In this episode, interior designer and mother of two Bec shares her contrasting birth experiences at Sandringham Hospital in Melbourne. Her journey to motherhood began after marriage, taking six to eight months to conceive Ava. "I was one of those people testing like five days before you can test and just thinking I was pregnant every time," Bec recalls of this period. They welcomed a puppy during this time, which she reflects may have added to the journey: "I think that caused like it was a bit stressful, of course, getting a new puppy. So I think that's also part of it. Once we kind of settled into having little Archie, then it kind of happened after that."For more photos and birth stories, follow us on Instagram here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this weeks episode I speak with Sophie Delezio, whose story of survival and resilience has long captured Australian hearts. Now embarking on a new chapter as mother to 10-week-old Frankie, Sophie shares her journey through pregnancy and birth, offering insights into navigating motherhood with a disability while challenging common misconceptions._____ Parenting is a journey full of challenges, especially when it comes to sleep! That’s why iL Tutto is here to help. From the award-winning CoZee Co-sleeping Bassinet, designed for safe and snug co-sleeping, to the Grow Kindly natural fibre sleepwear, crafted to keep your little ones comfy and cosy, iL Tutto has thought of everything. And when it's time to transition from newborn to toddler, their Cots with matching Chests make that step a breeze with smart storage and versatile & stylish designs. As a special gift for ABS listeners, iL Tutto is offering 20% off their entire range ahead of their Boxing Day sale. That’s right, ABS listeners can beat everyone to a great deal across their range of 5-star review Nursery Chairs, award-winning CoZee Co-Sleepers, Cots and Sleepwear before everyone else. This discount code is only valid from now until Monday, December 23 shop early and save! If you miss the date, fear not, their Boxing Day sale runs from December 23 to January 5th. Visit iltutto.com.au and use the code SLEEP20 at checkout. Because better sleep isn’t just for your baby—it’s for you, too! Discount code can’t be used once the Boxing Day sale commences. Cannot be used on discounted items. iL Tutto : Growing together, every step of the way, in style.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we meet Josie, a qualified teacher living in the Albury-Wodonga region who shares her journey to motherhood and her two unique birth experiences. Her story highlights the complexities of navigating healthcare across state borders and the resilience required through pregnancy loss, renovation chaos, and building a family.__________ It's no surprise that restful sleep is hard to come by pregnancy. Pillows are a great way to get comfortable at night and if you find one that prevents back sleeping, it can takeaway the stress of waking up on your back. That's why I recommend the Sleepybelly pregnancy pillow. Sleepybelly is the original three-piece adjustable maternity pillow designed to provide peace of mind by encouraging safe side sleeping or while giving your belly some much needed relief. Sleepybelly don't normally discount their products, but they have provided a $10 off promo code for Australian Birth Stories listeners. You can purchase a Sleepybelly today at sleepybelly.com.au and use the promo code ABS10 for your $10 off - sweet dreams!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with Alysha, a psychologist and PhD candidate whose research into traumatic birth and mother-infant relationships stems from her own profound experiences. As both a mental health professional and mother of two boys, her story offers unique insights into the complexities of birth trauma and its lasting impact on early bonding. For more photos and birth stories, follow us on Instagram here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s such a pleasure to welcome Stacey back onto the show. You can listen to her first birth in episode 181.  Today, she shares the journey to conceiving her second child. It is a story of profound resilience through multiple losses, IVF challenges, and eventually, a beautiful home birth. After experiencing a relatively straightforward path to conceiving her first son Bryn through IUI, Stacey opens up about the unexpected three-and-a-half-year journey to welcome her rainbow baby, Sunny. __________________ Looking for an engaging and educational way to entertain your little one? You need to check out Kiwi Co. Kiwi.Co offer bi-monthly subscription boxes designed for babies ages 0 right up to teens. Offering open-ended, research-backed projects that encourage curiosity and hands-on play. Each crate is packed with high-quality, safe activities that help build essential skills while creating special bonding moments. With projects designed for repeat use, KiwiCo provides a wonderful alternative to screen time and makes learning fun for you and your child. KiwiCo offers five different clubs covering science, engineering, art, and math, making it easy to find a subscription tailored to your child’s age and interests. With no commitment required, you can pause or cancel anytime. For a limited time, get up to 50% off your first crate by using promo code BIRTHSTORIES at KiwiCo.