516 avsnitt • Längd: 60 min • Veckovis: Måndag
A Podcast of Mothers’ stories of childbirth. Weekly interviews with mothers giving their first hand accounts of child birth in Australia. Designed to help educate and inform first time pregnant women, parents wanting to have better subsequent births and birth enthusiasts who love to hear and tell birth stories. An entertaining and heartfelt resource for pregnancy, labour and delivery and postpartum.
The podcast Australian Birth Stories is created by Sophie Walker. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
In this episode, interior designer and mother of two Bec shares her contrasting birth experiences at Sandringham Hospital in Melbourne. Her journey to motherhood began after marriage, taking six to eight months to conceive Ava. "I was one of those people testing like five days before you can test and just thinking I was pregnant every time," Bec recalls of this period. They welcomed a puppy during this time, which she reflects may have added to the journey: "I think that caused like it was a bit stressful, of course, getting a new puppy. So I think that's also part of it. Once we kind of settled into having little Archie, then it kind of happened after that."
For more photos and birth stories, follow us on Instagram here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this weeks episode I speak with Sophie Delezio, whose story of survival and resilience has long captured Australian hearts. Now embarking on a new chapter as mother to 10-week-old Frankie, Sophie shares her journey through pregnancy and birth, offering insights into navigating motherhood with a disability while challenging common misconceptions.
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Parenting is a journey full of challenges, especially when it comes to sleep! That’s why iL Tutto is here to help. From the award-winning CoZee Co-sleeping Bassinet, designed for safe and snug co-sleeping, to the Grow Kindly natural fibre sleepwear, crafted to keep your little ones comfy and cosy, iL Tutto has thought of everything. And when it's time to transition from newborn to toddler, their Cots with matching Chests make that step a breeze with smart storage and versatile & stylish designs.
As a special gift for ABS listeners, iL Tutto is offering 20% off their entire range ahead of their Boxing Day sale. That’s right, ABS listeners can beat everyone to a great deal across their range of 5-star review Nursery Chairs, award-winning CoZee Co-Sleepers, Cots and Sleepwear before everyone else. This discount code is only valid from now until Monday, December 23 shop early and save! If you miss the date, fear not, their Boxing Day sale runs from December 23 to January 5th.
Visit iltutto.com.au and use the code SLEEP20 at checkout. Because better sleep isn’t just for your baby—it’s for you, too! Discount code can’t be used once the Boxing Day sale commences. Cannot be used on discounted items. iL Tutto : Growing together, every step of the way, in style.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we meet Josie, a qualified teacher living in the Albury-Wodonga region who shares her journey to motherhood and her two unique birth experiences. Her story highlights the complexities of navigating healthcare across state borders and the resilience required through pregnancy loss, renovation chaos, and building a family.
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It's no surprise that restful sleep is hard to come by pregnancy.
Pillows are a great way to get comfortable at night and if you find one that prevents back sleeping, it can takeaway the stress of waking up on your back.
That's why I recommend the Sleepybelly pregnancy pillow.
Sleepybelly is the original three-piece adjustable maternity pillow designed to provide peace of mind by encouraging safe side sleeping or while giving your belly some much needed relief.
Sleepybelly don't normally discount their products, but they have provided a $10 off promo code for Australian Birth Stories listeners.
You can purchase a Sleepybelly today at sleepybelly.com.au and use the promo code ABS10 for your $10 off - sweet dreams!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we speak with Alysha, a psychologist and PhD candidate whose research into traumatic birth and mother-infant relationships stems from her own profound experiences. As both a mental health professional and mother of two boys, her story offers unique insights into the complexities of birth trauma and its lasting impact on early bonding.
For more photos and birth stories, follow us on Instagram here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s such a pleasure to welcome Stacey back onto the show. You can listen to her first birth in episode 181. Today, she shares the journey to conceiving her second child. It is a story of profound resilience through multiple losses, IVF challenges, and eventually, a beautiful home birth. After experiencing a relatively straightforward path to conceiving her first son Bryn through IUI, Stacey opens up about the unexpected three-and-a-half-year journey to welcome her rainbow baby, Sunny.
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Looking for an engaging and educational way to entertain your little one? You need to check out Kiwi Co.
Kiwi.Co offer bi-monthly subscription boxes designed for babies ages 0 right up to teens. Offering open-ended, research-backed projects that encourage curiosity and hands-on play. Each crate is packed with high-quality, safe activities that help build essential skills while creating special bonding moments. With projects designed for repeat use, KiwiCo provides a wonderful alternative to screen time and makes learning fun for you and your child.
KiwiCo offers five different clubs covering science, engineering, art, and math, making it easy to find a subscription tailored to your child’s age and interests. With no commitment required, you can pause or cancel anytime. For a limited time, get up to 50% off your first crate by using promo code BIRTHSTORIES at KiwiCo.com.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this beautiful episode, Chloe Grayling @lovechloejane shares her journey into motherhood, from an emotional year of trying to conceive to achieving a beautiful and empowering home water birth. Living in a 140-year-old cottage on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula with her husband Patrick and their menagerie of animals (including Highland cows!), Chloe opens up about how her experience with early pregnancy losses shaped her approach to pregnancy and birth preparation.
Today's episode is brought to you by our empowering, evidence based online birth education program that will help you confidently prepare for a positive birth experience - The Birth Class.
Featuring 10 audio lessons with perinatal health specialists, you can listen from the comfort of your home when you’re relaxed and receptive to new information. The Birth Class is a conversation starter between you and your birth partner that informs, encourages and empowers you to journey towards labour with knowledge and confidence.
Learn More and check out our 5-star testimonials and reviews here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Hashini takes us through her two very different births and the medical journey that followed with her second son. After experiencing a very straightforward first pregnancy, Hashini opens up about the emotional complexity of trying to conceive her second baby. Her second son’s pregnancy brought unexpected challenges when at his 20-week scan it was revealed that he had hydronephrosis.
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Get ready for the ultimate shopping event of the season! This Black Friday Cyber Monday, ergoPouch (the beloved sleepwear brand) is thrilled to offer an exclusive 30% off sitewide* sale.
In case you are not familiar with ergoPouch, they are a premium sleepwear brand from Australia that uses certified organic cotton and natural fibres to create TOG-rated sleepwear and sleep solutions for newborns up to six years of age. At Australian BirthStories, we love ergoPouch because they simplify how to safely dress your child for sleep with their ultra-handy What to Wear guide thermometer, which is precisely what tired parents need.
Don't miss your chance to save 30% off* sitewide! Whether filling your nursery with ergo sleep-drobe essentials or looking for the perfect gift for a friend, relative (or yourself), ergoPouch has you and your little ones covered for safe sleep.
You can purchase the NEW Blobs, Heritage & Pouch Tales Collection, Sleep Tools and-so-much more exclusively online through ergoPouch’s website: ergopouch.com.au.
Happy Cyber Shopping!
T&Cs apply. Ends 11.59 AEST. 2/12/24
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today I'm joined by Maddie who lives in Queensland with her husband Nicholas and their three beautiful boys - Oscar (who they affectionately call Ozzy) and five-month-old twins, Angus and Archie.
In this episode, Maddie shares her remarkable journey from a traumatic emergency cesarean with her first son to achieving a successful twin VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). She opens up about navigating a challenging first pregnancy while working in the Northern Territory away from her husband, dealing with high blood pressure, and experiencing a car accident at 28 weeks that led to a partial placental abruption.
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Looking for an engaging and educational way to entertain your little one? You need to check out Kiwi Co. Kiwi.Co offer bi-monthly subscription boxes designed for babies ages 0 right up to teens. Offering open-ended, research-backed projects that encourage curiosity and hands-on play. Each crate is packed with high-quality, safe activities that help build essential skills while creating special bonding moments. With projects designed for repeat use, KiwiCo provides a wonderful alternative to screen time and makes learning fun for you and your child.
KiwiCo offers five different clubs covering science, engineering, art, and math, making it easy to find a subscription tailored to your child’s age and interests. With no commitment required, you can pause or cancel anytime. For a limited time, get up to 50% off your first crate by using promo code BIRTHSTORIES at KiwiCo.com.
Give KiwiCo’s Panda Crate a try and inspire your little one’s creativity, confidence, and love for learning.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s Perinatal Mental Health Week and in this episode, I chat with Julie Birkendorf, the CEO of PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia). One in five new mums, and one in 10 new dads will experience a mental health challenge in postpartum so conversations like this one are vital to raising awareness and minimising stigma. Julie nods to the importance of realistic expectations in parenthood and explains how important it is to pay attention to any new symptom or feeling and reach out for support without delay. If you’re pregnant or in postpartum, you’ll feel comforted by this conversation. It’s also always nice to know that if you need someone to talk to, they’re only a phone call away.
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If you’ve been eyeing a beautiful nursery update, now is the time to make it happen!
We’ve partnered with iL Tutto for an exclusive Black Friday offer for our Australian
Birth Stories listeners.
Starting now, you can access a pre-sale 20% off iL Tutto's luxurious Trend
Collection—including their iconic Electric Nursery Chairs in super-stylish Teddy
Fleece fabric. These are the same cosy, premium chairs loved by none other than
influencer Sarah’s Day! Just use the code Presale20 at checkout, but act fast—the
offer ends 11:59 PM on Tuesday, November 19th.
And here’s the kicker: If you’re looking at something beyond their Trend Collection, iL
Tutto’s full Black Friday sale kicks off on Wednesday, November 20th, with savings
of up to 40% off across their entire nursery range! We’re talking chairs, cots, chests,
CoZee Co-Sleeping Bassinets, and even natural fibre Grow Kindly baby sleepwear.
This sale ends on Sunday, December 1st.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode Sonja takes us through her two pregnancies and births but also talks at length about her pelvic pain. She’s been diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome which was exacerbated after birth and especially when her menstrual cycle returned. Her symptoms were very similar to a prolapse - a heaviness and dragging sensation in her rectum - but she also experiences sharp, debilitating pain that can last for up to an hour and significantly affects her day to day life. She is planning for a laparoscopy to investigate endometriosis and talks about the importance of specialist care and the comfort she finds in the stories of other women.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s such a pleasure to welcome Heidi back onto the show. You can listen to Heidi’s first two births in episode 126. Today, she shares the journey of her third pregnancy and birth, offering a unique perspective as a nutritionist and dietitian. Heidi opens up about the long road to conceiving her son, Philip, emphasising how important it was for her to feel both emotionally and physically prepared to welcome a new life into her family.
We’re celebrating Spring with a spring time sale!
Enjoy 20% off our online courses:
The Birth Class was $249 now $199
The Birth Bundle was $349 now $279
Discovering Motherhood was $119 now $95
Welcome to the First Trimester was $67 now $53
Just use code ‘SPRING24‘ at checkout.
Hurry – this offer is only valid until 31 October 2024.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You can listen to Beth’s first birth story in episode 254 and today she shares her second pregnancy and birth story - from the perspective of a midwife and a mother. After moving interstate, Beth had two hospitals to choose from and halfway through her pregnancy, intuition dictated she change from one to the other. While she had beautiful care through the midwifery clinic, she talks about the consistent conversations about her ‘big baby’ and she takes us through the process of trusting herself, tuning out of doubtful comments and declining suggestions for growth scans and induction. Her labour was a mental game and Beth details it beautifully, especially the mother/midwife tussle and the profound difference a reassuring, trusting care provider can make to labour progression and a woman-centred birth.
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We’re celebrating Spring with a spring time sale!
Enjoy 20% off our online courses for a limited time.
The Birth Class was $249 now $199
The Birth Bundle was $349 now $279
Discovering Motherhood was $119 now $95
Welcome to the First Trimester was $67 now $53
Just use code 'SPRING24' at checkout.
Hurry - this offer is only valid until 31 October 2024.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sometimes we hear so much about birth - all kinds of births - that we can forget it is a normal, biological process. In today’s episode, Emily’s experience reiterates the ease of physiological birth - both at home with a single baby, and in hospital with twins. She is honest from the get-go when she admits that she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be a parent but we follow her journey of acceptance, the grief of misscarriage, the trust in her body and the preparation she did to lean into her intuition and birth all three babies with a profound sense of faith in her breath and body. If you’re currently in a period of doubt and fear (both very normal experiences in pregnancy), you’ll find so much comfort in this episode.
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What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we’ve gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labour and birth.
Evidence based information is key to thorough preparation. In The Birth Class you’ll learn from:
5 midwives and an obstetrician, a women’s health physiotherapist, yoga teacher and birth doula.
Listen in your own time and as many times as you like so you understand:
Plus, you’ll be taught practical birth skills that will help you navigate the twists and turns of labour.
The Birth Class is accessible birth education that’s both conversational and wise. Best of all, it will start a conversation with you and your support person so you can both feel prepared and confident to make informed choices; the foundation of a positive birth experience.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode Maude takes us through her two pregnancies and births. She moved interstate in her first pregnancy, registered with her local public hospital and had a planned caesarean because her baby was breech. She talks at length about her positive birth experience and the challenges of breastfeeding and being a stay at home mum. When she fell pregnant with her second baby, she accessed psychological support to assist with the transition from one to two babies and it really set her up for a smooth pregnancy. She knew she wanted a VBAC so she takes us through what she did to prepare and how the birth unfolded.
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New Beginnings is an Australian maternity brand dedicated to quality and care, offering thoughtfully designed products that cater to the unique challenges of motherhood and supporting mothers at every step of the journey - from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond.
Tried, tested, and loved by mums, New Beginnings offers a comprehensive range of essentials and is now expanding its range with some new and exciting products to deliver a complete solution for mums.
New Beginnings is offering 15% off for Australian Birth Stories listeners. You can purchase any of their maternity essentials today at newbeginnings.com.au using the promo code ABS15 for 15% off.
You can also find New Beginnings at Baby Bunting, Chemist Warehouse, and other local pharmacies and baby stores. Embrace the beautiful journey of motherhood with New Beginnings.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today's episode, Genevieve shares her first pregnancy and birth and details her postpartum joys and challenges. She embraced her ‘goddess energy’ in her second trimester but by the third trimester, she really felt the physical limitations of carrying a big baby and only being quite small herself. Her waters broke at home and once she arrived at hospital she was hooked up to syntocinon which is when her contractions intensified so significantly that she requested an epidural. It was only once she’d been discharged and was reading her notes that she discovered she’d had an episiotomy and a postpartum haemorrhage and she talks about how this made her feel.
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If you’re pregnant, we encourage you to start thinking about your birth recovery now. You need more support in the fourth trimester (the 12 weeks after birth) than you do in pregnancy which can be surprising to many new mothers. It’s for this reason that Bare Mum began and now they offer a beautiful collection of practical and supportive products to assist your postpartum healing.
All new mums need lower back, abdominal and pelvic floor support after birth. Bare Mum’s Postpartum Briefs gently hold you in the first days and weeks, helping you feel confident. Endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives and the Australian Physiotherapy Association, they offer a unique pocket design so you can insert a warm or cold pack to offer soothing relief and assist with caesarean wound or perineal healing.
Ideal for caesarean and vaginal birth recovery, Bare Mum Postpartum Briefs are soft, stretchy, and supportive, offering you essential post-birth care. They’re a must-have for your hospital bag.
Bare Mum is offering you 15% off storewide with the discount code ABS2024
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At her first dating scan, Bron found out she was pregnant with triplets; one singleton, and MCDA twins who shared a placenta. A few weeks later she attended her first appointment with the head doctor of the specialist multiple birth team, who outlined the risks and complications of her pregnancy and suggested selective reduction of the twins. Bron and her husband, Ryan, were completely blindsided by the pessimistic perspective of the doctor but their overwhelm soon turned to grief when an ultrasound showed the twins had already died. Bron takes us through the remainder of her pregnancy, the coexistence of grief and joy, and her positive induction.
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iL Tutto understands that creating the perfect sleep environment for your baby is essential for their comfort, safety and your peace of mind. That’s why they offer a broad range of high-quality products designed to meet all your baby sleep needs from rocking to calm and comfort your baby with their signature and award-winning Nursery Chairs, their range of CoZee Co-Sleeping Bassinets and the ZiZee Bassinet.
You can experience the joy of safe co-sleeping with their versatile CoZee Co-Sleeping bassinets. They’re designed to keep your baby close while ensuring they have their own safe sleep space. To be able to reach out and pick your baby up for those middle of the night feeds without leaving your bed will be a game-changer.
Style your CoZee with iL Tutto’s Grow Kindly’s natural fibre and sustainable sleepwear. Made from eco-friendly materials, Grow Kindly sleepwear including bassinet & cot fitted sheets, Swaddles and Sleepings Bag ensures a gentle touch on your baby's delicate skin while also caring for the environment
Use code ‘newbornsleep20’ for 20% off their entire range, applying to all full priced items on iltutto.com.au. Code expires 11:59pm 26 October 2024.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is a really lovely episode, where Agustina shares her two pregnancies and births, alongside her experiences as a Canadian living far away from her family. She opted for private obstetric care because she wanted extended follow-up care in the days after birth. She stayed really active in pregnancy, moved with the contractions and laboured relatively quickly, birthing both her babies with ease. Breastfeeding was a different story and if you’ve ever wondered exactly how profound and helpful a one-on-one session with a lactation consultant is, listen to Agustina’s experience - it speaks volumes!
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Hilary Walker documents people and places with an informal documentary style, capturing mood and authenticity. Once a month she shoots maternity, newborn and family mini sessions in her cosy bedroom style studio in Brunswick East at affordable rates. Sessions are 20 minutes and they are a breeze. The result is a collection of beautiful images capturing your family as they are in that moment. Hilary also offers shoots at home and around people’s neighbourhoods and she loves documenting families in their natural habitat. She’s really good at making people feel comfortable and bringing out the best in everyone. I should let you know that Hilary is my sister, so she’s paying me to say all this. But if you don’t believe me, you can take a look at her work at www.hilarywalker.com.au and let her pictures speak for themselves. I have been lucky to have Hilary photographing our family all through my kids lives, but I also choose to have her photograph me for my business too. Most of the images you see of me throughout ABS have been taken by Hilary. She shoots portraits, still life, product, interiors and architecture too. Check out her website and see how you could make use of her skills!
www.hilarywalker.com.au
She’s offering listeners 15% off for those that make a booking for a shoot at home before the 30th of November 2024, just use the code ABS15 at checkout.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you need to hear a positive NICU breastfeeding story, this is it! Sarah shares her experience with premature prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) and the NICU journey that followed the birth of her baby at 32 weeks. She started antenatal expressing in labour and continued hand-expressing in the days after before switching to a hospital-grade pump. She had plenty of milk, triple-fed and used a nipple-shield alongside navigating an oversupply (she could pump 400ml in a single session!). She saw a variety of lactation consultants in the first few months and emphasises how important it is to find the right person for you who also has the right level of expertise for your situation.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.
I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co’s panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. KiwiCo Panda Crate is a bimonthly subscription for babies ages 0-24 months. We receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers.
KiwiCo Panda Crate products are not only safe and of high quality, but also age-appropriate and supportive of your baby’s growth. I’m a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain. Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate!
Get 20% off your first crate with code BIRTHSTORIES
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome back to the show for Episode 500. This one's a little bit different.
I'm not interviewing anyone today, I thought I would instead recap the last few years and share with you a little bit more about the journey.
Whether you're here for the first time, or you've been here since the beginning over 7 years ago, thank you for listening. I look forward to continuing to bring you birth stories for another 7 years and beyond.
Want to celebrate with us?
Please leave the show a rating or review in your podcast app, it means so much to me.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today Roisin shares her journey of infertility, IVF experience and her two births - both emergency caesareans. When she fell pregnant with her son, she knew she wanted MGP care in the public system after hearing so many wonderful things about it on the podcast. She intended to have a low-intervention birth but as soon as she was diagnosed with gestational hypertension which escalated to preeclampsia in her third trimester, she accepted that an induction was likely.
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Today’s episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class.
What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we’ve gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation. Learn more here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Katelyn’s first birth was relatively quick - a low-intervention vaginal birth in a private hospital. When she discovered she was pregnant again, she booked in with the same obstetrician but at her eight week scan, she found out she was pregnant with twins, and her obstetrician refused to support a vaginal birth. So began Katelyn’s informed pregnancy and birth journey, which led to changing care providers at 25 weeks. She takes us through this experience - the fear and doubt - but mostly the thorough understanding of twin birth, the faith she had in her own body and her determination to birth intuitively. She also discusses her challenging breastfeeding experiences in detail and really highlights the importance of having a lactation consultant by your side. This is a brilliant episode that’s both informative and empowering.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Bliss Birth. Bliss Birth is founded on the belief that women’s bodies are incredible things, and that when it’s safe, choosing natural options makes for the best outcomes for mums and babies. That’s why Ariel has developed a range of products to support your natural birth experience. Introducing the most advanced natural pain management device for labour available in Australia – The Elle TENS Plus. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and it is the ultimate birth tool as it maximizes your body’s natural pain-fighting abilities.
Bliss Birth offer both 4 and 8 week hire periods, Pre-addressed, prepaid return (No printer needed). The ‘Mama Bag’ valued at $10.95 is yours to keep!
You can enjoy 10% off Bliss Birth with the code ABS24.
Head over to BlissBirth.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s heartfelt episode, Erika shares her challenging and inspiring journey into motherhood with her two little boys. Erika opens up about conceiving after a short period of trying, only to face the heartbreaking loss of her first pregnancy due to a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks. She candidly shares her emotional and physical experiences of conceiving again after this loss.
During her second pregnancy at 35 weeks and 2 days, shortly after her baby shower, Erika started to feel unwell. She had been experiencing uncomfortable swelling of her feet and felt generally off and uncomfortable. With just eight days left of work, she decided to go in, but as the sharp pain under her ribs continued, she left work to get checked at the hospital. Erika had developed pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome and had an emergency caesarean to deliver Lauchlan that day.
During her third pregnancy, Erika encountered another significant health scare when she contracted the Cytomegalovirus (CMV) during the first trimester. Erika’s doctor prescribed a course of antiretrovirals to help prevent the spread of the virus to her unborn baby. Thankfully, the treatment was successful, and the virus did not spread.
Today’s episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class.
What makes The Birth Class so unique? Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we’ve gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labour and birth.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Tanya takes us through her four birth experiences. Her first two babies are now teenagers and her second two are very little, so she speaks from the perspective of a mother in her 20s and her 40s and comments on how the maternity system has changed over the years to ultimately become more risk-averse. She conceived via IVF for her third baby and after two previous vaginal births, had a planned caesarean because of breech positioning. Two years later she conceived naturally, a little boy named Ollie who had a life-limiting health diagnosis and was terminated for medical reasons. Tanya speaks openly about that experience and the trust she found in her intuition. She says her heart was ready for one more baby so after another IVF conception and a healthy pregnancy, she achieved an incredible VBAC; empowered by knowledge and supported by her private obstetrician.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by an Australian brand I really love, The Sleepybelly Pregnancy Pillow.
Worried about rolling onto your back during the night? Or maybe you’re tired from tossing and turning?
Experience a deeper and more restful sleep for mum and bub with Sleepybelly. The Sleepybelly is a three piece, adjustable pregnancy pillow designed to encourage safe side sleeping. Made from a super soft, air layer outer material and premium latex internally provides great support for your belly and back. Sleepybelly is Australian owned, has free shipping and comes with a 30-night trial.
Take $10 off using the Australian Birthing Stories exclusive promo code ABS10
You can purchase the Sleepybelly online today at sleepybelly.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sarah has a family history of breast cancer and is very aware of the protective benefits of breastfeeding so she was determined to persist despite the challenges. She only realised she had flat nipples after the birth of her first baby so she used nipple shields for four months and fed without them for an extra 11 months. Her second baby was born with a tongue tie which has led to a slew of challenges including a shallow, painful latch subsequently causing cracked nipples and three rounds of mastitis. She talks about the difficulty in accessing consistent lactation support and the expert care of Dr Nicole Gale at Juno Specialists who released her baby’s tongue tie.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You can listen to Andrea’s birth stories in episode 312 and today, she shares her incredibly informed story about breastfeeding hypoplasia, also known as Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT). As she says, it’s a story about what happens when breastfeeding doesn’t happen. Her journey highlights the polarity between breastfeeding and formula feeding, the judgement when you choose not to breastfeed (or can’t breastfeed) and the lack of lactation and social support for all mothers in postpartum and how this informs and influences feeding choices. Her experience also reflects the data: there is a strong link between inability to breastfeed and perinatal anxiety and depression. Andrea is also the editor of our postpartum book and has been a vital part of ensuring we talk about infant feeding objectively and with awareness of all experiences.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.
I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co’s panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. KiwiCo Panda Crate is a bimonthly subscription for babies ages 0-24 months. We receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers.
KiwiCo Panda Crate products are not only safe and of high quality, but also age-appropriate and supportive of your baby’s growth.
I’m a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate!
Get 20% off your first crate with code BIRTHSTORIES at kiwico.com/panda
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sophie’s first baby was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) because of placental insufficiency at 25 weeks. Little Tilly was born at 29 weeks and weighed only 534 grams so she was tube-fed for 10 weeks in NICU before being discharged. Sophie takes us through her breastfeeding journey - controlling the controllable, triple-feeding and eventually an exclusive breastfeeding journey that ended at 22 months. When asked if she would triple-feed again to ensure she could breastfeed, she admits she would 1000 percent do it. “It’s so worth it!”
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Medela has worked with generations of mothers to create innovative breast pumps that are practical and intuitive.
Their Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump is a game-changer for postpartum because it gives mothers some fantastic options they have not had before. The benefits are impressive. The ultra light-weight collection cups are designed to sit discreetly in-side your bra. There’s no fuss and it’s easy to clean and assemble with 3 dishwasher safe parts. The transparent design makes it easy to align your nipple and ensure the milk is flowing. For a superior hands-free pumping experience, The Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump is recommended for its simplicity and ease of use.
Medela blends decades of scientific research with insights from mothers to create practical pumps that lighten the load – quite literally – in early motherhood. Medela – the Science of Care.
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Sheree takes us through her first pregnancy, her choice to have a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) at 20 weeks and the grief that followed. She admits that she has always been in denial when discovering that she’s pregnant, a response that’s actually quite common for so many women who experience more overwhelm and doubt than they do immediate joy. She opted for private obstetric care, educated herself and was intent on avoiding the cascade of intervention. Her second birth was incredibly positive, so much so that when she was preparing for her third, she doubted whether it could be as empowering. She decided to go right back to the beginning and embraced all the birth education to better understand labour and get herself in a strong and stable mindset. And it worked; her third birth left her feeling on top of the world because she could identify the stages of labour, she knew how to breathe and she was confident in her choice to avoid intervention and let her body birth her baby.
Today’s episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class.
What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we’ve gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.
Learn more here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today’s episode is a beautiful example of doing your research and making an informed choice, even if it’s not your first birth preference. Louise works as an osteopath and opted for public hospital midwifery care.. Her first birth was very straightforward and her second labour was incredibly quick, resulting in a 3C tear that she recovered from without symptoms, thanks in part to regular pelvic floor exercises and guidance from a physio and colo-rectal surgeon. In her third pregnancy she sought the opinion of five different health professionals who all agreed that a caesarean birth was the best option to avoid further perineal trauma. She takes us through this process, along with her caesarean recovery and the scar massage that has assisted her physical and emotional recovery.
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Bare mum have just released their Silicone Gel Scar Strips. Designed to hydrate and protect scars to improve their appearance and reduce any associated discomfort. Made from the highest quality medical-grade silicone, this scar treatment is safe and effective in preventing, softening, flattening and fading, red and raised scars - both new and existing. The Bare Mum Silicone Gel Scar Strips form a protective barrier that maintains an optimal level of moisture to aid cell turnover and healthy collagen production, keeping the scar hydrated and assisting with skin regeneration. It reduces tension around the scar tissue, minimising the risk of widening or hypertrophy.
Bare Mum is offering you 15% off storewide with the discount code ABS2024
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Emily - a mum of three - shares her journey as a surrogate (or an ‘oven’ as she refers to it). When her youngest was three she started to miss the pregnancy and birth journey so she began researching surrogacy in Australia. She joined the facebook group and reached out to two intended dads. They hit it off immediately and within a year, the embryo was transferred and Emily conceived on the first attempt. Everyone’s joy doubled when they discovered she was carrying twins and much like her singleton pregnancies, her entire journey was smooth and straightforward. Emily (and Rory and Bob’s) story is a beautiful example of supported surrogacy and in sharing, she hopes to raise awareness and advocate for the hundreds of intended parents who are currently looking for a surrogate.
Today’s episode is brought to you by an Australian brand I really love, The Sleepybelly Pregnancy Pillow.
Worried about rolling onto your back during the night? Or maybe you’re tired from tossing and turning?
Experience a deeper and more restful sleep for mum and bub with Sleepybelly. The Sleepybelly is a three piece, adjustable pregnancy pillow designed to encourage safe side sleeping. Made from a super soft, air layer outer material and premium latex internally provides great support for your belly and back.
Sleepybelly is Australian owned, has free shipping and comes with a 30-night trial.
Take $10 off using the Australian Birthing Stories exclusive promo code ABS10
You can purchase the Sleepybelly online today at sleepybelly.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is a profoundly important episode for any new parent navigating sleep challenges with their baby. Helen is a mother of three and trauma-informed midwife who shares her experience of baby loss and PTSD. She acknowledges that her trauma has coloured her postpartum experience with her third baby and while the initial months were quite textbook when it came to sleep, it was the 4-month stage (a developmental ‘progression’ that is often reflected in unsettled sleep) when her challenges began. She talks at length about her own mental health journey alongside her baby’s persistent wakings and her choice to stay at an early parenting unit for sleep support. Helen received expert care in line with her family values and reiterates that it was an incredibly supportive and positive step in her parenting journey.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.
I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co’s panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. KiwiCo Panda Crate is a bimonthly subscription for babies ages 0-24 months. We receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers.
KiwiCo Panda Crate products are not only safe and of high quality, but also age-appropriate and supportive of your baby’s growth.
I’m a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate!
Get 20% off your first crate with code BIRTHSTORIES
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode Emily details her diagnosis and experience with Type 1 diabetes. It has significantly informed her three pregnancies and births because she’s deemed high risk (diabetes increases the risk of placental deterioration, stillbirth and hypertension). She takes us through her different models of care in the private and public hospital system as she navigated inductions, extra scans and monitoring as well as antenatal expressing (colostrum helps raise the baby’s blood sugar levels).
iL Tutto has done it again, launching another luxury yet affordable Electric Recliner Chair that will live on beyond your Nursery stage with its modern design and quality craftsmanship. Their new chair is called Louie.
Wrapped in the same Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified Teddy-Fleece fabric as their Frankie Chair that sold out after only 48 hours after launching.
The Louie Chair seamlessly blends style & functionality with comfort, making it a stylish, yet essential addition to your nursery to support you and your baby when comforting and feeding. The Louie Chair is luxuriously soft, it’s like sitting on a cloud all while cuddling the softest teddy-bear.
iL Tutto is also thrilled to announce the launch of Grow Kindly, the most beautifully soft, natural and sustainable sleepwear. This partnership brings together the best of both worlds, combining iL Tutto’s focus on sleep and comfort with their renowned quality, and stylish Nursery Chairs, Co-Sleepers and Cots and now with Grow Kindly’s commitment to premium TOG rated Sleepwear designs, that are sustainable and ethical products designed to support safe and comfortable sleeps for your baby.
Use code louie20 at checkout and enjoy 20% off their full-priced range including their new Louie Electric Recliner and Grow Kindly sleepwear. Conditions apply, valid until Sunday 11 August. Shop iltutto.com.au
Discount code terms: louie20 available at iltutto.com.au, only on full priced items across their range of Nursery Furniture, Nursery Chairs, CoZee Collection and Grow Kindly Sleepwear, expires 11 August.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode Amelia shares her first birth which was a challenging induced labour that ended in an emergency caesarean. She always knew she wanted a VBAC so when she discovered she was pregnant with twins, she made it her mission to find a care provider to support her. Thankfully, she discovered Dr Andrew Bisits at the Royal Hospital for Women who accepted her immediately. Amelia takes us through her labour step by step as she navigated CTG monitoring challenges, advocated for her preferences and achieved an empowering twin VBAC - our very first for the podcast. Amelia speaks so highly of Dr Bisits and so do I. He came to the Sydney launch of our book and spoke to the whole room about the importance of woman centred care. If you want a breech vaginal birth - he’s your guy.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by an Australian brand I really love, The Sleepybelly Pregnancy Pillow.
Worried about rolling onto your back during the night? Or maybe you’re tired from tossing and turning?
Experience a deeper and more restful sleep for mum and bub with Sleepybelly. The Sleepybelly is a three piece, adjustable pregnancy pillow designed to encourage safe side sleeping. Made from a super soft, air layer outer material and premium latex internally provides great support for your belly and back. Sleepybelly is Australian owned, has free shipping and comes with a 30-night trial.
Take $10 off using the Australian Birthing Stories exclusive promo code ABS10
You can purchase the Sleepybelly online today at sleepybelly.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you’re in the mood for a birth story full of truths and just as many laughs, this one’s for you. Suze started listening to the podcast years before she conceived so in early pregnancy, she started an evening ritual of going for a walk and listening to every episode from #1 (the very rustic eps!). She takes us through her MGP care, birth preparation and induced labour where she felt empowered to make informed decisions every step of the way.
Today’s episode is brought to you by an Australian brand I really love, The Sleepybelly Pregnancy Pillow.
Worried about rolling onto your back during the night? Or maybe you’re tired from tossing and turning?
Experience a deeper and more restful sleep for mum and bub with Sleepybelly. The Sleepybelly is a three piece, adjustable pregnancy pillow designed to encourage safe side sleeping. Made from a super soft, air layer outer material and premium latex internally provides great support for your belly and back. Sleepybelly is Australian owned, has free shipping and comes with a 30-night trial.
Take $10 off using the Australian Birthing Stories exclusive promo code ABS10 You can purchase the Sleepybelly online today at sleepybelly.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode I chat to Eliza Hull - a musician, author and disability advocate who lives with a neurological condition called charcot marie tooth. When she started considering and discussing her plans to have children, she was met with stigma from friends and medical professionals, an experience that is common for people living with disability. She takes us through her lessons in parenting, the work she’s done to amplify the voice of disabled parents and the importance of perinatal medical professionals embracing and supporting parents with disability.
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Our friends at iL Tutto have launched their EOFY sale, with some amazing offers, up to 50% off a range of Glider Nursery Chairs and 20% off their signature Recliner styles. The sale also includes their range of award-winning CoZee Co-sleepers with up to 30% off! The exciting part is that they’re offering our audience an ADDITIONAL 5% off these discounted prices, using the code birth5 at checkout.
This discount code applies to everything online, including their widest range of Nursery Chairs, designed here in Australia, including Glider and Recliner chairs, even the hugely popular Electric Recliner Chairs, in a mix of premium, Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified fabrics in an array of trending colours from white, to various shades of creams and greys, all of which are easy to clean and maintain, and most importantly, support your body for endless feeds and look amazing!
Shop now at iltutto.com.au their sale ends at 11:59pm Sunday 30 June, however our exclusive 5% off code (birth5) will continue on, expiring Monday 15th July. See their terms and conditions page for more details.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hannah’s three vaginal births are so different but they all started with pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM). Her first was induced and she explains the intensity of contractions and how she navigated them. In her second birth she waited days after the trickle of her waters began, was guided by an obstetrician willing to wait and she went into spontaneous labour and had a physiological waterbirth. With her third, her baby was posterior and while her waters broke labour never started. She made the informed choice to have an epidural before the syntocinon started and really enjoyed her labour. As she says: “A positive birth is when mum and bub are fine, and mum comes away thinking ‘that was really good’. I was involved in all the decisions and I felt supported every step of the way.’
Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.
I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co’s panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. KiwiCo Panda Crate is a bimonthly subscription for babies ages 0-24 months. We receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers.
KiwiCo Panda Crate products are not only safe and of high quality, but also age-appropriate and supportive of your baby’s growth.
I’m a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate! Get 20% off your first crate with code BIRTHSTORIES at kiwico.com/panda
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, I talk to Jen about her pregnancy, birth and traditional Chinese confinement during postpartum. Jen is a second-generation Chinese-Australian and while she was at first hesitant to embrace the confinement period after birth, when she left the hospital feeling frail, “like a creature born trembling, without fur or feathers” she accepted all the teas, soups and rest her mother and mother-in-law offered her. Jen considers her birth a really positive experience and she reflects on her golden month of healing with immense gratitude. Jen’s mother is an OB/GYN and acupuncturist who encouraged her to track her cycle by taking her temperature. She conceived within two months and opted for shared care with her GP as she didn’t have any health concerns.
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Get our 3 most-loved resources for supporting your birthing journey and beyond in The Birth Bundle.
You get The Birth Class, Discovering Motherhood and our Breastfeeding Guide for a discounted price of just $349 and for a limited time, get a further 20% off for our Birthday Celebration Sale.
Use code 'Birthday24' (offer valid until 11:59pm 20th June 2024)
Learn more here
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bee came to her first pregnancy like most women do; with the understanding that birth is incredibly hard and painful - something to be endured. Understandably, she was terrified and not interested in hearing anyone’s birth story. Thankfully, she was accepted into MGP early on and had a beautiful, supportive midwife on her side. She also started listening to the podcast and soon realised she had the opportunity to learn a whole new vocabulary and get educated about birth, an experience that can be positive and empowering. She went into spontaneous labour and spent most of her labour at home before transferring to the birth centre. She pushed for a few hours before making the decision to move to the birthing suite for assistance. Bee’s story is a beautiful example of the power of education to make informed decisions every step of the way.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy. It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode Ruby shares her journey with infant sleep. We all come to postpartum with a predisposed understanding of baby sleep which usually involves the mindset that it’s the parent’s ‘job’ to ‘teach’ the baby to sleep. But as you will hear in this episode, babies have a primal drive to sleep and their sleep needs are ultimately influenced by their temperament. Ruby sought advice from two sleep training experts (which she admits felt counterintuitive), before she found a sleep consultant who specialises in normal infant biology. From here, Ruby grew to understand her baby’s low sleep needs and subsequently surrendered to a sleep journey that looks very different to her initial presumptions of sleep and settling.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy. It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sea shared her first three physiological births in episode 304 and today she returns to tell us all about her fourth pregnancy and birth. Little Leia was a big surprise but Sea took it in her stride - as most mums of four do - and managed to get in the MGP program at Cairns Hospital which gave her access to the spacious rooms in the birthing suite. She stayed active throughout her pregnancy, consciously planned for postpartum so she had the support to stay home for six weeks after birth and experienced a beautiful waterbirth. This episode is a powerful reminder that birth can be quiet, calm, gentle and positive.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.
I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co’s panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. KiwiCo Panda Crate is a bimonthly subscription for babies ages 0-24 months. We receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers.
KiwiCo Panda Crate products are not only safe and of high quality, but also age-appropriate and supportive of your baby’s growth.
I’m a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
Get 20% off your first crate with code BIRTHSTORIES today.
Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Ariane shares her experience with postpartum psychosis. As a psychologist working in child and family services, Ariane was aware of perinatal mental illness but her anxiety prevented her from disclosing her symptoms which included disillusions, hallucinations and suicidal ideation. After a stay in a mother and baby unit, she started seeing a perinatal psychiatrist who saw past her well-presented exterior and diagnosed her with psychotic depression. Ariane speaks candidly about her mental health, her work with the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) and her new memoir, ‘Because I’m Not Myself, You See’.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy. It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode 478 Katie shares her pregnancy and birth experience as a plus-size woman. She was denied access to midwifery group practice because of her weight and was immediately placed in a high risk model of care. She reflects on the inherent stress of this and admits that there were frequent suggestions of induction from her second trimester onwards. After employing a doula to support her pregnancy and birth journey, she informed herself and considers her experience positive because she understood her options and advocated for her preferences. Despite pelvic girdle pain she had a normal pregnancy until 39 weeks when tests revealed very early signs of preeclampsia. She opted for an induction, used remifentanil for pain relief and birthed her baby girl after six hours of labour.
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Today’s episode of the show is proudly brought to you by Once Upon. You all know how much I love making our photo books and prints on the Once Upon app and guess what, you can create your book today and save 25%. Just use the code books25 at checkout. This offer is valid from May 26th until end of day on June 2nd 2024 Head to Once Upon.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode Angela shares her incredibly positive first birth - a water birth at home, supported by private midwives. Before she had conceived, Angela spent years learning about birth and discovered that a physiological birth in water was her preference. She came to this pregnancy - her second - with a strong awareness of body and mind and continued nurturing a confident mindset throughout each trimester. She had enormous trust in the birth process, in her body and her baby and whilst that wavered towards the end of labour - as it’s wont to do - she continued to listen to her body, breathe deep and experienced an ecstatic birth.
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Holding your baby from birth to independence sleep is a journey, and while ergo Pouch have been with you on that journey in what your mini wears to bed, it's time to introduce what will hold them during sleep—The Lyra Convertible Cot by ergoPouch.
Made with the same level of care, functionality, safety and attention to detail as their award-winning sleepwear, ergo's Cot is created to provide a warm and comfortable sleeping home for your baby through your preschooler. Lyra is more than just a comfortable, safe sleeping space for your little one. It's a timeless, classic design that blends with your style and nursery to please any aesthetic.
Lyra will embrace your baby while they sleep and reach milestones until they're ready to leave the comfort of their cot companion and start independent sleeping. Designed to grow with you and your child.
AUBS Listeners get FREE shipping (SAVE $100) on The Lyra Cot and Deluxe Mattress until June 4, 2024 t&cs apply.
Every new Cot needs new bedding, so it's time to re-meet some old favourites and new gems. Cult favourites the Baby Tuck Sheet, Organic Fitted Sheet, and Organic Toddler Pillow return with a new colourway line up and are joined by exciting new products: the 2-in-1 Waterproof Sheet and the waterproof Pillow Protector.
You can purchase the NEW Lyra Convertible Cot, Deluxe Mattress, and Bedding Collection from May 21.Pouches, Layers Sleep tools, and the entire ergoPouch range are exclusively available online through the ergoPouch website, ergopouch.com.au.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
I know I say it a lot, but you’re really going to love this episode. Georgie details her positive physiological first birth, her second that was a surprise breech (birthed vaginally!) and a DCDA twin pregnancy with confronting fragmented obstetric care. Georgie’s three births emphasise how vital education and advocacy really is, especially when confronted with coercive care providers. In her three births she was surrounded by supportive and strong midwives who really backed her when she needed it most. If you’re pregnant with twins and you’re planning a vaginal birth without epidural, consider this a must-listen.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy. It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this absolutely brilliant episode, Arnikka - @sucklebubs - takes us through her life-changing diagnosis of autism and ADHD in her second postpartum. Postpartum is a common time for women to consider their neurotype and for Arnikka, the overwhelm of the mental load was quickly becoming debilitating even though she didn’t feel particularly depressed or anxious. She found a neuro-affirming psychologist who gave her the language to define her brain, helped her understand her unique sensory needs and encouraged her to embrace her neurodivergence. She admits it was the best moment of her life and as she reflects on her childhood, describes her challenges and explains how research lights her up, she also touches on her work as an IBCLC, the sensory overwhelm of breastfeeding and the importance of breastfeeding manners for older babies. I absolutely loved listening to Arnikka and I came away with a profound gratitude for everything she shared with me. #nothingaboutuswithoutus #actuallyautistic
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Today’s episode of the show is proudly brought to you by Once Upon.
I’m not sure about your kids but mine love looking at old photos of themselves. I recently made Ottie a photo book with the help of @onceuponapp It was so quick and easy to make I just selected photos in my phone and the @onceuponapp suggested the layout and offered lots of choices at the click of a button. I’ve ordered an extra copy to gift to my mum for Mother’s Day too.
You can document your memories in a beautiful book today.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The gender pain gap has been in the news cycle recently with the Victorian government announcing an inquiry into women’s pain. Chantal’s story mirrors the experience of thousands of Australian women; a history of painful periods that had been dismissed. She was diagnosed with stage three endometriosis when she had trouble conceiving naturally. After a laparoscopy and no success with natural conception, she started the IVF journey and talks at length about the emotional and mental challenges she faced during four failed embryo transfers. She conceived on the fifth cycle and was bedridden for the first trimester with HG which was dismissed by her obstetrician. After a week-long hospital stay for fluids she chose a new obstetrician and despite his support throughout pregnancy, in the third trimester suggestions of a planned caesarean or induction to prevent stillbirth prompted Chantal to avoid her appointments. She went into spontaneous labour at 41+1 and after a quick and intense labour she birthed her baby girl without intervention.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy. It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ash has been listening to the podcast since episode 40 so I’ve been in her ears every week for six years. Today she takes us through her three pregnancies and births, nodding to the importance of being prepared - listening to all kinds of births - and also accepting intervention when necessary. She navigated postnatal depression in her first postpartum but reconnected with her psychologist and went into her second pregnancy feeling grounded. She planned a homebirth and embraced spontaneous contractions, leaning into the pain. Her birth was straightforward but she immediately noticed that baby Oliver’s head was a bit small and 12 weeks later they began a long series of tests and medical appointments that eventually led to the diagnosis of a rare variant of microcephaly. Ash details her grief and shock, her self-blame and the eventual acceptance that life would look very different for the whole family. Her third birth was an incredibly healing experience and as she gets into the groove of raising three boys, she admits that social media has been such a blessing as she’s connected with parents of children with disabilities, helping her feel less alone and emotionally supported.
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What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we’ve gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labour and birth.
Evidence based information is key to thorough preparation. In The Birth Class you’ll learn from:
5 midwives and an obstetrician, a women’s health physiotherapist, yoga teacher and birth doula.
Listen in your own time and as many times as you like so you understand:
Plus, you’ll be taught practical birth skills that will help you navigate the twists and turns of labour.
The Birth Class is accessible birth education that’s both conversational and wise. Best of all, it will start a conversation with you and your support person so you can both feel prepared and confident to make informed choices; the foundation of a positive birth experience.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Sarah takes us through her fertility experience as an adoptee which prompted her to do a series of tests early in her journey. After a missed miscarriage, she embarked on ovulation induction but then spontaneously conceived while on an overseas holiday. She opted for private obstetric care alongside support from a doula and at 37 weeks, when baby Teddy remained in a footling breech position, she booked a planned caesarean. But, Teddy had other plans and Sarah’s waters broke in dramatic fashion while standing outside the hospital. His surprise early arrival allowed them to stay in an uninterrupted bubble for five days and Sarah takes us right through her initial postpartum including her caesarean recovery and breastfeeding. A joyful episode brimming with considered advice and unbridled truths, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.
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If you’re pregnant, we encourage you to start thinking about your birth recovery now. You need more support in the fourth trimester (the 12 weeks after birth) than you do in pregnancy which can be surprising to many new mothers. It’s for this reason that Bare Mum began and now they offer a beautiful collection of practical and supportive products to assist your postpartum healing.
All new mums need lower back, abdominal and pelvic floor support after birth. Bare Mum’s Postpartum Briefs gently hold you in the first days and weeks, helping you feel confident. Endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives, they offer a unique pocket design so you can insert a warm or cold pack to offer soothing relief and assist with caesarean wound or perineal healing.
Ideal for caesarean and vaginal birth recovery, Bare Mum Postpartum Briefs are soft, stretchy, and supportive, offering you essential post-birth care. They’re a must-have for your hospital bag.
Bare Mum is offering you 15% off storewide with the discount code ABS2024
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode Ashlee details her long fertility journey including her choice to have gastric sleeve surgery. She conceived baby Luca on her first IVF transfer and chose private obstetric care alongside the support of a student midwife. Placenta previa dictated a caesarean birth so Ashlee purchased The Caesarean Birth Class and listened to each episode multiple times so she understood the process and didn’t feel overwhelmed about the surgery. Despite a PPH, Ashlee considers her birth a really positive experience because she was informed and supported by a wonderful team of specialists.
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THE CAESAREAN BIRTH CLASS, is an informative and empowering online childbirth course that offers you education and guidance for caesarean preparation, birth and recovery. You may already know what day your baby will be born but no doubt you have many questions about the operating theatre, pain relief and your recovery. This online course includes four audio modules with perinatal health specialists and three caesarean-specific breathing and relaxation practices, The Caesarean Birth Class takes you through every aspect of birth and recovery, including:
Enjoy life time access with the incredible course, learn more here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode Abby shares her third pregnancy and birth story. She opted for shared care with her GP, a decision that really suited her busy family life and offered her continuity of care with someone she trusted. Her third trimester was challenging - she had significant pelvic pain which prevented her from exercising, she moved house and her iron levels were really low so each day was punctuated with significant fatigue. Her first two births were relatively quick so she knew she'd have to get to hospital without delay. She went into spontaneous labour at home on a Saturday morning when contractions came frequently. But one thing was different - the contractions weren’t painful and her labour felt easy. The whole family made their way to the hospital and two minutes after they walked through the door of the birth suite, baby Remy was born in what Abby describes as a completely pain-free birth.
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Today’s episode of the show is proudly brought to you by Once Upon.
I’m not sure about your kids but mine love looking at old photos of themselves. I recently made Ottie a photo book with the help of @onceuponapp It was so quick and easy to make I just selected photos in my phone and the @onceuponapp suggested the layout and offered lots of choices at the click of a button. I’ve ordered an extra copy to gift to my mum for Mother’s Day too. You can document your memories in a beautiful book today.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Following on from her birth story in episode 468, Gen shares her significant challenges with baby sleep. Sleep is one of the most political and polarising aspects of parenthood; there’s a plethora of differing opinions and it can get very overwhelming, fast. For Gen and her baby Robbie, a variety of challenges created the perfect storm of unsettled sleep habits. She takes us through her first year and the three different sleep supports she used. She admits that she still feels conflicted about the choices she made but she’s also comforted by the fact that she’s got a healthy baby and she’s now a physically and mentally healthy mum.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy. It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gen shares every aspect of her fertility, pregnancy and birth experience in this honest and hilarious episode. She tried to conceive for two years and experienced a devastating miscarriage before deciding to start IVF with her husband, Michael. Gen is a type-A personality and admits she loved the structure of fertility treatment. She opted for private obstetric care alongside support from a psychologist who helped her navigate the anxiety of her first trimester and the inherent challenges of a pregnancy after infertility and loss. Gen refers to her birth preference list as a ‘choose your own adventure’ but nothing could have prepared her for the intensity of an induction and a failed epidural. She admits that while her labour was incredibly challenging, her birth was very positive but even so, it took her days to feel any love for her newborn.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.
I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co's panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. KiwiCo Panda Crate is a bimonthly subscription for babies ages 0-24 months. We receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers.KiwiCo Panda Crate products are not only safe and of high quality, but also age-appropriate and supportive of your baby's growth.
I'm a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate!
Get 20% off your first crate with code BIRTHSTORIES at kiwico.com/panda
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 467 Gemma shares her unexpected pregnancy with twins. She shares the emotional rollercoaster of disbelief and excitement and the impact of the twins on her planned model of care for the pregnancy. Gemma went through the Midwifery Group Program at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, expressing gratitude for the exceptional care provided by her main midwife and the program's support throughout her twin pregnancy.
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iL Tutto Glider nursery chairs offer a smooth motion that’s gentle on your body, without needing you to engage your core to create the movement. iL Tutto glider chairs feature either electric – like their new luxe Frankie Electric Glider Recliners – or spring-loaded recline – such as the Chelsea Glider Recliner Chairs available in a range of premium fabrics.
The Chelsea Glider Recliner Nursery Chairs feature a high backrest and lumbar support for ergonomic comfort while feeding. The armrests are also at the right height for feeding, avoiding the strain that can come with armrests that are too high or non-existent.
Your baby will love the glide movement and your Glider will take up less space than a rocking chair. iL Tutto Gliders offer the best of award-winning Australian design that accounts for the unique needs of parents. Designed with style, luxury and comfort in mind, their glider nursery chairs will change your parenting life for the better and will last, growing with your family.
Explore the complete range and discover the perfect glider for your nursery using code GLIDER20 at checkout for 20% off any full price Nursery Chair, available at iltutto.com.au, code ends 30th April 2024.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 466 Dee shares her emotional and challenging pregnancy journeys. She was shocked to learn she’d conceived quickly but her elation soon turned to grief when she miscarried; an experience that was long and traumatic. For her subsequent pregnancy she details the isolation and uncertainty that comes with fragmented care which exacerbated her anxiety. Her first birth was hard, resulting in a postpartum hemorrhage and a challenging physical recovery. For her second birth, Dee was determined to do things differently. She opted for private continuity of care and takes us through her induction that led into a calm and beautiful vaginal birth.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by the Tinybeans app. As parents, we’re constantly seeking the best for our little ones, especially when it comes to capturing and sharing every unforgettable moment.
That’s why I recommend Tinybeans to all new parents.
Tinybeans offers a seamless way to document your child’s journey from pregnancy to preschool and beyond and allows your closest family and friends to follow along with every gummy smile, milestone birthday, and special family vacation. With features like unlimited photo and video uploads, customizable photo books, and journal prompts, Tinybeans simplifies the way you record, relive, and privately share your family’s everyday moments, turning them into cherished memories.
Download the Tinybeans app and create your free account to start sharing all your silliest and sweetest memories, easily, all in one place.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 265 Georgie shares with us the birth of her first child Sadie. Georgie lives in Gunning in rural NSW and went through the local public hospital for her care. Georgie was having her blood pressure carefully monitored throughout her pregnancy however, it wasn't until after Sadie was born that she became very sick with pre-eclampsia.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by the Tinybeans app. As parents, we’re constantly seeking the best for our little ones, especially when it comes to capturing and sharing every unforgettable moment.
That’s why I recommend Tinybeans to all new parents.
Tinybeans offers a seamless way to document your child’s journey from pregnancy to preschool and beyond and allows your closest family and friends to follow along with every gummy smile, milestone birthday, and special family vacation. With features like unlimited photo and video uploads, customizable photo books, and journal prompts, Tinybeans simplifies the way you record, relive, and privately share your family’s everyday moments, turning them into cherished memories.
Download the Tinybeans app and create your free account to start sharing all your silliest and sweetest memories, easily, all in one place.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode Alice shares her birth experiences in light of everything she’s learned as a mother, doula and midwife-in-training. In her first pregnancy she chose private obstetric care because at the time, she thought it was the best option available. She details the natural onset of labour, the decision-making process when planning her transfer to the hospital and her choice to use gas and morphine for pain relief. She also takes us through transition, the choices that were made for her and the impact of those choices on her mind and body. After experiencing two miscarriages, Alice conceived again and in preparation for her second birth, she was accepted into a publicly-funded homebirth programme. Determined and encouraged to birth her way, she was supported by two midwives and doula who were strongly aligned with her birth and care philosophies.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by the Tinybeans app. As parents, we’re constantly seeking the best for our little ones, especially when it comes to capturing and sharing every unforgettable moment.
That’s why I recommend Tinybeans to all new parents.
Tinybeans offers a seamless way to document your child’s journey from pregnancy to preschool and beyond and allows your closest family and friends to follow along with every gummy smile, milestone birthday, and special family vacation. With features like unlimited photo and video uploads, customizable photo books, and journal prompts, Tinybeans simplifies the way you record, relive, and privately share your family’s everyday moments, turning them into cherished memories.
Download the Tinybeans app and create your free account to start sharing all your silliest and sweetest memories, easily, all in one place.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 463 Midwife Courtney shares with us her two pregnancy and birth experiences. Courtney lives in rural Victoria and chose to go through GP-shared care for her first pregnancy. Courtney admits that she found her midwifery knowledge contributed to her anxiety during both her pregnancies. Her first pregnancy was relatively smooth and she expected her second to be much the same. Despite several risk factors showing up in her second pregnancy with Maggie, it wasn't until Maggie was 5 days old that it was confirmed she has Down Syndrome.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by an Australian brand I really love, The Sleepybelly Pregnancy Pillow.
Worried about rolling onto your back during the night? Or maybe you’re tired from tossing and turning?
Experience a deeper and more restful sleep for mum and bub with Sleepybelly. The Sleepybelly is a three piece, adjustable pregnancy pillow designed to encourage safe side sleeping.
Made from a super soft, air layer outer material and premium latex internally provides great support for your belly and back.
Sleepybelly is Australian owned, has free shipping and comes with a 30-night trial.
Take $10 off using the Australian Birthing Stories exclusive promo code ABS10
You can purchase the Sleepybelly online today at sleepybelly.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 462 Briony shares with us her pregnancy and birth of her little boy Charlie. Briony was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 31 and her doctors recommended she do one cycle of IVF prior to starting her chemotherapy treatment. Briony shares that doing the IVF cycle brought her a two week reprieve from the thoughts of treatment and she was surrounded by friends and family who supported her immensely during this time.
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The Sleepybelly pillow is uniquely designed to be easily adjusted to give you the optimal support throughout your entire pregnancy. As your belly grows, you can increase the width between the pillows using the velcro attachment.
3-Piece Adjustable Pregnancy Pillow is proven to help expecting mothers get better sleep. You can choose from the long back support for those who don’t tend to wriggle. Or the dual wedge pillow if you like to switch sides. The product comes with all 3 pieces so try both to see what works best for you.
You can enjoy $10 off yours today with the code 'ABS10' head to Sleepybelly
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sophie shares with us the birth of her son Liam and her twins Hannah and Louis. After getting married in 2020 Sophie and her husband felt ready to try and grow their family and they were fortunate to conceive shortly after beginning to try. They were living on the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria during Liam's pregnancy and they went under shared care with her GP and saw a midwife for his birth through the local public hospital in Frankston.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by ergoPouch.
ErgoPouch has recently launched their new AW24 collection. Featuring two BEARY new prints, and I must admit, these are some of their best! In case you are not familiar with ergoPouch, they are a premium sleepwear brand from Australia that uses certified organic cotton and natural fibres to create TOG-rated sleepwear and sleep solutions for newborns up to six years of age.
ergoPouch has delighted us with two beary cute prints this season., ergo is offering you an EXCLUSIVE code for one week only AUBS at the checkout to receive 20% off the AW24 collection.
*Exclusions apply. Offer ends at 11:59 p.m. on March 17, 2024. Happy Winter Sleeping.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Gemma who shares with us her two very different and uniquely challenging pregnancies of her son Max and her daughter Ava. During Max’s pregnancy, everything appeared to be running smoothly in his growth and development however the Obstetrician did note that Max’s head was measuring slightly larger than average. It wasn't until Max was born that they were able to diagnose him as having Soto’s Syndrome. Gemma shares her initial shock of learning about this very rare syndrome whilst she was pregnant with her second child. Gemma’s second pregnancy became more complex when she was 20 weeks pregnant with Ava and they discovered in her routine blood test that she had a very high reading of antibodies. Ava required two blood transfusions in utero during the pregnancy however she has since made a full recovery.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.
Learn more about The Birth Class here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Chantelle shares her experience of her first pregnancy and birth. Chantelle was very gratefulll to conceive shortly after deciding she was ready to try. She asked around to get recommendations to choose her care provider and she decided to go through the private model and saw an obstetrician at Cabrini Private hospital in Melbourne. Chantelle loved her birth experience and is thrilled to share it with us today.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Bliss Birth. Bliss Birth is founded on the belief that women’s bodies are incredible things, and that when it’s safe, choosing natural options makes for the best outcomes for mums and babies. That’s why Ariel has developed a range of products to support your natural birth experience. Introducing the most advanced natural pain management device for labour available in Australia – The Elle TENS Plus. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and it is the ultimate birth tool as it maximizes your body’s natural pain-fighting abilities.
Bliss Birth offer both 4 and 8 week hire periods, Pre-addressed, prepaid return (No printer needed). The ‘Mama Bag’ valued at $10.95 is yours to keep! You can enjoy 10% off Bliss Birth with the code ABS24.
Head over to BlissBirth.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You’re going to love this episode with Jodi; mother of four, yoga teacher, postpartum doula and co-author of The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth. Jodi and I chat all about our postpartum book - what we’ve learnt, the confronting reality of the lack of health services, and how she has reflected on her own postpartum experiences with newfound knowledge and awareness. It’s an emotional and informative episode where we discuss how much the health system has changed in the past 16 years, the far-reaching benefits of adequate support, being a young mum, the brain changes in pregnancy and the uncertainty and not-knowing of postpartum. If you want to listen to Jodi’s first episode, where she details her four very different vaginal birth experiences and breathing and sound practises for labour, tune into episode 163.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Tylah shares her experience as a midwife alongside her first pregnancy and birth. Tylah had spent many years supporting women in pregnancy and labour so she had plenty of time to consider what she wanted for her own birth experience. She knew from the outset that she wanted a homebirth but her partner, a doctor, took some convincing. Tylah admits that pregnancy was humbling from the start and the persistent challenge of unexplained rib pain encouraged her to surrender from early on. She takes us step by step through her homebirth preparation including hiring a private midwife, planning a water birth and the shock of an unexpected but necessary NICU stay.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Our friends at iL Tutto are offering our audience 20% off their entire website, including the new Frankie Chair in Teddy Fleece.
Simply use ABS20 at checkout, only at iltutto.com.au. This discount code cannot be used with any other offer and expires Tuesday 26th March 2024.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You can listen to Sasha’s birth story in episode 331 and today she takes us through her early motherhood experience including discussions on race, mental health and the work/motherhood juggle. Sasha and her husband, Jem, planned an intentionally slow postpartum which was the ideal introduction to parenthood. Sasha talks openly about the challenges that arose after the newborn bubble, including her postnatal depression, her choice to take medication and the inner-conflict between expectations and reality. She also talks at length about race and genetics and what it’s like to have a different skin tone to her baby.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy.
It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
For a limited time only, get 20% off with the code: ABS2024
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Larke is a midwife and she talks about her primal desire to experience labour and birth. But as she reiterates, there is so much about pregnancy and birth that is beyond our control. She was only 4 weeks pregnant when a scan revealed a significant fibroid at the back of her cervix which dictated her mode of delivery so from very early on she was grieving the loss of the vaginal birth she may never have. Her 20 week scan revealed her baby had a cleft palate and she is transparent with her rollercoaster of emotions following the diagnosis, normalising the confronting thoughts that come up in challenging times. With the support of her beloved midwife and obstetrician, Larke had an empowering maternal assisted caesarean and within minutes of Dolly being born it was confirmed that her palate was intact which meant she could breastfeed.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy.
It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
For a limited time only, get 20% off with the code: ABS2024
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You may have seen Kirsty in the news recently. She’s the recipient of Australia’s first uterus transplant and birthed her miracle baby a few months ago. Today she takes us through the grief of a hysterectomy following her first birth, her options for growing her family, the transplant clinical trial and her pregnancy.
At the time of recording, four Australian women have received uterus transplants in Australia, three of whom were born without a uterus (MRKH syndrome). It’s so exciting to see such significant advancements in women’s reproductive health and I’ll always be grateful to be in the position to interview mothers and share their stories. Enjoy Kirsty’s story, it’s definitely a memorable one.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy.
It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:
For a limited time only, get 20% off with the code: ABS2024
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Niki shares her two incredibly positive home birth stories of her daughter Elsa and her son Nils. Niki is Swedish and Thai and lives with her Australian husband in Kho Samui where they teach Yoga to both practitioners and Yogis. Niki always knew she wanted to have her babies at home. In Thailand, it is illegal to have a home birth. This prompted Niki and her husband to decide to return to their family in Melbourne to pursue her home-birth dream.
Nik shares the challenges of morning sickness in both pregnancies, the changes in her yoga practice, and the impact of pregnancy on her physical and emotional well-being.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.
Learn more about The Birth Class here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, Ellie shares her experience with postpartum thyroiditis after experiencing the tell-tale signs and advocating for the appropriate blood tests at her six week check.
There are many symptoms in postpartum that can be excused as side-effects of birth recovery and sleep deprivation. However, what’s ‘common’ isn’t always ‘normal’. Postpartum Thyroiditis is a thyroid condition that prompts a range of symptoms including lethargy, brain fog, low mood, anxiety and weight changes. It can also contribute to changes in bowel habits and low milk production. In the general population it affects 5-10 percent of people but it’s not routinely tested in postpartum. Today, Ellie shares her experience with postpartum thyroiditis after experiencing the tell-tale signs and advocating for the appropriate blood tests at her six week check.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by my postpartum course Discovering Motherhood. This 8 part audio course has been designed to support you through an empowered and confident transition into motherhood.
Learn more here
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jordy has always had long, painful and heavy periods so when she fell pregnant without trying, no one was more shocked than her. Excess amniotic fluid prevented her from monitoring her baby’s movements so she presented to the hospital multiple times and opted for a planned caesarean at 38 weeks. Her birth experience was incredibly positive and after breastfeeding for the first time in recovery, she went on to feed baby Evie for three years. Since being diagnosed with adenomyosis, endometriosis and cysts on her ovaries, Jordy is navigating secondary infertility alongside medication and persistent pain. She speaks candidly about the daily challenges of her pain as well as the heartache of failed pregnancies.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.
Learn more about The Birth Class here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joelleen is a midwife, naturopath and IBCLC who takes us through her pregnancy and homebirth experience. Her journey into motherhood began with the birth of her daughter at 16 weeks and she details the shock and grief of her loss. When she conceived again she was accepted into Sunshine Hospital’s publicly-funded homebirth programme and was really proactive with her birth preparation. She had a physiological water birth at home followed by an unexpected but short NICU stay. Joelleen reflects on her knowledge as a midwife and IBCLC and agrees that every new mother - despite how much she knows - needs reassurance from health professionals and care providers in the first few weeks of postpartum.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.
Learn more about The Birth Class here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode Emma details her life-changing second pregnancy. At her 20 week scan she was diagnosed with major placenta previa (the placenta covers the cervix) as well as placenta accreta (where the placenta grows deeply into the uterine wall). In that moment her hopes for a VBAC and a homebirth vanished and she shifted her care to the high risk team at her local hospital. Emma required a hysterectomy immediately following the birth of her baby and she shares the many layers of grief that have come from losing her uterus and her menstrual cycle. Emma’s story emphasises how imperative compassionate, woman-centred care is during both pregnancy and postpartum.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.
Learn more about The Birth Class here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode Olivia details her shock upon discovering she was pregnant with fraternal twins after fertility challenges. She takes us through the experiences of having fragmented care with a multiple birth team at her local public hospital and the recommendations made for a twin labour and birth. She started seeing a perinatal psychologist in the third trimester to process her anxiety and she admits it was one of the best decisions she made for her postpartum, too. Olivia opted for an induction at 37+3 and despite foetal monitoring concerns and the suggestion of a caesarean, she utilised an epidural and a side-lying position to get to 10cm and birth her babies vaginally. She’s still exclusively breastfeeding at nine months but is honest about the time and effort it took to establish her milk supply and position both babies optimally.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.
Learn more about The Birth Class here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode, Jayne details the contrast between homebirth and caesarean, a slow postpartum and an NICU stay. Towards the end of her third pregnancy Jayne discovered that her breech baby had kidney issues so she travelled to Hobart from her home in rural Tasmania for a planned caesarean and a month-long NICU stay. She takes us through the emotional upheaval of learning that her baby was sick and the almighty changes his diagnosis has brought to their family life. Supported by a loving village of neighbours and friends, Jayne and her husband are savouring life with their three boys and navigating many health appointments, hospital stays and a possible kidney transplant in the future.
Whilst many people think that organ donation is dependent on the information on your driver’s licence, you actually need to officially register as an organ donor. You can do that at donatelife.gov.au
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?
Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.
Realistic information is key to thorough preparation. Learn more about The Birth Class here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Jess found out she was pregnant she assumed she would have a caesarean as her mum had had caesareans with all three of her children. It wasn't until Jess started listening to the Australian Birth Stories podcast that she started to explore the idea of having a vaginal birth. When she experienced pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM) and was later given oxytocin to help bring her labour on she drew on her birthing class knowledge and had a birth she found empowering. When Jess was preparing for her second birth she thought she would have a long labour like her first and was shocked to find herself birthing in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.
I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co’s panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. Every month we receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers. It makes the perfect Christmas gift that keeps giving well beyond the festive season.
I’m a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
Unwrap more than a gift. Discover hands-on fun with KiwiCo.
Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/birthstories
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode Kate takes us through her journey to motherhood with her two daughters. In her first pregnancy she opted for care with a private obstetrician and after navigating a very tight pelvic floor from early on, she planned an elective caesarean. Her second and third pregnancies ended in miscarriage and she talks at length about how that made her feel. Her anxiety peaked at the beginning of her fourth pregnancy but thanks to her beautiful, reassuring obstetrician she felt held and supported. At her 13 week scan an anatomical difference in her baby’s heart was detected and over the following 10 weeks, Kate and her husband navigated the possibility of a chromosomal abnormality alongside an amniocentesis, genetic counselling and termination for medical reasons (TFMR). At 24 weeks baby Ruby was given the all-clear and Kate finally felt like she could embrace the pregnancy she so dearly wanted.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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It’s no surprise that restful sleep is hard to come by. Pregnancy pillows are a great way to get comfortable at night and if you find one that prevents back sleeping it will take away the stress of waking up on your back.
That’s why I recommend the Sleepybelly pregnancy pillow.
Sleepybelly is a three piece, adjustable pillow designed to provide peace of mind by encouraging safe side sleeping all while giving your belly some much needed relief. It’s made from a super light air layer outer material and inside is a premium latex that feels soft and comforting while providing optimal support for your belly and your back throughout your pregnancy. They offer free shipping and it also comes with a thirty-night ‘sleeping mums’ guarantee or your money back so you can try it risk free.
Sleepybelly don’t normally discount their products but have provided a 10% off promo code for Australian Birth Stories listeners. You can purchase a sleepybelly today at sleepybelly.com.au using the promo code ABS10 for $10 off.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode Shannen details her long labour which involved a complicated epidural. Her anaesthetist told her she may experience a headache the day after birth but nothing could have prepared her for the intensity of her post dural puncture headache (often compared to a severe migraine), the helplessness of not being able to look after her newborn and the complex feelings about her birth. Post dural puncture headaches can result in hospital admission and may require strong painkillers or a procedure called an epidural blood patch to reverse the symptoms.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode is brought to you by BabyLove nappies.
Every parent dreads a leaking nappy and the piles of washing that inevitably follow. That’s why BabyLove created Cosifit nappies – they’re cosy, they’re comfy and they offer superior leak protection.
Now with LeakSTOP technology, BabyLove Cosifit nappies feature a flexible contoured shape that moulds to your baby’s body for a gap free fit that prevents leaks. Less washing for you, more comfort for your baby. There’s so much to love about BabyLove Cosifit nappies.
Want to try before you buy? You can get your FREE sample of Cosifit at BabyLove nappies here.
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You can listen to Rachel share her first birth and postpartum story in episode #51 where she details her daughter Mackenzie’s terminal diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Today she talks about Mackenzie’s Mission and the genetic carrier screening that’s now covered under Medicare for all couples planning a pregnancy. If you are planning to conceive soon, I highly recommend listening to Rachael’s story and request the screening via your GP or Lumi Health. She also talks about her journey to conceiving her two boys, her decision to have an empowering maternal assisted caesarean and the grief and joy, anxiety and hope, love and gratitude of motherhood. Rachael is an incredible woman with a big heart. Her greatest hope is that we are all aware of genetic carrier screening so she has one request: tell everyone about it!
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
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Today's episode is proudly brought to you by Kin.
If you haven’t heard of Kin already, they’re a revolutionary women’s healthcare brand, devoted to helping you take control of your reproductive health.
Whether you’re trying to conceive, already pregnant or going through postpartum, Kin’s got you covered with a range of products that are evidence-based and recommended by dietitians.
Like The Essential Protein to help you meet your protein requirements during pregnancy, and The Postnatal Vitamin to replenish nutrients after giving birth, so you can feel like yourself again.
Visit Kin today and use the code ABSKIN15 at the checkout for 15% off the entire fertility product range today.
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In today’s episode Lisa takes us through her two very different labours - her first was posterior and 67 hours long, her second was anterior and very quick. As a women’s health physiotherapist, Lisa knew the positive outcomes associated with MGP so she advocated to get in that programme and whilst her labour was long, it was also very supported. She also talks at length about caring for her swollen and sore perineum after birth and the shock of just how weak her pelvic floor muscles were. Seven months later she was pregnant again (her period hadn’t even returned) and she got straight into the MGP programme again. With her midwife’s guidance she embraced all the techniques, movements and positions to ensure her baby wasn’t posterior and experienced a swift yet intense second birth.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Today's episode is sponsored by Bare Mum.
If you’re pregnant, we encourage you to start thinking about your birth recovery now. You need more support in the fourth trimester (the 12 weeks after birth) than you do in pregnancy which can be surprising to many new mothers. It’s for this reason that Bare Mum began and now they offer a beautiful collection of practical and supportive products to assist your postpartum healing.
All new mums need lower back, abdominal and pelvic floor support after birth. Bare Mum’s Postpartum Briefs gently hold you in the first days and weeks, helping you feel confident. Endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives, they offer a unique pocket design so you can insert a warm or cold pack to offer soothing relief and assist with caesarean wound or perineal healing.
Ideal for caesarean and vaginal birth recovery, Bare Mum Postpartum Briefs are soft, stretchy, and supportive, offering you essential post-birth care. They’re a must-have for your hospital bag.
Bare Mum is offering you 15% off storewide with the discount code ABS15
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In today’s episode Maria shares her fraternal twin pregnancy which required her to spend 14 weeks on bedrest. Her pregnancy was considered normal until 20 weeks when a routine scan showed her cervix was shortening, exacerbated by the pressure of excess amniotic fluid. The following day a cervix stitch was inserted and Maria spent the next 10 weeks in hospital. She talks about the power of meditation and the practises she embraced to stay present and positive. Her boys were born at 33 weeks and are now healthy, happy four-year-olds who speak three languages.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Today's episode is brought to you by my online birth education course The Birth Class.
Featuring 10 audio lessons with perinatal health specialists, you can listen from the comfort of your home when you’re relaxed and receptive to new information. The Birth Class is a conversation starter between you and your birth partner that informs, encourages and empowers you to journey towards labour with knowledge and confidence.
Learn more here.
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In this episode Sarah shares her experience with two third-degree perineal tears, also known as Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI). The general understanding of birth recovery - even when it comes to perineal trauma - is six weeks yet the reality is much different. For some women it can take two years to heal and strengthen and as Sarah says, we need more conversations about this and ultimately, more health support. If you have experienced an OASI or you know someone who has, this episode will offer comfort and guidance, especially in regards to follow-up care.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Today episode is brought to you by our library of free resources.
Download our free pregnancy and labour tips guides on Mastitis, Perineal Massage, Postpartum Fatigue and many more to assist you in the journey towards birth.
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You can listen to Shuana’s first birth in episode 296 where she details her really positive physiological birth under midwifery care. Today she takes us through her unplanned second pregnancy which took her months to embrace considering she’d just returned to work and didn’t feel prepared for two under two. She was allocated the same midwife through the MGP programme and listened to the yoga nidra meditation in The Birth Class everyday of her pregnancy. She woke at 41+5 to mild cramps and later that evening light contractions began which she welcomed with the utmost excitement. A mere two hours later she birthed her baby girl in her loungeroom, her midwife on the phone and four paramedics by her side. Shuana also discusses the new public hospital home birth programme that has just launched on the Central Coast of NSW; a really positive step forward that makes home birth much more accessible.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Download our many free pregnancy and labour tips guides here
Today’s episode is proudly brought to you by Bliss Birth. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and it's a fantastic pain relief device with no side effects unlike pharmaceuticals. I used the Elle tens in all three of my labours.
Ariel from Bliss Birth has been supporting the podcast for years and has offered a discount for you to hire a tens for 8 or 4 weeks and it comes with everything you would need, as well as the option for really fast postage if women are booking at the last minute
You can enjoy 10% off your Tens hire at Bliss Birth use code ABS23 at checkout
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In this episode Alex shares his pregnancy and birth journey as a trans man, including his choice to embark on solo parenthood. He sought guidance from an IVF clinic and embarked on a number of tests to ensure his egg quality and reserve were favourable before deciding on a sperm donor. Once pregnant, he opted for MGP care through his local public hospital and was induced at 38 weeks due to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Alex shares the challenge and joy of labour and birth, his choice to access donor milk and his body dysphoria in postpartum.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Download our many free pregnancy and labour tips guides here
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In today’s episode, Julie shares her journey and all the beautiful lessons she’s learnt along the way. At once ambivalent about motherhood, her first pregnancy ended in miscarriage and proved that she did have a yearning to have a baby. Two failed rounds of IVF followed and then she fell pregnant naturally at 42. The NIPT results showed high risk of Down Syndrome and Julie was advised to terminate the pregnancy. Together with her partner Tom, they opted to continue with the pregnancy and welcomed baby Woody via emergency caesarean. Only fifteen months later she birthed baby Alfie. Julie talks at length about mothering a child with Down Syndrome, the dreaded daycare germs, physical therapy and the precious bond between her two boys.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Download our many free pregnancy and labour tips guides here
Today’s episode is brought to you by iL Tutto.
For Black Friday, starting from Tuesday 21st of November at 6pm until Wednesday 29th November, iL Tutto are offering HUGE savings across iltutto.com.au where you’ll find their biggest range of Australian-designed Nursery Chairs and complementary Nursery furniture. Save up to 30% storewide including their range of Cots, Chests, CoZee Breeze Co-Sleeping Bassinets.
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In honour of Perinatal Mental Health Week, Dom shares her experience of perinatal anxiety and depression (PAD) and details her three-month stay in a mother and baby psychiatric unit. At six weeks postpartum her anxiety became debilitating; she was having panic attacks, pulling out her hair and thought her husband and baby would be better off without her. She was admitted to a mother + baby unit in a private hospital and received a range of treatments including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which affected her short term memory (her mum kept a 300-page journal so she would have a record to fill in her lost memories). Dom has since had a second baby and thanks to realistic expectations, culturally-safe care and professional and family support, she has stayed really well despite being at high-risk of a postpartum mental health disorder.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Download our many free pregnancy and labour tips guides here
Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co. I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co's panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. Every month we receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers. It makes the perfect Christmas gift that keeps giving well beyond the festive season.
I'm a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
Unwrap more than a gift. Discover hands-on fun with KiwiCo.
Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/birthstories.
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In today’s episode Caitlin details her two very different labours - her first was 40 hours long, her second only two hours. She was accepted into an MGP programme and while she did a hypnobirthing course for preparation, she admits she wasn’t prepared for the intensity of labour. Her early labour stage was long and painful because of her baby’s posterior position and she admits she went to hospital too early. After opting for an induction she later requested an epidural which was a really positive experience for it; it allowed her to sleep, relax and dilate to 10cm. In her second pregnancy she embraced all the education and preparation, hired a doula and planned to birth at her small local low–risk hospital. But….her baby had other plans.
Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.
Download our free pregnancy and labour tips guides here
Today’s episode of the show is proudly brought to you by Once Upon.
I’m not sure about your kids but mine love looking at old photos of themselves. I recently made Ottie a photo book with the help of @onceuponapp It was so quick and easy to make I just selected photos in my phone and the @onceuponapp suggests the layout and offers lots of choice and the click of a button. I’ve ordered an extra copy to gift to the grandparents for Christmas.
You can document your memories in a beautiful book today.
Enjoy 25% discount at checkout with the code: Sophie25
*This offer is valid until the 11th of December 2023
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In today’s episode Tess shares her two very different breastfeeding experiences. She starts by detailing her traumatic birth experience which ended in a postpartum haemorrhage and left her depleted and anxious. Her baby lost 11 percent of her birthweight so triple-feeding was recommended and after a few challenging weeks, Tess made the decision to feed her baby expressed breastmilk (EBM) which she continued for a year as she navigated the grief and guilt of not being able to latch her baby. In her second pregnancy, she was proactive with her care and support from the start. She opted for private obstetric care with Dr Scott Shemer and booked in with Dr Amber Hart from Maternal and Infant Wellbeing in Melbourne who offers day stays for new mothers (the future of postpartum care is looking bright!). Tess’ second postpartum has been incredibly healing and really proves the benefit of continuity of care right into postpartum, especially for lactation support.
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In today’s episode, Kelsey shares her three birth stories which detail her evolution as a birthing mother. In her first birth she requested an induction which led to the cascade of intervention; an epidural, instrumental birth, PPH and retained placenta. She found her first postpartum particularly challenging and when she felt ready to conceive again, she experienced three miscarriages, including the loss of identical twins at 11 weeks. In her final two pregnancies, she embraced birth education and midwifery care to prepare for physiological births which left her feeling on top of the world.
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Faecal incontinence affects one in 25 women in postpartum and today, Claire shares her experience. She takes us briefly through her labour and birth and details the confronting realisation that she had no control of her anal sphincter. Thanks to a women’s health physiotherapist who demanded horizontal rest - essential for all new mothers! - pelvic floor exercises and dietary changes, Claire recovered by six weeks. She emphasises how important it is to share her story because she had never heard of it happening before and wondered if it was her new reality; a challenging prospect at a very vulnerable time.
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Today Renee shares her three physiological birth stories so consider this a wonderfully positive episode in honour of Homebirth Awareness Week. She was living in New York with her partner when she fell pregnant at 21 so they hightailed it home to Queensland and had a really positive birth at their local public hospital. Renee admits that the first year of motherhood was lonely; she didn’t have any friends who were also mothers and she had really high expectations of herself that prompted postnatal anxiety. By the time her second was born she had a community of friends supporting her homebirth and conscious postpartum and she trained as a birth doula soon after. Her third pregnancy was her most challenging but the birth was very quick.
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Katie Rose, a yoga teacher, doula and mother of five discusses her postpartum experiences and the joy and chaos of having a big family. Her eldest is 17 and her youngest is two so she brings a beautiful wisdom to her story, reflecting on her perfectionist early parenting years and the ease and joy she has found by letting go of control and simply being present. If you’re in the depths of early motherhood you will glean so much from Katie’s story.
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In today’s episode, I chat to comedian Celia Pacquola about her pregnancy and birth experience. Motherhood was never a top priority for Celia but when she met her partner, it only took a few months for them to conceive. She chose continuity of care with a private obstetrician, used hypnotism to recover from her phobia of needles and opted for an induction at 39 weeks. She’s frank about the challenges of breastfeeding, the stigma of formula feeding and her postpartum anxiety which was exacerbated by everything she didn’t know about motherhood.
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In today's episode, and in honour of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Kirby shares her story. After her first two pregnancies and births, she experienced her first miscarriage but knew it was a common experience and wasn’t perturbed by it. However, what followed was a period of infertility and the devastating loss of her two boys, Walt and Alby. Kirby worked with a fertility specialist and reproductive immunologist to prepare for her next pregnancy and after one round of IVF and the transfer of her only viable embryo, she conceived baby June who is now four months old.
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In this episode Elizabeth shares her first pregnancy and birth experience. She had bloods done before her copper IUD was removed as she has coeliac disease and wanted to ensure her iron levels were adequate before she conceived. Having been a listener of the podcast, she was interested in her local MGP programme and ensured her GP referral was sent early. Elizabeth prepared for birth with The Birth Class and went into spontaneous labour at 41 weeks. Her labour was textbook and she explains in detail the tools she used to navigate contractions. This is a wonderful episode if you’re after a positive, physiological birth story to inform and inspire you. You can listen to Elizabeth’s early postpartum journey in episode 420.
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In today’s episode, Samantha details her postpartum journey with her second baby and explains why switching off social media was the best option for her. As a postpartum doula she knew exactly how to prepare for postpartum and prioritised filling her freezer with nutritious food. Yet she was still floored by the intensity of it, challenged by the gap between expectations and reality and discovered the detriment of socials on a vulnerable postpartum mindset. Samantha speaks beautifully about her experience and doesn’t shy away from the hard reality of life with a new baby.
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In today’s episode, Bridie (one half of the witty/hilarious new podcast Cool Story that will undoubtedly make you smarter at dinner parties) shares her two birth stories. Bridie’s mum is a midwife so she had the utmost faith in her knowledge and expertise and felt supported and safe throughout her entire pregnancy and birth. Her first labour was long and hard and Bridie admits that she was floored by the intensity of the pushing stage and the way her body felt afterwards. Her second birth was quick and calm; she birthed in the water and was discharged hours later. Bridie’s story is both informative and incredibly entertaining; you’ll learn a lot and laugh out loud.
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Almost 1 in 5 babies spend time in the Special Care Nursery (SCN) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Australia. For the mothers of these babies, postpartum is very different to what they planned or hoped for and there’s often a distinct grief that accompanies the stress of having an unwell or premature baby. We can encourage new mothers to organise meal trains and lie down at every opportunity but we also need to make space for those who are sitting for hours on end in hard hospital chairs, heart aching for their baby and juggling hospital and family life.
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In today’s episode Leonie shares her experience with perinatal anxiety and depression which manifested as a profound sense of defeat in pregnancy and visceral rage in postpartum. She opted for talking therapy with a psychologist and managed her symptoms but she was still overwhelmed at birth when the love for her baby wasn’t immediate. It’s so important to talk about these experiences because studies show that up to 40 percent of mothers don’t feel love for their baby at birth (instead, it grows and develops over time). Leonie had two positive vaginal births with a private obstetrician who encouraged her despite her requests for planned caesareans.
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Following on from her birth story in episode 419, Leila shares her early postpartum experience with twins. She organised a foundation of strong and trustworthy support including private midwifery care, a postpartum doula and a meal train involving her closest friends. Despite her preparation she still had moments of overwhelm; the sheer amount of hours required to feed and settle twins is significant and it left very little space for anything else. She takes us through the importance of ready-made meals, her breastfeeding challenges, the upheaval of an unexpected hospital admission and the discovery of a prolapse at four months postpartum. Leila also shares her twin-mum must-haves so if you’re pregnant with multiples, you’ll love this episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Shelley who shares her two pregnancies and births. Shelley has herpes simplex virus (HSV) and experienced considerable stress throughout pregnancy which led to an outbreak. Despite planning a vaginal birth, Shelley consulted with her care provider and made the informed decision to have a caesarean birth (there are significant risks to the baby if the mother births vaginally with an active HSV outbreak). In her second pregnancy, Shelley was proactive in preventing an outbreak and had a successful VBAC.
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Elizabeth’s newborn baby was readmitted to hospital to treat jaundice which is one of the primary reasons a baby will need to return to hospital after discharge. She had to navigate conflicting medical advice and opinions on the ward which isn’t an uncommon experience in the postpartum health space. I encourage you to listen to this episode because it really highlights the importance of breastfeeding education and having support people to advocate for you. Elizabeth will be back in a few weeks time to share her pregnancy journey and incredibly positive birth under the care of MGP midwives.
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In today’s episode Leila shares her beautiful birth stories; her first at home, and her second which was a twin birth in hospital at 41+2. Leila thoroughly educated herself about birth and postpartum in her first pregnancy so when it came to her twin pregnancy, she was well aware of how she wanted to be supported and opted for a private midwife to help her navigate the hospital system. Despite going well beyond her estimated due date, she achieved what she calls “homebirth in the hospital” with her twins. She’ll be back in a few weeks time to tell us all about her postpartum experience.
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In today’s episode Naomi takes us through her first pregnancy and admits that she was so focussed on her birth preparation that she didn’t once think about her postpartum journey. Her birth was challenging and the newborn days were full of anxiety, severe sleep deprivation and a lot of not-knowing. Four months later she learnt about traditional postpartum care which inspired her to become a postpartum doula. Her knowledge and experience informed her next pregnancy and birth; she opted for an independent midwife and a doula, planned a homebirth, filled her freezer with nutrient-dense food and employed a postpartum doula to mother her as she mothered her baby. Naomi is wise, warm and a wonderful source of information for anyone who is pregnant and hoping to plan and prepare for postpartum.
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In today’s episode Dara discusses her choice to have a private obstetrician and the steps she took to educate herself and plan a vaginal birth. Towards the end of her pregnancy she decided that being focussed on one birth option didn’t feel right so she started exploring what an induction, emergency caesarean and planned caesarean may look like. It proved to be a worthwhile practice because at 41 weeks her baby wasn’t engaged and her cervix was long and firm; instead of opting for an induction, she chose to have a planned caesarean which was an incredibly positive experience for her.
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I interviewed Alice about her births in episode 18 and episode 110 but today she talks about her varicose veins in postpartum which are hereditary but got increasingly worse with each of her pregnancies.
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Keira shared her first birth story in and today she takes us through her second pregnancy, detailing the head game of IVF, the daily challenge of severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and the positive birth of her daughter, Goldie. Keira was vomiting between 30 and 40 times a day in this pregnancy, she had suicidal thoughts, was bedbound and literally counted down the days till birth. She describes it as a horrific pregnancy but was also strong and capable enough to advocate for herself in the hospital system, seek the support of and is now sharing her story to educate others. ____________________________________ ____________________________________
Thanks to today's sponsor, a three-piece adjustable pillow designed to provide peace of mind by encouraging safe side sleeping all while giving your belly some much needed relief. Sleepy Belly don’t normally discount their products but have provided a 10% off promo code for Australian Birth Stories listeners. You can purchase a Sleepy Belly today at using the promo code ABS10 for 10% off head to Sleepy Belly
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In this episode I chat to well-known author Jessica Urlichs @jessurlichs_writer about her three pregnancies and births. In her first pregnancy she was a magnet for grief-filled stories which exacerbated her fear and anxiety around birth. During labour she felt unsupported and unheard and she consequently experienced birth trauma and postnatal anxiety. Jess talks at length about her significant breastfeeding challenges and her choice to bottle feed to sustain her physical and mental health. Her second and third births were both healing and positive and she consciously chose to have epidurals to ensure she was in a calm and grounded mindset so she could make informed choices.
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In today’s episode Cara shares her experience of a missed miscarriage followed by 11 months of trying to conceive. After blood tests revealed she ovulates on day 18 of her cycle (not day 14 as her fertility app suggested) she fell pregnant the following month. Following an epidural and episiotomy in her first labour, she experienced a 3C vaginal tear. She had significant fear and concern about birthing vaginally again but after much discussion with her midwives and proactive preparation techniques, she birthed a bigger baby with an episiotomy but no extended tearing. I know so many women want to hear stories like this because preparing for a vaginal birth after a third or fourth-degree tear definitely requires active preparation in pregnancy and both physical and mental support in labour.
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In today’s episode I interview Rebekah about her experience with two breech-presenting babies. She had a successful External Cephalic Rotation (ECV) in her first pregnancy and experienced a posterior labour with a vacuum-assisted birth. She suffered a distended bladder after the catheter was removed before the episiotomy wore off and she lost the ability to urinate, hence she was discharged under the care of the incontinence team who supported her to use an in-out catheter at home. With guidance from a women’s health physio she made a full recovery. In her second pregnancy she did a lot of birth preparation and when her waters broke at 36+5 and baby Astrid was presenting breech, she listened to her intuition, adjusted her birth preferences and worked closely with her supportive midwives to birth her baby without intervention.
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In today’s episode Chantelle shares her very rare experience with three ectopic pregnancies. It was an incredibly distressing year for her and her partner, Rowan, as they navigated the grief of multiple pregnancy losses while also dealing with medical complications. Chantelle lost both fallopian tubes but admits she felt relieved to have the opportunity to try IVF. She conceived baby Lucy on her first attempt. Her pregnancy was straightforward and after induction at 39 weeks and a long labour she opted for an emergency caesarean which was a really positive and joyful experience.
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In episode 300 I interview Gemma who shares her experience of birthing in a small, rural hospital. In her first pregnancy she opted for public obstetric care at a regional hospital in the nearest large town. The day before her scheduled induction she went into spontaneous labour and found comfort in breathing practices, the shower and sitting on the toilet which allowed her to open her hips. She invested in The Birth Class in her second pregnancy and with a greater understanding of the physiology of birth and newfound breathing skills she felt confident to birth at her local rural hospital with midwives. She birthed baby Elsie in the water and returned home six hours later.
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In today’s episode I chat to Steph who takes us through the heartbreaking experience of an ectopic pregnancy, something she knew nothing about at the time. After the loss of her baby and subsequent PTSD, she fell pregnant again and opted for continuity of care with a midwife in her local public hospital. After navigating postnatal anxiety and a gestational diabetes diagnosis, her waters broke at 37+6 weeks and after a long labour, she birthed via emergency caesarean. Nine months later, still breastfeeding baby Sunny, she fell pregnant again and was prepared to do everything in her power to have a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC). She achieved it a little earlier than expected, when baby Otis decided he was ready to meet the world at 32 weeks.
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I interview Kate founder of Mere Botanicals about her three emergency caesareans, her third being the very first maternally assisted emergency caesarean birth in the Northern Territory. As a naturopath working in women’s health and fertility, she brings a holistic perspective to her story as she shares her experience with ectopic pregnancy, probiotics and vaginal seeding (transferring vaginal flora to her baby’s face and mouth post-caesarean). In honour of Caesarean Awareness Month, Kate’s births are testament to the power of planning for the possibility of a caesarean birth and finding a care provider who will encourage and support your birth preferences.
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In today’s episode I interview first-time mum, Shuana, about her proactive approach to pregnancy and birth. When she found out she was pregnant she booked in with her local public hospital and was assigned continuity of care with a known midwife who fast became a precious support right through to postpartum. Shuana and her husband, Dan, did The Birth Class for birth preparation and felt incredibly confident and excited about the possibility of a physiological birth. Shuana takes us through her labour, from the moment her waters broke till when she birthed her 4.49kg baby boy, Teddy, in a moment of pure joy. This is such a positive and inspiring episode that’s brimming with birth tips.
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In today’s episode, I talk to Jen about her pregnancy, birth and traditional Chinese confinement during postpartum. Jen is a second-generation Chinese-Australian and while she was at first hesitant to embrace the confinement period after birth, when she left the hospital feeling frail, “like a creature born trembling, without fur or feathers” she accepted all the teas, soups and rest her mother and mother-in-law offered her. Jen considers her birth a really positive experience and she reflects on her golden month of healing with immense gratitude. Jen’s mother is an OB/GYN and acupuncturist who encouraged her to track her cycle by taking her temperature. She conceived within two months and opted for shared care with her GP as she didn’t have any health concerns.
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In today’s episode I talk to Chantel about her three births. She suffered Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) in every pregnancy and was medicated early on to stop the vomiting. Her severe symptoms eased by 20 weeks but she still had to navigate intense nausea till the end of pregnancy. After two vaginal births in the hospital, she accessed continuity of care in a birth centre for her third. At 34 weeks she was diagnosed with placenta previa (where the placenta covers all or part of the cervix) and after grieving the waterbirth she couldn’t have, she planned a gentle caesarean birth with her priority being skin-to-skin in theatre and recovery.
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Emily Skye shares her first traumatic birth and her second accidental home birth. Emily doesn’t hold back on sharing the details of her birth experiences, including her challenging physical recovery and postpartum depression. A strong advocate for embracing and loving your body at every stage, Emily talks at length about her severe diastasis recti and hypertonic pelvic floor and the steps she took to strengthen and heal. When she fell pregnant for the second time, she got serious about birth preparation and used hypnobirth and breathwork techniques to navigate a very fast and intense labour.
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In today’s episode I chat to Nikki about her life in East Arnhem Land, her unexpected third pregnancy and the steps she took to actively prepare for her birth. You can hear the story of Nikki’s first two births in episode #113 but she also briefly talks about her second birth in this episode and details the challenge of shoulder dystocia, retained placenta and a postpartum hemorrhage. Her experience definitely dictated her pregnancy care and birth plans but she was also fiercely proactive in getting informed, advocating for herself and rallying a supportive care team. Nikki is incredibly articulate and her story will give you the encouragement to prepare and plan, regardless of your fears.
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Today I chat to Ahlam, The Veiled Speechie, about her three births. She was under the care of the midwifery clinic at Bankstown Hospital for her pregnancies and admits that she did no preparation at all for her first birth which ended with an episiotomy and a vacuum delivery and led into a painful and challenging postpartum. As soon as she discovered she was pregnant with her second she started researching and preparing as she was determined to experience a positive water birth, which she did. Her third labour was fast and intense but she felt confident in her choices and her ability to advocate for herself.
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If you need a laugh (don’t we all?!) make sure you listen to today’s chat with Amy @pickwick_and_sprout who shares her two birth stories with a good dose of hilarity. Amy admits that as soon as sperm met egg she started vomiting and she was eventually diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Her pregnancy was not the glowing kind; she was exhausted, riddled with anxiety and constantly sick. She didn’t do any birth preparation so when she turned up to the hospital and felt the need to poo, she had no idea that her baby was minutes from being born. Her breastfeeding experience was challenging and Amy’s honesty about her journey - her persistence, emotional turmoil and eventual acceptance - is empowering for those on the same path.
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Mel’s story made headlines a few weeks ago when she had an unplanned homebirth and her baby was born unresponsive. NSW Ambulance was inundated and couldn’t assist so Mel and her husband, Alex, drove to hospital while she administered CPR to baby Ethan. Despite her harrowing ordeal, Mel shares her experience with clarity and it’s comforting to hear Ethan cry, squark and burp his way through the interview. As a midwife, she brings really valuable knowledge to her story and shares some great tips for breastfeeding and pelvic floor health. I’m so grateful to Mel for making the time to chat with me; her experience is rare but I think it’s one we can all learn from.
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In today’s episode I chat to Emma who shares her preconception journey in detail (a great tip for those of you planning to conceive soon!). She approached her pregnancy and birth preparation similarly by immersing herself in research and birth stories and The Birth Class. She was cared for by the Ngarrama Midwifery Group Practice in Brisbane and continued her high intensity training program right up until the day she went into labour. Emma’s story is testament to the power of consciously choosing your care provider, getting informed and physically and mentally preparing for the birth you most want. Her little girl, Gracie, was only two weeks old when we spoke so Emma recalls her story with lots of detail; there’s some really wonderful advice in her story.
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In today’s episode I chat to Millie who shares her preemie twin birth story. After a quick conception journey, she was looking forward to her 7 week dating scan after the fright of two incidents of implantation bleeding. Nothing could have prepared her for the news that she was pregnant with MCDA twins (one placenta, two sacs). Initially, in their own sacs, an ultrasound at 23 weeks confirmed that the membrane separating the twins had split which placed them at high risk for developing Stuck Twin Syndrome. Millie lived at Ronald McDonald House at Townsville Hospital before birthing the boys at 34 weeks and flying home to Cairns soon after, thanks to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
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Today Brigitte goes to her most vulnerable place when she details the miscarriage she experienced before discovering she was pregnant with baby Willa, an experience made all the more difficult because of covid lockdown. Intent on birthing Willa at home with a private midwife, Brigitte prepared by listening to The Birth Class multiple times to make sure she was absorbing the information shared. She was deep in active labour when she noticed a distinct pain separate to contraction pain; her baby’s chin was tilted up and pressing into her pelvis so Brigitte embraced everything she had learned about Optimal Maternal Positioning and together with her midwives, she managed to shift position and Willa was born soon after.
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In this first episode of the year, I chat to Kate @katebloomdoula who shares the beautiful story of her two pregnancies, including her recent twin vaginal birth. Her first pregnancy ignited her passion for pregnancy and birth and after a positive and empowered experience, she trained as a birth and postpartum doula. Her intuition was undeniably strong when she discovered she was pregnant for the second time and her 12-week scan confirmed what she already knew; she was pregnant with boy/girl fraternal twins. Kate shares lots of wonderful resources and tips; just the inspiration you need to get informed, advocate for yourself and actively prepare for your birth.
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In today’s episode, I interview Jodi Wilson. Jodi shares the pregnancies and births of her four children. As a yoga teacher and childbirth educator, Jodi brings a beautiful perspective to her interview. She even shares some breathing techniques and tools she used in her births. Whilst each of Jodi’s births was drug-free and under the care of midwives, they were all quite unique in their own way. Her third and most challenging birth almost ended in an emergency caesarean section and this traumatic experience left her quite anxious going into her fourth birth. To hear more about Jodi’s experiences tune into this week’s show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Lauren and her mother-in-law, Donna. Lauren has MRKH syndrome and was born without a uterus so she knew from a young age that her fertility journey would be challenging. After going through IVF to retrieve and fertilise her eggs, Lauren handed her pregnancy journey over to Donna who, at the age of 50, carried Lauren’s baby. Surrogacy stories aren’t always straightforward but this episode is a testament to Lauren and Donna’s love and gratitude for each other.
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In today’s episode, I interview Leah about her third birth; an unplanned homebirth. Leah shared her first two births in episode 162 and I highly recommend listening as she details her infertility and IVF experience as well as her traumatic second birth which led to a PTSD diagnosis. For her third pregnancy, she consciously immersed herself in birth preparation, embraced lessons from The Birth Class and repeated the word ‘surrender’ whenever she felt doubt. She was also enrolled in Canterbury Hospital’s brilliant new care model, Canterbury Antenatal and Postnatal Services (CAPS) where all of her appointments were at home with a known midwife. Leah speaks at length about the mental strategies and proactive steps she took to prepare for birth after birth trauma.
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In today’s episode I chat to Theresa who speaks at length about the traditional Chinese period of confinement after birth, often referred to as the golden month. She had a private obstetrician for her first pregnancy and after induction of labour, she birthed via emergency caesarean. In her second and third pregnancies she chose midwifery care in the public system and actively prepared for vaginal births. For all three of her pregnancies her Chinese mother flew in from Singapore to care for her during postpartum and guide her gently into new motherhood. During this time Theresa wasn’t allowed to do anything but rest with her baby, an opportunity she regards as a very precious gift.
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Today Zoë Foster Blake shares with us her two pregnancies and births of her son Sonny and daughter Rudy. Zoë openly details all the uncomfortable and confronting parts of her pregnancy and early parenting experiences, including having osteitis pubis (a fractured and inflamed pubis), gestational diabetes and nine excruciating bouts of mastitis. I know you’re going to love hearing Zoë’s birth stories.
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In today’s episode I chat to Libby who shares her homebirth story. Based in Governors Bay in New Zealand, Libby introduces herself in Maori and English and talks about her choice to have a termination. At the time termination was still listed under the crimes act and her treatment in the hospital system reflected that. A profound period of grief followed which ultimately inspired her to plan a homebirth for her next pregnancy. Well-read and with a strong understanding of physiological birth and the role of hormones in labour, Libby was supported by a team of women as she laboured through the night, roaring through contractions until she finally met her baby, Taika, just as the sun was rising. Libby’s episode is like a mini birth education course, I think you’ll love it.
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In today’s episode, I chat to Sammi and her partner, Lachlan, about their first pregnancy and birth. They immersed themselves in preparation and even though they planned for an intervention-free birth, they attended both hospital and hypnobirthing classes as well as a breastfeeding course so they were across all possible birth and postpartum experiences. Sammi laboured for a long time at home and Lachlan talks about the support he offered, his nerves when labour intensified and the practical things he did once they got to the hospital. Get your partner to tune into this episode as it’s really lovely and informative to hear about labour from both perspectives.
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In today’s episode I chat to writer and new mum, Maggie Kelly who shares her home-turned- hospital birth story. She was 30 weeks when she decided to plan a homebirth and found support and wisdom in her local independent midwives. At 41+3 she lost her mucous plus but also noticed that her baby’s movements had significantly slowed - an immediate red flag. She talks us through the next few days; mourning the homebirth she wouldn’t experience, being admitted to hospital, the induction process and her thoughts and feelings during labour and after birth. Maggie isn’t afraid to share the most confronting aspects of new motherhood but in doing so she offers reassurance for all of us who have felt exhausted, defeated and disappointed after birth.
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In today’s episode and in honour of #HomebirthAwarenessWeek, I chat to Jerusha Sutton about her two home births and her work as a doula and birth photographer. Eloquent and educated, Jerusha tells a beautiful story of pregnancy and birth and emphasises the importance of trusted and supportive midwives and doulas in the birth space. She also talks at length about her recent documentary, Birth Time, which has won a slew of international awards and is now available to stream online. It’s essential viewing for everyone but especially for those currently pregnant and preparing for birth.
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Ash London speaks really openly as a first time mum about her fears and anxieties in pregnancy and postpartum. Ash had to go off anxiety medication when she conceived and she was expecting her symptoms to exacerbate with pregnancy hormones but the opposite was true; she enjoyed a very calm and instinctual pregnancy. She practised yoga and meditation to settle her mind and read all she could about birth which allowed her to focus on the wonder of the experience instead of getting caught up in the fear of the unknown. Open, honest and laugh out loud funny, Ash’s story will make your day (and will no doubt encourage you to plan for postpartum support, too!).
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In today’s episode and in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I talk to Paige who was diagnosed with breast cancer when her first baby was nine months old. Paige has the BRCA1 gene and following six months of chemotherapy she chose to have a double mastectomy without reconstruction. Upon completing three rounds of radiation, Paige’s pathology results confirmed that she had a complete recovery. It was the best news, made even sweeter by a positive pregnancy test shortly afterwards.
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Join me today for a conversation with my sister, Hilary. She recently gave birth to her daughter, Rhoda, and I was in the birth centre from the moment her waters broke. It was the first birth I’ve ever attended and such a precious experience (although I think it confirmed that I wouldn’t be the best doula). I had a few roles on the day: support sister, photographer and baby catcher. Needless to say, it was unforgettable. We chat about Hilary’s first birth (you can hear it at length if you scroll right back to episode 2), her missed miscarriage and secondary infertility and we take you step by step through her labour. We had a lot of fun recording it so we hope you enjoy listening to our sisterly banter.
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In today’s episode Abby bravely shares her journey with infertility. Abby was diagnosed with endometriosis at 17 but it wasn’t until she was in her early thirties that she started actively trying to fall pregnant. Her egg count and quality was excellent but her endometriosis posed significant complications. Abby takes us through the physical and emotional pain of her journey, the comfort in talking to other women on the same path and the light that came with her very last embryo, baby Remielle.
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In today’s episode, I chat to Emma @emmaisaacs for the second time (you can hear all about her first five births in episode 73). Today she shares the story of her home birth in LA when the pandemic was at its peak and the Black Lives Matter riots could be heard from her house. She made the decision to live stream the final hours of her labour on Instagram in the hope that it would shift the perception of birth for her viewers. She didn’t know it at the time, but 60,000 people tuned in, sent heartfelt messages of love and awe, and watched her give birth to her baby boy, Louis.
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Today’s episode is different from most because Em didn’t realise she was pregnant until she birthed her baby. After going to her GP in January complaining of abdominal bloating, she was encouraged to limit fast foods and take a multivitamin. A month later she was told that she was experiencing bloating due to stress. In early April, after working all day and experiencing severe pains, she started bleeding and went to the hospital. The doctor in Emergency presumed she had a heavy period but less than twenty minutes later she had birthed her baby boy who was born en caul.
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In today’s episode I interview Hollie who shares her inspiring twin birth story. She speaks beautifully about her pregnancy and birth experiences, which includes gestational diabetes, continuity of care with midwives and the valuable role of passionate student midwives. Hollie’s partner, Hayley, carried their first baby and experienced a straightforward induced labour and birth. Ten months later, Hollie gave birth to their daughter. Hollie never expected for her next round of IVF to be a successful first go, she also never expected to fall pregnant with identical MCDA (one placenta, two sacs) twins.
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In today’s episode Tara shares her intuitive journey to motherhood and the power of family-centred birth. She was working in the air force during her first pregnancy and was denied the opportunity to have a home birth as the Defense Force policy dictated care from a private obstetrician. Her pregnancy was stressful; she experienced workplace bullying and harassment which led to an official medical discharge during maternity leave. Her second pregnancy was a completely different experience and she planned and experienced a glorious family-centred homebirth supported by midwives. At three months postpartum after suffering low milk supply, she made the decision to have her breast implants removed. She fed her baby four hours post-op and her milk supply immediately increased, so much so that she could express 100ml from each breast.
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In today’s episode, Meg bravely shares her experience with vaginismus, also known as genito pelvic pain penetration disorder (GPPPD); an involuntary spasm of the vaginal muscles which makes penetration of any kind incredibly painful. Conceiving was always going to involve extra hurdles for Meg and Steve and while it did take conscious planning and preparation, it was possible. Throughout her pregnancy she presumed she would need to have a caesarean birth but she was encouraged by her obstetrician to deliver vaginally and she did so successfully - twice!
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In this week’s episode I chat to Erin who lives in country ACT and discusses the difficulty in accessing continuity of care for rural and regional women. After a quick hospital birth with her first child, Erin had a very real fear of birthing on the side of the road with her second baby. She was late in her second trimester when she started researching homebirths and promptly found a private midwife to support her. She went on to have two more homebirths, a choice that came with a significant financial sacrifice although it’s not one she’s ever regretted.
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In today’s two-hour episode I interview Kelly-Anne who shares her experience with the very rare pregnancy condition known as Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP). Before you listen I want to let you know that it is a traumatic episode. If you are pregnant or in your postpartum and feeling vulnerable, it may not be the best time to listen. If you are a care provider or a student midwife, I would consider this episode essential listening. Please, share it with your colleagues and peers.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Amy about her two birth experiences. Her first pregnancy ended in an early miscarriage so she navigated her first trimester with profound anxiety, recalling the relief she felt after the first scan, then the second and finally, when she felt her baby’s first kicks. Not one to think or prepare for birth till the third trimester, she enrolled in an online birth course and was inspired by the physiology of birth; once she knew how the muscles actually work in labour she was excited for what was to come. Her first birth was long and challenging but her second was a joyous water birth that left her empowered and ecstatic.
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In today’s episode I chat to Juliet Allen about her recent homebirth. There’s a fifteen-year gap between her children so she came to her second pregnancy and birth with a profound sense of preparation and purpose. Juliet and her partner, Nick, consciously conceived and then birthed at home; they used touch and kissing to bring on surges and Juliet self-pleasured to ride the intensity of each wave. Once their baby was born, they embraced a traditional lotus birth where the baby stays connected to the placenta till the cord naturally falls off. This episode is rich with inspiration but Juliet also shares some incredibly practical tips; you’ll want to take notes!
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In this week’s episode I interview Zion, a young mum who birthed her first baby at home with the support of a private midwife and doula. She fell pregnant after a miscarriage and shares her experience of multiple early scans and her subsequent grief in discovering that her once twin-pregnancy was now a singleton. She spent much of her first trimester doing birth research before she leapt into the second trimester with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. She laboured for 16 hours in the comfort of her home and birthed baby Kaya in the water as evening fell.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Fizz about her three births, her NICU experience and her recent ADHD diagnosis. She was 23 weeks and 6 days when her little boy was born which, at the time, was considered pre-viability age. Little Ernie was a fighter who spent 96 days in the NICU before graduating to special care and eventually going home. Despite the stress and overwhelm, Fizz established a great milk supply and ended up feeding him till 18months. Her second pregnancy was straightforward and after birth, while navigating postpartum, she went on mirena contraception that exacerbated a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including sensitivity to sound and light. Upon seeing her psychologist, she was eventually diagnosed with ADHD which was life changing in the best possible way. With a renewed sense of self-awareness, Fiz fell pregnant again, went off her medication and prepared for a positive birth with no induction or epidural. Baby Sid arrived on a stormy Melbourne night, an experience that Fiz describes as “really lovely.”
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You may already know Beth from her page Birth with Beth which is a wonderful resource for pregnant women and their support people. Today, Beth shares her story and details the challenge of the first trimester, the difficulty of Covid restrictions and the joy and hard work of bringing her daughter into the world. Based in Melbourne and accustomed to coming in and out of lockdown, Beth didn’t see her care provider face-to-face till 28 weeks. It was an experience she had guided many women through as a midwife but she admits that being on the other side offered a new perspective. "It was funny because I had been doing phone appointments and I was the one reassuring families and then to be on the other side of it and realise how much you crave that reassurance of face-to-face care was really interesting.” Beth was assigned a midwife who is also a co-worker; one she has an immense respect for in regards to her birth philosophy. That said, she did most of the first trimester alone, like most women, and vomited continuously throughout the day till 18 weeks. The physical toll began to affect her mental health but she was also focused on staying calm and taking a watch and wait approach.
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In this week’s episode I interview Jacqueline about her three birth experiences. She describes her first pregnancy as the best curveball of her life and she went on to experience a beautiful water birth after 30 hours of labour. A decade later she was with a new partner and opted to track her cycle through Monash IVF because she was having trouble conceiving. After two rounds she fell pregnant and had a straightforward induction and delivery. A mere eight months after birth she was pregnant again and with her baby in a frank breech position, she began preparing for a breech vaginal birth with Dr Bisits at the Royal Women’s in Randwick. Jacqueline’s story really highlights the importance of having a care provider who empowers and supports you, regardless of your birth complications.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Hannah who shared her first two birth stories in . In her third pregnancy, she was immediately categorised as high risk because of her history of preterm labour so she opted for a cervical stitch at 18weeks to prevent the onset of contractions. Intent on labouring without induction, Hannah focused on hypnobirthing practices and, after getting her stitch removed at 36 weeks, she embraced every natural induction technique imaginable. After two weeks of prodromal labour she got to the hospital with only seconds to spare. Hannah tells an informative and, at times, hilarious story that is both entertaining and inspiring.
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In this week’s episode I interview Nat, a solo mum by choice. After having an ovarian tumour removed at 17, she knew that fertility issues would be something she needed to consider in the future. When she turned 30, she started investigating her options and by 32 she was seeing a fertility specialist at Monash IVF. Her first round of IVF resulted in a heterotopic pregnancy but her second was successful. When baby Harry turned one, she fell pregnant with Hudson and began a challenging journey involving a possible trisomy 13 diagnosis, genetic counselling, amniocentesis and preeclampsia.
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In this week’s episode I interview Kylie who shares the story of her two eventful births; a surprise footling breech and an accidental homebirth. After coming off the pill and not having a period for a year, Kylie went to her GP for blood tests and an internal ultrasound. She was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries and referred to a fertility specialist who recommended clomid to assist with ovulation. On the first round that she ovulated she fell pregnant.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Lou about her three births. She discovered at 34weeks that her first baby was breech. After a failed ECV she sought a hospital that supported vaginal breech births and subsequently changed caregivers at 39 weeks to achieve the birth she wanted. Her second birth, under the care of midwives, was smooth and straightforward but afterwards, with two babies under 18months, Lou struggled with undiagnosed postnatal depression. She booked into a midwifery program at her local regional hospital with her third baby and after a very quick water birth and low Apgar scores, baby Astrid fed and settled well. However, the midwives and obstetricians were concerned about low blood sugar levels so they did blood tests every two hours before transferring to a larger hospital. In honour of Birth Trauma Awareness Week, Lou shares the trauma of the first few days of Astrid’s life and the challenge she faced as a mother up against a particularly condescending doctor.
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In this week’s episode I interview Keira Rumble about her long, challenging road to motherhood. After multiple miscarriages, a traumatic heterotopic pregnancy and a subsequent PTSD diagnosis, Keira discovered she had stage 4 endometriosis. She sought a new fertility specialist, was diagnosed with a rare blood clotting disorder and embarked on her first round of IVF which led to her pregnancy with baby Hunter. She birthed him only two weeks ago and recalls every detail, from when her waters broke at 36 weeks to the confronting reality of the NICU.
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In this week’s bonus episode I interview Emily - the first of The Birth Class students to have a baby. From conceiving during the lockdown in Melbourne to birthing her baby boy in Sydney’s current lockdown, Emily shares the highs and lows of her pregnancy, including her experience learning from the midwives, doulas and birth educators featured in The Birth Class. As an informed first-time mum she was prepared to go well past her due date so when she started contracting at 35+5 weeks she was in shock.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Elodie about her three births. As a first-time mum she was happy to let her birth unfold without doing much preparation. By the time she was pregnant with her third baby and preparing for a VBAC2 (Vaginal Birth After 2 Caesareans) she understood the power of knowledge, embraced months of mental and physical preparation and surrounded herself with educated, informed and encouraging support people who could advocate for her during labour and delivery. If you are currently preparing for a VBAC or you’re considering one in the future, this episode is for you.
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In this episode I interview Nerique about her missed miscarriage. It was an experience that completely blindsided her but thanks to overwhelming support from online groups, she navigated her loss and started planning her next baby. A long cycle and painful periods prompted her to see a fertility specialist who discovered that scar tissue from her D+C had caused a blockage in her cervix. Once that was rectified, Nerique started taking medication to stimulate ovulation and she fell pregnant two months later. She chose midwifery group practice for her pregnancy care and had an incredibly positive induction experience followed by a smooth and swift vaginal birth.
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In this week’s episode I interview Melanie who shares her experience as a BRCA1 gene carrier. With a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Melanie made the decision to have a double mastectomy five years ago. Despite a link between BRCA1 and low egg count, Melanie fell pregnant naturally and takes us through her pregnancy from first trimester morning sickness to hospital classes via zoom. She delivered naturally and admits that the reassurance and support she received from a student midwife is something she’ll never forget.
