The Better Birth podcast with Erin Fung

In this episode welcome back the wonderful Emma Ashworth to discuss your right to record your antenatal scans and appointments. Emma is a Doula, Author, previous AIMS trustee and birth rights activist. Emma is a passionate and knowledgable speaker and author on this topic, having written the AIMS UK book on your rights in pregnancy and birth, and who also runs classes for both expectant parents an...

Birth partners can often feel a spare part, but did you know that they actually have a crucial role to play in birth? I chat to Betty from the Birth Partner Academy about the importance of birth partners, how they can support and facilitate birth, and what practical things they can do to help the birthing person. You can find Betty on instagram at @thebirthpartneracademy Disclaimer: The informatio...

Why is it important to think about your baby's position, and what can you do to encourage them in to the optimal position to give you an easier labour? I chat with Alix Taylor from the Birth Uprising about birth positions.  The Birth Uprising run hypnobirthing classes as well as teacher training. You can find out more at https://www.thebirthuprising.com or follow them in instagram at https://...

What is continuity of care? How does it work and what are the benefits? I chat to James the midwife about his journey in midwifery and why he ended up working in rural Wales in a small continuity team providing individualised care to a small caseload of pregnant people. Once you listen to this you'll be wondering why we aren't doing this everywhere! You can find James on Instagram @jamesthemi...

Have you heard of rebozo? Perhaps you’ve seen people using a scarf in labour but don’t know why or the benefits? In this episode I chat to the hugely knowledgeable Sophie Messager. We talk about what rebozo is, how it can be used in pregnancy, birth and postpartum, the benefits, and techniques. Sophie is a long time respected doula, rebozo expert, author and teaches rebozo and wrapping techniques....

What is a doula and why should you get one for your birth and postpartum period? That's the answer I endeavour to answer as I chat to doula and doula course facilitator Sophie Brigstocke. There are many misconceptions around what a doula is and does, and we discuss the role they play, the benefits they bring, and why now more than ever they are even more important. You can find Sophie and her doul...

In this episode I chat to midwife, nurse and campaigner Amanda Burleigh, who has fought tirelessly to introduce optimal cord clamping as standard practice in the birth room. Amanda founded the “wait for white” campaign and has spoken on the topic widely as well as campaigned for change in NHS trusts up and down the country. We discuss what IS optimal cord clamping, why delayed cord clamping isn’t...

This episode is a recording of an instagram live which midwife Tasneem (@mammasinofficial) and I hosted, discussing the changes of guidance in the NICE guidelines around induction of labour. We discuss what the changes mean, the implications of induction, the research, the realities and why induction is over recommended and what this can mean for birthing people. You can follow Tasneem on instagra...

In this episode I chat to NHS midwife Lisa about the benefits of choosing home as a birth place. We cover misconceptions, why home is not only a feasible but beneficial option for most people, and the research backing the benefits of choosing a home birth. if you'd like to follow Lisa on instagram you can find her at https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmidwifelisa/ Disclaimer: The information and pro...

In this episode I talk to doula and birth activist Samantha Gadsden about her home birth and freebirth support groups and courses, why she started the instagram account @theysaidtome, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the demand for home birth and freebirth support and information. If you'd like to follow Sam, you can find her at the following instagram accounts: https://www.instagram.com...

In this episode I chat to author, researcher, midwife and speaker Dr Rachel Reed. We discuss the history of childbirth and how we have reached the current situation that medicalises birth, often to the detriment of mother and baby. We talk about medical intervention, how they were introduced, and why we need radical change in maternity care. If you’d like to follow Rachel you can find her on Insta...

In this episode I talk to clinical psychologist Jenna Brough about birth trauma. What it is, why so many people experience it, how to prevent it, and where to seek help if you have it. You can find Jenna on Instagram at www. Instagram.com/tribepsychology Disclaimer: The information and provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all infor...

In this episode I welcome back Dr Stu, this time to about twins and multiples, the risks, the misconceptions and the options for giving birth. Dr Stuart Fischbein is an obstetrician, for the last 11 years a home birth obstetrician, in California in America. He’s a published author, and has had peer reviewed papers published on home birth and breech birth. He’s a fierce advocate for informed decisi...

