Jules Robinson tells her incredible birth story with Carter. After doing everything ‘right’ in pregnancy, Carter had his own plans and entered the world in an exhausting and dramatic fashion! Jules details how she worked to stay in tune with her own body during a challenging labour and post-partum period, and shares her struggles with pre-eclampsia. Dr Golly explains this condition and what you can do to avoid it.
Diary Of A Birth features mums telling their miraculous stories of bringing life into the world, and we have all medical questions and concerns cleared up by one of Australia’s favourite paediatricians, Dr Golly.
If you’d like to share your birth story, we’d love to hear from you at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note here.
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CREDITS:
Host: Ksenija Lukich
Expert: Dr Golly
Executive Producer: Georgie Page
Audio Producer: Scott Stronach
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
You're listening to a.
MoMA mea podcast.
Hey, it's Georgie, executive producer of MoMA MIA's brand new podcast, Diary of a Birth. If you don't know our podcast, it's host Cassenya Lucik sitting down with women from all over Australia hearing their extraordinary stories of you guessed it birth. Believe me, no two stories are the same, and they are absolutely incredible. They're so good we have to share them with you too, So take a listen.
We hope you enjoy.
Hi.
I'm Cassenya lukij and this is Diary of a Birth. Today we hear the story of a second time mum who was keen to emulate her perfect birth with number one.
And I was like, oh, I've had all the chili, I've had the pineapple, I've done this and I've done that, and she said, look, the only thing that's going to work is semen. So got home, had the most comical sex you've ever could imagine, Like it was hilarious, but then within two hours later, my water broke.
She did everything right for her own body in this second pregnancy, but of course bub had other plans.
I was knackd It was like a two day bend eye. You know, I've been there for like seven hours. And Cam actually said that I was starting to drift underwater, like in between the surges.
But after the birth, she had to deal with a form of one of the scariest pregnancy conditions.
It's super super rare, but it was really scary because they're like, if we don't control this, like you could actually have a stroke. But her story works out beautifully and then at the end my husband was like, you are incredible and I've had enough energy. It would have been like I fucking know.
So let's get into it and meet today's mum.
Hi.
I'm Jills Robinson and this is the Diary of my birth with Carter.
Jules is one of Australia's most love personalities. We watched her and Cam fall in love on TV and now we get to see their family grow. Jewles can laugh like all my about how busy she thought her pre baby life was.
Well, I thought I was busy. Then I look back and think, God, my life was blissful and I was still very busy, but I just had so much more spare time. It was something that I always wanted was to have children in my thirties. That's when it kind of hit me, like, yep, I want to have a child. Before that, I never really thought about it. I had a little bit of convincing to do with my husband to get him to speed up to where I was because I'm a little bit older than him. But a honeymoon, we started trying, and two months later I was pregnant. You know, all those tests that I did, lived in fear for five years. I really shouldn't have wasted so much energy on thinking that maybe it wasn't going to happen. Because a chart telling me that I had low count and all that, I just put my hand up. I did my head in for no reason, and within two months I was very fortunate and manifested that little baby into my life. My birth with Olli, my first son, was like my birth wish came completely true. It was a four hour berth. All that effort I put into my hypno birthing, it really was amazing. My husband was amazing, and I couldn't have asked for a better birth wish that really did happen for me.
We love hearing about these incredible births that follow their plan, but like many new mums, Jules found the next step a real challenge.
Bringing him home was really hard. I look back on it now, and afterwards I was diagnosed with pre mensional dysphoric disorder, and that's when it really hit home, after getting my first period, after having Ollie, and it was a really testing time having a newborn, got my old plates on, and then having to deal with this diagnosis at the same time.
But Jules soon settled into motherhood and it wasn't long until she started wanting to add.
To her brood. We started trying for Carter baby number two when Ollie was about not even two years old. We were like, yep, let's give it a go. So it took two years really for it to happen. I really discovered the aa aadic medicine and went down that route, and when I had my first consultation, it just the penny dropped. There was no way my body was going to make a baby. It was on fire. So I really had to tap into my calm, my meditation. I stopped doing any adrenaline kind of exercise, and I really believe all this contributed to me falling pregnant again as I said it took nearly two years to even when it actually happened, I was like, oh my god, is this actually real? Like the line was so faint and I had it on every angle possible, and I'm like, is it there? Is it just because I wanted to be there? Yeah, it happened. It just didn't feel real because I've been waiting so long for it.
