Podcasts
My personal favourites:
The Great Birth Rebellion. Hosted by clinical & research midwife Dr Melanie Jackson. Melanie has a PhD in birthing outside the system. Her dedication to thoroughly reviewing and discussing research and evidence-based practice blows me away with each and every episode. Melanie systematically reviews the Cochrane database (and other peer reviewed research) to bring you the evidence-based information on a range of topics: GBS swaps, vaginal examinations, CTG monitoring, birth centres, waterbirth, safety in birth, oxytocin in birth, and so much more. Strap in and get ready to get informed! Sign up to the Mailing List to get access to all the great research she reviews. Special shout out to B from Core and Floor Restore for her heartfelt contributions to the early episodes.
Homebirth Stories Australia. Join Aimee and Laura as they beautifully hold space for women to deeply explore and unpack their journey in pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Advocates for homebirth, getting informed about your options, and following your intuition for making empowered choices, Aimee and Laura celebrate positive birth stories at home and hold space for difficulties and traumatic experiences that have occurred along the way. My episode can be found in Season 2, Episode 20: my surprise breech homebirth as a first time Mum.
Other great options:
The Midwives Cauldron.
BirthTime – the podcast.
Hint: search on Spotify any of the below authors/researchers to listen to them as guests on a stack of other podcasts.
Books – my favourites:
Birth with Confidence – Rhea Dempsey [a must read for partners too]
Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage – Dr Rachel Reed
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering – Dr Sarah Buckley
Beyond the Birth Plan - Rhea Dempsey
The Discontented Little Baby Book – Dr Pamela Douglas
While not necessary, I would recommend reading in the order listed above – it’s a journey!
Other highly commended books (I didn’t get around to reading):
Anything by Ina May Gaskin
Documentaries (available online) – watch these with your partner !
Birth Time.
Born at Home.
Academics/Research
Being informed about evidence-based practice and research is ESSENTIAL when it comes to birth preparation because our current birth culture is embedded in fear, focuses on risk management, and operates within a constrained and overworked system with logistical issues to consider such as staffing & roster management. In addition, routine hospital practices that are in place (e.g., CTG monitoring, vaginal examinations) are not always evidence-based or helpful to the physiology of birth. It can take a long time for the system to change. The below authors write on a range of topics – great to peruse for a taste, and to look into further when you need specific information on a topic.
Dr Sarah Buckley - Oxytocin in birth, amongst a range of other topics
Dr Sara Wickham – UK based research who writes on a wide range of topics – key topics include induction of labour, waterbirth, GBS, vitamin K, and plus size pregnancy.
Dr Rachel Reed – again, a large range of research blogs on a wide variety of topics – e.g., gestational diabetes, “big babies”.
Dr Hazel Keedle – VBACs, birth trauma
Dr Hannah Dahlen – human rights in childbirth and normal physiological birth
Dr Melanie Jackson (as mentioned above with the Great Birth Rebellion podcast)
Birth Classes
Online
Free online education with B from Core and Floor Restore – sign up via her website to watch 8 lessons online.
In person, Wollongong
Active Birth Workshops with Better Births Illawarra (follow their Instagram to be kept in the loop)
Illawarra Birth Classes – birth preparation classes and fourth trimester classes for what to expect after bub’s arrival.
Hypnobirthing – in person, Wollongong
Flow in Birth with Mireille Boomsma
Practitioners and Services
Better Births Illawarra: local birth education and advocacy; check out their website for further links, resources and information
Osteopathic care: Align Health Woonona – Dr Lauren Griffiths for pelvic health; Dr Nikela Coulter – Evolve Health
Pelvic floor physiotherapy: Oak Flats Physiotherapy & Pelvic Health; Her Connection Physio; Mae Movement; Evolving Bellies
Massage therapy: Coastal Village Massage with Abby
Chiropractic care: Dr Eleni Mahanidis, Mahanidis Family Chiropractic Care
Acupuncture: Keryn Hawker
Matrescence, Pelvic Health Care, & Occupational Therapy: The Wild Orange Tree
Pre and post-natal yoga: Homebody Yoga; Younga Yoga
Private Midwives (local to Wollongong/Illawarra/South Coast)
Check out the Homebirth Australia Website directory for full listings.
Kira Waetford
Louise David (also an IBCLC)
Jenny Spencer
Geesje McGuire
Michaela Suddick (also an IBCLC)
Courtney Stevens
Doulas
Alyssa Booth - Cherish Birth
Possums-informed/accredited GPs
Save your sanity when it comes to sleep and managing the days and nights in postpartum with your bub.
Dr Pamela Douglas - follow the creator of Possums on Instagram
Dr Kate McCullough
Dr Hayley Glasson
Dr Marisa Nguyen
Dr Nikki Busch