Homebirth Stories Australia

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In today's episode we interview Matilda, a mum of three babies born at home and a midwife/nurse by trade. 
After Matilda finished her degree she worked inside hospitals and was a second midwife for women who gave birth at home. Once she fell pregnant she knew this was the way she wanted to give birth. 
After working within the system and seeing medicalised birth, Matilda talks about the vicarious trauma she had and how she worked through this during her pregnancies and births. 
Each of Matilda's three births unfolds as a unique narrative, showcasing the remarkable diversity and beauty inherent in the birthing process. From the evolving pace of her labors to the profound intuition guiding her every decision, Matilda's story underscores the transformative power of embracing the birth experience that resonates most deeply with each individual.

Links:

• Place and Space in relation to Childbirth Research
• The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother Hardcover - by Heng Ou 
• Core & Floor Restore 
• Birth Debrief 

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@homebirthstoriesaustralia

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Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

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In today's episode we talk to Lauren about her two birth experiences. Lauren shares her journey with work from being an instagram influencer and a travel photographer, to pivoting during COVID into the events space and now really leaning into motherhood and being more aligned with her values.
Lauren talks about trying to choose a care provider that worked around her travel/work for her first pregnancy. Lauren chose GP shared care and decided to give birth in the hospital system. Lauren went into labour spontaneously at 39+5 weeks and experienced a long labour where her cervix recoiled and after 30 hours, she opted for an epidural and had an instrumental birth. Throughout our discussion, Lauren addresses the systemic challenges within the maternity system that contributed to her birth trauma.
In her second pregnancy, Lauren sought a new model of care and was welcomed into the MGP program. As she laboured at home, her MGP midwife made a crucial home visit. In that moment, Lauren made the decision to stay home to give birth, supported by her trusted midwife.
Lauren's Links:

• Lauren's Instagram 
• makiathebabyjournal

Links:

• Info on Fentanyl 
• What is an Epidural 
• Effects of maternally administered fentanyl 
• QLD  GOV info on epidurals 
• 2021 Mothers & Babies report - Analgesia 
• Cochrane Review - Epidurals
• Second stage of labour & epidurals 
• Cervical Recoiling - Dr Sara Wickham 
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
• Divided by Annabel Sowemimo 

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

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In today's episode we interviewed Kristyn, who is a mum of two and the president of Homebirth Australia.
Kristyn planned to birth her first baby at home with her private midwife. When Kristyn was 36+6 weeks pregnant she went to hospital with pain on her left side. After a long and painful wait, Kristyn's appendix ruptured resulting in an emergency caesarean under general anaesthesia. Kristyn experienced breastfeeding trauma due to the inadequate care she received from staff within the hospital as she wanted to breastfeed whilst her baby was in the NICU.
Kristyn recounts her journey through the heartbreak of an ectopic pregnancy during her second conception. After a year of trying, Kristyn conceived again and gave birth to her second baby (HBAC) in the comfort of her own home.

Kristyn's links:

• Homebirth Australia Website 
• Homebirth Australia Instagram 
• Kristyn's Instagram 

Links:

• Big Babies - Midwife Thinking
• Induction for Big Babies - Dr Sara Wickham
• Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf
• Birth with Confidence by Rhea Dempsey 

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

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In today's episode, we had the privilege of chatting with Jodie regarding her transformative journey through two distinct birth experiences. During her initial pregnancy, Jodie opted for GP-shared care within a hospital setting, encountering an unforeseen intervention during labour that hindered her desired water birth.
Through meticulous research, the unwavering support of a dedicated doula, and active participation in a hypnobirthing course, she made the informed choice to pursue a homebirth. Jodie navigated through prodromal labor before her designated due date, ultimately delivering two weeks later compared to her first experience - providing insights into her mindset during this period.
By thoughtfully curating her birth team, comprising her partner, doula, and private midwife, Jodie successfully realised the water birth she had long envisioned.
Birth Team:

• Birth in Bloom Website (Doula)
• @birthinbloom_
• Midwife - @Rangimariemidwife

Links:

• Models of Care Australia
• Spinning Babies 
• Optimising Baby Position 
• Optimal Maternal Positioning 
• Cardinal Movements in Labour 
• Early Labour & Mixed Messages - Midwife Thinking 
• Braxton Hicks 

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Deannah who shares her journey through three unique birth experiences.
Deannah's first two births were within the MGP program, where she faced challenges such as unwanted interventions and unfamiliar midwives during the birth of her first baby. She discusses how she realised she suffered from postnatal depression (PND), postnatal anxiety (PNA), and postpartum rage (PPR)following her first birth.
In her second pregnancy, Deannah took a proactive approach by researching and securing the support of a known midwife who respected her wishes for a hands-off approach during labour, despite experiencing a postpartum haemorrhage.
Upon relocating to NSW, Deannah encountered limited options for care models due to her location, prompting her to carefully consider her choice of care provider, especially given her higher risk of postpartum haemorrhage. Ultimately, Deannah opted for a private midwife for her third birth, which took place at home. The skilled midwife's expertise proved invaluable as she effectively managed Deannah's postpartum haemorrhage in the comfort of her own home.

Links: 

• Acute PPH
• Management of PPH
• Recognising who is at risk of PPH: targeting anemic women and scoring systems for clinical use. 
• PPH info 
• Comparing the odds of PPH in planned homebirth against planned hospital birth: results of an observational study of over 500,000 maternities in the UK
• Incidence, trends & severity of primary PPH in Australia: A population-based study using Victorian Perinatal Data Collection data for 764 244 births 
• Risk of Severe PPH in low-risk childbearing women in NZ: exploring the effect of place of birth and comparing 3rd stage management of labor. 

