The B.R.A.I.N Tool Podcast

Ep 25. To VBAC or not to VBAC?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome back everyone to The B.R.A.I.N. Tool podcast your pregnancy and birth decision making podcast.

This episode is focused on whether or not to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after c section) or to opt for a repeat c section.

We talk all about the biological need some women have to experience a physiological birth and how some women feel the need to opt for a c section to gain control over their birth.

We discuss risks and benefits of both in detail talking both long term and short term.

With 45% of women in the UK having c sections now, this is an important discussion to have.

I hope you enjoy the episode, take care everyone.

Stevie

This Mum

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 24 Do I actually need a birth plan?

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Hey Everyone,

Episode 24 discusses all the nuances around creating a birth plan.

We discuss what they are, and weigh it up using the B.R.A.I.N Tool as always.

At the end I also give you my top tips on creating a birth plan and how you can get the absolute best out of yours.

I hope you enjoy the episode, if you do please rate it and share it with your friends so I can help more people.

Until next week, take care

Stevie

This Mum

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 23 The birth of baby cole

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0100

Hey Everyone,

Welcome back , I had a two week hiatus over the easter half term because I'm going to be honest I can't think straight when three kids are around haha.

But... i'm back with a new episode and its another one of my positive birth stories, the birth of baby Cole.

In the episode you'll hear all the ways my pregnancy and birth with Cole challenged me and you'll hear about how his birth was different to my others.

It will teach you hopefully about the way out bodies and babies work together for birth.

I hope you enjoy listening, if you do please share this podcast to your socials or any of the previous episodes, it will really help me grow and help more people.

Take Care

Stevie

This Mum

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 22 Is your mindset blocking your positive birth?

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hey gang,

Welcome back to another episode of The B.R.A.I.N Tool podcast where we talk all about your mindset for birth.

We will discuss everything from Derren Brown (yes seriously) to neuroplasticity and how it works.

More importantly we discuss actual real life techniques that you can use to work on your mindset for birth and the impact it can have on your birth if your mindset is all over the place

I hope you enjoy the episode, please remember to review the episode and if you could share it with other pregnant people, i'll be forever grateful.

Have a lovely day, take care

Stevie

This Mum

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 21 Hypnobirthing...Yes or No

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Huge disclaimer for this episode, I am trying to be as unbiased as I can however as a Hypnobirthing teacher and user myself I obviously can't really be so it is an honest look at the benefits v risks (cons) of using Hypnobirthing from my perspective.

In the episode I talk about how common misconceptions about hypnobirthing get in the way of people using it and how reading a book differs from completing a course

As always we weigh up whether you want to do hypnobirthing using The B.R.A.I.N Tool, and any research mentioned in the episode is linked below.

I hope you enjoy the episode,

Until next time, take care

Stevie

This Mum

Study here

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 20 Should you hire a Doula

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 20 Focuses on whether or not you should hire a Doula

IAs always we’re breaking down that decision using the B.R.A.I.N. tool so you can rest assured that You've made a fully informed decision.

You’ll learn

What a doula actually does (and doesn’t do)
The evidence
Alternatives to hiring a doula

If you’re considering whether hiring a doula is worth it, this episode will help you think through the decision.

What Is a Doula?

A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and sometimes after birth.

Unlike your medical provider, a doula does not perform clinical tasks. Their role is to offer continuous support and help you navigate your birth experience.

B.R.A.I.N. stands for:

B – Benefits
R – Risks
A – Alternatives
I – Intuition
N – Nothing

This tool is commonly used during pregnancy and birth and today, we apply it to hiring a doula.

Benefits of Hiring a Doula

Evidence like this Cochrane review shows that continuous labor support is associated with:

Shorter labor
Lower cesarean rates
Reduced use of pain medication
Fewer assisted deliveries
Higher satisfaction with the birth experience

Risks

While there are no medical risks to hiring a doula, the cost can be off putting so we discuss this in detail with lots of nuance.

Alternatives to Hiring a Doula

Utilising your birth partner for a similar role
Doing a good birth education course
Working with a private midwife
Having a friend or family member do a similar role

Questions to Reflect On

Would I feel more confident with an experienced birth bestie?
Is this a priority financially?
How do I feel when I imagine having a doula present?
How would I feel if I didn’t hire one?

