This is the second instalment of the 'Positive caesarean' series and goes beautifully with episode 37. If you are listening to this one, go back to the other one first. In this episode you'll hear our top tips for how to wrangle the system to add and minus elements of your care in order to improve your birth experience. 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 ...
May 21, 2023•1 hr 7 min
This is part 1 of a 3 part series on positive caesarean section. This is not just for women who are planning a caesarean but also those who want to be prepared for all possible scenario’s. We discuss the really good reasons for caesarean section and what motivates some women to elect for caesarean section. In following episodes we discuss the process/procedure of caesarean section, ways to change it to make it better and the option of maternal assisted caesarean section Get more from the Great B...
May 14, 2023•41 min
Is there anything you what to do to honour and use your placenta after birth? In hospitals they are mostly thrown away... but there are lots of options of what you can do with your placenta... including the option of eating it. We delve into the research on placentaphagy (aka eating your placenta) to help women make decisions about if they believe consuming their placenta would be beneficial to them. Other placenta uses are also offered. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the p...
May 07, 2023•56 min
Every baby is offered the opportunity to receive vitamin K supplementation at birth. This episode offers some of the reasons and risks and benefits of vitamin K supplementation. You'll have to make a decision about this one. 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....
Apr 30, 2023•51 min
We break down the myths and barriers to healthy movement in pregnancy. To get access to B’s exercise courses go to www.coreandfloor.com 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 @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife If this podc...
Apr 23, 2023•58 min
Induction of labour is getting out of control. Professor Hannah Dahlen talks about her research on induction of labour, we speak about post dates, bigger and smaller babies, the place of ultrasound and the risks and benefits of induction. This is particularly important for women having their first baby Hannah speaks about a conversation article that is helpful to further understand her research, you can read this article at https://theconversation.com/too-many-healthy-women-are-having-their-labo...
Apr 16, 2023•1 hr 8 min
This short and sweet little episode on consuming dates during pregnancy will help explain the tradition and impact of eating dates during pregnancy. Many women eat dates during the later stages of their pregnancy because they believe that it has an impact on labour outcomes. Do dates make labour shorter? And will the recipes that Mel recommends be any good? Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melanie...
Apr 09, 2023•35 min
This episode gives you strategies to prevent and manage shoulder dystocia. Have you had a shoulder dystocia before? Midwives will receive specific tuition on how to manage a shoulder dystocia and it's within the midwifery skill set to manage, but there are lots of different strategies that will apply in different situations. 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...
Apr 02, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Does size matter? Well sometimes it does - but how do we know the size of your baby? In this episode Mel explores the accuracy of technologies that can help determine the size of a baby before it’s born, the factors that influence the size of your baby and the place of induction when your baby falls outside of the ‘normal’ size range’. We explore the issues around 'big' babies, why they grow that way and how to navigate the consequences of being diagnosed with a ‘Big baby’. Get more from the Gre...
Mar 19, 2023•55 min
We draw on our collective 28 years as midwives and share what we have witnessed from great birth supporters. We have watched the good the bad and the ugly side of birth support, we bring you our top tips of how to be an amazing birth supporter. This is one for partners, mothers, doula's, midwives and anyone who has been invited into a birth space. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife...
Mar 12, 2023•58 min
This episode explores the very sexy topic of gestational thrombocytopaenia (a.k.a low platelets during pregnancy). If you find yourself looking after someone with low platelets or you are one of the 15% of women who will experience this in pregnancy, this information will blow your mind! why is 150 the platelet cut-off... this information could change your whole management strategy and help you avoid unwanted interventions. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing...
Mar 05, 2023•22 min
The Breech whisperer Dr Andrew Bissits is here to talk about breech birth, breech birth options in Australia, the research about breech and inspiring news about how practitioners are becoming skilled in breech birth again. To learn more about breech, also listen to episode 123 with Dr Rixa Freeze from Breech without Borders 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 ...
Feb 26, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Many women fear bleeding after birth... but do we have to be affraid of postpartum haemhorrage? In this we define what postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is, how they can be prevented and management strategies for how to prevent life threatening blood loss after childbirth. 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 me...
Feb 19, 2023•44 min
There are 3 options you have to choose from when making plans for how you want to give birth to your placenta. Once you give birth to your baby, then comes the placenta - let's chat through how to do it. You could opt for medicine to help, but that is not the only option. 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 Rebellio...
Feb 12, 2023•45 min
Dr Hazel Keedle (@hazelkeedle) and Amber-Lee Buendicho (@powerofbirth) to discuss the new research around Obstetric violence, Birth Trauma and healing strategies. If you need help with Trauma recovery you may consider connecting with: https://panda.org.au/articles/childbirth-trauma-and-recovery/ https://www.cope.org.au/preparing-for-birth/things-dont-go-plan/recovering-from-a-traumatic-birth/ Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource fol...
Feb 05, 2023•1 hr 13 min
Let's discuss the repair of perineal tears. If you give birth in hospital and you tear during birth, you'll most likely be offered to have it repaired using stitches, but is this the best method? There are actually other options and we discuss the research behind these in this episode. Mel also looks at strategies to speed up healing and reduce pain and swelling from perineal tears. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from e...
Dec 25, 2022•41 min
Sterile water injections are a really effective pain management strategy for labour. Nigel Lee presents some the substantial evidence base to support it’s use for the range of pains in labour. Sterile water injections are predominantly used for back pain in labour, is safe and only has one major downfall… hear all the details in the episode. 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 J...
Dec 18, 2022•30 min
You might not know it, but you are being exposed to the perineal bundle. Researcher Nigel Lee came on to discuss the perineal bundle, the research behind it and all the reasons why we don't like it. This information is vital if you want to protect your perineum. Guest host for this episode is B from @coreandfloorrestore 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 ...
Dec 11, 2022•43 min
Lets explore gestational diabetes testing and part the research around the oral glucose tolerance test and the alternatives if you choose not to have this test. This is not an episode about gestational diabetes, but it is an episode about gestational diabetes screening and diagnosis. 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 Bi...
Dec 04, 2022•27 min
Are you thinking about using water for labour or having a waterbirth? This episode is for you. There are some things to understand about the safety, risks, mechanisms and how to access it. We look through the current research to help you as you make decisions on if you want to give birth in water or not, and if you are a midwife, how you can assist women to access this. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode a...
Nov 27, 2022•54 min
Doulas play a specific role at birth, but what are they and what do they do? I interviewed experienced doula Poppy Child from @popthatmumma about what a doula is, what they do, how much they cost and questions to ask when hiring one. If you are considering a doula, there is great reason to invest in their support throughout your pregnancy, birth and postpartum. 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 ...
Nov 19, 2022•40 min
Dr Sarah Buckley is here to talk about what starts labour, the hormones of labour and how to protect them from interruption. We learn about the fundamental and essential needs of a woman in labour to promote labour physiology. Private, Safe and unobserved. Sarah also shared how to fill hormonal gaps when your labour process has been interrupted. Sarah is a GP and homebirth mother of 4 babies with a research focus on the hormones of labour... but so much more! you can find out more about Dr Sarah...
Nov 12, 2022•1 hr 7 min
What does it take to have a baby? There are some things you need to know before your birth, but it's not as hard as you think it is. This episode offers some strategies to help you prepare for pushing out your baby and will show you what you can do in the moment to make your pushing phase as good as possible. 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 s...
Nov 06, 2022•1 hr 25 min
If you are pregnant and giving birth, you will most definitely come across CTG, so lets talk about it. Dr Kirsten Small is the industry expert on CTG use during birth and knows about the risks and benefits of this monitoring option. The use of CTG to monitor babies in labour is common practice and almost all women will be offered it during labour... but is it beneficial? Does it make birth safer for babies? or safer for women? or safer for your care provider? Check out Kirstens work @birthsmallt...
Oct 23, 2022•53 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...
Oct 16, 2022•52 min
What is the place and purpose of vaginal examinations during pregnancy and birth? Almost all pregnant and birthing women will be offered one. This practice is embedded in 'usual' maternity care, but you'll see in this episode that it doesn't have to be, and there is very little clinical significance to having vaginal examinations. You do have a choice, you don't have to accept them. Our guest host for this episode was B from @coreandfloorrestore Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Jo...
Oct 09, 2022•53 min
Mel talks with Aimee Aroha ( @aimeearoha ) about giving birth at home along the full spectrum from freebirth to homebirth. We discuss the research about homebirth, freebirthing culture and what it means to be fully autonomous and liberated at and by your birth wherever you choose to birth. We discuss authoritative knowledge about birth and why decolonising and demedicalising birth is a rebellious act in a society that values making birth medical. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast J...
Sep 25, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Vaginal Birth after Cesarean is the most requested topic and Dr Hazel Keedle is here discuss birth after caesarean. We dispelled the myth of 'once a caesarean always a caesarean', discussed the risks and benefits of planning a vaginal birth vs repeat caesarean and talked about the best things women can do to set themselves up from the beginning to have the birth experience they hoped for when planning their next birth after caesarean. As always, there is a butt load of evidence to support our di...
Sep 18, 2022•51 min
What even is GBS and why does it matter for you? This episode offers some important information to help you make decisions about GBS screening and management. 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 @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melanie...
Sep 11, 2022•36 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...
Sep 04, 2022•53 min