And now that she'd entered a new decade, Jill's found this second pregnancy a different experience.
I do believe that it hits different in your forties. I really do. Like I was so fit this time. I was the personal trainer up until five days before I gave birth, But there were times in the evening where I'm like, is that like going to move in front of the other. It was quite tabilitating, but overall, like, I really enjoy being pregnant. The first trimester a little bit sick or the usual things, but the second I am on full force. I am nesting. I just get shit done. Like I actually really enjoyed that about being pregnant. And then as I got bigger, I yeah, it was a little bit debilitating but absolutely healthy. Yeah. I'm one of those like annoying people that say I love being pregnant, like I love watching my body change. I love all that.
So after an enjoyable but tiring pregnancy, the end came into sight for Jewels.
So at the end of my pregnancy, I was super fit up until the very last minute. I've been at water aerobics. On the Saturday, I had acupuncture to bring on the birth as well. On the Saturday, I had a thing about it falling on exactly the same day because my first child was on d Day, and I was like, this one's gonna come to it, So anything's in time in my life is my children. So I had the acupuncture and I got off the bed and my stomach had dropped so much. It was quite painful having that acupuncture. And I'm quite sensitive to think, so by that evening I was really starting to get the feels. And my parents came because they were going to stay with us for a week when we brought this child into the world, so that was fantastic. And then on the Monday it didn't come. I was getting all the fields. And then on the Monday two days later, I went into water aerobics and in the pool there was a midwife who funnily enough, ended up seeing in hospital at Northern Beaches a couple of days later, and I was like, oh, I've had all the chili, I've had the pineapple, I've done this, and I've done that and done this. She said, look, the only thing that's going to work is semen and I was like, really, where's that? And she's explaining how it's got something in it that helps open up your pelvic floor and I was like, she because it's almost like being injuice, Like it's the same. There's something in it that's the same. Anyway, So I was like, okay. So I got home, had the most comical sex you've ever could imagine, Like it was hilarious. But then within two hours later, my water broke. So there's got to be something in that. There you go, an old wives tale proven true.
Later in this episode, you'll hear the science behind this from doctor Gollie and what the tricks you can do at home that are proven to bring on labor.
Right, So Jules's water had broken, and it broke like the movies, not like a little trickle. It was like, oh my god, this is like the movies, which genuinely doesn't happen like that. So and I was lying on the couch and I have my son in my hands and I was bringing on the oxytocin. I was just stroking him and feeling all the love and he fell asleep and I actually was getting up to go to bed, which was actually not great then going into labor, because I was like so knackered by you know, eight o'clock at night, as you do in the last Droe mister Yeah. And I got up and it was like, oh my god, Wow, Okay, we're on and because of my last birth being in four hours, ring the hospital and they're like you get in here quick, girl, because it's going to happen. So packed our bags and off we went, coming up. And then I was on the floor and they're like you gotta get up to the bed, and I just was like this mountain goat. I was like, oh my god, it's just so far away.
So after a quick drive to the hospital, Jules and Camp pulled up around a quarter to nine that night.
I was definitely starting to get the surges and feeling it, and I used a Tendis machine on my first berth and hands up, I will tell anyone that will listen. If you're wanting to give birth or you're tougher with any kind of pain, This machine basically tricks your brain of where the pain is and it takes your mind off what's happening. And it honestly is a game changer, especially because I was going in with the ambition to have a natural birth again, as in meaning nothing, no chemicals, like you know, no needles or anything like that. So I got into hospital and my husband is useless on no sleep, so I knew that I had a little bit to go until I was going to get to the place. I was like, you go to sleep and I'll be here. So I had my meditation tape some on really got in the zone, bouncing up and down, and then I just kind of got a bit over the hypno voice, like it gets a little bit after a couple of hours, I'm done with you. And I spent about six months making a birth wish playlist on Spotify, and every midwee like, oh my god, your music's amazing. And it really was like Belses that you can sing just songs that you know, a little bit of romance, a little bit of cheese, like just a really good playlist that is just perfect in that setting.
