The Great Birth Rebellion

You can have a GREAT pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. You just need the information and strategies to make it happen. The Great Birth Rebellion podcast, hosted by Midwife Dr Melanie Jackson offers evidence- based information to help you make informed decisions about your maternity care. The Great Birth Birth Rebellion helps you get the best out of your pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.
Want more? Follow along at @melaniethemidwife and @thegreatbirthrebellion on SM
Subscribe to get access to the resources behind the episodes at melaniethemidwife.com and get your merch at thegreatbirthrebellion.com.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 225 - Understanding The Labour Process Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

Mel is talking all about the labour process. The focus is on how you can identify and understand labour and how it progresses so you can be prepared for each part of it. We start from early labour all the way through to pushing out your baby.

In this episode Mel mentioned:

149. Increase your chances of vaginal birth (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2149022790)
148. Why do they put their fingers in your vagina (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2149017213)
82. Failure to progress or just normal? (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148602793)
65. Breathwork for birth with Emma Johnston (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148469047)
55. Supplies to gather for home labour (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148221037)
47. Managing labour pain without medicine (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148065112)

This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma (https://www.instagram.com/popthatmumma/). She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to https://hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion (https://www.instagram.com/thegreatbirthrebellion/) and @melaniethemidwife (https://www.instagram.com/melaniethemidwife/)
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/offers/daGzmvGr) to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with its application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 224 - Navigating Twin Pregnancy and Birth options - Part Two Oct 11, 2026

Show notes

Natasha found out she was pregnant with twins at her 21 week ultrasound. She already had her private midwife but had to pivot quickly in order to access the additional care she needed. Natasha gave birth to both of her babies vaginally, and both were breech. Today she shares her story of how she curated a twin birth and made sure she didn’t have to compromise too much. This story offers birthing women a case study of how you can navigate the maternity care system and keep options available to you. This is the second part of this twin story.

In this episode Mel mentioned:

223 - Navigating twin pregnancy and birth Part 1

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder and stay in the loop at www.melaniethemidwife.com
The Guide to giving birth without pain medication (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/birth-without-pain-medication)- proven strategies to help you and your partner work through labour with confidence
Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion (https://www.instagram.com/thegreatbirthrebellion/) and @melaniethemidwife (https://www.instagram.com/melaniethemidwife/)
Consider thanking usfinancially by leaving a tip (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/offers/daGzmvGr) to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 223 - Navigating Twin Pregnancy and Birth options: Part One Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

Discovering you’re pregnant with twins comes with the weight of knowing that your pregnancy and birth care might look different to what you were hoping for. There are ways of navigating the maternity care system and curating your twin birth so it still represents your preferences, even if new restraints mean you have to compromise. This is part one of navigating twin pregnancy and birth options, especially if you want to avoid a cesarean. In this episode we use a case study to unfold the story of strategies that you can use to put as many options on your twin menu as possible. In this episode we speak to Midwife Hannah Muller and Doula Louise Gorham about their role in Natasha’s twin birth with her two breech babies. Next week (episode 224) we speak with Natasha, the woman who curated a twin birth that felt best to her.

Our guests on today's episode are:

Hannah Muller - Soul Midwifery - www.soulmidwifery.au - IG @soulmidwiferyau (https://www.instagram.com/soulmidwiferyau)

Louise Gorham - Doula Lou- www.doulalou.com.au - IG @doula_lou (https://www.instagram.com/doula_lou)

Related Great Birth Rebellion Podcast episodes if you’re pregnant with twins

Ep. 42 - Twins with Dr Stuart Fischbien (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148000895)
Ep. 143 - declining medical recommendations (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2149000686)
Ep. 204 - Advocating for yourself in the maternity care system (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2149207341)
Ep. 113 &114 - CTG use in labour and birth (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148850856)

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion (https://www.instagram.com/thegreatbirthrebellion/) and @melaniethemidwife (https://www.instagram.com/melaniethemidwife/)
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/offers/daGzmvGr) to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 222 - How to get hot safely in pregnancy Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

You CAN have hot baths, heat packs, sauna and do intense exercise in pregnancy. Feeling hot during pregnancy is not a risk to your unborn baby, but hyperthermia for a prolonged period could be. You may have been told by your care provider to avoid hot baths in pregnancy, however, the Finnish and Swedish women are being told by their care providers that it’s safe to sauna during pregnancy. I have a look at the research on getting hot when pregnant and how to do it safely. It’s time to enjoy heat again and I’ll explain how.

