Some journeys to parenthood are straightforward. Others ask more of us than we ever imagined.

When Kirra first started trying to grow her family, she never expected it would lead her through years of fertility treatment, multiple surgeries, pregnancy complications, birth trauma, miscarriage, and countless hours navigating a healthcare system that often felt overwhelming and difficult to understand.

Living in rural Australia added another layer to an already complex journey. Accessing specialists meant travel, time away from home, financial sacrifice, and learning to navigate a system that was not always designed with rural families in mind.

In this deeply honest conversation, Kirra shares her experience of being diagnosed with endometriosis, undertaking IVF treatment, and eventually welcoming her son, Raymond, into the world. She speaks openly about the joy of becoming a mother, but also about the challenges that followed, including a traumatic birth, ongoing pelvic floor complications, and the physical and emotional toll that fertility treatment can take on a woman and her family.

Kirra also shares the heartbreak of subsequent failed transfers and pregnancy loss, reflecting on the grief that can accompany the loss of a future you had already started imagining.

What stood out most during this conversation was not simply what Kirra experienced, but who she became through it.

Over time, she learnt to ask questions. She learnt to keep records. She learnt to trust her instincts. She learnt how to advocate for herself when something did not feel right. Like so many women, particularly those living in rural and regional communities, she discovered that sometimes the loudest voice in the room needs to be your own.

This episode is a powerful reminder that fertility journeys are rarely just medical stories. They are stories about relationships, identity, resilience, grief, hope, and the extraordinary strength it takes to keep moving forward when the path ahead is uncertain.

We are incredibly grateful to Kirra for sharing her story with such honesty and vulnerability.

To anyone currently navigating infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, or the complexities of rural healthcare, we hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone.

Thank you, Kirra, for trusting Her Herd with your story.

Because stories matter. They help us feel seen, they help us understand one another, and sometimes they help us find the courage to keep going.

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In this second part of Jen's raw and honest re-introduction, the conversation dives deeper into the "authentic mess" of rural motherhood, personal health battles, and the relentless fight for better healthcare for country families. Jen opens the episode with a heartfelt tribute to her grandmother, Gwen, whose legacy of empathy and unwavering support serves as the foundational spirit for Her Herd.

The episode recounts the harrowing "s***show" of Jen’s pregnancy with Charlie, including a disastrous MRI experience where she battled claustrophobia and physical illness while trying to diagnose chronic bladder stones. This personal struggle is mirrored by Charlie’s own medical journey—facing 35 ear infections in a single year and a lack of immune response to vaccinations—which forced Jen to navigate a public health system that often leaves rural families waiting years for basic surgeries like grommets.

Jen also shares behind-the-scenes stories of her advocacy at the policy level, from attending 60 meetings with politicians in 2025 to "raw dogging" a high-pressure panel at the Bush Summit. She exposes the harsh realities of rural health, such as "bypass" and "non-operational" wards, where hospitals are technically open but lack the staff or resources to safely deliver babies

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In this episode, Jen shares the origin story of Her Herd, which was sparked by her 2019 miscarriage amidst bushfires and her realization of the massive health gaps between city and rural maternity care. Jen and her guest-host navigate the "authentic mess" of motherhood and ADHD while discussing their current fertility journeys, including the emotional toll of hormone treatments and the pressure of being vulnerable in the public eye.

Jen reflects candidly on her harrowing pregnancy with Charlie, a journey marked by passing kidney stones at 28 weeks, battling influenza, and a stressful C-section that resulted in Charlie spending time in special care. The conversation also dives into the heavy weight of advocacy, the hidden financial costs of rural healthcare, and Jen’s hope for a "redemption arc" as she balances her clinical practice with her own family’s needs. Strap in for a conversation that is real, raw, and sometimes ugly, highlighting why your postcode should never dictate the care you receive.

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Alicia “Quirky” Lucas - Olympic gold medalist, commentator, physio and proud country girl - sits with me to unpack two wildly different births. We start in Tokyo during peak COVID, where language barriers, strict protocols and a scheduled breech caesarean meant Matt could only meet baby Matilda via FaceTime (and a stolen extra few hours thanks to one very polite midwife). Alicia lets us into the admin maze that followed - citizenship by descent, emergency passports, hotel quarantine with a newborn - and the ache of being far from home.

