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This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! When Minnie's home birth plans shifted to a hospital delivery after two days of stop-start labor, she didn't just accept her "Plan B" – she got creative. Her unexpected strategy? Dressing "like a celebrity avoiding paparazzi" complete with sunglasses, headphones, and clothes pulled over her head. Despite synthetic oxytocin making contractions feel "like being hit by lightning," Minnie found herself overcome with relief and joy during the final moments, laughing her daughter Charlie out into the water and her husband's waiting hands. From birth pool to home by dinner time, Minnie's story proves that positive births aren't about location but feeling empowered through every contraction.THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on InstagramListen to more Diary Of A Birth here CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Minnie Collins Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich , Tina Matolov & Lee Stamps Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! One embryo. Two heartbeats. After years of fertility treatments, Laura Parr found herself staring at an ultrasound screen showing the impossible—her single frozen embryo had split into identical twins. In today's episode, Laura shares her extraordinary journey from having her son Lucas through IVF, to the shock of discovering her second embryo—frozen for two years—had developed into identical twins - with no history of twins in the family. She takes us through the emotional rollercoaster of multiple ovarian induction cycles that finally yielded nine precious eggs and the complex reality of carrying monochorionic diamniotic twins who shared a single placenta but had separate amniotic sacs. From severe morning sickness to a dramatic caesarean at 34 weeks, Laura's precious twins transformed their families life forever. Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here. THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram If you’re looking for something else to listen to, check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood.Our parenting podcast is This Glorious Mess.If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Tina Matolov Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! Waters breaking in public, a head popping out in the shower, and neighbours rushing to help—Kate Longley's second birth took a very different path than planned! In today’s episode, Kate shares how her birth with Jesse took a surprisingly swift turn when, shortly after her waters broke at home, she found herself cradling her newborn in the shower before help could even arrive. With no time to reach the hospital, Kate's neighbours—who happened to be mothers themselves—stepped in to help as Jesse was born in their family home.  Kate reflects on how, despite the surprising speed of Jesse’s arrival, her calm mindset and supportive community helped create a positive birth experience. Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here. THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Kate Longley Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Tina Matolov Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! From epidural to delivery in minutes—Nikolina's second baby Leo stunned even veteran doctors with his lightning-fast arrival. Despite a physically "cruisy" pregnancy with her children just 16 months apart, Nikolina Koevska Kharoufeh battled intense anxiety about giving birth a second time. After casually attending brunch during early contractions, her labor rapidly intensified. Just as doctors prepared for her curved spine complication during the epidural, Leo's heart rate dropped, and with a single push, he arrived—prompting one doctor to declare it the quickest birth in her 20-year career.  Nikolina's story reminds us that birth anxiety is perfectly normal the second time around, even when you've done it before. Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram If you’re looking for something else to listen to, check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Nikolina Koevska Kharoufeh Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Tina Matolov Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. This episode of Diary of a Birth contains graphic descriptions including blood loss and traumatic injury. Please proceed with caution. Additional resources can be found in the show notes.  A pop. A gush. And suddenly, a huge amount of blood running down her legs. What started as a peaceful first day of maternity leave became a fight for two lives when Sabrina Banayad experienced a rare and life-threatening placental abruption. Sabrina shares the story of her second birth, that ended in a code green emergency cesarean. With extraordinary presence of mind, she called emergency services while home alone, calmly organising childcare and preparing for paramedics even as she continued to haemorrhage. This powerful story is about maternal instinct, quick thinking, and the medical miracle that allowed both mother and daughter to thrive after one of the most dangerous birth complications possible.  