Back to Bump Chiropractic in Darwin, Northern Territory | Medical and health

Back to Bump Chiropractic

Locality: Darwin, Northern Territory

Phone: +61 438 239 241

Address: 2/8 Budgen Street 0810 Darwin, NT, Australia

Website: http://www.backtobump.com/

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25.01.2022 She’s going to be the best mommy some day! The way she holds and comforts her sister TT: mrs.happygilmore

25.01.2022 A glorious day for birth choices, informed consent, respecting autonomy in decision making and for this family. This home schooling mom had two previous cesarea...n sections when she found out she was pregnant with Di-Di Twins. Her Orange County midwife @bornwithanangell_midwife referred her to @birthinginstincts as pretty much her only option for a trial of labor. She really didn’t want another cesarean and needless to say there was not much support for her coming from the hospital based world. Early this morning, at 37 weeks, she and her husband and two sons welcomed these twins at home just before dawn. Baby boy A was breech. Baby girl B came head first 35 minutes later. Such an honor. We are all totally jazzed! #homebirth #twins #breechbaby #vba2c #birthchoices #trustbirth #collaborativecare See more

25.01.2022 The Fetal Ejection Reflex. In the final stages of an undisturbed labour, the fetal ejection reflex is triggered, causing powerful, involuntary, expulsive contra...ctions that enable us to birth our babies. As our baby moves through the pelvis, they will stimulate the nerve endings and initiate this incredible response within our bodies. At this point in labour you will have a huge surge in adrenalin, again contributing to initiating the fetal ejection reflex (thought to be so we have both energy for this moment, and that we become alert immediately after birth in order to protect our newborn babies!). In hospital settings, we sometimes see an external trigger for adrenalin production (such as discussions around instrumental birth or new people entering a room) cause this response too, as our bodies 'sense danger' and decide that baby is better out than in! . This surge in adrenalin (the hormone of fear) can also explain why we sometimes feel or express 'panic' during transition, it's our outward response to our body's way of preparing hormonally for what is about to happen. For some women this comes with an irresistible urge to bear down and 'push', for others the reflex takes over entirely. The simplest way to describe what the fetal ejection reflex feels like, is remembering a time where you suffered with food poisoning and needed to be sick, nothing would stop you being sick, it was just HAPPENING! It's basically that... in reverse. If birth is disturbed too much, be that by intervention, conversation, location or something else, we run the risk of interfering with the body's natural flow of hormones, meaning we miss hugely helpful, natural mechanisms such as this! It's therefore important that we think carefully about the environment and support we have around us during birth. We have the PERFECT physiological system already in place, we simply need to let it do it's job! How cool is this?! . Incredible photo by @devonejonesphotography See more

24.01.2022 Good morning, little one! #jukinmedia

24.01.2022 Here are our stats for the year to date. 100% vaginal births. 0% emergency transfer rate. Thank you for choosing us as your midwives. X Midwife Maet and Midwife Meg. Here’s to a continued year of physiological birth and kindness in maternity care.

22.01.2022 I wouldn’t have a homebirth. I personally feel safer with the professionals. Ok. Hold on. Can we clear something up? Midwives. Are. Professionals.... Implying otherwise gives the impression that homebirth is unsafe. That we’re ignoring advice. It keeps that negative stigma around homebirth. If you’re more comfortable having a hospital birth, by all means have your baby there and I’ll support you. But let’s not discredit homebirth midwives. My midwives are just as much professionals as a typical obgyn. Just because some may choose the homebirth midwife route does NOT mean that they aren’t trained, educated professionals. Maybe you don’t realize the training midwives have. Maybe you don’t realize the power of words. Maybe you didn’t think it all the way through. So here’s a friendly reminder that the hospital is not the only place to birth a baby with professionals present. Homebirth with midwives is also a safe place with professionals present. That is all.

22.01.2022 We're used to seeing the trials and tribulations of hospital births in movies but here in the Territory more and more mothers are choosing a much "calmer" alternative. Nine's Amy Clements sat down with the Darwin women who give "home sweet home" a whole new meaning.

