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Birth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 92 - VBAC: Exploring Your Options for a Subsequent BirthWelcome and thank you for listening! VBAC: Exploring Your Options for a Subsequent Birth with Sarah Jones In this episode, Dr. Margreet Barnardt interviews Sarah Jones, an independent midwife specializing in VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). We discuss: What is a VBAC? Understanding the process and factors that contribute to successful VBACs. Finding the right care provider: The importance of choosing a healthcare provider who supports and has experience with VBACs. Challenges and considerations: Exploring potential challenges such as labor induction and the possibility of a repeat...2025-05-1223 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 91 - Preparing for the Unexpected: An Emergency C-Section StoryWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Dr. Margreet Barnardt interviews Sarah Jones, a midwife who recently experienced an unexpected emergency C-section. Sarah shares her personal birth story, highlighting how she emotionally prepared for the possibility of a C-section despite her desire for a natural birth. We discuss: Preparing for the unexpected: How to emotionally and practically prepare for a potential C-section. The C-section experience: Sarah's personal account of her C-section experience. Post-C-section recovery: Tips for emotional and physical recovery after a C-section. Sarah Jones:2025-04-0118 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 90 - Healthy Mouth, Healthy Bump: Navigating Pregnancy and Oral HealthWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, we explore the crucial link between oral health during pregnancy and the lifelong dental well-being of children. We are joined by Dr. Tshepiso Mfolo, President of the South African Association of Paediatric Dentistry and a leading authority on maternal and child oral health. Dr. Mfolo reveals invaluable insights and dispels common myths, such as the idea that bleeding gums during pregnancy are normal and not a cause for concern. She also provides practical tips, like dietary recommendations, for expectant parents and healthcare providers. We'll uncover the unique oral...2025-02-2733 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 89 - Midwife-Led Birth: Is it Right for You?Welcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Dr. Margreet Barnardt interviews Ruwaida Moola, an experienced midwife and founder of Birth on 5th, a birthing unit in Linden, Johannesburg. They discuss the benefits of Midwife-Led Care, including: Lower intervention rates: Fewer medical procedures like inductions and cesarean sections. Increased client satisfaction: More personalized and empowering birth experiences. Improved breastfeeding outcomes: Increased support for breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Ruwaida explains what Midwife-Led Care entails, emphasizing its focus on low-intervention, personalized care and continuity of care. They explore the situations where M...2025-01-2732 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 88 - Woman-Centered Care: A Non-NegotiableWelcome and thank you for listening! Celebrating Five Years of Birth & Baby Show: A Heartfelt Thank You It's the end of another year, and I'm taking a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared together on the Birth & Baby Show. We've celebrated five years of connecting with amazing guests, listeners, and viewers, and I'm so grateful for your continued support. As we wrap up another year, I, Dr. Margreet Barnardt, wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work we do and the personal journey that fuels my passion. In...2024-11-2724 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 87 - Building Blocks for Baby's Brain: A Conversation with Cozette LaubserWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Dr. Margreet welcomes director of the BabyGym Institute, Cozette Laubser, to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Newborn Brain Essentials: A Healthy Start to Development. This invaluable resource provides parents with essential insights into the fundamental building blocks of baby development, offering a solid foundation for their parenting journey. Cozette, internationally qualified Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula and a mom of two, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Fueled by years of dedicated research alongside her mother, Dr. Melodie de Jager (founder of the...2024-11-0131 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 86 - Optimizing early oral development for your child’s long-term healthWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Dr Margreet talks with Janay Alexander-Gilchrist about optimizing early oral development for your child’s long-term health. Janay, the General Manager of the Kids & Baby Division at Curaden South Africa, is a passionate advocate for early oral development. With a wealth of experience as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist, Hypnobirthing Practitioner, Buteyko Breathing Practitioner, and Master NLP Practitioner, Janay brings a unique perspective to her role. As a mother herself, Janay understands the profound impact that healthy oral care has on a child's long-term well-being. He...2024-09-2727 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 85 - MomConnect: South Africa National Department of Health’s Support and Resources for All MothersWelcome and thank you for listening! In this Podcast Episode, Jane Sebidi, MomConnect Program Manager, discusses the program’s 10-year anniversary. With over 30 years of experience in maternal and child health, Jane has been a driving force behind MomConnect's success. She's passionate about using technology to improve access to quality healthcare for women and their families. MomConnect, a South African National Department of Health initiative, uses SMS and WhatsApp to provide maternal and child health support. To register, dial *134*550*2# or WhatsApp message "join" to 079-6312456. If you found this episode helpful pl...2024-08-2820 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 84 - Breastfeeding Expectations vs RealityWelcome and thank you for listening! For Breastfeeding Awareness Week, Dr. Margreet talked with Samantha Crompton, Lactation Consultant, Midwife, wife and mother of two teenage boys. Samantha talks about expectations versus reality of Breastfeeding and unpacks the most common misconceptions. She explains what support looks like for a new, breastfeeding mom. She did her Bachelors of Nursing & Midwifery at the University of Witwatersrand (WITS). While she was breastfeeding her first son, she realised that breastfeeding wasn't taught enough during her midwifery training. Seeing that women also lost their ‘village’ they don't receive enough breastfeeding support anywh...2024-07-3130 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 83 - Empowering Families for a Positive Birth JourneyWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Dr Margreet talks with Janay Alexander-Gilchris about antenatal education and the importance of empowering families for a positive birth journey. More than qualifications (though she has plenty!), Janay Alexander-Gilchrist is a passionate advocate for families, especially mothers, to have a positive birthing experience. A wife, daughter, friend, and most importantly a mother herself, Janay understands the profound impact of childbirth.Janay's mission is to remind women of their inherent strength and guide them on a journey of self-discovery during childbirth. She believes preparing for birth is...2024-06-2619 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 82 - Becoming Parents - Trusting The JourneyWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode Margreet chatted with her sister Ellen about her experience with pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. Ellen talked about the importance of preconception health and how she prepared her body for pregnancy. She emphasizes trusting the process throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Ellen journeyed with an independent midwife and gave birth in her home. She discusses the challenges of waiting past her due date and the pressure to intervene medically. She also details the intensity of her birth experience, including birthing while standing. Ellen talks about the j...2024-05-2924 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 81 - Behind the Scenes - Honest Talks with Two Sensitive MidwivesWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode Dr Margreet Barnardt is having a conversation with two Sensitive Midwives, Melissa Hudek and Susan Bolke, about their experiences working in different sectors of midwifery in South Africa. In this insightful conversation you will learn about the rewarding parts as well as the challenges of working as a midwife as well as how to make an informed decision about choosing your birth provider. If you found this episode helpful please leave us a review or give us a rating as that helps us get the show o...2024-04-2532 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 80 – Oral Health for Moms (to be) and BabiesWelcome and thank you for listening! In our latest Birth & Baby episode, Dr. Margreet Barnardt is joined by Dr. Farah Seedat, a highly qualified Paediatric Dentist, and Naseema Osman, an oral hygienist and mom of two. Naseema's personal experience with airway struggles has fueled her passion for educating families about the link between oral health and overall well-being. Dr. Seedat and Naseema join Dr. Margreet for a comprehensive discussion on all things oral health, from pregnancy through to childhood. They delve into how pregnancy affects a woman's mouth, explore the essentials of baby oral care...2024-03-2936 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 79 – Making a difference as a DoulaWelcome and thank you for listening! In this weeks episode, Dr. Margreet Barnardt (Wibbelink) chats with Patricia Musarurwa, a doula making a significant impact in her community. Patricia, a mother of two and a doula for 12 years at the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic, shares her journey into becoming a doula. Patricia became inspired to become a doula after witnessing a woman giving birth in her community. She highlights that being a doula is about continuous support, not just during birth but also in the postpartum period, building relationships and friendships. The conversation...2024-03-0421 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 78 – Empowering Birth: From Rituals to the Relax-In Sling with Karen WilmotWelcome and thank you for listening! In this podcast episode, Dr. Margreet Barnardt (Wibbelink) hosts Karen Wilmot, a South African midwife, to discuss natural birthing and the Relax-In Sling, a tool designed to support women during pregnancy and childbirth. Karen emphasizes the universal nature of childbirth, irrespective of cultural backgrounds, highlighting the need for consistent respect and reverence for women during the birthing process. She draws on her experiences in the Middle East, where birth is deeply honoured with rituals, especially during the postpartum period. The conversation delves into the importance of empowering...2024-01-2625 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 77 – Birthing Positions: All You Need To Know!In this captivating podcast episode, Dr. Margreet, the Birth and Baby Show podcast host, embarks on a groundbreaking discussion about birthing positions. As a passionate midwife specialist, Margreet advocates for a return to natural birthing practices, empowering women and midwives alike. Delving into the historical context, Margreet highlights that upright positions have been the traditional norm for childbirth. However, the over-medicalization of birth has led to a prevalence of back-lying positions, which can hinder the natural flow of labour and increase the likelihood of interventions. Margreet emphasizes that the choice of birthing position is crucial...2023-12-1424 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 76 – Let's Talk About It series: Women living with HIV and MotherhoodIn this episode, healthcare professional Zanele Cekiso shares valuable insights into living with HIV, focusing particularly on pregnancy and the complexities that can arise. Zanele's extensive experience in the field provides a unique perspective, offering guidance to those navigating the intersection of HIV and maternal health. She unpacks important concepts such as PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), an antiretroviral drug used to prevent HIV, pregnancy and HIV and navigating the challenges of childbirth and beyond. She also emphasizes the importance of regular healthcare visits, medication adherence, and taking control of one's health for a fulfilling life with HIV. ...2023-12-0549 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 75 – Let's Talk About It series: Unplanned PregnancyWelcome and thank you for listening! This episode is part of a series: "Let's Talk About It" on The Birth and Baby Show. Dr. Margreet had a candid conversation about a topic that's often left in the shadows: unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. Guest, Thandi Innocentia Radebe, known for her exceptional work at the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic in Jeffreys Bay, brings a wealth of expertise and firsthand experience to the table. As the head of the counseling department that specializes in crisis pregnancies, Thandi deals with issues ranging from miscarriage, teenage pregnancies, HIV counseling...2023-10-2726 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 74 – Let's Talk About It series: Breast CancerWelcome and thank you for listening! A Story of Resilience, Hope, and Healing Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the many challenges women face, as well as their remarkable strength and resilience. In this episode of the "Birth & Baby Show," we are introduced to a beacon of hope and inspiration in the form of Bronwyn Haslim – a wife, mother of three. Bronwyn, a resident of Jo'burg, is a devout believer in God and takes great joy in her role as a mother. Her journey is an incredible testament to the re...2023-09-2926 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 73 – Let's Talk About It series: Cervical CancerWelcome and thank you for listening! We are starting a new series: ‘Let’s talk about it’ addressing the topics we rather don’t want to talk about, especially topics that are related to sexual and reproductive health as it is subject to stigma. We are kicking the series off by talking to Sebabatso Tsaoane about Cervical Cancer, what it is, how it can be prevented and treated. Sebabatso is a Multi-award winning Registered Nurse Midwife as an agent of change she constantly goes beyond the call of duty to manifest her vision of healing the nati...2023-08-2816 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 72 – Hormonal Health for WomenWelcome and thank you for listening! Jacqui Niehaus is back for a power packed interview, this time on hormonal health for women. She featured earlier in an episode on Nutrition for the (wanting to be) Mom. This time she unpacks our hormonal health and what a healthy cycle looks like, which really is the cornerstone of women’s health and wellbeing. She explains what are the current stressors that disrupt our hormonal health and how we can restore it. Jacqui is a biostatistician turned women's wellness coach. Her goal is to empower women to understand mor...2023-07-2828 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 71 – The Good Enough MotherWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Dr. Margreet chatted with Claire Bracher about ‘The Good Enough Mother’. Claire Bracher has practiced as a midwife for 35 years and over this time her passion for her chosen field has broadened and deepened. She has looked at midwifery from every angle - working in labour wards, running antenatal and postnatal practices and lecturing and conducting research in midwifery at Wits University. Claire is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Certified Infant Massage Instructor and has a certification in integral life coaching from UCT. 2023-06-2739 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 70 – Probiotics, Why Are They So Important? Experiences From a New MomWelcome and thank you for listening! Cristina Torralbas is a first time mother and shares about her journey into motherhood. The first time her baby was sick, she was very disheartened. In her journey, she discovered the importance of a healthy microbiome and how probiotics assist in keeping herself and her baby healthy. Mysteries of the microbiome Microbe colonies are the giant topics of a future under threat by the smallest of the small. Everyone has a microbiome; a collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and around our bodies. Different parts...2023-06-2727 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 69 – Birthing With A Midwife – Bringing It Back To Our CommunitiesWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode Lindo Tshabalala talks about how she is bringing Midwifery back to her Community. Lindo is a young, dynamic Independent Midwife from Soweto. She shares about her journey as a young midwife and has a powerful message for both women and birth workers. Lindo followed her dream and founded Blooming in Grace Clinic, where she created a safe space that is really user-friendly towards healthy pregnant women and mothers. In an environment where junk food and chronic ailments thrive, Lindo saw the need to empower women to b...2023-04-2525 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 68 – Claiming your Birth Rights - Words of Wisdom for Pregnant MothersWelcome and thank you for listening! Marelise Snijders, wife and mother of four beautiful teenagers, shares her pearls of wisdom. Her story is about miracle babies, empowered natural births and claiming your own birth rights. She shares how she went through her first birth, with the support of her husband, midwife and doula: "Just everything is beautiful about giving birth. I suppose going through the whole process, it's like comparing a drive-through versus a five course meal. Obviously, it's painful, obviously it's uncomfortable, but the whole process is so beautiful and your body is...2023-03-3134 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 67 – Making a difference as a Sensitive Midwife – it’s all about the journey!Welcome and thank you for listening! In this episode Mbali Tshabalala shares her journey of becoming a Professional Nurse & Midwife and how she persevered against the odds and is now a passionate ‘Sensitive Midwife’. Mbali received her education at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital and at the Hillbrow Maternity Obstetrics Unit where her love and passion for moms and babies was further nurtured. After graduating, she moved to rural KZN and worked as a Midwife where she gained experience in antenatal care, intrapartum care, postnatal care and management of obstetrics emergencies. She has worked in Ind...2023-03-1627 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 66 – Nutrition for (wanting to be) Moms & Dads!Welcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Jacqui Niehaus shares incredible truths and empowering messages about Nutrition and Hormonal Wellbeing. Jacqui is a biostatistician turned women's wellness coach. Her goal is to empower women to understand more about their hormone cycles and how they can use nutrient-dense, whole food as a way to nourish their bodies and bring balance back to their health. We are addressing the many conflicting information in the wellness world, especially when it comes to women's hormone health. Many messages