Why the Vagus Nerve Matters in Pregnancy — and How to Support It
Most of us think of pregnancy in terms of hormones, scans and growing bellies — but there’s another biological system quietly shaping how your body adapts, responds to stress, and even how you feel emotionally: the vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve — also called cranial nerve X — is the longest and one of the most important parts of the parasympathetic nervous system. It acts as a major communication highway between your brain and your organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive system. It helps regulate involuntary functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, inflammation, and immune responses.
The Science of Self-Care in Pregnancy, Postpartum & Motherhood: Why It Matters for Both Mother and Baby
Pregnancy, the postpartum period and early motherhood are often described in emotional terms — joyful, overwhelming, transformative — yet they are also some of the most physiologically demanding stages of life. Behind the scenes, a mother’s body is navigating profound hormonal shifts, nervous system changes, tissue healing, disrupted sleep and an increased cognitive and emotional load.
In this context, self-care is not indulgent. It is biologically necessary. Increasingly, research shows that when women are supported to regulate stress, rest and recover — alongside receiving appropriate medical care — outcomes improve not only for mothers, but for babies and families too.
The Gut-Brain Axis: Why Your Microbiome Might Be Driving More Than Just Digestion
You’ve likely heard the phrase "gut feeling"—but what if we told you your gut was literally talking to your brain? That’s not just poetic, it’s biological. Welcome to the world of the gut-brain axis—an intricate, two-way communication system between your gut microbiome and central nervous system.
This connection influences far more than digestion. It has a proven role in regulating your mood, cognition, immune function, energy levels, hormonal signalling, and even reproductive health. During times of immense physiological change—like pre-conception, pregnancy, postpartum, and hormonal transitions—this axis becomes even mor
Instruments Used in Birth: What They Do, When They’re Used, and Why Understanding Them Matters
Instrumental birth is one of the most poorly understood aspects of modern maternity care. For many parents, forceps or ventouse are only introduced at the point they are recommended — often during an intense, time-pressured moment.
Yet these tools have clear clinical indications, specific mechanical functions, and predictable implications for birth experience and recovery. Understanding them antenatally allows parents to engage with decisions from a place of knowledge rather than fear.
Preparing for a Winter Pregnancy: Nutrition, Body Care & Wellbeing Tips
Winter brings cosy evenings, festive routines, and plenty of nourishing food — but it can also pose unique challenges for pregnant women. Colder temperatures, fewer daylight hours, an increase in seasonal viruses, and drier indoor heating can all impact your comfort, immunity, and overall wellbeing during pregnancy.
This guide brings together nutrition, body care, and wellbeing practices to help you feel supported, energised, and protected throughout the winter months.
Breastfeeding and the Vaginal vs. Abdominal Birth Connection: What the Science and Heart Say
Welcoming a baby into the world is one of life’s most profound moments. Whether born through the natural rhythm of vaginal birth or the surgical precision of a caesarean section, each birth story is unique, powerful, and deeply personal. But as research increasingly shows, the way a baby enters the world can influence early feeding experiences, microbiome development, and even immune resilience.
This isn’t about prescribing a “right” way—there is none. It’s about awareness, support, and understanding that all parents, regardless of how they give birth or feed their baby, can create a nurturing start for life.
My Cervix Wasn’t Cooperating: What I Learned About Effacement, Ehlers-Danlos, and the Cervical Stitch
I never thought much about my cervix—until pregnancy made it the main character in my story. Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), hypermobility type, I knew my connective tissue was different. What I didn’t expect was for it to affect the integrity of my cervix—and nearly cost me my pregnancy.
The Cortisol Curve: Stress Regulation and Adrenal Fatigue in New Mothers
Motherhood is beautiful—but it’s also biologically intense. Behind the midnight feeds and nappy changes, your body is managing something monumental: cortisol regulation. This essential hormone drives your ability to cope, adapt, and recover—yet for many new mothers, the cortisol curve gets disrupted. The result? Burnout, overwhelm, and in some cases, adrenal fatigue.
