BLIND FAITH is “belief without true understanding, perception or discrimination”.

So BLIND FAITH is when someone puts their faith into something without any evidence.

Once upon a time – not so long ago – most people had absolute blind faith in teachers, doctors, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists and everyone had blind faith and respect for their parents.  Children were taught this from a very early age and so grew a generation or two that did not question anyone in ‘authority’.   As many adults could now report, as a child, it was simply not in ones DNA to question.  This indeed made for a simple life in many ways, well, certainly for those in authority.  As a child I did exactly as my parents told me and had a strong understanding that I must have total respect for my teachers and anyone wearing a uniform.  It was a given.  Those in ‘authority’ were right – end of story!

The problems this thinking created was unprecedented power to those in authority, many of whom abuse this in sometimes quite shocking ways.  It provides an unbalanced and unhealthy relationship.

THE BENEFIT OF QUESTIONING

Questioning is a major form of human thought and interpersonal communication. It involves employing a series of questions to explore an issue, an idea or something intriguing. Questioning is the process of forming and wielding that serves to develop answers and insight.

No-one can make a truly Informed Decision without questioning, without doing due diligence, without shopping around so you can make the right choice for you.  Having BLIND FAITH simply gives all the power to one person and in the case of pregnancy care and birthing choices, every woman has the right to question as all her decisions are being made on behalf of her unborn baby.

Take the case of one young ‘pregnant’ Dad, a 38 yr old professional whose partner was due to give birth in a few weeks.  Booked with a private doctor and private hospital and when invited to ask questions his reply was  – “I don’t have any questions or concerns, I haven’t done any reading or Googling because I have total faith in the doctor and hospital to deliver my baby and do the right thing”!  WOW!  So no faith in your partner to birth your baby???

This is quite extraordinary and concerning.  Once you become pregnant you begin your parenting journey – from conception.  Every test, ultrasound or other invasive procedure impact the unborn baby.  You have a responsibility to question – everything!  To show the baby you ‘have his back’, to reassure you will not let anyone do anything to jeopardise his physical, emotional and mental well-being in utero or on the outside.  This is a basic human right for the unborn baby.  Do not hand over your child’s welfare to anyone without questioning.  It is Your labour, Your birth, and Your baby.  It is no other person or institution’s responsibility.  Begin at conception and always teach your baby/child to question.  A hospital is not going to ‘deliver’ your baby.  A doctor is not going to ‘deliver’ your baby.  You are a birthing woman and you can birth your baby.  Pregnancy and birth is not a medical issue.  It is a very normal event in a woman’s life.  Take charge and be empowered and question – everything until you are satisfied with the answers.

When pregnant for the first time, it is a brand new event in a couple’s life.  It does not come with a manual, although there have been many attempts, in the form of books, television, and movies and with no previous experience it is often difficult to know what to ask and most importantly what answers you should be getting.

This is why I highly recommend hiring a doula who is experienced in guiding you through this process, protecting your rights and empowering you to make the right decisions for you and your baby     https://birthright.com.au/doulas/find-a-birth-right-doula/

You can also find a list of questions to ask in my book:  Birth Right

https://birthright.com.au/product/birth-right/

Most importantly do not hand over your birthing power to anyone.  It is yours to keep and hold onto.

Letting go of emotional baggage will free you to create your desired future.  Having and holding on to negative emotions changes brain chemistry.  This altered chemistry perpetuates more negative thinking and a downward spiral begins.

Negative emotions are not safe for the body.  Each negative emotion has an impact and can contribute to health problems such as:

Anger:  heart attack, raised cholesterol

Sadness:  weakened immune system, depression

Fear:  excessive stress, PTSD, phobia

Guilt:  lowered healing energy

When you feel good, your brain releases chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, kicking you into survival mode. So in every sense, the things we think and the things we feel are able to impact us physically in quite profound ways.

People HAVE behaviours, they are NOT their behaviours.  Each person has inside them all the resources they need to make change happen.  All that is needed is new information and strategies to assist in making the change.

MEMORIES AND YOUR TIME LINE

Your “Time Line” is how you unconsciously store your memories or how you unconsciously know the difference between a memory from the past and a projection of the future.  Behavioural change in an individual takes place at an unconscious level.  People don’t change consciously.  The Time Line Therapy® process allows you to work at the unconscious level and release the effects of past negative experiences and change “inappropriate” programming in minutes rather than days, months or years.

WHAT IS TIME LINE® THERAPY

Time Line® Therapy is a process that assists in:

1. Letting go of negative emotions from the past
2. Letting go of limiting decisions from the past
3. Creating a future that you want

Negative Emotions – Time Line Therapy® techniques allow freedom from undesired negative emotions such as anger, fear, sadness and anxiety, by releasing these emotions from the memories that harvest them.  A person is then able to react freely to future situations – without the emotional baggage of the past

Limiting decisions and beliefs prevent you from achieving your potential. These decisions and beliefs have come about as a result of past experiences but may have stayed with you and have limited your life in many ways. Time Line Therapy® techniques allow you to leave these decisions and beliefs in the past where they belong and to learn from your experiences. This gives you the opportunity to create useful and empowering alternatives.

Creating Your Future – Time Line Therapy® gives you a specific way of creating your future dreams and goals in a simple process that produces results

Are negative emotions holding you back from achieving what you want in life?

If you want to gain emotional control over your life then Time Line Therapy® together  with some hypnotherapy techniques, will allow you to eliminate many issues in your past, freeing you to move forward and create goals and desires you want.

Contact:  Susan Ross to make an appointment:  0419 606 171  e:  susanmrossO@gmail.com

Hypnotherapist, NLP Coach, Time Line® Therapist

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BABY

Everything a pregnant woman thinks and feels is transmitted to her unborn baby through neuro-hormones.  A baby also becomes aware of his Dad’s communication during pregnancy.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-grey-area-barnaby-joyce-raises-doubts-over-whether-he-s-the-biological-father-of-vikki-campion-s-baby-20180303-p4z2ob.html

Most pregnant women are very aware of the damage alcohol, nicotine and other drugs can do to the unborn baby, but many are not aware that maternal anxiety, depression or stress alters the intelligence and personality of her unborn baby by altering the wiring in their brain.

During the journey of growth and development for the 9 months in utero the unborn baby registers every experience in the circuitry of his or her brain.  Whenever a mother strokes her baby, whenever a father plays with his baby/child, those physiological acts will be instantly converted to neuro-hormonal processes that transform the body and wire the brain of the child.

