Tending the Threshold: Midwifery, Motherhood, and the Liminal Lessons of Samhain
As the light fades and the veil between worlds grows thin, we arrive at Samhain — the ancient Celtic turning of the year. This season invites us to pause, reflect, and honour the thresholds we walk in birth and motherhood.
Midwifery, like Samhain, is sacred work — tending what is unseen, trusting what unfolds in the dark, and guiding new life into light.
Nurturing the Postnatal Season: Honouring the First Weeks After Birth
Around the world, new mothers are held in warmth, rest and nourishment — yet here in the West we have lost much of this ancient wisdom. As an Independent Midwife, I see how transformative true postnatal care can be: a period of recovery, bonding and gentle restoration for both mother and baby.
Pregnancy in Autumn — Honouring the Season’s Rhythm and Preparing for birth.
Discover how Autumn’s quiet rhythm can support pregnancy and birth preparation. Continuity-based, independent midwifery in East Sussex.
The Loss of Local Choice: Crowborough Birthing Centre Paused — What This Means for Families in East Sussex
Crowborough Birthing Centre is temporarily paused. What that means for local women’s birth choices, the evidence on low-risk birth settings, travel options to Maidstone and Eastbourne, and how continuity / independent midwifery can support families in East Sussex.
Intention to Home birth: How Setting the Heart Opens Birth
Discover how intending a homebirth shapes outcomes, even when plans change. Evidence-based, heartfelt, continuity-focused midwifery in East Sussex.
Safety in Pregnancy and Birth: Why Connection Matters More Than Protocols
“Safety is not the absence of threat; it is the presence of connection.” – Gabor Maté
Why So Many Pregnancies Are Labelled ‘High Risk’ — And What We Lose in the Process
Many pregnancies are labelled ‘high risk’ unnecessarily, leading to anxiety and over-intervention. Discover how personalised midwifery care in East Sussex offers a calm, supportive alternative.
There’s No Space for a Good Girl in the Birth Room
The modern maternity system was not built to centre women’s voices — it was built to manage them.
Feelings on Home Births. A look at the research.
A look at a study that shed light on the positive impacts of home births.
The Power of Movement in Pregnancy: Biomechanics, Fascia & Daily Rituals
The importance of functional posture and the freedom of fascia to support optimal fetal positioning and maternal comfort
An Interview with Private Midwife Rachel Allen-Mepham
IMUK asked whether I would like to be featured as their midwife of the month, to which I of course said yes please. read on for the full interview.
FAQ’s a few questions you may already be asking yourself about private midwifery care and home birth services across Sussex, Kent and Greater London.
Private Midwife Rachel Allen-Mepham offers a cooling cloth to hold on Mathilda’s forehead as she labours at home in the birthing pool supported by her birth partner.
Giving birth at home with a positive GBS screening result.
GBS positive and choosing a homebirth.
The empowering choice of Private Independent Midwifery
The empowering choice for Private Midwifery Care