Melanie The Midwife

13/10/2026

Golden rules of managing shoulder dystocia:

1. The posterior space of the woman’s pelvis is more generous than the anterior space - use it first
2. Focus on releasing the posterior arm first
3. The babies head is not a handle - do not pull or apply traction to the head!
4. hands and knees position is more effective than mcroberts position

Always ask for permission from the woman to enter her va**na and avoid yelling at her - shoulder dystocia management doesn’t have to feel frantic.

Get the full story, the research and discussion on episode 220 of the great birth rebellion podcast The great birth rebellion podcast

13/10/2026

The first mental strategy to managing the pain of labour and birth is understanding that this pain is not pointless, it actually has a purpose - and if you turn it off, you interrupt your bodies messenger system.

In labour, pain tells your body to keep releasing more and more oxytocin. This oxytocin is the main hormone that gives you contractions and as the level of oxytocin rises along with the pain and frequency of your contractions, you get closer and closer to giving birth.

When you know the pain has a purpose, you are less willing to try and take it away. You become more interested in learning how to KEEP the pain of labour… but you do need strategies to manage the pain - keeping pain doesn’t mean suffering from pain.

I’ll show you how to manage the pain of labour in my guide to giving birth without pain medication.

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you the link OR go to melaniethemidwife.com (link in bio)

It’s one thing to know you need pain… but it’s another thing to know how to work with the pain so you don’t suffer through labour… comment GUIDE 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 I’ll show you how sister

12/10/2026

11/10/2026

‘The trial was terminated before the target of 4000 participants was reached on the advice of the data monitoring committee following the lower-than-expected incidence of shoulder dystocia in the standard group’

The findings were ‘no significant difference in the incidence of shoulder dystocia was found between the trial groups in the intention to treat analysis’.

📄 induction of labour vs standard care to prevent shoulder dystocia in fetuses suspected to be large for gestational age in the UK (the big baby trial)

We pick this whole paper apart in ep.209 The great birth rebellion podcast podcast with Hannah Dahlen

09/10/2026

Perineal massage done from around 35 weeks, a few times a week can reduce the chances of tearing (but it’s not the only thing)… I talk about all the things you can do to prevent tearing during childbirth on episode 215 of The great birth rebellion podcast podcast

How to do perineal massage:
1. Use a natural oil or lubricant (you might not be able to reach properly - might be a team sport!)
2. Don’t go deep, just half a thumb
3. Push down - just enough to feel a stretch - breath through the stretch and practice softening rather than clenching… it’s this exercises that helps to trigger the same softening when you feel the pressure of your baby on your perineum. Perineal massage doesn’t create more stretch or space.
4. Do a few minutes, a few times a week
5. Listen to episode 215 of the great birth rebellion podcast

08/10/2026

The guide to pushing out your baby is coming soon … learn how to tell when it’s time to start pushing 🦋 and push without panic 🦋

More info to podcast mailing list subscribers at www.melaniethemidwife.com

07/10/2026

There is a place for epidurals, and it’s when:

1. You want one because you don’t want to feel labour
2. When you medically need one and the benefits outweigh the risk

BUT don’t get one simply because you don’t know any other strategies to managing pain in labour - there are so many other options which have way fewer side effects.

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you the link to my guide to giving birth without pain medication. It’s only $47 and a cheap way to avoid the side effects of an epidural

Comment GUIDE 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

06/10/2026

Overcoming barriers in maternity care is one thing with a head-down single baby… but how do you do it when pregnant with twins and they are both breech!?

Ep 223 of The great birth rebellion podcast podcast is all about how to navigate the maternity care and open up menu options for twin births (and all births!). This week I spoke with Doula Lou and Hannah Muller | Soul Midwifery about navigating twin pregnancy care and ensuring respectful maternity care

05/10/2026

Have had it up to HERE when folks minimise the risks of routine induction and suggest that there are no gains to staying pregnant beyond 39 weeks…

I could talk about it for an hour at least (and we did)…If you are wondering about the actual research behind induction practices I invite you to listen to episode 152 of The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast where myself and Professor Hannah Dahlen pick apart the 5 big induction studies:

• the big baby trial
• the SWEPIS study
• the ARRIVE trial
• the INDEX trial and
• the 35/39 trial

Don’t let anyone talk you into a routine induction at 39 weeks until you understand the research and reasoning behind this recommendation

Have a listen to episode 152 of The great birth rebellion podcast podcast for the full conversation

30/09/2026

You’re pregnant and the plan is to ‘go with the flow’ when it comes to pregnancy and birth plans… sister - I need to tell you, the flow is medical. Some women want a highly medically managed pregnancy and birth - If that’s you, going with the flow might work for you, because ‘the flow’ is medical.

If you want something different though - if you want less intervention and more control over what happens to your body and your baby during pregnancy and birth… lock into The great birth rebellion podcast The great birth rebellion podcast

I’ve got you covered sister 🔥