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, we had the honour of speaking with Courtney, who shared with us her personal journey through two contrasting birth experiences, her role as a doula, and the challenges of managing her own business while caring for her young children. Courtney opened up about her experience with prolapse following her first birth, shedding light on a topic often shrouded in silence.

Raised in a belief system that painted birth as a traumatic event, Courtney's story is a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery and research. Through her exploration, she discovered the profound truth that birth can be a beautiful and empowering experience, leading her to make informed choices for her two births.

Our conversation delved into the pivotal role of care providers in shaping the birthing experience, contrasting the unwanted interventions in a birth centre setting with the intentional decision to have a homebirth for her second child. Courtney's narrative is a poignant reminder of the importance of advocating for one's own birthing preferences, following your intuition and embracing the journey of pregnancy and birth.

Courtney's Links:

• Courtney's Website - Journey to Postpartum
• Courtney's Instagram- @Journeytopostpartum 

Links:

• Find a Physio 
• Management of prolapse 
• The Australasian Pelvic Floor Procedure Registry
• Continence Foundation of Australia 

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

Send us Fan Mail

Today, we had a heartfelt conversation with Jo about her two unique birth stories. Facing a breast cancer diagnosis, Jo and her partner initially planned to freeze embryos, but were surprised when Jo became pregnant naturally.  Jo delves into the important decision-making process of choosing the right care provider for her first pregnancy and birth, ultimately opting for a private midwife and a hospital birth. At 42+5 weeks, Jo underwent an induction. For her second baby, despite a gestational diabetes diagnosis, Jo chose to give birth at home.


Links:

• Midwife thinking - Rachel Reed - Gestational Diabetes 
• Midwives' Cauldron Podcast - Gestational Diabetes (pregnancy perspective)
• Midwives' Cauldron Podcast - Gestational Diabetes (babies perspective)
• Benefits and harms associated with an increase in gestational diabetes diagnosis in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective cohort comparison of diagnosis rates, outcomes, interventions and medication use for two periods, 2011–2013 and 2016–2018, using a large perinatal database

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jordan, a midwife and first-time mum who made the decision to birth her baby at home.

We chat to Jordan about her journey to conceive which involved taking Letrozole to help support ovulation. Jordan shared her experience of a swift 6-hour labour, culminating in the beautiful birth of her son in a birth pool.

Notably, Jordan encountered a unique challenge during the third stage of labor, as she experienced Vasovagal Syncope while attempting to deliver the placenta. This occurrence was attributed to the presence of a bilobed placenta situated behind her cervix, a condition known as Cervical Shock Syndrome. Our discussion further delved into Jordan's profound thoughts and emotions surrounding the hospital system, as well as the reasons that guided her decision to embrace the path of a homebirth.

Join us as we explore the intricacies of Jordan's experience, gaining valuable insights into the world of midwifery and the transformative power of making informed choices during the birthing process.

Jordan documented her whole pregnancy and birth on her instagram page  - Fromwomb_toworld

Links:

• Photographer - Caitlyn Hands (Stemmer)  - Earthchild.photography 
• Hunter Valley Homebirthers Facebook group 
• Coulton Stoliar, S., Dahlen, H. G., & Sheehan, A. (2023). A national survey of Australian midwives’ birth choices and outcomes. Women and Birth, 36(2).
• Coulton Stoliar, S., Dahlen, H. G., & Sheehan, A. (2022). Insider knowledge as a double-edged sword: an integrative review of midwives' personal childbearing experiences. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 22(1), 640. 
• PANDA 
  • https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-05/171663_perinatal_anxiety_and_depression_australia.pdf
• Black Dog Institute 

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode we speak with Bel who delves into the transformative power of breathwork, particularly a parasympathetic nasal breathing technique, in managing stress and fostering authentic responses.

During the episode we explore parallels between breathwork and childbirth, highlighting the importance of expressing and validating emotions. Bel also shares the story of her homebirth where she take us through a long back labour that left her feeling physically traumatised, and she emphasises the importance of being adequately supported in your postpartum period, while also allowing yourself time to process your birth. She takes us through her journey towards healing herself out of a freeze state and survival mode, and how breathwork was a huge facilitator in this healing process.

Links:

• Bel's breathwork sessions 
• Australian Breathwork Association  
• Reconnected 
• 2LifeDoula
• It Takes a Village Midwifery 

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

Send us Fan Mail

Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Hayley as she opens up about her transformative journey through two distinct birth experiences. 

Amidst the challenges of navigating pregnancy during the COVID era, Hayley reflects on the profound effects of fragmented care on the birthing process. Following a pivotal moment during her first labour, Hayley made a decision to embrace a new approach to care for her second pregnancy – opting for a homebirth supported by a private midwife.

In a remarkable turn of events, Hayley's second labour presented an unexpected twist as her baby arrived breech. With unwavering support and expertise from her dedicated midwife, Hayley's breech birth unfolded smoothly and safely within the comfort of her home. 

Links: 

• Breech Presentation - The Evolution of Management 
• The Midwives Book 
• Australia's Mothers and Babies Report 
• Women's Experiences of Planing a Vaginal Breech Birth in Australia 
• The Evidence on: Breech Birth 
• What was the Canadian Term Breech Trial? 
• RANZCOG - Management of Breech Birth 
• Term Breech Trial 
• Birthing Instincts 
• Term Breech Trial 
• The Term Breech Trial Ten Years on: Primun Non Nocere? 
• The Great Birth Rebellion 
• Breech without borders 
• ReTeach Breech - Dr Stu

Support the show

@homebirthstoriesaustralia

Support the show by buying us a coffee!

Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.

The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.