Coast midwife

16/01/2026

16/01/2026

2025 was a great year for homebirth- my stats

16/01/2026

What about emergencies during homebirth?

This is one of the most misunderstood parts of home birth.

Planned home birth is not “no plan.”

It involves careful screening, preparation, emergency skills, and clear pathways for hospital transfer when needed.

Endorsed midwives carry emergency equipment, medications, and the skills to respond immediately to complications, while organising transfer when that becomes the safest next step.

The most common reasons for transfer from home to hospital according to teh research are:

• Slow or prolonged labour progress, particularly in first labours
• Request for epidural pain relief
• Meconium-stained waters, where continuous monitoring is recommended
• Suturing needs that require hospital facilities

Safety isn’t about location. It’s about appropriate selection, skilled care, continuity of care, and having a clear plan if something changes.

It’s also worth remembering that in hospital settings, the word emergency is used very broadly.

Many situations are labelled emergencies because labour isn’t progressing within expected timeframes, policies are triggered, or monitoring falls outside predefined parameters, not because someone is in immediate danger.

13/01/2026

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

No bath needed!
Vernix is one of those magical, beautifully designed newborn protections that parents often don’t realize is incredibly valuable.
🌿 Benefits of Vernix Caseosa
The newborn’s natural immune shield
1. Antimicrobial Protection
Vernix contains proteins that inhibit bacteria like E. coli, Group B Strep, and Listeria.
It acts as a first-line immune barrier, especially important during the transition from womb to world
2. Temperature Regulation
Babies coated in vernix lose heat more slowly.
It helps maintain stable body temperature, reducing the risk of hypothermia after birth.
3. Moisturizes and Protects Skin
Vernix is rich in: Lipids
It prevents newborn skin from drying, cracking, or peeling — no lotions needed.

Photo cred: Ierla’s photography

09/01/2026

Neonatal Resuscitation with Intact Umbilical Cord by Angie Evans
In many birth places, including birth centres, hospitals and home, neonatal resuscitation equipment is set up out of the way of the birth area. In hospitals, assessment and resuscitation of newborns almost always occurs on a large table across the room and far from mother. Obviously this requires severing the umbilical cord. In addition to the physiological advantages of leaving the cord intact, keeping the baby close to mother reduces maternal stress—and surely infant fear as well (Strange 2009)—and helps facilitate bonding (Wright 2011).
https://f.mtr.cool/rcsplarnxo

09/01/2026

Thanks for creating this Jo saved me from preparing it.

You may have seen that we’re currently on alert for a severe weather event, with the potential for it to develop further over the coming days.

If you’re pregnant (even in the early weeks), preparing to give birth, or caring for a baby or toddler, this is a gentle reminder that this season brings some extra considerations.

That’s why I created a free resource especially for local families.

📘 Natural Disaster E-book:
Your guide to preparing for extreme weather while pregnant or with a newborn in the Whitsundays

📥 You can download the free e-book here:
https://mumabuba.com.au/natural-disaster-ebook/

Feel free to share it with a pregnant friend, a new mum.

07/01/2026

If you’re thinking about circumcising!!