Key Takeaway

There’s no one “right” answer. The best decision is the one that aligns with you values and plans for birth.

Did you like this episode?

If this conversation helped you feel more informed and empowered:

Share it with a pregnant friend
Share it to your socials
Leave a review to help other women find the podcast

I'll be back again next week, until then take care of you

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 19. Remifentanil, do you want this pain relief for birth?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In todays episode im talking all about the new up and coming pain relief option for birth 'remifentanil'. As always we discuss the benefits v risks of this particular option and explore any alternatives and nuance that I think its important that you consider.

Below i've linked a study for you to have a look at, if you wanted the evidence and the research behind everything I discuss.

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011989.pub2/full?cookiesEnabled

I hope you enjoy the episode, I hope it helps keep you informed and confident to make those necessary choices for your birth.

If your looking for Hypnobirthing check out my courses here https://www.thismumhypnobirthing.com/

I'll be back next week with a new episode, until then take care of you

Stevie

This Mum Hypnobirthing

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep.18 The birth of baby Lennon

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

You all loved hearing about my first birth story so i hope you all love this one just as much.

Positive stories allow you to see the potential of whats possible for you and that's my aim when sharing this.

Until next time

Take care

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 17. Do you want to Breastfeed?

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome back everyone,

In this episode we discuss everything you need to know to decide if you want to breastfeed your baby.

You'll hear about my stories of feeding my three babies, including formula, breastfeeding struggles and breastfeeding success.

If you're looking for breastfeeding education so that you can get off to the right start you can find my class by clicking here

for more information about the benefits of breastfeeding check out unicef here

I hope you enjoy the episode,

Take care

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep. 16 Having your waters broken

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hey Everyone,

I hope you enjoy this episode all about having your waters broken.

We discuss why it may be offered, what the evidence says and we use the B.R.A.I.N Tool to weigh up the benefits and risks so you can make an informed decision for your own birth.

As always research mentioned is linked below,

Cochrane Review - does ARM speed up labour?

Dr Rachel Reeds work

Until next time,

Take care

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 15. My client Emily's birth experience

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hey Everyone,

In this episode i'm joined by Emily and baby Mabel to discuss everything about her pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience as a first time mum.

Emily talks honestly about what she thought about hypnobirthing, what helped...what didn't and what she felt was challenging.

I can't wait for you to hear this episode, buckle up it's a bit of a long one.

Take care

Stevie

This Mum Hypnobirthing

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 14 My First Birth Story

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hey All,

This is the pregnancy and birth story of my first baby back in 2014 now.

It details how i achieved my positive birth, what helped me etc.

I hope you found it helpful.

Until next time, take care

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 13 Visualisation for a better birth???

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode we talk all about the magic of visualisation for birth...we get real about how cringe it can sometimes feel and how to overcome that and past i'm a celeb star Jordan North gets a mention IYKYK.

At the end of the episode i take you through a guided visualisation for your birth so make sure to be sitting comfortably, hope you enjoy the episode

Stevie

This Mum Hypnobirthing

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 12 Where to give give birth- MLU addition

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:00:00 +0100

I hope you enjoy the episode all about MLU birth.

As always research is below for anything mentioned in the episode

https://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d7400

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK311284/

If you're looking for more birth preparation you can follow me on Instagram @thismumhypnobirthing where I upload tips and tricks to help you have a positive birth.

My courses and EBooks to help you start from as little as £5, if you need any help check out the website

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 11. Meconium...What a load of Sh$t

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0100

Hello Gang,

In this episode we discuss meconium, Particularly what it means if it is spotted in your waters during birth.

As always here are some research points on the topic that you can take a look at,

https://midwifethinking.com/2015/01/14/the-curse-of-meconium-stained-liquor/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4920933/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8997330/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24620-meconium-aspiration-syndrome

I hope you enjoy the episode and I hope it helps you feel more knowledgeable and ready to make decisions for your own birth if needed.

Please share this with any one else who's pregnant that you and if you like it please rate and review the podcast it would mean the absolute world to me.

