In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Hazel Keedle . Hazel is a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery at The School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University. Hazel has worked in nursing and midwifery for over two decades. Her interests in research focus on vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), birth trauma, and women’s maternity experiences explored primarily using feminist mixed methodologies. She is now a lead researcher in the biggest study on experiences in maternity care in Australia - Th...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In episode 3 of Definitely Baby 's VBAC mini-series, three wonderful women share their journeys to VBAC. As the stories can attest, there is so much power in equipping yourself with evidence-based information and knowledge throughout your pregnancy, especially if you’re planning a VBAC. There is so many great resources and podcasts you can gather this information, and I truly believe that the power of listening to other people’s journeys to VBAC is one of the best and most empowering and encoura...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In the second episode of our VBAC mini-series, we are joined by Laura Callea (she/her) from Pregnancy with Physio Laura . Laura is a specially trained women’s health physiotherapist and in this chat, shares some things individuals can do during pregnancy to prepare physically and emotionally for a VBAC. She also shares her empowering home birth after 2 caesareans (HBA2C) story. Pregnancy with Physio Laura is a podcast to help mamas feel confident, empowered and informed in their pregnancy and bi...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In episode 1 of the VBAC mini series, we're joined by Meagan Heaton (she/her), co-founder and host of the podcast, the VBAC Link , to unpack the risks associated with both VBACs and repeat Caesareans. Meagan Heaton co-founded the VBAC Link in 2018. Although she always felt called to the baby world, she really found her love for birth in 2014 after her second C-Section. Through these two birth experiences, her love and passion grew around VBAC. She wanted to help people feel supported and loved. ...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this bonus episode, we're joined by Brittni (she/her), a certified Infant Sleep Specialist from Resting in Motherhood. She shares her insights on sleep regressions, preferring to view them as sleep progressions, and challenges the idea of creating 'bad habits' with infant sleep. She emphasises the importance of responding to a baby's needs and comforting them. Brittni sheds light on the distinction between routines and rigid schedules, advocating for flexible routines that cater to individual...
Sep 10, 2023•42 min
In this episode, we're joined by Rowie Cooke (she/her). Rowie and her partner, Jake, are parents to two girls: Sonny (5.5) and Rua (2.5), and a fur baby, Chill. Rowie works as a birth and postpartum doula, @rowiecooke_doula. Rowie's first birth was an emergency caesarean section due to fetal distress. Although her daughter came out with low APGAR scores and the clear necessity of the caesarean, Sonny's birth was far from what Rowie had planned or wanted. Rowie got to meet Sonny briefly after bi...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In this episode, we're joined by Katelyn (she/her). Katelyn and her husband, Luke, live in Geelong and are parents to a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Bella, and a 4.5-month-old son, Rupert. During Katelyn's labour with Bella, she had an induction, followed by an emergency caesarean due to fetal distress. There was also meconium present in the amniotic fluid. Subsequently, she encountered challenges with breastfeeding, including painful and cracked nipples, so she decided to pump and bottle f...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode, we are joined by Leonie Akhidenor (she/her) from Parenthood pod. Leonie and her husband are parents to two boys, aged 4 and 3. During her pregnancies and postpartum periods, Leonie experienced both pre and postnatal depression and anxiety. She discusses the impact of these experiences on her motherhood journey and how they motivated her to start her own podcast. Over the years, Leonie has evolved into a relationship coach, addressing pressing questions and concerns for couples a...
Aug 14, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this episode, we're joined by Stacey (she/her). Stacey and her husband, Craig, are parents to a three year old son, Michael. Stacey's journey to motherhood was influenced by her decision to become a parent sooner due to a fibroma in her uterus. She experienced a miscarriage at 12 weeks during her first pregnancy. In her pregnancy with Michael, she faced Hyperemesis Gravidarum, leading to hospitalisation and a challenging pregnancy experience. Due to the fibroma, her medical team initially rec...
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this episode, we are joined by Shan (she/her), a first-time parent to an 18-month-old daughter named Winter, alongside her husband Brad. Before becoming a parent, Shan was working as a beauty therapist and since, she’s recently started her career as a sleep consultant. During Shan's pregnancy, her waters broke prematurely at 30 weeks gestation, resulting in a condition known as preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). She later discovered she had Chorioamnionitis, an infection in her p...
