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LITTLE ONE SNUG
Belly Sifting for Birth
Birth Preparation Sifting Sessions - to take place at my cosy home studio in Hastings, East Sussex
Preparing for birth isn't just about knowing what to expect or packing your hospital bag. It's also about finding practical ways your birth partner can support you during labour.
Belly sifting is a gentle technique using a woven cloth (sometimes a Mexican rebozo) to create movement and a feeling of support around the pregnant belly, it can feel great between contractions during labour. In this relaxed, hands-on birth preparation session, you'll learn how to use a woven babywearing wrap to explore belly sifting together, with your birth partner learning techniques they can practise with you and draw on during labour.
We'll explore how to position and handle the cloth, how your partner can follow your lead and respond to what feels comfortable, and how to make the technique part of your shared birth preparation.
The lovely thing is that the wrap can continue to be useful after birth, too. The same woven wrap can become a baby carrier, giving you a practical link between preparing for birth and keeping your newborn close afterwards.
Session Cost: £55
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Group sessions available too, 3 couples max - £30 per couple
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How such movements can help during birth
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How to handle and position the woven wrap for belly sifting.
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How to practise the movements gently and responsively.
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How to communicate and follow the pregnant person's cues.
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How to explore the technique together before labour, so it feels familiar.
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I'd recommend booking during your late second or early third trimester, ideally from around 28–37 weeks. This gives you time to learn and practise the techniques together before your baby arrives. You'll also have the option to hire your woven wrap from 38 weeks until birth, so you can continue practising at home.
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Hire of the wrap for a week post-session / then again - (small fee) from 38 weeks til birth
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A demo of how the woven wrap can later be used for babywearing - with optional add on for a separate woven-wrap babywearing session post-partum with baby.
My own baby will be with me during our session, so this is a relaxed, baby-inclusive space. I will likely need to have the occasional feed, cuddle or little pause along the way. But as your partner will be doing a lot of the practical – and there's no need for everything to be perfectly uninterrupted, we can take things at a comfortable pace.
How can a Belly Sifting session help me throughout pregnancy and birth?
Preparing for birth is something you can do together. Belly sifting offers a lovely opportunity for you and your birth partner to explore a practical way of connecting, communicating, and finding comfort as you approach labour.
Using a woven cloth, your birth partner can learn gentle movements and techniques to support your belly, giving you the chance to discover what feels good for your body and what you'd like them to remember for birth.
Practising together during pregnancy means the technique won't feel completely new when labour begins. Your partner can become familiar with handling the wrap, while you can explore how different movements and levels of support feel.
Depending on your preferences and how you're feeling, belly sifting may offer:
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Physical relief and weightless support: Gentle movements with the cloth can ease the pressure of your growing belly, offering a soothing sensation of weightlessness.
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A practical tool for your birth partner: They'll have techniques they've learned and practised with you, giving them something tangible and useful to offer during labour.
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Connection and communication: Exploring what feels comfortable helps you practise listening to your body, communicating your preferences, and working together as a team.
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Something familiar to return to during labour: Having practised beforehand can make it easier to explore whether belly sifting feels grounding and helpful to you when the time comes.
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A wrap that continues beyond birth: The woven wrap can later be used for newborn babywearing, bringing your birth preparation into those early days of getting to know your baby.
Every pregnancy and birth is different, and belly sifting won't be right for everyone or at every stage. The aim isn't to achieve a particular medical outcome, but to give you and your birth partner another gentle, practical way to explore support together.
This session is perfect if you're:
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Expecting a baby and preparing for birth together, and looking for practical ways your birth partner can support you during labour.
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A birth partner who wants to feel more involved and confident, with hands-on techniques to learn and practise before labour.
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Interested in gentle, hands-on approaches to comfort during labour, and curious about belly sifting.
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Keen to find ways to connect during pregnancy and prepare for birth as a couple.
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Planning to use a woven wrap for newborn babywearing, and would love to learn how it can be useful both before and after your baby arrives.
