Avsnitt

  • In episode 265 Georgie shares with us the birth of her first child Sadie. Georgie lives in Gunning in rural NSW and went through the local public hospital for her care. Georgie was having her blood pressure carefully monitored throughout her pregnancy however, it wasn't until after Sadie was born that she became very sick with pre-eclampsia.

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    Today’s episode is brought to you by the Tinybeans app. As parents, we’re constantly seeking the best for our little ones, especially when it comes to capturing and sharing every unforgettable moment.

    That’s why I recommend Tinybeans to all new parents.

    Tinybeans offers a seamless way to document your child’s journey from pregnancy to preschool and beyond and allows your closest family and friends to follow along with every gummy smile, milestone birthday, and special family vacation. With features like unlimited photo and video uploads, customizable photo books, and journal prompts, Tinybeans simplifies the way you record, relive, and privately share your family’s everyday moments, turning them into cherished memories.

    Download the Tinybeans app and create your free account to start sharing all your silliest and sweetest memories, easily, all in one place.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In episode 464 Alice shares her birth experiences in light of everything she’s learned as a mother, doula and midwife-in-training. In her first pregnancy she chose private obstetric care and she details the natural onset of labour, the decision-making process when planning her transfer to the hospital and her choice to use gas and morphine for pain relief. She also takes us through her early pregnancy loss and multiple miscarriages and her choice to seek solace and support from a private midwife, despite the financial strain involved. For Alice’s most recent birth she chose to have a homebirth and had a slow postpartum.

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    Today’s episode is brought to you by the Tinybeans app. As parents, we’re constantly seeking the best for our little ones, especially when it comes to capturing and sharing every unforgettable moment.

    That’s why I recommend Tinybeans to all new parents.

    Tinybeans offers a seamless way to document your child’s journey from pregnancy to preschool and beyond and allows your closest family and friends to follow along with every gummy smile, milestone birthday, and special family vacation. With features like unlimited photo and video uploads, customizable photo books, and journal prompts, Tinybeans simplifies the way you record, relive, and privately share your family’s everyday moments, turning them into cherished memories.

    Download the Tinybeans app and create your free account to start sharing all your silliest and sweetest memories, easily, all in one place.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  • In episode 463 Midwife Courtney shares with us her two pregnancy and birth experiences. Courtney lives in rural Victoria and chose to go through GP-shared care for her first pregnancy. Courtney admits that she found her midwifery knowledge contributed to her anxiety during both her pregnancies. Her first pregnancy was relatively smooth and she expected her second to be much the same. Despite several risk factors showing up in her second pregnancy with Maggie, it wasn't until Maggie was 5 days old that it was confirmed she has Down Syndrome.

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    Today’s episode is brought to you by an Australian brand I really love, The Sleepybelly Pregnancy Pillow.

    Worried about rolling onto your back during the night? Or maybe you’re tired from tossing and turning?

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    Take $10 off using the Australian Birthing Stories exclusive promo code ABS10

    You can purchase the Sleepybelly online today at sleepybelly.com.au

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In episode 462 Briony shares with us her pregnancy and birth of her little boy Charlie. Briony was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 31 and her doctors recommended she do one cycle of IVF prior to starting her chemotherapy treatment. Briony shares that doing the IVF cycle brought her a two week reprieve from the thoughts of treatment and she was surrounded by friends and family who supported her immensely during this time.

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    The Sleepybelly pillow is uniquely designed to be easily adjusted to give you the optimal support throughout your entire pregnancy. As your belly grows, you can increase the width between the pillows using the velcro attachment.

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    You can enjoy $10 off yours today with the code 'ABS10' head to Sleepybelly

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Sophie shares with us the birth of her son Liam and her twins Hannah and Louis. After getting married in 2020 Sophie and her husband felt ready to try and grow their family and they were fortunate to conceive shortly after beginning to try. They were living on the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria during Liam's pregnancy and they went under shared care with her GP and saw a midwife for his birth through the local public hospital in Frankston.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today’s episode is brought to you by ergoPouch.

    ErgoPouch has recently launched their new AW24 collection. Featuring two BEARY new prints, and I must admit, these are some of their best! In case you are not familiar with ergoPouch, they are a premium sleepwear brand from Australia that uses certified organic cotton and natural fibres to create TOG-rated sleepwear and sleep solutions for newborns up to six years of age.

    ergoPouch has delighted us with two beary cute prints this season., ergo is offering you an EXCLUSIVE code for one week only AUBS at the checkout to receive 20% off the AW24 collection.

