Frannie and co the podcast. Women who inspire us.

Into the world's first sequel and what an honour it was to record Simone's story for a second time. 

I met Simone for the first time IRL this week at a wonderful event run by @therebelmamas @100daysof and @lostandfoundto. I have to thank them all for tackling a taboo subject and having a conversation that's so necessary- love, loss and grief.  It was heartwarming to be part of. 

Simone is just as warm, kind, wise and just plain lovely IRL, as you see come through in her words on the podcast. It makes me very grateful for this online community and the support I've received not just from Simone but all of you too. This episode is EVERYTHING! I hope you enjoy listening and Simone Thanks for sharing Grace, Margaux, Liam and so much insight with us.

A word from Simone-    'In my previous episode, I mention that each of my kids has taught me something. Liam made me a mom and taught me everything about relinquishing control and following your children’s lead. Margaux taught me that even in the most terrible circumstance there is beauty to be found. Well Grace, ironically has taught me about grace. They say that Grace isn’t something that you can earn or be given, it’s just something that you have to allow yourself to be open to receive. You can’t earn grace any more than you can earn the delicious taste of raspberries or the beautiful smell of fresh rain. Learning to accept the gift of a baby after loss is very difficult. But by being open to the beautiful gift that we have been given and not consumed by fear, it allowed me to fully enjoy having a baby again. She truly is the grace that fills our hearts. The grace that fills our home. And I’m so grateful.' 

Emily's story, bringing Orion into the world and a whole lot more.

This week I'm talking to Emily, mostly about her son Orion's birth and how she made peace with her other births to have this experience.

We touch on some quite heavy subjects. Her story is extraordinary. From how she came into the birthing world professionally, some unique working experiences, to her struggle with postpartum psychosis and mental health. How she has overcome so much and founded @thegoodbirthco. I commend Emily for talking about the darker rides of maternal mental health.

Emily's story is so multifaceted. I can't do it justice in one post. There is a lot we unpack in her episode. She has experienced and go through so much, has so much professional knowledge that it makes for a particularly interesting conversation. Hence why this week's episode is a little longer.

Stay tuned for this weeks giveaway, Emily is hosting it and its a great win for moms to be out there.

Emily, thank you for all you do to support women, thank you for sharing the highs and lows of your motherhood journey, for having the courage to share even the darkest parts and shedding a light on so many topics both personally and professionally.

Happy listening. Link in bio and stories

Check out more of what Emily is up to @thegoodbirthco

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Care's story, bring Ben, Lucy, Penny and Fred #intotheworld. (With a whole lot of professional knowledge thrown in there too.)

This week is a very special and informative episode. If your curious about home birth then this is the episode for you.

I'm speaking to Carolyn, most commonly known as Care. She is all things motherhood and someone who feels so maternal to me. With 4 kids of her own, Care is a Registered Midwife, CPR Instructor, Certified Car Seat Technician, Babywearing Educator & Infant Mental Health Specialist, business owner, community leader, and content creator, she does a lot. She has home birthed all of her kids. And has a wealth of knowledge on the matter.

The reason I wanted to talk to her beyond her incredible journey is that I wanted help getting some facts out there about birth from not only an experienced mama but also a professional qualified to answer such questions. Especially about some of the myths about birth and the fears surrounding homebirth.

It was a very interesting, informative and insightful conversation. I was so touched listening to her relationship with her mom and how losing her has affected motherhood for her.

I could have talked to Care all day as she has so much experience and of course 4 births to share. Her perspective is so well thought out, considered and judgment-free. The support she offers parents is incredible. Thank you Care for sharing so much with us, from your wealth of professional knowledge to your precious mom and your gorgeous photos. Even though I'm only 2 weeks out and sworn to never do it again listening to your story and seeing your photos warms my heart enough to wish I could repeat this all again. Midwives are simply incredible humans, thank you for being one of them.

As always this was such a pleasure. To find out more about how Care is supporting parents follow her @with_care. Or stay tuned to see what course she is giving away two spots for this week.

Happy listening.

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This week's episode is with a very special and dear friend of mine. 

I've known Emma since I was 5 years old we have been through all of our school years together have sisters the same age. So many shared memories over the years. She now lives in my husband's hometown and we share even more friends. 

Sadly we also have some shared experiences on loss. One of my biggest fears was and still is knowing someone closely who has lost a baby or a pregnancy. having lived through it myself its so hard so know the pain and watch someone else I love suffer. I’m sure lots of people feel the same.

