In this episode I discuss the role of the doula, restrictive birthing practices, homebirth, freebirth and regulations. It is important that couples understand that doulas do not replace midwives.

Why are doulas becoming so popular in Australia? I believe that this could be because maternity care has changed and become more medicalised hospital maternity care. This is not an attack on midwives, but on our broken maternity care system and the shift to become obstetric-led care. Since the movement from home birth to hospital birth, the role of…

As you’ve probably guessed, I’m a big fan of the placenta and the umbilical cord. The placenta really is an amazing organ and has been the lifeline of your baby for the duration of your pregnancy. Without the placenta, there can be no new life. Your baby uses the placenta as it’s lungs, digestive system and liver. Once you have given birth to your …

Immediate clamping and cutting of the cord started in the 1960’s to prevent postpartum haemorrhage, but later research found this did not reduce postpartum haemorrhage, yet the practice continued. Delayed cord clamping means the umbilical cord is not clamped and cut immediately after birth to allow blood containing oxygen, nutrients, stem cells and…

You might be fearful with everything going on around you. These are unusual times. For some pregnant women, these are really stressful times. It is time to change your way of thinking. Look at what you CAN change and then see how you can best adapt to what you can’t change, or it will create so much more fear, disharmony and distress within you.…

The Natural Alignment Plateau phrase was first used by Marjie Hathaway, who is an independent childbirth educator and author of several books, as well as a practitioner trainer for the Bradley Childbirth Method. She highlighted that it is not uncommon for women to get to a point in their labour where their cervix stops dilating. This usually happen…

Your birth plan is more powerful than you know. A birth plan is not a legal document, but it can be used in a court of law to show how the woman expected to be treated and supported by her care providers during her labour and birth and immediate postpartum period. The birth plan shows that a woman has done her research and understands normal, physi…

The postpartum period in many cultures is about healing and adjusting to becoming a mother to a newborn baby. They recognise that a woman’s mind and body goes through a gruelling act of physical and emotional activity during labour and birth, therefore it is the “village” that takes care of the mother, feeding her, nurturing her and comforting her …

The curse of the due date and the eviction notice for your baby is clearly etched in every woman’s mind after she has confirmation of her pregnancy. She marks that date on the calendar with excitement and shares this with all her family and friends. This is when her baby will come. Then as the days grow into months, her belly getting bigger and mor…

In Episode 13 I shared some information about medical pain relief options, so now as promised I want to also provide you with some natural methods of pain relief. It is important to recognise that all of these techniques may not make pain completely disappear, but they may be instrumental in helping you to cope through the intensity of your labour …

So this podcast is following on from my previous podcast on Protecting Your Rights as a Childbearing Woman. When women experience what they consider to be a bad, difficult, disappointing or traumatic birth it is important for them to be acknowledged and her feelings validated – because this just doesn’t go away and they can’t just “get over it” and…

This Episode is Part 1 of Protecting Your Rights. Women need to know that they do have rights, they can refuse treatment without discrimination, shame or disrespect and healthcare providers need to support a woman’s choice whether they like it or not. Just because a woman is having a baby does not mean that she loses her voice, her rights to her bo…

One of the main fears women have about their labour and birth will be whether or not they will be able to cope with the intensity of pain. Here are some medical pain relief options for labouring women to give you a starting point of what is available, but also what you need to do more research on, so you understand all the risks and benefits.…

Orgasms release copious amounts of oxytocin therefore I am a big advocate for female orgasms during labour when things start to slow down or stall. If it is a choice between synthetic oxytocin and real oxytocin, what would you rather have? Just put a sign on your door saying “Please keep out – orgasm in progress” which not only allows you time with…

One of the important physical aspects of the body during pregnancy is the pelvis. In this podcast I am going to introduce you to the bones, ligaments and common causes of pain in the pelvis during pregnancy. I will also offer suggestions on how you can ease pain in the pelvic area during pregnancy and prepare your body to be in optimum condition so…

When we discuss the clitoris and the perineum – the holy grail of womanhood comes to mind. We know episiotomy can impact on the function and healing of these two sacred parts of the female anatomy, so it is important for women to be educated on what you can do during labour and birth to reduce or eliminate the risk of tearing and decline routine ep…

Here is a short relaxation meditation to help you wind down from a busy or stressful day. This meditation is not pregnancy or birth specific so anyone can use it to help them to become more relaxed. Give yourself time to rest, rejuvenate and replenish your energy stores and focus on your mind, your body and your emotions. Do not listen to this medi…

Choosing a care provider for your birth can be a daunting task. Many women feel they are going to get a better birth by going with a private Obstetrician, but statistics show that women are more likely to have inductions, interventions or end up with a caesarean by going private, so it is important for you to have a list of questions to ask potenti…

There are so many things to consider when you are planning your vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) and here are ten tips I put together to get you started, but you have to sit down and do your own mind-mapping to work out where you need more information, where you feel strong and confident and where you have mixed feelings and need to explore mor…

We have so many childbirth education programs that educate and prepare women for pregnancy, labour and birth, but not too many include what happens immediately after birth, and what women should be aware of, so they don’t feel so anxious or stressed if these things do occur.

A birth plan will ensure the wants and needs of the mother are at the forefront of her care - rather than the wants and needs of her care providers. Having a birth plan doesn't mean that you can't change your mind at any time. A birth plan sets a platform for discussion, informed consent and trust with your care providers. This podcast will give yo…

During labour most women like massage to help release endorphins, relax the body and give them loving touch. In this episode I share some simple, yet effective massage tips to use during labour.

There are still a lot of myths and fears surrounding pregnancy massage. Finding out you are pregnant is such an exciting time, however sometimes first-time mums are oblivious to the stress-producing changes that their bodies are about to experience. Some of the consequences of these changes can leave a woman feeling sore, tired, emotional and uncom…

Sometimes I notice women chatting on social media about having read a book on hypnobirthing but it didn't really work for them. Other times couples think that hypnobirthing looks like it will be a bit too woowoo or way too alternative for them. Many of my past clients say that we should change the name "hypnobirthing" as it conjures up images of pe…

This episode will give you an overview of what to expect from this podcast so you can see if it resonates with you.