The Great Birth Rebellion

Around 25% of women will experience a longer than anticipated early labour phase. Some maternity care providers might explain this as ‘false’ labour… but I can assure you it’s not false, it’s called ‘prodromal labour’ or prolonged early labour. You are in labour, but for some reason your body is not making visible signs of progress towards birth. Why does this happen? There are lots of reasons why you could be having a long early phase of labour… it can be completely normal and there is lots you can do to resource yourself for this labour marathon. In this episode I explain prodromal labour, what causes it and how to manage it. As an extra special treat, Poppy Child from @popthatmumma shares her story of prodromal labour. This episode is full of tips and strategies if you are sustaining yourself through a long early labour phase.

In this episode I mention lots of helpful resources to help you prepare for labour:

The Guide to giving birth without pain medication

The birth box with oxytocin bubble sound tracks

The Podcast Resource list

Episode 181 - Induction of Labour Part 1

Episode 182 - Induction of Labour Part 2

Episode 152 - The 5 BIG induction studies

Episode 115 - Spinning Babies® with Gail Tully

Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/xhcP8LW6cMc

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast
Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer
The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.
The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.
This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.
All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Why not favour pain management options that have no side-effects? In this episode, Mel interviews midwife and researcher Nigel Lee who explains the research he and his team undertook regarding 2 pain management options for labour and birth - sterile water injections and hypnobirthing. In this episode we pick apart the research, explain how they are used and show how using sterile water injections and hypnobirth could change the course of your labour and birth. If you want to reduce your chances of needing an epidural or caesarean, this episode has some helpful strategies for you. 

In this episode Mel makes reference to her GUIDE TO GIVING BIRTH WITHOUT PAIN MEDICATION which is currently on sale for $27 until end of July 2026. Get it now for an all-round clear strategy for navigating the pain 

Australian Midwives, answer Nigel's survey here for his current research project:

https://uqnm.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5o8pgZYB9HNcAF8

If you want to re-skill or upskill in physiological birth and be part of the solution with Mel by your side throughout your midwifery career, join the wait list here, to be one of the 200 midwives Mel is offering to nurture. 

This episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Poppy is offering Great Birth Rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth Box. Use the code Melanie at the checkout to claim your discount. Just go to https://hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast
Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer
The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.
The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.
This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.
All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

This episode gives a snapshot of the main global challenges that face women in their childbearing years and the midwives that care for them. In this episode, Mel covers what she learned from the International Confederation of Midwives conference in Portugal June 2026. The main global challenges include, the over-medicalisation of childbirth, a shortage of skilled midwives and the erosion of midwifery skill to identify and facilitate physiological birth. In this episode, Mel shares both the problems and the solutions that are already being acted upon and what you can do to combat the challenges described in this episode

If you want to re-skill or upskill in physiological birth and be part of the solution with Mel by your side throughout your midwifery career, join the wait list here, to be one of the 200 midwives Mel is offering to nurture. 

This episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Poppy is offering Great Birth Rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth Box. Use the code Melanie at the checkout to claim your discount. Just go to https://hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox

You can watch this episode on YouTube here 

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast
Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer
The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.
The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.
This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.
All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

In this episode Dr Melanie Jackson and Prof Hannah Dahlen explain The 5 BIG Induction studies that often get used to encourage the use of induction for suspected big babies, women over the age of 35 and over 41 weeks pregnant - The BIG BABY trail, The SWEPIS study, the ARRIVE trial, The INDEX trial and the 35/39 trial. If your clinician is using any of these studies and you want to look into them further, this episode is for you. Our guest on this episode was Professor Hannah Dahlen @hannah.dahlen

Preparing for birth? Get Mel’s guide to giving birth without pain medication here.

This episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Poppy is offering Great Birth Rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth Box. Use the code Melanie at the checkout to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox.

Other related episodes include:

Episode 33 - Induction

Episode 181 - Induction of Labour Part 1

Episode 182 - Induction of Labour Part 2

Episode141 - Big Babies Small Babies

Episode 143 - Declining medical recommendations

Episode 208 - Beyond 40 weeks pregnant

You can watch this episode on YouTube here.

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast
Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer
The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.
The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.
This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.
All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

The concept of a rigid 40-week due date is one of the most deeply entrenched myths in modern maternity care. Today I cast a critical eye over the historical and mathematical flaws behind how Estimated Due Dates (EDDs) are calculated, and why treating day 280 as a strict deadline creates unnecessary interventions. 

Related episodes to queue up next:

Episode 181 - Induction of Labour Part 1

Episode 182 - Induction of Labour Part 2

Episode 143 - Declining medical recommendations

Episode 186 - Is your baby too big or too small?

Episode 84 - The myth of the failing placenta

This episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Poppy is offering Great Birth Rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth Box. Use the code Melanie at the checkout to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox.

You can watch this episode on YouTube here

Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion Podcast
Join the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.com
Join the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.com
Follow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwife
If this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.

Disclaimer
The information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it’s application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.
The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.
This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.
All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors