Throughout much of human history, childbirth was held within women’s knowledge and community care. With the shift to hospital-based systems shaped by patriarchal, religious, and medical structures, many of these relational forms of support were lost, and women’s involvement in decision-making often diminished.

Modern maternity care has made birth safer, yet many mothers still report feeling unseen or overwhelmed. Globally, organisations such as the WHO are calling for more human-centered care that upholds dignity, autonomy and emotional wellbeing. MotherSong responds to this by offering creative and somatic support that complements medical care - helping women feel regulated, informed, and connected to themselves. We recognise that nothing can totally guarantee a “good birth”, and experiences may still unfold in unexpected ways. But emotional preparation, body awareness and self-advocacy can help women stay grounded during labour, supported by a group that can hold and witness their experience, making it more likely to be integrated with care rather than imprinted as trauma.

Fear and disconnection from instinctive knowing are major predictors of traumatic birth, avoidable interventions and difficulties bonding. With 1 in 4 women finding aspects of birth traumatic and 1 in 5 experiencing perinatal mental health challenges, there is a clear need for preventative, emotionally-focused support.

MotherSong centres this emotional and relational preparation for the transition into motherhood. It supports women to explore fears, connect with inner wisdom, and build confidence in their own agency. Collaborative and intuitive singing is the creative heart of the programme—experimenting, listening, and daring to be heard. These practices mirror what is needed in birth: vocalising helps to regulate the nervous system, sound is proven to help with pain management, and connecting with one’s voice empowers the ability to advocate for needs.
Singing to baby strengthens bonding and co-regulation, while group singing builds sisterhood, trust, and belonging. Ritual and storytelling help frame childbirth as a meaningful rite of passage, offering shape and containment for a transformative experience.

MotherSong is co-designed and delivered with midwives, whose practical expertise, clinical insight, and understanding of maternity systems sit alongside the creative and somatic work. A creative info-gathering event will also invite parents to reflect on their experiences of birth and early parenthood, to further inform the planning of this work.

The project includes a strong research element. Working with Dr Kate Monson and the University of Brighton’s Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, MotherSong weaves creative practice with academic insight through a mixed-methods framework. As I lead the work while pregnant, my own embodied journey becomes part of the inquiry. Together with participants, journalling, field recordings and reflective practice will create a polyphonic sonic narrative capturing multiple perspectives on childbirth and becoming a mother.

This pilot also lays the groundwork for future collaboration with the clinical research midwifery team, building towards a full NHS research pathway in the next phase. Ultimately, we hope to understand what is needed for this work to be delivered at scale - especially for mothers who have higher need or are minoritised - and to adapt the approach so it can be accessible and meaningful for all.

Artwork by Kalaéja Emaun

If you are interested in MotherSong, whether as a future participant, a parent with lived experience, or as someone working in this field, please do get in touch.