Privacy Statement

 

Privacy Statement

I take safeguarding online privacy seriously. Please read the whole of this statement carefully as it sets out what information I may collect from you, how I may use it and your rights in respect of my use and the key details of my privacy policy.

From time to time, I may need to change the privacy policy because of changes in the organisation, legislation or in my attempts to serve your needs better. I will use reasonable efforts to publish any changes to the privacy statement. 

The Moon & Lotus is responsible for collecting, processing, storing and safe-keeping personal and other information as part of providing a service and carrying out regular business activities. I manage personal information in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. Any questions regarding the processing of personal data should be directed to us via accounts@themoonandlotus.

 

SCOPE

The Privacy Statement governs any kind of processing where I am acting as a data controller or co-controller (including collection, use, transfer, storage and deletion) of personally identifiable information (any information that may be used to identify a physical person, and any other information associated therewith) about natural persons. This statement applies to the processing of data collected through any means, actively as well as passively, from persons located anywhere in the world. 

I am guided by the following principles when processing data:

  1. I will only collect data for specific and specified purposes; I will make it clear at the point when I request your information, what I are collecting it for and how I am going to use it;
  2. I will not collect data beyond what is necessary to accomplish those purposes; I will minimise the amount of information I collect from you to what I need to deliver the services required;
  3. I will collect and use your personal information only if I have sensible business reasons for doing so, such as a newsletter, offers from time to time and/or provide you with information on 1-2-1 services;
  4. I will not use your data for purposes other than those for which it was collected, accepted as stated within the policy, or with your prior consent;
  5. I will seek to verify and/or update your data periodically and I will accept requests from you for amendment of the data held;
  6. I will apply high technical standards to make the processing of data secure;
  7. Except otherwise stated, I will not store data in identifiable form longer than is necessary to accomplish its purpose or as required by law. 

 

INFORMATION COLLECTED

The information I may collect about you could include, but is not limited to:

  1. Personal details
  2. Family details
  3. Financial details
  4. Physical or mental health details
  5. Your birth details

If I were to obtain special category data from you I will always get your consent first.

I will collect information from you when:

  1. You sign up to a newsletter or mailing list
  2. You download an opt-in
  3. You join a course or programme
  4. You contact The Moon & Lotus for information via the website or social media channels, by phone or email
  5. You post on the social media channels, website or blog
  6. You work with The Moon & Lotus in a commercial capacity

 

I may use the information collected to:

  1. Allow you to process a booking for a product or course
  2. Create a profile for you on the site in the future
  3. Send you newsletters or provide you with information, products or services that you request from The Moon & Lotus or which I feel may interest you, where you have consented to be contacted for such purposes 
  4. Ensure that content from the site is presented to you in the most effective manner for you and your computer
  5. Allow you to participate in the service you have chosen to do so
  6. Notify you about changes to the services.

 

INFORMATION STORAGE

If you provide us with your email address it will be stored, along with your first name, surname, address and phone number via Gmail and Mailchimp]. Gmail and Mailchimp have their own privacy policy and will protect your data. You can find out more here:
Gmail https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US

Mailchimp https://mailchimp.com/legal/

 

I will never sell or share your personal information with third parties.

 

LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING YOUR DATA

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides that processing of your data shall only be lawful if and to the extent that at least one of the following applies:

  1. You have consented
  2. For the performance of a contract
  3. For compliance with a legal obligation which I must perform
  4. To protect vital interests of your or another person
  5. It is in the public interest
  6. It is in the legitimate interests pursued by The Moon & Lotus or a third party

I collect data for the purposes set out above. Data is managed to ensure that it is either erased from the system when it is no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected, retained for legal reasons or minimised and retained. 

Any health data collected from you has special protection and is limited to that permissible by law. In all instances where special category data is collected I will obtain your express consent.

 

LINKS FROM THE SITE

The site contains links to and from other websites which are operated by individuals and companies over which I have no direct control. If you follow a link to any of these websites, please note that these websites have their own privacy and terms of use polices. I do not accept any responsibility or liability for these policies. I advise you to check the policies for third party sites before you submit any personal data to the website. 

