In today’s episode I interview Steph Claire Smith who was first diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 21. She managed to regulate her menstrual cycles by focusing on health, wellness and regular acupuncture treatments and years later, fell pregnant easily. She timed her exhausting first trimester with stage four lockdown in Melbourne and sailed through the rest of her pregnancy, choosing to practise gratitude for all she experienced, despite the inevitable discomfort and challenges that arose in the third trimester. Steph admits that well-meaning messages from friends and followers regarding natural methods for induction definitely affected her mental health and she subsequently chose to be induced at 41 weeks.

Check out our FREE guide on perineal massage here.

Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going.

To learn more about The Birth Class, my online childbirth education course head to the shop here.

In today&rsquo;s episode I interview Steph Claire Smith who was first diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 21. She managed to regulate her menstrual cycles by focusing on health, wellness and regular acupuncture treatments and years later, fell pregnant easily. She timed her exhausting first trimester with stage four lockdown in Melbourne and sailed through the rest of her pregnancy, choosing to practise gratitude for all she experienced, despite the inevitable discomfort and challenges that arose in the third trimester. Steph admits that well-meaning messages from friends and followers regarding natural methods for induction definitely affected her mental health and she subsequently chose to be induced at 41 weeks.
Check out our FREE guide on perineal massage <a href="https://australianbirthstories.com/freebies/perineal-massage/">here</a>.
Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/australianbirthstories/">Instagram</a> to keep the conversation going.
To learn more about The Birth Class, my online childbirth education course head to the shop <a href="https://australianbirthstories.com/shop/the-birth-class/">here</a>.

A Podcast of Mothers' stories of childbirth. Weekly interviews with mothers giving their first hand accounts of child birth in Australia. Designed to help educate and inform first time pregnant women, parents wanting to have better subsequent births and birth enthusiasts who love to hear and tell birth stories. An entertaining and heartfelt resource for pregnancy, labour and delivery and postpartum.

Australian Birth Stories

In today’s episode I interview Steph Claire Smith who was first diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 21. She managed to regulate her menstrual cycles by focusing on health, wellness and regular acupuncture treatments and years later, fell pregnant easily.

522 | [Replay] Steph Claire Smith, Vaginal Birth, Private Obstetrician, PCOS, Induction, Antenatal Expressing

In this episode, personal trainer and mother of three Gen takes us through her complete motherhood journey from Richmond to the Victorian coast. Her first pregnancy was unplanned but led to a powerful physiological birth at the Royal Women's Hospital. After moving through various challenges including COVID lockdowns, job redundancy, and relocating interstate, Gen welcomed her second daughter in a beautiful water birth. Her third pregnancy at 44 brought unexpected challenges with ageist comments from healthcare providers, but culminated in an incredible one-hour home birth in the shower. Gen's story beautifully illustrates how birth experiences can evolve and how trusting your body's wisdom leads to empowering outcomes.

Sponsor:

Pregnancy is beautiful, but it can come with its share of discomfort. That’s why Little Company in Collingwood — and their sister spa, About Time in Torquay — offer dedicated pregnancy-safe treatments that support you through every stage — from the very beginning right up until the final days.

Their Pregnancy Ritual Facial is a blissful, tailored experience designed to calm hormonal skin changes and restore radiance, using products that you can trust for you and your baby’s wellbeing. Their Pregnancy Massage — using a pregnancy pillow, adjustable beds, and experienced therapists who adapt the massage to your body’s needs on the day. Using Pure Mama’s pregnancy-safe product range, this restorative massage is designed to ease muscular tension, support circulation, and help you feel at home in your changing body.

Whether you’re in Melbourne or down the coast, Little Company and About Time are here to nurture you — and your baby — through it all. You can enjoy 15% off all pregnancy treatments for the year of 2025. 

Put ‘ABSxLTCO’ in appointment notes and the discount will be applied when payment is taken post treatment.

