It has been ages since I wrote a blog, but watching this segment of Sunday Night: Home vs hospital births sparked the need to get myself back on air.

Two months ago I had a wonderful 2nd home birth delivery - a 2.5 hour labour, delivering a beautiful healthy boy. To think that this option wont be available in less than a year is disgraceful for a democratic country like Australia. The Government is removing choice for women, potentially endangering women and babies in the future as home birthing families will still want that choice and will force home birthing underground.

With short segments such as Sunday Night, it’s challenging to get all the facts and figures out to the public, and you only hear certain small statistics and information.  There are dangers associated with both hospital and home births, the morbidity and mortality rates of babies and/or mothers actually being equal.

But what’s amazing about home births is that there’s little intervention, allowing the mother to birth with her body rhythms, time frames and in the comfort of her own home and birthing team.

If there was just a story about hospital births, you will see a lot of intervention - from midwives coming in and out of your room to check on you and your baby, doctors/obstetricians doing the same. There are time frames and limits set on women, so if you fall short of the hospital’s policy window of opportunity, then you’re on the ride of your life: inducement, the need for pain relief (usually epidurals to deal with the now hard and fast contractions) that then distresses you (because you can’t push with the contractions) and therefore distressing your baby; and before you know it, you’re on the operating table having a c-section. It’s not always like this in hospitals – there are many women who birth naturally with minimal intervention, but it is becoming more and more this way. And with this, there can be dangers involved, pain, mortality, post-natal depressionand long-term recovery.

Before you birth, read my ebook, Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience. It talks about creating choices during your pregnancy and labour, and how you can minimise intervention whilst in a hospital. It’s about promoting positive birth experiences that are safe and more natural for you and your baby.

Have your say: SHOULD EVERY AUSTRALIAN MUM HAVE THE CHOICE OF A HOME BIRTH? Vote now on Sunday Night. Please vote: the more awareness and campaigning we do, then the greater chance women and families will be heard.

For more information about home birth, visit: Home Birth Australia.

It’s been a few weeks since my last posting, but to be honest, not a great deal has been happening, except the fact that my belly is getting bigger. I’ve been to see my midwife (last week) and all is going well. Just a few things to note:

• I’ve been a bit tired and a little run down, so keeping an eye on that and getting to bed early.
• I’ve been doing yoga and having a shiatsu Japanese massage roughly every 3 weeks at the Shiatsu College in Melbourne.
• Still having pregnancy supplements and taking Spirulina (which in my opinion is a super food).
• As this is my second pregnancy, my ab muscles aren’t as tight as they used to be. They were stretched in the first pregnancy. So my midwife suggested getting a pelvic/belly belt that helps support the pelvis area. Otherwise if I let it go, then I could potentially feel pain in the abdomen, lower back and pelvic area, so it’s worth getting. I bought one on Ebay for about $20. I’ll let you know how it goes when I try it out.

I’m still maintaining a positive outlook and very excited to meet our little man, Urijah. I have approximately 10 weeks to go.

Will keep you posted of further developments.

Homebirth is under threat with the Maternity Services Review report  proposing changes that will make it illegal for Australian midwives to attend homebirths as of July 2010. We need signatures to save the midwives in private practice and get recognition for the wonderful work they do. SIGN PETITION HERE

Background
Recently the federal government released the Maternity Services Review report (you may have seen the SBS Insight program dealing with the issues it raises.) The report proposes some promising reforms.  It could, if implemented in the most positive spirit, bring huge breakthroughs in many areas of maternity care.

However, there is a dark side to the report.  The report proposes an end to women’s access to midwifery care for homebirth.  If the Report’s recommendations are followed, homebirth midwifery could become illegal in 2010 with the introduction of National Registration of health caregivers.

My daughter was born at home with two private midwives, and now the birth of my son will follow suit in 3 months time. What the report proposes is that these midwives, as of next year will become practising illegally, minimising the choices to birth for women. I just shudder at the thought, as my research shows that homebirthing is just as safe (if not safer) than hospital births. It also means that many women might choose to birth at home without any care, or with midwives practising “underground”.

For more info on the Maternity Services Review Report see attached document “homebirth australia comment”.

