Mythbusting

This page is to direct you to some easy answers to the burning questions & concerns that sometimes seem to take hold over us, so that they become our “worst case scenario”, when really, some honest information with a ‘big picture’ perspective can lower the panic, increase the knowledge, and pave the way for making decisions based on knowledge, rather than fear...which is what BirthtalkTM is all about.

Myths, fears and misconceptions - they are rife in our community in the area of birth. We carry with us into birthing a concept of birth formed over many years. Maybe you saw your mum give birth. Or maybe there was a complication with a sibling’s birth, that’s never been fully explained, except that it was ‘bad’. Maybe you saw those “Education Videos” in Year 10 that show graphic images of a vaginal wall tearing as the baby’s head comes out. Good way to get a group of schoolgirls to immediately cross their legs! You’ve probably been feasting unknowingly through the years on a diet of “unlikely birthing scenarios” every time you watch a sitcom or go to the movies. Think about The Nanny having twins vaginally with a cast of thousands while the butler proposes to CC over the top of her, and barely raising a sweat, or Rachel from Friends and her neat, clean, short birth, and not a hair out of place, or movies like “Nine months” with Hugh Grant - all very exciting and making for great humour - but not very realisitic. (and no placentas anywhere - they seem not to exist in Hollywood!)

But if that’s all we see of birth, then that’s all we really know. That, and a few friend’s horror stories thrown in. Birthtalk wants to change all that. Our list of Articles and suggested reading gives evidence-based information on a variety of topics. Our Birth Stories offer positive good news about birth - all different types of birth. And our Meetings in Brisbane offer factual insights and personal experiences about familiar concerns and issues women have when working towards a birth, plus the ‘good stuff’ we don’t usually get to hear.

And if you have a particular issue you can’t find an answer for, feel free to give Debby from Birthtalk a call! She is not only a midwife and co-founder of Birthtalk, she also runs all Birthtalk’s Courses. Find out her best contact times.