Birth Moves, Brisbane (2026)

24/09/2023

Looking forward to being a part of this amazing day celebrating 40 years of Homebirth Queensland! Come down and say hi!

17/08/2023

2.3 Asymmetry of the femur

Both hip extension & flexion concurrently promotes a different degree of flexion from one leg to the other

These movements cause both contranutation and nutation of the iliac and sacrum at the same time…hence modifying the opening of the pelvis at the inlet on one side and the outlet on the other side.

Asymmetry of the femur is a great for all stages of labour to modify the pelvic opening and especially during the pushing stage to create more space within the outlet.

You can create asymmetry of the femur while standing, sitting on a birth ball, kneeling or side lying with the support of a peanut ball.

For more practical strategies on how to MOVE your body to help your baby out (literally) come join me at our next OMP for parents workshop on the 2nd of September….booking link in the bio ⬆️

12/06/2023

Daily Maternal Movements-It’s the little things that can make all the difference.
During pregnancy, sleep can become a challenge with navigating a bump and the tiny dancer that boogies the night away 💃
Mums are always looking for a good nights sleep and we’ve got a great tip for the pregnant Mummas.

We recommend locking knees together and swing when getting in and out of the bed.
If choosing to have pillow support, position it to support both the knees and ankles together.
By sleeping on your side with a pillow between the knees it allows the pelvis and spine to remain neutral.

These daily movements compliment our OMP protocols and just requires a little mindfulness during your day to day activities.

Follow along for more tips and tricks for navigating the wonderful journey of pregnancy ✨
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08/06/2023

We’ve recently celebrated the first birthday of Birth Moves and what a wonderful year it has been.
It has been an absolute privilege to educate so many beautiful women and their birth partners towards a safe and empowering birth experience.
We are so excited for the year ahead and meeting many more families during one of life’s most precious moments ✨

26/03/2023

Spotlight Sunday🔦
Featuring…..the Psoas Muscle….

💡The psoas is the only muscle in the human body that connects the upper body to the lower body.

💡Its primary function is to flex the leg at the hip. During pregnancy, as the pelvis tilts forward and the abdominal muscles stretch to accommodate the weight of the growing baby, the psoas shortens and tightens.

💡This contracted state of the psoas is responsible for several of the common discomforts in pregnancy.

💡It can lead to low back pain, as the contracted state of the psoas can cause compression of the lower back, hip discomfort on one side or the other, and sacroiliac joint dysfunctions if the psoas is asymmetrically contracted (shorter and tighter on one side than the other).

💡Any or all of the above can make pregnancy—especially sleeping during pregnancy—quite uncomfortable.

💡Fortunately there is a solution….1.3 of the OMP protocols (side lying Ilio psoas hip flexor release) is a crowd favourite for a very good reason.

💡If your feeling the pinch of a tight Psoas then this is the class for you.

💡Bookings can be made through the website. Link in the bio ….private health rebates may also apply 🎉

19/03/2023

🔦Spotlight Sunday 🔦
Featuring….the Uterosacral ligament

💥Your uterosacral ligament is a thick, supportive band of tissue that connects the lower part of your uterus (cervix) to the base of your spine (sacrum).

💥It is part of the network of ligaments and muscles that support your pelvic organs.

💥If the sacrum (the large bone at the base of your spine) is misalignment that pulls on the uterosacral ligament which puts stress on the uterus.

💥Then the round ligament pulls to counter act the uterosacral ligament putting additional strain on the uterus from the front of the body.

💥If you can imagine, the uterus which should be symmetrical pear shaped is now asymmetrical and oblong.

💥This reduces the space baby has to float, grow & move.

💥A forward leaning inversion as seen here can release the sacrum, therefore relieving any tension or misalignment of the uterosacral ligament.

💥To learn more about this clever manoeuvre and other really cool moves to help you enjoy a comfortable pregnancy and easier birth book into our next OMP for parents workshop on the 1st of April.

What have you got to lose other than some unwanted tension? 🤔🥳

14/03/2023

🎤Let’s talk about VBAC’s (Vaginal birth after caesarean.

💡The Mothers and Babies Report 2022 states that the number of women having a successful VBAC in Australia is 12% and women are 3x more likely to achieve a VBAC in a public hospital compared to a private hospital (15% and 5.4% respectively).

💡With the overall caesarean section rate in Australia rising and now sitting at 37% we can assume that more women and their families may consider a VBAC for their second or subsequent pregnancies.

💡According to RANZCOG VBAC planning is imperative and should be commenced when discussing future pregnancies during the early postnatal period following a caesarean.

💡A plan for a VBAC should be solidified as the intended mode of birth for subsequent pregnancies by 36 weeks gestation to ensure you and your care provider are on the same page and they believe in your ability to achieve a VBAC.

💡This is why your support crew is vital, information is vital & preparation is vital.

💡We know that being active and mobile in labour and birth increases the odds for a successful VBAC and I would love the opportunity to be a part of your support crew to show you how and why this matters.

💚 Reach out today 💚

References…

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/ncmi-data-visualisations/contents/labour-and-birth-indicators/women-having-their-second-birth-vaginally-whose-first-birth-was-by-caesarean-section

https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Birth-after-previous-caesarean-section.pdf

11/03/2023

🔦 Spotlight Sunday 🔦
….featuring the Broad Ligament….

