Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond - Birth choices

Birth At Home After Caesarean

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 06:40:42 UT

"From low groaning comes the occasional grunt, deep throaty noises from Penny tell the midwife the baby is low and nearing the end of the journey to the outside world." This story shows the journey and success of a birth at home after having a caesarean birth.

Lisa's Birth Story

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:46:13 UT

"I woke up from a lucid dream that I had a baby kicking in my tummy. Within the week I had confirmation that what I had was no dream, I was expecting my 3rd child and was already 17 ½ weeks pregnant. Wow." This story tells us the amazing experience of having a third child and the success of a VBAC.

Postpartum Haemorrhage

Mon, 27 May 2013 08:36:00 UT

"Significant blood loss after birth is the most common cause of maternal death in the developed world, and is also a major cause of reduced post-natal health. " This article provides facts and details on Postpartum Haemorrhage, and recent developments into its research.

Matthew's Birth Story

Mon, 27 May 2013 08:19:22 UT

"On November 28, 2011, I was 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant with Matthew. I awoke in the morning and remembered that this was the exact same day of gestation on which Sara was born. It occurred to me that maybe he would make his appearance that day as well. I didn’t really think he would, but it crossed my mind." This story tells us about the amazing and unexpected birth of Matthew Ali Zavieh

What are your Chances of Having a Natural Birth?

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:56:39 UT

This article tells us about the real chances of having a natural birth, and shows the proof and statistics of the chances. This highly researched article provides high detail and facts about natural birth in Australia.

Birth and Homebirth-A Grandmother’s point of view

Jan Baxter — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:24:44 UT

"As a mother and grandmother I felt compelled to write my story about my births and more significantly about the wonderful experience of being present at my youngest daughter’s homebirth of her second child, Ivy Grace." Jan Baxter writes as a grandmother showing her point of view on homebirths, while telling us the amazing experiences she has had with her own family.

Water for labour and birth

Robyn Dempsey — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:20:42 UT

I have attended women for over 18 years, many of whom have chosen to birth in the water. In case you’ve forgotten, before birth we all spent close to nine months totally surrounded by water. It is certainly no stranger to any of us: most of our body is simply water and the surface of our wonderful planet is mainly water. Water is essential for life and birth.

The realisation of a dream: Yukon

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:34:45 UT

Lisa woke up from a lucid dream that she had a baby kicking in her tummy. Within the week Lisa had confirmation that what she had was no dream – she was 17 ½ weeks pregnant with her third child. After delivering her first two babies by caesarean, Lisa set out in search of the practitioner who would support a VBAC.

Women around the world unite to fight for the survival of vaginal breech birth!

Danielle Freeth — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:34:10 UT

Eight months after the traumatic and unnecessary caesarean birth of her breech presenting daughter Miriam, Canadian Robin Guy co-founded the Coalition for Breech Birth (CBB).

Breech Birth at Westmead

Michelle Underwood — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:53:18 UT

Westmead Hospital is fully embracing the philosophy of the 2010 NSW Health policy directive: Maternity – Towards normal birth in NSW. Midwife Michelle Underwood and Consultant Obstetrician Andrew Pesce are going a long way to achieving that objective with the establishment of the Westmead Breech Birth Clinic.

Term Breech Trial

Henry Murray — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:00:51 UT

The art of breech vaginal delivery has in some places been lost through the headlong dash of many obstetricians to the comfort of caesarean delivery. In 2000, Hannah et al published the findings of a randomised multicentre trial into planned caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth for breech presentation at term. More than ten years on the’ Term Breech Trial’ remains a prime example of how evidence itself can be put on trial.

Playing the Dead Baby Card

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 06:31:45 UT

In 2011 a group of researchers conducting research into how Canadian pregnant women and care providers manage birth in a highly medicalised and risk-adverse culture of childbirth, discovered a chilling practice. It’s called ‘playing the dead baby card’ – the act by medical professionals of claiming to a labouring woman that her baby is at risk of death, purely to convince her to submit to unwarranted intervention.

Common Questions Women Ask About Employing a Midwife

Robyn Dempsey — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:16:53 UT

As women consider their birth choices, they often have many questions about the care offered by midwives in private practice. This article explores common questions women ask about employing a midwife.

The Natural Breech Birth of Remi Violet

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:54:17 UT

When Tess discovered her forth baby was breech just like her third, she became determined to avoid the caesarean birth outcome she had experienced last time, confident both in her and her baby’s ability to achieve a natural birth.

What is Natural Childbirth?

Robyn Dempsey — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:08:58 UT

Natural, or normal physiological birth occurs when no drugs or interventions are employed while a woman labours to birth her baby vaginally. For some women, considering the use of some interventions is necessary and essential to their health and that of their baby. However the rate of interventions has serious implications for babies and women.