Links & Resources
Pregnancy and Birth
My Birth
Where to give birth? Who with? What interventions will you be offered in hospital? What are the risks? What are the alternatives?
Begin Before Birth - We all need to support and look after pregnant women, both for their sake and that of future generations. This begins ‘Before Birth’. This site aims to provide information that may be useful to a wide range of people who are interested in understanding more about the importance of the environment in the womb.
Rachel Reed ‘blogspot’ - Great information on a range of topics for labour and birth.
Penny Simkin – “Pain vs Suffering in Labour”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlj9ehB-hLc
“Why not clamp and cut the baby’s umbilical cord immediately after birth?” – A demonstration by Penny Simkin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RywNup2CM
Australian calmbirth®
Childbirth education course for couples during pregnancy, labour and birth.
Fetal positioning for easier childbirth – baby positions, belly mapping, breech
Midwives Naturally
Independent Midwives providing pregnancy, birth and postnatal care
Authentic Calmbirth®
Gill Merzvinskis is a Melbourne-based calmbirth® practitioner and experienced midwife offering classes in Balwyn.
TLC Birth & Beyond
Doula, Lactation Consultant and Mother, Melanie Cane offers in-home postnatal support and calmbirth® preparation
Pregnancy Circle/Unique Birth Classes Melbourne
Alice and Seneka have created their pregnancy circle to bring women together to share knowledge and foster community. They also offer birth and postnatal support.
Sarah J Buckley
Family physician/GP, writer and mother of four combines the best medical evidence on pregnancy, birth and parenting with her gentle mothering wisdom. On these two sites you will find information and stories that will inform, inspire, nourish and support you in your vital role as parents and parents to be.
Maternity Coalition
A national umbrella organisation committed to the advancement of best-practice maternity care for all Australian women and their families.
Homebirth Australia
Read women and their families’ stories and find out about the benefits of home birth and why it can be a safer option than hospital birth.
Caesarean Awareness Network Australia
Access up-to-date and evidence-based information and resources about caesareans and birth after caesareans, links to support groups around the country, information on workshops and antenatal courses relevant to caesareans or vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), and information on issues related to maternity services for women who are planning a caesarean, or planning to VBAC.
Birthrites – Healing After Caesarean
Aims to encourage and give support and information to women who wish to give birth vaginally after one or more caesarean.
Debra Betts – Guide to Acupressure & Acupuncture in Birth and Pregnancy
The Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health
APPPAH is a public-benefited educational and scientific organization offering information, inspiration, and support to medical professionals, expecting parents and all persons interested in expanding horizons of birth psychology. Come explore, and learn!
The Australian Association of Infant Mental Health
Policy statement on Controlled Crying
Heather Crawford
A wealth of information around pregnancy, birth and parenting including a blog site.
Heather is an acupuncturist, herbalist, doula and midwifery student specialising in women’s wellbeing, pregnancy care and childbirth preparation.
Find a Doula
For support throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond.
A comphrehensive Australian pregnancy and birth website. Pregnancy signs and symptoms, pregnancy articles, pregnancy forums and pregnancy information.
Ina May Gaskin
Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, shares her wisdom about the benefits and joys of natural childbirth
Information, Research and stories around waterbirth
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Breastfeeding Information, classes, products and services and health professionals.
Initiation of Breastfeeding by Breast Crawl
Every newborn when placed on the mother’s abdomen soon after birth has the ability to find its mother’s breast all on its own and to decide when to take the first breastfeed.
Other Therapies
Osteopathy and Massage Therapy offering a diverse range of treatments both cranial and structural.
Complementary healthcare clinic dedicated to the special needs of those who are planning pregnancy, are pregnant or have a family
One of Melbourne’s most comprehensive pre and postnatal care providers for a range of modalities including acupuncture, massage, yoga etc.
Birthing Blogs/Archives
http://naturalbirthrebranded.wordpress.com/
Heather is an acupuncturist, herbalist, doula and midwifery student specialising in women’s wellbeing, pregnancy care and childbirth preparation.
Village Midwife – Joy Johnston
Babies, Children, Parenting
Dr Melanie Strang runs transition to parenthood courses for parents and parents to be that gives valuable insight, understanding, tools and strategies that assists with adjusting to the emotional changes and relationship issues through pregnancy and with the birth of a new baby. Essential knowledge and tools for all parents.
Our emotional health and parenting.
Pinky McKay is a Melbourne based writer and editor, & lactation consultant specialising in health, education and family issues. She also works ‘hands on’ with parents, teaching infant massage and solving breastfeeding problems, as well as conducting sleep seminars and toddler tactics seminars across the country.
‘Do you feel at the end of your tether? Are you confused by all the different opinions about mothering and want to talk to someone with a gentle, commonsense approach?’
Melanie Cane offers postnatal care and advice in your home.
Leading the way in area of infant sleep, breastfeeding and sudden infant death syndrome. He has both a research and teaching laboratory at the University of Notre Dame Mother-Baby Sleep Lab involved in research on the safety of different sleep environments and the physiological and/or psychological consequences of different choices of sleeping arrangements parents make.
A vision of a world in which all children are treated with dignity, respect, understanding, and compassion. In such a world, every child can grow into adulthood with a generous capacity for love and trust.
Pam Leo – Connection Parenting
Connection Parenting education and parenting advice, optimal child development consulting, parenting workshops and classes.
“Connection parenting is parenting through connection instead of coercion, through love instead of fear.”
ATLC –Alliance for Transforming the Lives of Children
ATLC is dedicated to supporting parents, caregivers, professionals and policymakers in practising the art and science of nurturing children.
The Effectiveness Training Institute of Australia ETIA
The Effectiveness Training Institute of Australia (ETIA) Ltd is a not-for-profit, community based organisation that is dedicated to making courses in communication and conflict resolution skills available and accessible to all people in Australia.
“When people are accepted, when they are free to express themselves and can participate in making decisions that affect them, they enjoy greater self-esteem, are more self-confident, and lose a sense of powerlessness that’s always present in autocratic families.” Dr Thomas Gordon, 2000
Janet Powell – Parenting Courses and Seminars
Janet is committed to encouraging the growth of calm, loving, connected families who achieve their goals and her aim is to help parents become the best parents they can be.
Baby Products
Organic Skincare
|An Australian based company who creates and manufactures the world’s first certified organic skincare, hair care, personal care, health care, cosmetic products and baby care range. Miessence products stand in a class of their own by being independently certified to international food grade standards.
You will find all the baby essentials, good pregnancy care, relaxation tools, toys for playtime, and certified organic personal care products that you need for natural living. This baby store sells environmentally-friendly products for everyone.
Baby Carriers
http://www.hugabub.com
http://www.babaslings.com
Baby Hammocks
http://www.naturessway.co.nz
http://www.happyhangup.com
Essential Oils – Ahimsa
http://www.ahimsaoils.com.au
Great range of quality essential oils and great service & price. Mandarin Tranquility is a blend used in the classes.