Another fast 1st birth story. Aime was expecting a long drawn out labour with plenty of time to get sorted, pack things and relax into her early labour.

Nature had other plans and she discovered she was completely capable of birthing naturally and smoothly.

Coming from South Africa with a culture of C Section being a very normal way to birth, Amie tells us how she was very happy to have a c section at week 41 as opposed to induction and you’ll hear us talk about why that probably is -  but Oscar and her body were having none of that. In a 3 hour established labour they only just made it to the birth centre in time for baby to be born en caul (still in the amniotic sac) in the water!

Aime talks about how she could just let her body do what it needed to do through the process of getting baby down through the birth path, how Lewis was her rock and how what the sonographer said to her at her 20 week scan could have thrown her off path – but didn’t – but it wasn’t even correct anyway.

Welcome to another positive birth story, if you too would like to prepare mentally and emotionally, have tools to use, to release your fears check out all the options at www.positivebirths.co.nz

A fast, intense first labour, holding baby in under 4 hours, Ashleigh shares with us her incredible experience and says "I want to relive it everyday."

We chat when baby Adaline is only 2 weeks old so this is a super fresh, super lovely story of a mum who was able to cope beautifully during a very different type of birth she had imagined.

Luckily Ashleigh had practised all her hypnobirthing breathing techniques - she had spent her pregnancy listening to the stories on this podcast but at 40+2 realised she really needed to know more about HOW to use breathing and relaxation. She jumped onto the Short & Sweet Online Positive Births hypnobirthing course, binged watched it and had nailed it by the afternoon.

Two days later she was holding her baby girl with an amazing story to share.

You too can get hold of a Positive Births online recorded course at www.positivebirths.co.nz

If you’re looking for a story from a mum navigating Gestational Diabetes this is a story for you.

While Gestational Diabetes was a part of Francie’s family history it was still as shock to receive the diagnosis, so Francie talks about her experience of how it impacted her life in pregnancy and ultimately shaped her birth story.

Francie had experience with hypnotherapy so naturally she knew the hypnobirthing techniques made total sense to her and she knew it was important to practise the tools. She shares about finding opportunites to use the practise in her pregnancy and how she was able to benefit from and make the most of an unexpected visit to the hospital at 38 weeks.

Induction was a choice she was happy with just after 40 weeks – you’ll hear how we mention a particular past episode on the podcast that was most inspiring for Francie (details are below).

Francie shares the important message around language having a huge impact on your body and being confident and accepting of whatever happened in her journey.

If you too would like to learn specific tools and techniques beneficial for your pregnancy, birth (and life beyond too) check out the resources and range of course options at www.positivebirths.co.nz

Podcast episode mentioned : Jess’ experience of PUPPS, positive induction and hospital birth to Will.

How do you process a birth that didn’t initially feel “positive”?

As Sophie shares, the theme of her story is about releasing control and the idea of perfection.

8 weeks after giving birth Sophie reflects on her long list

She was proud of declining extra scans, declining induction, asking for more time, going into labour naturally and labouring at home and birthing a 4.6kg, 10lbs 3 baby amongst other things.

Our conversation is part of Sophie’s processing of her

A very helpful episode for others who may want to learn about how to go about processing and understanding their birth journey too.

To learn more about the tools Sophie used to prepare for birth head to www.positivebirths.co.nz

“The most positive thing is how in tune I am with my body

Alex’s story is the epitome of the transformation that is

Dealing (or rather, not dealing) with grief through her first

She worked through her challenges with help and support and within a few months became a changed woman – empowered, educated and confident about

She sidestepped the system when they told her that baby

The newly regained trust in her body is overflowing into her relationship with baby and as she beautifully wrote in an email shortly after baby Nellie arrived: “ I am in awe of what I was capable of - we are all capable, given the tools and support.”

Alex mentions in this episode the support from @kristinwhite.birtheducator

To find out more about the range of course and support

Amelia had never felt anxious before, but when it came to thinking about birth – anxiety was really triggered. She’d heard her mum’s 3 traumatic inductions and needed to overcome fear and change her mindset – which is what she did.

Hear how hypnobirthing changed her pregnancy, helped her to find a new midwife at 36 weeks and how it stopped her spiraling when at 41 weeks baby growth dropped significantly which meant everything needed to change.

Amelia talks us through her induction process, and how nothing played out the way she thought it might for her whole journey.

But she remembers it “being such a positive experience, it was euphoric, I loved it, like the pushing, everything, I loved.”

This is a positive induction story and is a great episode if you too might find everything changing for you, or if you’re fearful and wonder if you can overcome birth anxiety.

If you too would like to learn tools to feel calm, confidentand empowered for your birth check out www.positivebirths.co.nz

Grace was excited about birth, she saw it as a challenge, an initiation. Jack was impressed to see Grace in her element and so confident.

You'll hear what Grace and Jack's initial thought of homebirth was and how that has changed.

Grace had a great mindset, unlike many mums she was hoping to be overdue as they wanted to finish renovations on their home. This resulted in a last minute pool set up and birth altar creation in labour.

Grace shares about power of the affirmations which she hadn’t really gelled with much in her pregnancy but she talks about how incredibly helpful they were for her when the right phrases popped into her mind at the right time.

All in all a very positive, inspiring home birth to a first baby.

If you too would like to learn skills and techniques for

For the month of September 2024 you can get access to a massive $50 off the online recorded Birth with Calm and Confidence course.

Ngareka was looking for a different way to birth her second baby after having what felt like a traumatic and stressful first birth.

We briefly chat around the details of first baby Kade's arrival before moving through the pregnancy, labour and waterbirth of Reeve.

Ngareka is able to enjoy a natural labour and birth to

In short she listened to her body trusted her instincts and was able to breath through everything.

If you too would like either one on one support, a group course, or to learn more about how to prepare for a positive birth using practical tools and techniques, head to www.positivebirths.co.nz

How does your baby measuring "big" affect your ability to move through the labour and birth process?

In this episode we hear Maree, Maddie and Chantelle's different experiences.

Maree was told that she had a 10% chance of birthing naturally - and she DID, quickly and smoothly to 11 lbs 4 oz (5.1kg) Lily.

Maddie was told she had to have a C Section, but chose induction instead and shares her experience of a positive birth to 10 lbs 5 oz (4.8kgs) Izak.

Chantelle shares her experience of the shock at 40 weeks of discovering her 2nd baby was much larger than her first and how this affected her mindset and her decisions, although she had a very fast and smooth birth to her 10 lbs 14 oz (4.6kg) baby.

If you too have a baby that's measuring "big" these stories can be inspiring for you. If you carrying any fear about this situation please feel free to reach out for support to release this using hypnotherapy techniques to help you feel calm, confident and empowered for your birth.

Weighing in at 10 lbs 13 (4.5kgs) and 11 lbs 5 (5.3kgs) Katy's boys were accurately predicted to be "big" in her pregnancy ultrasounds.

The predictions affected Katy's ability to have a homebirth and with her first baby Olly, the hospital experience was one of interference, intervention and lack of support despite Katy's mental and physical strength.

She shares with us how she navigated her second pregnancy and even with the diagnosis of gestational diabetes avoided intervention to achieve a calm, empowered and positive birth to James, thanks to her determination and belief in her body.

This is a great episode for any mothers of predicted "big" babies to listen to, to hear Katy's challenges and achievements.

If you too would like to learn more tools to feel empowered and confident check out a range of resources at www.positivebirths.co.nz