518 | Bec, induction birth, MGP, water birth, GBS positive, breathing techniques, second birth

In this episode, interior designer and mother of two Bec shares her contrasting birth experiences at Sandringham Hospital in Melbourne. Her journey to motherhood began after marriage, taking six to eight months to conceive Ava. "I was one of those people testing like five days before you can test a…

517 | Sophie Delezio: From Childhood Burn Survivor to Motherhood - A Story of Strength, Adaptation, and a Peaceful Caesarean Birth at 37 Weeks

In this weeks episode I speak with Sophie Delezio, whose story of survival and resilience has long captured Australian hearts. Now embarking on a new chapter as mother to 10-week-old Frankie, Sophie shares her journey through pregnancy and birth, offering insights into navigating motherhood with a …

516 | Josie, secondary infertility, fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, water birth, student midwives

In this episode, we meet Josie, a qualified teacher living in the Albury-Wodonga region who shares her journey to motherhood and her two unique birth experiences. Her story highlights the complexities of navigating healthcare across state borders and the resilience required through pregnancy loss, …

515 | Alysha, Birth Trauma and the Mother-Infant Bond: A Psychologist's Postpartum Journey

In this episode, we speak with Alysha, a psychologist and PhD candidate whose research into traumatic birth and mother-infant relationships stems from her own profound experiences. As both a mental health professional and mother of two boys, her story offers unique insights into the complexities of…

514 | Stacey, second birth experience, infertility, pregnancy loss, IVF, natural killer cells, home birth

It’s such a pleasure to welcome Stacey back onto the show. You can listen to her first birth in episode 181.  Today, she shares the journey to conceiving her second child. It is a story of profound resilience through multiple losses, IVF challenges, and eventually, a beautiful home birth. After exp…

513 | Chloe Grayling, TTC journey, pregnancy loss, physiological birth, home water birth

In this beautiful episode, Chloe Grayling @lovechloejane shares her journey into motherhood, from an emotional year of trying to conceive to achieving a beautiful and empowering home water birth. Living in a 140-year-old cottage on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula with her husband Patrick and t…

512 | Hashini, Emergency caesarean, hydronephrosis, planned caesarean, pediatric surgery

In today’s episode, Hashini takes us through her two very different births and the medical journey that followed with her second son. After experiencing a very straightforward first pregnancy, Hashini opens up about the emotional complexity of trying to conceive her second baby. Her second son’s pr…

511 | Maddie, Emergency caesarean, twin VBAC, ICU, perinatal mental health

Today I'm joined by Maddie who lives in Queensland with her husband Nicholas and their three beautiful boys - Oscar (who they affectionately call Ozzy) and five-month-old twins, Angus and Archie. In this episode, Maddie shares her remarkable journey from a traumatic emergency cesarean with her fir…

510 | Julie, PANDA CEO, perinatal anxiety and depression, postpartum mental health

It’s Perinatal Mental Health Week and in this episode, I chat with Julie Birkendorf, the CEO of PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia). One in five new mums, and one in 10 new dads will experience a mental health challenge in postpartum so conversations like this one are vital to raisin…

509 | Sonja, two babies, shared care, syntocinon, vaginal birth, painful periods, pelvic pain, pelvic congestion syndrome, endometriosis

In today’s episode Sonja takes us through her two pregnancies and births but also talks at length about her pelvic pain. She’s been diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome which was exacerbated after birth and especially when her menstrual cycle returned. Her symptoms were very similar to a prola…