 

MARKETING EMAILS

I will make it as easy as I can for you to opt out of unwanted processing, providing it does not restrict The Moon & Lotus’ ability to provide you with the primary service you have requested. 

Please note if you wish to unsubscribe from any marketing emails that you have signed up for, you can do so by emailing accounts@themoonandlotus or clicking onto the unsubscribe link on the marketing email that was sent to you. It may take 24 hours for this to become effective.

 

WEBSITE ANALYTICS & TARGETED MARKETING 

I use website analytics to provide the best user experience and service to you and to evaluate and improve the site. I utilise third party data analytics service providers [GOOGLE ANALYTICS, Meta Analytics] to improve visibility and to monitor website browser behaviour and navigation across the site.

These third-party data analytics service providers collect this information on my behalf in accordance with my instructions and in line with their own privacy policies. The service providers may collect the following data about the way you use our site, which will almost always be anonymised and aggregated before reporting back to The Moon & Lotus:

  1. Number of visitors to the site
  2. Pages visited whilst using the site and time spent per page
  3. Page interaction information, such as scrolling, clicks and browsing methods
  4. Source location and details about where users go when they leave the site
  5. Page response times and any download errors
  6. Other technical information relating to end user device, such as IP address or browser plug-in

From time to time I may use the information collected about you to present you with targeted advertisements using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest/ TikTok and/or Instagram.

 

CHANGES TO THE POLICY & FUTURE PROCESSING 

I do not intend to process your personal information except for the reasons stated within this privacy notice. If this changes, this privacy notice will be amended and placed on the website at www.themoonandlotus.com

 

POLICY DETAILS

I continually review the privacy practices and may change the policy and privacy statement from time to time. When I do this an amended privacy statement will be placed on our website at www.themoonandlotus.com

This privacy notice was published on 22 January 2023 and last updated on 22 January 2023.

If you are concerned about how The Moon & Lotus are collecting, using and/or sharing your personal information, you can contact the Data Protection Officer sam@themoonandlotus.com.

/0 Comments/by

We are self proclaimed “little” bad ass birth nerds

There is nothing “little” about us?.

We dropped the “miss” because we fight the patriarchy whenever we can and where ever it shows up, which unfortunately happens alot in the pregnancy, birth and postpartum world ?.

This topical subject is a thread throughout The Wombside to Earthside programme because, like it or not, you will encounter it at some point and it can derail your process and journey ⛔️.

One of our missions is to shine a spotlight on this, so that you can recognise it when you’re faced with it, are prepared for it and can carry on with an experience that you feel in control of and remain feeling powerful ??.

With the knowledge that you gain and the skills you develop from our programme you will go into this feeling as bad ass as we do ?.

#PositiveBirthing #PregnancyUK #KnowledgeIsPower #TMAL #TheMoonAndLotus #BirthNerds #GuardiansOfPhysiology #ProtectBiology #Oxytocin #Birth #BirthBelongsToWomen #TrustBirth #HormonalMatrix #BirthPower #ReclaimBirth #FourthTrimester #LittleMiss #MothersAndBabies #NewParent #NewDad #NewMum #HolisticBusinessOwners

/0 Comments/by

Do what you love and do it often

Another top day discussing all things bonding, birth and the magic dance that you, your baby and your family do during labour throughout Module 3 The Birth of a Mother, The Birth of a Baby?

This is a longer session but we like to incorporate all the fun things we love, getting up and active, eating and having a laugh❤️‍?

We adore spending time getting to know what you and your family want from a birth experience and we get all the feels hearing about what your birth is going to look like?

We are here for the visualisation and manifesting ?

Do what you love and do it often ❤️

? shared with explicit consent
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgZYPbMj5mE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

/0 Comments/by

P.S.A

Module 2 of Wombside to Earthside, Standing on the Threshold ?

What if we told you that the research surrounding the length of your pregnancy varied so much in terms of what was believed to be normal that it is actually ridiculous…?

What we told you that the “accepted” length of pregnancies across the world varied by up to 4+ weeks…?

What if we told you that in a historical review of the length of pregnancies, published in 2020, that the conclusion was this “rule” created should be considered as a guideline for the expected date of confinement, and not a definite date, by the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology…?

??????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? “???????????” ?? ???? ???? ?????????? ????? ?? ????????? ??? ????????????????

“Alexa define the word confinement…”

ℂ?????????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????.

We’ll leave that there then and hashtag our feelings.
DM for enquiries ❤️
Save, like and share as always

Sam & Kelly x

#PatriarchyMustDie #HandsOffOurBodies #OurBodiesOurChoice
#ANZJOG #DontKnowShit #WomensReproductiveHealth

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CgUxe9ojG9o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

/0 Comments/by

Why wouldn’t you invest in the most life changing, vital and important time of your life?

?The average overspend, revealed in a 2019 study, by parents, was an average of £5000.

?️Yes NHS classes are free and sometimes you’re lucky enough for a quick tour (Trust dependant).

?Yes private antenatal classes can be spenny, however they are an investment. In yourself as a mother and as parents, this is equipping yourself with knowledge, the saying is #KnowledgeIsPower after all.

?We are not dissing free courses at all.

✴️However, the information you receive from private antenatal education is different, this should be unbiased, up to date and accurate.

?The Wombside to Earthside? programme is the most indepth in the county;
▪︎ We spend a whole module on human rights in childbirth;
▪︎ We deconstruct the “due date” myth and explore how to flip that end of pregnancy pressure into something much more positive;
▪︎ We spend a day basking in the utter wonderment that is labour, birth and how both you and your baby were designed to work together;
▪︎ We then spend the 2 final modules diving into the parts, that to be quite honest are often rushed/glossed over, the point where your child is in your arms until 6 months + later.

⭐️A holistic look at parenthood and all of it’s loveliness but also, the total shite parts, we don’t shy away from tough topics.

We would go as far as to say we believe we are the best there is… But you don’t have to believe us, read our testimonials and feedback from families who have chosen to take control of their experience and invest in the most important time of your life.

We are passionate that this module is available to everyone so we do offer payment plans, we also offer concessionary rates for some families. DM us for more information ?

#PositiveBirthing #PregnancyUK #KnowledgeIsPower #TMAL #TheMoonAndLotus #BirthNerds #GuardiansOfPhysiology #ProtectBiology #Oxytocin #Birth #BirthBelongsToWomen #TrustBirth #HormonalMatrix #BirthPower #ReclaimBirth #FourthTrimester #MothersAndBabies #NewParent #NewDad #HolisticBusinessOwners

/0 Comments/by

Hot mamas, hot babies, hot tips

Lovely mama-to-be and mamas, temperatures are on the rise every year, summers are tough when you have babies on board on babes in arms.

In addition to checking in on your elderly family, friends and neighbours we thought we’d do a little check list for yourself ❤️

??In pregnancy it is common for women to experience skin changes, whereby exposure to the sun can create darker patches due to hormonal changes and an increase in pigmentation and sensitivity

? Try to avoid direct sun exposure between 11:00 – 15:00

? Water and lots of it. Fill the freezer with ice lollies, freeze slices of watermelon or add fruit to ice water

? Eat fresh cold raw fruit & veg, water rich food (watermelon, cucumber, oranges, grapes)

? Prep your evening meal at lunch to fight late day fatigue. (Salads, cold meats, quiches, beans)

? Don’t forget about sun cream and then reapplying it regularly.

? A basin of cold water and ice cubes for your feet and a massive hat to protect your head and shoulders

?Natural fibres in your clothing, keep it loose and baggy (cotton and linen)

? Nap, nap, nap. Even if you can’t sleep, lying down, naked, with a damp towel or tea towel over your breasts and/or bump can be jis5 the thing. Now is the perfect time to start focussing on your breathing techniques

??Legs up to assist with keeping fluid retention to a minimum

? If you haven’t already invested in a fan, plug in or hand fans can be a full on life saver! You can get some hand fans with a mister included in the pound shops. Plug ins don’t have to break the bank, keeping your curtains pulled during the day and then windows open at night with a desk fan helping to circulate the air can make all the difference

? Another top tip is to look out for cooling mats for pets, the smaller ones can fit inside your pillow case to keep your head and neck cool and the larger ones can be put under your fitted sheet to keep your body cooler at night.

