Homebirth vs Hospital Birth Risks
I was asked to comment on Dr Gannon's comments that hospital births were safer for low risk women and that women who choose hospital births are selfish. Here is the interview : I...
Natural Birth High.
What an amazing month May was for me. It started off with Kate Middleton really showing the world that birth is not a pathological disease, but a lovely positive experience. I even got to do a couple of radio inteviews about this which you can listen to at the end of...
Active Birth: 8 Tips for a Better Birth
Active Birth: that sounds a bit full-on!! I recently held an Active Birth workshop and I do realise that the name sometimes puts people off. “Really! I have to do a full-on work out while I am birthing. I thought I could just lie down.” Well, you can lie down if you...
Royal Birth Reality
Can you Birth Like a Princess? Or is Kate Middleton presenting an unrealistic image? Kate Middleton has certainly caused a lot of comment in the media with her gorgeous post-birth photos yet again.. Many media commentators and members of the general public have been...
Vaccinations
I was just asked to comment on the issue of vaccinations after the tragic whooping cough death of Riley Hughes here in Perth. Those of you who follow my blog know I am all about choice, informed choice. I don't want to start an argument but if all those people who...
Nocebo Effect in Childbirth
Last night I was listening to the BBC World Service (as I do) ,and heard this segment on the “Nocebo Effect” and I nearly jumped out of bed to write this blog then and there. I highly recommend that you listen to this and then get your care provider to listen to it...
Pelvic Floor Exercises During Pregnancy
I recently attended a midwifery study day on the very glamorous topic of "Continence Promotion". And while I sat there practising pelvis floor exercises until my eyes watered, I just kept thinking this is something I need to start talking about again in my childbirth...
Common Interventions during Labour
I just listen to a great webinar from the Building Better Babies Summit. It was titled 'Routine Interventions in Childbirth' and was by Dr Rachel Reed. It was so good I thought I would summarise it (and add my own thoughts) here. Dr Reed points out that in Australia,...
6PR Interview 1/10/2014 ~ Home Birth Perth
Here is a recent interview I did with Paul Murray on 6PR because of the spotlight on home birth in Perth. With the current Coroner’s Inquest into 3 home birth deaths in Perth we are bound to hear people arguing how risky home births are. Home births are not inherently...
Fathers to be Day !
I was recently interviewed On the Nine Today Perth Show. The 3 minutes wasn't really enough to say everything I wanted to say about the importance of Fathers to be, so here are some more thoughts. https://youtu.be/nrEddNDkqzc?list=UU_a-tB5cm3Z7WrRSNtYB6jA Nature wants...
Perth Hospital Cesarean Section and Induction Rates
Here are the latest Perth cesarean section rates and induction of labour rates from WA Health. They are the latest although they are still only the 2011 rates. Countries such as the US are trying to reduce their cesarean section rates as they think 33% is way too...
Birth Options Perth
Do You Know Your Birth Options in Perth? I have just been a guest panellist at the Health Consumers’ Council multidisciplinary forum. This was held at KEMH and was a forum for Midwifery and Obstetric professionals, plus consumer advocates, to discuss the current state...