BIRTH BEAT BLOG
Food Allergies in Babies and Children
Food allergies in babies and children can be a significant concern for parents. Especially when it comes to introducing allergen foods to babies for the first time. As a parent, you need to be informed about food allergies, common food allergens, how to safely...
Birth Story – Melanie’s Birth Experience
If you're expecting, one of the best things you can do to prepare is to read other Mumma's birth stories. Not only will this help you understand more about what to expect, it will show you the impact of education. Birth Beat Mumma Melanie described her birth as...
Christmas Gift Guide 2022
Welcome to the 2022 Birth Beat Christmas Gift Guide! It's that time of year again... seriously, where has the time gone?! I must say I love the festive season - the fun and excitement in the air, spending time with friends and family, eating yummy food with a glass of...
Perinatal Mental Health Week 2022
November 6th - 12th is Perinatal Mental Health Week 2022. In 2005, PANDA created this week to bring awareness to perinatal anxiety and depression. Perinatal anxiety and depression is a serious mental illness that many expecting and new parents experience.Pregnancy...
Will I do a poo during labour?
"Will I do a poo?". This has to be one of the most common questions I get asked as a Midwife. It is also one of the most common concerns for first-time expecting Mumma's. Which I totally get, and is why I am here to help you understand and overcome this fear. First...
Pregnancy In Lockdown
There's no doubt that our day-to-day lifestyle has changed majorly over the last year or so. If you’re pregnant in lockdown, or even just in these times, you may be feeling a range of emotions about how it could affect you, your baby, your pregnancy care and even your...
Burns and Scalds in Children – What to do
Burns and scalds are the leading cause of injury to children, especially toddlers. This is why it's so important to know what you can do to prevent burns and scalds, and how to manage burns and scalds. The classifications and types of burns Burns are classified by how...
4 Month Sleep Regression
Okay, first things first. Yes, the 4 month sleep regression is a real thing. However, the 4 month sleep regression is not the first regression your baby will experience, in fact, it is likely your baby will experience multiple. The ages of likely sleep regressions...
Water Birth – Everything You Need To Know
Do you want a water birth experience? Is it something you and your partner have thought about? Do you want to know if water birth is a safe option... or what the potential benefits of a could be for you? Then you’re going to love our Water Birth education module...
The 3 Bags You Need To Pack For Birth
Being prepared for childbirth can help to reduce any feelings of overwhelm. There are lots of practical things you can do to help feel prepared ahead of welcoming your new bubba into the world. For example, doing our online childbirth course or simply packing your...
Twin Pregnancy – Everything You Need To Know
The discovery of a twin pregnancy is both exciting and overwhelming! As with all pregnancies, you can help alleviate any fears by ensuring that you and your partner are educated and informed. I’ve included some of the key points and main differences about twin...
TELL SOMEONE WHO CARES – PANDA WEEK 2020
November 8th - 14th is PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety And Depression Australia) Week 2020. Perinatal anxiety and depression is a serious mental illness that many expecting and new parents experience. Statistics of perinatal anxiety and depression - Antenatal depression...
Safe Sleeping For Newborns – SIDS Awareness + Prevention
Safe sleeping for newborns and babies is so important for new parents to know. From the first second you find out you are pregnant, you start to worry... and as you can imagine, the worry increases dramatically when bub is actually born! This is called mother guilt...
A POSITIVE C-SECTION STORY
Our lovely Birth Beat Mumma Jess had her beautiful baby boy via scheduled c-section in 2020 and she wrote an amazing story sharing her experience. Her experience was calm and positive, she even described it as "everything I'd hoped for and more." Today I am sharing...
All Your Childbirth Options Explained
Are you thinking about writing a birth plan ahead of your birth? I’ve blogged about birth plans before. Check out the post here. One of the key points I made in that post, and it’s something I talk about inside the Ultimate Online Birth Course, is to think about...
C-section Birth – Everything You Need To Know
A caesarean or C-section birth as they’re commonly referred to, is something many mums-to-be fear. You may know you need to have a planned C-section birth (more on that soon) or worry about the possibility of needing one for whatever reason on delivery day. There’s no...
5 Things You Need To Know About Baby Movements During Pregnancy
There’s no question that feeling baby movements during pregnancy for the first time is one of the most exciting feelings. It’s almost as though feeling those tiny flutters for the first time makes everything seem more real! Feeling your baby kick, twirl and stretch...
Baby & Child First Aid – Would you know what to do?
Every parent wants to do the absolute best for their child and their health. One of the simplest things any parent can do is understand basic, emergency response first aid. This is so that they know exactly what to do in an emergency. Unfortunately, baby &...
Must Have Pregnancy Sleep Hacks
How to get the best night's sleep possible during pregnancy It seems kind of obvious, but sleep during pregnancy can be a real problem for some expecting Mumma's. For many women, the most frustrating thing of all is that they are feeling more tired and worn out than...
