Essential Me - Doula

23/04/2026

Birth plans work! The Role of Birth Plan in Shaping Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials..... "Birth plans were associated with a higher likelihood of normal vaginal delivery (RR 3.22; 95% CI 1.49–6.95; p = 0.003) and increased odds of early breastfeeding (RR 3.68; 95% CI 1.48–9.15; p = 0.005)... Conclusions: Birth plans may be associated with improved maternal outcomes, including increased rates of vaginal delivery, and early breastfeeding. The overall evidence suggests birth plans as a strategy to promote a more respectful childbirth."
https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-2849-7990
(Full text not yet available)

23/04/2026

Interesting... "Third-trimester pineapple consumption was associated with improved cervical ripening, shorter labor duration, and higher rates of spontaneous vaginal delivery without adverse neonatal outcomes. These findings support further investigation of dietary influences on labor outcomes."
https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2026/04170/the_impact_of_pineapple_consumption_on_cervical.18.aspx

24/03/2026

💜🧡💙 loved supporting a beautiful VBAC with The Nesting Hub midwives earlier this week 💙🧡💜

3 VBAC Journeys in the One Week AND 2 in less than 2 days too!!!! ✨🙌🏻🤩💪🏻🩷💜🩷.

✨3 Physiological Labours at Home with VBAC Clients
✨1 HBAC / VBAC at Home 🤩
✨2 Hospital Births 🤩🤩

♥️Congrats to These 3 Beautiful Families!!!! 🥳♥️
♥️VBAC Mummas & Families Rock!! 💪🏻🙌🏻🤩
♥️Birth Team Love & Gratitude 🤩♥️
♥️Our Nesting Hub Midwives and Birth Doulas are Phenomenal🫶🏻.







The Nesting Hub
The Wandering Midwives
Kate
Danae Specialised Birth Doula, Pregnancy Yoga
Essential Me - Doula

29/01/2026

29/01/2026

🟣 BLOG POST
I began researching and writing about 'pushing' in the late 1990s. Unfortunately, directed pushing is still a cultural norm despite all the evidence against it.
https://www.rachelreed.website/blog/pushing-leave-it-to-the-experts

14/10/2025

🥰🤩🙌

29/09/2025

Check out the smiles at this incredible homebirth. I supported this family having their second baby, along with two midwives and a student midwife. When we debriefed after this beautiful birth, mum (and everyone else in it) gave me permission to post this photo as she wanted to share how many people it took to be well supported to achieve a wonderful homebirth 🥰
She said we were her “dream team”. 🤩

05/09/2025

Sharing on behalf of friend Gabriela Rosa 💙

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23/08/2025

Closed- or open-glottis pushing for vaginal delivery: a planned secondary analysis of the TRAnexamic Acid for Preventing postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery study https://ow.ly/HMyf50Q99Qy

09/07/2025

Another recent birth with repeat clients (first photo now and second from a couple years ago) - this one was a beautiful waterbirth and exactly what she wanted. Both births were at the RHW Birth Centre and this second one was much faster than the first. Fortunately we didn’t need all the OMP exercises as baby was in a great position and the labour presented smoothly. We did use acupressure points, essential oils, breathing techniques and motivational affirmations.
Mum says she found having me there really made a big difference for her confidence in feeling safe, like she could do it, knowing she was well looked after. Such a privilege for me to work with them again.

03/07/2025

I’ve had the privilege of working with so many repeat clients lately. Here we are a couple years later debriefing the beautiful homebirth of their second baby. 🥰
It’s so special to me to be invited to support every client’s birth, and even more so for a second (or third) time. Such a journey we go on through one of life’s biggest transitions. ☀️🧡