What will expectant parents be planning for their pregnancy and birth during 2023?
We see these trends coming and going but which ones are actually benefical? Just like we see trends for weddings change year on year, we see the same in the birth world too. So, let’s take a look at my predications and see if you have any of them planned for your pregnancy and labour.
1. Birth preparation courses:
There has been a huge increase in expectant parents wanting to feel calm, confident and prepared for the birth of their baby. We have seen expectant parents take back control during labour, enabling them to trust their body and instincts to have a positive birth experience. They have shunned the narrative that birth is something to be feared and with the use of hypnobirthing they have gone on to have such empowering births.
My 5* rated hypnobirthing courses became sought after and sold out in 2022. So many families realised that they needed to prepare for labour with a FULL birth education course. One that teaches techniques to cope during labour and help prepare for a calm positive birth experience. This in turn allowed others to see how beneficial hypnobirthing was (hearing all the positive birth stories) and they too wanted to feel in control and calm when welcoming their baby into the world.
Hypnobirthing is for every birth - a logical and rational course that I hope rises in popularity year on year.
2. Mother blessings
An alternative or an addition to a baby shower. A traditional, scared ceremony where people come together in celebration of the Mum to be (and baby), honouring her pregnancy and journey into motherhood. Guests are encouraged to motivate and inspire the Mum to be, by providing her with strength and love.
Things that you can expect from a mother blessing (all will be different):
Meditation / relaxation / rituals
Positive birth stories / journalling
Words of encouragement - Sharing tips for motherhood
Crafts - for example producing positive birth affirmation cards or love letters
Nice food and drink
Flowers / sage / crystals / candles
Belly casts
Mother blessings - A ritual that I hope we will see gain more popularity in 2023, a space to create and share love, wisdom, encouragement and strength with anyone who is expecting a baby.
3. Birth photography
Yep you heard me right, a photographer at the birth of your baby. Before you stop reading and think ‘no one is taking any pictures of my vagina’ let me explain this one to you. We live in a generation where pictures are everything, we see them staged on social media, fake laughs and props to get the “shot”. We would never dream of not hiring a photographer for a wedding. So why not take pictures of us birthing our baby? Birth and labour photography is becoming more and more popular and it doesn’t have to involve vagina shots and you don’t have to share the pictures of your baby’s birth with anyone.
Pictures last a lifetime and recreate feelings and emotions that we might otherwise forget. Now, it’s not for everyone and if I’m being honest, I don’t think it would be for me either (especially as I understand how important privacy is during labour) but wow, some of these pictures are amazing and so empowering.
I massively regret not having any pictures of me in labour. Perhaps this might be one for your birth partner to do, snap a couple of pictures here and there, who needs a professional when we have iPhones anyway?
Birth photographer - A wonderful concept that provides the most incredible images. I do hope that birth photography becomes more popular and is seen as less strange over time, but in the mean time perhaps it’s a prompt for birth partners to snap away (quietly in the background just for a couple of minutes.)
4. Placenta encapsulation
This is definitely something that is becoming more popular, so much so that I could have dedicated a while blog to it! During pregnancy we grow a whole new organ (how incredible is that?) The placenta is there to provide your baby with lots of nutrients and oxygen (amongst other things) to help them develop and grow. So, we know that the placenta is full of goodness then? Once we give birth to our baby, we then birth the placenta too (either by pushing it out or having an injection), some people will choose not to see their placenta and it will be disposed off, others will leave their baby attached to the placenta until the cord naturally falls off (called a lotus birth), some bury it along with a tree and others decide to consume it.
Why consume the placenta though?
Increased energy levels
Enhanced / balanced mood
Increased milk supply
Faster recovery after birth
Different ways to take advantage of the nutrients in the placenta:
Placenta pills
Placenta gummies
Placenta tincture
Placenta baby lotion
Placenta stretch mark butter
Placenta face cream
There are lots of anecdotal benefits to consuming your placenta as either a tablet, smoothie or tincture. Again, it’s not for everyone but do your research and decide what's best for you.
Pregnancy Exercise & Relaxation
Participating in a pregnancy yoga class is one of the best things you can do whilst pregnant yes really!!!. Pregnancy yoga classes offer a gentle way to exercise, a low impact workout without stress or strain on the body. We use gentle exercises and relaxation techniques to help make you feel good about yourselves and prepare for birth or help you recover. And while its a great way to get some me-time, its also a the perfect opportunity to meet other soul sisters who are pregnant. Our pregnancy relaxation classes are some of my favourite classes to teach. We focus on Rest, Relaxation & Restoration.
Classes are designed to have a gentle movement, calm breathing techniques useful in labour. Hypnobirthing Relaxations, help you unwind and relax and connect with baby. Informal chats and a few laughs along the way.
Some of the befits of Pregnancy Yoga & Relaxation are:
better sleep.
connecting to your changing body.
anxiety/stress relief.
peace of mind.
less tension.
positive labor preparation.
lower risk of postpartum depression
Increase the strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth.
Decrease lower back pain, nausea, headaches and shortness of breath.
So, that’s my pregnancy and birth predications for 2023 and I’m sure we will see an increase in other trends too. Whilst some of these might seem a little “out there” personally I see the benefits in all of them, especially the birth preparation courses (of course).
Why not take a look at my other blog posts for more pregnancy and birth tips:
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