You might be one of the 60% of women who have an epidural during their labour or birth. If you plan a caesarean you’ll have one and 40% of labouring women have one, but do you really know what it is, how it’s done and the positive and negative impact of accepting an epidural? We’ve got you covered - this episode is for everyone. Be prepared for every possibility, including the possibility of epidural. Watch the episode on Youtube here . Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the po...
Sep 21, 2025•1 hr 15 min
The fetus ejection reflex vs the Ferguson reflex. Did you feel your baby shoot out of you unexpectedly, or that irresistible urge that made it impossible not to push? This episode is to help understand these incredible birth reflexes that make birth so much easier and faster and how to make them work for you. Today Mel discusses the difference between the fetus ejection reflex and the ferguson reflex and gives practical strategies for how to support them so your pushing phase is easier. This epi...
Sep 14, 2025•57 min
Pushing out your baby is NOT about the eye popping, no breathing, PUSH PUSH PUSH PUUUUUUUSH scene that you see in movies. Unfortunately though many women are coached by their care provider to push a particular way. It doesn’t have to be like that. The evidence shows that you and your baby would be better off without a coach guiding your pushing or breathing during the pushing phase. In this episode I show you the evidence and give some suggestions on how to make your pushing phase and birth of y...
Sep 07, 2025•1 hr 25 min
On Aug 19th 2025 the world farewelled legendary Obstetrician Michel Odent. He spent his career trying to warn us of the generational impact of interrupting labour and birth and gave timeless advice on the practice of authentic midwifery and obstetrics. Today in this Ode to Odent I give a broad sweeping overview on the work of Odent that I believe should be preserved and passed on to this generation. If we forget his work we forget the basic needs of women in childbirth. The resource folder this ...
Aug 31, 2025•1 hr 5 min
A long and lovely career in midwifery requires strategic effort, the midwifery workforce is in a crisis of unsustainability so how can you be one of the midwives that makes it to a long and lovely career? In today's episode Mel gives direct and clear steps and strategy to creating a career that you love. She also reflects on the convergence of rebellious midwives and invites participation is a new project through ‘bite club’ Join bite club here Join the email list here so you can grab your ticke...
Aug 24, 2025•50 min
Sometimes homebirth doesn’t go as planned and transfer to hospital is required. This doesn’t mean your homebirth failed! Planning a homebirth improves your chances of a good outcome even if you end up birthing in hospital. Today Abby Sidery from @birthcirclesydney talks to us about her homebirth transfer and why it was still the most exhilarating experience even though nothing went to plan. Other episodes that are mentioned throughout her story include: 44. Prelabour rupture of membranes 79. Wis...
Aug 17, 2025•43 min
The evidence on the safety of homebirth is well-established. This episode presents some of the research about the physical outcomes that you can expect for yourself and your baby if you plan to give birth at home. This episode explores the research for women with uncomplicated pregnancies and the evidence on higher risk homebirth scenario's will be explored in future episodes. The information in this episode can help you determine if homebirth is a good choice for you. We more podcast episodes o...
Aug 10, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Having a great birth after a previous caesarean relies on 4 key elements. Some of these elements are provided by your care provider and some of them you can control. Find out how you can facilitate a positive and respectful birth after a previous caesarean section from my conversation with Dr Hazel Keedle as she talks us through the main points of her new book ‘The clinicians guide to a better birth after caesarean’ Our guest today was Dr Hazel Keedle @hazelkeedle on instagram and find ‘the clin...
Aug 03, 2025•1 hr 17 min
A new research paper is causing concern amongst the birthing community this week after a local newspaper said that the study shows that outcomes are better in private obstetric-led care compared to the public maternity care system. Of course, there is more to the story (remember newspapers write at a 12 year old reading level). Come be part of a grown up and nuanced conversation about this new research with Dr Melanie Jackson and Prof Hannah Dahlen. We explore the possibility of if this research...
Jul 27, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Women are at risk of violence in life, and sadly also during labour and birth, but what does violence against women look like during birth? Mel explains what obstetric violence is, how common it is and how to reduce the chances of being exposed to violence during your birth. As women we take steps to keep ourselves safe in life, and unfortunately we have to be just as strategic during birth. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource fold...
