TO ALL THE DADS AND BIRTH PARTNERS WORLDWIDE 🌎 🕺🏻
I have been waiting so long to have our first official dad’s birth story podcast! We are joined with an absolute winner of a man in birth and womens health and fertility. Dr. Alex Perry joins us to share a fathers and birth partners perspective on birth and how in his profession he is assisting many women in fertility, pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:07 — 47.8MB)
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Firstly, we talk to Alex about his first brith being a very long, slow and posterior labour. Alex describes this as being emotionally challenging. During his partners transition phase Alex felt he could not offer any support and was at a loss. We hear how they did not have preparation for this experience so now he expresses and teaches men in his classes that the need understand that there may be a transition phase where some women will want to ‘pack up and go home’. Alex describes that he learned allot from this birth and used these lessons in this brith to better prepare them for the next birth. I asked Alex what it was like going from being just Alex to Alex the father, he describes this as a feeling that he connects with often, especially when he is in his work and talking to women that are about to go into labour. Alex describes that the feeling of becoming dad was “You cant get much better than that!”
So, second time around they were more prepared and informed with lessons learned they both decided that they wanted a doula to help hold and protect the birth space while offering experience in birth that can help, especially Alex as the partner. They decided on a birth centre birth. This time the baby was born was 1 month early, she was born very quickly to! Alex talks about how he was banging at the birth centre doors out the front and by the time she finally got to the bed baby was born within minutes. Unfortunately the Doula did not make it, it was so so fast describes Alex.
Baby number three was a great experience, they decided that they did not enlist a Doula for the third birth. Alex was more apt with birthing though his line of work and definitely thought the last two experiences. This birth was very text book according to Alex, knowing more of what to expect after seeing the other babies birthed. Alex caught their baby when he come out and found that absolutely amazing.
We talk more about the honourable position Alex is in, to be able to serve women in this way, which then leads us into his work as a acupuncturist. This is where the show gets interesting, discussing fertility, pregnancy and birth. Alex recommends that we need to put preparation into our health and lifestyle and defiantly for women our stresses. His approach is looking at what tools he has in his kit bag and what will be of best use for the individual family. Communication is number one and finding space to talk openly and approach the healing journey together. Communicate first and treat second..
We talk about the modern and possibly unaware reliance on medicines and treatments for single factors, while not looking at the body as a whole. We as a whole are loosing touch with what our body says, explains Alex. In Alex’s recommendations as a practitioner for fertility it is a good idea to engage in 12 weeks of this type of treatment. He also recommends for a labour perspective to find yourself a Chinese medicine practitioner (of course if you are in Canberra region then Alex is it!) that is experienced with pregnancy, labour and women in general. Alex starts his labour consults from 27 weeks onwards.
Alex shares his wisdom for all dads to be and he encourages partners to ‘invest into your partner’ and be present with her as you are there to serve her and the baby that is about to be born. Go into this journey as a partner / father with a servants heart.
Cant get to Canberra? Alex talks about how he offers Skype consults regarding all matters in women and pregnancy, he has patients all over the world.
From Alex –
“To the men listening, if you are prepared for these little hiccups that are possible then you can stand a bit firmer and be a good support to your partner that is going through the process.“
“Its important to express how important those early moments are for mother and partner.”
“One of the things I have noticed over the years, is that pregnancy and childbirth is such an incredible opportunity for transformation.”
“Communicate first and treat second.”
” As a birth partner, go into this experience with a servants heart..”
Resources:
Health and Wellness Blogs via the Perry Centre: http://dralexperry.com/dr-perrys-blog/
or http://theperrycentre.com.au/blog/
Connect with Dr. Alex Perry
Website: http://theperrycentre.com.au or http://dralexperry.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thePerryCentre/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClinicSensei/videos
Email: drperry@theperrycentre.com.au
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