In this episode Mel mentioned:

Giving a tip to contribute to the ongoing work of the podcast (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/offers/daGzmvGr/checkout)
The Guide to Giving birth without pain medication (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/birth-without-pain-medication)

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion (https://www.instagram.com/thegreatbirthrebellion/) and @melaniethemidwife (https://www.instagram.com/melaniethemidwife/)
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financiallyby leaving a tip (https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/offers/daGzmvGr) to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 221 - Sex During Pregnancy Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

Everything changes when you are pregnant! Your body, brain, relationships, lifestyle AND of course, your sex life. Nobody tells you how to navigate this change or even if it’s safe to have sex when you’re pregnant. Some women have low sex drive, some have high, for some it hurts and others are just confused. In this episode Mel gets into the details, balls and all and uses real juicy language to talk you through it. This episode is not for little ears.

In this episode Mel mentions the guide to giving birth without pain medication. You can get that here

Other Episodes related to this one:

This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to https://hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox

You can watch this episode on Youtube here https://youtu.be/ODlP_CO8ejs

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 220 - Shoulder Dystocia Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

Shoulder dystocia is an urgent situation during birth BUT there are some strategies that you can use to prevent it and some simple and minimally invasive interventions that can be used to manage it. Shoulder dystocia often fills women and clinicians with fear, however this episode offers some simple strategies and suggestions to make the management of shoulder dystocia less stressful and help clinicians feel more confident. Mel offers the techniques that she uses and explains which common techniques she has completely abandoned (and what to use in their place).

In this episode Mel makes reference to:

Other episodes that complement this one include:

You can watch this episode on Youtube here

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 219 - Restless Legs in Pregnancy Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

Restless legs is a circumstance in pregnancy where you feel an irresistible urge to move, stretch, kick your legs or walk around. It gets especially worse when at rest and in the evening and can cause you to have difficulty sleeping during pregnancy. This episode explains restless legs and some solutions to help stop it.

This episode comes with a cheat sheet and magnesium spray recipe which you can find here.

In this episode I referenced Episode 142 - Iron deficiency in pregnancy which I recommend you listen to if iron deficiency is the cause of your restless legs.

If you want some strategies to help avoid epidural and manage the pain of labour without medication, get the guide here.

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 218 - The Cascade of Intervention Aug 30, 2026

Show notes

The cascade of intervention is a known and proven phenomenon within maternity care. More and more research is revealing that interventions have both intended and unintended consequences. In order to remedy the side-effects or unintended consequences of some interventions, others a required to remedy the impact of the last. This is the cascade of intervention. In this episode Mel explains the concept of the cascade and goes through research that demonstrates the reality of the cascade of intervention.

In this episode Mel mentions the avoidance of epidural as a way to avoid the cascade of intervention. If you want some strategies to help avoid epidural and manage the pain of labour without medication, get the guide here

Complementary episodes that accompany this episode include:

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 217 - Surviving and Thriving in Midwifery Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

We have to be honest about the reality that working in midwifery is an unsustainable role. The lucky ones land a job that doesn’t leave them mentally and morally exhausted after a day of working amongst a toxic workplace that doesn’t care for the needs of midwives. It sounds harsh, but Lynnelle Moran has been researching this exact situation and has identified the factors that contribute to unsustainable circumstances for the midwifery workforce. Fortunately, she also researched the solutions, and the good news is, you can make your work as a midwife a little more manageable while we wait for the system to change. Listen to this episode to understand the midwifery context and how to survive or thrive in it.

In this episode Mel talks about the convergence of rebellious midwives and the assembly of rebellious midwives. Click the links to learn more about being a part of these.

If you want more information about the VaJournal club, click here. You can find out more @VaJournalclub

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Episode 216 - Childbirth for Children Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

It’s national science week in Australia from August 15th-23rd and the great birth rebellion podcast is on the program! In this episode, Mel and her 9 year old daughter Frida explain childbirth to your children. We explain the unique anatomy of a womans body and how incredible and capable women's bodies are in growing and birthing babies. This episode celebrates and honours the process of childbirth and introduces children to the basics of birth including an explanation of anatomy and physiology of birth. Parents might learn something new too!

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer

The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.

This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.

All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

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