Jul 20, 2025•37 min
What an episode! This one had me hooked! Did you realise we have tiny organisms that live on and in every part of our body; collectively it’s called the ‘microbiome’. A healthy microbiome directly links with health benefits in pregnancy for you and the lifetime health of your baby (way more than you think!). This week, microbiome expert Rebecca Edwards from @activatedprobiotics explains how to protect and enhance your microbiome to help keep you (your vagina) and your baby healthy in the long an...
Jul 13, 2025•1 hr 20 min
Doulas play a specific role at birth, but what is it? I interviewed Doula Poppy Child from @popthatmumma about what a doula is, what they do, how much they cost and questions to ask when hiring one. Poppy is also a Hypnobirthing practitioner. You can see more of Poppy’s work here and Poppy would love to give you 20% off at the check out when you use the code MELANIE. We also interviewed Poppy about Hypnobirthing on Episode 156. Hypnobirthing! Can it really help? Get more from the Great Birth Reb...
Jul 06, 2025•40 min
Having a vaginal birth after caesarean can be a tricky thing to navigate BUT there are some strategies that will increase your chances of having a vaginal birth if that’s what you are planning for. This week I spoke with Marissa from @twiceblessed about what she did to have the VBAC she hoped for and I also add my top tips and educational pops as we went. This one is for you if you are planning a vaginal birth after caesarean or love a woman who is. In this episode Mel invites you to the Great B...
Jun 29, 2025•48 min
Hypnobirthing is a powerful technique that you can use to work with pain in labour. It’s easy to learn and adds to your tool kit if you are gathering strategies to help you feel calmer in labour and improve your chances of avoiding unwanted interventions and pain medications. Registration for the great birth masterclass that Mel spoke about is at www.melaniethemidwife.com/great sign up now The guest for todays episode was Poppy Child from @popthatmumma You can find out more about Poppy and her h...
Jun 22, 2025•44 min
A great birth doesn’t happen by accident, there are things that you can do to influence the events of your birth. In this episode Mel shares some strategies that you can apply to increase your chances of having a GREAT birth. For more strategies you can join Mel’s free masterclass www.melaniethemidwife.com/great This masterclass is live on June 27th 2025 and those registered for the live event will also receive the recording afterwards. If you are listening to this episode as a back catalogue an...
Jun 15, 2025•52 min
You can be the mistress of your birth experience. Let’s talk about what part YOU play in what happens to you during your birth. This week I speak to Alice Bleathman and we derive lessons from her birth story about what steps you can take to increase the chances of experiencing a birth without regrets. There are things you can do to increase your chances of a great birth and we explore these today through Alices story. To access the FREE MASTERCLASS www.melaniethemidwife.com/great Meet Alice @ali...
Jun 08, 2025•1 hr 9 min
There are controllable factors that you can start using today that will reduce the chances of your vulva or vagina tearing during childbirth. This episode lists the strategies that you, your care team and partner can help with to try and increase the chance of your vulva remaining intact. Episodes that complement this episode: 72 - Episiotomy Part 1 & 73 - Episiotomy Part 2 127 - Do I need stitches if I tear at birth 143 - Declining Medical recommendations 19 - The Perineal Bundle Get more f...
Jun 01, 2025•53 min
The BIG BABY trail, The SWEPIS study, the ARRIVE trial, The INDEX trial and the 35/39 trial. The 5 BIG studies that often get used to endorse the use of induction for suspected big babies, women over the age of 35 and over 41 weeks pregnant. Mel and Hannah Dahlen pick apart the studies to help you understand them and use them to inform your decisions around induction of labour. Our guest on this episode was Professor Hannah Dahlen @hannah.dahlen Other related episodes include: Episode 33 - Induc...
May 25, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Mel is talking all about the labour process. The focus is on how you can identify and understand labour and how it progresses so you can be prepared for each part of it. We start from early labour all the way through to pushing out your baby Episodes that complement this episode include: 149. Increase your chances of vaginal birth 148. Why do they put their fingers in your vagina 82. Failure to progress or just normal? 65. Breathwork for birth with Emma Johnston 55. Supplies to gather for home l...
