The Virtual Midwife

Why are your breasts suddenly so full, swollen, hot, and painful? If milk coming in has felt far more intense than you expected, this episode will help you understand what is happening and what helps most.Many mothers experience engorgement in the early days after birth, often around Day 3 when milk volume increases. Breasts can feel heavy, tight, tender, and so firm that your baby struggles to latch.In this episode, I’m explaining what engorgement is, why it happens, how long it usually lasts, and how to relieve it comfortably.Inside this episode:• What engorgement really is• Why it often starts around Day 3• How to help your baby latch when breasts feel too full• Warmth before feeds and cold after feeds• Hand expressing for comfort• When pumping helps and when it can worsen fullness• Breast compressions during feeds• How to reduce the risk of mastitis• When to ask for supportVery often, engorgement is a short-lived stage while your body adjusts to milk production.FREE RESOURCES + SUPPORTWeekly Resourceshttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/weekly-resourcesPre-order my book: Baby Steps to Six Weeks – A Day-by-Day Guide for New Mothershttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/baby-steps-preorderIf this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a mother in the early breastfeeding days.

Have you created bad sleep habits… or is your baby simply responding to the support they need right now?If your baby only falls asleep feeding, being held, rocked, close to you, or needs help returning to sleep, it can be easy to worry that something has gone wrong. In this episode, I’m explaining what sleep associations really are, why they are so common in infancy, and how to think about them in a calmer, more helpful way.We talk about:• What sleep associations are• Why babies often need support to fall asleep• Feeding to sleep, rocking, holding, contact naps, and closeness• How sleep cues form through repetition• Internal vs external sleep cues• How to build calm, consistent sleep patterns• When to keep a pattern and when to gently evolve it• Why support is part of sleep developmentVery often, what parents call bad habits are simply ways a baby has learned to feel safe enough to sleep.FREE RESOURCES + SUPPORTWeekly Resourceshttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/weekly-resourcesPre-order my book: Baby Steps to Six Weeks – A Day-by-Day Guide for New Mothershttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/baby-steps-preorderIf this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with another parent who may need reassurance around sleep.

How long can you keep expressed breast milk? If pumping, storing milk, freezing milk, or preparing to return to work has felt confusing, this episode will help you keep it simple.Expressed milk is valuable because it takes time, effort, and planning. Knowing how to store it safely, thaw it correctly, and use it confidently can make life much easier.In this episode, I’m covering clear and practical guidance for storing breast milk safely in the newborn months.Inside this episode:• How long expressed milk lasts at room temperature• How long breast milk can stay in the fridge• Freezer storage guidelines• Best containers to use• How to label and organise milk• How to thaw frozen milk safely• Why breast milk separates in storage• What to do with leftover milk after a feed• Why you do not need a freezer full of milkA simple, workable system is often far more valuable than a stressful one.FREE RESOURCES + SUPPORTWeekly Resourceshttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/weekly-resourcesPre-order my book: Baby Steps to Six Weeks – A Day-by-Day Guide for New Mothershttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/baby-steps-preorderIf this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who is pumping or feeding expressed milk.

Why is your baby so unsettled at night? If evenings feel harder than the rest of the day, you are far from alone.Many babies become fussier in the late afternoon and evening. They may want to feed constantly, cry more easily, resist being put down, or only settle when held close. It can feel relentless when you are already tired.In this episode, I’m explaining why evening fussiness is so common in the newborn weeks, what may be driving it, and how to respond with more calm and confidence.Inside this episode:• Why babies often struggle more in the evening• Cluster feeding and constant evening feeding• Why milk flow can feel different later in the day• Overtiredness, overstimulation, and nervous system load• Why closeness helps so much• Gentle ways to settle your baby• When to look more closely or ask for supportVery often, evening fussiness is about biology, regulation, tiredness, and a strong need for connection.FREE RESOURCES + SUPPORTWeekly Resourceshttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/weekly-resourcesPre-order my book: Baby Steps to Six Weeks – A Day-by-Day Guide for New Mothershttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/baby-steps-preorderIf this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone in the newborn weeks who may need it.00:00 Why Evenings Feel Hard00:31 Overstimulation And Co Regulation01:22 Cluster Feeding Explained02:13 Calming Strategies That Help03:41 Take Breaks And Get Support04:35 Do You Need A Top Up05:19 Reassurance And Next Steps05:51 Resources And Recommendations

