Melanie The Midwife

Are you more than 40 weeks pregnant and wondering if you should take that 'post-dates' induction that you've been booked for?

Episode 208 of the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast is out now and offers evidence-based explanations to help you decide what to do when your pregnancy moves into the 41st and 42nd week

This is a staple

The first two weeks with your baby... I've got a mum secret to tell you... we are all just winging it and trying to work out what is best for each baby as we go along...

Was this your experience of early motherhood, or did you feel completely confident?

Get the full story on understanding the first two weeks with your baby from episodes 206 and 207 of podcast

The convergence of Rebellious Midwives 2026 is 6 weeks away.
You can still come and join us in Melbourne (Australia). Tickets on sale until June 30th... it's the big breath out and cup filling that you need to keep going.
You deserve to converge. Book your ticket now at melaniethemidwife.com

Is your baby getting enough milk? Here is how breastfeeding works for your full-term healthy baby:

1. Once the placenta is born, your body gets the hormonal signal to increase milk supply. You'll make milk called colostrum in the first 1-4 days which is thick, sweet and rich in nutrients.
2. the small volume of milk is PLENTY for the baby because it's stomach is only as big as a marble on the first day and will get bigger as your milk supply increases
3. Your baby will use it's 'packed lunch' of brown fat and fluids to supplement it's energy needs in the first few days of life ... this is why it's normal for your baby to lose weight in the first week of life
4. on day 2-3 your baby will run out of stored energy - feed like crazy for 24-48 hours, and this signals to your body that it's time to increase milk supply.

If you plan to fully breastfeed your baby, supplementary feeding during the first week interrupts this process. The babies are supposed to experience a physiological drive to feed more, this is what sets and increases your milk supply

Get the full story about breastfeeding in the first two weeks on episode 206 and 207 of the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

The crying day/days in the first week postpartum. I always warn my clients about the crying day ... you'll be crying, not the baby... The crying day happens about day 3 and coincides with your milk coming in. It doesn't happen to every woman, but it happens to enough women that I always give a heads-up... you might feel like crying loudly and a lot around day 3 postpartum...

You don't have the 'blues' or postpartum depression, you probably aren't even sad! but you may feel like crying a lot and over everything. The best thing to do is

1. CRY, let it out, all of it, don't hold one little bit in.
2. make sure your family knows your cry plans and they walk tenderly around you
3. don't invite unwanted visitors on this day
4. Delegate other jobs (that aren't crying) to the other grown ups in your house.

Don't be scared of crying day, there is nothing wrong with you, your milk is just coming in, your hormones are changing and you're probably a bit sore and tired. A cry will do you good and tomorrow you'll feel heaps better.

episode 206 and 207 of podcast are all about what to expect in the first 2 weeks after having your baby. Get the full story in these two episodes

Every labour is so different, but one thing that I watch over and over again... the closer the woman is to giving birth, the closer she wants to get to the ground.

The very first research project that I ever worked on as a researcher was a birth positions study. One of my jobs was to attend the births of the women who enrolled in the study and document their body language all the way through labour.

Universally the women were more mobile and upright in early labour and progressively moved closer to the ground, the closer they were to giving birth.

Yes, as you progress in labour your contractions will typically get longer, stronger and closer together (thats the textbook answer) and also you will want to get closer to the ground and deeper into your internal labour land brain.

These are just a few ways to know if it's time to call your midwife or get in the car to travel to your chosen birth place.

Matrescence is the word we use to describe the process of becoming a mother - your brain and body physically changes as do your priorities, responsibilities, identity, place in the world... everything!

Matrescence is mum puberty! it's as big as adolescence, and the identity shift is profound. Some women love and embrace the change and others fight it.

Episode 206 and 207 of The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast explains this transition more fully with tips on how to navigate the life stage of matrescence. The more you know, the easier it will flow.

Get listening now

That first poo post-birth... am I right?!

So much happens to our body when we grow and birth a baby, but through it all, you've got to keep pooping! Most women are frightened of this first poo and 99 times our of 100 it's actually completely fine!

Your poo mantra is 'it's not going to be as bad as you think it is'

For more top postnatal tips - The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast episode 206 and 207 - The first 2 weeks postpartum

All killer, no filler.

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you the link to get the guide to giving birth without pain medication…

the cheapest but highest value information you’ll ever find.

Honestly, don't waste your money on v***a icepacks for after your birth. There is a much simpler and cheaper way to ice your f***y after birth... frozen condoms! In this video I give an explanation of how to prepare and use them...

1. fill them up just enough to create a flat 1-2 cm high icepack and tie it off. Don't make huge p***s sized icepacks - the condoms can accomodate that much volume but that size it not ideal for icing your v***a
2. freeze them flat and then put them in the clean container ready for post-birth v***a adventures
3. wrap in a paper towel and apply onto (not in to!) your v***a so the cold sits where it hurts or where the swelling is
4. repeat as needed

Perfect solution for post-birth swelling and soreness.

I talk about this and lot's of other cheap and practical post-birth recovery tips in episode 206 and 207 of the great birth rebellion podcast