are quite restrictive, telling you to cut out different k...2023-03-0232 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 65 – Pre- and Postnatal Exercise with Lisa from Inspired MovementsWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode, Dr Margreet Wibbelink talks with Lisa Came, a passionate Pilates Instructor and mom of two, about Pre- and Postnatal Exercise. We all know the importance of movement and exercise for our health and wellbeing, but most of the time we are not too sure what that looks like when you are pregnant or have given birth. She explains how you can continue or start movement in this precious time of your life and what adaptations you need to do in order to exercise in...2023-02-2024 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 64 – Butts vs Bumps: A Battle We Can’t Afford To LoseWelcome and thank you for listening! The guest in this episode is Dr Kieran McLeod, a South African medical doctor and founder of ByeGwaai. Drawing on his passion for behaviour change and digital health, Kieran founded mobile app-based smoking cessation solution ByeGwaai - an evidence-based, easy-to-access and affordable program to help South Africans quit smoking. Dr Kieran shares about his journey how he saw his own mom struggling to quit smoking growing up, till how he now impacts many people's lives through his work. Most people think that smoking is disappearing and it’s not so...2023-02-0833 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 63 – Introducing Solids In The Early DaysWelcome and thank you for listening! Our special guest today is, Amy van der Merwe, a mom to an almost 4 year old little girl and pregnant with their second child, passionate about giving them the healthiest start to life. She is a chef and loves working with plants and natural ingredients. Amy's family health history is not the best, so she started to look into a preventative lifestyle about 7 years ago. She loves food that grows from the earth and naturally started eating more whole foods and more plants. In today's episode, she...2022-12-0531 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 62 – Premature Birth – How Can Parents Be Best Prepared For It?Welcome and thank you for listening! Our special guest today is, Dr Ida du Plessis-Faurie, a Registered Nurse and Midwife, with a PhD in Maternal and Child Nursing: Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science. A model for nurses to facilitate mother’s caring for their preterm infants in the community stemmed from her research. She completed her Master’s degree in Advanced Neonatal Nursing (cum laude) and worked in NICUs over a period of +/- 22 years. As a neonatal nursing consultant, Ida can live out her passion regarding maternal and child health, by runn...2022-10-2540 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 61 – When Things Don't Go As Planned Series - Premature Labour And BirthWelcome and thank you for listening! Jessica is a new Mama from Makhanda (previously Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape. Jessica grew up on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal and now calls the Eastern Cape home. She is happily married to Julian Barker and they welcomed their baby boy Jonah into the world on 13th April 2022. Jess and Julian also have two beloved cats, Chilli and Pepper, who are slowly adjusting to life with a newborn, as are their parents! Jess is a Lecturer in Environmental Science at Rhodes University. She is passionate about the...2022-10-2530 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 60 – Perinatal Psychology – How To Create The Right Conditions for a Gentle Birth and Parenting journeyWelcome and thank you for listening! Marianne Littlejohn is a registered nurse and midwife, who qualified in 1979 and began practising as an independent midwife in 1982. She has worked in hospital, birth centre and homebirth settings for approximately 40 years. Marianne also holds an Honours Psychology Degree and continued with studies in Infant Mental Health both with the School of Infant Mental Health in London and the Institute for Psychodynamic Child Psychotherapy in South Africa. She attended a doula course with Michel Odent and attended local and international conferences as a delegate and occasionally as...2022-10-2543 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 59 - When Things Don't Go As Planned Series - Postnatal Depletion and/or DepressionWelcome and thank you for listening! Our special guest is Keshia van Rooyen, a Pastor in CRC Church, Johannesburg, working within the Women’s Ministry. Before full time ministry, Keshia practiced as an attorney after gaining a Master’s Degree in Corporate Law. Keshia is married with two children. She is passionate about God and seeing the lives of women changed. Today Keshia will be sharing on how important Mental Health is and how she dealt with it, after her own birth trauma. Postnatal Problems Is what you are feeling postnatal anxie...2022-09-3050 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 58 - When Things Don’t Go As Planned Series – Emergency Cesarean SectionWelcome and thank you for listening! Our guest today is Elani, who grew up in Jeffreys Bay and lived there for twenty-seven years. In her early twenties she went to the United States as an au pair and what would have been two years turned into seven. After receiving a degree in nursing, she returned home to South Africa. Upon her return, she started working as a homecare nurse in Jeffreys Bay, where she took care of elderly and sickly people. Soon after, she met her future husband and—four years later—got marr...2022-09-1421 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 57 - When Things Don’t Go As Planned Series – Birth Before Arrival (BBA)Welcome and thank you for listening! We did a series on Birth Options, knowing your options and making informed choices. But when it comes to birth, we never know how things will unfold. All births are different. First time parents tend to go to the birth centre or hospital too soon, as they are uncertain whether it’s true labour and so excited for the baby's arrival by the first sign of labour. On the other hand, second and third time babies tend to come faster and this is when one can arrive to...2022-09-0619 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 56 - When Things Don’t Go As Planned Series – Prolonged Rupture of Membranes and Induction of LabourWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode we interviewed Mona, who is a stylist and personal shopper and resides in Jeffreys Bay with her husband and two girls. She’s passionate about fashion, people and Jesus. Her