Akal is a pioneer in independent midwifery in Sydney and has been assisting women to birth calmly and confidently in the security and privacy of their own homes since 1979.
Akal believes that the way in which a woman births is vitally important.  It can have a profound effect on her self-esteem and be reflected in her ability to confidently mother her children.
To assist in this process she offers her services to those women who see birth as a natural, normal, healthy life event.  The advantage of one-to-one midwifery care is that it enables you to discuss every aspect of your care during your pregnancy.  You are a crucial part of the decision making process and it allows you to explore and optimise your birth options.
You will receive individualised antenatal care throughout your pregnancy.  During each visit, you will have a full antenatal check with ample time to ask question about your pregnancy and pending birth.  You will have telephone access between visits to answer any concerns as they arise.
Akal will attend you for the full duration of your active labour and for a minimum of four hours following birth.  Home visits are made following the birth to observe your progress and to check the baby.  She will answer your questions and assist you on the care of your new baby.

Medicare-funded private midwifery care.

Service area: Hospital birthing services are provided exclusively at Westmead Hospital.  Homebirths are attended throughout Sydney, Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and Illawarra areas. My rooms are located in Bexley and home visits also available.

Melissa Maimann is an eligible midwife providing Medicare-funded private midwifery care.  Melissa is the first private midwife in Australia to offer a unique model of care which combines private midwifery care with Specialist Obstetric back-up, promoting natural birth (waterbirth included), VBAC, vaginal twin and vaginal breech births - all at Westmead Hospital.

Feel confident and supported in pregnancy, birth and the new parenting experience.  Melissa Maimann's approach is tailored to each client, with a flair for evidence-based and practical care and support.

Women choosing this service can anticipate a safe pregnancy and birth experience, exceptionally low rates of intervention and an emotionally satisfying experience.  Care is provided privately in your home or in my comfortable rooms and we take our time addressing the things that matter to you.  Birthing services are provided exclusively at Westmead Hospital.  Medicare brings significant cost savings and we are confident that you will find this service to be most affordable.

We offer a personalised service throughout pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

PRENATAL YOGA CLASSES

“Gentle pregnancy yoga classes designed to accommodate all stages of Pregnancy and all levels of previous yoga experience; including beginners and more advanced yogis.”  

You will find the classes beneficial to you and the baby during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period.

**REFER A FRIEND for a free trial class, and you will receive a free class, too! 

• Learn breathing techniques for labour and birth
• Practice relaxation for pregnancy and birth
• Enjoy time to connect to the baby
• Strengthen and realign posture 
• Meet other women from Baulkham Hills area

 

“I really enjoyed the class last night - I think I slept the best I have in weeks!!”  - Jodie

 

PRENATAL YOGA AT HOME DVD -

DVD includes yoga breathing practice for birth, pregnancy yoga class and relaxation ONLY $28  Order your copy today and enjoy benefits of yoga for pregnancy, birth and baby.

 

 

AFFORDABLE ANTENATAL COURSES

 

Antenatal classes broken into 5 workshops so that you can attend the classes that suit you, your needs and your budget. Only $40 per couple per workshop.  All workshops are run on Saturdays from 2pm-4pm

1. Yoga for Active Birth  Sat 15th Jan or Sat 26th March or Sat 28th May
2. Natural Birth Intensive  Sat 29th Jan or Sat 9th April
3. Creating your birth plan & vision  Sat 12th Feb or Sat 16th April
4. Avoiding unnecessary intervention  Sat 5th March or Sat 30th March
5. Your baby in the first 3 weeks.  Sat 12th March or Sat 14th May
   

 

OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE:  Post Natal Yoga Group for Mothers and Baby's, Doula Services, Baby Blessingways. 

PREPARAING FOR A NATURAL BIRTH AFTER A PREVIOUS CAESAREAN (VBAC)

Tara specialises in VBAC preparation having had one herself.  Preparing for a naturla birht after a caesarean is about regaining your confidence, healing your past traumas and bringing your focus and that of your partner/support back into a positive mind frame.  You need to surround yourself with people who beleive in you and empower not only yourself but your team with researched based information.  Contact Tara to dicuss your personal needs. 

“At that moment (of the birth) all I kept thinking was I did it!!!! The doc arrived, I had torn a bit(5stitches) ...  I was too excited to even care - I had my baby in my arms all natural and with no drugs!!!!"  Vana (VBAC)

"It takes a village to raise a child"  Ancient African Proverb

Birthrites: Healing After Caesarean aims to provide a support network for women who've had a previous c/section(s), and to increase the awareness of these women's needs to their health-carers within the medical profession. We aim to do this by:

    1) Providing telephone contacts - someone to talk to who knows what you've experienced, as they've had a c/section themselves.

    2) Monthly "Get-Togethers" in Perth.

    3) To increase women's awareness of birth choices via a suggested reading list, the Internet and by talking to health carers.

    4) To increase public, and medical, awareness of the increasing c/section rate and inform them of the safety of Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC), in most cases.

    5) To return some women's rituals to birth, whether that birth is a VBAC or a caesarean section (Empowered Birth After Caesarean - EBAC).