Fast-forward to Agnes Water and Bundaberg: no private options, long drives, and a crash-course in rural maternity realities. Alicia plans for a VBAC, walks in at 40+1 already 5 cm, detours home to tuck Tilly into bed (iconic), then rockets back for a 45-minute, hands-on, coached delivery of Daisy. We talk TENS machines, monitoring and cannula “non-negotiable,” the moment her waters went everywhere (RIP Uggs), the surge of “I did it,” and naming Daisy Lee after her mum - who, in perfect family-chaos form, turned up with a freshly broken ankle and a full heart.

Beyond the play-by-play, Alicia shares what elite sport taught her about labour mindset, how to hold both grief and gratitude, and practical ways to keep agency when the system is rigid - especially in the bush. If you’re navigating VBAC decisions, rural care, or just need a brave, generous story to remind you you’re not alone

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Part 2 picks up in the glow of birth — that fierce post-birth high, the first feed, the shower, the “we did it” moment — and follows Em into the days and weeks that came next. What begins as ordinary newborn hard quickly tips into something else: fragmented postpartum care, escalating anxiety, pain, no sleep, and a second night on the ward that left her rattled. Back home, the joy kept swinging high, then higher — and then came the crash.

Em walks us through the red flags she can see now: the inability to sleep, hyper-vigilance about Levi leaving her sight, spiraling worries about feeding and weight, and a “banshee night” that ended with an ED visit. From there, we trace a system not built for rural families: a psychiatrist who hadn’t seen postpartum psychosis before, a near-miss separation to a psych ward that can’t take babies, and two midwives who stood in the doorway and said, “You will not separate this mother and child.” A bed opens in the Gold Coast mother–baby unit; medication begins; sleep returns. Then the next hard: being away from home and husband, advocating for breastfeeding on heavy meds, finding trust with new nurses, and choosing discharge earlier than recommended because autonomy mattered.

Em is clear about what helped her recovery — sleep, continuity, a small circle who showed up, and specialist perinatal mental health care — and she names the gaps: no mother–baby units in most regional areas, clunky referrals, short-supply psychology, and how easily women are told to “just get on with it.” She shares the long horizon too: the fog lifting around 10 months, another wobble at 12, and steadier ground by 14 — not the same person, but stronger, surer, and now advocating for body-weight bias reform, choice and control, and continuity of care for rural women.

This episode sits with the messy middle — the fear, the funny, the fragmented memories — and ends with practical signposts: call earlier than you think (PANDA), ask your GP for a perinatal-specific referral (Gidget Foundation, COPE directory), and keep telling your story. Your voice is the change.

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Today we sit with Em from Warwick, QLD - wife to Max and mum to two-year-old Levi - to trace a first pregnancy that began with hope and quickly collided with the same refrain we hear from so many rural first-time mums: “I didn’t know.” Em takes us from deciding to try for a baby, through eight months of TTC, to that middle-of-the-night positive test, and into a system where timely information and continuity of care were often missing.

Across this conversation you’ll hear the rural realities: a GP visit that felt like a non-event; waiting until 19 weeks to be “picked up” by midwives; early, matter-of-fact risk talk focused on BMI and a likely transfer to Toowoomba; the fear of birthing far from home; and the emotional toll of repeating trauma histories to a new clinician at every appointment. Em shares how a borderline GDM diagnosis (and real-time Bluetooth monitoring) amplified anxiety, how advice landed differently depending on who offered it, and how the absence of relationship-based care can make a healthy pregnancy feel anything but safe.

You’ll also hear what made a difference. Em found credible education (Great Birth Rebellion, Core & Floor Restore’s free antenatal videos, Dr Sarah Buckley’s work, and Catherine Bell’s Birth Map), a local circle of mums who said “you’re one of us,” and - crucially - a private midwife who offered a soft place to land late in pregnancy. With that support, Em built clear, values-led plans (yes/no flowcharts and all), watched her blood sugars settle, and entered labour at 40+1 with a toolkit that included TENS, gas, horse’s breath, and a fiercely present partner. We follow her fast escalation from home to clinic to birth suite, waters breaking on the table, a gentle in-and-out catheter to quiet her mind, a tiny cervical lip moved aside, and finally an unaugmented vaginal birth crowned by the words every woman deserves to hear: “Look at you. Clever girl.”

