Louise David Private Midwife & Homebirth Services in Wollongong, New South Wales | Medical and health

Louise David Private Midwife & Homebirth Services

Locality: Wollongong, New South Wales

Phone: +61 402 704 826

Address: farmborough heights 2526 Wollongong, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.louisedavidlc.com.au

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• Medical and health
• Medical centre
• Pregnancy care centre
• Womens health clinic

25.01.2022 If you would like to see a live stream homebirth jump on insta right now and see Emma Issacs giving birth!

25.01.2022 Big brother at birth This little guy was lucky to wake up and find the birth pool filling and with the noises mamma was making he was pretty sure it was the day his baby sister was coming. He zoomed Thomas around the pool, the temptation to throw all the toys in the pool was real. ... Mum got louder and dad was busy holding her hand. The midwives were busy taking turns doing digger puzzles. Next he settled on the lap of @trudy_legaudi , the intensity was building. It was intense. He cried a little. He cuddled dad. @trudy_legaudi ducked away and made magic milk with honey and that did the trick. Then there was a baby sister. Now there is a big brother. @louisedavidmidwifelc shared with mammas permission. Midwife @louisedavidmidwifelc 2ndmidwife @trudy_legaudi #homebirth #privatemidwife

25.01.2022 Opportunity to be involved in some new exciting research

25.01.2022 BIRTH STORY ~ PART 2 I was 40 + 2 when Ochre started to show signs of entering the world. It was national homebirth awareness week. It was1:30am on Monday 26th October &I was woken by what felt like period pain. I was calm, I felt awake, excited and ready for the process to begin. I woke Kane up and told him "we were on". I laid in bed for a short period of timeand breathed through the contractions. At this stage they were 10 mins apart and felt really manageable. I naiv...elythought to myself "This is nothing -I got this". Little did I know the intensity would amplify ten fold. I decided to get up and bath, wash my hair and freshen up for the anticipated birth. Contractions grew to be 7 mins then 3 mins aparthoweverI learnt in Calm Birth workshop that in order for labour to progress the woman must be in a dark, private and safe spaceso naturally,when my focus was on shaving my legs in a well lit bathroom, by 8am the contractions had come to a halt. As my contractions had stopped, Kane spent the day doing an electrical job for a friend while I pottered around the house making sure everything was perfectly clean and in order because apparently when you have a baby, you never ever have time to clean again (can confirm this is true!). At 130am (the same time as the night before) I was woken again by contractions. From the get go they were more intense then the night before and again started at 10 minutes, then went to 7 minutes then 3 minutes apart. In the Calm Birth workshop it was suggested that the supporting partner time the contractions based on thebody language of the birthing partner as opposed to asking them when a contraction starts and finishes. Kane did just that, however the control freak/perfectionist in me felt uneasythat he wasn't timing them on his phone, instead just timing in his head. The contractions became very intense and I felt them in my lower back.I was pacing around the bedroom, using a "bumble bee breath" to get me through. Kane started to use an acupressure technique on my lower back while he shook my hips side to side which brought alot of relief. #homebirth #firstbaby #louisedavidlc #privatemidwife #petsofhomebirth

25.01.2022 I said goodbye to a couple of families this week. Not even sad because I know I’ll see these lot around. Perk of private midwife care is walking away with new friends. #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc #homebirth

24.01.2022 How can it be that I’m receiving enquires for APRIL 2021 already? Some people feel strange about booking in their pregnancy and birth care so early but the fact is that private midwifery has very coveted spots here in the Illawarra and in most places actually. We are lucky in our area to have a couple of homebirth midwives as well as a publicly funded program through the local hospital. Because of the limited places, it’s never to early to seek information about your care.... In fact I recommend doing your research well before you plan on falling pregnant. We have a number of birth workers in the Illawarra that offer preconception planning, @the_nestingplace @trudy_legaudi @meditationwithmish to name a few. Pre planning is the key, however if you are further down the road of your pregnancy, even near full term and something drives you to look into private midwife care and homebirth, don’t hesitate! You might get lucky and find a midwife with a spot open and she is ready to welcome you with open arms. #privatemidwife #homebirth #louisedavidlc See more

