367 | Mel, two babies, emergency caesarean, general anaesthetic, postpartum depression, identity crisis, planned caesarean, single motherhood

In today's episode, Gemma shares with us her two pregnancies and births of her little girl and her little boy. She also has stage four endometriosis, so she shares with us what it was like to conceive and how that affected her fertility and motherhood journey.

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 arise
• Images of birth positions - the ideal addition for visual learners 
• 3 meditations to release tension, foster trust and navigate a change of plans
• An 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 arise
• Images of birth positions - the ideal addition for visual learners 
• 3 meditations to release tension, foster trust and navigate a change of plans
• An 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 arise
• Images of birth positions - the ideal addition for visual learners 
• 3 meditations to release tension, foster trust and navigate a change of plans
• An 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.

---------

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.