May 18, 2025•52 min
Are you exploring the option of homebirth? Today Renee Bargh , mum of 2 and television host tells the story of her 2 different births. One through MGP with an epidural and posterior baby and the other at home with a private midwife. I give commentary throughout to help you learn more from her story as we explore the option of giving birth at home and convincing her anaesthetist husband that it was a good idea. Meet our guest @reneebaugh Episodes that also relate to Renee’s story Posterior labour...
May 10, 2025•58 min
Want to increase your chances of a low-intervention vaginal birth in hospital? This episode is for you! If you attend hospital to give birth, you have approximately a 50% chance of having a vaginal birth without an episiotomy, vacuum or forceps or caesarean section. There are things you can do to increase your chances. This episode gives 5 clear strategies that you can implement today to make a BIG difference to your birth experience. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podc...
May 04, 2025•53 min
Routine vaginal examinations can cause more harm than good. Sometimes they are needed but most of the time they are not. Vaginal examinations are offered as routine surveillance during most births, but you have a choice. Know that if you don’t want one, that's ok, because there is no evidence that shows that routine vaginal examinations improve outcomes - in fact, it’s more likely to be the opposite. Some complementary episodes that go with this topic include: Ep.88 what if I have to push before...
Apr 27, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Today we talk about all of your ultrasound options in pregnancy. Mel and her guest Phil Jones (sonographer) discuss the full menu of ultrasound options offered to women during pregnancy, right from the dating scan all the way through to the ‘post-dates’ ultrasound. We talk about how to prepare for each scan, how much they cost, what each scan looks for and all the nitty gritty questions that women often have about ultrasounds. This podcast is and will always be free to you, but if you have benef...
Apr 20, 2025•1 hr 11 min
If you’re pregnant, chances are you’ll feel nauseous or be vomiting. It’s really common! And in this episode I explain 10 strategies that could help reduce and manage your symptoms. This episode is free to you the listener because of our generous sponsor Hydramama. Keira Rumble the creator of mini and me is offering great birth rebellion listeners 20% off Hydramama electrolyte drink when you use the code GBR20 at the checkout www.miniandme.co This podcast is and will always be free to you, but i...
Apr 06, 2025•42 min
What to do when you’re ‘over-due’, what does it mean to be over-due? Is it dangerous? Why do they want to induce you? Is your placenta failing or your baby in danger? Mel looks into due dates, how they are calculated and your options if you go over your due date. You might also like to listen to episode 84 - the myth of the failing placenta This podcast is and will always be free to you, but if you have benefited from the great birth rebellion, show some tangible support by wearing the rebellion...
Mar 30, 2025•58 min
Can you decline recommendations given to you by your care provider? And If you do, what kind of reaction can you expect. In this episode Mel gives insider details of how the maternity care system works and some of the reactions you might expect if you say ‘no’ to medical recommendations. Mel gives actionable strategies that you can employ in the moment but also strategies that will help you advocate and keep your power in the birth space. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the ...
Mar 23, 2025•50 min
Iron deficiency and anaemia in pregnancy occur for nearly 50% of women. In this episode, Mel and her guest Jaimee Smith discuss how to identify iron deficiency early in pregnancy to prevent anaemia, and also how to treat anaemia if it occurs. We discuss diet, supplement and iron infusion options This episode is sponsored by the convergence of rebellious midwives. Get your ticket to the 2025 convergence being held August 15th-17th 2025 Find out more about Jaimee Smith at www.themidwivesmidwife.co...
Mar 16, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Are you pregnant and have been told that your baby is too big or too small? Do they want to induce you or give you a caesarean because of it? This is for you if you’ve been told your baby is too big or too small. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com Follow u...
Mar 09, 2025•55 min
The incredible science of how our brains change during pregnancy, birth and parenting with Neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay. Sarah is the author of The Women's Brain Book—The Neuroscience of Health, Hormones and Happiness, Baby Brain—the surprising neuroscience of how pregnancy and motherhood sculpt our brains and change our minds (for the better) and neuroscience for dummies. Sarah is the director of The Neuroscience Academy, which offers professional development training in applied neuroscience a...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 8 min
This is part 2 all about pre-eclampsia. Episode 138 and 139 give a deep dive into what preeclampsia is, ways to prevent and diagnose it, and today we talk about what happens if you’ve got it. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com Follow us on social media @th...
Feb 23, 2025•33 min
