Bellablog - CATHERINE BELL BIRTH CARTOGRAPHER

Informed Birth Preparation: what it takes and what it gives

20/8/2020

Informed Birth Preparation puts you in the drivers seat. You get to determine the route, including any detours. You choose the music, the companions and guide the conversation.
Taking the drivers seat takes some responsibility. And it gives you immense power. In this post, we explore what it takes to have an informed and positive birth, and discover the benefits of taking the effort and stepping up to own your birth. Are you ready?

Birth - is it about Luck?

25/11/2018

Birth, for the modern human, is not without difficulty.

Does it all come down to luck,
or is it a matter of Good Management?

or could it be something else?

More than just another birth book

27/8/2018

This is the speech given at The Book Launch.

We should be focused on Choice, not Consent.

14/8/2018

Consent is on everyone's lips. From media discussion about 'enthusiastic consent' to medical requirements for 'informed consent', it seems pretty clear there is a problem with 'consent'.

If consent was what mattered, we would not need to prefix it with a qualifier.

The Birth Cartographer's Guide to The Internet

13/8/2018

The internet is Big. Mind blowingly Big. You won't believe just how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is.
Yes, I am a Douglas Adam's Fan

From Belief and Fear to Informed and Confident

31/7/2018

Belief and fear often go together.

Often long held, and unquestioned, our beliefs and fears can lead us to 'solutions' that may not actually be helpful.

How do our beliefs and fear impact our approach to childbirth?

The Doula and The Sherpa

28/6/2018

Preparing for Birth is like preparing to climb Mount Everest, but with much more chance of success and a lot more warmth! When climbing Everest, a Sherpa is an essential part of your team. They know the landscape, the climate and remain calm and alert. In Birth, a doula is like a sherpa. The doula is familiar with the location, the people and the physiology, remaining calm and alert, guiding and supporting you.

This article was originally posted here in 2014 and updated in 2018

What if...

29/4/2018

The horror of birth, in all it's unpredictable gory, is the glee of birth skeptics and trolls across social media. The birth plan is the perfect target , scapegoat and crime; there is no point writing one.

or is there?

what if we talked about and prepared for a positive birth. No Matter What.

The Visual Birth Plan

25/4/2018

The visual birth plan has surged in popularity in recent times. Many sources are offering free icons to use or inspire and there are apps to help you generate one. Birth plans have a bad rap, with many articles claiming birthzillas of any who write one, or declaring them as inflexible. Click here for common mistakes made in writing a birth plan. The rise of the visual birth plan meant more women were aware of their options and seemed to be considering birth plans worthwhile.

I didn't drink my tea

18/4/2018

This is the story of a Birth Plan that was not used. A Birth Plan that was carefully made, was informed and detailed, but was never even looked at during the birth.
This is the story of a cup of tea, left to go cold.

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Editor B, Darling Starlings, SO Beach Party, Leonard Bentley, IQRemix, C. VanHook (vanhookc), lemonfilmblog, State Library of South Australia, Someone's Name, edenpictures, ShebleyCL, MassiveKontent, symphony of love, Kelly Sue, szwerink, Dawn Endico, fortfan, Jim Linwood, symphony of love, JLaw45