The Birth and Postpartum Diaries

In today's episode I speak to Elly McLean who is a nutritionist and Mama to baby Bella. Elly shares her story of preconception, pregnancy, labour and birth and discusses:

- the importance of preconception testing and what testing she chose to do to prepare for pregnancy
- how conception took longer than expected and what she believes eventually helped her to conceive
- the importance of continuity of care in pregnancy and birth
- how she streamlined her business in preparation for a baby
- an alternative to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGGT) for gestational diabetes testing
- how she was able to continue exercise and movement in pregnancy
- how she managed (and overcame) pelvic girdle pain 
- what a nutritionist eats in pregnancy
- why you must practice surrendering in birth and not grip too tightly to your "birth plan"

Elly also shares so many valuable insights (that only a nutritionist would know), so I'm sure you'll learn a lot by listening in to this episode!

If you would like to connect with Elly you can find her:
https://www.nutritionelly.com/  or on instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nutritionelly

Today is a solo episode where I share things that I wish I knew about postpartum, along with things that I did know (and implemented) that really helped. 

I discuss things such as: 
- meal prep and having ALL THE FOOD ready! 
- what worked for me with breastfeeding
- how friendships may change 
- postpartum hair loss 
- body image 
- how we got Grace to take the boob or a bottle
- the change of priorities 
- how we divide tasks 
- how I down-regulated my nervous system and managed to get some sleep in the first few weeks postpartum 
- fighting the loneliness that can come with new motherhood

...plus way more! 

In today's episode, Amy Carmody is back to discuss her two postpartum experiences. Like her two births, she explains how wildly different the second postpartum period was and what systems she put in place in order to recover from her c-section, continue to run her business, and have precious time with her new baby.

Amy also shares:
- the intense vulnerability of postpartum and why nervous system regulation is important
- her shock about not feeling the immediate, overwhelming love and connection with her first baby
- the food intolerances and health problems she faced in the postpartum period
- the unnecessary stress of infant sleep and what your baby "should be doing"
- the amazing support she received from her maternal child health nurse
- the importance of setting up support systems in order to thrive
- the importance of touching your c-section scar, doing scar mobilisation and nerve stimulation
- the importance of listening to your intuition and holding your baby as much as you can
- the beauty of feeling at one with her baby and the intense loving moments with both of her boys

This is another beautiful episode as Amy shares her experience and wisdom so openly and generously. In case you missed Amy's first episode, she runs an online yoga and movement platform that has a dedicated section for pre and postnatal.  She offers a 30 day trial that I highly recommend checking out if you're in this phase of life!

You can find her here:
https://www.amycarmodyyoga.com.au/

or here:
https://www.instagram.com/amycarmodyyoga

In today's episode I speak to Amy Carmody about the birth of her two sons who are four years apart. Although they were both born via cesarean, Amy explains how incredibly different the births were and how the birth of her first son heavily influenced her choices for the second.

She also speaks openly about:
- Infertility challenges
- the importance of movement pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy
- Inappropriate comments in pregnancy
- Her experience of pelvic girdle pain and how she got on top of it
- How pain can help us learn and grow
- Why pelvic floor relaxation and release work may be important for you in pregnancy (and birth!)
- Why it's important to have birth preferences, not a birth "plan"
- Why there is no such thing as "failure" in the way that you have birthed
- The absolute beauty of family life
- The financial realities of having a family

This is a somewhat longer episode, but Amy's story is so captivating and reveals so many wonderful lessons about pregnancy, birth and beyond, so it's well worth a listen!

 You can find Amy on instagram:
https://instagram.com/amycarmodyyoga

Or on her website:
https://www.amycarmodyyoga.com.au

On today's episode of the show I speak to Jenny Maxwell who is a mother of three and is a GP who has a special interest in working with women in preconception, pregnancy and postnatally.

Jenny shares her experience of both midwifery-led care and shared care for her births, along with her experience supporting women through shared care. She speaks about her second baby who was initially breech and was subsequently born en caul (in the amniotic sac) - a rare phenomenon.

She is an advocate for birth education and believes it's crucial so that women are able to go into their birth feeling confident, educated and empowered to make decisions.

She also shares information about preconception testing, the Possums approach to sleep and the importance of building a village of support for postpartum.

There are so many pearls of wisdom in this episode, I'm sure you'll not only enjoy the three birth stories, but will learn a lot too!

If you would like to connect with, or enlist support from Jenny, you can find her at Maxwell Medical Group: https://www.maxwellmedical.com.au
 
Recommended Books Jenny references:
- The Discontented Little Baby Book by Pamela Douglas
- Becoming Mum by Koa Whittingham
- The Possums Approach - https://education.possumsonline.com/

In today's episode Courts shares her postpartum journey so far. She speaks about what it was like in the first few days post-home birth, including how much her body had changed and the incredible support she received from her private midwife.  She explains the importance of setting boundaries in the fourth trimester when it comes to guests - for context, Courts and her partner Daz made the decision to not have any guests in the first fourteen days of Bronte's life. This decision wasn't easy and as expected,  some friends and family members became upset, but Courts and Daz stuck to their guns and were so glad they did as it meant they were able to have that precious time together as a family of three without distractions or any expectations to be doing anything on a specific day or time. 

She also shares her journey back to exercise and touches on the importance of pelvic floor checks pre and postnatally. Along with all of the above, she shares her experience with breastfeeding, including why adding in a bottle in the early days could be helpful, how to tune out negative people and why it's important to find your tribe of people whose values and beliefs align with yours. 

She also reiterates the importance of preparing food before your baby arrives and explains how friends and family can support you when they do eventually come to visit and meet bubs! 

I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode as Courts has a great sense of humour and shares her story so openly. If you enjoy this episode, I would love it if you could leave a rating or review, or alternatively, share the link to the episode with someone who would benefit. 

In today's episode I chat with Courts who openly shares her struggles trying to conceive her first child. She discusses the challenges she faced with Western Medicine Practitioners, which lead her to seek alternate options. She started seeing a Chinese Medicine Practitioner and after following a tailored protocol became pregnant naturally. 

Courts had a relatively cruisy pregnancy in terms of symptoms, but struggled with sciatic pain, which she was able to get on top of through physio and acupuncture. She was initially planning to take advantage of her private health and birth in a private hospital, but ultimately decided that her needs weren't being met, so opted for a home birth with a private midwife. 

This story has so many ups and downs and Courts reminds us of the importance of sticking to your guns when it comes to what you want in your pregnancy and birth. Parts of the story had me in stitches, so I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode as much as I did!

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a rating and review or feel free to send the link to a loved one who would benefit from listening in. 

Today we have our first, of I'm sure what will be many, expert episodes. Michelle Smith, who is a Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist joins us to share her knowledge and wisdom. Michelle shares her own health story and explains how experiences in her twenties paved the path for her to study Chinese Medicine and to specialise in women's health. 

Michelle supports women at all stages of life, from adolescence through to menopause and beyond. She speaks about how Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture can support women, especially in the pre-conception, pregnancy and the postpartum period. She also explains how the menstrual cycle functions, why it's important to optimise it (not just for those who are trying to conceive) and explains how the pill disrupts the natural hormonal processes in the body.

This episode was so enlightening for me, I genuinely learnt so much and felt like I could chat to Michelle for hours! She has a beautiful way of explaining complex concepts in an easy to digest way, so I'm sure you will learn a lot as you listen in! 

If you would like to connect with Michelle you can find her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellesmithhealth 

or you can book in a consultation through her website: 
https://www.michellesmithhealth.com/

If you enjoyed the episode, please share the link with anyone who you think will benefit! 

In today’s episode, I speak to my sister Bianca about her experience in the early postpartum period. She shares the challenges she faced including healing from an episiotomy, having guests immediately after her son was born along with other incontinence issues and her struggle with her new identity as a Mama. 

She also shares her gratitude for the support she had and why it's important to have someone (or ideally multiple people) you can rely on for help with your baby. We also chat about how vulnerable mothers are post-birth, ear pinning, tongue ties and so much more.
 
