplace actually has to support you with? A clear guide to your maternity rights—so you can feel informed, protected, and confident at work.