DISCLAIMER - Unfortunately, there was some background ruffling noise throughout this episode - It is not normally like this. Thankyou for your understanding, we hope you enjoy the episode!

In this weeks episode we speak with Elise from Hera Nutrition all about what it looks like to have a healthy relationship with food, and the signs of an unhealthy relationship with food.

Elise gives some tips on getting our kids to snack less and eat more at meal times and we speak about the pressure of giving our kids a 'perfect' diet.

You can find and book with Elise on Instagram by clicking here (they offer online consultations from wherever you are!)

The Valley Village Collective podcast aims to provide a safe space for mothers. In the podcast we’ll dive into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.

There’ll be real talk, as we listen, learn and navigate the adventure of motherhood together. 

Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Follow us on Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful.

This weeks episode is a follow on from our previous episode (Paige's Birth Story) so, if you have not listened to that yet, be sure to go and listen and come back to this one!

Paige shares her immediate feelings of not getting that 'oxytocin rush' she expected after her birth. Paige developed postpartum preeclampsia, and was transferred with her baby to Maitland Hospital via ambulance where her and her baby were seperated.

Paige shares that the struggles did not end there, when arriving home, they removed formula top ups, Paige developed mastitis, her son had a tongue tie, lip tie and buccal ties revised, and then working through Cows milk protein intolerance whilst breastfeeding.

She also shares the struggles of Postpartum anxiety and depression.

The Valley Village Collective podcast aims to provide a safe space for mothers. In the podcast we’ll dive into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.

There’ll be real talk, as we listen, learn and navigate the adventure of motherhood together. 

Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Follow us on Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

In this weeks episode we speak to host Paige about her birth story.

It starts with her conception story and a story of loss, a missed miscarriage followed by a D&C, an endometriosis diagnoses, laparoscopies with the desire to have a natural birth in a public hospital with a private practicing midwife.

Paige achieved her natural birth 40 + 7 after a 16 hour labour and 4 hours of pushing, using hypnobirthing techniques, hot water, positive affirmations and a strong support system.

Welcome to Valley Village Collective 

If you liked todays episode follow/subscribe and leave us a review.

Valley Village Collective Podcast podcast dives into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Join the Village on:

Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful. 

Welcome to Valley Village Collective 

If you liked todays episode follow/subscribe and leave us a review.

Valley Village Collective Podcast podcast dives into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Join the Village on:

Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful.

In this week's episode, we chat with Private Midwife Ineka about women's rights during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Ineka shares essential tips on how to communicate with your care provider, the right questions to ask, and how to decline procedures confidently.

She also discusses why you might want to refuse certain tests and the often unnecessary separation of mothers and babies and how you can refuse this.

You can connect with Ineka on Instagram here - @morosinimidwifery

Welcome to Valley Village Collective 

If you liked todays episode follow/subscribe and leave us a review.

Valley Village Collective Podcast podcast dives into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Join the Village on:

Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful. 

In this week’s episode, we sit down with our very own Carly Williams, aDoula in the Hunter Valley, to explore the various models of care available to expecting parents. Carly shares insights on the importance of choosing the right care provider and how aligning your birth values with your provider can significantly impact your birthing experience. We delve into the different models of care, including private obstetric care, public hospital options, MGP, birth centers, private midwifery, and free birth, and discuss their potential impacts on postpartum mental health.

You can follow Carly on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/carly_williams_doula/

Head to Carlys website and sign up to the newsletter to receive your free birthing in the Hunter Valley guide! https://www.carlywilliamsdoula.com.au/services-1

Welcome to Valley Village Collective 

If you liked todays episode follow/subscribe and leave us a review.

Valley Village Collective Podcast podcast dives into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Join the Village on:

Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful.

In this week's episode, we chat with Mike Holt about his transformative journey into fatherhood and the realities that come with it. Mike opens up about the challenges he and his wife Sam faced in their relationship during this transition, and how they overcame these hurdles together through self-reflection and inner work.

Before becoming a father, Mike pursued his dreams and successfully opened a gym, taking on significant financial risks that ultimately paid off. He shares the highs and lows of this experience and how it shaped his outlook on life and family.

Mike also discusses his passion for creating a supportive space for men to focus on their mental health. This vision led to the creation of Junto Men's Hub, a place where men can engage in meaningful conversations, connect with like-minded individuals, and openly share their experiences and challenges.

FInd out more on Junto mens hub here - 

https://www.instagram.com/thejunto.menshub/?hl=en

Follow Corner Stone Newcastle here - https://www.instagram.com/cornerstone_newcastle/?hl=en

Follow Corner Stone Hunter Valley here - 

https://www.instagram.com/cornerstone_gym_huntervalley/?hl=en

Welcome to Valley Village Collective 

If you liked todays episode follow/subscribe and leave us a review.

