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The Great Birth Rebellion

The Great Birth Rebellion

By: Dr Melanie Jackson
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About this listen

 You can have a GREAT pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. You just need the information and strategies to make it happen. The Great Birth Rebellion podcast, hosted by Midwife Dr Melanie Jackson offers evidence- based information to help you make informed decisions about your maternity care. The Great Birth Birth Rebellion helps you get the best out of your pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey. Want more? Follow along at @melaniethemidwife and @thegreatbirthrebellion on SM Subscribe to get access to the resources behind the episodes at melaniethemidwife.com and get your merch at thegreatbirthrebellion.com.© 2026 Melanie The Midwife Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Episode 190 - When do I NEED an obstetrician?

    Episode 190 - When do I NEED an obstetrician?
    Feb 15 2026

    Often women are provided with too much medical intervention during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. How do we know when we actually need it? Or when it’s just part of the usual over-medicalised care routine? In this episode Mel offers some suggestions about which circumstances warrant obstetric care and looks at the research about which circumstances midwifery-led care would allow for more favourable outcomes than obstetric care

    The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast is made possible by generous sponsors who believe in helping women get the best out of their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code Melanie at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox

    This episode was generously sponsored by Birth Time, an award-winning documentary that powerfully captures what great maternity care can look like, wherever women choose to give birth. Get 20% off the Birth Time documentary by using the code REBEL at the checkout. Watch Birth Time here.

    Watch the 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.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Episode 189 - Midwives Save Lives

    Episode 189 - Midwives Save Lives
    Feb 8 2026

    The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) shares that if 1 million more midwives provided care to women through their childbearing years, they would be healthier, happier and fewer women and babies would be damaged or die during their childbearing years. It’s time to stop pretending that Midwives don’t make a difference to outcomes for women and babies. Help us tell governments, regulators and people in power that we want 1 million more midwives in order to save women and babies. Listen to the research and sign the petition for one million more midwives… your signature will make a difference.

    One Million More Petition - sign the petition here

    New global study about One Million More

    ICM website

    Instagram

    Facebook

    Threads

    LinkedIn

    Newsletter

    Article about the One Million More petition that dives into it

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out 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.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Episode 188 - Waterbirth risks and safety

    Episode 188 - Waterbirth risks and safety
    Feb 1 2026

    If you are planning a waterbirth, care for women using water, or you are just waterbirth curious, this episode is for you! You’ll also find this a handy episode for your birth support team so they know how to best help facilitate a waterbirth for you. In this episode we cover the risks and benefits of waterbirth and how to unlock access to one if you come up against resistance.

    In this episode Mel shared her ‘Guide to giving birth without pain medication’, you can get it here.

    This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code “Melanie” at the check out 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.

    The transcript below was generated with ai and may contain errors.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
All stars
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Amazing resource for all things birth. I love their passion and dedication to providing unbiased information. These women are changing the pregnancy and birthing culture and I’m so here for it!

So informative

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Absolutely love this podcast. A great way to receive a summary of research to help inform and empower women, to assist with decision making and to help women feel confident with birth.
I recommend this podcast to all of my Hypnobirthing clients and any pregnant woman who wants to learn more.
Thanks for everything you do Mel!

Evidence based, empowering and very interesting

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I have honestly listened to each episode at least 3 times each. Mel and B are educated, balanced and engaging. the information discussed is researched, unbiased and thorough. Every single pregnant person in Australia and those who support them should listen. I rave on about the great birth rebellion and have called on their information throughout my pregnancy so many times. I feel confident, informed and able to advocate for myself in a potentially hostile medical system.

INCREDIBLE! Informative, educational and evidenced

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Highly recommend this podcast! I’m 42 with a higher BMI and the ‘system’ has been trying to intervene, regardless of my other healthy lifestyle factors, etc. to have an induction. There’s so much pressure to listen to the Drs and take on their recommendations. I’m so happy I listened to so many of these podcasts (about 20!) to ensure I had the right information to focus on what’s right for me and my baby. Thank you so much for your time, effort and thoughtful information that’s so beneficial for every pregnant mother 😍

Focusing on what’s real and natural for a wonderful experience for Mums and Bubs

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