23.01.2022 This is a really important story to read and share. The article is long, save it and read in time. This is why my heart hurts for women not getting the birth they hope for. I love what I do, I believe in it, but I fear for the future. ... Professor Hannah Dahlen on our need for change: One thing is clear: home birth is not going away and government denial wont resolve this issue. Governments must act quickly to resolve this issue to ensure Australian women have access to safe and supported home births.

23.01.2022 This little guy woke at 530 am, just two hours before his little brother was born. ~ He wasnt scared or bothered. Mum thought she should be quiet not to worry the little guy but I reassured her he was fine playing trains and she could do what she needed to do. ~ His granny came and picked him up to take home out for breakfast so dad could be present with mum. ... Baby was born shortly after. ~ Keep it simple. Going with the flow, wait and see and having a support person/carer/babysitter on call is pretty much the only plan you need when youre thinking toddlers and homebirth. #homebirth #louisedavidlc #privatemidwife

23.01.2022 Final!! BIRTH STORY ~ PART 6 Louise tried to scoop her from the water but the umbilical cord was wrapped around her arm, leg, torso and neck. Louise gently and swiftly dunked her back under the water, untangled her then passed her to Kane who put her on my chest.The sense of relief on my body and how slimey and tiny she was is something I will never forget. I sobbed from the relief and disbelief. We were so caught up in the moment it didnt even cross our minds to reveal the g...ender until someone said, 'boy or girl'? I stayed in the pool with her on my chest, untouched, for approx 1/2 an hour until the water became cold. The midwives assisted me to sit on the lounge where I birthed the placenta. We did delayed cord clamping until I was ready to cut the cord. After all, I carried this baby for 9 months and in heinsight, it was symbolic of finalising the birth for me. Louise tied the umbilical cord off with the handmade tie that my mum had made and I was given instructions on how to give her her first feed. Rachel the second midwife said, 'belly to belly, hold your breast like a sandwich and when she has an open mouth, try and place your nipple into her mouth'. Following her first feed at approx 3am, I was supported to the shower by Louise while Kane had the baby on his chest. I headed back out to the loungeroom to find what looked like a little skinned rabbit laying on Kanes chest. If we were in a hospital environment it was likely that the baby would have been whisked away to be weighed, measured and given the vitamin K shot not long after birth. It had been 2 hours after giving birth and our baby had not been in the hands of anyone but her parents. When the time was right, Louise proceeded to weigh and measure her. In the watchful eyes of 4 woman, with shakey adrenalin ridden hands, Kane attempted to put the nappy on Ochre. We all shared some laughs about the PJ's I was wearing & about the neighbours being able to witness my entire birth due to no blinds. At 4am, we were assisted to a bed of fresh sheets and 2 cats. Our birth team left the house. I looked at Kane with tired eyes & said "what the fuck just happened".

23.01.2022 Two families and their pets watching over them. Jax and Hermione #dogsofhomebirth #petsofhomebirth

22.01.2022 Being a part of this ceremony was a first for me. Id seen the cord burning ceremony in photos and videos but had never worked with a family who had chose to seperate the placenta from the baby in this way. Being invited to share in this ritual was special. I loved the reverence to the placenta and the birth time and space. I loved the family togetherness and sacredness. Im grateful for the learning opportunity @the_rachael_rose and @its_tristan_charles allowed me. I look ...forward to sharing this with other families. I would absolutely recommend cord burning if youre looking to bring something more to that 4th stage of labour. #Repost @the_rachael_rose with @get_repost We chose to burn Dions umbilical cord instead of cutting it, the flame gradually cauterises the cord, acting as a gentle separation of the baby from its magic life-giving placenta. This little ceremony took 10 minutes and was another opportunity not to rush as we closed off the birth portal energy. Dion was peacefully breastfeeding, we expressed our gratitude to the placenta and the whole family and our support team were able to be involved. @louisedavidmidwifelc enjoyed writing cord cut by fire on our birth records. My only advice is to NOT burn the cord directly underneath the fire alarm, which we did. It didnt go off thankfully, but we realised about halfway through and this added a comedic effect, looking up and hoping our honouring ritual wasnt interrupted with an alarm bell ringing. In case youre wondering, it smells like burnt hair, and it sounds a bit like popcorn popping. P.S I made this wooden box in year 7 woodwork. If only 12 year old Rachael knew what was coming! Serina Crinis

