Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

We all know that sometimes childbirth doesn’t go according to birth. Whether or not you have a caesarean birth, planned or emergency, it is really empowering for all pregnant women to understand techniques to create a positive experience in any situation you might find yourself it. Today I am joined by Vanessa Bernard, mother of two, business owner, pediatric nurse, and certified hypnobirthing practitioner,

We dive into the key ways hypnobirthing techniques can be helpful if you are having a caesarean birth. She shares my belief that knowledge is power, and we discuss the different ways a pregnant mama can educate herself and the people around her about the possibility of a caesarean birth. Most of all she wants all mums to understand that if you have a change in circumstances, you can still have a really beautiful, positive caesarean birth experience. Her tips are practical, helpful, and easy to implement so make sure you have a notepad with you as you listen!

LINKS:

Instagram @illourabirthVanessa’s Website
Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

** This podcast has general information only. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health or medical condition.

How do I stop waddling during pregnancy?

Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

09/14/21 • 15 min

In today’s solo episode, I am chatting about waddling during pregnancy. This topic is something I get asked frequently about inside Fitnest Mama and from my one on one clients.

First up - there is nothing wrong with waddling. Waddling is our body’s way of compensating for your beautiful growing baby. There are all different weight distributions happening in your body that contribute to shifting your centre of gravity.

It is important to note that there are controllable factors and non-controllable factors when it comes to waddling.

Today, I share with you some really useful, practical inside tips to help you look at the controllable factors for reducing the aches and pains that contribute to waddling in your pregnancy.

I am so excited for you to check it out. I am here to help you in your pregnancy journey.

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Previous podcast on Pelvic Girdle Pain:
EP 13: Top tips for pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Pain Relief Options for Birth

Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

01/25/22 • 37 min

Pain relief in Labour and ChildbirthManaging pain in Labour

Pain relief is an independent and individual choice for all pregnant women. Every woman will have an idea or plan on what they want to use when going into their birth experience. Whether you’re aiming for a completely non-medical pain relief birth or are certain you want an epidural, there is a spectrum of pain relief options in between that you may not have known about.
In today’s episode, we’re discussing common pain relief options for birth with Gareth Simons. Gareth has been a consultant anaesthetist since 2013 and has an anaesthetist practice in both public and private health systems. He is a wealth of information and I’m so grateful to have him in to share his expertise with you.
Gareth talks about a variety of pain relief options including gas, intermuscular injections, and epidurals. There are benefits and risks to all medications and Gareth runs us through each of these thoroughly. He also discusses side effects for both mum and bub, the misconceptions around epidurals, and the impact of Covid on pregnant women giving birth.
This episode will help you learn more about your options and empower you to feel confident in your choice.
Enjoy.

LINKS:
Resources mentioned:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklistFree 7 Day Trial Pregnancy Workouts
Free 7 Day Trial Postnatal Workouts FitNest Mama WebsiteInstagram @fitnestmama

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Optimal Baby Positioning with Melbourne Midwife

Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

12/19/22 • 27 min

Join our next Preparing for Labour Workshop

This podcast episode is with Jo Terry, founder and managing director of Melbourne Midwife who is a midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth information sharer. Jo offers group birthing classes, private education packages and home visits for lactation support.
In today's episode, we have a discussion around baby optimal positioning for birth, including:

Why is baby positioning so important?
Is there anything mum can do to help with baby positioning
At what stage to start optimal baby positioning strategies?

LINKS

Free Preparing for Birth Checklist

Free 7 Day Trial Pregnancy / Postnatal Workouts

Instagram @fitnestmama

Melbourne Midwife website

Instagram @melbournemidwife_

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Preventing and managing flat head syndrome in babies, with The Baby Physio Demi

Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

06/06/23 • 25 min

In this episode we delve into the world of flat head syndrome and the crucial role of tummy time with our incredible guest, Demi, an experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist! 🧡

Discover what flat head syndrome is, its causes, and why it's important for parents to be aware. Explore the amazing benefits of tummy time for infants and how it can prevent and address flat head issues. Demi will share practical tips on implementing tummy time, making it enjoyable for your little one while fitting into your busy schedules.