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In this week’s episode I interview Em about her pregnancy during lockdown. She was induced at 41 weeks and laboured for a long time alone in the maternity ward before she was transferred to the birthing suite where she experienced the cascade of intervention and birthed her baby boy via vacuum delivery. Em was four months postpartum when she disclosed her sadness to her GP and was subsequently diagnosed with PND and PTSD. Three days later she walked into the Perinatal Mental Health Unit at Mitcham Private Hospital. It was a life-changing experience for her and she shares her story in the hope that she can spread the word about the essential postpartum support resources that are available (even if they are notoriously difficult to find).
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In this week’s episode I chat to Amy Taylor-Kabbaz about her three births and her journey through matrescence. Amy speaks beautifully about the divided heart of motherhood; the pull to be the woman you were before birth and the desire to fully embrace the joy and challenge of being a mother. As she tells her birth stories she simultaneously shares her own transition into motherhood; the physical and mental struggles, her acceptance of it and, eventually, her ability to embrace her new self.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Claire and Luke who are new parents to baby Beau. They talk in detail about Claire’s two miscarriages, specifically the lack of awareness surrounding the physical pain of the process. Before she fell pregnant for a third time, Claire discovered that she carries a blood clotting gene and her fertility specialist recommended blood thinning medication as soon as she conceived. A subchorionic hematoma was discovered at her 12 week ultrasound but after resolving itself, Claire felt like she could relax into the pregnancy and spent a lot of time practising hypnobirth techniques which proved invaluable for her very positive induction.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Olympic Athlete Alicia Lukas who gave birth in Tokyo during Covid. Despite every effort, Alicia accepted that no amount of spinning was going to turn her breech baby so she booked in for a planned caesarean with her private obstetrician. Covid rules dictated a lot of the experience - her husband watched the birth over facetime and was only allowed at the hospital for thirty minutes afterwards. Despite the cultural differences, Alicia relished the way the Japanese care for mothers post-birth but as she says, there’s no place like home when you’re a new mum.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Clare about her two planned caesarean births. Despite severe endometriosis, Clare fell pregnant easily and sailed through the first half of her pregnancy. However, at her 20 week scan she discovered that her baby had ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ) and shortly afterwards, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Her planned caesarean was straightforward but her recovery was not; extensive adhesions in her uterus caused a long and painful postpartum. She chose a private obstetrician for her second birth and jumped at the chance to have a maternal assisted caesarean but nothing could prepare her for the shock of her baby’s hearing loss diagnosis at six weeks.
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In this week's episode I chat to Alannah about her challenging pregnancies, NICU experiences and her sheer determination to breastfeed despite the hurdles. Her first pregnancy and birth was smooth sailing so when her waters broke at 19weeks with her second baby, she felt like her world had turned upside down. A long hospital stay ensued and she delivered baby Maisey at 29 weeks before enduring the rollercoaster of NICU for 60 days. A surprise pregnancy a year later came with concerns, including the increased risk of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and early bleeding from a subchorionic hematoma, but it was vasa previa, where blood vessels extend from one lobe of the placenta to another and cover the opening of the cervix - that placed her in a high-risk category and prompted a caesarean birth at 33 weeks.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Yahna about her experience with shared care (pregnancy care shared between a GP and the hospital). As she explains, she believed that shared care offered continuity of care when in actual fact, she was seen by many different midwives in her third trimester and treated as a number on the maternity ward. After days of spurious (false) labour she was induced but due to a bed shortage, laboured in multiple rooms before she was given a birthing suite. Despite the upheaval of her experience, Yahna reflects on the joy of breastfeeding and the deep bond with baby Sunday, the first biological family member she has ever known. As an adoptee, Yahna admits that when she gave birth, she also gained a newfound love and respect for her birth mother. Baby Sunday was a happy accident. Yahna had been on the pill for 16 years when she decided to take a break after seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor.
“When you’re not planning to conceive a baby, there’s a long thought process...can we afford this? Can we do this? Are we ready? With time we eased into the idea of it and became really excited.
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In today’s episode I interview Steph Claire Smith who was first diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 21. She managed to regulate her menstrual cycles by focussing on health, wellness and regular acupuncture treatments and years later, fell pregnant easily. She timed her exhausting first trimester with stage four lockdown in Melbourne and sailed through the rest of her pregnancy, choosing to practise gratitude for all she experienced, despite the inevitable discomfort and challenges that arose in the third trimester. Steph admits that well-meaning messages from friends and followers regarding natural methods for induction definitely affected her mental health and she subsequently chose to be induced at 41weeks.
Today's episode is brought to you by The Birth Class. After listening to hundreds of birth stories, pregnancy and birth experiences over the years (and birthing my own three beautiful boys) I have created my dream online childbirth education course. The Birth Class. Inside The Birth Class you will enjoy 9 incredibly insightful audio interviews with some of Australia’s favourite midwives, doulas, childbirth educators and yoga teachers Together we unpack: every aspect of birth, including the stages of labour, the role of the body's naturally occurring hormones in birth, how to prepare your body during pregnancy for birth through optimal maternal positioning and how to harness your breath and sound and use active birthing techniques, how to prepare for a VBAC, What to expect in a Caesarean and lots more.
The Birth Class also includes an 80-page colour illustrated workbook with transcripts of the audio interviews and a hospital bag checklist, birth preferences checklist for you to print and customise. In order to ensure you have mastered the breathing and relaxation techniques we discuss in the course, I have also included a 25minute Yoga Nidra meditation and a 5-minute breathing exercise you can practice throughout your pregnancy. .
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Due to many requests, I’m delighted to chat to Teigan McKinnon in this week’s episode. You can hear Teigan’s first birth story in episode 100 but today we talk about her recent twin birth with babies Violet and Audrey. Conceived via IVF, Teigan’s embryo split in two and at her first dating scan she discovered she was pregnant with twins. After being warned of the complications of identical MCDA twins (two amniotic sacs but a shared placenta), her pregnancy was relatively straight-forward and after being induced at 36weeks, she delivered both girls vaginally with an epidural.
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I first interviewed Elise about the births of her three children in episode 42 Since then she has spent two years on a unique journey as a surrogate mum. She talks us through her initial calling to be a surrogate, the first meeting with the intended parents and the psychological screening required before the IVF process began. As Elise explains, it was not always a smooth, joyful experience and the challenges she faced towards the end of her pregnancy were stressful, especially surrounding Covid lockdown laws and the number of support people allowed in the birth centre. Despite the tense anticipation and the stress of the unknown, Elise’s birth was very straightforward and the moment she handed baby Archie to his mum made it all worthwhile.
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In this week’s episode I interview Fiona @mydailybusinesscoach who shares her confronting experience of an emergency caesarean in London. She was discharged 24hours after birth and while she spent much of her first week at home anxious and sore, a visit from a gentle and wise lactation consultant was exactly what she needed to settle into new motherhood. After returning to Australia and setting up their life in Melbourne, Fiona and her husband spent two years trying to conceive before they explored their options with IUI and IVF. Fiona made the conscious decision to have a planned caesarean with baby Elio and under the care of her beloved obstetrician she experienced a joyful birth that she fondly remembers as one of the best days of her life.
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In this week’s bonus episode I chat to the delightful Georgia who takes us through her two pregnancies and births. Her surprise first pregnancy was a life-changing shock but she took it in her stride and delivered little Tex with the support of the midwifery team at Geelong Hospital. Her second pregnancy was as smooth as the first but she went into labour at the height of the national Covid lockdown. Despite extra precautions at the hospital, her labour was speedy and she delivered baby Ivy with ease. I adore Georgia’s honesty and her detailed discussion of placenta encapsulation is a great listen for anyone considering doing it for themselves.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Marley Morgan an Indigenous woman who is raising her three children on Gumbaynggirr land. After a surprise pregnancy at the age of 26, Marley was confronted by a variety of health concerns that took a toll on her mental health and led to an ante-natal depression diagnosis. Her journey into motherhood was challenging but when she reached out to her local mother’s group she recognised the importance of a supportive village. She’s birthed three boys in four years and has consciously worked on her mental and physical health, has grown a successful business that celebrates women and motherhood and has experienced the joy of intervention-free birth with the support of midwives.
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In honour of caesarean awareness month, I chat to Emma about her pregnancy and birth. Despite her intention to have a birth with minimal intervention, days of prodromal labour coupled with exhaustion, dehydration and obstructed labour due to baby’s position, led her to an emergency cesarean. Despite everything, Emma admits that she felt empowered and supported every step of the way, particularly in the depths of her labour when she felt like she was losing control and was debilitated with exhaustion. “I honestly believe that it’s not about how you birth but how you’re treated in birth,” she says.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Kristin; a mother of three who let her intuition guide her throughout her pregnancies and subsequently experienced three beautiful, empowering births (albeit not without their challenges). Five miscarriages in a fifteen-month period left her anxious and fearful but once she passed the 12 week mark with her son, Toby, she settled into her pregnancy and refused to let her obstetrician class her as high risk. She took responsibility for her birth, hired a private midwife and birthed in the water at home. Kristin talks confidently and clearly about her pregnancy and birth experiences and is incredibly inspiring, especially in regards to owning her birth journey and surrounding herself with people who supported and guided her.
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Sarah shares about her life with Type 1 Diabetes and the effect her diagnosis had on her conception and pregnancy. Sarah admits that she did minimal preparation for her labour and birth and while she went in with limited skills, she also experienced a severe lack of communication from the obstetricians and midwives caring for her, both during birth and postpartum. Her story is a really important one, especially for first-time mums who are questioning the significance of birth preparation and want to advocate for themselves in the hospital system.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Sonia who discovered she was pregnant at the very start of the pandemic. She spent the following eight months immersed in birth documentaries and positive birth stories, intent on creating a birth space where she could be supported by her partner and her closest friends as she laboured. She speaks softly and with heart about her home water birth, the way she roared her daughter into the world and the bliss-filled days that followed. It’s so important to hear stories like Sonia’s and to remind ourselves that with mindful preparation and a supportive caregiver, birth can be a joyous and powerful experience.
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In this week’s episode I chat to @daniloxton about her fertility issues and the journey to conceiving her daughter and her twins. As a yoga teacher and a doula-in-training, Dani knows what it’s like to balance a natural lifestyle with the reality of a PCOS and endometriosis diagnosis. She required fertility treatment for her pregnancies and medication for nausea but then experienced quick and smooth deliveries for all three babies. We chat a lot about her twin pregnancy, the shock of discovering she was pregnant with twins, antenatal depression and her empowered delivery despite the unwelcome presence of an obstetrician demanding a cesarean.
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In today’s episode I interview Ellesse who shares the birth of her son Bowie. Ellesse is a pilates instructor who runs her own business at Fleur Wellbeing Pilates Studio. The Covid lockdown started just as Ellesse discovered she was pregnant. She found this a blessing initially as she suffered from intense morning sickness and working from home allowed her to be sick and rest in between Zoom pilates classes. At her 20 week scan, Ellesse discovered she had placenta previa, her placenta was completely covering her cervix. This diagnosis meant that she had to stop doing all forms of exercise which was very challenging as a very active person. It also impacted her work as she couldn’t demonstrate in her classes. It was at this time that Ellesse started to mentally prepare for a caesarean birth. To find out how things unfolded for Ellesse tune into this week’s episode.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Yumi Takahashi who is featured in the recent Birth Time documentary. I aim to share a variety of stories in this space and I believe that Yumi’s experience is essential listening for birthing mothers and, perhaps more importantly, for the midwives and obstetricians who care for them. In her first pregnancy, she chose her local public hospital and had unwavering faith in the system. But it was the system that failed her; she received racist remarks throughout her pregnancy, abusive treatment during her birth and was left with trauma that still exists today. When she fell pregnant with her second child, she chose a private midwife and homebirth. As she says: “My fear came from the system, from the people trying to control my body. I had no fear of birth.”
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In today’s episode, Claire shares how she and her partner Steph had a home birth with their little girl LJ. As a same-sex couple, Claire and Steph used a home insemination process with sperm given to them from a very good friend. As a naturopath, Claire carefully monitored her cycles and use acupuncture to help make the process as smooth as possible. They were lucky enough to conceive on their first home transfer.
Despite starting with GP Shared care Claire knew that she wanted a low intervention home birth. Claire decided to start interviewing private midwives to have a home birth and she found a lovely midwife who she and Steph connected with and they hired her for their pregnancy and home birth care.
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This week I revisit one of my very first interviews where I chat with Melissa a hypnobirthing practitioner based in Geraldton, WA. Melissa’s story really encompasses the power of developing faith and trust in the body and its ability to birth. She talks us through her smooth first birth but it’s the arrival of her second baby that takes up most of our conversation. She discusses the techniques she used to actively prepare for labour and she talks us through the stages of birth, from first contractions to the way she let her intuition guide her through a side-of-the-road car birth, a calm, empowering and overwhelmingly ecstatic experience.
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In this week’s bonus episode I chat to Ellen, a solo mum who navigated four years of IVF to conceive her daughter, Lola. She takes us through ten rounds of IVF, her experience with Gestational Diabetes and the end of her pregnancy where she was faced with two options: and induction at 38weeks or a cesarean at 39weeks. After much thought and soul searching, she opted for a planned cesarean because it gave her more time to allow labour to commence naturally. And it did! Her joyful birth was everything she dreamed of. However, her postpartum experience was challenging and she admits that the pain, struggle and vulnerability was confronting, especially in regards to breastfeeding. Ellen’s story really clarifies the lengths some women go to conceive their babies and the importance of listening to the intuitive voice within.
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In this week’s episode I interview Rachel - a women’s circle facilitator, pregnancy and birth doula and mother of two. Rachael is incredibly well educated in the birth space and offers an insightful glimpse into the hospital system and the protocols that can often stand in stark contrast to the natural progression of labour and birth. She highlights the fragmentation of the Australian birth system, the inevitable challenges that can arise from having multiple care providers and the trauma of Hyperemesis Provardum (HG) and Postpartum Hemorrhaging (PPH). Throughout our interview she speaks from a passionate, open heart about birthing as a sexual abuse survivor, embracing birth as a rite of passage and roaring through a glorious redemptive homebirth supported by a trusted midwife and doula. This episode is brimming with facts, stats, information and inspiration. Once you start listening you won’t want to stop.
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In this week’s episode I interview Maha who talks about her experience with egg freezing as a single woman in her late thirties. It’s a pertinent topic for our times yet one that’s rarely discussed, hence Maha’s desire to share her story in the hope that it informs and empowers other women in a similar situation. A year later she started considering sperm donors yet life had a different plan; she reconnected with a long-term friend, they fell in love and started trying for a family. Maha fell pregnant through IVF on her first attempt yet her pregnancy was difficult; her placenta wasn’t the optimal size and baby Joshua was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). Maha takes us right through her special journey that spans three years; it’s a beautiful story that isn’t without its challenges but is inspiring nonetheless.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Turia Pitt who talks about her life-changing accident and her journey to motherhood. Resilient, funny and incredibly sweet, Turia shares the details of her pregnancies and labours as well as the challenges of the postpartum period. Most poignant of all is the way she eased into motherhood with her second son, Rahiti, having learnt that lots of visitors are not conducive to a relaxed and restful fourth trimester. She’s just launched her new running program for mums, aptly called Run With Turia and she’s incredibly passionate about encouraging women to ease into running regardless of their mental or physical limitations.
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In this week’s bonus episode I chat to retired Olympic athlete, doctor and mother of four, Jana Pittman. Her story is a colourful one and honestly, we could have talked for hours! She generously takes us through her motherhood journey which began when she was at the peak of her athletic career. After her marriage breakup she opted to have two more children with a sperm donor and navigated medical school with solo parenthood. Most recently, she shares her experience as a junior doctor, her hopes to become an OBGYN and the very quick birth of her fourth baby. But most importantly, she shares her advice and experience as a doctor and a mum and discusses so many common issues for pregnant and postpartum women; incontinence, holistic birth, exercise after birth, IVF, varicose veins, breastfeeding challenges (including breastfeeding with implants). You will learn so much from Doctor Jana!
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In this week’s episode I interview Blair who tells the story of her traumatic first birth where a quick forceps delivery left her with significant internal damage and incontinence issues. “I felt like birth happened to me, I didn’t contribute at all,” she says. Her introduction to motherhood was challenging as she dealt with an infected hematoma, had difficulty bonding with her baby and navigated the sudden onset of postnatal anxiety. She fell pregnant unexpectedly the following year and actively prepared for an intervention-free birth which was quick, joyous and wonderfully healing, both physically and emotionally. Blair admits that she sought out stories of women who had experienced a redemptive second birth after a challenging first and now she’s delighted to be sharing her own.
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In this week’s episode I interview Bianca who, at the age of 22, fell pregnant unexpectedly and navigated the complex reality of a Downs Syndrome diagnosis. Despite multiple health professionals advising her to terminate, she chose to keep her baby, journeyed through a tumultuous pregnancy and delivered him at 34weeks via caesarean. Baby Oliver was born with a heart condition and spent 12 weeks in NICU before being transferred to Melbourne Children’s Hospital for life-saving surgery. During her second pregnancy, Bianca was determined to actively prepare for a VBAC and with the support of her caregivers, she delivered another beautiful boy.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Bella about her journey to motherhood with her wife Moana Hope. After choosing a sperm donor and attempting a few rounds of IUI, Bella started IVF and fell pregnant on her first attempt. She takes us through the elation, nausea and worry of her pregnancy, most of which she spent in Melbourne’s long winter lockdown. Baby Svea was born after a beautiful natural birth and while the postpartum period was relatively smooth for Bella, she grew concerned when she started bleeding heavily at six weeks. An ultrasound confirmed her OB’s suspicions; she had retained 5cm of placenta and needed to have it removed. Despite the shock of having to go into hospital and be separated from Svea, Bella has recovered well and is determined to share her story to encourage other new mums to listen intently to their postpartum body and speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
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In my first interview of the year, I chat with Bernadette of @coreandfloorrestore - a midwife, personal trainer and mother of two boys. Bernadette’s unique story involves incontinence before pregnancy and she details the debilitating experience of consistently wetting herself as her pregnancy progressed. Her empowering first birth encouraged a new sense of self-belief so she delved into research and reminded herself of one basic fact: the pelvic floor is a muscle and like all muscles, it can heal.
Subsequently, she created her own program which has helped women with prolapse and incontinence issues and continues to be a fabulous resource for those dealing with the shame and discomfort of a weakened pelvic floor. Aside from Bernadette's abundance of knowledge, she talks in detail about her two beautiful homebirths, what it’s like to labour as a midwife and the shift in family dynamics as the firstborn tentatively welcomes the new baby. An absolute must-listen for all women, but especially those who suffer incontinence in silence. Please know that you’re not alone!
Bernadette’s newborn, Aloysius, is only two weeks old when I chat to her so she’s very much in the bliss and exhaustion of the fourth trimester. However, she has a wealth of knowledge and I can’t quite believe how much we covered in this episode.
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In the final episode of the year, I interview Kyree Harvey about her intense third birth with baby Denver. She made the informed decision to be induced and after a slow build up she fought her way through 40minutes of incredibly painful active labour and delivered Denver amidst the panic of his heart rate plummeting. Kyree bares all in this interview and she shares some really wonderful knowledge and advice about opting for birth preferences over a birth plan, recovering from an episiotomy and severe tear and the importance of seeing a women’s health physiotherapist post-birth, no matter what kind of birth you have (I agree, Kyree!).
You can hear Kyree talk about her first two births in . Her first birth with baby Alaska involved two weeks of false labour, an induction at 39weeks and an episiotomy that took months to heal. In preparation for her second birth, she did a Hypnobirthing Australia course that shifted her mindset around birth and she journeyed into her induction with an incredibly positive and determined perspective. She delivered an 11pound baby boy and suffered a severe 3C tear, an experience that she shares in detail.
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In this week’s bonus episode I chat to student-midwife and mother of two (almost three), Lauren. Half-way through her final year of high school, Lauren fell pregnant at the age of 16. She shares her teen pregnancy journey, her traumatic first birth and redemptive second. Now she’s come full circle as she works towards finishing her midwifery degree and looks forward to supporting pregnant women and especially teen mums as they journey towards birth and motherhood.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Elise Cook about womanhood, pregnancy and the dichotomy of birth; the immense pain and immeasurable love. She tells a beautiful story of listening to her intuition and consciously choosing to conceive, letting go of her fear and placing her energy in trust. She spent most of her pregnancy in the quiet of covid lockdown but as she journeyed closer to her due date doctors started to show concerns about her baby’s growth in utero and she was diagnosed with IUGR. Elise kindly shares all the intimate details of her positive induction birth and the joy and challenge of the days and weeks that followed. In my opinion, it’s a must-listen.
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After a gloriously indulgent holiday in Mexico, Ashe and her husband, Sam, returned to Melbourne and fell pregnant soon after. Her easy conception was misleading; she expected the rest of the journey to be smooth and it wasn’t like that at all. Physically it was a straightforward, textbook pregnancy but her emotional journey was tumultuous. She enrolled in the midwifery programme at the Royal Womens in Melbourne where she saw a different midwife at every appointment, an experience that didn’t allow her to connect with or open up to her caregivers.
“I wish I had hired a doula or had a dedicated midwife; I didn’t feel a connection to the hospital nor did I have a solid team to fall back on and find comfort in.”
In the lead up to her due date and the weeks that followed, Ashe encountered a number of fear-inducing obstetricians who warned her of the worst case scenarios if she refused an induction. Thankfully, there was one midwife who offered a different perspective.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Nadia about her three births including her most recent; a maternal-assisted cesarean. Nadia’s first son, a boy named Pio, was diagnosed with a rare chromosomal abnormality and was born via cesarean at 20weeks. She discusses her disbelief at the diagnosis and the subsequent grief of her loss followed by the healing arrival of her rainbow baby, Riviera.
Nadia found her mothering groove when Riviera was six-months-old so the last thing she expected was to fall pregnant again. Her second daughter, Florencia, was born in the middle of Melbourne’s Covid lockdown but despite restrictions, she was delighted to have the opportunity to experience a natural cesarean and admits that the bond and connection was instant.
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In honour of Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) Week, I chat to Fran of Franjos Kitchen who shares the intricacies of her mental health and motherhood journey. She admits that it took two births and a miscarriage for her to see the very distinct connection between her hormones and her brain. She recalls the depths of her despair with unflinching honesty and talks in detail about the thoughts she was having and the way she was feeling. She fell into a dark place after her miscarriage and consequently sought professional help from a psychologist and a psychiatrist and was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar-vulnerability to hormones.
She experienced antenatal depression during the first trimester of her first pregnancy. She was physically and mentally unwell, so much so that she was sobbing in the shower and wishing for the pregnancy to end. However, a week later, as she headed into the second trimester, she felt like a different person.
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In this week’s bonus episode I chat to Kellee from @littlehumanlinens about her three births. As an emergency nurse, she had to consciously let go of the need to manage her own pregnancy and birth and instead place her trust in her midwife. She speaks candidly about her emotional response to becoming a mother and the identity crisis that followed; the inevitable ups and downs of postpartum that all mums experience to some extent. She also navigated the tricky reality of a baby with hip dysplasia and severe tongue tie.
She decided to birth at home with her third after experiencing a very speedy second birth. “Homebirth felt like the safest option for me because as soon as labour began a midwife would come to my house to look after me. It just felt right. Good, solid, safe home birth is a really amazing option and for us it was just perfect. It took away a lot of anxiety for me.”
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In this week’s episode I interview Liana who, at 9 weeks pregnant, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She admits that she went into survival mode when her doctor delivered the news and from then on was determined to do everything she could to deliver a healthy baby. Regardless of surgery and six months of chemotherapy, Liana remained positive and nurtured a positive mindset so she could embrace her pregnancy despite the almighty upheavals. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Liana’s story highlights the importance of breast checks and breast awareness. For more information about breast screening, visit bcna.org.au
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Bannie shares suffered terrible morning sickness during her pregnancy which she had under the care of a private Obstetrician. Bannie, a yoga teacher and owner of @fortgreen yoga studio in Melbourne’s north. Crippled with nausea and vomiting in her first trimester, she was physically and mentally challenged by the rapid changes to her body and was relieved when her second trimester gave her renewed energy and strength. She practised yoga throughout her pregnancy, flowing through asanas with newfound flexibility (thanks to a burst of relaxin), bonding with her baby and creating mental space and awareness that she would utilise in her labour. She birthed in the private hospital under the care of her obstetrician and went home after four days with a deep appreciation for her body and its innate power. Inspired to support pregnant women and new mothers, she is currently training to be a pre and postnatal yoga teacher.
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In this week’s episode I interview ABC journalist, Johanna Nicholson who details the highs and lows of her five year journey to conceive and birth her baby boy, Henry. Unexplained infertility affects up 15% of Australian couples and for Jo and her husband James, it was a long and sometimes frustrating road. They eventually opted for IVF and after the heartbreaking loss of their first pregnancy, Jo conceived Henry and carried him to full term. She recalls her birth experience with reverence, detailing every step of the journey from induction and cesarean birth to the trip home from hospital and the sleepy, beautiful, challenging first few weeks.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Jessica Prescott who is the author of three vegan cookbooks including the newly released Vegan One-Pot Wonders and co-founder of Melbourne-based Mama Goodness an organic food delivery service for new mums. She talks us through her two homebirths - one in Berlin and one in Melbourne - and compares her labour, delivery and postpartum experiences. It was the stark contrast between her births and breastfeeding experiences, which she discusses in detail, that have encouraged her to pursue a career as a postpartum doula. Jess’ story is heartwarming, funny and informative and it really emphasises the importance of community and support during the postpartum period.
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For this week's episode and in honour of Infant Loss Week, I interview Annabel Bower who takes us through her experience of stillbirth and the immense, layered grief that followed. Two weeks after her fourth child - a boy named Miles - was born still, she started writing about her experience so she could record all the little details that she knew would eventually fade. As she journeyed through grief that stripped all colour from her world, she documented the days and weeks of life after loss and went on to interview women who had experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss. The finished project is her book, Miles Apart, a heartfelt offering of support for those who have lost a baby and are enduring the incomprehensible grief. Annabel hopes that her words break the stigma and the silence of miscarriage and stillbirth and open a vital conversation for us all to have.
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In today’s episode I interview Ellie Bullen about the birth of her baby boy Bowie. Ellie discovered she was pregnant sooner than she had expected however he was a very welcomed surprise. As she was a first time mum, Ellie decided to book in with a private Obstetrician so that she could have continuity of care through a private hospital near by to her home. Ellie and her husband Alex took a private Hypnobirthing Australia course to prepare for a low intervention and relaxed water birth.
Ellie’s identical twin sister made the journey back to the Gold Coast from Bali during Covid and was required to isolate in a hotel for 14days when she arrived. Ellie was able to drop off parcels and wave to her from outside and they both crossed their fingers that Ellie wouldn't go into labour early.
To hear more about how Elli’s birth unfolded, tune into this week’s episode.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Sarah, a mother of two and midwife who cherishes the work she does with pregnant women. When it came time to birth her first baby, she experienced a truly beautiful water birth in the birth centre surrounded by her fellow midwives. Her second pregnancy was symptom-free until her waters broke at 25weeks. She takes us through her experience, from the denial of what was happening to the frightening realisation that she would be delivering her baby at 25weeks via classical cesarean and then the stress, grief and elation of NICU life. Sarah offers heartfelt, practical advice for NICU parents, discusses the beauty and challenge of breastfeeding a premature baby and lists the practical things she did everyday to work through her worry and grief. Her micro-preemie, Chloe, is now an energetic, inquisitive two-year-old and Sarah is more passionate than ever about supporting new mothers.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Jodie about her two planned cesarean births. When she was 18-months-old, she was diagnosed with a fistula which was repaired shortly afterwards. The issue arose again when she was 11 and after surgery she was told she would never be able to birth naturally. She remembers feeling sad that her choice had been taken away from her but when it came time to prepare for her first birth, she felt empowered by her knowledge and was comforted by her supportive obstetrician.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Stevie about her pregnancy and birth with baby Jimmy. After struggling to conceive and experiencing painful periods for as long as she can remember, Stevie saw a fertility specialist and was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, hyperthyroidism and endometriosis. A few months after a laparoscopy she fell pregnant and had a smooth and symptom-free pregnancy. She recalls the details of her labour and cesarean birth as well as the challenge of those first few days when she was exhausted, in pain and struggling to breastfeed.
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In honour of Father’s Day, I took the opportunity to interview five dads about their experience of pregnancy and birth. They each talk candidly about birth preparation and the highs and lows of the labour ward, in particular the mental and emotional challenges of seeing their wives labour through pain and intervention. Throughout their stories they share advice and top tips for dads-to-be which are beautifully relevant for the birth day and the postpartum period. I really enjoyed gleaning a different perspective for this episode and I’m so grateful for the humour and insight that each of the men shared with me.
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In this week’s episode, I chat to Oceane, a midwife and mother of three who so generously shares the beautiful, intricate details of her two homebirths. She also tells the story of her wife’s birth and the journey they have taken to become parents with donor sperm and IVF, the logic involved in deciding who will be pregnant and the joy of breastfeeding at the same time. Oceane’s story is inspiring, informative and heartwarming and the video of baby Emmeline’s arrival captures the euphoria of supported and trusted family-centred birth.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Melanie Dimmitt about her two births and her experience as a special needs mum. Mel talks us through the moment she was in the hospital with her first baby, Arlo, awaiting an induction. She was watching the fetal heart rate monitor when she noticed a dramatic fall in Arlo’s heartbeat. Ten minutes later he was born via emergency cesarean and once awake, Mel was wheeled into NICU to meet her baby boy. Mel and her husband Rohan stayed positive in the months that followed but when Arlo was six-month-old he was given a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and they started a daily treatment plan with a variety of specialists. Overwhelmed by their new reality, Mel used her journalism skills to reach out to a variety of special needs parents. The result is @the_special_book; an uplifting companion for parents who are navigating their child’s diagnosis in an often overwhelming (and initially terrifying) special needs world.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Julia Busuttil Nishimura @juliaostro about her journey into motherhood and the obstacles she faced in her first year with both her boys, Haruki and Yukito. She chose midwifery care for her pregnancies and ventured into each labour feeling prepared and supported. Her births were challenging albeit positive experiences yet her postpartum experience with breastfeeding and anxiety has been difficult. Julia shares her breast and bottle feeding experience and discusses the importance of psychological support for new mums, particularly in the first year when overwhelm and loneliness can outweigh the beauty and joy. Breaking down the stigmas attached to mental health and postpartum is essential and it starts right here, in the sharing of honest and heartfelt stories.
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In this week’s episode I interview Kate, one third of the @kipandco team. Kate birthed three of her boys at home with the support of her midwife and she used hip-opening practises and active birth techniques during labour to help her achieve a water birth every time. She’s always been grateful for the opportunity to create a homebirth space, one where she envisioned her happiest moments occurring. So when she discovered, at 29 weeks in her second pregnancy, that her baby had died, she opted to birth in hospital with the unwavering support of her husband, her midwife and a team of empathetic nurses. Kate shares her grief of those days with profound vulnerability and talks about her healing journey in the years that followed. It was an honour to hear your story, Kate. Thank you so much for sharing.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Carla, a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and the co-founder of @thegoldenmonth, a traditional postnatal care service for modern mothers. Carla works closely with women at all stages of their fertility journey so when she discovered she was pregnant, she knew a lot about the highs and lows of pregnancy. However, nothing could prepare her for the debilitating reflux, the lack of sleep and a labour that progressed slowly and painfully over three long days. Carla is open and honest about the relief of an emergency cesarean, the despair and regret that arose weeks afterward and the grief of miscarriage, an experience she couldn’t imagine until she was in the midst of it.
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In this week's episode I chat to Jody Mustang about her two natural births with midwifery care. Intent on experiencing a non-medicated birth with her first baby, Jody embraced a variety of preparation techniques that she used during pregnancy and labour (affirmations, visualisations and breathing skills) and they gave her the confidence to trust her body despite the concerns of the obstetricians on the ward. Her second pregnancy took an unexpected turn in her third trimester when her husband made the call to move from LA back to NSW at the start of the pandemic. Jody shifted her mindset to embrace a new birth plan and she subsequently experienced an empowering and quick delivery. Informative and inspiring, Jody’s story is proof that knowledge is most definitely power.
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In this week’s bonus episode I chat to Alex - @alexandrenaparker - who lives with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease that affects her lung and digestive function. Alex, her husband Mike and their three-year-old daughter, Ruby, have been in strict isolation for 136 days as she is incredibly vulnerable. As masks become mandatory in Melbourne, I urge you to listen to Alex’s insightful story and learn a bit about her life (and her pregnancy) with chronic illness. At this stage, Alex anticipates that she’ll be in lockdown for the remainder of the year. However, if we as a community can wear masks, stay home and limit the spread, she’ll hopefully be able to reintegrate sooner rather than later. I’m so inspired by her story, her strength and perseverance and mostly, her gratitude and perspective in these uncertain times.
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In this week’s episode I interview Heidi Anderson about her journey into motherhood and the challenge of the days and weeks post-birth. After being told by her GP that it would be a miracle to fall pregnant naturally, Heidi fell on her first attempt. She was so shocked that she admits to feeling ungrateful for the first few weeks as she grappled with the inevitable and sudden change to her career and lifestyle. Once the doubt and first trimester nausea had passed, she embraced her pregnancy despite a Gestational Diabetes diagnosis and actively prepared for her labour with hypnobirth techniques. She was induced at 39.5 weeks, she birthed via cesarean and her baby boy, Memphis, spent his first few days in NICU with low blood sugar levels. Heidi is brutally honest about her experience as a new mum and she emphasises the importance of preparing not only for your birth but for the fourth trimester, too.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Amanda Callan who shares the unique and somewhat overwhelming experience of discovering she was pregnant with twins at 26 weeks. Having experienced a hospital and homebirth previously, she opted to keep her community midwife on for the postpartum period and sought the care and guidance of a private obstetrician who supported her plans for a natural twin birth without epidural. Amanda talks candidly about the emotional journey of bringing the twins into the world and the mental and physical challenge of birthing one baby, bonding with him and then preparing to birth the second. She offers a refreshing insight into the complexities of twin birth whilst also reflecting on the births of her older children. Consider it a must-listen.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Jame, a mother of three and the owner of @earth.blended. Jame lives on Gumbaynggirr country, is a proud Gumbaynggirr Nyami (woman) and she talks from the heart about her three births, including the trauma of emergency cesarean and the anxiety and grief of having a sick child with a life-threatening condition. While she had always longed for a natural birth, it wasn’t until she fell pregnant with her third son that she listened to her intuition and consciously prepared for a VBAC2, an experience that filled her with immense pride and left her in complete awe. Jame’s story goes full circle, from the shock of hearing she needed an emergency cesarean with her first to the redemptive and healing experience of birthing and delivering her third and then having the opportunity to bask in an uninterrupted golden hour with her newborn.
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In this week’s episode I chat to midwife and mother of five, Anna Davies. While her first and second pregnancies were big surprises she went on to experience smooth and straightforward deliveries. Her third birth was a dream water birth that left her wanting just one more baby so no one was more surprised than her when she discovered she was pregnant with twins. She sought a private midwife and an OB for her twin birth and declined the recommendation for a precautionary epidural, successfully delivering naturally with her second twin being a footling breech. Anna brings a wealth of knowledge to her stories and discusses a range of common labour and birth experiences.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Stacey June about her fertility journey and homebirth. When Stacey first met her husband, Ben, he was open about his experience with pancreatic cancer and his wishes to become a father. Stacey knew that their journey to parenthood would be assisted but it was a non-issue for her; she knew Ben was the one and they started their first IUI treatment within nine months of meeting. Stacey talks from the heart about assisted conception, conscious birth preparation and her empowering birth experience.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Natalia @wildearthexpeditions about her two home water births with her daughters Estelle and Coco. Natalia’s story encapsulates her connection with her Indigenous family, the Ngarrindjeri people of South Australia. During her first visit to country she learnt to weave with her elders, a traditional ritual to welcome a woman into motherhood and only three months later she was pregnant. She embraced Indigenous rituals for her births and later buried the placentas on country in the same place her ancestors had buried theirs. Natalia tells a rich, beautiful story of birth and culture and speaks so eloquently about the mind body connection during labour that it’s honestly hard to capture it in words. Go listen, there’s so much learn from her.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Kat about her dreamy homebirth with baby Rafi. As the eldest of seven children, Kat always knew she wanted to be a young mum and she approached the start of her pregnancy with as much preparation as she did her birth; adjusting her diet, connecting with her baby and practising conscious conception with her partner, Tully. Their home among the gumtrees was an idyllic space to bring their firstborn into the world and they did so with the support of their midwife, doula and birth photographer. Kat talks at length about her postpartum period, the benefits of rest and her choice to slowly and gently re-enter the world after giving birth.
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In this week’s episode I talk to Aimee who was born with Hirschsprung's disease, a congenital bowel disease that led to over 50 operations and procedures by the time she was 7. In her early twenties, she was advised to start trying for a baby as her reproductive organs were ageing at a rapid rate and after failing to fall pregnant naturally, she started a challenging, long and deflating IVF journey. Years later, after 8 attempts and the conscious decision to stop trying, Aimee’s sister offered to be a surrogate. Aimee’s experience is unique and achingly beautiful; a story of resilience, sisterhood and the ultimate, most magical gift.
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In this week’s episode I chat to midwife and mum of four, Jas Summerfield After a quick 45minute labour with her third baby which resulted in a car birth, Jas always knew that her fourth baby would be born at home, surrounded by family. She also knew that her mindset would dictate how she coped during labour so essential oils and reiki got her in the zone and once in the birth pool she laboured without pain and delivered her baby into the hands of her eldest daughter, Quinn. Jas’ story is both informative and inspiring, I think you’ll really love it.
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In this week’s episode I interview Bridget from @midnightmums about her third pregnancy and postpartum experience. Bridget had been so excited about having another baby and yet for the first half of her pregnancy she was absolutely floored by nausea, exhaustion and breathlessness. She came up with a myriad of excuses for herself and simply put it down to tiredness and the reality of growing a baby and looking after two busy boys. However, when she mentioned her breathing troubles to her OB, alarms bells rang and he sent her for a myriad of tests. She was diagnosed with blood clots on the lungs and had to endure twice-daily injections of blood thinning medication for the rest of her pregnancy and till three-months postpartum.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Flick about the births of her two children, Arnie (4) and April (4 weeks). It’s been seven years since she first went off the pill with the intention of starting a family and throughout that time she has endured the heartache of infertility, PCOS diagnosis, multiple miscarriages and failed IVF attempts. Her first birth was an induction that ended in an emergency cesarean and her second a successful and joyous VBAC. However, despite achieving her dream birth, Flick did so during coronoavirus and has subsequently experienced expectational grief; grieving what she thought her birth and postpartum period would be like.
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In this week’s episode I chat to Holly about her two natural births that were, in almost every way, polar opposites. She journeyed towards her first birth, with daughter Della, believing that her body would do the job and relying on relating breathing techniques. Subsequently, she experienced a smooth and joyous water birth. Three years on and she was told by almost everyone that her second birth would be quick and easy, especially considering her experience the first time around. However, Holly endured a long, challenging labour that pushed her to her limits and proved that birth expectations can be deceiving.
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In this week’s episode I have a beautiful chat with Montana Lower. If you know Montana, you’ll know her smile and you can hear it throughout her birth story as she recalls the spiritual journey of bringing her daughter, Blue, earthside. She talks in detail about her deep connection to her body, breath and unborn baby and her ability to listen to her intuition, use her birth skills and subsequently experience a gentle, love-filled water birth. Montana’s story is an incredibly positive and inspiring one despite the challenge of birthing amidst bushfires and navigating new motherhood during the isolation of coronavirus.
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In today’s episode I talk to Bonnie, a mother of two and midwifery student who guides us through her experience with antenatal anxiety and depression. With unflinching honesty, she recalls the confusing grief of miscarriage, her battle with exhaustion and nausea in early pregnancy and the subsequent motherguilt of not being able to care for her toddler. As her pregnancy progressed her mental health declined and in the middle of her third trimester her irrational mindset turned to suicidal thoughts. She courageously reached out to her husband, her psychologist and her OB and together they created a plan to carry her safely to her birth which just so happened to take place in the midst of Covid-19.
Bonnie’s story is essential listening for us all and a potent reminder that mental health and wellbeing is an integral part of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Now, more than ever, we must bolster our online community of mothers with support, empathy and kindness because in this age of coronavirus, with limited antenatal and postpartum support, we’re all a little more vulnerable. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to PANDA 1300 726 306
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In today’s episode I chat to Aleysha about her two births and, in particular, her drama-filled second birth with baby Jude in the midst of Covid-19. In the days leading up to Jude’s arrival, Aleysha’s husband, a paramedic, had possible exposure to Covid-19 when he transferred a patient. It was only two hours before they had to go to the hospital that they got the all clear for him to attend although there were very strict rules in place. So began a positive and incredibly healing birth experience that was as exciting as it was overwhelming.
Topics include: Reduced foetal movement, placenta, induction, balloon catheter, afterbirth, haemorrhage, PPH, manual removal of placenta, missed miscarriage, Covid-19, coronavirus, hypnobirth
Today's episode is brought to you by
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In today’s episode I talk to Anna @annamcgahan about her beautiful VBAC in the midst of Covid-19. She describes her second birth, with daughter Juniper, as a birth of juxtapositions: an induced, drug-free, hospitalised, hypnobirth VBAC. It’s a birth story complete with an incredibly positive induction, strong midwife support, unwavering faith in body and mind and the immense healing of redemptive birth after trauma.
I interviewed Anna about her first birth in episode #61. She talks in detail about her very rare placental abruption at 33weeks which was only discovered when she stopped feeling foetal movements (primary symptoms are pain and bleeding but Anna had neither). Mercy was born via emergency cesarean and stayed in the NICU for weeks before Anna and husband Jonathan took her home.
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In today’s special Covid-19 episode, I chat to Samantha who birthed her second daughter 12 days ago. On the day before her waters broke, Samantha took her toddler to the GP as she was showing signs of coronavirus (fever, cough, wheezing) and they opted to play it safe and get tested. Subsequently, Samantha was assigned extra precaution at every step of her birthing journey; she was in a pressurised room at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, all her caregivers wore full personal protective equipment (PPE) and both she and her husband had to wear masks. Despite the extra level of protection, Samantha was supported and cared for in the best possible way and her story is encouraging and comforting, especially for those women due to give birth in the next few weeks and months.
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In today’s episode I chat to Gemma Pranita about her second pregnancy and birth with her baby boy, Iggy. Gemma is the first to admit that pregnancy is not her friend and while she had a challenging time in her first pregnancy (listen to the story in ) her most recent experience brought her to her knees. She was overwhelmed with severe nausea and vomiting till 18 weeks, she then developed early onset PUPPPs rash which resulted in weeks and weeks of severe itching and subsequent sleeplessness and in her third trimester pubic symphysis and pelvic separation made walking very painful.
The start of Gemma’s pregnancy was an entirely different story. With her daughter, Raffaella, she spent close to two years trying to conceive, before she resorted to Intrauterine Insemination IUI (she describes it as a beautiful stepping stone to IVF). Gemma admits that unexplained infertility is a very frustrating journey and not one she would wish upon anyone: “You want to know what the problem is so you can find the solution and when you’re told there’s nothing wrong and you’re just in the waiting zone…you just want to bang your head against the wall.”
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In today’s episode I chat to Jessica Smith - @jessicasmith27 - about her third birth with baby Idris. Jessica is a former Paralympic swimmer, motivational speaker, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant and author. You can listen to her talk about her first two vaginal births on episode 33 of the podcast.
Jessica and her husband moved to Dubai with their children Ayla (3) and Reza (1) in January 2019. Not long after settling into their new home, Jessica woke up one morning and was craving foods she hadn’t eaten in a long time and she knew, in that very moment, that she was pregnant. She hadn’t had a period in 16months as she was still breastfeeding Reza so the discovery came as a huge surprise. She was also in a new country and had to navigate the maternity system with very little information or guidance. After discussing the option to travel back to Australia to birth or temporarily visit Glasgow in the UK (her husband’s hometown), Jessica decided to stay in Dubai and seek the advice of the expat community.
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In today’s episode, I interview Jodi Wilson. Jodi shares the pregnancies and births of her four children. As a yoga teacher and childbirth educator, Jodi brings a beautiful perspective to her interview. She even shares some breathing techniques and tools she used in her births. Whilst each of Jodi’s births was drug-free and under the care of midwives, they were all quite unique in their own way. Her third and most challenging birth almost ended in an emergency caesarean section and this traumatic experience left her quite anxious going into her fourth birth. To hear more about Jodi’s experiences tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode I talk to Leah about her two IVF pregnancies and, in particular, her second birth that resulted in a PTSD diagnosis at six-months postpartum. It’s a pertinent discussion about women’s birth rights and the imperative role of educated and supportive caregivers. As a long-time sufferer of endometriosis, Leah and her husband tried to fall pregnant for two years before they sought the assistance of IVF
"After trying for so long, I knew when I was ovulating. I did temp tests, cheap tests and expensive tests. I did everything, including acupuncture, but it just didn’t work….I don’t feel like there’s a lot of information that explains why it’s harder to fall pregnant. I’ve had five surgeries and they did the final one three months before the IVF cycle, if there’s adhesions I know that they can prevent conception,” she says.
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In today’s episode, I interview Simone Haag. Simone shares her six pregnancies and three births. Sadly Simone’s first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage and she went on to fall pregnant soon after. She asked around and decided to book in with a private OBGYN her friend had seen working out of Epworth. During her third trimester, they discovered that Simone’s little girl was in the breech position. Her Obgyn explained that she was not comfortable performing a breech delivery and if she was unable to get her to turn then Simone would need to have a casarean. Despite seeing an acupuncturist and trying a multitude of recommended techniques, she didn’t turn and Simone had a planned caesarean. To hear how Simone went on to have two more babies delivered vaginally as VBACs tune into this weeks episode.
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In today’s special episode for International Women’s Day, I chat to Australian actress Claire Holt. Claire lives in LA with her husband, Andrew and their baby boy, James.
After spending close to 15 years on birth control, it took Claire’s body six months to establish a regular period once she went off the pill. On her second cycle, much to her shock and delight, she conceived.
At her 10week scan she discovered that she’d experience a missed miscarriage (a miscarriage with no symptoms) and she admits that the experience was incredibly traumatic.
"I don’t know how to describe it; it was such an overwhelming sense of loss and it was so much more significant than I had ever realised. I knew that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage but…It almost diminishes the weight of it because it’s so common…I just didn’t realise how quickly you become attached to the baby,” she says.
Claire had a D+C and talks about the importance of grieving and healing. She wasn’t ready to fall pregnant straight away so she took a few months to get her body and mind back before she decided to try again.
James was conceived 5 months later and whilst Claire was elated, she was also fraught with anxiety. “I took pregnancy tests everyday, I got a blood test and was desperate for an early ultrasound. Each time I had a scan I was so panicked that I’d see a baby without a heartbeat. I was anxious until the moment he was in my arms.”
Claire experienced a relatively smooth pregnancy although she showed early and James measured big, hence she was overwhelmed by the comments from people remarking on her size. Never perturbed, she continued to see her OBGYB and doula, who both guided her through her anxieties and fears.
She scheduled an induction at 39weeks to fit with her OBGYN’s schedule and to give herself the best opportunity to have a natural birth (considering James’ size). After experiencing a week of false labour, she had a stretch and sweep and lost her mucus plug mere hours later.
Topics include: miscarriage, missed miscarriage, birth control, natural birth, OBGYN, foley balloon, induction, walking epidural, natural birth, shoulder dystocia, postpartum anxiety.
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In today’s episode I interview Sarah Harris - @6.little.wildflowers. Sarah and her husband Rhys live on a sheep station in far west NSW and they have travelled a 200km dirt road to Mildura, the closest large town, for all six of Sarah’s births.
For women who live in rural and remote Australia, it’s not uncommon to move to the closest town in the weeks leading up to their due date so they can access midwifery or obstetric care. Sarah’s body always gave her a sign that labour was imminent and so she stayed at home for her six pregnancies and made it to the hospital with plenty of time to spare.
She’s spent the past 10 years growing, birthing and feeding babies and regardless of the fact that baby number five and six were surprises, she’s adamant that there’s no more. After losing her first pregnancy in an early miscarriage, she went on to conceive Isabelle and admits that she was very blasé when it came to birth preparation and awareness.
“I had no idea what I was doing and to be honest, the only thing I read about birth was from a magazine,” she says. After having a show and mild contractions, Sarah and Rhys made their way to Mildura Hospital and were largely left on their own. “I was an absolute mess, really. I was yelling and crying and it was only when Rhys went out to get someone that they came in and noticed that Isabelle was crowning. I just remember thinking that I needed to get her out and stop the pain and so I pushed without breathing and that resulted in a second degree tear.”
In the days that followed they had a steady stream of visitors and Sarah struggled with breastfeeding because of oversupply and flat nipples. It was only when Sharon, a well-known Mildura-based midwife came in on day four that everything changed for her. “She basically said we needed to go back to the beginning so she drained my breasts with the pump - I never knew a breast pump even existed - and then gave me nipple shields to use and thankfully, they made all the difference.”
Isabelle was a very settled baby and Sarah fell pregnant again when she was only 8months old. She enjoyed a very smooth, easy pregnancy and despite being heavily pregnant in summer (with temperatures often in the high 40s) she has only fond memories of the last trimester. Her labour started with aches in the right hip and down the leg and once they got to hospital, labour was very quick.
“Ruby’s birth was one of my easiest with quite short, sharp and irregular contractions to begin with. It was only 2 hours long and I felt absolutely amazing afterwards,” she says. Once again, she had trouble with feeding and used nipple shields to feed. Whilst Ruby is now 8, a recent trip to the dentist confirmed that she has a tongue and lip tie and Sarah is certain this was the cause of her difficult latch as a baby.
Sarah loved having two babies under two and only waited to have a third because she was maid of honour at her best friend’s wedding. The gap between Ruby and Ava is her biggest and coincidentally, Ava’s pregnancy and birth was Sarah’s hardest (another example of a tricky third birth!). At 39weeks she went out in the ute with friends and after bouncing about in the paddock she noticed her water’s breaking that night during dinner. The next day she went to hospital in early labour - thinking that it would be a quick progression - and yet labour dragged on. After the birth she had a postpartum hemorrhage and lost 600ML of blood. “I was wrecked! I couldn’t get off the bed of even move and Rhys just held Ava while I recovered.”
Ava self-weaned at nine months old and Sarah admits that she was devastated. “I expressed for a few months and bottle fed her but once I realised that it was just in her personality, I accepted it. She did everything early - walked, talked - it’s just who she is.”
Regardless of Ava’s challenging delivery, Sarah was excited to add a fourth baby to the family and she experienced a smooth and joyful delivery with Poppy. It was the first time that Sarah had the opportunity to give birth in the public hospital and have postnatal care in the private hospital and she relished the 5-day holiday she had with Rhys by her side.
Thinking that her baby days were over, Sarah sought treatment for her painful varicose veins that had gotten progressively worse with each pregnancy. She had laser treatment followed by injections and it was before one of her treatments that she realised her period was late. She knew she couldn’t have the injection if she was pregnant so she drove 200km to buy a pregnancy test, did it on the side of the road and when she got home, told Rhys they were expecting baby number 5.
Regardless of the fact that a psychic had told her she would have lots of children, Sarah took a long time to get her head around the fact that she was pregnant. “I found it really hard to cope with the sickness considering it wasn’t planned but as soon as sickness went away I was fine. I saw an obstetrician this time around because it was the only way I could have the postpartum care in the private hospital and labour was gentle and easy. A friend had given me a bottle of clary sage so we used it to get the contractions going and literally ten minutes after it was applied, Clementine was born (after only 30minutes of active labour!).”
They left hospital thinking it would be the last time and yet 16months later, as she was preparing to have another injection for her varicose veins, Sarah felt the familiar symptoms of early pregnancy nausea. They waited till she was 18weeks to announce the pregnancy to family and friends as they were a little concerned about how people would react. Thankfully they were only met with happiness.
Sarah embraced planned a babymoon to Noosa and booked a birth photographer for the first time. She was under the care of the midwives in Mildura who were very laid back and let Sarah guide them in her labour. She resumed her default birthing position (on her knees on the bed) and birthed baby Posie after 45minutes of active labour.
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In today’s episode, I interview Hannah Vasicek. Hannah shares her pregnancy and birth of her little girl Vienna. At 10 weeks Hannah found out she was having a little girl and she had the name Vienna picked for her girl's name for years so they immediately began calling her by her name. At 12 weeks gestation when they went in for their ultrasound, Hannah noticed the sonographer was taking a long time and she then left the room to get someone else to come and have a look. Hannah’s heart sank fearing the worst. The doctor explained that Vienna had a very rare condition called Amniotic Band Syndrome. Amniotic band syndrome is a rare condition caused by strands of the amniotic sac that separate and entangle digits, limbs, or other parts of the fetus. It is believed that amniotic band syndrome occurs when the inner membrane (amnion) ruptures, or tears, without injury to the outer membrane (chorion).
They were unable to be certain however they believed that the band had attached on Vienna’s right arm. They wouldn’t know exactly until the 20 weeks scan where about the band had attached and how much of Vienna’s right arm would be affected. To hear how Vienna’s birth unfolded tune into this week’s episode.
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In today’s episode I chat to Amy Gerard who discusses her three pregnancies and births with the honesty and humour that she’s so well known for on instagram. Amy and Ryan had only been dating for seven months when they unexpectedly fell pregnant with their daughter, Charli. Amy suffered severe nausea, migraines and nosebleeds and later into the pregnancy developed Polyhydramnios; a condition that creates excess amniotic fluid. As a result, Amy gained 30kg and when her waters broke at 37weeks, she lost 15kg in fluid overnight.
After going into the birth centre for a stretch and sweep, Amy returned home to labour but whenever she called the hospital to update them on her progress, they encouraged her to stay at home and come in the following day. She admits she felt really unsupported and was understandably upset. Eventually she heeded the advice of her mum who encouraged her to present to the birthing suite. At this stage she was stressed and anxious and not coping with the growing intensity of her contractions. “I had no idea what to expect…I had no idea what was happening and where I was at. I had fear of the unknown and it had gripped me,” she says.
After requesting an epidural, the anaesthetist had to administer it three times before it worked as Amy’s excess fluid made it very difficult to find the exact spot. Once she was pain-free she happily laboured for a few hours till she reached full dilation and when the epidural started wearing off she began pushing. Second stage took roughly 40minutes and Amy admits that she dug deep to access energy that she never knew she had. Charli fed well from the start and whilst Amy felt like she had been hit by a freight train, she returned home after two nights and settled well into new motherhood. However, she admits that the emotional rollercoaster of the first few weeks took her by surprise; she was teary, anxious and exhausted and perplexed by the fact that her new baby didn’t come with a how-to guide.
Eleven months later Amy and Ryan got married and she fell pregnant soon after with baby Bobby. Bobby’s pregnancy was a very smooth ride and apart from six weeks of antenatal depression during her second trimester, Amy enjoyed the whole experience. However, late in her third trimester she started to get itchy hands and feet, so much so that she would scratch at her palms with a hairbrush and brush her hands against brick walls. She casually mentioned it to her midwife at her 37weeks appointment who sent her straight for a blood test. The results came back the following day and her bile acid levels were incredibly high; she was diagnosed with Cholestasis and induced a few days afterward.
“The drip was administered and my waters broke and then I closed my eyes and lay there, listening to my music and focusing on my breathing. Ryan was rubbing the bottom of my leg and as the contractions were building I completely zoned out and thought about the lady in my calm birth classes who taught me about breathing techniques,” she says. Her midwife encouraged her to focus on opening her bottom with each exhalation and before long she felt like she was ready to push. “I was like: Yes, I did it! I pushed him out in 14 minutes! From when the drip went in to holding him in my arms was 90 minutes. I honestly felt great!”
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In today’s episode I chat with Chloe Mackie. Chloe has two children - Sunny (3) and Maya (2 weeks) - and is a midwife with a passion for antenatal care. “I want to empower women with knowledge and education. Ultimately I want to work in Midwife Group Practice or private midwifery because I believe that every woman should have the opportunity to have a known care provider through pregnancy and birth,” she says.
Chloe was working at the Gold Coast University Hospital when she and husband, Jason, started trying for a baby. After two years and a few miscarriages, they sought the advice of a fertility specialist who told them they had unexplained infertility. In the months following they did three rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) but to no avail. Chloe found the experience to be emotionally taxing so on the fourth month she opted to have a break. She decided to go back to the basics - yoga, acupuncture and improving her holistic health - and she fell pregnant naturally on her next cycle.
Topics include: Hyperemesis, infertility, posterior, sterile water injections, acupuncture, side-lying release, asynclitism, group a strep, septicemia,
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In today’s episode I chat to naturopath and nutritionist, Kate Dalton of Mayde Tea. Kate lives in Byron Bay with her partner, Ryan and their baby girl, Alfie May.
As soon as Kate fell pregnant - within the first month of trying - she sought the advice of her GP and fellow naturopath. Kate has a Bicornuate Uterus (where the top of the uterus is shaped like a love heart instead of being round) which prompted her to book in with an OB at Lismore Hospital.
The severity of a Bicornuate Uterus is only known when you’re pregnant and the risks can be that the baby is stuck on one side of the uterus and essentially outgrows the space and prompts premature labour. Breech position is also common because once the baby gets into position, there’s no space for it to turn. Kate’s family has a history of breech births and because she wanted to attempt a vaginal delivery - regardless of whether the baby was head or bum down - she chose an OB who specialises in vaginal breech delivery.
Kate’s pregnancy symptoms were relatively mild although she admits that the vicious cycle of anxiety and insomnia was ever present during her first trimester. She embraced herbs, pregnancy multivitamins, fish oil and probiotics to keep her body in its best state and religiously drank her own blend of sleepy tea, Serenity.
After seeking recommendations from friends, Kate and Ryan did a calm birth course in preparation for Alfie’s birth. “Ryan loved the course; he was getting into it and answering all the questions. It made him excited and subsequently it made me really confident,” she says.
Despite a relatively smooth pregnancy, Kate became quite anxious in the third trimester. She was carrying small and when the midwives measured her fundal height, she was always measuring five weeks behind, hence she required extra monitoring and ultrasounds. “I know women get offended when people remark on how big they are but it’s equally offensive when people comment on how small you are…you can’t help but take it all on board,” she says.
After thinking that she would go into labour early, Kate was 40 weeks + 10 days when she first started to feel a bit over the pregnancy. She had a massage that evening and a few hours later her waters broke. After one trip to hospital and a drive home, they were admitted hours later after it was discovered that there were traces of meconium in her waters. Her OB suggested induction and whilst Kate was confronted by the decision (she hadn’t heard many positive induction stories and was understandably anxious) she believed that it was the best choice for her and Alfie.
Once she was hooked up to the syntocin drip and heart rate monitor, she stayed mobile to encourage the progression of contractions. She laboured well for the following hours and went from being on all fours with Ryan squeezing her hips during contractions to getting in the shower for the relief of hot water. At 4pm her OB checked her and discovered that she was 1cm with a cervical lip which he removed and stretched her to 4cm. Afterwards, with an increase of syntocin the contractions grew in intensity and Kate felt like she was losing control of her breathing.
“I got on all fours on the bed and I started using the gas which helped me slow down my breathing. Throughout my whole labour I used the calm birth technique of breathing in for six counts and out for six counts. I started getting really bad back pain and a new midwife came in and she just knew what to do. I was at the stage where I was overwhelmed and couldn’t make decisions so having someone direct and guide me was so welcome,” says Kate. She was given water injections in her back - four needles at pressure points - to help relieve the back pain and it worked instantly and lasted for about an hour.
“I was asking for every pain relief under the sun even though my birth plan was to have no pain relief and an all natural experience. But at that point I didn’t care about my birth plan...obviously this was me going through transition,” says Kate. She admits that she felt quite exposed being on the bed but once she got into the bath she felt safe and calm and before long she could feel her body pushing, despite the midwives’ warnings that she had to wait for the OB to return.
Topics include: Bicornuate Uterus, peri-natal anxiety, induction, meconium, water injections, water birth, calm birth
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In today’s episode, I talk to Libby Trickett about her third birth with baby Bronte. You can hear her first and second birth stories including details of high blood pressure, induction and post-natal depression in episode 106.
After taking a year to fall pregnant with her second daughter, Edwina, Libby and husband Luke decided to start trying for their third baby sooner rather than later. Libby has PCOS and knows how difficult conception can be so no-one was more shocked than her when she fell pregnant within the first cycle. With a history of difficult pregnancies, including constant nausea and vomiting, Libby was grateful to experience a relatively easy pregnancy although she now admits that a smooth pregnancy definitely doesn’t make for an easy birth experience. She was under the care of Obstetrician Rob Butler and opted to birth at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane.
In her 34th week, Libby was diagnosed with high-blood pressure, the earliest she had ever developed it during her three pregnancies. For the first time she had to be medicated and was required to stay overnight for monitoring during her 35th week. Thankfully, she made it to 38weeks and opted to be induced to minimise the chance of developing pre-eclampsia.
At 6am on the morning of induction, gel was applied to Libby’s cervix and so began a day of waiting. In the early afternoon, she made her way down to the birthing suite so her OB could check her. Her body usually takes a while to move into labour so she wasn’t surprised when she discovered that she hadn’t dilated but everyone was shocked to learn that baby Bronte had flipped from head down to breech. To hear how Bronte’s birth unfolds tune into this great episode.
PCOS, post-natal depression, high-blood pressure, induction, ECV, ARM, breech, emergency cesarean, hand presentationIf you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click
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On today’s show I interview Mel and she shares the birth of her little girl Navy. After being together for seven years and shortly after they got married, Mel and her wife Yasmin decided they wanted to have a baby and they been to explored some possible options for conceiving. As they were a same sex couple there were a few different paths they could explore. While Yasmin wanted to have children, she wasn’t particularly interested in actually carrying a baby, whilst Mel really wanted to carry a baby. So they decided to go down the path of partner IVF. Partner IVF involved Yasmin’s eggs being collected, a third party donor being selected for fertilisation and Mel then carrying their baby.
During the IVF process Yasmin developed hyperstimulation syndrome and became quite unwell. To hear how Mel and Jasmine took Hypnobirthing Australia course through Belly2Birth with Shari Lyon and how their birth unfolded, tune into this week’s episode
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On this week’s episode I talk to Justine Zampogna - @justinezappa - who used hypnobirthing skills in her three natural births - one in a birth centre, one in hospital and one at home. Whilst her two births with her boys are empowering and inspiring for any woman to hear, it’s her experience with her second baby - a girl named Gigi - that will stay with you long after you listen.
In 2015, shortly after getting married, Justine fell pregnant and experienced a very smooth and joyful pregnancy. She admits that a fear of hospitals and anything medical prompted her to book in with her local birth centre. She found solace in hypnobirthing and after taking part in a course, she discovered the power of visualisation to prepare her for a positive birth experience.
“It’s very hard for the mind to differentiate between reality and visualisation. So if you haven’t had a baby before, the only thing you can depend upon is the positive visualisation you create for yourself,” she says. Interestingly, her birth was very similar to the birth she visualised whilst pregnant, proof that it really is a powerful tool for women to use in preparation. Whilst she experienced a long second stage, her labour with baby Chase was relatively quick for a first birth and once he was born and the placenta delivered, she enjoyed uninterrupted golden hours, soaking him in.
It was shortly after Chase’s third birthday that Justine fell pregnant with Gigi. She was severely sick during the first trimester and discovered at the 10 week Harmony test that she was having a girl and yet she admits that she felt like there was something not quite right.
During the standard 12-14 week ultrasound she noticed (only in retrospect) that the sonographer was taking a long time. Two days later she received a call from the doctor who requested an immediate appointment. Justine and her husband were told that their baby had a neural tube defect and that they needed to terminate.
To find out more tune into this week's show
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On this week’s episode, I talk to Madelyn who recently birthed her first baby, a girl named Georgia. Madelyn enjoyed a very smooth pregnancy, so smooth in fact that she didn’t really think about where she was going to birth until she was 20weeks pregnant. “In retrospect, I would have organised that earlier. I didn’t put enough emphasis on who to see, what to do, and the birth experience I wanted.” That said, she enjoyed the experience of shared care with her GP and the midwives at Sandringham Hospital who were, as she admits, the ideal support throughout her long labour.
Madelyn admits that she’s always wanted to be a mum and yet she had never really considered the option of a natural birth. “My mum had cesarean births and I just presumed I would have one too. When I mentioned this to my GP she informed me that I had a low-risk pregnancy and therefore needed to prepare for a natural birth,” she says.
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In today’s episode I chat to one of my Patreon supporters, Bridget French. Bridget used IVF in both her pregnancies and has experienced the highs and lows of fertility treatment. Her GP was the first to recommend a fertility specialist after running blood tests and discovering that Bridget had low AMH levels (the level of AMH in the blood can help doctors estimate the number of follicles inside the ovaries, and therefore, the woman's egg count) and an iron overload disorder called Haemochromatosis.
Bridget and husband Rich always wanted a big family so they started IVF treatment straight away and after six rounds they fell pregnant. Bridget admits that she hates taking pregnancy tests so she always relies on the definitive blood test to give her the results and when the clinic called she was, understandably, ecstatic. She experienced a bleed at six weeks and sought the advice of the IVF clinic who encouraged her to rest and explained there wasn’t much anyone could do. At the 9week mark, she bled again and went to the ED to request an emergency ultrasound which showed a strong heartbeat. The bleeds could never be explained and thankfully, they stopped at the 13-week mark.
Bridget had only completed two hospital birth classes and active birth classes before her waters broke and yet she laboured beautifully and stayed in her zone. By 11:30 am she was 5cm and regardless of her disappointment at having to lie on the bed for constant monitoring, she happily listened to Aretha Franklin and breathed deep through contractions. “I found it pretty manageable in my zone, I never got fatigued by pain and I was pushing my 2 pm. Within 4-5 pushes Molly was born and she came out breathing which was such a relief, especially for a premmie baby.”
To find out more tune into this week's show
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In today’s episode of the show I interview Liz Lim. Liz shares her two vaginal deliveries which she planned to be as water births at the Belmont Birth Centre. Liz saw a team of midwives for her care through Belmont, however when she went into labour, the centre had been closed for asbestos removal. She was sent to the John Hunter hospital where she saw a team of midwives she had not met before. Liz found her first birth quite traumatic and she did quite a lot of self study to try and prepare herself for an intervention free second birth. To her complete surprise, her labour progressed very quickly and she ended up delivering her second son in the garage with the help of her husband. They were trying to get to the birth centre however they ran out of time. To hear more of Liz’s story tune into this weeks episode.
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In today’s episode I interview Hannah aka The Sleep Nurse. After birthing her second son she recognised a gap in support when new parents come home from the hospital. She was in the throes of exhaustion and anxiety triggered from sleep deprivation when she resolved to become a sleep support for new parents. She now works with families of newborns to 5-year-olds and admits that she loves helping frustrated, tired, overwhelmed families through the newborn period that she found incredibly challenging.
Hannah’s transition from hospital to home was a unique experience with her first son, Cliff. He had spent the first four weeks of his life in NICU and Special Care after being born at 32weeks so those first days at home were actually the very first time Hannah and husband Phil had been alone with their baby. “The day that we went home...that was the day that felt like he was born. It was the best day of my life,” she says.
Eight weeks prior she had left home with a suitcase and jumped on a plane to Bali with Phil. They had been together for a year when they unexpectedly fell pregnant, embraced the surprise and moved out of a share house and into an abode of their own. Hannah had nausea and dreadful heartburn but apart from that she was gliding through a trouble-free pregnancy. Phil planned their Balinese babymoon as a surprise and they spent the first week in a remote part of the island before heading to Seminyak to shop and eat. It was during dinner with friends that Hannah first started to experience period pain cramps that came every half an hour. She didn’t think much of it, put it down to the heat and went to bed that night to sleep it off. She was 29weeks and 4 days pregnant. The next day she woke with a sore lower back, went out to shop and when it was time to have lunch she couldn’t get comfortable enough to sit down so she went back to the villa with Phil. By evening she was in the hospital; her mucous plug had come away and she was regularly contracting.
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In today’s episode I interview Amy Osmanhodzic, a hypnobirthing practitioner, birth doula and mother of four. You can listen to Amy’s firth three birth stories in episode 11 but today she chats about her fourth and final birth - a water birth in the presence of her older children.
After moving from Perth to Byron Bay and settling into their new community, Amy started working in a law firm in Lismore. Within weeks she found out she was pregnant with Daisy and while she has always wanted four children, she was shocked at first. “It took us a good few weeks to process and chat through it as it really was quite unexpected but we got there and when it came time to tell the kids, we took them to our eight-week ultrasound to find out why I’d been feeling so sick,” says Amy.
The pregnancy was smooth and uneventful even though everyday life for Amy, Kamal and the kids was busy as they started a new pizza business. Amy had always planned to have homebirths and this time was no different, in fact she was adamant that her final birth experience would be a calm and beautiful homebirth; a significant ending to this stage of her life. At 14weeks she enlisted the support of her chosen midwife, Bronwyn from Lismore Birth House, and immediately knew that she was the right caregiver. Towards the end of her pregnancy Amy met with Alex from Zandra Warland Photograph and planned to have her birth filmed. “It’s always so daunting sharing a personal birthing moment on social media but I want to continue to spread the message that birth can be beautiful and that it’s a normal and natural experience,” she says.
Her first three labours started in her 39th week of pregnancy and Daisy’s was much the same. One hour after the last pizza was served on a Friday night, Amy started to experience period pain and gentle surges that were about 10 minutes apart and lasting for 20 seconds (Hypnobirth refers to contractions as surges and Amy uses this term throughout our interview). At around midnight she got into bed but couldn’t sleep till 4am as the surges, while sporadic, were strong enough to keep her awake. She slept soundly for a few hours in the early morning and when she woke to announce that she was in labour the surges petered out almost immediately. “I knew it was because everyone was there and that it was crazy and loud. Thankfully mum and dad picked up on that and took the kids out of the house.”
She used the time when she was alone in the house to set up her birth space. She cleaned and organised, put on her birth playlist and lit some candles. “I went back within myself and then the surges ramped up, coming every 7minutes and lasting for 30secs. I knew that having the big kids present at the birth was a priority for me but it did change the experience a lot. I learnt how connected the birth environment is to the process of labour,” she says.
When the kids returned her labour stalled again so after a big cry, Kamal took her for a drive and, with the help of lemon tarts from her favourite cafe, labour got well underway. They returned home and called their photographer and, within the hour, her birth team was in the home and supporting her with their gentle presence.
Amy has never had a vaginal examination in any of her pregnancies or births and while she admits that they’re sometimes necessary, she has also witnessed the loss of confidence when a labouring woman is told that she’s not as far along as she presumed. “Midwives know what stage you’re at just by looking at you and I know that if I can’t sit still in a surge and that if I’m making noise then I’m close to 9-10cm,” she says.
With the kids settled in bed and her birth team beside her, Amy got in the birth pool. Soon after, Kamal joined her and, as she had done in all her labours, she used touch and kissing to stimulate oxytocin and bring her baby earthside. “It comes naturally, we’re quite affectionate and there’s nothing like bringing a baby into the world to make your love even stronger.”
While her surges were strong Amy noticed that they were only lasting about 20 seconds. Instead of worrying about it, she felt the instinctual urge to change position so she flipped over onto her back and leaned against the side of the pool. This immediately changed everything; she experienced an almighty contraction, her waters broke, she yelled for her parents to get the sleeping children and they all made it back to the pool to see Daisy crowning. The cord was wrapped around her neck a few times and it didn’t have the strongest pulse so the midwife needed to rub Daisy to get her breathing on her own. Amy stayed in the pool to feed her and forty minutes later delivered the placenta naturally before she settled onto the couch and into newborn bliss.
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In today’s episode, I interview Hannah Polites. Hannah is a midwife who worked in the hospital system for five years before she fell pregnant with her daughter, Avaliah. She speaks candidly about the pressure and the privilege of being a midwife giving birth and admits that during her first birth, she was acutely aware of the birth process and yet somewhat unprepared for the emotional and mental challenges.
“I felt like I knew everything about the physiological birth process and what to expect but I didn’t know how I was going to personally handle it. I also knew that you can have all of these plans and it can all change so quickly,” she says.
After 24hours of niggling, unproductive contractions following her waters breaking, Hannah and her husband Garth, a Paediatric Registrar, went to the hospital to check on the baby. Instead of being induced she opted for expected management yet it took three days of period pain cramps and acupuncture treatment to kick start labour. “I was over analysing everything because I’m a midwife and I was acting transitional so when I got to the hospital to discover I was 2cm I just lost it.” She agreed that it was best to have an epidural so she could relax but unfortunately her baby’s heart rate plummeted then spiked and it was decided that an emergency cesarean was required. Thankfully she could feel the deep pressure of the contractions despite the epidural and she asked her midwife to assess her. She was 10cm so the Obstetrician agreed to do a vacuum delivery. “I said: No, I don’t give you permission to give me an episiotomy and my midwife advocated for me. I was ok with tearing but unless absolutely necessary I didn't want an episiotomy,” she says. Hannah admits that coming so close to receiving an episiotomy - a birth injury - and then not tearing was a major part of her story. “That was huge for me and it took me a long time to get past it. I became scared of the birth process because it was an emergency situation in the end. Ultimately I felt so much pressure that as a midwife, I should have coped better.” She admits that she started questioning her personal and professional ability.
This guilt plagued Hannah when she fell pregnant with her second baby and she had terrible nightmares from the outset. She sought the help of a one-on-one hypnobirthing practitioner Shari Lyon from Belly 2 Birth, who helped her and Garth move through the birth trauma and actively prepare for her second birth.
“The first class was really about identifying my fears and how they made us feel and after that we debriefing and started building a tool kit of skills to take with us into birth. It was amazing how connected Garth and I were during Arlo’s pregnancy; we were doing regular meditations, breathing techniques and listening to tracks together. We opened up and talked about our issues...hypnobirthing helped us establish a very strong birth partnership.”
Within three weeks of starting her hypnobirthing practice, Hannah started to get excited about giving birth and embraced her pregnancy despite nausea, low blood pressure, bleeding and early labour symptoms. She went into Arlo’s birth with a positive mindset and a skillset that literally carried her through the entire labour and to an ecstatic delivery.
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In today’s episode, I interview Bianca Aiono. Bianca has been an elite athlete since she was a teenager and has always had irregular cycles. When she and her husband decided to start trying, they thought it might take a little while, and after two years they sought some assistance from a specialist. After having intrauterine insemination (IUI), Bianca conceived her first son Maverick. When Bianca began trying for a second, she discussed the possibility of having multiples with her doctor due to the follicle-stimulating hormones she was taking. While she knew this was a possibility she never actually thought she would conceive triplets. Bianca shares openly the discussions she had with her doctors about the risks of multiples. The doctor gave her the option of selectively reducing, and she shares how she was sure she couldn’t intervene in this way. She and her husband were happy to see how the babies progressed on their own. The triplets tracked along very well, and Bianca delivered them vaginally. To hear the details tune into this week’s episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Renee. After trying to conceive for two years Renee and her husband went through IVF to conceive their first son. After a stressful two years of trying to conceive Renee felt nervous throughout her pregnancy. Her son Beau was in a breech position and Renee’s doctor recommended she have an elective caesarean. When Renee was being prepped for her caesarean they discovered that the spinal block had filed and she could still feel everything. Eventually, they were able to give her a high dose of epidural. Renee shares with us how she went on to conceive her second son naturally without the need for IVF assistance and she went on to deliver him vaginally. Devastatingly, earlier this year Renee’s daughter was Still Born and she opens up about Elodie’s birth and how she and her boys are all working through their grief.
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In today’s episode I interview Aimee Winchester. Aimee shares the births of all five of her girls who were all born via caesarean section. Aimee gave birth to her first daughter at the age of 20. She knew very little about birth at the time and went in to be induced when she was over her dates. Aimee was fully dilated with an epidural when they discovered her little girl was in a posterior position and despite the doctors trying to manually turn her she needed to have an emergency caesarean. In her second birth, Aimee hired and doula and was all prepared to attempt a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) To hear how Aimee’s labours unfolded tune into this week’s show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Theresa. Theresa conceived her first son at the age of 22 while she was living with her husband in Perth. She had private health insurance, so she called around and booked in with an Obgyn who was available. In her third trimester, they sold their home and moved over to NSW. She quickly found a new Obgyn who indicated he probably wouldn’t be at her birth, but he was willing to take her on. Theresa was induced and as her labour unfolded, she ended up having an emergency caesarean section. Theresa was born in Singapore and as part of her family traditions, her mother came over and stayed with them for the first 40 days. She nurtured her daughter with very specific warming foods and teas and took over all the household task so Theresa was free to breastfeed and connect with her baby. Theresa describes this confinement period as heavenly. To hear Theresa’s story and how she went on to have two VBACs tune into this week’s episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Luka, who is a midwife and registered nurse. Luka decided to give birth to her first child through her local birth center under the care of a private midwife whom she had worked within the past. Luka’s labour began when she was 40 weeks and 12 days. She used the TENS machine and stayed active throughout her labour. Her baby presented with his hand near his face, which resulted in Luka receiving a third-degree tear. After his safe delivery, she required transferring to the hospital where she worked to have surgery to repair the tear. To hear Luka’s full story tune into this week’s show.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Laura Callea a women’s health physiotherapist. Laura shares her two birth experiences. With a wealth of experience behind her working with pregnant and postnatal women, Laura went into her first birth open minded. After being induced in her first labour, Laura’s cervix did not respond to the induction process and she ended up having an emergency caesarean. Second time around Laura spent her second pregnancy preparing for a Vaginal birth after a Caesarean or a term she prefers, TOLAC ,Trial of labor after cesarean. To hear what unfolded in Laura’s second labour, tune into this week’s show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Hana. Hana shares her most recent birth of her twin girls, Mika and Bobby. While camping and traveling up the coast with her sister, Hana discovered she was pregnant. At the time, she didn’t feel quite ready for a third child having a 4-year-old and 2 year old, and she worried about how she would cope. It wasn’t until Hana was 13 weeks pregnant, and she had her first ultrasound that she discovered she was, in fact, having twins. When the shock of twins settled down, Hana began seeing a private obstetrician who worked out of Lismore Hospital. After having a home birth with her first son in Sydney and her second a home birth in Byron, Hana was determined to have a low intervention birth with her girls.
