The Calmbirth Conversation Podcast

May 16 2024 9
The Calmbirth Conversation Podcast artwork

The Calmbirth Conversation Podcast explores issues of pregnancy, birth and parenting infants. Hosted by Karen McClay, director of the renowned Calmbirth® childbirth education method, midwives and experts explore topics for expecting and new parents. Calmbirth’s goal is to educate and improve the birthing outcomes for all women and their families, not just physically, but emotionally as well.

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#21 Understanding Pain in Labour

May 16 2024 30 mins  
In this episode, Karen discusses the two different approaches and perceptions of pain in labour. These are the medical approach where pain in labour is seen as dysfunctional and something to be 'fixed', and the holistic (midwifery) approach where it is seen as a functional discomfort that is purposeful and therefore important to 'work with'. It is a fascinating conversat

#20 Baby Brain: How pregnancy and motherhood shape our brain and change our minds.

Apr 11 2024 48 mins  
Join Karen McClay as she talks with Dr Sarah McKay about her new book "Baby Brain: The Surprising Neuroscience of How Pregnancy and Motherhood Sculpt Our Brains and Change Our Minds". Karen and Sarah take a fascinating dive into what the research is showing us about the neurological changes that occur within a woman's brain as they travel through pregnancy and motherhood,

#19 Understanding natural pauses in labour and when to wait or when to act.

Mar 06 2024 32 mins  
Join Karen McClay and Dr Marina Weckend as they discuss Marina's research into the natural pauses of labour and the importance of normalising these plateaus or rest periods. By seeing these natural pauses as normal fluctuations in labour Marina hopes that we can reduce the time pressures placed on women and birth people during birth and to reduce many of the potentially u

#18 Creating an optimal microbiome during Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond.

May 09 2023 42 mins  
Welcome to another episode of the Calmbirth Conversation Podcast. In this episode, our Calmbirth Director Karen McClay talks with Emma Park. Emma is a Functional Nutritionist Clinician and Clinical Educator and is an industry leader in the field of gut health and the microbiome in the First 1000 Days of life. Karen and Emma discuss the importance of the microbiome for

#17 Oxytocin and its impact on birth

Oct 27 2021 83 mins  
Dr Sarah Buckley is a GP/family physician with qualifications in GP-obstetrics and family planning. She is the mother of four home-born children and currently combines motherhood with her work as a writer on pregnancy, birth, and parenting. She is also a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, where her research is focused on oxytocin and the autonomic nervous

#16 – Pregnancy Yoga

Oct 07 2021 25 mins  
In Episode 16 of the Calmbirth Conversation Podcast Calmbirth  Director, Karen McClay talks to our wonderful Calmbirth Educators and Yoga Instructors, Maja Batista and Karen Shlegeris about the benefits of pregnancy yoga in preparation for labour and birth. 

#15 The Golden Month

Sep 01 2021 29 mins  
In Episode 15 of the Calmbirth Conversation Podcast, Calmbirth Director, Karen McClay talks to Dr Carla Brion & Nadia Parisi about the Golden Month - an in-home postpartum service they have created based on Traditional Chinese Medicine & Ayurvedic practices to nourish and nurture women in the postnatal period. Dr Carla Brion is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine,

#14 Emotional Support for the Challenges of Becoming a Parent

Aug 23 2021 34 mins  
In Episode 14 of the Calmbirth Conversation Podcast, Karen McClay talks to Dr. Nicole Highet who is the Founder & Executive Director of COPE, the Centre of Perinatal Excellence and how COPE is providing support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent. 

#13 Support for breastfeeding, baby sleep and attachment

Aug 11 2021 44 mins  
How the work of Possums & Co prepare, educate and support families through the challenges of the first 12 months: Baby sleep; cry fuss problems; parent mood; and attachment.

#12 Creating a safe, calm and private environment in the fourth trimester

Jul 19 2021 39 mins  
Karen McClay chats with Psychologist Rachel Bridge about creating a safe, calm and private environment in the fourth trimester.