22.01.2022 https://www.thebusinessof.life/the-business-of-being-born Watch this powerful documentary for free!!!! I love this years ago. Still relevant today. More so than ever. Xx

22.01.2022 This is homebirth, this is normal birth. #Repost @the_rachael_rose with @get_repost Post-birth can look like this. Ridiculously happy, high on life and in awe of your own power, tucked into bed, an IV of fluids on a coat hanger attached to the curtain rail, baby never leaving your chest, cord pulsating till white as white can be. ... With an Uber delivery of pizza on its way to feed the incredibly hardworking mum @zoe_rh & dad, the birth team, mother-in-law and toddler (who hung out in the backyard tent during the actual birth). A normal, everyday event which is also totally transformational and revolutionary to every person that gets to experience and witness its potency, miracle and magic. . . @him_me_plus3 Midwife @louisedavidmidwifelc Second midwife @trudy_legaudi See more

22.01.2022 How long was your midwife with you before your baby arrived? (If she didnt miss it). This little man was in a rush and I greeted mum in the pool with a big grin on her face saying I think the head is out Jen (student and photographer) arrives meeting this view ... @caught.photographics

21.01.2022 Writing notes in the dim light so not to disturb what is happening next door. Thanks for this shot @caught.photographics #Repost @caught.photographics with @get_repost... Admin @louisedavidmidwifelc @zoe_rh See more

20.01.2022 Little bit of a late appreciation post re: international day of the midwife. This little note of thanks and flowers (@pepesgarden ) and love from @cherish_birth made my day. Thank you. It means the world to know that what I do really makes a difference and brings love and light to the families I work with.

20.01.2022 Sterile water injections..... Have you tried them? Ever even heard of them? They are used to relieve back pain in labour. They have no side effects other than being painful to inject. 10 seconds of pain for great relief. Great pain relief option in the homebirth setting and can be administered over and over if they wear off. ... Yesterday we used these in a very intense posterior labour. The back pain was so distressing to mum that she even thought of going to hospital at one stage. The injections worked on the very next contraction and the back pain was gone. Amazing easy technique that can get you through the thick of the posterior back labour. #homebirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc @him_me_plus3

20.01.2022 BIRTH STORY ~ PART 4 I got out of the pool and went back into the shower.They say that during labour, every woman has a "crisis of confidence". During this period of lost determination you may hear a woman say things like "I cant do this anymore" or "give me an epidural or ceaser". For me, I wasnt wanting to throw in the towel, I was hoping for a time line to mentally prepare how much longer I would be experiencing this intensity. I asked Kane to go get Louise. She sat on t...he toilet observing my body language while i was in the showeruntil i noticed she was there. I asked "how much longer untilI have the baby". Deep down I wanted her answer to be aconcrete time but in hindsight, that could have been the undoing of me. If Louise had have said "You will have this baby by 8pm" I would have been clock watching and if 8pm rocked around and I hadn't had the baby I may have given up. Louise responded with "chick, I can tell by your body language and by the noises your making that things are progressing. Its working, your doing a great job, things are about to get wild". If I was in a hospital environment I would have been offered an internal examination to assess how dialated I was however Louise's trust of the woman's body and herexperience meant she new exactly where things were at and most importantly, that they were progressing. Her tactful, reassuring response gave me the will to keep going. After some more time in the shower I started to feel the urge to push and something lead me to wanting to go back into the birth pool. They say during labour you go into your own world and this couldnt be more true for me but some how, despite being somewhere else, my senses within the room has never been so heightened. Despite having my eyes closed, I could sense where people were positioned in the room, I could hear Kane sobbing under his breath from seeing me in so much pain (in addition to himdrinking 1 litre of coldbrew coffee and not sleeping for 48 hours), I could hear background conversations,I was aware of the camera clicking. It was at this stage I buried my dignity under the loungeroom rug, stripped off and didnt hold back. The pushing stage begun.