Hana was able to successfully give birth to both her girls vaginally without an epidural. To hear Hana’s full story including how she had her sister Mia Taninaka and her best friend Aimee Winchester present at her birth with their babies and how they expressed milk for Bobby, tune into this week's beautiful episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Trishna. Trishna gave birth to her first baby under the care of midwives through the Royal North Shore Hospital. As an avid gym enthusiast, Trishna stayed very active throughout her pregnancy and labour. She continued her F45 workouts, took pregnancy yoga classes and reformer pilates. Together with her partner Trishna took a Calmbirth course to help equip her for the low intervention water birth she hoped for. To hear her full story tune into this week’s episode.
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Lou and her husband were very career-driven and didn’t think they would ever have children. When they reached their mid-thirties, they had a conversation and decided they wanted to give it a try. After doing genetic testing and coming off contraception, Lou fell pregnant in the first month of trying. Lou had a history of anxiety, and this began to increase during her pregnancy. She had to modify the medication she was taking for her anxiety when she began trying to conceive, and she started seeing a psychologist who specializes in perinatal and postnatal anxiety and depression. Lou elected to be induced and shares her experience of going through a private Obstetrician, choosing not to breastfeed and sleeping challenges. To find out more tune into this week’s show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Rachel. Rachel fell pregnant whilst living in Bali. She hadn’t planned to conceive, and suddenly she was forced to navigate cultural differences and expectations of her partner’s family. At 12 weeks pregnant Rachel came back to Adelaide to see her friends and family and try and have some space to think about where she’d like to give birth. She decided to stay and have the baby in Australia and wanted to wait and see if she would want to return to Bali with her new baby. In this interview, Rachel opens up about how she and her boyfriend broke up when she was 39 weeks pregnant. She went on to have a beautiful water birth at 42 weeks with the support of her mum, her midwife, and her doula.
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In today’s episode, I interview Jayde Couldwell. Jayde shares her pregnancy and childbirth experiences with all three of her girls. Jayde suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum in all three of her pregnancies. Jayde had her second daughter through Tweed hospital and decided to have her third daughter there as well. After Yumi’s birth, Jayde started to experience heightened anxiety and mood swings. She went to her GP and explained her feelings; however it wasn’t until she went away with friends for the weekend that things escalated. Jayde suffered a series of panic attacks which lead her to ask her friends to take her to the Emergency Room. Jadye was diagnosed with acute anxiety and postal depression. She takes us through her journey and how she sought help to move through this challenging period.
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After struggling to conceive for four years, Gemma conceived her first child Flynn through IVF. Her second son Arti was also conceived with the help of IVF so it was a complete surprise and shock when Gemma fell pregnant with her daughter naturally. Gemma suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum in her previous pregnancies; however, this time, it was much worse. She found it incredibly difficult to care for her 2 and 4-year-olds and her husband had to take over their care while she was forced to stay in bed. Despite her HG Gemma went on to have a magical water birth under the care of midwives. She used Hypnobirth Australia tracks to remain calm and focused, and she loved her birth. To hear Gemma’s story tune into this week’s show.
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Kiah fell pregnant very quickly with her first child, her daughter Luna. She elected to go through shared care with her local GP and went on to have her baby through the local public hospital. To Kiah’s complete surprise, she found out she had gestational diabetes at 28 weeks. Thankfully, Kiah was able to manage her diabetes through diet control. To hear how her births unfolded, tune into this week’s show.
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In today’s podcast episode, I interview Megan Gale. Megan shares the births of her son River and her daughter Rosie. She delivered both her babies under the care of Private Obstetrician Dr. Len Kilman at the Epworth Hospital. Megan tried for several months to conceive her first baby. She admitted that busy work schedules between both her and her husband restricted their opportunity to try so after a few months they got serious about prioritising their fertile window and conceived their little boy River. Megan generally felt well during her pregnancy despite morning sickness in the first trimester. She had a private class with the well-renowned birth educator Juju Sundin (author of the Birth Skills), and she felt prepared to have an active labour. To hear more about Megan’s pregnancies, her miscarriage and life juggling work and two beautiful babies tune into this week’s episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Hypnobirthing Australia Practioner Shari Lyon. Shari shares her two pregnancies and births of her son Harley and Taleah. After hearing only negative birth experiences, Shari found her self quite fearful of birth when she found her self unexpectedly pregnant. Her mother delivered Shari under general anesthetic due to complications, and Shari was anxious about the entire process. She then decided to scrape together the money she had left over after living overseas with her partner to attend a Hypnobirth Australia course. Everything change from that point on, not only in her birth plans but also for her new career path. To hear more about Shari’s story tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Rachel Burke. Rachel shares her first pregnancy and birth of her little boy Hugo. Very early on in her pregnancy, she experienced some bleeding while working on a fashion shoot interstate. Panicked, she called her GP and then made her way to the hospital to try and determine if she was having a miscarriage. Thankfully the bleeding began to ease up over the next 24hours, and it was later determined that she was experiencing an implantation bleed. Rachel went on to carry her baby to full term and was induced. To hear her full story, tune into this weeks episode.
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Nat Kringoudis is a Dr in Chinese Medicine and acupuncturist who has worked in women's fertility health for many years. When it came to conceiving Nat was very fortunate to fall pregnant relatively quickly. She took a calm birth course and was due to deliver her first child at the Family Birth center at the Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne. At 30 weeks, when Nat was away for work, she went into labour and needed to be airlifted back to Melbourne. To find out what unfolded tune into this weeks episode.
Topics covered: bed rest, irritable uterus, cystic fibrosis, acupuncture, breastfeeding challenges, calm birth, emergency caesarean.
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In today’s episode, I interview Laura. Laura suffered from endometriosis and spent the few months leading up to trying to conceive is very mindful of her diet and lifestyle to regulate her cycles. She went on to conceive her first baby Link shortly after actively trying to conceive. Throughout her pregnancy, Laura became increasingly anxious about her birth and her diet. Devastatingly Laura’s first son suffered a stroke in utero, and she delivered him sleeping. To hear more about Laura’s journey tune into this week’s episode.
Today's episode is sponsored by women’s health physio Shira Kramer. Shira has helped thousands of women through pregnancy, postpartum and beyond, and has recently launched her 8-week online program, Restore Your Core, designed to help busy mums return to exercise safely post-bub with a focus on core and pelvic floor recovery. It includes daily exercises, interviews, and videos, all completed in the comfort of your own home for less than $20 per week.
Shira would like to offer Australian Birth Stories listeners 10% off the full price of her program, using the code RYCABS. To find out more about the Restore Your Core program head over to
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Heidi had been on the pill for ten years, and a friend had said it could take months to regulate your cycle after the contraceptive pill, so Heidi decided to come off the pill to prepare herself to hopefully conceive in a year or two. After waiting eighteen months, seeing an acupuncturist and modifying her diet, Heidi’s cycle still had not returned. She decided to go and see an Obgyn who ran several tests and explained that she was most likely suffering from hypothalamic amenorrhea. Heidi continued to see her acupuncturist, and she began taking Clomid to help regulate her cycle. To hear more about Heidi’s journey, tune into this week's show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Teresa Palmer about her third pregnancy and birth of her little girl Poet. If you would like to hear Teresa births of Forest and Bodhi head over to Episode 65.
Teresa is a self-proclaimed serial pregnancy test taker, and she took several tests daily to confirm her pregnancy from a few days after conception. During the early stages of her pregnancy, Teresa discovered that her 12-week blood results showed that she had antibodies present. Her husband is a carrier of the Duffy Y gene which her body was making antibodies towards. A side effect is that the baby can become more anemic. To hear more about Teresa’s story tune into this week’s show.
Topics include private midwife, vaginal delivery, family entered birth, water birth, cervical lip.
Oakie Baby sponsors Today's episode. Oakie Baby offers a beautifully curated selection of clothing and gifts for babies and children, with a particular emphasis on essential items for the first year of your baby's life. They stock brands from all over the world, including Jamie Kay, Snuggle Me Organic, L'oved Baby, BIBs pacifiers, Jellycat, Snuggle Hunny Kids and Quincy Mae and all of the brands they stock are ethically produced, with many being made with organic fabrics. Make sure you check out this beautiful boutique at www.oakiebaby.com.au and until 14th July use the code AUBS15 for 15% off storewide.
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In today's episode, I interview Tammi Keirl. Tammi shares the births of her two daughters, who were both born vaginally through the care of midwives at her local public hospital in Adelaide. After months of trying to conceive, Tammi used an ovulation app to conceive her first daughter Ruby.
Tammi had relatively straight forward pregnancies and delivered both her babies with the epidurals. To hear more about Tammi's births tune into this week's podcast episode.
Topics include midwifery care, epidural, TENS machine, ovulation, breastfeeding, breastfeeding wear, nursing friendly activewear.
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Natalie had both her children through midwifery care in Melbourne. Her first pregnancy was quite straight forward and she delivered her first son at 36 weeks without pain medication. Reuben had a severe tongue tie and she was unable to get him to latch. Natalie expressed around the clock and bottle-fed her little boy. He wasn’t sleeping well and she wasn’t able to enjoy him as she was constantly pumping, feeding and resettling. It wasn’t until Reuben was one-year old that Natalie realised that she had post natal depression.
To hear more about Natalie’s story and how she developed cholestasis tune into this weeks episode.
Topics include: postnatal depression, midwifery care, tongue tie, cholestasis
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In today’s episode, I interview Brigette Warne. After getting married Brigette came off the pill, which she had been taking for many years in an effort to try and conceive. Shortly after coming off the contraceptive pill she began to feel extremely unwell and suffered from cystic acne, had hair loss and a generally felt shocking.
After seeing her GP several times to try and work out what was wrong, Brigette eventually discovered she had PCOS. She immediately began researching PCOS and she made a number of different food and lifestyle choices to try and balance her hormones as best she could. To hear more about how Brigette got her periods back and then conceived Flynn after coming to terms with the fact that she may not carry a child, tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: PCOS, the pill, breastfeeding, midwifery care, breastfeeding, nipple shields.
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In today’s episode, I share with you my third birth. Although Jonathan and I had discussed having a third child, we had not made a final decision so it was a bit of a surprise when we discovered that I was pregnant. I was a bit nervous to tell Jono and I took some home pregnancy tests and watched as the lines got darker each day and it took a while to process. Ottie was conceived while we were on holiday in Fiji which is a nice thought as that’s where Jono is from. The running joke was that we bought an extra coconut home from the homeland.
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Jess was 24 years old when she fell pregnant with her first child Levi. She and her partner Phil had decided to try and fell pregnant in their first month of trying. Jess went through the public system and had midwifery care. When she reached 40 +10 Jess was induced. Jess fell pregnant with her second son when Levi was just 4 months old. To hear more about how Jess’ births went tune into this weeks episode.
Topics covered: induction, vacuum delivery, epidural, birth photography, Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), postpartum bleed, cervical tear, jaundice, postpartum haemorrhage , breech, ECV.
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In today’s episode, I interview Lou. Lou shares her four pregnancies and births. Three out of her four babies had Intrauterine Growth Restriction IUGR. Lou had her first baby in Perth and at her 20 week scan they realised her baby wasn’t growing as expected. She was induced at 34 weeks as the baby wasn’t growing as they had hoped and the growth started to become uneven.
Lou’s second pregnancy went quite routinely and she ended up going over on her expected due date. She went on to have two more premie babies due to IUGR and she also developed Preeclampsia in her fourth pregnancy. To hear more about Lou’s story tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: Intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, NICU, Breastfeeding, breast milk donation
Today’s episode is brought to you by my Postpartum Life After Birth audio series. Enjoy $10 off with code mothers day for the month of May 2019.
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In today’s episode, I interview Rachel March. Rachel shares the birth of her little boy and her twin girls. Falling pregnant at 21 Rachel admired she knew very little about pregnancy and birth she just knew she wanted to have a baby. None of her friend’s had had kids it was all very unknown. Rachel’s pregnancy was considered high risk due to the fact that she was born with a condition called Long QT syndrome. This condition affects Rachel’s heart and hearing. Rachel lost her job at 25 week due to unfair dismissal due to her pregnancy, a case she fought and won, however, it was a very stressful time. After having her little boy Rachel developed postnatal depression which she took medication for and saw a psychologist. To hear more about Rachel’s story tune into this weeks episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Kyree Harvey. Kyree tried for twelve months to conceive her first child. She believes stress play a major roll in her struggles to conceive coupled with the challenges of synchronizing her cycles with her husband’s FIFO roster. Kyree found her birth with Alaska very traumatic. She was induced and had an episiotomy that took many months to heal. Going into her second pregnancy Kyree knew she wanted to have a different experience and she sought out Hypnobirth Australia. Kyree connected with Renne from The Birth Space and she used the skills she learned to guide her through her birth. To hear more about Kyree’s pregnancies and births tune into this weeks show.
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Pip is from Sydney but is currently living in Singapore. Pip spoke to her GP in the lead up to her wedding about falling pregnant. The doctor suggested she come off the pill as it can take a few months to begin ovulating again. Pip fell pregnant in the first month of coming off the pill. She was 20 weeks pregnant at her wedding. For her first pregnancy she went through shared care with her GP and she had the same midwife for all her hospital appointments. To hear more about Pip’s story tune into this weeks show.
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Topics include: midwifery care, doula, Singapore midwifery, shared care, nipple thrush, strep B positive.
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In today’s episode, I interview Michelle. Michelle has two children of her own and she recently carried a baby as a surrogate. Michelle carried a baby Jack for intended parents Kate and Chris.
Kate was born without a uterus and new from the age of 13 that she wouldn’t be able to carry her own child. The couples were connected through a surrogate information session and after they were approved through Surrogacy Australia to go ahead with the surrogacy. Kate and Chris began IVF to create an embryo that Michelle would carry. On their third embryo transfer, Michele fell pregnant with baby Jack.
After having two straight forward vaginal births with her own children, Michelle had planned a home birth with her husband, doula, birth photographer and the intended parents all present. At 37 weeks Michelle started to notice blood and went into the hospital to have herself and the baby checked out. To find out more tune into this weeks show.
Save $10 off Postpartum Life After Birth with code Mothers Day valid for the month of May 2019
Topics included: Surrogacy, IVF, doula, retained placenta, postpartum haemorrhage, expressed breast milk.
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In today’s episode, I interview Nikki. Nikki is a Paediatric physiotherapist living in Adelaide. Nikki and her husband conceived their first daughter through the assistance of IVF due to her husband’s previous history of treatment for testicular cancer. During her first pregnancy, Nikki suffered from an irritable uterus and an incompetent cervix requiring her to take it very easy and take bed rest at various intervals in the pregnancy. To hear more about Nikki’s births tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: IVF, incompetent cervix, shoulder dystocia, irritable uterus, ECV, breech, retained placenta, nasal gastric tube feeding, testicular cancer.
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In today’s episode, I interview Sam about her two pregnancies and births. Sam went through the public health care system under the care of her mother, who was a midwife working at the Mater Hospital for her first pregnancy. At 38 weeks one of her midwives questioned whether the baby was in a breech position. Sam had a quick scan in the hospital to check and they confirmed they believed the baby was head down. The next day Sam’s waters had broken.
During Sam’s labour they discovered there was meconium in the waters and her baby was in fact breech. Sam was waiting around half an hour as the operating rooms were being used so they couldn’t do a caesarean. They then decided she could deliver vaginally. Very sadly Jack was born still and they were unable to revive him.
When Sam was due to have her second baby she decided she wanted an elective maternal assisted caesarean. To hear how Sam advocated for herself and got the maternal assisted birth she wanted with her daughter, tune into this weeks episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Jenna and Paul. Jenna is a physiotherapist and Paul is an intensive care nurse. They decided late into their pregnancy that they wanted to opt for a home birth. At 32 weeks they hired a private midwife and had their first daughter at home. They took Rhea Dempsey ’s birth preparation course 'Embracing the intensity'. When they fell pregnant the second time around they had a publicly funded home birth through the Sunshine Home Birth Program. To hear more about their births tune into this week's show.
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In today’s episode, I welcome back to the show Alice Bingham. Alice shared her first two birth stories in Episode 18 on the podcast. Today she is sharing her third birth of little Lottie. Lottie’s pregnancy was quite different for Alice as the pregnancy was considered high risk for several reasons including the fact that she was in a breech position. To hear more tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode Interview Kerrie. Kerrie was diagnosed with a complex cyst on her ovary and she was told it would be more challenging for her to fall pregnant. She was completely surprised to fall pregnant and be told her cyst had disappeared when she saw her doctor. Kerrie had planned to have a drug free vaginal birth and she was completely caught off guard when her first pregnancy ended in an emergency caesarean. To hear more about Kerrie’s birth tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Catherine Mack. Catherine fell pregnant on the first try which was quite a shock. She’d anticipated it taking a while and felt unprepared. Morning sickness came on quite fast and she was nauseous up until 32 weeks. Catherine booked in with an Obstetrician a friend had recommended and in her third trimester, she took She Births course. It was at this stage that Catherine began to question whether she had made the right choice for her birth by going private, however she decided to stay in the model of care she had chosen. To hear more about Catherine’s birth tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Rosie. Rosie fell pregnant quickly after starting to try to conceive, which was quite a surprise as she had a history of inconsistent periods due to eating disorders. As a physiotherapist, yoga and pilates instructor, Rosie kept very active during her pregnancy despite suffering all day sickness throughout her pregnancy.
Rosie booked into a private obstetrician however she also hired her own private midwife and took a Calm birth course. To hear more of Rosie’s story tune into this week's show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Libby Trickett. Libby fell pregnant quite quickly after deciding to try. At 7 weeks she had a dating scan to check where she heard the heartbeat. She saw her Obstetrician for her initial intake appointment at 9 weeks and sadly the baby had passed away at 8 weeks.
When she discovered she was pregnant for the second time with Poppy she decided to announce the pregnancy to friends and family much earlier. She hadn’t told anyone she was pregnant the first time around and she found it very challenging having to announce she had been pregnant but she was now having a miscarriage so she wanted to do things differently this time around.
Libby shares she “doesn’t do pregnancy well” She had morning sickness and a myriad of other ailments such as fluid retention and carpal tunnel syndrome which made both her pregnancies very uncomfortable. At 37 weeks Libby began to experience flashing lights and stars in her vision and she went into the hospital and she was induced at 38 weeks due to gestational hypertension.
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In today’s episode, I interview Jodi Wilson. Jodi shares the pregnancies and births of her four children. As a yoga teacher and childbirth educator, Jodi brings a beautiful perspective to her interview. She even shares some breathing techniques and tools she used in her births. Whilst each of Jodi’s births was drug-free and under the care of midwives, they were all quite unique in their own way. Her third and most challenging birth almost ended in an emergency caesarean section and this traumatic experience left her quite anxious going into her fourth birth. To hear more about Jodi’s experiences tune into this weeks show.
Today’s episode of the show is brought to you by my new Service directory on the Australian Birth Stories webpage. The directory showcases some fantastic birth photographers, doulas, physiotherapists and birth education classes right across Australia. If you’re pregnant jump on over and take a look at . If your in the birth service industry and would like to have your business listed please email me at and I can send through some more information.
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In today’s episode, I interview Ariane. Ariane shares how she conceived quite quickly after years of being on the pill. She was fortunate to find a spot at the Royal Womens Hospital in Randwick through their Midwifery Group Practice. Ariane took a Calm Birth course, read Ina May Gaskin’s books on natural child birth and prepared herself as best she could for a drug and intervention free birth.
To find out more about how Ariane’s birth tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Stacey Morlang Sullivan. Stacey was diagnosed with Polly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome PCOS at the age of 25. As a keen athlete, Stacey originally put down her lack of regular periods to her intense sports training. When she decided to start trying for a baby with her husband they tried for nearly 4 years. After booking in for IVF treatment, a week before her first appointment was due, Stacy found out she had infant conceived naturally. To find out more about Stacey’s three births tune into this week's show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Amberley Harris. Amberley is a midwife and lactation consultant and she brings her knowledge and experience to today’s show. At 34 weeks at her baby shower Amberley’s friend, who is also a midwife discovered that her baby was breech. Amberley tried everything she could think of to turn her baby. She had an ECV done at 37 weeks which was unsuccessful. She then found a doctor who was very experienced in vaginal breech deliveries and she prepared herself for a vaginal delivery.
To hear how Amberley’s birth went tune into this week's show.
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Tarryn developed preeclampsia very early at just 19 weeks. Her symptoms began with severe swelling. She continued to brush her symptoms aside as most of her symptoms were listed as standard in pregnancy. She had a blood test done and her blood pressure checked and she came back clear.
At 23 weeks Tarryn developed a strong muscular pain between her shoulder blades. She also put on 5kgs of fluid over two days and felt incredibly uncomfortable. She tried to drive herself to the hospital and after having to stop several times along the way she called an ambulance and was taken to the Gold Coast hospital.
On arrival, she was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and HELP syndrome and she was transferred to the Mater hospital as they said she would need to deliver at 24 weeks.
To hear more about what unfolded for Tarryn and how she went on to have three more little girls tune into this weeks episode.
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In today’s episode I interview Elayna Carausu and Riley Whitelum. Elayna and Riley have been sailing around the world on their yacht La Vagabonde and decided to try for a baby whilst they were sailing in the Caribbean. They were very fortunate to fall pregnant in their first month of trying to conceive. Living aboard the boat meant that they had ultrasounds and blood tests at a variety of different places throughout the Caribbean and the US. The decided they would return to Australia to have the little boy and they hired a private midwife in Adelaide to oversee their care. Elayna shares how she had Skype consultations with her midwife Claire and she felt very comfortable with her choice to have a home birth when they returned. Flying home at 32 weeks pregnant, Elayna took a Hypnobirthing course and bought a birth pool in preparation to have their baby in the Airbnb they were staying in.
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In today’s episode, I interview Georgia. Georgia shares her pregnancy and birth of her little girl Frida. She had a relatively straight forward pregnancy. As an indigenous woman, she was offered a place Midwifery Group Ngarrama Program through the Royal Brisbane Hospital. To hear more about Georgia’s experience with Calm Birth and to hear how she was able to achieve a drug-free water birth in the birth center, tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode I interview Courtney Thornton. Courtney shares with us her two births and her challenges with postnatal depression and breastfeeding.
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In today’s episode I interview Krissy Ropiha. Krissy shares her three pregnancies and births. She initially struggled to conceive due to Polly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and she sought out fertility treatment. With the help of Clomid Krissy was able to conceive her first son.
Krissy had both her first two children through the private system and then decided to change things up for her third birth. She took a Hypnobirthing Australian class - Belly2Birth and had a lovely relaxed water birth.
To hear more and to learn how Krissy’s youngest was rushed to hospital with a Urinary Tract infection at 7 weeks, tune into this weeks show.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Ariel. It took Ariel and her husband over 8 months of trying to conceive until she was able to fall pregnant with their little boy. Her pregnancy was very routine until her 20 week scan when she was advised that her baby had suspected heart and cleft pallet issues. This took Ariel and her husband completely by surprise. They suddenly were asked to have more tests done and they would need to have their baby in a different hospital that had better facilities to help care for her baby when he was born. To hear more of Ariel’s story tune into this week’s show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Steph. Steph shares her two pregnancies and births through the birth center at the Mercy Hospital in Melbourne. Steph fell pregnant very quickly after deciding to try after getting married. Knowing she was keen to have a natural, drug-free birth she decided to book into the Mercy Birth Centre and she was assigned her own midwife. Steph and her partner took a Calm Birth course and read several books to get themselves in the best position they could go into the birth of their daughter. Steph was quite shocked when she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in her first pregnancy. To hear more about how Steph’s births unfolded tune into this week’s show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Amy Wishart. Amy takes us through her three pregnancies and births. She suffered from PCOS so found it hard to navigate her cycles initially. She compares the differences between all three fast deliveries. In her third birth, she hired birth photographer Bree Downes who took these incredible images.
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In today’s episode I interview Sarah. Sarah had her first pregnancy and birth with her son Arthur in Sept 2013. It was a low risk mostly easy pregnancy but after a quick and intense labour he was birthed via ventouse. The birth was traumatic and left its mark, physically in the form of a 3rd grade “c” tear and mentally with years of undiagnosed postnatal depression.
Sarah waited years in the hope that the mental and physical trauma would heal so she could add to her family. After the start of the healing journey just shy of 3years later, she surprisingly found out she was having another baby boy.
This unfortunately got turned upside down when Aksel was stillborn at 33weeks due to severe brain malformations and after a long and traumatic pregnancy, they had no choice but to let their baby boy go, so he would not need to ever suffer anymore pain.
Sarah described the birth of Aksel as so beautiful, peaceful and yet so heartbreaking. Hearing those newborns cries down the hallway when she knew her baby won’t come out breathing let alone crying. It was another trauma her family sadly had endured.
Sarah is now pregnant again with not only baby no.3 but their third boy. Everything is crossed that this little guy’s journey helps rewrite over both traumas and she will get to talk about that another time I’m happier light.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Eleesha Quinn. Eleesha was incredibly lucky to conceive on her first attempt with her first daughter. Her husband was working a job of fly in and fly out so they had limited opportunities to ‘try’ and they were incredibly thankful to have success straight away. Living somewhat remotely Eleesha went through shared care with her GP and gave birth in Bundaberg Hospital closer to her family. Eleesha was induced and her husband was sent home by the midwives as they felt it would be a long wait. Eleesha actually progressed very quickly and spent the night labouring on her own.To hear more about her births tune into this week’s show
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In today’s episode, I interview Cait. Cait fell pregnant relatively quickly and went on to suffer from HG up until 22 weeks. Going through the maternity group practice at her local hospital she felt supported and excited to try and have a drug free vaginal delivery. Cait’s first labour was very ’stop-start’ which they later learned was due to the baby being posterior. 52 hours of labour and with a bit of assistance her first daughter was born. Cait’s second delivery could not have been more different. After labouring at home for as long as possible, she unexpectedly delivered her second daughter at midnight on her front lawn as she was trying to make her way to the hospital.
Show notes and details:
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In today’s episode, I interview Annaliese. Annaliese shares her two births. She suffered terribly from insomnia from as early as the first trimester in both pregnancies. Eventually, she needed to take medication to aid with her sleep as it was becoming impossible for her to carry out her daily tasks and remain sane. Despite admitting she is usually a terrible sick person, in labour Annalise was very calm and quiet. So much so that when she went into the hospital in labour with her first the staff through she was in the very early staged and they left her waiting in the waiting room for a long time only to find she was already at 8cm. To hear more about her story tune into this weeks episode.
Shownotes
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In today’s episode I speak with Elle Rampling. At the age of 28, Elle was having issues with the contraception she was on and her doctor suggested she come off it. Elle and her husband were thinking it would take them six to twelve months to conceive with her history of endometriosis. They were incredibly fortunate to fall pregnant very quickly.
Topics: endometriosis, burst ovarian cysts, postnatal depression, home birth, miscarriage, DNC, induction, home birth, private birth, floppy larynx.
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In this week’s episode I interview Stacey. Stacey took quite a while to get her periods back after going off the pill. She sought out acupuncture and Chinese herbs to try and regulate her cycles. She found this very effective and was able to conceive her first daughter. She went into labour prematurely after losing her mucus plug at 29 weeks.
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Libby struggled for four years to conceive her daughter Izzy. She was so shocked to discover she was pregnant after a holiday away in Hawaii. Due to previous health concerns related to blood pressure, Libby wasn’t able to birth through a birth center or do a home birth which is something she would have loved to have done. Instead, she decided to go Private and she trained in hypnobirthing through the help of her mother who is a trained midwife.
Today’s episode is proudly sponsored by Tooshies by TOM. Tooshies, gentle on bottoms and the planet.
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Steph didn’t plan to fall pregnant. She had just moved to Byron Baby and was doing long distance with her partner when she found out. At the age of 38, she had assumed she perhaps wouldn’t have a child however she was thrilled once the pregnancy progressed. Shortly into her pregnancy, she decided to end her tumultuous, long-distance relationship as she felt she couldn’t be the best mother she wanted to be for her child under the strain of her relationship which involved domestic violence.
Steph deliberated for some time whether she should move back to Melbourne to be closer to her closest girlfriends or to stay in her new town of Byron Bay where her parents lived. She decided to stay in Byron and booked in with a private midwife through the Lismore Birth House to have her baby. To hear more tune into this weeks episode.
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In today’s episode, I interview Gabrielle. Gabrielle takes us through the difficulty of having a miscarriage at 10 weeks whilst living in New York. She didn’t share her loss with those around her at the time and found it a very challenging and isolating time. Gabrielle went on to conceive and deliver her first daughter whilst living in New York. After a drug-free active labour, she suffered an unexplained and traumatic post part haemorrhage. To hear more of Gabrielle's story and how she returned to Melbourne and became a doula, tune into this week's show.
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Penny started trying for a baby later in life when she met her partner. After struggling to conceive for sometime she decided to go on a planned overseas trip and happily she discovered she was pregnant whilst away. Due to a history of cervical health concerns and surgery, Penny’s obstetrician advised that if she were to try for a vaginal delivery, there was a high chance or uterine rupture. With this knowledge in hand Penny scheduled an elective caesarean. To hear more about today’s show tune into Penny’s episode.
To find out more check out Penny's show notes on the Australian Birth Stories web page here:
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In today’s show, I interview Chelsea Thomas. Chelsea shares her two pregnancies and births through St Vincents Private hospital with Dr. Lionel Steinberg. Chelsea was lucky to conceive very easily stayed very healthy throughout her first pregnancy. She took Calm Birth classes and meditated regularly. She confesses that she wrapped up work a little too soon by taking 6 weeks off prior to her due date, so when Jude was 8 days late she was definably ready for him to come out. She had labour inducing acupuncture through the Pagoda Tree in Melbourne and later that day her contractions began.
Topics covered: calm birth, acupuncture, private obstetrician, The Pagoda Tree, emergency caesarean, elective caesarean, mothers groups.
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In today’s episode, I interview Lizzy Williamson. Lizzy fell pregnant really quickly after deciding to try and found out she was pregnant when holidaying in Paris. Lizzy enjoyed embracing her changing body after years of being body conscious as a dancer. She embraced yoga and really enjoyed her pregnancy.
Lizzy joined the birth center in Randwick and envisaged a water birth for her first birth experience. Lizzy was nearly 42 weeks when her labour started and she managed her contractions at home for most of the day. When her husband left the room to call the midwife, Lizzy suddenly felt the urge to push and she delivered her own baby completely unexpectedly onto some towels she had thrown under herself at the last minute. To hear more of Lizzy’s story tune into this weeks episode.
Topics covered: mastitis, accidental home birth, postnatal depression, exercise for mental health.
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In today’s episode, I interviewed Lilly. Lilly takes us through the births of her two boys Lenny and Bobby. After trying to conceive for 11 months, Lilly was thrilled to find out she was pregnant with identical twins. After nearly a year of trying, sadly they lost their twins at 10 weeks. Lilly went on to try to conceive naturally for another 6 months when her Obstetrician recommend they try Clomid. After their first round of Clomid they conceived Lenny.
At 26 weeks Lenny was diagnosed as being Breech and they booked in for an elective caesarean. At the time Lilly was happy with her decision to have a c-section, her sister had had one and recovered well and she felt happy with their decision. Lilly’s caesarean did no go to plan as shortly after delivery she fainted and it was discovered she was bleeding internally.
To hear more about how Lilly was determined to try for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) tune into this weeks episode.
Topics covered: breech birth, elective caesarean, VBAC, birth trauma, mastitis, nipple thrush, post-traumatic stress, nerve damage, iron infusion.
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Brooke was very surprised when she found out she was pregnant the first time. A few weeks earlier she had had the Nuva Ring inserted as a method of contraception. After she had discussed the pregnancy with her partner of 7mths and the shock began to settle Brooke became excited about the pregnancy. Brooke's baby was breech at 38 weeks and she had an ECV performed to turn him successfully. Brooke had prodromal labour for days preventing her from sleeping and she was eventually induced to bring on labour. To hear more about Brooke’s delivery, her breastfeeding challenges with vasospasm and thrush, her battle with secondary infertility and threatened molar pregnancy tune into this weeks show.
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Peta fell pregnant at the age 23 shortly after getting married. Shortly after discovering she was pregnant Peta began experiencing some bleeding from a subchronic hematoma. After several ultrasounds and blood tests at the 12-week mark, Peta began to feel much better and she went on to have a great pregnancy. With little knowledge of birth options at the time, Peta was comfortable putting her trust in the midwives at the hospital and she spent the end stages of her pregnancy researching breastfeeding. To hear more about Peta’s challenging first birth and her subsequent second and third births at home. Tune into this weeks show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Emma Engelman. Em started trying to conceive shortly after getting married at the age of 23. With no friends who had had kids or were trying to conceive she felt she had very little understanding of menstral cycles or tips or tricks in trying to conceive. She had been on the pill Depo-Provera for 3 years and hadn’t had a period during that time. After a year of trying and being unsuccessful, Emm saw an obstetrician who prescribed Clomid. She went on Clomid for 5 months to try and regulate her cycles. She found the hormonal surges and other side effects very challenging. She decided to come off the drugs and try naturally again. Her husband who is a little bit spiritual said: “We need to visualize the baby coming and prepare a nursery”. So Emm went and bought a fancy nappy bag and pram and found out she had conceived her first child naturally shortly after.
To hear more about Emm’s first pregnancy in which she got both Pancreatitis and kidney stones, tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: IVF, Clomid, egg transfers, kidney stones, pancreatitis, natural conception.
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In today’s episode, I interview Kirsty Farrugia. Kirsty shares her two birth experiences with us. She had her first child through the Public system at the Mercy Birth Centre in Melbourne. She had Oliver with the support of her doula and husband. Kirsty then had her second child in Sydney through a Private Hospital with an Obstetrician. To hear more tune into this week's show.
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In today's episode, I interview Kara. Kyal and Kara have been together since they were both 16 years old. Kara explains that while Kyal was ready to have kids for quite a while, she just didn’t feel quite ready. She woke up one day and out of the blue she just felt a sense of readiness. She fell pregnant straight away more or less and began to feel nauseous quite early on this lasted until she was 16 weeks. They decided to go through the Private system despite their private health not covering them yet. They booked into a new clinic with Dr. Peta Skilbeck.
For the last few weeks, Kara felt she was going to go early. She found those days dragged. She tried everything, walking stairs, castor oil, and acupuncture. To hear more about Kara’s births tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: acupuncture, delayed cord clamping, breastfeeding, an oversupply of milk, nipple shields, hypnobirthing, active labour.
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In today's episode, I’m interviewing Anna Thurlow. Anna takes us through her two induced vaginal deliveries. In both Anna’s pregnancies, her membranes ruptured prematurely at 35 weeks. Anna also shares her challenges with managing an oversupply of breastmilk and making the difficult decision to have her son’s tongue tie cut. To hear more of Anna’s story tune into this week's show.
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In today’s episode, I interview Emma Isaacs. Emma takes us through her five home water births with a private midwife. It wasn’t until Emma was 32 weeks in her first pregnancy that she decided she’s like have a home birth. She found it quite challenging to find a private midwife who would take her on so late in her pregnancy, particularly as it was her first birth.
Up until 30 weeks, Emma was terrified of childbirth. Her mum started a ritual that they’d blow out their birthday candles and then she would tell their birth story in great detail including having 32 stitches. She knew she needed to change that narrative for herself ignorer to go into her own births with a more positive mindset. She read every book available, she went to Calm Birth and she did a course through Marie Burrows (from Birthing Rites Australia ) Her first birth was a water birth at home, the most empowering experience of her life.
To hear more tune into this weeks interview.
Today’s show is brought to you by Bimby and Roy. Bimby and Roy are versatile, maternity friendly undergarments which are soft, stretchy, quick dry and wireless. Apart from everyday wear, Bimbys can also be worn as swimmers for impromptu dips, as birthing and breastfeeding bras, yoga and sleep wear. To check out the full range of Bimby and Roy pieces head over to
Also sponsoring this week episode is Tooshies by TOM. Tooshies, gentle on bottoms and the planet.
To find out more about Emma's Book Winging it click here:
Topics covered: Home Birth, private midwife, Marie Burrows (Birthing Rites Australia), Calmbirth, Business Chicks.
To see more pictures and a video of Emma's with birth click HERE
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When Anna and her partner decided to have a child she began watching One Born Every Minute religiously. After they got married and they moved into their own place she began tracking her cycles. When they were ready she joined a" trying to conceive" online forum. After trying for two months, Anna planned a holiday to Thailand surrounding her window of ovulation and she successfully fell pregnant on her well planned trip Anna booked in with private obstetrician who she felt had an unusual bedside manner however she initially felt she could trust him. When Anna was 30 weeks her Obstetrician said she had high blood pressure and he prescribed her some blood pressure medication which she reacted to. He was quite vague about if she needed to take them or not. She then went in to see him at 39+5. He was adamant that she needed to a caesarean at 40 weeks and he said he was not prepared to care for her beyond 40 weeks. Having paid all the fees they felt they had no other option but to follow his guidance and have a caesarean section. To hear more about Anna’s journey tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: Private Obstetrician, breastfeeding challenges, missed miscarriage, depression, gastric sleeve surgery, successful VBAC, DNC, grief, and loss, Ngala
Today’s episode is sponsored by The best time to sort out your superannuation is before kids come along. Super doesn’t have to be a headache and GROW understands this. That’s why GROW lets you consolidate online, with zero paperwork, in under two minutes. They’ll even find your lost super for you.
GROW Super is offering Fee Free superannuation for new parents because your super shouldn’t take a hit when you’ve got a newborn. Download GROW Super now on iPhone or Android or visit for more info and t&cs.
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In today’s episode I interview Nicola Cross. Shortly after getting engaged, Nicola went and saw her doctor as she was having some issues with breakthrough bleeding and pain whilst taking the pill. Both Nicola and her partner Pat always intended to have children in the future so Nicola decided to go off the pill. To their surprise, a short time later they found out Nicola was pregnant. With a history of fertility challenges on both her and her partner’s side, Nicola was expecting to have a long journey to falling pregnant. Thankfully they were very lucky. They went through shared care with her public hospital and her local GP. To hear more of Nicola’s pregnancy and birth tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: Induction, waters breaking, epidural, afterbirth pains, acupuncture, engorged breasts, acupuncture.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Pip and Lenny is a small online boutique created by two Australian mums, midwives and friends, who both found it difficult to source thoughtful and practical clothing for their young children. After falling in love with handmade products and vintage styling, Bec and Justine created Pip and Lenny with a dream to stock all the brands they love and adore in the one place.