I know what you're gonna ask, which bangers does Jules Robinson have on her birthday playlist?
Well, let's take a dive in to listen.
I love you.
Down to your bomb naked faith.
It on me.
That's why you know, Abby there for you.
Oh, I say you got enough.
And I saw my reflections no cobooties.
So after I got to about four hours, where you know, the midwife was like she didn't check if I was dilated because she's like, you really do know your body and you're very in tune with it. She's like, you just do what you need to do. And after about four hours, like I just wasn't feeling like I was getting to the next level. Like I was like, it's coming, it's near, but I know that there was a lot more to go. So my tens machine basically wasn't on that high like I was channeling through it. So she came in and she said, look, my intuition tells me that your water hasn't fully broken. I'm like, really, oh my god, you should have seen what happened on the floor in my hallway. So she got out this thing that I can only explain as like a big knitting needle, and she then inserted it to break my water, and she was right. It was basically I'd done four or five hours of the head just hitting on this little puddle of water in a sack, which is why after birth I then got pubist symphitus disorder, which is basically just that belting on the pelvic floor. Like I just reallyok that bone was so painful, like I couldn't walk about a week afterwards, like it was sliding. There was no lifting of the feet at all. So once she did that, and also but in that moment, I was like, Okay, I'm bored of this. I'm bored of this area. And I wanted also to have a different berth than last time, just to experience something new. So I got into the bath and within like honestly three minutes like not to a thousand from her then piercing the water. So in the bath I enjoyed it. It wasn't for me though. I did a couple of hours and eventually like I was knack it. It was like a two day bend, you know why. I'd been there for like seven hours and Cam actually said that I was starting to drift underwater like in between the surges because I was so tired, Like I really gave it my all. But I also think that I wasn't letting myself get to the next stage. I don't know, I just wasn't sold on the whole water thing. I enjoyed. It was different. It was good to do something different. So anyway, I got out and I was having a little bit gas by that point, and they were like, okay, let's get you back to the bed, and oh my god, like from the bath to the bed was like a million miles away, and I was like, okay, I can do it. Anyway, I got there, and of course they must put like towels in ovens or something in the hospital because I was freezing, and also the fact of having to get out water and get over there was quite you know, not the most pleasant thing. So got out and there wrapped me up in the sheet and got me warm really quickly before the next contraction was coming. And I just was like, give me gas, give me my tens and everything. So I finally got it on and then I was on the floor and they're like, you gotta get up to the bed, and I just was like this mountain goat. I was like, oh my god, it's just so far away. And by this time I was on a bit of gas, so everything was just like airy fairy. And then Cam and I looked at each other in the eye and as if by this time it was like, oh six am. You know, I'd been at it like and I'd been giving at my all and we looked at each other and when you know your partner inside it out, our eyes just basically said, if I'm not fully dilated, I don't care, like to get this baby out of me, I do not care what happens like because I'm done anyway. So of course checked and they're like, you're fully dilated, this is it, and I just was like I just had to dig so deep. And yeah, the gas was great. Gas highly recommend giving birth and my tens machine, and I remember clicking the tens machine so far that my stomach was contracting at the same time. And then I remember thinking, oh my god, what if I've gone to the end, because I knew there was still more that was more pain was going to come, So then I had to retract it back and then go again. And yeah, and you know what's really amazing. On my birth wish playlist in my home, I have for my first son a beautiful big artwork that has like Northern Beach's hospital or the date that he was born in the time and his birth song, which was Rise Up and it has the music the sound notes of it printed and to my son Carter, I actually gave birth to that song. It was actually really really amazing and I was like, oh, that's so special because it's such a beautiful, empowering song and yeah, so anyway, it was thirteen hours in the end and it was oh and then at the end my husband was like, you are incredible, and I've had enough energy. It would have been like I fucking know.
