In this episode I take Rachel and you into the world of underhand marketing tactics going on right under our noses from the commercial milk formula (CMF) industry. In Feburary 2023 the Lancet and WHO released a new 3 part series discussing the marketing of CMF. Rachel really did wonder if this would be of any interest to our listeners and I promised her that within a few minutes her knickers would be in a twist ... and they were!  This is not a discussion about whether formula milk should be used this is a look at the often horrifying goings-on that are, in a large part, leading to women all over the globe feeling robbed  of their breastfeeding wishes, hopes and experiences.  In this episode you will hear about: Who first patented infant formula and why.How we are all being subversively targeted with underhand tactics. How the CMF industry raises profits by casting doubt on mothers milk and pathologising normal baby behaviours: how often babies breastfeed or typical crying which is OK. How much the CMF industry is worth The impact the CMF industry marketing has on the health costs for individual countires. Political lobbyingTax evasionAnd we lay it out - is there any difference between a tin of formula  which costs 9 or 28 and where to get safe information about formula. We discuss whether there is a need for toddler and growing up milks.And we take a look at the estimated cost of unpaid work from breastfeeding. Don't fret, we leave you with some actionable places to go from here!LINKSThe Lancet series and webinarShort explanation video about The Lancet and WHO series First steps nutrition Breastfeeding and formula supplementation – the traps and escapes - podcast episode Want more confidence in breastfeeding and lactation?  - Join my course!Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee MERCH here! Music Joseph McDade Like this podcast? Leave us a review here Want more from Katie and Rachel? Katie's website Rachel's website DisclaimerThe information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

Rhea is a former PE teacher turned childbirth educator, and counsellor and feels privileged to have attended more than a thousand births in hospitals and home settings as a birth attendant as well as connecting with many more women, their partners and support people during birth preparation workshops and personal birth counselling sessions. Rhea has spoken extensively around Australia and internationally and is the author of two books – ‘Birth with Confidence: savvy choices for normal birth’  and the most recent ‘Beyond the Birth Plan: getting real about pain and power’.Rheas thoughtful, gentle voice takes us on a look back over the world of birth from the past 40 years from England to Australia.  How Rheas home births led to her passion into childbirth education and birth attendant work. How home births were parties back in the days! Rhea talks with us about how sadly, in more than forty years of birth work, she’s witnessed an unprecedented rise in unnecessary medical interventions and the development of a culture that, rather than supporting women to birth naturally – physiologically -, is actually undermining them.We discuss the f&@k1ng epidural, as Rhea terms it, and how she feels it has hijacked what labour and birth discomfort means. The ‘thank goodness births’ and what this means for society.And we discuss the importance of what it is we ‘choose’ to focus on when providing childbirth education. Attachment styles and how that impacts how we go into birth. How shame plays a role in how we may or may not ask for help.Rhea leaves us with an oxytocin fuelled story from her book and makes Katie cry! LINKSRhea Dempsey website, courses, books Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee MERCH here! Music Joseph McDade Like this podcast? Leave us a review here Want more from Katie and Rachel? Katie's website Rachel's website DisclaimerThe information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

On this episode of the Midwives Cauldron, it’s just me and Rachel hanging out and stirring the pot discussing vaginal examinations (VE's)!We take a step back in history to look at how midwives originally used vaginal examination during labour and for what purposeWe look at current guidelines Rachel goes on her history trail for us to find the original research which guidelines are based onWe talk about said research, the risks of vaginal examinations Language midwives could use to discuss VEs in preparation for labourThe importance of talking about vaginal examinations during the antenatal phaseHow mainstream media influences us into thinking that vaginal examinations are an important part of our labourHow medical birth needs a different assessment from physiological birthI ask whether there should ever be a timeline set in length for a labour We question how students can learn the skill of vaginal examinations if we “shouldn’t be doing as many as we are” And Rachel teaches me the word furtle! All this and more on this episode of The Midwives’ Cauldron Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee MERCH here! Music Joseph McDade Like this podcast? Leave us a review here Want more from Katie and Rachel? Katie's website Rachel's website DisclaimerThe information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

Professor Donna Geddes is the director of the Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group. Based in Perth, Australia, the group is made up of innovative and dedicated scientists and students that have a passion for developing measurements of lactation and breastfeeding and then applying them to make a difference to clinicians and breastfeeding families. The group makes a point of not only publishing their findings in scientific journals but spreading their information via free online articles and social media on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In.Donna has a medical imaging background with an emphasis in ultrasound imaging. She has integrated this modality into many of the group’s studies providing a ‘window’ to different physiological processes during lactation. If you have listened to our previous podcast where I have spoken about the in quotes discovery of the breast anatomy - this is Donna! She showed the world the true anatomy of the lactating breast and could visualize how milk ejection occurs through her ultrasound techniques.  Her findings have attracted much international attention and she is often requested to speak at both International and National Scientific Meetings. She is the Secretary for the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation.In this episode·      the tools and technology we currently use and what we could be seeing in the future  ·      using technology to identify if milk has come in or if there's inflammation in the breast·      how to accurately test milk volumes·      the controversial topic of test weighing·      identifying lactation issues correctly- sucking and milk transfer and/or milk supply problems·      nipple pain and nipple shields·     and we look at extremely high suck vacuum levels and effects on breastfeedingLINKSProf Donna GeddesGeddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research GroupSymposiumSupport the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee MERCH here! Music Joseph McDade Like this podcast? Leave us a review here Want more from Katie and Rachel? Katie's website Rachel's website DisclaimerThe information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.

In this episode of the cauldron we have Dr. Sharon Blackie; award-winning writer, psychologist and mythologist. Her highly acclaimed books, lectures and workshops are focused on the development of the mythic imagination, and on the relevance of myth, fairy tales and folk traditions to the personal, cultural and environmental problems we face today.As well as writing five books of fiction and nonfiction, including the bestselling If Women Rose Rooted, and her new book Hagitude, her writing has appeared in anthologies, collections and in several international media outlets – among them the Guardian, the Irish Times, the i and the Scotsman. Her books have been translated into several languages, and she has been interviewed by the BBC, US public radio and other broadcasters on her areas of expertise. Her awards include the Roger Deakin Award, and a Creative Scotland Writer’s Award.Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and has taught and lectured at several academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world. Her TEDx talk on the mythic imagination  can be viewed here.During the episodeWe delve deep into the world of wise and influential women in native mythology and what this means for navigating peri-menopause and elderhood. We ask Sharon what we can learn from the myths embedded in our cultures. We take a look at the profession of midwifery as traditionally midwives were the older women, not mothers themselves or past the mothering stage.  We talk about how it is this group of women that can be leading the changes in the birth world. Not leaving it only to the younger midwives to fight. We discuss the overarching patriarchal messages which purport that menopause is an ‘illness’ to be fixed, cured, or masked so we can continue to look like young maidens.And we hear about the power of elderhood, and what we can learn even if we are still in our mother years or just coming into perimenopause.LINKS:Dr Sharon BlackieHagitudeSupport the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee MERCH here! Music Joseph McDade Like this podcast? Leave us a review here Want more from Katie and Rachel? Katie's website Rachel's website DisclaimerThe information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.