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.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Episode 220 - Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is an urgent situation during birth BUT there are some strategies that you can use to prevent it and some simple and minimally invasive interventions th
Sep 13 1 h 19 min
Episode 219 - Restless Legs in Pregnancy
Restless legs is a circumstance in pregnancy where you feel an irresistible urge to move, stretch, kick your legs or walk around. It gets especially worse when at rest an
Sep 6 21 min
Episode 218 - The Cascade of Intervention
The cascade of intervention is a known and proven phenomenon within maternity care. More and more research is revealing that interventions have both intended and unintend
Aug 30 1 h 23 min
Episode 217 - Surviving and Thriving in Midwifery
We have to be honest about the reality that working in midwifery is an unsustainable role. The lucky ones land a job that doesn’t leave them mentally and morally exhauste
Aug 23 59 min
Episode 216 - Childbirth for Children
It’s national science week in Australia from August 15th-23rd and the great birth rebellion podcast is on the program! In this episode, Mel and her 9 year old daughter Fr
Aug 16 23 min
Episode 215 - Strategies to avoid tearing during birth
There are various strategies that you can start using today that will help to reduce the chances of your vulva or vagina tearing during childbirth. This episode lists the
Aug 9 55 min
Episode 214 - Spicy Question Time with Mel
It’s spicy Friday but on a Monday! In this episode Mel answers listener questions in this unscripted, off-the-cuff, unfiltered Q&A session submitted straight from her soc
Aug 2 1 h 10 min
Episode 213 - What if I have an epidural
You might be one of the 60% of women who have an epidural during their labour or birth. Whatever birth you’re planning, knowing about epidurals is an absolute must. Epidu
Jul 26 1 h 16 min
Episode 212 - It’s Not ‘False’ Labour, It’s Prodromal Labour
Around 25% of women will experience a longer than anticipated early labour phase. Some maternity care providers might explain this as ‘false’ labour… but I can assure you
Jul 19 1 h 36 min
Episode 211 - Manage your labour pain with sterile water injections and hypnobirthing
Why not favour pain management options that have no side-effects? In this episode, Mel interviews midwife and researcher Nigel Lee who explains the research he and his te
Jul 12 54 min
Episode 210 - It's bad but there's hope
This episode gives a snapshot of the main global challenges that face women in their childbearing years and the midwives that care for them. In this episode, Mel covers w
Jul 5 54 min
Episode 209 - The 5 BIG induction studies
In this episode Dr Melanie Jackson and Prof Hannah Dahlen explain The 5 BIG Induction studies that often get used to encourage the use of induction for suspected big babi
Jun 28 1 h 16 min
Episode 208 - Beyond 40 weeks pregnant
The concept of a rigid 40-week due date is one of the most deeply entrenched myths in modern maternity care. Today I cast a critical eye over the historical and mathemati
Jun 21 59 min
Episode 207 - The First 2 Weeks Postpartum (part 2)
Get practical ways to support recovery in the first 2 weeks after birth. Learn how to prepare your home for easier access to supplies, early breastfeeding patterns, and w
Jun 14 1 h 00 min
Episode 206 - The First 2 Weeks Postpartum (Part 1)
The first two weeks after birth have a lot going on… So I'm doing 2 episodes on it. Here you will learn what recovery can look like for both mother and baby. I discuss th
Jun 7 1 h 31 min
Episode 205 - Anti-D for Rh Negative women
Women with negative blood groups are routinely offered at least 3 doses of anti-D throughout pregnancy. The question is, what is anti-D, do you really need it? What happe
May 31 49 min
Episode 204 - Advocating for yourself in the maternity system
Being pregnant may be the very first reason you’ve had prolonged exposure to the health care system. Interacting with the maternity care system can feel confusing and fri
May 24 56 min
Episode 203 - Swollen cervix in labour
If you get a swollen cervix during labour, your care provider might recommend an epidural or caesarean section. There are many other things you can try before resorting t
May 17 50 min
Episode 202 - Pre-eclampsia management: the balance between protection and prematurity
If you’ve been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, this is a must-listen episode to prepare you for the journey ahead. Mel continues the pre-eclampsia 2-part series by focusing
May 10 34 min
Episode 201 - Preeclampsia: Red Flags, Risk Factors, and Reducing Your Chances
In this episode Mel casts a critical eye over the serious pregnancy complication of preeclampsia. She explains what pre-eclampsia is, how to diagnose it, how it develops
May 3 51 min
Chart trend
Position in the Kids & Family chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#101#200JunJulAugSep
#63
all-time peak
3
days in the top 100 since Apr 2025
Chart positions
Where The Great Birth Rebellion ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 19, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Dr. Melanie Jackson is awesome! I feel so empowered with my pregnancies because of this podcast and all of the other sources and information that Dr Melanie provides.
Carol the SLP · Feb 2026
Dr Melanie does a wonderful job delivering evidence backed research that I found both reassuring and at times so surprising! She does not shame or fear monger whether your choices align with hospital or home birth it’s wonderful to feel empowered by information. Such a great listen!
VeronicaB19 · Jan 2026
Listening to the podcast set me up for success during my labor and birth. I also shared a few episodes with my husband to help him understand/learn about the process. Thank you for also sharing facts and the truth about the industries! MUST LISTEN!
ONYX2.0 · Jan 2026
Melanie’s information is so grounded and balanced. I was leaning towards a free birth and her podcast/ simultaneously meeting a likeminded midwife to support us in our upcoming birth came at the perfect time. We just had our first baby in a beautiful, peaceful (and long!!) physiological birth at home and the continuum of care postpartum has been such a gift 🤍🤍🤍
camillejuliar · Jan 2026
I found this podcast as they did an excellent informational episode on the difference between a midwife and a birth keeper. As a new mom, I then listened to the episode on matrescence. The statements made regarding the use of birth control pills and SSRI’s were extremely problematic.. throughout most of my 20s I held similar beliefs, I suffered from extreme PMDD and period pain because I refused to take ‘the pill.’ I also suffered extreme depression and mood swings until I was finally prescribed an SSRI.
Jess Goode · Dec 2025
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of The Great Birth Rebellion, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
