The Great Birth Rebellion

Dr Melanie Jackson

You can have a GREAT pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. You just need the information and strategies to make it happen. The Great Birth Rebellion podcast, hosted by Midwife Dr Melanie Jackson offers evidence- based information to help you make informed decisions about your maternity care. The Great Birth Birth Rebellion helps you get the best out of your pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey. Want more? Follow along at @melaniethemidwife and @thegreatbirthrebellion on SM Subscribe to get access to the resources behind the episodes at melaniethemidwife.com and get your merch at thegreatbirthrebellion.com.

  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Episode 188 - Waterbirth risks and safety

    If you are planning a waterbirth, care for women using water, or you are just waterbirth curious, this episode is for you! You’ll also find this a handy episode for your birth support team so they know how to best help facilitate a waterbirth for you. In this episode we cover the risks and benefits of waterbirth and how to unlock access to one if you come up against resistance. 

    In this episode Mel shared her ‘Guide to giving birth without pain medication’, you can get it here.

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox 

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    1 February 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Episode 187 - Midwifery without borders with Diane Lockhart

    A rebellion can take many forms, for Diane Lockhart her brand of rebellion involved her reluctantly and somewhat accidentally opening a birth center in a Ugandan slum. Amani Birth Center has now been running for 10 years and Diane shares how they have managed to care for women without the loss of a single mother or baby at the birth center. Diane is a true midwifery rebel and she shares what you can do for Amani - there are some epic opportunities in this episode for any midwife or doula looking to innovate within midwifery or to expand your understanding of physiological birth in service of women. This is a must listen for every midwife, doula and obstetrician.

    In this episode Mel spoke about the assembly of rebellious midwives. A place for woman centered midwives to come together, become better midwives together and survive the system in solidarity. Join the assembly here, Mel is in there every week to meet you. 

    You can learn more about Amani here: https://www.amanimamas.org/ and here. and get in touch with Diane via the website if you want to visit Amani

    Diane has a BIG dream to purchase the Amani birth centre building and expand their services, click here to help make that happen with a donation 

    This episode was generously sponsored by Poppy Child from Pop That Mumma. Discover how to manage pain during the transition of labour. Check out her FREE session here.

    You can watch this episode on YouTube here.

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    25 January 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 26 minutes
    Episode 186 - Is your baby too big or too small?

    Have you been told that your baby is too big or too small during your pregnancy? Do they want to induce you or give you a caesarean because your baby is too big or maybe it was too small? Are pregnant and have been told that your baby is too big or too small?

    In this episode Mel shared her Guide to giving birth without pain medication, you can get it here.

    This episode is sponsored by Poppy Child from Pop That Mumma. Discover how to manage pain during the transition of labour. Check out her FREE session. 

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here. 

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    18 January 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 52 minutes 34 seconds
    Episode 185 - Guide to a great birth

    It’s possible to have the time of your life at your birth and describe it as GREAT afterwards. So great that you are excited to do it again. In this guide to a great birth episode Mel explains the science behind the enjoyment of birth and how you can tap into the joy and bliss of birth and at the end feel that you had a great birth. This is a must list from the great Birth Rebellion Catalogue.

    In this episode Mel shared her Guide to giving birth without pain medication, you can get it here.

    This episode is sponsored by Poppy Child from Pop That Mumma. Discover how to manage pain during the transition of labour. Check out her FREE session. 

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here. 

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    11 January 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 40 minutes 29 seconds
    Episode 184 - Orgasmic birth

    Orgasmic birth doesn’t mean you are going to orgasm at birth… but that certainly is a possibility when you realise how involved your clitoris and oxytocin (the orgasm hormone) are during labour and birth. In this episode Mel speaks with Deborah Pascali Bonaro about Orgasmic birth and how we are wired to feel joy, bliss and euphoria during birth. We talk about how women can tap into the possibility of joy and how to avoid things that will inhibit your ability to feel joy during birth. This episode is for anyone who wants to have a great birth. 

    In this episode Mel mentions her 'guide to giving birth without pain medication', you can get the guide here

    Find out more about our guest Debra Pascali-Bonaro at  https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/ and on instagram @orgasmicbirth 

    This episode is sponsored by Poppy Child from Pop That Mumma. Discover how to manage pain during the transition of labour. Check out her FREE session.

