Homebirth Consortium Australia | Community organisation

Homebirth Consortium Australia

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25.01.2022 Homebirth Group in South Sydney is on tomorrow. Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/543591982725713/?ref=share Event: https://facebook.com//south-sydney-home/2644976075751962/

25.01.2022 Couldn't scroll by. I'm livid. I want you to know, there's a massive difference between obstetrically managed vaginal birth, and normal physiological birth. .... . Homebirth has a roughly 90% spontaneous vaginal birth rate and an 80% intact perineum rate. It's half that in most hospitals. We just don't see these appalling birth injuries at home births. . . So if birth itself is not producing these terrible, life-altering injuries .... what IS??? . . From Maternity Consumer Network: . . "Does anyone really believe this bullshit data used in this "study"!?! There is NOTORIOUS under-reporting in private practice. This was raised in the 2017 Australia Atlas of Healthcare Variations for 3/4th degree tears. - 11-fold variance in 3/4th degree tears across care providers - questions wer raised about under-reporting or diagnosis (more diplomatic than we are being though!) Private OBs are notorious for routinely inducing women, high routine epidurals, episitomies, instruments......all risk factors for severe perineal trauma. Consumers who don't have a clue about how data is collected and why there are variances would believe the article as truth. " . . From Janet Fraser, Joyous Birth: . . "Obstetric lobby groups will do anything to try and manipulate women into highly intervened births. The idea anyone might be considering birthing at home without their dubious services during the pandemic obviously means women should be coerced back into hospitals asap. None of this serves women, it just serves the obstetric system. Resist, women. Own your births and don't believe their bullshit."

25.01.2022 In western medicine, the placenta is considered a disposable organ. But it’s so much more: it’s essential for delivering nutrients to the baby and removing wast...e throughout pregnancy. It’s functions are truly remarkable - and still being discovered! Historically, and still in many places throughout the world, the relationship to the placenta is quite different than here in the U.S.. In Nepal, it’s considered baby’s friend, in Malaysia an older sibling, in Nigeria a twin, and in Hawaii a part of the baby. The Latin word placenta means a cake. Amongst the Hmong of Laos, it means jacket and is considered the baby’s first and best garment. When a Hmong person dies, she is buried where her placenta is so that she can put on the jacket and continue to the afterlife where she will be reunited with her ancestors and her placenta reborn to the soul of a new baby. Many of us today are reclaiming traditions that honor the placenta’s role in nourishing baby through old and new traditions and ceremonies after birth. Some bury the placenta with a ceremony, and perhaps plant a flower or fruit tree over the site, some encapsulate or eat part of the placenta, a small number of women practice Lotus Birth (taught to me by JP Baker), and some make a placenta ‘print’ to see the tree of life pattern on the baby’s side. With my first 2 babies I planted my placentas in our garden, put a God’s eye over the spot as I’d learned from a Huichol healer, and made a ‘bracelet’ out of the cord for my babies’ medicine bundles. With my second 2 babies, I dried and powdered my placenta for encapsulation (little known fact: my postpartum book, Natural Health After Birth contains the first published instructions on placenta encapsulation and about the first 40 days), and did a blessing ceremony with the powder I’d not used, releasing it into a creek in our backyard. Of course, there’s no expectation that you do anything with your placenta after birth - there’s plenty to keep you busy during that time. But I’m curious - did you look at your placenta? Do anything special with it? Is it still hanging out in the back of your fridge waiting? @blissful.herbs

23.01.2022 This is on tonight at 7:30pm! If you've been considering homebirth, or are just interested in asking your questions, please come along and join in <3 Here is the zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3440706380

21.01.2022 Do I need to wean when my baby turns one? 21% of babies are continuing to breastfeed until at least one year of age, and many will go on to feed for longer. You...r milk changes to meet their needs. If you and your baby are enjoying breastfeeding, continuing on for as long as you wish will benefit both you and baby. Read more at https://aba.asn.au/toddlers #BreastfeedingToddler #NotABabyAnymore #BreastfeedingJourney #ABAIsHereForYou

