Recommended resources
I have put together a list of my favourite resources related to pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Below you will find websites, antenatal classes, books, podcasts, and trusted services local to Nelson NZ, that I recommend to friends, family and clients. Many of the books I have available in my ‘lending library’ for client’s to access.
INFORMATIVE WEBSITES:
spinningbabies.com - Spinning Babies is a great resources on creating space and alignment within your body, to allow baby to get into an optimal position, if they wish to do so! I have done a Spinning Babies workshop and teach some of the daily exercises to clients, and use their practices during labour. Their Daily Activities are a great resource for parents to use during pregnancy in preparation for birth.
optimalmaternalpositioning.com - Another great website that discusses and demonstrates how to get the pelvis for labour and birth.
bodyreadymethod.com - Designed to prepare your mind and body throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Their Learning Centre is full of great exercises and resources to help you out every step of the way.
milescircuit.com - These techniques were developed by an American doula and have been shown to help baby get into an optimal position late in pregnancy and even in labour. Some say after completing the circuit labour has begun.
evidencebasedbirth.com - An American site that is a great source of unbiased, evidence based information and resources.
birthingwisdom.com.au - Rhea Dempsey is an incredible childbirth educator and author.
midwifethinking.com - Dr Rachel Reed is a wealth of knowledge, and has a variety of blogs or courses available through her website. I have completed her Childbirth Physiology Online Course.
sarahbuckley.com - Sarah is an obstetric GP and published author, her blog is a great resource on all things pregnancy, birth and parenting. She wrote the great book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering.
sarawickham.com - Dr Sara Wickham is a midwife, researcher, educator, speaker and author. She has a number of great evidence based blog posts on her website, as well as some great books.
PREGNANCY AND BIRTH RELATED BOOKS:
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth- Ina May Gaskin
HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method- Marie F. Mongan
HypnoBirthing: Practical ways to make your birth better- Siobhan Miller
The Positive Birth Book- Milli Hill
Birth Skills- Juju Sundin
Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth- Sophie Walker and Jodi Wilson
Positive Birth using relaxation, hypnobirthing and mindfulness- Helen Bartrom
Birth with Confidence- Rhea Dempsey
Beyond the Birth Plan- Rhea Dempsey
Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage- Rachel Reed
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering- Sarah Buckley
Birth After Caesarean- Hazel Keedle
The Birth Space- Gabrielle Nancarrow
What to Expect When You’re Expecting- Heidi Murkoff
Nine Golden Months. The Essential Art of Nurturing the Mother-to-Be- Heng Ou
Birth Partner- Penny Simkin
POSTPARTUM AND BABY RELATED BOOKS:
Life After Birth- Jessica Prescott & Vaughne Geary
Smart Mothering- Dr Natalie Flynn
The First Forty Days- Heng Ou
The Fourth Trimester- Kimberly Ann Johnson
Golden Month- Jenny Allison
Village for Mama- Lelia Armour
The Postnatal Depletion Cure- Dr Oscar Serrallach
The Happiest Baby on the Block- Harvey Karp
The First Six Weeks- Midwife Kath
Your Baby doesn’t come with a Book- Dr Daniel Golshevsky
PODCASTS:
BIRTH STORIES-
Kiwi Birth Tales
Australian Birth Stories
Positive Birth Australia
The Maiden to Mother Journey
VBAC Birth Stories
The VBAC Link
The Positive Birth NZ Podcast
The Birth Hour Podcast
EDUCATIONAL-
The Great Birth Rebellion
Growing with Beth Ryan
Birthing Instincts
Evidence Based Birth Podcast
Boob to Food the Podcast
The Better Birth Podcast
The Midwives Cauldron
Baby Baking and Kid Raising
Down to Birth Podcast
The Road to Wisdom
Birth Choices
POSTPARTUM AND PARENTING-
Tales from the Fourth Trimester
Unruffled: Janet Lansbury
Parental as Anything: Maggie Dent
Beyond the Bump
Mother the Mother
The Moment
MENTAL HEALTH AND BIRTH TRAUMA-
Perinatal Stories Australia
Healing Birth with Carla
EXERCISE IN PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM-
The MINT project
LOCAL ANTENATAL CLASSES AND ONLINE OPTIONS:
NELSON-
Nelson District Parent Centre- In person classes, over a series of weeks or one weekend
Hospital antenatal classes- In person over a series of weeks
Empower Birth Antenatal Class- In person over a series of weeks or one weekend
Hypnobirthing Nelson/ Tasman- In person over a series of weeks or one weekend
ONLINE-
Your Birth Project- This is an online Hypnobirthing course created by Jordyn who has the Kiwi Birth Tales Podcast.