Edwina’s Birth Stories on Australian Birth Stories
Do you find it interesting to hear real birth stories? Curious to hear about a midwife's birth stories? I've shared all the details of my two births in an interview with the beautiful Sophie from Australian Birth Stories. I know what you're probably...
Best Baby Products – Recommended By The Birth Beat Tribe
Expecting a bub or just recently became a new parent? Want to know what the best baby products are? We’ve got you covered. They say it takes a village to raise a child and boy do we have an awesome village here at Birth Beat! We reached out to you, our community of...
How To Know When You’re In Labour + What To Do
How to know when you’re actually in labour, what to do and when to go to the hospital.
Birth Beat 2019 Christmas Gift Guide
Welcome to our second annual Birth Beat Christmas Gift Guide! This is one of my favourite times of the year. Not just because I get to curate and write the gift guide, (that's hardly work is it?!) but for the end-of-year excitement in the air, catch-ups with friends...
Breastfeeding 101 with Birth Beat
You’ve no doubt heard just how amazing breastfeeding is for your baby. From providing them with all the essential vitamins and nutrients they need to grow and thrive, to creating an incredible bond between you and your baby. Breastfeeding really does provide endless...
Guide to Food & Nutrition During Pregnancy
It’s no secret that eating well during your pregnancy is important for you and your baby. But what does eating well really mean when you’re pregnant? A healthy, balanced diet during pregnancy helps you to stay well and to help your baby grow and develop. It also plays...
5 Must Have Newborn Items + All The Things You Don’t Need
OK, so clearly there are going to be more than 5 items on your newborn shopping list! There are all the obvious items like a car seat, cot and/or bassinet, pram and/or carrier, bottles if you plan to pump or formula feed…. for such little people, babies sure seem to...
Top 5 Tips for Surviving the First Trimester
If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, firstly congratulations! This is such an exciting time for you and your partner. Discovering that you’re growing a little human inside of you is pretty darn amazing! But it’s also likely you’re feeling a mixture of emotions....
Mum’s Mini Retreats
My aim for Birth Beat from the outset has been to support mums and dads to be on their journey to parenthood. Not only does this include education about childbirth but also the importance of mental health and wellbeing through pregnancy and beyond. Mums are notorious...
Enjoying your newborn bubble
Top 5 tips for those first precious few days and weeks with a new bub In our ‘Newborn’ Module inside the Birth Beat Ultimate Online Birth Course, I talk about the importance of minimising visitors and people other than you and your partner holding bub in the first few...
The top 3 reasons you should do prenatal yoga
(And the medical research to back it up) We are so excited to work with the amazing and talented Deb Young of Stretch & Glow Yoga. If you’re one of our beautiful online Birth Beat Mumma’s, Deb’s friendly face is no doubt familiar – she’s the instructor in the...
“Welcome to motherhood” is not helpful
Why we need to listen to new Mums when they say they're not OK This week, I want to share a personal story from one of our beautiful Birth Beat Mummas. While awareness around perinatal (the time before and after childbirth) mental health is growing, it is still a...
How to travel with a baby (and why you should)
Travel tips to make life a little easier Imagine this… you’ve just boarded a plane for a long-haul International flight. You take your seat, your bags are ‘safely stowed’ in the overhead lockers, you’ve got a bag of Peanut M&Ms at the ready for the inevitable...
What do you know about your fertility?
8 tips to maximise fertility What comes to mind when you think about your fertility? Do you know what health and lifestyle factors can influence yours and how to increase your chances of falling pregnant? Fertility isn’t important for most women until it’s really...
Do you really need prenatal classes?
Why you should consider childbirth education... You’re pregnant (yay!) and feeling that wonderful mix of excitement and anticipation about the day when you finally get to meet your baby. Every day your bump gets a tiny bit bigger and the reality of welcoming a new...
Why your support partner is SO important during labour
These days, it’s pretty much a given that you will have someone with you in the birthing suite; whether that’s your husband, partner, friend or family member, most women have a support partner with them when they give birth. However, it wasn’t all that long ago that...
Postpartum Mental Heath Check In
When it comes to postpartum mental health, one of the biggest messages that we need to spread is; it’s OK to not be OK. The first step, and oftentimes the hardest is admitting that you’re struggling and then asking for help. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 10...
Alternative pathways to pregnancy and parenthood
At Birth Beat, we have a commitment to supporting all parents on their journey to parenthood – regardless of what that journey may look like. So, we have put together this guide on alternative pathways to pregnancy. If I’m honest, this isn’t even something I actively...
Pregnancy Symptoms – When to call your care provider
Pregnancy symptoms can be a roller-coaster of emotions and physical changes. One moment it can be super exciting and you’re on a high, the next you may be so overwhelmed with fatigue and anxiety about your ever-growing to-do list. The first thing to keep in mind –...