    *Exclusions apply. Offer ends at 11:59 p.m. on March 17, 2024. Happy Winter Sleeping.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In today’s episode, I’m joined by Gemma who shares with us her two very different and uniquely challenging pregnancies of her son Max and her daughter Ava. During Max’s pregnancy, everything appeared to be running smoothly in his growth and development however the Obstetrician did note that Max’s head was measuring slightly larger than average. It wasn't until Max was born that they were able to diagnose him as having Soto’s Syndrome. Gemma shares her initial shock of learning about this very rare syndrome whilst she was pregnant with her second child. Gemma’s second pregnancy became more complex when she was 20 weeks pregnant with Ava and they discovered in her routine blood test that she had a very high reading of antibodies. Ava required two blood transfusions in utero during the pregnancy however she has since made a full recovery.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?

    Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.

    Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.

    Learn more about The Birth Class here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In today’s episode, Chantelle shares her experience of her first pregnancy and birth. Chantelle was very gratefulll to conceive shortly after deciding she was ready to try. She asked around to get recommendations to choose her care provider and she decided to go through the private model and saw an obstetrician at Cabrini Private hospital in Melbourne. Chantelle loved her birth experience and is thrilled to share it with us today.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today’s episode is brought to you by Bliss Birth. Bliss Birth is founded on the belief that women’s bodies are incredible things, and that when it’s safe, choosing natural options makes for the best outcomes for mums and babies. That’s why Ariel has developed a range of products to support your natural birth experience. Introducing the most advanced natural pain management device for labour available in Australia – The Elle TENS Plus. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and it is the ultimate birth tool as it maximizes your body’s natural pain-fighting abilities.

    Bliss Birth offer both 4 and 8 week hire periods, Pre-addressed, prepaid return (No printer needed). The ‘Mama Bag’ valued at $10.95 is yours to keep! You can enjoy 10% off Bliss Birth with the code ABS24.

    Head over to BlissBirth.com.au

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • You’re going to love this episode with Jodi; mother of four, yoga teacher, postpartum doula and co-author of The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth. Jodi and I chat all about our postpartum book - what we’ve learnt, the confronting reality of the lack of health services, and how she has reflected on her own postpartum experiences with newfound knowledge and awareness. It’s an emotional and informative episode where we discuss how much the health system has changed in the past 16 years, the far-reaching benefits of adequate support, being a young mum, the brain changes in pregnancy and the uncertainty and not-knowing of postpartum. If you want to listen to Jodi’s first episode, where she details her four very different vaginal birth experiences and breathing and sound practises for labour, tune into episode 163.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In today’s episode, Tylah shares her experience as a midwife alongside her first pregnancy and birth. Tylah had spent many years supporting women in pregnancy and labour so she had plenty of time to consider what she wanted for her own birth experience. She knew from the outset that she wanted a homebirth but her partner, a doctor, took some convincing. Tylah admits that pregnancy was humbling from the start and the persistent challenge of unexplained rib pain encouraged her to surrender from early on. She takes us step by step through her homebirth preparation including hiring a private midwife, planning a water birth and the shock of an unexpected but necessary NICU stay.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Our friends at iL Tutto are offering our audience 20% off their entire website, including the new Frankie Chair in Teddy Fleece.

    Simply use ABS20 at checkout, only at iltutto.com.au. This discount code cannot be used with any other offer and expires Tuesday 26th March 2024.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • You can listen to Sasha’s birth story in episode 331 and today she takes us through her early motherhood experience including discussions on race, mental health and the work/motherhood juggle. Sasha and her husband, Jem, planned an intentionally slow postpartum which was the ideal introduction to parenthood. Sasha talks openly about the challenges that arose after the newborn bubble, including her postnatal depression, her choice to take medication and the inner-conflict between expectations and reality. She also talks at length about race and genetics and what it’s like to have a different skin tone to her baby.

