With Love Mama

After being diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the third trimester, this pregnancy shifted from low risk to high risk almost overnight. Suddenly, every appointment centred around blood sugar levels and recommendations for intervention.

In this honest and vulnerable conversation, we unpack what it really felt like to navigate the gestational diabetes diagnosis and the decisions that ultimately led to a balloon induction and an emergency C-section.

But this episode goes beyond the birth itself.

We also talk about the unexpected emotional impact of having a baby admitted to the Special Care Nursery an experience that, in many ways, felt even more overwhelming than the surgery itself.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, have been told you’re carrying a “big baby,” are facing the possibility of induction or a Caesarean birth, or simply want to hear a real and empowering birth story, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​ What it’s like to go from a low-risk to high-risk pregnancy
• ​ Navigating a gestational diabetes diagnosis
• ​ The “big baby” narrative and how it influences birth decisions
• ​ Induction with a balloon catheter
• ​ An emergency C-section birth
• ​ Recovering physically and emotionally after birth
• ​ Having a baby admitted to the Special Care Nursery
• ​ What she wishes she had known before birth
• ​ Advice for other mothers navigating gestational diabetes and birth interventions

Remember: every pregnancy and every birth is unique. This episode shares one mother’s personal experience and is intended to inform, support, and remind women that they deserve evidence-based information and informed choice throughout their pregnancy and birth journey.

If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another mum who needs to hear that she’s not alone.

Thank you Alicia for sharing xx

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Whether you're feeling amazing or still wondering when the "pregnancy glow" is supposed to arrive, the second trimester brings a whole new chapter of pregnancy.

In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what every first time mum needs to know during weeks 13-27 of pregnancy. As a pregnancy and postpartum doula, I'm sharing practical, informed guidance to help you understand what's happening in your body, how your baby is developing and the steps you can take now to prepare for a calm, confident birth and a supported postpartum.

We cover:
• What to expect during the second trimester
• Common pregnancy symptoms (and what's considered normal)
• Baby's growth and movement
• How to prepare for birth before the third trimester
• Building your birth team and understanding your options
• Nutrition, movement and supporting your changing body
• Protecting your mindset from fear-based birth stories
• Why preparing for postpartum is just as important as preparing for birth

If you're a first time mum wondering, "I'm pregnant... now what?", this episode is your roadmap for navigating the second trimester with confidence instead of overwhelm.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode in the I'm Pregnant... Now What? series, where we walk through every stage of pregnancy, birth and postpartum together.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

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Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here

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Whether you're planning an elective caesarean birth or simply want to feel prepared for every possible birth outcome, this episode is one every first time mum should hear.

Too often, caesarean births are spoken about as something to fear or something that has "gone wrong." The truth is that with the right preparation, education and support, a caesarean birth can be calm, connected, empowering and deeply positive.

In this week's conversation, I'm joined by a pelvic floor osteopath Dr Chelsea Mill to discuss how intentionally planning your caesarean birth can improve your overall birth experience, support your recovery and help you feel more in control- whether your caesarean is planned or becomes the safest option during labour.

Inside this episode, we cover:
• Why preparing for a caesarean birth is important even if you're hoping for a vaginal birth.
• How planning ahead can lead to better physical and emotional birth outcomes.
• Practical ways to create an oxytocin filled, calm birth environment in theatre.
• Your options before, during and after a caesarean birth that many women don't realise they have.
• Gentle caesarean birth preferences you can discuss with your care provider.
• Pelvic floor considerations after a C-section.
• Tips for supporting recovery, bonding and your transition into motherhood.

My goal is always to help you feel informed rather than fearful. Birth doesn't have to look one particular way to be beautiful, and understanding your options allows you to approach birth with confidence instead of uncertainty.

If you're pregnant, preparing for birth or supporting someone who is, this episode will leave you feeling empowered with practical knowledge and reassurance.

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review and share this episode with another expecting mum who deserves to know she has choices, no matter how her baby enters the world.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

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Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here

https://tally.so/r/D4ee7Z

What happens when your waters break at 34 weeks but your body and baby aren't ready for labour yet?

In this birth story episode, I sit down with a mama who shares her experience of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM), navigating an unexpected change from her planned home birth to a hospital birth while remaining deeply connected to her intuition and birth preferences.

Together, we explore what it looked like to trust her body during the week after her waters broke, the role her Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) team played in supporting informed decision making and how she continued nourishing herself, staying hydrated and watching her baby thrive while awaiting spontaneous labour.

This isn't a conversation about ignoring medical advice or suggesting one approach fits everyone. It's a powerful reminder that even when pregnancy takes an unexpected turn, women deserve evidence informed care, genuine choices and compassionate support.

We also discuss:

• What PPROM is and how it changed her birth plans

• Waiting for spontaneous labour after her waters broke

• The importance of informed consent and shared decision-making

• How her MGP midwife helped her feel heard and respected

• Labouring at home before heading to hospital

• Maintaining a physiological approach to birth in a hospital setting

• Welcoming a healthy premature baby

• Why it's okay to grieve the birth you imagined while embracing the birth you had

Whether you're planning a home birth, hospital birth or simply want to hear an empowering story of advocacy and resilience, this episode is a beautiful reminder that birth doesn't have to be perfect to be empowering.

Please note: This episode shares one families personal experience and should not be taken as individual medical advice. If you experience symptoms such as your waters breaking during pregnancy, seek assessment and guidance from your maternity care provider.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

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If you're pregnant with your first baby, chances are Hollywood has shaped more of your beliefs about birth than you realise.

From dramatic waters breaking in the supermarket to women screaming through every contraction, movies and TV have created a version of labour that is entertaining but often far removed from how physiological birth actually unfolds.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the biggest myths Hollywood gets wrong about birth and replacing fear with evidence, education and confidence.

As a pregnancy and postpartum doula, I want you to understand what labour often really looks like, so you can approach your birth feeling informed, calm and deeply prepared.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why labour usually doesn't begin the way it does in the movies

• What early labour is actually like

• Why birth isn't always an emergency

• The role of oxytocin and why feeling safe matters

• What contractions are doing during labour

• Why there's no "right" way to sound or behave in labour

• Common birth myths that increase fear unnecessarily

• How understanding physiological birth can help you prepare with confidence

Whether you're planning a hospital birth, birth centre, home birth or are simply beginning your birth preparation journey, this episode will help you separate Hollywood fiction from the reality of birth.

If you're ready to prepare for birth with evidence-based education, practical guidance and holistic support, you're in the right place.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

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Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here

https://tally.so/r/D4ee7Z

Just found out you're pregnant? First of all congratulations !!! Second… now what?

If you're a first time mum wondering what to do after a positive pregnancy test, you're not alone. The moment you see those two pink lines, life changes in an instant but nobody really talks about everything that comes next.

In this episode, we're diving into the real first trimester experience beyond the pregnancy apps and Google searches. We'll talk about the emotional rollercoaster of early pregnancy, the overwhelming amount of advice, the anxiety that can creep in before your first scan, and why it's completely normal if you don't feel connected to your baby straight away.

We'll also cover what you actually need to do after finding out you're pregnant, how to navigate the flood of information without spiralling and why you don't need to have your birth plan, nursery or parenting style figured out in the first few weeks.

Whether you're 4 weeks pregnant, 10 weeks pregnant or you've only just discovered you're expecting, this episode is here to help you slow down, take a deep breath and feel supported through the beginning of your pregnancy journey.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What to do after a positive pregnancy test

• What the first trimester is really like

• Common emotions and symptoms in early pregnancy

• How to manage pregnancy anxiety and information overload

• Why it's okay if you don't have it all figured out

If you're looking for honest pregnancy advice, gentle reassurance and conversations about pregnancy, birth and postpartum, you're in the right place.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

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Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here

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If someone told you birth could feel pleasurable, would you believe them?

For most women, the words orgasmic birth sound impossible, confronting or even unbelievable. We've been taught that birth is something to fear, endure and survive not something that could feel powerful, ecstatic or deeply pleasurable.