mission is to help women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, solving the problem of having a cupboard full of clothes, but nothing to wear. Mona has given birth twice and because of the support and education she was given as a pregnant mom (being someone who only knew c-section as an option) she is...2022-08-0223 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 55 - Breastfeeding Awareness Week - What All (New) Moms And Dads Need To Know About BreastfeedingWelcome and thank you for listening! Nompumelelo Maponya is an Advanced Midwife and Neonatal Specialist, who is passionate about mother and child care, especially breastfeeding. She is currently a doctoral student enrolled at the University of Johannesburg. Her journey of nursing started at the North West University, Pukke, where she completed her undergraduate Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science (2014). She obtained a Master's degree at the University of Johannesburg, cum laude (2020). Her research mini-dissertation titled ‘Working mothers' experience of adhering to exclusive breastfeeding in the Rustenburg district, North West’, showed that women needed an array of inte...2022-08-0141 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 54 - Birth Options Series - When Midwife-Led Care, When Ob&Gyn-Led Care?Welcome and thank you for listening! Dr. Howard Manyonga is the founder of Network One Health (Pty) Ltd a health management company that establishes and operates Integrated Maternity Practices. These are multidisciplinary teams with a presence in the community and strong linkages to referral hospitals. Howard has extensive experience as an independent Ob Gyn and has held senior management positions in the not-for-profit and commercial sectors. From 2016 to Feb 2021, he ran a large-scale demonstration of team-based maternity care in the cash market that grew to four sites across the country before he left the role in early 2021...2022-06-2327 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 53 - Birth Options Series - Elective Cesarean SectionWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode we interviewed Amy, who chose an Elective C-Section for the birth of her firstborn. Amy lives in Jeffreys Bay and is married to Silvino. She is a professional wedding photographer and loves people, pizza and romantic movies. Amy had a planned C-section that went well, but not long afterwards her little boy ended up having a lung problem. Her little boy was in hospital for a whole month. C-Section Fact Sheet Many women believe that a Caesarean Section, or C-section, is the best birth o...2022-05-2420 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 52 - Birth Options Series - Birthing with a DoulaWelcome and thank you for listening! In this episode we talked with Birthing Doula Beverley Chigwanda. As a Birthing Doula Bev’s utmost aim is to give families, who have given her the honor to be part of their journey, a positive, memorable and dignified birth experience. She does not replace the partner she equips him/her to be an active participant in the process of ushering this long awaited precious bundle to the world! Without overriding or disregarding expert medical advice, Bev also stands as an advocate to communicate the Birthing family's preference in te...2022-05-2428 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 51 - Birth Options Series - A Normal Vaginal Delivery with EpiduralWelcome and thank you for listening! Epidural fact-file There’s good and bad news, and there are points to ponder… Epidurals are the most common form of pain relief in private South African hospitals. You’ll lie curled on your side or sitting on the edge of the bed, when an epidural is administered. The anesthetist will numb your skin, carefully guide a needle into your lower back, thread a catheter through the needle, gently pull the needle out, and tape the catheter in place. The medication flows through this catheter, and soon you shou...2022-04-2200 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 50 - Birth Options Series - Birthing in a Government HospitalWelcome and thank you for listening! In the next episode of the ‘Birth Options Series’ we will be talking about giving birth in a Government Hospital. For many women this is the only option available for them, and it really can be a good experience. The better prepared and empowered you are, the better you can ‘own’ your birth and have a positive experience. Our special guest is Kirsti Steenekamp, a registered midwife who is working in a Government Hospital Setting, and she explains everything you need to know in order to give birth in a Government Hospital...2022-04-2236 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 49 - Birth Options Series - Water Birth at HomeWelcome and thank you for listening! Danielle (37) is wife to Cordy (39) and homeschooling mom to 4 children. Naomi (11) is adopted, Lucas (9) was born in the hospital, Lisa (6) & Noah (4 months) were both born at home. She is passionate about God’s Word, family life, music, home education and home birth. Noah was born in the bathtub, delivered by midwives Margreet & Lisa. Labour started with several hours of irregular contractions, moving into regular, more painful contractions for about 2 hours. After about half an hour in the bath and after a few pushes Noah was born. Noah could breastfeed an...2022-03-2226 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 48 - Birth Options Series - Natural Birth & Non Medicated Methods of Pain ReliefWelcome and thank you for listening! Ruwaida trained as a General, Community, midwifery & Psychiatric nurse at Coronationville Nursing College and later did advanced Midwifery & neonatology and Nursing Education at the University of Johannesburg. Ruwaida, mother of two, has been practising midwifery since 1999, working in various provincial and private hospitals, clinics and maternity units. Witnessing childbirth in her schooling years was a revelation that she would remain in that miraculous field of midwifery. Her passion was further strengthened during her midwifery training, where she was able to facilitate labour, offer support and be a part of labou...2022-03-2239 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 47 - Birth Options Series - Normal Vaginal Delivery in the HospitalWelcome and thank you for listening! Inge Burger is a new mom with a 5 month baby girl, Lika - she lives in Jeffreys Bay with her husband Tabu. Inge is a stay at home mom at the moment. After trying to fall pregnant for quite some time, Inge had a natural (vaginal) birth in August 2021 at St Georges hospital in PE - she had a