In this episode I discuss vaginal birth after a caesarean, or VBAC. We talk about the perceived risks, the actual statistics, what your options are, and how to advocate for your wishes if you would like to have a physiological vaginal birth after a previous surgical birth. Helena is a doula, and VBAC expert who runs courses on VBAC for other birth workers. She can be found on Instagram at https://...

In this episode I talk to caesarean birth expert Carolyn about surgical birth, what your options are if you want or need one, how to have a positive experience, and your rights around requesting a caesarean birth.  You can follow Carolyn on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thecaesareanbirthspecialist/ Disclaimer: The information and provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended...

Dr Stuart Fischbein is an obstetrician, for the last 11 years a home birth obstetrician, in California in America. He’s a published author, and has had peer reviewed papers published on home birth and breech birth. He’s a fierce advocate for informed decision making, and expert in both breech and twin birth, and lectures on these topics. He also has his own podcast! In this episode we discuss bree...

Breech birth is something which feared and often misunderstood. Many people assume you can only have a surgical birth is baby is breech (feet or bum first instead of head down) so I was so excited when Francina agreed to share her breech birth story! Francina’s hospital were very happy to support her wish to have a vaginal breech birth, and this is a story which I think many people should hear!

Maternity care is in crisis. Midwives are leaving the profession in droves. Staffing issues, trouble with retention and newly qualified midwives leaving before they finish training, along with COVID and illness has meant families are not getting the care they not only deserve but need. Midwives themselves are burnt out and suffering, with one third coping with PTSD and 96% of student midwives repo...

In this episode I chat to paediatric nurse, IBCLC lactation consultant and author Anna Le Grange about breast feeding. We discuss the importance of prep before baby arrives, where to get your support, and what is the concept of mindful breastfeeding. If you’d like to find out more about mindful breastfeeding you can find Anna on Instagram at www. Instagram.com/mindfulbreastfeedingcoach. Her book i...

In this episode I chat to doula, antenatal teacher and author Sally Ann Beresford about the importance of the birth partner. Birth partners so often feel sidelined, a spare part during labour, or ill-prepared to support the person giving birth, and they actually have a crucial role to play. We discuss the positive effects a supportive partner can have, why the birth partner isn’t just dad or the o...

In this episode I talk to qualified clinical psychologist Dr Jenna Brough about fear and the effects it has on birth. We discuss our own birth experiences, and how the effect of fear and lack of knowledge may have affected our decision making processes in birth, and why sometimes a certain level of fear can be beneficial. If you'd like to speak to Jenna, you can find her at https://www.instagram.c...

In this important episode I speak to Doula, Author, AIMS trustee and birth rights activist Emma Ashworth about the importance of knowing your rights in pregnancy and birth. Emma is a passionate and knowledgable speaker and author on this topic, having written the AIMS UK book on your rights in pregnancy and birth, and who also runs classes for both expectant parents and birth workers alike on this...

In this episode I hear all about Angharad's home birth. Although she planned to have her baby at home, she hadn't anticipated the birth to progress so quickly, and she ended up free birthing with no medical assistance other than the 999 call handler. We discuss how the preparation she'd put in beforehand gave her the knowledge and power to trust her body, stay calm, and ignore the well intentioned...

Trigger warning: third stage labour manual removal and haemorrhage. In this episode I chat to fellow hypnobirthing instructor Leanne about her two positive births. Leanne talks about how positive and memorable her births were, and how important hypnobirthing was in achieving this. However her third stage of labour with both births did not go as planned, and whilst the experience post birth was dif...

What is physiological birth, and why does it matter so much? In this episode, I chat to independent midwife, hypnobirthing teacher, birth worker and activist Kemi Johnson, about physiological birth, what it is, and why it's becoming so rare. With ever increasing rates of medicalisation of birth, from induction to c-section birth, a physiological or natural birth is becoming rarer and rarer, and th...