21.01.2022 This is my most widely shared post. And rightly so, it’s an important one. These are prewriting patterns, with the average (not prescribed) age at which child...ren are developmentally ready to achieve these patterns listed below them in years and months. Being able to process visual information and produce a movement in response (e.g. copying these prewriting patterns or letter formations), is known as visual motor integration. Note that an X is not typically achieved until 4 years 11 months, and a triangle at 5 years 3 months. If a child can’t form these basic shapes...then they probably won’t be able to form letters. It is quite concerning then that there are 3 year 7 month olds starting formal schooling, where they’re expected to write. Not only are their visual motor integration skills not developed enough, their hands are also physically under-developed. In addition, recognising letters, understanding phonics and beginning to read are all needed in order for a child to write meaningfully, skills which children starting kindy typically don’t have. We also know that when a child learns something that doesn’t hold meaning, it‘s unlikely to stick. So if you have a 3-4 year old who spontaneously asks or attempts to write letters, that’s great; otherwise, there is no need to initiate or worry about this. Unfortunately there is a misconception, particularly with the way that the current curriculum stands, that earlier is better. Earlier is not always better. Source: Beery Buktenica Test of Visual Motor Integration, 6th Edition #visualmotorintegration #vmi #letterformations #prewriting #writing #kindy #schoolreadiness #earlierisnotbetter #toomuchtoosoon #letthembelittle #letthemplay #prewritingskills #foundationskills #phonics #phonologicalawareness #earlyliteracyskills #literacy #earlyreaders #reading #occupationaltherapy #paediatrics #paediatricot #kidsofperth #perthkids #schoolbasedtherapy #teacher #teachersofinstagram #australiancurriculum #schoolholidays #knowledgeispower

20.01.2022 ‘In pregnancy developing babies are of the utmost importance, yes. But so are mothers. There are no babies without us. Without being allowed our autonomy - owne...rship of who we are, messiness, flaws, contradictions, and all - we can begin to fade into the background, a shadow to ourselves and our future children.’ Quote from Like a Mother by @angelagarbes (one of my favourite books ). I’m all about supporting you as a mother. I feel like so much traditional postnatal care focuses on your baby - if they are jaundiced, gaining weight, feeding well etc. Important facets of maternity care for sure. But what about mothers? Beyond ensuring that a mother is recovering physically and successfully feeding her baby, are we really giving mothers the emotional support that they need and deserve? I believe that postpartum care needs a huge shake up. I didn’t expect to find my ‘niche’ in postpartum care, but I feel like this is a time that our system is really failing women, and I am determined to change that. Gorgeous by @beckyagardner See more

20.01.2022 It’s #BirthTraumaAwarenessWeek & we are going to focus on prevention of and support for this phenomena. Thank you @naomisawatzkyppdoula for the original ...post. Let’s be clear. A healthy baby is NOT all that matters. We hear this message regularly, but what does it mean? Well, maternity services globally often focus primarily on the safety and well-being of the baby. And they sometimes do this in a patronising way. Let’s keep repeating the message that women matter. Birthing people matter. We all matter, and physical and psychological safety is as important for the mother as well as her infant. As midwives, doulas, maternity support workers and obstetricians - what we do and how we do it, what we say and how we say it - can make a woman’s birth experience either transforming or harrowing. We have that potential impact. The images in this post demonstrate the fact that women are influenced by the words we use. Sometimes we don’t realise what we’re saying - let’s keep being mindful during each interaction. Tomorrow this account is being taken over by @mumologist. The wonderful Emma is a psychologist specialising in pregnancy and birth - so do look out for her post and come along to chat to her! #enough #languagematters #wordsmatter #ahealthybabyisnotallthatmatters #womenmatter #birthingpeoplematter

20.01.2022 "Imagine if our culture told us that birth was one of the greatest things a woman might ever do. Imagine if the stories and images we were exposed to taught us ...that labour is an incredible and transformational experience, a rite of passage into motherhood." Leonie MacDonald Happy International Women’s Day Here’s to strong women May we know them May we be them May we raise them

