Australian Birth Stories
Episodes
511 | Maddie, Emergency caesarean, twin VBAC, ICU, perinatal mental health
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
510 | Julie, PANDA CEO, perinatal anxiety and depression, postpartum mental health
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Perinatal Mental Health Week and in this episode, I chat with Julie Birkendorf, the CEO of PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia). ...
509 | Sonja, two babies, shared care, syntocinon, vaginal birth, painful periods, pelvic pain, pelvic congestion syndrome, endometriosis
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
508 | Heidi Sze, third birth story, preconception testing, nausea, early pregnancy bleeding, subchorionic haematoma, cholestasis, castor oil
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s such a pleasure to welcome Heidi back onto the show. You can listen to Heidi’s first two births in episode 126. Today, she shares the journey...
507 | Beth, two babies, midwifery care, ‘big baby’, spontaneous labour, The Birth Class
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You can listen to Beth’s first birth story in episode 254 and today she shares her second pregnancy and birth story - from the perspective of a midw...
506 | Emily, three babies, miscarriage, private midwife, marginal cord insertion, short cervix, physiological birth, MCDA twins, NICU, postpartum preeclampsia
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we hear so much about birth - all kinds of births - that we can forget it is a normal, biological process. In today’s episode, Emily’s e...
505 | Maude, breech, planned caesarean, breastfeeding, pelvic floor physiotherapist, spontaneous labour, VBAC
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Maude takes us through her two pregnancies and births. She moved interstate in her first pregnancy, registered with her local pub...
504 | Genevieve, one baby, PCOS, private obstetrician, hematoma, induction, epidural, episiotomy, postpartum haemorrhage
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Genevieve shares her first pregnancy and birth and details her postpartum joys and challenges. She embraced her ‘goddess energy’...
503 | Bron, endometriosis, triplet-pregnancy, miscarriage, induction, TENS, positive induction
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At her first dating scan, Bron found out she was pregnant with triplets; one singleton, and MCDA twins who shared a placenta. A few weeks later she at...
502 | Agustina, two babies, private obstetrician, physiological birth, breastfeeding, lactation consultant
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a really lovely episode, where Agustina shares her two pregnancies and births, alongside her experiences as a Canadian living far away from he...
501 | Sarah, PPROM, NICU, antenatal expressing, nipple shield, triple-feeding, lactation consultant
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you need to hear a positive NICU breastfeeding story, this is it! Sarah shares her experience with premature prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM)...
500 | Celebrating 500 episodes with a recap of the last 7 years building Australian Birth Stories!
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the show for Episode 500. This one's a little bit different.I'm not interviewing anyone today, I thought I would instead recap the las...
499 | Roisin, three babies, miscarriage, IVF, HG, MGP, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, induction, emergency caesarean, MCDA twins
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today Roisin shares her journey of infertility, IVF experience and her two births - both emergency caesareans. When she fell pregnant with her son, sh...
498 | Katelyn, three babies, private obstetrician, vaginal birth, fraternal twins, cholestasis, IUGR, physiological twin birth, breastfeeding
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Katelyn’s first birth was relatively quick - a low-intervention vaginal birth in a private hospital. When she discovered she was pregnant again, she...
497 | Erika, Pre-Eclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, CMV, missed miscarriage, emergency caesarean
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s heartfelt episode, Erika shares her challenging and inspiring journey into motherhood with her two little boys. Erika opens up about conc...
496 | Tanya, four babies, epidural, vaginal birth, vacuum, molar pregnancy, IVF, breech, planned caesarean, down’s syndrome, TFMR, VBAC
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Tanya takes us through her four birth experiences. Her first two babies are now teenagers and her second two are very little, so...
495 | Sarah, Breastfeeding, triple feeding, oversupply, cracked nipples, mastitis, tongue tie
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah has a family history of breast cancer and is very aware of the protective benefits of breastfeeding so she was determined to persist despite the...
494 | Andrea, insufficient glandular tissue, IGT, breastfeeding hypoplasia, triple-feeding, tongue tie, lactation consultant, formula feeding, maternal mental health
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You can listen to Andrea’s birth stories in episode 312 and today, she shares her incredibly informed story about breastfeeding hypoplasia, also kno...
493 | Sophie, premature birth, NICU, tube-feeding, triple-feeding, mastitis, exclusive breastfeeding
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sophie’s first baby was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) because of placental insufficiency at 25 weeks. Little Tilly was born ...
