Pregnancy, Birth And Beyond

Are you a healthcare services consumer? Specifically - have you accessed any form of maternity healthcare services in the last few years? On Friday May 25th 2018, Sally Cusack & I spent the day up at Tweed Heads, attending a Consultation workshop as part of the governments plans to develop a National Strategic Approach to Maternity Services. The consultation was hosted by the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC). The expected outcome for the NSAMS project is a document to guide national maternity services policy.Along with about 20 other people we debated and discussed, listened and contributed to the conversation. What should maternity services look like in the future? What are the main frameworks and who are the key stakeholders? What’s missing from the current system and how do we go about attaining a system that delivers better outcomes for mothers, their babies, their families and those that work within these systems?I have the beautiful Sally Cusack in the studio, join us as we discu

In this part Bec Jenkinson looks at how often clinicians' meet the legal standard for informed consent. In a Queensland study* of the 3500+ women surveyed, only 48% of women who had had a planned caesarean section said they were fully informed and had consented to have their procedure. Seventy percent of women had were fully informed and consented to their epidural anaesthesia and 26% had been informed about or consented to their episiotomies.== Sign up to our newsletter at www.pbbmedia.org for more updates and request to join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation and get support in giving/receiving respectful maternity care by writing to hello@pbbmedia.org. ==* Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies: "Having a Baby in Queensland", 2010 Copyright Bec Jenkinson and PBB Media 2018All 4 episodes:www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/a-close-look-at-informed-consent-part-1-www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/a-close-look-at-informed-consent-part-2-www.spreaker.com/user/pregna

PBB Talks: A Close Look at Informed Consent - for women and cliniciansDr Bec Jenkinson speaking before a live audience at Gold Coast University Hospital, Australia on 21 April 2018 on informed decision making in maternity care. A mother, Cindy, also shares her experience of negotiating within the maternity care system to get the care she wanted.== Sign up to our newsletter at www.pbbmedia.org for more updates and request to join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation and get support in giving/receiving respectful maternity care by writing to hello@pbbmedia.org. =="For consent to be valid, it must be freely given, ie without coercion or inducement... and can't be trumped by hospital policy." Bec JenkinsonReference: The White Ribbon Alliance - Respectful Maternity Care: https://www.whiteribbonalliance.org/resources/Copyright Bec Jenkinson and PBB Media 2018All 4 episodes:www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/a-close-look-at-informed-consent-part-1-www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthand

Bec addresses here the underlying medico-legal and cultural concerns of clinicians (ie their individual "lines in the sand"), and gives tips for women on how to assess recommendations of care.== Sign up to our newsletter at www.pbbmedia.org for more updates and request to join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation and get support in giving/receiving respectful maternity care by writing to hello@pbbmedia.org. ==Copyright Bec Jenkinson, PBB Media 2018Recorded before a live audience at Gold Coast Univ Hospital on 21 April 2018.All 4 episodes:www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/a-close-look-at-informed-consent-part-1-www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/a-close-look-at-informed-consent-part-2-www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/a-close-look-at-informed-consent-part-3-www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/a-close-look-at-informed-consent-part-4-

In this part, Bec Jenkinson hands over to Helen, a mother seeking a VBAC who "wanted to make sure everything was OK for me and my baby... I just wanted to be heard". A story of two very different responses to her wishes from two different hospitals...Closing remarks given by Griffith University Professor Jennifer Fenwick and Sally Cusack from PBB Media.== Sign up to our newsletter at www.pbbmedia.org for more updates and request to join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation and get support in giving/receiving respectful maternity care by writing to hello@pbbmedia.org. ==References:* www.patientopinion.org.au - to check for patients' opinions of hospitals around Australia* http://www.choosingwisely.org.au/resources/consumers/5-questions-to-ask-your-doctor* Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers - all hospitals must consult with their consumers in the design of their health services and for their individual care: http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Standard2_Oct_2012_W

Liz Ellis is arguably Australia’s most well-loved netball athlete. She played for Australia 122 times and captained the national netball team for four years; she won two world championships and two commonwealth games. But for Liz, having children came with five years of fertility challenges. She has written a guide to shine the light for others, "If at First you don't Conceive". Listen to our interview with her here.(NB Please be aware that there is some background noise of Liz's young child, however subtle).First aired on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay on Monday 21 May 2018.Copyright PBB Media, Kimberley Lipschus 2018

