Why train to be a Calm Births Teacher?

Why Train to Be a Calm Births Hypnobirthing Teacher?

Are you passionate about supporting parents through one of the most transformative experiences of their lives? Becoming a Calm Births Teacher might be your calling!

Here’s why you should consider this journey:

Make a Positive Impact: Empower expectant parents with the tools and techniques they need for a calm, confident, and positive birth experience - no matter how it unfolds.

Spread Calm & Confidence: As a Calm Births teacher, you’ll be trained to guide families through relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and visualizations that reduce stress and enhance birth outcomes.

In-Depth Knowledge: Learn from expert instructors and gain a deep understanding of the physiology of birth, the power of the mind-body connection, and how to support clients every step of the way.

Flexibility & Freedom: With a Calm Births teaching certification, you can create a career that fits your lifestyle, whether you choose to teach full-time or part-time.

Be Part of a Supportive Community: Join a network of like-minded professionals who are committed to making childbirth a more peaceful, empowering experience.

Business Support: We will give you all the support and training you need to create and build your new business.

Change Lives: Help shift the narrative around birth, offering parents the tools to feel in control, reduce intervention, and have a more joyful experience.

Ready to help create calm, confident births for families everywhere? Start your journey to becoming a Calm Births Hypnobirthing Teacher today! 🌟 Check our Training page to see when you can take our weekend training course.

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How can you help as a birth partner?

How a Birth Partner Can Support Hypnobirthing

A birth partner is a crucial part of the hypnobirthing journey, offering love, strength, and support every step of the way. Here’s how you can make a difference during the big day:

Offer Comforting Touch: Gentle massage or hand-holding can help calm and reassure, providing comfort and a sense of safety.

Encourage Positive Affirmations: Using positive, calming words and affirmations that you have learnt and practiced together can help maintain focus and relaxation.

Help with Relaxation Techniques: Guide your partner through breathing exercises and relaxation techniques learned in hypnobirthing classes. Your calm presence can amplify the impact of these techniques!

Stay Present & Calm: Your ability to stay relaxed and composed will create a supportive atmosphere for both you and your partner. Hypnobirthing is all about minimizing fear and anxiety – and your peaceful energy is key!

Advocate for the Birth Plan: Being informed and supportive of the birth plan allows you to advocate for choices, ensuring the birth environment is aligned with your partner's wishes.

Remember: Your presence and involvement can make all the difference, helping your partner feel empowered, loved, and confident as they bring new life into the world, no matter how your baby decides to arrive.

Our four week courses are designed for both birthing Mum and birth partner, to give you BOTH a full set of skills and techniques to remain feeling calm and in control during your baby's birth. Check out our ‘Find a Teacher’ page to find classes near you.

Pregnancy sickness

Pregnancy and Sickness: Understanding the Challenges and Coping Strategies

Pregnancy is often described as a time of great joy and anticipation, but for many women, it can also be a time of physical discomfort. Morning sickness, which is typically associated with early pregnancy, affects many expectant mothers, and while it's usually temporary, it can be tough to handle. If you're going through this, you're not alone. Let’s explore pregnancy-related sickness, why it happens, and ways to cope with it, including how hypnobirthing techniques, like those offered by Calm Births, can support your journey.

What is Morning Sickness?

Despite the name, morning sickness doesn’t just happen in the morning—it can occur at any time of day and even last all day for some women. Morning sickness refers to nausea and vomiting that typically occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is believed to be linked to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, particularly the increase in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and oestrogen levels.

While the exact cause isn't fully understood, several factors contribute to morning sickness, such as:

• Hormonal fluctuations: As pregnancy hormones surge, they can upset the stomach, leading to nausea.

• Increased sensitivity to smells: Pregnant women often experience heightened senses of smell, which can trigger nausea when exposed to certain odors.

• Changes in metabolism: The body is working harder to support a growing foetus, and this can affect digestion and cause stomach discomfort.

How Long Does Morning Sickness Last?

For most women, morning sickness peaks around the 9th week of pregnancy and gradually subsides by the 12th to 14th week. However, some women may experience it for a shorter period, while others may find it lasts longer, extending into the second trimester. A small number of women may even experience severe nausea and vomiting throughout their entire pregnancy, a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum, which may require medical intervention.

Beyond Morning Sickness: Other Types of Pregnancy Sickness

While morning sickness is the most common form of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, other issues may arise during pregnancy that can also make women feel unwell:

• Heartburn and indigestion: As the uterus expands, it presses against the stomach, which can cause acid reflux and discomfort.

• Fatigue: Early pregnancy can leave you feeling exhausted, as your body adjusts to the changes required to support a growing baby.

• Headaches: Hormonal changes, dehydration, and stress can contribute to headaches during pregnancy.

• Dizziness: As blood volume increases, blood pressure can fluctuate, causing feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness.

Coping Strategies for Pregnancy Sickness

While pregnancy sickness can feel overwhelming, there are several ways to ease the discomfort and make it more manageable.

1. Eat Small, Frequent Meals

Instead of having three large meals, try eating small meals throughout the day. This can help keep blood sugar levels stable and prevent nausea. Focus on bland, easy-to-digest foods such as crackers, toast, or rice. Avoiding overly spicy or greasy foods can also help keep nausea at bay.

2. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can worsen nausea and vomiting, so it’s important to drink plenty of water. Sipping on fluids throughout the day can be easier on your stomach than drinking large amounts at once. You might also try ginger tea or electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated and reduce nausea.

3. Get Fresh Air

Sometimes, a little fresh air is all it takes to alleviate nausea. A short walk outside or simply sitting by an open window can help. Some women find that a gentle breeze or being in nature can provide comfort during bouts of sickness.

4. Rest and Relax

Fatigue is a common side effect of pregnancy, and exhaustion can exacerbate nausea. Make sure to take naps and prioritize rest. Stress can also make symptoms worse, so try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation to calm your mind and body.

One way to address stress is through hypnobirthing. This practice focuses on using relaxation and visualization techniques to promote calm and reduce anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth. Calm Births Hypnobirthing offers courses designed to guide you through pregnancy, helping you manage both physical discomfort and emotional stress. By learning to stay calm and centered, you can reduce the impact of pregnancy sickness on your overall experience.

5. Avoid Triggers

Certain smells, foods, or environments may trigger nausea. If you know there are specific things that set off your symptoms, try to avoid them as much as possible. This may involve asking others to avoid strong perfumes or cooking smells around you or adjusting your environment to make it more comfortable.

6. Consider Ginger and Vitamin B6

Some studies suggest that ginger may help alleviate nausea, so incorporating ginger tea, ginger chews, or ginger ale into your routine might provide some relief. Vitamin B6 supplements are another option that some pregnant women find helpful for managing morning sickness. Always check with your midwife before taking any supplements.

7. Seek Medical Help If Necessary

In some cases, morning sickness can become severe or even progress into hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition characterized by excessive vomiting and dehydration. If you find that you're unable to keep food or liquids down or are losing weight, it’s essential to contact your healthcare provider immediately. They may recommend prescription medication or other treatments to help manage your symptoms.

When to Call Your Doctor

While morning sickness is common and usually not a cause for concern, there are times when you should reach out to your doctor or midwife:

• Severe dehydration: If you’re unable to drink fluids or keep food down, or if you notice signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dark urine, dizziness), seek medical attention right away.

• Hyperemesis gravidarum: If vomiting is persistent, severe, and accompanied by weight loss, this may require medical intervention.

• Other unusual symptoms: If you experience fever, abdominal pain, or spotting in addition to your nausea and vomiting, consult your healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation.

