In this episode we talk with the utterly wonderful Prof Amy Brown about why she doesn’t like sea lions, looking at breastfeeding from a biological perspective,  women’s experiences of feeding their babies, how to navigate the internet as a birth worker and more!  Prof  Amy Brown is a professor of maternal and child public health at Swansea University. She is based in the department of public health, policy and social sciences where she is the director of their research centre 'LIFT' which stands for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translation.  She researches everything to do with becoming and being a new parent, with a particular focus on infant feeding, mental health and normal baby behaviour. The ultimate aim of her research being to change society and culture, which as she states“turns out not to be an overnight job”. Amy wants to see a future where women and families are respected, valued and supported in growing, birthing and caring for their babies.   Amy has written extensively; a plethora of books, research, blog articles and videos which you can find below.

LINKS:

Website: https://professoramybrown.co.uk/

Books: https://professoramybrown.co.uk/books-%26-shop   Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!  Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee   MERCH here!  Music Joseph McDade   Like this podcast? Leave us a review here 
Want more from Katie and Rachel? 
Katie's website 
Rachel's website 

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. 

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

Women’s experiences of breastfeeding their babies - An interview with Prof Amy Brown

Join us as we hubble, bubble, toil, and trouble our way through aspects of midwifery, birth, lactation, and womanhood. We tackle and discuss a variety of topics within the sphere of womanhood, birth, and lactation and what this entails in today's society. We want to be able to share in the strengths of women gathering together and being more informed, for their birth, their feeding experience, and the transition into knowing ourselves better. This is the podcast to connect us as a greater circle of women united.

Kids & Family

Medicine

Science & Medicine

Parenting

Health & Fitness

In this episode Rachel talks to Katie about all the wondrous and darn right fascinating things about the amniotic sac.  ·      Why is the baby surrounded by fluid, and what is it made of? ·      Women are often told they have too much or too little fluid. Is this a problem? ·      We also discuss why Rachel is (slightly!) obsessed with the function of the amniotic sac during labour ·      We ask does breaking the amniotic sac (the waters) speed up labour at any point? ·      What if your amniotic sac breaks before labour? We discuss the time the time-frames around augmenting labour when this has happened.  ·      And we discuss what if the membranes don’t break during labour? All this and lots more for your eager lug’ols.    LINKS:  https://midwifethinking.com/2015/09/16/in-defence-of-the-amniotic-sac/ https://midwifethinking.com/2013/08/14/amniotic-fluid-volume-too-much-too-little-or-who-knows/ https://midwifethinking.com/2015/01/14/the-curse-of-meconium-stained-liquor/ https://midwifethinking.com/2017/01/11/pre-labour-rupture-of-membranes-impatience-and-risk/ Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!  Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee   MERCH here!  Music Joseph McDade   Like this podcast? Leave us a review here 
Want more from Katie and Rachel? 
Katie's website 
Rachel's website 

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. 

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

The importance of the amniotic sac

In this episode I discuss with Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly all things pregnancy sickness and Hyperemesis. 

Just a few months ago the scientific evidence was published highlighting what causes pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis. This breakthrough discovery came from the work of Prof Sir O’Rahilly, his team and the team from Dr Marlena S. Fejzo in the US.

This ground breaking work gives hope to thousands of women globally who suffer terribly throughout their pregnancy with extreme nausea and sickness. I discuss what it is that causing this to happen during pregnancy. Why our human bodies could be making this hormone and what it’s use would possibly be for.  And what the future holds for a cure, how Prof O’Rahilly and his team are working collaboratively with the pregnancy sickness support, a UK charity, women who have and are currently suffering from hyperemesis,  and a team of obstetric specialists to find the answer to help stop this condition. Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly FRS, is Co-Director of the Institute of Metabolic Science (IMS) and Director of the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit which is part of the broader University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories which he also directs.  On the wider Cambridge Biomedical Campus, he is Scientific Director of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Head of the University Department of Clinical Biochemistry. He was elected FRS in 2003, to the National Academy of Sciences, USA in 2011, has received five honorary doctorates and numerous scientific awards.  In 2013 he was made Knight Bachelor & for services to medical research. His main research area is the aetiology and pathophysiology of human metabolic and endocrine disease and how such information might be used to improve the diagnosis, therapy and prevention of these diseases.

LINKS: 
Pregnancy Sickness Support UK 
Dr Marlena S. Fejzo HER Foundation 
GD15 linked to maternal risk of nausea and vomiting during pregna Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!  Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee   MERCH here!  Music Joseph McDade   Like this podcast? Leave us a review here 
Want more from Katie and Rachel? 
Katie's website 
Rachel's website 

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. 

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

Pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis breakthrough with Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly FRS

Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and bestselling author of the books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual — practical guides to treating period problems with nutrition, supplements, and bioidentical hormones.  With a strong science background, Lara sits on several advisory boards and is the lead author on a couple of peer-reviewed papers.  She has more than 20 years’ experience in women’s health and currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems. On this episode we discuss with Lara all things periods and perimenopause. What is perimenopause? The nine symptoms you need to know!Is midlife really from 37? What is going on hormonally and how this affects our entire body systemDealing with heavy periodsSupplementing our hormones Taking the contraceptive pill  Dealing with stress, does perimenopause affect our ability to cope the same as before? Alcohol use and the real truth you need to know!  All things ‘sorting your sleep out’ including dealing with night shifts! All this and so much  more! LINKS: Website 
Hormone repair manual book 
The Lara Briden Podcast - Everything women’s health in under 15 minutes
Graph of hormonal changes of perimenopause
Graph of menstrual cycle        Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!  Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee   MERCH here!  Music Joseph McDade   Like this podcast? Leave us a review here 
Want more from Katie and Rachel? 
Katie's website 
Rachel's website 

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. 

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

Periods and perimenopause with Dr Lara Briden

Where and how women choose to birth matters. Born at Home is a stunning documentary film exploring what it takes to have a positive and transformative birth experience.  Empowered by the homebirth of her second child in 2020, Amanda Banks together with long term dear friend Eleanor Currie, set out to create a film exploring Homebirth in QLD.

With a passion for telling stories about the human experience. Their film 'Born At Home' explores the emotional journey of homebirth.  ​The film interviews birthing experts, midwives, educators and shows many a homebirth first hand. We talked to Eleanor and Amanda about the messaging behind the filmHome birth statistics About the transformative effects home birth can have for some women,  And we delve deeper into the reasons  why more women are deciding to give birth at home. This is a beautiful episode with many insights. A great way to whet your appetite before you see the film. 

LINKS: 
Born at home the film 
IG @bornathomethefilm
Screenings of the film

 Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!  Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee   MERCH here!  Music Joseph McDade   Like this podcast? Leave us a review here 
Want more from Katie and Rachel? 
Katie's website 
Rachel's website 

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. 

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

Born at Home with Amanda Banks and Eleanor Currie

Wendy Jones BSc, MSc, PhD, MRPharmS is known for her work on providing a service on the compatibility of drugs in breastmilk and has been a registered breastfeeding supporter for 36 years. She is passionate that breastfeeding should be valued by all and that medication should not be a barrier. In her employed life she was a primary care pharmacist. Wendy left paid work 12 years ago to concentrate on writing her books and developing her website to provide information for mothers and professionals. Wendy was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2018 for services to mothers and babies.  In this episode I chat to Wendy about all those common questions which start with “is it safe to breastfeed with that medication?!” ·      Breastfeeding whilst needing medications for a chronic condition  ·      Common misconceptions with anxiety and depression medications and breastfeeding ·      Is it safe to keep breastfeeding when you catch the common cold or flu? ·      Emergency contraception – do you need to stop breastfeeding and will it affect milk supply? ·      Wendy tells us about the new medications for migraines ·      Colic medicines – is there evidence for this and do they work? 

·      Why planning in pregnancy is essential to support ongoing breastfeeding for those needing to use any medications long term, and yet unfortunately is still mostly not happening.  ·      And Wendy tells me how she ended up giving out her personal phone number to the whole of the UK several years ago for any breastfeeding questions on medications and feeding! And was dealing with 10.000 calls a year! 
LINKS:
Wendy Jones website, fact sheets, books and more
BFN Drugs in breast milk fact sheets
Lactmed
E Lactencia
Hale meds Want to listen to the new podcast 'The Feeding Couch'? Find it here or on all good podcast hosting platforms!  Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee   MERCH here!  Music Joseph McDade   Like this podcast? Leave us a review here 
Want more from Katie and Rachel? 
Katie's website 
Rachel's website 

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.

The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. 

The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

Women’s experiences of breastfeeding their babies - An interview with Prof Amy Brown

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