In this episode, I'm joined by Debra Pascali-Bonaro, the creator of the Orgasmic Birth movement, to unpack what orgasmic birth actually means, the science behind it, and why so many women have never heard this side of birth before.

We explore:

• What orgasmic birth really is (and what it isn't)

• Whether every woman is capable of this experience

• The hormones that connect birth, pleasure and safety

• Why fear changes the way we experience labour

• How to prepare your body and mind for a more instinctive birth

• Whether you need a home birth to experience an ecstatic birth

• Common myths about pain, pleasure and labour

I also share my own unexpected experience of an orgasmic pushing phase during birth something I never planned for and didn't even realise was possible.

Whether you're pregnant, planning your first birth, or simply curious about what the female body is truly capable of, this conversation will challenge everything you've been taught about birth.

If this episode expands your perspective, share it with another mum who deserves to know she has more options, more wisdom, and more power than she's been led to believe.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

Follow my TikTok for BTS of mum life⁠ @tanikalace⁠

Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here

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Find Debra here: https://www.instagram.com/debrapascalibonaro/?hl=en

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

The moment you find out you're pregnant, the advice begins.

What supplements should you take? Which birth class should you choose? Should you create a birth plan? What should you eat? How should your baby sleep? What pram should you buy?

Suddenly, everyone has an opinion and before you've even met your baby, it can feel like you're already getting motherhood wrong.

In this episode, we're talking about the overwhelm that so many first time mums experience in pregnancy. The endless research, the conflicting advice, the social media rabbit holes and the pressure to make the "perfect" decisions.

I'll share why information overload can actually disconnect us from our confidence, how to filter advice without spiralling and why trusting yourself doesn't mean ignoring expert guidance but it means learning to hear your own voice amongst the noise.

If you've ever found yourself lying awake at night wondering if you're doing enough, researching one more thing before bed, or feeling more confused the more information you consume, this episode is for you.

Because motherhood isn't a test you need to pass.

And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop searching for another answer and start listening to yourself.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

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Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here

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You’ve been researching homebirth, listening to birth stories and feeling a pull toward birthing in your own space. But every time you bring it up, your partner seems hesitant, worried or completely against the idea.

If you’re feeling torn between honouring your instincts and wanting your partner’s support, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, we’re exploring why homebirth can feel so confronting for partners, where their fears often come from, and how to approach these conversations without defensiveness, pressure, or endless debates. We’ll talk about the difference between convincing and connecting, how to create space for both people to feel heard, and practical ways to explore your options together.

Whether your partner is mildly sceptical or strongly opposed, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the concerns that may be sitting beneath the surface and how to navigate this decision as a team.

Because birth isn’t just about where your baby is born it’s also about building trust, safety and support within your relationship as you prepare to become parents.

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

In this powerful birth story episode, I sit down with a first-time mum who shares her incredible 33 hour labour journey through the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) program. From labouring at home for most of her birth, to discovering her baby was posterior, navigating intense back labour and eventually facing a vacuum assisted birth and episiotomy afte and raw yet inspiring.

Together, we explore the emotional highs and lows of a long labour, what it feels like when progress is slower than expected, the reality of back labour and the lessons that come from surrendering when birth doesn't go exactly to plan.

Whether you're pregnant with your first baby, preparing for birth, considering labouring at home or wanting to hear a real and empowering birth story, this episode will leave you feeling informed, supported and reminded that a positive birth experience doesn't require a perfect birth.

In this episode we discuss:
• First time mum birth story
• 33-hour labour experience
• Back labour and baby positioning
• Labouring at home before hospital
• Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)
• Natural birth preparation
• Long labour mindset and coping strategies
• The Miles Circuit
• Using gas and water immersion in labour
• Pushing for over two hours
• Vacuum-assisted birth
• Episiotomy
• Birth expectations versus reality
• Finding strength and surrender in birth

Thank you Chloe for sharing your birth story xx

Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠

Follow my TikTok for BTS of mum life⁠ @tanikalace⁠

Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here

https://tally.so/r/D4ee7Z