Australian Birth Stories

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today 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 to the world's best experts who focus on building metal resilience. Over the last 8 years Mindful in May has taught over 40,000 people how to meditate whilst also raising nearly 1million dollars to bring clean drinking water to the developing world. Learn more about Mindful In May here: https://www.mindfulinmay.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.” If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 wa

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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!” If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 presentation If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you'd like my FREE guide on perineal massage click If you'd like my FREE 5-minute breathing exercise click Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The Birth Class my online childbirth education course head to the shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.