21.01.2022 So I hear the bullshit continues and now it is once again about stopping water birth. Around the world reports have emerged of closures of homebirth services ...and birth centres and restrictions in access to waterbirth (sometimes for all women and sometimes for COVID-19 positive/suspected women). In the United Kingdom, reports of the banning of access to waterbirth in some hospitals led to the RCM issuing a Clinical Briefing on Waterbirth and COVID-19. Around 26% of United Kingdom maternity services have ceased waterbirths altogether, and not just for those with suspected or proven COVID-19. The RCM stated that the current evidence does not suggest that there should be a blanket cessation on the use of water in labour or waterbirth for all women. https://www.rcm.org.uk//rcm-professional-briefing-on-water The US Center for Disease Control states, There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection...of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19 (Municipal Water and COVID-19. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Mar 2020, (accessed 22 April 2020) Doctors have never liked waterbirth, homebirth, birth centres etc and are using the cover of the pandemic to action all their deeply held biases and fears. Meanwhile in our national Birth in the Time of COVID-19 survey over 3000 women are telling us that not being able to access waterbirth and have their support person/people of choice during labour and birth are two things they are most concerned about. The potential harm coming from this unevidenced based overreaction is actually very concerning and quite irresponsible. #ENOUGH

20.01.2022 Mum birthed. Dad caught.

20.01.2022 Home Birth fun . The only spare bowl for the placenta was a trick or treat bucket from Halloween. Janice and Olivia attended their second home birth on Satur...day. Mum and Baby are both very well and happy. Have you thought about homebirth and wanted to see if you are eligible? The fact sheet on our website will give you more information. You can message through this page but you will need to enquiry early. There are some limited spots available for February, March and April https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au//WSP-Are%20you%20Eligi

20.01.2022 As if it's not hard enough right now for pregnant and birthing women, now they're being restricted from waterbirth! Is it any wonder why women are flocking to homebirth?

20.01.2022 Dr Rachel Reed - The Value Of Speaking Both 'Languages' in the birth world Today on the show I speak with author and academic Dr Rachel Reed. Rachel is an ex-pr...ivate homebirth midwife who gave up her practise for both political and personal reasons. Like all my interviews - we start with Rachel’s own birth and then chat about the births of her two children - her first when she was only 19. We then go onto her academic career and of course - the politics of birth! What I love about Rachel is; firstly, she is an extremely knowledgeable academic but at the same time - she is incredibly down to earth and completely woman centred in her approach. Personally her research has really helped inform me over the years - so if you have any birth questions - go check out her blog Midwife Thinking. I also love the fact that Rachel is openly supportive of freebirth - so refreshing in a world were people are pro-choice, until it comes to freebirth! Thank you so much Rachel for your work - it’s just what the world needs right now! About Rachel: Dr Rachel Reed is a midwife, academic, author, and international speaker who focuses on childbirth physiology, midwifery practice, and women's rights (and rites). She has provided midwifery care for many women and has attended births in a wide range of settings and circumstances. Rachel is the author of the award-winning blog MidwifeThinking and the co-host of The Midwives' Cauldron podcast. She has published widely in journals and magazines, and her first book Why Induction Matters is a popular resource for women and care providers. Her most recent book Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage: weaving ancient wisdom with modern knowledge will be published early 2021. Further information about Rachel and her work is available at www.rachel-reed.website Listen here: iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com//the-renegade-mama/id1510707553 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/7dHbe8ue7grkuYaEpDa1Om

19.01.2022 A reminder that, earlier this year, expert researchers at Oxford Brookes University brought together research on childbirth, birth setting and the use of water ...immersion in labour and shared key points which highlighted the safety and benefits of the use of water for labour and birth, during and beyond the coronavirus pandemic. Their points included that: Water immersion for healthy women is associated with a number of beneficial maternal outcomes with no known adverse risks to the neonate. COVID-19 is not a waterborne virus, therefore, the water environment dilutes respiratory droplet and faecal contamination potential. In the Coronavirus context, water immersion presents a lower risk of contamination risk for midwives compared with bed birth because it promotes the use of social distancing without interrupting normal midwifery care. Burns et al (2020) The authors also noted that: "The birthing pool environment presents a natural barrier between the woman and her midwife. Supporting women in the water reduces droplet, aerosol and faecal contamination, presenting a low-risk transmission activity for the Coronavirus. Water immersion for healthy women is associated with a number of beneficial maternal outcomes with no known adverse risks to the neonate. For primiparous women, birthing in midwifery-led settings (AMU/FMU or home) water immersion reduces transfer rate with the greatest benefit seen at FMU. Water immersion for labour and/or birth should be supported and encouraged as an effective method of analgesia." Burns E, Feeley C, Venderlaan J et al (2020). Coronavirus COVID-19: Supporting healthy pregnant women to safely give birth. Oxford: Oxford Brookes University. Loads more birth information at www.sarawickham.com #midwife #midwifery #doula #birthdoula #pregnant #birth #childbirth #duein2020 #drsarawickham #positivebirth #childbirtheducation #childbirtheducator #whatsrightforme #covid19 #covid19pregnancy #water #waterbirth #waterbirths See more

