The Virtual Midwife

By The Virtual Midwife

What's The Virtual Midwife about?

A podcast for pregnant and new mothers packed with lessons from the labor room, women's wisdom, interviews with thought leaders and meditations for pregnancy and birth.

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The Virtual Midwife episodes:

04.10.2021
Getting to Know Catherine Shimechero
Catherine Shimechero is a certified soft-skills trainer and a personal performance coach. She believes that everyone has great potential to achieve their goals in life. She has the flair of bringing out the best in people making them appreciate their...
04.08.2021
Getting to Know Cindy Farley
Cindy L. Farley, CNM, PhD, FACNM, studied midwifery at Emory University. She earned her BSN and PhD from The Ohio State University and her MSN from Emory University. She is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University in the Nurse-Midwifery/ Women’s...
03.20.2021
9: Sandra Oyarzo Torres, ICM Vice Presidenta
Sandra Oyarzo es matrona, Licenciada en Obstetricia y Master en Educación en Ciencias de la salud. Universidad de Chile. Profesora Asociada del Departamento de Educación en Ciencias de la Salud (DECSA) de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile,...
03.08.2021
8: Entrevista a estudiantes de obstetricia del Perú/Interviewing midwifery students from Perú
Te invitamos a conocer a nuestros invitados especiales para la Conferencia VIDM 2021, quienes estarán brindando un taller para estudiantes de obstetricia. En esta entrevista, ellos nos cuentan cómo ha sido su experiencia estudiando en tiempos de pandemia, qué significa...
03.03.2021
7: Getting to Know Soo Downe
Soo Downe, BA(Hons), RM, MSc, PhD, OBE, University of Central Lancashire, UK Soo spent 15 years working as a clinical and research midwife. In .2001 she joined UCLan where she is now the Professor of Midwifery Studies. Her main research focus...
02.26.2021
6: Getting to Know Hannah Dahlen
Hannah Dahlen AM Hannah Dahlen is the Professor of Midwifery, Discipline Leader of Midwifery and Associate Dean (Research and Higher Degree Research) in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. She has been a midwife for 30 years. Hannah has...
02.18.2021
5: Getting to Know Catherine Salam
Catherine M. Salam, CNM, MS, FACNM lives in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. She retired from teaching and practicing midwifery. She was an Adjunct Assistant Professor as well as clinical faculty for Shenandoah University School of Nursing, a distance midwifery program. Prior...
09.03.2020
4: When a Doula and Hypnobirthing Teacher Gives Birth in a Pandemic
Johanna is a mother of 2, a doula, hypnobirthing teacher and a pre and postnatal yoga instructor who gave birth in hospital 2 weeks into lockdown. Thanks to her birth work experience she was well prepared, but even so she...
08.10.2020
3: Mindful Return - how to survive as a working parent.
An open hearted chat with Lori Mihalich-Levin about navigating the changes that come with having a baby when you are a successful and driven business person. She shares with is how and why she started Mindful Return and wrote her...
06.29.2020
2: Tristan and Chanelle
Tristan put significant effort into being an awesome "daddy doula" and says that his biggest gift was knowing how to be fully present for Chanelle through her labor. He is in awe of the power of birth and was transformed...
06.24.2020
1: From Hospital to Home Birth at 38 Weeks
Nicole was planning a hospital birth with her second baby due in April 2020 - which was predicted to be a busy time for hospitals due to Coronavirus. With the uncertainty of having to move rooms and the possibility of...
05.11.2020
18: A review of perinatal social support interventions for asylum seeking and refugee women resident in Europe
An interview with Marie Claire Balaam who submitted a poster presentation to the VIDM 2020 entitled A review of perinatal social support interventions for asylum seeking and refugee women resident in Europe In this interview you will learn more about The presenters Why...
05.01.2020
17: Normalizing Pregnancy and Birth Rates with Advanced Midwifery Practice in Sligo University Hospital
An interview with Roisin Lennon who submitted a poster presentation to the VIDM 2020 entitled Normalizing Pregnancy and Birth Rates with Advanced Midwifery Practice in Sligo University Hospital In this interview you will learn more about The presenters Why they chose this topic The...
05.01.2020
16: Early Detection of Post Partum Depression (PPD) in Women 1 - 2 weeks Post Partum.
An interview with Erika Agung Mulyaningsih who submitted a poster presentation to the VIDM 2020 entitled Early Detection of Post Partum Depression (PPD) in Women 1 - 2 weeks Post Partum. In this interview you will learn more about The presenters Why they...
05.01.2020
15: The VRLE Project Virtual Reality Learning Environments - reconfiguring healthcare education
An interview with Denyse King who submitted a poster presentation to the VIDM 2020 entitled The VRLE Project Virtual Reality Learning Environments - reconfiguring healthcare education In this interview you will learn more about The presenter Why she chose this topic The main message...
