Postnatal Support – the 6 best postnatal books

When we are pregnant we spend a lot of time preparing for labour and birth, buying clothes and kit for baby. We focus on the 9 months or so leading up to baby arriving. But we often spend zero time preparing for what comes next!

In this blog post you will find my recommendations for some of the best books for postnatal recovery.

Read them during pregnancy if you can to arm yourself with places to refer back to as you navigate the ups and downs of the first few days, weeks and months of caring for your baby 24 / 7 on little sleep. But you can of course use them anytime after baby has arrived.

There’s not as much information out there for postnatal recovery as there is for pregnancy labour and birth, and in the UK we are pretty much left to our own devices after our 8 week check. But I have gathered what I consider the best books for postpartum recovery and postnatal support and would love you to read them, listen to them, buy them or borrow them from a friend or library. You won’t regret it and they will be your guiding hand for the first 12 months of parenthood.

Postnatal Yoga, Yoga and WellbeingSarah CloverFebruary 14, 2025top tips, Postnatal Yoga, mental health, motherhood, postnatal supportComment

B.R.A.I.N.

In this blog post I explain the acronym B.R.A.I.N.

It is a really useful tool to use when making choices, and is especially well known in the world of Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, when having to make choices can come quickly and without much warning. I’ve included a free B.R.A.I.N. card to print out to use at antenatal appointments, through labour, birth and postnatally.

B.R.A.I.N. can also be used by anyone for day to day, and more complex decisions. I invite you to have a read and see if this tool could be helpful for you.

A Mindful Month

January, a new start. Welcome to the new year.

If you’ve read my blogs before, you know that I am not one for new years resolutions. Why add more pressure to your life?

Instead I like to think of intentions. Intentions feel more gentle, they offer less chance for failure if we don’t ‘stick’ to them like resolutions. Intentions are a way to offer some direction, but with space for curiosity and time to explore the journey we we make our way towards them.

This year I’ve created a ‘Mindful Month’ to start the year. A little prompt for each day to find a mindful moment to re-connect to yourself, to take a pause, to do something that brings you some joy and as a result will bring you into the present moment. More happiness, less stress.

Read the blog here and access your free download to stick on your fridge…

Yoga and Wellbeing, Yoga PracticeSarah CloverJanuary 1, 2024yoga tips, mental health, top tips

Ten active birth positions to help you and your baby through labour and birth

In this blog post I share ten active birth positions, which are just some of infinite variations you may discover as you labour and birth your baby in your own unique way. You can use them at home or in hospital, and even when you are being monitored.

They are a far cry from the usual way we imagine birth – lying on our backs with our legs wide. TV, film and the now more medicalised labour and birth system we have, often promote lying on our backs as the way to give birth. They have somehow forgotten about the natural process of birthing, using gravity and tapping into instinct which can be shorter and offer less discomfort.

Whatever position you and your body want to be in is ok, your professional support whether at home or hospital can work with you and around you in the way that you want to. Everything is your choice – it’s your body, your baby and your decision – including the positions you take to labour and birth in the best way for you and your baby.

Try these positions out during pregnancy – it will help prepare you for your labour and birth and then have them in your toolkit when the time comes to meet your baby.

Yoga Tips, Yoga for PregnancySarah CloverJune 6, 2023Pregnancy Yoga, top tips

How to find the right yoga class.

In this blog post I guide you through the types of yoga class you might find in your local area. There's a real spectrum of yoga, like music or dance there are many styles, some you will like and some you won't be so keen on. Depending on where and who a class teacher has trained with will influence how they teach.

I will guide you through some of the considerations you might like to make whilst deciding what class to try, what you should expect from a good yoga teacher, and when you know you’ve found the right class for your body and mind.

Yoga Practice, Yoga for Pregnancy, Postnatal Yoga, Baby YogaSarah CloverSeptember 27, 2021yoga class, yoga practice, top tips, yoga tips

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