Frannie and co the podcast. Women who inspire us.

The story of Bodie coming into the world. 

My second birth, my second born son but the boy who allowed me to experience motherhood.

A year to the day his brother was due pretty much. It was a weird anxiety filled time. With many unusual coincidences and circumstances. Much like many pregnancies that follow loss. I hated most of the pregnancy. I had mild PTSD that largely went unnoticed. But aside from that it was relatively plain sailing. 

I was induced a few days early cos little did I know my baby was basically a sloth and in movement and future personality trails. But at the time he caused a lot of panic. I spent most of the last 20 weeks laying on my side drinking sugary drinks to promote the slightest prod. 

So it’s no shock now that Unexplained lack of fetal movement for hours upon end lead to a swift induction, broken waters, more pitoci than I would wish my worst enemy, a failed epidural and about 8 hrs later after a few short pushes... THERE HE WAS! 

I was in disbelief and in awe that I finally had a child to care for. I really didn’t think I’d see the day. All the anxiety washed away and for a while there it seemed like nothing but happily ever after.. *spoiler alert* that didn’t quite last forever 🤪 

Although even on the bad days I look at bodie and feel so grateful for being so blessed with such a sweet, eccentric, particular, kind natural little sloth like cuddle and paw patrol obsessed little boy. He was and still is exactly what I needed. 

I hope you enjoy the intro episode and I look forward to sharing more stories with you next week. 

Love Frannie 🌈

Simone’s story- bringing Margaux into the world. 

This is by far the most heartfelt, beautiful and healing conversation I’ve ever had with a virtual stranger. Talking to Simone was a pleasure. 

There is something about loss that unites women in a way that doesn’t even need to be spoken sometimes, but also talking can be just what we need. Simone and her daughter Margaux healed me in a way I didn’t know I needed to be healed. She has such wise words that instantly resonated with me and explained what I’ve been trying to express for the last 4 years. 

I urge you to take the time to listen. You will leave the conversation uplifted! Thank you, Simone, for sharing Margaux's story. 

Here is what Simone has to say. -

'A mom of soon to be 3, I’ve learned so much from each of my kids. Mostly about myself but also about life and unconditional love. This is Margaux’s story. My second child. Forever 40 weeks and 5 days old; born still on April 16 2018. As I approach her first birthday I thought sharing her birth story was the perfect way to mark the day. Talking about loss is one way I feel less lonely in grief, so thank you, Frannie, for creating a safe space to talk about all the hilarious, heartwarming and hard aspects of motherhood. And to my darling Margaux, thank you for teaching me that even in the darkest and hardest moments, there is beauty to be found💜'.

This week we also talk about @sherylsandberg’s amazing book @optionb ( although we refer to is as plan b- which has an entirely different meaning in the birthing world- so sorry for that error lol ) We both found this book a helpful, uplifting and insightful read during our journeys. @oprah also an episode on her podcast talking about the concept of the book with Sheryl all of which I have linked below.

#intotheworldpodcast is kindly brought to you by @newmummycompany. 

https://optionb.org/category/grief-and-loss/resources

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/oprahs-supersoul-conversations/id1264843400?mt=2&i=1000390766057

 This week I'm talking to Lisa about her water Birth. 

Lisa is a nurse, midwife and she now teaches. She has 5 kids ranging from the ages of 5-19. She is also my cousin and has been a great source of info since my motherhood journey began. I had also hoped she would deliver my children but I went and moved to Canada. Her support in difficult times made a huge impact- I really needed a medical professional to tell me what was going to happened to me and my baby and she walked me through everything. Thank you Lisa you don’t know what a difference it made. 

With 5 children we could dedicate a whole series to Lisa. But he decided to talk about Jake coming #intotheworld. Her 3rd birth and her second son. Lisa tells me how her experiences influenced her to become a midwife and we talk about why no one cares if you poo during child birth -

among many other things. 