05.01.2020
14: A Comparison of the Prevention of Early-Onset Group B Streptococcal Disease in Neonates
Could you present yourself - name and affiliation? Could you tell a brief bit about yourself? What is the topic for the poster? How did you come to choose this topic? What is your main message? What were your key...
04.21.2020
13: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Karen Wilmot
Getting to know Karen Wilmot - committee member for the VIDM 2020 My name is Karen Wilmot and I am a free spirited, entrepreneurial midwife living in Cape Town, South Africa. This is my first year on the VIDM committee and...
04.14.2020
12: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Linda Wylie
Getting to know Linda - committee member for the VIDM 2020 I retired in 2013 after 43 years working for the NHS as a nurse and a midwife, and for the last 19 years in Higher Education as a midwifery lecturer....
04.02.2020
11: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Halima Musa Abdul
Getting to know Halima - committee member for the VIDM 2020 HALIMA MUSA ABDUL, is a Nurse-Midwife, a Fellow of the West African College of Nursing, and a lecturer from the Department of Nursing Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State,...
03.30.2020
10: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Jane Houston
Jane F. Houston DNP, CNM, FACNM began her nursing and midwifery education in Scotland where she became a registered general nurse RGN with a Bachelor’s degree and completed her diploma in midwifery in 1992 to become a Registered Midwife. She has...
03.28.2020
9: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Chris Woodhouse
Getting to know Chris - VIDM Committee Member Chris Woodhouse has worked in many different aspects of IT for over 30 years. Chris became interested in how IT systems and apps are created and supported, leading to active involvement in new...
03.10.2020
8: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Annette Dalsgaard
Getting to know Annette - VIDM Committee Member I am Annette Dalsgaard. I have been a registered midwife since 1990 and been practicing midwifery in different practice settings in Denmark. For the last 10 years, I have been working primarily with...
03.05.2020
7: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Susana Ku
Getting to know Susana - VIDM Committee Member Hello, I am Susana Ku. I am a Registered Midwife in Ontario, Canada. I am currently working as a full-time midwife. Before starting my career in Canada, I obtained my degree as a...
03.02.2020
6: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Lorraine Mockford
Getting to know Lorraine - VIDM Committee Member It has been a pleasure and an honour to be involved with Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM) for over a decade. As one of the (two) non-midwives on the committee, I...
02.27.2020
5: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Ally Anderson
Getting to Know Ally - committee member for VIDM Ally Anderson is a newly qualified midwife at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, UK. She was a secondary science teacher for thirteen years before embarking on a change of career...
02.25.2020
4: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Raquel Justiniano
Getting to Know Raquel, committee member for VIDM Hi! My name is Raquel Justiniano. I´m from Bolivia, residing and working as a midwife in Argentina. I’m currently studying a postgraduate diploma* specializing in Emergency Obstetrics and Gynecology. I developed an interest in...
12.16.2019
3: The Mama Bamba Way
This is more than a book. It is a philosophy of birth that will guide you to connect with the wisdom and purity of your unborn baby. Learning how to communicate with your baby while they are still in your...
12.02.2019
2: Childbirth Without Fear Book Review
While this in itself sounds too simple, reading the book will give you such a deep insight into the physiology of fear (and its impact on the birthing body) that you will be forever changed. It is not an easy...
11.25.2019
1: Book review Birthing from Within
Season 3 is all about which books to ready during pregnancy, and first up is Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz. This is an extra-ordinary guide to childbirth preparation. Each chapter will take you on a journey...
06.16.2019
7: How to avoid an unnecessary episiotomy
It's an uncomfortable conversation. You may be told that a cut is better than a tear but a tear sounds terrifying! A recent Cochrane systematic review examining the evidence on selective versus routine episiotomies for vaginal birth concluded: “Overall, the findings...
05.02.2019
6: Intuition as a tool during pregnancy and birth
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift." Albert Einstein You will be faced with many choices and decisions during pregnancy....
04.10.2019
5: How your beliefs and expectations about birth will impact the way you experience birth
In our society it is a miracle if a woman gets to adulthood without taking on the belief that childbirth is inherently painful. We have been taught this since a young age. It’s the way childbirth is portrayed in the...