19.01.2022 At least your baby is alive is the most bullshit phrase ever uttered. At least your baby is alive suggests that a baby and woman who are alive represent the... top rung of the ladder when it comes to birth outcomes. Ive got news for you, its the BOTTOM one! A live woman and baby is the minimum expectation of maternity care, the bottom rung! Not the top rung! The ultimate expectation of maternity care is that the woman and her family are completely blissed out and satisfied with their birth experience, they are blown away with joy and elation at what they just did and they feel autonomous and respected. A joyful birth is the standard, a live woman and baby is simply and expectation. #birthtraumaawarenessweek #birthtrauma #transformativebirthwork See more

19.01.2022 Our next Homebirth Q&A is coming up on September 3rd with the amazing Sheryl Siddery and Chantel Letertre This is a live zoom call so its such a fantastic op...portunity to ask all your questions, not to be missed! We look forward to you joining us! #homebirth #homebirthing #homebirthmidwifery #homebirthnsw #homebirthaustralia

18.01.2022 All screening tests have downsides. They may lead to overuse of intervention. And every time we use technology like this, we are undermining womens own knowled...ge. The constant use of technology implies that our bodies arent capable of growing, birthing and feeding babies without a shed load of expensive machinery. And thats not just true. I spent last week chatting with a wonderful, passionate group of midwives, obstetricians, doulas, childbirth educators, hypnobirthing teachers and other birth workers from around the world, and this came up - again - as a key theme that so many of us are experiencing. It's so important to keep sharing positive messages about the awesomeness of the female body. And to remind people that we did this for millions of years before the machines came along. If it hadn't worked, none of us would be here today. If you'd like more information, see www.sarawickham.com where I have a whole information hub on screening as well as more than 500 pages of information. #midwife #midwifery #doula #decisionmaking #decisions #whatsrightforme #book #bookstagram #childbirth #childbirtheducator #childbirtheducation #hypnobirthing #pregnancy #pregnancyyoga #women #birthrights #trustbirth See more

18.01.2022 And not forgetting consent

18.01.2022 Well done Jo Hunter!!! "FINALLY! Its only taken 5 years! Thank you once again to the midwives who bravely shared their stories with me, it felt like such a huge responsibility holding on to those.... @hannahdahlen I have so appreciated your patience, guidance, love and friendship throughout this. Its been an epic 5 years in all the ways and a true case of midwifing me through. And those 5 little words you shared with me many moons ago turn the wound to gold Thanks for your beautiful words.... I am so excited to share with you all Jo Hunter's publication that has come from her Honours Thesis, exploring the experiences of privately practising midwives (PPMs) in Australia who have been reported to the health regulator AHPRA. Jo is an incredible woman, working harder than ever during this pandemic, where homebirth has finally become the most sought after birth choice along with finalising the wonderful new documentary Birth Time with Jerusha Sutton and Zoe Naylor, which should be out early 2021. Nearly half the PPMs in Australia have now been reported to AHPRA and the vast majority of these reports are against those supporting home births. When you consider the tiny number of these amazing practitioners it is nothing other than a witch hunt, and not the Donal Trump kind of witch hunt. This one is real and alive and ongoing and it must stop #ENOUGH. Results The majority of reports made to AHPRA occurred when midwives supported women who chose care considered outside the recommended Australian College of Midwives (ACM) Consultation and Referral Guidelines. During data analysis an overarching theme emerged, Caught between women and the system, which described the participants feelings of working as a PPM in Australia. There were six themes and several sub-themes: The suppression of midwifery, A flawed system, Lack of support, Devastation on so many levels, Making changes in the aftermath and Walking a tight rope forever. The findings from this study reveal that midwives who are under investigation suffer from emotional and psychological distress. Understanding the effects of the process of investigation is important to improve the quality of professional and personal support available to PPMs who are reported to AHPRA and to streamline processes. Conclusion It is becoming increasingly difficult for PPMs to support the wishes and needs of individual women and also meet the requirements of the regulators, as well as the increasingly risk averse health service."

