For our sixth episode we’re going to take a change of pace and instead of talking to a healthcare professional, we are with documentarian, director and artist, Ariana Youmans Keenahan.
Ariana is compiling a coffee table book on breastfeeding which contains photos of mums and their breastfeeding stories. What I think is particularly worthwhile about this book is its inclusivity and celebration of diversity. I am delighted to have Ariana on the show to talk about her book and also about her own journey through pregnancy, birth and beyond. Find out more about her and her book at https://wellfedphotography.com/
For our fifth episode, we are incredibly fortunate to have paediatrician and founder of the International Breastfeeding Centre, Dr. Jack Newman.
Dr. Newman has been helping breastfeeding mothers and babies for over 38 years. He is an author of the definitive books: Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding and Breastfeeding: Empowering Parents.
Dr. Newman trained in paediatrics in Quebec City and then at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto from 1977-1981. During his time at the Hospital for Sick Children, he founded the first hospital-based breastfeeding clinic in Canada in 1984. He has been a consultant for UNICEF for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, where he evaluated the first candidate hospitals in Gabon, the Ivory Coast, and Canada. In 2013, Dr. Newman was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for service to the community.
For our fourth episode, we have the man the Lancet called “one of the last real general surgeons”, the world-renowned obstetrician, Dr. Michel Odent.
While in charge of the surgical and maternity units of a hospital just outside Paris from 1962 to 1985, our guest developed a special interest in environmental factors influencing the birth process. He introduced the concepts like home-from-home birthing rooms, birthing pools and singing sessions for pregnant women.
After his hospital career he was involved in home birth, He founded the Primal Health Research Centre, and designed a database, primalhealthhresearch.com, in order to compile epidemiological studies exploring correlations between what happens during the “Primal period” and health later on.
Today we’ll be talking about the science of birth and our relationship with nature.
Welcome to the third episode of my new podcast, Irish Pregnancy & Birth where I interview maternity health care professionals who will give their insights, tips and advice on a wide range of topics.
For our third episode, we are incredibly lucky to have with us Patricia Hughes. Patricia is an associate professor of Nursing & Midwifery in Trinity College, Dublin and has over 30 years’ of clinical and managerial experience from her work in Ireland, the UK and New Zealand where she has lead on a range of innovative service developments including the provision of a DOMINO community midwife service and a waterbirth facility at the Coombe. She has recently founded Midwifery & Nursing Excellence which provides midwifery & Nursing expertise in quality improvement, risk management and service innovation. Today we’ll be talking about informed consent and what choices women have in relation to how and where and when they give birth.
Irish Pregnancy & Birth - The Podcast.
Episode 2: Dr. Deirdre Daly
Welcome to the second episode of my new podcast, Irish Pregnancy & Birth where I interview maternity health care professionals who will give their insights, tips and advice on a wide range of topics.
In Episode #2, I was delighted to interview Dr. Deirdre Daly, the lead researcher on the MAMMI study (www.mammi.ie) and an Assistant Professor of Nursing & Midwifery at Trinity College, Dublin. In this episode, we talk about the MAMMI Study, The WHAM course (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/womens-health-after-motherhood), maternal mental health, maternal incontinence and sex after childbirth. She was an amazing guest with the in-depth information on the latest research in maternity.
As we discuss issues surrounding maternal mental health, I thought it was important to remind women to seek help if they feel they need any support in this area. Your healthcare professional is the first port of call, but there are many voluntary services also. Here is a list of supports put together by Cuidiú to support women's mental wellbeing. I would also recommend women to sign up to the WHAM course (link above). It’s completely free and offers great insights and recommendations to mothers in regard to health and wellness.
https://www.cuidiu.ie/Supports_Parenthood_PostnatalDepression
You can also find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher and wherever you get your podcasts.
I hope you enjoy the show.
Irish Pregnancy & Birth - The Podcast.
Episode 1: Professor Cecily Begley
Welcome to the first episode of my new podcast, Irish Pregnancy & Birth. Here, I will interview experts in the maternity health care professionals who will give their insights, tips and advice on a wide range of topics.
In episode #1, I am so lucky to be joined by the Chair of Nursing & Midwifery in Trinity College, Dublin, Professor Cecily Begley. She has long been a hero of mine and this interview is a real treat. We spoke about the recent launch of Trinity’s free online ante-natal course Journey to Birth which Cecily spearheaded (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/journey-to-birth-tcd), normalisation of birth and the third stage of labour (delivering the placenta).
Professor Begley is one of Ireland’s most influential midwives and has been at the forefront of evidence-based progressive movements in maternity care for over 20 years. She is fantastic in this interview and I highly recommend you take 20 minutes to listen to her.
