Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond

Since the invention of the mobile phone nearly 30 years ago, we have seen an explosion of wireless technologies come into our lives. Now, almost everyone has a mobile phones, children included, WiFi throughout our homes, smart meters, and now with 5G mobile technology on its way we'll find ourselves surrounded more than ever before with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) or electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs).But is it safe? Our babies and children are being exposed in a way we never were. Will we live to regret our love affair with mobile technology?In this episode Sally shares her experience with EMR exposure and how to protect herself. She speaks with naturopath and author Sherrill Sellman about how EMR impacts the body and how we can protect ourselves.The main take-home lessons for me? * Use your mobile phone on speaker mode, or use plug-in ear phones. Do not hold it to your head or carry it on your body, especially pregnant bodies.* Turn your mobile phone onto "Airplane" mode when in the care and if you give it to your child to play with.* Turn your wifi off at night.* Get rid of your cordless phone. These things emit incredibly high levels of EMFs.* Cover your smart meters with covers you can buy, or make your own (see Youtube for examples :)* Don't use your laptop on your lap. Type from a separate keyboard/mouse rather than directly onto your laptop when you can.Broadcast on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay on Monday 31 July 2017.Sherrill Sellman: www.whatwomenmustknow.comSherrill's podcasts: http://prn.fm/category/archives/what-women-must-know/Other resources mentioned:* EMF Researchers: Professor Emeritus Martin Pall, Dr Erica Mallory Blythe, Dr Devra Davis.* Free information on EMR/EMFs: www.emraware.com* ABC TV Catalyst episode of "Wi-fried": http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4411611.htm* https://www.bellybelly.com.au/baby/can-wifi-affect-your-baby-during-pregnancy-or-after/* https://www.bellybelly.com.au/pregnancy/ultrasounds-pregnancy-risks-benefits/* WHO's listing of EMFs as Class 2B possible carcinogen: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/* Example skeptic site: http://www.emfandhealth.com/* Building biologists offer services for assessing the EMR in your home, such as www.healthylivingspaces.com.au (I can't vouch for this service as I haven't used it.)* One of the technologies available to assist the body's reaction to EMR is Magnetic Resonance Effect Technology (MRET). (I can't vouch for this either.)Happy researching! Let us know what you find at our Facebook page or hello@pbbmedia.org.Produced and presented by: Sally Cusack 2017Copyright Sally Cusack and PBB Media 2017

This episode of Pregnancy Birth and Beyond we delve into the world of children's stories and more specifically about violence and scary themes in books. Is there any value to violence in stories for children, is scare fest for the sake of entertainment potentially harming children?In this episode we interview three guests, psychologist & author Robin Grille, children story teller and singer song writer Annie Bryant and luminous youth founder Erica Nettle Chick. Connect with this episodes guests go to: Robin Grille - www.hearttoheartparenting.orgAnnie Bryant - www.talesandsongs.comErica Nettle Chick - www.luminousyouth.comProduced by Lara Martin for Pregnancy birth and Beyond Media To check out our suggested children's reading list go to pbbmedia.org

Jayne Alder, midwife, mother and grandmother, speaks about the three main issues new mother struggle with:sleeping, feeding and thinking they have to be super mum.But it really does take a village to raise a child, especially a new baby. New mothers are making the biggest transition of their lives and they deserve lots of support. Don't shy from asking for help. You are not meant to do it on your own. And you won't struggle as much with your baby being unsettled, not having enough milk or not getting enough sleep.And remember: "You are doing a wonderful job. You know what to do. Your baby wants you to be his mother." - Jayne Alder.www.jaynealder.comProduced and presented by Sally Cusack.Copyright PBB Media and Sally Cusack 2017.www.pbbmedia.org