The Pip and Lenny collection is thoughtfully selected, by the girls in their homes, surrounded by the splendid chaos that is their beautiful children. Pip and Lenny seek ethically made products designed with a focus on children's comfort and a classic, clean aesthetic with vintage-contemporary style. Pip and Lenny offer Afterpay, International shipping and local pick up for their fellow Adelaide buyers. Pip and Lenny would love to offer Australian Birth Stories listeners 10% off STOREWIDE with the code AUSTRALIANBIRTHSTORIES at the checkout. Follow on Instagram: Website:
To learn more about Tiny Tonics click here:
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In this week’s episode, I interview Caitlin Langford about her four pregnancies and births. Caitlin fell pregnant shortly after losing her mother. She and her husband had decided to wait to try and conceive as Caitlin was grieving and they had planned an overseas trip. Shortly after running a marathon, Caitlin found that she was struggling to recover and felt lethargic and as if she was coming down with something. To her complete surprise, she was intact 7 weeks pregnant. To hear Caitlins pregnancy and birth stories tune into this weeks show.
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Danielle had decided with her partner that they would start trying for a baby at 27 and they fell pregnant literally on their first attempt. Danielle’s reaction was not what she had expected at all. She was freaking out. Even though her pregnancy was planned, she realized she wasn’t 100% ready. She read over a million books and never really came to terms with her pregnancy. Danielle became so preoccupied and anxious with how she would come when the baby came that she didn’t really focus on the birth itself. To hear more of Danielle’s story tune into this week's show.
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I’ve been nominated for the Ausmumpreneur Awards. Its a huge honour to be nominated and the people’s choice voting has just opened. So if you feel like this podcast is making a difference to you and you enjoy listing to my show each week it would be amazing if you could give me your vote. It literally takes 1minutes. I’m listed in the first categories Making a Difference Award, you can just scroll down to Sophie Walker to vote for me. And I’ll let you know how I go.
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68 | Sarah Bell Burch Three Births, 4 Year Old Son Present
In today’s episode I interview Sarah Bell Burch who shares three pregnancies and vaginal deliveries. Sarah was 25 when she fell pregnant with her first son Remi. After living overseas for several years she had come home to settle in Australia in her husband’s home town of Cootamundra. Sarah woke at 830am on the morning of her due date with a contraction and labour unfolded from there. In this episode Sarah shares having a retained placenta in two of her births, mastitis the challenges of breastfeeding and toddler weaning, and the joy of having her little boy Remi present for his sister's birth.
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In this week’s episode, Felicity Cook shares her challenging pregnancy with her little girl Tilly. One year prior to trying to conceive Felicity saw her gynaecologist and kinesiologist to make sure her hormones and cycles were balanced. Her husband also had his sperm count checked. They then fell pregnant very easily in her second month of trying. On the recommendation of a close friend, Felicity booked in with a private obstetrician at the Mater Hospital in Sydney. Felicity suffered from a lot of physical pain during her pregnancy. From 20 weeks her pelvis became quite unstable. To hear more about Felicity's journey tune into this weeks show.
Today's episode is brought to you by Bree Downes Birth Support & Photography. Bree is a Melbourne based doula and birth photographer. Having worked as a doula for 10 years Bree supports women to have the births they envisage for themselves by providing emotional, physical and informational support throughout their pregnancy and birth.
Bree is offering a 10% discount off her doula and birth photography packages for any women due before December 2018. Just mention Australian Birth Stories when enquiring with Bree. For more information please visit or check her out on instagram @breedownes_doula_photographer
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In today’s episode, I interview Gemma who takes us through her struggles with unexplained infertility. Gemma was able to conceive her daughter Raffaella with the help of one round of intrauterine insemination (IUI). Gemma was surprised to find that shortly after she conceived Raffa she began to feel unexpectedly depressed. To hear Gemma share her struggles with antenatal depression and the way Raffa’s birth unfolded tune into this weeks episode.
Today’s show is brought to you by Bimby and Roy. Bimby and Roy are versatile, maternity friendly undergarments which are soft, stretchy, quick dry and wireless. Apart from everyday wear, Bimbys can also be worn as swimmers for impromptu dips, as birthing and breastfeeding b ras, yoga and sleep wear. Designed in Australia, and made at a solar-powered facility in Fiji. Bimby and Roy products are sustainable, comfortable and come in some gorgeous prints and patternes To check out the full range of Bimby and Roy pieces head over to
I just want to thank the new Patreon members who have signed up to help support the making of the show: Amy Small, Jessica Cassidy, Courtney Thornton, Emma Egleman, Adrian McDonnell and Leoni. If you’d like to become a member head over to .
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In this week’s episode, I interview Teresa Palmer. Teresa and Mark tried for about 5 months to conceive and were unsuccessful. Teresa then found out that she ovulates later in her cycle that she had thought. With this knowledge in hand, she was able to fall pregnant the following month.
Teresa felt her pregnancy with Bodhi Rain was pretty uneventful. She had wanted to be a mother her whole life and so to be pregnant was the most exciting thing she had ever navigated. She loved every moment of it. She felt very well with minimal pregnancy symptoms. She found out her baby’s gender at her 11-week scan.
She had planned to have a home birth in America. She had witnessed a home birth of one of her best friends when she was 11 weeks and she ended up hiring the same midwife she had seen navigate a very challenging birth. She read all of Ina May Gaskin’s books and watched her documentary.
Teresa and Mark got married when she was 6 weeks pregnant. At 36 weeks she started a hypnobirthing course. At 38+6 Teresa’s waters broke while she was in bed and they began to get really excited and called their midwife. The midwife said to rest and come in the morning. She went in at 11 am and it was confirmed that her waters had infant broken.
To hear more about Bodhi’s birth and Forrest’s tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: waters breaking, castor oil, hypnobirthing, acupuncture, birth pool, home birth, hospital transfer, breastfeeding, posterior baby, fever during labour, Dr. Paul Crane, manual extraction of the placenta, tandem breastfeeding,
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In this week’s episode, I interview Bonnie. Bonnie suffered terribly with morning sickness and then antenatal depression throughout her pregnancy. Living in the UK at the time with her husband, Bonnie had planned for them to return to Australia when she found out she was pregnant. Bonnie shares very openly about suicidal thoughts and regularly discussed with her husband her feelings that she couldn’t be a mother and that he would need to raise the baby himself after the baby was born.
To hear more about Bonnie’s very difficult pregnancy and how she connected with some very supportive staff through St John of God Hospital in Perth, tune into this weeks episode.
This week’s show is brought to you by Mrs Heemskerk’s cookbook . To check out Food for the ones I love head over to at just $39.95 this book is a must-have.
Topics covered: Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, antenatal depression, migration, morning sickness, arrhythmia, exercise in pregnancy, psychologist, induction, postnatal anxiety.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Kristy Joyce. Kristy had trouble conceiving after having her first son Mason and sought the help of fertility specialists. She began the process by taking Clomid to help assist in egg stimulation. Just before Kristy was about to have IVF she discovered she was pregnant with triplets. Despite being advised that Clomid can lead to the possibility of having multiples, Kristy and her husband never dreamed it would actually happen to them. To hear how Kristy managed her high-risk pregnancy and the safe delivery of all three beautiful babies tune into this week's show.
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In this weeks episode, I interview mother, Doula and Birth Photographer Lacey Barratt. Lacey fell pregnant quite unexpectedly at the age of 22 whilst backpacking in Darwin. Lacey describes herself as feeling violently ill and was throwing up multiple times a day throughout her first pregnancy. Lacey connected with her local GP and she delivered through the birth center in Darwin. Lacey was unsure of what was deemed ‘normal’ for morning sickness however she was concerned about her weight and she felt very run down and dehydrated. Lacey delivered her first baby at 41 and a half weeks after days of prodromal labour with a posterior baby.
There is a just 15mths difference in age between Lacey’s first and second children so it came as quite a surprise when she fell pregnant again. To hear how Lacey went on to have a home birth and private midwifery care in her subsequent births tune into this week's show.
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Topics covered: Hyperemesis gravidarum, posterior position, prodromal labour, anterior lip, birth stole, methadone, lounge tie, prolapse, anemic, free birth, gestational diabetes, placenta prints.
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In this weeks episode, I interview Anna. Anna fell pregnant just six weeks after getting married catching both her and her partner by surprise. Despite having a couple of scares early on in her pregnancy with a car accident at 5 weeks and a small bleed after a fall in a recreational sports game, Anna said she had a beautiful pregnancy. She had read books such as Birth Skills by Juju Sundin and she was preparing for a drug-free natural delivery through the Mercy Public Hospital in Melbourne.
To hear more of Anna’s story tune into this week's show.
Topics covered: concealed abruption, NICU, Emergency Caesarean section, breastfeeding, Mercy Hosptial for Women, reduced fetal movement.
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Kristie had been on the pill for 10 years and thought it might take her a little while to conceive. She came off the pill in December and fell pregnant quite quickly. Kristie is a very active gym goer and she found going to the gym each morning really helped with her early morning sickness. Kristie was keen to have a natural delivery and she booked into her local Family Birth Center which was associated with King Edward Hospital. Kristie undertook the She Births birth course online to help her prepare for her pregnancy and delivery. She did the course in conjunction with the Family Birth Center. Kirstie is a Type A personality and felt confident to take the She Births course as it has been proven to reduce rates of Caesarean Section and birth intervention.
At 32 weeks Kristie discovered that her baby was a frank breech presentation, bottom first instead of head first. Kristie was still very keen to avoid a caesarean section and looked into the possibility of a natural vaginal breech delivery.
To hear more about Kristie’s breech delivery tune into this weeks show.
Topics covered: She Births, Hip Dysplasia, Breech birth, private midwife, King Edward Hospital, Family Birth Center, active pregnancy, prolapse, second-degree tear, acupuncture, ECV.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Kirsty Chandler. Kirsty fell pregnant in her second month of actively trying to conceive. She spent the lead up preparing her body by cutting out alcohol and caffeine and saw a variety of healthcare providers such as acupuncturists and chiropractors to prepare her body for pregnancy. Kirsty was very careful in searching for the right care provider for her pregnancy and birth. She interviewed both the midwives at her local Gold Coast hospital as well as the private midwives which worked a short distance from her house. She decided to employ a private midwife for her care. Kirsty also took Hypnobithing classes to prepare for the drug-free water birth she intended to have.
Topics covered: Breast crawl, hypnobirth, homeopathics, private midwife, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, delayed cord clamping, perineal massage, labia graze.
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Nine weeks prior to the wedding Sarah found out she was pregnant. Thrilled to be pregnant Sarah went through the care at the Mercy Hospital in Melbourne. Sarah had had a stroke at the age of 24 which meant she was categorized as high risk during her pregnancy.
Sarah was diagnosed as having placenta previa and as she was on blood thinning medication from her stroke, she had to watch out for any bleeding. Due to the placenta’s positioning Sarah was booked in for a caesarean section. A week before her scheduled Caesarean section Sarah’s vision began to deteriorate and she initially thought it was due to tiredness. She went to see the doctor and she said if it gets worse come back in for more tests.
Topics covered: stroke, legally blind, clean, brain surgery, downs syndrome, DNC, meningiomas, placenta previa, disability, grief, loss, VBAC.
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In today’s episode, I interview Jules Coffey. Jules shares her two pregnancies and births from the perspective of a trained doula.
Topics covered: Hashimotos, thyroid conditions, doula training, induction, epidural, breastfeeding, breast aversion, formula feeding, private obstetrician, hypnobirthing, irritable uterus, costochondritis essential oils, placenta encapsulation, breast crawl, oral and nipple thrush, mastitis.
All images by Ashleigh Jane Birth Photography
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In today’s episode, I interview Suzie Blake. Suzie shares her two pregnancies and births as well as her beautiful photography work as a breastfeeding advocate. Suzie fell pregnant unexpectedly whilst living in London with her partner. They were overjoyed but somewhat isolated being away from family and having no immediate friends who were having children. Suzie shares her birth in London under the care of midwives and she then compares the system to that of Australia. Halfway through her second pregnancy Suzie returned home to Australia and gave birth to her second child at the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Today’s episode of the show is brought to you by the Medela Asia Pacific Breastfeeding and Lactation Symposium 2018. This event is the ideal platform for health professionals to enhance their knowledge and clinical practice through presentations of the latest research in breastfeeding and human milk. Together with an audience of breastfeeding champions, the Symposium offers a valuable exchange of thoughts and ideas as well as networking opportunities. The Medela Asia Pacific Breastfeeding and Lactation Symposium is a two-day event with a world class line up of speakers, will take place in the Pullman Melbourne On The Park Hotel on 3rd & 4th of May 2018.
To purchase your ticket head over
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Topics covered: midwifery, NHS, Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne, Photography, hind water leak, fast delivery, breastfeeding, breastfeeding photography, censorship, feminism, Medela, hole in the heart, Tweddle
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In this week’s episode, I interview Nikki. Nikki is the CEO of Tiny Hearts first Aid and a qualified paramedic. Nikki conceived quite quickly when she and her partner finally agreed to try for a baby. Unfortunately, they lost their first baby at 10 weeks. They decided very quickly to try again once they were given the all-clear from their doctor and they went on to conceive their daughter Nahla Fox. Nikki explains feeling very anxious throughout the pregnancy due to their previous loss and combined with morning sickness, hyperthyroidism and gestational diabetes Nikki said she did not enjoy her pregnancy.
At 36 weeks gestation Nikki went to bed and both her and her husband were marveling at how active Nahla had been. She was all over the place and then she suddenly stopped moving. Nikki went to the bathroom, which usually leads to Nahla moving around and still nothing. Knowing she had an ultrasound booked for the morning Nikki decided to wait until the morning. After a restless and anxious night of little sleep, they made their way to the hospital. The doctors discover that she was in fact not moving as much as they would have liked to see. The baby had also not grown since her previous scan and they decided it would be best to try and induce Nikki.
Topics included: miscarriage, gestational diabetes, hypothyroidism, reduced foetal movement, emergency caesarean, NICU, low blood sugar, transfusion
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In today’s episode, I interview Bo Gerritsen. Bo was busy planning her wedding at the age of twenty-four when she found out she was unexpectedly pregnant with her daughter Indiana. Despite being a strong believer in home births, Bo felt unprepared so she decided to have her first daughter through the public hospital in Perth. Bo suffered morning sickness for her entire pregnancy with Indiana and got quite used to the routine of throwing up each morning and then feeling better by the afternoon.
Bo went into labour the morning after her birthday. She’d felt upset and emotional throughout her birthday so in hindsight she thinks it was a sign that labour was about to start. Her labour began with cramping however as it was five days until her due date she didn't think it was the early signs of labour. She spent the best part of that day labouring in her bath at home and she accepted that she was having contractions when they became more regular and were timeable. At 6 pm she made her way to the hospital to find out she was 3cm dilated…..
Tune into this weeks episode to hear more about Indian’s labour and how Bo’s partner passed out in the hospital room heat and due to the pressure of holding Bo up while she was pushing on the birth stool.
Topics include public hospital healthcare, unplanned pregnancy, morning sickness, breastfeeding, NICU, home birth, water birth, tongue tie, The Simple Folk.
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In today’s episode, I interview Bec Douros. After getting engaged quite young at 21 and married at age 23, Bec knew she wanted to try for a baby right away. With a history of Endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome, Bec journey into motherhood was long and challenging. After four years of actively trying to conceive and after several miscarriages Bec fell pregnant with her first son Archie. She suffered from debilitating morning sickness throughout Archie’s pregnancy which required her to be hospitalized on more than one occasion. Thankfully this sickness passed at about 20 weeks.
Bec was seeing a private obstetrician through the Epworth Hosptial in Melbourne and she undertook the hospital offered birthing classes. She said she went into the birth hoping for a natural delivery however she was open to seeing how it went on the day. Bec went over on her dates and she was booked in to be induced however she went into labour naturally the morning of her scheduled induction. Making her way to the hospital at 8 am, Bec laboured all day with help of Gas and Air and her TENS machine. When she was checked and confirmed to be 8cm’s dilated, she started to have intense back pain. Archie was in a posterior position and despite efforts to turn him they couldn’t. It was at that moment that Bec started bleeding profusely and both her and Archies heart rates suddenly dropped. Bec explains that it got very intense very quickly and after 18hrs of labour she was rushed away for an emergency caesarean.
To hear the rest of Archie’s birth in more detail and Bec pregnancy and birth of her second son Lenny, tune into this weeks episode of the show.
Topics covered: Endometriosis, Polly Cystic Ovarian Syndrom, caesarean section, hemorrhage, postpartum recovery, blood transfusion, pelvic girdle pain, pelvic instability, SRC Recovery shorts, physio, breastfeeding.
All images by : Kelly Jordan Photography
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52 | Kate Vincent Twins, IVF and Spontaneous Conception Vaginal Delivery
In today’s episode, I interview Kate Vincent. It took just over four years for Kate and her partner to conceive their twin boys. Kate was in her mid-twenties when they first started and they expected it to happen very quickly. After a year of trying Kate had some tests to investigate if she may have had endometriosis. Her results came back all clear. The next step was to speak to a fertility specialist. The fertility tests came back fine and Kate and her husband had what is often referred to as ‘unexplained infertility’. Kate experienced a few chemical pregnancies after their fertility treatments but it wasn’t until the 6th transfer that she fell pregnant. Remarkably Kate fell pregnant naturally a couple of days before her embryo transfer and went on to have twins.
Topics: calm birth, induction, IVF, unexplained infertility, spontaneous pregnancy, twins, twin pregnancy, tandem feeding, silent reflux, express feeding, mastitis.
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In this week’s episode, I interview Rachael Casella. Rachael refers to herself as a Type A personality, so when thinking about trying to conceive, she spent six months preparing. She saw a Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist and also had her husband Johnny tested for fertility. Rachael started trying on her honeymoon and when she didn't fall pregnant in the first 2 months of trying she went and saw Genea in Sydney. She discovered that she ovulates on day 8 instead of day 14 of her cycle. With this info in hand, she fell pregnant the next month of trying.
Despite having private health insurance, Rachael and her husband decided to use the midwifery lead care program through the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney. At 39 weeks Rachel had a stretch and sweep however her cervix hadn't dilated as yet. She began to experience reduced foetal movement at this time so her midwifery team decided it would be best to induce her at 40 weeks. After a difficult labour and 2 hours of pushing Mackenzie were delivered by caesarean section.
At 10 weeks of age, Rachael took Mackenzie to see a lactation consultant because she found Mackenzie was pulling off crying during feeds. The lactation consultant initially thought that Mackenzie she was a bit floppier than he should be for her age. Panicked Rachael rushed her to a doctor who said that she would need to go and see a pediatrician. They got to see a pediatrician in 2 days later. When seeing the pediatrician They were in the office with the pediatrician for about 4 minutes before he turned to them and said: “I think your baby has got Spinal Muscular Atrophy”. They had never heard of SMA before so they asked what the cure was and he said it was terminal. To hear the rest of Mackenzie’s journey please tune into this week's show.
To find out more about Rachael’s blog:
This weeks episode is proudly sponsored by . Bouncing Back From Birth is dedicated to helping mums thrive after birth. From Vaginal Birth to Belly Birth and Breastfeeding support Bouncing Back From Birth offers everything you need for healing, strength, and confidence in the one place. are offering 15% with the code BIRTHSTORIES offer available until April 30. ($2 from every sale made using this code will be donated towards SMA research).
Topic: miscarriage, fertility tracking, private health insurance, Royal Hospital for Women, Midwifery care program, Genea, continuity of care, birth plan, delayed cord clamping, reduced foetal movement, TENS, posterior position, Mackenzie’s Mission.
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Additional Reading:
The Conversation: .
The Conversation:
To see the ABC 730 report covering Mackenzie’s Mission: and
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In this weeks episode, I interview Adrienne Biscontin. Adrienne started trying for a baby shortly after she had gotten married bought a house. Several of her friends had fallen pregnant quickly so she assumed she would conceive quickly too. After 8mths of actively trying to conceive she fell pregnant. Unfortunately, Adrienne miscarried quite early in this pregnancy. Completely devastated after her loss, she decided to overturn her life and she concentrated heavily on her health, moving her diet to organic produce and swapping many staples in her diet to try and create the most favorable environment to conceive. Six months later she fell pregnant with her first daughter Ava.
Adrienne delivered all three of her daughters at St Vincent’s Private in Melbourne. Collectively she laboured for 8.5 hours she had 3 super fast deliveries. To hear Adrienne’s very fast deliveries in more detail tune into this week’s episode.
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Topics covered: pilates, fertility, fast births, irritable uterus, miscarriage, silent reflux.
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In today’s episode, I interview Beccy Cloke. Beccy was diagnosed as having a tilted cervix by her gynaecologist at a young age and she was advised that it may take her a little longer to conceive. With that in mind, she and Travis started trying for a baby shortly after their honeymoon. To their complete surprise, they conceived very quickly and then had to adjust quickly to the idea that a baby was on the way.
Beccy went through private obstetric care through Mitcham Private Hospital in Melbourne. After an initial hiccup, she changed obstetricians to find a recommended doctor they had complete trust in. Beccy took both a Hypno Birth course and an online course called Birth Beat. Wanting to have a drug free, natural delivery, Beccy shares how she became very upset when she underwent an emergency caesarean after her labour didn’t progress. Overjoyed to have a happy and healthy baby, Beccy still feels disappointed with some components of her birth. To hear more about how Beccy struggled with some of the decisions she made during her pregnancy and her labour and some things she wished she had done differently tune into this wee
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48 | Lisa Wipfli Two Under Two, Emergency Caesarean, Elective Caesarean
In this weeks episode, I interview Lisa Wipfli. Lisa shares her pregnancy with Ted and her unexpected emergency caesarean. She then discusses falling pregnant some 7months later with her second little boy Jack and life with two under two.
Lisa conceived Ted during her second month of trying to conceive and after watching many friends struggle to fall pregnant, she was incredibly grateful. Ted’s pregnancy went quite smoothly until the final weeks when Lisa began to feel very uncomfortable and she suffered pelvic and back pain. Lisa had weekly and sometimes twice weekly appointments with her Osteopath to assist with the discomfort. She went two weeks over her due date in the middle of summer and had gained approximately 22kgs so she was more than ready to be induced at 42 weeks. To hear more about Lisa deliveries, her husbands GoPro and virtual reality filming of the births and lots more tune into this weeks episode.
Topics included: pelvic pain, breastfeeding, breastfeeding challenges, reduced milk production, emergency caesarean, cracked nipples, nipple shields, pilates, Body beyond birth, abdominal separation, mixed feeding, pumping, virtual reality filming.
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In today’s episode, I interview Alex Tabet. Alex conceived her first daughter quite easily by tracking her ovulation and listening carefully to her body. During her pregnancy, Alex went six days over due. She admits thinking “how hard could labour be?” She woke at 330am with mild contractions
She left for hospital at 930am when her contractions 3 minutes apart. She was calling everyone she new, was very vocal and felt less focused. Alex shares she felt like she resisted her contractions and didn’t work with her body in the way in which she did in her second labour.
To hear how Alex went on to conceive her second daughter 3 years later and how she attended Hypnobirthing classes and achieved a much calmer birth.
Topics Covered: moon cycles, ovulation awearness, breastfeeding, birth trauma, pregnancy insomnia, hypnobirth, Hypnobirthing Australia, gas and air, pethadine.
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Tulsi was trying for about 6 months to conceive Henry. After being on the pill for a long time it took a little while for her cycles to return to normal and regulate. Tusli was regularly testing each month but she feels as if she knew the moment after she had conceived Henry. During her pregnancy, Tulsi’s husband was offered a job in a small country town 700km west of Brisbane. The only facilities available was a small hospital that didn't offer epidurals or caesareans so she was focusing on having a natural drug free birth.
At 39 plus 3, Tusli was very scared of needing to be induced and going overdue. She woke in the night to go to the toilet and as she was on the toilet her waters wet. Her husband shot out of bed, adrenaline pumping. They called the midwife who was going to need to go in and open the hospital, as she was the only staff member on duty. She told them to make their way in. Tulsi laughs as she remembers taking a long time deciding what to wear to the hospital. After her first contraction came Tusli’s contractions came on hard and fast. She labored most of the time leaning over a sink swaying with a heat pack on her back. At 7 am Tusli said she felt pressure and wanted to go to the toilet. The midwife thought it was very unlikely she would be ready to push as it was her first baby and she had only been in the hospital for 4 hours. Tulsi husband pleaded with the midwife to check her again and they were all surprised to find she was ready. She was 8cm and by 730am Henry was born.
When Tusli was 40weeks plus 5 with her second baby Pippy, her son’s kinder called and said he was complaining of terrible stomach pains. She picked him up and took him straight to the hospital to get him checked over. Curled up in pain they made a number of checks and after two hours he suddenly went straight back to normal. As they packed up to head home Tusli’s made a quick stop to go to the toilet and her waters broke. She walked herself up the stairs to the maternity ward and began contracting with strong contractions with her son Henry still present. To hear how Pippi’s delivery went tune into this weeks episode.
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Katrina went through the Cosmos program at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne for all three of her deliveries. Despite suffering severe nausea up until 14 weeks, Katrina found her first pregnancy was quite routine.
On Katrina’s due date, she was woken up with period like cramping at 1 am. Katrina’s family found it quite amusing she would deliver on her due date because she is quite a pragmatic and organized person. She went on to labour at home with the support of her partner and her heavily pregnant sister. Katrina was quite unlucky as she was constantly vomiting throughout her labour. After labouring at home for most of the day, She made her way into the Royal Women’s Hospital with her support team. In triage, Katrina had a huge contraction and substantial vomit and then her babies heart rate dropped and her midwife became quite concerned that there was something worth monitoring. She was moved into the birthing suite and monitored. She had a mobile monitor on which allowed her to still move around the room. Despite envisaging an active delivery Katrina ended up pushing on the bed on her back with her sister holding one leg and her friend who was a midwife holding the other. After 30 minutes of pushing she delivered her daughter.
Topics covered: postpartum bleed, COSMOS Midwifery Program, Royal Women’s Hospital, 2nd degree tear, TENS machine, water birth.
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In today’s episode I interview Amber. At 23 years of age, Amber started having hot flushes and she went to the doctors who said it was most probably a viral infection. It could be pre-menopause. A few weeks later Amber was continuing to get up to 20 hot flushes a day. The doctors ran blood tests her SFH levels were at 75 extremely high. The sent her to a gynecologist who found she had cysts on her ovaries then she started on Clomid for 6mths. In that 6mths she only ovulated once. The side effects - depressed and upset wanted to leave her partner. She came off Clomid and she started acupuncture. Her Acupuncturist was able to get Amber to ovulate once, however, she was then referred to Lynn Bermister the head specialist at Monash IVF. She went into to find her cysts had grown back and her eggs were no longer function.
The first 2 IVF cycles she didn't produce any of her own follicles. After 6 mths of going back and forth, she decided to use her sister's eggs. Her sister underwent counseling and began taking hormones to help her ovulate and regulate her cycles. Her sister was 23 and passed all the intense counseling so they began the process.
After the first failed IVF transfer using Amber’s sister’s donated egg, Amber took three months break from trying to regroup mentally and emotionally. The weekend of her sister’s egg collection was near Easter so she did an easter egg hunt around the house and it turned out Amber collected 13 chocolate easter eggs. To hear how Ambers pregnancy went and her delivery tune into this weeks episode.
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Today’s episode of the show I interview Elise Raquel. Elise takes us through her three vaginal births. Elise’s first daughter Peyton was born in a private hospital in Perth under the care of her private obstetrician. Elise did little birth preparation, however she knew she wanted to try for a natural drug-free delivery. At 37 weeks, Elise went in for an antenatal appointment and they discovered that her blood pressure was elevated. At this time the doctor began discussing the possibility of induction. Elise did everything she could to bring on labour naturally and she went into labour spontaneously at 38 weeks. After a long labour, Elise was given an epidural and she pushed out her daughter with the help of a vacuum delivery.
Topics covered: flat nipples, posterior, nipple shield, gas and air, episiotomy, baby blues, jaundice, The Natural parent Facebook group, hypnosis, midwifery care, waterbirth, postpartum bleeding, tandem breastfeeding, trisomy13, Harmony testing, curb walking, nipple stimulation, natural induction method.
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In today’s episode, I interview Emma. At the age of 14, Emma was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and she underwent surgery for a fistula. During this surgery, Emma was advised that if she was to go on and have a family in the future, it was most likely she would need to have a caesarean section.
At 21 she had a bad a relapse of her Crohn’s Disease and she underwent a bowel resection and they removed 30cm of her small intestine. After several more repairs on her fistula, Emma was also diagnosed with an autoimmune arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The AS effected her pelvis and spine making pregnancy more challenging however, it was ultimately the Crohn’s disease and her previous surgeries which meant she needed to have caesarean deliveries.
After having two caesareans with the same obstetrician, in Emma’s third pregnancy she felt very emotional about the fact that she was going to have to have another caesarean section. What affected Emma the most was the fact that she had to have them delivered in this way due to her own health. Emma raised her concerns with her obstetrician during her third pregnancy, however she felt quite unheard by her obstetrician. She wasn’t getting the birth she was hoping for and she felt that the emotional component of her birth was not being acknowledged and supported.
Four years after having her first child Emma decided to try and makes some changes in her fourth birth. Going with the same obstetrician but asking for changes. Emma asked for changes such as delayed cord clamping, an attempt to not use forceps in the delivery, the use of her own music in the delivery room and she had her husband videotaping the birth. After watching the video back Emma said she felt completely robbed and taken advantage of as her obstetrician hadn't made any of the changes she had requested. Forceps were used, the cord wasn't left to pulsate and what’s more, the obstetrician swore that he hated the song playing on Emma’s playlist whilst delivering their baby.
For her fifth and final birth, Emma was not going to have the same obstetrician. To hear how Emma made a variety of changes to get the gentle caesarean she had dreamed of, tune into this Emma’s episode on the show.
Topics covered: Crohn's Disease, Rheumatoid arthritis: ankylosing spondylitis, birth trauma, caesarean section, back labour, tongue tie, breastfeeding challenges, vaginal seeding, placenta encapsulation, birth plan.
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In today’s episode, I interview Eliza Curby. Eliza shares how she fell pregnant for the first time after being with her partner for just three months. Eliza and Ben were thrilled as they had wanted to start a family quickly. Despite not being covered for Private Hospital care in pregnancy, Eliza wanted to go to the hospital where her mother worked as a midwife. After a healthy pregnancy, Eliza began her labour at home and was 5cm dilated when she went to see her doctor. Things took a turn when her baby became distressed and Charlie was delivered by caesarean section.
A few months after Charlie’s arrival Eliza discovered she was pregnant with twins. Although a complete surprise Eliza and her partner were overjoyed to hear they would be adding identical twin boys to their family. To hear the challenges of carrying twins and chasing another baby around tune into this weeks episode.
Topics Included: Caesarean, Diastasis Symphysis Pubis, steroid injections, identical twins, reduced foetal moment, North Shore Private Hospital, jaundice, weaning, TENS machine, Rite Aid Hydrogel breast pads, Hypnobirthing.
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In today’s episode, I interview Beth Johnson. Beth shares her two pregnancies and births with us. Beth recalls her first pregnancy as beautiful and uneventful which resulted in a lovely water birth through the midwifery program at Sydney’s Royal Hospital for Women. Seven years after having her first daughter, Beth married her partner Jonathan and they conceived their second daughter on their honeymoon. Beth was terribly sick with ‘all day’ morning sickness. At 20 weeks when they went to have their routine ultrasound the doctors discovered some abnormalities in Marley’s facial structure.
During this incredibly stressful time, Beth underwent countless ultrasounds. She also had an amniocentesis test administered which all failed to determine why her baby’s lower jaw seemed hard to detect in the scans. It wasn’t until Beth met with the midwife Kate Dwyer (who’s a Clinical Midwife Consultant High-Risk Pregnancy, Coordinator Midwifery Group Practice/Maternal-Fetal Medicine), at Sydney’s Royal Hospital for Women. Kate quickly diagnosed Beth’s baby girl with Piere Robin Sequence.
To hear more about Piere Robin Sequence and how Beth’s high-risk pregnancy unfolded tune into this week's show.
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Topics covered: high-risk pregnancy, Piere Robin Sequence, Sydney’s Royal Children’s Hospital, nasal gastric tube (NG Tube), soft cleft palate, NICU, sleep apnoea, sleeping prone, reflux, amniocentesis.
To connect with Beth Johnson through her Blog Modern Mother click here:
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37 | Karla Rose Two Birth Center Water Births
In today’s episode, I interview Karla Rose. Karla shares her pregnancies and births with her daughter Mini and her son Ruko. At 42 weeks Karla woke at 1 am and her waters went as she went to the bathroom. Contractions began quite quickly after her waters broke and she made her way to the birth center. After an intense contraction at the center, she got into the bath while she was transitioning. Mini was born into the water and her husband Ben delivered her. When she was born they were cuddling Mini for nearly 40minutes before they thought to check to see the sex of the baby. To hear more about Karla’s pregnancy with her son Ru and his birth tune into the podcast episode here.
Topics covered: birth center birth, Byron Bay, water birth, postpartum bleed, Mullumbimby, rupture of membranes prior to contractions, castor oil, Tweed hospital, retained placenta, breastfeeding, engorgement, nipple shields.
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In today’s episode, I interview Rozalia Russian. Rozalia takes us through her pregnancy and birth with both Willow and Kingston. After a very happy and healthy pregnancy with Willow Rozalia went 10 days overdue and was induced to help start her labour. After labouring all day Roza was unable to get past 3cm so her obstetrician Guy Skinner advised an emergency caesarean was the best way forward. After Willow’s delivery Roza haemorrhaged and required a blood transfusion. To hear more about Willow’s birth and how gestational diabetes in Kingston’s pregnancy caught her by surprised tune into this weeks show.
Topics cover: gestational diabetes, blood transfusion, haemorrhage elective caesarean, emergency caesarean, breastfeeding, young mum, St Vincents Private Hospital, Dr. Guy Skinner, mastitis.
Todays episode is sponsored by Palmaira Sandals Australia is run by the gorgeous sister in law duo two sister-in-laws (Jenn & Gem).To check out the full range of these beautiful Avarca sandals head over to:
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In today’s episode, I interview Nat. Nat takes us through her home water birth. Nat’s story is quite unique in that she had a hind water leak at 40 weeks, however, her contractions did not start. She was originally under the care of the team midwives through the local birth center however they were unable to continue to be her care provider once she had gone past 72 hours without contractions. Nat decided to hire her own private midwife to have the waterbirth she had planned for at home. To hear Nat’s birth story in more detail please tune into this weeks episode.
Topics included: hind water leak, water birth, private midwife, hemorrhage, retained placenta, nuchal cord, Tresillian, placenta encapsulation, cervical scar tissue, home birth.
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In today’s episode, I interview Adele Barbaro (The Real Mumma). Adele shares her struggles in falling pregnant with her first child Harvey. Adele suffers from endometriosis and had a procedure to remove scar tissue to help create a more favorable environment for an embryonic transfer through IVF. Adele’s labour failed to progress despite induction medication being given and she delivered Harvey via a caesarean section.
Adele went on to conceive Chloe naturally to her and Paul’s great surprise. Adele wanted to try for a VBAC with Chloe and she shares that although she was able to have the VBAC she had wished for she suffered a clitoral tear from her vaginal delivery. She recalls talking to her doctor a few weeks after Chloe’s delivery and saying she wishes she had just booked in for another cesarean. To hear more of Adele’s story tune in this week's show.
Topics covered: IVF, low amniotic fluid, induction, caesarean section, vaginal birth after caesarean VBAC, clitoral tear, prodromal labour, vacuum delivery, hind water leak, general anesthetic, expressed colostrum, endometriosis.
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In today’s episode, I interview Paralympian, Diversity and Disability Activist, author and mother of two Jessica Smith. Jessica shares her births with both Ayla and Reza. She takes us through the struggles with suffering severe morning sickness, (hyperemesis gravidarum) low iron and anxiety surrounding labour. Jessica also touches on how she felt about her changing body and body image after suffering from eating disorders for many years.
Jessica was living in Perth when she fell pregnant with Ayla. Expecting to be met with fertility challenges due to battling eating disorders in her past, Jessica was thrilled to conceive easily in her first month of trying. Unfortunately, she immediately began to suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum. Jessica wasn't able to keep anything down including water. Under the careful watch of her obstetrician, Jessica later needed an iron transfusion. Thanfully by 17 weeks the morning sickness passed.
Jessica felt very fearful about the delivery of Ayla and was quite sure she would like an epidural on the day. During the lead up she was also quite concerned about logistically how she would manage the baby with one hand. For example, she was concerned about day to day managing of tasks where she would be holding the baby and wouldn’t have a free hand to pick up car keys if she dropped them or if she was breastfeeding in public and wanted to cover herself with a wrap, she wouldn't have a free hand to assist herself.
To hear Ayla's birth story, Jessica’s devastating miscarriage after Ayla, and her pregnancy journey and birth with Reza listen now.
Topics included: hyperemesis gravidarum, bulimia, low iron, Epworth Freemason’s Hospital, miscarriage, epidural, anxiety, natural birth.
Little Miss Jessica Goes to School by Jessica Smith
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In Today’s episode, I interview Marcia Leone from the Not So Mumsy blog. Marcia takes us through her two pregnancies and births with both Archie and Poppy. Marcia also discusses the two difficult miscarriages she had in between having Archie and Poppy and discusses the challenges of having unexpected secondary infertility.
After undergoing a cleanse with her Naturopath, Marcia was able to regulate her cycles and fall pregnant quite quickly with Archie. Marcia took a weekend couples Calmbirth course to prepare for the labour which she felt really helped to ease her anxiety and get her ready for labour. At 39 weeks and 5 days, Marcia got up in the night to discover she lost her mucus plug after some light cramping. As she had tested positive to group B Step, her obstetrician recommended she come in to begin her antibiotic treatment. After having her waters broken to help progress her labour, Marcia went on to have an induction, epidural and episiotomy to assist the delivery of little Archie.
Several hours after delivery the midwives were monitoring Archie whilst Marcia had a rest and they noticed he had spewed up some bright green bile. Archie was immediately taken away for surgery to have his malrotated bowel corrected. This was a completely unexpected condition and left Marcia and her partner shell-shocked. After one intensive month in the hospital, Archie was discharged. Marcia pumped around the clock during this time and established a fantastic supply. She was able to go on to have a successful breastfeeding relationship with Archie despite his severe reflux.
To hear how it took several years, two miscarriages, a terrible bout of Dengue Fever and a round of IVF to conceive Poppy, tune in to Marcia’s interview.
Topics included: PCOS, Hypnosis, Calmbirth, IVF, Spontaneous miscarriage, DNC, induction, epidural, Group B Strep, malrotated bowel, NICU, Special Care Nursery, secondary infertility, Dengue Fever.