Evidence that babies are sensitive, cognitive and vulnerable to trauma from experiences in the womb and at birth comes from various sources.  There are many women who have a natural connection and exchange of thoughts and feelings with their unborn baby, acknowledging their unborn baby is an aware person with whom they can converse and receive responses.  Laying down this loving, intelligent blueprint is an essential responsibility that many pregnant women assume.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWgp4f0xOe0&authuser=1

So when you have a very public statement from a ‘father’ announcing to the world that he is unsure if he is the biological father of his unborn child, imagine how that must feel for that baby.  And yes, know that baby is very aware of this turmoil and stress with his mother and ‘queried’ father.

Every child deserves to know who they are and where they have come from.  That is, who is my mother and who is my father.  Your identity is essential to healthy emotional and social growth and is the RIGHT of every baby.  Surely this statement from Joyce shows a lack of intelligence but most importantly, absolute disrespect for an unborn baby’s rights.

At our Inside Birth® prenatal classes you will learn the importance of emotional and intelligent connection with the unborn baby and how to lay down a beautiful imprint, preparing for a beautiful welcome to the outside world.  Book now with one of our Inside Birth® Educators here:  https://birthright.com.au/inside-birth-delivering-antenatal-classes-differently/find-an-inside-birth-educator/

 

Weaning an older child requires patience and understanding.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing and you are giving your baby the best start in life.  It is a powerful, beautiful connection that is indescribable to anyone who has not had this experience.  Breastfeeding is the key cementing bond which lasts a lifetime between mother and child.

My children are close together in age and I was pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 5 years – non stop!   I breastfed my first until I was 24 weeks pregnant with my second baby and then breastfed him until he was 3 years old.  By then, I was very tired, very exhausted, very drained (literally) and those 5 years are a bit of a blur, but I loved it and would do the same again, but make sure I had a whole lot more support.

It is a real challenge to wean an older child.   Generally, if the child has not initiated weaning naturally by about 18 months, then the weaning needs to be mother initiated.

WHY DO MOTHERS WANT TO WEAN

There are many reasons why women want to wean their older child.  The obvious ones are returning to work, demands of other children and partner demands.

Other reasons include:

• Over-whelming tiredness, often accompanied by understandable low iron levels.
• Very restrictive for time management
• Dealing with other people’s comments and stares when out in public
• Family pressure
• Managing work, family and breastfeeding seems impossible at times
• ‘I want my body back – especially my breasts’ is a common catchcry

WHY WOMEN FIND WEANING CHALLENGING

• GUILT – I think we marry guilt when we have children
• FEAR – of mastitis and other stuff
• FEAR – of having a very upset child, therefore more guilt
• FEAR of it not working and easily ‘giving in’ and therefore having to start all over again – at some point
• WORRY over ‘am I doing the right thing at the right time’ and will this do any long term psychological damage to my child
• Pressure from partners/family

WHY CHILDREN WANT TO CONTINUE BREASTFEEDING

Of course it can become just a habit – a very comforting habit but for many older children it is about keeping Mum close and it is their only way (in their mind) of being reassured of love and connection, especially if Mum is busy with other children and activities.

SEPARATION

A child does not see themselves as a separate person from their Mum until around 3 years.  So separation is the main event that makes weaning very difficult for the child.  Separation happens if Mum is returning to work, if child is placed in a child care centre, if child is in the care of other family members on a regular basis, and many other scenarios.  We all have ‘separation’ from our babies/children and it is about how that is managed that can make all the difference to weaning.

SOME TIPS ON WEANING AN OLDER CHILD

1. Pick the right time – it is not the right time if Mum is returning to work or any of the above scenarios.  Pick a time when your child is in a really happy stage of development and family life is running relatively smoothly – it’s never perfect!
2. Try and replace some daytime feeds with other distractions – NOT an ipad but replace with lots of cuddles, tickling games, engaged play – anything that keeps you both really close, physically, and is interesting enough to distract.
3. Talk with your child. This works brilliantly if you show them you understand their need for closeness and bonding and introduce them to other ways of having that special bond, just with Mum.
4. If your child has a doll or teddy they are particularly attached to, this can be a great way of transferring the conversation about weaning.
5. Cooking – introducing new flavour sensations with some special cooking time with just Mum is also a great distraction.
6. Relax and take the pressure off.  Look after yourself and trust the slow and gentle approach

Know this is not a quick fix.  Weaning at any age is a process that happens more quickly for some children while others take much longer.

It is important to acknowledge why your child still wants you close through the very special bond that is breastfeeding.  Take a step back and look at what else is happening in your life and why they may be ‘hanging on’ to this breastfeeding time and look at how you can wean them slowly and gently into feeling safe and confident with separating.

Don’t expect miracles overnight.

Remember every child is different.  What worked for one will not necessarily work for others.

Be patient and embrace the weaning with much love, understanding and respect for your child’s needs –  it will be worth it in the long run.

I am very selective about the value I put on this Inside Birth® Educator training and accreditation, and not everyone understands the values of ‘education from conception’.

Taking this training will change your self-image and transform you on a deeply personal level.

You cannot teach this to pregnant couples until your belief systems are altered and changed, about how new beings are created, grown, birthed and parented.  You first must have your core beliefs challenged for personal development and personal growth.

This Inside Birth® Training gives you the opportunity of understanding ‘mind imprinting’ from a higher logical level.  It will change your neurology.

A successful Educator knows you must not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk.  An Inside Birth® Educator affects change and produces results.  You master the program and content of Inside Birth®.

Everything you learn to teach is about excellence.  Everything you gain is about confidence in presenting.

I provide ongoing mentoring and you will build business skills that are a must if you are to have a real impact.

When you have graduated the commitment is to ‘go teach this stuff’.  Mastering something takes discipline, persistence and focus.  This is a journey of personal transformation and growth for you and your clients.

You will become an empowered Inside Birth® Educator.  It’s the belief that you, as one, matter, that YOU CAN make a difference and affect change for unborn babies and their parents.  You will be on a path that is so worth it!

Book training NOW and save with Early Bird Discount!

https://birthright.com.au/training/inside-birth-childbirth-educator-training/

When you study at our training academy I request that all trainees come with an open mind.  For our 4 day face to face Inside Birth® Educator training there is no prerequisite reading or study before attendance.  Why?

If you cannot change your mind you cannot change anything

Many people find being open-minded very challenging.  We have all grown up with a fairly fixed set of beliefs and values, and it can be difficult to truly be open-minded and make change happen.

There are so many advantages when you can open the door to your mind and let new ideas and beliefs enter.

Those who are open-minded are willing to change their views when presented with new facts and evidence.

It is much more difficult to learn and embrace new ideas if you arrive at training with a set of preconceived views.

I want you to come with a blank slate, so you can learn, absorb, engage and have space to let new knowledge enter the mind – and settle.  This also makes the training tantalisingly anticipatory, exciting and stimulating.

INSIDE BIRTH® – ‘delivering prenatal classes differently’

Becoming an Inside Birth® Educator and learning how to teach at this level sets out to challenge entrenched old beliefs.  You will have the opportunity throughout these 4 days to discover where your views, your fears and anxieties come from and the importance of being open-minded when you are teaching these skills.

You will learn:  ‘to be present’, to communicate for effective change, to teach hypnosis and some NLP techniques, how to engage a group, and teach the importance of creating the right blueprint in the subconscious mind of an unborn baby – from conception.

During the 4 day training you will be taken to a new level of birth knowledge and how to let go of what you no longer need

You will learn:  that being open-minded will give you the gift of heightened insight and wisdom

If you want a change of career that sets you up for making change happen in pregnancy, labour, birthing and parenting – honestly, simply and powerfully, then check out our Early Bird Offers here:

https://birthright.com.au/training/inside-birth-childbirth-educator-training/

Taking advice from an expert is what many people accept without question, especially when it comes to pregnancy, birthing and parenting.  It has become a very competitive business.

• I don’t take financial advice from people who are broke or cannot demonstrate their wealth
• I don’t take health advice from unhealthy people
• I don’t take advice from people with toxic or boring relationships
• I don’t take business advice from people who have failed in business
• I don’t take advice from psychic or spiritual people who are unhappy

HANDING OVER YOUR POWER

What happens when a pregnant woman takes advice from a pregnancy and birthing ‘expert’?  She hands over her power, which gives the ‘expert’ an opportunity to promote their agenda.

Pregnancy is not a sickness or disease and no woman should be told HOW to have a pregnancy, give birth and then it gets even worse! – how to parent.

Of course women feel overwhelmed at the beginning of their pregnancy – probably because they are suddenly bombarded with so much ‘advice’.

The negative effects of this often prevents a true connection with their newly forming baby.  A woman simply does not have time, or energy because she is so busy booking appointments, checking out what she should and should not eat, drink, exercise and following the often ‘well-meaning’ advice from friends, relatives and work colleagues.

So what if there was a way you could make the necessary decisions, without giving over your power?

HOLDING ON TO YOUR POWER

It is challenging to put the hand up and STOP the ‘advice’ pouring in.

But many feel they have no knowledge and don’t know where to start.

Book an early consultation (Skype available or face to face) with me and I will walk you through how to shop around, ask the right questions and most importantly what answers you should be receiving.

Every decision you make you are making on behalf of your unborn baby.

The most important part of pregnancy is to take time to ‘still the mind’ and truly connect with your unborn baby.  You have the knowledge, deep within, and the ‘advice’ must be put in its box, to give you an opportunity to tap in to what you really feel is right for you and your unborn baby.

Check out the list of questions in my book – what you should be asking caregivers and hospitals?  Or book an appointment.

0419 606 171

susan@birthright.com.au

 

 

It’s all in the MIND! – the most important component of conception, birthing and parenting.

Preparation for planning to conceive, for a man and a woman, is important for an enjoyable pregnancy, labour, birth and a happy healthy baby, physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

Most women are aware of the physical preparation, like healthy eating, stop smoking, drinking alcohol, and being physically fit.  But birth is much more than just a physical event.  You bring to this your whole life history, your life experiences, your relationships, belief system, lifestyle and societal conditioning.  Whilst being physically well prepared is essential, what is going on in your mind is critical to how conception and birth unfold.

DID YOU KNOW your mind does not forget things but simply files all your life experiences away in the subconscious mind, including your views about birth which were formed when you were in utero.

Healing negative experiences and thought patterns is vital so as not to pass on to the next generation and repeat unwanted familial behaviours.

We therefore must start with how you were conceived, grown, birthed and parented and heal any negative experiences from your subconscious mind.  This will give you the perfect opportunity to create a new little human, with a welcoming, loving and positive mindset.

DID YOU KNOW that hypnosis is the best way to retrieve unconscious memories that may have an unknown but unwanted impact on your life and decision making.

THE HYPNOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES THAT I USE WILL HELP YOU:

• Identify and heal any fears and limiting beliefs
• Release patterns of negative behaviour or habits
• Connect with your intuition and learn to trust yourself
• Train your subconscious mind to have a positive mindset about birthing and parenting
• Understand the power you hold to set the blueprint for your baby’s life (in utero)
• Understand all the fun ways to communicate with your unborn baby – from conception
• Empower confidence and trust in your ability to create and develop a new human, just the way you choose

THINKING ABOUT CREATING A NEW HUMAN?   Or JUST PREGNANT? – First and foremost make a commitment to heal your mind for the optimum environment for conception and pregnancy.

Book an appointment today with Susan Ross:  0419 606 171  or susan@birthright.com.au

 

“You know, on our particular night, on the night that beautiful Eva was born, having a doula didn’t seem to make a difference. We laboured alone in our house until about 3 am – this was an extraordinary and scary and beautiful and momentous period – and then I made the call to her. Susan drove over to our place and then shortly after, we went independently into the birth centre. Sarah continued to labour there until 11 am when Eva was born in the bath.                                                                                                                        

Things went well, we were in control. This is probably the key to what made Susan such a great doula – she was present without being a presence. In the lead up, she made an enormous difference – she (and her book) asked us to ask good questions, she is clear without being prescriptive and she possesses great integrity around the pregnancy and birthing process, her knowledge of hospital and midwifery structures is superlative.

She also took some beautiful pictures.”  Nigel

 

The most important 7 words written in this testimonial “she was present without being a presence”.  These powerful words are the key to being a doula.

DOULA TRAINING AT BIRTH RIGHT

• You will learn how to tap in to your own power, how to separate from any personal experience of birth, to be present as an aware, intuitive and connected doula.
• You will learn how to think outside the square
• You will learn about guiding a pregnant woman and her partner to question and research, understanding every decision in pregnancy is being made on behalf of their baby
• You will learn the importance of silence and being calm
• You will know how to apply creative thinking in the birthing space
• You will learn how to support with confidence

Make 2018 the year that you choose to ‘make a difference’.  There is a lot wrong in the world today but imagine the power of influencing the outcome of how a new person is grown, birthed and connected with his Mum and Dad.

Let’s make the world a better place – become a doula!

https://birthright.com.au/training/birth-post-natal-doula-training/

When should communication with your baby begin?

1. From conception

What is the most important type of communication?

2.  Talking

I had a pregnant woman recently in one of our Inside Birth® classes who stated she could never do this as ‘it’ wasn’t real yet and felt she was just carrying around a blob.  This woman appeared otherwise, intelligent.

Only 100 years ago experts in psychology and paediatrics were teaching that a baby at birth was virtually blind, had no sense of colour and heard very little – just echoes.  Textbooks showed that a baby could not know about change in temperatures at birth and that ‘emotion’ was something that developed a long time after birth.  It was accepted that it was not possible for a baby in the womb to learn, hear, remember, connect, or find any meaning in their experiences in the womb.

It is disturbing to find some of these views still exist, among professionals and parents.  No wonder people find it hard to believe that a traumatic birth, either caesarean or vaginal can have a lifetime of consequences.

Evidence today shows that a baby in utero is sensitive, cognitive and vulnerable to trauma from experiences in the womb and at birth.  Many women know their unborn baby is an aware person, and understand and enjoy a powerful and intimate connection in utero.  Thoughts and feelings are quite naturally shared.

Mothers who communicate most with their unborn baby know that this small person has a mind and soul with understanding, sensitivity and purpose.

But so often today a woman’s intuitive knowledge is dismissed by many in the medical world, to the point where women themselves are losing their belief in trusting their intuition, this innate power.

THE POWER IS WITH YOU

Any woman who is pregnant should feel hugely proud and grateful for you are creating the next generation AND all the power for how that unfolds belongs to you.  This is an amazing privilege which should not be taken for granted.

Life is busy!  It is the boring catchphrase of the 21^st century, BUT you must respect your time and live in the NOW with your baby – every minute of pregnancy is precious.

So you have chosen to make a baby and therefore accept responsibility for parenting – FROM CONCEPTION.  This is the extraordinarily fun time of parenting.

You hold all the power in creating a new human being, to love, to educate, to guide, to protect, to socialise, with a whole lot of skills, well before baby is born.

Imagine developing such a deep and meaningful relationship with your unborn baby and just how that will transfer to a wonderful labour and birth.  Women who have a real and deep connection with their unborn baby are able to work together during labour and birth, both enjoying the passage from Inside to Outside, both keen to meet on the outside.

COMMUNICATION IS SIMPLE

Just talk to your baby.  Tell him about your world, your hopes and dreams for him, about who is in your family, where you live, where you work, who are your friends…..the list is endless.  Here are a few tips, and once you start you will have so much fun teaching and showing your baby just what it’s like on the outside, and your connection will grow deeper every day of your pregnancy.  Dad’s need to do a bit more planning to connect with their baby in utero and have a whole lot of important ‘Dad stuff’ to share, so make time and the responses will reward you.

1. When you wake in the morning – say hello to your baby and tell him how you are feeling and ask how he is – you will be amazed at the answers you will receive
2. Talk to him whilst showering. Explain the beautiful warmth of the shower and how relaxed it makes you feel.  Check with him if he also finds it relaxing (he will, because you do)
3. Give him a guided tour of your home, especially where he will be sleeping and any preparations you are making for him.
4. Tell him all about your kitchen, what you like to eat, how does he feel when you eat that vindaloo curry – is it O.K. for him?
5. Tell him all about your job. Explain that during the day at work you need to concentrate on work stuff and so that would be a good time for him to have a sleep.
6. Introduce him to music, read books, go for walks and talk to him.

Your unborn baby is busy learning and imprinting everything he hears on the outside so take this golden opportunity and have fun.  You will have a wonderful birth and a happy contented baby on the outside, secure in the knowledge that he is loved and wanted.

To learn more book an Inside Birth class today:

https://birthright.com.au/antenatal-classes/find-an-inside-birth-educator/

BIRTH CLASSES

There are so many prenatal classes that teach different ‘tools’ for pregnant women to learn how to give birth. Women and their partners attend, in the hope of learning skills that will assist their labour and birth and often with the clear intention of avoiding medical intervention. Women are anxious to ‘get it right’ and practice the various skills taught.
Skills vary from pregnancy yoga classes, teaching different positions for labour and birth, anatomy and physiology – understanding how it all works!, visualisation techniques, affirmations, mantra’s to say in labour, massage, breathing and the list goes on…………

BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES THIS SAY TO A WOMAN?

It clearly sends the message that you do not know how to labour and give birth, you must learn our special techniques so you can ‘do it properly’.
It shows one person as the expert and the pregnant woman as the uneducated student who must follow certain teachings
It promises ‘relief’ from…….whatever it is that woman is fearful of……
The message sent is disempowering, undermining, often humiliating, and can be frightening. Yes, very frightening. There are certain prenatal classes where the childbirth educator seems to almost take pride in telling couples horror statistics of medical intervention. Some time ago I worked in a private hospital in the middle of a large city. The obstetricians and anaesthetists were alarmed, as my team at the time, discussed and encouraged normal birth. These doctors insisted that we must change our narrative to promote the benefits of epidurals and elective caesarean sections – because that’s what women want! Shocking but true!

EMPOWERMENT

The dictionary defines this as:
“the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights”

Unfortunately this is often a misused word in the birthing world. It is a fabulous word which I love, but it does not seem to be working very well for many birthing women because what they learn in classes does not necessarily convert to the normal birthing experience they were hoping for. This leads to disappointment, feelings of failure and can be a contributing factor to postnatal depression.
Most women focus on getting their body fit and healthy either before but certainly during pregnancy. Common goals are to cut down or eliminate caffeine, smoking, sugar, fatty foods, alcohol and to increase physical fitness.
Whilst this is all important and necessary, the missing link to gaining true control and empowerment is in THE MIND.

CHANGING THE STORY

True empowerment and belief in your confidence to grow, birth and parent, comes from firstly changing the birthing story in the subconscious mind of the pregnant woman. This story was imprinted when you were in utero and secured as a true belief when you were birthed. If it is a negative story, then the story must be re-written in a positive way. This is the key to creating a ‘normal’, positive belief about birthing. This is the key to enjoying an amazing connection with your baby in utero. This is the key learning how to create a beautiful imprint for your unborn baby. And this is the key to you enjoying a wonderful, empowering birth.

HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE STORY?

This is simple and can easily be achieved through hypnosis. You will learn with our Inside Birth® classes that THE MIND is the focus. Learning how this works, will not only ensure a wonderful pregnancy and birth but you will discover an absolute power that is totally in your control.