So Jules had finally done it. I wondered if she'd change anything if she could.
It was amazing. It was really hard, like if I go again, like I think I might do an epidural, like it was like the four hours the first time, Like oh my god, that was amazing, Like just going in and out and have a baby like this was. This took every bit of energy from me. And as I said, like, it does hit different in your forties, like I just my body it feels different. Having a baby this time round. Maybe because it's the second one, I don't know, but yeah, I mean I love the process of giving birth. I think, you know, as a woman, it's the most amazing thing you can go through.
Jules had done the incredible, birthed a beautiful baby boy. But unfortunately the health concerns didn't stop when Carter came out.
So I was in hospital only for the two days, which was great, but I could start to feel I had really bad mistitis the first time round, like so badly that I had to go back to hospital for five days. So I was very on the fence of like, oh, should I breastfeed again? And because I was so sick last time, I couldn't actually look after my baby, like I'm talking like my scalp hurt my skin her like I was so ill. So I thought, nah, give it a go, give it a go. And I did try, and then I came home. Forty eight. I was in the hospital for two days. I came home and the midwife came over and my blood pressure was so high that they then said, look, you have to go back to hospital, and I was like, all right, find the positive. I got back to hospital, but at least I can use their fantastic pump and I can, you know, really get going on that while I'm sitting in there waiting for the doctors and the tests and everything. So I went back in there and I think I pumped like ten meals or something, you know like that. And yeah, unfortunately, my blood pressure just kept on rising like super super high. I had I'd had had a headache for two days, but I just didn't really think about it. And it turns out I had pre eclempsia, which is something that you generally get when you are pregnant towards the end. So this is like it's super super rare, but it was really scary because they're like, if we don't control this, like you could actually have a stroke or you could you know. And I'm there just go, oh my god, all I'm trying to do is get some milk out of me in here. I've been told that. So yeah, that wasn't fun, wasn't That wasn't fun at all? And then so then I was in hospital for another three days with that, and then my boobs, oh my god, my boobs. I had four frozen Huggies nappies on me because they were just like you never see anything like it. And then I just had to because I was like, I just made the decision. I was like, you know what, it's not for me. I could I could start to feel that feeling and the PTSD of what I went through that I just had to shut it down, which meant two sports bras the ice and just no stimulation, like do not touch your boobs at all. And it worked. I did three days of doing that and it went away. But with the pre acclems I had to They eventually found the medication that suited me that it wasn't making it go away and then come back again to the same level. But yeah, that was a bit sad, like I was. I had a bit of a bit of a cry and a bit of a sob for myself. And the midwives were amazing, like they came and took him one night and just walked around the hallway and that just because I just needed to sleep and I'd got I just was so emotionally hormonely and then that on top and I just was like, Oh, this wasn't in the plan, you know, But that's what happens, isn't it. You never know what actually is going to happen when it comes to giving birth coming up. But the seriousness of it was if I didn't get it under control, like I could have had a stroke, so, you know, which is just devastating to think, like, here you are with this beautiful thing that's just happened, and then there's this side effect.
We'll hear more from doctor Golly soon, but Jules's condition is incredibly rare. But it's such a wild time when you get home with the baby and your body has been through well trauma. So I'm fascinated by what made Jewels go, Okay, this isn't just post birth pain, this is something more.
When I had the headache for two days, I just thought, I'm just really tired. I'm just you know, I'm up every two hours. I just didn't really think of it. But when she was saying where, and I was like, yeah, like right in the middle of my forehead, and then I've kind of got this feeling in my neck.
You know.
All this symptoms were very spot on to what happens when you get pretclemsia. So it just meant that I had to take medication every day and then go and get my blood pressure checked all the time, which was not honestly the most annoying part, like coming to go to the doctors of the pharmacy, like, you know, every couple of days, and I'm fine now, but it was a scary thought that this could be forever, this could be I'm taking blood pressure tablets. I'm like, I don't want to do that, Like I'm healthy. I've never had I've never had a blood pressure prob them in my whole life. So no one knows why it happened. It's just something we had to find a solution there.