⭐️The broad ligament extends from the sides of the uterus and attaches to the sides of the pelvic walls and to the pelvic floor.

⭐️It is located in a loose fold of the perimetrium (outer layer of the uterus) that holds the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries to the pelvis.

⭐️It’s function is to stabilise and hold the uterus in its normal position (dynamic equilibrium)

⭐️Pain associated with the stretching of the broad ligament is often felt on the sides of the pelvis and may also refer pain to the back and buttocks especially during the third trimester of pregnancy.

⭐️OMP protocol 1.6 Abdominal sifting will not only restore dynamic equilibrium but also release any tension held within the broad ligament.

⭐️To learn more about the broad ligament and other pretty cool structures of your body join me at our next OMP for parents Workshop which will be held on the 1st of April.

⭐️Bookings can be made through the website….link in the bio ☝️private health rebates may apply 🎉

08/03/2023

Birth imprints….

What is your birth imprint?

By that I mean what is your believes around birth? Because we all have one…just like fingerprints however we aren’t born with one…it forms and is shaped by the world in which we live in.

It’s planted into our subconscious and cultivated into our beliefs through generational stories & experiences.
It’s culturally shared and nurtured to shape our mindsets….both positively and negatively.

Maybe your imprint is that birth is a natural part of life or perhaps it may be the opposite of this…what’s important however is understanding yours and how it was born in your belief system….this will then help you navigate the decisions ahead such as how to choose a care provider, where & how you would like to birth, options for support & pain relief and even how to transition to parenthood.

The most important aspect of all of this is that you should always feel safe and how do you know what you need to feel safe? ….By firstly understanding your birth imprint.
Reach out if you would like to chat more about this. I’d be happy to help you understand more ♥️

04/03/2023

🔦 Spotlight Sunday 🔦
….Featuring Round Ligaments….

⭐️Fun fact….we actually have two ✌️round ligaments — one to support each side of the uterus.

⭐️ They originate on the lateral side of the uterine horns (where your fallopian tubes attach) and exit the pelvis near your groin.

⭐️ During the later stages of pregnancy these ligaments are super stretched to accommodate the extra load placed on them as your baby increases in size.

⭐️ Sudden movements like standing up quickly, rolling over in bed, coughing, sneezing or laughing can cause the round ligament to tighten and/or twist and cause pain.

⭐️ Round ligament pain is often described as sharp, stabbing pain on one or both sides of your abdominals. It usually happens during the second half of pregnancy — and it can make daily movements feel unbearable.

⭐️ Fortunately, there are things you can do to help relieve the pain such as avoiding activities that trigger round ligaments pain (this could be tricky cause we all laugh, cough & sneeze) OR take 3-5mins everyday enjoying a Side lying, Ilio Psoas, Hip Flexor release (SLIP-HFR) and experience a more comfortable and satisfying pregnancy 🤰🥰

⭐️ If you are suffering with what you think may be round ligament pain or any other pregnancy discomforts reach out for more information…I would love to help 💚

03/03/2023

‘Where is your baby & what is it trying to do?’ is the question but why do we want to know this information? Because by understanding your baby’s position can help YOU help YOUR baby out…literally! 🙌🏻
To find out more you will have to come along to one of our group workshops or book private in home session via the link in the bio ☝️
Be informed, be prepared and be ready for an amazing birth experience!

29/01/2023

Birth partners….why are you so important? 🤔

The power of a supportive birth partner is not to be underestimated but to often we hear that many birth partners feel a little useless, a little in the way and generally very lost with what they can do to help in the birth space.

I want to reassure you firstly that you are just as important to the birthing person as their breath but just in case that doesn’t help here are some suggestions….

🤰Talk talk and talk some more about the small things and the big things. Then listen….try to understand what is their ideal birth, what fears or worries are they potentially carrying and understand what is important to them. This will not only help you understand your partner better but build intimacy and trust.

📚Delve deep into any reading/listening/watching any material you can (together) to understand the physiological process of labour and birth and to discover different options that may be available

🍽 food is life right but healthy nutritious food and drink is pivotal for labour and birth to give your partner the energy they need as their body works hard. Offer food and drink that is going to sustain them and also don’t you forget to eat and drink too!

✨take responsibility for setting up the space where your partner is going to labour by hanging fairy lights, photos, affirmations etc plus also bringing in some sounds and smells that are going to make her feel calm, safe and loved.

💆‍♀️ believe it or not but you are the most effective source of pain relief for the birthing person by just being present and supportive. However other techniques such as light touch or massage, beautiful hip squeezes and counter pressure to the sacrum will be highly appreciated and helpful

🧘‍♀️encourage position changes and movement which will not only assist with pain but also help the baby to navigate through the pelvis safely.

♥️ words have power and especially during birth so use your words to encourage, empower and reassure them they are safe, supported and loved.

🎤advocating doesn’t need to be confrontational like most people think. Instead think of it as being the voice in the room when the birthing person may not be able to speak or ask questions. Be brave

😮‍💨 it may sound silly but you may need to remind the birthing person to breathe. Do it with them if they can’t remember how to do it.

🥰 finally just be present…this generally includes not being distracted by your phone, chatting with other people or watching TV. Being physically and emotionally present is often all the birthing person needs…so just be….

Is there anything you would add? Please share anything your partner did for you that helped

*Photograph shared with permission and taken by the incredible Elana Mullaly Photography

Birth Moves