Why is your baby straining, grunting, turning red, and looking like they’re trying so hard to poo? It can be worrying to watch, especially in the early weeks.In this episode, I’m explaining one of the most common newborn concerns: why many babies strain dramatically when passing wind or stool, and why it is often a normal part of development rather than constipation.We talk about:• Why newborn digestion can look so dramatic• What infant dyschezia is• Why babies often grunt more at night or early morning• The difference between straining and true constipation• What soft stools usually mean• Gentle ways to support your baby• When it’s worth getting things checkedIf your baby pulls their legs up, clenches, grunts, goes red in the face, then passes wind or a soft poo and settles again, this episode will help you understand what may be happening.If this episode helped you, there’s more support waiting for you.BUY THE BOOK https://askthevirtualmidwife.com/baby-steps-preorderDownload the free handout linked in the show notes, along with more resources, Quick Answers, and support for the newborn weekshttps://askthevirtualmidwife.com/weekly-resources00:00 Why Babies Strain00:37 Muscle Coordination01:24 Constipation Versus Normal01:49 Early Morning Episodes02:13 Infant Dyschezia02:57 When to Step In03:22 Gentle Relief Tips04:23 Watch the Whole Picture05:20 Free Handout and Extras05:50 Book Recommendation

This episode is a repeated birth-affirmations and breathing script focused on staying calm, centered, and grounded through deep breaths, releasing tension, and trusting your body and baby during labor. It emphasizes being strong, capable, fierce yet flexible, and prepared for whatever turns your birthing journey takes. The script describes working with each surge as waves of sensation to “surf,” resetting in the short breaks between surges, and returning to the breath for relaxation and re-energizing. It reinforces confidence, safety, and support, trusting instincts and the birth process, and visualizes the body opening as each surge nudges the baby down and out, with the cervix soft, open, and stretchy and the baby moving easily through the pelvis.00:00 Calm Breath Begins04:00 Trust the Journey07:50 Ride the Waves10:46 Mind and Body Strength12:22 Breathe Baby Down16:02 Softening and Opening17:26 Baby Moves Through21:04 Love and Support Close23:27 Final Calm Affirmations

Breastfeeding in the First 3 Days: Reassurance, Colostrum, Cluster Feeding, and Latch BasicsThis episode is for new mothers and I talk about breastfeeding in the first three days by explaining normal newborn behavior and how to tell your baby is getting enough. I discuss how your birth experience (long labor, analgesia/anesthesia, C-section) can affect your baby’s alertness and early feeding. I emphasise skin-to-skin and following feeding cues rather than timing feeds, especially for the first feed. I explain newborn stomach capacity (about 6 ml), the role and benefits of colostrum, expected weight loss up to 10%, and the purpose of brown fat for early energy needs. You will learn about cluster feeding patterns, signs milk has come in (full, tender, leaking breasts), basic latch and positioning tips (tummy-to-mummy, nose-to-nipple, cross-cradle and football holds), and using wet/dirty nappy output changes from meconium to yellow seedy stools as a key indicator of intake.00:00 Breastfeeding First Days00:47 Birth Effects On Baby01:28 Golden Hour Skin To Skin04:08 Tiny Tummy Colostrum05:38 Immunity Weight Loss08:47 Cluster Feeding Normal10:02 Milk Coming In Signs12:59 Avoid Painful Latch15:06 Football Hold Option16:16 Wet Diapers And Poop18:10 Recap And Next StepsThe first six weeks can feel intense and unpredictable. My book Baby Steps to Six Weeks guides you day by day so you can recognise patterns, understand your baby, and feel more confident as you go.Order your copy if you're 36+ weeks pregnant and you want to BE PREPARED.https://askthevirtualmidwife.com/get-baby-steps-to-six-weeks