Of course we wouldn’t leave out you beautiful mamas and your babies❤️

??‍?Babies aren’t able to regulate their own body temperature so the aim is to keep your baby from overheating and staying hydrated in warmer weather. So here are our top tips to keep your baby cool in this hot weather

? Babies (6 months and under) and young children ideally should be kept out of direct sunlight as much as possible, especially between 11:00 – 15:00

?? Breastfed babies may need extra feeds in the hot weather. Fully breastfed babies do not need any water until they’ve started eating solid foods

?You can offer bottle fed babies a little cool boiled water in addition to their milk feeds. If your baby wakes at night, they’ll probably want milk. If they have had their usual milk feeds, try cooled boiled water as well

?? If you are weaning your baby you can offer sips of water

? You could sit with your baby in a shallow paddling pool to keep them cool or run them a cool bath before bedtime

? Keep your baby’s/your bedroom cool during the day by closing blinds or curtains, then opening the window at night

?Dress your baby in loose, lightweight, cotton clothing or even just a nappy if it is very hot

The @lullabytrust offer the following information about pram covers

? When you’re out and about in this lovely weather it’s important to keep your baby cool and out of direct sun. Stay in the shade as much as possible

⛔️ Do not cover your baby’s pram with blankets or cloths as this could cause your baby to become too hot. Instead, use a parasol or shade to protect your baby from the sun, but make sure that air can circulate and you are still able to see your baby and monitor their temperature

? If you’re worried your baby is getting too hot, check their temperature by feeling their chest or back of their neck, if their skin feels clammy, this is a sign they are getting too hot

?Unfortunately we cannot comment on individual products. We encourage parents to check that any product they use has passed the necessary safety check and contact the manufacturer directly with any questions

❤️ Sam & Kelly x

/0 Comments/by

Labour & birth workshop

Our 1st full day workshop on labour and birth??.

We are two reeeeedonkulously passionate birth nerds, talking about the wonderment of the hormones, chemistry, biology, physiology and the downright excellence of this precious period and how to protect it from outside influences.

We didn’t just talk for the full day??, we ate scrummy food and then put the theory into action, practising techniques that you can have in your labour/birth tool kit, because we know people learn in all different ways, so we want to incorporate these into our programme.

If this is your jam, get in touch to reserve your spot for October / November⭐️

? shared with explicit consent ❤️

#PositiveBirthing #PregnancyUK #KnowledgeIsPower #TMAL #TheMoonAndLotus #BirthNerds #GuardiansOfPhysiology #ProtectBiology #Oxytocin #Birth #BirthBelongsToWomen #TrustBirth #HormonalMatrix #BirthPower #ReclaimBirth #FourthTrimester #MothersAndBabies #NewParent #NewDad #Rebozo #HolisticBusinessOwners

 

/0 Comments/by

Sauce and Labour…. BFFs

Heinz Ketchup, HP Sauce, Hellmanns go hand in hand with labour and birth right….?*

Stay with me here, you have a burger, some chips and you are so excited to have them. You have been looking forward to having them for a long time. You want them to be the most amazing treat ever… You’re at the end of the bottle. So obviously, you get the sauce out by laying the bottle on it’s side right…? That’ll get the sauce out out and create the best experience ever… Right?

I’m no magical witch, but saying accio to the sauce is highly unlikely to have a happy ending. The physiology of labour and birth requires freedom, movement and following a deep rooted rhythm that is inbuilt in all birthing goddesses ??

So if your care giver is encouraging you to be predominantly on a bed, to have continuous fetal monitoring or an epidural you need to be aware of the implications.

The Care Quality Commission published results from a survey, (from 17,151 women who gave birth during February 2019, as well as January 2019 if trusts had smaller numbers of births during February). Most women who responded to the survey gave birth lying down, either with their legs in stirrups (37%, consistent with 2018) or lying flat/ supported by pillows (23%, consistent with 2018).

The proportion of women saying they gave birth while standing, squatting or kneeling increased to 18% from 16% in 2018. However, this proportion has fluctuated over the years (from 15% in 2013 and 2015 to 17% in 2017).

