Growing Up Raising Us

In today's episode, Chelsea (she/her and co-host of the poddy) shares her incredible homebirth after caesarean (HBAC) story.

Chelsea had an unplanned caesarean-section in hospital for her first birth and after 2+ years of preparation and research, had her second birth at home, surrounded by her beautiful birth team. Chelsea shares the preparation for her second birth in the previous episode. 

In this episode, Chelsea reflects on the days preceding her second birth, sharing how her labour progressed, her pain management strategies and distraction techniques, and her transition into active labour. She goes on to share the beautiful birth of her second baby, born into the water at home, surrounded by the love and safety of her birth team. 

Chels also reflects on the language around VBAC/HBAC, and shares her thoughts around the idea of ‘achieving’ a VBAC or having a ‘successful’ VBAC. 

Some wonderful people and resources that Chelsea mentions in this episode:

It was a real honour to hear Chelsea's birth story and learn more about her journey over the past few years. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it ❤️

To join our growing community, see photos of our weekly guests, behind the scenes moments, and keep up to date with episode releases, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@growingupraisinguspodcast⁠.⁠

This podcast was recorded on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Wilam and Boon Wurrung/Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation. Every month, I Pay The Rent and so can you - click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more.

In today's episode, Chelsea (she/her and co-host of the poddy) gives us insights into her journey towards VBAC - vaginal birth after caesarean.

Chelsea reflects on her first birth which involved a long labour, posterior baby, last minute midwife change and ultimately ended in an unplanned caesarean-section in hospital. Chels shares that she immediately knew she wanted a different experience for any subsequent pregnancies and births, and so began her journey towards VBAC. 

In this episode, Chelsea shares her learnings and tips around homebirth and vaginal birth after a caesarean. She discusses:

We are SO excited to share this episode! Chelsea’s passion and knowledge around birth and birth choices comes through in her story, and we hope there are take-aways for all our listeners in this ep - regardless of your birth preferences and choices. All births are beautiful births and we are honoured to share different ways of approaching birth. 

Some wonderful people and resources that Chelsea mentions in this episode:

To join our growing community, see photos of our weekly guests, behind the scenes moments, and keep up to date with episode releases, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@growingupraisinguspodcast.⁠

This podcast was recorded on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Wilam and Boon Wurrung/Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation. Every month, I Pay The Rent and so can you - click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more.

We are SO excited to bring you this week's episode - the first episode for 2024 and the first episode under the relaunched Growing Up, Raising Us pod. 

Today, we officially launch the podcast makeover and share all the ins and outs - who the heck is your new co-host, why have we relaunched and what you can expect this year from Growing Up, Raising Us.

It's a short, snappy episode today - we will be doing an Ask Us Anything soon if you have any burning questions.

To join our growing community, see photos of our weekly guests, behind the scenes moments, and keep up to date with episode releases, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@growingupraisinguspodcast.

This podcast was recorded on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Wilam and Boon Wurrung/Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation. Every month, I Pay The Rent and so can you - click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more.

In this episode, I'm joined by Bree Stafford (she/her), a birth doula, birth photographer, and mum of three. Bree joins us to share her VBA2C/HBA2C story.

Bree's three birth experiences have opened her heart to what is possible. Her first babies, two boys, whose arrivals took her on a journey through an intervention filled hospital birth, resulting in a Cesarean with her first son. The process of planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) with her second son, resulting in a repeat, yet empowered cesarean. With her third pregnancy with her daughter, Bree realised that everything she needed was within, not external to her, and she birthed her lovingly at home (HBA2C).

Bree's birth experiences, combined with her doula training with Rhea Dempsey in 2009, enables her to support pregnant and labouring women in their journeys to motherhood. Through her work, she wishes to provide women with the information, wisdom, and power that she wishes she had leading into her first son's birth.

To see photos of our weekly guests and keep up to date with episode releases, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@definitelybabypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Definitely Baby theme music was written by Hagan Mathews and produced at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sleeplessfootscray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The photo in the podcast logo was taken by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maki.levine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, I'm joined by Bree Stafford (she/her), a birth doula, birth photographer, and mum of three. She is my wonderful doula who'll be supporting my VBAC this year/early next. In this episode, Bree shares her 'Recipes for a Successful VBAC' as comprehensive tips for anyone planning for a VBAC.

More about Bree:

Bree's three birth experiences have opened her heart to what is possible. Her first babies, two boys, whose arrivals took her on a journey through an intervention filled hospital birth, resulting in a Cesarean with her first son. The process of planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) with her second son, resulting in a repeat, yet empowered cesarean. With her third pregnancy with her daughter, Bree realised that everything she needed was within, not external to her, and she birthed her lovingly at home (HBA2C).

