Birth and Labour

REMINDER. This is not medical advice and should be taken as a guide only.

While I make every effort to make sure the information in this website is accurate and informative, the information does not take the place of professional or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consider if this is right for you before acting on any information

Homebirth 

• Homebirth Australia

• Homebirth Info and How to Decide - Raising Children article

• Giving Birth at Home - Raising Children video on mothers’ experiences

• Homebirth eHandbook - Safer Care Victoria

• Consumer Guide for Publicly Funded Homebirth at Joan Kirner, West Melbourne

• Birth Time movie - watch online

• Homebirth NSW - providing information on birthing at home

Free Birth

• Unassisted Birth - Maternity Choices Australia

• Unassisted Homebirth Australia - Website

• What to do when the baby is born before you get to hospital - The Conversation

• Home Birth On your own Terms by Heather Baker

• Unhindered Childbirth by Sarah M Haydock

• Unassisted Childbirth by Laura Kaplan Shanley

• The Unassisted Baby by Anita Evenson

• Birth Unhindered by Tara L McGuire

• Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love by Lynn M Greisemer

• Freebirth: Self Directed Pregancy and Birth by Sarah Schmid

• Birth Becomes Hers by Bree Moore - Unassisted/Home Birth Stories)

• Our Births, Our Stories by Heather Baker (Unassisted/Home Birth Stories)

• Undisturbed Physiological Birth: Insights from Women Who Freebirth in the United Kingdom

• Emergency Childbirth a Manuel - G.White

  Dads and FreeBirth

• First Time Dads share their Freebirth Stories - Rose Amongst It with Michelle Palasia

• Part 2 - First Time Dads Freebirth Preparation - Rose Amongst It with Michelle Palasia

• Part 3 - First Time Dads Freebirth Preparation - Rose Amongst It with Michelle Palasia

• Freebirth Through a Father's Eyes - Healing Birth Podcast

  Booklist

• Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly-Dick Read

• Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Dr Sarah Buckley

• Birthing From Within by Pam England

• The Thinking Women's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer

• Orgasmic Birth by Elizabeth Davis

• The Father's Homebirth Handbook by Leah Hazar

• Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

• Spiritual Midwifery (earlier editions) by Ina May Gaskin 

• Husband Coached childbirth: The Bradley Method 

• Hypnobabies/Hypnobirthing books

• Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize

• Christ Centred Childbirth by Kelly J Townsend

• Down To Earth Birth by Jenny Blyth

• Birth With Confidence by Rhea Dempsey

• Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed

• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

• Heart and Hands: A Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth by Elizabeth Davis

• A Book for Midwives PDF

Amniotic Sac

• The importance of the amniotic sac - The Midwives Cauldron

• In Defence of the Amniotic Sac - Dr Rachael Reed

• Amniotic Fluid Volume: too much, too little, or who knows? - Dr Rachael Reed

• Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk - Dr Rachael Reed

Birth Pools

• Earthy Birth

• Birthpool

• Birth Pool in a Box

Birth Videos 

• Birth Become You - Film Library

• Jinti Fell Birth

• Eddies Birth -Home Birth with Siblings

• Unassisted Home Water Birth

• Beautiful Outdoor Homebirth During COVID-19

• Raw and Emotional Homebirth | Peaceful Waterbirth | Family Centered Birth

• Breech Birth Videos - Produced by Breech without Boarders

• Birth of Deva

• Positive Homebirth

• Labouring at Home and Home Birth Check List

• Kim Newing

• Birth in Squatting Position

• Sarah Schmid

Home Birth Checklist/Supplies

• Labouring at Home and Home birth Check List

• Pregnancy Birth and Beyond -Umbilical Cord Clamps

• Pregnancy Birth and Beyond -Medical Supplies

• Core and Floor Restore - Online Shop for all things antenatal/birth/post partum

Hospital Bag checklist

• Free Hospital Bag Checklist - Core and Floor Restore

• Free Hospital Bag Checklist - Australian Birth Stories 

  Labouring at Home and Home Birth Check List

Big Babies

• Evidence on: Induction or Cesarean for a Big Baby - Evidenced based Birth

Breech Birth

• Breech Without Boarders

• Breech Birth Videos - Produced by Breech without Boarders

  Vaginal Breech Maneuvers - Produced by Breech without Boarders

• 10 mechanisms of upright breech birth - Breech Without Boarders

• Midwife Cynthia Caillagh at the 2018 Decorah Breech Workshop- Breech Without Boarders