If you enjoy this episode, I would love it if you could leave a rating or review so we can get the word out to more Mamas! Alternatively, you can share the link with someone who may benefit from listening in.

In today’s episode, I speak to my sister about her pregnancy and birth journey. She explains the earlier than planned pregnancy, her transition away from a vegan diet, along with the challenges associated with living offshore including the impact they had on her pregnancy and birth options. 

She also discusses the way she relaxed in early labour, laughed her way through the hardest contractions and the way her baby decided to flip at the last minute (meaning he was in a posterior position), which lead to tough conversations with her care provider and strength from her partner, who played his part in an advocacy role in an attempt for them to have the birth she desired. 

Bianca reiterates the importance of being on the same page with your partner and why it's important for both of you to be informed when it comes to YOUR baby's birth.  
 
If you enjoy this episode, I would love it if you could leave a rating or review. Alternatively, you can share the link with someone who may benefit from listening in.

Today Molly is back to tell us all about her postpartum journey so far. She describes what it was like to be alone in the Covid maternity ward post c-section with her newborn (as her partner Nathan wasn’t allowed into the hospital), how hard day two cluster feeding was, shares what it was like being milked by a midwife and how she adjusted to motherhood after being discharged from the hospital less than two days after giving birth.

She openly talks about her breastfeeding journey, including the way it finished earlier than expected and the fact that her mental health was more important than forcing herself to continue. Molly also discusses the importance of building a village to support you, why it’s critical to make time for your partner (and why you need to pash more often), along with the way friendships can often change post-baby.

She also candidly shares her experience with postpartum depression and how she managed to get back to being the mother and the “Molly” she wanted to be again. I loved this chat with Molly and I’m sure you will too! 
 
 If you enjoy this episode, I would love it if you could leave a rating or review. Alternatively, share the link with someone who may benefit from listening in.
 

In today’s episode, Molly shares her experience of pregnancy, labour, and the unexpectedly quick birth of her daughter Lola. She shares her story in such an honest, light-hearted way, and laughs off the fact that she had a vision of a beautiful labour and birth, but instead gave birth via emergency c-section, without her partner, in the Covid maternity ward at the hospital. Although the birth was traumatic, Molly shows us that the most challenging experiences make us stronger and that “trauma makes you funny, when treated.”
 
I am sure you are going to love this story and our conversation, as it’s hard not to smile when Molly describes her journey.   
 
 *Note – this episode discusses placental abruption, so if that’s something you’re not in a position to hear, you can skip this episode (or skip the minute or two when Molly describes it)
 
 If you enjoy this episode, I would love it if you could leave a rating or review. Alternatively, you can share the link with someone who may benefit from listening in!

In today's episode I speak openly about my postpartum journey so far - almost four months in - early days! I chat about the days in hospital following Grace's birth, the support and care I received from medical staff, along with Scott and my family and friends, the huge shift in my body  - the way that it looked and the way that it functioned (and all of the emotions that bubbled to the surface in relation to these massive changes). I also discuss my experience with the monumental identity shift that occurs when someone transitions into motherhood, along with my opinion on people giving unsolicited, and quite frankly unqualified advice about how to raise my baby.

There have been lots of highs, a few lows and a few big cries! I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode - if you haven't listened to episode 1, jump back to that episode first so you have more context about Grace's birth and my circumstances. 

You may also hear little bubba in the background as she was having a nap in the carrier with me as we recorded the episode! #mumlife

If you enjoy the episode, I would love it if you could leave a rating and review or share the episode with a friend or family member who may benefit! 

 

In today’s episode I explain why I started the podcast and am interviewed by my sister about my journey to conception all the way through to my daughter Grace’s birth. We discuss my relationship with Scott and how our story began, an abortion, our quick conception, along with the challenges of pregnancy including nausea - that wasn’t just in the morning and wasn’t just in the first trimester! We also discuss my labour and birth and how things didn’t unfold as I had expected. It’s a slightly long episode to kick things off, but I am sure you’ll enjoy the raw and authentic story (I may, or may not cry on multiple occasions)!