19.01.2022 Are you reconsidering the best place for you to birth in this current climate. Unsure of what the impact of the health system and infection control precautions might have on your birth experience. I had planned the month of May off however Im willing to open up some places for families who are now thinking home is the best place for them to birth. Please get in touch via dm or my website. www.louisedavidlc.com.au... #nevertoolate #stayhome #homebirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc

18.01.2022 En Caul I had the pleasure of witnessing this special birth a couple of months back. Baby was born in the water, en caul, that means she was in her amniotic sac until she was nearly fully out of the vagina. I snapped this pic (important midwife job) as mum was peeling the veil from baby’s face. ... The second pic is the dried caul over a carved wooden egg that was made after this little ones older sister was born. The figure thrown around many non academic websites for the occurrence of en caul birth is about 1 in 80000. I don’t have any faith in this number however, mainly because of the frequency of artificially rupturing the membranes in labour. The NSW mother and baby report 2018 states that of women who laboured 35.9% had their membranes artificially ruptured. In my practice of physiological birth I actually see en caul birth, to varying degrees, often; because the labouring woman and her body are left alone. There are lots of superstitions through out history about babies born en caul. That the babies are magical, lucky or psychic. One is that a caul baby will never drown. The caul was traditionally dried and carried as a talisman by sailors for good luck when they were at sea. There you go. En Caul. Pretty cool #homebirth #physiologicalbirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc

15.01.2022 Love getting text messages like this #homebirthmidwife #privatemidwife

15.01.2022 If only there was a way for pregnant women to have their babies away from the virus-laden hospital, in their own homes, with professionals trained in out-of-hospital birth. If only there was a way for pregnant women to have their babies away from the virus-laden hospital, in their own homes, with professionals trained in out-of-hospital birth.

15.01.2022 I’d love to share some words on NAIDOC week 2020 Always was, always will be. The birth of Nullah Rungatahi Mulligamiriyara Toi couldn’t capture the essence of this year’s NAIDOC Week theme any more perfectly. This baby born of his strong Aboriginal mother and Maori father, is the first planned birth of an Aboriginal baby on Yuin Country in over 100 years.... The response to me has been met with a lot of that’s amazing and what a lovely experience for you. And it was. The birth was amazing and spectacular and yet, so very normal. What isn’t amazing is that, despite the efforts of some amazing indigenous midwives and services, the lengths this family had to go to in order to birth their way were quite astronomical. Essentially, having their cultural and spiritual needs met as a birthing family would be impossible in the public health system as it currently stands. What isn’t amazing is how long it’s been since an Aboriginal baby has been born in this manner, and that currently, in some health services, Aboriginal women are not considered low-risk birthing women purely because of their aboriginality. It was amazing seeing Teisha’s children witness her power. Connecting them to the land through their baby brother’s birth. To see sister cheer her mamma on and learn what birth can be and to see brother in ceremony with his baby in the sea. It was amazing to expose beach goers to normal birth, we warned anyone that came near there was a baby about to be born, that they were welcome to enjoy the beach but could move along if they preferred. No one moved on. No one even cared. Except for the cheer that erupted from across the sand as they all heard baby Nullah cry as he breathed his first breath. It was amazing to finally know what my role is, in this time, in NAIDOC Week, as a white woman full of privilege. As I put ochre on my face I felt the shame from the actions of my ancestors. As I washed the ochre off me and into the sea I try to let that go. What I can do now is help women birth in peace and to nourish our children with strong values and respect for our land and its people. As Teisha said many times to me, This isn’t for me, this is for my children and their children. This is for women, not just Aboriginal woman, white woman too. Our land always was and always will be the land and spirit of the Aboriginal people. Birth always was and always will belong to women. I was so honoured to be second midwife to Midwife Jo, Jerusha Sutton is behind the stunning capture of Teisha and Nullah. Shout out to Birth Time the soon to be released documentary about to make big waves #itstime of Teisha by Jerusha Sutton

