The Birth Store

We love hearing from people who come back to hire a TENS machine with us for their next birth 💕

Knowing it was so helpful for not one but ✨two✨ of Ashley’s birth experiences means so much to us!

Thank you Ashley, for trusting us again and letting us be a part of your journey 🥹

❤️‍🩹 Birth Trauma Awareness Week ❤️‍🩹

This week is about encouraging more conversations around experiences that are so often misunderstood, minimised or not spoken about at all 💔

Birth trauma is unfortunately far too common. While it can result from complications, injury or unexpected interventions, it's not always about what happened during labour or birth. Sometimes it's about how those moments felt.

Feeling scared, powerless, unsupported, dismissed or having a birth unfold differently to what you’d hoped for can have a lasting impact (yes, even when you and your baby are physically healthy).

If that resonates with you, please know that your feelings are valid, your experience matters and your story deserves to be heard 💖

While birth trauma can't always be prevented, there are things that may help reduce the risk:
🫶🏻 Understand your options - being informed about what might happen can make things feel less unpredictable
🫶🏻 Create flexible birth preferences to help your team understand what matters most to you
🫶🏻 Choose a care provider who listens and involves you in decisions
🫶🏻 Ask questions - you’re allowed to ask for more time, more info or a second opinion
🫶🏻 Bring someone into your birth space (partner, friend, doula) who you can trust to advocate for you

If you or someone you love needs support:
🤍 .org.au – support, information and peer groups
🤍 .org.au – mental health information for pregnancy & birth
🤍 – free support line 1300 726 306
🤍 Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7)

❤️‍🩹 You are not alone, and support is available.

Let’s have a bit of fun! Comment your baby’s birthday (or due date if they’re not born yet) and find your little one’s birthday twin! ✨

I’ll go first. My (not so little) babies were born on 25th February, 15th April and 3rd December 💖

Is your EDD in SEPTEMBER? 😍

Swipe to see some information about your baby’s potential birthday, plus a bonus reminder.

Tag someone due in SEPTEMBER 💕

Early labour is your body gently preparing for what’s to come and while it can feel exciting (and a little uncertain), this stage is all about staying calm and conserving your energy ☁️🌸🥚✨

Most importantly, don’t rush. Early labour can take time, and that’s completely normal. Stay home if you can, tune into your body, and ease into the rhythm of your contractions 🤍

Growing life is no small thing 🤍

Even on the days that feel slow, uncomfortable, or uncertain
there is so much happening within you!

We only see the external stretching and shifting, however there is so much going on internally to support your baby’s growth. Although there may be hard days and it might not always feel magical, this is a powerful journey!

The quiet kind of magic ✨⭐️🌙

Growing a human is exhausting and beautiful work. Here are a few gentle reminders to support your pregnancy:

Prioritise rest: Growing a baby requires immense energy. Listen to your body and rest when you need it.

Nourish your body: Focus on wholefoods and stay hydrated.

Stay mindful: Practice deep breathing and use positive affirmations.

Lean on your support team: Connect with healthcare providers, family, or local support groups if you feel anxious or overwhelmed.

🩷

If you're nearing the end of your pregnancy, chances are you've felt that overwhelming urge to just hurry up and meet your baby already! And while there’s no guaranteed method to bring on labour, we’ve got a few techniques that may help your body prepare for the big day.

🚶🏽‍♀️Stay active - Take walks, do light cleaning, or try gentle exercises like curb walking or bouncing on a birthing ball.
🧑🏼‍❤️‍💋‍🧑🏾 Intimacy - Sexual activity and or***ms release oxytocin, which may potentially trigger contractions. Plus prostaglandins in semen help to soften the cervix.
🤱🏼 Ni**le stimulation - Stimulating ni***es can release oxytocin and kickstart contractions.
📍 Acupuncture - This ancient technique may help stimulate contractions.
🌴 Dates - Eating dates in late pregnancy may increase cervical ripening and decrease the need for Pitocin.
🛀 Relaxation - Stress can hinder labour hormones, so take baths or meditate to stay calm.
🍵 Raspberry leaf tea - May help to tone uterine muscles for more efficient contractions. Whilst it doesn’t start labour, it can be helpful to encourage more effective contractions once it’s started.
🍍 Pineapple - Contains bromelain, which can help to soften the cervix.
💧 Clary sage oil - Boosts oxytocin levels, which may aid contractions (only to be used at the very end of pregnancy).

Remember to consult with your doctor or midwife before trying these techniques. Trust your body, and your baby will arrive when they’re ready! ⭐️

In Australia, expecting parents have a variety of maternity care options to choose from, each designed to cater to different preferences and medical needs. Let’s have a look at your options 👇🏼

Midwifery-led care encompasses both Public Midwifery Group Practice (MGP), where midwives offer continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum within the public health system, and Private Practice Midwives, who provide independent care including home birth options. Community Midwifery Program is also an option which is publicly funded, and they will come to your house for appointments, and offer home birth, FBC births, and hospital births.

Obstetrician-led care is available through private obstetricians for comprehensive care in private hospitals, or in public hospitals where obstetricians manage pregnancies with a team-based approach 🏥

Shared care models, such as General Practitioner (GP) Shared Care, involve routine check-ups with a GP alongside hospital-based obstetric care.

Birth centres offer a homelike environment for low-risk pregnancies, emphasising natural birth with midwifery support, often located within or near hospitals. Additionally, some families opt for home birth services provided by midwives, accommodating those who prefer to give birth in their own environment.

Specialised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity Services, such as Birthing on Country Programs, provide culturally safe care tailored to Indigenous women, integrating traditional practices and support from Indigenous health workers 🌿

These diverse options ensure that individuals can find the maternity care that aligns with their preferences, cultural background, and medical requirements.

Which model of care have you or would you opt for? ✨