03.24.2019
4: Belly Baby Mom - the first doula agency in UAE
Shereen Zarroug and Eleonora Fornelli have a vision "to be the catalyst that makes the UAE the leading country in the world with the highest rates of positive birth and parenting experiences as a result of increased and on going...
02.28.2019
3: Jen Mclellan Plus Mommy
In April of 2011, Jen McLellan launched the Plus Size Mommy Memoirs (now called Plus Mommy) blog, housed within the Plus Size Birthwebsite. This award-winning blog, which has received over 4 million pageviews, focused on topics ranging from plus size...
02.17.2019
2: Let's talk about birth plans
When you are used to being in control of your life and at work it can be difficult to let go and accept that birth is a process that cannot be 'managed' like a work project and a large part...
02.01.2019
1: The Surfing Midwife
I met the [Surfing Midwife](http://www.thesurfingmidwife.com/) [Margreet Wibbelink](http://www.thesurfingmidwife.com/about/) at the Sensitive Midwifery Conference in 2018 and was immediately blown away by her charisma and her message. She came to South Africa from the Netherlands on a one way ticket and 14...
09.08.2018
16: How to avoid purple pushing
So often, ladies will feedback to me that they “did not know how to push” or that they they were told that they were “doing it wrong.” I am always dismayed when I hear these stories because pushing is instinctive...
08.15.2018
15: Top 10 FAQ about labor
Every day I get asked questions about labor so I thought it would be a good idea to make a podcast of the top 10\. Please join me in the [Virtual Midwife Cafe](https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevirtualmidwifecafe/) where I get to chat about these in...
08.08.2018
14: Breech Relaxation
If you are 34+ weeks pregnant and your baby is in breech position, this meditation is for you. While there is still plenty of time for your baby to move, this guided visualisation will help to focus your thoughts. I...
07.31.2018
13: Elective C/Section
Regardless of whether you are having an elective c/section out of choice or circumstance, it gives you an opportunity to prepare yourself for an exact date. This guided visualisation will fast forward you in time to the day your baby...
07.21.2018
12: Placenta Previa
It is always a concern if you have been diagnosed with placenta preavia, especially if you are hoping to have a natural birth. This guided visualisation will help you to harness the power of your mind to imagine your placenta...
07.02.2018
11: Ancient Art Midwifery
Midwifery is a sacred art and through it we honour those who came before us. Our generation did not invent the right to give birth where and with whom one chooses, and we revere the instincts that facilitate healthy non-medical...
06.14.2018
10: Real Food for Pregnancy
Real Food for Pregnancy [Lily Nichols](http://pilatesnutritionist.com/), takes prenatal nutrition advice out of the dark ages and provides an easy-to-follow guide for making the best food and lifestyle choices during pregnancy. Most prenatal nutrition advice is either outdated or not evidenced-based. In [Real...
06.08.2018
9: Kiersten Miller - Bellies Abroad
[Bellies Abroad](https://www.belliesabroad.com/) was created because becoming a family can be daunting enough – doing it in another culture can be very overwhelming. When women become mothers, we are full of fears and doubts; we do not need the medical community...
05.31.2018
8: Why do Babies Cry?
Listening to your baby cry can be frustrating and worrying. Is your baby crying because something is wrong or because they need something? In this episode I talk about the importance of learning to listen to your baby and tuning...
05.19.2018
7: Childless not by Choice
While this is a podcast for pregnant women there are just as many women who want to be pregnant and cannot, or who are with a partner who does not want (more) children, or who have a chronic illness, or...
05.10.2018
6: Technology in Midwifery - Enemy or Ally
This episode is a bit different as it is a recording of my presentation at the [Sensitive Midwifery Symposium](http://sensitivemidwifery.co.za/sensitive-midwifery-symposium/) in JHB, South Africa. Embracing technology has been hard for me but a couple of years ago I realised that I...
04.30.2018
5: Trust Meditation
This is a meditation for anyone who is experiencing fear during pregnancy or fear of birth. While a fear of the unknown is normal and expected, fear can very easily grow and get out of control. The antidote to fear...
04.27.2018
4: Knocked Up Abroad
[Lisa Ferland](https://lisaferland.com/) is the editor and publisher of the [Knocked Up Abroad](knockedupabroad.com.) Series, and she helps other woman tell their stories by self-publishing and crowd funding their books on platforms like Kick starter and Indiegogo. In this episode she shares...
04.21.2018
3: Rhythmic drumming
A powerful sound meditation to use during labor. The steady drumbeat is accompanied by positive affirmations to connect with your baby as you flow with the surges of labor. Breath sounds, soothing chants and gentle reminders to work with your...

