Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Monique – a mother of two, postpartum doula and co-founder of women's health and wellness clinic, Maia Mothers Collective.

From an early age, Mon's longing to embrace motherhood was undeniable. However, faced with a 9-year absence of her menstrual cycle, she recognised the imperative of restoring her body's equilibrium. Through determination and resilience, she embarked on a journey that led her to the essential support she required, effectively regaining harmony and even experiencing the delightful surprise of conception shortly after her cycle's return. Her belief in the birthing process defined her journey, nurtured by the strong women in her linage. This innate trust guided her to have a physiological birth in hospital.

During her postpartum period, a conversation with her close friend and future business partner unveiled an unmet need for holistic care and support within a single, centralised clinic – giving birth to the vision of Maia Mothers Collective."

As Mon began to feel the urge for another child, signs of a daughter's presence began to manifest. Embracing this, she soon found herself expecting once again. Despite a previous positive birth experience, Mon felt a compelling urge to seek an alternative environment away from the hospital. This gained further strength when she crossed paths with a private homebirth midwife, who provided her with the essential evidence that solidified her choice for an environment aligned with her safety and her envisioned birth experience.

Today, Mon’s story unfolds through her meticulous preconception, birthing, and postpartum preparations, revealing a journey of profound presence and mindful intent. 

Show Notes:

Instagram: @monique_postpartumdoula

Clinic: @maiamother.collective

Podcast: @rebirthedthepodcast

Midwife: @you_midwife

Photographer: @anita.alice.photography

Hypnobirthing: @meaghan_amor_

Maia Mothers Collective website here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

On today's episode, we explore the fascinating journey of Alana and her nine birth experiences. Alana grew up in a community where natural, undisturbed births were celebrated as the norm, fostering a positive outlook on childbirth. Witnessing her close friend giving birth further deepened her understanding of the process and prepared her for her own journey into motherhood.

Alana's initiation into motherhood was a deeply sacred and intimate experience as she gave birth at home, with only her husband by her side. Her following births echoed a similar pattern, with swift arrivals earthside. However, the birth of her fifth child, brought forth new challenges as Alana experienced intense pain due to her baby's posterior position, leaving her with some apprehension for her next labor.

During her seventh pregnancy, complications arose when she experience an antepartum haemorrhage, leading to an emergency transfer from her rural hospital for a managed delivery. This was the first time Alana gave birth without her husband's presence. Although her next birth in a hospital went smoothly without any interventions, she felt a disconnect and missed the sense of sacredness she experienced when birthing at home.

Alana began her ninth pregnancy with hospital care but eventually decided to follow her instincts and return to her birthing roots. Today we hear the profound reflections and lessons Alana learned from her unique birth experiences, and how her husband's gentle reassurance that she had everything she needed within her, served as a guiding light when overwhelmed at the thought of birthing without him.

Show Notes:

Instagram: @house.of.plenty

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

Welcome to today's episode, where we join Taylor on her profound journey from maiden to mother. When Taylor first conceived her daughter, she found herself with limited knowledge about childbirth and the various care options available to her. Seeking continuity of care, she embraced her local MGP program, leaning on the familiar presence of dedicated midwives that brought her a sense of security.

As Taylor's labour began, she was confronted with intense back pain due to her baby's posterior position. The realisation that her labour was unfolding differently from her expectations sparked a sense of fear, casting a shadow of doubt over her birthing process. Eventually, interventions became part of her birth story, leaving Taylor with a feeling of disconnection from her daughter that resembled her disconnection throughout pregnancy.

With the arrival of her next pregnancy, Taylor was deeply immersed in her pursuit for knowledge. She delved into the intricacies of physiological birth and what best supports the hormonal flow of labour. A turning point emerged during a routine scan when Taylor struggled to advocate for herself. The realisation that her voice might remain unheard during childbirth, given her difficulty in using it at that specific moment, served as a pivotal wake-up call. This realisation along with the disconnection she felt with her care providers during her pregnancy, prompted her to consider the path of free birth and embracing the sovereignty of her birth journey.

Today we hear Taylor's transformative path, guided by the wisdom she discovered and the resources that fostered her unwavering faith in her body and its innate capacity for birth.

Show Notes:

Instagram: @_thewombcollective @_tearsfortwo

Resources: Dr Rachel Reed - Midwife Thinking

Books: Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage, 10 Moons

Podcasts: Midwives Couldran

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

On today's episode, we welcome Tahnee, a mother of two and one half of the renowned wellness brand, SuperFeast. Tahnee’s journey into motherhood intricately wove together her yoga background and her profound connection to both body and spirit. This connection led her to intuitively recognise her pregnancy, fostering an unwavering sense of trust and deepening her relationship with her body and baby during that time. Living a slow and nourishing lifestyle further enhanced her blissful pregnancy experience.

Tahnee’s positive perception of birth, which was shaped by her mother, led her to birth at home with the support of midwives. As the hormonal flow of labour unfolded, she embarked on an almost psychedelic journey, transcending reality to bring her baby girl into the world. This transformative experience awakened Tahnee’s deep appreciation for the extraordinary power of birth, while also highlighting the occasional doubts projected by the midwives, which would later influence her future birth choices.

In the years that followed, as Tahnee embraced motherhood while navigating a growing company with her husband, she desired to reconnect with her body and mind before welcoming their second child. This realisation led her to actively practice her belief in herself and the birthing process, choosing a wild pregnancy and a sovereign birth at home. Throughout her pregnancy, she and her husband navigated through any fears that arose, strengthening their bond and fostering open and honest communication.

As Tahnee’s second birth unfolded, she noted the difference in how it progressed. She found herself in a constant state of motion, exploring different positions and movements to facilitate her baby's descent. Tahnee reflects on the deep trust she had in her baby when he took a moment to land, and candidly shares the raw and authentic nature of birth, acknowledging its messiness and chaotic beauty.

Show Notes:

Instagram: @tahneeyoga

Business: @superfeast

Website: SuperFeast Australia

Podcast: @superfeastpodcast

Resources: @sarahjbuckley @janehardwickecollings @wild.pregnancy_free.birth

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

On today’s episode we welcome Ema, a first-time mum, whose path to motherhood was filled with unexpected turns, profound self-discovery, and a transformation that forever changed her perception of birth.

Ema had a deep-rooted fear that having children might disrupt the harmony of her relationships. A turning point came when she experienced the heartbreaking loss of an accidental pregnancy, propelling her onto a conscious path of conceiving a child. When faced with fertility struggles, Ema went on a relentless pursuit to find a provider who could assist them in unravelling the underlying issues. It would then take five additional attempts before conceiving her son.

As an accomplished veterinarian, Ema found solace in the world of medicine and surgery. But as she contemplated the birthing experience ahead of her, she discovered a stark contrast between how animals give birth naturally and the over-medicalised approach prevalent in our current maternal system. This realisation sparked a desire for a different kind of birth - one that honoured the innate wisdom of her body and allowed her to surrender to the natural process.

Today we hear how Ema's innate trust in birth surfaced when she heard the nurse announce, "that's a bum, not a head", and the mental battle she endured during her three weeks of prodromal labor.

Show Notes:

Instagram: @emabowman

Hypnobirthing: @your.birth.your.power

Tens Hire: @thebirthstore

Resources: @melaniethemidwife @coreandfloorrestore

Podcasts: The Great Birth Rebellion

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

Today, we invite you to join us on Steph's journey, where she unlocked her inner wisdom, and birthed not only two babies but also a deep passion to serve other families on their unique path.

As Steph's first pregnancy unfolded, she grappled with the normal fears surrounding childbirth. However, deep within her, she held an instinctual trust that she had the ability to birth her baby naturally. She chose a low-risk hospital that offered the gentle care of midwives; an environment she felt perfectly attuned to her desired birth outcome. Through the transformative experience of that birth, she gained profound insight into the areas of her own life that required healing, unveiling the path to self-discovery.

When Steph's firstborn was just eight months old, she unexpectedly discovered she was carrying her next baby. Scans uncovered concerns that posed potential risks, jeopardising her plans to give birth once again in the low-risk hospital. Undeterred, she dove deep into advocacy and education, arming herself with knowledge. Through her unwavering determination, she steered clear of the high-risk label that loomed, reclaiming her power and birthing choices.

In the midst of her journey, she pondered the idea of free birth. Yet, in tune with her intuition, she sensed the need for a midwife's supportive presence. Today, we delve into Steph's experience with a postpartum haemorrhage, and how her birthing experiences ignited a passion within her to support and guide others on their own transformative journey.

Show Notes:

Instagram: @stephgowing_

Resources: @coreandfloorrestore

@melaniethemidwife

@trusting_birth

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

On today's episode, we embark on an exploration into midwifery life and the personal birth experiences with Mae’t, a dedicated midwife, clinic owner, and mother of three.

Mae’t’s journey into midwifery began with her studies in the UK, but her calling to this work traces back to her earliest days. Her own birth story resonates with profound significance - a testament to her destiny. Born at home within a bamboo pyramid, guided earthside by her mother's primal wisdom.

From a tender age, Mae’t embraced the role of her mother's mini doula, witnessing the transformative beauty and vulnerability of birth. Unbeknownst to her at the time, this early experience imprinted deep within her, laying the foundations for her life’s purpose. In the footsteps of her lineage, she followed her grandmother's path, weaving herself into the tapestry of midwifery.

Mae’t returned to Australia after the birth of her first child. The contrasts she encountered in the maternity care system ignited a fire within her. She longed for a different approach—a way that honours each woman's unique journey, and guides her to reclaim her innate power.

In divine timing, Mae’t’s path led her to co-found It Takes a Village Midwifery, a sanctuary that offers respectful and holistic woman-centred maternity care, cultivating a loving community of women, united by their deep reverence for the miracle of birth.

Today, we delve into Mae’t’s own personal birth stories, how she navigated the complexities of the maternity system with grace, and explore the immeasurable value of a private midwife.

Show Links:

Instagram: @maetscott

Clinic: @ittakesavillagemidwifery

Website: www.itavmidwifery.com

Books: Down to Earth Birth Book, Birthing From Within, Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

On today’s show we hear the birth story of Mount Isa midwife, Toni. 

Toni found herself on an unexpected journey when she discovered she was pregnant. With her relationship still in its early stages, an extra layer of complexity was added to her path.Throughout her pregnancy, Toni encountered numerous hurdles. Working in the midwifery space, she was exposed to confronting realities that stirred fear within her. Meanwhile, the pain of a relationship breakdown weighed heavily on her heart, intertwining with the challenges she faced. Aware of the outdated practices prevalent in her small hospital, she knew she had to navigate and advocate for herself.

During her 20-week scan, Toni received the unexpected news of having placenta previa. Initially, she remained unfazed, holding onto hope that it would resolve itself as her pregnancy progressed. However, as time wore on, the reality of the situation began to sink in, and her dreams of a physiological birth gradually faded away. The weight of this loss brought about a profound sense of grief, as she mourned the birth experience she had envisioned. Fuelled by her own education and guided by the wisdom she received, Toni decided she would stand as a guardian of her own story, determined to carve out a sacred space within the operating room. Seeing her unwavering resilience, Toni’s fellow employees recognised the significance of her vision and came together to create a beautiful, reverent atmosphere for her birth.

The ripples of her birth extended far beyond her own journey, igniting change in the face of tradition within the hospital. Today, she shares the birth preferences she requested to facilitate a gentle arrival for her son, along with the unwavering support she received from her community throughout her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.

Show Notes:

Instagram: @ticki_tole87

Student midwife/Photographer: @jesstookthat

Resources: @coreandfloorrestore

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

On today’s episode, Natalie returns to share the freebirth of her third son, Alfie Bloom. This pregnancy was a deeply emotional one, unearthing a plethora of feelings and challenges that she had to navigate. In the face of this vulnerability, the love and unity within Natalie's circle of friends created a nurturing space for her to embrace the journey ahead. 

Natalie's birth unfolded with unexpected swiftness, catching everyone by surprise. She found herself in awe of the intensity and power coursing through her body. After the whirlwind of her son’s entry earthside, they consciously chose to slow down, pausing to honour a sacred ritual - the burning of her sons umbilical cord. This symbolic act serving as a rite of passage, welcoming her newborn into this world and honouring the intricate connection between mother and child.

Natalie shares her extraordinary journey of free birth, the transformative power of community support during postpartum, and the sacred rituals that marked her entrance into motherhood for the third time ⋒

Show Links:

Instagram: @nataliealaska_rewild

Natalie's Previous Episode link here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia

On today's episode we hear the four birth stories from Northern Rivers mother, Lainie.

From an early age, Lainie understood that birth was a natural and awe-inspiring process. The homebirths of her siblings were moments filled with love, support, and unwavering trust in the birthing process. Witnessing these births, solidified for her that birth was a sacred journey of empowerment and self-discovery. These experiences would lay the foundation for her own path to birthing in her power.

Lainie’s first birth, a testament of her endurance, unfolded over a remarkable 36 hours. Her second birth was so fast she barely had time to remove her clothing. With unwavering resilience, she navigated a hospital transfer and all that it encompassed. Drawing from the wisdom and lessons learned from her previous experiences and listening to her intuition, Lainie chose to have the support and guidance of a private midwife for her future births.  In the unfolding of her third birth, she discovered the essence of pure bliss, and as her forth birth stretched into the early hours on Boxing Day, her unwavering determination shone brightly. 

Through challenging labours, a hospital transfer, and the beauty of sovereign, undisturbed birth, Lainie surrendered to the rhythm of her surges, embracing the intensity and vulnerability that every birth demands. 

Show Links:

Instagram: @lainies.roses

Midwives: @nat.hills.midwife @yourmidwifeastrajoynt

Book: Down To Earth Birth Book

Mentioned in this episode:

Positive Birth Australia Birth Affirmations Tracks Available Now!

Did you know that studies have shown affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem and reduce stress? Here at Positive Birth Australia, we’ve crafted a 20-minute affirmation to guide you to deeply remember the power you hold within. And to my fellow Belly Birth mothers, we’ve created a track specifically for you, to honour that all birth is sacred.

Positive Birth Australia

Mentioned in this episode:

Sacred Birth Affirmations Track

This gentle affirmation track was created to help you feel safe, confident, and connected in pregnancy and birth. Perfect for daily mindset work or to play during labour.

Positive Birth Australia