Shannon Whitlock Shannon Whitlock

What Happens at Your First Midwife Appointment (UK Guide)

Your first midwife appointment, usually called the booking in appointment, typically happens between 8 and 10 weeks of pregnancy in the UK. It's where your midwife gathers information about your health and history, explains how your maternity care will work and begins building a picture of your pregnancy.

Read More
Shannon Whitlock Shannon Whitlock

What Does a Doula Do in the UK? (And Do You Need One?)

A doula is someone who offers continuous emotional, practical and informational support during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. They are not medical professionals. They don't deliver babies, carry out clinical checks or make medical decisions. What they do instead is focus entirely on you, as a whole person, not just as a patient, alongside your NHS care.

Read More
Shannon Whitlock Shannon Whitlock

VBAC After Multiple Caesareans UK: Is It Possible on the NHS?

If you've had more than one caesarean and you're thinking about a vaginal birth, you've probably already come up against this question: "Is that even allowed?"

Or maybe you've been told, quite clearly: "No, you'll need another caesarean."

The reality is more nuanced than that and understanding the difference between what NHS trusts routinely support and what is actually possible is one of the most important things you can do if you're considering a VBAC after multiple caesareans.

Read More
Shannon Whitlock Shannon Whitlock

Why Antenatal Appointments Feel Overwhelming (Especially if You’re Neurodivergent)

You shouldn't have to force yourself to keep up. You shouldn't have to leave appointments feeling confused, unsure, or like you didn't say what you needed to say. You deserve time, clarity and space to process, as well as support that actively provides those things rather than expecting you to generate them yourself under pressure.

Read More
Shannon Whitlock Shannon Whitlock

Planning a VBAC in the NHS: What You’re Not Told

This comes up again and again in conversations with VBAC families. Pressure doesn't always look like someone telling you what to do.

Even when it isn't intentional, this kind of communication can leave you feeling like your choices are narrower than they actually are. They usually aren't.

Read More