Tamika Newman - Endorsed Midwife/IBCLC

14/08/2025

Loved being a guest on ‘s awesome podcast a little while back. Episode just release if you want to listen 🎧 about Oral function.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2fYWp0U1uUUf8vElZQrLrW?si=ZXQrKEUVRqeC_ylSi-86nQ&t=4500

Thank you for sponsoring this episode!

10/08/2025

Birth story is up ✨

09/08/2025

23/07/2025

VBAC’s always hit different!

23/07/2025

🥹🥹🥹

I feel incredibly grateful for the women I do this work with.

There’s a rhythm between us.

An unspoken understanding that doesn’t need explaining. We just get it. And we get each other.

We move through birth spaces in sync, reading the room, reading each other, communicating with just a look.

There’s trust in that. Deep, grounding trust. Trust that allows us to hold not only the women we serve, but each other too.

In this work, that kind of connection is everything.

It brings safety.
It keeps the energy protected.

It lets birth unfold as it’s meant to, without interruption, without ego, without noise.

Thank you for holding me while I hold others.

For honouring the work, and each other.

So much love and appreciation for you ❤️

06/06/2025

It’s International Homebirth Day so thought I would share some pics of my own birth journey … 11 years ago!

The empowerment that came from this journey which has enabled me to be working in the same capacity today … I’m not sure I have words to really describe. 💕

09/04/2025

Hi 👋 I’m Tamika!

I thought it is time to do a little ‘intro’ post as I’ve had a few people join my page recently and I am self confessed shocking at social media posting and super allergic to photos … so better late than never!

I am a home birthing, home schooling, breastfeed until past 3, baby wearing and co-sleeping Mumma to my two beautiful girls who are 11 and 15.

I am also a Endorsed midwife, Registered Nurse, IBCLC and Orofacial myology therapist in professional terms but really am a super passionate ‘true informed consent/women centred’ birth, breastfeeding, parenting and beyond geek who is fortunate enough that I get to call my passion and calling ‘work’.

Fate sent me to uni to study nursing as a fresh out of school baby and I have spent the last 20 years soaking in everything related to women’s health and wellbeing ever since and feel honoured to be able to share my knowledge with families.

I am constantly saying “being in this work is not a profession but who I am as a person and who I live and breathe” … apologies to my friends/family for my info dumping sessions 😂.

I am currently working in private practice on the GC to families who are wishing to engage in private midwifery care whilst also working as a private IBCLC for infant feeding support and also do some Orofacial myology therapy work with families.

Feel free to ask any questions 👇

05/03/2025

It is certainly an unsettling time for Mumma’s of SE QLD with an impending cyclone 🌀 approaching and who are term and wondering if they will go into labour.

As a private midwife I often have the conversation with families about what happens if I haven’t arrived at their birth so I thought I would share some tips for those mumma’s who may not be able to leave the house when the cyclone hits.

If labour is moving quickly and baby is coming:

* Keep the room dimly lit, warm and grab some towels/blankets. Allow yourself to get into whatever position you feel most comfortable in

* When baby arrives keep them nice and warm skin to skin against your chest with a blanket or towel over both of you and keep the environment calm while waiting for your placenta

* Baby may be a little sleepy after their first cry and rest with you and then will start to wake up and search for the breast

* Placenta’s will come in their own time - no need to worry about pulling or touching the cord (sometimes this is 10 mins post birth - sometimes it’s 3 or 4 + hours). Many women start feeling some cramping/contractions again and sometimes there is some bleeding as the placenta separates. You will then feel a sensation in your va**na and you can give a little push and the placenta normally just plops out. If you are uncomfortable - you can place a towel in between toilet seat/bowl and sit on the toilet for some extra gravity or squat beside the couch/bed

* Once placenta is birthed you can place it in a bowl or container beside you and baby

* When you are ready you can tie off about 1-2 inches from baby with some string/shoe lace and cut the cord after placenta is born. Baby will have received all of their blood so the cord will be thin

The most important parts to remember is to remain calm and keep yourself and baby warm. Your instincts will tel you exactly what you need to do in these moments - women have been birthing for centuries at home and your body is built to do this.

Of course you can call your local hospital/birth suite or QAS if you have reception and have them on speaker phone

27/02/2025

Have you been advised to have your baby’s ties (tongue or lip) released?

Did your provider talk to you about how to best prepare your baby for a release?

Whilst oral restrictions can create significant impact on both baby/mum across multiple areas - its imperitive that you don’t rush a release procedure without having an appropriate plan to ensure that outcomes go smoothly.

One of the most common reason’s that parent’s do not see improvement post tie release is because they have rushed into a release procedure as they have not been guided in a direction to ensure that baby is stabilised and adequately prepared before a procedure.

Your IBCLC should be talking to you about optimal preparation and ways of knowing when baby is stable enough prior to procedure. These areas can include:

* Improving latch function (breast or bottle)
* Reducing clicking/air intake
* Improving milk production
* Regulating nervous system
* Releasing muscle/fascia strain
* Building strength and tone through the tongue
* Improve microbiome imbalance
* Becoming familiar with mouth exercises

Sometimes this preparation is a couple of days and in some baby’s this may be 2-3 weeks (depending on age/severity). Timing is a delicate balance and not a one size fits all approach.

The actual procedure is only one part of the process and whilst it allows for the tongue and lip to move once restriction is released - the body needs to have muscle/fascia memory to move in a new direction. This comes from repetition and exercises (just like physio before a knee reconstruction) and building new neural pathways.

Unfortunately there is limited training that discusses this process so a lack of knowledge exists for health professionals. It’s imperative that you advocate for yourself and your baby and find an aligned practitioner to support you through the process.

15/02/2025

Ok so this totally gave me a giggle 🤭

Wondering if I should change my bio to ‘Goddess of birth and boobage’ 😂

07/02/2025

Whilst the majority of women I care for choose home birth … did you know I also support hospital birth as well?

Currently on the GC there are no hospitals that provide
practicing rights for endorsed midwives so when admitted as a patient I am deemed as a ‘support person’ and do not play a clinical role.

This often prompts people ask .. “why would you have a private midwife if planning a hospital birth”.

The answer is that birth support is more than just ‘clinical’ care … we know that continuity of care with a known midwife is the ‘Gold Standard’ yet it’s very rarely accessible in most hospital care models.

When receiving care from a private midwife it means that we develop a relationship/knowledge and understanding about your wishes and will be your advocate in an environment that is currently not designed to truly support informed consent and care. I find in a hospital space I am a ‘translator’ of sorts as I understand the system/policies and can support you in your choices and advocate for your wishes as my only loyalty is to you

03/02/2025

Passing on a big congratulations to Katrina for passing her IBCLC exam 🥳

Katrina is a Midwife of 12 years and RN of 19 years specialising in Paediatric Intensive Care and has been working under my mentorship for the past 6 months.

Katrina is a mum to twins and after experiencing IVF and her own ups and downs with breastfeeding is extremely passionate about helping empower women through their individual and unique journeys.

When you consult with Katrina I will still review case notes with her both pre and post consultation and also overseeing infant feeding plans and reports as she continues to feel into her new role as IBCLC.

Please see my booking link ^ to find a suitable time. Katrina is also happy to do home visits as well so please DM me to arrange.