Take care

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 10. Where to give birth - Home Birth

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

In this episode I discuss your options on where to give birth with a specific focus on home birth, other birth place options will be coming soon.

As always there are some study's/journals you can read below to expand your knowledge.

https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace/results

https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/is_home_birth_safe/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2742137/#:~:text=The%20rate%20of%20perinatal%20death%20per%201000%20births%20was%20very,among%20the%20planned%20hospital%20births

I hope you enjoy the episode, if you do please rate and review it will help me so much.

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 9 Listening in to baby

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

In this episode we discuss the ways midwives will offer to listen in to your baby's heartrate during your birth,

Below are some studies mentioned in the episode should you want to research further

https://www.cmaj.ca/content/193/14/E468#:~:text=Conclusion-,Compared%20with%20other%20types%20of%20fetal%20surveillance%2C%20intermittent%20auscultation%20seems,or%20reduce%20unnecessary%20maternal%20interventions.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30811649/

I hope you enjoy the episode
Stevie
This Mum Hypnobirthing

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 8 Big Baby?

Sat, 03 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0100

In this episode we use the B.R.A.I.N Tool to help you figure out how you feel about the suspected big baby. What are the screening tests, how accurate is it to predict a big baby, what are the risks and more.

I hope you enjoy the episode, as always I have included resources below that I have used in my research for this episode.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4644447/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30099910/
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000938.pub3/full#:~:text=of%20effect%20estimates.-,Authors'%20conclusions,a%20rare%20event%20is%20limited.

Thanks for listening
Stevie
This Mum

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 7 Water Birth

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Hi Everyone

In this episode we use the B.R.A.I.N Tool to discuss water birth. Aiming to help you decide for yourself if using water for your birth seems to be the right call for you.

As always the evidence discussed in the episode is attached here https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/7/e056517

I hope you all enjoyed the episode

Stevie
This Mum Hypnobirthing

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 6 About Me

Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This Episode was not requested at all but I just realised I haven't actually introduced myself so here we go.

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 5 Birthing your placenta

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hello loves,

I'm back again with a subject you're all going to have to consider. Do you want active or expectant management to birth your placenta? As promised the link to the review i mentioned is below.

Listen in to help with your decision making, i hope you love it. Please rate if you do and review if you're listening on apple. If you know someone who would benefit from this please share it with them.

Thanks in advance
Stevie

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007412.pub5/full

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 4 Membrane Sweeps

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

I am back with episode 4 all about the benefits, risks etc of having a sweep.

Here is the cochrane review on the subject as mentioned in the episode if you want to do some further research.

https://www.cochrane.org/CD000451/PREG_membrane-sweeping-induction-labour

I hope you like this episode please rate review download and share the life out of it please to help other women get this information to help them make informed decisions for their birth.

Join me on my mission of trying to reduce birth trauma one episode at a time.

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 3 Pain Relief

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode I talk all about pain relief options for your birth. As always I have left the links to some study's below. I have also left the link to my acupressure combs for anyone that is interested.

If you want to find me on Instagram click here @thismumhypnobirthing

Here is the link for the combs www.thismumhypnobirthing.com

https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-018-1871-5

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28511452/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27843776/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7968589/

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 2 Vaginal Examinations

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Vaginal examinations for your birth? Do you want them? Did you even know it was a choice? Learn all about why they're offered, If they are accurate and crucially if YOU want them.

As promised here's a Cochrane Review analysing many studies about vaginal examinations.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8896079/

If you loved this podcast don't forget to follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/thebraintoolpodcast/

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing

Ep 1 The Concept

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

This episode covers the concept behind the B.R.A.I.N Tool podcast and why you need it to help prepare for a positive and informed pregnancy and birth.

As a new pod, it would mean the world to me if you could help me spread this far and wide so women can reclaim their authority when it comes to giving birth and have less traumatic experiences.

If you want to keep up to date with this podcast you can check it out on instagram @thebraintoolpodcast or for more Hypnobirthing information you can check out @thismumhypnobirthing / www.thismumhypnobirthing.com

I'll see you all next week for an episode about vaginal examinations and how to decide if they're right for you.

See you there

Stevie

For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing