The Birth Buzz: November 2023
THIS MONTH
3 podcasts & a recommendation
Hello Lovelies,
I hope this Birth Buzz finds you feeling well in your pregnancy or postpartum!
I have just returned from a lovely family holiday, it really was the best and so needed after a busy few months of working on my online birth class and juggling life as we all are!
I find since having kids it takes me a few days to settle into the ‘being’ of holiday time and of course with kids it’s never completely relaxing but there are definitely more moments of rest and time to do the things I love as the girls get older – so hang in there if you’re deep in the early years, the intensity changes and it does lessen.
If you’re pregnant and in baby moon planning mode – I wrote this babymoon post about what to consider before you book one; and I highly recommend that if you can, try to get away for some pre-baby time even if you have other children, it is SO worth it!
3 Things… Podcast edition
While I was away I had time to read and listen to podcasts – a mix of educational and fun ones and I wanted to share these with you so here they are:
1. Ready or Not Pod - Nell Frizell on journeying through the panic years, the tracksuit years and the partial eclipse
Firstly I adore this podcast about making work ‘work’ as mothers as well as their sister podcast ‘ The Witching hour’ honest conversations around motherhood.
This Ep was a brilliant and juicy chat with the incredible Nell Frizell and I cant wait to get my hands on her books:
“Nell Frizzell might just be one of the wisest and funniest people I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to. She's a journalist, an author, and a mother, and she writes with the sort of candour and kind sense of authority that makes you trust her immediately. My dog-eared copies of her books - The Panic Years and Holding the Baby - are completely battered and bruised, such is the wisdom and comfort that her words bring to exploring gender, motherhood, politics, and culture. Here, we talk about the flattened female identity of motherhood, why mothers feel the need to hide their children in order to be taken seriously, and her experiences moving through the flux, the panic years, the tracksuit years and the partial eclipse.
2. The Midwives Cauldron - Labour pauses - failure to progress or just normal?
As Midwives we so often see pauses and plateaus in labour – often in the hospital setting this is viewed as something being ‘wrong’ and intervention follows – but as many of us have experienced, the body often knows so much more than we do and if all is well, it can sometimes be for good reason. This is a must listen for midwives and birthing women as you go into labour and birth – it also highlights the mind-body connection and how women can sometimes slow down labour if they’re ‘waiting’ for something or someone.
“Dr Marina Weckend is a midwife and post-doctoral researcher based at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. In this episode we discuss: • What are physiological plateaus in labour? • Are labour pauses normal? • When do they occur during labour and birth? • How long do they last? • What’s the defining feature of a physiological plateau? • How do midwives think and work with them based on their experiences?”
3. The Great Birth Rebellion - Ethics & informed consent in childbirth with Dr Elizabeth Newhman
Another essential listen if you’re preparing to birth – the topic may not sound super exciting but I really enjoyed this chat and it’s so much more, research, risk and perceptions around it all!
“In this episode, Mel and B invited Dr Elizabeth Newnham (Senior Midwifery Lecturer) to speak about her work on Ethics, autonomy and informed consent in maternity care. We specifically drew on her research paper, “Beyond Autonomy: care ethics for midwifery and the humanisation of birth”. It's a juicy one.”
Recommendation for gifting
I am working on a gift guide for both Mama’s to be and Mamas that incudes my favourite products and thoughtful ideas to add to your wish list or send to family or friends!
I’m planning on making it a blog post (with a few discounts for you) so I can include it all!
Stay tuned for that - but until then I’d love to share this beautiful small biz in Tassie, created by two sisters.
“Lewis Lion offers thoughtfully curated gift packs for babies, parents, mothers, and loved ones. Grown in Hobart, Tasmania we look for local Tasmanian and Australian products to showcase. Named after baby Lewis, our precious angel baby, we tailor gift boxes that recognise all aspects of the pregnancy journey- from offering comfort to new mothers, sharing the delight of new bundles of joy, and offering heartfelt support to bereaved parents.”
I love this ‘Gift for new mumma’ gift pack.
You can check them out and follow here:
https://www.lewis-lion.com
Facebook: Lewis Lion
Instagram: _lewis.lion
Until the next newsletter (a gorgeous home birth story from a beautiful ‘Your Birth Class’ client that I cannot wait to share) take care, this time of year can be beautiful and busy but also a LOT – take care of you, create some time and space for downtime and know you’re allowed to say no!
Much love -
*Information shared is of a general nature only and is not medical advice — please see your own care provider for specific and individualised information and advice. All personal stories & photos shared with permission.
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