Eat whole foods, fruit and vegetables, get rest and get in touch with your body. Not what you’d expect from a naturopath? Well Kim Piper, aka Kim the Naturopath has a lot to say about well being and about hormones and this is a vital part. Hormones - we all have them, and fertility, pregnancy and post natal/partum are key times for learning to manage them for optimum health. Check out some of her wisdom in this episode. References: http://kimthenaturopath.com/Presenter: Kimberley LipschusCopyrightPBB Media 2018, Kimberley LipschusFirst aired on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay, Australia on 16 April 2018.Image credit: Katie Smith on unsplash.com

The difficult plebiscite process for same sex marriage in 2017 highlighted the enormous discrimination and ignorance faced by same sex couples.  These challenges are often accentuated for same sex couples when they decide to start a family.   In this program, we’ll explore the landscape of same sex parenting with renowned local psychotherapist and educator, Monique Rutherford.  From starting a family, raising children and affirming relationship, same sex couples do this all on the backdrop of an often discriminative, heteronormative culture.  Host Sean Tonnet speaks with Monique Rutherford about her lived and professional experience of the issues of same sex parenting.References:www.moniquerutherford.com.auFirst aired on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay, Australia on Monday 30 April 2018.Copyright Sean TonnetPBB Media 2018Other references:Interrelatewww.interrelate.org.auCircle of Security www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/

Mothers in Business - the first years is the topic of our show today, we are excited to have two gorgeous mothers from our local community here in the Northern Rivers of NSW, Meggie Danielson & Alona Rosenberg of WeMove studio in Mullumbimby and many more adventures! We are looking into the life of mothers over a series of 6 shows in the coming year and this episode here is our first. We wanted to look at the joys and challenges of being a mother and small business owner servicing the local community. We’re also in the business of celebrating women and acknowledging the unique needs & desires mothers have for themselves, their families and communities here at PBB. Wonderful today, both our guests migrated to Australia and have chosen our beautiful shire as the place to raise their children.This episode of Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond podcast was produced, written and presented by Annalee Atia. It first aired Live on 99.9 BayFM (Byron Bay, Australia) on Monday 23rd April, 2018. Interviewees: Meggie Da

Our guest Vanessa Wood is mother to two beautiful boys, she is a practicing Naturopath of 10 years, and a shamanic craftswoman who oversees and participates in several Women’s circles and has been a magnificent flash-mob 80’s dancer with the famed Cassettes. There has been a resurgence of women’s agency and the value of women individually and as part of society. We have been watching as this unfolds, unfurls and sometimes becomes undone. We have been watching it in the media, around the world in different countries and in our own lives, with our women friends, women in our family and women around us in the community. We have been watching it unravel with in us, too. It can feel uncomfortable, empowering, inspiring dangerous.. Women have been silent in so many many ways for so many centuries. In fact, Dr Amanda Furman who wrote and presented a groundbreaking 4-part series on the history of women called - The Ascent of Woman delves deeply into the place of women in society over the course of written history. Sh

Through his own experiences as a father, Dr John (Jack) Travis came to see how the normalised disconnection and separation of babies from their parents (eg through forced sleep schedules, isolation in cots) rather than recognising a baby's needs for closeness has created generations of families that struggle to keep together. Jack calls a father's negative reactions after the arrival of a baby "Male Postpartum Abandonment Syndrome" and shares many ideas and resources for healing.NOTE: Guest mic issues are fixed in 2nd half of this episode.Interviewers: Sean Tonnet, Sally CusackDr John Travis:* Connected Couples, Thriving Families: www.connectedandthriving.org* Alliance for Transforming the Lives of Children, www.aTLC.org* Meryn Callander, "Why Dads Leave", www.whydadsleave.com * John Travis, "MPAS In a Nutshell", www.tinyurl.com/MPASNutshellResources recommended by Jack:* Jed Diamond, "The Irritable Male Syndrome" , www.theirritablemale.com* James Prescott's Somato-Sensory Affectional Deprivational Syndrome (

The power imbalances in today's masculinity overwhelmingly impact women, but they also fail boys and men in so many ways, leading to intractable loneliness and 'wordless rage', as described by author Tim Winton. Tim's latest book The Shepherd's Hut traces the change the main character young Jaxie makes as he breaks away from toxicity to something different by being exposed to different ways to being a man. Tim's hope for all boys and men is they too can break away and find their way to peace, which for him was found in surfing, relationships and learning to express himself. Interviewed by Luke Addinsall and Sally Cusack.Copyright 2018PBB Media, Sally CusackCredits:Guest: Tim Winton, Author of The Shepherd's HutProducer: Sally CusackCo-interviewer: Luke AddinsallOther references:* Dr John Travis, co-founder of the Alliance for the Transforming the Lives of Children* David Leser, journalist "Men, Women and the Whole Damn Thing" https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/the-great-sexual-reckoning-how-did-we-get-here--

