Mama Meets Midwife

17/01/2023

You can have it all.
Just not all at the same time.

This is a mantra I have had to repeat to myself since becoming a mother. At it is a balm to my type A, perfectionist, go get ‘em self who sometime needs to be reminded to pace my energy.

2023 has offered me some exciting new opportunities as a parent educator (stay tuned) as well as further study in adult education. All you mama’s studying with young children, I applaud you. I’m sweating 😅

Considering these busy additions, I will no longer be offering private classes through Mama Meets Midwife. I will be keeping this page and community open for posts on pregnancy, birth, early parenting, and my own journey as a fellow mama in the fray.
Still supporting your journey.

Em x

05/11/2022

🫂 Skin to skin 🫂

Ahh the magic of that first cuddle with your baby. The one straight after their birth when they placed naked on your bare chest 🤍

Beyond the joy of first meeting, skin to skin has so many amazing benefits for you both including:

💛 Regulates babies heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood sugar
💛 Colonises baby with healthy bacteria
💛 Stimulates babies’ interest in feeding
💛 Promotes bonding
💛 Promotes hormones for breastfeeding and reducing blood loss

Uninterrupted skin to skin from the time of birth to the conclusion of the first breastfeed is standard practice and highly valued in most settings in which I have worked. However, if it is something you would like to do, it doesn't hurt to make your wishes known to your midwife or obstetrician.

Also good to know:

🥰 Skin to skin is also great for partners to do with their babies. Especially for the bonding.

🦘 Skin to skin in NICU is referred to as Kangaroo Care and has significant benefits for babies that are unwell and premature.

So enjoy that first cuddle mama. It does a world of good for you both.

📸 dm for credit or removal

03/11/2022

I had the privilege of listening to Rachel Reed speak at a recent conference. Her thoughts on empowering women for birth really resonated with me 🌀

I hesitate to recommend books to women without having read them first, but can't wait to sink my teeth into 'Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage' 🤰

26/10/2022

Taking the time to learn about the physical process of birth, how to work with pain and the system in which your birth takes place reframes these implicit messages about birth and replace them with confidence in your ability to birth 💪

Here at Mama meets Midwife we run a 6 week birth education course that is designed to equip you with this mindset 👆👆
You’ll also learn all about the last weeks of pregnancy, caring for a newborn, feeding your baby and the role of the support person👩‍🍼👨‍🍼

Booking now at mamameetsmidwife.com 📲

I can't wait to meet you.

24/10/2022

Yes, the birth of your child is something that will be a part of your story for the rest of your life 📖

So give it some heed, mama. Spend some time learning, planning, understanding.

You, and the stories of your life are worth the investment 🤍

22/10/2022

Hi there 👋🏻👋🏻

We have had a few new faces on here, a whole 400 to be exact 💘

Thank you so much for following along, I’m happy you are here.

I hope, that as your journey through pregnancy and birth, you find this a place warmth, support and knowledge. I look at birth through the lens of an experienced labour ward midwife, but also as a woman who has gone through the highs and lows of birthing her own three babies 👓

If you are interested in learning more about birth, why not join me for a six-week birth education class?

Bookings via my website mamameetsmidwife.com

Photo credit to the amazing

20/10/2022

📢 Sydney Parents To Be 📢

🌟 Mama meets Midwife birth education has places now open for booking in November 🌟

✨ Six-week birth education course covering everything you need to know about late pregnancy, birth and early parenthood 🤰🏻

✨ I’m making childbirth education friendly and accessible with one-to-one classes for busy parents with flexible times and dates to suit your schedule ⏰

✨ Classes in your own loungeroom face to face or zoom 🪴

✨ You will gain an insight into what birth is really like through my years of experience as labour ward midwife. I am passionate about equipping you with the tools and knowledge you need to welcome your baby into the world 🤱

✨ Understand the physical process of birth, how to work with pain, what options are available to you and so much more…

👩‍💻 BOOK NOW through mamameetsmidwife.com

📸 photo credit:

18/10/2022

So humbled to receive this testimonial from Liz, one of the recent Mama Meets Midwife graduates 🥺💛

Thank you for you generous words Liz, I am SO happy that your birth was full of satisfaction and gratitude 🤍

Full testimonial continued below...
'We found Mama Meets Midwife absolutely brilliant as we prepared for birth and early parenthood! Emily had really thought of everything and we felt so empowered going into birth with all of the information and advice she provided. I particularly appreciated the style of learning which allowed me to ask all my (many!) questions in a safe and comfortable space, which really helped me process what I was learning too. My husband took copious notes which he referred to regularly in the weeks leading up to our daughter Annalise’s arrival!

Annalise was born at 39 weeks after a very intense six hour labour, but even amidst the stress and shock of a quick and early arrival for our first bub (not what we expected!), we were able to make informed decisions and understand what was happening. I look back on birth with a great sense of satisfaction and gratitude, and that was a lot to do with how prepared I was, thanks to Emily.

We VERY highly recommend this course to anyone expecting a baby.'

Clear, practical birth education. Mama Meets Midwife offer one to one antenatal classes in the comfort of your home. Helping you feel confident in your body and emotionally ready for birth. Classes are run by Emily, Registered Midwife, Registered Nurse, Registered Nurse Immuniser. Face to face in B

08/10/2022

💌 Thank you 💌

I have a little collection of cards in the bottom of one of my draws. They are thank you cards, from families I have cared for as a midwife.

They sit there, waiting. And on the hard, sad days that this job sometimes brings, I take them out and am reminded afresh of the privilege it is to have been part of such a special moment. I am humbled and warmed by appreciation.

And I sometimes wish I could tell those families how much it meant to me to be part of their birth preparation and birth experience. How I am always aware of what a great privilege it was. I wonder how that little baby is now going in school, what they look like and what they love doing.

So thank YOU for writing those cards.
And thank YOU for letting me be a part of your journey 🤍

04/10/2022

I cared for a gorgeous couple the other night who bought their house plants to the hospital for labour.

It was the first time I had seen it, but I instantly noticed the 'hominess' that was brought into the hospital room. The few small bench top plants were the perfect touch to the space. Because when you are trying to create a great birth environment, 'hominess' is definitely something to strive for 🏡

Because when we are home we feel relaxed.
When you are relaxed the hormone oxytocin flows.
And when oxytocin is flowing you get strong, efficient labour.

Our clever bodies are designed to bring our babies into environments that feel safe to us. And that is what the sense of home can bring 🤎

18/09/2022

Proud to be running in support of today.

In memory of all those brave families who I have cared for, who’s babies were born still 🤍

28/08/2022

It’s ok not to love every second of it.

I remember after one particularly sleepless night, feeling absolutely exhausted, loading my six week old firstborn into her car seat.
A woman passing me looked and smiled, ‘enjoy every second of this special time’. Her comment was kindly meant, and I appreciate how she took the time to stop and acknowledge my baby, but her comment really didn’t meet me where I was at.
So tired I felt dizzy, so frazzled from a grocery shop with a crying baby, just trying to wrap my head around how my life had changed so much.

You can not ‘enjoy every second of it’ and still:
💛 Treasure your baby
💛 Be an excellent parent
💛 Have an amazing capacity
💛 Feel blessed to get to be a mum

I know I still felt all of these things.

All it means, is that sometimes it is really hard and you are human.