Final Thoughts

Pregnancy-related sickness can be a challenging part of the pregnancy journey, but remember, it’s usually temporary. With the right self-care practices, support from your healthcare team, and a little patience, you’ll get through it. If you're struggling, consider incorporating relaxation and visualization techniques from Calm Births Hypnobirthing to help manage stress and discomfort. These tools can not only assist with sickness but also prepare you for the birth process ahead.

The most important thing is to listen to your body, take it easy when you need to, and remind yourself that this phase will pass—usually by the time you reach the second trimester. Until then, take it one day at a time and remember that it's all a part of bringing new life into the world.

Calm Births empowering families!

A word we use a LOT at Calm Births is empowerment.

One of our main drivers is to empower families to achieve positive, calm births. Our other goal and passion is to empower people to share their skillset and become amazing hypnobirthing teachers themselves, who can then in turn empower people in their own communities. It’s an amazing cycle!

The two processes are surprisingly not that different - with parents-to-be we are educating them in the process of birth, and giving them specific techniques that they can use in any situation where they feel anxious or out of control. We offer them support specific to their individual circumstances and hold their hand until they are holding their baby in their arms.

With teachers-to-be, with fully educate them in birth, hypnobirthing and antenatal education. We give them a specific syllabus to use that works, we give them specific tools that work to build a business and we hold their hand all the way along their journey to becoming successful in their new businesses.

In both areas, we are people’s cheerleaders, we’re giving them accurate, evidence based information and arming them with it, and holding their hands on their special journeys.

It’s what makes us tick and we love it!

To find a hypnobirthing teacher near you just look here. Or to learn more about becoming a hypnobirthing teacher look here x

Hypnobirthing in Dorset - an interview with Dr Michelle Irving

We are very proud at Calm Births to have a teacher as experienced in the birth world as Dr Michelle Irving. She is a Mum of 2, an experienced practising Midwife with a PhD in Midwifery, and lectures at Bournemouth University. Michelle offers one to one or group Calm Births hypnobirthing courses in and around Poole, Dorset. I recently caught up with Michelle to chat about her journey to hypnobirthing:

All of our teachers have different journeys that bring them to hypnobirthing, what was yours?

My journey into hypnobirthing started as a midwife working with women who were using hypnobirthing and having incredible births, they were transformed and empowered and therefore equipped to be effective parents.

What's your favourite thing about being a hypnobirthing teacher?

I love being able to teach women/couples and help them become empowered - teaching about how their bodies work, what they can do to achieve calm and understand the process of birth, birth hormones and biomechanics and the birth environment.

How do you think Covid has affected pregnant people?

I think for many people the pandemic has made them feel vulnerable and isolated. I have spoken to people who felt somewhat abandoned by the maternity services and anxious about not having their partners present for scans, appointments or early labour. People tell me they are cautious about face to face contact, but also miss real world interactions.

What would your top tips be for preparing for birth for parents to be?

Join a childbirth education/hypnobirthing class

Fix your fears

Achieve and maintain health through nutrition, activity and mindfulness

Make informed decisions about your care - know about the medical interventions, their pros, cons and alternatives

Find your support

Stay active and relaxed in labour

Use water and massage

Those are great tips! What would your top tips for preparing for parenthood be?

Keep it simple - eat, sleep, relax, repeat

Plan a babymoon - stay home and rest and recuperate with your baby

Keep your baby close

Ask for support

Thank you so much Michelle, and how can people find out more about you and your courses?

I have a website www.bestbirths.co.uk where people can find out more about me as well as being on Instagram and Facebook.

You can also find Michelle’s profile on our ‘Find your teacher’ page.

Hypnobirthing in Reading, Berkshire

With 40+ Calm Births Hypnobirthing teachers around the UK and four just in the Reading area alone, we’ve got you covered! We are super lucky in the Reading area to have four qualified Hypnobirthing instructors ready to take you on your journey to achieve a positive, calm birth.

Calm Births is very privileged to be one of only three hypnobirthing companies in the UK who are accredited by the Royal College of Midwives, so you can rest assured that our teachers are trained to a very high standard and give you good, evidence based knowledge based on science (and passion!)