Hatched Antenatal Classes- Online created by Midwife Carmen Lett
Home Birth Aotearoa- free online Antenatal Series
Australian Birth Stories Website has a range of online classes- Welcome to the First Trimester, The Birth Class, The Caesarean Birth Class, Discovering Motherhood.
BREASTFEEDING:
Ruth Brodbeck- Local Nelson IBCLC (lactation consultant)
La Leche League Nelson/ Tasman Facebook page. Monthly meetings in Richmond.
Growing with Beth Ryan (podcast)- Episode 44: Breastfeeding in the newborn stage with lactation consultant Susie Prout.
The Great Birth Rebellion (podcast)- Episode 43: Breastfeeding Success with Dr Robyn Thompson.
Feed the Baby (book)- Victoria Facellai
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (book)- La Leche League International
The Food of Love (book)- Kate Evans
The Positive Breastfeeding Book - Amy Brown
LOCAL SERVICES:
The best place to look for services local to Nelson is The Perinatal Directory ttps://theperinataldirectory.nz/
Services that clients frequently ask about, and are trusted by me are:
PREGNANCY MASSAGE-
Marti- Luna Bloom
Kathy Houghton
CHIROPRACTOR-
Olivia Borlase- Inner Strength Health and Performance
Equilibrium
OSTEOPATH-
Finn Thomas Osteopath- Specialises in women’s health and paediatric care
Osteopathy Nelson
WOMEN’S PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIO-
Elevate Physio
ACUPUNCTURE-
Menna Williams- Aroha Health
Paddy McBride- Acupuncture Richmond
PREGNANCY YOGA-
Kindred Studio
PREGNANCY PILATES-
Elevate Physio
POSTNATAL EXERCISE CLASSES-
Edee Harris Fitness- Active Mums NZ trainer
Gennavieve Fitness- Actice Mums NZ and Kanga trainer
Debbie Wastney- Inspiraction Fitness and Wellbeing
MOTHER’S MENTAL WELLBEING AND BABY LOSS-
Perinatal Support Nelson
Baby Loss NZ
Pregnancy, Baby and Infant loss support- Sands NZ. There is also a local Sands Nelson Facebook Group
Miscarriage Matters
SUPPORT FOR DAD’S-
The Male Room Nelson
RISE Dad’s Programe
POSTPARTUM GROUPS:
Nelson district Parent Centre
SPACE at Nelson/ Tasman Playcentres
Choice Baby Group- Nelson’s Natural Parenting and Homebirth Group
Plunket
Parent to Parent- Connect, inform, support
THERAPUTIC ULTRASOUND:
Elevate Physio- Aids in the treatment of mastitis
NZ HELPLINES:
Interpreter- New Zealand Translation Service 03 548 9922
Domestic Violence: Shine NZ 0508-744-633
Child abuse: Oranga Tamariki 03 546 3470
Lifeline Aotearoa: 0800 543 354
Youthline NZ: 0800 37 66 33
Community Assessment Team (CAT): Crisis Team Nelson: 0800 776 364 - Press 2
Women’s Refuge: Nelson 03 544 0616
Work and Income NZ: This also covers housing issues, benefits 0800 559 009
Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 0800 787 797
Grief councillor: The Grief Centre NZ 0800 331 333