Induction myths: what women are being told and why awareness matters In maternity care today, the push for induction has become so normalised that many women assume it is simply part of the standard birth process. For some pregnancies, induction is absolutely appropriate and can be lifesaving, no one disputes that. But that is very...
Over the past few days, the discourse around freebirth and the role of doulas has been clouded by miscommunication, misplaced blame, and blatant misogyny. Recent statements from Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and Australian College of Midwives (ACM) have sparked what feels like a targeted witch-hunt of doulas; one...
When a VBAC leads to regret – is it the birth, or the system? I sometimes hear or read how disappointed or even regretful some women felt after their VBAC. It’s disheartening, because on the surface, it seems like they “got” what they were aiming for – a vaginal birth after caesarean. But when I...
Wait for white: why optimal cord clamping matters for your baby In the moments after birth, there’s often a flurry of activity: checking the baby, cleaning, measuring and of course, cutting the cord. But before that clamp clicks shut, there’s a critical opportunity to support your baby’s transition in a simple yet powerful way: by...
What does radical responsibility mean in childbirth? We often hear that “birth is unpredictable,” and while that’s true, what’s often left out of the conversation is how much power women actually do have in shaping their birth experience. This is where the concept of radical responsibility becomes so important. Radical responsibility in childbirth doesn’t mean...
Perineal massage: Is it really a massage? As you approach the final weeks of pregnancy, you may be exploring different ways to prepare your body for birth – and one practice that often comes up is perineal massage. This technique involves manually stretching and massaging the perineal tissue (the area between the vaginal opening and...
VBAC or repeat caesarean: navigating the “what ifs” at the end of pregnancy As women approach the final weeks of pregnancy, even the most confident and well-researched birth plan can begin to feel uncertain. For those planning a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC), it’s not uncommon to feel a strong pull in another direction –...
Navigating ‘Foetal Distress’ During Labour: Empowering Your VBAC Journey One of the most emotionally challenging moments during labour is when a care provider tells you, “Your baby is in distress.” It’s a phrase that can feel frightening and disempowering, and for many women planning a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean), it’s a scenario they dread,...
Your Guide to VBAC in Australia – Be Prepared and Confident For many Australian women, the decision to pursue a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) is both deeply personal and transformative. With the right support, accurate information, and a trusting birth environment, VBAC can be a healing experience after a previous caesarean. This guide brings...
Using a TENS machine during labour: how it works and why timing matters When it comes to natural pain relief during labour, a TENS machine is one of the most underrated tools in the birth bag. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and although it may sound a little clinical, it’s actually a simple,...
When is the right time to go to hospital during labour (including VBAC)? One of the most common questions women ask as they approach the end of pregnancy is: When should I go to hospital? It sounds like a simple question, but the answer isn’t. That’s because labour is not linear. There is no set...
When VBAC doesn’t go to plan – it’s not failure “Failed VBAC” — it’s a phrase that gets tossed around far too commonly in medical records, hospital corridors and social media groups, yet it carries a heavy emotional weight for the women it refers to. For many women who have planned a vaginal birth after...
When birth becomes business: what we’re not saying about high caesarean rates News broke this week about the retirement of Dr John Love, a well-known Perth obstetrician who has “delivered” over 10,000 babies during his long career. The tone of the reporting, particularly in this Channel 9 News segment, was overwhelmingly celebratory — portraying Dr...
Why “maternal alignment” matters more than foetal positioning When we hear the term Optimal Foetal Positioning (OFP), the focus is often on encouraging the baby into the ideal position for birth, usually anterior, head-down, and slightly to the left, which is written in birth text and has become gospel. While this makes sense in theory,...
Investing in your birth: why childbirth education matters According to the Australian Bridal Industry Academy (ABIA), the average wedding in Australia costs approximately $41,400, with couples spending over 250 hours planning every detail of that one special day. It’s a meaningful celebration – but it’s just one day. Now consider this: childbirth is not only...
April is Caesarean Awareness Month: Highlighting Australia’s Caesarean Section Trends April is Caesarean Awareness Month – a time to reflect on how this major abdominal surgery has evolved and what it means for birthing women today, especially here in Australia where caesarean rates are among the highest in the developed world. It’s a moment to...
When it comes to choosing an obstetrician for your pregnancy and birth, you’re not just choosing a care provider – you’re choosing someone who will influence one of the most vulnerable, raw, and powerful experiences of your life. And while there are many excellent obstetricians who genuinely care about supporting women and providing evidence-based care,...
Preparing for childbirth is a deeply personal journey, and the support you receive can have a profound impact on your birth experience. While traditional hospital-based childbirth education classes focus on medical procedures and hospital protocols, independent childbirth education offers a more holistic approach. These classes often integrate essential tools such as massage, acupressure, the use...
This post is long, and interesting! You get 2 in 1. I hope it helps some of you trying to navigate your way through your journeys. I was born with a uterine anomaly called Uterus Didelphys (UD). I discovered this when trying to use tampons, which I was desperate for because of all the sport...
When I found out I was pregnant I immediately felt partial to having a home birth. I was born at home myself in the early 90s, as were many of my cousins and my brother four years later (which my mum encouraged a very excited me to be present for – my interest in pregnancy...
Have you given any thought to birthing your placenta? Yes, that’s right, after your baby is born it doesn’t just stop there – the placenta needs to come out too. The placenta is an incredible organ and has been the lifeline of your baby for the duration of your pregnancy and it needs to be...
As we continue to brace ourselves for the changes that are occurring on a daily basis, we are all faced with fears, concerns and uncertainty. These circumstances are rare and unusual here in Australia, and we now more than ever have to show solidarity and work together to get through this as best we can....
I’ve been waiting for this incredible vaginal breech birth after caesarean story as I was so privileged to be a part of this birth as a doula, which meant being a part of the preparation, the fears, the tears, the excitement and the unknown as even though I have supported many VBAC births, I had...
My hypnobirthing journey is so special because within 18 months I birthed two absolutely beautiful little boys. Each birth was completely unique, but both were guided by the hypnobirthing philosophies so here is my journey. It really began a good 6 years before I even became pregnant; whilst I was watching the show ‘One Born...
One of the main concerns women have about their labour and birth will be whether or not they will be able to cope with the intensity of pain. Here are some medical pain relief options for labouring women to give you a starting point of what is available, but also what you need to do...
I originally wrote this blog back in 2018, but with the chatter (propaganda) the last few days, I decided this was a good one to update. Once again, the crusade to replace actual midwifery care with flashing lights, beeping monitors, and glossy brochures continues – this time with a shiny new device hailed by WA...
Introduction by Vicki…. I have waited a year to get this birth story from a woman I admire so much, and when I read this it brought tears to my eyes yet warmed my heart. Yes, it’s a long birth story but it is one that needed to be written that helped a woman heal...
With Christmas fast approaching the word around social media pregnancy groups is that their Obstetrician has booked them in to be induced at 38 weeks before Christmas to avoid the rush and lack of staff or because their Obstetrician is going on holidays. Christmas and holidays are not medical reasons for induction of labour but...
Thank you to Deb and Pete for sharing Oliver’s birth story, which didn’t quite go to plan but with the tools and techniques they had learnt from my Hypnobirthing classes they were able to adapt to their change in circumstances, so they still had a positive birth experience and were able to avoid having drugs and interventions....
Updated 22/11/2025 We’re incredibly fortunate here in Western Australia to have a growing number of exceptional Privately Practising Midwives (PPM’s) offering personalised, woman-centred maternity care. When I first created this directory, only a handful of midwives were working privately, and now the list continues to grow, which is such a positive shift for women across...