In this deeply moving episode, midwife and mother Ria shares her journey through motherhood with her daughter Olive, who has a rare genetic condition. Ria's story is one of resilience, advocacy and the profound love that comes with parenting a child with additional needs. If you’re preparing your nursery or planning for a new arrival, here’s a little heads-up you won’t want to miss. iL Tutto’s End of Financial Year Sale starts Monday 17th June and runs through to 11:59pm on 1st July – and it’s t...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 16 min
In this episode, Rebecca shares her journey of having three children in quick succession, all with positive hospital birth experiences. As a high school teacher and mother to Theo (3), Reuben (18 months), and Josie (6 weeks), Rebecca's story highlights how knowledge, preparation, and the right care provider can make all the difference in birth experiences. Rebecca's path to motherhood began shortly after marrying Brendan, a paediatrician, in late 2020. Her first pregnancy came with unique challe...
Jun 16, 2025•57 min
Ali shares her journey of having two daughters via maternal-assisted caesarean births due to preeclampsia. Ali lives in Melbourne's inner west with her husband Brad and their daughters Evie (3.5) and Iris (9.5 months). Ali conceived Evie quickly and had a relatively smooth pregnancy until around 30-32 weeks when her blood pressure began rising. "My blood pressure wasn't like super duper high, like it was very much up from the 140 over 90 and it was starting to creep up to the 150s and 160 over 9...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In this week's episode, I chat with Claire about her two very different birth experiences at public hospitals in Melbourne. Claire's journey began with meticulous preparation - she and her partner Aaron spent six months optimising their health with a naturopath before trying to conceive. Her first pregnancy was textbook perfect, leading to a beautiful physiological birth with her daughter Amelia. However, her second pregnancy brought new challenges when growth scans indicated a "big baby," leadi...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 551
In this episode, Mel shares her comprehensive journey to motherhood with her partner Peta in Melbourne. As a same-sex couple, their path to parenthood required careful planning, patience, and resilience through the assisted reproductive treatment system. Mel's story beautifully illustrates the unique challenges and joys of same-sex conception while highlighting the importance of flexible birth planning and supportive care providers. TODAY'S PROUD SPONSOR: Let me introduce you to The Nappy Bag Th...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 550
In this deeply moving episode, I chat with Anthea about her three very different birth experiences, including a challenging third pregnancy that required months of strict bed rest during COVID lockdowns with two toddlers at home. After experiencing an ectopic pregnancy and a nine-month journey to conceive, Anthea went on to have two hospital births - Harriet via induction at 38 weeks and Florence after spontaneous labor at 37 weeks. Her third pregnancy took an unexpected turn at 12 weeks when sh...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 549
In this week’s episode I chat to Natalia @wildearthexpeditions about her two home water births with her daughters Estelle and Coco. Natalia’s story encapsulates her connection with her Indigenous family, the Ngarrindjeri people of South Australia. During her first visit to country she learnt to weave with her elders, a traditional ritual to welcome a woman into motherhood and only three months later she was pregnant. She embraced Indigenous rituals for her births and later buried the placentas o...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 548
In this episode, I chat with Katherine about her journey to motherhood through IVF and her birth experience with daughter Zendaya. Katherine shares her story of discovering her partner Aaron's rare diagnosis of azoospermia (where there is sperm in the body but none in the ejaculate), their IVF journey, and her eventual birth at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. Follow us on Instagram for photos and more from today's episode. Check out Katherine's business People Haircare here and connect ...
May 26, 2025•57 min•Ep. 547
In this week's episode, I chat with Gemma, a writer and Pilates instructor living on the lands of the Awabakal and Wurrumi people in Newcastle, NSW. Gemma shares her three distinctly experiences, culminating in a healing VBAC after two caesarean births. Are you preparing for birth and looking for a natural way to manage labour pain? Discover the difference with a TENS machine from Bliss Birth . Bliss Birth is Australia’s trusted name in TENS hire, helping thousands of women feel more in control ...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 546
In this week's episode, I chat to Sarah about her three very different birth experiences spanning five years. Sarah lives in Sydney with her partner Jad and their three children – Remy (5), Navy (3), and newborn Hugo (just two weeks old). Her story beautifully illustrates how birth experiences can evolve with knowledge, preparation and support, taking us from a highly medicalised first birth to an empowering water birth with her third baby. EPISODE SPONSOR: If you’re deep in nesting mode and Goo...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 545
In this extraordinary episode, Prue shares her remarkable 11-year journey to motherhood, culminating in becoming the third woman in Australia to give birth following a uterus transplant. Her story is one of incredible perseverance, medical innovation, and the profound desire to become a mother against seemingly impossible odds. If you've been considering joining over 6000 families who have prepared for birth with confidence through The Birth Class now's your chance. You can enjoy 20% off in our ...