very good experience. Not all vaginal births are equal Many midwives and mothers use the terms ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ birth interchangeably – how wrong they are! Common definitions of the word ‘no...2022-02-2128 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 46 - Homeopathy for pregnancy, birth and beyond - why it is such a great complementary remedyWelcome and thank you for listening! Ian Wheeler is a Homeopathic Pharmacist and founder of the well-known Pegasus Homeopathics range. He grew his own group of retail pharmacies over 33 years, but was always intuitively drawn to natural medicine. Ian expanded all his pharmacies to incorporate a health section until in 1994, he completed a three-year Classical Homeopathy course which culminated in him formulating the Pegasus range of homeopathic remedies. He recently sold this pharmacy in order to fully focus on his passion for natural medicine, in particular homeopathy. Ian travels the country teaching pharmacist colleagues, as well as...2022-02-2130 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 45 - Birth Options Series - Natural birth at HomeWelcome and thank you for listening! Marishka is a digital marketing manager, surfer and follower of Jesus. She recently gave birth to her first child and shares her experience with us in this interview. Home birth A home birth follows the more age-old traditional way of birthing a baby; taking place in your home, assisted by a competent and caring midwife. Many women choose a home birth because they had a disappointing hospital birth, are anxious about hospitals, or simply want to bring Baby into the world in the most relaxed, natural way p...2022-01-2521 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 44 - Birth Options Series - What are my options?Welcome and thank you for listening! Many expectant couples have questions about what birth options they have and which will be the best for them. This will depend on your pregnancy, how labour unfolds, the health of Mom and Baby, where you live, and what birth facilities are available in your area. I like to say there are three ‘types’ of birth: Normal birth – a vaginal delivery in the hospital or clinic. Caesarean birth – should only be used in case of emergency. Natural birth – as Mother Nature intended; calm, peaceful and with minimal intervention Your main birth options inclu...2022-01-2429 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 43 - Check-ups and tests during pregnancyWelcome and thank you for listening! While pregnancy is a natural process and not an illness, regular check-ups are important. Whether you go to a state pregnancy clinic, consult your doctor throughout your pregnancy, or prefer to see a private midwife, you should see a practitioner regularly, and you will be offered a host of tests. Here’s what to expect: Put these check-ups in your calendar It’s important to get regular antenatal care. According to the policies adopted by the South African Department of Health (based on the latest reco...2022-01-1025 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 42 - CORD BLOOD - Why it Should Never Go to Waste2021-11-1236 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 41 - Self Regulation, Self Care and the State of Mental Health of Mothers and Midwives2021-11-0240 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 40 - Hormonal Health, why is it such a big deal and what is disrupting it? Welcome and thank you for listening! 2021-10-0141 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 39 - Connection with Self and Baby2021-09-2735 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 38 - Vaccination (in pregnancy) Yes or No? A Heart to Heart with Dr Margreet Welcome and thank you for listening! It feels as if COVID-19 has taken over our lives this past year, and we’re currently in the midst of the vaccine roll out. How does one navigate through this turbulent time? Well let's talk about it... We are all somehow shy, possibly even careful to share our vaccine opinions on public platforms - we may be scared to be labelled, to lose face etc. But ALL of us have our question marks, we all have real fears and our concerns are real. So let’s be r...2021-09-2725 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 37 - Breastfeeding Q&A with Midwife Specialist, Dr MargreetWelcome and thank you for listening! In celebration of World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, Dr Margreet Wibbelink addresses all breastfeeding related questions and concerns sent through by mom’s prior to the show. These include your most frequently asked, as well as the more nitty gritty stuff! Enjoy this special episode. Want to learn more about Breastfeeding? Sign up for the Sister Lilian Centre - Essential Breastfeeding Course: https://sisterlilian.co.za/courses/essential-breastfeeding-course-register/ Please leave us a review or give us a rating. And don't forget to subscribe! ...2021-08-1037 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 36 - Natural Solutions for InfertilityWelcome and thank you for listening! Sarah Clark is a Fertility Coach - her coaching system is based on the principles of functional medicine and dramatically improves the chances of a successful pregnancy. When Sarah was 28 years old, she received a diagnosis of premature ovarian failure. She accepted the diagnosis and had both her children through in vitro fertilization. Years later she realized the root cause of her infertility was a food intolerance. She is a certified life coach with accreditation from the International Coaches Federation and a health coach with training from the Institute...2021-08-1027 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 35 - Sensitive Cesarean Section - What Is It And How Can It Be Achieved?2021-07-2729 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 34 - Health Is Everyone’s Right And Their Responsibility!2021-07-2646 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 33 - Midwives Exclusive, leading the way empowering the next generation of midwives2021-07-0828 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 32 - Endometriosis - Let’s talk about it…2021-06-1524 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 31 - Delayed, or rather ‘optimal’ cord clamping. Evidence based practice? Welcome and thank you for listening! The biologically in-tune practice of waiting for blood to transfer from the cord to the baby’s body has been shown to have numerous benefits. Studies have shown that a delay in cord clamping increases a baby’s blood volume by 32% and his iron reserve by 27–47mg of iron, helping to prevent iron deficiency