Lisa says- 

Thank you so much for having me take part, I hope you enjoy listening to my birth experience, mainly about Jake, as we would need the whole podcast series to discuss all my birth stories!

I am so very lucky to have birthed 5 amazing children, all amazing experiences and all healthy. With all of my births I received some form of intervention and I feel with Jake, despite this I still managed to have such an amazing experience that felt like the most natural process in the world! “

Thank you Lisa, the women who have you as a midwife are incredibly lucky. 

Kate's story- bring Freya & Joshua into the world (10 years apart)

This week I am talking to my dear friend Kate, she was my first close friend to have a baby and a real super mum. I've always admired her and how she coped as a new mum when the rest of our friends were more worried about what we were doing at the weekend. Her story is serendipitous, funny and eventful that's for sure!

This is what Kate had to say about her birth's... (to hear more link in bio & stories)

"At 22, I found myself over 4 months pregnant, despite being on the contraception pill. As I’d bypassed all the initial tests & had abnormal hormone levels & a small baby, I was deemed high risk for Downs & monitored at the hospital every 2 weeks. It also meant I had to give birth in the labor ward, with both me and baby hooked up to monitors. 

Although I ended up bypassing pain relief as I couldn’t get to grips with the gas & air, the whole birth experience felt very surreal and distant. Freya was delivered naturally after 4 hours, with no complications or health issues, thankfully. 

Fast forward 10 years & I found myself pregnant on the pill again (you’d think I would have learnt the first time). Medicine had moved on a lot during this time & my abnormal hormone levels were dismissed as just my weird pregnancy state & not an indicator of a problem with the baby, so I was told I could have the baby in the birthing centre. 

Joshua had other plans & was unexpectedly born at home, after thinking I was hemorrhaging, in the speediest of deliveries (3 pushes), in a very memorable location, shortly followed by the arrival of the ambulance crew and a local midwife. 

Despite its speed, I felt so much more present during this birth and really loved it. I would really encourage people who are considering home births to go for it, not having to be in the hospital was just so wonderful. " Love Kate 

brought to you by @newmummycompany & @frannieandco

Kathryn’s story - bringing baby Emie ‘into the world’. 

Who better to talk to than your best friend, your ultimate supporter and all round amazing human. Kathryn is my best friend, the kind of friend we all need, beautiful inside and out. (I meant who else could look this good after a c-section)

I’ve known her since were 11. Sometimes we talk everyday and sometimes we don’t talk for weeks but honestly it doesn’t matter cos we are so close and have been there for each other through all of life’s up and downs. Including miscarriage and babies born just weeks apart. #friendshipknowsnodistance 

Although Kathryn only briefly touches on her miscarriage in this episode, it’s something that really effected her. She found great comfort in choosing to believe that the timing wasn’t right for her and partner Shaun and that that loss brought her Emie. 

Kathryn and I talk about every from her planned c-section, her 3 week hospitalization and making the best of hard situations. How she copes with life’s trials is a real testament to the kind of person she is. Plus quite frankly she is hilarious, probably the reason her nickname is ‘chuckles’. The only person i know comfortable enough to call me from a loo (toilet) lol!

Thank you Kathryn for sharing Emie’s story with us. For making me laugh out loud. For always supporting me and participating in this podcast cos I know how out of your comfort zone it is. As always you are even more brilliant than you realize. 

Emie is lucky to have you, as am I. 

Happy listening people. This one is a real treat. 

brought to you by @thenewmummycompany

Into the world was born out of a need to connect and share experiences with other moms/mums welcome to my podcast: 

This week I talk to my sister on my own experience of motherhood. The birth of my first son Phoenix, how I overcame losing him and what lead me to start this podcast. 

*Trigger warning* this story includes aspects of child loss which some may find sad. Although it’s a tragic story, we believe it’s as beautiful as it is sad. 

Happy listening. 

Love Frannie 

Brought to you by @newmummycompany