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.

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

Quick update from Sophie

In this episode I chat with Laura, a midwife and first time mother from Melbourne who birthed her daughter Ariella in the very hospital where she works. Laura takes us through an unexpected pregnancy discovery during a fertility ultrasound, a frightening early bleed on the same day, a week of frustrating prodromal labour, and a swift, mostly physiological birth that shifted to continuous monitoring in its final stage. She also speaks candidly about a painful and little known breastfeeding complication called nipple vasospasm, something she had never come across in five years of midwifery practice. This episode is a wonderful listen for newly pregnant mothers, doulas and midwives alike, offering an honest look at how even those who work in maternity care can be surprised by pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.

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 75 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.

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

And this time, Australian Birth Stories listeners can also save $15 on Mother Dose with the code: ABS. Just head toland-lab.co to redeem the offer.

In this episode I chat with Laura, a midwife and first time mother from Melbourne who birthed her daughter Ariella in the very hospital where she works. Laura takes us through an unexpected pregnancy discovery during a fertility ultrasound, a frightening early bleed on the same day, a week of frustrating prodromal labour, and a swift, mostly physiological birth that shifted to continuous monitoring in its final stage. She also speaks candidly about a painful and little known breastfeeding complication called nipple vasospasm, something she had never come across in five years of midwifery practice. This episode is a wonderful listen for newly pregnant mothers, doulas and midwives alike, offering an honest look at how even those who work in maternity care can be surprised by pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
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&rsquo;s been formulated by doctors, dietitians and naturopaths &ndash; 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&rsquo;s brain development, folate in its most active form, and a clinical dosage of ginger that&rsquo;s actually proven to help with morning sickness. Over 75 health professionals have peer-reviewed the formulation, and they all said the same thing &ndash; it&rsquo;s an amazing blend that delivers the kind of care every woman deserves.
Whether you&rsquo;re pregnant or trying to conceive, Mother Dose takes the overwhelm out of choosing a prenatal.
And this time, Australian Birth Stories listeners can also save $15 on Mother Dose with the code: ABS. Just head to<a href="http://land-lab.co/"> land-lab.co</a> to redeem the offer.

640 | Laura - physiological birth, public hospital, midwife, early pregnancy bleed, The Birth Class

Today I chat to Mel about her path into motherhood. Mel met her partner Antonio later in life, after having come to terms with the idea that she might never become a mother. Living with emetophobia, a fear of vomiting, shaped nearly every decision Mel made in pregnancy, from her choice of care provider to her decision to have an elective caesarean. This is a candid conversation about recurrent miscarriage, navigating severe nausea and a genuine phobia throughout pregnancy, and finding calm through a planned caesarean birth.

Aussie sleepwear brand ergoPouch makes TOG-rated swaddles and sleeping bags that take the guesswork out of dressing your baby for sleep. They’ve just launched their Heritage collection, a curated collection of their most loved prints from the archive, given a fresh new look. Think Coastal, Meadow, Taupe Marle and the much-loved Savannah, all in 1.0 TOG organic cotton Cocoon Swaddle Bags and Sleeping Bags. Australian Birth Stories listeners get 20% off sitewide with the code AUBS from the 19th of October to the 2nd of November. Head to ergopouch.com.au. T&Cs apply.

Today I chat to Mel about her path into motherhood. Mel met her partner Antonio later in life, after having come to terms with the idea that she might never become a mother. Living with emetophobia, a fear of vomiting, shaped nearly every decision Mel made in pregnancy, from her choice of care provider to her decision to have an elective caesarean. This is a candid conversation about recurrent miscarriage, navigating severe nausea and a genuine phobia throughout pregnancy, and finding calm through a planned caesarean birth.
Aussie sleepwear brand <a href="https://www.ergopouch.com.au/">ergoPouch</a> makes TOG-rated swaddles and sleeping bags that take the guesswork out of dressing your baby for sleep. They&rsquo;ve just launched their Heritage collection, a curated collection of their most loved prints from the archive, given a fresh new look. Think Coastal, Meadow, Taupe Marle and the much-loved Savannah, all in 1.0 TOG organic cotton Cocoon Swaddle Bags and Sleeping Bags. Australian Birth Stories listeners get 20% off sitewide with the code AUBS from the 19th of October to the 2nd of November. Head to <a href="https://www.ergopouch.com.au/">ergopouch.com.au</a>. T&amp;Cs apply.