We need as many people to SIGN THE PETITION BEFORE APRIL 1 2009. The petition will be presented to the Senate.

Homebirth Australia Comment

A couple of weeks ago, Insight on SBS had a segment on “Birth”. It was a pretty controversial debate with interesting arguments put forward about the rates of caesarean, elective caesarean, natural births, continuity of midwifery care and home births.

There were a number of representatives including a lady from NZ explaining their midwifery system. The NZ model of care for pregnant women is pretty awesome and it would be great if Australia could follow suit.

If you missed it and you’re interested in seeing in, here’s the link: “Birth” on Insight SBS

I’m sure you’ll get as much out of it as I did. Also, if you feel as passionate as I do about the subject, feel free to write to Nicola Roxon who’s the health care minister.

Well I’m 25 weeks or into my pregnancy and things are still going  really great. My belly is getting bigger and my lil man is kicking along like he’s riding his dad’s mountain bike. I’ve met up with my private midwife, and all is going along smoothly. He’s growing the right amount, he’s in the right position and I’m a full bill of health.

So is an easy pregnancy – like I’m currently experiencing, pure luck? I had an easy pregnancy with my first child, and a few people put into my space that it was just luck. But it’s my second time round now, and I’m pretty much duplicating the pregnancy. No morning sickness (I personally don’t believe in it), I’m feeling pretty good, I haven’t put on any excessive weight (except for the areas a mum-to-be would expect to put on some weight), no bloating in the ankles or other symptoms that many other pregnant women experience.

What am I doing? If you go to Childbirth Magic, you can get 10 ways  to an easy, natural labour – this is a great starting point to discover what I have been doing to prepare myself for my pregnancy and labour. And then if that interests you, there’s more information on my ebook Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience.

But do you want some tips now? Of course you do…

• Eat as well as possible
• Light exercise
• Think positively and identify any negative language (convert it to positive affirmations)
• Connect to yourself and your baby – identify what’s important to you
• Refuse to listen to “horror birth stories”
• Love thyself and be gentle
• Minimise stress (work less if possible)
• Ask for help when you need it
• Get a massage often

These are just a few things that can set you on your way for a positive pregnancy and birth. Enjoy

If you’re looking for a real down to earth, funny, practical and moving pregnancy blog, I highly recommend visiting His Boys Can Swim. Tarzan and Jane are this witty and honest couple who are having a baby and I have been really impressed with their blog site. My favorite blog post is A note to my child who is currently living in my wife’s pregnant belly. It’s Tarzan talking to his unborn child, that’s really touching – brought a tear to my eye, which wasn’t hard as my pregnancy hormones are doing crazy things too.

They’re currently running a contest where you can win 1 of 31 prizes, but you’ll have to act fast as it ends February 28 US time.

It’s been a while since I wrote a blog – I’ve been involved with Kiannah who’s started up nearly every activity under the sun and I’ve been working on learning more about internet marketing. So much to do, so little time.

In regards to my pregnancy, everything has been running smoothly.

• I finally removed my cyst that was giving me grief and I’ve had really good nights sleep which now I’m blessed with.
• My pregnancy overall has been great. No sickness, my energy has been up and I’ve been feeling great, except…
• Last week, I created another back ache. Lifting my 3 year old the wrong way after swimming, on top of a softening belly, pelvis and hip area – not highly recommended. It hurts. I’m off to see my masseur tomorrow. It is feeling better, but a realignment will help.
• With the sore back, there’s been a lack of exercise, however I still walk around, vacuum, take Kiannah to the park and am generally very active.
• I’m now 20 weeks pregnant and I had my scan today. It’s a boy – we’ve named him Urijah. We’re not religious in any way, but found the name to be powerful & we like it.
• The scan has shown to be all good. The fibroid from way back when is still on my left side and just floating around, doing its thing. No obstruction or pain, so that’s the main thing.
• Diet has been relatively good. I have had a cheeky decaf coffee now and again which I absolutely love. I’m put off alcohol which is great, and I still have a sweet tooth but aim to keep it in moderation – a handful of jellybeans at best.

So that’s about all the news I have. Boring when things are going so well. I will be meeting up with my midwife again soon, I’ll just wait for the 20 week scan results to come in and then make a visit.

