Bloom and Flow

Today’s bump and buggy walk was a fantastic turn out! 12 mums, lots of buggies, lots of babies, a couple of toddlers, my kids, my mum and my nephew!

These events are completely free, you don’t need to book on, just turn up at 10am and make some new friends.

Our next walk is Friday 11th September in Ebbsfleet meeting at Weldon Heart Grounded - Coffee • Community • Wellness

Mercedez had a water birth at Darent Valley birth centre for her first baby, Esme. She came along to my weekly pregnancy yoga classes in Dartford as part of her birth prep:

I thought it would be nice to share my birth story with you – as I know so many other people did and it was nice to be on the receiving end of hearing these.

We welcomed our daughter Esme on 1st October at 4.58pm. She arrived at 40 weeks + 4 days, weighing 7lbs13 – and of course we are very much in love.

Labour began naturally at home with contractions that gradually built up. I used a comb, a hot water bottle, and the TENS machine to get through each wave, along with a couple of warm baths and the yoga ball.

During labour and contractions, I had to dig deep and find a strength I didn’t know I had. I truly believe that moving my body through yoga, practicing breathwork, and being part of a supportive community — where everyone shared their experiences, your knowledge in response to these, and the birth stories — taught me so much and helped me stay calm, focused, and able to have the water birth I had hoped for.

The midwives on the birthing centre at DVH were incredible. They checked how we wanted things done, from the s*x announcement to the physiological placenta delivery. Being in the water helped everything feel less invasive and allowed labour to progress naturally.

The not-so-good part was that after delivering my placenta, I didn’t stop bleeding and needed emergency surgery. But because my baby girl had arrived safely, as I’d envisioned, and she was healthy, it was easier to go through with that part and stay calm during my recovery.

Now we’re home and settling into our new rhythm — so grateful for how it all unfolded and for everything I learned through yoga that helped me prepare, stay calm, and trust my body.

Thank you so much for all that you do and for providing such a supportive space — and to the group for sharing this journey with me. I look forward to joining you again, hopefully for mum and baby yoga 🙂 and maybe for some me time yoga too! x

💕

Our Crisis Cafe is open every day from 6pm to 10pm, including Bank Holidays.

You are not alone; let's navigate this journey together! It is a drop-in service - so no need for an appointment.

Whether you are going through a tough time or need someone to talk to, our trained staff are here to listen, provide guidance and offer support.

You can find us at: 2a Devonshire Road, Bexleyheath DA6 8DS

Free bump and buggy walk in Kent! Come along for our next walk, this time at Bluewater nature trail. We will meet at 10am, near the play ground outside Zizis (Park near the village / Oak tree Avenue, or catch the bus). We will then do a couple of loops of the nature trail, after that you are welcome to keep walking, play in the playground or go for a coffee.

All are welcome, even if you have never done a class with me before. Suitable for pregnancy, babies, toddler and older kids - I will be there with my two.

I run these walks as I know how important it is to have a destination and place to be, to move your body as well as have some adult conversation. So please join us and tell your friends! 💕

A temperature drop (at last) means a more energetic practice at pregnancy yoga today 🧘🏻‍♀️

Join me in class:

Pregnancy yoga in Dartford - Mondays at 7pm
Pregnancy yoga in Darenth - Saturdays at 10am
Mum and baby yoga in Dartford - Wednesdays at 10am

Photos from my recent retreat day! I love running these as I know how important it is to take some time out from being a mum - to do something for yourself and to have fun.

This day is so wholesome - no alcohol, home by mid afternoon and includes exercise and mindfulness.

Thank you to everyone who joined me, and Inn on the Lake for hosting us 💕

My next group hypnobirthing course starts next Tuesday on 18th August - and I’d love to welcome you on to the course! At Bloom & Flow, based in Dartford, Kent, our group hypnobirthing classes are the perfect way to prepare for a calm, confident birth while connecting with other parents-to-be in your local area. Whether you’re planning to give birth at Darent Valley Hospital, Maidstone Birth Centre, Medway Hospital, the PRUH, or Pembury, these classes will give you practical tools and mindset techniques to help you feel empowered and relaxed wherever your birth takes place.

Our group sessions combine evidence-based education, relaxation, breathwork, and positive mindset techniques so you can approach labour with trust in your body and confidence in your birth choices. You’ll learn how to stay calm and in control during labour, how your birth partner can support you effectively, and how to make informed decisions along the way.