We all want a healthy baby, there's no question of that, but Sally believes there are underlying beliefs to the common phrase "As long as the baby is healthy" that deserve closer examination. Are we giving up elements of birth that are more important than we realise when we say this?Sally has identified 6 underlying beliefs to the statement "As long as the baby is healthy". The first three underlying beliefs were covered in Part 1:http://www.spreaker.com/user/pregnancybirthandbeyond/as-long-as-the-baby-is-healthy-part-1In this episode, part 2, Sally covers the following underlying beliefs:* “Birth is dangerous and needs to be managed medically. Positive births are due to luck.”* “Labour and birth are simply painful, pointless torture."* “My experience is irrelevant and people who seek a positive experience are selfish and exposing the baby to risk.”SPEAKERSDr Kirsten Small, obstetrician and PhD candidateProfessor Alec Welsh, University of NSW and obstetrician at Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney Dr Sarah Buckley, GP, author and researcher on physiological birthFURTHER READING* Dignity in Birth Survey: Safe Motherhood for Allhttp://www.safemotherhoodforall.org.au/news/only-58-of-australian-women-have-the-birth-they-want/* Film: "Microbirth": importance of labour and birth http://microbirth.com/INFORMATION AND SUPPORT:* PANDA National Helpline (Perinatal Anxiety Depression Awareness)Mon to Fri, 10am - 5pm AEST1300 726 306* Birth Talk: Resources for healing from birthwww.birthtalk.org/* Conscious Birth: Birth Story Healing, no matter how long agowww.consciousbirth.com/birth-story-healing/* Birth choices advice and advocacy: Maternity Choices Australiawww.maternitychoices.org.au and FacebookREFERENCES* https://theconversation.com/factcheck-is-suicide-one-of-the-leading-causes-of-maternal-death-in-australia-65336* http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/why-is-the-fear-of-birth-rising/* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_mortality_rate* http://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/mortality-risk* https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Standard2_Oct_2012_WEB.pdf* “The Global Numbers and Costs of Additionally Needed and Unnecessary Caesarean Sections Performed per Year: Overuse as a Barrier to Universal Coverage” World Health Organisation 2010* https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-017-1343-3 (meaning of labour pain)cochrane.org/CD004667/PREG_midwife-led-continuity-models-care-compared-other-models-care-women-during-pregnancy-birth-and-early * Homer, CSE, MJA 205 (8) j 17 October 2016...

When you want something, that for many is fundamental to their human existence, a biological drive, to carry a baby and nurture a baby... to raise a family, it can be emotionally devastating for a couple or individual when despite all the attempts, falling pregnant or keeping a pregnancy just isn't happening. One in six couples in Australia and NZ experience infertility. The infertility lies equally with both men and women 40% each, 10% in both partners and the other 10% is unknown. Age does play a role in fertility issues, couples in their 20's have a 25% chance of falling pregnant whereas one in three women over the age of 35 experience infertility issues and once she reaches 40, women have only a 5% chance of falling pregnant with regular sexual activity. This episode of Pregnancy Birth and Beyond we shine a light on the often silent yet emmotionally painful topic of infertility, from the personal account of my guest to her professional insights working with women and families experiencing the grief of not falling pregnant when wanting a baby. My guest for this episode is Kimberly Lipschus who is a women's wellbeing and fertility psychotherapist. Producer Lara Martin Guest Kimberly Lipschus www.kimberleylipschus.com

Are you a good enough parent? With all the demands and expectations of raising babies and children in the modern world, from programs offering promises for creating 'super babies' as early as starting in the womb, the pressure to be the perfect parent and have the perfect child is all too prevalent. When a parent inevitably fails in this perfection have they doomed their child for life? If the child's birth wasn't the most peaceful entrance into the world or early separation occurred has the mother, or parent already failed their baby setting a imprint of irreversible damage of a broken bond OR is it that the good enough parent actually is all you need to be to raise adaptive and resilient adults. This episode of Pregnancy Birth and Beyond we explore how early experiences during the pre and perinatal period impact on how a person develops. Our guest for this episode is Dr Holly Goldberg. Holly is a specialist in pre and peri Natal psychology and has been working with childbearing families for the past 20 years. Holly resides in California in the USA with her family. Host: Lara Martin Guest: Dr. Holly Goldberg www.floweressenceapothecary.com

Biotoxins can be produced by the body in response to all sorts of allergens, such as dust and mould.Reine DuBois, naturopath from The Health Lodge, Byron Bay, speaks with Sally about biotoxins, what stimulates them being made by the body, the impacts of them, and how to heal from them. Your suspected tick-borne illness could in fact be inflammation caused by biotoxins produced by your body in response to mould. Water damaged homes have a lot to answer for, and the mould that lives in them must be removed in order for the biotoxins in your body to disappear.Reine cites the work of Drs Ritchie Shoemaker of survivemold.com and Christabelle Yeoh.www.thehealthlodge.com.auMusic: "Call on the Rain" by Elijah RayProduced and presented by Sally CusackCopyright PBB Media and Sally Cusack 2018www.pbbmedia.org

Moving from a disease management based model of care and toward a patient-centred model of care Functional Medicine is able to treat disease at its root cause, rather than merely managing symptoms. Integrative Medicine is practiced by many practitioners around the world who hold a core understanding of treating the whole person, not just their diagnosis. Lets take a peek at these models and our existing model of healthcare, both globally and here in Australia.Produced and Presented by Annalee Atia 2017Copyright PBB Media Annalee Atia 2017Welcome to this Special Feature episode of pregnancy birth and beyond; The Changing landscape of Medicine around the world and how Australian physicians and consumers are inspired to ask better questions about our healthcare system. I have been facinated by and folowing Funcitonal Medicine for the past four years since i first heard about it and recently had the opportunity to meet with one of its biggest internatioanl advocates, James Maskell. This fascination has opened the door to a wider discussion about healthcare. Medicine and science are evolving at a breakneck speed and yet chronic disease is on the rise, global antimicrobial resistance threatens to destroy some of scinece’s most notable achievements and the cost of healthcare in an ailing and aging society may very well be digging us all into a early grave.The two part article features several passionate trailblazing figures in the move towards changing the way healthcare is delivered, both globally and locally. The first part looks at some of the overarching issues within the current medical system and the new emerging model of care seeking to correct and create significant primary healthcare reform around the world. In the second part we take a cloer look at Functional Medicine and what we can all do to create better outcomes for ourselves as cnsumers and practitioners. We hear from James, an international speaker, founder of Functional Forum and The Evolution of Medicine and author of a compelling book with the same title. We also tap into the wisdom of Dr Penny Caldicott, President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association and founder and director of Invitation to Health. Championing Integrative Medicine, Penny walks among those leading a new era in Australian healthcare. Reine duBois, Clinical Director of the Health Lodge in Byron Bay also features discussing her passion, experience and how she makes it work in her practice. I also speak to Sally Cusack who is NSW Branch President of Maternity Choices Australia and has significant experience navigating the Australian healthcare system and understanding the unique needs of healthcare consumers. There will be a few sound bites form the AIMA conference in Sydney; Functional Medicine and the Micropractice.Interviewees in this article:Dr Penny Caldicott, BMed, FRACGP -Director of AIMA & founding member of Invitation to Health​Reine duBois-Clinical Director at the Health LodgeJames Maskell-Founder of Functional Forum-Evolution of Medicine -Author of the Evolution of Medicine ​Sally Cusack-NSW President Maternity Choices Australia, Australia’s peak maternity consumer representing body More information at www.pbbmedia.org

Robin Grille speaks on the era of adolescence, the unique challenges for not only our adolescents in their transformation, but also for us as their parents and guides. Our adolescents can press our buttons, bring out stress and fear in us, but this can have the effect of pushing them away from us, unable to hear. And in this space, we find ourselves also unable to learn from them. Instead, Robin Grille poses the idea that we can use this period to enquire deeply into what triggers our responses to our adolescents. It is possible that our negative reactions are linked to our 'unfinished business' from our younger years. Perhaps by revisiting this period, our kids help finally grow us up.Music: "Natural Selections" by SampologyPresented by Sally Cusack, first aired on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay on 5 June 2017.

Does sharing birth stories actually benefit those preparing for their birthing time? I ask Pam England, "isn't it a good thing to share positive birth stories?" You maybe surprised to hear what Pam says. This episode features sharing our birth stories, and in-particular listening to positive birth stories as a form of birth preparation. My guest for this episode is Pam England, Pam lives in Albuquerque New Mexico USA, author of Birthing From Within, Labyrinth of Birth and her latest released book Ancient Maps for Modern Birth. Pam also is the founder of Birth Story Medicine a unique approach to emotional healing after or witnessing a difficult child birth experience. Pam was a certified nurse midwife for 18 years, practicing both within hospital and home settings, she also has a masters in counselling. Pam England - www.sevengatesmedia.com & www.birthingfromwithin.comProduced and presented by Lara Martin Copyright 2018 PBB Media and Lara Martin www.pbbmedia.org

Gender 101 with Gopi LevGopi Lev is a queer femme based in the Northern Rivers. Passionate about intersectional feminism, art and the pursuit of justice and equity for all, she is PBB Media’s consultant on sexual and gender diversity and assists in making the space and content more inclusive for all.We are talking Gender & Sexual diversity on the show today. In a Time Magazine issue titled He or She, how a new generation is redefining the meaning of gender, we get a glimpse into the fluid and evolving world of gender and sexual self and societal definition. Infinite identities is the title of the ‘accruing’ article in this issue. It is a fascinating read. Around the same time, National Geographic put our their gender issue - GENDER revolution with a full (to date) Glossary of terms, the various studies available on gender and a quick guide to helping families discuss gender. The spectrum upon which sexuality & gender are defined is fascinating and comprehensive. More importantly, understanding it, is the doorway for more compassion and less judgement and our newest generation is leading the way. For links & resources and info about our speaker today, head to our website www.pbbmedia.orgCreditsHost: Annalee Atia, www.annaleeatia.comGuest: Gopi LevMusic: The song snippets played on today’s shows are from two artists - 'Habanot Nechama' from their songs So Far and Flowers and, Amir Paiss with the track Handgun Menagen OtiCopyright: PBB Media, Annalee Atia, Gopi Lev 2017

At the 2009 Peace Conference in Canada, the Dalai Lama said ‘The world will be saved by the Western Woman’.In towns and suburbs around Australia, we're seeing our birth services being saved by women. We have world class policies and research for providing the highest standard of maternity care, but health services are slow to implement them. Birth services are being closed in regional and rural areas, or not delivering continuity of care, the safest form of care.So, when faced with the removal of these birth choices, these women step from their lives as mothers of young children, right out into the arena of activism, often for the first time in their lives.Drafting letters, forming community groups, organising rallies, painting placards, attending meetings with health service officials, and more, is asked of them to bring about change. It's never easy, but without their efforts, change for the better would simply never happen.The women we hear from in this episode are:- Rachel Bryant behind the campaign that saved the Murwillumbah Birth Centre- Samantha Wibberley, part of the group who is working to save the midwifery group practice (MGP, ie continuity of care programme) at Tamworth Hospital- Helena Mooney, leading the community action to ensure woman-centred care like MGP is available on the Northern Beaches of SydneyNational health and quality standard, Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers now obliges all health services to engage with their communities in the planning, implementation and review of their service.We also hear from Melissa Fox, CEO of Health Consumers Queensland on consumer engagement, why it's important and what can be achieved with it.Consumer groups like Maternity Choices Australia are available to support anyone wanting to see better birth choices in their region.With sincere thanks to all our contributors in this episode.References:Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers:https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Standard2_Oct_2012_WEB.pdf41% of maternity services closed from 1992-2011: Kildea, S, et al https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25845486Websites:www.maternitychoices.org.auwww.hcq.org.auFacebook groups:Friends of Murwillumbah Birth CentreFriends of Tamworth Maternity ServicesFriends of NB Maternity ServicesAired on 99.9 BayFm on Monday 15 May 2017.Presented by Sally Cusack

