The Calmbirth Conversation Podcast

I know it may seem at odds to put the words Relaxation and Birth in the same sentence but in actual fact relaxation is essential for birth. In this episode Peter and Karen talk about why relaxation techniques are so important for birth and how Calmbirth teaches the Relaxation Response in a more in depth and deeper level for you to not only work with birth, but really importantly, to prepare for birth.

In this episode Karen explores with Lily Nicoles the importance of good nutrition for Pregnancy. They discuss not only what good nutrition  and "Real Food" means but ways in which pregnant women and people ensure they are eating well for themselves and their babies. Karen and Lily also talk about gestational diabetes (GDM) and ways in which those who are diagnosed with GDM can use their diet to help reduce the impact of a GDM diagnosis. Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based nutrition. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and sensible. She is the founder of the Institute for Prenatal Nutrition®, co-founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy, and the author of three books: Real Food for Fertility (co-authored with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack), Real Food for Pregnancy, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily’s bestselling books have helped tens of thousands of mamas (and babies!), are used in university-level maternal nutrition and midwifery courses, and have even influenced prenatal nutrition policy internationally. She writes at https://lilynicholsrdn.com. When she steps away from writing, you can find her spending time with her husband and two children — most likely outside or in the kitchen.

In this episode Karen discusses different Fetal Monitoring options ,and the research behind them, for labour with Kirsten Small, a retired Obstetrician, researcher and educator. Kirsten has a passion for ensuring that women and birthing people have all the information they need to make informed decisions around their choices for monitoring in labour. After listening, if you would like to take a deeper dive with Kirsten into this topic we recommend that you have a look at Kirsten's course "Fetal Monitoring: The Basics" which you can find through her website https://birthsmalltalk.com. If you are a Birth Professional we highly recommend that you look at her more comprehensive courses "Fetal Monitoring for Birthworkers" or "Fetal Monitoring for Maternity Professionals", both of which can also be found on her website https://birthsmalltalk.com.

Bashi Kumar-Hazard is an Australian competition and consumer rights lawyer and the principal of B W Law, a legal practice established to support and assist women and children. She is also the chair of the international organisation Human Rights in Childbirth and works tirelessly to advocate for women's rights and birthing people worldwide. In this episode, Bashi and Karen discuss the outcome of the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry and the recommendations handed down in the report. They cover some important and at times big, topics including stories of birth trauma. If you feel that you may be triggered in any way by listening to this episode, please feel free to move on to another episode of our podcast. If you are someone who has experienced birth trauma there are amazing organisations that you can reach out to for support such as Beyond Blue, The Gidget Foundation, Panada, Cope and Lifeline.

Join Karen McClay as she talks with Dr Sarah McKay about her new book "Baby Brain: The Surprising Neuroscience of How Pregnancy and Motherhood Sculpt Our Brains and Change Our Minds". Karen and Sarah take a fascinating dive into what the research is showing us about the neurological changes that occur within a woman's brain as they travel through pregnancy and motherhood, while at the same time demything the cultural assumption that 'baby brain' is a negative side-effect of this transformative time.

Karen and Emma discuss the importance of the microbiome for pregnant mamas and people, and their babies, and how we can maintain and create an optimal environment for a healthy microbiome during pregnancy birth and postpartum.

In Episode 16 of the Calmbirth Conversation Podcast Calmbirth Director, Karen McClay talks to our wonderful Calmbirth Educators and Yoga Instructors, Maja Batista and Karen Shlegeris about the benefits of pregnancy yoga in preparation for labour and birth.

In Episode 14 of the Calmbirth Conversation Podcast, Karen McClay talks to Dr. Nicole Highet who is the Founder & Executive Director of COPE, the Centre of Perinatal Excellence and how COPE is providing support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent.

Discussion with Psychologist Rachel Bridge about creating a safe, calm and private environment in the fourth trimester.

Tune in to this episode of the Calmbirth Conversation Podcast with Director Calmbirth, Karen McClay, who chats with the leading obstetrician here in Australia on breech birth delivery, Dr Andrew Bissett.

In this Episode, Karen chats with @melindawebb_healthpractitioner about the benefits of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for pregnancy, labour and birth.

In this episode I Chat with Catherine Bell, a Birth Cartographer @birthmapping, about her book "The Birth Map".