Book your moment of care at littlecompany.com.au or atthebathhouse.com.au

In this episode, personal trainer and mother of three Gen takes us through her complete motherhood journey from Richmond to the Victorian coast. Her first pregnancy was unplanned but led to a powerful physiological birth at the Royal Women's Hospital. After moving through various challenges including COVID lockdowns, job redundancy, and relocating interstate, Gen welcomed her second daughter in a beautiful water birth. Her third pregnancy at 44 brought unexpected challenges with ageist comments from healthcare providers, but culminated in an incredible one-hour home birth in the shower. Gen's story beautifully illustrates how birth experiences can evolve and how trusting your body's wisdom leads to empowering outcomes.
Sponsor:
Pregnancy is beautiful, but it can come with its share of discomfort. That&rsquo;s why <a href="https://littlecompany.com.au/">Little Company</a> in Collingwood &mdash; and their sister spa, <a href="http://atthebathhouse.com.au/">About Time</a> in Torquay &mdash; offer dedicated pregnancy-safe treatments that support you through every stage &mdash; from the very beginning right up until the final days.
Their Pregnancy Ritual Facial is a blissful, tailored experience designed to calm hormonal skin changes and restore radiance, using products that you can trust for you and your baby&rsquo;s wellbeing. Their Pregnancy Massage &mdash; using a pregnancy pillow, adjustable beds, and experienced therapists who adapt the massage to your body&rsquo;s needs on the day. Using Pure Mama&rsquo;s pregnancy-safe product range, this restorative massage is designed to ease muscular tension, support circulation, and help you feel at home in your changing body.
Whether you&rsquo;re in Melbourne or down the coast, Little Company and About Time are here to nurture you &mdash; and your baby &mdash; through it all. You can enjoy 15% off all pregnancy treatments for the year of 2025. Put &lsquo;ABSxLTCO&rsquo; in appointment notes and the discount will be applied when payment is taken post treatment.
Book your moment of care at <a href="https://littlecompany.com.au/">littlecompany.com.au</a> or <a href="http://atthebathhouse.com.au/">atthebathhouse.com.au</a>

In this episode, personal trainer and mother of three Gen takes us through her complete motherhood journey from Richmond to the Victorian coast. Her first pregnancy was unplanned but led to a powerful physiological birth at the Royal Women's Hospital.

568 | Gen - PT, three babies, prolapse recovery, 44-year-old home birth

Today I chat with Chris, a registered nurse and midwife who has been working with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood's milk program for eight years. Chris takes us through the fascinating world of donor breast milk - from the rigorous screening process for donors to how this precious resource supports the tiniest and most vulnerable babies in neonatal intensive care units across Australia. Whether you're curious about donating your excess breast milk or want to understand how donor milk could support your premature baby, this conversation is packed with essential information that every parent, midwife, and doula should know.

Sponsor:

I rarely talk about supplements on here - mostly because so many aren't backed by real evidence, and as someone who's always reading the fine print, I'm pretty selective about what I'll share with you. But every now and then, something stands out. Mother Dose by Land Lab is one of those rare finds that cuts through all the confusion. What has really impressed me is that it's been formulated by doctors, dietitians, and naturopaths - every single ingredient is there for a reason, backed by evidence and aligned with current prenatal guidelines.

It includes the good stuff like choline for baby's brain development, folate in its most active form, and a clinical dosage of ginger that's actually proven to help with morning sickness. Over 50 health professionals have peer-reviewed the formulation, and they all said the same thing - it's an amazing blend that delivers the kind of care every woman deserves.

And here's what I love even more - through their charity arm, they provide completely free prenatals to women with an Australian healthcare card. 

Whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive, Mother Dose takes the overwhelm out of choosing a prenatal.

Check out Mother Dose at Land Lab - thoughtfully dosed, high quality prenatal care when you need it most.

Today I chat with Chris, a registered nurse and midwife who has been working with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood's milk program for eight years. Chris takes us through the fascinating world of donor breast milk - from the rigorous screening process for donors to how this precious resource supports the tiniest and most vulnerable babies in neonatal intensive care units across Australia. Whether you're curious about donating your excess breast milk or want to understand how donor milk could support your premature baby, this conversation is packed with essential information that every parent, midwife, and doula should know.
Sponsor:
I rarely talk about supplements on here - mostly because so many aren't backed by real evidence, and as someone who's always reading the fine print, I'm pretty selective about what I'll share with you. But every now and then, something stands out. <a href="https://land-lab.co/products/mother-dose">Mother Dose by Land Lab</a> is one of those rare finds that cuts through all the confusion. What has really impressed me is that it's been formulated by doctors, dietitians, and naturopaths - every single ingredient is there for a reason, backed by evidence and aligned with current prenatal guidelines.
It includes the good stuff like choline for baby's brain development, folate in its most active form, and a clinical dosage of ginger that's actually proven to help with morning sickness. Over 50 health professionals have peer-reviewed the formulation, and they all said the same thing - it's an amazing blend that delivers the kind of care every woman deserves.
And here's what I love even more - through their charity arm, they provide completely free prenatals to women with an Australian healthcare card.&nbsp;
Whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive, Mother Dose takes the overwhelm out of choosing a prenatal.
Check out Mother Dose at <a href="https://land-lab.co/">Land Lab</a> - thoughtfully dosed, high quality prenatal care when you need it most.

