Five Things I Wish Every Expecting Parent Knew

1. Prepare for birth as much as you prepare for your baby.

You’ll spend hours choosing a pram, researching capsules and folding tiny clothes into drawers. But here is your reminder to please spend time preparing for birth too.

Understanding how your body works during labour, knowing your options and learning practical techniques isn’t about aiming for a “perfect” birth. It’s about walking into one of life’s biggest moments feeling informed, confident and ready to make decisions that feel right for you.

2. Your support person has more influence than they realise.

Whether it’s your partner, your mum, a friend or your doula, the people around you matter.

A calm, informed support person can help protect your space, encourage you when things feel intense, remind you to breathe and advocate for your wishes when you need them most. Birth is never something you have to do alone.

3. Every birth journey deserves preparation.

Home birth. Hospital birth. Birth centre. Planned induction. Planned caesarean. Or a birth that changes direction along the way.

Preparation is never wasted. When you understand what’s happening and know your options, you’re able to meet each decision with more confidence and less fear.

4. Trust yourself more than you think you can.

There will always be opinions.

Friends, family, social media and even strangers will have something to say about pregnancy, birth and parenting. Listen to your care providers. Gather evidence. Ask questions. Then don’t forget to listen to your intuition most importantly.

You know your body and your baby better than anyone else.

5. Birth is just the beginning.

The day your baby is born is incredible, but it’s also the day you become a parent.

The way you feel about your birth matters. The confidence you build, the support you receive and the knowledge you gain don’t stop being valuable once your baby arrives. They often shape those first precious weeks of parenting too.

As a midwife, Calmbirth educator and mum myself, I truly believe that birth preparation is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your family. Not because it guarantees a particular outcome, but because it helps you to navigate whatever comes your way.

If there’s one thing I’d love every family to know, it’s this:

You are capable of so much more than you realise and preparing for birth is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.