I received that kind of text just back in march of 2019. Emma sadly lost her second son Lachie and reached out to let me know. I felt that immediate heartache for her.  As horrible as it's been to bear witness to Emma’s pain, I think we have both helped each other cope and provided some comfort in each other's journeys. 

I'm so so proud to know Emma. Her strength is exceptional. I know all women who get thrust into this club have no choice but to face their reality whether they like it or not. But she has been a true inspiration in how she has dealt with life. She has let those around her know what she wanted and how she wants Lachie to be remembered, she has since gone on to change a lot of about her life including starting a new job, changing careers and studying to be a reflexologist, raising money in her sons name and doing so much to help others and honor him. Emma your soul is as bright as Lachie is shining in your life. I love you to death and I can't thank you enough for everything you have done to help me. 

We recorded this back in the summer when Emma and Lachie's story was even rawer. Since then she has completed her reflexology course and we are both pregnant. (At the time of recording). She guessed I was before I even dared to tell her and then by the time I did she had just fallen pregnant herself also unexpectedly. 

Her baby is due on Lachie's anniversary and mine 11:1 Jan so if you believe in numerology then both dates are very interesting in our journeys. Having Emma to share this crazy journey with has been so comforting and I can help but think its no coincidence 

Emma its been an honor to share your story you are the bravest person I know and its a real privilege to call you a life long friend, the laughs and cries we have had together are like no other. Good luck with all things baby number 3. Love you and thank you!

Heather’s Story, bringing Oliver into the world 

I've known Heather a little while now through the wonderful Instagram community. I enjoy and feel incredibly inspired by her account @veganishmama. Heather is such a sweet soul, so open, honest and funny too. I love seeing what she is getting up to with her son and I’m inspired by her vegan lifestyle and how she went from being a cheese taster to a plant-based life. I get a lot of tips on how to live a greener life with a family from her page.

Her story is heartbreaking in part and we have shared some similar situations, as well as both, being pregnant at the time of recording. She talks about the heartbreak of losing her first son, at a very hard time for her having already lost her Dad unexpectedly. What it was like for her and how she coped losing a baby around 20 weeks. 

We talk a lot about the caution and anxiety that follows any loss as well as her birth story to second son Oliver. She has another baby on the way in 2020 and I love the humor she always inserts into her storytelling. She is a pleasure to talk to and follow along with. Wishing you all the best in the rest of pregnancy heather thanks for being so open and for your infectiously positive energy. 

Happy listening 

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This week Suzanne shares her 5-year-old daughter's Kae birth story. 

It was so fun to do my first in-person podcast in my very own recording space you may have heard me going on about in my Woman cave in my basement. 

I met Suzanne a while back and have been following her journey on Instagram. As a clothes obsessed style-conscious person myself who likes to express myself through what I wear I can relate to her business- and how passionate she is about dressing for yourself, your personality and your body shape and passionately loving every piece in your wardrobe. You can find her on @yourshopgirl 

In her episode, we talk more about her textbook pregnancy, how having a birth plan carved out in stone doesn’t always serve you and how she shared the experience with her best friend. talking about what happens when friends have to navigate the loss of a child. Suzanne speaks so beautifully about her dear friend, how to support a friend through loss. Their joined love and loss touched me and resonates. I believe how she managed in supporting her friend to be a beautiful part of the story, heartwarming and heartbreaking and great advice too.

Thanks, Suzanne for sharing your story and such a big part of your life with us. 

Link in bio and stories. 

Jenn’s story of Sully coming in the World. 

This week's episode I chat with Jenn. I loved hearing more about Jenn’s love story and how she went from actively telling everyone she knew she didn’t want to have kids to meeting her now-husband and not being able to imagine not bringing one of their children into the world. 

I loved every factor or her story. We touch a lot on giving in to expectations of our birth plans and also pushing back when we need to. 

We shared, probably quite controversial views on swearing and language we use around our children and what's important when it comes to raising compassionate children in 2020 and beyond. 

Jenn is also a business owner and founder of @babymamafitness. I am yet to try one of her classes but watch this space. Her ethos is one I respect and stand by myself. Jenn helps Mamas get their fitness back in a safe and body-positive way. No gimmicks, no shakes or pills, and no diet talk. We talk a lot about the unrealistic ‘snap back’ culture and what’s important about body image after having a baby. Also the aspect of community and working out and how that is so often overlooked. I know myself the importance of having great women around you after having a baby. Jenn’s brand is about more than just working out. Again a topic I think we both could have chatted about all day.

Watch out for this week’s giveaway too. I’m so many of us are feeling like we over indulged this xmas. Jenn is giving away 2 awesome prizes geared to get you feeling great about yourself in 2020. 

Watch this space and happy listening. 

Stacey’s story, bringing Cooper and River into the World 

This week I am talking to Stacey. 

She is a mum of two, Cooper age 11 and River 17months ish by now. 

Along with her two births almost 10 years apart, we cover a multitude to topics from what it's like to be the first of your friends to have a baby,  to having a big age gap between her kids. 

Her first birth with her then-husband and then River with her now wife. It was an education talking to her about how Stacey and her wife approached the process as a same-sex couple. 

Sadly in between, she lost a baby at 17 weeks, we talk about about how different people deal with grief and how it affected her subsequent pregnancy with her son River. 

Thanks for sharing your experiences Stacey, you were great fun to talk to, so real, honest and open. It was a real pleasure.

Happy listening people and look out for this week's epic giveaway. 

Jen’s story, bringing Mighty Jack into the world…

What Jen has to say about her experience…

”You'll need to bring your son to SickKids in the next hour."

Those were the words I heard on the phone on March 7, 2018, while holding my 18-day old son as he slept in my arms.

The last thing a family rushing off to The Hospital for Sick Children is thinking about is grabbing a camera to take photos. But that's precisely what I did when I frantically packed to get to SickKids after I received that call.

The week before this, my son had worn a heart Holter for 24 hours, a device that measures a person's heart rate. The results of that Holter are what prompted the phone call and the urgency to get to SickKids.

The week before that he entered the world with the biggest bang that none of us could have expected.

I knew there were more issues with my son's heart than we initially thought, even after evidence in utero and hours post-birth.

My mama intuition was finally validated.

I cried because I had wanted to speak up when we heard it in utero for a couple of seconds, but tried to be a "good pregnant woman" and let the experts do their job. I cried because post-birth I was in such a fog from both an exhaustingly long and traumatic labour and birth and couldn't advocate more for my son - something I learned in hindsight. I cried because his paperwork was lost between hospitals, and we waited far too long to get this information.

My son, nicknamed Mighty Jack was resting at 300 beats per minute (bpm) when we arrived at SickKids… A normal heart rate for a newborn is 120-160 bpm.

When Jack was 18 days old we were admitted to the inpatient 4D cardiac ward at Sick Kids and spent 4 days monitoring my son on beta-blockers for his congenital heart disease (CHD).

My experience becoming a Mother was NOT what I anticipated in any way shape or form.

I've grieved the birth into Motherhood I didn't have. It's still tender and still something I'm working on.

But from that experience and our time at SickKids, something else was born.

@projectmightyhearts was born from trauma.

We provide free, compassionate and authentic photography sessions that document the raw experiences of families whose children have CHD's. For every session sold through Jen Allison Photography, one is gifted to a heart family through Project Mighty Hearts.

Life doesn't just happen in a photography studio, with perfectly posed infants and colour coordinated outfits. Life happens in the mundane, the magical, and amid struggle. Life happens in hospital rooms, and that life deserves to be documented too. 

-Jen.

For so many, talking about birth stories is so difficult. Trauma is relative to how we feel and I am amazed by how many women are affected by such feelings. All the more reason why listening and being a witness to the stories being told it so important.

Thanks Jen for sharing your story with us. I know it wasn’t easy and I thank you for having the courage.

To follow more of what Jen is up to go her Instagram @jenallisonphoto and of course, go give @projectmightyhearts some love. 

Happy listening 

Well, if you tuned in last week you will have heard Amy's pretty wild story, but you also might have noticed it got cut short. The universe had done a number on me and deleted some of her recordings and so we decided to do a little update episode to get you guys up to speed!

The original was recorded back in August time and a lot has been going on for Amy since then so here is an update on her journey, more on how her son Roger is doing and a twist in the plot on how her own health has developed. 

Again Amy thank you for sharing. Never is there a dull moment for you. I've never met anyone who has such an outlook on life, no matter what is thrown your way. 

For anyone wanting to follow more on Amy's journey, follow her @the.enigmom on Instagram. 

Thank for listening and look out as this week we have two episodes airing! 

Double the podcast love- happy listening.