639 | Mel  elective caesarean, pregnancy loss, emetophobia - fear of vomiting, 

Today I chat to Kate Jones about becoming a mum for the first time to her daughter Lila. Kate takes us through months of frustrating fertility tracking, a tricky local hospital landscape after her area's only private birthing suite closed, and the vaginal water birth she had hoped for from the very beginning. She's honest and funny throughout, especially when describing labouring at home, the mental shift of transitioning to hospital, and the moment her umbilical cord snapped after her daughter was born.

To see Kate's birth video head to @australianbirthstories on Instagram.

________________
OUR PROUD SPONSOR: 

Meet Lola — the newest chair from iL Tutto, where comfort is beautifully considered.

Part of the iL Tutto Trend Collection, Lola brings together the comfort and support you expect from iL Tutto with the refined details of a modern statement chair.

Settle into a wider, generously cushioned seat, with a soft, supportive backrest and stylish curved armrests, complete with coordinating cushions for extra support while feeding, holding and comforting your baby.

Wrapped in soft, plush corduroy, with exceptional detailed stitching and a warm timber base, every element of Lola has been thoughtfully considered, creating a beautiful piece of furniture designed to live well beyond the nursery.

Smooth electric recline lets you find your perfect position and pause exactly where it feels right, while the gentle glide and 180-degree swivel make everyday movement effortless. And with electric controls to bring you easily back upright, Lola offers welcome support during the third trimester, after a caesarean birth, and through those long days and nights with your baby.

Available in four beautiful corduroy colours: Mocha, Green Olive, Taupe and Coconut.

And exclusively for Australian Birth Stories listeners, enjoy 20% off with code ABS20 at iltutto.com.au.

Hurry, ABS20 ends 31 October 2026 and cannot be used with any other offer, only available at iltutto.com.au.

Lola by iL Tutto. Made for the moments that matter now, and designed to be loved long after.

Today I chat to Kate Jones about becoming a mum for the first time to her daughter Lila. Kate takes us through months of frustrating fertility tracking, a tricky local hospital landscape after her area's only private birthing suite closed, and the vaginal water birth she had hoped for from the very beginning. She's honest and funny throughout, especially when describing labouring at home, the mental shift of transitioning to hospital, and the moment her umbilical cord snapped after her daughter was born.
To see Kate's birth video head to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/australianbirthstories/?hl=en">@australianbirthstories</a> on Instagram.
________________ OUR PROUD SPONSOR:&nbsp; Meet Lola &mdash; the newest chair from <a href="http://iltutto.com.au/">iL Tutto</a>, where comfort is beautifully considered.
Part of the iL Tutto Trend Collection, Lola brings together the comfort and support you expect from iL Tutto with the refined details of a modern statement chair.
Settle into a wider, generously cushioned seat, with a soft, supportive backrest and stylish curved armrests, complete with coordinating cushions for extra support while feeding, holding and comforting your baby.
Wrapped in soft, plush corduroy, with exceptional detailed stitching and a warm timber base, every element of Lola has been thoughtfully considered, creating a beautiful piece of furniture designed to live well beyond the nursery.
Smooth electric recline lets you find your perfect position and pause exactly where it feels right, while the gentle glide and 180-degree swivel make everyday movement effortless. And with electric controls to bring you easily back upright, Lola offers welcome support during the third trimester, after a caesarean birth, and through those long days and nights with your baby.
Available in four beautiful corduroy colours: Mocha, Green Olive, Taupe and Coconut.
And exclusively for Australian Birth Stories listeners, enjoy&nbsp;20% off with code ABS20&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://iltutto.com.au/">iltutto.com.au</a>.
Hurry, ABS20 ends&nbsp;31 October 2026&nbsp;and cannot be used with any other offer, only available at&nbsp;<a href="http://iltutto.com.au/">iltutto.com.au</a>.
Lola by iL Tutto. Made for the moments that matter now, and designed to be loved long after.

Quick update from Sophie

Australian Birth Stories

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