15.01.2022 Being a part of this ceremony was a first for me. I’d seen the cord burning ceremony in photos and videos but had never worked with a family who had chose to seperate the placenta from the baby in this way. Being invited to share in this ritual was special. I loved the reverence to the placenta and the birth time and space. I loved the family togetherness and sacredness. I’m grateful for the learning opportunity @the_rachael_rose and @its_tristan_charles allowed me. I look ...forward to sharing this with other families. I would absolutely recommend cord burning if you’re looking to bring something more to that 4th stage of labour. #Repost @the_rachael_rose with @get_repost We chose to burn Dion’s umbilical cord instead of cutting it, the flame gradually cauterises the cord, acting as a gentle separation of the baby from its magic life-giving placenta. This little ceremony took 10 minutes and was another opportunity not to rush as we closed off the birth portal energy. Dion was peacefully breastfeeding, we expressed our gratitude to the placenta and the whole family and our support team were able to be involved. @louisedavidmidwifelc enjoyed writing cord cut by fire on our birth records. My only advice is to NOT burn the cord directly underneath the fire alarm, which we did. It didn’t go off thankfully, but we realised about halfway through and this added a comedic effect, looking up and hoping our honouring ritual wasn’t interrupted with an alarm bell ringing. In case you’re wondering, it smells like burnt hair, and it sounds a bit like popcorn popping. P.S I made this wooden box in year 7 woodwork. If only 12 year old Rachael knew what was coming! Serina Crinis

15.01.2022 Youre all doing an amazing job. Thank you for choosing me to be a part of your journey. #louisedavidavidlc #privatemidwife #IBCLC

14.01.2022 Hospital Vs Home . Women labour best in safe sacred spaces. Uninhibited, unobserved and non threatening places. . Partners support best when they feel free to move in a space. To have a sense of ownership and not tread on anyones toes. To not need permission to make a move. ... . Place of birth has so much influence on birth outcomes. . This is what birth in home and birth in the average labour ward looks like. You can add fairy lights and a nice tub to a hospital room, it will make it look prettier but will it really change the environment??? . . . #homebirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc See more

12.01.2022 #Repost @cherish_birth with @get_repost Homebirth and Safety. Did you know that privately practicing midwives (PPM) have a HUGE amount of education to keep up to date with and practical components of resus for mum & bub. They bring along bags of equipment. Oxygen, synto, local anaesthetic and all things required for stitching if needed. ... Did you know that PPMs carry equipment & medication to stabilise mum or bub until help arrives for a transfer? Transfer rarely presents as a drop everything and go situation. There are red flags, discussions and then decisions. Post-Partum haemorrhage can often be managed without a transfer. Our local PPMs have a good relationship with the local hospital which involves face to face meetings, case presentations & reflections. So, in light of that information & covid-19, would you consider a homebirth? For more information, there was also findings from an Australian study released last year that highlighted homebirth as a safe option. See more

