May 2019

May is for
​Mothers, Marvels and Mayhem!

Don't Panic: May 25th is Towel Day.

May 5th was International Day of the Midwife.  May 12th was Mother's Day in Australia and National Limerick Day in the UK. ​limerick for normal birth
May the 4th was with us.  
On May 6th the Birth of Baby Sussex was announced by a very proud new Dad.  I wrote a poem about it. Peaking on May 6th, in the hours before dawn, was the Eta-Aquarids Meteor Shower which is debris from Halley's Comet.  We stopped counting at 50, and agreed it was worth getting up for.  A magnificent milk-flooded sky (one of the benefits of living out of town), the sounds of night-creatures scuffling and the crisp excitement of being out in the dark. 
On May 13th we had a delightful day at Cullendulla Creek Reserve, discovering the seaside creatures, an taking great joy in the gorgeous autumn weather frolicking with friends.  We continue our Nature Theme with a visit to Monga with our friends as you read this.  
May 18th is the Federal Election in Australia. It is also International Museum Day. May 23 is World Turtle Day.
May 25th also sees the second anniversary of the death of Frederick Leyboyer who was born 100 years ago (Nov 1st 1918). It is also Towel Day, in remembrance of Douglas Adams (Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Universe)  May 26 is National Sorry Day (Australia), followed by Reconciliation Day (an ACT public holiday).

I hope your May 2019 is marvellous, that you can see the delights in nature and the world thorough the eyes of a child.  

---

 What I have been blogging:

• The Visual Birth Plan: are icons the way to go? 
• Mothers Matter!
• Before Consent... 
• The Doula and The Sherpa 

In the News....

• Twins born 97 days apart 
• A surprisingly positive, despite the click bait title, article about home birth (UK)
• Breastfeeding Training: why health professionals aren't getting enough?
• The effect of childbirth no-one talks about 
• Calls for overhaul as desperate parents spend thousands on ineffective treatments
• A change of plan is not a failure 
• Too much love: helicopter parents could be raising anxious, narcissistic children  
• A win for Yass: Labor delivers 
• Kate Miller Heidke on how Motherhood influenced Zero Gravity

​
Around the blogosphere...

• ​Sara Wickham addresses 'routine scanning' for breech presentation. 
• Effect of continuous support on women’s and babies’ health 

​
PODCASTS:
Podcasts are a great way to 'Stack Your Life' (a nutritional movement #, who also offers a podcast, including this one with Gail Tully of Spinning Babies)

Jane Hardwicke Collings talks about the rites of passage - the phases of the feminine:
This podcast is going to be of particular interest to you if you are a bleeding woman or one who is potentially going through the life stage of peri-menopause or menopause – or if you have ever birthed a baby.  

Tracey Cassels, of Evolutionary Parenting made two (and only two) podcasts: One with Pinky McKay, and this particularly awesome one about responsive parenting.

Rhea Dempsey was interviewed for All Being Well in honour of Mothers Day.

I have been enjoying the Dr STU Podcast.
​
Circle of Birth is my favourite podcast for birth stories is a wonderful archive of Awesome.

Please comment below with your favourite podcast or podcast episode: give a description and why you like listening.