The Virtual Midwife

Why are your breasts suddenly so full, swollen, hot, and painful? If milk coming in has felt far more intense than you expected, this episode will help you understand what is happening and what helps most. Many mothers experience engorgement in the early days after birth, often around Day 3 when milk volume increases. Breasts can feel heavy, tight, tender, and so firm that your baby struggles to l...

Have you created bad sleep habits… or is your baby simply responding to the support they need right now? If your baby only falls asleep feeding, being held, rocked, close to you, or needs help returning to sleep, it can be easy to worry that something has gone wrong. In this episode, I’m explaining what sleep associations really are, why they are so common in infancy, and how to think about them i...

How long can you keep expressed breast milk? If pumping, storing milk, freezing milk, or preparing to return to work has felt confusing, this episode will help you keep it simple. Expressed milk is valuable because it takes time, effort, and planning. Knowing how to store it safely, thaw it correctly, and use it confidently can make life much easier. In this episode, I’m covering clear and practic...

Why is your baby so unsettled at night? If evenings feel harder than the rest of the day, you are far from alone. Many babies become fussier in the late afternoon and evening. They may want to feed constantly, cry more easily, resist being put down, or only settle when held close. It can feel relentless when you are already tired. In this episode, I’m explaining why evening fussiness is so common...

Why is your baby straining, grunting, turning red, and looking like they’re trying so hard to poo? It can be worrying to watch, especially in the early weeks. In this episode, I’m explaining one of the most common newborn concerns: why many babies strain dramatically when passing wind or stool, and why it is often a normal part of development rather than constipation. We talk about:• Why newborn d...

This episode is a repeated birth-affirmations and breathing script focused on staying calm, centered, and grounded through deep breaths, releasing tension, and trusting your body and baby during labor. It emphasizes being strong, capable, fierce yet flexible, and prepared for whatever turns your birthing journey takes. The script describes working with each surge as waves of sensation to “surf,” r...

Breastfeeding in the First 3 Days: Reassurance, Colostrum, Cluster Feeding, and Latch Basics This episode is for new mothers and I talk about breastfeeding in the first three days by explaining normal newborn behavior and how to tell your baby is getting enough. I discuss how your birth experience (long labor, analgesia/anesthesia, C-section) can affect your baby’s alertness and early feeding. I e...

This meditation is for the breastfeeding mother who finds herself at the intersection of myriad emotions and responsibilities. If you're feeling sleep-deprived, anxious about your baby and your milk supply, overwhelmed by the profound shift in your identity, torn between the roles of mother and wife, grappling with the loss of freedom, experiencing financial strain, succumbing to societal pres...

This is it my lovelies - the last episode of the podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we're exploring the conscious and unconscious mind – two aspects of our thinking that can have a significant impact on our childbirth experience. The conscious mind is the part of our thinking that is aware of our surroundings and makes rational decisions based on our current circumstances. The u...

Welcome back to our podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we're talking about brain waves – a key aspect of the Hypnobirthing approach. Brain waves are the electrical activity that occurs in our brains, and they can affect our mood, perception, and overall state of consciousness. By understanding brain waves and how they relate to childbirth, we can use Hypnobirthing techniques to...

We're nearing the end of this series so I thought I'd answer some of the most frequently asked questions that you may have about this approach to childbirth. I'll also address other common concerns and misconceptions about Hypnobirthing, providing insights and tips to help you make informed decisions about your childbirth journey. Remember, Hypnobirthing is not about achieving a certai...

Welcome back to our podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we'll be discussing how to use hypnotic anchors – a powerful technique for deepening your relaxation and entering a hypnotic state during childbirth. Hypnotic anchors are a way of associating a physical sensation or object with a relaxed state of mind. By using an anchor during childbirth, you can quickly and easily enter a...

