In this episode, we sit down with the remarkable Dr. Sarah Buckley to explore the fascinating world of oxytocin and syntocinon. Join us as we dive into the mechanics of oxytocin and how the body naturally releases hormones for labour and birth. Dr. Buckley discusses the history of synthetic oxytocin (syntocinon) and its integration into the maternity system, as well as the impacts of syntocinon, including the hormonal gaps that can arise with various interventions.We also chat about one ...

In today’s episode, we chat with Emma, who shares her two distinct birth stories. Emma's first experience took place within the hospital system during COVID, where she faced challenges such as having an unknown midwife, being unable to bring her doula into the birth space, and not accessing the birth pool when she wanted. She reflects on how the care she received significantly impacted her experience.After this, Emma shifted her mindset for her second pregnancy and birth, empowering herself t...

In this episode, we sit down with Kirah, a first-time mum who chose to give birth at home. Kirah opens up about her unique journey, navigating various health challenges, including POTS, autism, and C-PTSD. She shares the pivotal moment when she switched care providers midway through her pregnancy, ultimately opting for a homebirth through the Community Midwifery Program (CMP). Kirah reveals her fears surrounding hospital births, expressing how the thought of leaving her safe space for an...

Join us in this episode as we delve into Kendall’s experience with her first birth. Though she started her journey with the MGP program, Kendall felt a significant change midway through her pregnancy, prompting her to seek private midwifery care. She shares the powerful intuition that inspired her choice of a homebirth and narrates the moment when her baby's breech presentation became apparent.Links:GrowBirthMother The Great Birth Rebellion Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia...

In today's episode, we sit down with Libby, a first-time mum who chose a homebirth for her baby's arrival. Libby shares her unique journey of surrounding herself with a supportive birth team, including her mother, a clinical midwife, and how this choice played a crucial role in her birthing experience. We dive into the discussions about her mother’s concerns and the careful planning that went into the birth. As Libby neared the 42-week mark, her midwifery team informed her that a homebir...

Join us as we sit down with Mona to explore her remarkable journey through three pregnancies and births. Mona shares her experiences of giving birth to her first two babies within a hospital setting under the MGP (Midwifery Group Practice) program, detailing the interventions and interactions that influenced her decision to opt for a homebirth with her third child, supported by the publicly funded homebirth program.Links:National Midwifery Guidelines For Consultation and Referral 10 Year...

In today's episode, we sit down with Krista to hear her two birth stories. From the outset, Krista knew she wanted a homebirth, a decision she made even before trying to conceive. However, what followed was a journey marked by both heartbreak and triumph.Krista shares candidly about going into spontaneous labour with Salvatore (Sal) at 43+2 weeks, only to face a devastating realisation during labour—the absence of her baby's heartbeat. This heartbreaking moment led to a transfer to the hospit...

Today's podcast episode features the incredible Chelsea, a mother of two, a passionate advocate for homebirth and VBAC, and co-host of the Growing Up Raising Us podcast. Chelsea shares her unique journey, starting with an unplanned pregnancy whilst having a copper IUD in. She delves into her decision to navigate the hospital system through the MGP program and her choice to engage a private midwife. Chelsea recounts her experience of facing interventions and an unexpected caesarean secti...

Today, we sit down with Lizzie to discuss her three home births. Throughout all three pregnancies and births, Lizzie chose to work with the same private midwifery team, highlighting the importance of continuity of care with trusted known midwives.Lizzie shares with us her unique experience of having pregnancies that extended past her due date, with each subsequent pregnancy being shorter in gestation. Despite some challenges, such as reduced fetal movements towards the end of her pregnancies,...

In today's episode we interview Matilda, a mum of three babies born at home and a midwife/nurse by trade. After Matilda finished her degree she worked inside hospitals and was a second midwife for women who gave birth at home. Once she fell pregnant she knew this was the way she wanted to give birth. After working within the system and seeing medicalised birth, Matilda talks about the vicarious trauma she had and how she worked through this during her pregnancies and births. Ea...

In today's episode we talk to Lauren about her two birth experiences. Lauren shares her journey with work from being an instagram influencer and a travel photographer, to pivoting during COVID into the events space and now really leaning into motherhood and being more aligned with her values. Lauren talks about trying to choose a care provider that worked around her travel/work for her first pregnancy. Lauren chose GP shared care and decided to give birth in the hospital system. Lauren went i...

In today's episode we interviewed Kristyn, who is a mum of two and the president of Homebirth Australia. Kristyn planned to birth her first baby at home with her private midwife. When Kristyn was 36+6 weeks pregnant she went to hospital with pain on her left side. After a long and painful wait, Kristyn's appendix ruptured resulting in an emergency caesarean under general anaesthesia. Kristyn experienced breastfeeding trauma due to the inadequate care she received from staff within the hospita...

In today's episode, we had the privilege of chatting with Jodie regarding her transformative journey through two distinct birth experiences. During her initial pregnancy, Jodie opted for GP-shared care within a hospital setting, encountering an unforeseen intervention during labour that hindered her desired water birth.Through meticulous research, the unwavering support of a dedicated doula, and active participation in a hypnobirthing course, she made the informed choice to pursue a homebirth...

In today's episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Deannah who shares her journey through three unique birth experiences. Deannah's first two births were within the MGP program, where she faced challenges such as unwanted interventions and unfamiliar midwives during the birth of her first baby. She discusses how she realised she suffered from postnatal depression (PND), postnatal anxiety (PNA), and postpartum rage (PPR)following her first birth. In her second pregnancy, Deannah took a p...

In today's episode, we had the honour of speaking with Courtney, who shared with us her personal journey through two contrasting birth experiences, her role as a doula, and the challenges of managing her own business while caring for her young children. Courtney opened up about her experience with prolapse following her first birth, shedding light on a topic often shrouded in silence.Raised in a belief system that painted birth as a traumatic event, Courtney's story is a testament to the tran...

Today, we had a heartfelt conversation with Jo about her two unique birth stories. Facing a breast cancer diagnosis, Jo and her partner initially planned to freeze embryos, but were surprised when Jo became pregnant naturally. Jo delves into the important decision-making process of choosing the right care provider for her first pregnancy and birth, ultimately opting for a private midwife and a hospital birth. At 42+5 weeks, Jo underwent an induction. For her second baby, despite a gesta...

In today's episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jordan, a midwife and first-time mum who made the decision to birth her baby at home. We chat to Jordan about her journey to conceive which involved taking Letrozole to help support ovulation. Jordan shared her experience of a swift 6-hour labour, culminating in the beautiful birth of her son in a birth pool. Notably, Jordan encountered a unique challenge during the third stage of labor, as she experienced Vasovagal Syncope while...

In this episode we speak with Bel who delves into the transformative power of breathwork, particularly a parasympathetic nasal breathing technique, in managing stress and fostering authentic responses. During the episode we explore parallels between breathwork and childbirth, highlighting the importance of expressing and validating emotions. Bel also shares the story of her homebirth where she take us through a long back labour that left her feeling physically traumatised, and she...

Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Hayley as she opens up about her transformative journey through two distinct birth experiences.  Amidst the challenges of navigating pregnancy during the COVID era, Hayley reflects on the profound effects of fragmented care on the birthing process. Following a pivotal moment during her first labour, Hayley made a decision to embrace a new approach to care for her second pregnancy – opting for a homebirth supported by a private midwife. In a...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with Ell, who shares her remarkable journey through four unique birth stories. As a midwifery student, Ell's exposure to homebirth during a placement sparked a profound realisation – she wanted to bring her children into the world in the comfort of her own home. However, her first pregnancy took an unexpected turn when a scan revealed issues with her son's bowel, leading to Ell and her partner testing positive as carriers of Cystic Fibrosis...

In today's episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Taylor, who opens up about her transformative journey through two distinct birth experiences. Taylor's first birth took place in a hospital as part of the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) Program. However, she candidly shares her feelings of disillusionment with the experience, shedding light on the shame she felt for having these emotions. This pivotal moment became the catalyst for change in Taylor's birth approach, leading her to...

Today we chat to Jisella who gave birth to her first baby at home. After experiencing a miscarriage and unexplained infertility, Jisella delved into the world of research in order to figure out what model of care would be right for her when the time came. Once Jisella fell pregnant with her now daughter, she knew she wanted to give birth at home. Nearing the end of her pregnancy (41 weeks), her baby turned breech. She had a successful ECV and went on to have her baby at 43+3 weeks at home....

Today we chat to Eleanor Currie, who is the co-producer (with Amanda Banks) of the film, Born At Home. Eleanor chats to us about how she came to producing the film and how it led to her birthing her second baby at home. After going into labour spontaneously with her first baby, Eleanor entered the hospital system with the hope of a vaginal birth. After a midwife suggested to break her membranes (AROM), her baby was discovered to be in the breech position. This intervention led to her...

Today we chat to Georgia who gave birth to her first baby at home. Georgia delved into the statistics, research and birth podcasts and decided that birthing at home was safer for her and her baby. Georgia chats with us about how she navigated finding a care provider that was right for her and how her family got on board with the idea of her birthing at home.  After a long labour that went over a few days, Georgia gave birth to her son in the water surrounded by her partner, mum and private...