Bree's birth experiences, combined with her doula training with Rhea Dempsey in 2009, enables her to support pregnant and labouring women in their journeys to motherhood. Through her work, she wishes to provide women with the information, wisdom, and power that she wishes she had leading into her first son's birth.

To see photos of our weekly guests and keep up to date with episode releases, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠@definitelybabypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Definitely Baby theme music was written by Hagan Mathews and produced at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sleeplessfootscray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The photo in the podcast logo was taken by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maki.levine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we’re joined by Fleur (she/her), who is a mother to an almost two-year-old daughter named Prim. Fleur works runs her own business, Umi Wellbeing, as somatic health and wellness coach, predominantly for women.

Fleur shares that it took over a year for her and her husband Will to conceive, which came as a surprise. Fleur conceived the week after her mother passed away, just before their initially planned start of IVF.

Choosing private care under the guidance of an obstetrician, Fleur sought additional support by hiring a doula. However, due to Fleur contracting COVID-19 just before giving birth, her care transitioned to the neighbouring public hospital, and her doula was unable to attend. She discusses the impact of being COVID-positive during labour and the subsequent challenges she faced with postpartum anxiety, heightened by the recent loss of her mother.

Fleur also reflects on her professional transformation, discussing how motherhood prompted a significant shift in her perspective on work. Formerly holding a high-ranking corporate HR position, she talks about the changes in her values and aspirations after becoming a mother.

I loved recording this episode, and I hope you enjoy listening too. 

You can find Fleur's website here.

Or on instagram here.

To see photos of our weekly guests and keep up to date with episode releases, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠@definitelybabypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Definitely Baby theme music was written by Hagan Mathews and produced at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sleeplessfootscray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The photo in the podcast logo was taken by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maki.levine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, I’m joined by sisters Hannah and Em. Hannah is a mother to three children: Iris, Oaka, and Charlie. Iris and Oaka are angel babies, who Hannah very sadly lost during her pregnancies with them, before she had Charlie, who is now 20 months old. So I’d obviously like to include a trigger warning here as we do discuss Hannah’s story of miscarriage and pregnancy loss at a few points throughout today’s chat. I’ve put some resources below that I encourage you to visit if this episode brings anything up for you. Hannah’s story in episode 4 touches on pregnancy and parenting after multiple pregnancy losses. She also shares her motherhood journey with Charlie: from birth, breastfeeding, sleep challenges, and relationship and friendship shifts. 

Em is a mother to an almost 3-year-old son, Wilbur. In episode 5, Em shared her experience of breaking up with her partner who she’d been with since they were in high school due to his infidelity. All of this happening while Em was navigating new motherhood with a young toddler. She speaks about navigating being single for the first time since she was 16, dating as a single parent, navigating co-parenting, and her motherhood journey with Wilbur. 

Sharing these things that aren’t spoken about very often is so important in others feeling less alone, and I thank you for your honesty Hannah and Em. 

Today’s chat is such a raw and open conversation about their experience of growing up through their parents' hostile divorce, which had a massive impact on them, with both of them living alone in commission housing and having to work to get themselves through their final years of high school as a result. Following the divorce, both of their relationship's with their mother was impacted as well, and they don't have her as a part of their lives today. So they speak about how that has been in their own motherhood journeys. They also touch on how their parents' divorce has influenced their attitudes to their own parenting choices and styles, and on Em’s outlook to her co-parenting relationship with her son’s father. We also catch up on how parenthood has shifted for them in the 8-9 months since we recorded and how everything is going for them now.

You can listen to Hannah's story in episode 4 of season 1 here.

You can listen to Em's story in episode 5 of season 1 here.

PANDA: ⁠https://panda.org.au/⁠

Beyond Blue: ⁠https://www.beyondblue.org.au⁠

Pink Elephants: ⁠https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/⁠

SANDS: ⁠https://www.sands.org.au/⁠

Follow our instagram ⁠⁠@definitelybabypodcast⁠⁠ for photos of weekly guests, and episode updates and releases.

The Definitely Baby theme music was written by Hagan Mathews and produced at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sleeplessfootscray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The photo in the podcast logo was taken by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maki.levine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wadawurrung, the Wurundjeri Wilam and Boon Wurrung/Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation. Australia always was and always will be the land of the First Peoples. Every month, I Pay The Rent and so can you - click⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more.

