Australian Birth Stories

In this week’s episode I chat to Jessica Prescott who is the author of three vegan cookbooks including the newly released Vegan One-Pot Wonders and co-founder of Melbourne-based Mama Goodness an organic food delivery service for new mums. She talks us through her two homebirths - one in Berlin and one in Melbourne - and compares her labour, delivery and postpartum experiences. It was the stark contrast between her births and breastfeeding experiences, which she discusses in detail, that have encouraged her to pursue a career as a postpartum doula. Jess’ story is heartwarming, funny and informative and it really emphasises the importance of community and support during the postpartum period. 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.

For this week's episode and in honour of Infant Loss Week, I interview Annabel Bower who takes us through her experience of stillbirth and the immense, layered grief that followed. Two weeks after her fourth child - a boy named Miles - was born still, she started writing about her experience so she could record all the little details that she knew would eventually fade. As she journeyed through grief that stripped all colour from her world, she documented the days and weeks of life after loss and went on to interview women who had experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss. The finished project is her book, Miles Apart, a heartfelt offering of support for those who have lost a baby and are enduring the incomprehensible grief. Annabel hopes that her words break the stigma and the silence of miscarriage and stillbirth and open a vital conversation for us all to have. 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 Ellie Bullen about the birth of her baby boy Bowie. Ellie discovered she was pregnant sooner than she had expected however  he was a very welcomed surprise. As she was a first time mum, Ellie decided to book in with a private Obstetrician so that she could have continuity of care through a private hospital near by to her home. Ellie and her husband Alex took a private Hypnobirthing Australia course to prepare for a low intervention and relaxed water birth. Ellie’s identical twin sister made the journey back to the Gold Coast from Bali during Covid and was required to isolate in a hotel for 14days when she arrived. Ellie was able to drop off parcels and wave to her from outside and they both crossed their fingers that Ellie wouldn't go into labour early.  To hear more about how Elli’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 this week’s episode I chat to Sarah, a mother of two and midwife who cherishes the work she does with pregnant women. When it came time to birth her first baby, she experienced a truly beautiful water birth in the birth centre surrounded by her fellow midwives. Her second pregnancy was symptom-free until her waters broke at 25weeks. She takes us through her experience, from the denial of what was happening to the frightening realisation that she would be delivering her baby at 25weeks via classical cesarean and then the stress, grief and elation of NICU life. Sarah offers heartfelt, practical advice for NICU parents, discusses the beauty and challenge of breastfeeding a premature baby and lists the practical things she did everyday to work through her worry and grief. Her micro-preemie, Chloe, is now an energetic, inquisitive two-year-old and Sarah is more passionate than ever about supporting new mothers.  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 Jodie about her two planned cesarean births. When she was 18-months-old, she was diagnosed with a fistula which was repaired shortly afterwards. The issue arose again when she was 11 and after surgery she was told she would never be able to birth naturally. She remembers feeling sad that her choice had been taken away from her but when it came time to prepare for her first birth, she felt empowered by her knowledge and was comforted by her supportive obstetrician. 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 Stevie about her pregnancy and birth with baby Jimmy. After struggling to conceive and experiencing painful periods for as long as she can remember, Stevie saw a fertility specialist and was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, hyperthyroidism and endometriosis. A few months after a laparoscopy she fell pregnant and had a smooth and symptom-free pregnancy. She recalls the details of her labour and cesarean birth as well as the challenge of those first few days when she was exhausted, in pain and struggling to breastfeed. 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 honour of Father’s Day, I took the opportunity to interview five dads about their experience of pregnancy and birth. They each talk candidly about birth preparation and the highs and lows of the labour ward, in particular the mental and emotional challenges of seeing their wives labour through pain and intervention. Throughout their stories they share advice and top tips for dads-to-be which are beautifully relevant for the birth day and the postpartum period. I really enjoyed gleaning a different perspective for this episode and I’m so grateful for the humour and insight that each of the men shared with me. 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 Oceane, a midwife and mother of three who so generously shares the beautiful, intricate details of her two homebirths. She also tells the story of her wife’s birth and the journey they have taken to become parents with donor sperm and IVF, the logic involved in deciding who will be pregnant and the joy of breastfeeding at the same time. Oceane’s story is inspiring, informative and heartwarming and the video of baby Emmeline’s arrival captures the euphoria of supported and trusted family-centred 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 interview Melanie Dimmitt about her two births and her experience as a special needs mum. Mel talks us through the moment she was in the hospital with her first baby, Arlo, awaiting an induction. She was watching the fetal heart rate monitor when she noticed a dramatic fall in Arlo’s heartbeat. Ten minutes later he was born via emergency cesarean and once awake, Mel was wheeled into NICU to meet her baby boy. Mel and her husband Rohan stayed positive in the months that followed but when Arlo was six-month-old he was given a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and they started a daily treatment plan with a variety of specialists. Overwhelmed by their new reality, Mel used her journalism skills to reach out to a variety of special needs parents. The result is @the_special_book; an uplifting companion for parents who are navigating their child’s diagnosis in an often overwhelming (and initially terrifying) special needs world. 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 Julia Busuttil Nishimura @juliaostro about her journey into motherhood and the obstacles she faced in her first year with both her boys, Haruki and Yukito. She chose midwifery care for her pregnancies and ventured into each labour feeling prepared and supported. Her births were challenging albeit positive experiences yet her postpartum experience with breastfeeding and anxiety has been difficult. Julia shares her breast and bottle feeding experience and discusses the importance of psychological support for new mums, particularly in the first year when overwhelm and loneliness can outweigh the beauty and joy.  Breaking down the stigmas attached to mental health and postpartum is essential and it starts right here, in the sharing of honest and heartfelt stories. 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.