Tina Kirkham Smith from Akiki Spinal Flow talks us through the importance of releasing built-up stress from the body, especially during pre-conception, pregnancy and the all-important postpartum healing period. 

The incredible process of creating a baby truly is a miracle. Did you know that the brain and the spinal cord, the conduit of consciousness, are formed in the very early stages of pregnancy?

Imagine a world where birth is not feared, where it is a celebrated pivotal moment in a woman’s life. Imagine a world where mothers are strong, confident and connected, and able to bond with their babies, trusting their own abilities and intuition. 

In western culture, birth is not as honoured as a rite of passage from maiden to motherhood as in other cultures around the globe. Very little is celebrated in the journey of women’s reproduction, despite it being such a huge part of our lives. Fear is generated by the media, through stories from friends and family, and sometimes from our own birthing experiences. Hospital attitudes and the way women are treated during their care often imply deficiencies in a woman’s decision-making capacities. Women who have amazing birth stories often don’t share them for fear of triggering women who have had trauma.

The 2020 Mothers and Babies report was released earlier this year and the results are disappointing. Up from 35.5% in 2010 the recent statistics show that 46.8% of first-time mums were induced, with no change to perinatal mortality rates (AIHW 2020). Is this telling us that humans have evolved as such so that 46.8% of women cannot birth their babies?  

Even though we know about the cascade of intervention and the increased likelihood of a caesarean (major surgery), infection and bleeding that comes from an induction (Coates et al 2020; Girvell et al 2012), these stats continue to rise.

While we are privileged to have access to the modern maternity care we do, could it be it is this very system that is creating the narrative that women’s bodies need to be managed? Is an unfortunate side effect of modern healthcare the belief that we are inherently incapable of growing and birthing our babies without intervention? 

Mama guilt, it’s something we have all felt. Perhaps even hearing that word took your mind back to a specific time where you felt the intense weight of mama guilt. The crippling kind. The kind that happens in the pit of your stomach, that you dwell on, and beat yourself up about, whilst also telling yourself stories like “I am not a good mama” or “I am such a failure”.

Most of our beliefs are formed from birth through to age seven. This period is fundamental in creating our entire belief system and is influenced by the people and environment around us, our primary caregivers and also societal expectations. The societal expectations placed on mothers are likely heavily contributing to the collective experience of mama guilt.

For the majority of my career, I hated talking about perineal massage. Despite there being good evidence for it, I didn’t believe in it. I believed that the body was made for birth full stop. It didn’t need any extra help, thank you very much.

I still very much believe the body is made to birth. I also now know a lot more about how the pelvis works during birth and how the state this space is in can impact our outcomes.

Let me explain a little more….

Pregnancy yoga is a valuable and important practice for women at all stages in their journey towards motherhood.

Through yoga, more and more women are now receiving the support, knowledge and tools that can help to alter their perspectives about pregnancy. Feeling strong, supported and empowered throughout your pregnancy can also change the way you approach childbirth.

Pregnancy yoga coach Kate, who runs the BEarth studio on the Sunshine Coast, says regular practice can help prepare expectant mothers for the rollercoaster journey of birthing and becoming a new mother. 

Imagine if you told people you’d become engaged to be married, and they congratulated you, then asked you if you were scared about the wedding? What if they said that it was lovely to get married but that you shouldn’t get your hopes up about your special day because things can go wrong and it’s best to go with the flow and be prepared for it to be a bad experience, but that doesn’t matter because at least you’ll have a husband at the end of the day?

Knowing what first foods to feed your baby can be daunting and confusing and where I feel conventional starting solids guidelines fall short. What I hope to share here with you is information that will help steer you in the direction of the most nourishing first foods to support your little one’s growth and development, and help you approach this milestone with a little more clarity and confidence (and an easy to clean high chair!).

A question I’m often asked by first-time parents is “when is the best time to have baby photographed?”

Should it be when they’re a tiny newborn or wait a few months till they can sit up? As much as most families would love to have someone beautifully document each tiny step of the way, this is not a realistic option. Hence, it is such an important decision for you as you will certainly treasure these photos forever.

And the answer is:

In Chinese Medicine, there are many ways of supporting mothers-to-be throughout their entire pregnancy journey, including in the weeks before the birth of their baby. At the clinic, we very frequently see mums-to-be for Labour Preparation treatments as a really important time to support our patients as they prepare for a very unique time in their life. When treatment is started early enough (we like to check in at around 32 weeks) we can help with getting bub in an optimal position…

Placenta encapsulation, while no longer in the realm of "something only the 'hippies' do", is still something quite 'out there' and can be a lot to get your own head around, let alone your partner's head around.

So we asked some Sunny Coast locals to ask their partners what they thought about them encapsulating their placenta.

Here's what they had to say:

Birth is a deeply intimate and spiritual process, and requires an atmosphere of peace and trust. My experience has taught me how to enter your birth space and move throughout the room without distracting you or your partner. I use my equipment thoughtfully and I shoot purposefully. I want each click of my camera to matter. I want you to be overwhelmed ONLY with the love of your partner, the strength of your own body, and the anticipation of meeting your baby.

Have you ever been at the park and all the other kids are playing together, but your child is on their own? Have you gone over to a friend’s place and noticed their 2 year old is talking so much more than yours? Do you ever wonder why other kids can ride their bike but your child just isn’t interested? Why will other kids happily go and play when they get dropped off at childcare, but your child just cries and cries and cries?

We sat down with Nikiesha from Barefoot and Salty and talked all things business and mamahood. Here are some of our favourite takeaways:

There is a lot of thought that goes into creating styled shots. Aside from the creative aspect, we always ensure babies are safe. They are never left unattended, and they are supported with hands on with advanced poses, when on posing surfaces or in props.

The first 1000 days (pregnancy through to a child’s 2nd year of life) are known as the critical window of opportunity. The mother’s mental well-being, the foods she eats during pregnancy and what she feeds her little one during this time can significantly influence a child’s brain development and their genetics.

“I sat with my daughter and we rummaged through an old biscuit in. We looked at sepia toned photos with weathered edges. She ran her chubby fingers over the photos and asked about the people. Who were they, what were their names, how were they part of her life?”

There is something to be said about the ritual of taking time to sit and pause, even if it’s just for a few minutes, especially in the precious days of pregnancy and in the postnatal period.

There is something so authentic and sentimental about writing down your memories and sticking photos into a book by hand. You’re hand writing something rather than typing it, and you’re having to hand stick photos into a book rather than dragging and dropping files into a virtual folder.