18.01.2022 Our Birth Story So many of you have been excited to hear our birth story so I thought I’d share while it’s fresh in my mind. It all started Saturday morning. I ...woke up feeling quite off. We were having two nights away as a family staying at a hotel with some friends. I ended up cancelling my day in the clinic (which I never do) as I just wasn’t feeling that great. I’d noticed more tightening through the day, but had been experiencing tightening for weeks. I still tried to enjoy my day with family and friends, had a swim in the pool and ditched them around 6pm to head to my room as I felt rubbish. I woke around 11.30pm needing to sit on the toilet, the tightening was getting more frequent and intense. I called my midwives and spoke to the delivery suite - by this stage I was using my hypnobirthing breath work to breathe through the tightenings. Thanks Nicole @mindbumpandbirth - I would HIGHLY recommend this course. We had to drop our daughter Mila at our friends room, not too sure what to do with her that was our best option. We headed straight to Royal Darwin Hospital arriving at 1.20am. I immediately got my partner to dim the lights, it was super quiet and we were given a small room. Perfect! I had my handbag and that was it. No time for a hospital bag! I had my birthing meditations and affirmations already stored on my phone and an old pair of iPhone headphones. 2.25am I asked for some pain relief and was given gas. It immediately made me feel sick so I asked for access to water and moved into the shower kneeling over the exercise ball. The midwife was happy to get the bath ready but didn’t think I had time. 3.00am I asked for an internal check. My mind was getting out of the game and I was being encouraged by my midwife and partner to release and breathe. It was hard. She didn’t tell me how dilated I was, she just kept telling me how much of a super star I was (bless). 3.20am I had three big sudden urges to squeeze down and push, I felt Lola’s head starting to crown. At this stage I screamed for an epidural or some other pain relief but my baby was literally there! I held my partner the whole time and worked through the last three surges. 3.25am Lola literally came out so fast, at this stage I was kneeling on the floor and the midwife caught her placing her on my chest. It was instant relief and the most insane feeling. I had birthed my baby! I declined the oxytocin injection to birth my placenta, I wanted to give it time and to delay any clamping of the cord until my baby got the last of the nutrients that fed her for the past 37 weeks. 4am I was requested to have the oxytocin injection which I took and birthed my placenta 42 minutes later, standing up with a little cough. Straight into a pan! I won’t share these images but they are unreal. Lola was put directly on my chest, then on my partners chest for at least two hours of skin on skin until she was weighed and checked over. I had a minor tear which was stitched and we left the hospital at 9.30am ready for breakfast at home. None of my team of midwives were there, I had no hospital bag until it was too late and I still had the most wonderful birthing experience. I got my VBAC. Sometimes the most unplanned events are always the best. Now we have another angel that chose us to be her parents. Lola Jean

17.01.2022 So I think it’s time to introduce myself... Hi My name is Kate and welcome to my page, I am a mum of two boys and a Naturopath. I have created this page for y...ou! To help you prepare for birth and new mum life. When I had my first baby, the only education I received was when to go to the hospital and then they passed around a dilation chart. There was no education on what would happen in my labour, there was no education on preparing for Birth like antenatal expressing and perineal massage, or nutrition, how to care for your body and mind post birth, how to aid healing, there was no education on breastfeeding or the postpartum life. My aim is to educate and empower all women that are preparing for birth whether this is your first or your 10th baby so you feel support, educated and empowered and therefore excited to meet your baby. With evidence based information we hope we can help guide you through a safe and supported birth. We hope to launch our birth kits in early January so be sure to watch this space #smallbussiness #localmum #comingsoon #birth #hospitalbirth #homebirth #labour #antnatalexpressing #perinealmassage #labouroflove #pregnancy #pregnancyprep #hospitalbag #hypnobirth #newborn #newmother #spiningbabies #birthstories #supportmothers #birthkits #babygirl #babyboy #VBAC #birthprep #pregnancyandbeyond #pregnancyisbeautiful #pregnancybelly #postpartum #postpartumhealing #postpartumjourney

17.01.2022 Listening is the first tool of the midwife. Heartones. Stories. Emotions. Every woman has a labor song. The way her breath changes. Her words. The tone of the w...ords. Spoken. Shouted. Whispered. Screamed. Is she scared? Is she holding on to the past? Heartones again. Crying. Words of encouragement. The sound of bearing down to push is music to the midwives ear and will have her jumping up to prepare the room. The first cry of the newborn. The heartbeat of the newborn. The sound of her lungs. Her first breaths. The tears that flow. The name of the newborn as it is first spoken. Jubilation. The sound of the first latch and drops of milk. The first tool of the midwife is to get quiet: and listen. Listen more often to things than to beings Tis’ the ancestors’ breath When the fire’s voice is heard -Birago Diop . - Reposted from Mother Health International

