Welcome back to Things They Don’t Tell Her Podcast! 

In this episode, I continue sharing my personal pregnancy journey. 

I’m joined once again by the wonderful Amy Paulinich, midwife and founder of Natural Birth Co. Together, we dive into managing physical discomforts, preparing for birth, and building a strong support network during pregnancy.

Throughout our conversation, I share practical tips that have helped me manage common pregnancy pains, such as round ligament and pelvic girdle pain. We also discuss how I’ve been preparing mentally and physically for birth and the postpartum period, and the value of surrounding yourself with a supportive community.

Topics Discussed:

Connect with Us:

Listen to Part 1 Here.

Tune in to learn, connect, and feel empowered on your pregnancy journey!

In this episode of Things They Don’t Tell Her Podcast I am sharing insights from my own Pregnancy Journey. In this convo, we dive into the ways I have been supporting my own mental and physical health throughout pregnancy, practitioners that I have been seeing, the model of care I have chosen and loads of recommendations for books, podcasts, local studios and so much more. 

Things I did to help with my pregnancy nausea

Here are a few great blogs for more tips for pregnancy nausea

Things I have been doing for my physical health

In my first trimester, between the lack of energy and the nausea I focused on small bouts of movement that made me feel good. I went for short walks, swam at the beach and surfed. I did short at home yoga flows and occasionally found the energy to attend a yoga or pilates class which I booked through ⁠Class Pass⁠ and therefore didn’t have the commitment of a membership.

Since moving into my second trimester, I have been enjoying Pregnancy Yoga and Pilates Classes, Pilates Reformer as well as swimming laps at the pool. I have found that the muscles around my pelvis, particularly my glutes and hip flexors feel a lot tighter so I have started using a foam roller and trigger ball regularly. 

Forms of exercise I have been enjoying include:

Things I have been doing for my mental health 

Model of Care

This is ⁠a great blog⁠ on the pregnancy birth models of care available on the Sunshine Coast written by Emmy, another incredible acupuncturist from Bloom Chinese Medicine.

The private midwifery practice that I am going through is called ⁠Coastlife Midwifery⁠. 

I have been having my pregnancy scans at ⁠The Radiology Clinic⁠ which is the only radiology clinic on the Sunshine Coast that bulk bills Obstetric scans.

Nutrition and Supplements 

This is a great blog by Renee Jennings, a Prenatal Dietician on tips for choosing a Prenatal Supplement. She has published a book called Nurture The Seed which I highly recommend reading during Pregnancy. Another great book is called Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols.

Prenatal supplements that I have been recommended by my naturopath include 

Eagle Tresos Natal and Naturobest (they have a specific 1st trimester one with ginger to help with nausea).

In this week's episode I am joined by the beautiful Sarah from The Milky Days. Sarah is an experienced midwife and lactation consultant with over 14 years experience. She is a Sunshine Coast local, a mama of two little kids and one of her passions is supporting mothers to have a positive and fulfilling breastfeeding experience. Sarah offers in person consultations for breastfeeding support and has an app with short educational courses for Pregnant & Postpartum mamas. 

Here's what we covered in this episode:

1. Breastfeeding Basics and Must-Have Products: Sarah shares her wisdom on the essentials of breastfeeding and separates the helpful products from the ones you can do without. Sarah mentions Silverettes and Qiara Probiotics
2. Antenatal Expressing: Many mothers have questions about antenatal expressing, and Sarah delves into the topic to demystify the process. She shares tips and insights that can be beneficial for pregnant mums wondering where to start.
3. Common Issues and How to Address Them: No breastfeeding journey is without its challenges. Sarah discusses the common issues that mothers may face and offers practical solutions and guidance to help overcome them.
4. Mastitis: Mastitis can be a painful and frustrating experience for breastfeeding mothers. Sarah provides information on what mastitis is, how to recognise its symptoms, and offers advice on how to manage and alleviate this condition.

Sarah's wealth of knowledge, coupled with her warm and compassionate approach, makes this episode a must-listen for any mother or mother-to-be.

This week Caitlin is joined on the show by Cath, a Private Midwife from Coastlife Midwifery and Hypnobirthing Australia Educator.

Learn about what hypnobirthing is and how it helps couples to prepare for birth. Discover the different options for pregnancy care on the Sunshine Coast and what support a private midwife can provide.

If you are newly pregnant you can also check out this blog post on Pregnancy and birth models of care Sunshine Coast.

Check out Cath’s hypnobirthing private courses here.