and lowering the risk of anaemia, as well as resulting in fewer transfusions and fewer incidences of intraventricular haemorrhage. Other long-term benefits include improved neurodevelopment (especially fine motor and social skills) years later, for children whose cords are cu...2021-06-0128 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 30 - What first-time moms need to know Welcome and thank you for listening! The postnatal period. Many first-time mothers have said, ‘I never knew how hard it was going to be …’ Yes, you don't know what you don't know. But with realistic expectations, accurate information and support, it really doesn't have to be that hard. In this episode, Midwife Margreet chats to first-time mom, Jeanie Els. ‘I'm Jeanie Els, I am a South African who grew up in Canada, and found my way back to SA a few years ago with my husband Louis. I'm a kinesiologist and physiotherapist on paper, and I've don...2021-05-1942 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 29 - All you need to know about stretchmarks and the incredible Marula Oil Guest: Nicolé Vos2021-05-0520 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 28 - Let’s Talk About Birth Photography2021-04-2823 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 27 - Entrepreneuring as a midwife Welcome and thank you for listening! This episode's special guest is Midwife Rebecca Graham, founder of the Grace Birthing Centre in Westville, Durban. We chat about entrepreneuring as a midwife and why moms are choosing a midwife-led birth centre to bring their babies into this world. Grace Birthing Centre provides individualised prenatal, birth and postnatal care to mothers who have low-risk pregnancies. Their mission is to ensure that moms and their growing families receive nurturing guidance, educational tools, and hands-on assistance through each stage of the antenatal, birth and postnatal process. Before opening...2021-04-1343 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 26 - Dealing with ‘Baby Tummy Troubles’ the Sensitive way2021-03-3051 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 25 - Baby & toddler food, setting them up for life Welcome and thank you for listening! In this episode we chatted with Amy Van Der Merwe about Baby & Toddler food: what foods are best, basic elements for a mommy's pantry and working mom realities. Amy is a mom to a little 2 year old, a plant based chef, menu consultant and studying to be a health and nutrition coach. Amy's family health history is not the best, so she started to look into a preventative lifestyle about 7 years ago. She loves food that grows from the earth and naturally started eating more wholefoods and...2021-03-2438 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 24 - Exclusive Breastfeeding and the working mother, research findings and personal experience with Refilwe MaponyaneWelcome and thank you for listening! One of the biggest threads for exclusive breastfeeding up till six months, is the fact that women need to go back to work. In this episode Dr Margreet Wibbelink talks with Refilwe Nompumelelo Maponya, Midwife Specialist, researcher and working mother, around breastfeeding as a working mom (and midwife). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science which she completed at North West University Potchefstroom campus in 2014 and Masters Degree in Advanced Midwife and Neonatal nursing from University of Johannesburg which she received Cum laude in 2020 respectively. He...2021-03-1144 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 23 - Did Mother Nature let us down? Story Time with Sheree and Ricky Stone Welcome and thank you for listening! We love real life stories! This time I chatted with a new mom and dad, Sheree and Ricky Stone. They share about their experiences being pregnant, learning to wait for mother nature to do her thing (natural labour and birth), and then dealing with feelings that mother nature has failed them. Not shying away from the real challenges in the process, this episode is a real good one! Sheree, Ricky and Kyro Stone live at Crossways Farm Village in Thornhill, Eastern Cape, which is a futurist agri-village so appropriate...2021-03-0133 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 22 - How to boost your and your family’s immune systemWelcome and thank you for listening! Tammy Mayes is an inspiring homeschooling mom of four lively children, she is a holistic health coach and has particular interest in essential oils, food and health hacks for families. She is passionate about empowering women to make practical and healthy choices in their lives for themselves and their families. She has a heart for natural motherhood and has been involved in the La Leche League here in South Africa. When she is not home schooling and tending to her other interests, she enjoys surfing, hiking, trail...2021-02-2250 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 21 - Self Care and Essential Oils - Interview with Joy King2020-12-0437 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 20 - Birth Story – Doctor choosing a midwife-led birthWelcome and thank you for listening! One of the women I’ve had the privilege of joining along her journey is Dr Caroline van der Werff – a doctor from Port Alfred, Eastern Cape. This doctor recently birthed her firstborn and chose to have a midwife-led homebirth. Caroline shares her experiences in and around pregnancy and birth as well as how she had to shift her mind from being a doctor to becoming a mother. We’d love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content. If you're a midwif...2020-12-0417 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 19 - Baby Positioning - how to get it right and what to do with an occiput posterior positionWelcome and thank you for listening! Our latest podcast tackles the important topic of baby positioning – more specifically, the occiput posterior position.. For this episode, I chatted with Midwife Specialist Ingrid Groenewald from Gentle Touch Midwifery. As a very experienced midwife, she shares her wisdom on natural birth in general and how to approach and manage different baby positions during labour and birth. Please leave us a review or give us a rating. And don't forget to subscribe! We’d love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our...2020-12-0430 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 18 - Holding hands with NICU parents2020-11-1023 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 17 - Give solutions to infant sleep problems - don't create themWelcome and thank you for listening! Dealing with sleep queries can be tricky because tired parents