What does the research say about being over 35 years old and pregnant? Mel looks through some research papers to help you understand how your care provider is calculating risk and outcomes and if these calculations mean anything at all! Are you really having a ‘high-risk’ pregnancy is you are in the ‘advanced maternal age’ category - and don’t even get me started on the ‘geriatric’ pregnancy terminology.

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

When a baby is in a breech (head up) position for labour and birth, women are faced with unique challenges of care provider incompetence and fear. Many clinicians don’t know how to or refuse to attend vaginal breech births. They cite increased risk and danger, but is this correct? Is it more dangerous to give birth to your breech baby vaginally or by caesarean section? Dr Rixa Freeze, president of Breech without Borders talks us through the research and we discuss the concept of never being able to eliminate risk, we just move it upstream. It’s up to women to decide which risks they are willing to accept, and it’s up to care providers to be skilled enough to be able to care for women according to the womans' preference. 

This is the second breech episode for the Great birth Rebellion, the first was with Dr Andrew Bissits (episode 26). 

Find out more about breech without borders and do their courses:

• breechwithoutborders.org
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/breechwithoutborders
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/breechwithoutborders/
• Online courses: https://breech.thinkific.com/
• Training schedule: https://www.breechwithoutborders.org/schedule/

2nd edition of our book, A Guide to Physiological Breech Birth: https://www.breechwithoutborders.org/p/guide2/ 

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

Getting your baby to sleep might feel like the hardest part of your parenting journey. Have you ever been advised to let you baby ‘cry it out’ or been told to just ‘put your baby down’? Or rely in sleep cues and routines? You might want to listen to this episode where Dr Pamela Douglas explains how parenting can be easier, more joyful and less exhausting when we consider the research around infant sleep - because it is certainly not on the side of hours of bouncing a baby to sleep.

Dr Pamela Douglas  is an Australian GP and researcher. She has developed Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC or the Possums programs) over the past 20 years. She has about 30 international research publications, 8 of which are evaluations showing the benefits of NDC or the Possums programs. 

Pam is also a breastfeeding medicine physician, first qualifying as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 1994. She’s an Adjunct Associate Professor with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, and Senior Lecturer with The General Practice Clinical Unit, The University of Queensland. She is the author of the bestselling book for parents, The Discontented Little Baby Book

We are offering 20% off The Possums Sleep Program (possumssleepprogram.com) for any rebels interested with code: birthrebellion 

@drpameladouglas 

For parents: 

www.possumssleepprogram.com

www.possumsbreastfeeding.com (coming soon)

For health professionals: 

www.ndcinstitute.com.au 

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

Curious about what it takes to set up a business as a private midwife? This is for Australian Midwives who want to know the steps to becoming a private midwife. This is the first in a free-series that is running all week at www.melaniethemidwife.com between October 20th-25th 2024. If you are listening after the 24th, you've missed out on free week but you can register for next year at www.melaniethemidwife.com 

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

Mel brings some practical tips for preparing for a posterior labour. You never know which labour and birth are going to be impacted by posterior position of the baby (facing the front instead of facing the back) and the labour pattern can be very different. Being prepared for a posterior labour also means you are ready for any labour. This episode is great preparation for labour full stop, but you’ll also be prepared for a posterior labour. For more episodes to help you with posterior labour also listen to episodes: 118, 116, 115, 90, 86, 83, 61, 60.  

A special thanks to our episode Sponsor: Bliss Birth 

Thankyou to our sponsor, Ariel from Bliss Birth. If you’re planning a physiological birth, Bliss Birth offers obstetric-grade TENS machines for hire across Australia. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is a popular, drug-free option during labour. Bliss Birth, founded by mum of two Ariel, provides everything you need to use the TENS device during birth, all at an affordable rental price. Plus, our listeners can enjoy a special discount—use code 'birthrebel' when booking at blissbirth.com.au 

Purchasing a TENS machine can be pricey, but you can rent one with everything you need for birth through Bliss Birth at a much lower cost. Remember to use the code birthrebel at checkout. 
Head over to blissbirth.com.au to reserve yours

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

Ever wondered what Mel chose for her own births? And how it all went? Today she spills the tea about her own personal births through an interview with Anna from Sacred Birth International who interviewed Mel about her birth stories on the Natural Birth podcast… we can think of no better way to celebrate 1 MILLION DOWNLOADS for the Great Birth Rebellion podcast than to share a raw story about the choices Mel made for her own pregnancy and birth journeys - you’ll hear what I did for my tiny pre-term baby and also hear the backstory about how I laughed my second baby out.
Big thanks to Anna from @thenaturalbirthpodcast for interviewing me and facilitating this storytelling. 

