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Helpful Links

I am passionate about Choice, about women getting the information they need to make the best and most informed Choices for the wellbeing of themselves and their family.

One of the ways I have tried to do this has been to collect from customers and fellow practitioners the names and contacts of a whole range of people that can support women in pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. These people are so hard to find unless you know where to look.

Below is the sum of five years of collating. If it is not comprehensive it will certainly give you a start!

I have starred all practitioners that have been recommended by their customers or that I can personally recommend myself. If you have a practitioner you want to recommend then email me ruth@XYZAquabirthsAtHome.co.uk (remove the XYZ, that's just there to reduce spam).

Of course you will understand that from this point I cannot accept responsibility for what happens if you follow up on the contact here but don’t hesitate to let me know.

Agents - there are Aquabirths agents covering Cumbria, North Lancs, York, Selby, Doncaster, Sheffield and District, and Renfrewshire.

INFORMATION

Antenatal classes

Pregnancy & Beyond antenatal classes will provide you with comprehensive classes incorporating current information and research findings. All sessions are led by a registered, practising midwife, experienced in antenatal education. A variety of teaching methods are used, including small group discussions, practical sessions and informal www.pregnancyandbeyond.co.uk

Choices in Childbirth - with groups in Bradford, Leeds, Ilkley, Wakefield, York and spreading this is a popular meeting in people's homes where you can ask questions of the highly experienced midwife who co-facilitates the meeting. Specialist practitioners (homeopaths, osteopaths, etc - it's up to you to choose!) are also invited so that you can find out what you wnat to know. 0845 230 1381 - ask for Ruth.

www.aims.org.uk - Association for Improvements for Maternity Services. Aside from being an interesting website, AIMS are very supportive if your local NHS Trust make it difficult for you to have the birth you want.

www.radmid.demon.co.uk - The Association of Radical Midwives - another useful source of information, good for when you start getting fed up with the NHS 'party line'

www.midwivesonline.com - very useful information! Useful search engine for medical research on the childbirth.

www.homebirth.org.uk A compendium of information, research (in plain English), contacts and advice. Highly recommended. As with the AIMS website, it is a great source of information if (when) you are having to contend with the usual obstructionism from GPs as soon as you mention the subject of homebirth.

www.caesarean.org.uk/ and www.vbac.co.uk/ give access to information about caesareans and for those wanting a vaginal birth or homebirth after a previous caesarean section.

www.practicalparenting.co.uk The latest news, info and advice on everything from pregnancy to preschool.

www.themothermagazine.co.uk The magazine is very good value and full of information on a VERY wide range of issues surrounding birth and parenthood. Based in Cumbria and diverse and internationalist in its outlook with contributors from Australasia to North America and all points in between.

National Childbirth Trust for local support groups, antenatal classes, equipment and breastfeeding support. www.nct.org.uk Tel. 0870 444 8707

Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is the main unionised body for midwives in the UK. www.rcm.org.uk

MIDWIVES

birthyorkstorks@aol.com - York Storks are independent midwives based in Yorkshire but do work all over the north of England. 07799 038376. If you come to the Choices and Childbirth, childbirth support group you would probably meet Michelle, one of the York Storks.

www.independentbirth.com - The Wharfedale Independent Midwifery Practice. Based in Ilkley. 01943 884061. Again, they will cover a wider area within the north of England. They run the Ilkley meeting of the Choices group.

www.anneadamson.com Anne is based in North Yorkshire.

www.independentmidwives.org.uk - to find independent midwives in your area.

DOULAS

Emma Yates is a doula based in York, her website is www.doula.me.uk/ . She is also one of the several doulas in the Aquabirths Doula and a Pool Scheme. If you took her on as your Doula and then booked an Aquabirths pool, you would recieve a 10% discount on the pool hire.

Kate Reed in Cumbria, 015397 41407 - Mother, homeopath and Doula. If you took her on as your Doula and then booked an Aquabirths pool, you would recieve a 10% discount on the pool hire.

Jude Robinson of Doula By Nature www.doulabynature.co.uk Tel. 01942 671128 or 07845 992444. If you took her on as your Doula and then booked an Aquabirths pool, you would recieve a 10% discount on the pool hire. See a link in the Support for Parents page as she runs a homebirth group in the Wigan and Leigh area.

homeopaths, acupuncturists...

Homeopathy for Children - Di Seymour specializes in homeopathy for children and comes highly recommended. Don't be misled by the name - she does homeopathy for adults too. She is based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire and her number is 01422 846 554. Di has produced the instructions for the Little Birth Kitwww.littlebirthkits.com

Katie Bowden Homeopath is based in Rossendale, Lancashire. e mail her on katie.bowden@tiscali.co.uk
*Katie Reid is a homeopath and doula and birth pool agaent based in Kendal 015397 41407.

Stevie Welbourne, Homeopath, Mother of three children born at home, NCT Homebirth Co-ordinator, Leeds Choices leader, Tel. 0113 274 7966, Mob 0796 726 7677

**Kathy Presto, based in Leeds, homeopath repeatedly recommended by customers,

Jan Calvert is a registered homeopath who specialises in working with women during pregnancy and childbirth. She offers a preparation for childbirth consultation including a kit of Homeopathic Remedies for Childbirth. e-mail - jancalvert@ntlworld.com or click here to go to their website www.leedshomeopath.co.uk. Jan has also helped produce the Baby Kit and Childbirth Kit www.littlebirthkits.com

Homeopathic supplies www.littlebirthkits.com The Little Birth Kit Company sells homeopathic kits for birth, babies and children. There is also a kit especially for Caesarean births.