Today I chat with Chris, a registered nurse and midwife who has been working with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood's milk program for eight years. Chris takes us through the fascinating world of donor breast milk - from the rigorous screening process for donors to how this precious resource supports the tiniest and most vulnerable babies in neonatal intensive care units across Australia. Whether you're curious about donating your excess breast milk or want to understand how donor milk could support your premature baby, this conversation is packed with essential information that every parent, midwife, and doula should know.

567 | How to donate and receive donor breastmilk with Chris from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

In this episode, Jordan, a 28-year-old midwife from rural South Australia, shares her two incredibly positive birth experiences at the hospital where she works. Living 600 kilometres from Adelaide in the tiny farming town of Port Neill, Jordan navigated the unique experience of birthing alongside her colleagues whilst balancing her partner's demanding harvest schedule. Her first labour was a marathon 31-hour journey that tested her resolve, whilst her second was beautifully swift and powerful. Jordan's story beautifully illustrates the mind-body connection in birth, the invaluable support of the TENS machine, and how subsequent births can offer completely different but equally empowering experiences.

Sponsor:

I rarely talk about supplements on here - mostly because so many aren't backed by real evidence, and as someone who's always reading the fine print, I'm pretty selective about what I'll share with you.

But every now and then, something stands out. Mother Dose by Land Lab is one of those rare finds that cuts through all the confusion. What has really impressed me is that it's been formulated by doctors, dietitians, and naturopaths - every single ingredient is there for a reason, backed by evidence and aligned with current prenatal guidelines.

It includes the good stuff like choline for baby's brain development, folate in its most active form, and a clinical dosage of ginger that's actually proven to help with morning sickness. Over 50 health professionals have peer-reviewed the formulation, and they all said the same thing - it's an amazing blend that delivers the kind of care every woman deserves.

And here's what I love even more - through their charity arm, they provide completely free prenatals to women with an Australian healthcare card. 

Whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive, Mother Dose takes the overwhelm out of choosing a prenatal.

Check out Mother Dose at land-lab.co - thoughtfully dosed, high quality prenatal care when you need it most.

In this episode, Jordan, a 28-year-old midwife from rural South Australia, shares her two incredibly positive birth experiences at the hospital where she works. Living 600 kilometres from Adelaide in the tiny farming town of Port Neill, Jordan navigated the unique experience of birthing alongside her colleagues whilst balancing her partner's demanding harvest schedule. Her first labour was a marathon 31-hour journey that tested her resolve, whilst her second was beautifully swift and powerful. Jordan's story beautifully illustrates the mind-body connection in birth, the invaluable support of the TENS machine, and how subsequent births can offer completely different but equally empowering experiences.
Sponsor:
I rarely talk about supplements on here - mostly because so many aren't backed by real evidence, and as someone who's always reading the fine print, I'm pretty selective about what I'll share with you.
But every now and then, something stands out. Mother Dose by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/land.lab.co/">Land Lab</a> is one of those rare finds that cuts through all the confusion. What has really impressed me is that it's been formulated by doctors, dietitians, and naturopaths - every single ingredient is there for a reason, backed by evidence and aligned with current prenatal guidelines.
It includes the good stuff like choline for baby's brain development, folate in its most active form, and a clinical dosage of ginger that's actually proven to help with morning sickness. Over 50 health professionals have peer-reviewed the formulation, and they all said the same thing - it's an amazing blend that delivers the kind of care every woman deserves.
And here's what I love even more - through their charity arm, they provide completely free prenatals to women with an Australian healthcare card.&nbsp;
Whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive, Mother Dose takes the overwhelm out of choosing a prenatal.
Check out Mother Dose at <a href="https://land-lab.co/">land-lab.co</a> - thoughtfully dosed, high quality prenatal care when you need it most.

In this episode, Jordan, a 28-year-old midwife from rural South Australia, shares her two incredibly positive birth experiences at the hospital where she works. Living 600 kilometres from Adelaide in the tiny farming town of Port Neill, Jordan navigated the unique experience of birthing alongside her colleagues whilst balancing her partner's demanding harvest schedule. 

522 | [Replay] Steph Claire Smith, Vaginal Birth, Private Obstetrician, PCOS, Induction, Antenatal Expressing

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