When you are pregnant, for most parents to be it is a time of great joy, anticipation, hopes and dreams of having a baby, and raising a family. However, in Australia about 1 in a 120 babies will be born still or die within the first month of life. It is a heartbreaking and tragic to have birthed a baby, become a parent yet be empty handed, no baby arms. This episode we feature When a baby dies; being with death and grief. We will be hearing about ways you can support friends and family members who are experiencing the loss of their baby, the healing journey or becoming whole again, how to be with the grief and loss of other's or your own. We also feature the the stories of three different parents sharing their experience of neonatal loss. My guest for this episode features Denise Love, founder of Life Options and women’s health Cambodia, where Denise spends much of the year working with birthing mothers and Traditional Birth attendants to bring about safer healthier mothers and babies. Denise also provides doula, death doula and other birth related trainings across Australia. We also have three short stories from parents who have walked the long hard unyielding road of neonatal death. Aired live April 2017, from the heart of Byron Bay 99.9 Fm community radio. Host: Lara Martin Special thanks toDenise Love - www.deniselove.net Stephanie. Susanne and David Monteith - Grace in Action, I pause spoken word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFD7mqqkPRE&t=21sIf you are experiencing distress from the loss of a miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death Sands has a 24/ 7 bereavement support line. www.sands.org.au/local-group-supportmusic - Timshel by Mumford and Sons, Angel by Sarah Mclachlan.

Paul Crebar, Production Manager from Renewfest.org.au (6-7 May 2017), among many other things, speaks about the potential for parenting as an investment in our future, rather than purely work. Paul quotes Dr Marion Rose: "Responding promptly to their physical needs and treating their bodies with love and respect means that they learn to respond promptly to their physical needs and treat their body with love and respect, and that loving respect then gets generalised so that they also treat other people’s bodies and the physical world with love and respect too."And discusses the work of Robin Grille, author of "Parenting for a Peaceful World" and "Heart to Heart Parenting".Paul would like to see a society that supports parents to spend the time needed with their children to raise them to secure and happy individuals, ready to support others, and the planet.Other references:* John Abbott from the 21st learning initiative: http://www.21learn.org* The Dunedin Study: http://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/View documentary at: http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/science/humans/article/2016/05/24/exceptional-scientific-study-thats-been-going-over-40-years* John Campbell: "Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only doors."* Renewfest.org.au* Luminousyouth.comAired on 99.9 BayFM on Monday 24 April 2017. Presented by Sally Cusack.

This episode features 'Midwife; being with woman'. In Australia a baby is born every 2 minutes. Midwives, are in ways the unsung hero's of maternity healthcare. They often work long hours, caring for women and babies during a critical and vulnerable time in a woman’s and families life. Featured is are extracts from: Professor Iain Graham, Dean and head of health at Southern Cross University. Suzanne Weir, who is a midwife of over 20 years in various models of care shares 'reflections of a midwife in home birth practice'. Bronwyn Moir independent home birth midwifeand Amana who works in a busy hospital on shift as a midwife. Aired live on 99.9 Bay Fm and broadcasts across Australia on the Community Radio Network. Your hosts for this episode: Lara Martin and co presenter Sunae Reilly. Song credit: Maryen Cairns - Home Birth Fran Colin - Hospital Songarticle referenced: http://thespinoff.co.nz/parenting/03-04-2017/midwives-in-their-own-words-we-are-only-human/Show producer: Lara Martin and Sunae Ri