Birth Beat’s Top 10 Pregnancy Hacks
It’s no secret that your body goes through loads of changes throughout pregnancy. At each stage there are various symptoms and physical changes that many women experience – some are just a hassle while others can be downright unpleasant! Each woman and every pregnancy...
Birth Beat’s Guide To Staying Fit and Active During Pregnancy
It wasn’t that long ago that women were discouraged from exercise during pregnancy. Pregnancy was almost seen as an ailment that required lots of rest (which is partly true!) and minimal exertion or exercise of any kind. Thank goodness those ideas are now incredibly...
Pregnancy Symptoms and Old Wife’s Tales
From the moment you announce your pregnancy, friends, family and even complete strangers will start to offer you their opinions and advice. People love to share their thoughts on whether they think you're having a boy or girl and what all your pregnancy symptoms mean....
Let’s talk about miscarriage
Whether you’ve experienced miscarriage personally, know someone who has or are newly pregnant, miscarriage is a possibility that has likely crossed your mind. While it is certainly not something that I would want to make you fearful about, the truth is many women are...
A Royal Pregnancy
Why the world's obsession matters... Ask any woman who has ever been pregnant or who is pregnant and they’ll likely tell you that as soon as you announce you’re expecting; your body becomes public property! Anyone and everyone is willing to depart their wisdom on you...
5 TOP TIPS TO GET BUB INTO AN OPTIMAL POSITION FOR BIRTH
This week’s blog post is something a little bit different! I’m giving you a sneak peek of the Birth Beat Ultimate Online Birth Course, sharing a video from one of the modules. These tips will help you get your baby into the best position possible, giving you a greater...
Sex During Pregnancy: Everything You Want To know
Let's talk about sex during pregnancy. There is so much you want and need to know. But, I also know that often expecting Mummas are too embarrassed to ask. It’s completely normal to question everything when you’re pregnant. The last thing you want to do is something...
Top 3 most common childbirth fears and how to overcome them
As a midwife who has been in the delivery suite for hundreds of births and having taught thousands of parents-to-be in my Online Childbirth Course, I have heard it all when it comes to childbirth fears. Let’s start with noting that it is completely normal to have some...
What the hell do all these dates mean?
My Mum has told me stories about when she used to visit her GP while pregnant with me. He would take her blood pressure then ask her how the pregnancy was going. What he was most interested in though was how Dad’s golf scores were going! All while smoking a cigarette...
Want to write a birth plan that works? Read this first!
The idea of writing a Birth Plan is now mainstream for mums-to-be. As a midwife, I’m often asked for my thoughts on writing a birth plan or using birth plan templates. So I want to share with you my tip for writing a birth plan that really work. My thoughts on Birth...
Pregnancy and Childbirth Glossary
From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, you’ll start reading and hearing a lot of new terms. Pregnancy and childbirth = a whole new language! Like all things to do with motherhood, there are a lot of opinions floating around when it comes to pregnancy and...
Birth Beat Christmas Gift Guide 2018
Christmas is just 13 days away and if you're anything like me, you're probably feeling just a little overwhelmed with how much left there is to do before the big day?! (tell me it's not just me?). If you're still trying to find the perfect Christmas gift, I've pulled...
5 Pregnancy Questions Every Expecting Mum Has
Finding out that you’re pregnant can be a wonderful yet overwhelming time. As a Midwife and Mumma myself, I know there are questions every pregnant woman has. Starting with... What happens now? There is often an initial rush of excitement. Creating Pinterest boards...
Perineal Tearing – What You Need to Know
Yikes, what a heading. Let's be clear from the beginning. I have not written that to scare you or to get your attention or some sort of click bate! I have written that because it is the fear of this happening that I am hearing from my Birth Beat Mums over and over....
The night after your birth!
I was recently asked for my expert opinion on second-night syndrome. I must admit I was not feeling all that "experty" when I had to Google "what is second night syndrome?"! As I read, I quickly realised this is a term given to the night after you birth your precious...
Gestational Diabetes – Everything You Need To Know
"I felt like a fat bastard"... A dear friend told me this after being recently diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. So, what is Gestational Diabetes and why did it make her feel this way? What is Gestational Diabetes? A type of diabetes that occurs to woman during...
A tale of two very different births, both caesareans.
The following is a first-hand recount from beautiful Mumma Ginny Brown who graciously shared her story with our Birth Beat Tribe. She tells the stories of her two caesarean births; both real, raw and honest. Both very different experiences. Thank you so much Ginny for...
Introducing Online Birth Classes
Wow, what a week! I can't believe I got the chance to talk to all of Australia about BIRTH BEAT GOING ONLINE and what a CRAZY ride it has been so far. I have always been passionate about Rural, Regional and Remote women, and their support people having access to the...