What's The Virtual Midwife about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Virtual Midwife episodes:

Getting to Know Catherine Shimechero

Getting to Know Cindy Farley

9: Sandra Oyarzo Torres, ICM Vice Presidenta

8: Entrevista a estudiantes de obstetricia del Perú/Interviewing midwifery students from Perú

7: Getting to Know Soo Downe

6: Getting to Know Hannah Dahlen

5: Getting to Know Catherine Salam

4: When a Doula and Hypnobirthing Teacher Gives Birth in a Pandemic

3: Mindful Return - how to survive as a working parent.

2: Tristan and Chanelle

1: From Hospital to Home Birth at 38 Weeks

18: A review of perinatal social support interventions for asylum seeking and refugee women resident in Europe

17: Normalizing Pregnancy and Birth Rates with Advanced Midwifery Practice in Sligo University Hospital

16: Early Detection of Post Partum Depression (PPD) in Women 1 - 2 weeks Post Partum.

15: The VRLE Project Virtual Reality Learning Environments - reconfiguring healthcare education

14: A Comparison of the Prevention of Early-Onset Group B Streptococcal Disease in Neonates

13: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Karen Wilmot

12: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Linda Wylie

11: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Halima Musa Abdul

10: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Jane Houston

9: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Chris Woodhouse

8: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Annette Dalsgaard

7: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Susana Ku

6: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Lorraine Mockford

5: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Ally Anderson

4: The Virtual International Day of the Midwife - Raquel Justiniano

3: The Mama Bamba Way

2: Childbirth Without Fear Book Review

1: Book review Birthing from Within

7: How to avoid an unnecessary episiotomy

6: Intuition as a tool during pregnancy and birth

5: How your beliefs and expectations about birth will impact the way you experience birth

4: Belly Baby Mom - the first doula agency in UAE

3: Jen Mclellan Plus Mommy

2: Let's talk about birth plans

1: The Surfing Midwife

16: How to avoid purple pushing

15: Top 10 FAQ about labor

14: Breech Relaxation

13: Elective C/Section

12: Placenta Previa

11: Ancient Art Midwifery

10: Real Food for Pregnancy

9: Kiersten Miller - Bellies Abroad

8: Why do Babies Cry?

7: Childless not by Choice

6: Technology in Midwifery - Enemy or Ally

5: Trust Meditation

4: Knocked Up Abroad

3: Rhythmic drumming