Note: some women have an extraordinary amount of fears about pregnancy, labour and birth. I suggest additional hypnotherapy sessions to support what you learn at Inside Birth®.  To make an appointment please contact me at susan@birthright.com.au

Note:  if you are pregnant then check out our Inside Birth® educators here: https://birthright.com.au/antenatal-classes/find-an-inside-birth-educator/

Note:  if you would like to become an Inside Birth® Educator check out our training dates here:  https://birthright.com.au/training/inside-birth-childbirth-educator-training/

Advance Your Career, Business & Your Life

In just 4 days you will have the opportunity to become certified as an Inside Birth® Educator, so you will have the necessary skills to set up your very own Inside Birth® business the day after your training finishes.

This education will show the importance of parenting from conception, and understanding the relationship between mind/body/baby/emotions and actions.  This training teaches critical thinking and understanding your own power.

You will experience 4 days of life changing personal and professional development, which will have a positive change on your life, and all the pregnant couples you will go on to teach.

 

The really exciting stuff! – what will you learn?

Inside Birth® philosophy.  You will receive all necessary materials for teaching this program.

• Inside Birth® teaches parenting from conception.
• The important connection in utero and how to design and lay down the subconscious blueprint for life.
• You will learn the mind/body/baby connection
• Unique hypnosis skills, that work, for pregnancy, labour, birth and beyond
• Communication skills and how to teach
• Fears! – what are yours?
• Challenging your beliefs?
• INSIDE look at fears of a pregnant/birthing woman
• How to easily and effortlessly release these fears with our hypnosis
• Conscious Mind/Unconscious Mind and their role in birthing
• Inside Birth® hypnosis – learn and understand its true power
• Inside the baby’s developing mind – just fascinating!
• Hormones – the ebb and flow
• Basic anatomy & physiology, stages of labour
• Breastfeeding
• The hospital system and its workers – essential understanding
• Labour and birthing
• The all-important meeting on the Outside
• Learning how to chill out with our Inside Birth® chakra relaxation CD
• Educator skills – how to make this fun, intuitive and teach deep mind/body/baby connection
• The business of setting up your own classes with our ongoing support

FAQ’s

Can I make money as an Inside Birth® Educator?

The practical and very important stuff!  Yes you have the opportunity to make money as an Inside Birth® Childbirth Educator.  In fact, your commitment for this training should repay you with your first set of classes.

What if I have another job?

Becoming an Inside Birth® Educator is life changing.  This cutting edge training will change your thinking about how we enter the world and why that is important.

You can choose to make this a full time or part time career.  The Inside Birth® prenatal program is run over 4 weeks or weekend workshops and we offer a unique dip in/dip out package for pregnant couples.

What support is offered?

You will receive ongoing support and mentoring, including a profile on our website with all your class details.

Do I need teaching experience?

No.  This program is set out for you with an easy power point presentation, with beautiful images and all text, hypnosis scripts included.  It is a joy to teach and watch the amazing transformation from fears to excitement and confidence in all your pregnant clients.

Early Bird offer here:  https://birthright.com.au/product/inside-birth-educator-training/

Still got questions?? please contact me directly:  Susan 0419 606 171

HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY PREGNANCY

Congratulations on your pregnancy. You may be feeling overwhelmed with all the many important decisions that need to be made – right now! The main ones being choosing the right place to birth, choosing the right caregiver, choosing the right prenatal class and choosing the right doula for you. However, the key to enjoying your pregnancy is to be happy. A baby growing in utero is acutely aware of all his mother’s emotional responses. A happy Mum = a very happy and secure baby.

BE HAPPY ABOUT:

1. The conception. Yes, you should feel very clever at this achievement as there are many couples that struggle to conceive.
2. This new little being who has chosen to come into your life and have you as his parents
3. The amazing changes happening in your body as it miraculously adapts to support growing a new little person
4. The amazing changes happening in your mind as it miraculously adapts to support all the emotional needs of pregnancy
5. Your contribution to society by creating the next generation
6. Partner, family and friend support
7. How your life will change as you embark on this amazing journey of learning about parenting – from conception
8. Embracing challenges that may present during pregnancy – you and baby working together to achieve the best outcomes
9. Embracing all the new learnings
10. And be happy about feeling very, very proud

BE GRATEFUL FOR:

1. Knowing that having a baby is a normal life event for a woman
2. Choice – you do have lots of choices and just make sure you choose wisely as every decision you make has a direct impact on your baby (book a doula early so she can walk you through all your options)
3. The powerful personal transformation you will experience. This emotional growth you have, will change you as a person – embrace it!
4. The confidence and power pregnancy brings. Never in your life has it been more important to be IN CHARGE. Take control of your pregnancy, labour, birthing and parenting and make the right choices on behalf of your unborn baby.

HAPPINESS MOMENTS IN PREGNANCY

1. Be proud of your growing belly. Take time to stop and take in that magnificent silhouette in the shop window as you walk down the street.
2. The first movements – gentle butterfly feelings to later more obvious and definite stretching
3. Extra attention from partner and family
4. Growing excitement about becoming a mother
5. Spiritual awareness. Many pregnant women develop an acute sensitivity to the world around them
6. A time to indulge in some serious pampering! Massages, facials, swimming, seeing movies
7. Music, music and more music. Your unborn baby loves music. He loves hearing his Mum singing and feeling her rhythms of dance
8. Connection – it’s all about the intimate, special connection a mother and baby develop. Talk to your baby, enjoy his responses. Tell him where you are going, what you are doing, discuss your feelings with him. You will be amazed at his recognitions.
9. Humour. Your unborn baby appreciates humour. This is a great time for Dad to share some jokes, or read out loud funny stories, cartoons, books.
10. Remember the more you communicate with baby, the more deep the connection grows and this can easily and beautifully translate into a wonderful labour and birthing. Watching a mother and baby truly working together in labour and enjoying this journey, is a privilege to witness. You know each other and are both anxious to meet on the outside. Birth can then happen easily and effortlessly.
There are, however, many women who feel a lot of anxiety and fears that prevent them from enjoying and being very happy in pregnancy. These anxieties can easily and simply be removed with Hypnotherapy.
Book an appointment today and discover how you can have a happy pregnancy.

Or phone Susan to have a chat:  0419 606 171

https://birthright.com.au/services/hypnotherapy/

PROMISES, PROMISES?

How many times have you heard from friends “I did blah blah prenatal classes, who promoted ‘natural birth’, and it didn’t work?  I practised and practised all the techniques and nothing worked!  Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.”  These women are left disillusioned, disappointed, deeply traumatised with profound feelings of failure.  So why does this happen?