Belly Sifting sessions take place at my cosy home studio in Hastings. I welcome expectant parents and their birth partners from Hastings, St Leonards-on-Sea, Bexhill, Battle, Rye, Eastbourne and the surrounding East Sussex area.
Sessions are relaxed, hands-on and designed for you to learn and practise together.
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​Notes on who it's not for:
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​If you have a low lying, anterior placenta, placenta previa, higher chances or bleeding, miscarriage suspected abruption or fetal heart-rate concerns - do speak with your medical team if unsure and you're curious on booking.​
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First up Tea & Talk
We'll settle in with a cup of tea and have a chat about your pregnancy, your hopes for birth and the kind of support you're looking for from your birth partner.
There's no need to have anything prepared or to know exactly what you'd like to explore. This is a chance to get to know one another, talk through any questions and make sure the session feels relevant to you both.
Techniques & Learning
I'll introduce belly sifting and explore how gentle movements using a woven cloth may offer comfort and support during pregnancy and labour.
I'll guide you and your birth partner through:
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Getting to know the wrap: How to handle, position and hold a woven babywearing wrap for belly sifting.
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Exploring the movements: How to practise gentle, responsive movements and adapt them to what feels comfortable for you.
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Learning together: How your birth partner can follow your cues, communicate with you and respond to what you need.
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Preparing for labour: Time to practise together so the technique feels more familiar when the time comes.
I'll also demonstrate how the same woven wrap can later be used for newborn babywearing, and we'll talk about the optional postpartum babywearing session available once your baby arrives.
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Continue practicing at home!
You can have one week's free hire post-session then re-collect from 38 weeks until your baby arrives (for a small hire fee), giving you further-time to practise together at home and become familiar with the techniques you've explored.`If you'd love to do the babywearing session I'll give you some options for purchase.
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My hope is that you'll leave feeling more confident about using the wrap, with a practical skill you can draw on during labour and something you've learned together as you prepare to meet your baby.`
Quick F.A.Qs
What is belly sifting? Belly sifting is a gentle technique using a woven cloth to create rhythmic movement and support around the pregnant belly. It's a practice found within traditional approaches to pregnancy and birth support. During our session, you'll learn how to explore the technique together, with your birth partner practising ways to use the cloth that feel comfortable for you.
How can belly sifting help during labour? Some people find the gentle movement and sensation of support comforting during labour. It can also give your birth partner a practical way to be involved and offer hands-on support. Every birth is different, and there's no guarantee that belly sifting will ease discomfort or influence how labour progresses. The important thing is learning a technique you can explore if it feels right for you at the time.
Does my birth partner need to come along? Yes! This session is specifically designed for you to learn together. Your birth partner will be the one learning how to handle and position the wrap, practise the movements and respond to your cues. You don't need any previous experience.
When should we book our session? I'd recommend booking during the later stages of pregnancy, giving you time to practise together before your baby arrives. Your wrap hire begins at 38 weeks and continues until your baby is born, so you can keep exploring what you've learned at home.
Do I need to bring my own wrap? No. I'll provide a suitable woven babywearing wrap for the session, and hire is included from 38 weeks until birth. We'll explore how to use it for belly sifting and how the same wrap can later be used for carrying your newborn.
Can I use my woven wrap for babywearing after birth? While 'll include a demonstration of how a woven wrap can be used for newborn babywearing, if you'd like hands-on help learning to carry your baby in the wrap, you'll be able to book onto an optional postpartum woven-wrap babywearing session once your little one is here.
What if sifting doesn't feel like what I actually need during labour? That's absolutely fine. The aim is to give you another option to explore, not something you have to use. You can stop or adapt the movements at any time, and your comfort and preferences should always guide how the technique is used. Can I attend if I'm planning a caesarean birth? Yes, you can still enjoy learning about the wrap and exploring gentle techniques during pregnancy, if they're comfortable for you. The session is focused on birth preparation rather than any particular type of birth. We'll always adapt what we explore to your circumstances and preferences.
Is this a medical treatment session? No. This is an educational, practical birth-preparation session, not a medical treatment or replacement for care from your midwife or maternity team. We'll explore gentle techniques within the scope of my training.