R E S O U R C E S

 
 

How to use this page: Open the Search/Find tool in your browser (Ctrl+F), type in the key word you seek information on (e.g. “epidural”), and filter through the results.

Birth Preparation quick resources + videos

"Pathway to a Healthy Birth: How to Help Your Hormones Do Their Wonderful Work" - Amazing booklet of Scientific information about hormones in labour & birth and how to help the process. Also Pathway to a Healthy Birth Diagram summary
Reframing birth - TED Talk by Nicola Goodall (9 min) 
Surrender is Not a Dirty Word - TED Talk by Pinky McKay (17 min)
‘How to have an epic labour’: Core and Floor Restore
Penny Simkin YouTube Channel - so many great videos including coping measures, role of support people, tips on epidurals in labour.
Labour tips for birth partners: Australian Birth Stories
Hamish Blake’s Gems of Wisdom for dads during birth
What Would Happen If Sex Was Interfered With The Way Birth Is Interfered With? - Two short videos on the impact of uncomfortable environments on oxytocin
Breathing exercises: Australian Birth Stories   
Attitudes to pain - Rhea Dempsey talking about reframing ideas of pain

Childbirth Education Classes - Online

Core & Floor Restore - 8 FREE installments of birth and parenting education by a private Australian midwife. Watch anytime and at your own pace.
About Birth - video-based birth education classes, a leading Australian company. Six modules comprising 55 videos and 14 resources, $85 total cost.
Positive Birth Company - UK-based online hypnobirthing course, approx $65AUD.
Belly Belly - course is $47. They also have a free Pregnancy Week by Week email with info relevant to where you are in pregnancy.
The Purpose of Childbirth Pain - Audio by Rhea Dempsey (free).

Pelvic Floor, Physio, Osteo

“G.Lorri” Gabrielle Brennan - Labour Bodywork sessions in Malvern East. Release tension to ease pain and prevent fetal malpositioning during labour.
Fiona Hallinan’s Internal Pelvic Release - sessions in Clifton Hill. Assessment and massage of uterus and pelvic floor to release deep tension prior to labour.
Melbourne Pregnancy and Pelvic Physio (MPPP) - appointments in Pascoe Vale, Essendon, Maribyrnong
Core and Floor Restore - online physio advice/classes
Physio Laura - free and paid pregnancy physio classes/courses
Pelvic Health Melbourne - appointments in Altona, Moonee Ponds, Keilor
Healthy Pregnancy Physiotherapy - Kensington or Telehealth
Stephanie Trembath Osteopathy - Moonee Ponds
Growing Bones Physiotherapy - Yarraville
Bump and Bub Osteo - Geelong

Group B Strep + the GBS swab

Group B Strep - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast ep
The GBS Swab: Evidence and Stats article by EBB
Group B Strep Explained - book by Dr Sara Wickham
Probiotic strains to reduce chance of GBS colonisation: L. Reuteri RC14 & L. Rhamnosus GR1

Growth Ultrasounds, Big/Small Babies

“Big” Babies and the Risk of Care Provider Fear - Midwife Thinking article
Small Babies, Big Babies - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast episode
The problem with ‘induction for big babies’ logic - article by Dr Sara Wickham
Shoulder Dystocia: the Real Story - Midwife Thinking article
Shoulder Dystocia: the evidence? - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast episode

Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes (PROM)

PROM Inductions at Term - Evidence Based Birth article
PROM: Impatience and Risk - Midwife Thinking article 
Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes: the evidence - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

Birth Trauma and Family Counselling

Family Foundations Program by Merri Health - 10 free sessions with a “parent coach” who works with the family to thrive as parents. In your home or online
Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) - Organisation that works with women/families who have experienced traumatic births.
Birth Debrief and Perinatal Counselling with Rhea Dempsey - for individuals or couples
Birth Debriefs with B from Core and Floor Restore
Counselling in Pregnancy - Fertile Ground
Research Findings on Factors Influencing Birth Trauma (women and partners)- Midwife Thinking article

Settling your Baby

Raising Children Network Extensive resource library (articles, videos) on bathing, dressing, holding, settling, bonding with baby, tips for dads + more
Baby Sleep Info Source (BASiS) - Research evidence-based information about biologically normal sleep for babies
Baby on Board - Book by Dr Howard Chilton
The Discontented Little Baby - Book by Dr Pamela Douglas
How to Hold a Baby - for dads
The Wonder Weeks - Book by Frans X. Plooij and Hetty van de Rij, information about infant development & what to expect. Plus The Wonder Weeks App