12.01.2022 Long day at the office #homebirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc

12.01.2022 My fresh new website is live. Thanks wife for your IT and design skills

12.01.2022 Midwifing on the road, in the sunshine not a bad days work. #homebirthmidwife #privatemidwife

12.01.2022 BIRTH STORY ~ PART 5 by @jewel_lea_v I spoke to a breathwork coach the day before going into labour and received some advice - "When you think youve surrendered, surrender some more". This was particularly useful during the pushing stage. My body took over, and my mind was just tagging along for the ride. I checked to see if I could feel the babies head in which I could. I saught Louise's reassurance mid contraction. She said that everything was working well, I was progressi...ng and she had called the second midwife to attend the birth. At this stage I was on all 4's.Each contraction I would visualise the baby moving down. My support team surrounded the birth pool and cheered me on for each push. Contractionsstarted slow and built to anunimaginable pressure and burning. After every contraction I got a few mins rest. It was suggested at the peak of each contraction I put my head under water and blow bubbles. I focussed all my energy on this and it served as a distraction from the pain. I swayed &sobbed in between contractions & I asked the midwives whether Ihad made progress. The babies head was crowning but kept going backward. The midwives seen what they thought was a wrinkly forehead which would have meant I was having a posterior birth. Each push the midwives cheered me on, but they neededmore from me to get this show on the road. I had now been pushing for approx 1.5 hours. Louise would regularlycheck the babies heart rate and she was relaxed so Louise was happy for me to proceed. Just when I felt like I had nothing left to give, I dug deep and found the strength that I needed. It was close to 2 hours pushing with a crowning head. Louise suggested I change positions. I layed on my back and held my legs for leverage. Louise applied pressure around the babies head to try and assist it out to no avail. I remember the cheer squad being more passionate then ever - "Come on Jewel, big push, big push. Even bigger this time. Just one more push", Kane saying "Come on bub!". Suddenly, the entire baby shot out into the water, grabbing my leg on the way outwhich shocked everyone. @billy_buttonphotography

11.01.2022 So wonderful seeing all the thanks being given to the midwives of the world. Thank you to my past and present clients who have sent love today. A very special thanks to my colleagues who support and inspire me and teach me. Even more thanks to the beautiful few who back me up, being on call to join me for a homebirth in the middle of the night. I literally couldnt practice without your support. ... Thank you

11.01.2022 137bpm @caught.photographics #homebirth #louisedavidlc #privatemidwife

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11.01.2022 It’s time!! Tickets on sale now !!!

11.01.2022 Some research published by a local midwife of the Illawarra about the effect of exposure of homebirth on hospital midwives practice. I remember when I witnessed my 1st homebirth 11 years ago was transformed. In my experience it goes for the women too, for a subsequent birth after a hospital birth they will say, I thought my first birth was natural, but this was something else!! Well done Dr Bec Coddington !

10.01.2022 Fists clenched ready to meet the world. Beautiful capture @him_me_plus3 photographer and student midwife extraordinaire x #homebirth #waterbirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc

09.01.2022 I said goodbye to a couple of families this week. Not even sad because I know Ill see these lot around. Perk of private midwife care is walking away with new friends. #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc #homebirth

08.01.2022 No matter how many births we see us midwives still get as excited as a kid in a candy shop when the baby starts to emerge Great capture by @billy_buttonphotography Badass mamma @jewel_lea_v thanks for sharing.

08.01.2022 Amazing photo sequence of a recent home birth caught by @caught.photographics and shared with mammas permission. Pic 1-Look at that perineum, the elasticity, mum didnt tear at all. Pic 2-He sat waiting for the next contraction and then he was born with one last push. ... Pic 3- This mumma birthed instinctively and baby caught gently by myself just to protect him from the hard shower floor. Pic 4- look at that moulding of the head. Here he is, all 9+ pounds of him. by @caught.photographics

08.01.2022 11 years ago today I witnessed my first homebirth. I saw the strength and beauty of the birthing woman like Id never seen. I didnt know she existed like this before and I left that home changed. I remember the atmosphere in the room, the power all with the woman. The reverence. I went back to work as a midwife in the hospital however I knew I wouldnt find that same birth there, not like that. It would be 6 more years and a few more homebirths observed before I stepped ...out on my own and took on my first private client. The midwife who helped open my eyes is not in this world anymore but I think shed be proud that on the birthday of the first baby I witnessed being born at home, I sit here on call waiting for the women I care for today to birth their babies at home. #happybirthday #homebirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc

07.01.2022 BIRTH STORY ~ PART 3 As contractions had been 3 mins apart for some time,we called Louise and Naomi (birth photographer)to give them the heads up.When Louise arrived my contractions minimised due to the change in the environment. Louise and I had a conversation in the loungeroom while I bounced on the gym ball. Louise's conclusion was that I was in early labour and we all agreed that she would head home and we would call her when contractions were 3 mins apart again.Kane ...had placed our black linen bedspread up over the blinds to make the room darker to help with progressinglabour. Not long after, my contractions started again at 10 mins apart but were moreintense then before. By this stage I hadnt slept 2 nights running so naturally, my body felt heavy but I still felt energised and determined. I tried to rest in bed but I found this amplifiedcontractions so it was heat packs, Kane's massaging,lathering myself in "push potion" oil, making noise, and deepbreathing that got me through. We also used a Tenz machine on my lower back which I didnt find overly effective. At 4pm Kane contacted Louise and asked her to return. Louise soon arrived to find me in the bedroom, eyes closed, pacing the room. Louise used a doppler to check the babies heartbeat and she had no concerns. It was at this stage that Kane & Louisebegun filling the birth pool with hot water. I was barely verbal at this stage andcan recall not wanting Kane to leave my side however knew I was keen to get in the pool asap. By this stageKane hadmassaged the pressure points on my back for hours. His fingers were sore and my back was bruised. I decided to jump in the shower and used the hose to run hot water on my back. I spent alot of time here. Kane was convinced that we were having a baby in the shower. Although the shower was effective in managing the intensity I needed to switch it up to kill some time. I made my way out to the birth pool in the loungeroom. It wasn't the instant relief I had imagined. The water was cool and although being buoyant took some of the weight off your back and joints, it didnt change the intensity of the contractions.

06.01.2022 You can say no thank you, maybe later if I need to

05.01.2022 Everyone was sharing their snaps of this beautiful rainbow on Thursday evening. This was my view. How special to birth under that sky, safely at home. Very soon after this pic a new little girl entered the world. @caught.photographics

05.01.2022 Fantastic active birth workshop facilitated by some amazing women. Thanks Better Births Illawarra! Get in quick as places are limited.

05.01.2022 If youre looking for somewhere to put your money where your mouth is, here it is. Waminda is a service local to us, it provides care to the indigenous woman and families of Nowra and the surrounds. Waminda needs funds to bridge the gap, to provide gold standard maternity care and has the amazing long term goal of building a birth center to keep its women safe, birthing on country. Please donate and share

05.01.2022 Normal physiological birth looks like this. . No one put their fingers inside her. No one even touched her. ... No one delivered this baby. She was birthed into her mothers arms. Dad held mums hand and told her she was strong. Two midwives sat and watched. Patient and excited with every sign of the next phase closer to birth. . Then the woman needed help. Not with birthing, not because there was panic or an emergency or a dropped heart rate or a stuck baby. Because she was so close to birth that the bubble of doubt popped in her head. I was there by her side. I said to her You can do this. Your baby is here. I calmed her with my words and my eyes. I didnt do anything. . This woman did all this herself, she owns this. She is powerful and strong and in love. #physiologicalbirth #homebirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc

04.01.2022 Here is part one of the birth story of baby Ochre shared with permission from her mamma @jewel_lea_v Jewel is a local Wollongong first time mum and wants to spread the word about how normal and empowering birth can be. BIRTH STORY ~ PART 1... During the lead up to my due date, itwas tempting to wish this time away, to want things to hurry along, however I would constantlyreassure myself (and tell people) that my little room mate would arrive when he or she was developmentally ready to & when my body was ready. I had done alot to prepare for birth and was determined to birth at home despite people's fear and opinions. I did calm birth course, seen a PT up until 37 weeks, didresearch, listened topodcasts, didbreathwork coaching, prenatal yoga, daily routineson the fitball to open my pelvis,meditation, journaling &spending time away from my phone & loved ones to get in the zone. I spent weeks gathering tools for my birth and preparing my birth space. The walls were lined with short sharp affirmations & a few sentimental things from past clients that gave me strength, reminded me of my privilege & just how short lived this pain would compared to some of the pain that my clients experience & face head on every day. I was given a gift from a friend for my birth, a bag full of trinkets. Each trinket had been added by a local homebirthing mother. The strength of these woman was also something I drew upon during my birth. My mum had also made me an umbilical cord tie and placed in a white box marked "baby cotton". I felt a real connection to nature & "my roots" throughout pregnancy which drew me to reflecting on/researching about Aboriginal history, particularly local Aboriginal history, and the gratitude/privilege I felt to live & birth on such a magnificent part of the country. I put together an acknowledgement to country & decorated it with anative Banskia symbolizing rebirth & new begingings. @billy_buttonphotography #homebirth #firstbaby #wollongonghomebirth #privatemidwife #louisedavidlc

03.01.2022 How can it be that Im receiving enquires for APRIL 2021 already? Some people feel strange about booking in their pregnancy and birth care so early but the fact is that private midwifery has very coveted spots here in the Illawarra and in most places actually. We are lucky in our area to have a couple of homebirth midwives as well as a publicly funded program through the local hospital. Because of the limited places, its never to early to seek information about your care.... In fact I recommend doing your research well before you plan on falling pregnant. We have a number of birth workers in the Illawarra that offer preconception planning, @the_nestingplace @trudy_legaudi @meditationwithmish to name a few. Pre planning is the key, however if you are further down the road of your pregnancy, even near full term and something drives you to look into private midwife care and homebirth, dont hesitate! You might get lucky and find a midwife with a spot open and she is ready to welcome you with open arms. #privatemidwife #homebirth #louisedavidlc See more

02.01.2022 Cant wait to share this special with my little friends at antenatal appointments @pickwick_and_sprout #privatemidwife #antenatalcare #homebirth

02.01.2022 I am so humbled to have been able to stand by this family’s side as they welcomed their son to the world. I #Repost the words of @birthtimeworld NAIDOC week. Always Was Always Will Be. ... With the deepest respect and love and with the family’s blessings, we share these images of @teish_giirl and her family, Birthing on Country....Yuin Country. Words can’t describe the profound honour it was for @midwifejohunter and @jerushasutton to attend as midwife and photographer/videographer, along with beautiful second midwife @louisedavidmidwifelc As so eloquently written in the joint Birthing on Country position statement - Respecting individual choice is central to the BoC model. The identification of ‘risk factors’ is viewed through a cultural lens inclusive of the individual woman’s needs and cultural birthing practices, which enriches and informs their choices, assessment and planned care. YOU DID IT TEISHA, may this just be the beginning. Teisha’s words.... Birthing on Country and what a glorious day it was. BoC is the way our woman have always given birth to her child, on the lands of ancestors, ensuring a spiritual connection to the land for her baby. Yesterday we birthed our baby son Nullah Rungatahi Mulligamiriyara Toi out on country where my songlines sing many songs of the past, present and future, where the fresh water meets the salt water and the mountains meet the ocean. HAPPY NAIDOC WEEK MY PEOPLE MY PEOPLE . In our family we celebrate who we are and where we came from every single second of every day. Thank you to our private midwives who were also part of this amazing experience. #birthingoncountry #yuincountry #yuinbaby #wiradjuribaby #itstime #birthtime

01.01.2022 This little man arrived after a long and powerful labour. His mumma was strong and brave and unwavering. His place of birth changed from home to hospital. Here he is, only one day old, back home and having his first baby check in the hands of his own midwife. Luck man #privatemidwife #homebirth #homebirthtransfer