The Birth Activists

Professor, author and breastfeeding guru, Amy Brown, joins us for this episode to talk about Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma following the release of her book, Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matters. We are HUGE fans of Amy here at The Birth Activists and it was so lovely to chat about this subject which is particularly close to Becki's heart. Becki has personal experience of breastfeeding grief - Read her blog here: www.mothers-spirit.co.uk/post/breastfeeding-trauma-grief

Visit Amy's website here: www.professoramybrown.co.uk

Buy Amy's books here: www.professoramybrown.co.uk/shop

Follow Amy on facebook: www.facebook.com/breastfeedinguncovered

Follow Amy on instagram: www.instagram.com/prof_amybrown

What are Becki and Sam ranting about now? Find out on this bonus mini podcast episode....

In this episode, Sam and I are joined by Laura to talk about her work with refugees and asylum seekers, and in particular the research work she has done interviewing 'displaced' mothers. We tackle sensitive issues such as racism, racial bias and colourism.

Here is a link to her research blog: https://phdresearchstories.wordpress.com/2019/07/08/researching-mothers-as-a-mother

Laura co-founded MEAD (Migration, Ethnicity, Race and Diversity Research Group)://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/explore/research-units/migration,-ethnicity,-race-and-diversity-research-group

Laura collaborates with Oasis Cardiff: http://oasiscardiff.org/ - Oasis Cardiff is an non profit charity that aims to help Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Cardiff.

In this episode, Sam and I are joined by Maddie McMahon - Doula, writer and Breastfeeding Counsellor. Maddie talks about her blog, 'In the Eye of The Storm: Ocular Melanoma, Maternity Care and Me', and how her recent experience receiving cancer treatment opened her eyes to similarities with maternity care.

Follow Maddie's work here:

In this episode Sam and I are joined by Kemi Johnson and Michelle Quashie to discuss the Childbirth Choices Matter campaign further. 

Kemi is an Independent Midwife and Hypnobirthing Instructor. Visit Kemi's website here: www.birthjoy.org

Michelle is a doula and the founder of the Women’s Voices Conference.  

Support the campaign by making a donation here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/childbirth-choices-matter

In this episode Sam and I are joined by Jacqui Tomkins (Chair of IMUK) and Kay King (Campaign Manager of Childbirth Choices Matter and the National Coordinator for the White Ribbon Alliance in the UK) to talk about the current campaign to produce an insurance product for self-employed independent midwives. 

Find out more and donate here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/childbirth-choices-matter

Please share the podcast and the crowdfunder and help support Independent Midwifery to remain a choice for expectant parents, your children and your children's children! 

In this episode, Samantha and I chat with fellow doula, Michelle, and plus-size mum, Sarah, about what it's like to be labelled with a high BMI during pregnancy and how this can impact on your birth choices.  This episode comes with a *TRIGGER WARNING* of obstetric rape and violence, sexual assault and infant death.

Michelle is owner of Limerick Doula Services in Limerick, Ireland - check out her website here. She is a plus-size mum of 4, and at the time of the recording she was expecting number 5! Michelle also runs a private body-positive facebook group entitled 'Fat and Pregnant Community' - please contact Michelle directly to learn more.

Sarah is a mum of 2 living in Cardiff.

Sam and I are joined by fellow doula, Paula Cleary, talking about the trials and tribulations of being an activist for birthing women and people. 

This episode comes with a TRIGGER WARNING for sexual abuse, domestic violence and obstetric violence and as such has been categorised as EXPLICIT. We also talk about self care as birthworkers when handling traumatic cases.

Find out more about Paula on her website here and visit the Birth Place Matters website which has been pivotal in Paula's activism journey and hugely beneficial to many women and birthing people.

Samantha and I chat with fellow doula Katie Olliffe about the benefits of optimal cord clamping and the controversial subject of intact resuscitation.

You can find out more about Katie on her website here or follow her on Facebook here.

The Wait For White website is a great resource for further information on optimal cord clamping.  Also, here are some useful AIMS articles about Neonatal Resuscitation and Delaying the Clampers.

As usual, full permission has been given to share the information discussed in this podcast.

Today, Samantha and I talk about what is and isn't in the remit of a doula and how this is often misinterpreted or misunderstood by healthcare professionals.

Becki Scott is a doula and holistic therapist living and working in Northamptonshire - you can find out more about her here

Samantha Gadsden is a doula in South Wales - you can find out more about her on her website here. Samantha runs the national Home Birth Support Group UK on Facebook. She has also set up a paid Facebook group (Freebirth And Emergency Childbirth Support Group UK) specifically for those people considering freebirth or looking for resources when a baby is likely to be BBA (born before arrival).