Resources: PANDA Birth Trauma And Recovery Birth Trauma Australia  Gidget Foundation THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here. CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Sabrina Banayad Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Tina Matolov Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! When 26-year-old Silje and her husband Jordan decided to expand their family beyond their 18-month-old son Mads, they never imagined what would happen next. In today's episode, Silje shares the breathtaking moment at her dating scan when the sonographer counted not one, not two, but three heartbeats—completely spontaneous fraternal triplets with no family history of multiples. From navigating a high-risk pregnancy while caring for a toddler and maintaining her legal career, to the extraordinary cesarean birth where she'd already named each baby based on their distinct movements in utero. Silje takes us through her journey of delivering Ada, Teddy and Eric at 34 weeks, and how this unexpected blessing transformed her into an advocate for multiple birth families across Australia.  Diary Of A Birth features mums telling their miraculous stories of bringing life into the world. If you’d like to share your birth story, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected] or send us a voice note here.THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth hereCREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Silje Andersen-Cooke Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Tina Matolov Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! When Mamamia's Head of Content, Eliza, found herself unexpectedly pregnant with her third child during what was meant to be a one-year Swedish adventure, life took a beautiful detour. But her planned C-section was not so routine when the spinal anaesthesia failed midway through, causing Eliza to feel the surgical procedure. After a desperate plea for help and being rushed to be put under general anaesthetic, Eliza describes waking up to the joy of meeting her son August. She shares the cultural differences of Swedish healthcare—celebration sandwiches with tiny flags, their devotion to constant skin-to-skin contact (to the point of no hospital bassinets!), and the staff's bewilderment at her Australian swaddling techniques. Her story beautifully weaves together the unexpected moments of motherhood with cross-cultural discovery. Diary Of A Birth features mums telling their miraculous stories of bringing life into the world. If you’d like to share your birth story, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected] or send us a voice note here.THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here. CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Eliza Sorman Nilsson Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Tina Matolov Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Imagine discovering you're pregnant just two days after receiving a rare blood cancer diagnosis at 30. For journalist Elle Halliwell, this unimaginable scenario became reality when her routine health check revealed chronic myeloid leukemia—an incurable but treatable condition that would change everything. Despite doctors advising she terminate the pregnancy to begin life-saving treatment, Elle made the extraordinary decision to continue, feeling it was "meant to be." She takes us through the peace she found amid chaos, and her induced birth at 36 weeks that brought her perfect son Tor into the world. From the emotional rollercoaster of breastfeeding while preparing for cancer treatment, to rebuilding her life as a mother with an ongoing medical condition, Elle's story is a powerful testament to maternal determination that defied medical odds.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here. CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Elle Halliwell  Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Tina Matolov Audio Producer: Leah Porges  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! In this weeks episode, Seize the Yay's Sarah Davidson takes us through her emotional journey to motherhood—one made even more unique by her experience as a cross-cultural adoptee. From experiencing a heartbreaking missed miscarriage that left her waiting three painful weeks for a D&C procedure, to the surprising natural conception that followed unsuccessful fertility treatments; Sarah navigated her pregnancy with cautious hope until her waters dramatically broke in the hospital car park at exactly 38 weeks.  As her breech baby Teddy arrived, Sarah's mother—who had never experienced pregnancy herself—was there to witness this profound moment, creating a beautiful full-circle experience and solidifying Sarah's belief that Teddy was meant for their family all along. THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here. CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Sarah Davidson Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! When contractions began during a Succession marathon with her mum, Lucinda Pikkat wasn't particularly concerned—her husband Simon was asleep at home an hour away, and surely there would be plenty of time to alert him. In today's episode, Lucinda shares how her third daughter Saachi followed her older sisters remarkable pattern of arriving precisely at 38 weeks. As labor progressed quickly and phone calls went unanswered, Lucinda gave birth with her mother by her side, while her husband slept blissfully unaware, only discovering he had a new daughter when he woke up the next morning! Lucinda reflects on the unexpected full-circle moment as her own mum stepped into the support role during her birth, creating a unique bond between three generations. She shares how she refined her approach to childbirth with each pregnancy, making her deliveries progressively more manageable, and describes the euphoric "warrior princess" high that accompanied each of her births. THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here. CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Lucinda Pikkat Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. After years of heartache, disappointment, and countless tears, Kirsten McLennan discovered her endometrial lining was too thin to nurture a pregnancy—a devastating revelation after multiple failed IVF attempts. When specialists suggested surrogacy might be her path to parenthood, Kirsten and her husband Ryan embarked on an emotional international journey filled with both crushing setbacks and beautiful moments of hope. In today's touching episode, Kirsten vulnerably shares her difficult path to becoming a mother—from the moment when transported embryos went missing in Canada to when they finally connected with their surrogate Leigha in Utah, they found not just a carrier for their precious baby, but a compassionate friend who opened her heart and home to help create their miracle. Kirsten reflects on the beautiful complexity of surrogacy—the profound joy of those first skin-to-skin moments with Spencer, the deep bond formed while living with Leigha's family, and the overwhelming emotions they all shared in the delivery room.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth hereCREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Kirsten McLennan  Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. After navigating IVF and finally welcoming her beautiful daughter Camilla into the world, Anna Bamford's birth journey took an unexpected and frightening turn. In this weeks episode, Anna shares her story, and her journey to get answers for a medical complication which was initially dismissed, despite her growing intuition that something wasn't right. When Anna lost nearly 1.5 litres of blood immediately after delivery, doctors assured her they had removed all placental tissue—but her body told a different story. As she struggled desperately with breastfeeding, Anna couldn't shake the feeling that retained placenta was affecting her milk supply. For six long weeks, she fought to be heard by medical professionals who repeatedly dismissed her concerns. Anna vulnerably recounts the emotional toll of feeling "gaslit" by the medical system and the vindication—yet frustration—of finally receiving an ultrasound at six weeks postpartum that confirmed placenta accreta. She reflects on the importance of trusting your instincts as a new mother, advocating for yourself even when experts disagree, and finding peace with the feeding journey that works for your family. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at [email protected] or send a voice note here. THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Anna Bamford Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth.  Pregnancy is often described as a transformative journey, but for Briar, it became something far more complex. Having already navigated the life-altering experience of spinal surgery and disability in her twenties, she approached motherhood with both excitement and careful consideration. She'd rebuilt her life, regained her independence, and felt ready to embrace this new chapter. From the very beginning of her pregnancy, however, Briar's body began responding in ways that challenged everything she thought she knew about managing her disability. The same hormones that were nurturing her growing baby were also affecting the delicate balance she'd achieved in her own physical recovery. What started as manageable discomfort gradually escalated into pain that threatened to overwhelm her carefully constructed coping strategies and potentially prevent her from carrying Theodora to term.  Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at [email protected] or send a voice note here. THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth hereCREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Briar Harte Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! After having to go under general anaesthetics for the birth of her first baby, Jordan spent her second pregnancy working with anaesthetists to ensure she'd be awake for baby Dakota's arrival. But when two spinal blocks failed and doctors warned they'd never given a third dose to anyone, Jordan had seconds to decide whether to go under or fight through the pain. In today's episode, Jordan shares how witnessing Dakota's arrival—despite the physical pain—became profoundly healing, and opens up about her hopes for a different experience with baby number three, who's on the way.  Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at [email protected] or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Jordan Loughnane Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth. Enjoy! When Lauren planned her second birth, she envisioned a calm home birth with her private midwife—complete with a birth pool, fairy lights, and her trusted care team by her side. After feeling unsupported in the public system, she'd carefully crafted the perfect birth environment at 41 weeks. But when labour finally began on a quiet Monday afternoon while her husband was at work, everything unfolded faster than anyone could have imagined. What started as a few bathroom trips quickly escalated into intense contractions just two minutes apart, leaving Lauren alone on her ensuite floor with her midwife stuck in traffic and her husband racing home. In today's gripping episode, Lauren shares her remarkable 40-minute labour—from that first contraction to holding her son Finley, with paramedics arriving just in time to catch him. She reflects on the primal strength that emerged when birth didn't go to plan, and how she maintained control even when everything felt chaotic. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at [email protected] or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Listen to more Diary Of A Birth hereCREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Lauren Watson Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.