De-stigmatising mental health and supporting stronger familiesThe celebrations and challenges of raising children can be a rich, diverse journey for all of us. Even when we are feeling mentally strong, there are moments when life, relationships and parenting is a bumpy road. For 1 in 10 people, living with a personality disorder and parenting can add a tremendous strain to our family experiences and bonds. An umbrella term for more commonly referred to conditions like borderline, narcissism, obsessive compulsive, avoidant and schizotypal, personality disorder can cause significant distress and impairment for the person and families. In this episode, I'll be traversing the mindscape of personality disorders, wellness, parenting and relationships with Dr Michelle Townsend; a Research Fellow at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute and Project Air Strategy for Personality Disorders at the University of Wollongong. Shining a light on a rarely recognised area of parenting, this show will help de-m

This episode we feature life on the front lines of midwifery. My guest Ti Harrison has been a midwife for the past 27 years and has worked across all models of care and around the world. Ti recently performed at the Vagina Conversations 2018, Byron Bay. Ti shares her monologue and we discuss further different aspects of this well crafted written piece. Warning some aspects of this episodes contains sensitive content. We are talking about women's bodies and in-particular about women's vaginas. Topics: Vagina Birth trauma Consent Vagina examinations MidwiferyProducer & host: Lara MartinGuest: Ti Harrison

Many parents or carers of teens and tweens are painfully aware how quickly their young child who bounded with energy, confidence and enthusiasm can flip. Like a switch has been clicked their child suddenly is unrecognisable. Dr Arne Rubinstein is an expert on adolescent development and passionate advocate for supporting young people to transition to young men, with a toolbox of skills. Interviewee: Dr Arne Rubinstein, Founder, The Making of Menand The Rites of Passage Institutethemakingofmen.com/Copyright 2018PBB Media, Kimberley Lipschuswww.kimberleylipschus.comFirst aired on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay, Australia on 26 February 2018.

Author Isobelle Carmody shares her experiences of imbuing her journey as a mother with creativity, bringing her daughter Adelaide every step of the way. Isobelle relished the time she had during Adelaide's childhood to re-explore the world through a child’s eyes, allowing her to access ever more characters and worlds to write about.Presenter and Producer: Sally CusackCopyright 2018 PBB Media, Sally CusackFirst aired on 99.9 BayFM on 5 March 2018.www.isobellecarmody.net"The Ice Maze" Music by adelaidethegirl on Soundcloud

A pregnant person or couple have many expectations about their birth, their baby, and parenthood. They dream into what it will be like to give birth, what they’re baby will be like, and what parenthood will turn into for them. In this episode Kimberley Lipschus chats with new parents Sophie Eadie and Chris Magick, and with baby Harlow. What was the reality of life with a baby, versus their expectations before giving birth? Copyright 2018 PBB Media, Kimberley Lipschuskimberleylipschus.comFirst aired on 99.9 BayFM in February 2018Photo by jens johnsson on Unsplash

In this episode we meet Kate Speedy, who embarked on a massive journey of transformation when she discovered her father was to transition to being female. This was 20 years ago when Kate was just 19, and living in a world that held very different views to the one now where we are all transitioning to greater understanding of the diversity of gender identity.More information, go to: http://www.pbbmedia.org/ne-plus-ultra/my-father-helenand: http://www.pbbmedia.org/ne-plus-ultra/our-first-show-on-gender-sexual-diversityPhoto by paul morris on UnsplashCopyright 2018 Kimberley LipschusPBB MediaPresenter and producer: Kimberley Lipschuswww.kimberleylipschus.com

Grace Lee shares her three very different birth stories in three different countries, from caesarean section to VBAC to water birth in home-like setting. Grace's husband Ritchie is a student midwife, having made a huge career change a couple of years ago out of the US Navy. You can hear my first interview with Ritchie here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/ritchie-student-midwifeAired on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay Australia on 28 August 2017 and the Community Radio Network on 1 September 2017.Presenter: Sally CusackThanks to the Lee Family for so generously sharing their experiences.Further information and references:Specialised counselling to recover from birth trauma: www.birthtalk.orghttp://www.pbbmedia.org/ne-plus-ultra/grace-unleashedhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000012.pub4/abstract (Impacts of environment on birth)

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.”― Jack KerouacThis episode of Pregnancy Birth and Beyond we climb that mountain with our guest Taneal Cadou-blake who has recently returned to her home town of Byron Bay in Australia, after three and a half years of travel and living abroad with her family. Taneal, her husband Lalo and their four youngest children packed up all their belongings, took the plunge and set off abroad on a family adventure. Topics covered: Travel with family; Home school; Living minimally; Shoe string budget travel. Host: Lara Martin and Sally Cusack.