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:

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

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

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

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:

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

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:

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

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

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

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:

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

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 Civil Engineer and first-time mother, Bronte, shares her empowering drug-free hospital birth.

Prior to falling pregnant, Bronte always assumed she would be the person who wanted all the pain relief on offer. Once she began to read birth books and listen to positive birth stories her beliefs and preferences about birth completely shifted. Realising her body was built for this and endeavouring to achieve a natural physiological birth.

Towards the end of her pregnancy, Bronte was advised to head into hospital for light cramping. While there, she was told her light cramping were actually the beginnings of labour. Excited by this news she planned to stay for monitoring and then head home to labour in her own environment, but while walking back to the waiting room - her waters broke. As she glanced down she noticed that her waters were stained with meconium, flooding her with anxiety over the realisation that her water birth would no longer be an option. 

Bronte takes us through the empowering birth that unfolded, the difference in midwives after a shift change, and how despite under pressure she was able to advocate for herself and make informed decisions that helped her achieve the birth she desired.

Show Links: 

Instagram: @bronte.ellen

Books: Up The Duff

Podcast: The Kick

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

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

Today I dive into all things birth with Anna The Spiritual Midwife; host of The Natural Birth Podcast. 

After years of holding sacred space for women, it was a natural progression for Anna to enter the birth space. Her time studying and practicing as a Midwife exposed her to the many flaws of our broken maternity system; a system she would ultimately step away from in pursuit of her passion to educate women on the power of natural physiological birth. 

Today we speak on topics such as fear-based birth narratives, our over medicalised maternity system and the impacts this can have on birth outcomes, birth as a rite of passage, and so much more.

Anna is a leader in changing the birth narrative, devoting her life to helping women claim their birth as a Rite of Passage.

Show Links:

Instagram: @the_spiritual_midwife

Website: www.thenaturalbirthcourse.com

Free Resources link here

Birth Course 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

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

Today we are taken through the highs and lows of Elle’s fertility journey. 

After years of unsuccessful conception, Elle began heading down the fertility route to find some answers.

As she was about to enter another round of testing, her fertility doctor suggested she her husband have  testing done first. When his results came back they would discover the heartbreaking news. The time that followed would be a test of resilience and strength as they endured the often lows that come with infertility.

A time away to reset their hearts gave them the space and clarity they needed to decide on using a sperm donor. Being adopted, Elle’s husband knew that love for your child is not based on how they come into your life. When finally experiencing their first successful embryo transfer, Elle takes us through the anxieties and challenges faced during her pregnancy and birth.

During her next pregnancy, her 20 week scan picked up velamentous cord insertion. Advocating for herself, she requested another scan sooner than the recommended time frame, resulting in the discovery that her cervix was shortening at a concerning rate. Taking the precautions needed to keep her from going into preterm labour, Elle takes us through the healing birth that followed. 

Today Elle shares how being a part of the Infertility community gave her deeper insight when it mattered most, and why feeling respected and held in the birth space is just as important as your birth outcome.

Show Links: 

Instagram: @after_in.fertility_elle

Fertility Specialist: Dr Kee Ong

Hypnobirthing: @belly2birth

Books: How to Heal a Bad Birth

Episode recommendation: S1 EP4: Shana Arber

Today’s episode is brought to you by: 

USE CODE: PBA20 FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE

Nature’s Farmer Sea, a company committed to healthy and sustainable living with their nutrient dense Sea Moss products. Check out their Instagram @naturesfarmersea and website Mentioned in this episode:

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs

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 first-time mother, Laura, takes us through her journey to bring her son earthside.

A previous pregnancy loss led to understandable anxieties in her first trimester. It was at her 11 week scan that those fears were decimated when she saw her babies strong heartbeat for the first time. After years of suffering from mental health issues, she describes her pregnancy as being a healing journey that restored deep trust in her body and what it was capable of. 

Living a holistic lifestyle, Laura innately pulled away from the medical system, knowing that she wanted to birth her baby in a space that felt sacred to her… home. Although she dabbled with the idea of freebirthing, her acceptance into her local MGP program solidified her model of care choice. Due to short staff she was unable to meet her midwife until 35 weeks, receiving continuity of care mostly through her doula. 

Laura spent her pregnancy deeply educating herself on all aspects of physiological birth; knowledge that enabled her to stay grounded when they received differing advice from their midwife. Laura shares with us how her desire to freebirth almost manifested, and the shift in sensations as she emerged from transition and started bearing down.

Show Links: 

Mama: @laurasimp

Father: @finn_pfluger

Doula: @beforeandbeyond.birth

Meditation Instructor & Mentor: @barefootandthankful

Books: Ina May - Birth Matters

Rhea Dempsey - Birth With Confidence

Jane Hardwick Collings - Ten Moons

Gabrielle Nancarrow - The Birth Space

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

Esfera Designs Wellness (Birth) Ball

Create a calm, supportive space during pregnancy and postpartum with Esfera Designs. Use code: PBA20 for $20 off your order.

Esfera Designs