Positive Birth Starts with Children: Why I made a Kid's Book about Birth

Changing the Narrative: Why I Created a Positive Birth Book for Children

As a conscious mother, I wanted my children to understand the incredible journey of pregnancy - and see the motherhood journey as a positive one with opportunities for growing in strength, consciousness and connection.

But when I went looking for resources, I was constantly disappointed. So many appalling books in the children's section at the library. Pictures showing only a one-sided, disempowered view; over-medicalised birth, no mention or depiction of physiology, and presenting birth as something that only happens to women in hospital beds, surrounded by men in masks, being shouted at to push with their legs in stirrups.

Image: Womb to World: Pregnancy and Birth Education for Children book and activities

I complained to Usborne publishing after buying a new baby sticker book - as I was very disappointed to see only one approach included in all the pictures: separate cots in separate rooms after a hospital birth, bouncers and other baby containers, babies being fed formula from the start, no breastfeeding, no skin-to-skin, no bedsharing, no home birth, no babywearing. Surely publishers of children's books should care about promoting such a biased view - when evidence shows attachment parenting practices such as responsive breastfeeding, skin to skin, and keeping baby close are best for mother and baby?

"I highly recommend this book not only as an educational book for pre teens but it is a fabulous book for Doula's and birth workers. It's colourful and fun with all the info needed. There are some excellent drawings and art work creatively describing the muscle movement during labour surges. Well worth the purchase!" - Kay

"I have an AuDHD 7 year old girl who has a keen special interest in pregnancy and birth. We’ve searched for months to find things that gave her more knowledge than a children’s book, but wasn’t as wordy as actual medical texts and a breastfeeding peer sent me your website. The bits we ordered arrived today and they are beautiful! She is over the moon and has sat for the last 45 minutes (unheard of in my house) looking at all the beautiful illustrations and telling me facts from the book. Thank you very much from a very happy mum!", Flor

Promoting physiological birth matters

It was very hard to find factual children's books showing breastfeeding, home births, or skin-to-skin contact, and I was so aggrieved to be surrounded by evidence of how our children are being conditioned to view birth right from toddlerhood  - so many babies in cots, with hats and bottles - separate from the mother. And women in medical, disempowered positions - presenting hospital as the default option.

My birth ending in a NICU stay didn't dent my belief in my body and mother nature.

II want to teach my children that our bodies are infinitely capable, and that birth can be a safe, natural, and beautiful process. So, I decided I had no choice but to create it myself! I thought that some of my customers - hypnobirthing teachers, antenatal teachers, doulas and birth educators - would also be glad to have something more holistic for their little ones to learn about birth.

What children are exposed to MATTERS. The messages they get about our bodies MATTER. I absolutely believe that birth trauma starts in children, with the fear and ridicule children see birthing mothers surrounded by on TV, in movies and in books - as well as the negative, risk-focussed ways adults talk about birth around them.

Birth is safe - and I won't stop saying it!

My intention is not to invalidate or judge the experience of those for whom the journey does not follow this path; rather, I want to balance out the negativity and birth fear that is so prevalent in our media.

When I posted about my book in a home educating group, I was critisiced and shamed by other mothers - who told me it was unethical of me to tell children that 'birth is safe' - because birth didn't go well for them. And this just strengthened my resolve to make a book. Yes we sometimes need medical help in life - but does that mean we consult a doctor for every physiological process our bodies do? And just because Mother Nature needs help sometimes, does that mean that our bodies are useless and incapable by default?

I don't think so. Do you?

"I ordered the new Children's Pregnancy pack and it is just brilliant! Beautifully packaged and thought through, the resources fill such a gap in providing clear, positive, and medically accurate pregnancy and birth information for children. As someone who experienced antenatal depression as I was so scared about childbirth, having seen such terrifying and negative portrayals of it, this is just awesome!" Esther Abrey

What is inside my children's pregnancy and birth education pack?

I have poured so much care into this resource. Inside, you will find lots of my original art, colourful visuals and simple explanations of:

• How a single baby and twins are conceived and how a baby develops month by month.
• What life is like in the womb and how a child can feel connected to the baby.
• How the mother's body changes during pregnancy.
• Diagrams explaining the muscles of the womb, the stages of birth, and the role of surges.
• Non-medical comfort measures, how breastfeeding works, and what life is like for a newborn.
• How recovery can be helped in the months after birth.

I have also included 13 interactive activity pages, printed on 200gsm card, which include:

• A 42-week pregnancy calendar and womb baby icon to track the journey.
• A pregnancy milestones colouring map.
• Body anatomy colouring and labelling pages.
• A "my baby knows when to be born" colouring poster.
• Womb art templates to cut out and decorate.
• Oxytocin cards to colour, cut out, and sort.
• A Womb to World birth colouring map.

Some of my favourite books about pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding for children

While I wanted to create my own pack to fill the gaps I saw on the shelves, there are a few wonderful books that I love and recommend.

Where do Babies Come From? by Margaret Sheffield

Love the text - no shame or awkwardness, just physiology! And beautiful drawings.

A Child is Born by Lennart Nilsson 

Gorgeous imagery and a beautiful perspective.

The New Baby at Your House by Joanna Cole and Margaret Miller

Wonderful real-life pictures of what to expect, very validating for the older sibling.

Welcome Home by Alisha Bourke

Gorgeous picture book illustrated by Spirit-y-sol showing a spiritual home birth with siblings.

Being Born by Lennart Nilsson

Totally gorgeous photos and told from the baby's perspective in the womb.

The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley

I loved this one as it helps when having conversations to prepare the older sibling for the change of a new baby. It made me cry!

My New Baby by Rachel Fuller

We really liked this series of board books. They don't have many words which is good as they were discussion points for me when my eldest was so little. Plus the baby is actually breastfed!

Milky Moments by Ellie Stoneley and Jessica D'Alton Goode

Breastfeeding - and not just tiny babies - beautiful verse. Love.

Tell me your favourite books that show physiological birth, attachment parenting and breastfeeding?

You'll find my book here - Children's Pregnancy and Birth Education Book and Activities