492 | Sheree, three vaginal births, private obstetrician, TFMR, physiological birth, en caul, The Birth Class
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sheree takes us through her first pregnancy, her choice to have a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) at 20 weeks and the grief that followed. She ...
491 | Louise, three babies, public hospital, spontaneous labour, induction, 3C perineal tear, planned caesarean
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a beautiful example of doing your research and making an informed choice, even if it’s not your first birth preference. Louise ...
490 | Emily, surrogate, twin pregnancy, identical twins, vaginal birth, antenatal expressing
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Emily - a mum of three - shares her journey as a surrogate (or an ‘oven’ as she refers to it). When her youngest was three s...
489 Postpartum | Helen, sleep support, Early Parenting Unit, pregnancy after loss, postpartum after loss
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a profoundly important episode for any new parent navigating sleep challenges with their baby. Helen is a mother of three and trauma-informed ...
488 | Emily, three babies, type 1 diabetes, private obstetrician, induction, spontaneous labour, breastfeeding, antenatal expressing
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Emily details her diagnosis and experience with Type 1 diabetes. It has significantly informed her three pregnancies and births becaus...
487 | Amelia, three babies, twins, PROM, induction, emergency caesarean, twin VBAC, breastfeeding, Dr Bisits, breech vaginal birth
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Amelia shares her first birth which was a challenging induced labour that ended in an emergency caesarean. She always knew she wa...
486 | Suze, one baby, MGP, induction, syntocinon, epidural, forceps-assisted birth, breastfeeding, nipple shields
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re in the mood for a birth story full of truths and just as many laughs, this one’s for you. Suze started listening to the podcast years be...
485 Postpartum | Eliza, two babies, disabled parent, medical stigma, disability advocate
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode I chat to Eliza Hull - a musician, author and disability advocate who lives with a neurological condition called charcot marie to...
484 | Hannah, three babies, PROM, induction, gas+air, MGP, waterbirth, breastfeeding, epidural
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah’s three vaginal births are so different but they all started with pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM). Her first was induced and she expla...
483 Postpartum | Jen, one vaginal birth, GD, induction, episiotomy, postpartum confinement
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I talk to Jen about her pregnancy, birth and traditional Chinese confinement during postpartum. Jen is a second-generation Chine...
482 | Bee, one baby, MGP, spontaneous labour, The Birth Class, sterile water injections, episiotomy, vacuum assisted birth, breastfeeding
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bee came to her first pregnancy like most women do; with the understanding that birth is incredibly hard and painful - something to be endured. Unders...
481 Postpartum | Ruby, breastfeeding, sleep challenges, normal infant biology, low sleep needs
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Ruby shares her journey with infant sleep. We all come to postpartum with a predisposed understanding of baby sleep which usually...
480 | Sea, MGP, physiological birth, positive birth story, Indigenous, planned postpartum
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sea shared her first three physiological births in episode 304 and today she returns to tell us all about her fourth pregnancy and birth. Little Leia ...
479 Postpartum | Ariane, postpartum psychosis, psychologist, hallucinations, postpartum depression, psychotic depression
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Ariane shares her experience with postpartum psychosis. As a psychologist working in child and family services, Ariane was aware...
478 | Katie, one baby, plus-size, doula, induction, vaginal birth, PPH
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode 478 Katie shares her pregnancy and birth experience as a plus-size woman. She was denied access to midwifery group practice because of...
477 | Angela, physiological home birth, private midwife, water birth
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Angela shares her incredibly positive first birth - a water birth at home, supported by private midwives. Before she had conceived, An...
476 | Georgie, four babies, MGP, physiological birth, breastfeeding, surprise breech, breech vaginal birth, DCDA twins, twin vaginal birth without epidural
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I know I say it a lot, but you’re really going to love this episode. Georgie details her positive physiological first birth, her second that was a s...
475 Postpartum | Arnikka, postpartum, IBCLC, neurodivergence, autism, ADHD, sensory overwhelm
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this absolutely brilliant episode, Arnikka - @sucklebubs - takes us through her life-changing diagnosis of autism and ADHD in her second postpartum...
474 | Chantal endometriosis, IVF, anxiety, private obstetrician, HG, amniocentesis, spontaneous labour, vaginal birth
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The gender pain gap has been in the news cycle recently with the Victorian government announcing an inquiry into women’s pain. Chantal’s story mir...