To connect with Marcia and her blog and label, Not So Mumsy click here
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In Today’s episode I interview Tash about her three pregnancies and births. Tash had her first baby at Wangaratta hospital in rural Victoria. After a long posterior labour her first birth ended in an emergency C-Section. After the birth of her daughter Dempsey, Tash went on to fall pregnant with her second daughter when Dempsey was 9 months old. She had moved to Eltham from the county during this time and began seeing a GP through shared care with the Mercy Hospital in Heidelberg. Despite having healthy test results and scans at 20 weeks, Tash began to feel very unwell at 23 weeks and she went into premature labour. Her baby was born sleeping a few hours later. Tash shares very courageously her journey of delivering her stillborn daughter and how she processed her grief after such a tragic unexpected loss. Tash went on to try for another baby a couple of years later and takes us through the stress and anxiety of her third pregnancy. After much deliberation Tash decided, with the support of the Mercy staff, that she would have her little boy via elective c-section. This is a very powerful and emotional episode and I am incredibly grateful that Tash approached me wanting to share her stories.
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In today’s episode, I interview Amelia Lamont, a Midwife and Sleep Consultant. Amelia shares the story of her son Alfie and daughter Essie’s pregnancies and births. After suffering two early miscarriages, Amelia fell pregnant with Alfie and had a relatively easy pregnancy up until 20 weeks when she started to experience an irritable uterus. This involved the uterus contracting regularly in a similar way to Braxton Hicks, with no cervical change. By 30 weeks these contractions became more regular and Amelia was advised by her obstetrician to stop working and rest until the baby was due to arrive. At 40 weeks Amelia went to see her obstetrician again as she hadn't been gaining any weight and they wanted to ensure the baby was still growing correctly. It was discovered at this appointment that Amelia had reduced fluid.
After having a stretch and sweep by both her doctor and later that day by a close friend who was also a midwife, Amelia’s labour failed to begin. The next day she had her waters broken by her doctor and her contractions came on hard and fast. Amelia had an epidural when she reached 6cm and then ended up having an episiotomy and vacuum delivery as both her and Alfie became distressed and unwell towards the end of the labour.
During her second pregnancy with daughter Essie, Amelia discovered Essie was breech at 28 weeks. Despite trying every recommended trick to turn her, acupuncture, moxibustion, and osteopathy, Essie failed to move. At 36 weeks Amelia had an External Cephalic Version (ECV) which managed to finally rotate Essie. It was during this procedure that they discovered that once again Amelia had reduced fluid surrounding the baby.
To hear more about Essie’s delivery including how Amelia's husband crashed their new car before delivery, tune into the show….
Topics covered in today’s show: irritable uterus, reduced fetal movement, reduced fluid, episiotomy, acupuncture, moxibustion, external cephalic version, epidural, vacuum delivery, midwife, sleep school, breastfeeding, retained placenta, manual placenta removal.
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In today’s episode, Kayleigh takes us through her two births. At the age of twenty, Kayleigh went off the contraceptive pill and found that her period didn’t return for over 12mths. She turned to acupuncture to try and regulate her cycle and was able to menstruate again and fell pregnant the following month.
During her first pregnancy, Kayleigh experienced morning sickness and later developed tachycardia ( a heart rate that exceeds the normal resting heart rate). Kayleigh’s labour began with her waters leaking in the evening at 39 weeks. After a prolonged second stage, three hours of pushing Kayleigh had a big bleed and was rushed away to theatre leaving her husband behind holding their new son.
During Kayleigh’s second pregnancy she developed kidney stones at 28 weeks. Initially, she thought she was going into early labour. She was just about to get a steroid injection in preparation for a premature delivery when tests showed that she, in fact, had kidney stones. Kayleigh’s kidney stones passed after several days in the hospital where she was monitored and given IV fluids.
At 38 weeks Kayleigh noticed she had reduced baby movement one morning. Midwives came over and found her baby’s heart rate quite easily, however, the baby wasn’t moving as much as the midwives would expect. The doctors decided to induce Kayleigh based on the reduced baby moment. Nervous she would have another bleed Kayleigh had an epidural put in place but asked them not to give her the actual drugs unless there was a sudden emergency. To hear more of Kayleigh’s story tune into the show.
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Topics included: PCOS, tachycardia, kidney stones, epidural, retained placenta, acupuncture, reduced fetal movement.
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In today’s episode, I interview Simone Burstow. Simone has two sets of identical twins and she takes us through both her pregnancies and births. Simone went in to have an early ultrasound in her first pregnancy after she had experienced some spotting at around 6 weeks. Expecting bad news Simone was shocked to hear that she was, in fact, carrying two healthy babies.
Several years after the boys were born Simone and her husband decided to try again and Simone suffered an ectopic pregnancy which resulted in her losing one fallopian tube. After this sad experience and after effectively halving her chances of falling pregnant again, Simone was incredibly surprised when she fell pregnant again with another set of identical twins.
To hear how Simone was able to deliver both sets of twins vaginally and how she has navigated all things twin related tune into this week's show.
Topics covered: Identical twins, twin to twin transfer, monoamniotic twins, ectopic pregnancy, fallopian tube removed, vaginal twin delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, tandem feeding
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In today’s episode, I interview Courtney Adamo, co-founder of Babyccino Kids and author of the children’s book 9 months: A month by month guide to pregnancy for the family to share. Courtney takes us through the journeys of her five pregnancies and births. Courtney shares how her experiences with each of her previous birth journeys lead her to have the most idyllic home birth with her fifth baby Wilkie.
Courtney fell pregnant for the first time at the age of 23, whilst living with her then-boyfriend Michael. At this time they had been dating for a year and a half and living in London. Despite the pregnancy coming as a bit of a shock, Courtney describes Easton’s pregnancy as a ‘welcomed surprise’. Courtney found it quite overwhelming in the early stages of her pregnancy as she had only been living in London for a year and the midwifery system in London was quite different from what she knew of the American Obstetric lead birthing system. Courtney decided to hire a private midwife because she liked the idea of seeing the same midwife throughout her pregnancy. All of her antenatal appointments were conducted in her London flat in a comfortable and relaxing environment. She was given the option with her private midwife to birth at home or at the local birthing center.
Easton’s labour was long and quite overwhelming and when his labour began to slow, and Courtney was becoming increasingly fatigued, she was transferred from the birth center to the local hospital. She then ended up having an epidural and 40 hours later Easton was born. Courtney explains it was not at all what she had envisioned for her birth.
Twenty-Two months after Easton’s birth Courtney gave birth to her second son Quin. After Easton’s birth experience, Courtney had decided to hire the same private midwife and try and have a natural home birth. Courtney went into labour with Quin a few days before her due date and had another long drawn out and painful labour. After labouring at home for quite some time, Courtney was surprised to hear her midwife suggest that maybe she should transfer to the hospital. Courtney’s midwife felt there was something holding her back from birthing at home. Courtney made the frightening 2 am journey to the hospital and she gave birth quite dramatically on arrival at the hospital.
Despite the dramatic transfer and quick delivery, Courtney found her recovery after Quin’s birth quite remarkable and she ended up walking home three hours after delivery. She and Michael sat in the sun in Hampstead Heath with their three hour newborn and savored the rare English sunshine.
Courtney fell pregnant with Ivy when she was away on a child-free holiday in New York. Another welcomed surprise as Courtney conceived at the end of her period and must have ovulated earlier than usual. Despite being quite nauseous in the first 12 weeks, Ivy’s pregnancy was very similar to that of the boys, leading Courtney to believe she was carrying another boy.
After experiencing an epidural birth with Easton, and then a drug-free, but dramatic transfer birth with Quin, courtney knew she wanted to do thins differently for her third birth. When the day came, Courtney made the decision to go straight to the hospital and she had a much quicker birth with an epidural. The epidiural actually only worked for one side of her body. Courtney’s found with Ivy’s birth she was able to be more present. She remembers details vividly such as her sister’s face when ivy was born and the sounds and smells in the room, which she attributes to one of the benefits of having an epidural.
When Courtney’s fourth child, Marlow was conceived there was a shift in Courtney’s view and understanding of birth. She took up Yoga for the first time in her life and she read Ina May Gaskin’s book Guide to Childbirth. Courtney also gave Ina May’s book to Michael to read and she felt that the two of them were on the same page and were incredibly well prepared both physically and emotionally for Marlow’s birth. To the great surprise of the staff at the NHS hospital staff, Courtney presented herself at 38 weeks to register for her birth. Courtney had no antenatal appointments during this pregnancy (despite having the twelve and twenty-week scans).
Marlow was delivered in the water in the local Birth Center with a beautiful midwife who completely trusted Courtney to have a physiological birth. Courtney remembers how her midwife sat quietly in the corner and told her to reach down and catch her baby when the time came.
Because of Marlow’s beautiful birth and the experiences she had has with her other births, Courtney felt she was now ready to have her home birth. A home birth with her four children present. She felt that Marlow’s birth has built her confidence. She felt that she and Michael had had that intimate moment with Marlow’s delivery and she was ready to share this experience with her other four children.
To hear how Courtney was able to have an idyllic home birth with her fifth child Wilkie, tune into Courtney’s episode.
Topics covered: epidural, private midwife, birth center, water birth, home birth, Courtney Adamo, Babyccino Kids, 9mths, breastfeeding, Byron Bay, Ina May Gaskin’s “Guide to Childbirth”.
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In Today’s episode, I interview Carla. Carla shares the stories of her three pregnancies and births. At 21 years of age, Carla had a benign tumour removed from her ovary and she was told at the time she had PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). The doctor informed her at this time that she would likely have difficulty conceiving. This turned out to be the case, as it took Carla three years of trying to fall pregnant with her first child. Carla worked with a fertility specialist out of Epworth Freemasons Hospital and tried a number of techniques such as weight loss, diet changes and then moved on to taking Clomid. After trying with Clomid for several months and having no success, Carla’s husband was deployed in the Army to the Solomon Islands and she took a full 6 months of taking any medications and had a complete break. When he returned she had one dose of Clomid and conceived Cate.
Carla shares how she loved her first pregnancy. She had wanted to be a mother all her life and she already knew that she wanted to have her child through the local caseload midwifery program near her house.
Carla went into labour naturally at home with Cate. She lost her mucus plug and then 2hours later her waters went. After labouring at home with her husband and sister for support, Carla made her way into the birth center in the evening when the contractions ramped up. On arrival, she was checked and shocked to find out she was fully effaced. After only 12 minutes of pushing Kate was delivered onto a mat while Carla was on all fours. Caral’s husband announced that they had a little girl and Carla was certain she was carrying a boy so she questioned this and after a nurse double checked they were thrilled to welcome little Cate into the world.
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To hear more about Carla’s recovery and the births of her other two children tune into the podcast.
Topics covered in this weeks episode: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Clomid, Fertility specialist, midwifery caseload care, natural childbirth, vaginal tearing, breastfeeding, benign ovarian tumor
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Today, Alys takes us through her decision to have an elective caesarean section with her first son William due to his breech position and then going on to have a VBAC. Alys describes William's conception as a ‘deliberate surprise” after a few jokes around the table on a family New Zealand holiday with her partner’s family. Alys laughs about the fact that the first thing she did after taking a home pregnancy test was to go straight to the Good Guys to buy a clothes drier.
Living in Canberra at the time Alys went through Canberra’s Public Hospital for her care. At 32 weeks she discovered her baby was breech. Alys’ doctor said she could decide on how she wanted to move forward. She shares how she made the decision to have a caesarean based on her readings and understandings that in a caesarean birth more of the risk is held by the mother and with a breech vaginal delivery the risk is held more with the baby. She said she probably wouldn’t make the same decision now, however, she was confident with her elective caesarean section choice at the time.
When Alys found out she was pregnant for the second time she began to explore her delivery options. A girlfriend of Alys’ had recently had a Calm Birth, and another friend had had a VBAC home water birth. Having never had a contraction in her first pregnancy, Alys decided she'd like to give a VBAC a try. Alys shares how she went back and forth with the idea and it wasn't until she took her midwifery lead VBAC birth education class at Box Hill Public Hospital. that she felt confident in her decision. The midwife who lead the class convinced Alys that the benefits of a VBAC outweighed the risks. She walked away knowing that she wanted to go for a VBAC.
To hear more about how Alys’ successful VBAC went tune into the show.
Topics covered: Breech baby, elective caesarean, chemical pregnancy, VBAC, low milk supply, formula feeding, retained placenta.
Topics covered: Breech baby, elective caesarean, chemical pregnancy, VBAC, low milk supply, formula feeding, retained placenta.
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In today’s episode, I interview Gemma Taylor. Gemma takes us through her difficult four-year journey trying to conceive her first child Flynn. Gemma suffered from mild endometriosis and a low egg count and conceived Flynn after a stimulated IVF Cycle. Gemma shares openly the heartache in miscarrying her first transferred embryo and the joy in going on to conceive Flynn. Flynn’s pregnancy began with severe morning sickness which didn’t subside until 24 weeks. Then at 27 weeks, Gemma was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.
Gemma’s labor with Flynn began at around 39 weeks after a week of pre-labor. When she went in for a stretch and sweep her midwife was surprised to find how favourable Gemma seemed and said she thought that she was going to deliver in the coming day. Several days later contractions began to ramp up on a Friday night. Gemma laboured at home until 2 pm the following day when she transferred to Randwick Women's Hospital hospital feeling exhausted after a long and trying week of on and off contractions. The midwife on duty suggested an epidural to give Gemma the chance to have some rest and they started an indiction drip to help progress her labour.
With her second pregnancy, after having gone through such a long a painful journey trying to conceive Flynn, Gemma and her partner decided to try quite quickly to try and conceive again. They began the process by having the frozen embryo (which was taken at the same time as Flynn) implanted. Unfortunately, this transfer ended in a missed miscarriage which Gemma had a DNC for at 7 weeks.
The next stimulated cycle for Gemma and her partner was somewhat different as the technology for IFV was continuing to evolve. There was now a new test available Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing. According to IVF Australia :
“Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is a sophisticated scientific technique which can be used to test embryos for either a specific known genetic condition or chromosome abnormality. This enables only chromosomally normal embryos or those unaffected by a specific disorder to be selected for transfer during an IVF cycle, maximising the chance of a healthy baby. Up to 70% of embryos created, either via natural conception or IVF don’t survive the first 3 months of pregnancy and many don’t achieve implantation because of those two reasons.” ()
To hear more about how Gemma went on to have the first mosaic embryo transferred in Australia and how she ended up delivering her second son at home with the assistance of her sister in law and business partnerJenny tune into the show.
Topics covered: endometriosis, IFV, stimulated cycles, misses miscarriage, DNC, gestational diabetes, Mozaic embryo transfer, unexpected home birth, asthma, pre-labour.
Today's episode is sponsored by Blossom and Glow. Blossom and Glow are offering listeners a 15% off discount. Enter ABS15 at checkout.
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In today’s episode, I interview Georgie Abay the founder of The Grace Tales. Georgie takes us through her pregnancies and premature births of her little girl Arabella at 34 weeks and Lottie at 33 weeks. After trying to conceive for 6 months Georgie fell pregnant with her first daughter Arabella. Georgie experienced terrible morning sickness up until 19 weeks with Arabella. After completing her Calm Birth course at 34 weeks, Georgie went into labour the next day prematurely. After going in for a routine ultrasound the staff discovered that she was going into labour. Her doctor sent her straight to the hospital to have a steroid injection and sent her home on bed rest. Georgie was due to be a bridesmaid for her best friend later that week and had a nail appointment that day in preparation for the day. Her mum said she could take her to her nail appointment and as she would be laying down in the chair she would therefore be resting. Georgie’s waters went in the nail salon in a comical movie style fashion. She ended up borrowing a towel from the salon and put that under her dress and she and her mother made their way to the hospital, via the supermarket to pack a last minute supply bag of essentials for the very early birth.
Despite her waters going contractions didn’t start so, Georgie was induced to progress the labour. After labouring for 17 hours with the assistance of an epidural and forceps, Arabella was delivered 6 weeks early. Arabella was checked by a paediatrician and was then wheeled off to the special care nursery. Georgie explains that Arabella’s emotional birth and the separation she experienced was the hardest thing she had experienced. Arabella was formula fed in the special nursery and Georgie went home without her little girl. Georgie shares the heart ache she experienced in leaving the hospital without her baby. When home Georgie pumped tirelessly through the night to bring her milk supply in and was able to successfully bring in a great milk supply which enabled her to start breastfeeding Arabella when she was stronger. After two weeks of care in the special care nursery, Arabella was discharged and came home.
When Arabella was 10mths old Georgie fell pregnant again unexpectedly while they were renovating their house and living at her mum’s place. At 23 weeks into Georgie’s second pregnancy she had a scan and it was discovered she had a short cervix and she had started to dilate. She was put on strict bedrest as she was at risk of early labour again. This was incredibly challenging as she had a toddler to take care of. She was only allowed to get up to shower and eat. Georgie had to insert progesterone daily and shealso had steroid shots to help prepare her body and the baby for another early arrival. She moved back to her Mum’s house and hired a full-time nanny to care for Arabella. At 33 weeks Georgie felt she was about to go into labour so she quickly moved back into her family home and her the next morning her waters went. Georgie had the support of a lovely midwife and she felt this made a huge difference to her mental strength in this labour. As contractions didn’t immediately start, she had induction medication to progress things. To hear more about Georgie’s recovery and her 6-week postpartum haemorrhage, and Lottie’s birth journey tune into the podcast………
Topics covered: premature birth, special care nursery, epidural, forceps, breastfeeding, yoga, calm birth, blood clots, post-partum haemorrhage, bed rest, blood transfusions, retained placenta, Dilation (or dilatation) and curettage (D&C)
Today's episode is proudly sponsored by Pure Baby: Pure Baby is an Australian owned company who create premium, organic clothing for babies and children. The lovely people at Pure Baby are offering Australian Birth Stories listeners $20 of with the code ABS20. To check out the full range of Pure baby products head to
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In today’s episode, Claire shares how she and her partner Steph had a home birth with their little girl LJ. As a same-sex couple, Claire and Steph used a home insemination process with sperm given to them from a very good friend. As a naturopath, Claire carefully monitored her cycles and use acupuncture to help make the process as smooth as possible. They were lucky enough to conceive on their first home transfer.
Claire takes us through how she and Steph prepared themselves to co-feed LJ. Steph has never been pregnant before however, she was able to induce lactation through pumping regularly and taking natural medicines and Domperidone. Both Steph and Claire now breastfeed little LJ. To hear more listen now…
Topics covered: induced lactation, home insemination, home birth, water birth, private midwife, acupuncture, naturopath, breastfeeding, placenta encapsulation, same-sex couple.
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In this weeks episode, Elise Knowles shares the births of her three children. During Elise's first labour she was dilated to 5cm without even realising she was in early labour. This pre-labor went on for several days and she ended up having some acupuncture and a stretch and sweep. Elise was admitted later that day and was induced to help progress her labour. 3.5 hours later Raffety was born and despite having an episiotomy she suffered a third-degree tear. Elise’s recovery was slow and difficult as she was physically and emotionally drained from the delivery. She found breastfeeding Raffety very challenging which she wasn’t expecting and felt unprepared for this challenge. She shares how there is very little discussion about how difficult the initial stages of breastfeeding can be and it can lead to feelings of guilt and failure when it doesn't all go to plan.
Raffety was a very unsettled baby who was later diagnosed with severe reflux and readmitted to hospital at 6 weeks of age. During this time in the hospital, while Raff recovered from a burnt oesophagus, it became clear to the staff that Elise was struggling emotionally and they advised her that they suspected she had postnatal depression. With the support and encouragement of her husband and mother, Elise was able to seek help and was connected with Better Beginnings. Her therapist diagnosed her with postnatal anxiety.
Elise openly discusses the slow recovery she experienced with her tear and it was at 3mths that she got the courage to try sex again. After trying for 9mths she fell pregnant again with Tabitha. Unlike her first pregnancy Elise shares she felt much sicker with morning sickness with Tabitha and it was a very different pregnancy overall. To hear more about Tabitha’s birth and Delilah’s tune into the podcast…….
Topics covered: 3rd-degree tear, postnatal depression, pelvic floor exercises, obstetrician, breastfeeding, induction, jaundice, prolapse, placenta encapsulation,
Elise Knowles
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In this weeks episode Bridget discusses the births of her two boys. Bridget had both her children under the care of a private Obstetrician. She discusses how she came to this decision based on a family history of Preeclampsia. Bridget shares how her mum died and was resuscitated in the end stages of her first pregnancy due to preeclampsia and her baby was delivered by caesarian whilst she was in a coma. Bridget thankfully showed no signs of pre eclampsia in both pregnancies.
Bridget’s first labour started with her waters breaking at home in bed and she later delivered after over two hours of intense pushing. This pushing phase resulted in Bridget ‘seeing stars’ in her left eye. This raised immediate concerns with the nurses and her doctor and she was rushed off for an emergency MRI to rule out the possibility of a small stroke during her labour. Thankfully it was, in fact, a burst blood vessel from the strain of pushing.
In Bridget's second labour she was induced at 40 weeks as the baby was very low and she was in quite a bit of pain in her hips and was finding walking very difficult. Her doctor agreed that inducing her at full term was the best course of action and her labour progresses very quickly and resulted in a much shorter pushing phase and she was blessed with another very healthy baby boy.
Bridget also shares with us the conception of Midnight Mums Facebook group which she is the founder of. The group was started when Bridget was living interstate and away from her family with a new baby. She was contacting a school friend online in the middle of the night and they were supporting each other through this often lonely journey of night feeds. Five years later the group now has over 80,000 members from right across Australian and the world. Tune in to the podcast to hear more details.
Topics covered in this weeks episode: preeclampsia, burst blood vessel of the eye, induction, epidural, obstetrician.
Midnight Mums
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In this week’s episode, Alice Bingham discusses the births of her son Cruse and daughter Winter Rose. Alice is a registered nurse. After struggling to conceive for 9 months Alice was over joyed when she became pregnant. Alice’s labour with Cruse began with her waters going and then an unexplained bleed which was very traumatic. As contractions hadn’t started and her water’s had gone, Alice was induced to progress the labour. Alice had an epidural and pushed for 30 minutes and had her healthy baby boy. On day three Cruse was admitted back into the hospital to have 24hours of phototherapy to treat jaundice. Alice was admitted back into the Pediatric Ward for Cruse's treatment and she was able to have some one on one assistance with a lactation consultant which really helped her gain confidence with breastfeeding.
With Alice’s second pregnancy she only tried for one month and she was able to successfully fall pregnant with Winter. She discusses how she became quite anxious towards the end of her pregnancy as she was nervous that she might have another big unexplained bleed and need to be on constantly monitored. At 37 weeks after a very long labour of walking and another unexplained bleed Alice was admitted. Alice had an epidural but she went from 6cm to 10cm very quickly in 45minutes so there wasn’t enough time to get the epidural completed. She was able to birth her baby with the assistance of her husband, midwife and a mirror.
lice also shares the challenges of bringing a second child home. She shares how her toddler ignored her for most of the first week when he brought her daughter home. We discuss the feelings of maternal guilt and readjusting to life with two children.
Topics covered in this weeks episode: placenta abrasion, jaundice, phototherapy, induction epidural, toddler jealously, lactation consultants, sciatic pain.
Alice In Healthy Land
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In today’s episode Edwina shares the births of her two children Polly and Theodore. Edwina is a registered nurse and Midwife. Edwina let her confidence of being a midwife take over and she and her partner did not do any child birth education classes in the lead up to her first birth of Polly, a decision she regretted terribly on the day. After a long labour, Edwina had an epidural from a colleague who was crying cause she was so sad seeing her friend in so much pain. Eventually the epidural was in and Edwina was able to sleep. She also had induction medication to speed up her labour.
Edwina discusses using the Epi-no to stretch her perineal muscles to prevent tears. She thinks this contributed to the fact that she didn’t tear in either of her births.
Birthing in the hospital where Edwina works also posed added complications as her colleagues all knew she was in birth suits and a couple even dropped in to see how she was going.
With her second pregnancy, Edwina was determined to do things differently and she and her husband both attended independent child birth education classes. She jokes about the fact that her sons head came out and she didn’t have another contraction for quite some time and she was chatting to her midwife while her husband was quite concerned that half his child had been born.
Since having her children Edwina has started her own Child Birth Education classes teaching child birth education and Baby and Child first aide.
Topics covered in todays episode include; Breech baby, Epi-no, perineal massage, child birth education classes, epidural, baby and child first aide, midwifery care.
Birth Beats
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In today’s episode, I interview Sophie Cachia, The Young Mummy about her two births. Sophie was diagnosed with the poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) at the age of 17 and she was told it was likely she would have a lot of trouble conceiving. Sophie started acupuncture to try and regulate her menstrual cycle when she decided she wanted to try for a baby and she was successful in her first few months of trying.
She suffered chronic morning sickness in Bobby’s pregnancy and ended up taking prescription medication to help ease the discomfort. Throughout the pregnancy, Bobby measured weeks ahead in fondul height measurements. Sophie’s obstetrician at Frances Perry House in Melbourne advised her he wanted to induce her at 38 weeks to ensure the baby didn’t get too big. Sophie was given gell to induce her however they discovered she was already 3cm dilated so labour began quickly. After 26 hours of labour Sophie’s waters were broken and she pushed for over 4 hours. The prolonged pushing stage and the fact that Bobby’s shoulders got stuck resulted in Sophie needing an episiotomy and she also got an anal fissure. The fissure was so significant that Sophie had to under go surgery to repair it 6 months after the birth.
Falling pregnant with Florence proved to be quite difficult for Sophie and after eight disappointing months of trying Sophie’s obstetrician decided it would be best for her to start Clomid to help her ovulate more regularly. Luckily for Sophie, she fell pregnant before the IVF process was needed. Sophie discusses announcing her pregnancy to her social media fans at 9 weeks, the differences between public and private care, challenges in epidural placement and much more. Tune in to hear the full story.
Topics covered in this episode: Poly cystic ovarian syndrome PCOS, morning sickness, epidural, episiotomy, anal fissure, infertility, induction, acupuncture, Clomid, clary sage oil, Royal Women's Hospital, Frances Perry House.
Cachia
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In today’s episode, Tegan shares the stories of her three births of Bridget, Charlotte, and her newest addition Billy. Tegan married her high school sweetheart and got pregnant with Bridget at 20. Tegan’s pregnancy with Bridget was smooth and she had midwifery care through her local public hospital. Bridget’s labour went for over 30 hours as she was in a posterior position. Bridget was eventually delivered with the assistance of an episiotomy and the vacuum and after over two hours of pushing, she was delivered. Charlotte's pregnancy gave Tegan quite a lot of back ache which she saw a chiropractor for regular treatment. Charlotte was a very unsettled baby and it wasn’t until she was 11 months old that she was finally diagnosed with a dairy allergy.
After falling pregnant very quickly with both Bridget and Charlotte, Tegan was surprised to find that she was struggling to conceive for the third time. After trying for12months, Tegan was diagnosed for the first time with PCOS Polly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. After being diagnosed with PCOS and after trying for a year Tegan was about to start Metformin to try and help her ovulate more regularly when she conceived naturally.
For Billy’s pregnancy, Tegan had a student midwife who was a friend follow her through the pregnancy and she also had a birth photographer booked for the birth. Billy was delivered in the local hospital with the assistance of midwives. Billy’s head presented in the amniotic sac otherwise know as en caul. The midwives cut the sac as he was delivered with the assistance of gas and air.
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In this week's episode, I interview Fiona Harrison a Doula, Naturopath and Massage Therapist who works at Fertile Ground Health Group in East Melbourne. Fiona shares the birth story of her second son Tenzin at the Mercy Birth Centre. Fiona went through the team midwifery group practice at the birth center. After finding out her baby was breech at 37 weeks, Fiona describes how she under went an ECV (External cephalic version) to successfully turn the baby into a more optimal position for birth. ECV is a procedure where an obstetrician manually encourages the baby to change position while the mother lies in a tilted bed. This procedure is carefully monitored to make sure that the baby is not under stress.
With a successful ECV, Fiona was able to birth her baby at the birth center with the assistance of a close friend, her husband, and her midwife. She discusses utilising the various treatments offered by her colleagues at Fertile Ground such as Mother roasting as well as taking homeopathic, having acupuncture administered and eating a variety of easily digestible foods.
Topics covered in this episode: external cephalic version, breech babies, pregnancy induction massage, mother roasting, acupuncture, birth centre birth.
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In today’s episode, Breeana gives a very open and honest account of her struggles with severe antenatal depression in her pregnancy with her son. Breeana’s pregnancy began with severe morning sickness and emotionally she became quite unwell. Supported through the mental health unit at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, Bree saw a physiatrist throughout the pregnancy and together they decided that the best option to support her mental health was to have an elective caesarean. The Women’s were supportive of Bree’s decision and allowed her to book in her delivery.
Thankfully immediately after baby Ari’s delivery Bree said she felt immediately better. Although Bree is extremely grateful that her recovery was quite quick, she wants to reiterate that post natal depression often follows antenatal depression.
Bree also shares with us her decision to have a tubal ligation after Ari was born. She knew that she didn’t want to have any more children and that she didn’t feel she could possibly go through pregnancy again. Bree touches on issues of guild and shame at some of her choices she made in her pregnancy but wants to share her experience to help others support and understand antenatal depression in more detail.
Issues touched upon in this episode:
Depression, pregnancy termination, mental health, suicide, antenatal depression, severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum), tubal ligation, elective caesarean section, anti depressants.
Resources:
Pregnancy Counselling Australia
ph: 1300 737 732
Life line
ph: 13 11 14
PANDA
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia
ph:1300 726 306
Australian Birth Stories
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In today’s episode I had the privilege of speaking with Lael Stone. Lael has worked in the birth community for over 14 years. She has worked as a doula, childbirth educator and Calmbirth practitioner. Lael is also an Aware Parenting instructor who has worked with women who have had birth trauma. Further to this she also teaches Sex Education to teenagers. Lael has interviewed and collected birth experience data from hundreds of Australian women throughout her career. This data provided insight and motivation to develop the About Birth Online Education Program.
Today she shares with us the births of her three children who are now 17, 14 and 9 years old. Lael beautifully recounts the journey of her first pregnancy and labour where she had little to no birth knowledge and experience. This lead to a long, intervention filled, traumatic birth. This experience lead to her to explore alternative birthing options for her second birth. She decided to hire an independent midwife and doctor for a home birth. For her third pregnancy Lael explains that she wanted to draw on all her birth experience and knowledge from having worked in the field to have the best possible birth. Her third and most challenging birth unfolded very differently and challenged her in the most profound way. Tune in to hear what happened in more detail.
Topics covered in today’s show: Hospital birth, epidural, episiotomy, birth trauma, home birth, water birth, footling breech baby, emergency section, neonatal care, breastfeeding, midwifery care, calmbirth.
Here are a list of resources mentioned in this episode:
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In today’s episode Amy Ozmanhodzic shares three very different and beautiful birth stories. During Amy’s first pregnancy she discovered hypnobirthing and she credits the skills she learnt from her hypnobirthing training for the three unmedicated beautiful births she was able to achieve. Amy was so blown away by hypnobirthing, that after her second child she trained as a hypnobirth practitioner and she now also works as a birthing Doula in the Byron Bay Hinterlands.
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After seeing her sister in law have a home birth, Amy decided at 31 weeks that she wanted to change her birth plans and have a home birth herself. She moved on to the community midwifery care program and didn't look back. During her second pregnancy at 39 weeks Amy’s fundal measurement (the measure of the size of the uterus used to assess fetal growth) showed that there had been little change in growth over three weeks. The midwife was concerned that the baby wasn’t growing so Amy was sent to have an ultrasound at King Edward Memorial Hospital to check on the baby's development and amniotic fluid levels. The doctor advised that her amniotic fluid was on the lower side of normal. She was advised there was 5% chance her baby would become stressed in labour. She was then advised that she would have to deliver her second baby in hospital. Amy's waters then broke as she left the hospital. to hear more tune into episode 11 of the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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In today’s episode Renae openly shares going through pregnancy and raising her little ‘Tinder Surprise’ baby Avery as a single parent. Renae had hyperemesis gravidarum (sever morning sickness) throughout the pregnancy which required medication. She also discovered at 37 weeks that she had pre eclampsia. The swelling symptoms of pre eclampsia coupled with living in another state from her immediate family made for an uncomfortable pregnancy which Renae didn't enjoy. After receiving test results back from the lab Renae’s private obstetrician rang her when she was 37 weeks and told her to leave work and come into the hospital as soon as possible. Avery was born by caesarean section the next day after her pre eclampsia became dangerous for both Renae and her baby.
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In this week’s episode Melissa Ayling from Hypnobirthing Geraldton shares with us the beautiful and remarkable birth of her son Lockie who was born on the way to hospital in her car. Melissa drew on her training as a hypnobirthing practitioner to trust in her body’s ability to birth her baby unassisted with her husband receiving her little boy on the side of the road. This story is not to be missed.
Melissa chose to deliver her placenta physiologically, that is without the use of the drug syntocinon. Commonly the third stage of labour is ‘actively managed’ in Australian hospitals in the management of the third stage of labour (placenta delivery).
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In today’s episode Phoebe tells the story of the birth of her first child Alex. Phoebe had midwifery care through her local public hospital which has a birth centre attached. She had a healthy pregnancy with no major health concerns. When Phoebe went in for her stress test at 41 weeks, the midwives discovered that there were some irregularities with the foetal monitoring of her little boy. As a precaution Phoebe was kept in for monitoring and it turns out she wasn't able to go home until she had delivered a couple of days later.
Phoebe discusses the challenges of using a balloon catheter to induce labour. She also shares how she chose to use the clip, (also known as a foetal scalp electrode which is inserted into the baby while still in utero) for monitoring her baby's heart rate. By using the clip Phoebe was not restricted by the monitoring tape that often slips and is uncomfortable for many women during labour. Phoebe drew on the skills she had gained through her reading of Juju Sundin’s Birth Skills to help her reframe the pain of her contractions to assist her through having an induced labour.
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In today's episode, Kate shares the story of the birth of her second son Jude. Kate had planned a VBAC for Jude's birth after having an emergency caesarean after a long posterior labour with her first child Archie.
Kate discusses the challenges in falling pregnant a second time around and suffering a miscarriage. She sought help on an acupuncturist and decided to go through the private hospital system at Frances Perry House Instead of going through midwifery care at the Royal Women's.
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In this week's epidode Cara shares the story of her son Banjo's birth at Frances Perry Private Hospital in Melbourne. After labouring at home for two days Cara went into hospital to find that the baby was in a posterior position. Cara had her waters broken by her midwife in an attempt to help progress the labour however the baby failed to rotate. After using Gas and Air and then having an epidural, Cara's baby boy was delivered by an emergency caesarean section.
Cara discusses taking Calm Birth classes as well as Preggie Bellies exercise classes and how she kept very healthy drinking fruit and vegetable drinks throughout her pregnancy. Cara also discusses the challenges of breastfeeding, post part blues and sever constipation that required her to return to hospital on day five after delivering Banjo. This episode will make you cry for all the right reasons. A must listen.
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In this episode Emma tells the story of her prolonged posterior labour with her little boy Raphael. Emma had a relatively easy pregnancy, overseen by her local GP and the midwives at the local public hospital. Her labour began with her waters rupturing in the middle of the night and contractions started a few hours later. After labouring at home for quite a few hours Emma transferred to the hospital to find she was in fact only dilated 1cm.
After morphine and several more hours of difficult contractions, Emma’s labour failed to progress due to the baby’s positioning. After induction medication, two epidurals and an episiotomy Raphael was born and Emma was able to reach down and bring him to her chest.
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In this episode, Katie shares the story of the birth of Edie and then her son Willem. Edie was conceived through IVF after 5 years of actively trying to conceive ‘naturally’. Willem was conceived naturally as a complete and welcomed surprise two years later. After very careful research and consideration, Katie planned to birth both her babies at home with private midwives.
After labouring for 24 hours at home under the care of her private midwives, Katie transferred to hospital after the labour was slow to progress and exhaustion was setting in. Edie was delivered in a public hospital with the assistance of induction medication and an epidural.
Willem's home birth took a turn when Katie passed a large blood clot early on in the labour. Katie's midwife advised her to go into hospital to ensure everything was ok and she delivered him later that day with the support of her husband and private midwife.
Katie’s Recommended resources:
Birth with Confidence: Savvy choices for normal birth - Rhea Dempsey
Active Birth - Janet Balaskas
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin
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In this weeks episode, Lucy tells the story of the birth of her second child Holly. Both Lucy’s pregnancies were achieved with the assistance of IVF. Lucy discusses the challenges IVF, having Hyperemesis Gravidarum (server morning sickness) and gestational diabetes.
Lucy was very pleased to have achieved an unmedicated vaginal delivery after having undergone an epidural, episiotomy and forceps with her first delivery of her son Dan. Lucy describes her labour as a positive induction story as she felt like it was carefully monitored by a midwife she quickly built a good rapport with.
Topics Covered: IVF, Low sperm count, morning sickness, private obsetricain, induced labour, breastfeeding.
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Hilary's waters went at home the day before Sonny's due date. As she had tested Strep B positive, her midwife asked her to come into the hospital to be induced immediately. Sonny's labour was incredibly intense and Hilary found little to no relief in between contractions. She recalls that her husband only left her side for a one minute toilet break during the 8.5 hour labour, and even that was duly noted as being too long. Despite practicing yoga and active birth techniques from Juju Sundin's book 'Birth Skills' , Hilary found the pain overwhelming and cried out for a c-section after 5 hours. She then attempted Gas and Air which she loved. She discusses her birth plan (which stated to offer no pain relief) and doesn't recommend detailing your birth plan in this way - she wishes she had been offered Gas and Air earlier.
Sonny was mal positioned and Hilary was on all fours for part of her birth, trying to turn him into a better position for delivery. She ended up delivering on her back, which was not what she had envisioned for herself. After 35 minutes of pushing, Sonny arrived. These beautiful images are the very few she has of her labour, which she'd hoped to have been able to document in more detail (being a photographer). Hilary looks forward to a second attempt at putting Juju Sundin's techniques in an unmedicated birth if she decides to try for a second baby.
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After a long 36 hour first birth with my son Niko, (which included an epidural, an episiotomy, forceps and then a postpartum haemorrhage) I was determined to have another attempt at an unmedicated birth centre birth. Louis' birth came right as planned the day before his due date allowing for his Dad to help out during his school holidays. Louis' labour started quickly at home in the middle of the night and resulted in the birth centre birth I had planned for. Arriving at the birth centre at 5am Louis was born at 7am and we were all home for dinner at 7pm. I used hypnobirthing techniques, yoga, pilates, massage and acupuncture to assist in the preparation for the second birth I had dreamt of.
Louis dropped very little weight after his birth and I attribute this to his voracious appetite. I supplemented his first feeds with colostrum that I had pumped and frozen prior to his birth. I used the frozen colostrum and fed him through a syringe so as to avoid any early possible nipple confusion. The photo above shows me and my sister Hilary (see episode 2 for Sonny's birth story) breastfeeding together in my birth centre room just 2 hours after Louis' birth.
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.