PRENATAL CLASSES

So many available.  So many promises.  So many ‘trends’ that come and go, each giving subliminal promises of a great birthing experience.  There are many classes that can instantly be dismissed – you know the ones – fear based, scary birthing institutions, who own shameful statistics on medical interventions in labour.  And there are many others ‘experts’ and teach (i.e. TELL) women how to birth.  And there are those that promote deep relaxation, meditation and hypnosis techniques, most are great.

NATURAL BIRTH

There is so much emphasis on the word ‘natural’, but in this context, I find it irksome! I want Women to focus on having a ‘normal’ pregnancy and a ‘normal’ birth.  Just be normal.  Being pregnant and giving birth is a very normal event and what women are designed to do.  ‘Normal’ is a word the medical profession can understand whereas ‘natural’ is a very different concept which causes confusion and a ‘natural’ objection.

When a motivated pregnant woman chooses one of the above classes (dismissing the fear based ones), that resonates with her and she commit’s to the ‘method’, it is understandably devastating when the birth goes pear-shaped.

So what goes wrong?  Is it the fault of the prenatal educator, or the class content or is it unrealistic expectations?

Whilst these may influence outcomes, it is not the main reason.

THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND

The answer lies in the subconscious mind.  For many, many women, they need to prepare their mind by exploring their fears and anxieties BEFORE they attend a ‘good’ prenatal program.  This prepares the mind for unconditionally accepting and committing to the ideas and suggestions given in a ‘good’ prenatal class, and is much more likely to result in having the normal birth experience she wants.

The subconscious mind maintains the storage bank of memories that include everything that ever happened to you – every experience, relationship, word spoken – everything.  Not only are the memories of your every experience, good and bad, stored in your subconscious mind, but also the memories of the emotions and the environment that accompanied the experience.

This includes your own birth experience – how you came into the world AND even before that – your experience in utero.  The majority of people have no idea about their life in utero and how they entered the world.  They have never had the discussion with their own mother.  But these are among the very first memories imprinted.  What was your Mum doing, thinking, feeling during your pregnancy and birth?  What were her fears and anxieties?   This is where fears about birthing have their roots, and as a woman goes through life, many layers of anxiety are added through friends, media and much more.

You can have a beautiful and deeply connected birthing experience by eliminating these embedded beliefs BEFORE attending a prenatal class.  Clearing the negativity from the subconscious is done quickly and easily using hypnotherapy and Time Line® therapy.  Often only 2 sessions is required to create a clean slate, ready for imprinting your own positive story – for you and your baby.

https://birthright.com.au/services/hypnotherapy/

 

BIRTH DOULA TRAINING

Enrol now to receive 12 months FREE mentoring and a copy of both my books ‘Birth Right’ and ‘Doulas – why every pregnant woman deserves one’.  This is the only doulas book in Australia.

Birth Doula Training Video

 

 

CONNECTION TO YOUR UNCONSCIOUS MIND HOLDS THE KEY TO UNLOCKING YOUR FEARS ABOUT BIRTHING

YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM

When a woman has grown up with the understanding that pregnancy is challenging, birthing is long and painful, and mothering is really, really hard, then that becomes her belief system. These ideas are set in concrete in her mind, both conscious and unconscious. No amount of reading ‘different’ stories and ideas is going to change this mindset. No amount of watching ‘different’ images on film is going to change this mindset. No amount of ‘convincing’ from well-meaning friends is going to change this mindset.

A woman’s belief system is first developed when she was in utero. What was your mother thinking, feeling, talking about when she was pregnant with you. What were her fears? Many of our mother’s certainly did not have the opportunity to explore or acknowledge their fears. Those ‘issues’ were just never discussed. So many women were born with a defined imprint, in their mind, about pregnancy and birthing.

Add to this the current media view of birthing, with much focus on the negative, the sensationalised TV/movie depictions of birthing, the medicalised view of birthing from obstetricians – they are doctors so this is the only view they can have! and the current very high rates of medical interventions, it is not surprising that women feel they face a huge battle to have a ‘normal’ birth.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASSES

Also referred to as: prenatal classes, antenatal classes, preparation for parenthood classes, calming, relaxing birthing classes and a host of others. This is truly very confusing for most women who have no prior knowledge of how to shop around for classes, or any other services for pregnancy. Most classes teach about how a baby fits through a pelvis – anatomy and physiology, how the hospital system works, some rules and regulations which expects women to comply with, drug pain relief, and medical interventions. Once again, these classes can reinforce a fixed imprint in the Unconscious Mind about birthing, and often women leave feeling even more fearful.

Our Inside Birth® classes teach deep hypnosis for birthing, allowing women to have total control over their state of mind, empowering them to be in charge of how they birth their baby. These classes DO NOT teach a woman how to give birth (every woman knows that!) they teach about birth and what goes on INSIDE the mind, body, baby, and how to set a positive mindset.

HOW TO CHANGE THE FEARFUL IMPRINT

What thoughts you focus on will manifest into your belief system. The key is to first recognise your negative thoughts, concerns, anxieties and fears about birthing. As previously stated, they are very easy to have! I highly recommend attending an Inside Birth® class with one of our Educators, but there are many women who benefit from some extra support during pregnancy.

https://birthright.com.au/antenatal-classes/find-an-inside-birth-educator/

As a Hypnotherapist, NLP Coach/Practitioner, Time Line Therapist®, I see many women for birth debriefing and unfortunately, there are way too many traumatic birth stories that need healing! This could be avoided by having some extra one on one support during pregnancy. You will find the hypnotherapy sessions gives your unconscious mind the power to change negative thoughts, while you are very, very, relaxed. Your unborn baby will love his Mum being in this state and you will develop an even deeper connection.

The doorway to the mind/body/baby connection is the Unconscious Mind. Not only does information from the Mind affect the body, but there is substantial scientific evidence that your mental processes, states and behaviours affect all the cells in your body. In addition to healing, the Unconscious Mind opens new doors to learning and changing a belief.

When you are in trance (hypnosis) we can tap into real power to create changes, healing what needs to be healed and making new neurological connections.

You don’t have to live with fears about birthing. Make an appointment today and your unborn baby will love the positive impact this will have on his world and you will unlock the fears and have the key to enjoying a wonderful birth.

https://birthright.com.au/services/hypnotherapy/

Using Inside Birth® puts women in a very powerful place – their rightful place – IN CHARGE OF THEIR PREGNANCY,  BABY AND THEIR BIRTH.

What is Inside Birth® – a prenatal program for all pregnant couples teaching: how to parent from conception, teaching beautiful, easy to learn, deep hypnosis skills for pregnancy, labour and birth.