So let’s introduce you to your hypnobirthing teachers offering courses in Reading:

Katie (far left in picture) - is a Mum of two gorgeous girls, also a certified Life Coach and teaches parents in and around the Spencers Wood area. Katie began her hypnobirthing journey when she joined Calm Births classes as a Mum-to-be herself. Using the Calm Births techniques empowered her to have two wonderful, relaxed and positive births and she is now very passionate about sharing these skills with other parents-to-be in the area. Katie teaches both 1:1 and groups both live and virtually. You can see Katie’s website at Mind Body Mother Hypnobirthing.

Sarah (second from left in picture) - similarly to Katie, Sarah began her journey to hypnobirthing with her first pregnancy during which she took Calm Births classes. Sarah went on to have two very positive birth experiences and now loves to share this knowledge with parents in and around the Aldermaston area. Sarah is also a Paediatric Nurse and practising Health Visitor, and so comes with a real wealth of wisdom and knowledge about all things baby! You can get in touch with Sarah by email at: hello@islandbirthco.com

Linda (third from left in picture) - Linda has 20+ years experience in the birth world as an antenatal educator and Doula, empowering and supporting parents to be with education and passion. Linda also runs the very popular Reading homebirth support group which you can see here. She runs classes from her home in Woodley or virtually for those further away. You can see Linda’s website at Woodley Hypnobirthing.

Hannah (far right in picture) - Hannah is the founder of Calm Births, having used her 10 years experience as a Midwife and subsequent career as a Hypnotherapist as the basis for the creation of the course (that and having her own three babies!). Hannah teaches from her home in Burghfield Common, or happily via Zoom to people further afield. She now also trains other passionate people to become Calm Births instructors around the country. To see some more information about Hannah just see her page here.

So you see - any pregnant people in Reading looking for hypnobirthing classes are pretty well covered by our amazing team! For a full list of instructors around the UK you can click here.

What do I need to have ready for baby?

Much like the Hospital Bag scenario, it's really difficult to know exactly what you really need to have ready for baby's arrival, and what's surplus to requirements! There are so many things that you will be told that you absolutely MUST have for baby, the latest gadgets and gismos to make life easier. 

Everyone is different and chooses to live their lives differently, and that's what makes life interesting, but I personally believe that the majority of those gadgets and gismos for baby actually just make life more complicated and cluttered. 

So what do you actually need? Well a baby needs to be warm, fed, changed, loved and to sleep. Those are the things it actually needs. So with that in mind:

Clothes - well, yes. You'll need lots of vests, babygrows and hats. Depending on the time of year, they might also need a snowsuit to snuggle in for being outside (but this should be removed when they're in their car seat - see some guidelines on that here). It's always difficult to know if baby is warm enough, the best way to tell is to feel their chest or their back, it should just feel the same warmth as you. 

Food - if you're planning to breastfeed you've already got everything you need. If you're going to formula feed then you'll need formula, bottles, teats and a way to sterilise. You can get sucked into gadgetry here but you really don't need to. The easiest way to keep bottles sterile is to buy the traditional sterilising tablets and have a bowl in the kitchen with it in (replaced every 24 hours), and put bottles into it after you've washed them after each use. Then you've always got a sterile bottle ready to go, at the right temperature. If you buy a microwave steriliser, they are great but if you need a bottle NOW (which can happen!!) then it will be too hot straight after use and you'll have to wait for it to cool down. Ever tried explaining to a hungry baby that it needs to wait patiently???!!!!  And I will sound like my Mother now, but room temperature is right for baby as that is how your milk comes if you were breastfeeding. If you ever offer baby warmed milk you're really setting yourself up for trouble - be warned!!!! 

Also in the food category I would say Muslins - you cannot have enough muslins, you'll need one in every room and one in your changing bag. Baby's throw up, often on you when you're out! They also dribble whilst feeding or just after, having a mussy tucked under their chin or to hand to mop up is great. Buy lots of these!!!

