Homebirth Emergencies Workshop

This workshop is for doulas and birthkeepers who want to support their clients during unexpected emergency situations in birth, whilst they are waiting for a midwife or paramedic to attend.

Unexpected emergencies are uncommon after a low-risk pregnancy and birth at full term. However, emergency situations can and do sometimes happen without any warning. The attendance of a midwife at birth can usually make birth safer in these circumstances, but sometimes the baby might arrive before the midwife after a fast labour or because homebirth services have been withdrawn. Other families may have made the intentional decision to give birth without a midwife but may hire a doula or birthkeeper.

In all of these circumstances it makes sense to prepare for the unexpected, as well as the much greater probability that birth will be straightforward. I advise all expectant parents and birth partners to take a baby and child first-aid course prior to giving birth so they can act in an emergency and believe that doulas and birthkeepers should be able to support their clients in these situations.

This workshop will give you information on how to recognise emergencies in childbirth, and act quickly to prevent worsening of the situation whilst awaiting help from emergency services.

Topics Include:

Cord around baby’s neck

Helping baby breathe

Heavy blood loss after birth

Fits and faints

Shoulder dystocia

Unexpected breech birth

Cord prolapse

Emergency transfer to hospital

Date and time:

Sunday 27th July 2025

10 am to 4pm

Venue:

Goddess House, Magdelene street, Glastonbury ,BA69EJ

Workshop cost £75

Concessions available for students and those with protected characteristics.

Joy was a Registered Midwife for 21 years and registered nurse for 20 years. She worked in consultant led labour wards, birth centres and in client’s homes for 16 years as an independent midwife.

Since 2021 she has worked as a Perinatal Consultant and Birth Wisdom-keeper. She has taught childbirth education classes since training with the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in 2002. Her services include private consultations for Birth planning, Birth debriefing, VBAC, and Breech birth planning. She specialises in supporting families whose previous birth experiences have been traumatic and caring for those who have suffered adverse events in childhood, or as an adult.

As an Independent midwife she learnt breech birth skills from Mary Cronk MBE, worked with her for 5 years, and taught breech skills with her at universities and conferences nationwide. She has also learnt from other midwifery greats like Ina May Gaskin at The Farm in Tennessee, from Gail Tully in her Spinning babies and Shoulder dystocia workshops, Jane Hardwicke-Collings shamanic midwifery training, and Integrative Baby Therapy from Matthew Appleton.

Now retired from Midwifery practice she teaches midwives, doulas, parents, and sometimes even doctors worldwide.

Interested in finding out more? Email joy@birthjoy.co.uk

Or book your ticket here to join us on 27th July for an extraordinary one day workshop.