Webinar series
Watch our conversations with experts passionate about creating a more equitable maternal health system.
Our free webinar series is accessible to anyone with an interest in equitable maternity care and support for people experiencing disadvantage.
Watch previous webinars here
Unpacking ‘Beyond the Birth Plan’ with Rhea Dempsey
Rhea joined Birth for Humankind once again to delve deeper into some of the key concepts from her book, ‘Beyond the Birth Plan’. In this webinar, Rhea explores the connection between the psychological, emotional and physical experiences of birthing and motherhood as well as attachment styles and theory.
Exploring the need for real and accessible birth education, with Bernadette Lack
Bernadette Lack is a birth-lover, midwife, personal trainer, author, wife, mother and creator of Core and Floor Restore. She is truly passionate about supporting birthing people and parents to see their true emotional and physical capabilities. Bernadette’s Core and Floor Restore programs and education resources aim to support and empower women through their pregnancy and postpartum journeys.
Bernadette and Cressida, from Birth for Humankind, explore the current need for real, relevant and equitable birth education and the cultural, systemic and personal barriers people face in accessing it.
Content message: in this chat, we touch on experiences of psychological and physiological birth trauma, postnatal depression and infant loss, please take care when listening.
In conversation with Rhea Dempsey
In recognition of Birth Trauma Awareness Week (19-24th July 2021), Birth for Humankind is thrilled to host another conversation with Rhea Dempsey. Rhea is a highly sought-after and much-loved childbirth educator, counsellor, speaker, author and birth attendant who has experienced thousands of births. (Dempsey, Rhea. Beyond the Birth Plan.)Over one hour, Rhea delves deep into the concept of pain during birth and explore the ways our current birth culture is linked to the growing prevalence of birth trauma. The conversation also acknowledges the unique perspective/challenges of trauma and birth for women experiencing social and financial disadvantage.
Watch this thought-provoking conversation for free here
(Simply register to watch)
Pregnancy and Homelessness
Women experiencing homelessness are often presented with a number of barriers to equitable maternal health care. In order to move towards equitable maternal health and wellbeing for all, a better understanding of these barriers is required.
We were thrilled to be joined by Dr Theresa Lynch, Dr Juliet Watson and Annie Watson in our most recent webinar to discuss the issue of pregnancy and homelessness, the research, projects and the people who are driving a movement in improving the situation for these women and their babies.
A conversation with Rhea Dempsey: Vulnerability and the psychological aspects of pregnancy and birth
We had the exciting opportunity to spend an hour with Rhea Dempsey, a highly sought after childbirth educator, counsellor, speaker, author and birth attendant with experience at over one thousand births. Together, we explored the emotional and psychological aspects of birth and how social and economic disadvantage impacts a woman’s birth planning and preparation, and ultimately her birth experience. Rhea shared her wisdom and knowledge from over one thousand births to inspire everyone to ensure respectful maternity care is provided for all women.
“Giving birth is an emotional experience, however it occurs. It brings up our past, our present and our dreams for the future. For most of us, somewhere among the emotions it evokes will be points of psychological vulnerability, for some even trauma.”
(Dempsey, Rhea. Beyond the Birth Plan. p.58)
Nine months and beyond: The future of mothering
As we enter an increasingly uncertain future, how can we support and nurture our new mothers, especially those experiencing disadvantage, to give them and their babies the best start possible? This webinar was facilitated by Berry Liberman, Co-Founder of Small Giants, and Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Dumbo Feather magazine, with Red Dearnley, CEO of Birth for Humankind, and Lee Ann Basser, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia (VIC).
The future of woman-centred care
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed antenatal, birth and postnatal care for many women. Necessary introduction of physical distancing policies and procedures have limited a woman’s opportunity for continuity of care and social connection at this critical time in their lives. In doing so, it has highlighted the ongoing challenges facing women experiencing social and financial hardship, when trying to access the current public maternity system.
This webinar discussed the gaps in our system that have been highlighted or amplified by COVID-19 and the impact this may have on the future of woman-centred care. With Joanne Askham, Director of Birth for Humankind; Clare Wyborn, President of the Doula Network Australia and Bridie Ryan, Registered Midwife and Doula.
Maintaining continuity of support to pregnant women and new mums during the COVID-19 pandemic
This free one hour panel discussion discusses emerging challenges and interventions to best support women during a time of social distancing. With Mei Lai Swan, Founder and Director of Birth for Humankind; Frances Bilbao, Director of Mums Matter Psychology, and Erika Munton, Director of BirthReady.