Valley Village Collective Podcast podcast dives into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Join the Village on:

Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful. 

In this weeks episode, we talk to Jess to hear her incredible journey to conceive her first baby through IVF. Despite facing multiple failed cycles and transfers, Jess finally achieved a successful pregnancy. At 35 weeks, she experienced heavy bleeding and was admitted to the Emergency Department, where she went into spontaneous labor a few days later. Although her first birth was not a bad experience, Jess felt that she wanted to be more informed and in control for her next birth.

Jess and her husband embarked on their second IVF journey and conceived their second child. Despite being labeled as high risk and initially excluded from the midwifery group practice (MGP) program, Jess conducted her own research and found evidence that challenged this high-risk label. Determined to have a more empowered birthing experience, she successfully advocated to have the label removed and to join the MGP program.

Join us to hear all about Jess's positive birth experience and her inspiring story of self-advocacy during pregnancy and birth.

Jess used the following services and resources during her conception, pregnancy and postpartum journey -

The Great Birth Rebellion

Next Gen Physio

Empowered Lactation with Emma

Adora Fertility - Bulk Billed IVF Clinic

Welcome to Valley Village Collective 

If you liked todays episode follow/subscribe and leave us a review.

Valley Village Collective Podcast podcast dives into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Join the Village on:

Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful.

In todays episode Tahlee talks about her experience with Type 1 Diabetes during her pregnancy and how she managed her health, incluing mental health and what decisions she made in regard to her birth and her chosen model of care.

Tahlee talks about the experience of going on to develop Preeclampsia around 34.5 weeks, that was so severe she spent time in ICU prior to the decision being made to birth her baby via caesarean at almost 35 weeks. Through this experience Tahlee emphasises the importance of seeking medical help if experiencing symptoms of any kind that seem abnormal and urges people not to be afraid to contact their maternity ward for assistance.

Tahlee discusses what it was like not recalling her son being born and the experience of been separated following his birth for 24 hours. His stay in NICU was heartbreaking and challenging, particularly going home without your baby and has had some impact to Tahlees mental health.  

Tahlee recommends the following support facebook groups for social support:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1527899494122956/ - T1D and pregnancy

https://m.facebook.com/groups/2214545005/ - Preeclampsia 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/28883918076/ - Premature babies 

Obstetrician: Dr John Bailey at Hunter Womens Health Centre

https://hunterwomens.com.au/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google%20My%20Business%20Page

https://www.instagram.com/hunterwomenshealthcentre?igsh=OTBpcTN4MjQxdmpq

Welcome to Valley Village Collective 

If you liked todays episode follow/subscribe and leave us a review.

Valley Village Collective Podcast podcast dives into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Join the Village on:

Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful.

The Valley Village Collective podcast aims to provide a safe space for mothers. In the podcast we’ll dive into the heart of motherhood, bringing you relatable stories from local mums and insights from local practitioners.

There’ll be real talk, as we listen, learn and navigate the adventure of motherhood together. 

Our aim is to be your virtual village where you’ll feel supported and know where to turn during the rollercoaster of motherhood.

Follow us on Insta at @valleyvillagecollective

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555978335757&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Please click the follow to stay up to date with our episodes and if you could leave a review we’d be so grateful. 

In today's episode we chat with Dr Kelly Beanland, Director and Chiropractor at Hunter Health Spines in East Maitland. Kelly talks about the role of chiropractic in pregnancy and postpartum care. Chiropractic care is a holistic approach that focuses on the balance and function of the body. She debunks the myth of cracking bones and explains that gentle pressure is used during treatment. She explains that chiropractic care is safe for all family members, including infants and children. We delve into care for babies and discuss that new mothers commonly underrate post birth issues in babies, such as sleep, feeding and tummy time, as developmental instead of mechanistic, and chiropractic care can help with behavioural support. She also explains the way babies are birthed, either vaginally or via caesarean, can impact their development. 

Kelly speaks about the importance she places on working in collaboration with paediatricians, IBCLC’s and other health practitioners. She offers advice for parents who may be concerned about their baby's development. She mentions the importance of sensory feedback, head control, and muscle tone in the first 12 months of life. She also highlights the role of tummy time in developing the brain and how different positions, such as chest tummy time or being carried in a carrier, can be beneficial. 

You can find Kelly and her team at Hunter Healthy Spines - https://hunterhealthyspines.com.au/

Instagram @hunterhealthyspines