Stephen Hunter A much recommended acupuncturist based in Ilkley 01943 602177. Acupuncture and acupressure can be very useful both before, during and after birth.

YOGA & PILATES

I have found yoga in particular an excellent way to keep fit but more importantly learn the arts of birthing. The relaxation, visualisation, the positions for birth, breathing, turning inwards to yourself and your baby, are all gently learnt and nurtured in a yoga class and practiced each week. Below are the classes I know of with the starred ones coming recommended by myself or by customers:

*Jane Ayers, Wednesdays 2pm, 5pm and 7.30pm. At 159 Wyke Lane, West Yorkshire, BD12 9AH. Call 01274 676342. this is one of the ‘Wise Women’ of West Yorkshire and comes highly recommended.

*Elaine Shillitoe based at the Hope Centre, 9 Wragley house, Valley Road, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BZ. www.lightofhope.co.uk Call Elaine on 01422 842424 or email her : elaineshillitoe@hotmail.com Elaine also does baby massage , adult massage and reflexology.

*Gillian Shippey, Classes in Leeds and Ilkley. Website:
Call Gillian on 0785 500 4858 or email

*Yorkshire Yoga and Therapy Centre, Does weekly classes and weekend courses for couples, 9-10 Halfpenny Close, Knaresborough, Harrogate, HG5 0TG , Tel. 01423 864343, info@yorkshireyoga.co.uk , www.yorkshireyoga.co.uk

*Olivia Lester, based in Sheffield.

info@yogaco.co.uk - yoga for pregnant and post-natal mums.
Yorkshire Yoga & Therapy Centre, based in Knaresborough. 01423 864 343

HYPNOBIRTHING & HYPNOTHERAPY

This is a range of skills and techniques you and your birth partner can use to take away fear, relax, calm and visualise and gain the birth you want. The feedback from our customers plus the demonstrations we have observed at the groups we run, have convinced us that this is something we can recommend people consider seriously.

Therapists are listed below with whom we have come into contact. Some of these practitioners have immense experience of supporting women through birth and we have marked these with a double star.

* Lesley Okey, hypnotherapist and hypnobirthing practitioner. Runs classes for Surestart in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Tel. 07980 292450, Email: lesleywells@tiscali.co.uk

* Cheryl Mason, hypnoBirthing and acupuncture, runs regular weekend courses. Tel. 0113 3683777, Email Cheryl.mason@btopenworld.com, Website: www.cherylmason.co.uk

Sally Smith is a HypnoBirthing practitioner based between York and Northallerton. “HypnoBirthing teaches techniques for safe and more comfortable birthing through guided imagery, visualisation and special breathing techniques. When mind and body are in harmony and free from fear, nature is able to function as intended. Amongst the many advantages are the greatly reduced need for chemical pain killers, the shortening of the first stage of labour, early bonding and a more rapid post natal recovery. " Tel. 01845 501549, Email SallyAESmith@aol.com, website www.bodyinstincts.co.uk

* Sue Nicol, HypnoBirthing practitioner based in Wakefield area. Also setup and runs the Wakefield Choices in Childbirth network. Tel: 07791 498 314 or Wakefield 361872 Email : nicolfamily@hotmail.com

*Karen Riley of Hypnobirthing Yorkshire,, mother of three (one waterbirth), hypnotherapist and HypnoBirthing practitioner based in the Huddersfield area. Tel. 01422 373 321, Email: smiley.rileys@virgin.net www.hypnobirthingyorkshire.com/HYPNOBIRTHING-

Caroline Nester White based in Leeds

Renee Buchanan is a hyponotherapist based in Bridge of Allan near Stirling and can be contacted by e-mail on rb@yourlifepath.com or you can view her we sites www.yourlifepath.com or www.hypnobirthing.co.uk

NAPPIES, MATERNITY BRAS...

The Little Birth Kit Company www.littlebirthkits.com sells real nappies and eco-disposables which you can see before you buy. They also sell Bravado! maternity bras which are very comfortable and look gorgeous. Whilst on the subject, you can buy books and hire TENS machines at www.littlebirthkits.com

Clothing - for mum!
Blooming Bumps specialises in second hand maternity clothes from highstreet retailers at affordable prices. www.bloomingbumps.co.uk/

ORGANIZATIONS

La Leche League - Mums helping mums. Whilst a strength of the league is breast feeding support, this isn't all they do. There is a Bradford group - contact via. 0845 230 1381 at the moment!

There is also a very active and supportive Ilkley & Wharfedale group. They offer breast feeding support and information from accredited breastfeeding counsellors at the group or by telephone & e-mail. The group meets on the first Friday of the month at The Lower Hall, Christ Church, Ilkley, 10am-12 noon. Meetings are free but a donation would be welcome. Contact barbara@olicana.org (01943 430622) or ruth@auchterlounie.com

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