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

Posterior labour refers to the circumstance where the baby is facing toward the front to the womans pubic hair as opposed to anterior where the baby is facing the womans bum during labour. The position of the baby has an impact on the process and outcome of labour and in this episode Sarah Langford (midwife, mother and PhD research candidate) talks about her research on posterior labours. We quickly learn what little is known about the experience of posterior labour and what Sarah’s work is doing to fill that gap. Sarah shares research about the outcomes of posterior labour and possible reasons why posterior labours h are feared by women and care providers alike. In this episode we seek to turn the dialogue on it’s head and next week in episode 119, the great birth rebellion will focus on how to prepare for posterior labour 

If you are keen to participate in Sarah’s research and get access to the 16 page reference list for this episode, you’ll find all the details in the resource folder - the resource folder is accessible to anyone on the mailing list for this podcast. To get on the mailing list go to www.melaniethemidwife.com 

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

For tickets to the convergence of rebellious midwives 2025 go to www.melaniethemidwife.com 

In this episode Mel explains exactly how to change the system. This is an excerpt of the opening address that she presented at the convergence of rebellious midwives conference 2024 and draws from her farming experience to give an example of how real and lasting change is made in nature and how this translates to how we can change the maternity system at every level

Tickets are on sale to the 2025 convergence now and at the time of writing this (only 4 weeks since the 2024 convergence, 110 tickets have already been sold!). 
We have special payment plans to make the convergence accessible to as many people as possible. Go to www.melaniethemidwife.com for ticketing options.

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

For tickets to the convergence 2025 to hear Ina May Gaskin go to www.melaniethemidwife.com 

We speak with Dr Kate Levett and Heidi Williams about the use of acupuncture and acupressure in pregnancy. We discover the weight of evidence on the side of acupuncture and Kate and Heidi explore novel ways of integrating it within the maternity care system and acuneedling for midwives. 

Kate website: https://drkatelevett.com/

https://drkatelevett.com/video-resources-acupressure-for-labour
Dr Kate Levett: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kate_levett/
Kate Levett acupuncture: https://www.instagram.com/katelevettacupuncture/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.levett.14

Heidi Williams Acuneedling and Me @acuneedling and @central_coast_homebirth   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/acuneedlingaustralia?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://www.facebook.com/centralcoastmidwives?mibextid=LQQJ4d Websites www.acuneedling.com www.centralcoasthomebirth.com

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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 Spinning Babies® techniques are well known the world over for providing the opportunity for women to promote the physiological function of their bodies and prevent pathology in the birth process. Today we welcome Gail Tully, Midwife and creator of Spinning Babies® to discuss her work. 

This episode is generously sponsored by The Birth Sling by Dr Jess Michaels. As a special gift to Great Birth Rebellion listeners, use code GBR24 for a 10% discount at www.thebirthsling.com.

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.

Women are offered CTG’s in the hope that complications can be identified and intercepted… but is this what happens? Are there better outcomes when we include CTG as part of maternity care? Today Mel invites Dr Kirsten Small to ask if there is EVER a good reason to offer or accept a CTG. Kisten  is a career academic, retired obstetrician and an industry expert in the use of CTG foetal heart rate monitoring, Kirstens PhD is on the topic of CTG and She is the mistress and owner of birthsmalltalk.com where she offers free and evidence based information about the use and misuse of CTG monitoring. You can enjoy more of Kirstens offerings and education seminars at her blog birthsmalltalk.com

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

• Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com 
• Join the premium podcast members Hub which gives you access to transcripts, additional resources AND the 'ask Mel a question' button so you can submit questions for Mel to answer in the hub. Only available in the premium podcast members hub. Join the hub here 
• Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife 
• If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this 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.