Australian Birth Stories
529 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 134 ratingsA 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.
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Episodes
204 | April PCOS, Teenage Pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes, Postnatal Anxiety and Depression, Clomid, Premature baby
November 02, 2020 02:21 - 58 minutes - 46.6 MBIn this week’s episode I chat to April who suffers from PCOS and was 19 when she found out she was pregnant with her first baby. After a series of tests to work out why she was suffering recurrent dizzy spells, April was told she was 17 weeks pregnant. Ten weeks later she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and after she welcomed her son into the world, she suffered from postnatal anxiety and undiagnosed postnatal depression. Nine years later she birthed her daughter seven weeks early in ...
203 | Kellee Three Births, Birth Centre, Home Birth, Hip Dysplasia, Tongue Tie
October 28, 2020 22:16 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBIn 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 dysp...
202 | Liana Breast Cancer During Pregnancy , Chemotherapy, Caesarean, Mastectomy
October 25, 2020 22:30 - 52 minutes - 42.1 MBIn 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 Awarene...
202 | Liana Breast Cancer During Pregnancy , Chemotherapy, Caesarean, Mastectomy
October 25, 2020 22:30 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBIn 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 Aware...
201 | Bannie Yoga in Pregnancy, Private Obstetrician, Episiotomy, Breastfeeding Oversupply
October 21, 2020 10:50 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBBannie 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 ...
200 | Johanna Nicholson Unexplained Infertility, IVF Journey, Caesarean Delivery
October 18, 2020 09:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBIn 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,...
199 | Jessica Prescott, Two Fast Homebirths, in Berlin and Melbourne, Postpartum Care, Breastfeeding Journey
October 11, 2020 10:58 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBIn 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 hav...
198 | Annabel Bower Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Grief After Loss, NICU, Placental Insufficiency
October 04, 2020 10:29 - 1 hour - 74.4 MBFor 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 lo...
197 | Ellie Bullen, Hypnobirth, Private Obstetrician, Epidural, Covid.
September 30, 2020 12:07 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBIn 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. ...
196 | Sarah Midwife, Two Births, Water Birth, Micro-Preemie, NICU Journey.
September 27, 2020 11:35 - 1 hour - 66.3 MBIn 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 vi...
195 | Jodie Brett, Two Births, Planned Caesareans, Private Obstetrician, Fistula
September 20, 2020 10:16 - 1 hour - 58 MBIn 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 obstetr...
194 | Stevie Dillon, Hyperthyroidism, Endometriosis, Epidural, Caesarean, Breastfeeding Challenges
September 14, 2020 03:25 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBIn 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...
193 | Dad's Edition: Five Dad's Share Their Experiences and Advice
September 07, 2020 02:59 - 49 minutes - 39.8 MBIn 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 d...
193 | Dad's Edition: Five Dad's Share Their Experiences and Advice
September 07, 2020 02:59 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBIn 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...
192 | Oceane Same-Sex Marriage, IVF, Donor Sperm, Homebirth, Midwife.
August 30, 2020 09:12 - 1 hour - 78.9 MBIn 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 o...
191 | Mel Dimmitt Emergency Caesarean, Special Needs Child, Cerebral Palsy
August 24, 2020 02:16 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBIn 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 ...
190 | Julia Busuttil Nishimura, Two Vaginal Births, Midwifery Care, Postnatal Anxiety
August 16, 2020 10:19 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBIn 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 disc...
189 | Kate Homebirth Waterbirth Stillbirth Miscarriage Placenta Encapsulation
August 10, 2020 06:17 - 1 hour - 73.8 MBIn 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...
188 | Carla Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Emergency Cesarean Miscarriage
August 02, 2020 10:49 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBIn 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 ...
187 | Jody Giardina Midwifery Care Vaginal Births, Covid-19
July 26, 2020 12:29 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBIn 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 husban...
186 | Alex Parker lives with Cystic Fibrosis, Gestational Diabetes, Induced Vaginal Birth
July 23, 2020 02:48 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBIn 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 antici...
185 | Heidi Anderson Gestational Diabetes, Emergency Caesarean
July 19, 2020 08:06 - 58 minutes - 54 MBIn 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...
184 | Amanda Callan Three Births, Unexpected Twins Discovered at 26 Weeks
July 15, 2020 23:11 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBIn 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 w...
183 | Jame Telfer Two Caesareans and VBA2C On Country
July 13, 2020 02:18 - 1 hour - 75.1 MBIn 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 consciousl...
182 | Anna Davies Midwife, 5 Babies, Twins Vaginal Delivery, Footling Breech
July 06, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBIn 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, successful...
181 | Stacey June IUI Home Water Birth
June 29, 2020 09:26 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBIn 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 a...
181 | Stacey June IUI Home Water Birth
June 29, 2020 09:26 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBIn 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...
180 | Natalia Two Home Waterbirths, Indigenous Birth Rituals, Birthing On Country
June 21, 2020 13:03 - 1 hour - 66.2 MBIn 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 placen...
180 | Natalia Two Home Waterbirths, Indigenous Birth Rituals, Birthing On Country
June 21, 2020 13:03 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBIn 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 placenta...
179 | Kat O'Connor Home Birth, Slow Postpartum
June 11, 2020 04:04 - 1 hour - 85.6 MBIn 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 midwi...
178 | Aimee Morrisby, IVF, Sister Surrogacy Birth Story
June 01, 2020 04:05 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBIn 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 offe...
177 | Jas Summerfield Family Centered Home Water Birth
May 25, 2020 10:00 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIn 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 b...
176 | Rusila Two Birth Stories, Inducued Labour, PND, Homebirth
May 18, 2020 03:13 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBIn this week's episode I interview Rusila about her two births - one in hospital and one at home. At 10days overdue with her first baby, she was induced and felt unheard and unsupported when she was in labour. Subsequently, she suffered postnatal depression. Her experience prompted her to investigate a home birth with a private midwife which is exactly what she chose when she fell pregnant with baby Sol. However, at 36weeks her private midwife had to step down for personal reasons and Rusila ...
175 | Bridget High Risk Pregnacy Blood Clots, Clexane
May 14, 2020 00:35 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBIn 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,...
174 | Flick IVF Journey, Covid-19, VBAC
May 11, 2020 07:26 - 1 hour - 71.5 MBIn 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,...
173 | Holly McCauley Two Vaginal Calm Births, Midwifery Care
May 04, 2020 02:36 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBIn 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, ...
BONUS Episode Mindfulness with Elise Bialylew
April 28, 2020 04:46 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBToday I chat to Elise Bialylew about how pregnant women and new mothers can use Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and calm ourselves, so we can tackle the challenges of motherhood. Elise is a mindfulness meditation expert trained in psychiatry, author of The Happiness Plan and mother. She is the founder of Mindful in May the worlds largest annual online mindfulness fundraising campaign. Mindful in May supports its members through 10minutes of mindful meditation a day and provides access...
172 | Montana Lower Spiritual Vaginal Delivery Midwifery Care
April 26, 2020 21:23 - 1 hour - 73 MBIn 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 in...
171 | Bonnie Covid 19 Birth Antenatal Depression
April 20, 2020 01:12 - 1 hour - 74.6 MBIn 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 th...
170 | Aleisha Covid 19 Two Birth Stories
April 16, 2020 02:16 - 1 hour - 66.2 MBIn 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 exper...
169 | Anna McGahan Covid-19 VBAC Induced Midwifery Care
April 13, 2020 01:10 - 1 hour - 91 MBIn 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 d...
168 | Samantha Covid-19 Birth Story
April 09, 2020 00:46 - 1 hour - 61.8 MBIn 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 e...
167 | Gemma Pranita PUPPP, Placental abruption, Caesarean
April 06, 2020 01:07 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBIn 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 ...
166 | Nikki McCahon Vaginal Delivery, Postpartum Anxiety
April 01, 2020 10:41 - 57 minutes - 46.2 MBIn today’s episode I chat to Nikki of Dear Muma Project - @dearmamaprohject - an online community dedicated to creating social support for women as they navigate the transition into motherhood. Nikki talks candidly about her birth, her traumatic hospital experience and the lack of support which resulted in a postpartum depression diagnosis when her baby was six months old. Nikki fell pregnant easily and despite a bit of morning sickness in the first trimester and cravings for carbs, waterm...
166 | Nikki McCahon Vaginal Delivery, Postpartum Anxiety
April 01, 2020 10:41 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MBIn today’s episode I chat to Nikki of Dear Muma Project - @dearmamaprohject - an online community dedicated to creating social support for women as they navigate the transition into motherhood. Nikki talks candidly about her birth, her traumatic hospital experience and the lack of support which resulted in a postpartum depression diagnosis when her baby was six months old. Nikki fell pregnant easily and despite a bit of morning sickness in the first trimester and cravings for carbs, waterm...
165 | Jessica Smith Hyperemisis, Dubai, Hypnobirthing Waterbirth
March 30, 2020 08:47 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBIn 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 fo...
164 | Melissa Spilsted 3 Births, Hypnobirthing Australia
March 25, 2020 11:15 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBIn today’s episode, I interview Melissa Spilsted. Melissa shares with us the stories of her three pregnancies and vaginal births. After attending birth classes at the private hospital where she planned to birth her first baby, Melissa was very disappointed and found the education lacking. She carried on to do her own research and armed herself with tools and knowledge, doing everything she could to train her body and mind. At 37 weeks Melissa met Leanne Jackson (a hypnotherapist) who s...
163 | Jodi Wilson Yoga Teacher and Birth Educators Four Births
March 22, 2020 11:11 - 1 hour - 66.2 MBIn 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 t...
162 | Leah Williams Endometriosis, IVF, Two Births, Antenatal Anxiety and PTSD
March 16, 2020 04:22 - 1 hour - 86.6 MBIn 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...
161 | Simone Haag Three Births, Breech, VBAC at 42 weeks Midwifery care, second VBAC with shared care
March 09, 2020 03:35 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBIn 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 una...