Lorraine Berry

midwife

Lorraine Berry, is our resident midwife - she's here to answer all your conception and birth related questions.

I am Lorraine Berry, an experienced qualified Midwife (13 years and counting!), a leading provider of Natal Hypnotherapy hypnosis for birth (Founder Practitioner) and also run my own pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding classes trading under the name of Birth Affinity I am also a mum to three boys age 5, 3 and 9 months - I like to keep busy!!

I am passionate about pregnancy and birth and helping families to have good experiences of childbearing. I strongly believe that birth should not be something to feel frightened, anxious or distressed about, and that good antenatal advice, information and support should be readily available to help women and their partners feel empowered, confident and relaxed.  I see birth partners as vital support during pregnancy and birthing.  Although you might not be experiencing the physical sensations of birtaim your emotional state can have a huge impact on the birth.  If you are anxious or stressed, your raised adrenaline can have a hugely negative impact on the progress of labour and birth itself. So it is incredibly important, I feel, that partners emotional and information needs are met during the antenatal period too. This is why my workshops are directed at your needs, as well as your partners, to help you effectively manage any fears, stress or anxieties and enable you to have a confident start to parenthood too.  My aim is to get birthing couples feeling more confident and trusting in the natural, emotional journey through birth, as well as being more deeply trusting and accepting of their own feelings and instincts about how best to birth their babies.

Although an ardent advocate of natural birthing, I am more than aware that this is not necessarily the path that every labour and birthing will take and that intervention saves lives.  I am essentially "pro-choice", ensuring that decision making is in light of the full facts, balanced information and taking into account all the emotional and personal experiences of each individual.  In certain circumstances, an elective Caesarian section can be the most appropriate decision to make, though another family in similar circumstances may opt for a birth with an epidural, and yet another for homebirth.  There is no "ultimate" way to give birth, only what feels right for you, your partner and your baby, and I feel it is my role to help families have the confidence and self belief to make these choices for themselves. My experience has taught me ways to minimise the chances of intervention being needed, how to avoid it when it is unnecessary and how to work with it when it is needed to preserve the health and wellbeing of mum and / or baby. I am keen to share these positive methods, so that women and their partners have effective ways of retaining a sense of control and are able to remain calm and relaxed whatever happens during their birthing journey, feeling satisfied and elated however and wherever their baby is born.

I am happy to answer your conception, pregnancy, birth and postnatal queries, but emphasise that this does not in any way replace the advice of your care providers. If your partner has any urgent pregnancy or birth concerns, such as any bleeding in pregnancy, pain, think the waters may have broken, think labour may have started or are in any way worried or concerned about your baby's movement patterns or baby's / partners health and wellbeing, you should contact your care provider IMMEDIATELY.