In episode 466 Dee shares her emotional and challenging pregnancy journeys. She was shocked to learn she’d conceived quickly but her elation soon turned to grief when she miscarried; an experience that was long and traumatic.
For her second birth, Dee was determined to do things differently. She opted for private continuity of care and takes us through her induction that led into a calm and beautiful vaginal birth. Dee also loved @the.birth.class and shares how helpful she found it in preparing for her second little girl Gracie’s birth.
https://australianbirthstories.com/podcast/episode-466/
In 457 episode, Tylah shares her experience as a midwife alongside her first pregnancy and birth. Tylah had spent many years supporting women in pregnancy and labour so she had plenty of time to consider what she wanted for her own birth experience. She knew from the outset that she wanted to have homebirth but her partner, a doctor, took some convincing. Tylah admits that pregnancy was humbling from the start and the persistent challenge of unexplained rib pain encouraged her to surrender from early on. She takes us step by step through her homebirth preparation through the MGP program, planning a water birth and the shock of an unexpected but necessary NICU stay.
https://australianbirthstories.com/podcast/episode-457/
📷@tylah_jane
Hey Sophie, just feel like I needed to tell you I had my 3rd baby a couple weeks ago! I feel like I know you because I listen to your podcast so much.
At 10am I had acupuncture and started having tightings while on the table just light, got home and at 3.45pm my waters broke and it got intense fast! Called my mum to pick up older two kids and I started pushing on the toilet by 4.47pm left for hospital usually 20 min drive. I could feel baby head coming out in the car and just made to the hospital… walked in even tho they had a wheel chair for me had 3 contractions while walking in and got into the birth suit at 5.13pm and my baby boy was born at 5.16pm.
4.2kgs, no tears.
Thanks again for @the.birth.class
Kelsey shares how instrumental @the.birth.class was in preparing her for her birth with Florence.
You can hear Kelsey’s birth story in full in episode 433 of the ABS Podcast.
You can grab @the.birth.class now at 20% off for just $199.20 With life time access you can listen now and as many times as you like.
Sale ends soon
https://australianbirthstories.com/shop/the-birth-class/
In episode 437 Julie shares the births of her two boys Woody and Alfie. At the age of 42 Julie began IVF. After two failed rounds of IVF and to her complete surprise, she fell pregnant naturally.
Julie’s NIPT results showed high risk of Down Syndrome and she was advised by her doctor to terminate the pregnancy. Together with her partner Tom, they opted to continue with the pregnancy and welcomed baby Woody via emergency caesarean. Fifteen months later Julie birthed second baby boy Alfie.
Julie talks at length about mothering a child with Down Syndrome, physical therapy and the precious bond between her two boys.
Listen in full over at
https://australianbirthstories.com/podcast/episode-437/
Hyperemisis Gravidarum (HG) can be a confronting diagnosis and for those currently suffering, the months to come may feel like a daunting unknown.
Aside from the horrendous symptoms, no one can really explain why it happens which can definitely add to the frustration of the experience although it’s important to know that it doesn’t discriminate; it affects women of all ages and nationalities.
Despite your overwhelm, remember that you aren’t alone; there is a whole community of women who know exactly what you’re going through. I strongly recommend you head to HG Australia for resources and support for both yourself and your partner – hyperemesisaustralia.org.au
If you’re unsure if you’ve got HG but you’re currently navigating the challenge of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP), it’s best that you make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible (HG is regarded as the most severe form of NVP). In the meantime, the following symptoms are typical of HG:
* nausea
* vomiting
* dry retching
* hypersalivation (excess saliva)
HG is often defined by a vicious cycle of these profound symptoms with little to no reprieve, hence sufferers slip into chronic dehydration and malnutrition which subsequently leads to:
* headache
* fatigue
* constipation
* bleeding gums or nose
* dizziness
* low blood pressure
* heart palpitations
If you’re currently suffering from HG we have many episodes on the Australian Birth Stories podcast to support you.
Love this from @thehstyled
Alice Bingham is a mother of 5 and I have had the pleasure of sharing Alice’s birth stories on episode 18 and episode 110 of the podcast. Today in episode 416 Alice shares with us her experience with having varicose veins. Alice had these prior to her pregnancies as they are hereditary.
Throughout Alice’s pregnancies her veins but got increasingly worse and she had to manage them carefully in her fifth pregnancy with blood thinning medication.
Tune into episode 416 to hear @itsalicebingham story
If you’re planning a caesarean birth, you can actively educate yourself about your options so you can write an informed birth plan. If you want to feel calm and confident as you prepare to meet your baby, you’ll love my online education course, The Caesarean Birth Class.
I speak to private obstetrician, Dr Scott Shemer, who takes us step-by-step through the process of a planned caesarean. Scott offers a thorough insight into your birth day, from the moment you arrive at hospital to the day you’re discharged. As well as discussing optimal cord clamping and skin-to-skin in the operating theatre, he also explains:
- preparation for the operating theatre
- pain relief medication and their side effects
- what you can expect from your recovery in the first 48 hours
Alongside this essential education, The Caesarean Birth Class also features three relaxation tracks specifically created for ceasarean mums.
https://australianbirthstories.com/shop/the-caesarean-birth-class/
📷@brunacostafotografias
In episode 410 Eleanor Pendleton takes us through the challenges of her first postpartum experience and how it shaped the way she set up her second birth and fourth trimester.
When it came time to plan her second postpartum, Eleanor did so with a deep understanding of Eastern philosophy and the intention to carve out a dedicated period of rest and recovery.
You’re going to love my chat Eleanor. When we recorded she was preparing to return to work, and she was brimming with gratitude for the choices she made and the support she enlisted.
📷@eleanorpendleton
On the podcast so many women say: “labour is a mental game”.
The brain is essentially uncertainty-adverse; it’s evolved to recognise patterns and thrive off routine and predictability. So when we labour - an experience that is uncontrollable, unpredictable and most likely painful - we must wrangle our mind and hold it steady in positivity and self-belief.
And it’s hard. But it’s not impossible.
So how can you mentally prepare for labour?
- recite words/affirmations that you can turn to when you feel fear and doubt - they will instantly flip your doubting mind to a positive one
- recognise the pain as “good, productive” pain and remind yourself that you are SAFE (because we instinctively think that pain means we’re in trouble)
- tell yourself that you can’t DO labour, you just need to BE in it
- focus on the present moment but focussing on your breath: “I’m breathing in, I’m breathing out” otherwise you’ll easily become overwhelmed by how far you’ve come and how far you’ve got to go
- remember, you can do anything for 60 seconds
Share this with your partner STAT so they are prepared and understand the importance of bolstering you when you become doubtful in labour (and it’s not a matter of if you’ll doubt, but when...we all have doubting moments in the depths of labour).
📷@midwifeangelina