• Breech – Royal Womens Hospital Melb Guidelines for Management

  Breech Providers in Australia

• Ashlee Anslow Endorsed Private Midwife Blackheath NSW info@thebirthingtreemidwifery.com.au

• Andrew Bisits MD SydneyRoyal Hospital for Women

• Margaret Sommeling Registered Midwife QLD Cairns mesmerisedmamas@gmail.com

• Sasha Hopkins Endorsed Midwife (Homebirth midwife)QLDNorth Brisbane Sasha@barefootmidwifery.com.au

• Judy van Dreven Endorsed Private Midwife Geelong judy@thebirthhouse.com.au

• Jamie Birthkeeper VIC jamie@thebondsofbirth.com.au

• Emily Birthkeeper VIC Emily@authenticbirth.com.au

• Renee SamsonRegistered Midwife and Nurse VIC renee@mykindofmidwife.com.au

• Amanda SchmidtEndorsed Midwife Australia VIC amanda@embracingbirthsg.com

• Clare Davison Registered Midwife PhD WA dr.midwifeclare@outlook.com

• Linda Masaoka Birth Attendant NSW Coffs Harbour Linmasaoka@gmail.com

Cesarean Birth

• Vaginal Seeding - SA Department of Health Patient Information

• What is ‘vaginal seeding’ and will it help your C-section baby? - The Conversation

• Evidence on: Skin-To-Skin After Cesarean - Evidence based Birth

CPR - Baby First Aid

• Childbirth Outside Of The Hospital Setting - Mel Craven

• Newborn resuscitation - Parent Information Sheet Queensland Health Dept

• Karen Strange Course

• Resuscitation for the Unassisted Birth - Jessica Carder

• Neo Natal Resuscitation - Unasistated Home Birth

• Emergency Guide For FreeBirth: Resuscitation

• The Placenta essential resuscitation equipment - Dr Rachel Reed

• A Matter of Life and Death Part 1: Neonatal Resuscitation with Karen Strange

• A Matter of Life and Death Part 2: Birth Case Studies with Karen Strange

• Education video: Neonatal resuscitation - Queensland Dept Health/ Clinical Guidelines(In hospital protocol)

• Flowchart: Neonatal resuscitation - Queensland Dept Health / Clinical Guidelines(In hospital protocol)

  Babies & Children

• Baby CPR video for parents—video for parents and carers about how to resuscitate a baby. Developed by CPR Kids.

• How to Give Baby CPR - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance (This is for baby not newborn)*

• Baby and Child First Aid Tasmania

• Baby + Child First Aid Class - The Bubble Launceston

CTG -Fetal Monitoring

• CTG with Dr Kirsten Small - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Listening to Babies During Labour - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• The Evidence on Fetal Monitoring - Evidence Based Birth article

• Intermittent Auscultation or CTG: Making an Informed Decision - The Conversation article

Due Dates and ‘Post-Dates’

• Due Dates - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• The Last Days of Pregnancy- Australian Birth Stories

• The Last Days of Pregnancy; A Place of In between - Mothering.com

• Post-Dates Induction of Labour: Balancing Risks - Midwife Thinking article

• The Evidence on: Due Dates - Evidence Based Birth

• Do stillbirth rates actually increase after 41 weeks? New evidence - article by Dr Sara Wickham

• Evidence on: Inducing for Due Dates - Evidenced Based Birth

Induction of Labour

• Induction: A Step-by-Step Guide - Midwife Thinking article

• Ten things I wish every woman knew about induction of labour” - article by Dr Sara Wickham

• How to Prepare for a Positive Induction - Australian Birth Stories

• Induction of Labour from the Baby’s Perspective - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast episode

• Induction: An Interview with Sara Wickham - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast episode

• Why Induction Matters - book by Dr Rachel Reed

• In your Own Time - book by Dr Sara Wickham

• Induction increases chance of caesarean - article by Dr Sara Wickham (also here)

• Induction associated with more adverse outcomes and no reduction in stillbirth - article by Dr Sara Wickham

• Routine induction in healthy women not supported by evidence - article by Dr Sara Wickham (see also Induction of labour and avoidable harm)

• Are there good reasons to induce labour? - article by Dr Sara Wickham

• Evidence on: Induction for Gestational Diabetes - Evidenced Based Birth

Intervention Stats

• The Medicalisation Spectrum and choosing your model of care - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• The Herstory of Modern Birth Practices - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• Australian Mothers and Babies stats 2022 - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast episode

• Australian Mothers and Babies report and the reality of our maternity system

• Australian Mothers and Babies Report 2022 - Australian Government Institute of Health and Welfare