This is an episode about how knowledge, safety, and continuity reshape the experience - and why rural models of care must center them. Part 2 continues tomorrow with Em’s postpartum, reflections on what she wishes she’d known earlier, and what she wants every rural parent and clinician to take forward.

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In this episode, we sit down with Jenny, a rural mum whose birth story takes us deep into the complexity of what it means to carry risk, fear, and strength all at once.

After trying to conceive for five months, Jenny was told her pregnancy was high-risk due to her BMI and a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. What followed was weeks of uncertainty, a five-hour relocation to Newcastle for care, an induction at 38 weeks, and an emergency caesarean under general anesthetic. Her baby was born small and unexpectedly, with forceps. But that wasn’t the end — days later, Jenny developed sepsis and was hospitalised for 10 days.

Jenny speaks with honesty and clarity about the mental toll of her experience, the trauma that followed, and the hard decision not to have more children. But she also shares her resilience — in finding support, making changes for her mental health, and in speaking up for herself and other women navigating birth in larger bodies.

This conversation is a reminder that trauma and strength often walk side by side — and that no one should have to carry it alone.

We’re so grateful to Jenny for trusting us with her story.

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In this episode, we sit down with Shara, a rural mum who shares the extraordinary journey of her four births - each one completely different, each shaped by its own set of challenges, decisions, and lessons. From a hospital birth during the peak of COVID-19 restrictions at just 21, to the calm of a water birth, the chaos of an unplanned roadside delivery, and finally, a planned home birth supported by family - Shara’s story is full of grit, self-trust, and quiet determination.

She reflects on what it was like navigating a system with limited midwifery options and no continuity of care, and how that shaped her choices along the way. With every birth, Shara grew more confident in listening to her body, asking questions, and making informed decisions - even when they went against what others expected.

This is a story about learning as you go, finding your voice, and doing birth your own way - four times over. We’re so grateful to Shara for sharing her story with us. It’s one that reminds us just how strong women are, and how every birth deserves to be seen and heard.

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In this episode, we sit down with Jordan, a mum of three from regional NSW, who shares her story of welcoming her son River into the world - born with a cleft lip and palate.

Jordan speaks with openness and heart about the shock of receiving River’s diagnosis at the 20-week scan, and the uncertainty that followed. From a planned caesarean at 36 weeks to feeding challenges, early surgeries, and the many moments in between - this is a story about strength, love, and learning to parent through the unexpected.

She reflects on the emotional toll, the anxiety about what lay ahead, and the deep bond that grew between them despite the complexities of care. There’s honesty here about the grief, but also so much joy and pride. Jordan also shares beautiful advice for other parents navigating similar paths - reminding us that even when things don’t go to plan, there is still room for connection, beauty, and hope.

This is an episode about finding your feet while the ground is shifting. About advocacy, adjustment, and showing up for your baby in every way you can.

We’re so grateful to Jordan for sharing River’s story with us.

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In this episode, we sit down with Leah, a mum of three living in Narrabri, who shares the raw, beautiful, and at times deeply challenging journey of becoming a parent in regional Australia.

Leah’s story spans fertility struggles, an ectopic pregnancy, IVF, and the surprise of naturally conceiving identical twins. With honesty and grace, she talks us through what it was like to face medical emergencies far from major hospitals, to drive hours for basic care, and to navigate high-risk pregnancies and diagnoses with limited local resources.

From emergency surgery and IVF in Sydney, to a twin pregnancy complicated by talipes (club foot) and preterm labour at 33 weeks, Leah and her husband Pat have weathered it all with resilience and love. Their twins were born at 36 weeks via c-section and required follow-up treatment far from home - adding another layer to an already complex postpartum experience.

Leah also speaks to the emotional toll - the quiet grief of pregnancy loss, the mental load of parenting under pressure, and the importance of protecting your mental health when the system isn’t built for families like yours.

This is a story about trust, distance, diagnosis, and sheer determination. We’re so grateful to Leah for sharing it with us. It’s one that will stay with you.

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