Positive Birth Australia Skye Waters

In today's episode, I am delighted to welcome the visionary creators of the Australian documentary, Born at Home, which explores the intimate world of homebirth. Following the empowering experience of her second child's birth, Amanda, with her extensive background in birth advocacy and evidence-based maternity care, felt an undeniable call to create a resource that could educate and empower other women. When she shared her vision with Eleanor, her friend of 15 years, Eleanor was immediately on board despite having no information on what they were creating. 
As they ventured into the world of documentary filmmaking, Amanda and Eleanor set out to gather the wisdom and stories from women in the community, leading birth experts, doulas, and midwives. Their mission was to create a film that not only moves its audience with the inspiring real-life stories featured but also provides evidence-based information, empowering viewers with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their own birthing experience.

Today, we not only dive into Amanda and Eleanor's personal birth journeys but also explore the dedication, passion, and resilience that fuelled the creation of this impactful documentary. All while they balanced their personal and professional lives amidst the worldwide acclaim of Born at Home.

Show Notes:
Born at Home Website HERE.
Book Tickets to see Born at Home HERE.
Listen to guests featured in the Born at Home Film:
Dr Sarah BuckleyDr Rachelle ReedMoran LivianiMae't Pearson

I'm thrilled to introduce Kristine, an international midwife with over three decades of experience in the birth space. Kristine has dedicated her career to guiding women around the globe through their most transformative journey, offering compassion, expertise, and a profound understanding of the birthing process. 
Kristine's journey began as an apprentice midwife, working with the Amish community where home births were the norm. Witnessing birth unfold naturally, without medical intervention unless absolutely necessary, became her foundation. This early experience shaped her belief in the innate ability of women's bodies to birth, contrasting sharply with the hospital protocols she later encountered.
Her path led her to specialise in breech births. Her work with Breech Without Borders has taken her around the world, teaching birth workers to view breech birth as a natural variation that requires a nuanced approach, rather than an immediate emergency,

Kristine's approach to birth, particularly with high-risk cases, emphasises individual assessment and trust in the birthing process. Her perspective challenges the traditional medical model and offers a profound reevaluation of how we view birth. This dedication to her philosophy is evident in her work, which takes her to some of the most challenging environments, including refugee camps, where she provides the full scope of midwifery care to high-risk women. Despite encountering countless scenarios over her years of practice, Kristine remains amazed by the unpredictability of birth, recognising that anything is possible.

In today's episode, Kristine shares her insights into breech birth, offering a glimpse into its diverse manifestations and the body's remarkable ability to adapt. She also delves into her extensive experience with multiple births, including a recent triplet home birth featured on episode #143

Join me in this captivating conversation as we explore the world and mind of one of the greatest midwives of our time. 

Show Notes:
Instagram: @globalmidwife64
@breechwithoutborders
Website: www.breechwithoutborders.org
How to Book a Training HERE.
Upcoming Trainings HERE. Check back later in the year for 2025 tour dates.
Kristine's Blog HERE.
The Traveling Midwife Website HERE.
Here Amber's Triplet Homebirth Story HERE.

In this episode, Astrid reflects on her three unique birth experiences, each contributing to her deep respect for the journey of birth. Her trust in birth was instilled at a young age as she witnessed her siblings being born at home.
Her first birth, initially planned for a homebirth but ending in a transfer, became a pivotal moment for Astrid. It prompted her to explore the essence of physiological birth more deeply. The natural unfolding of her second baby's birth further solidified her trust in her body’s innate wisdom.
However, it was Astrid's third pregnancy that unraveled life's most profound teachings. Amidst the turbulence of a challenging pregnancy, her world shattered at 37 weeks when her partner was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Diving into these challenges, Astrid recounts the homebirth of her daughter, who arrived in her 43rd week weighing over 9 pounds. She shares the invaluable life lessons she uncovered from this journey, forging deeper bonds within her relationship as they walked through the fire of life and birth together.
Show Notes:
Instagram: @astrid_rene_
Resources:
Jane Hardwick Collings - Shamanic Dimensions of PregnancyDr Rachel ReedRhea DempseyISTABorn at Home Film

Today’s episode features Mia, a jewellery creator and first-time mother, sharing her unexpected journey to motherhood. When Mia met her partner, they both agreed that they weren't ready to have children at that time. However, six years later, Mia began to feel a deep longing to become a mother. She sensed the spirit of a little girl around her and knew that a daughter was waiting to be conceived.
After a spontaneous night of intimacy without contraception, and a difficult discussion about their readiness for children, Mia took the morning-after pill. Living a holistic lifestyle, she initially attributed her oncoming symptoms to ingesting something foreign. However, when her cycle didn't arrive on the full moon as predicted, she decided to take a pregnancy test. The surprise of a positive result stirred a whirlwind of emotions for Mia and her partner. However, they quickly embraced the joy and excitement of knowing that their baby was meant to be here, deepening their bond and anticipation for the journey ahead.
Mia shares her insights into homebirth, describing how she knew it was the right choice for her daughter's birth, and the turbulence of discovering her baby was breech. She discusses her decision to undergo an ECV to maintain her birth plans, along with the challenges and learning that came with it.
Show Notes:
Instagram: @mia_savage_designs
Mia's Website Here.
Father: @creatures_of_the_wild_unknown

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 sonographer's reveal that she was indeed carrying triplets.
As the news settled in, Amber felt a wave of grief, realising her dream of a home birth might be out of reach. However, she was determined to make it happen. With unwavering conviction, she set out to find her dream birth team, and to her relief, everything fell into place, and her home birth was back on track.
Throughout her pregnancy, Amber was closely monitored and surrounded by supportive friends and family, which instilled in her the trust she needed to birth her babies. She shares the challenges and triumphs of carrying her triplets past the expected gestation date, an impressive 38 weeks. She recalls the scare of early water rupture at 24 weeks while she was organising a Halloween party at home. And the unique circumstances of triplet 1 and 2 being born en caul, while triplet 3 required special management by her highly skilled midwife.

Amber's story is a testament to the incredible power of the female body and the remarkable journey it undertakes when given the space and support to unfold naturally. Join us as we dive into this inspiring story of strength, resilience, and the beauty of birth.

Show Notes:
Midwife: Kristine Lauria @globalmidwife64

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 home.
Describing this pregnancy and birth as a more spiritual journey, Emma utilised the knowledge gained from her first birth experience as guidance as she entered the next season of motherhood, feeling more connected to her feminine wisdom than ever before.  As this birth began to unfold, she noticed a stark contrast in her pain experience, feeling softer and more in flow with her surges. Emma attributed this newfound fluidity to her profound trust and deep surrender to the natural unfolding of this birth journey.
Today, Emma shares her tips and expertise on supporting health and well-being during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She opens up about her struggle with depression during hyperemesis gravidarums (HG) overwhelming impact on her life, and expresses admiration for her midwives' swift action during a postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) experience.
Show Notes:
Instagram: @emmamorris_nutrition
Clinic: @maiamothers.collective
Midwives: @ittakesavillagemidwifery
Photographer: @anita.alice.photography
Maia Mothers Collective Website HERE.
Join the Maia Mothers Membership HERE.
Mentioned in this episode:
Positive Birth Australia Birth Pool Hire
Available Australia-wide. Head to the PBA Instagram for more details, and register your interest using the link provided.
Positive Birth Australia Birth Pool Hire