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here. 

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    4 January 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 54 minutes 22 seconds
    Episode 183 - the great rebellious wrap up 2025

    And that’s a wrap on 2025! Mel and her right and left hand man, Dan, host this final episode of 2025 and spill all the tea on the highs and lows of the year. Mel shares what happened to THAT episode, why her hair went grey and what spurs us on to make better and better episodes. This one is a sneak peak behind the curtain of the great birth rebellion podcast. Thank you for a fabulous year, we’ll be back stronger than ever first thing 2026. 

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Her Sonic Rooms has just launched with a limited half-price offer, available right now. If you want in while it’s live, the link is https://www.hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/sonicrooms 

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here. 

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    28 December 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 52 minutes 46 seconds
    Episode 182 - Induction of Labour Part 2

    Part 2 of the risks of induction. Episode 181 was all about the assessment and first steps of induction and this episode follows on with the risks of the final steps of induction of labour. These are a must-listen if you are being presented with the option of induction - especially if it’s a routine induction

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Her Sonic Rooms has just launched with a limited half-price offer, available right now. If you want in while it’s live, the link is https://www.hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/sonicrooms 

    To learn more about the opportunity to work as a midwife in Darwin please contact Claire Marks: [email protected]  ph: 0431095847 https://midwivesindarwin.com.au/jobs-with-mid/ or check her out on Instagram here @midwivesindarwin

    Podcast episodes that complement this episode 

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here. 

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    21 December 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Episode 181 - Induction of Labour Part 1

    Having your labour induced has risks and benefits. This episode is part 1 of a discussion of the labour induction process and the associated risks that go along with each stage of an induction. The discussion continues in episode 182. Sometimes the benefits of an induction outweigh the risks, but sometimes an induction is more risky than staying pregnant. This episode offers information to help inform your decisions around labour induction options.

    To learn more about the opportunity to work as a midwife in Darwin please contact Claire Marks: [email protected]  ph: 0431095847 https://midwivesindarwin.com.au/jobs-with-mid/ or check her out on Instagram here @midwivesindarwin

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Her Sonic Rooms has just launched with a limited half-price offer, available right now. If you want in while it’s live, the link is https://www.hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/sonicrooms 

    Mel also mentioned the recordings from The Convergence of Rebellious Midwives 2024 and 2025 are available for purchase. These talks are from some of the best minds in the maternity field. Just click the link below that is most relevant for you.

    Podcast episodes that complement this episode 

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here. 

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    14 December 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 20 seconds
    Episode 180 - Protecting yourself from microplastic in pregnancy

    Women are warned about environmental hazards in pregnancy, but why not microplastics?

    In this episode I share the research about how microplastic gets into your placenta and baby and give you practical strategies to help you avoid microplastics during pregnancy. 

    If you are interested in the guide to giving birth without pain medication that Mel mentioned in today's episode, you can get the guide here

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Great birth rebellion listeners get 25% off the Birth box. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox 

    You can watch this episode on Youtube here. 

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    7 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    Episode 179 - The transition to motherhood with Jane Hardwicke Collings

    Just as children transition into adulthood through adolescence, women transition into motherhood through matrescence. Jane Hardwicke Collings joins Mel on the podcast today to speak about the transitions through our different life stages including to motherhood and onto menopause where we are gifted new powers! Discover the power of each life stage and how to transition through them healthily. 

    Janehardwickecollings.com

    schoolofshamanicwomancraft.com

    www.spinningwheels.app

    @janehardwickcollings

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Great birth rebellion listeners get 25% off the Birth box. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox

    You can watch this episode on YouTube here.

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

     Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    30 November 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 56 seconds
    Episode 178 - Normal baby movement in pregnancy

    Is your baby moving normally during pregnancy? 15% of women report reduced movement of their baby at some point during their pregnancy, but what are normal movements, how you monitor movement and what could it mean if your baby is moving less? In this episode Mel takes you through the current recommendations for how to monitor your baby’s movement during pregnancy and what to do if you are worried and also the research behind these recommendations.

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Great birth rebellion listeners get 25% off the Birth box. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox

    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

    Disclaimer

    The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

    The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

    This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.

    23 November 2025, 4:00 pm
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