And find out more about Pre and Postnatal Private Midwifery care here.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Calling all mums-to-be! Get ready for an insightful conversation in today's episode of Things They Don’t Tell Her Podcast. 🎙️

Join Caitlin as she delves into the nitty-gritty of preparing your pelvis, pelvic floor, and perineum for childbirth. Let's break down the complexities together and empower ourselves for this incredible journey.

Watch the video of this episode here.

Tune in now for wisdom you won't want to miss.

If you’re interested to learning more about how you can prepare for birth, head over to our website at https://herwomenshealth.com/ Or book an appointment here https://herwomenshealth.com/book-now 

In today’s episode, we delve into the transformative power of pregnancy yoga with Bec Simpson from Mama Soul.

Discover the many benefits of pregnancy yoga, explore the beauty of breath techniques and postures that not only support you throughout pregnancy but offer tools for your birth. 

Bec shares her wisdom on how to safely modify your yoga practice for the first trimester, as well as breath techniques and positions that can be used in labour. She dives into the power of ritual in pregnancy and the value of connecting with other women.

You can find all of Bec’s Pre and Postnatal classes and offerings on her website here.

In this episode of Things They Don’t Tell Her Podcast, we delve into the fascinating world of the pelvic floor and how its tone can impact labour outcomes. Whether it's over-activity or under-activity, finding that optimal balance is crucial, especially in preparation for birth. We'll explore the importance of understanding how to relax the pelvic floor as well as how to lengthen it with a pushing breath.

Join us as we discuss the art of contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor, gaining awareness of its tension and learning to let go of stress, anxiety, and fear that may reside within. We touch upon predispositions and how they can influence the pelvic floor while unravelling the intricacies of this essential part of the body.

Listen to the full episode on our website or tune in via iTunes and Spotify.

We hope you enjoy this enlightening discussion as much as we enjoyed creating it!

And if you're curious to learn more about our pregnancy and postpartum programs, click here or schedule a call with Caitlin. Your pelvic floor will thank you!

It's a must-listen for all the mamas out there! 

In Episode 36 of Things They Don't Tell Her Podcast, we talk all things pregnancy nutrition with Alana from Mothers Mylk.

Alana is a qualified naturopath with a passion for pregnancy and postpartum nutrition. She's the mother of a gorgeous little boy with another on the way, and the co-author of Nourished Postpartum, a postpartum recipe book.

In this episode, she shares her knowledge and experience on the importance of nutrition during pregnancy, and offers practical tips on how to eat well for you and your growing baby.

Our conversation with Alana is engaging, and full of valuable insights. We cover topics such as the best foods to eat during pregnancy, supplements to consider, and how to deal with common pregnancy discomforts like morning sickness and food aversions. 

Visit Alana’s website here.

You can find her online courses here and her recipe book here.

These are the two books recommendations Alana makes for pregnant women:

• Nourished Postpartum
• Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition
• Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor's Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices

You can listen to the episode on our website or on your favorite podcast app - iTunes and Spotify!

We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it!

If you want to learn more about my postpartum program, click here or schedule a call with me.

In this episode of "Pushing and the Pelvic Floor: Birth Prep," Caitlin Pender discusses the connection between vocalisation during labour and the pelvic floor. 

Caitlin shares how using deep, guttural, low tones during the pushing phase creates a subtle back pressure at the glottis, pushing down the diaphragm and softening and relaxing the pelvic floor, ultimately aiding in the birthing process. She also shares her experiences feeling the subtle changes in tone in a client's pelvic floor during an assessment, emphasising the importance of vocalisation during labour. 

Tune in to learn more about this crucial link between pushing and the pelvic floor.

And if you are interested I am hosting a FREE 3-DAY PRENATAL PELVIC FLOOR & PILATES CHALLENGE where I help you feel strong and confident moving your pregnant body with short pilates classes! I'll also help you prevent pain and incontinence with pelvic floor exercises and expert advice on safe exercise in Pregnancy! Join now: https://herwomenshealth.com/3-day-prenatal-pelvic-floor-pilates-challenge/

This podcast episode is all about safe core exercises for pregnant women who want to stay active during their pregnancy journey.

We discuss common questions such as whether it's safe to go to the gym or continue regular yoga or Pilates classes. With so much conflicting information online, we aim to provide clear and concise guidance on what is and isn't safe during pregnancy.
 
If you’re up for a challenge, I am hosting a FREE 3-DAY PRENATAL PELVIC FLOOR & PILATES CHALLENGE where I help you feel strong and confident moving your pregnant body with short pilates classes! I'll also help you prevent pain and incontinence with pelvic floor exercises and expert advice on safe exercise in Pregnancy! Join now: https://herwomenshealth.com/3-day-prenatal-pelvic-floor-pilates-challenge/