18.01.2022 In 2012, the year Caroline Lovell died, there were 27 maternal deaths in Australia. It is an absolute tragedy that Caroline died, particularly given the circums...tances, and she left behind a beautiful family who absolutely did not deserve what eventuated. I can't comment on what happened at that birth. I don't know whether the midwives were negligent, though the reports come across that way. What I do know is Caroline died during her birth at home and it was tragic, and that the midwives who attended her birth are being held accountable for her death via the legal system, but also by the Australian population in general - the midwives are being demonised, along with homebirth, everywhere you look. However, what of the other 26 women who died in 2012? Did they die in hospital? Does that make it ok? Are their deaths not splashed all over the media because there's noone being held to blame? Or are those deaths not addressed because they happened within the hospital system? Why does every maternal death reported by the media happen to be one attended by a private midwife, when the reality is that the vast majority of adverse outcomes actually happen in hospital, often under the care of obstetricians? What about the countless women who end up statistics of maternal suicide, because of the birth trauma they sustained in the system? Do their deaths not count? Should we not demand reporting on them? One such example of the discrepancy in reporting between obstetric and midwifery led care was when, within the same year, two women safely birthed twins. Both sets of these twins were 'undiagnosed' (i.e. their care providers did not know the mother was carrying twins). One set of twins were born safely at home, under the care of a midwife, and the other set birthed safely in hospital, under obstetric care. The difference? The private midwife was reported, suspended and eventually forfeited her registration, while the obstetrician was applauded for dealing so well with a twin birth. Are we not yet done burning midwives at the stake? How much longer will we allow this to happen?

17.01.2022 If you read nothing else please read this Birth trauma week starts on the 6th and goes until the 12th September and I will be focusing on this a lot in the c...oming week. There is a common myth out there that is also often politically hijacked that birth trauma is just physical trauma and hence the focus ends up on the pelvic floor and manifests as anti normal birth. As over a decade of ours and others research has shown this is just the tip of the iceberg. Birth trauma is so often about not being listened to, disrespected and losing control. It often leaves no physical scars and so is dismissed as something women should just get over and be glad they had a healthy baby. I have heard leading health professional and others say no one is ever traumatised by Caesarean section. This reveals the reductionist, narrow thinking on this issue. We must work to reduce all kinds of trauma whatever the woman or her partner says that trauma is. Our book this year, Birthing outside the system: the canary in the coal mine, showed clearly that trauma is so often deeply psychological and also can be physical and we must work to reduce both. The safest birth is one that is supported by a respectful, competent and known midwifery care provider backed by an equally respectful and component obstetric provider. Doulas also play a critical role in reducing birth trauma. I have become a great advocate of these amazing people.This kind of supported birth has been shown to be both physically and psychologically safe. Do not let the agendas of some people derail the reality thousands of women attest to. Stay tuned as there is about to be announcement of a free, first ever fabulous event next week with a line up of speakers (consumers, obstetricians, lawyers and midwives) like you have never seen before. Announcement coming soon See more

16.01.2022 Awesome story from Friends of Belmont Birthing. Follow their page for more homebirth stories.

16.01.2022 The purple line, have you seen it? Have you used it as a diagnostic tool? Do you know what it is? Let me tell you about it. The purple line is an EVIDENCE BASE...D sign that a woman’s cervix is dilating in labour. It is an obvious line (not always purple) that extends from the woman’s anus up to her tail bone between her bum cheeks. Obvious only when the woman is using physiological positioning and forward leaning. In a 2014 study by Kordi et al, involving 350 women, 75.3% of women were observed to have a purple line in labour. Through their research the authors concluded that the purple line had high sensitivity to determine dilation... possibly higher than vaginal examination and was an appropriate tool to assist in the diagnosis of cervical dilation progress. In my clinical practice I rarely do a vaginal examination, instead, women give off so many signs that they are progressing and over the years I have become attuned to what labour progress looks, sounds, acts and smells like. I would argue that I don’t need a vagina examination to identify where a woman is ‘up to’ in her labour. The use of vaginal examination is not evidence based (thanks Cochrane!) @cochraneorg and so it’s time to consider how else we might gather information about a woman’s labour... and most definitely in ways that don’t interrupt her while she is labouring I went with a woman to hospital recently and the staff there applied heavy coercive tactics to force the woman to accept a vaginal examination because they ‘had’ to know where she was up to... I told them ‘I can tell you where she is up to, her contractions are regularly 2 minutes apart, she has a purple line, anal puckering, her sounds have changed and her babies heart rate is dropping during a contraction, she’s fully dilated and about to start pushing’ they said ‘you can’t know that’... she pushed her baby out soon after. Yes I can and so can you! #birth #homebirthmidwife #labour See more