In this episode, I'm joined by Emma (she/her) and Raji (she/her), two lovely friends I've met along my motherhood journey. We dive deep into the transformations our personal friendships have undergone since becoming parents, sharing the highs and lows. From the challenges of maintaining connections to the unexpected joys of making new mum/parent friends, we explore the dynamics of parenthood and friendship.

Emma lives in Naarm, Melbourne with her husband and their two year old son. Emma has shared her journey into motherhood in episode 3 of season 1, which you can go back and listen to here.

Raji is also living in Melbourne, with her husband and two-and-a-half year old son. She and her family moved to Australia from the UK and Dubai almost two years ago.

Chelsea is the host of the pod and lives in Melbourne with her partner Hagan and their two-year-old daughter.

To see photos of our weekly guests and keep up to date with episode releases, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠@definitelybabypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Definitely Baby theme music was written by Hagan Mathews and produced at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sleeplessfootscray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The photo in the podcast logo was taken by ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maki.levine⁠⁠⁠⁠.

[Content Warning: This episode discusses physical and sexual abuse]

In this episode, we're joined by Maria (she/her), a mother whose life took an unexpected turn when her daughter, Josephine, was diagnosed with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a rare chromosomal abnormality at two weeks old. Maria shares the challenges and transformations her family experienced, from the initial shock of the diagnosis to their journey towards acceptance and gratitude.

Maria shares the emotional rollercoaster from the initial shock of the diagnosis to embracing the realities of special needs parenting. At 36 weeks into her pregnancy, an ultrasound revealed her baby was measuring 10 weeks behind, potentially leading to a c-section and an extended stay in the NICU. Maria believes her extensive research and use of acupressure, essential oils, curb-walking, and determination led to a complication-free, physiological, vaginal birth.

Maria reflects on how, despite the initial hardships and endless appointments, she and her husband began to discover the incredible blessings Josephine brought into their lives. Their marriage grew stronger, they formed meaningful friendships, and their prayers were answered in unexpected ways. Grief transformed into profound gratitude as they got to know their little girl.

Josephine's life may be different, but it is no less valuable. The experience reshaped Maria's perspective on motherhood, emphasising the power of love and the true meaning of life.

Maria has also put all of the evidence and information she researched into a pregnancy and birth app, ⁠Zelie.⁠ It covers useful things to do during each trimester to prepare for birth, pregnancy exercises and stretches, the importance of nutrition - with some great smoothie and food recipes - and things like pain management and breathing techniques for labour. You can download it to iOS or Android.

Content Warning: From 48 - 51 minutes, this episode contains discussions about the physical and sexual abuse experienced by children and individuals with disabilities. These discussions can be difficult to hear, so feel free to skip this episode, segment of the episode, or take breaks as needed. I encourage you to seek support (I’ve listed some resources below) if you find these topics distressing or they bring anything up for you:

COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cope.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Beyond Blue: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.beyondblue.org.au⁠⁠⁠

PANDA: ⁠⁠⁠https://panda.org.au/⁠⁠⁠

Lifeline: ⁠⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au/⁠

To see some photos of Maria and her family, follow us on instagram ⁠⁠@definitelybabypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Definitely Baby theme music was written by Hagan Mathews and produced at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sleeplessfootscray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The photo in the podcast logo was taken by ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maki.levine⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we're joined by Josi (she/her). Josi is living with her husband and her four kids aged 9, 8, 8 and 4 in Brisbane.

Josi was only 23 when her first daughter was born via planned C-section due to breech presentation. Shortly after she fell pregnant again, this time with twins ! Another planned C-section was her chosen mode of birth, which turned into an emergency c-section at 36 weeks due to suddenly developing preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. 

Thinking that their family was complete, they were very surprised when baby number 4 came along and this time Josi was on a mission to avoid having to have another C-section. Her local hospital was somewhat unsupportive and she changed her antenatal care to a private midwife at 30 weeks and booked into a hospital that is over one hour drive away but is known to be more VBAC friendly. 

Josi had her VBA2C, that she describes as a homebirth like hospital birth, at 41+1. They arrived at the hospital with 45 min to spare before their son was born. 

Follow our instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@definitelybabypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠for photos of weekly guests and episode updates and releases.

The Definitely Baby theme music was written by Hagan Mathews and produced at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sleeplessfootscray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The photo in the podcast logo was taken by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maki.levine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This episode was recorded on the land of the Turrbal people and the lands of the Wurundjeri Wilam and Boon Wurrung/Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation. Australia always was and always will be the land of the First Peoples. Every month, I Pay The Rent and so can you - click⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more.