Embracing Birth

26/02/2026

While freebirths and planned homebirths both happen outside of a medical setting, they are different birthing experiences.

Experts say creating awareness around how the two differ is important in helping women make informed and safe decisions.

Learn more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/the-difference-between-a-homebirth-and-a-freebirth/106348232?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf280029852&utm_campaign=abc%5Fmelbourne&utm_source=m%2Efacebook%2Ecom

Personalise your news and stay in the know with the ABC NEWS app: https://ab.co/abcnewsapp

26/02/2026

Delayed cord clamping (DCC) for one minute is said to transfer about 80 mL of blood from the placenta to the fetus.

New study finds that on average given DCC weigh about 24g more than those who did not have a delay.

Wonder where the extra grams went? 🤔

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41720473/

20/02/2026

When I think about breastfeeding, I think about my baby’s little face looking up at me. The cuddles. The way they relax into my breast. The bonding. The closeness.

I don’t usually sit there thinking about the science of it all.

But sometimes it hits me… my breasts literally make milk😳 Like literally make MILK !!

When my baby latches, nerves in my ni**le send a message to my brain. My brain releases prolactin to make milk and oxytocin to let it flow. A tiny human suckles… and my body responds. In real time.

My brain and my breasts are in constant communication. My baby cries, and sometimes I can feel it before they even touch me.

It’s not just sweet. It’s not just emotional.

It’s biological. It’s intelligent. It’s my body adapting, responding, producing exactly what my baby needs.

I’m not just holding my baby.
I’m feeding them with something my body created.

And that will never stop amazing me ❤️

24/12/2025

24/12/2025

25/11/2025

Researchers have found something remarkable, babies who received only colostrum in their first 72 hours of life were five times less likely to develop a peanut allergy, and eleven times less likely to develop multiple food allergies.

This study matters so much because it confirms that how we feed our babies in those first few days truly matters. Those first drops of milk aren’t just important, they’re powerful, protective, and packed with lifelong benefits.

Did you feel supported to give your baby just colostrum in those first few days?

And as always, you’re allowed to feel proud of every single drop of breastmilk you gave your baby 💛

22/11/2025

A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors

10/11/2025

Resist the urge to kiss that baby.
Not on the face, not on those tiny fingers.
(They go straight to their mouth every time.)

It doesn’t matter if you’re family or a close friend— viruses don’t check relationships.

What’s a harmless cold to you could make their tiny body fight for breath.
What feels like nothing to you could mean days in the hospital for them.

If you truly care, keep your distance.
Hold back the kisses, wash your hands, keep them safe.
Affection can wait — health can’t.

05/11/2025

A world-first Australian program has averted thousands of early births.

02/11/2025

25/10/2025

This chart-topping band appears more than 100 times on labor and delivery playlists. Tap the link in the first comment for more. ⬇️

27/09/2025

🌏 World-first research from WA has revealed something shocking.

We’ve always known colostrum is liquid gold 💛 — packed with human growth factors that line and protect a newborn’s gut.

In those first days, a baby’s gut lining is thin and leaky — designed this way so it can absorb colostrum’s protective compounds. Growth factors in colostrum help the epithelial layer of the gut to mature, tighten up, and form a strong protective barrier. This not only supports digestion but also educates the immune system, teaching it to recognise what’s safe and what’s harmful. Formula simply cannot do this.

Now, WA research has shown just how critical those first feeds of colostrum really are:
👉 Babies exclusively fed colostrum in their first 72 hours were 5x less likely to develop peanut allergy.
👉 They were 11x less likely to develop multiple food allergies such as egg or cow’s milk.
👉 And not a single baby who had 9+ colostrum feeds per day in the first 72 hours developed peanut allergy.

⚠️ To be clear: the answer here is not antenatal expressing. The research didn’t specify antenatal vs postnatal, and fresh is best when it comes to colostrum. What this evidence highlights is the importance of ensuring babies receive as much of their mother’s colostrum as possible after birth — and not defaulting to formula unless there is a genuine medical reason.

❌ What really shocked me? Right now in WA, 1 in 2 newborns are given formula top-ups in their first 72 hours — before colostrum has had the chance to finish its vital job of sealing and protecting the gut and shaping the immune system.

This is despite the research and best practice guidelines like the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) being crystal clear:
👉 Formula should only be given if there are clear medical reasons.

Colostrum isn’t just “first milk.” It’s a powerful biological tool — uniquely designed to protect babies in those critical early days.

✨ That’s why evidence-based prenatal breastfeeding education matters so much. Parents who understand the role of colostrum are confident to say no to unnecessary formula in those critical first hours — and know how to make sure their baby gets only colostrum unless a true medical need arises.

This is exactly why I cover breastfeeding and those first 72 hours in my classes and consultations—so parents walk into birth ready to protect those feeds and give their baby the best start.
I also have an online course because this is so important!

https://birthsavvy.com.au/breastfeeding-course/

Parents deserve better support.
Babies deserve colostrum 💛

📖 Reference:
Bhasin M, Cooper M, Macchiaverni P, Joys RS, O'Sullivan TA, Keelan JA, Venter C, Palmer DJ, Lowe AJ, Prescott SL, Silva D, Verhasselt V. Colostrum as a Protective Factor Against Peanut Allergy: Evidence From a Birth Cohort. Allergy. 2025 Sep 18. doi: 10.1111/all.70043. Epub ahead of print.
*EDIT Free Access here: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.70043