This meditation is for the breastfeeding mother who finds herself at the intersection of myriad emotions and responsibilities. If you're feeling sleep-deprived, anxious about your baby and your milk supply, overwhelmed by the profound shift in your identity, torn between the roles of mother and wife, grappling with the loss of freedom, experiencing financial strain, succumbing to societal pressures to look a certain way, or feeling compelled to share every moment on social media, this meditation is here for you. These complex and weighty concerns may have left you feeling disconnected from your transformed body and your newborn baby, contributing to your baby's fussiness and neediness. In the midst of this challenging journey, it's crucial to find moments of respite and self-compassion. My hope is that this meditation will  be your sanctuary, a haven where you can slow down, fully inhabit the present moment, and rediscover the beauty of your breath and your profound connection with your baby. It's an opportunity to explore the depths of your inner world, embrace the complexities of motherhood, and find the peace and strength within yourself to navigate this transformative path. Join me in The Due Date Club Whatsapp Support Group "Ask the Virtual Midwife" The group is a hub of expertise and shared  experiences.  See a friendly face, hear a  reassuring voice, and receive guidance that  feels like it's coming from a trusted friend.  Experience the difference that a truly personalized support system, led by professionals can make If you're looking for answers - especially ones that can't wait until you see your midwife/LC/or pead then join the Ask the Midwife Supprot group and get  ✅ Personalized video answers  to your questions and concerns  ✅ Premium access to our library of resources and video answers ✅ Confidence and connection through shared experiences. https://duedateclub.co.za/ask-the-virtual-midwife/

This is it my lovelies - the last episode of the podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we're exploring the conscious and unconscious mind – two aspects of our thinking that can have a significant impact on our childbirth experience. The conscious mind is the part of our thinking that is aware of our surroundings and makes rational decisions based on our current circumstances. The unconscious mind, on the other hand, operates beneath the surface of our awareness and can influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in profound ways. By understanding how these two aspects of our thinking work together, we can use Hypnobirthing techniques to tap into our body's natural birthing instincts and achieve a positive and comfortable birth experience. In this episode, we'll cover: What the conscious and unconscious mind are and how they work together The impact of negative beliefs and emotions on our unconscious mind during childbirth How Hypnobirthing techniques like relaxation, visualization, and positive affirmations can influence our unconscious mind and create a positive birthing experience Techniques for releasing negative emotions and beliefs that may be affecting your unconscious mind during childbirth Remember, by understanding the conscious and unconscious mind and using Hypnobirthing techniques to influence these aspects of our thinking, we can achieve a deep state of relaxation and tap into our body's natural birthing instincts. Thanks for tuning in to our Hypnobirthing podcast series! I hope you've enjoyed learning about the different techniques and approaches to achieve a positive and comfortable birthing experience. If you're looking to continue your Hypnobirthing journey, I encourage you to join me in The Due Date Club – a community of expectant parents who are all on the same journey as you. By joining The Due Date Club, you'll have access to a range of resources, including: Just Found Out Course - If you want to enjoy a stress free pregnancy Cesarian Birth - If you want to explore your birth options Hospital Interventions - If you want to make informed decisions Breastfeeding Course - If you want to breastfeed but not sure you can Partner Course - If you want your partner “on board”  By joining The Due Date Club, you'll be part of a supportive community of like-minded individuals who are all working towards a positive and empowering birthing experience. You'll have access to expert advice and guidance, as well as the opportunity to share your own experiences and connect with others who are going through the same journey. So don't wait – join The Due Date Club today and take the first step towards a comfortable and positive birthing experience. We wish you all the best on your Hypnobirthing journey! If you have suggestions for another series then drop me an email - I'm currently recording one on hospital interventions but hit me up with what you want to know more about. In the meanwhile - I'm looking forward to meeting you in The Due Date Club Midwife Karen

Welcome back to our podcast series on Hypnobirthing! In this episode, we're talking about brain waves – a key aspect of the Hypnobirthing approach. Brain waves are the electrical activity that occurs in our brains, and they can affect our mood, perception, and overall state of consciousness. By understanding brain waves and how they relate to childbirth, we can use Hypnobirthing techniques to tap into our body's natural ability to birth our baby with ease and comfort. In this episode, we'll cover: What brain waves are and how they work The different types of brain waves and their associated states of consciousness How Hypnobirthing techniques like deep relaxation and visualization can influence brain wave activity during childbirth The benefits of achieving a state of relaxed awareness during childbirth Remember, understanding brain waves and how they relate to childbirth is a key aspect of the Hypnobirthing approach. By using Hypnobirthing techniques to influence brain wave activity, you can achieve a deep state of relaxation and tap into your body's natural birthing instincts. So don't wait – start exploring the power of brain waves and Hypnobirthing today, and take the first step towards a comfortable and positive birth experience! Thanks for listening, and be sure to tune in to our future episodes as we continue to explore the wonderful world of Hypnobirthing. And if you're looking for more resources or support on your Hypnobirthing journey, be sure to check out our website or join The Due Date Club. Meet new friends who are due in the same month and share your journey with The Due Date Club! Compare symptoms, be inspired & find a community of women who understand your experience. I'll see you there Midwife Karen