In this episode Kaitlin shares her experience with placenta previa. Her first pregnancy and birth was an incredibly positive experience and she birthed with the support of hospital midwives at her local birth centre. As soon as she discovered she was pregnant for the second time, she booked a private midwife but her plans for a homebirth changed at 20 weeks when an ultrasound showed her placenta was on the edge of her cervix. Kaitlin admits she was deeply disappointed but she informed herself, looked at all her options, prepared with The Birth Class and spoke to obstetricians to gain their advice. At 37 weeks when the placenta hadn’t moved, she booked in at her local hospital. She went into spontaneous labour but when she started bleeding she went straight to hospital and had a very surprising birth experience. ___________ Have you heard the news? My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is now available for purchase. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In today’s episode, Meg shares her two positive inductions. She fell pregnant at 39 with her first baby yet her advanced maternal age (AMA) didn’t affect her care options or her birth choices. She knew she wanted continuity of care and accessed the MGP programme at her local hospital alongside the support of a student midwife. Her induced labour was relatively quick but she admits that the second (pushing) stage was her greatest challenge. In her second pregnancy she embraced the lessons shared in The Birth Class and loved the guidance and direction of her midwife while birthing her baby. Meg’s story is beautifully told and incredibly positive; a really great starting point if you’re new to pregnancy and the podcast. ___________ Have you heard the news? My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is now available for purchase. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

Laura’s story is unforgettable as she describes the healing power of birth with honesty and grace. She came to pregnancy with a history of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, PTSD and eating disorders that stemmed from childhood and adolescent sexual abuse. She has worked closely with her psychologist to work through her trauma but she admits that the final part of her journey was labour and birth; she considered it a powerful way to heal and connect with her body. She surrounded herself with supportive care providers, embraced birth education via The Birth Class and laboured beautifully at home before going to hospital and birthing her baby boy. As she says with immense gratitude: “It was a birth and a rebirth for me.” ___________ Have you heard the news? My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is now available for purchase. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

This episode is for all the women who have messaged me begging for a positive story about vaginal birth after a severe perineal tear. Here is all the inspiration (and information) you’ll need! Diana shares her experience with a fourth-degree tear and details her shock when she was told that she had a recto-vaginal fistula. She admits that she did very little birth preparation and was happy to go with the flow but when it was time to birth her baby, she couldn’t feel anything because of the epidural. Furthermore, her baby was born in one push. Diana’s complications made for a physically and mentally challenging postpartum and motivated her to do things differently for her subsequent birth. Determined to embrace support and preparation, she worked closely with her doula and MGP midwife and had a physiological labour with perineal support that resulted in a small second-degree tear. ___________ Have you heard the news? My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is now available for purchase. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In this episode Kristy shares her journey with MS alongside her first pregnancy. She opted for continuity of care with a private obstetrician and admits she was happy to go with the flow for her birth options. At 37 weeks, when protein was detected in her urine and her blood pressure was elevated, her obstetrician recommended an induction because she had concerns about preeclampsia. Kristy’s birth experience was incredibly positive but in the days afterward, when new MS symptoms arose and her baby lost over 10 percent of his birth weight, she started to feel overwhelmed by the challenges facing her. She takes us through her postpartum and talks honestly about her experience, especially regarding her decision to stop expressing at 4 weeks so she could go back on her MS medication. ___________ Have you heard the news? My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is now available for purchase. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In this episode, Catherine shares her two very different birth experiences. Her first baby didn’t engage and at 41+4, she opted for an induction. After a long labour and an epidural, she wasn’t progressing and felt it best to have a caesarean. While her postpartum was beautiful, she navigated feelings of failure and a significant lack of self-confidence. Following two devastating missed miscarriages, Catherine conceived again and opted for private midwifery care. Informed, prepared and surrounded by a supportive and protective birth team, she experienced an empowering Homebirth After Caesarean (HBAC). ___________ Have you heard the news? My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is now available for purchase. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In today’s episode Paige shares her birth experiences in Gladstone (population 60,000+) where the hospital is currently on bypass for all maternity patients. It’s a huge issue and a prime example of the maternity system crisis (we’re seeing similar situations in Geelong, Victoria and Burnie, Tasmania). She takes us through her two pregnancies and births, including her second where she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes but was educated enough to request a different treatment plan and avoid an induction. At 39 weeks she didn’t know where she would birth - an unsettling feeling - and when her labour progressed quickly, she was supported to birth at Gladstone but knew she couldn’t have pharmacological pain relief. Her birth was positive and empowering but five hours later she started haemorrhaging and was transferred via ambulance to Rockhampton hospital where she stayed for three days. -------------------------- It's here! My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is available for purchase now. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In this episode Paige shares her incredibly positive first birth experience. If you are new to the podcast or feel like you want an encouraging story to inspire you, this is it. After conceiving easily, she started listening to the podcast and knew she wanted a continuity model of care. She contacted Canterbury Antenatal and Postnatal Services (CAPS) and was accepted into their programme. From there she listened to @the.birth.class on repeat and armed herself with knowledge and skills. Her labour started spontaneously and she stayed home till her waters broke. As she says: “Knowledge is power and the more you understand your options, feel like you can make choices and know that you’re involved in the process, the more confident you’ll be.” -------------------------- It's here! My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is available for purchase now. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In today’s episode Phoebe from @thememo shares her pregnancy and birth experience. The first-half of her pregnancy was relatively smooth but at her 20 week scan the sonographer noticed that her cervix had shortened significantly and she was promptly taken to the maternity unit in a wheelchair. She was officially diagnosed with an insufficient (also known as incompetent) cervix and a week later she had a cervical stitch put in and was on strict bedrest till 28 weeks. Under the care of a private obstetrician, she opted to be induced at 38 weeks and after labour began she chose to have an epidural. She talks in detail about the unexpected elements of the pushing phase and chats about the highs and lows of early postpartum. -------------------------- It's here! My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is available for purchase now. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In this episode Dani shares her two birth experiences and compares induced labour to a spontaneous one. She admits that when we went in for an induction with her first baby, she had no idea that it can often result in a more painful labour and intervention. In her second pregnancy she decided to do everything she could to inform herself and prepare for a physiological birth. As well as talking in detail about the skills she used in her births, she also shares her experience with hip dysplasia as both her babies were diagnosed days after birth. It's here! My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is available for purchase now. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

In this episode I chat to Mel Wilson who shares her two birth experiences alongside her challenging postpartum periods. Her first birth was an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic which left her with lots of unanswered questions. She talks in detail about the lack of connection she experienced with her firstborn and the subsequent dismay and guilt she carried throughout postpartum. She opted for a planned caesarean with her second baby despite being persistently encouraged to attempt a VBAC. When her baby was five months old her marriage broke down and she shares the overwhelm and silver linings of being a working single mother with two little ones. It's here! My new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is available for purchase now. This book covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Get yours today. I hope you love it.

You can listen to Madelyn’s first birth experience in episode 151 but today she takes us through her surprise second pregnancy and the emotional turmoil of feeling disconnected from her baby. Her labour was powerful, intense and positive but the real challenge began in postpartum where she juggled a toddler, an unsettled newborn and her own dark thoughts. Madelyn details her most vulnerable moments with acute honesty and takes us through the choices she made to acknowledge her challenges and prioritise her mental health in motherhood. Tomorrow, my new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is published! It covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Order it now.

In this special bonus episode, Jodi and I chat all about our new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth. It’s available in all bookstores and department stores from January 31st and today we take you behind the scenes of the writing process where we laugh, cry and discuss the enormous responsibility we felt as writers. We were determined to create an educational, informative, encouraging and kind companion to pregnancy and birth and this is how we did it….

In today’s episode I chat to Alethea about her first pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. Armed with knowledge from the podcast and The Birth Class, she experienced an empowering and positive birth with the support of midwives and a student doula. Despite her birth experience, she admits that the whirlwind of postpartum has been incredibly challenging. Her physical recovery from an episiotomy and bruised coccyx has been hard and resulted in a readmission to the hospital. While there, a midwife encouraged her to reach out to PANDA and her GP for a mental health plan and she has since been diagnosed with postnatal depression. Just 1 week left until my new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is published. It covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Pre-order it now.

In this episode I chat to Ariel from @blissbirth about her two birth experiences. A passionate advocate for TENS machines (she now has 1000 in circulation through her business), she explains how popular they are and how they help women navigate labour to achieve the births they want. In her first pregnancy she opted for continuity of care with her beloved midwife who advocated for her every step of the way. After a very long posterior labour, Ariel birthed her baby boy vaginally and despite a rocky start to breastfeeding, the nipple shield really worked for her. In her second birth she was introduced to the TENS machine and used it throughout to achieve a joyous physiological birth. Just 2 weeks left until my new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is published. It covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Pre-order it now.

In this week’s episode, I chat to Clare about her two planned caesarean births. Despite severe endometriosis, Clare fell pregnant easily and sailed through the first half of her pregnancy. However, at her 20 week scan she discovered that her baby had ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ) and shortly afterwards, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Her planned caesarean was straightforward but her recovery was not; extensive adhesions in her uterus caused a long and painful postpartum. She chose a private obstetrician for her second birth and jumped at the chance to have a maternal assisted caesarean but nothing could prepare her for the shock of her baby’s hearing loss diagnosis at six weeks.

In this beautiful episode Mel compares her emergency caesarean with her homebirth after caesarean (HBAC) and sees the beauty, hope and healing in both experiences. She admits that she would never trade her birth journeys for the world, despite the trauma she experienced as a result of an induced labour and the cascade of intervention. Determined to do things differently for her second birth, she informed herself, advocated for what she wanted and had continuity of care with a private midwife alongside the physical and emotional support of a doula. She also embraced psychological support to process her birth trauma which she describes as a gift to herself as a woman and a mother. Just days left until my new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is published. It covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Pre-order it now.

In episode 362 Jessica describes her two very different vaginal birth experiences. After a gestational diabetes diagnosis, induction was advised in line with hospital policy and Jess experienced the cascade of intervention including epidural, vacuum-assisted birth and episiotomy. For her second birth she had a lot of conversations about avoiding induction with her obstetrician, she did her research, got informed and embraced the lessons shared in The Birth Class. She went into spontaneous labour and experienced a physiological birth which left her feeling incredible. Jess’ story is a beautiful example of how powerful birth education really is. Just weeks left until my new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is published. It covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Pre-order it now.

In episode 361 Alicia explains the overwhelm of not knowing where to go for information or guidance when she first discovered she was pregnant. She opted for midwifery care in the public hospital system and despite her fears around labour and birth, she laboured at home and in the hospital using breathing and sound practises and subsequently experienced a low-intervention birth. Shortly after her baby girl was born Alicia had a postpartum haemorrhage and she admits she still feels traumatised from the experience. She is very honest about her anxiety and overwhelm in the fourth trimester and the way it has affected her transition into motherhood. Only a few weeks left until my new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is published. It covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Pre-order it now.

In this episode, I chat to Fiona about her experience with two boys under two. Together with her wife, Hayley, she embarked on IVF to conceive their first son with donor sperm. Fiona is honest about the challenges of social infertility, the long wait times and the importance of a positive mindset throughout the experience. Her pregnancy was challenging due to debilitating pubic symphysis but with support from her private obstetrician she had a really positive induced birth. Her breastfeeding journey was complicated by her baby’s tongue tie and she admits that at four months - after weeks of feeding, pumping and top-up formula feeds - she felt it best to prioritise her mental health and wean him. Fiona also takes us through Hayley’s pregnancy and birth and discusses what it was like to be the birth support parent. Not long now until my new book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, is published. It covers everything you need as you journey through pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. --> Pre-order it now.