15.01.2022 Let's talk about this article. You don't even have to go past the heading to see what the agenda is here. Vaginal birth is the DEVIL and the cause of birth tra...uma, didn't you know?? Women need be to WARNED about the RISKS of pushing a baby out of their vagina. Oh, and doctors provide much better care than midwives Give me a fucking break. Perhaps if those women who experienced traumatic vaginal births did so in a safe and supportive environment with no unnecessary interventions, they would not have been traumatised? If they had continuity of care with someone who respected and advocated for their wishes, they could have a medicalised birth and not be traumatised. Women who report feeling supported, properly informed and in control of their births suffer less trauma than those who feel like things weren't explained properly to them, or done without their consent, or if they were treated appallingly by their care providers - REGARDLESS OF THE MODE OF BIRTH. This article is so flawed - it completely disregards all the existing research that says continuity of care with a known midwife provides better outcomes for women. It is thinly veiled patriarchal BULLSHIT and is dismissive of women's choice. Also - doctors aren't the only ones who 'intervene', midwives do too. In fact, it is often built into hospital policy that they do so. Don't even get me started on this part "Dr Beale said natural birth was a lovely philosophy" Well he's right about one thing - if there was a different philosophy to birthing, less people would be damaged. But the answer is NOT more interventions across the board. This whole system needs to be burned down and built again, to be TRULY woman centred. Belittling women's choice, ignoring the evidence and towing the line that obstetricians are the experts in what's best for birthing women... It's just another day in our broken maternity system.

15.01.2022 Cereal and blueberries for the win! In the hospital we encourage moms to breastfeed every 2-3 hours to nourish the baby and bring in a good future milk supply.... Its math: 8-12 feeds in 24 hours (ideal) = nursing every 2-3 hours Its a quick and easy way to get the message across that this baby needs to eat, and often. Unfortunately, new parents seem think breastfeeding is going to be like the first picture (cereal)...all the feeds perfectly spaced out and all the same size. Every 2-3 hours. Easy. And the baby will sleep like an angel in between.... THIS IS NOT REALITY. In reality, your sweet newborn baby will have good feeds, short feeds, sleepy feeds, crappy feeds, and everything in between! The visual of the blueberries is amazing because it shows how realistically feedings are at all different times and different lengths (bigger blueberries ). And did you count the berries?!? More than enough! Yes, we want you to nurse every 2-3 hours, but the baby calls the shots. Less watching the clock and more watching for feeding cues

12.01.2022 [Big Bang Theory] Sheldon: She chose to have a home birth because she wants to live in the stone age and a cave wasn't available. Raj: You know, many people believe that home births are better because the mothers are in a warm environment where they can be nurtured by love ones. Sheldon: And turn the bedroom floor into an amniotic Slip n’ Slide.

12.01.2022 One of the big problems that we have in sorting out cesarean birth stories is that hospital personnel lie to the family/midwife about the "justification" for th...e c/section in order to avoid criticism and/or lawsuits. The stories always have to be highly dramatic. The family must leave the surgery being convinced that their baby was in peril. It's ridiculous to believe that 30% of babies are in peril from position/cord wrapping/ size, etc etc and YET that's what the stories always involve. Someone is lying. The result is that the entire population believes that giving birth through the vagina is perilous. Unmedicated vaginal birth is as safe as life ever gets. In reality, major abdominal surgery is dangerous. Inducing birth is dangerous. Drugs are dangerous. Post surgical complications are dangerous. Not being able to breast feed is dangerous. How did we get so hoodwinked? Wise words by Gloria Lemay This quote from an honest obstetrician says it all: If one went to the extreme of giving the patient the full details of mortality and morbidity related to cesarean section, most of them would get up and go out and have their baby under a tree -Neel, J. Medicolegal pressure, MDs’ lack of patience cited in cesarean ‘epidemic.’ Ob.Gyn. News Vol 22 No 10 See more