This four week course is a full antenatal education giving you all of the tools needed for a calm and more comfortable birth. There are a couple of spaces left, dm me for more info or book on my website. 💕

I’ve been teaching my pregnancy yoga classes and mum and baby yoga classes at the local community centers in Dartford for five years now. I picked these halls because they are affordable (helping to keep my prices low) provide free teas to the mums after class, have enough space for buggies and free parking. Plus the rental money from classes goes towards important community projects.

However, over the summer months I’ve seen my bookings take a hit. No one wants to exercise when it’s hot, especially when there’s no air con.

I’ve been writing to our local council since May asking about investing in the halls, as they own them. Not just for air con but a general tidy up too. The halls look like they’ve not been decorated or upgraded for several years.

After not much success with Dartford council I wrote to our local mp Jim Dickson, who not only wrote back to me he also came to class to see the hall and chat to some of the mums. He had some good ideas of what can be done about the community centres so let’s see what happens next 🤞🏽

Hannah attended my pregnancy yoga classes in Dartford in preparation for her second baby. After a previous pre-term c-section she was classed as high risk, and was told she could potentially have another pre-term baby. After advocating for herself Hannah went on to have an induced labour at full term, and then a VBAC water birth!

If you would like to prepare for birth with me I offer:

Pregnancy yoga on Mondays at 7pm in Dartford, and Saturdays at 10am in Darenth

Group Hypnobirthing course: Tuesday August 18th, 25th, September 1st and 8th. A four week antenatal course in Dartford

To book head to my website or dm me for more info 💕

Background: Previous emergency c section at 33 weeks due to HELLP syndrome.

My birth story:

I knew I wanted a whole new experience this time round so when I started to have results of high dopplers and it was looking likely I was going to be induced or have a c section anytime after 34ish weeks, I started my research on VBAC’s and ‘soft c-sections’, the former being my preference. Most of the professionals I spoke to at Medway hospital were very supportive of VBAC’s, but given my history, were very informative about the risks I would be taking.

I took all of the information home with me and did my own research, before coming to a conclusion that I was happy to take the risks, given the stats that I was presented with. I started to draft my two birth plans, a VBAC, and an unplanned C section. Both of my plans involved prematurely giving birth so I had to be very open to things changing on the day, and that more medical interference may be needed. However, I was convinced to face those situations as they came, and to not be treated as a ‘patient’, just because of my previous experience.

I advocated for myself and I asked to have a meeting with a consultant midwife, who would ensure my plans were recorded in the system and on my file. This way if any emergency situations happened, they had all of my preferences written down.

So the weeks went by and I made it to 37 weeks, hurrah! I agreed to an induction by Foley Balloon, which is a mechanical induction method, completely hormonal free.
They inserted the balloon at 3am on the Thursday morning (I had to wait for a bed, hence it being the middle of the night), with the aim for it to be removed 24 hours later, but a miracle happened! The balloon fell out by itself the next day – which meant I was dilating and it had done its job – woohoo! Now I had to wait for a bed on the delivery suite for my waters to be broken.

A LONG 24 hours later, of mild contractions, and endless laps of the hospital. I was taken to the delivery suite and my waters were broken at 11:30pm on the Saturday night.

My contractions started almost immediately and the consultant midwife offered me the room opposite which had a birthing pool. I had opted out of any cannulated medication (I agreed to have one fitted if and only when I needed one, as I find them very uncomfortable).

The wireless monitor was fitted and I was in the pool within the hour. The next 3 hours were a blur to me, but a pleasant blur, I was in my own world letting my body do its thing whilst I basically floated in the water lol!
At 3:57am my little girl Rosie arrived in the pool (with the consultant midwife present for any precautions). I felt on top of the world! Not only had I had my successful VBAC, but I had defied the odds that were against me by being induced at 37 weeks.

I am truly grateful for all of the staff at Medway for supporting me on my journey, on both journeys in fact, because despite them being two different stories, I felt so safe with the midwives on both occasions.

Bump and buggy walks! I run these (sporadically) for free - because I know how important it is for mums to get out of the house and meeting people. Anyone can go for a walk, but it’s totally different when you have a set time and place to be.

Today we had a stroll in the sunshine around Ebbsfleet, followed by drinks at Weldon Heart from Grounded - Coffee • Community • Wellness

It was lovely for me to catch up with some of my mums who have finished classes with me, and to also welcome some new mums.

I’m penciling in the next walks:

Friday 28th August - Bluewater nature trail

Friday 11th September - Weldon Heart, Ebbsfleet

Weather dependent, and as always all are welcome, even if you’ve not been to one of my classes or don’t know anyone else 💕