Membrane Release/Broken Waters

• Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk - Dr Rachael Reed

• Membrane release before birth sensations begin, what to do? -Wise Woman Way of Birth Gloria Lemay

• Pre-labour rupture of membranes - The Great Birth Rebellio

Labour

• Moving in labour and birth - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Birth Should be Special - Florence Wilcock Ted Talk

• Evidence on: Birthing Positions - Evidence Based Birth

• A Deep Dive into the amazing hormonal orchestra - She Births podcast speaks with Dr Sarah Buckley

• The Hormones of Labour - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• The Labour Process - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Early Labour - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• Evidence on: IV Fluids During Labor - Evidence based Birth

Playlists

• Acient gates the Instrumentalson - Spotify

• ‘Calming instrumental covers’ Spotify

• Meditate to the Sounds of Nature - Spotify

• Birth - Spotify

• Labour Play List - Spotify

• Labour and Birth Vibes - Spotify

Pushing, ‘Second Stage’ and the Perineum

Eating and Drinking in Labour

• Evidence on: Eating and Drinking During Labor - Evidence Based Birth

Rest and be Thankful (Failure to Progress)

• Episode 82 - Failure to progress or just normal? - The Great Birth Rebellion

• Healthy Pauses during Child Birth - Dr Marina Weckend (Youtube Video)*please watch

• Pauses during birth are normal! New research found healthy pauses and slow times in labour. - Dr Weckend

• Exploring concepts and definitions of plateaus during normal labor and birth - Weckend M, Davison C, Bayes S

• Friedman’s Curve and Failure to Progress: A Leading Cause of Unplanned Cesareans

  Episitomy

  Episiotomy - Evidence based Birth

• Episiotomy Part 1 - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Episiotomy Part 2 - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Perineal Bungles - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• The Perineal Bundle - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Episitomy - Australian Birth Stories

  Pushing

• Pushing and Cervixes - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• Pushing Out your Baby - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Evidence on: Prolonged Second Stage of Labor - Evidence based Birth

• Discussing Perineal Protectors - Midwife Thinking article

• Perineal ‘Bungles’ and Midwifery - Midwife Thinking article

• All Things Clitoris - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

Microbiome(Vaginal Seeding)

• Guide to vaginal Seeding - Brianna Gunn

• MICROBIRTH Explores the critical microscopic events happening during birth and breastfeeding

• Poster: Cesarean Delivery and Vaginal Seeding

• After a Cesarean: Seeding a Baby's Microbiome

• Vaginal Seeding: What is it and Why it matters

Meconium

• Meconium in the waters - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• The Curse of Meconium Stained Liquor - Dr Rachael Reed

Models of care during your pregnancy

• Options of care during your pregnancy - Tasmanian Government Department of Health

• Options of care during your pregnancy - Tasmanian Government Department of Health

Movement and Positioning

• Spinning Babies: Daily Activities to do in pregnancy to encourage baby into an optimal position

• The Miles Circuit - stretches to align baby and bring on labour at term

• Pregnancy & Labour Stretch Guide booklet by G.Lorri

• Pregnancy Yoga classes - MAMA Kensington

• 5 Postural/Alignment Habits for a Better Birth

• Moving Well During Pregnancy - Nutritious Movement

Newborn Assessment

• Routine newborn assessment - Queensland Dept Health (What happens at newborn checks)

• Routine newborn assessment - Parent Information Queensland Dept Health

• Newborn bloodspot screening test - Parent Information Queensland Dept Health

• Newborn bloodspot screening: video for parents and carers - Queensland Dept Health

Nuchal Cords/Delayed Cord Clamping

• Nuchal Cords: the Prefect Scapegoat - Dr Rachel Reed

• Optimal Cord Clamping - Wait for White Website

• Nuchal Cord/Video - You Tube Unassisted hospital Birth

• Somersault Maneuver Demo/Video - East Carolina University College of Nursing

• Management of the Nuchal Cord at Birth - Journal of midwifery and Reproductive Health

• To feel or not to feel - Dr Sara Wickham

• Optimal Cord Clamping whats the Evidence - Dr Sara Wickham

• Ten things you can do before clamping the umbilical cord… - Dr Sara Wickham

• Delayed Cord Clamping - World Health Organisation

Shoulder Dystopia

• Shoulder Dystocia: the real story - Dr Rachel Reed

• Shoulder Dystopia - Jacqueline Gabriel-King

• Resolving Shoulder Dystopia - Online course Spinning Babies

• Shoulder Shrug Maneuver to Facilitate Delivery During Shoulder Dystocia

• Shoulder Dystopia - Royal College Of Obstetricians and Gyaecologists

Spinning Babies Techniques:

1. Forward-leaning Inversion: Video demonstration and Detailed information about what it helps with + how to do it
2. Side-Lying release: Video demonstration and Detailed information
3. Rebozo Sifting/Jiggling: Video demonstration and Detailed information

Pain Relief Decisions

• Waterbirth Evidence - The Great Birth Rebellion

• Epidurals and Oxytocin: An Interview with Dr Sarah Buckley - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast ep

• Pain, Oxytocin and Attachment – Rhea Dempsey podcast ep 

• Epidural: Risks and Concerns for Mother and Baby - article by Dr Sarah Buckley

• Relationship between Epidurals and Fetal Compromise - article by Obstetrician Dr Kirsten Small

• Link between Epidurals and Caesarean Section - article by Obstetrician Dr Kirsten Small

• The Pros and Cons of the Epidural - Video by Penny Simkin

• Natural and Pharmacological Pain Relief in Labour - The Women’s

Placenta 

• Third Stage: Active vs Expectant Management - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• How the Placenta is Birthed - video by Dr Rachel Reed

• Birthing the Placenta: women’s decisions and experiences - Dr Rachael Reed

• Physiological Placenta Birth - article by Dr Sarah Buckley

• Placental Birth Resources - Dr Sara Wickham

• Unusual Cord Insertions and evidence - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Evidence on: Pitocin® During the Third Stage of Labor - Evidence based Birth

• Third Stage of Labour – Royal Women’s Hospital Vic Management Guideline

• The myth of the failing placenta - The Great Birth Rebellion

• Placentas and cord blood - - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• 30 Minute Third Stage - Wise WomanWay of Birth

• Optimising psychophysiology in third stage of labour: Theory applied to practice - C.Hastie

• The Myth of the Aging Placenta - Dr Sara Wickam

Placenta Encapsulation

• Gems Midwifery

• The Nesting Space/Rachel (Postpartum Doula)

Post Partum Haemorrhage(PPH)

• Estimating Blood Loss in a Birth Pool

• An actively managed placenta may be the best option for most women - Dr Rachael Reed

• We need a better way of defining postpartum haemorrhage - Dr Sara Wickham

• What’s the chance of having another PPH? - Dr Sara Wickham

• How to diagnose, prevent, and treat postpartum haemorrhage at home during unassisted childbirth

• What if you have a post-partum haemorrhage after a home birth?

• Exposing the Postpartum Hemorrhage Deception - Indie Birth

• The Freebirther’s Guide to Hemorrhage - Yolande Norris-Clark

• Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) - Clinical Guidance Statement RANZCOG

Posterior Babies

• In Celebration of the OP Baby - Midwife Thinking

• Spinning Babies - a guide to posterior positions

TENS Machines 

• Leaflet - TENS machine info and FAQ

• $75, for 6-8 weeks hire, free postage: blissbirth.com.au

• $125: tensaustralia.com/labor-hire

• $65, for 6 weeks: healthypregnancy.com.au/tens

Twins + Multiples

• Twin Pregnancy and Birth with Dr Stuart Fischbein - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) - organisation for awareness and equality for multiple-birth families

• Mums of Multiples Australia - Facebook Support Group

• Moms of Twins Support Network - Facebook Group

Skin to Skin

• Things they don't tell you about skin-to-skin contact! - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• Top 10 Benefits of Skin to Skin - article

• Importance of Skin to Skin with Dad - article

• What Happens During Skin to Skin: The Evidence

• 10 Myths of Kangaroo Care Evidence for Skin to Skin after Caesarean - article

Water Birth

• Evidence on: Waterbirth - Evidence Based Birth

• The Water Birth Book - Janet Balaskas (In my ref library)

• Water Birth at the Womens - Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne

• Labour and birth using water - WA Dept of Health

• Water immersion during labour and birth - Royal Australian College of Obstertricians

• Waterbirth Fundamentals for Clinicians

• A Model Practice Template for Hydrotherapy in Labor and Birth

Vaginal Exams

• Assessing Labour Progress - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• Vaginal Examinations - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast

• Vaginal Examinations - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Vaginal examinations: a symptom of cervical-centric birth culture - Midwife Thinking

Vitamin K and Hepatitis B

• Seven things every parent needs to know about vitamin K - Dr Sara Wickham article

• Vitamin K at Birth: the evidence - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

• Evidence on: The Vitamin K Shot in Newborns - Evidence Based Birth

• Hep B Vaccination at Birth - article by MAMA