Why is Inside Birth® unique? – a program designed specifically to allow a woman to understand how her unconscious mind influences how she will give birth AND how to easily change deep rooted fears surrounding birth and to remove any blockages which may prevent her from enjoying pregnancy and birth.

Inside Birth® is quality education.  You will not be preached at, but empowered to!

I invite all pregnant women to start their Inside Birth® classes as early in pregnancy as possible.  We offer, and encourage, a dip/in-dip/out package.  This is important because women should have access to this education throughout their pregnancy NOT just one-off set of classes around 30wks. pregnancy (which is generally offered).  That is way too late to be receiving the most important education of your life!

Where has Inside Birth® come from?  This is an important question and one that should be asked by all pregnant women – who is your educator?

I am Susan Ross and have been in the pregnancy, birthing business for about 40 years.  I have a background in nursing, midwifery, child & family therapy counselling, family planning.  I trained as a Childbirth Educator in 1983 and have taught many, many different prenatal programs and none ever felt like they were completely providing well for women.

I want women to understand about their unconscious mind and how it is the most important organ in birthing – honestly!

Here at Birth Right Training Academy, I have been empowering women for many years, showing them how to navigate ‘the system’, encouraging them to see the benefits in hiring one of our doulas, but most importantly providing Inside Birth® education.  I am a Hypnotherapist, NLP Practitioner/Coach, and Time Line® Therapist and published author of 2 books and our Watercolours CD, which you will receive free at your first class.

Inside Birth® are techniques not just for labour and birthing, but skills for life and ones that you can teach your baby, in utero and beyond.

It is important how a baby enters the world so if you want to give your baby the best start in life – begin with Inside Birth® – as early in pregnancy as possible.  Learn how to have fun with your unborn baby and connect mind, body and spirit.  Check out our IB Educators here:

https://birthright.com.au/antenatal-classes/find-an-inside-birth-educator/

 

Vaginal examinations in labour

are standard policy in most hospitals and are done either by a midwife or obstetrician.

For baby to be born, the cervix must change from closed to fully open (approx.. 10cms dilated).  Vaginal examinations provide information on dilation, thinning of cervix and the position of baby’s head in the pelvis.  Doctors and midwives are taught that this is a ‘normal’ part of ‘assessing a woman’s progress in labour’.  It is unfortunate that this MEDICAL INTERVENTION is seen as mandatory and the ensuing decisions made, based on the results, which mostly have a negative impact on the birthing woman and her baby.

Doctors and midwives are taught that vaginal examinations aim to reassure the woman (and staff) that the woman is labouring normally, and provide early warning if this is not the case!

There have been a number of studies showing that vaginal examinations in labour do not accurately assess ‘progress’ in labour, including a 2013 Cochrane review:

“We identified no convincing evidence to support, or reject, the use of routine vaginal examinations in labour, yet this is common practice throughout the world.  It is surprising that there is such a widespread use of this intervention without good evidence of effectiveness.”

DISADVANTAGES OF VAGINAL EXAMINATIONS FOR WOMEN

1. Most women say they are extremely uncomfortable to very painful
2. Disempowering for women – they definitely erode a woman’s confidence in her innate ability to birth – without interference
3. A serious medical intervention (especially for those who have requested NO interventions)
4. Disempowering and emotionally uncomfortable for partners
5. Baby definitely does not like having his head poked!
6. Once 1 VE has been done, there will be repeat VE’s done usually every 3-4hrs. or sometimes more frequently
7. A birthing woman is then ON THE CLOCK! Of course, the problem with going down this path, is that the staff then want to see ‘progress’ every 3-4hrs.
8. If the dilation is the same after a repeat VE then the medical view is that there has been no progress so further and ‘other’ medical intervention is probably deemed necessary
9. This one intervention can lead to the cascade of interventions. If the result of the VE is a negative one, women often find it difficult to stay true to their original plan of being strong and birthing without interference

The emotional cost for women should never be underestimated, especially those who have a past history of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

HOW TO AVOID VAGINAL EXAMINATIONS

1.  GET A DOULA!  This is my strongest recommendation.  A doula is your advocate in labour, will keep you focused on what you want and provides silent accountability for staff.  This means it is less likely for a ‘routine’ VE to be suggested!

2.  You have a choice and should always give INFORMED CONSENT! ALWAYS!

3. Ask the midwife/doctor – what is the reason for a VE and how will this impact my labour?

4. There are many times that women request a VE in labour, even though their intentions were NOT to have any. This can be for a number of reasons:  tiredness, feeling overwhelmed, sensing impatience from staff, curiosity, thinking about drug pain relief etc.  An experienced doula has the skills to manoeuvre this situation, as she knows and respects the woman’s intentions.

5.  Go sit on the toilet! A great place to be private in labour (or hide!) and just BE – you and baby.  Nobody can get ‘at you’ on the toilet.  The bath can also be a great place as it has a physical protective wall/barrier around you and baby.

6.  It is always the woman’s choice. A woman can say NO (thanks) and change her mind later.

MEDICAL REASONS TO HAVE A VAGINAL EXAMINATION

1. True foetal distress, i.e. baby’s heart rate is dipping and/or baby passing lots of poo (meconium). This is a rare event
2. Very long labour
3. Woman requesting
4. Woman’s blood pressure rising/falling
5. Woman’s temperature rising/falling
6. Abnormal bleeding (other than the normal ‘show’)

All of the above are rare events.

The benefits of having a doula is to keep you focused on your innate womanly power and to trust and believe in your birthing body and baby.  She will make sure your confidence does not wane throughout labour, birthing and decision making on behalf of your baby.

The most important organ involved in birthing is a woman’s MIND and her BELIEF system.  A doula will keep that belief strong and at the forefront of every decision.

You can find out more about our training and Inside Birth prenatal classes here:

https://birthright.com.au/#

ARE OUR KID’S BODIES FLAWED?

THE PILL EPIDEMIC

Below is a link discussing how Kids Vitamin Gummies are unhealthy and exploitative.

I agree!  BUT the issue is even more concerning.

What is being taught to children is you NEED to ‘take something’ to get better and improve.

This is a dangerous message.

• Do we want our children to grow up and be reaching for a pill bottle every time they feel ‘a little out of sorts’?  NO!
• Do we want our children to know that they DO NOT have the capacity to heal themselves? NO!
• Do we want our children to grow up, seeing their immediate family members and others, all reaching for a pill bottle, (often for no specific reason, other than they have believed the sales pitch)?  NO!
• Do we really want our children to grow up thinking it is normal to be plugged in to a doctor or natural therapist, which you must visit regularly – otherwise????? What might happen????? NO!
• Do we want to give the message to our children that somehow their bodies are flawed and they cannot live without supplementing? NO!