Welcome back to our podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we're discussing how to strengthen your intuition during pregnancy. Intuition is a powerful tool that can help you make informed decisions and approach childbirth with confidence and clarity. By learning how to tap into your intuition, you can enhance your birthing experience and create a deeper connection with your baby. In...

In this episode, we're discussing how to use visualization effectively – a powerful technique for preparing your mind and body for childbirth. Visualization is a way of creating mental images or scenarios in your mind's eye. By using visualization during Hypnobirthing, you can tap into your subconscious mind and create a positive and empowering birthing experience. Visualization can help y...

Cognitive biases are a natural aspect of the human brain, but they can sometimes lead us to make inaccurate judgments or decisions. By understanding the different types of cognitive biases, we can learn how to recognise them so that they don't get in the way of your birth preparation journey. In this episode, we'll cover: What cognitive bias is and how it works The five types of cognitive...

Welcome back to our podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we're discussing how your beliefs and expectations can impact your childbirth experience. Your mindset plays a crucial role in how you perceive and approach labor, and by cultivating positive beliefs and expectations, you can achieve a more comfortable and joyful birthing experience. In this episode, we'll explore: How y...

In the second episode in our series on Hypnobirthing , we're diving deeper into the concept of the Mind-Body Connection – a fundamental aspect of the Hypnobirthing approach. The Mind-Body Connection refers to the relationship between the mind and body during labor and childbirth. When we're in a state of deep relaxation and using Hypnobirthing techniques, we can tap into our body's nat...

Welcome to the first episode of our podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we'll be discussing the foundational principles of this incredible approach to childbirth. Hypnobirthing is a powerful method that can help you achieve a more comfortable, positive, and even enjoyable birthing experience. By focusing on relaxation, visualization, and self-hypnosis techniques, Hypnobirthing ca...

Congratulations! You've just found out that you're pregnant – but now what? The journey of pregnancy can be a rollercoaster of emotions, from excitement and joy to discomfort, anxiety, and overwhelm. In this episode, we're exploring the importance of trusting your body during this transformative time. Pregnancy is a time of incredible physical and emotional changes. It's common to...

It's part 2 of the Vagus Nerve and how you can "switch it on" to assist you during labor.  In this episode you'll learn about  Breathing techniques to tone the vagus nerve Massage techniques and touch points for the vagus nerve Toning and sound during labor As usual, there's lots of laughs and sex just always seems to come up but hey! that's how we roll! The Due Date Club...

Let's take a trip into your body and learn about the longest nerve in your body and how it can guide and assist you during pregnancy, labor and birth. The vagus nerve is your body’s superpower and it’s used to counteract your fight/flight system. Now you definitely don't want to be in fight or flight when you are in labor. The vagus nerve helps you to remain calm when you are stressed and to know...

Hermine Hayes (Opening Keynote) Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD is an international birth rights lawyer with extensive experience advocating for the human rights of birthing people, around the U.S. and internationally. From 2007-2012, Hermine taught international law at The Hague University in The Netherlands, where she was also the Director of the Bynkershoek Institute Research Center for Reproductive Ri...

Hermine Hayes (Opening KN) Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD is an international birth rights lawyer with extensive experience advocating for the human rights of birthing people, around the U.S. and internationally. From 2007-2012, Hermine taught international law at The Hague University in The Netherlands, where she was also the Director of the Bynkershoek Institute Research Center for Reproductive Rights....

One of the routine blood tests that you’ll have done in early pregnancy is a test to determine your blood group. Unless you’ve had major surgery or needed a blood transfusion, you might not know. But in pregnancy it’s important because your baby’s blood group may be different to yours.  In this episode you will learn  the different blood types what is the rhesus factor why it is importan...

Choosing your birth environment is more than deciding whether you will be giving birth at home, in hospital or at a  birth center. In this episode we talk about creating a safe sanctuary to welcome your baby into that goes beyond the aesthetics of your chosen place of birth and includes the preparation of your space and the people you bring into it.  More about Charlene here  More a...