During the festive season of Darshain I was welcomed into a family home to experience the wonderful hospitality of Kathmandu. Families in Nepal are cross generational with Grandma’s next door, son’s of brother with sister-in-law and new born baby (only 7 days in this photo). In the family home there is mother and father, sisters and brothers.
Read MoreMy daughter, Austen, was born on her due date of 27 March this year after an almost 20-hour labour and forcep delivery in the end. I attended your classes 2-3 times a week from 16-38 weeks pregnant and I can honestly say that the techniques I learned there were invaluable in helping me get through what I’m told was quite a difficult labour.
Read MoreThe TENS machine is really good to start in early labour to help you relax and find a rhythm with your contractions. When labour gets stronger and more regular you will probably find you will need other comfort measures like massage and shower/bath
Read MoreDuring the wait, the baby was moving positions (posterior to anterior right) almost daily. I used the active birth positions to encourage the baby to turn. When I checked into hospital for the induction, the baby was on the left anterior side and I was 5 cm dilated (without any surges).
Read MoreOur beliefs, thoughts and emotions play an integral role in our actions and decision-making, they even affect our physiology every moment of the day. What we think and believe about birth matters. A positive image of birth is the cornerstone of a safe, happy birth experience. If you believe your body is meant to give birth efficiently, naturally and without complications and that birth is a joyful event, you are more than halfway to a safe, natural birth.
Read MoreRishikesh is a city in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River. The river is considered holy, and the city is renowned as a center for studying yoga and meditation. Temples and ashrams (centers for spiritual studies) line the eastern bank around Swarg Ashram, a traffic-free, alcohol-free and vegetarian enclave upstream from Rishikesh town.
Read MoreI went into early labour on a Monday evening, after a wonderful day of relaxing and enjoying some quiet alone time. The first emotion I felt was actually a bit of sadness about the end of pregnancy. I took a few moments to wish my baby well on her journey.
Read MoreYogababy Kids yoga is a fun, interactive class involving movement & yoga postures, breathing & relaxation. Kids learn how to be strong and calm, bringing their attention to the qualities of joy, safety and connection. Suitable for kids aged 5 - 12 years. Please bring along a yoga mat or towel.
Read MoreAfter having false labour just a week and a half before I wasn't too sure I was in labour. I'd been having irregular contractions on the day of the 2nd of August and at 1.30am I woke up to a strong one, thought nothing of it and went back to sleep. At 4.30 yuri got up for work and I told him I'd been having contractions through the night but I'd let him know if they were regular and he went to work. I couldn't get back to sleep and realised I was having them every 10 minutes and they were 30 seconds long.
Read MoreIt was great to teach the Pre/Postnatal yoga teacher training to the teachers at Yogafusion in August. They will be at the Belly Baby & Beyond Parenting Fair at the Wayville Showgrounds 13th and 14th November promoting their Pregnancy yoga classes that will start in October.
Read MoreOverall I would describe my labour as “very slow but steady”. It turns out that baby Zoe didn’t fully engage/descend until right at the end, so I feel like I laboured without the usual pressure on the cervix. This meant for me the first stage of labour was about 16 hours and the active stage was almost 9 hours.
Read MoreYogababy Kids yoga is a fun, interactive class involving movement & yoga postures, breathing & relaxation. Kids learn how to be strong and calm, bringing their attention to the qualities of joy, safety and connection. Suitable for kids aged 5 - 12 years.
Read MoreDuring labour, listen to, be patient and trust, your body will let you know what to do. I have found that while women draw heavily on the birthing skills we learn in the Active birth yoga classes, the one’s that cope well usually do more than what they have learned in class. They discover their own ways of adapting spontaneously to the increase of physical demand that active labour brings.
Read MoreIn August Suzanne travelled to Adelaide to teach an Active Birth skills workshop to Midwives, Physiotherapists and Yoga teachers. During the day we looked at the benefits of movement during labour, use of resting positions to aid relaxation and up right positions for progressing labour. The pregnant body is amazing in its capacity to know exactly what to do if we are able to manage our mind’s responses. Exploring the key concepts of mindfulness and pain management was an enjoyable part of the workshop.
Read MoreYour own postural awareness and habits in your last trimester can potentially encourage your baby to lie with his or her back to your left front/side (occipito anterior) so that the baby's head engages in the pelvic brim in this position. This will increase the potential for a normal and straightforward birth.
Read MoreLabour started on the evening of Easter Sunday at 40 weeks + 5 days. We had the last 'event' planned, although I (in my mind) had been making plans incase bub came in the last week of the school term (Easter hat parades, etc). Family members were heading home as I was starting to get contractions - uncomfortable but manageable. They were happening about every half an hour for about 30 seconds. So we headed to bed early to rest before the big event. I felt excited yet nervous.
Read MoreThe Fertility yoga program with Suzanne Swan will link your yoga practices to the moon cycle. When you understand the moon cycle rhythms and take the time to rest and replenish once a month, you will be recharging your creative potential and conserving your feminine powers.
Read MoreAfter attending Yogababy pregnancy and active birth classes before the birth of my first son Frederick, I was certain I wanted to do the same with my second. Having had an induction for medical reasons with Frederick, I was a little more realistic going into my second birth about how even the best preparation can send you on a different path through labour to motherhood and meeting your baby.
Read MoreA birth ball is simply an exercise ball that helps baby to rotate in labour. In pregnancy it is good to strengthen & balance and in labour it can help strengthen contractions. It's good to sit with your knees slightly lower than your hips so your in an anterior position with the pelvis. You an then make figure 8, circles, rocking and swaying movements to open the inlet of your pelvis so your baby can engage in the last weeks of your pregnancy.
Read MoreI initially attended yogababy active birth classes during my first pregnancy. Whilst my partner and I were the first of our family and friends to have a baby, I was a graduate midwife who felt like I knew a lot about birth and the early days of parenthood. Then I attended yogababy classes. I felt like I had not learnt anything about birth! Suzanne guided us through a yoga practice that included explorations into pelvic awareness, the stages of labour, the fourth trimester, self care and massage.
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