Birth & Baby - Advice You Can Trust

Welcome and thank you for listening!
In this episode, we sit down with Lee van der Westhuizen, founder of Fit Expectations Pilates, to dive deep into movement, strength, and recovery during pregnancy and postpartum.
Whether you're currently expecting, navigating postpartum healing, or curious about the truth behind pelvic floor health (yes, we tackle the infamous Kegel question!). Lee shares clear, compassionate, and evidence-based insights to help women move safely through every stage of motherhood.
Lee van der Westhuizen is the owner and principal trainer of Fit Expectations Pilates in Robindale, Randburg. With over 10 years of experience as a certified BASI Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer, and Group Training Instructor, Lee specializes in prenatal and postnatal movement. As a mother of two, she blends deep clinical expertise with authentic personal experience to help women build strength, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
What We Cover in This Episode
Meet Lee & Fit Expectations Pilates: Lee's journey into specialized prenatal/postnatal instruction and her holistic approach to movement.

Safe Exercise During Pregnancy: Practical guidelines, key principles, and advice for staying active safely while pregnant.

The Kegel Debate: Is the traditional Kegel still relevant, or are we missing the bigger picture when it comes to pelvic floor function?

Preparing the Body for Childbirth: How functional movement, breathwork, and alignment actively benefit the labor and delivery process.

Postnatal Recovery & Returning to Movement: Realistic, restorative advice for honoring your postpartum healing timeline without rushing the process.

Birth & Baby Online Pre- & Postnatal Exercises:  https://birthandbaby.co.za/pre-postnatal-exercise-classes
If you found this episode helpful please leave us a review or give us a rating as that helps us get the show out to more people. And don't forget to subscribe!
We'd love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content & resources to equip & empower you. 
So if you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/freegift 
If you're a mom, visit sisterlilian.co.za/freegift for more training and resources.
That way we can keep you up to date when we release new episodes like this plus a few other bonuses.
Remember you're making a big difference because you're shaping the future of humankind.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to journeying with you.

Welcome and thank you for listening!
In this episode, we sit down with Lactation Consultant Samantha Crompton (SACLC / IBCLC) to unpack a massive trend dominating the modern prenatal space: antenatal colostrum harvesting—known clinically as antenatal colostrum expressing.
While TikTok, Instagram, and "momfluencers" push specialized consumer kits and intensive prenatal expressing as essentials for "prepared" motherhood, Samantha helps us look at what the science actually says. We dive deep into the clinical evidence, look at the hidden risks of indiscriminate prenatal expressing, and discuss how to separate evidence-based practice from consumer-driven anxiety.
Links & Resources Mentioned
Connect with Samantha Crompton: https://www.easybaby.co.za 
Find a lactation consultant: https://www.salactationconsultants.co.za
Essential Breastfeeding Course: https://birthandbaby.co.za/essential-breastfeeding-course
If you found this episode helpful please leave us a review or give us a rating as that helps us get the show out to more people. And don't forget to subscribe!
We'd love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content & resources to equip & empower you. 
So if you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/freegift 
If you're a mom, visit sisterlilian.co.za/freegift for more training and resources.
That way we can keep you up to date when we release new episodes like this plus a few other bonuses.
Remember you're making a big difference because you're shaping the future of humankind.

Welcome and thank you for listening!
In a world saturated with digital "sleep gurus" and rigid, one-size-fits-all routines, new parents are facing unprecedented anxiety when it comes to infant sleep. In this episode, we sit down with veteran healthcare professional Sister Marion Wing, who brings over 45 years of clinical wisdom, passion, and heart to the table.
We cut through the commercial noise and dive deep into the actual evolutionary biology of how babies sleep. Sister Marion breaks down why infant sleep cycles look so different from adult cycles, the vital role of the parent-infant "dyad," and how parents can prepare themselves antenatally for the realities of life with a newborn. If you are an exhausted parent looking for realistic, compassionate, and science-backed insights, this episode is your sanctuary.
Struggling with your little one's sleep right now? You don't have to navigate this alone. Today's episode is proudly brought to you by our 'Sleep Like a Baby' Online Course—a practical and sensitive approach designed to change the nights in your home for the better. Learn more below!
Change the Nights in Your Home for the Better!
If your nights feel overwhelming, we want to reassure you that this is not an impossible problem—there is a silver lining!
Our 'Sleep Like a Baby' Online Course offers a practical and sensitive approach to understanding your baby's sleep without tears or rigid, stressful training. Rediscover the joy of parenting and bring peace back to your evenings. Enroll in the 'Sleep Like a Baby' Online Course Here.
Do you prefer reading? Download the Baby and Toddler Sleep Guide.
Connect with Our Guest
Website: www.marionwing.co.za ; Social Media: @the_baby_clinic
If you found this episode helpful please leave us a review or give us a rating as that helps us get the show out to more people. And don't forget to subscribe!
We'd love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content & resources to equip & empower you. 
So if you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/freegift 
If you're a mom, visit sisterlilian.co.za/freegift for more training and resources.
That way we can keep you up to date when we release new episodes like this plus a few other bonuses.
Remember you're making a big difference because you're shaping the future of humankind.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to journeying with you.

