Dr Jess Michaels

Dr Jess Michaels Osteopath, Birth Doula and HypnoBirth Educator (IBCLC in training)

15/04/2026

We need to stop pretending these two things are the same.
Formula can feed a baby.
Breastmilk does a lot more than that.

And saying they’re “not much different” isn’t progressive…
it’s biologically inaccurate.

And beyond that…

Human milk is not just nutrition.

It’s a living, responsive system.

What we KNOW breastmilk does 👇
For baby:
• Delivers antibodies that actively protect against infection
• Shapes the gut microbiome through HMOs
• Reduces risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal illness
• Lowers rates of ear infections
• Is associated with reduced risk of SIDS
• Supports brain and neurological development
• Adapts in real time to your baby’s needs

For mother:
• Releases oxytocin, supporting bonding and postpartum recovery
• Reduces postpartum bleeding
• Lowers risk of breast and ovarian cancer
• Supports metabolic health, including reduced risk of type 2 diabetes

You can support formula feeding families
without rewriting what breastmilk is.
Mothers deserve nuance.
Not oversimplified sound bites.

Shame

15/04/2026

No one prepares you for this plot twist!!
And it happens way too quickly!

You go from…
your body making the perfect food

always ready

always the right temperature

no preparation , no dishes, no thinking

…to suddenly being responsible for MAKING nutritious meals three times a day!?

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY… for the next… 18+ years???

Like excuse me???

who approved this transition 😂

One minute it’s “just whip out the boob”

next minute it’s

Buying organic bone marrow, buying organic liver and instantly questioning, did they eat enough, did they throw it on the floor, why is there avocado in my hair

I swear nothing humbles you faster than starting solids 🤣

But also… a gentle reminder
you don’t have to do it perfectly!!
food before 1 year old is complementary to breastmilk it’s all about learning, exploration, connection
and you’re still allowed to take the pressure off and follow your baby’s lead.

A great resource for starting solids is

14/04/2026

Read that again.

You can decline any intervention that doesn’t feel aligned.

That doesn’t mean going against care.

It means being part of it.

Informed consent isn’t just being told what is going to happen to you.

It’s understanding
what is being offered,
why it’s being offered,
and what your options are.

When you understand birth physiology
and your rights within the system,
you’re not easily pushed into decisions that don’t feel right.

You get to pause.

You get to ask questions.

You get to choose.

🔥🔥🔥 Repost from 🔥🔥🔥I already know this is going to make people uncomfortable but let’s talk about it anyway.You’re lay...
14/04/2026

🔥🔥🔥 Repost from 🔥🔥🔥

I already know this is going to make people uncomfortable but let’s talk about it anyway.

You’re laying on your back to give birth not because it’s the best position for your body but because it made it easier for someone else to watch.

Yes, we’re talking about Louis XIV.

A king. A spectator.

A man with power who had a fe**sh for watching women give birth.

And suddenly, birth shifts.

Women move from upright, instinctive, powerful positions, to flat on their backs.

And now?

Centuries later?

We’re calling that “normal.”

Be so serious.

We took something deeply physiological,
deeply intuitive, and turned it into a performance
with the best view at the foot of the bed.

And y’all will STILL argue that it’s just coincidence
that the “standard” position for birth just so happens to benefit the person catching the baby more than the person birthing it.

That’s wild.

Because if birth was actually designed around women, we wouldn’t be fighting gravity.

We wouldn’t be pinned to beds, strapped to machines.

We wouldn’t be told to “stay still” while our body is trying to open.

But sure, keep defending it.

Keep calling it “just how it’s done.”

Meanwhile, women are being taught to override their instincts to fit into a system that was never built with them at the center.

𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐙 / 𝐁𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 ©

14/04/2026

Not forcing positions.
Not holding yourself in something uncomfortable.
But following what feels right moment to moment.
Leaning when you need support.
Swaying when it helps.
Resting when your body asks.
Working with your body is about listening, not controlling.

11/04/2026

I didn’t bring my creatine on this trip… and I can actually feel it.

Not in a dramatic way, just that quiet, underlying fatigue that builds when you’re a mum running on broken sleep, carrying little bodies, thinking about a million things at once.

Creatine is often seen as a “gym supplement” but it’s actually one of the most researched compounds for supporting cellular energy.

Every cell in your body runs on ATP, your energy currency, and creatine helps replenish that system. When you’re depleted, postpartum, breastfeeding, or just living the reality of motherhood, that extra support can make a difference.

Some of the things we see in the research:
• Supports energy production at a cellular level
• May reduce mental fatigue and brain fog
• Can support muscle recovery and physical stamina
• Emerging evidence around mood and cognitive support

It’s not a quick fix, and it doesn’t replace rest, nourishment, or support.

But it’s one of those small, simple things that can help take the edge off that deep kind of tired.

And as always, tune into your own body, what feels supportive for you might look different to the next mum 🤍

Birth preparation goes so much deeper than learning labour positions or what interventions are on offer.Save this if you...
10/04/2026

Birth preparation goes so much deeper than learning labour positions or what interventions are on offer.
Save this if you’re pregnant or planning to be.

05/11/2025

Here’s my thoughts on the recent statement put out from RANZCOG and the ACM.

✌🏻

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