17.01.2022 What do contractions actually feel like? . The most common description most of us hear before giving birth is something along the lines of 'they're relaly painf...ul'... And that's about it! But the word 'pain' has so many interpretations it's not always hugely useful in preparing us for what is to come! I'm going to give you my best description of what they felt like to me, but the sensation is felt in a different way by all of us, so I'd love for you to share a description of what your contractions or surges felt like too! . Early labour for me, was a deep ache right in my cervix, a heavy almost toothache like sensation that didn't come or go. . As labour progressed, contractions started gently, like a period cramp that came and went, comfortable with plenty of breaks. . This steadily grew in intensity, until the feeling were massive. Similar to when you have a cramp in your leg but all through the bump, starting at nothing, surging to incredibly powerful and tight and then fading back to comfort in the breaks between the surges. This part was the hardest. . The 2nd stage or pushing phase brought sweet releif and comfort! Being able to actively do something with the sensations felt like it stemmed any pain, a bit like holding a stubbed toe tightly after you banged it! I really enjoyed this part of labour and felt a control that had to be let go of in the earlier stages. . How about you? Similar to mine or totally different? Give me your best description of what it actually felt like?! . Photo @annapollittbirthstories

17.01.2022 Membrane Sweep / Stretch and Sweep / Stripping the Membranes A membrane sweep is an intervention and the first step of the induction process. However, it is ...commonly done towards the end of pregnancy without clear indication or informed consent. A membrane sweep (also called membrane stripping or stretch and sweep), is a procedure in which the care provider inserts a finger through the cervix and firmly moves their finger around in a circular motion, separating the membranes of the amniotic sac from the cervix. It aims to stimulate the body’s production of prostaglandins which can soften the cervix and trigger labour. The cervix would need to be at least 1cm dilated for a sweep to be performed. If the procedure is successful, it can result in spontaneous labour and possibly not having to undergo the rest of the induction process and a cascade of interventions. However, a sweep is commonly done without clear clinical indication or simply after 40 weeks in an attempt to avoid post-dates pregnancy. Or can be done by a HCP during a vaginal examination without clear informed consent. You should ALWAYS be told the benefits and risks. A membrane sweep can result in an irritable uterus and an intense latent phase of labour. This can lead to lots of contractions that do not change the cervix, increased chance of exhaustion and a cascade of interventions. There is also the change of bleeding or accidental rupture of membranes. Accidental releasing of the waters would not be an issue prior to a planned induction as this would be the next step of the induction process anyway. However, if not wishing to be induced, then there is now a time pressure as most guidelines recommend birth of baby within 48hrs of membrane rupture. Video by @wisewomenhelpedmeout Captions for video : So I’m one of those weird midwives, I see birth in everything. And I was getting ready to eat this perfect beautiful lilikoi. And so I cut off the top and then I noticed that the membrane inside is almost exactly like amniotic membrane. So I decided to film this. So that you can see, like... See how the edges come away? That’s like stripping the membranes. If I run my finger along inside, I feel these little poppings as the membrane lefts go from the uterus and then if you do it vigorously you have accidental rupture of membranes. Which has happened here... and this is why stripping the membranes should be used very judicially. Haha, so with that... cheers!

17.01.2022 Feeling a mixture of sad and frustrated. It's an all too common story - people going into hospital for an induction (for whatever reason) and actually, they don...'t even know what an induction involves. Sometimes, your baby may be better out than in and that is when an induction is justified, after weighing up the pros and cons. However, as many as 1 in 3 birthing people have an induction and that is absolutely horrific! Are we saying that our bodies actually can't go into labour when they are ready? The worst part is that it is very rare the process of an induction has been discussed, the research shared and the pros and cons given. People don't realise it could take 4 days. They don't realise it increases the chance of caesarean, epidurals and assisted birth. People don't realise they may be waiting around because the labour ward is too busy. It is very rarely a case of going in and 3 hours later your baby is born. It just doesn't work that way. Sometimes, it doesn't work at all. It really worries me that this information isn't always being shared with people, because how have you made an informed decision to be induced if you don't know the pros and cons? By no means am I saying don't have an induction, because if it is medically the best option then it is wonderful that we have these interventions. However, it is not a decision to be made lightly. It isn't JUST an induction. It is potentially a whole new pathway of intervention that you may never have had if you had gone into labour on your own. This is why I spend a lengthy amount of time in all my classes, talking you through the rational, the process, the research and the practicalities of an induction incase it is something that meets your path, so you can make a truly informed decision if the time comes. . : Fødselsfotografen - Reposted from @reframingbirth on IG . . . #thelittlebirthcompanyfamily #womensupportingwomen #hypnobirthinginstructor #thelbc #hypnobirthing #babyonboard #mumtobe2020 #20weekspregnant #midwifery #thelittlebirthcompany

15.01.2022 WARNING RANT COMING! Holly and I presented on Friday at a conference on perineal care and the scientific evidence about how to prevent or reduce perineal trauma.... I am really concerned at what I am hearing going on in clinical practice at the moment. We are being dragged back into practice that is not evidence based despite high level evidence to the contrary. Women are back on their backs (if they ever were allowed off them), perineal pinching, increase in episiotomy, not allowing the baby's shoulders to complete an internal roation once the head is born and students being told to 'follow through' and pull the baby out quickly to prevent the shoulder getting trapped under the public bone. What is going on? How have we become so undone by our fear? When will we realise 'doing more' is often not the answer when it comes to childbirth. In fact 'doing more' is often the cause of the problems we then try to resolve by 'doing even more'! A vicious cycle of 'doing' is 'undoing' birth! It appears the science does not matter. At the end of the day we appear to still be stone aged people dancing around our fires and making effigies to invisible and imagined gods and goddesses. We can't dart in and save the perineum when we have messed up everything else! RANT OVER Non ranting academic version can be found here http://www.midwiferyjournal.com//S0266-6138(14)00/abstract

14.01.2022 I’m inviting you to change the narrative on this one. A lot of the language I see in Facebook birth groups is they let me do this and they let me do that. T...he often forgotten truth is that everything is your choice in the end, even when exerting your power seems almost impossible. It is still YOUR RIGHT. By making a simple change in our language we can take that power back. ‘I chose to go to 42 weeks’. ‘I chose an upright birth position’. ‘I declined induction’. I did this And I chose that When we invite ‘they let me or they didn’t let me’ into our vocabulary we are contributing to the universal narrative that we lose our power of choice as soon as we are pregnant. Let’s change that together. I’m guilty of this too! But I’m bringing mindfulness to my language to reprogram my own subconsciousness and help others do this too x . - Reposted from Odile Chaperon - Doula and Birth Educator

13.01.2022 CARDINAL MOVEMENTS As babies move through the pelvis and out the birth canal, they go through a series of movements known as cardinal movements. There ...are 7 distinct positions/movements a baby goes through: -engagement -decent -flexion -internal rotation -extention -external rotation/restitution -expulsion : @drkimberliforbessmith on IG

10.01.2022 How gorgeous is this labour gift that my thoughtful friend gave me yesterday? I’ll now have an affirmation in my hand along with a pain management tool! #perfe...ct I love that it’s made out of soft wood too, so much kinder to the hand than a plastic comb but still effective! I’ve never seen one like this before. It’s just divine. I don’t think anyone could have given me a more perfect gift #nailedit It’s from @mybirthplace if you’re looking for one and if you’re not sure why I’d be using a comb in labour, keep reading (it’s not for my hair ). Labour pain management tip! You have acupressure points that lie along the creases of your hands where the fingers join the palm. These are said to release endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers) into the body. During labour you can hold a small comb in the palm of your hand so that the teeth of the comb are touching these points. You can grip the comb during contractions, applying pressure to the level that feels the most useful. This technique is also linked with the gate theory to how the body perceives pain. Think of your older siblings that used to punch you in the arm when your leg hurt (or were you the older sibling?) and then say does your leg hurt now. In very basic terms, its the same thing. Creating a different pain in another location can decrease pain in another area/distract you. Sterile water injections work in a similair way! I cover this and many other pain management techniques in my free antenatal classes located in the blog section of my website. Feel free to share and tag your pregnant family and friends, or leave me a comment if you used this in your labour.