Jul 31, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, we're joined by Nicole (she/her). Nicole and her husband are parents to two boys, Elliot (7) and Hamish (4). Nicole's first pregnancy with Elliot led her to find a private midwife, valuing continuity of care. She had a quick labour, a water birth in a birth suite, but soon faced difficulties. Despite extensive postpartum preparation, the early days and weeks proved to be unexpectedly challenging. Breastfeeding was difficult, and Elliot struggled to gain weight, eventually labell...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode, we are joined by Lucinda McKimm (she/her) of Ready or Not podcast. Her and her husband, Haydn, live in Rye on the Mornington Peninsula, and are parents to a 15-month-old son, Ray, and Lucinda is newly pregnant with their second child. Lucinda shares her journey of conception with her second, which happened more quickly than anticipated after stopping breastfeeding. They’d expected this to take longer, as it took them 8 months to conceive Ray. She recounts her pregnancy with Ray ...
Jul 17, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 28
SURPRISE! I'm pregnant! All the feels! In this episode, my partner Hagan and I chat about our feelings around having a second baby. We muse on work, support, energy, juggling the love and attention for two babies, our relationship, and the uncertain transition from one to two. The first part of the episode shares a segment from when I was 7 weeks pregnant, then one from 13 weeks, and a final one at 15 weeks in which Hagan and I ask each other some questions we'd each planned. CW: I want to inclu...
Jul 03, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 26
CW: Postnatal Anxiety, OCD, Intrusive Thoughts In this episode, we’re joined by Amy (she/her). Amy and her husband, Andy, have a blended family with four children. While three of the children are Amy's stepchildren from Andy's previous relationships, they recently welcomed their daughter, Lola, who is now 14 months old. Amy's experience as a mother has been shaped by the challenges of Lola's health. Lola was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at six weeks old, which required her to wear a Pavlik Harne...
Jul 03, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Welcome to the second part of Georgia’s story. Georgia (she/her) and her husband, Matt, are parents to triplets Finn, Marlo, and Jude. In this episode, Georgia shares her experience with her triplets' early days and the rest of their journey in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Nursery (SCU). For five days, the triplets remained in the NICU, which coincided with the isolation length for Georgia’s positive Covid-19 status. Subsequently, they were moved to the SCU, where the...
Jun 28, 2023•29 min
CW: This episode touches on the topic of foetal reduction, so I’ll let you decide if you would prefer not to listen right now or come back to the ep at a later date. In this episode, we're joined by Georgia (she/her), who, along with her husband Matt, is a parent to triplets named Finn, Marlo, and Jude. Finn and Marlo are identical and shared a placenta, while Jude is fraternal and had his own placenta. In the first part of Georgia’s story, Georgia shares the journey of discovering her pregnancy...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 25
In this bonus episode, we're joined by Addison (Addi) Landry (she/her). Addi founded her own business, the Uplifted Collective , as a space for nurturing the feminine. She works as a postpartum and provides fertility and pre and postnatal care and support for women, focusing on vitality and holistic health. Her studies in Energy Medicine and Applied Nutrition allow her to treat issues within the energy field and uncover energetic cellular imbalances. Addi specialises in the Morphogenic Field Tec...
Jun 22, 2023•1 hr 1 min
In episode 24, we’re joined by Aimee (she/her). Aimee and her husband Jared are parents to their daughter Ivy who’s 2 years and 3 months, and are expecting another baby in the next few months. Aimee takes us through Ivy’s pregnancy, a typically ‘normal’ pregnancy up until 36 weeks when she was diagnosed with Preeclampsia. Having hoped for a drug-free, vaginal, water birth, she felt that all of her dreams of birth had been shattered as they spoke about induction and the possibility of a c-section...
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode, we're joined by Lidija (she/her). Lidija is a mother to her five-year-old daughter, Nika, and has been with her partner, Lachie (he/him), for 14 years. They are also proud parents to their dog, Kino. Lidija shares their love story, starting from how they met at a house party to their first kiss in Lidija's backyard by the veggie patch. During Lidija's pregnancy with Nika, which she was thankful for being easy, apart from the emotional challenge she faced of losing her first dog ...
Jun 12, 2023•49 min•Season 1Ep. 23
In this episode, I'm joined by Matilda ( @matildathenutritionist ) and Olivia Maree ( @wildnwell.counselling ) from @isthisflatteringpodcast join me to discuss body image, nutrition, and to answer your questions. The questions we address in this episode are: - How does the concept of "bouncing back" after pregnancy affect people's mental health and self-esteem, and what are some alternatives to this narrative? - What is body neutrality and why is this concept the preferable way to address body...
