Preparing for birth isn't about knowing exactly what will happen.
It's about giving yourself time to learn, think, ask questions and consider what matters to you.
The CherisHer Birth Preparation Guide is designed to help you move through that preparation at your own pace — from understanding the journey ahead to thinking about your preferences, support, communication and the different possibilities you may encounter.
Created with Black women at the centre, the guide makes space for preparation alongside culture, identity, reassurance and your own voice.
Explore different aspects of preparing for birth, including:
Getting ready for birth
Understanding labour
Where you may give birth
Your birth preferences
Comfort and coping
Pain relief
Induction and interventions
Communication with your maternity team
Consent and decision-making
Questions to consider
Preparing for different possibilities
Your support team
Creating your birth plan
Preparing emotionally for birth
Space for reflection and preparation
Affirmations to return to along the way
Knowing more doesn't mean expecting something to go wrong.
Preparation can simply give you more opportunities to ask questions, understand what is being discussed and think about what feels important to you.
Your plans may change.
Your preferences may change.
And that's okay.
Preparation isn't about controlling every moment.
It's about giving yourself space to prepare for what you can.
Your questions matter.
Your preferences matter.
The way you want to communicate matters.
And your birth preparation can reflect the woman behind the plan — your experiences, your culture, your support system and the things that matter to you.
Learn.
Reflect.
Prepare.
Make it yours.
The Birth Preparation Guide can be used alongside the Birth, My Voice — My Practical Birth Plan.
Use the guide to explore and prepare.
Use your birth plan to bring your thoughts and preferences together.
Together, they create a more complete space for your birth preparation.
Your birth.
Your voice.
Your preparation.
Preparing for birth isn't about knowing exactly what will happen.
It's about giving yourself time to learn, think, ask questions and consider what matters to you.
The CherisHer Birth Preparation Guide is designed to help you move through that preparation at your own pace — from understanding the journey ahead to thinking about your preferences, support, communication and the different possibilities you may encounter.
Created with Black women at the centre, the guide makes space for preparation alongside culture, identity, reassurance and your own voice.
Explore different aspects of preparing for birth, including:
Getting ready for birth
Understanding labour
Where you may give birth
Your birth preferences
Comfort and coping
Pain relief
Induction and interventions
Communication with your maternity team
Consent and decision-making
Questions to consider
Preparing for different possibilities
Your support team
Creating your birth plan
Preparing emotionally for birth
Space for reflection and preparation
Affirmations to return to along the way
Knowing more doesn't mean expecting something to go wrong.
Preparation can simply give you more opportunities to ask questions, understand what is being discussed and think about what feels important to you.
Your plans may change.
Your preferences may change.
And that's okay.
Preparation isn't about controlling every moment.
It's about giving yourself space to prepare for what you can.
Your questions matter.
Your preferences matter.
The way you want to communicate matters.
And your birth preparation can reflect the woman behind the plan — your experiences, your culture, your support system and the things that matter to you.
Learn.
Reflect.
Prepare.
Make it yours.
The Birth Preparation Guide can be used alongside the Birth, My Voice — My Practical Birth Plan.
Use the guide to explore and prepare.
Use your birth plan to bring your thoughts and preferences together.
Together, they create a more complete space for your birth preparation.
Your birth.
Your voice.
Your preparation.
