Doula Becky

08/03/2024

Happy International Women's Day
Proud to be a woman 😍

10/09/2023

I think this about sums it up, this is the state our maternity care system is in and it is unacceptable!

20/08/2023

Something well worth listening to if you are pregnant.
Vaginal Examinations Antenatally are NOT an indication of when you will go into labour, ask how it will benefit you, ask the risks.

Vaginal Examinations during labour will only give you a snap shot of what your cervix is doing at that moment not in a few minutes time, they are not a reliable method of gauging a woman's progress in labour.
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In this episode, Mel and B talk about stretch and sweep and some other reasons why someone would ask to put their fingers in your va**na while you are pregnant. Listen in to learn about if it’s ever a good idea to allow a clinician to do a va**nal exam or give a stretch and sweep in pregnancy....

22/05/2023

When choosing your Birth Team be sure to have people there who are on your team & that believe you can do it. A woman's partner is going to be her biggest support , inform them on all your choices so they can help you with advocating for yourself in vulnerable times.

21/05/2023

Birth Art is an amazing way to dive deep into the journey of pregnancy unlocking the right (creative) side of your brain just the same as what happens in labour. It is a great way to explore the depth of any concerns you may have & I'd used as a processing tool for said concerns.

07/05/2023

PSA for anyone out there diagnosed with gestational diabetes!

Gestational diabetes has the risk of unstable and high blood sugar. Sustained periods of high blood sugar results in the possible side effects of gestational diabetes including (but not exclusively) disproportionately larger babies who have trouble adapting in the immediate postpartum period.

For this reason many women diagnosed with gestational diabetes are told that they need to have their labour induced early.

BUT, if you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes AND you have been controlling your blood sugar with diet changes AND have been recording your blood sugars through your pregnancy to prove it, then EVEN if you do have gestational diabetes, your body and baby don’t know because your blood sugar has been controlled, therefore you can’t possibly experience the consequences of the sustained high blood sugar that occurs in uncontrolled diabetes.

SO, hats off to you mummas controlling your blood sugar with diet and exercise, you have completely mitigated the risks associated with your diagnosis and your reward is that you don’t get the side effects of gestational diabetes and you can go into spontaneous labour like everyone else knowing that the possible risks of your condition have been effectively mitigated. 🙌🏼🎉👌🏼

Uncontrolled gestational diabetes is pathological and but controlled gestational diabetes is not. Go forth and labour spontaneously Queens!

Disclaimer: this does not constitute medical or midwifery advice as it may not be applicable to your personal circumstance or risk profile. This post is general in nature and expresses my personal opinion on management of gestational diabetes. If you are considering declining induction this is a discussion to have with your care provider

06/12/2022

Stages of Labour
Stage One
Active Labour

What you could expect

🧡Let your Midwife or Doula know what's happening
(no matter what time)
🧡Cervix opening & thinning to allow baby to move into the va**na
🧡Bath or shower feels good
🧡Do what feels okay for you
🧡Keep your bladder empty
🧡Regular painful contractions
Contractions last more than 50 seconds/ usually 5minutes or less apart

30/11/2022

Stage of Labour
Pre Labour

What you could expect
🧡 Time to rest up & sleep if you can
🧡 Let you midwife or doula know (if it is day time)
🧡 Take nourishment & fluids
🧡 Baby might move lower/ deeper into pelvis
🧡 Cervix thinning & opening to about 3-4cm
🧡 Irregular contractions lasting less than 45seconds

30/11/2022

Stages of Labour
May start with

🧡 Contractions lasting less than 30seconds
🧡 Membrane rupturing/ leaking
🧡 Muscus or bloody show
🧡 Diarrhoea
🧡 Backache

Doula Becky

30/11/2022

Coming to 2023

Birth Empowerment Sessions for the Clarence Valley.

Do you feel there is something missing when it comes to all things pregnancy, birth and postpartum?

I personally feel there are huge gaps when it comes to birth preparation & postpartum care, the education just isn't there. Women are offered substandard education where they aren't being empowered to embrace their heroic journey from maiden to motherhood, where they aren't taught about how magical birth can be & where the importance of postpartum care is being overlooked.

In 2023 I will be offering Birth Empowerment Sessions where my aim is to fill in those gaps, to empower women to claim back their power & to embrace their Rite of Passage.

Watch this space
More info to come in the new year

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17/11/2022

Gentle reminder to enjoy your pregnancy journey.

I think alot of the time we get caught up on what the doctors, midwifes, family and friends say to us during pregnancy it can alter the way we see our journey. Ultimately certain things people say can make or break our pregnancy experience, so this is a gentle reminder to take a step out of what people are saying to you and ENJOY your journey.

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