10.01.2022 This conditioning we have around what number we are in labour can totally sabotage a woman and her mindset and she then starts to doubt her belief in herself an...d her abilities. Our maternity system is so centred on numbers, graphs and charting to tick all the boxes that they then lose sight that their is an individual woman in front of them with her own set of belief systems, history, possible trauma and her body will take the course of time that is perfect for her. As long as she is well and her baby is doing well why are we placing these unnecessary constraints on her!! Repost and words below by @thebirthhive WHEW! There's a LOT going on here! But stay with me. Here are the basics: cervical checks are done to gage labour progress by sticking two fingers into the vagina to see how open the cervix is. They are considered standard of care and, by many, are considered the be-it-and-end-all in terms of measuring progress. But they are NOT an exact science. More like an educated guess that can vary between care providers. Due to an increased chance of introducing bacteria into the vaginal canal, there are limits to the number of times cervical checks can/should be performed in X number of hours (that number may vary between care provider). You CAN refuse any or ALL cervical checks. This will likely take some self-advocacy. If this is your wish, put it on your birth plan + tell your CP ahead of time. Expect some pushback, depending on provider. Cervical checks can be a real buzzkill if the number isn't what we hoped. Ask yourself: what do I want to gain from this info? Is it med options? Then yes, it's worth knowing. Is it just because you're feeling tired and you want to know how much longer of "this" you have left? The cervical check won't change how much longer you have left. If it is a timeline you're fishing for, you might be barking up the wrong tree with a cervical check. Dilation can be slow for a bit. Then speed up. And repeat. It really doesn't do a good job painting a picture of how much longer we have left. It might just create a false narrative.

10.01.2022 I totally agree with this post from @thewarriorwithinbirthservices The toilet is dilation station You naturally relax your pelvic floor and perineum while s...itting on a toilet You are more used to being relaxed in the bathroom You can turn the lights down and even straddle the toilet backwards to help make you more comfortable and relaxed (use pillows) You are working with gravity You are opening your pelvis, which gives baby lots of room to navigate through the birth canal . : The Birth Butler See more

10.01.2022 The power of positive thinking !! I know this is something I continually talk about and it can often feel really cliche!! BUT! The power of positive think...ing has enormous benefits on your mental and physical health & wellbeing! A positive mindset can give you more confidence, improve your mood, reduce stress and even improve your overall health. And I know that all sounds really great and probably asking what does the power of positive thinking really mean WELL!! You can define positive thinking as positive imagery, positive self-talk or general optimism, but these are all still general concepts. If you want to be effective in thinking and being more positive, you need to implement concrete strategies to help you through the process. Here is just a few ways to do implement this in every day life; Start your day with positive affirmations I AM Practice graditude however small or big Turn your failures into lessons Determine themindsetyou need and act as if. ... Reframe negative self talk Focus on the present Find positive friends, mentors & co-workers Create new habits to supportyour mindset change. ... Jump out ofyourcomfort zone.

09.01.2022 Hi all, if you know of anyone who would be interest in having a student midwife please pass on. Thanks!

06.01.2022 If you are a human being then you need to see this film @birthtimeworld We are biologically designed to come away from birth feeling euphoric yet 1:3 of us expe...rience it as traumatic. For the majority of the remaining 2/3, sadly ‘euphoric’ wouldn’t be a word chosen to describe their labour and birth. We can get rid of this trauma. More people can experience an epic birth and move into parenthood with confidence and competence. We have the research and we know what it will take yet we aren’t doing it. This movie has the ability to move mountains and shift birth back to the way it was designed to be. This is where you come in! See my stories on how you can watch it. It’s already won 22 international awards to date and I know it’s going to keep soaring. Please watch it, for yourselves, your daughters, your mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends and strangers you meet in your neighbourhood. #itstime #birthtime And just a little bit about this EPIC human @midwifejohunter.....Jo taught me so much when we studied and trained together. In all that she does she puts women and their families first and she does so with kindness and compassion. She taught me the true meaning of resilience, hard work and sacrifice and that every woman and her family is worth fighting for. Congratulations on such a brilliant film Jo, @jerushasutton and @kaftanmama. The world is better for having you humans in it. And no that’s not my hairy breast, it’s my babes head