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this beautiful episode, Chloe Grayling @lovechloejane shares her journey into motherhood, from an emotional year of trying to conceive to achieving a beautiful and empowering home water birth. Living in a 140-year-old cottage on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula with her husband Patrick and their menagerie of animals (including Highland cows!), Chloe opens up about how her experience with early pregnancy losses shaped her approach to pregnancy and birth preparation. Today's episode is brought to you by our empowering, evidence based online birth education program that will help you confidently prepare for a positive birth experience - The Birth Class. Featuring 10 audio lessons with perinatal health specialists, you can listen from the comfort of your home when you’re relaxed and receptive to new information. The Birth Class is a conversation starter between you and your birth partner that informs, encourages and empowers you to journey towards labour with knowledge and confidence. Learn More and check out our 5-star testimonials and reviews here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, Hashini takes us through her two very different births and the medical journey that followed with her second son. After experiencing a very straightforward first pregnancy, Hashini opens up about the emotional complexity of trying to conceive her second baby. Her second son’s pregnancy brought unexpected challenges when at his 20-week scan it was revealed that he had hydronephrosis.______________ Get ready for the ultimate shopping event of the season! This Black Friday Cyber Monday, ergoPouch (the beloved sleepwear brand) is thrilled to offer an exclusive 30% off sitewide* sale.  In case you are not familiar with ergoPouch, they are a premium sleepwear brand from Australia that uses certified organic cotton and natural fibres to create TOG-rated sleepwear and sleep solutions for newborns up to six years of age. At Australian BirthStories, we love ergoPouch because they simplify how to safely dress your child for sleep with their ultra-handy What to Wear guide thermometer, which is precisely what tired parents need. Don't miss your chance to save 30% off* sitewide! Whether filling your nursery with ergo sleep-drobe essentials or looking for the perfect gift for a friend, relative (or yourself), ergoPouch has you and your little ones covered for safe sleep.  You can purchase the NEW Blobs, Heritage & Pouch Tales Collection, Sleep Tools and-so-much more exclusively online through ergoPouch’s website: ergopouch.com.au. Happy Cyber Shopping! T&Cs apply. Ends 11.59 AEST. 2/12/24See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I'm joined by Maddie who lives in Queensland with her husband Nicholas and their three beautiful boys - Oscar (who they affectionately call Ozzy) and five-month-old twins, Angus and Archie. In this episode, Maddie shares her remarkable journey from a traumatic emergency cesarean with her first son to achieving a successful twin VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). She opens up about navigating a challenging first pregnancy while working in the Northern Territory away from her husband, dealing with high blood pressure, and experiencing a car accident at 28 weeks that led to a partial placental abruption. ------------- Looking for an engaging and educational way to entertain your little one? You need to check out Kiwi Co. Kiwi.Co offer bi-monthly subscription boxes designed for babies ages 0 right up to teens. Offering open-ended, research-backed projects that encourage curiosity and hands-on play. Each crate is packed with high-quality, safe activities that help build essential skills while creating special bonding moments. With projects designed for repeat use, KiwiCo provides a wonderful alternative to screen time and makes learning fun for you and your child. KiwiCo offers five different clubs covering science, engineering, art, and math, making it easy to find a subscription tailored to your child’s age and interests. With no commitment required, you can pause or cancel anytime. For a limited time, get up to 50% off your first crate by using promo code BIRTHSTORIES at KiwiCo.com. Give KiwiCo’s Panda Crate a try and inspire your little one’s creativity, confidence, and love for learning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Perinatal Mental Health Week and in this episode, I chat with Julie Birkendorf, the CEO of PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia). One in five new mums, and one in 10 new dads will experience a mental health challenge in postpartum so conversations like this one are vital to raising awareness and minimising stigma. Julie nods to the importance of realistic expectations in parenthood and explains how important it is to pay attention to any new symptom or feeling and reach out for support without delay. If you’re pregnant or in postpartum, you’ll feel comforted by this conversation. It’s also always nice to know that if you need someone to talk to, they’re only a phone call away._________________ If you’ve been eyeing a beautiful nursery update, now is the time to make it happen!We’ve partnered with iL Tutto for an exclusive Black Friday offer for our AustralianBirth Stories listeners. Starting now, you can access a pre-sale 20% off iL Tutto's luxurious TrendCollection—including their iconic Electric Nursery Chairs in super-stylish TeddyFleece fabric. These are the same cosy, premium chairs loved by none other thaninfluencer Sarah’s Day! Just use the code Presale20 at checkout, but act fast—theoffer ends 11:59 PM on Tuesday, November 19th. And here’s the kicker: If you’re looking at something beyond their Trend Collection, iLTutto’s full Black Friday sale kicks off on Wednesday, November 20th, with savingsof up to 40% off across their entire nursery range! We’re talking chairs, cots, chests,CoZee Co-Sleeping Bassinets, and even natural fibre Grow Kindly baby sleepwear.This sale ends on Sunday, December 1st.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode Sonja takes us through her two pregnancies and births but also talks at length about her pelvic pain. She’s been diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome which was exacerbated after birth and especially when her menstrual cycle returned. Her symptoms were very similar to a prolapse - a heaviness and dragging sensation in her rectum - but she also experiences sharp, debilitating pain that can last for up to an hour and significantly affects her day to day life. She is planning for a laparoscopy to investigate endometriosis and talks about the importance of specialist care and the comfort she finds in  the stories of other women. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.