Welcome and thank you for listening!
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are incredibly common, but when they become a recurring nightmare—or flare up during pregnancy and postpartum—the stakes become much higher. Many women find themselves trapped in a cycle of repeated antibiotic use, relying on traditional remedies like cranberry juice that don't quite deliver.
In this episode, we are busting the biggest myths around urinary tract health and diving deep into the science of prevention and treatment. Joining us is Jason Stewart, the driving force behind Probitec Health, to unpack the fascinating connection between the gut, the vaginal microbiome, and the bladder. We explore why pregnancy makes women more vulnerable to UTIs, the clinical risks of leaving them untreated, and the breakthrough science behind "Activated Cranberry" and advanced probiotic delivery.
What We Discuss in This Episode:
The Perinatal Vulnerability: Why UTIs are more common during pregnancy, why they become more serious, and the potential risks to both mother and baby.
The Conception & Postpartum Window: Why addressing urinary and vaginal health before trying to conceive is crucial, and why these issues often flare up after giving birth.
Busting the Cranberry Myth: The scientific reality of what cranberry actually does (hint: it doesn't kill bacteria!) and why most standard cranberry products fail.
The Power of PACs: What Proanthocyanidins are, why dosage matters, and how they physically prevent bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract.
The Microbiome Connection: Why combining 30 billion probiotic bacteria with cranberry is a game-changer for long-term urinary tract resilience.
Delivery Technology Matters: What Phytosome® technology is and how it ensures active ingredients and probiotics actually survive to do their job.
Resources Mentioned:
Learn More about Probitec: ProBitec South Africa
Part 1: Why Most Probiotics Fail: Gut Health & Your Second Brain
If you found this episode helpful please leave us a review or give us a rating as that helps us get the show out to more people. And don't forget to subscribe!
We'd love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content & resources to equip & empower you. 
So if you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/freegift 
If you're a mom, visit sisterlilian.co.za/freegift for more training and resources.
That way we can keep you up to date when we release new episodes like this plus a few other bonuses.
Remember you're making a big difference because you're shaping the future of humankind.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to journeying with you.

Welcome and thank you for listening!
What happens when your dream of a 'natural birth' turns into a whirlwind of medical interventions? In this episode, we sit down with Gabriella Szabo—homeschooling mom and advocate for informed birth—as she pulls back the curtain on her deeply personal experiences navigating the maternity care system.
Gabriella's first birth was the "textbook" cascade of interventions: starting with a natural-minded goal but ending in an induction, an epidural, and ultimately, an emergency C-section. For her second pregnancy, Gabriella changed her strategy entirely. By shifting to a midwife-led model of care, she successfully achieved a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC). Now expecting her third child, she shares the wisdom gained from both sides of the birthing room.
What We Discuss in This Episode:
The "Natural-Minded" Trap: How to vet providers to ensure your birth goals align with their clinical practices.

The Cascade of Interventions: A firsthand look at how one medical intervention can lead to the next, and the emotional toll of an unplanned emergency C-section.

The Power of Midwifery Care: Why the midwife route was the turning point for Gabriella's successful VBAC.

Research as Empowerment: The specific insights Gabriella gained that helped her reclaim her birth experience.

Advice for Partners & Pros: Why this story is essential listening for support teams and healthcare providers alike.

Key Quotes from Gabriella:
"All the things I didn't want to happen, ended up happening. It was the ultimate lesson in the importance of who you choose to have in your birth space."
Find out more about or reach out to Gabriella Szabo:
Website: www.thefrankiejourney.com
Social Media: @thefrankiejourney 
If you found this episode helpful please leave us a review or give us a rating as that helps us get the show out to more people. And don't forget to subscribe!
We'd love to stay in touch and keep you updated with all our latest content & resources to equip & empower you. 
So if you're a midwife or any type of birth and baby worker go to sensitivemidwifery.co.za/freegift 
If you're a mom, visit sisterlilian.co.za/freegift for more training and resources.
That way we can keep you up to date when we release new episodes like this plus a few other bonuses.
Remember you're making a big difference because you're shaping the future of humankind.