With her expertise in working with babies, toddlers, and children, Demi brings a wealth of knowledge on musculoskeletal and neurological fields, disability, and complex needs. She'll also shed light on alternative methods and strategies to address flat head syndrome and when it's essential to seek professional help.

Don't miss out on this insightful episode! Tune in and gain valuable insights from Demi's passion, warmth, and collaborative approach in assisting children's growth and development.
LINKS
Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Demi's website: https://www.thebabyphysio.com/
Demi's Instagram: @demi_thebabyphysio

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Let's Get Real With Postnatal Depression with Josie Smyth

Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

11/24/20 • 28 min

It is such a joyous occasion when you first get to bring your baby home. You start to experience life in a whole new way with this little person by your side and it is such a special time. But it can also be extremely overwhelming. You may experience emotions such as anxiety and depression that may not previously have been present for you and this is the topic we are diving into today.

In today’s episode, I have the pleasure of chatting to Josie Smyth. She is a Melbourne mother of two and has experienced postnatal depression (PND) twice. After recovering, Josie founded Smiling after PND which exists to raise awareness around postnatal depression. Josie is committed to encouraging high-level education around PND, to break the stigma or shame around such difficult feelings, and to support our loved ones through these challenging times.

We discuss the signs and symptoms of postnatal depression, how to seek treatment and what you can do to support someone you know who is going through a hard time. It was also great to chat about the things that might not be helpful or to avoid for those suffering from postnatal depression.

Please be advised that this episode comes with a trigger warning as we do discuss quite significant mental health challenges. If this is triggering for you, please reach out to the resources we have included below.

LINKS:
Josie’s Website

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

REFERENCES:

PANDA

Beyond Blue

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Perineal Preparation for Childbirth

Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

03/02/21 • 18 min

I’ve got a really practical episode for you today about a subject which some women may never have heard about. Today I’m diving into the big topic of perineal preparation for childbirth, what it is and why you need to know about it.

In this episode, I start out with a brief anatomy lesson to help you discover the important part of your body that connects your pelvic floor. I talk you through a massage technique that you can do at home to help with the physical and mental preparation for birth. This will get your body ready for the sensation of stretch during crowning, often referred to as the ‘ring of fire’.

I discuss mindset and how doing this exercise will help you relax into the sensation of stretch instead of tensing up with fear. Perineal massage has been statistically proven to prevent tares and reduce the risk of episiotomies so it’s certainly something I think is worth doing to prepare for delivery.

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist
Free 7 Day Trial Pregnancy Workouts
Free 7 Day Trial Postnatal Workouts
FitNest Mama Website
Instagram @fitnestmama

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

Induction of Childbirth

Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery: FitNest Mama

11/02/21 • 48 min

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Kara Thompson. Kara absolutely loves coming to work and being a part of women’s pregnancy journeys. She works in the public hospital system in Melbourne and Geelong specialising in high-risk pregnancies. Kara is a co-host with Dr. Alex Umbers of the Pregnancy Uncut podcast, sharing the untold and sometimes traumatic pregnancy stories that haven’t gone to plan. Kara is passionate about supporting women to make informed decisions about their birth and I can’t wait for you to hear her expert advice.

This episode is all about induction and birth. Kara discusses in depth why a woman might need an induction, the different processes the doctor and patient will undertake, the risk of an instrumental birth, and how long it takes to induce someone. She will also run us through why the rates of induction are increasing, the risks involved, and why it may be necessary.

Kara’s expert knowledge is so important to help empower women to make the right choice for their individual birth journey. This is especially true as currently every second woman having her first baby is being offered an induction.

It all comes down to whether it’s safer to keep waiting for labour to happen naturally or if it’s better for baby and Mum if it happens sooner. Kara talks about the potential reasons contributing to increasing the rate of inductions, these include maternal age, medical problems going into pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, and women’s approach to induction.

There are different types of inductions - it’s not a one size fits all approach. So sit back and listen to Kara thoroughly explain the role of induction in birth and consider if it may be the best option for you if the time comes.

LINKS:

Podcast Pregnancy Uncut | Podcast on Spotify

Instagram @pregnancy_uncut

Facebook @pregnancy.uncut

Kara's Website

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist

Instagram @fitnestmama

LINKS:

Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist