Be Still Be Aware

What does your pregnancy village look like? How does a friends experience shape your own pregnancy? Asking questions of your community and finding the support you need are crucial in pregnancy.

"Yummy Mummies" Lorinska Merrington and bestie Liz Blunt had each other through their pregnancy journeys and beyond. They saw are gap in the pregnancy information highway and decided to ask the questions of experts and create an app to help expectant mums get the tools for supported pregnancy that they found were needed.
We chat...
- Miscarriage
- Finding your crew
- Seeking accurate advice
- Using your voice in pregnancy
- "Bub App"
...and more!

Thanks to these two Melbourne mamas and longtime friends for joining the conversation and giving of your time and energy. Listen to our relaxed chat and get to know Lorinska and Liz a little more...Let's Talk!

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Series: Be Still Be Aware 
Episode: Let's Talk Finding Your Pregnancy Village
Guest: Lorinska Merrington & Liz Blunt
Host: Claire Foord 
Directed by: Claire Foord & Jordan Carr 
Produced by: Still Aware 
Videography: Kenneth Aguarino 
Sound: Lance Brooks​


Episode with thanks to Variety SA

Periods and parliament. Not really two words that would be thrown together often. But you’ll hear both in this episode.

Chatting with three MP’s about stillbirth, women’s health and the federal agenda. Learn how you can be part of the conversation and listen as we chat with Australia’s Federal Minister for Health the Honorable Greg Hunt, the Honorable Senator Kristina Keneally and federal member for Boothby Nicolle Flint. 

What is the Australian government doing to about stillbirth? Can parties join forces to reduce the rates, which remain virtually unchanged for over two decades? This episode delivers the personal side of politics.

It was a privilege and a pleasure. Thanks for tuning in.
Claire x

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Series: Be Still Be Aware
Episode: Let's Talk Government Policy
Guests: Hon. Greg Hunt MP (Minister for Health), The Hon. Senator Kristina Keneally, and Nicolle Flint MP
Host: Claire Foord
Videography:  Kenneth Aguarino
Sound: Lance Brooks
Directed & Produced by Still Aware

With Thanks To Variety SA

Let's continue the conversation with Claire Foord, the Founder and CEO of Still Aware. 

In Part 1 of this episode, Claire shared with us the journey through her pregnancy with Alfie, and receiving the news her perfect baby would be born without breath. After her daughters stillbirth, Claire founded Still Aware after the loss of her own daughter Alfie Foord-Heath, who was stillborn at term on February 12, 2014. 

In this, Part 2, we chat with Claire, as she answers questions she’s never been asked before. She speaks more in-depth about her delivery of Alfie, and how her life changed after her daughters birth. Including the reality of stillbirth, campaigning for prevention and creating purpose from unfathomable grief. 

Thanks for taking the time to listen to this incredible woman. 

Hannah x

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Series: Be Still Be Aware
Episode: Let's Talk Stillbirth & Prevention
Guest: Claire Foord
Host: Hannah Foord
Directed by: Jordan Carr & Hannah Foord
Produced by: Still Aware
Videography thanks to: Andrea Rizos
Sound with thanks to: Lance Brooks

Where does the drive to create change come from? What happens when your child dies in pregnancy? How can a defining moment forge a path to prevention? We chat about all this and more when I take the reigns and turn the tables, talking with Claire Foord, your regular Be Still Be Aware host and Still Aware Founder and CEO.

After Claire first found out she was expecting, her world was filled with excitement and great expectations of parenting to come. In her 40th week of pregnancy she delivered her healthy baby girl, Alfie, perfect but stillborn. This defining moment saw her respond with a desire and drive for change and had her questioning “Why didn’t anyone tell me stillbirth was a possibility?

In this, part one of a two-part episode Claire answers questions in a way we have not heard her divulge before. 

...The reality of stillbirth

...Campaigning for prevention

...Creating purpose from unfathomable devastation

...What we need to understand about pregnancy, stillbirth and a love everlasting

... How a little life has the power to enact great change 

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to take over for this chat and ask the questions. 

Take the time To listen. It’s worth it. 

Hannah x

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Series: Be Still Be Aware

Episode: Let's Talk Stillbirth & Prevention

Guest: Claire Foord

Host: Hannah Foord

Directed by: Hannah Foord & Jordan Carr

Produced by: Still Aware

Videography thanks to: Andrea Rizos

Sound with thanks to: Lance Brooks

What does research actually tell us about stillbirth? Can you do anything to help reduce your chance of stillbirth? How can one persons life and loss begin a wave of change? Find the answer to these questions and more as I talk with Associate Professor Jane Warland, leading stillbirth researcher. 

After the stillbirth of Janes daughter Emma, her life purpose became to understand and dedicate her undeniable staying power to research the what, why and how of stillbirth. A/Prof Warland has a plethora of publications to her name and has lead numerous research initiatives locally and globally.

We chat about
...Paving the way to ending preventable stillbirth
...Evidence based tools to support a safer pregnancy to reduce stillbirth risk
...A moment in life that have the power to change your trajectory
...What we need to know about stillbirth
...What position do you need to sleep in during pregnancy?
...Do movements really matter?
...Do expectant families really need to listen to their inner voice? 
...The tip of the iceberg for change and stillbirth research
 
Thank you Jane for allowing us the depth of your knowledge and dedicating your life work in honour of your daughter Emma to help pave the way for change. 

Take notes.
Stop. Start. Play.
Take away some key points of knowledge to help understand stillbirth and the conversations we can have to predict, prevent and protect.

Thanks for joining us.
Claire x

What does pregnancy look like after your first two baby's have died? How can you find sunshine through clouds of grief? What is it like hearing your baby cry for the first time? I talk with Bianca & Lukas Kalogerakis with their newest child Sage Golden. 

Bianca and Lukas are stronger than one may be able to comprehend. After their daughter, Luna and son Atlas were both stillborn, this powerhouse mamma and father, showed an undeniable strength and finally got to take their baby home in their arms as well as their hearts. 

The conversation is parenting live, with the sounds of Sage joining the chatter. The journey of parenthood and pregnancy after loss continues... 
...What is a supportive community?
...How to advocate for you and your baby?
...Support and strength of a unit of care that works 
...What happens when it doesn't go to plan?
...How to build the right team around you in pregnancy?
...Stillbirth, life and love
If you haven't heard Bianca tell her story of children Luna and Atlas, be sure to check out that episode 2 "Let's Talk Stillbirth".
 
Thank you Bianca, Lukas, Sage, Atlas and Luna for allowing me to share in your stories. It truly was a powerful and all encompassing experience. 

Sit back. 
Take some space for you and join us, as we talk. 
Claire x

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Series: Be Still Be Aware
Episode: Let's Talk Pregnancy After Loss
Guest: Bianca & Lukas Kalogerakis
Host: Claire Foord
Directed by: Claire Foord & Jordan Carr
Produced by: Still Aware
Videography thanks to: Andrea Rizos
Sound with thanks to: Lance Brooks

Looking to listen to something raw and real? This is a journey deserving of your time. I talk with Bianca Zara (Tarr) Kalogerakis and meet through words, two of her beautiful children; Luna and Atlas. 

Bianca, a mamma, yang and yin yoga facilitator and all round beautiful human, feels, shares and bares her soul. The conversation delves deep. 
...The unwavering love of a mother
...Stillbirth, it’s still, birth 
...Heartbreak and strength
...Determination and a force to be reckoned with
...An unexpected pregnancy journey 
It truly is all the feels and more.
 
Take some space for you and join us. 

What a privilege it was to chat with this beautiful human. 

Thanks for joining
Claire x

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Episode: Let's Talk Stillbirth
Guest: Bianca Kalogerakis
Host: Claire Foord
Directed by: Claire Foord & Jordan Carr
Produced by: Still Aware
Sound with thanks to: Lance Brooks
Videography thanks to: Andrea Rizos

Welcome to 'Be Still Be Aware', a podcast by Claire Foord and Still Aware - Australia's first Stillbirth Awareness Charity. 

A podcast and vodcast where nothing's off-limits, we chat all things pregnancy health, prevention and care. We cover things you might not know about yet, and topics that some consider taboo. From maternity choices, improving your pregnancy bliss, and 'what's your normal' from periods to postpartum, to the new research and what that means for you, and adverse outcomes and stillbirth - we'll try to leave no stone unturned. 

New episodes monthly with new and familiar guests. Be part of the conversation and join us for a thought-provoking series, sharing information we all deserve to know and understand. 

Look forward to having you join us. 

x Your host, Claire Foord (Still Aware, Founder & CEO)