Changing - The bag. God people spend £££££'s on changing bags! I've always found that a nice big handbag with lots of pockets is fine, it doesn't have to be an official 'changing bag' to serve it's purpose! 

You'll obviously need nappies (buy shares in these!), some people prefer cloth and some prefer disposable - it's your choice. Warm water and cotton wool is the gentlest way to clean baby's bottom, but this isn't practical when you're out so you will need wipes if you ever want to leave the house. I do strongly suggest buying a tub of vaseline, if you apply this generously to baby's bottom and bits after each nappy change, you will avoid nappy rash - it also means that poo doesn't stick to their skin and comes off easily. You're welcome. 

Sleeping - Again this comes down to choice, but baby is safe to co-sleep with you under usual circumstances, and you cannot spoil a newborn baby. Just because they co-sleep with you for the first couple of months of their lives (or longer), doesn't mean that they'll be 12 and sleeping in your bed. However it is important to be armed with the facts on co-sleeping, and you can find those with the Lullaby Trust. There are lots of options to have baby in your room and very close to you if you prefer not to co-sleep, such as a Moses basket next to your bed.

Baby will need other things as time goes on, but you will discover what you would like to have for him or her as you go along. You'll want a play mat or something that you can lay baby down on, but you won't need this immediately. 

The first few weeks baby will just need to be close to you - slings are amazing for this, and most (but not all) babies will be happy to just be in the sling with you whilst you are out and about. There are lots of sling libraries popping up now where you can try different types out to see how you like them before you buy one. 

When out and about you'll also want a car seat and a pram - this is pretty overwhelming for most of us, just have a play with things until you find the one that works for you. But please don't fall into the trap of carrying baby around everywhere in the car seat, it's not good for them and it's not good for your back! 

And finally: Love. And I'm pretty sure you've got that covered.

How to shorten your labour by eating dates!

So we've been talking about the importance of eating Dates in the last month of pregnancy for several months now at Calm Births. So I thought it about time to actually sit down and take a look at the evidence!

So what's all this about eating dates? You may or not have heard but eating 6 dates per day will:

Lessen your chances of needing induction and make your labour shorter.

Woah there! Stop the press! What?! This is incredible news! So there have been a few good studies on this in the last few years and they all reached the same conclusions.

It is thought by Alkoran et al (2017) that date fruit 'probably influenced oxytocin receptors, caused more effective contractions, and better prepared the cervix for delivery'. Our ability to respond to Oxytocin (or, the 'hormone of love' as it's known) increases during pregnancy, and we produce more of it. All that lovely Oxytocin then encourages our uterine muscles to surge in order to ripen and open the cervix. So if dates are enhancing that process, then happy days! 

So as well as women being statistically more likely to go into spontaneous labour, they are also, according to these studies, going to be:

More dilated when arriving at a hospital/birth centre, more likely to have a vaginal birth and less likely to have a post-partum haemorrhage. 

Khadem et al (2007) found that 'date fruit has an oxytocin-like effect, leading to the increased sensitivity of the uterus, stimulating uterine contractions and reduces mean post partum haemorrhage'. 

The evidence is there, and reassuringly all studies conclude that Dates are beneficial for women during late pregnancy, as they reduce the need for intervention and there are no adverse effects on Mother or child. 

So - 6 dates a day from 36 weeks ladies! Ok, so admittedly dates aren't the most visually appealing fruit, and I know a lot of you are thinking yes but.. euughhh!!

So here are a few ideas for you on how to jazz them up a bit to eat them!

1. You can chop them up on cereal for a quick dose in the morning

 2. Some of these smoothies sound delish

3. Sticky toffee date cake? Yes please! 

4. A date and walnut cake, yum.

5. This super healthy Mongolian Beef recipe. 

I'd love to know how you get on with the date eating, has it worked for you? Have you any great recipes for Dates? I'd love to read your comments! x 

The Hospital Bag.