473 | Ash, three babies, induction, vaginal birth, homebirth, waterbirth, microcephaly,
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ash has been listening to the podcast since episode 40 so I’ve been in her ears every week for six years. Today she takes us through her three pregn...
472 | Sarah Davidson, one baby, private obstetrician, miscarriage, ovulation induction, gestational diabetes, footling breech, planned caesarean
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Sarah takes us through her fertility experience as an adoptee which prompted her to do a series of tests early in her journey. A...
471 | Ashlee, one baby, gastric sleeve surgery, IVF, placenta previa, private obstetrician, student midwife, iron infusion, PPH, breastfeeding
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Ashlee details her long fertility journey including her choice to have gastric sleeve surgery. She conceived baby Luca on her fir...
470 | Abby, three vaginal births, gp shared care, public hospital, pain-free birth, physiological birth, breastfeeding
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Abby shares her third pregnancy and birth story. She opted for shared care with her GP, a decision that really suited her busy family ...
469 Postpartum | Gen, breastfeeding, unsettled sleep, mother and baby unit, sleep consultant, sleep training, sleep school
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Following on from her birth story in episode 468, Gen shares her significant challenges with baby sleep. Sleep is one of the most political and polari...
468 | Gen, infertility, miscarriage, IVF, hyperstimulation, private obstetrician, induction, epidural, vacuum-assisted birth, episiotomy
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gen shares every aspect of her fertility, pregnancy and birth experience in this honest and hilarious episode. She tried to conceive for two years and...
467 | Gemma Fraternal Twins, MGP, Sunshine Coast Hospital, CMV
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 467 Gemma shares her unexpected pregnancy with twins. She shares the emotional rollercoaster of disbelief and excitement and the impact of ...
466 | Dee, two vaginal births, induction, TENS Machine, miscarriage, continuity of care
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 466 Dee shares her emotional and challenging pregnancy journeys. She was shocked to learn she’d conceived quickly but her elation soon tu...
465 | Georgie, vaginal birth, pre-eclampsia, induction, breastfeeding and mixed feeding
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 hosp...
464 | Alice, Doula and Midwife, private obstetrician, home birth, planned postpartum
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Alice shares her birth experiences in light of everything she’s learned as a mother, doula and midwife-in-training. In her first pre...
463 | Courtney, two births, GP shared care, NIPT, Maternal assisted caesarean, Down Syndrome, heart surgery
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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-sh...
462 | Briony Benjamin, Natural conception post chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ag...
461 | Sophie Two births, fraternal twins, shared care, positive induction, vaginal breech birth twin B
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
460 | Gemma - two births, endometriosis, Sotos Syndrome, in utero blood transfusion, caesarean, private care
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 daug...
459 | Chantelle Stanton, private Obstetrician, Cabrini Hospital, Induction, TENS machine
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Chantelle shares her experience of her first pregnancy and birth. Chantelle was very gratefulll to conceive shortly after decidi...
458 Postpartum | Jodi, four babies, MGP, public hospital, planned postpartum, breastfeeding, identity shift, postpartum book
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Pregna...
457 | Tylah, Midwife, Home birth, Alice Springs, jaundice, breastfeeding challenges
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
456 Postpartum | Sasha one baby, planned postpartum, PND, medication, breastfeeding, returning to work, race, childcare
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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, m...
455 | Larke, one baby, MGP, fibroid, maternal assisted caesarean (MAC), cleft palate
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
454 | Kirsty, two babies, hysterectomy, uterus transplant, IVF, planned caesarean, mastitis
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 month...
453 | Niki, Two Physiological Home Births, Yoga Teacher, Breathing Techniques
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
452 Postpartum | Ellie, postpartum lethargy, brain fog, postpartum thyroiditis
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Ellie shares her experience with postpartum thyroiditis after experiencing the tell-tale signs and advocating for the appropriate blood tests a...
451 | Jordy endometriosis, fragmented care, excess amniotic fluid, tachycardia, planned caesarean, breastfeeding, missed miscarriage, secondary infertility
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
450 | Joelleen, midwife, IBCLC, pregnancy loss, publicly-funded homebirth, physiological birth, waterbirth, breastfeeding, NICU
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joelleen is a midwife, naturopath and IBCLC who takes us through her pregnancy and homebirth experience. Her journey into motherhood began with the bi...
449 Postpartum | Emma, two babies, bicornuate uterus, planned caesarean, placenta previa, placenta accreta, hysterectomy
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
448 | Olivia, fraternal twins, DCDA twins, multiple birth team, public hospital, induction, vaginal birth, breastfeeding
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Olivia details her shock upon discovering she was pregnant with fraternal twins after fertility challenges. She takes us through the e...
447 Postpartum | Jayne, three babies, homebirth, breech, planned caesarean, NICU, posterior urethral valves, organ donation
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 pre...
446 | Jess, long first labour followed by a speedy second birth in the ambulance on the way to hospital
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 un...
445 | Kate two babies, private obstetrician, elective caesarean, breastfeeding, miscarriage
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Kate takes us through her journey to motherhood with her two daughters. In her first pregnancy she opted for care with a private obste...
444 Postpartum | Shannen one baby, GBS positive, epidural complications, post dural puncture headache, PDPH, PDA
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Shannen details her long labour which involved a complicated epidural. Her anaesthetist told her she may experience a headache th...
443 | Rachael, spinal muscular atrophy, TFMR, genetic carrier screening, IVF, NIPT, CVS, maternal-assisted caesarean
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can listen to Rachel share her first birth and postpartum story in episode #51 where she details her daughter Mackenzie’s terminal diagnosis of ...
442 Postpartum | Lisa, two babies, two under two, MGP, posterior labour, women’s health physio, spinning babies, physiological birth
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Lisa takes us through her two very different labours - her first was posterior and 67 hours long, her second was anterior and ver...
441 | Maria, fraternal twins, ovulation induction, cervical stitch, bed rest, IUGR, caesarean birth, NICU
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Maria shares her fraternal twin pregnancy which required her to spend 14 weeks on bedrest. Her pregnancy was considered normal un...
440 Postpartum | Sarah, three babies, vaginal birth, third-degree tear, OASI, internal massage, hypertonic pelvic floor, women’s health physiotherapist
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Sarah shares her experience with two third-degree perineal tears, also known as Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI). The general un...
439 | Shuana, two babies, unplanned pregnancy, vulva varicosities, MGP, the birth class, unplanned homebirth
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can listen to Shuana’s first birth in episode 296 where she details her really positive physiological birth under midwifery care. Today she take...
438 Postpartum | Alex, one baby, solo parenthood, donor-conceived, MGP, IUGR, physiological birth, donor milk
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Alex shares his pregnancy and birth journey as a trans man, including his choice to embark on solo parenthood. He sought guidance from...
437 | Julie two babies, pregnant at 42, emergency caesarean, HG, IVF, Down Syndrome
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Julie shares her journey and all the beautiful lessons she’s learnt along the way. At once ambivalent about motherhood, her fi...
436 Postpartum | Dom, Indigenous, birthing on country model of care, waterbirth, PAD, panic attacks, mother + baby unit, psychiatric unit, ECT
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In honour of Perinatal Mental Health Week, Dom shares her experience of perinatal anxiety and depression (PAD) and details her three-month stay in a m...
435 | Caitlin, two babies, posterior, induction, epidural, prodromal labour, doula, unplanned homebirth
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Caitlin details her two very different labours - her first was 40 hours long, her second only two hours. She was accepted into an...
434 Postpartum | Tess, PPH, triple-feeding, EBM, PND, private obstetrician, postpartum day-stay
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Tess shares her two very different breastfeeding experiences. She starts by detailing her traumatic birth experience which ended ...
433 | Kelsey three babies, induction, epidural, vacuum-assisted birth, PPH, miscarriage, progesterone, retained placenta, the birth class
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Kelsey shares her three birth stories which detail her evolution as a birthing mother. In her first birth she requested an induc...
432 Postpartum | Claire, one baby, vaginal birth, midwifery care, faecal incontinence, women’s health physiotherapy
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Faecal incontinence affects one in 25 women in postpartum and today, Claire shares her experience. She takes us briefly through her labour and birth a...
431 | Renee, three babies, spontaneous labour, physiological births, water birth, homebirth, doula
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Renee shares her three physiological birth stories so consider this a wonderfully positive episode in honour of Homebirth Awareness Week. She wa...
430 Postpartum | Katie Rose, yoga teacher, Ayurveda, five babies, blended family
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Rose, a yoga teacher, doula and mother of five discusses her postpartum experiences and the joy and chaos of having a big family. Her eldest is ...
429 | Celia Pacquola, needle phobia, hypnotherapy, private obstetrician, pelvic girdle pain, induction, anxiety, breastfeeding, formula
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I chat to comedian Celia Pacquola about her pregnancy and birth experience. Motherhood was never a top priority for Celia but wh...
428 | Kirby five babies, septate uterus, breech, emergency caesarean, tongue tie, VBAC, miscarriage, second trimester pregnancy loss, IVF
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, and in honour of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Kirby shares her story. After her first two pregnancies and births, sh...
427 | Elizabeth, physiological birth with MGP, The Birth Class, spontaneous labour, TENS machine
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Elizabeth shares her first pregnancy and birth experience. She had bloods done before her copper IUD was removed as she has coeliac di...
426 Postpartum | Samantha, postpartum preparation, postpartum doula, social media, matrescence
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Samantha details her postpartum journey with her second baby and explains why switching off social media was the best option for...
425 | Bridie, two births, endometriosis, MGP, pubis symphysis dysfunction, posterior labour, induction, epidural, water birth
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Bridie (one half of the witty/hilarious new podcast Cool Story that will undoubtedly make you smarter at dinner parties) shares ...
424 Postpartum | Brylee, hydrops fetalis, foetal medicine team, amniocentesis, thoracentesis, caesarean birth, NICU
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Almost 1 in 5 babies spend time in the Special Care Nursery (SCN) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Australia. For the mothers of these babies...
423 | Leonie, two babies, perinatal anxiety and depression (PAD), psychology, episiotomy, postpartum depression, mother rage, private obstetrician
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Leonie shares her experience with perinatal anxiety and depression which manifested as a profound sense of defeat in pregnancy an...
422 Postpartum | Leila, fraternal twins, breastfeeding twins, postpartum doula
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following on from her birth story in episode 419, Leila shares her early postpartum experience with twins. She organised a foundation of strong and tr...
421 | Shelley, Herpes virus, planned caesarean, VBAC, Breastfeeding challenges
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I interview Shelley who shares her two pregnancies and births. Shelley has herpes simplex virus (HSV) and experienced considerab...
420 Postpartum | Elizabeth, one baby, MGP, jaundice, hospital readmission, light therapy, biliblanket
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elizabeth’s newborn baby was readmitted to hospital to treat jaundice which is one of the primary reasons a baby will need to return to hospital aft...
419 | Leila, two births, homebirth, fraternal twin vaginal birth without epidural, private midwife, planned postpartum
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Leila shares her beautiful birth stories; her first at home, and her second which was a twin birth in hospital at 41+2. Leila tho...
418 Postpartum | Naomi, two births, birth trauma, postpartum doula, postpartum preparation, homebirth, postpartum cookbook
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Naomi takes us through her first pregnancy and admits that she was so focussed on her birth preparation that she didn’t once th...
417 | Dara, one baby, miscarriage, thyroid, private obstetrician, birth education, planned caesarean, mother’s group
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Dara discusses her choice to have a private obstetrician and the steps she took to educate herself and plan a vaginal birth. Towa...
416 Postpartum | Alice, hereditary varicose veins, clexane, vein removal
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I interviewed Alice about her births in episode 18 and episode 110 but today she talks about her varicose veins in postpartum which are hereditary but...
415 | Jessie, one baby, anxiety and depression, private obstetrician, vaginismus, pelvic floor physiotherapist, pregnancy insomnia, TENS, epidural, breastfeeding challenges, postpartum joy
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Jessie shares her first birth story. Her pregnancy was a surprise and she admits the shock of it definitely informed her experie...
414 Postpartum | Billi homebirth and hospital transfer, NICU
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Billi discusses what it was like to discover she was pregnant at 14 weeks, subsequently missing her entire first trimester. She hired ...
Thank you for 14 Million downloads
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bonus episode to say Thankyou. FREE Gift with purchase Enjoy a free wooden ABS birth comb with any purchase of The Birth Class, The Caesarean Bi...
413 | Larissa, three births, VBAC2, PCOS, second-trimester miscarriage, caesarean, induction, weight-loss surgery
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Larissa takes us through her three births across 14 years. She fell pregnant for the first time when she was 18 and followed her docto...