Mia Fleming
I’d known Mia through friends for several years before I reached out to her about supporting my own pregnancy and birth. Although I wasn’t planning on starting that journey for a while at that time, I knew it was something I wanted one day, and I felt drawn to Mia’s knowledge - both medical and holistic - to learn how I could begin preparing my body (and my life) for this deep initiation. I’m so glad that I did.
Initially, I didn’t really have any expectations about what might come from our work together. I thought I simply wanted to prepare my body, but Mia gently guided me into much deeper layers of preparation, at soul level. What unfolded from there was three years of exploration, and eventually the birth of my beautiful daughter - magically, a moment for which Mia was present.
I wish that all women could have access to the kind of support I was so fortunate to experience through my work with Mia. She truly lives and breathes her life’s purpose as a highly skilled and experienced birthkeeper. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum are sensitive, surreal experiences that change us. Yet our culture often belittles or diminishes this enormous rite of passage, leaving many of us questioning ourselves. If you are pregnant, or considering pregnancy in the future, I wholeheartedly recommend connecting with Mia to discover what she may be able to offer you.
Please introduce yourself, and what it is you so wonderfully do:
I am a mother to 3 and Birthkeeper to many.. I live in East Sussex with my husband and our children, ages 10, 8 & 5.
I qualified as a midwife in 2010 and worked in the mainstream maternity system for 12 years before leaving in October 2022. Leaving licensed midwifery was a true breath of fresh air and a massive weight off my shoulders. I found it increasingly hard to continue to truly serve women and their families in a system that ultimately only supports itself and views birth as a medical event, not a physiological process.
The work of serving women and mothers is my life's calling and I could not imagine doing anything else. Due to my passion for the true art or midwifery, I needed to find a way to still work in this capacity. So, I began creating an alternative and my business, Village Birth, was born! I deregistered from the NMC and started calling myself a Birthkeeper instead of a Midwife. I created one to one offerings and birth support packages where I could truly be with the women and develop the sense of trust that is imperative on the birth journey. Village Birth continues to evolve within my local community and further afield, with offerings in person and virtual support to women on the whole spectrum of the perinatal journey. I feel truly aligned with this ancient practice of being with women and I am always learning and growing from this work.
What is your ideal way to start the day?
Well, my ideal way is not always conducive to having 3 home educated children! But I love a slow start, moving intentionally into the day, making a warm drink, having my first breakfast (usually a smoothie) then doing some movement - yoga or gentle pilates. If it's good weather I then love to sit in the sunny spot in my garden and eat a second breakfast (eggs or sometimes porridge) before getting ready for the day.
Do you have any daily rituals/ routines?
I find it easier to stick to morning routines so I always drink a large glass of warm lemon water first thing and I will always roll out my mat and move my body in some shape or form. I have just started listening to meditations when I get into bed at night and that's been lovely for getting better quality sleep.
Do you have any practices or remedies to stay healthy, both in body and mind?
Regular bodywork! Mostly osteopathy. It's my number one go to and what I recommend all my clients to do (absolutely crucial in pregnancy). I also attend a regular movement for health class that is a total reset for my body and emotions at the end of every week. And at home it's staying well hydrated, eating really nourishing food, taking epsom salt baths and resting however and whenever I can.
When you need to get out of town/ out of routine, where do you go or what do you do to escape?
Anywhere in nature - I pile the kids in the car and go and spend the day in the woods or the beach depending on the season. If I am alone I love staying at my mum's off grid wagon in the woods, total reset for mind and body.
How do you like to spend your nights and or/weekends?
My evenings are mostly taken up by children's bedtimes! Myself and my husband are both really good at giving each other nights off though, whilst the other takes the reins at home. I try to take an evening or two a week to myself and I love spending this time with my soul sisters - going for dinner, relaxing at one of their houses or back garden spa (yes my best friend has one and it's honestly life changing!).
Weekends are a mixture, I often need to work due to home educating in the week. But Ideally we get one whole day together as a family and I love it when we can pack a picnic and go on an adventure, sometimes with other families too. And then we like to finish the day with a Sunday roast at the grandparents house - it's the one evening a week I don’t have to cook!
How do you unwind, re-centre and find balance?
I need lots of space and time alone to re-centre, but in a busy household this is hard to come by! So I lean into the small moments I get in the day and the evenings to truly unwind. This can look like sitting in the sun with a warm cup of herbal tea, salt baths, lighting a candle in the evening and lying on my Raakau, reading a great book or cuddling up with my husband on the sofa in front of a film.
What is your favourite form of movement?
Yoga has been my go to for about 20 years now but recently I have found a love for Pilates. I am also enjoying adding more strength training into my exercise routine and find it so beneficial for entering my forties!
Your favourite meal to cook?
A wholesome chicken soup with home made bone broth - delicious, everyone eats it and I know my whole family are being deeply nourished.
Your favourite place to get dinner?
I love Thai food and my favourite place in Lewes is Pestle and Mortar (although it is only open at lunch time). Truly authentic, amazing northern Thai food.
Your guilty pleasure? :)
Post kids bedtime, eating Tony's chocolate whilst watching a period drama. Elite.
Do you experience any challenges in your work/life balance? If so, how do you navigate this?
Constantly! With the ever changing needs of multiple kids and them being at home with me most of the time, I struggle to get enough time for my business. I currently have one day in the week when they are at a drop off group. I then usually work on Saturdays and some evenings too.. Whilst I do love the fact that I don't work full time and I am able to be with my children a lot, I would like a little more help in the home so I can focus on growing my business. But this season really is about surrendering to slowing down, I am in no real rush to hustle because they really are only this little for a short space of time.
What/where/who do you turn to when you need inspiration?
I am often inspired by other wise women in my community, the healers, the birth workers, the medicine women. I take lots of inspiration from nature, from stories of birth and from my own mum (She lives on her own land in Wales, totally off grid and very intentionally).
What is your definition of beauty?
Someone who seems truly happy in their own skin. Who has a deep body based awareness of their own needs - physically, emotionally and spiritually. And someone who has a vibrancy and passion for life.
Do you have any additional ways that you care for your mind, body & spirit?
Castor oil packs, self massage, afternoon naps, green time before screen time.
What are you most grateful for in your life?
My children, my husband and the life we continue to create together, my soul driven work and knowing without a doubt it is what I am meant to be doing in this world, my incredible friendships with some of the best women I know and my own deep sense of self.
Current favourite...
Book- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (another guilty pleasure?!)
Movie- I rarely watch films that I genuinely enjoy!
Song- Woman by Mumford and Sons
Podcast- Currently listening to the The Great Birth Rebellion
Clothing item- My pure wool cream cardigan
Coffee shop- Taith in Lewes
Where can we find you? Follow you?
Instagram - @village_birth
Website - villagebirth.co.uk
Email - hello@villagebirth.co.uk