12.01.2022 Lovely podcast with a wonderful homebirth midwife, Sheryl Sidery.

11.01.2022 Some new research just in by @midwifejohunter and @hannah.dahlen... settle in, Im about to tell you a story about private midwifery in Australia. This recent p...aper called the experiences of privately practising midwives in Australia who have been reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency tells us a few things about what private midwives are up against in Australia: 1. There are 241 midwives in ALL of Australia attending homebirths 2. We are uninsured for birth as health professionals 3. Private midwives are increasingly being reported to AHPRA for supporting womens choices 4. Its becoming increasingly difficult for midwives to support the needs and wishes of individual women and also meet the requirements of our registration 5. When women cant find midwives to serve their needs, they freebirth 6. AHPRA say their interest is in protecting the safety of the public ... are you following? What we learn from Jos research is that there are 241 midwives being repressed by other health professionals reporting them to an agency whose investigative process induces emotional and psychological distress... eventually the pressure under which private midwives work becomes too much and they leave the profession thereby making homebirth less accessible and making more women choose freebirth... @ahpra_nationalboards is supposed to be keeping the public safe! By treating private midwives with such disregard we make homebirth with a midwife less accessible and freebirth more attractive - if thats how you want it to play out, youre nailing it. #pokethebear #birthoutsidethesystem #birthingoutsidethesystem #homebirth @homebirth_australia @homebirthnewsouthwales See more

10.01.2022 "In April a report published in The Lancet medical journal found that out of half a million women around the world who had home births, 40 per cent were less likely to need a caesarean, 50 per cent were less likely to have an instrumental birth, 55 per cent were less likely to have an episiotomy (an incision made in the perineum to avoid tearing), 40 per cent were less likely to have a third or fourth degree tear and 75 per cent were less likely to contract an infection. It followed on from a report last year that low-risk pregnant women who give birth at home had no increased chance of the baby’s perinatal or neonatal death compared to having their babies in a hospital."

10.01.2022 Are you ready to join us at HBNSW? Why not become a member and be part of an incredible organisation. You will receive this beautiful bag, Birthings magazine an...d special offers. You will also get discounts with our favourite brands, access to all past Birthings mags and support homebirthing in NSW (and Australia) while you're at it! Our website offers a comprehensive directory of birth workers (whom often offer discounts to our valued members). If you are interested in a membership, see the link in our bio! If you're being cared for by a NSW midwife then it's very possible you've already received your bag and information, so please sign in to the website to access all of your free goodies If you've not yet received a bag from your midwife don't forget to ask at your next appointment. We have just sent out a fresh batch of our incredible bags. If youre having trouble logging in, please contact us. Wed love to help you get started on your HBNSW journey. We look forward to sending you our next printed magazine soon!! Not long to wait now

09.01.2022 The Women On The Line 3CR episode with Amy McMurtrie is now up, and if 30 minutes of delving into: - birth trauma; - whats wrong with the hospital maternity sy...stem; - whats right with homebirth; - and how were going to win homebirth Medicare rebates for every Australian family! sounds like a good time to you, you should definitely listen and share. PS Have you sent a One Big Push email to Greg Hunt yet, so we can all have homebirth Medicare rebates? If not, do it now, it takes two seconds! The web thingy does all the hard work for you! https://homebirth.good.do/homebirthmedicarerebates/ 1500+ people have emailed the health minister so far, lets keep those emails coming

08.01.2022 Catch up on the Homebirth In Australia Q and A if you missed it today.

08.01.2022 Sick of it. Sick of picking up the pieces of Covid restrictions. They make no sense and the fallout is HUGE. Emotional safety is crucial, and with good hygiene..., PPE, and common sense birthing people should be able to access the support they need. Petition here: https://www.change.org/p/partners-allowed-for-entirety-of-l #ButNotMaternity

08.01.2022 While figures cant be provided until the survey is published, Professor Dahlen said a reasonable number of women were choosing to give birth at home instead of hospital because they could only have one support person under the COVID-19 restrictions. The number one concern they have is not being able to have the support people present at the birth. And that is driving women to make other choices such as home birth, which is fine if youre a low-risk woman and can access a midwife, but the midwives are overbooked: some home-birth services have seen a 30% increase in [demand].