May 08, 2025•55 min•Ep. 544
In this week's episode, I chat with Bonnie about her two positive birth experiences. Bonnie lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches with her husband Ben and their two-and-a-half-year-old son Will, and three-week-old Oscar. Her story beautifully illustrates how knowledge, confidence and the right support can lead to empowering birth experiences, even when things don't go exactly to plan. Celebrate Motherhood with us this week and get 20% off ALL our course s Sale includes gift vouchers, so you can spo...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 543
Mother of three Laura shares her journey through IVF, a physiological first birth, and the unexpected arrival of identical twins. After marriage in early 2019, Laura and her husband Yanni embarked on their path to parenthood, facing challenges with irregular periods that made conception difficult. "I was getting very irregular periods. And so it was really hard to time your cycle and figure out when to conceive," Laura explains of this period. Today's Episode is Brought to You by Your Reformer Y...
Apr 28, 2025•56 min•Ep. 542
In this episode Allison takes us through her journey to motherhood and subsequently, her empowering and enlightening autism and adhd diagnosis. She weaves in and out of her pregnancies to share information about music therapy and the brain and how music – rhythm, tempo, mantra – is one of the best soothing tools we can teach our children and use for ourselves. Allison details the sensory overwhelm of pregnancy and breastfeeding, her experience with endometriosis, parenting an autistic child and ...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 541
In this episode, teacher and first-time mother Emily shares her experience of managing type 1 diabetes during pregnancy and her challenging birth at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth. Emily has lived with diabetes since she was just 14 months old, bringing a unique perspective to her journey to motherhood. If you'd like to listen to more birth stories involving type 1 diabetes, check out episode 488 (another Emily) and episode 227 (Sarah Leverton). For more support, explore our free resourc...
Apr 21, 2025•59 min•Ep. 540
In this episode, Carla Hackett shares her three very different birth experiences - from a hospital birth with her first son Raph, to an unexpectedly rapid home birth with her second son Noah, and finally a beautiful water birth with her daughter Maeve. ___________ Download our free guide: Labour tips for birth partners What is a birth support partner? A birth support partner offers physical and emotional support throughout labour and birth. Your birth partner should be mentioned in your birth pl...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 539
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Rebecca Dekker, founder of Evidence-Based Birth® , about her three very different birth experiences and how they led her to create a global resource for evidence-based information on pregnancy and childbirth. Follow us on Instagram for photos and more from today's episode. EPISODE SPONSOR: ergoPouch (the beloved sleepwear brand) is thrilled to offer an exclusive 30% off sitewide* sale . Ideal as winter is coming. At Australian Birth Stories, we love ergoPouch bec...
Apr 06, 2025•59 min•Ep. 538
In this week's episode I chat to Madi about her third birth - a planned home water birth after cesarean. Madi's story is particularly interesting as she navigated this birth both as a mother and as a newly qualified midwife. After experiencing a relatively quick vaginal birth with her first daughter Oakley and then a caesarean under general anaesthetic with Harlow due to her Chiari malformation (where her brain herniates into her spinal column), Madi was surprised to find herself pregnant with a...
Apr 02, 2025•54 min•Ep. 537
Today I chat to Jess about her two very different birth experiences with her children Ruby and Vincent. After experiencing an induced birth with her first baby during COVID, Jess shares how she approached her second pregnancy with intention and preparation, ultimately achieving the birth she hoped for. Follow us on Instagram for photos and more from today's episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Mar 31, 2025•48 min•Ep. 536
In this episode, country music artist Kaylee Bell shares her remarkable journey to motherhood - from managing chronic health conditions to an unexpected pregnancy while touring, and navigating a challenging birth due to a DVT diagnosis. Her story beautifully illustrates how life's biggest surprises can lead to the most meaningful experiences. Subscribe to Kaylee's newsletter on kayleighbellmusic.com for upcoming tour dates and new music releases. You can follow Kaylee's journey on Insta here Lis...