My ebook, Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience is up and available to buy. I’ll soon have it available through ClickBank so you can become an affiliate and make money selling! Will keep you posted.

I’ve mentioned both in my blog and in my new ebook, Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience, the dangers associated with c-sections, well here is an article based on a study around the subject.

One such danger with caesareans, especially consecutive/elective caesareans is that the due date is planned and usually occurs around the 37-40 week mark (usually earlier rather than later). With elective caesareans occurring around the 37 week mark, the baby’s lungs and other organs aren’t fully developed, causing respiratory and eating problems for the baby when it’s born, and can continue into childhood/adult life showing up as asthma. Caesareans could be related to the higher rates of asthma in society today.

To view the study and to get more information, click here.

If you would like to find out how you can prevent or minimize the dangers of a c-section, purchase and read my ebook Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience. One of the free bonuses included in the purchase, is a booklet dedicated to Caesareans.

Happy New Year everyone. I trust your stomachs have digested Christmas lunch, dinners and left overs and are well back into the swing of things for 2009. How time moves so fast – well it appears that way for us adults.

As I’ve been on holidays, I let my special offer lapse well past the January 2nd date, so to make it fair, for anyone else that has been holidays, I’ll extend the offer until midnight January 12, 2009 and then the price will increase.
Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience is at a FINAL SPECIAL PRICE of $19.97USD.

That’s right, a crazy $19.97 and then after January the price will be back to $37.00USD.

There are 8 FREE BONUSES worth $166, and the first 10 people to buy will receive a Live Coaching Call with me worth $149. Take this offer whilst the price is hot!

Other news…

• Pregnancy is going well. I’ve had a 13-week scan to ensure all is going smoothly. My fibroid that I had with Kiannah is still there, approximately 6.5cm and sitting on the left hand side (just where I left it) – so it’s not obstructing the passageway to birth at this stage.
• The cyst is giving me a lot of grief, waking me up each night like a bolt of lightening. I have finally chosen to have this removed by a general surgeon and this is happening on Monday. I can’t wait.
• I have adjusted my diet, so have dramatically reduced dairy, wheat and sugar, eating a more balanced diet of live foods (fruit, veg, nuts, etc), meats and rice milk.
• After a bit of a xmas break with exercise, I’m back into the swing of things with cycling, walking and vacuuming (do you know how hard it is with a belly)?
• I’ve met up with my homebirth midwife, Clare and all is well there too. It was great reconnecting with her and I’m very excited to about having another homebirth, providing everything goes to plan over the 6 months (which I have no doubt in my mind that it will).

Other than that, there’s not much more to report on at this stage. All is going well. Happy January 2009. If you’re on holidays, enjoy what’s remaining.

If you’re with your babies and children, know this is the most special time. Be present, be gentle and love not only your family, by thyself.

Childbirth Magic is now available to purchase, and for the Christmas period only, you can buy Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience for just $19.97USD. This special offer is only available until 2nd of January 2009.

Four experts: Sarah J Buckley, Ina May Gaskin, Gowri Motha and Shivam Rachana, and myself, provide useful
information to help prepare the mother for her pregnancy and labour.

140 pages of information that most pregnant women don’t hear about from their obstetrician, doctor, hospital or
pregnancy book. Topics include:

•     The truth about hospital and home births,
•     Beliefs surrounding pregnancy and labour,
•     The importance of birthing naturally,
•     How to promote a natural birth through preparation,
•     Fears and stress and how that affects the birth,
•     How lack of preparation can lead to a caesarean,
•     The use of water as pain relief,
•     Why the cord shouldn’t be clamped straight after birth,
•     How to create a magical caearean birth,
•     Healing post birth,
•     And much, much more.

Childbirth Magic: How to create a positive birth experience is a MUST-READ for all women about to give birth.

For Christmas time only, until the 2nd of January 2009,
Childbirth Magic is at a CHRISTMAS SPECIAL PRICE of $19.97USD.

That’s right, a crazy $19.97 and then after January the price will be back to $37.00USD.

There are 8 FREE BONUSES worth $166, and the first 10 people to buy will receive a Live Coaching Call with me worth $149.

Don’t miss out on this crazy Christmas Special!