Induction of labour- do you know what you’re letting yourself in for?
(updated September 2021) Induction of labour is the bane of many birthworkers lives (and of many pregnant women's too). In the area I live in, it is reaching epidemic proportions (about 35% of first time mothers) Deciding to consent to induction is a complex decision,...
Feeling overwhelmed or stuck? Some easy ways to resolve the issue.
I came back from holidays this week. Every year I struggle a little with going back into work mode after 2 weeks of complete relaxation. This is compounded by the fact that we go on holidays, we visit my parents in the South of France. It’s warm and sunny there, and...
Why waiting 6 weeks post birth to have a massage makes no sense
Why waiting 6 weeks after birth to have a massage makes no sense There is a belief in our culture that a new mother needs to wait until 6 weeks post birth before she has a massage. Since I became immersed in the postpartum and since I learnt to massage new mothers,...
The importance of switching off when you work for yourself
The first year I went away as a self employed birth worker, I noticed that during my holiday I was still responding to work emails, something I didn't use to do when I was an employee. I didn't resent it but I was very conscious of the difference. As an...
A time in between-Waiting for a birth as a doula
I love the article " The Last Days of Pregnancy: A Place of In-Between" by Jana Studelska,. I send it to my clients when they are fed up waiting for the baby to arrive. Jana uses a German word: 'Zwischen', which means 'between', to describe the unusual but necessary...
New NICE induction of labour guidelines. Have we taken leave of our senses?
The National institute for clinical excellence (NICE) has published new draft guidelines for induction of labour. They are open for consultation until the 6th of July 2021. The part that is most concerning is this: Consider induction of labour from 39+0 weeks in women...
You already know what is right for you (how to access your own wisdom)
What if I told you that you always know what is right for you? What if I told you that you do not need to outsource your wisdom, defer to other people, seek answers from outside sources, and that the answers, the real, true, optimal ones for you as a unique being, are...
You are the expert in what is right for you
You are the expert when it comes to making decisions in your life. This is one of the most important points I share with my clients. I think it applies to many things outside of pregnancy and birth too! It can be tempting to defer decisions to experts such as doctors...
Why I am creating a rebozo massage and closing ritual online course
My name is Sophie Messager and I am on a mission to revolutionise the postpartum. Everywhere around the world, there used to be a period of about a month after birth during which the new mother was taken care of completely. Members of the family or the community used...
Postpartum support and butterflies: what do they have in common?
In my book, Why postnatal recovery matters, I explain that postnatal recovery boils down to 4 pillars: social support, rest, food and bodywork. Social support is the foundation on which everything else is built. If you are going to rest, have some great nourishing,...
How to normalise rest and support after birth
One of the reasons I wrote my book, Why postnatal recovery matters, is because I got fed up of witnessing new mothers struggle and blame themselves for it. As a society we are blind to the needs of new mothers. When they struggle to adapt and adjust to the intense...
Getting out of overwhelm
A few years ago I started my journey out of overwhelm. I was overworked and stressed and I didn’t know how to get out of the cycle. I was trying to work harder out of it. It was so bad that I remember stopping to pick some berries on a week day on my way home and...
Why Postnatal bodywork matters
All around the world there are (or used to be) traditional practices to help a new mother’s body heal after birth. Regardless of the continent, these traditions usually include some massage and wrapping rituals, as well as binding the belly and pelvis, and keeping the...
Baby shower? Have a mother blessing instead.
What is a mother blessing? You probably have heard of a baby shower, but have you heard of mother blessing? It is a celebration and honouring of a woman’s transition into motherhood. A mother blessing is a celebration that takes place during pregnancy and which is...
You’ve heard about a birth plan, but have you heard of a postnatal plan?
My name is Sophie Messager, and I’m on a mission to revolutionise the postpartum. One of the many ways I am using to change this is to encourage people to write a postnatal plan. My favourite quote on the topic is one in the picture below, written by Jojo Hogan, a...