06.01.2022 Suns out, bumps out! How do you activate your core? This is what correct pelvic floor and core activation looks like. It’s an exercise on its own but it’s also... what we add to exercises to strengthen and ensure we’re using the right muscles for that move and during daily movements to protect our core, pelvic floor and back (especially in pregnancy and post birth). Want to learn how? Check out my programs - preconception, pregnancy, postnatal and men! If you’ve followed me for awhile now it’s no secret I had pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during my first pregnancy and have had it during this one too. A couple of weeks ago it was really bad and by the end of the day I was struggling to walk and moaning in pain. I got to a point where I was wondering how I was going to make it through the rest of the pregnancy. I also couldn’t work out why it was so bad this time compared to last, I was working my core and floor better than ever, it didn’t seem fair! Then it dawned on me, last pregnancy I was working full time in a busy melbourne hospital, taking flights of stairs not the lift and on my feet for often 12 hours a day. There’s no way I’d be getting that much movement into my day now. Whilst I was exercising daily I was spending a lot of time sitting to work. And so I thought it worth increasing my steps each day to see if it helped. I aimed to do a minimum of 8km (approx 10 000 steps) on the treadmill plus daily family walks and movement. Within a couple of days the pain had subsided significantly and has stayed that way since. I also use my massage ball and roller daily, wear my Mitton belt whilst upright, see my osteo and physio regularly and of course core and floor daily PGP can be really debilitating and I’m not pain free by any means but it’s so much more manageable and the pain is far less the more active I am. On the days I don’t get my km and workouts in I feel it a lot more and the pain is intense. This is obviously just my story and I’d highly recommend seeing a osteo/physio/Chiro if you’re experiencing this yourself. However we know strengthening the pelvic floor, glutes and core is essential in managing PGP. This experienced has really made me reflect on the amount of movement many of us lose when we stop working and stay at home and how this may be one factor that contributes to people experiencing more pain with subsequent pregnancies (as well as not healing properly from pregnancy and birth between pregnancies). I also totally appreciate and understand that the pain can prevent people from moving and then this makes it worse. The key is to try and manage it early, seek allied health care, use supports like a belt and find exercises you can do. Break them up throughout your day, move functionally and support your body in daily tasks such as picking up children. Tomorrow I’ll be starting on filming some extra workouts for the pregnancy program that are tailored to people with PGP who can’t do single leg exercises! These will be added over the coming weeks and I’ll post to my stories once they are up xx

03.01.2022 Proud Gumbaynggirr woman Melissa Jarrett Greenwood has kindly donated two paintings to Macksville District Hospital’s Maternity Unit. Melissa is a co-founder of... Miimi & Jiinda, an Indigenous Australian art business she started with her mother, Lauren Jarrett. The painting in the photo is called Birthing Caves on Jagun (Country). It represents ancient and sacred Indigenous Women's Birthing Caves here in our region and also symbolises Mother Earth and how everything on earth is connected and interdependent. Melissa’s dream is to see more maternity units that are culturally safe and inclusive for indigenous women, and wants all women to be able to draw strength from her paintings and remember their innate inner wisdom to have an empowered, beautiful birth. See more