Mar 24, 2025•40 min•Ep. 535
In this week's episode, I chat to Candice about her challenging journey to motherhood. After experiencing two miscarriages and discovering she had low ovarian reserve at just 32, Candice and her husband Tom turned to IVF with PGT-A testing. She shares the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatments, the isolation of pregnancy loss, and the joy of finally welcoming her daughter Adelaide. Candice tells a story that will resonate with anyone who has experienced infertility or pregnancy loss, of...
Mar 17, 2025•55 min•Ep. 534
In this deeply personal episode, GP and IBCLC Dr. Eliza Hannam shares her varied experiences with birth and breastfeeding across her three children. Her story beautifully illustrates how even healthcare professionals can face unexpected challenges in their own journeys to parenthood, and how these experiences can shape both personal growth and professional practice. Download our FREE guide on perineal massage here . Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about The B...
Mar 10, 2025•52 min•Ep. 533
In episode 532 Lila shares her three distinctly different birth experiences, from a hospital induction to a dramatic roadside almost-birth, and finally achieving her dream homebirth. Her story takes an unexpected turn when her third baby is diagnosed with a rare condition Hirschsprung disease. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 532
In today’s episode Naomi takes us through her first pregnancy and admits that she was so focussed on her birth preparation that she didn’t once think about her postpartum journey. Her birth was challenging and the newborn days were full of anxiety, severe sleep deprivation and a lot of not-knowing. Four months later she learnt about traditional postpartum care which inspired her to become a postpartum doula. Her knowledge and experience informed her next pregnancy and birth; she opted for an ind...
Feb 27, 2025•49 min
Today we welcome Taylah Tudehope-Glachan who shares her extraordinary journey of conceiving and birthing quadruplets. Taylah and her husband Sean's path to parenthood was complicated by PCOS diagnosed at age 21 and she later discovered she also suffers from stage four endometriosis. ___ To learn more about The Birth Class and all our other fabulous courses, head to the shop here . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 11 min
In this episode Tayla shares her empowering journey to motherhood, culminating in an unexpected but beautiful home birth. Her story highlights the power of preparation, surrender, and trusting your body's innate wisdom. ____ To learn more about The Birth Class and all our other fabulous courses, head to the shop here . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 20, 2025•49 min
In this episode, we welcome Elizabeth back to share her second birth story. You can listen to her first birth experience in episode 427 . Elizabeth lives in Brisbane with her husband Lindsay and their two children - Margaret (2) and Wesley (4 months). ____ The empowering, evidence-based online birth education programs that will help you confidently prepare for your best birth possible are now 20% off until February 28th 2025! To learn more about The Birth Class and all our other fabulous courses...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Today we welcome Hanna, who shares her journey through pregnancy, birth, and a particularly challenging postpartum period complicated by autoimmune disease. Originally from Poland and now living on the Bellarine Peninsula with her husband Zach and their seven-month-old daughter Runo, Hanna's story highlights the complex intersection of chronic illness and new motherhood. Download our FREE guide on perineal massage here . Follow us on Instagram to keep the conversation going. To learn more about ...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this episode Paige shares her incredibly positive first birth experience. If you are new to the podcast or feel like you want an encouraging story to inspire you, this is it. After conceiving easily, she started listening to the podcast and knew she wanted a continuity model of care. She contacted Canterbury Antenatal and Postnatal Services (CAPS) and was accepted into their programme. From there she listened to @the.birth.class on repeat and armed herself with knowledge and skills. Her labou...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In today's episode, Cassie shares her profound journey into motherhood as an early years teacher who experienced three births and navigated postnatal anxiety. After carefully planning their family with husband James, they welcomed three daughters - Nara (6) and identical twins (5) - through experiences that would challenge and transform her understanding of mental health and motherhood. Connect with us on Instagram for more birth stories and heaps more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr
