Kiwi Birth Tales

In Episode 51 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Aleisha about the births of her two children, Max and Millie. Aleisha talks through her initial anxiety around giving birth and how both her and her partner read Ina May Gaskins book Guide to Childbirth which completely changed their mindset. After reading the book Aleisha and her partner decided on a Homebirth for their first child, supported by their amazing midwife and they had a quick and positive experience at home, all relaxing in their own comforts an hour after birth. 

Aleisha fell pregnant while still breastfeeding Max and immediately knew she wanted to have another homebirth which was again a positive and calm experience for all involved. Aleisha takes us through her journey of recovery after both children, including how her and her partner approach Mental Health Days during the post partum period and what helped her recover physically. 

Thanks for joining me on the Podcast Aleisha! 

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 50 of Kiwi Birth Tales I interview Lauren about her journey to Motherhood, Lauren takes us through her long fertility journey as she was diagnosed with PCOS and Endometriosis. Lauren tried for years to get pregnant before seeking help where she was put on Clomophine unsuccessfully, after suffering a miscarriage Lauren was referred to Fertility Associates Christchurch and during this time they decided to work with Oranga Tamariki on the possibility of becoming parents that way. After a short time a 6 month old baby girl was brought into their care and they were now parents to Abigail. 

Lauren takes us through going ahead with fertility treatments while adjusting to being parents of a 6 month old, falling pregnant after the first round of embryo implantation with their son Patrick. 

Lauren was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at 34 weeks and discusses the problems this caused her with eating and managing her levels at home. At 37 weeks Lauren went into labour with her waters breaking at home, eventually heading to the hospital where labour slowed down. After an induction and epidural Lauren made it to 9cm when the Epidural began to wear off, the Midwife could see a Cervical Lip that meant Patrick was not able to fully descend down the birth canal and after trying to assist the call was made to move to an Emergency C Section. 

Lauren takes us through her experience with the C-Section, recovering after birth and also her breastfeeding journey which she is still on at 19 months with Patrick. 

This episode is packed with a lot of information and Lauren shares her experience so openly with us all which I am so grateful for. Thanks again for joining me on the Podcast Lauren. 

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 49 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Olivia about the birth of her son Gus. Olivia takes us through her experience falling pregnant unexpectedly, being on her feet all day with her job and the things she did to keep fit and healthy. Olivia also discusses the Hypnobirthing materials she used to prepare for her birth and her mindset leading into labour. 

Olivia went into labour at home at 39 weeks and things progressed very quickly, expecting it to be a long labour she was advised to keep doing what she was doing at home but when the midwife arrived to check her Olivia was 9cm dilated and they rushed to the Birth Centre where she gave birth to Gus on arrival. 

Olivia then discusses her experience with breastfeeding, her journey as a new Mum and her experience with the Post Baby Blues. Olivia talks about what she did to seek help and has some great advice for others who may be experiencing the same things. 

Thanks for joining me on the Podcast Olivia!

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 48 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Chavvah about the birth of her son Hudson. Chavvah had a textbook pregnancy until week 24 when she was walking home from work and thought she had wet her pants, as it turns out Chavvah had started to lose her waters and she was immediately admitted to hospital on constant bedrest. 

Chavvah takes us through her experience with being in hospital, not knowing what was going to happen, but also remaining positive through out the entire experience and how this had an impact on their journey. 

Hudson was born at 25+4 weeks vaginally and was then in the NICU for 86 days. Chavvah talks about their experience in the NICU, her afterbirth care as she was passed on from the community Midwife to the hospital care and also their experience bringing Hudson home. 

Chavvah has such a lovely presence and I hope you get as much from her story as I did. If you want to check out their family on Instagram you can do so @chavvahharlock

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 47 of Kiwi Birth Tales Lena takes us through her pregnancy and birth journey with son Lukas. Lena explains her experience with a long labour ending in complications that needed intervention to help bring Lukas into the world, she was too far progressed for a CSection. 

Lena discusses how needing stitches was her worst fear with childbirth and as this ended up happening she needed extra support from her Midwife and aftercare team, that she didn't receive. Lena talks us through what she now knows was not a normal experience in recovery and what she would advocate for in a second pregnancy and birth experience. 

Lena finishes our chat with what has helped her the most in dealing with the trauma associated with her birth - seeing a counsellor who specialises in birth and it's a positive outcome at the end of a long journey. 

Thanks again for joining me on the podcast Lena. 

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 46 of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk with Morgan about the birth of her son Spencer. Morgan takes us through her uncomplicated pregnancy and also through the resources she used in preparing for labour / birth. Morgan attending a Peaceful Pregnancy course in Tauranga, read a Hypnobirthing book and also went to Antenatal classes all. 

Morgan then takes us through her labour beginning and being in denial at the initial signs, then into her Water Birth at Tauranga Hospital. 

Afterwards Morgan discusses her Breastfeeding journey and the ups & downs of having a partner who works away, dealing with baby blues and physically recovering from birth. 

This is a lovely episode, thanks again Morgan for joining me. 

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk with Amber Reid about the birth of her son Rome. Amber is a Kiwi and so is her partner, they live in Newcastle Australia and Amber gave birth in one of the local hospitals there. 

Amber takes us through her quick journey falling pregnant, adjusting to her changing pregnancy body, doing an online hypnobirthing course and then into her labour and birth experience. Amber had a fast labour and spent some time in the pool in hospital however it wasn't full enough at the time when she needed to push so instead moved to the shower where she gave birth to baby Rome. 

Amber talks about her experience after leaving the hospital (only a few short hours after giving birth) and how she is finding life as a new mum. 

Thanks so much for joining me on the Podcast Amber! If you want to check Amber and her family out on Instagram you can do so @amberriedx

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk to Kyla about the birth of her two sons - 1 when she was 18 and 1 later in life with her Husband after deciding this was the next step for their blended family. 

Kyla takes us through her different pregnancy and birth experiences as well as her experience with gender disappointment, life with a newborn and older children and how her pregnancy and recovery experiences differed between pregnancies. 

Thanks for talking on the podcast with me Kyla!

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 43 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Brooke about the birth of her daughter Phoebe. Brooke takes us through her extreme sickness for the majority of her pregnancy and also finding out that her Daughter only had 1 Kidney. 

When Brooke went into labour she expected it to be a long time until birth as baby had been posterior a few days earlier, but she quickly progressed in her labour at home and went to the Hospital at 7cm. From there it was a quick birth for Brooke and Phoebe was born a happy and healthy 10 pounds. 

Brooke needed 12 external stitches and talks us through her experience with this, as well as the issues she had with Breastfeeding. Brooke was exclusively pumping until it started to take too much of a toll on her mental health and soon her baby was sleeping in the night when she was still waking to pump. Brooke discusses her feelings of Mum Guilt over this and her experience in dealing with these issues. 

Thanks so much for joining me on the Podcast Brooke! 

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 42 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Rebecca about the births of her two boys. Both births Rebecca used hypnobirthing techniques, which she explained as being particularly helpful for her partner to know what he could do to support her. Rebecca had 2 waterbirths with no tearing and explains her joy and positive feelings around birth. 

This is such a lovely episode where Rebecca discusses her experience as a new mother and how it differed from her 1st to her 2nd and also her experiences with Breastfeeding. 

Thanks for joining me on the podcast Rebecca! 

Thanks for listening!

@Kiwibirthtales
@Yourbirthproject

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.