Birthwell Birthright

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About Us

birthwell birthright is a Melbourne-based independent childbirth education practice that was established in 2012 by Tanya Cawthorne. Tanya is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE), Fellow of the Association of Certified Childbirth Educators (FACCE), DONA International trained birth doula and a member of the Lamaze International Board of Directors. She is also an accredited educator and trainer with the Childbirth and Parenting Educators of Australia (CAPEA). Her internationally-accredited Lamaze Childbirth Educator training program is offered in a number of cities across Australia each year and is also accredited by the Australian College of Midwives.

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After hearing all the fuss a few years ago about the very contentious book, “This is going to hurt” by former NHS OB-GYN, Adam Kay, I watched the new TV series (on Binge if you’re interested).

Kay has been lambasted by birth workers for his misogynistic, arrogant views on childbirth and I have to say - that comes across loud and clear in the show (although I don’t think intentionally). I think most people watching think he’s funny as hell.

It also paints an utterly scathing picture of the broken National Health System in the UK. Horrendously underfunded, under resourced, staff stretched to their limits (and beyond).

I know this might come across at nitpicking, but I’ve picked up two things in this show which I am aghast made it past the medical consultants who were hired to ensure accuracy. One can only assume this included Adam Kay himself as the series is based on his own memoir.
(Cont. in comments)

After 2 very long years, I was thrilled to be able to teach an in-person Lamaze Childbirth Educator training again. And what a fabulous group I had the honour to teach! Say hello to Australia’s and Singapore’s newest Lamaze student educators who will now be studying hard towards their certification exam later this year!
#birthwellbirthright #Lamaze #Lamazechildbirtheducator #Lamazechildbirtheducation #lamazeaustralia #lamazeinternational #childbirtheducation #givebirthwithconfidence #supportnormalbirth #empoweredbirth #birthpreneur #birthpassioneer

Sometimes postpartum doula work also involves caring for your fur babies 🐈‍⬛❤️ #doula #postpartum #doulalife #postpartumdoula #motheringthemother #furbabies #newbaby

Here we go - Round 2! A second all-nighter with my Lamaze International folk @lamazechildbirth as we vision for the future of our wonderful organisation. It’s 3.20am here in Melbourne and I’m on my 5th cup of caffeine and eating cheese and crackers (what else at this crazy time of the night right??) I should definitely be more tired than I am, but I think my years of doula work has prepared me well to stay alert and focused all night! #lamaze #lamazeinternational #lamazeaustralia #lamazechildbirtheducation

Pulling the first of two all-nighters with Lamaze International @lamazechildbirth as we meet for our very first hybrid Board of Directors meeting - half of us are in Washington DC and the other half of us are attending virtually. I hope I can hang in there until 7am! LOTS of caffeine required!!!

On a more positive note, I am bursting with excitement as the proofs for Preparing for Birth arrived today! This booklet is going to look AMAZING! It’s 80 pages, full colour throughout and a totally comprehensive, evidence-based educational resource for birthing families. The booklet covers pregnancy, labour & birth, early postpartum and newborn care. So thrilled to see @mercyhealthaus purchase the booklet for their families. Preparing for Birth has also been edited for Australia with spelling, terminology and care practices updated throughout. Custom covers are available for bulk orders (1000 copies +) as well as a beautiful generic cover for smaller quantities. Send me a PM if you’d like more info! #plumtreebaby #preparingforbirth #birtheducation #childbirtheducation #informedpregnancy #evidencebased

This very unflattering selfie was taken this morning following a long night at a birth at one of Melbourne’s major maternity hospitals.

I am a naturally optimistic, glass is half full kind of person.

I am a doula who believes that a positive, empowering birth can take place in a hospital.

Or at least I WAS a doula who BELIEVED that a positive, empowering birth could take place in a hospital.

I will be honest. I am not so sure now.

I see myself becoming more jaded each birth I attend.
I am trying so incredibly hard not to be. I prep my clients for birthing in “The System” like they are swotting for their VCE.

Learning relaxation techniques, active labour positions, acupressure points, counter-pressure massage – all of that is great – but it is absolutely useless if you don’t understand “The System”.

Normal, physiological birth basically doesn’t exist in the hospital system. It is the equivalent of the Unicorn Rainbow Birth. If it happens, it is most likely sheer fluke, or because baby was essentially ready to be born in the car park.

No matter how healthy and low risk a woman is. No matter how textbook her pregnancy has been. No matter if she has a perfect BMI, a baby on the 50th centile, head down, burrowed deep in her pelvis with strong, close-together contractions. None of these factors are a match for “The System”.

I’ve heard it said that the walking through the front door of the hospital is the biggest intervention a woman will encounter.

We do not provide woman-centred respectful care.
We coerce, we bully, we intimidate, we frighten, and we flat out lie to women.