Jun 11, 2023•1 hr 15 min
TW: Postpartum anxiety and depression, intrusive thoughts In this episode, I'm joined by Jess (she/her), a mother to a 14-month-old son named Ryker. Jess and her husband have been together for 12 years and married for the last 6. After conceiving just five months after getting her implanon out, Jess felt overwhelmed by the prospect of parenthood, as she hadn't prepared herself for the life adjustment it would bring. She experienced mixed emotions during her pregnancy, from feeling blankness seei...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 9 min
In this episode, I'm joined by Ash (he/him), a father living in Hobart, Tasmania, with his partner Chelsea (she/her) and their two-year-old son, Luen. Ash shares their journey of becoming parents. Ash and Chelsea went through the process of IVF for 2.5-3 years and sadly experienced a miscarriage in the process. They made the move from Melbourne to Tasmania during their IVF journey and we speak about the process of transporting their embryos over there. Ash's unwavering support for Chelsea during...
May 29, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this episode, I'm joined by Aviv (she/her), a new parent who, alongside her partner Harry, recently welcomed their baby boy, Eden, into the world. Aviv shares her unique journey through childbirth, feeding challenges, and the profound changes she's experienced in her relationships and self-identity as a mother. Aviv takes us back to her unexpected quick labour, where she had initially invited friends over to play board games, expecting to have a quintessential first labour, only to find herse...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 10 min
In this bonus episode, I’m joined by Anwyn (she/they) and her daughter Yvanya (she/her) who share their insights and experiences on their mother-daughter relationship. Through a series of thoughtful questions, the duo reveals the depth and complexity of their bond, spanning different life stages and family dynamics. They explore the qualities they admire in each other, how differences have shaped their relationship, and the challenging moments they've faced together. They also reflect on how the...
May 17, 2023•38 min
In this episode, I'm joined by Anwyn (she/they), the mother of Yvanya (28) and Markus (26). We have the pleasure of hearing about Anwyn's experiences raising children in the 90s and 2000s, and how the landscape of childbirth and child rearing has changed over the years. Anwyn also shares how her own identity, relationships, and career paths have evolved alongside her parenting journey. And, as a special treat, we'll also have a bonus episode airing this Thursday featuring Anwyn and her daughter ...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 19
CW: In this episode we discuss Taylah’s experience of depression and feelings of isolation. If the topic feels too much for you right now, you may want to come back to the episode at a later time, and if it does bring anything up for you I have listed some resources below that I encourage you to visit. Join Taylah (she/her) as she shares the next chapter of her story, where she opens up about an experience during early postpartum that left her feeling frustrated and unsupported. She also talks a...
May 09, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Welcome to the first part of Taylah's story. Join us as Taylah (she/her) opens up about the complexities of conceiving a baby in a new relationship and the added challenge of having a second baby when her first was only 10 months old. In this episode, she takes us on a journey through her two unique birth experiences, including a home-birth with her first and a free-birth with her second. You'll hear Taylah's firsthand accounts of her labour and delivery with both babies, as well as the commenta...
May 08, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this episode, we’re joined by holistic lactation consultant Joelleen Winduss Paye , who shares her expert advice on breastfeeding. Drawing on her experience as a lactation consultant, midwife and naturopath, Joelleen provides practical tips for preparing to breastfeed before your baby is born, dispels common misconceptions about breastfeeding, and explains how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk. We also answer listener questions about weaning, tandem feeding, managing mastitis, and m...
May 03, 2023•48 min
In this episode, I'm joined by Claire Tonti (she/her), a Naarm based singer-songwriter, mother of two, and podcast host. Claire's podcasts include the award-winning show Suggestible and TONTS , where she celebrates women's stories by talking to writers, experts, thinkers, and deeply feeling humans about their lives. She's also recently reconnected with herself through her music, with her debut album Matrescence being a place in which she has been able to process her journey into parentho...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In this episode, I’m joined by Ash (she/her), who's a single mum to a five year old daughter. She shares her beautiful and unique transition into parenthood. Before becoming a parent, Ash had a vibrant career in theatre and cabaret, but an unplanned pregnancy on the copper IUD while not in a relationship led her down an unexpected path. So we speak about our shared journeys of navigating IUD pregnancies. Join us as we delve into the ups and downs of single parenting and explore the stereotypes a...
Apr 24, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 16
