In this episode of the Birthing Dads Podcast, host Steven Kennedy speaks with Carly from Little Sparklers, a charity supporting families with sleep challenges. Carly shares her personal journey from struggling with an extremely unsettled baby to founding an organization that now supports nearly 200,000 families.

Key topics covered include:

• The wide spectrum of normal infant sleep needs and why some babies naturally need less sleep
• Understanding co-regulation and how parents help babies learn to self-soothe over time
• Critical analysis of sleep training methods and their potential drawbacks
• Safe co-sleeping practices and bed-sharing guidelines
• Practical alternatives to sleep training that work with your baby's natural needs
• Managing sleep challenges when returning to work
• Creating realistic expectations for infant and toddler sleep patterns

Carly emphasizes trusting your instincts as parents, responding to your baby's individual needs, and understanding that frequent night waking is often normal developmental behaviour rather than a problem to be fixed.

https://littlesparklers.org/

Michael shares his transformative journey from a challenging 2-year fertility struggle to an empowering home birth during COVID-19. He opens up about the emotional reality of new fatherhood, including his gradual bonding process and learning to navigate a sensitive baby's needs.

The conversation covers practical insights on supporting partners through pregnancy and birth, dealing with breastfeeding challenges like mastitis, and developing a collaborative parenting approach.

Michael offers honest advice about preparing emotionally for parenthood beyond just the birth itself, emphasizing teamwork, flexibility, and finding joy amidst the inevitable challenges of early parenting.

Suzy Hodgson has a background in child and family nursing with a master's and PhD in psychology. She has clinical and academic experience in the UK and in Aotearoa and enjoy collaborating with other researchers, practice partners and experts by experience. For the past 10 years Suzy has worked in an academic environment as a research assistant, lecturer and senior lecturer and currently as a senior research officer.

Suzy enjoys networking and meeting people who are passionate about the health and wellbeing of men, particularly new fathers.

Suzy is also a registered nurse and member of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium and the International Family Nurse Association.

Content warning: This episode discusses neonatal loss.

Today, we feature an interview with Matt McConnell. Matt bravely opens up about the loss of his 8-day-old daughter, Wren, his journey through grief, and his dedication to raising awareness about perinatal loss through his Grief Support Platform, @love.from.dad

If you or someone you know is coping with the loss of a child, we encourage you to share this episode and explore Matt's resources.

* * *

Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

* * *

Learn more about Love from Dad Website: https://www.lovefromdad.com.au/ Instagram: @love.from.dad

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

In this episode, we talk with Associate Professor Rob Mills, a seasoned expert in maternal and child health, and CEO of Tresillian family care centers. Professor Mills shares his experience working closely with families during the critical early stages of their children's lives. He discusses the essential role of Tresillian in offering invaluable support and guidance to parents as they navigate the transformative journey into parenthood and the significant cultural shifts he’s observed over the past 30 years.

* * *

Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

* * *

Learn more about Tresillian https://www.tresillian.org.au/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Join us in this episode as we sit down with Renee Adair, founder and director of the Australian Doula College. With more than two decades of experience, Renee delves into the fears that can surround childbirth, the impacts of the hospital system on birthing experiences, the profound influence of hormones on the birthing process, unrealistic expectations of parenthood, and the crucial need for a supportive village during this life-changing phase. She discusses the pivotal role doulas play in supporting expectant parents, as well as the significance of independent birth educators in empowering couples to feel confident. Renee highlights the benefits of a continuity of care model and the advocacy role men need to embrace as the gatekeepers of the birth space.

* * *

Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

* * *

Connect with Australian Doulas College https://www.australiandoulacollege.com.au/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

In this podcast, we follow the journey of Chris, who left his job in Banking to join 'The Fathering Project' with a clear mission to inspire dads to become the best versions of themselves.

Chris recounts the births of his two children. He describes his wife as a warrior and is in awe of her birthing journey. Their preparation, including independent birth education, instilled a deep trust in his wife's body's capabilities. Chris reflects on the delicate balance of gathering just the right amount of information and avoiding overwhelming details and unwarranted risks.

We delve into the details of how he supported her through two smooth births, with the second being a waterbirth. Chris acknowledges the challenges of fatherhood but emphasises that it's the best thing that's ever happened to him.

* * *

Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

* * *

Learn more about The Fathering Project https://thefatheringproject.org/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

This episode features perinatal psychologist David Marishel, as he delves into the world of fatherhood during the early years of parenting. In this conversation, David shares his expert insights on the unique challenges that today's fathers face in our rapidly evolving society and the essential aspects of fatherhood that are often overlooked.

* * *

Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

* * *

Connect with David Marishel https://www.davidmarishel.com.au/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au