"What should I pack in my hospital bag? "

This is a question that looms in the minds of many Mums to be  - there is so much information out there about what you absolutely must have in your hospital bag. There are lists on Pinterest, there are pages on websites, there are helpful friends and family telling you what you MUST have - it can all feel a little overwhelming and can become quite a thing to fixate on and worry about.

The struggle is real..

In my years as a Midwife and after three babies of my own (who were born at home, but still all had a hospital bag packed from 37 weeks just in case) I have learnt what is actually essential in your bag - it's so easy to get carried away with this, with all the various lists out there on the interweb! So thought it might be helpful to share my basic hospital bag list - this is the stuff you need, everything else is just extras. Keep it basic, you're not going to Outer Mongolia. 

For Mum:

Your handheld notes - you will definitely need these.

Maternity Pads - these are the massive surf board ones - it's very important to use these and not the regular sanitary pads as they are designed for the Midwives (and you) to be able to monitor your blood loss after birth, if it's all absorbed in a pad it's more tricky. 

Comfy PJ's / Nightie that you can snuggle into after birth, preferably ones that you can snuggle baby into the front of too for some lovely skin to skin cuddles (and to breastfeed if you are choosing to)

MASSIVE comfy pants - literally buy a size or two bigger than usual of pants like you're Granny would wear. You'll appreciate it trust me. It also helps to house those massive pads!

Normal toiletries (shower gel, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, hairbrush/band) - even if you plan to go straight home after baby has been born (you'll be recommended to wait at least 6 hours), a shower and a teeth clean will feel like heaven afterwards.

Lip balm - it's really normal for your lips and mouth to get really dry if using gas & air.

Snackage - This should be the first priority in my mind!!!! But seriously, do take little snacks that might take your fancy during labour to keep your energy up, like jelly babies or snack bars, and also juice cartons or energy drinks. Don't forget, you're not planning on going to the Moon to have your baby, so there will always be a little shop/vending machine you can use if you need to! 

Nipple cream - obvs only if you're planning to breasfeed! But buy a good one like Lansinoh because in my experience nothing else even comes close.

An open mind - this is so important. To enter into labour and birth with an open mind and a 'go with the flow' attitude will serve you so well. Trust in the process and your body, trust in nature to take it's course and be open to however it all pans out. There is no right or wrong way to give birth. There is just birth. 

For Baby:

Nappies - obvs. Put a whole pack in. Trust me on that one.

Clothes - obvs again, but don't underestimate how many clothes a small thing can get through in a short space of time! To be totally safe take 5 or 6 of: vests, babygrows and hats.

Muslins - again you will not believe how many of these you might get through, put at least 5 in.

Baby wipes/Cotton wool - it is known to be better for baby's skin to use cotton wool and warm water to wipe their bottom and the hospital will have top and tail bowls for you to use for that. However the first few meconium poos are a nightmare to wipe, and in those instances baby wipes are much easier! 

Vaseline - if you cover baby's bottom and bits with vaseline after each clean, it makes the poo not stick to the skin and therefore much easier to clean. You're welcome.

A boob / A bottle - If you're not sure how you're planning to feed, you will already have a boob with you and you can always send someone out for formula! (This is where those muslins come in handy for dribbly feeders and also modesty)

Phone charger - to keep the juice on your phone for those all important calls & social media announcements!

Love - to give in abundance.

For Birth Partner:

Change - for car parks or vending machines

Toiletries - you might be there for a while and want to freshen up yourself, so pop in a spare toothbrush, deodorant etc.

Spare t-shirt - it gets REALLY hot in hospital, and you might feel a bit gross if you're there for a while!

Snacks - hell hath no fury like a pregnant woman when you've stolen her snacks. Keep your own stash!!

Phone charger - because you'll be taking a zillion photo's of your new baby!

Encouragement - telling your partner that they are loved, safe and doing an amazing thing will really spur her on and help her. You can't say these things too much in my opinion.

Just in case the thought of getting everything together is a bit stressful, I've put all the things you'll need for labour and the immediate postnatal period together in a convenient bag for you! You can read about your pre-packed birth bags here. x 

Ask the Midwife

It is a sad but true fact, that in many NHS Trusts throughout England, maternity services are unable to offer women the continuity of care they need and deserve due to lack of staff and funding. I'm pretty sure I can speak for all Midwives when I say this hurts them as much as it hurts you, as they all know and understand the benefits of continuity of care, but for reasons beyond their control, are unable to offer it. I say this as a former Midwife, who loved nothing more than the picturesque ideal of 'Call the Midwife' where we could build a close relationship with the women in our care, and be with them at the births of their babies understanding their worries, needs and wants.  What happens now, in most areas (although there are a lucky few areas who have amazing community teams who can actually offer the ideal) is that women see a different Midwife at each antenatal appointment, and yet another one (or more) at the birth of their baby. 

This could very easily turn into an essay on how damaging that is for a Woman's experience of birth, but I am not here to slate our NHS - our Midwives, support staff and Gynae staff do amazing jobs under really shit conditions.

There is a problem for our women though, in that due to that lack of a close relationship or easy access to a Midwife, many women are sitting at home fretting about what they deem to be 'silly' questions about their pregnancies. There are dedicated phone lines in the maternity units, but women often feel daunted by calling them as the lines are busy, or they feel that their question is too small. This can really ruin a woman's experience of pregnancy, particularly for those who are anxious. 

Something I have discovered recently though is the most amazing tool for women designed by Midwife Hannah Harvey. Her very clever app: 'Ask the Midwife' is designed to combat this - it is a tool for women to ask any question they need to about pregnancy to an actual Midwife and get a very quick and evidence based response. I had a chat with Hannah recently and this is what she said:

Can you describe the Ask the Midwife App to me Hannah?

"Ask The Midwife is the UK’s first health advice app designed and run be registered midwives for women and their families. You can download the app, ask any questions you have about pregnancy, birth and beyond and get a fast, professional and friendly response from a registered midwife."

Can you tell us a bit about you and how you came to do this?

"I have been a Midwife for 5 years, and have always had an interest in digital health and how it can benefit women and families. A study showed that 84% of women use the internet for health advice in pregnancy, and most of the time this isn’t from credible sources. I wanted to create a solution that would mean everyone had access to professional advice online, to dissuade people from using Google and parenting forums as a source of information. In my local trust I developed Facebook groups and a Twitter page to improve maternity user experience in our NHS Trust, and won an innovation award for it in 2014. Following on from that, I wanted to be able to offer digital health services to users across the whole of the UK, and hopefully internationally at some point as well. This is how Ask The Midwife was born!"

Why do you think this App is needed right now?

"We live in a time now where everyone has smart phones, and people use social media and digital services like apps and web sites all the time. Digital Health is a brand new phenomenon, but one that is taking off at a drastic rate, because it is fast, easily accessible and credible. We have already been able to offer reassurance and guidance to so many expectant parents, and it is becoming evident how much a service like this is needed, by how quickly the app has taken off and how many people are using it."

Is any question too small or silly?

"No question is too small or silly for us. We actually get lots of questions that I have never been asked as a Midwife in clinical practice, which suggests to me that there are questions that women feel are too silly/small to ask face to face, so it is really great to see them being asked via the app. It means we are providing a service that is really needed, and people are able to get their anxieties and worries out to a professional and have the reassurance they need. If you think your question is silly, it isn’t. We will always be at the other end of the app waiting to answer any questions you have, bog or small."

 

How can people get the App, and what will they pay for it?

"The app is free to download on iOS. We are planning to launch Ask The Midwife on Android and on our website in 2017. Once you have downloaded, you get one free question and then after that you can pay anything from £1.99 for an Ask - up to £24.99 for one months unlimited use."

 

You can find out more at the Ask The Midwife website - and take advantage of the January sale, with unlimited access for £17!