All Episodes
Episodes
Episodew 175 - Post-traumatic growth is possible
Some women feel stuck in a traumatic experience after childbirth, but another possibility is post-traumatic growth. Mel explores this possibility with Midwife and Psychotherapist Dr Athena Hammond. Athena specialises...
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Episode 174 - Buffering for emotional safety at birth
Being alive at the end of your birth is different than being kept safe. In this episode Mel invites midwife and psychotherapist Dr Athena Hammond to talk about emotional safety during childbirth, how to enhance...
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Episode 173 - How to give great birth support
This episode is for your birth support people, your partner, doula, mum, friendā¦ whoever youāve chosen to be with you for your birth. Mel explains the role of a great support person clearly to give practical tips to...
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Episode 172 - Do I have to consume raspberry leaf tea and dates?
Ā Ā Raspberry leaf tea and dates are often recommended to you women with the thought that consuming them during pregnancy will assist with a more efficient labour and fewer complications. Today Mel looks at the evidence...
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Episode 171 - The midwives mission with Betty Anne Daviss
Betty-Anne Daviss has seemingly endless energy and motivation to continue her midwifery mission. This week Betty-Anne Daviss (Canadian Midwife of nearly 50 years!) speaks to Mel about her career as a midwife, her...
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Episode 170 - Managing labour without pain medication
Sometimes labour can hurt a little or a lot. Either way, there are things that you can do to increase your capacity to manage the pain of labour. This includes your mental game, the capacity of your support team, some...
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Episode 169 - The Epidural
You might be one of the 60% of women who have an epidural during their labour or birth. If you plan a caesarean youāll have one and 40% of labouring women have one, but do you really know what it is, how itās done and...
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Episode 168 - Your incredible birth reflexes!
The fetus ejection reflex vs the Ferguson reflex. Did you feel your baby shoot out of you unexpectedly, or that irresistible urge that made it impossible not to push? This episode is to help understand these...
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Episode 167 - Pushing out your baby
Pushing out your baby is NOT about the eye popping, no breathing, PUSH PUSH PUSH PUUUUUUUSH scene that you see in movies. Unfortunately though many women are coached by their care provider to push a particular way. It...
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Episode 166 - An ode to Odent
On Aug 19th 2025 the world farewelled legendary Obstetrician Michel Odent. He spent his career trying to warn us of the generational impact of interrupting labour and birth and gave timeless advice on the practice of...
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Episode 165 - How to have a long and lovely midwifery career
A long and lovely career in midwifery requires strategic effort, the midwifery workforce is in a crisis of unsustainability so how can you be one of the midwives that makes it to a long and lovely career? In today's...
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Episode 164 - Navigating homebirth transfer
Sometimes homebirth doesnāt go as planned and transfer to hospital is required. This doesnāt mean your homebirth failed! Planning a homebirth improves your chances of a good outcome even if you end up birthing in...
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