Newborn 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 ep
Hep B Vaccination at Birth - article by MAMA

Pregnancy + Birth Photography 

Bree Downes (Melbourne): Pregnancy, birth, newborn, family
Hilary Walker (Melbourne)

Free Apps

WonderWeeks
Cot to Bed Safety - Red Nose safe sleeping
Mind the Bump – Mindfulness
Mum2mum – Breastfeeding info
Huckleberry - Breastfeeding & nappy tracker
Pelvic Floor First – Free, pelvic floor info + exercises
FeedSafe - Alcohol and breastfeeding

Movies

Birth Time - use code CICADA20 for 20% off
The Face of Birth (2012) - Documentary examining the current political climate of maternity care in Australia.
Babies (2020) - Netflix Docuseries exploring the groundbreaking science on how infants discover life in their first year.
Microbirth (2014) - Documentary exploring emerging research into the connection between birth + the human microbiome
In Utero
Why Not Home
The Big Stretch
These Are My Hours
Orgasmic Birth
The Lottery of Birth
The Milky Way
Heal
A Breech in the System

Childbirth Education Classes - Face to Face (Melbourne)

MAMA Birth - Kensington
- Education classes by private midwives, several varieties (including Classic, Refresher, VBAC and Caesarean, and a Newborn/Child First Aid course).
- MAMA also has a number of allied health services at their centre in Kensington e.g. yoga classes, chiropractor, massage, lactation consultants (including free drop in breastfeeding clinic).
Di Diddle - Fitzroy. Focus on physiological birth.
Melbourne Lactation - Antenatal breastfeeding classes, postnatal home visits
Rhea Dempsey's 'Embracing the Intensity' Workshop
- $520 per couple in-person or $440 online.
- Runs 5 times/year.
The Positive Birth Company - Group Classes or 1:1 Coaching 
Hypnobirthing Melbourne - $650, focus on labour + hypnobirthing techniques
Breastfeeding Education classes - ABA
Positive Birth Hypnobirthing GEELONG - $595

Intervention Stats and the Medicalisation Spectrum

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, dissecting the most recent 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

Labour ‘Stages’, Progression and the Cervix

The Labour Process - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast
Early Labour - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast
The Hormones of Labour - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast
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 article
”My Beautiful Cervix” Photography

The Placenta

Third Stage: Active vs Expectant Management - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast
How the Placenta is Birthed - video by Dr Rachel Reed
Physiological Placenta Birth - article by Dr Sarah Buckley
Unusual Cord Insertions and evidence - The Great Birth Rebellion podcast

Breastfeeding Videos

Breastfeeding Basics - short video
Types of Breastmilk - short video
BASICS FOR BREASTFEEDING - a brilliant video of the Possums breastfeeding techniques by BirthSpace
“How to Recognise When a Baby is Drinking Well” - short video by Lucy Webber IBCLC
Global Health Media - videos on attachment and supply, multiple languages
Raising Children’s Network - Positioning and Baby-Led Attachment Technique videos
Kathryn Stagg IBCLC - informative Instagram videos
Lucy Webber IBCLC - educational Facebook videos
The Breastfeeding Companion - Youtube Channel

Breastfeeding Supports

Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) - The centre of excellence for info. Free ABA 24/7 helpline
Breastfeeding Education classes - ABA
Breastfeeding: The Early Days - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast
Dr Pamela Douglas - evidence based articles on breastfeeding
The Thompson Method
The Milk Meg - LC Meg Nagel
How to Know your Breastfed Baby is getting Enough Milk - two-page resource and input/output diary
The Risks of Formula / of Not Breastfeeding - leaflet
Breastfeeding and Formula Supplementation: The Traps and Escapes - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast
Low Milk Supply and Rebuilding - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast
Basics of Breastfeeding - booklets available in multiple languages
Mastitis info sheet - Australian Birth Stories
Australian Breastfeeding Project – support group on Facebook
Australian Breastfeeding Cooperative – support group on Facebook
Top tips for supporting a breastfeeding mum (without feeding the baby) - Little Sparklers article

Mental Health

PANDA - Free Helpline and Factsheets + a free telephone support line
Mum's Matter Psychology - fully bulk-billed counselling sessions
COPE - Centre of Perinatal Excellence
COPE Directory - Search for a specialised psychologist near you
Overcoming Parental Burnout - $30 online webinar (course over 12 weeks)
Taming the Rage - $15 online webinar (1 hour)
The Gidget Foundation
Beyond Blue
SANDS - 24/7 Support for Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Safe Steps - 24/7 Family Violence Response Centre

Normal Newborn Behaviour, Neuroprotective Development

Realistic Expectations of Infant Sleep - Little Sparklers article
Is Infant Sleep a ‘Skill’? - 3 minute video on the basics of newborn sleep
Top tips for supporting a breastfeeding mum (without feeding the baby) - Little Sparklers article
Infant Sleep! - The Midwives’ Cauldron podcast
Conscious Parenting Movement - Facebook group
Beginning your Journey Beyond Sleep Training - Downloadable Workbook
Newborn Cues video - What is baby trying to tell you?
Baby Sign Language video
Starting Solids
Purple Crying
Infant Toileting

Podcasts

The Great Birth Rebellion
The Midwives’ Cauldron
Evidence-Based Birth
The Red Tent
Mount Isa Birth Stories
Australian Birth Stories
The Midwitch
The Birth Hour
The Circle of Birth
The ObsPod
Doing It At Home
Pregnancy Birth and Beyond
Taking Back Birth
The Aware Parenting Podcast
How Other Dads Dad with Hamish Blake
·         Nurture Hub pregnancy, birth and parenting

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

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

Fetal Monitoring, the CTG

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

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

Lactation Consultants and Breastfeeding clinics:

LCANZ - Find a local lactation consultant
Maternal Infant Wellbeing Melbourne (MIWM) - Specialist centre in Parkville run by Dr Amber Hart (GP and IBCLC). Includes Lactation Consultation, Paediatrician, GP, Physio, Osteo, Psychologist, day spa, naturopathy, sleep & settling. Option for one-off session or 7-hour day stay, significant Medicare rebates.
Her Luminary Lactation - Amy Sherer IBCLC
Melbourne Lactation - breastfeeding classes and postnatal home visits
Geelong Born - Breastfeeding Classes Geelong, VIC

FREE Breastfeeding drop-in clinics:

Melton City Council VIC free drop-in breastfeeding Service - ph: 9747 5462 or email: lactation@melton.vic.gov.au
Wyndham Council VIC free breastfeeding support service
MAMA Kensington - Lactation Clinic and weekly free breastfeeding drop in sessions

Mental Health for Dads + Non-Birthing Parents

MensLine - free professional 24/7 telephone, SMS or video counselling support for men and fathers
PANDA Dads - free national helpline for perinatal mental health (both mums and dads): Monday to Saturday 9am-7:30pm
SMS4DADS service - free text messages with support, info & tips
Family Foundations, a free relationship counselling service for expecting parents - 10 sessions in your own home
COPE articles and resources on fatherhood mental health, including Depression in Fathers
How is Dad Going? - PANDA info and real life stories from dads with PNAD
Fathers’ Day: Interview with five dads about their experience of birth - podcast ep by Australian Birth Stories
Gidget Foundation - articles and communities on fatherhood wellbeing, including stories from dads
The Fatherhood, and Direct Advice for Dads - Virtual communities created by dads, for dads
Beyond Blue New Dads Stress Test (anonymous questionnaire)
PANDA’s Mental Health Checklist for dads and expecting parents (anonymous questionnaire)

Instagrams

@badassmotherbirther
@KathrynStaggIBCLC
@MelanieTheMidwife
@g.lorri.labourbodywork
@LucyWebberFeedingSupport_IBCLC
@BabyBirthStatsVIC
@LilyNicholsRDN
@positivebirthmovement
@CoreandFloorRestore
@thenakeddoula
@ThePelvicHealth_Osteo
@DrSaraWickham
@Evidencebasedmidwife 
@birthbecomesyou
@midwifeangelina
@shebirths
@empoweredbirthproject
@sage.birthing
@boobtofood
@theawareparentingpodcast
@matrescence.podcast

If you have a favourite resource you want to see listed, share it with me here
❍