07.01.2022 Starting at 1pm today!!!

07.01.2022 Is this what your friends think homebirth looks like?! https://youtu.be/8x9_bORlt0I

06.01.2022 Happy Homebirth Awareness Week!

06.01.2022 It really is time for women to stand up and say its enough. Support people and the use of water in labour and birth are very very basic human rights. Go over t...o RANZCOGs instagram page and have your say about their statement on the use of water in labour. We can go to a pub, a restaurant, a large shopping centre. We can have 100 people at weddings and funerals, but we can only have 1 support person during labour and birth. We can go to aqua aerobics classes, nurses can help shower the elderly and post op patients, but women cant have a shower or bath during labour and birth. Its fucking ridiculous and its time to stop eroding the basic rights of pregnant and birthing women. If theres one good thing to come from this, its that home really is the safest and most appropriate place for women without risk factors to have their babies. Hospitals are for sick people. Mama:Jerusha Sutton Doula Photographer Photographer: Anna Todd

05.01.2022 s , s s s s s s . s xs s. s ... s ’ s. s s , s s , s , . s s s , s s s : - PhotoCred: Me @doulaviewllc #birthphotography #thebirthimpact #naturalchildbirth #birthofamother #thelamazedoula #empoweredbirthproject #birthbecomesher #doulaviewllc #pregnancy #mothers #partonormal #doulas #midwives #atlantadoula #Atlanta #ga

04.01.2022 #HomebirthAwarenessWeek2020 Because of contemporary cultural messages about how dangerous birth is, I can understand why homebirth is not an option many women c...onsider. Nonetheless research around the world suggests it’s one that should be more widely considered. Recent Australian research comparing home and hospital births tells the story: for low-risk women choosing homebirth we see no increased risk for babies, but stark differences in intervention rates. Of the women who planned homebirth 10% transferred to hospital for necessary interventions, emergency caesarean 2.5%, instrumental birth 2.5%, epidural 3.2%, episiotomy 2.9%. In contrast, for low-risk women choosing hospital the rates were caesarean 12.5%, instrumental birth 17.5%, epidural 27.5%, episiotomy 21.2%. Merely by choosing a hospital, a low-risk woman increases her chances of intervention. Of the homebirth women 95% had spontaneous vaginal births, while only 70% of women birthing in hospital did. This difference between 95% and 70% might already seem stark but it’s important to note, too, that the figure of 70% for spontaneous vaginal births in hospital doesn’t equate to normal physiological birth. It merely means the baby was born vaginally without the use of forceps or vacuum, so this 70% statistic can also include induction, augmentation, artificial rupture of membranes, managed third stage and other procedures. In contrast, the spontaneous vaginal birth statistic of 95% for women choosing homebirth equates predominantly to normal physiological birth. These positive stats are reflective of homebirth research worldwide. Yet in Australia, in contrast to other countries and despite the evidence of its safety and benefits, homebirth is neither routinely promoted nor easily accessible. Hence the need for an ‘awareness week’ and for me to maintain my passion for promoting homebirth. Happy Homebirth Awareness Week 2020!

03.01.2022 Calling all women!! Please participate in this survey examining women's perceptions of the access requirements to publicly-funded homebirth programs in Australia

03.01.2022 Hey Facebook! URGENTLY STILL CASTING FOR PREGNANT women for an easy & relaxed advertising shoot next week! PAID VERY HANDSOMELY! 1) Japanese or half Japanese.../ other Asian Heritage pregnant woman 3-6 months! 2) Predominantly Caucasian/ Anglo Saxon looking pregnant woman 28-35 years and 3-5 months! Hit me up or tag anyone suitable for details! Good cash and a great experience for sure. Photos Needed ASAP by tonight or tomorrow morning for submission deadline. TIA AGAIN!

03.01.2022 So, the problem we have is that the obstetric professional body is uncomfortable with the perceived risks of water immersion for their members and wants it bann...ed. In contrast, the midwifery professional body views water immersion as being protective for their members and wants it retained (consumer groups overwhelmingly support the Australian College of Midwives position). What to do? The two Colleges are equal here - neither would purport to impose its practices on the other. Accordingly, in the spirit of the MOU between the two Colleges, and furthering the mutual respect and regard for each bodys professional autonomy of practice, we at HBA offer this practical solution: Obstetricians stay away from water births. Midwives only. Everyone wins.