As might be expected, a large proportion of women who had an assisted birth were lying with legs in stirrups (89%). Horrifyingly, almost a quarter (24%) of women who had an unassisted vaginal birth said they gave birth lying with legs in stirrups. WTF?

Any restrictions on your movements can and will impact on your ability to have a physiological, undisturbed birth.

Follow your own body’s finely tuned techniques
Trust that YOU are able to birth YOUR baby
YOU were BORN to do this
Womankind are exceptionally awesome when they believe in themselves
YOU are a powerful force of nature.

So next time you’re eating a butty, burger or some chips and you reach for the sauce….
????❤️

* other sauces are available

/0 Comments/by

Vaginal examinations

Did you know that vaginal examinations during labour, where a care provider inserts two fingers in to the vagina, is a common place feature in western practices around childbirth?

Here in the UK, it is routine to be offered one of these internal assessments upon arrival at a hospital or birth centre, or when a midwife arrives at your home. Thereafter, you are offered a repeat every few hours (sometimes more frequently) depending on the stage of labour.


Important points to know about vaginal assessments in birth before you accept them:?They can be painful

? They most frequently need to be conducted whilst lying or reclined, which can be intensely uncomfortable in labour.

?They are invasive.

?They can (and likely will) disturb the hormonal flow of labour, which can disrupt your entire birthing process, making labour potentially harder & longer.

?There is no scientific evidence to say the routine use of vaginal examinations is a reliable way to determine labour progress, or that it makes birth safer in general.

?They cannot ever tell you when a baby will be born.

?They can hugely impact your mindset, especially if the current dilatation, which means very little, is not at the point you were hoping for.

?There is research to say they increase the risk of infection (especially if you experience 5 or more during your birth).

Of course, you may choose to have a vaginal assessment because it feels right in the moment, because you’re considering extra support measures, or for a true clinical concern with yourself or baby…and that’s great!

You should never feel pressured to accept an assessment, for whatever reason that might be. Feeling pressured is a form of coercion, and coerced people cannot give legal consent.

Want to know more about navigating care features like this during your birth, and about the multitude of alternative signs your labour is progressing beautifully on time for you? DM to enquire; we’d love to welcome you ☺️?

What were your experiences & feelings around internal assessments during birth? We’d love to know

Sam & Kelly ??

/0 Comments/by

It’s never ‘just’ anything….

Autonomy & consent

? (sweep, vaginal examinations, induction of labour)
⭐Even when said with a smile.
⭐By someone in uniform.
⭐By someone who makes you feel like they’re more invested in your child’s welfare than you.
⭐If it makes you feel weird, you haven’t had a chance to think about it, talk to your partner or been given impartial up to date evidence that explains & discusses the pro’s & con’s of what is being offered to you.
⛔If this isn’t happening, this is coercion & most certainly not informed consent. Something that all healthcare professionals should be doing with every interaction with everyone who accepts care.
?This matters because 2/3 of parents report some aspect of their care or birth as traumatic, & in almost 70% of those parents, their trauma was as a direct result of the care they received from health professionals.
?Birth is a human right’s issue!
Do you think birth is risky business? How does this sit with you???
“Birth is as safe as life”
?Risk is not something to be taken lightly, but it is yours to consider. Risk belongs to mothers & fathers, not health professionals. Ever.
Risk can & is used as an effective means of control, especially in pregnancy & birth. It is also creates fear & anxiety.
?Risk is also another word for chance.
If this was used instead, you might view the discussion differently.
?It’s always worth asking for figures, stats, percentages because again, being told something is going to increase your chance of this or that by 50% is fucking scary, but what if that number went from 0.1% to 0.2%.? That is a big chance of ‘it’ definitely not happening.
⚠️When is this evidence from? 1981? 2001? 2022?
⚠️Is it up to date information? Are they up to date on their evidence & information sharing?
If this has lit a ? within you, are you interested in finding out more about the guidelines & evidence based care being offered to you, then come join us for 5 thought provoking & passionate weeks of all things related to your experience with two of the biggest birth nerds (in the world maybs?), we will chat, eat some delicious food & explore this & more?.
You know you want to?
Sam & Kelly x ??

/0 Comments/by