Neuroplasticity & Motherhood: How Your Brain Rewires Postpartum
Becoming a mother doesn’t just change your lifestyle—it quite literally reshapes your brain. Thanks to a powerful phenomenon called neuroplasticity, the postpartum period is marked by fascinating changes in neural structure and function. But what does this mean for your day-to-day life as a new mum?
Nutrient Partitioning in Pregnancy: Why Your Body Feeds Baby First
Pregnancy is often described as miraculous — and when you look at how the body manages nutrients, it’s not hard to see why.
From the moment of implantation, your body begins a process called nutrient partitioning. It’s a biological strategy that ensures your baby gets the nutrients they need to grow, often even at your own expense.
Pregnancy Hormones: What’s Flooding Your Body (and Why)
Pregnancy is a time of astonishing transformation. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, your body becomes the setting for one of life’s greatest feats—creating and nurturing new life. But behind every physical change, every emotional wave, and every flutter of new sensation, there’s a powerful hormonal symphony playing just beneath the surface.
Vitamins & Supplements in Pregnancy: What’s Really Necessary?
Pregnancy comes with a whirlwind of advice – and it’s easy to feel unsure about what’s really essential. When it comes to vitamins and supplements, some are strongly recommended because they directly support your baby’s healthy development and your own wellbeing.
Delayed Cord Clamping: Benefits, 'Wait Until White', and NHS Guidance
Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is an evidence-based birth practice where the umbilical cord is not clamped immediately after delivery. Instead, healthcare professionals wait for at least one minute—or until the cord turns white and stops pulsating—before clamping. Supported by NHS and NICE guidance, DCC is increasingly standard in UK maternity care for its benefits to both term and preterm infants.
Understanding the Physiology of Labour: What to Expect
Pregnancy is a time of change—and with change can come anxiety, excitement, and uncertainty. Whether you're attending antenatal education in Tunbridge Wells or preparing from home with online antenatal classes, incorporating mindful breathing into your daily routine can offer a powerful anchor through it all.
The Benefits of Mindful Breathing in Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of change—and with change can come anxiety, excitement, and uncertainty. Whether you're attending antenatal education in Tunbridge Wells or preparing from home with online antenatal classes, incorporating mindful breathing into your daily routine can offer a powerful anchor through it all.
Why Iron Matters in the Third Trimester
As your baby grows rapidly in the final months, your blood volume expands by as much as 50%. This physiological shift helps deliver oxygen and nutrients through the placenta. But it also means your body needs significantly more iron — to produce enough haemoglobin to support both you and your baby.
Your First Antenatal Appointment: What to Expect
The first antenatal appointment—often called the booking appointment—typically happens between 8 and 10 weeks pregnant. It’s your official entry into maternity care and helps build the foundation for a healthy pregnancy.
Healing After Birth: A Guide to Perineal Care & Abdominal Birth Recovery
Bringing a baby into the world is an incredible experience, but your body also goes through significant changes and challenges. Whether you’ve had a vaginal birth with perineal tearing or an episiotomy, or a caesarean delivery, your body needs time, rest, and the right care to recover fully.
Hospital Bag Checklist: What You Really Need
Packing your hospital bag is one of the most exciting steps in preparing for birth. Whether you're planning a vaginal birth or a caesarean, having everything you need packed and ready by week 36-37 can help you feel organised and relaxed.
My Birth Story: Navigating a High-Risk Pregnancy and Preterm Labour
Bringing my second child into the world was a journey filled with unexpected challenges, emotional highs and lows, and ultimately, the deep satisfaction of overcoming adversity. My pregnancy was far from straightforward—marked by early complications, hospital stays, and a tough postpartum period—but it was also the experience that strengthened my passion for helping other women navigate pregnancy, birth, and beyond.