Is this healthy?  Is this what the new ‘normal’ looks like?  I hope not.

There are many ambitions and desires we all have for our children – our next generation.  We want a good education, we want them to be happy, to have friends, to be kind to other children, to learn about respecting different points of view and much more AND all of this WILL be achieved if they have a healthy mind, body and spirit.

We must ask the question then, does having a happy healthy mind, body and spirit come via a pill, potion, gummie?  Is it too big a stretch to link growing up with ‘normal’ reaching for a pill (natural or not?) whenever there is the slightest hiccup – to becoming a teenager/adult and taking ‘other’ substances (illegal or not) – because isn’t that O.K.? that is the very belief system they have grown up believing.

The ‘natural’ health industry is booming.  It is a multi-million dollar business.  The sales pitch is definitely impressive with some serious marketing strategies in place.

It is, however, very interesting to observe that many people believe there is a difference between taking a ‘natural’ product, vitamin or whatever, than taking panadol or some other hard core substances.  But the message is clear, very clear, especially to children.  If you are not feeling great (physically or mentally) then help is at hand via a bottle – of ‘something’.

It does not matter, really, whether it is Vitamin C, Endone, Panadol or hard core drugs.  The message is the same – feeling low, feeling unwell, must take ‘something’.

SO MANY OTHER HEALTHY OPTIONS

• Let’s teach our children about how to be strong – physically and emotionally.
• Let’s teach our children the importance of having fun!
• Let’s teach our children some life skills – martial arts, dancing, sport, music and the most important skill – empowering them to trust and believe in their body to heal (most things), praise their developing skills, admire their handling of difficult situations, have fun with them and teach them the importance of relaxation and meditation (children love learning this).

Teaching children to have resilience and belief in their abilities is the key to a happy, healthy future generation.

Their bodies are NOT FLAWED and they do not need ‘natural’ pills, but instead show them how amazing their body is and how powerful their MIND is.

Imagine what would happen to the natural health industry if everyone STOPPED believing the sales pitch!!

https://theconversation.cmail19.com/t/r-l-yuhhjug-jjlyzthiy-q/

 

THE TOP 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR MIDWIFE/DOCTOR/DOULA

As a nation we are generally way too accepting of the ‘spiel’ (often referred to as the ‘sales pitch), just because it comes from someone in authority, that is, a doctor or midwife

We are not really a very questioning society – especially when it comes to health.  Many assume that a doctor, radiologist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, midwife, nurse all know more about your body’s health, than you do!

They are, supposedly, the experts, but should we blindly accept health advice, without question?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Especially when it comes to pregnancy care because you are NOT SICK, and you DO NOT NEED FIXING!

DO YOURSELF AND YOUR BABY A FAVOUR AND MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT CARE AND QUESTION, QUESTION, QUESTION

It is essential to shop around for the right caregiver for you, the right place to birth, the right prenatal education and the right doula.  That sounds like a lot of shopping around but think about it – you are young, fit, healthy and this is YOUR baby, and this is the beginning of parenting – sourcing the right options for you and your baby.  This is what you will be doing, on behalf of your baby/child, probably forever but at least for the next 20 years.  It starts from conception.

An important note:  DO NOT fall for the sales pitch (that is exactly what it is if you are interviewing an obstetrician).  They want your business!  So if you open the conversation with “I want to have a natural birth” they will sell you that!  If you open with ‘I’m terrified and my sister/mother all had caesareans’ then they will run with that!

You are in charge, so take charge and ask these questions if you are interviewing an obstetrician (and you need to meet with at least 2)

1. How long have you been practicing?
2. What are your statistics? (be careful here not to get the hospital stats.) You want their personal stats. What is your caesarean rate?, what is your normal birth rate?, what is your forceps/ventouse rate?, what is your episiotomy rate?
3. What is your view about normal birth?
4. How do you see your role in a normal birth?
5. Who do you work with? (all work with other obstetricians – can’t be on-call 24/7) so find out the ratio. Do you have a 1 in 6 chance of seeing this obstetrician at your birth, or 1 in 3?
6. How many times throughout pregnancy would I meet with your fill-in?
7. How many weekends do you have off?
8. What is your feeling about ‘testing’ during pregnancy? An important note:  It is purely part of a marketing plan to have an ultrasound machine in the obstetrician’s office.  Whilst the jury is still out on potential harm to your unborn baby by ultrasound, there is evidence to show that babies do not like ultrasound

“the long term effects of repeated ultrasound exposure on a foetus are not fully known. It is therefore best to only have as many scans as your doctor feels necessary for medical reasons. The ultrasound probe emits high frequency sound waves that bounce off your baby to produce an image.

While there is no proof that ultrasounds are harmful to the baby, it heats the baby’s tissues slightly and can also cause small bubbles in tissue.” (Cochrane research)

9. What is your experience with birth plans? This is a very important question.  You want to make sure that your birth plan will be respected.  It is quite common for an obstetrician to tell women they do not need one as they are in charge!  “I’m the captain of the ship” or “the pilot of the plane”, or “I’ve got way more experience than you have” (I have heard all of these and many more).  Statements like these should alert a woman to some power and control issues!  Remember YOU, the pregnant woman are in charge of YOUR pregnancy and baby.  You are the expert.
10. What is your view about doulas? Be alarmed if anyone says you don’t need a doula!  Every pregnant woman deserves a doula and this is your choice.

Questions for Midwives

If you are attending a midwifery model of care it is also important to ask most of the above questions, in particular how many midwives in the ‘team’ and what guarantee will your elected primary midwife be at the birth?

Questions for Doulas

1. How long have you been practicing?
2. Where did you do your doula training?
3. What is the qualifications of your trainer?
4. What is your experience as a doula?
5. Do you work with a back-up doula?
6. What will you be doing during labour and birth?
7. How will your role affect my partner?
8. What is the time frame for being on-call (this should be 37-42 weeks pregnancy) with some flexibility.
9. How quickly can you be with me at home or hospital when I go into labour?
10. What is your experience in working with staff in hospitals?

Doulas are wonderful, amazing women who should always be on the same page as the birthing woman, supporting that woman in what she wants – NOT what the doula thinks should happen!

For Dads a doula is essential support.  Having a doula simply allows a Dad to relax and enjoy becoming a Dad, whatever that looks like for him on the day.

If you would like more information about how to shop around then you will find it in both my books here:

https://birthright.com.au/product-category/books-and-cds/