Australian Birth Stories

In today’s episode, Chloe explains her choice to have public hospital pregnancy care so she could spend money on allied health services in postpartum. It was a choice that served her incredibly well as she had significant breastfeeding challenges and opted for at-home support from a GP + IBCLC specialising in perinatal health. Towards the end of her pregnancy, Chloe had multiple scans to check her baby’s growth and when an induction was suggested, she used the BRAIN decision-making model to assist her. Despite the fact that her labour and birth wasn’t what she planned, she felt like she had agency every step of the way and looks back with fondness on her experience because she felt heard, respected and supported (the foundations of a positive birth). ____________________________________ Check out  - our empowering, evidence based online birth education program that will help you confidently prepare for a positive birth experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keira shared her first birth story in and today she takes us through her second pregnancy, detailing the head game of IVF, the daily challenge of severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and the positive birth of her daughter, Goldie. Keira was vomiting between 30 and 40 times a day in this pregnancy, she had suicidal thoughts, was bedbound and literally counted down the days till birth. She describes it as a horrific pregnancy but was also strong and capable enough to advocate for herself in the hospital system, seek the support of and is now sharing her story to educate others.  ____________________________________  ____________________________________ Thanks to today's sponsor, a three-piece adjustable pillow designed to provide peace of mind by encouraging safe side sleeping all while giving your belly some much needed relief. Sleepy Belly don’t normally discount their products but have provided a 10% off promo code for Australian Birth Stories listeners. You can purchase a Sleepy Belly today at  using the promo code ABS10 for 10% off head to Sleepy Belly   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Natasha discusses her fraternal twin pregnancy and her choice to have a planned caesarean. She opted for private obstetric care with a doctor who specialised in high risk and twin pregnancies and experienced a relatively smooth pregnancy aside from severe nausea in the first trimester and back pain in the third. When she started developing symptoms of pre-eclampsia, her caesarean was brought forward. She talks in detail about the highs and lows of early postpartum and what it’s really like to care for two babies at once. _______________________________________ Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know babies are expensive but how much does pregnancy, birth and parenthood actually cost? I’ve joined forces with , a customer-owned ethical bank and a certified B Corp, to make pregnancy finances less overwhelming. In this 5-part mini series I take you from preconception to postpartum with health and finance professionals who outline everything you need to know about fertility treatment, maternity leave, birth options, childcare and budgeting for a baby.  Breastfeeding and sleep concerns are common in early parenthood but unfortunately, many GP’s aren’t qualified to support you through these challenges. So where do you go for professional advice? In this episode, Dr Eliza Hannam discusses her early motherhood experiences alongside her role as a GP, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Neuroprotective Development Care practitioner. What does all this mean? She’s the gold standard when it comes to perinatal care. Eliza explains how she supports new parents, the rebates available for allied health services including mental health plans, and how you can access free breastfeeding support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode Hannah - an endorsed midwife and IBCLC specialising in postpartum care - shares her incredibly positive story of birthing her 5.1kg baby at home (with an intact perineum to boot!). Hannah expected her conception journey to take time as she has endometriosis and PCOS but she actually conceived unexpectedly, much to her surprise and delight. She knew she wanted a homebirth but she was also aware that a homebirth through the public system had strict policies and as a tall woman, she presumed she would have a big baby which could become a hurdle. With this in mind she opted for private midwifery care and the support of a doula. If you’re after an uplifting story to inspire you, this is it.   _______________________________________ Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know babies are expensive but how much does pregnancy, birth and parenthood actually cost? I’ve joined forces with , a customer-owned ethical bank and a certified B Corp, to make pregnancy finances less overwhelming. In this 5-part mini series I take you from preconception to postpartum with health and finance professionals who outline everything you need to know about fertility treatment, maternity leave, birth options, childcare and budgeting for a baby.  Navigating centrelink, nutting out your maternity leave rights and child care subsidies can be a logistical nightmare. In the current climate with rising costs and an increasing number of childcare deserts across the country, financial planning for parenthood is overwhelming. In this episode Georgie Dent, writer, journalist and executive director of , takes us step-by-step through all the financial support systems available to parents, including the upcoming changes to paid parental leave. Georgie is a tireless campaigner for parental support and rights, hence she’s the very best person to speak on this topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Allison takes us through her journey to motherhood and subsequently, her empowering and enlightening autism and adhd diagnosis. She weaves in and out of her pregnancies to share information about music therapy and the brain and how music - rhythm, tempo, mantra - is one of the best soothing tools we can teach our children and use for ourselves. Allison details the sensory overwhelm of pregnancy and breastfeeding, her experience with endometriosis, parenting an autistic child and her recent miscarriage which she honoured with a distinct period of rest and reflection. If you are neurodivergent or you think that you may be, this episode will be the comfort and guidance you need. I consider it essential listening, especially for perinatal health specialists caring for neurodivergent people in pregnancy and postpartum. _______________________________________ Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know babies are expensive but how much does pregnancy, birth and parenthood actually cost? I’ve joined forces with , a customer-owned ethical bank and a certified B Corp, to make pregnancy finances less overwhelming. In this 5-part mini series I take you from preconception to postpartum with health and finance professionals who outline everything you need to know about fertility treatment, maternity leave, birth options, childcare and budgeting for a baby.  Understanding your care options and working out what you want in pregnancy can be tricky, especially if you’re in the first trimester and overwhelmed with fatigue and nausea. In this episode I delve into your private maternity care options by exploring the costs of obstetric care in a private hospital and private midwifery care in either a public hospital, birth centre or in your home. Dr Natalie Elphinstone (along with her Practice Manager and husband, Michael) discusses the often complex health insurance rebates while Liz Wilkes, Managing Director at My Midwives, explains all the options and costs of private midwifery care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Jo takes us through her experience with unexplained fertility and her shock at conceiving on her first embryo transfer. She opted for private obstetric care and had a planned caesarean because of placenta previa. She conceived naturally with her second baby and her Geelong-based obstetrician was supportive of a VBAC from the get-go. Unfortunately Jo’s pregnancy was overshadowed by a hospital crisis but her obstetrician guided her through the experience and despite the upheaval, she achieved her VBAC. _______________________________________ Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Part 2 of my mini series in partnership with , a customer-owned ethical bank and a certified B Corp, to make pregnancy finances less overwhelming. In today's episode we cover the cost of Fertility Treatment with Dr Violet Kieu, consultant gynaecologist specialising in fertility, reproductive endocrinology, and fertility preservation Planning a pregnancy is one thing, successfully conceiving is another. One in six Australian couples will seek fertility treatment, for both medical and/or social infertility. In this episode I chat to highly regarded fertility specialist, Dr Violet Kieu about infertility, recommended lifestyle changes and what you can expect from the intrauterine insemination (IUI) and invitro fertilisation (IVF) process. The financial costs are significant, especially if treatment is ongoing. However, it’s really difficult to give exact figures considering every person’s infertility experience is different, as are the investigations, tests and procedures that are recommended. If we’re talking ballpark figures, you can expect to pay $1500 for IUI after a Medicare rebate and roughly $5500 for each round of IVF. There are also publicly-funded fertility clinics and while the waitlists are long (and often time is something you don’t want to waste), they do make both IUI and IVF significantly more affordable. Consider this episode a thorough guide to your fertility treatment options. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.