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Pregnancy and Postpartum
Motherhood Resources
Pregnancy Resources
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General Pregnancy Information: Websites, Books and Podcasts
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We are fortunate to have an abundance of knowledge at our fingertips at any point in time, but it is incredibly important we ensure our informations comes from reputable and well-researched sources. I've included a few for you below:
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Evidence Based Birth (website): This website is run by Dr Rebecca Dekker, a nurse researcher and professor with a PhD. Her website is incredibly comprehensive, providing resources, information and research in a clear and easy-to-interpret manner for parents, parents-to-be and health professionals. She presents information from an objective and well-informed perspective, and covers everything from birthing positions, to pain management, inductions, due dates, water births, suspected big babies and more.
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Evidence Based Birth (podcast): Adapted from her website, the Evidence Based Birth podcast is also run by Rebecca Dekker, and is great to listen to whilst in the car or out walking. It’s available on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.
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Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby: A very comprehensive pamphlet put together by King Edward Memorial Hospital in conjunction with the Family Birth Centre and the Community Midwifery Program. This pamphlet covers some of your options for pregnancy care in Perth, as well as facts about your baby’s development in utero and important information relating to screening tests, pregnancy care, gestational diabetes, sex during pregnancy, assisted births and more.
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Labour and Birth Preparation
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Books
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Birth Skills, by Juju Sundin: A wonderful book to help prepare both you and your partner for labour and birth. Juju is a physiotherapist who specialises in obstetric care and birth preparation. She is a wealth of knowledge, and her books have helped guide many of our patients here at PHF to a positive birth experience.
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Online Resources
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Birth-Ed: Run by Megan Rossiter (a midwife and hypnobirthing consultant), the Birth-Ed website is all about helping you have a positive and informed birth experience. Whilst we can’t always plan for what happens in birth, Megan’s work is designed to give you the tools to make informed decisions throughout the journey, to reduce fear and help you feel calm and prepared at the prospect of giving birth. She also has a Youtube channel or Instagram, which are also great resources.
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The Positive Birth Company: The Positive Birth Company is run by a lovely lady called Siobhan, who is a mother and hypnobirthing coach. Whilst they are based in the UK, they offer a digital hypnobirthing program, as well as many informative videos on her Youtube channel. The media portrayal of birth is often based in fear and drama, so if you’re nervous about birth, I encourage you to follow her Instagram for some positive and inspiring birth stories.
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Calm Birth and Hypnobirthing
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Calm Birth and Hypnobirthing are two of the leading birth preparation programs in Australia. Whilst they differ slightly in their approaches, they are about supporting you and your birth partner throughout your labour preparation, so you have the tools and techniques on hand to feel calm and empowered throughout your labour. They cater to women pursuing a natural physiological labour, as well as those undergoing induction or caesarean delivery. Whilst their philosophies and techniques may not cater to everyone, I encourage you to explore whether they might be of assistance to you.
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If you are interested in working with a doula, there are many directories to help you find one in your area. These include Find a Doula and the Australian Doula College. Of course, speaking to family and friends about their experience is also recommended.
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Fact Sheets: Infections During Pregnancy
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There are a number of infections to be aware of in pregnancy, not to cause fear, but rather to ensure you are informed and can put in place preventative strategies to give yourself the best chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby. This is not an exhaustive list, and whilst the resources below provide a great overview, I encourage you to discuss any concerns or questions you might have with a suitably-qualified healthcare practitioner.
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Postpartum Resources
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The postpartum period is a wonderful time, but equally so, a time of adjustment and new beginnings. During this time, it’s essential we support parents with as many tools and resources as possible, to help make this transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible. On this page, I’ve collated some of my favourite postpartum resources, product suggestions and more, many of which I used myself or have been used with great success by my patients. For anyone who is planning to breastfeed, the breastfeeding resources section is a must-read!
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Products for Mum and Bub
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My patients often ask for low tox product recommendations they can use on themselves and/or their babies. Whether you choose to use regular coconut oil as a DIY belly rub, or a product specifically marketed for the purpose, the main thing is to always choose something that is safe for both you and bub. I’ve included a few options below for each category, as the best product for you is likely a matter of personal preference, trial and error and of course, consideration for any allergies or sensitivities you or your bub might have.
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Products for Mum
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Belly Rubs: Tinderbox Pregnancy Belly Rub, Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil, Physic Garden Belly Balm (note: many mums and midwives swear by simple coconut oil or body lotion to minimise itching and keep the skin soft as it stretches).
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Nipple Balms: Physic Garden Nursing Balm, Nature’s Child Organic Nipple Balm, Earth Mama Organics Nipple Butter, Handmade Heroes Free The Nips Nursing Balm
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Maternity Pads: Tom’s Organic Maternity Pads, Organyc Maternity Pads, Natracare Maternity Pads
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Nursing Teas: Weleda Organic Nursing Tea
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Products for Bub
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Nappy Creams: Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream, Weleda White Mallow Nappy Change Cream, EcoStore Nappy Balm, MooGoo Nappy Balm, KiwiHerb Baby Balm, WotNot Nappy Rash Cream and Baby Balm
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Baby Washes: EnviroBaby Body Wash, WotNot Natural Baby Wash
Helpful Websites
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The Raising Children Network: The Raising Children Network has a wealth of resources covering everything from pregnancy, to the ‘Fourth Trimester’, childhood and beyond. It has some great resources on baby sleep, breastfeeding, baby play time, early learning and more.
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Ngala: Ngala provides resources, information and support to parents based in Western Australia, and their website has lots of useful information on topics such as baby sleep, breast and formula feeding, tummy time, baby development and baby behaviour. They also have a free parenting support line for parents of children aged 0-18 years in WA.
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Playgroup WA: Playgroup WA provides opportunities for parents and children to connect with each other through play. You can use their website to search for local playgroups in your area. They also have some great play ideas listed on their website for children of different ages.
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Red Nose Australia: Red Nose Australia provides the latest evidence-based safe sleeping guidelines for babies and young children, to help reduce the incidence of sleeping accidents and sudden infant death syndrome in Australia.
Breastfeeding Resources
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Lactation Consults of Australia and New Zealand: If you’re having any troubles with breast-feeding (such as latching issues, pain or questions about supply), I encourage you to contact your midwife or obstetrician, as well as Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand, who can put you in touch with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
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The Breastfeeding Centre of WA: Available to mothers who attend King Edward Memorial Hospital for their pregnancy care and birth, the Breastfeeding Centre of WA provides resources and support for breastfeeding women, via a telephone and/or in-person appointments with qualified lactation consultants. You may also be referred to the centre by your GP, midwife or obstetrician. They also have some useful videos on Hand Expressing, Finger Feeding and Position Attachment.
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Australian Breastfeeding Association: The ABA is Australia’s leading authority on breast-feeding, providing support, information, resources and advocacy for breastfeeding women. They also have an online forum where you can chat to other women about breastfeeding.
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Breastfeeding Confidence: A wonderful pamphlet from the ABA to help you feel prepared at the prospect of breast-feeding - I encourage all my expectant mothers to read through this document and to share it with their partners.
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Is my baby getting enough milk?: Another great resource for the ABA, to help you determine whether your baby is getting enough breastmilk. Of course, if you have concerns, I recommend you contact your healthcare provider and/or an IBCLC.
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