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    If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy.
    It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:

    A cheat sheet for your birth partner. This simple outline takes your support person through early and active labour - what to expect, how to support and what to say when challenges ariseImages of birth positions - the ideal addition for visual learners 3 meditations to release tension, foster trust and navigate a change of plansAn illustrated guide to antenatal expressing - everything you need to know about collecting and storing colostrum

    For a limited time only, get 20% off with the code: ABS2024

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Larke is a midwife and she talks about her primal desire to experience labour and birth. But as she reiterates, there is so much about pregnancy and birth that is beyond our control. She was only 4 weeks pregnant when a scan revealed a significant fibroid at the back of her cervix which dictated her mode of delivery so from very early on she was grieving the loss of the vaginal birth she may never have. Her 20 week scan revealed her baby had a cleft palate and she is transparent with her rollercoaster of emotions following the diagnosis, normalising the confronting thoughts that come up in challenging times. With the support of her beloved midwife and obstetrician, Larke had an empowering maternal assisted caesarean and within minutes of Dolly being born it was confirmed that her palate was intact which meant she could breastfeed.

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    If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy.
    It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:

    A cheat sheet for your birth partner. This simple outline takes your support person through early and active labour - what to expect, how to support and what to say when challenges ariseImages of birth positions - the ideal addition for visual learners 3 meditations to release tension, foster trust and navigate a change of plansAn illustrated guide to antenatal expressing - everything you need to know about collecting and storing colostrum

    For a limited time only, get 20% off with the code: ABS2024

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • You may have seen Kirsty in the news recently. She’s the recipient of Australia’s first uterus transplant and birthed her miracle baby a few months ago. Today she takes us through the grief of a hysterectomy following her first birth, her options for growing her family, the transplant clinical trial and her pregnancy.

    At the time of recording, four Australian women have received uterus transplants in Australia, three of whom were born without a uterus (MRKH syndrome). It’s so exciting to see such significant advancements in women’s reproductive health and I’ll always be grateful to be in the position to interview mothers and share their stories. Enjoy Kirsty’s story, it’s definitely a memorable one.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    If you’re considering The Birth Class, now is the time to buy.
    It just got bigger and better thanks to new content that enhances your birth education and preparation experience, including:

    A cheat sheet for your birth partner. This simple outline takes your support person through early and active labour - what to expect, how to support and what to say when challenges ariseImages of birth positions - the ideal addition for visual learners 3 meditations to release tension, foster trust and navigate a change of plansAn illustrated guide to antenatal expressing - everything you need to know about collecting and storing colostrum

    For a limited time only, get 20% off with the code: ABS2024

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In today’s episode, Niki shares her two incredibly positive home birth stories of her daughter Elsa and her son Nils. Niki is Swedish and Thai and lives with her Australian husband in Kho Samui where they teach Yoga to both practitioners and Yogis. Niki always knew she wanted to have her babies at home. In Thailand, it is illegal to have a home birth. This prompted Niki and her husband to decide to return to their family in Melbourne to pursue her home-birth dream.

    Nik shares the challenges of morning sickness in both pregnancies, the changes in her yoga practice, and the impact of pregnancy on her physical and emotional well-being.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?

    Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.

    Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.

    Learn more about The Birth Class here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Today, Ellie shares her experience with postpartum thyroiditis after experiencing the tell-tale signs and advocating for the appropriate blood tests at her six week check.

    There are many symptoms in postpartum that can be excused as side-effects of birth recovery and sleep deprivation. However, what’s ‘common’ isn’t always ‘normal’. Postpartum Thyroiditis is a thyroid condition that prompts a range of symptoms including lethargy, brain fog, low mood, anxiety and weight changes. It can also contribute to changes in bowel habits and low milk production. In the general population it affects 5-10 percent of people but it’s not routinely tested in postpartum. Today, Ellie shares her experience with postpartum thyroiditis after experiencing the tell-tale signs and advocating for the appropriate blood tests at her six week check.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today’s episode is brought to you by my postpartum course Discovering Motherhood. This 8 part audio course has been designed to support you through an empowered and confident transition into motherhood.

    Learn more here

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jordy has always had long, painful and heavy periods so when she fell pregnant without trying, no one was more shocked than her. Excess amniotic fluid prevented her from monitoring her baby’s movements so she presented to the hospital multiple times and opted for a planned caesarean at 38 weeks. Her birth experience was incredibly positive and after breastfeeding for the first time in recovery, she went on to feed baby Evie for three years. Since being diagnosed with adenomyosis, endometriosis and cysts on her ovaries, Jordy is navigating secondary infertility alongside medication and persistent pain. She speaks candidly about the daily challenges of her pain as well as the heartache of failed pregnancies.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?

    Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.

    Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.

    Learn more about The Birth Class here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Joelleen is a midwife, naturopath and IBCLC who takes us through her pregnancy and homebirth experience. Her journey into motherhood began with the birth of her daughter at 16 weeks and she details the shock and grief of her loss. When she conceived again she was accepted into Sunshine Hospital’s publicly-funded homebirth programme and was really proactive with her birth preparation. She had a physiological water birth at home followed by an unexpected but short NICU stay. Joelleen reflects on her knowledge as a midwife and IBCLC and agrees that every new mother - despite how much she knows - needs reassurance from health professionals and care providers in the first few weeks of postpartum.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?

    Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.

    Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.

    Learn more about The Birth Class here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In today’s episode Emma details her life-changing second pregnancy. At her 20 week scan she was diagnosed with major placenta previa (the placenta covers the cervix) as well as placenta accreta (where the placenta grows deeply into the uterine wall). In that moment her hopes for a VBAC and a homebirth vanished and she shifted her care to the high risk team at her local hospital. Emma required a hysterectomy immediately following the birth of her baby and she shares the many layers of grief that have come from losing her uterus and her menstrual cycle. Emma’s story emphasises how imperative compassionate, woman-centred care is during both pregnancy and postpartum.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?

    Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.

    Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.

    Learn more about The Birth Class here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In this episode Olivia details her shock upon discovering she was pregnant with fraternal twins after fertility challenges. She takes us through the experiences of having fragmented care with a multiple birth team at her local public hospital and the recommendations made for a twin labour and birth. She started seeing a perinatal psychologist in the third trimester to process her anxiety and she admits it was one of the best decisions she made for her postpartum, too. Olivia opted for an induction at 37+3 and despite foetal monitoring concerns and the suggestion of a caesarean, she utilised an epidural and a side-lying position to get to 10cm and birth her babies vaginally. She’s still exclusively breastfeeding at nine months but is honest about the time and effort it took to establish her milk supply and position both babies optimally.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?

    Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.

    Realistic information is key to thorough preparation.

    Learn more about The Birth Class here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • In today’s episode, Jayne details the contrast between homebirth and caesarean, a slow postpartum and an NICU stay. Towards the end of her third pregnancy Jayne discovered that her breech baby had kidney issues so she travelled to Hobart from her home in rural Tasmania for a planned caesarean and a month-long NICU stay. She takes us through the emotional upheaval of learning that her baby was sick and the almighty changes his diagnosis has brought to their family life. Supported by a loving village of neighbours and friends, Jayne and her husband are savouring life with their three boys and navigating many health appointments, hospital stays and a possible kidney transplant in the future.

    Whilst many people think that organ donation is dependent on the information on your driver’s licence, you actually need to officially register as an organ donor. You can do that at donatelife.gov.au

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today's episode of the show is brought to you by my online childbirth education course, The Birth Class. What makes The Birth Class so unique?

    Well, instead of learning from one person with one perspective, we've gathered nine perinatal health specialists to take you through everything you need to know about labor and birth.

    Realistic information is key to thorough preparation. Learn more about The Birth Class here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • When Jess found out she was pregnant she assumed she would have a caesarean as her mum had had caesareans with all three of her children. It wasn't until Jess started listening to the Australian Birth Stories podcast that she started to explore the idea of having a vaginal birth. When she experienced pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM) and was later given oxytocin to help bring her labour on she drew on her birthing class knowledge and had a birth she found empowering. When Jess was preparing for her second birth she thought she would have a long labour like her first and was shocked to find herself birthing in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

    Follow us on Instagram at @australianbirthstories for helpful articles, behind the scenes, and future episodes.

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    Today’s episode is brought to you by Kiwi.co.

    I must confess I’m not much of a crafty mum but Kiwi Co’s panda crate has been the best educational investment for Ottie. Every month we receive a subscription box filled with playful, open-ended activities backed by research and designed especially for naturally curious and creative babies and toddlers. It makes the perfect Christmas gift that keeps giving well beyond the festive season.

    I’m a big fan of quality activities that create the opportunity for play-based learning and Kiwi Co delivers hands-on projects that get the whole family involved. Whether you have a brand-new baby or a trailblazing toddler, the Panda Crate is perfect for your little one’s developing brain.
    Unwrap more than a gift. Discover hands-on fun with KiwiCo.

    Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/birthstories

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.