can feel quite emotional and the wrong advice can have long-term effects for moms and babies. We, as healthcare workers, have to make sure that we are not the ones giving parents sleepless nights, but rather giving solutions to so-called ‘sleep problems’. But how, you might wonder? I interviewed our very own Sister Lilian to talk about this sensitive topic on our latest podcast. Please leave us a review or give us a rating. And don't forget to s...2020-10-1243 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 16 - Episiotomy vs tearing – a mom’s real-life experienceWelcome and thank you for listening! I recently interviewed a mother of two, who’s had two natural births, but two completely different experiences. We all know every birth is different, but this really is a beautiful story, in the midst of this pandemic. Her experience of having had an episiotomy with her first birth (which got badly infected and did not want to heal properly) left her terribly afraid to have a natural birth again. Her second birth was a healing experience, which left her with a tiny tear. Please le...2020-10-0917 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 15 - Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, from a midwife’s point of view – lessons learned2020-09-2129 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 14 - Homeopathy for labour, birth and life after birthWelcome and thank you for listening! Homeopathic remedies have been tried and tested over many years and can be used safely for adults, children, and babies during illness, health, and pregnancy without counteracting conventional medicines. Few people, however, know how homeopathic remedies actually work. For our latest podcast episode, I chatted with Ian Wheeler, Homeopathic Pharmacist and founder of the well-known Pegasus Homeopathics range. In this episode, Ian: - Explains how homeopathy works - Demystifies the many myths - Explains the differences between classical and self-help homeopathy - Outlines...2020-09-0436 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 13 - Dealing with COVID-19, from a mother’s point of view. What I would like my caregivers to know…. Testimonial, birth story2020-08-0722 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 12 - Breastfeeding challenges during COVID-19Welcome and thank you for listening! Our special guest on this episode is nurse and midwife Annerié Conradie, whose special interest in breastfeeding and antenatal education led her to start a private practice in 2016, after working in a private hospital for 14 years. She completed her South African Certified Lactation Consultant qualification in 2018, and loves supporting new mothers and babies on their breastfeeding journeys. Please leave us a review or give us a rating. And don't forget to subscribe! We’d love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest con...2020-08-0726 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 11 - When A Midwife Becomes A Mother, A Birthing Narrative2020-07-1329 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Podcast Ep. 10 - The Stars Aligned - Our Perfect Birth Story2020-06-3046 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 09 - Interview with ‘The Virtual Midwife’2020-06-0125 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 08 - When Things Don't Go As Planned2020-06-0132 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 07 - Right to Birth Movement2020-04-0627 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 06 - Interview with guest Seba TsoaneWelcome and thank you for listening! In today's episode Midwife Margreet connects with guest Sebabatso Tsaoane, young midwife leader and founder of the Women’s Health Foundation: Black Woman Arise. The aim of this organization is to promote women’s sexual reproductive health and rights by empowering them with information that empowers them to take better care of their bodies and make informed decisions regarding their health and fertility, promote positive relationships between them and their healthcare professionals and to promote a culture of destigmatizing issues of sexual reproductive health which will enable them to seek...2020-04-0623 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 05 - Flying Solo As An Independent Midwife If you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/podcast 2020-03-0618 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 04 - Labour SignsWelcome and thank you for listening! Midwife Margreet chats around how your body prepares for the big day, when labour begins and when to go to the hospital. Labour isn’t an exact science, but if you trust your instincts and let nature run its course you should have a good experience. Please leave us a review or give us a rating. And don't forget to subscribe! We’d love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content. If you're a midwife or any type of birt...2020-03-0622 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 03 - Birth Plans – Understanding The Real Message! If you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/podcast 2020-02-2413 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 02 - The Birth & Baby Podcast - Advice you can trust If you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/podcast 2020-02-1113 minBirth & Baby - Advice You Can TrustBirth & Baby Ep. 01 - History of Sensitive Midwifery and the Sister Lilian CentreWelcome to the first episode and thank you for listening. In this episode Dr Margreet Wibbelink is joined by Sister Lilian (Founder of the Sister Lilian Centre and Sensitive Midwifery) and her husband, Alan Paramor as they talk about the history of the Sister Lilian Centre and Sensitive Midwifery. Please leave us a review or give us a rating. And don't forget to subscribe! We’d love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content. If you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/podca...2020-01-1639 min
The Virtual Midwife1: The Surfing MidwifeI met the [Surfing Midwife](http://www.thesurfingmidwife.com/) [Margreet Wibbelink](http://www.thesurfingmidwife.com/about/) at the Sensitive Midwifery Conference in 2018 and was immediately blown away by her charisma and her message. She came to South Africa from the Netherlands on a one way ticket and 14 years later she is still here and literally making waves in the birth world here. Besides having surfed on the pro circuit in the [world surf champs](http://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/4716/margreet-wibbelink) - she is leading the way in making change in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Soon after she arrived from...2019-02-0145 min