On today’s episode, I have the honour of sharing the remarkable story of Amber and her journey to birthing her triplets at home. Amber's husband sensed something unique about her pregnancy when he noticed her symptoms were more intense this time around. Initially dismissing it as typical pregnancy fatigue for a mother of five, Amber went for a dating scan with a friend. Little did she know, this scan would reveal a surprise: three sacs, three heartbeats. Amber recounts her reaction to the...

In today's episode, I’m excited to welcome Emma, co-founder of Maia Mothers Collective, as she shares her contrasting birth experiences. During her first pregnancy, Emma felt well-prepared for birth, but her experience of prodromal labour sent her on a rollercoaster of emotions. This ultimately led to a series of interventions that ended in an emergency caesarean. Without any real understanding why, in the moments that followed that experience she knew her next birth would be at...

Welcome back to part two of my birth story series. In this episode, we dive into the rollercoaster ride of my pregnancy with fraternal twins. Discovering that I was carrying twins was a huge surprise for our family, a journey I recount with honesty and transparency. Knowing that my dreams of a homebirth were no longer a reality, became a process of continuous grieving. However, it was a transformative conversation with a recommended doula @2lifedoula that reignited my sense of excitement for...

Welcome back to season 5 of PBA. We’re kicking this season off with a two-part series. In this opening episode, I'm taking you on an intimate journey through my own experience of childbirth. We'll explore the transition from maiden to mother as I recount the birth of my daughter - a journey that, while filled with challenges, taught me invaluable lessons about myself. This episode delves into my unexpected journey through an unplanned induction and the typical cascade of interventions that...

In today's episode, we are joined by Hannah, tuning in all the way from the US, as she shares her two unique birthing experiences.  Choosing the path of motherhood was a spontaneous decision that immersed Hannah in the journey of pregnancy, evoking a deep appreciation for the miracle of growing life within. Hannah's deep desire for a healing journey to redefine her family's lineage gained clarity when she witnessed women in circle sharing their empowering birth stories. Inspired, she made the...

On today's episode, Paige takes us on a her journey, navigating the challenges of conception and recounting her empowering experience of an unmedicated hospital birth.  After a heartbreaking missed-miscarriage, a sobering realisation dawned on Paige that a pregnancy doesn’t always guarantee a baby. Following the identification of a blood clotting disorder, low ovarian reserve, and an endometriosis diagnosis, she embarked on a series of fertility treatments that proved unsuccessful. But just...

In today's episode, Lucinda guides us through the journey of her three contrasting births. Her introduction to motherhood was far from smooth, given a preexisting kidney condition that required careful blood pressure management. Unfortunately, poor care from health providers meant she never received the correct protocol, leading to a stressful pregnancy and a preeclampsia diagnosis. Lucinda's struggle for her birth and baby in the face of inadequate care resulted in a cascade of interventions...

Today we warmly welcome back Emma to the podcast sharing her most recent birth. Emma’s first birth can only be described as a dream unfolding, one you can hear in detail over on episode #102. While Emma maintained the awareness that each birth is a unique journey, as she approached her second birthing experience, there was a natural sense of anticipation that it might progress more quickly. However, this labour would unfold over a span of 29 hours.. Emma guides us through the series of events...

Today we're diving into Marie's incredible story, one that beautifully illustrates the profound transformation that took place following her unplanned, intervention-free physiological birth in the hospital. In her first pregnancy and birth, Marie found herself consumed by anxiety and fear. She willingly handed over her power to medical professionals, following their guidance and even entertaining the idea of a planned caesarean or induction. But an unexpected turn of events changed...

S4 EP134: In today's episode, we dive into the fascinating birth experiences of Charlotte. Her upbringing instilled in her a profound reverence for birth. Being surrounded by positive birth stories, shaped her perspective, casting aside fear and filling her with a genuine sense of excitement. However, her first pregnancy took her by surprise. Though she had eagerly anticipated the journey into motherhood, she found herself struggling to enjoy the experience.  As her birth drew closer, it was...

Today’s episode features Brooke Turner, the founder of Balance Fitness and Nutrition and the internationally recognised course, Functional Fitness for Pregnancy & PostPartum™. With over 15 years of expertise in the health and fitness industry, Brooke is a renowned figure, earning accolades such as the Australian Fitness Educator of the Year. Her qualifications in exercise science and nutrition, combined with her specialisation in functional training, nutrition, and mindset for pregnancy...

On today's episode, I have the pleasure of sitting in conversation, once again, with Emily from the Authentic Birthkeeper. Not only is she a devoted wife and loving mother to three wonderful children, but she's also a freebirther and an experienced birth keeper.  Today we touch on the stories of Emily's initial two births, which you can listen to in more detail on episode #44. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration into her most recent birth experience. She guides us in detail through...

In today's episode, we unpack Lauren’s two births. Lauren's acceptance into the local MGP program ensured she received continuity of care throughout her pregnancy. Pairing this with a hypnobirthing course, Lauren armed herself with knowledge to strive for a physiological, intervention-free water birth. As labour started, Lauren was faced persistent vomiting, and upon reaching the hospital and hitting transition, she grappled with a crisis of confidence. As it turned out, her baby girl was en...

On today’s episode, we dive into the incredible journey of Paige, a first-time mother and dedicated doula. Paige comes from a lineage that celebrates birth as a natural and transformative experience in a woman's life. Growing up surrounded by pregnancy circles and bearing witness to the birth of her siblings, she developed an unwavering trust and faith in the power of physiological birth. As she began her own rite of passage into motherhood, Paige was fearless, knowing that homebirth was the...

In today's episode, we hear Kayla's transformational journey through her three distinct birth experiences. Kayla's lifelong desire for motherhood led her down a path toward a holistic lifestyle even before she became pregnant. Her introduction to the concept of homebirth through online videos solidified her decision that this was the path she wanted to take in bringing her babies into the world. Her first birth unfolded swiftly, leaving her with mixed emotions. While it was a positive and...

On today’s episode, I warmly welcome back Luna, who joins us to recount her two most recent birth experiences. Since our last conversation, Luna has traversed the heart-wrenching path of pregnancy loss, an experience that plunged her into the depths of grief while intricately weaving together the notions of birth and mortality, prompting profound contemplation. In the aftermath of this loss, Luna and her family embraced the time they needed for reflection and healing. After a restoritive ...

On today's episode we dive into the birth story of Tamarin – a practitioner renowned as a Holistic and Intuitive Therapist and Healer. Tamarin's story begins with a 13-month conception journey, where the weight of time began to cast doubts upon the arrival of their long-aweaited child. Having wrestled with the complexities of fertility hormones, Tamarin eventually found solace in a natural alternative, a turning point that led her to  conceive a daughter. Her pregnancy became a chapter filled...

On today’s episode we dive into the contrasting birth experiences of Australia's first professional Instagramer, Lauren. After eight adventurous years traveling the globe as a dedicated travel influencer, Lauren's path led her to a profound new chapter: motherhood. Coming off a whirlwind of experiences, Lauren knew it was time to anchor herself and nurture a family of her own. The radiance of Lauren's pregnancy journey painted a portrait of vitality and inner glow. While her husband's...

Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Monique – a mother of two, postpartum doula and co-founder of women's health and wellness clinic, Maia Mothers Collective. From an early age, Mon's longing to embrace motherhood was undeniable. However, faced with a 9-year absence of her menstrual cycle, she recognised the imperative of restoring her body's equilibrium. Through determination and resilience, she embarked on a journey that led her to the essential support she required, effectively...

On today's episode, we explore the fascinating journey of Alana and her nine birth experiences. Alana grew up in a community where natural, undisturbed births were celebrated as the norm, fostering a positive outlook on childbirth. Witnessing her close friend giving birth further deepened her understanding of the process and prepared her for her own journey into motherhood. Alana's initiation into motherhood was a deeply sacred and intimate experience as she gave birth at home, with only her...

Welcome to today's episode, where we join Taylor on her profound journey from maiden to mother. When Taylor first conceived her daughter, she found herself with limited knowledge about childbirth and the various care options available to her. Seeking continuity of care, she embraced her local MGP program, leaning on the familiar presence of dedicated midwives that brought her a sense of security. As Taylor's labour began, she was confronted with intense back pain due to her baby's posterior...

On today's episode, we welcome Tahnee, a mother of two and one half of the renowned wellness brand, SuperFeast. Tahnee’s journey into motherhood intricately wove together her yoga background and her profound connection to both body and spirit. This connection led her to intuitively recognise her pregnancy, fostering an unwavering sense of trust and deepening her relationship with her body and baby during that time. Living a slow and nourishing lifestyle further enhanced her blissful pregnancy...

On today’s episode we welcome Ema, a first-time mum, whose path to motherhood was filled with unexpected turns, profound self-discovery, and a transformation that forever changed her perception of birth. Ema had a deep-rooted fear that having children might disrupt the harmony of her relationships. A turning point came when she experienced the heartbreaking loss of an accidental pregnancy, propelling her onto a conscious path of conceiving a child. When faced with fertility struggles, Ema...

Today, we invite you to join us on Steph's journey, where she unlocked her inner wisdom, and birthed not only two babies but also a deep passion to serve other families on their unique path. As Steph's first pregnancy unfolded, she grappled with the normal fears surrounding childbirth. However, deep within her, she held an instinctual trust that she had the ability to birth her baby naturally. She chose a low-risk hospital that offered the gentle care of midwives; an environment she felt...

On today's episode, we embark on an exploration into midwifery life and the personal birth experiences with Mae’t, a dedicated midwife, clinic owner, and mother of three. Mae’t’s journey into midwifery began with her studies in the UK, but her calling to this work traces back to her earliest days. Her own birth story resonates with profound significance - a testament to her destiny. Born at home within a bamboo pyramid, guided earthside by her mother's primal wisdom. From a tender age, Mae’t...