In this episode Allison takes us through her journey to motherhood and subsequently, her empowering and enlightening autism and adhd diagnosis. She weaves in and out of her pregnancies to share information about music therapy and the brain and how music - rhythm, tempo, mantra - is one of the best soothing tools we can teach our children and use for ourselves. Allison details the sensory overwhelm of pregnancy and breastfeeding, her experience with endometriosis, parenting an autistic child and her recent miscarriage which she honoured with a distinct period of rest and reflection. If you are neurodivergent or you think that you may be, this episode will be the comfort and guidance you need. I consider it essential listening, especially for perinatal health specialists caring for neurodivergent people in pregnancy and postpartum. _______________________________________ Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book .

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We all know babies are expensive but how much does pregnancy, birth and parenthood actually cost? I’ve joined forces with , a customer-owned ethical bank and a certified B Corp, to make pregnancy finances less overwhelming. In this 5-part mini series I take you from preconception to postpartum with health and finance professionals who outline everything you need to know about fertility treatment, maternity leave, birth options, childcare and budgeting for a baby.  Understanding your care options and working out what you want in pregnancy can be tricky, especially if you’re in the first trimester and overwhelmed with fatigue and nausea. In this episode I delve into your private maternity care options by exploring the costs of obstetric care in a private hospital and private midwifery care in either a public hospital, birth centre or in your home. Dr Natalie Elphinstone (along with her Practice Manager and husband, Michael) discusses the often complex health insurance rebates while Liz Wilkes, Managing Director at My Midwives, explains all the options and costs of private midwifery care.

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In this episode Jo takes us through her experience with unexplained fertility and her shock at conceiving on her first embryo transfer. She opted for private obstetric care and had a planned caesarean because of placenta previa. She conceived naturally with her second baby and her Geelong-based obstetrician was supportive of a VBAC from the get-go. Unfortunately Jo’s pregnancy was overshadowed by a hospital crisis but her obstetrician guided her through the experience and despite the upheaval, she achieved her VBAC. _______________________________________ Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book .

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Welcome to Part 2 of my mini series in partnership with , a customer-owned ethical bank and a certified B Corp, to make pregnancy finances less overwhelming. In today's episode we cover the cost of Fertility Treatment with Dr Violet Kieu, consultant gynaecologist specialising in fertility, reproductive endocrinology, and fertility preservation Planning a pregnancy is one thing, successfully conceiving is another. One in six Australian couples will seek fertility treatment, for both medical and/or social infertility. In this episode I chat to highly regarded fertility specialist, Dr Violet Kieu about infertility, recommended lifestyle changes and what you can expect from the intrauterine insemination (IUI) and invitro fertilisation (IVF) process. The financial costs are significant, especially if treatment is ongoing. However, it’s really difficult to give exact figures considering every person’s infertility experience is different, as are the investigations, tests and procedures that are recommended. If we’re talking ballpark figures, you can expect to pay $1500 for IUI after a Medicare rebate and roughly $5500 for each round of IVF. There are also publicly-funded fertility clinics and while the waitlists are long (and often time is something you don’t want to waste), they do make both IUI and IVF significantly more affordable. Consider this episode a thorough guide to your fertility treatment options.

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Thousands of families every year experience Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR). We know that women’s stories can offer information, guidance and immense comfort to those currently navigating their unborn baby’s diagnosis and it’s for this reason that Marian wanted to share her story. She takes us step by step through her first pregnancy with baby Emmy who had a rare genetic disorder, confirmed at 29 weeks gestation after weeks of tests and investigations. Marian and her husband chose to terminate for medical reasons with the support of the hospital’s ethics team and Emmy was born days later. Marian’s postpartum experience was grief-filled but she was also motivated to take care of herself so she could honour Emmy. When she fell pregnant again she embraced everything about her pregnancy and experienced a joyful and redeeming birth with her rainbow baby, Leni.  _______________________________________ Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book .

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Welcome to my new  5-part mini-series where I take you from preconception to postpartum with health and finance professionals who outline everything you need to know about fertility treatment, maternity leave, birth options, childcare and budgeting for a baby. We all know babies are expensive but how much does pregnancy, birth and early parenthood actually cost? I’ve joined forces with , a customer-owned ethical bank and a certified B Corp, to make pregnancy finances less overwhelming. ------- Budgeting for a Baby with financial advisor Canna Campbell While half of all pregnancies in Australia are unplanned, for those considering starting a family, money is often a significant deciding factor. We know that financial stress affects our physical and mental wellbeing and that’s particularly pertinent in pregnancy, it’s just that no one really talks about it. In this episode I chat to Canna Campbell, a financial advisor who also shares financial education, tips and tricks at @sugarmummatv. If you want to know more about budgeting for a baby, understanding the benefits of a financial counsellor or financial planner and the best way to prepare your finances for one less income, this episode is a must-listen.

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In today’s episode Bec shares her experience with a third-degree tear and the shock, grief and recovery that came afterwards. Her second and third pregnancies ended in miscarriage and she details the emotional toll it took on her and the way it affected her ability to connect with her next baby in pregnancy. Despite being told that she would need a caesarean birth after her 3C tear, she hired a private midwife, planned a homebirth and worked closely with a women’s health physio to actively prepare her pelvic floor and perineum for birth. She birthed baby Nyah in the pool and her perineum was completely intact; not even a graze! This is the inspiring story for all those women preparing for a vaginal birth after severe perineal trauma.  --------------------- Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book .

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You can hear Carla’s first birth in episode 188 which was a long labour and an emergency caesarean. Determined to achieve a VBAC for her second birth, she had a private obstetrician (known as the ‘VBAC queen’) and a private midwife to ensure she had support at home and advocacy in the hospital. She laboured beautifully but her second stage was long and challenging and ended in a forceps-assisted birth and a week in hospital as her baby boy developed sepsis. For her third birth, Carla knew from the outset that she wanted the healing experience of a homebirth so she rallied her support system and achieved a dream labour, birth and postpartum experience.  --------------------- Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book .

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Miscarriage affects over 150,000 families each year in Australia yet it’s still often silenced in the media and community. In this episode Isabelle Oderberg takes us through her multiple pregnancy losses, two births and her determination to discuss the silence and science of misscarriage in her new book, Hard to Bear. As well as detailing her heartache and frustration, she also brings to light some of the medical data around miscarriage, the deep silence of termination for medical reasons (TFMR) and the importance of a trusted and hopeful care provider. --------------------- Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book .

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In this episode Amber takes us through her first pregnancy with the professional insight of ten years experience as a midwife. Determined to access continuity of care in a public hospital, she developed a beautiful sense of trust with her midwife, embraced birth preparation and actively planned her postpartum. When her hind waters started leaking she was devastated because she knew an induction was likely. Three days later her forewaters broke, induction began and she laboured beautifully all day but with the urge to push, her cervix became swollen and she requested an epidural. She was in theatre preparing for an emergency caesarean when the obstetrician confirmed she was fully dilated and baby Winter was born with forceps assistance. Unfortunately Amber knew she was at high risk for a postpartum haemorrhage but the severity of it left her very traumatised and significantly impacted her early breastfeeding experience.  --------------------- Prepare for a positive birth experience with my new book .

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