02.01.2022 Let's Talk Inductions! So, you've prepared yourself for a natural birth.. But you meet the end of your pregnancy, and start hearing the word "induction" tos...sed around. What does this mean? An induction is the stimulation of uterine contractions before labor begins on it's own naturally. The methods in doing this vary greatly but almost all of them are done in conjunction with a synthetic hormone called "pitocin". Do I need an induction? There are several medical reasons a doctor will suggest an induction. These could include: gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, early rupture of the water, etc. Some of these come at greater risk than others, so it is very important to look into statistics in your own circumstance and form some kind of plan agreed upon by you and your provider! If you're totally against the idea of induction, you can ask about fetal stress tests to ensure that the baby is doing well up until your body goes into labor on its own. What are some reasons I might want to decline an induction? If you do not want an induction, and there is no medical indication of needing an induction, it could be a good idea to decline if your provider suggests one. If you do not want an induction after you've been given the circumstances as to why it was suggested by your provider, you do not have to consent. Even if it has already been "scheduled" for you, you do not have to show up. Well, they said my baby is too big. Should I have an induction? Having a "big baby" can sound scary. Only 1.3% of healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies actually go on to result in babies weighing more than 9 lbs 15 oz. Growth scans in the third trimester are not always reliable in giving accurate sizing to your baby, and that should be taken into consideration when making your decision. This article covers a great deal of cited studies surrounding induction & big babies ---> https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c/ My doctor says since I've passed my due date, I have to be induced. Is this true? Nope! Tons of women go into labor naturally after passing their due date. There is a higher risk of stillbirth associated with pregnancies carried longer than 42 weeks. You can find tons of cited studies and research about "due date inductions" here ------> https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-/ What are the risks of induction? Induction can lead to over stimulation of the uterus, which can lead to too many contractions too quickly and cause heart rate changes for your baby. Risk of infection, and being introduced to a chain of other risks through more medical intervention should also be considered. I've decided to go ahead with the induction suggested by my provider. What can I do to stay in control of what happens to my body? Educate Yourself. From methods of induction, to the risks of those methods, to the chain of medical intervention in labor. Some popular induction methods are: cytotec pill and other versions of it, Foley Bulb (mechanical dilation), membrane sweeping, Pitocin, breaking of the water. Bring your birth plan, or one tailored specifically for induction. Ask your doctor often how their procedures can help align with the wishes you have written there, and choose alternatives based on your birth plan when possible. Do not be scared to say "no". With induction comes a sense of "rush" that can be really irritating for the laboring person. If you feel a method you are using is effective, but your doctor is suggesting more/another method, you can always decline. Don't get hung up on cervical checks. They mean nothing in the grander scheme of things, and can only give you a "snap shot" into what your body looks like in that very moment. It does not predict what will happen 5 minutes from now, or 5 hours from now. Ask nurses to give you as much freedom of movement as possible. You can ask for intermittent fetal monitoring instead of constant fetal monitoring. You can ask for wireless monitors. Also, before considering another method of induction, ask your care team what that means for your positioning and movement from that point onward before deciding to use that method. Voice your concerns. If you see something you don't understand, ask. Example: You notice your baby is struggling with Pitocin. Your doctor assures you that they can turn it down, and that it can be common for a baby to react that way, but you are left feeling uncomfortable with this method now and would like it to end immediately. You can revoke your consent, and tell your care team to turn off the pitocin drip. You can talk about other methods of induction, or if those are even necessary at your point of dilation/labor. While it may be "common" for babies to react that way, it is not "normal". Those words are not interchangeable in this scenario. Choose laboring positions to encourage optimal fetal positioning to help your body do things naturally. A peanut ball or a yoga ball are especially great resources to use if mobility is limited do to monitoring, epidural, etc. Understand that your baby and your body are working together on their own time, and remind your care team if you feel rushed. An induction isn't what most people dream of for their laboring experience, but it can still be done in a way that allows you to utilize as much of your original birth plan as possible! You still have rights to informed consent, even throughout your induction. . : Greenville Birth: Julie Byers, Doula and Educator Words by: Birth Ever After Doula Services

01.01.2022 Dates have been used around the world for centuries as a natural approach to preparation for labor. Several studies now support their effectiveness. Though we d...on’t know exactly why, they do have an impact on the start and progress of labor - likely due to an impact on the hormone oxytocin which helps labor start and progress effectively. A 2011 study (https://www.tandfonline.com///10.3109/01443615.2010.522267) found that women who ate dates starting at 36 weeks were: Significantly more dilated when they got to the hospital Had a significantly higher rate of intact membranes Were significantly more likely to go into labor spontaneously (i.e. without induction) And had nearly half the length of first stage of labor A 2014 study found (http://jmrh.mums.ac.ir/article_2772.html) that women who ate dates from 37 weeks on had: Greater cervical dilatation at admission Higher success rates of labor induction when needed A 2017 study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5637148/) concluded that all the above was accurate and yet another study found that eating dates in pregnancy led to less bleeding immediately after birth. Any type of dates work! The ‘dose’ is about 2.5 ounces of dates ( ~6 to 8 small dates or ~4 larger dates) daily, starting at 36 or 37 weeks and until labor begins. I love eating them plain, but you can include them in my herbal bliss bites (recipe on my IGTV), use them to sweeten cashew or almond milk, or include them chopped in yogurt or oatmeal. Amazingly, they also haven’t been shown to be a problem for blood sugar. Did you use dates to prep for your labor? Do you know a pregnant mama who is prepping for labor? Tag her in the comments below so she can learn about the power of this ancient medicine! #ideservebirthsupport #foodasmedicine #foodismedicine #prenatalcourse #prenatalclass #empoweredbirth #naturalbirth #naturalpregnancy #birthwithoutfear #herbalmedicine #herbalist #herbalista . - Reposted from Aviva Romm, MD See more