02.01.2022 Did your partner support you explicitly in your birth? Did he trust you? Did you trust him? I so often hear - "I would have a homebirth/freebirth but my husban...d wasn't onboard." Is it because ultimately we maybe don't trust ourselves? In my experience, most men are happy to trust us if we can be trusted;) What does that mean? When we are listening to our intuition. When we know what we want and what we are doing is right for us. When we are aligned. Often we want to blame our men (and yes I can be guilty of this too!) but really it's about taking responsibility for what we want - and more often than not they will come to the party. And if they don't - it's your choice regardless! Laura and Alex Rees - When Couples Trust Each Other and Birth Today on the show I speak to my brother Alex and sister in law Laura about their freebirth of their firstborn child Chloe. Alex and Laura aren’t your ‘typical’ freebirthers - if there is such a thing! Laura works in a hospital ED as a Physio and Alex works in the family business as a plumber. They aren’t hippy or particularly political about birth - (although I think this has changed a little after having Chloe) but after researching they came to the understanding that birth works best when it’s left alone. And it certainly paid off for them. I think this interview is great for a number of reasons - it’s not often we hear a male view of birth and of course it’s so important when they are such an integral part of the process. I also love how you can see clearly in the interview how much they trust each other and also how Alex really made sure Laura was protected in her pregnancy and birth journey. The role of birthing partner can often be underestimated and I can’t stress enough; how important and helpful it is when you partner is onboard. I had lots of laughs in this one and the convo really flowed because - well we’re family! Enjoy listening. More about Alex and Laura: Hi, I’m Laura! I’m 31 and have been working as a Physiotherapist for the last 9 years in one of Perth’s tertiary hospitals. I’m very passionate about being healthy and active. I’m so lucky to have found Alex when I was 19yo- we have shared so many special moments and memories growing up together. The birth of our first daughter, Chloe, will be one to remember! Hey I’m Alex! I’m a 32 year old plumber from Perth. I love being outdoors, going to the beach, sailing and playing footy on the weekends. During summer I try to get out on the water as much as possible. I have been with my wife Laura for 13 years and we have really enjoyed living life together. We have traveled the world and more recently started a family with our new daughter Chloe. Listen here: iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com//laura-and-alex-r/id1510707553 Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cqrQHvl3IDalhUZujVgTH

02.01.2022 Homebirth Group in South Sydney is on tomorrow. Join the Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/543591982725713/?ref=share To see the Event here: https://facebook.com//south-sydney-home/2644976075751962/

01.01.2022 Homebirth Newborn Resuscitation ~Potential trigger- newborn resuscitation~ One of peoples greatest concerns about homebirth is-... What if my baby isnt doing great at birth? These photos give an insight into homebirth resuscitation. The differences with hospital resus? The baby stays attached to the mother. In most hospitals in Australia the first thing that happens is the umbilical cord is cut and the baby is taken to a resuscitare on the other side of the room. At home, the cord is left in tact so the blood flow from the placenta continues to go to the baby, giving them essential red blood cells to oxygenate their blood until their breathing is established. The baby is moved and massaged, blown on and talked to to stimulate their reflexes. If this doesnt work, room air is bagged into them through a mask (or mouth) to help trigger their lungs to breathe. In a lot of cases, this is enough. If it isnt, there is a tank of oxygen close by, ready to administer. Youll see in these photos, the baby stays attached to her mother, everyone keeps their calm and the midwives methodically step their way through these processes. You will also notice the mother holding on to the cord to check it is still pulsating, giving reassurance her baby is receiving what it needs. You will also see the midwives assessing the babys heart rate throughout with both touch and stethoscope. Everyone is informed every step of the way, and everyone is involved. I am all too aware that a resus is not always this straightforward, and that babies can need a lot more help. What happens when, for example, the baby needs chest compressions (which are necessary when the fetal heart rate is below 60 bpm or if ventilation doesnt increase the heart rate to above 100 bpm)- in that case the woman is asked to get out of the pool and CPR is still commenced with an intact cord. As the first line of action- doesnt leaving the cord in tact make a whole lot more sense? . A recent study found it does. Intact cord resuscitation versus early cord clamping in the treatment of depressed newborn infants during the first 10 minutes of birth (Nepcord III) a randomized clinical trial- found that the newborns oxygen saturation (Sp02) and APGAR scores were higher at several measured points after birth along with other benefits such as both initiation of breathing and respiration rate when a necessary resuscitation was done bedside with the cord intact on an infant who was not breathing at birth. Midwives- Midwife Jo and Jacqui Wood Mama- Birth Aims - Doula Aimee Sing Aimee Sing . Thank you all involved for your willingness to share this moment. . #homebirth #birth #waterbirth #midwife #midwives #birthphotography #sydneybirthphotographer