And then I'm pretty impressed that Jewels was able to manage some self care and stay in tune with herself during this tricky time, which is really really hard but so crucial.
I think, you know, being in tune with your body is so important. But you know, hands up in that moment, like I didn't care about me, Like I just was like, oh no, I'll be fine. I don't want to get back to hospital, like I just wanted to be at home and nesting. But the seriousness of what it was, if I didn't get it under control, like I could have had a stroke, so you know, which is just devastating to think, like, here you are with this beautiful thing that's just happened, and then there's this side effect. So I think, you know, it is really important as mums, like we don't sometimes put ourselves first or our health and we think, oh, yeah, I'll get that checked eventually, and you don't, but you do have to. You know, the best place for me was in hospital in that moment, I just had to surrender to it because I really didn't want to be there.
So what is something that Jules wishes all pregnant women you ahead of their births?
Something I don't think people talk about is that you birth are placenter. Honestly, you like, what I'm going to do? What Like I did not prepare for that first time around? And yeah, I just think birthing a placenta is like it's literally like having another baby. I planted mine in the garden and put an olive tree on the top of it for my first son, and I've actually got my placenta still in the fridge at the moment. I still haven't decided what plan I'm going to put over it. But yeah, the placenta thing. But one thing I learned second time around is that I watched the video back at actually of me giving birth to my first son, because they then come around and they just put a needle in my leg, which brings on the birth of the placenta, and it's basically just like being induced, but a smaller dose. And I was like, oh my god, really, so I've gone all this effort to try and not have any chemicals in me. Then I did that without even really knowing. So this time around, I actually on my birth wish I was that person everyone on the door and then midwife's like, no, we love people that do this. I'm like, yeah, all right, they're probably out in the hall way going, oh god, she's a pain and the ass, isn't she? But it was one of my things that I wanted to hold the baby first. I wanted Cam and I to say what the sex was because I'm like, we waited, you know, ten months for this, so we're going to see that first. And also it was to naturally birth the placenta and to not have that injection and to not you know, have those chemicals put in me. So it did take a little bit longer. But yeah, Bert like people go, you what, like, yeah, I don't think we talk about that enough.
Well lucky enough to have the services and wisdom of doctor golly one of the country's top pediatricians, to provide answers to the medical questions that come up in our stories. So Jules and Cam employed the old sex to bring on the baby trick to get jewels moving. Here's doctor Gollie on how on earth this works and what are some other old wives tales that doctors believe actually help when you're very keen to get labor moving.
I love this question, and my god, Cam will absolutely hate me for saying this, But there isn't a huge amount of science to back this up. As you can imagine, it's not the easiest thing to study. But the answer actually is probably yes, because theoretically, semen does contain prost theglandins that's the substance which ripens the cervits, and sex also does release oxytocin in women, which increases the strength of contractions. Also, while we're on the topic, nipple stimulation, which is usually done by babies with feeding but can be done by partners, it certainly also releases oxyetocin. So the answer is probably yes, just don't do this stuff if there's a his preterm labor, all of the other old wives tales, I'm sorry, Curry, long walks and stands, you name it. No, no, no, no no, do what you enjoy is the bottom line.
And even though it is more unusual to be diagnosed with preer clamsia after birth rather than during pregnancy, it's always a scary outcome. Here's doctor Gollie on what pre clamsia is and how we can try to avoid it.