“We can’t guarantee that your baby will be okay…”
“Your baby might die…”
“If you decline an induction, we can no longer provide you with care at this hospital.”

Inductions are being performed at an all-time high. At least 30% of them for reasons that are not backed by any medical evidence whatsoever.
Cont. in comments below.

At least 20 people ahead of me in the queue at @z_e_l_d_a_bakery this morning at 9am. I hope there is something left by the time I get to the front of the line! #zeldabakery #shabbos #shabbat #shabbatshalom

I’m getting so excited for next week’s amazing Doula Conference!

The wonderful Lesley Pascuzzi and I will be talking about a women’s prison project to be launched by Lamaze Australia. Join us to learn more ❤️ #doulanetworkaustralia #doulaconferenceaustralia #lamaze #lamazechildbirtheducator #lamazeinternational #lamazeaustralia #doulaconference

Understanding the different hormones and their role during your pregnancy, birth and early postpartum is really beneficial - especially if you are hoping for a normal physiological labour and birth.

Hormones, as they say, are EVERYTHING! Our amazing bodies produce a potent cocktail of hormones that drive labour and help us to manage the intensity of labour when contractions start to get longer and closer together.

When we interrupt the normal flow of hormones with synthetic versions or with pain medications, we are highly likely to change the course of the labour from that point onwards.

Here's a quick rundown of these wonderful hormones:

Oxytocin – the hormone of love and connection. Released when we feel safe, unobserved, protected, loved.

Adrenaline – the “fight or flight” hormone. Released when we feel anxious, frightened, observed.

Beta-endorphins – nature’s “opiate” or natural pain relief. Released when our body is working hard during labour.

Relaxin - The hormone which helps our ligaments to relax and stretch during labour particularly (especially the ligaments in our pelvis which help to make room for baby!)

Prolactin – the main hormone of breastmilk synthesis. Also the parenting hormone, present in men and women. Promotes nurturing behaviours.

The amazing Dr Sarah Buckley is widely considered to be one of the world's foremost experts on the hormonal physiology of birth. We can highly recommend her wonderful book, Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering.

Be sure also to check out her amazing research on hormones - https://sarahbuckley.com/hormonal-physiology-of-childbearing-report/

#lamazeaustralia #informedbirth #lamazepregnancy #lamazeinternational #birth #childbirth #motherhood #lamaze6HBP #lamazebirthclass #childbirthclass #lamazeclasses #lamaze #lamazeeducation #evidencebasedchildbirtheducation #pregnancy #lamazechildbirtheducators #lamazeclass #parenthood #newborn #postpartum #birthhormones #oxytocin

Ok, so this might be TMI, but I just had the most fascinating conversation with my waxing therapist who is currently 35 weeks pregnant with her 2nd baby.

She told me that when she was preparing for the birth of her first baby, she watched The Handmaid’s Tale, and in particular, the harrowing free birth scene! She actually loved it and said it made her feel powerful and that’s exactly what she pictured in her head as she roared her baby girl earth side!

We often talk about the power of visualisations in birth.

What image or mantra helped you in labour? #handmaidstale #margaretatwood #birthvisualization #birthmantra #lamaze #lamazechildbirtheducator #lamazeaustralia #childbirtheducation #empoweredbirth #givebirthwithconfidence

Delicious fresh fruit platter ready for today’s Lamaze class ❤️ #birthwellbirthright #Lamaze #Lamazechildbirtheducator #Lamazechildbirtheducation #lamazeaustralia #lamazeinternational #childbirtheducation #givebirthwithconfidence #supportnormalbirth #empoweredbirth #pregnancy #prenatal #motherhood #fatherhood #parenthood #birthpreneur #birthpassioneer #parenting #parentstobe #babyontheway

Summer is here so don't forget to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide!

👕Slip on protective clothing
🧴 Slop on sunscreen (at least Factor 30)
🧢 Slap on a hat
⛱ Seek shade and
🕶 Slide on some sunnnies!

#birthwellbirthright #lamazeaustralia #lamazeinternational #birth #childbirth #motherhood #lamaze6HBP #lamazebirthclass #childbirthclass #lamazeclasses #lamaze #lamazeeducation #pregnancy #lamazechildbirtheducators #lamazeclass #sunawareness #slipslopslapseekslide #cancercouncilaustralia

Is anyone on Clubhouse?
If so, follow me! @tanyasc
#clubhouse #lamazechildbirtheducator #lamazeaustralia #birthpreneur

Contact Us

If you would like more information about childbirth classes or doula support in Melbourne, please be in touch! Send us an email info@birthwellbirthright.com or phone 0422 067 985.
You can also follow us on Facebook where we are always posting interesting news and information about pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting from Australia and around the world.

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