So preclamsier, well a clamsier. It comes from the Greek word for lightning, which is a way of describing the seizures that can occur during or after childbirth. The real reason and the real sort of explanation for what preclampsia is is because of uncontrollably high blood pressure, and we call that preclampsia. That is the best way to understand it is imagine that mum during pregnancy is beating that fetus through the placenta and the umbilical cord. If the cord and the placenta, which are only designed last for nine months, if they happen to fail, if they start failing earlier than that, what's going to happen is that the fetus is getting less blood flow, and so the fetus sends a message quite intelligently back to the mum through the blood circulation, would you mind sending some more blood please, because my supply is dropping. And it's not an issue of volume, it's an issue of pressure. You've got to squeeze the blood through the placenta and then through the cord into the baby. So baby is sending messages to mom, please increase the pressure in the blood because I'm not getting enough. Now we know that the reason the baby's not getting enough is because, for example, we might have a failing placenta or one that's running out of juice. But the baby continues to not get enough so continues to send these messages to the mum, And so she just increases her blood pressure again and again and again and again to try to fuel and feed that fetus. And that's where we have problems because while it does supply more blood pressure to the fetus, it also causes potential problems for mum. So preclams. It can happen anytime from twenty weeks onwards. It can even last for days and weeks after a baby's delivered. It's one thing I remember from my medical training during university. The only cure for preclamsia is delivery, So it accounts for actually fifteen percent of preterm deliveries because of maternal preclampsia, and it is quite a common condition. We're talking about five to ten percent of pregnancies worldwide. So in terms of the dangers to mum, there is obviously the risk of pre term delivery, which is more of a danger to the baby, but then it also leads to high blood pressure and the mum protein in the urine and ultimately organ involvement, specifically brain, which is why we talked about seizures, but also the liver and the system that takes care of blood clotting. So it can happen anytime from twenty weeks of pregnancy which is halfway, and it can last for days and even weeks after birth, as was the case with jewels. Look, the key is just good prenatal health, general health, and blood pressure. The list is quite predictable. You know, quit smoking, get a good amount of sleep, exercise, But really the most important thing is is understanding and appreciating that you can be the healthiest person on the planet and still get pre clampsy because it has to do with the health of the placenta and the cord and mirroad other reasons. The key is regular blood pressure checks during pregnancy, and in that case, some women will be commenced on different types of medicines, for example, low dose aspirin, but you've got to be checking that blood pressure quite frequently to make sure that it's not being missed.
So as regular listeners to this podcast, we'll know, as well as exploring the wonderful world of birth, we're also passionate about discussing that all important forth trim. It can be so easy to overlook during pregnancy. But what is Jules's advice when you get your baby home fourth trimester.
Like there's something to be said about that, Like it's called that for a good reason, because really it's a bit tough. Obviously it's super happy because you've got this beautiful baby, but just that hormonal rollercoaster that you're on, Like I cried eighteen days straight this time, like just over little things, over big things. But you're just going to give yourself that grace to know that, like it's okay, and everyone is feeling the same way. Generally when you're in that stage. I think my best advice would be that, like you literally are a magician and you're a wizard, like trush your instinct. Like I just think that superpower of a mother is that you just know, like you just learn those little noises and you know what they want, and like that's when you're like, oh my god, I'm fucking awesome, Like I'm magic right now. So that to me, I think, trust your instincts, and also like don't be hard on yourself, like you know, I said, like having little cries over nothing, like you know what, You're so allowed to just do whatever you need to do. And this time around, like I had my baby attached to me for like five weeks, like I slept with him, I you know, did everything like in my pillar, had it sitting up and in my arms, like I really again because I was like is this going to be the last time? I don't know, And I just wanted to suck in every little bit of him. And in a way it was like really being my first because they looked so identical. I was like, I'm living it again. Yeah, it was really. I did it a little bit differently this time, just because I think I'm in a different place than I was first time, as in, you know, workwise, and that that I had the space to be able to go, Okay, everything can stop and then I'm just gonna be with this baby. And it was just beautiful. But yeah, I think that would be my number one thing to be like, just trust your instincts and know that you know what that little person needs and that's like such an amazing thing about being a mum.
Thank you for joining us on Diary of a Birth, where we celebrate all the amazing ways that we as women bring life into the world. If you'd like to share your birth story with us, we'd love to hear from you. Details are in the show notes. Diary of a Birth was hosted by me Cassenye Lukisch with expert input from doctor Gollie, Audio production by Scott Stronach, and our executive producer is Georgie Page.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Diary of a Birth and for more from Cassenya, doctor Golly, and the many, many amazing women who are sharing their birth stories, you can find a link to follow in the show notes.
Mama Miya acknowledges the traditional owners of the land.
We have recorded this podcast on the Gadigul people of the Eor nation.
We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander cultures.