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Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Tash shares her journey to motherhood, from being diagnosed with endometriosis at 21 and navigating years of infertility and IVF, to falling pregnant naturally with her second baby. For her first pregnancy, Tash knew she wanted continuity of care but was unable to get into MGP, so she chose a private midwife. Unsure whether she wanted to birth at home or in hospital, a bleed at 39 weeks ultimately saw her giving birth in hospital. We then chat about her second pregnancy, choosing private midwifery care again, and what led Tash to ultimately choose homebirth for her second baby. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Hannah, a midwife herself, shares her journey to motherhood, from her family’s birth history in Ireland to choosing homebirth for her own baby. Having worked as a midwife within the system, Hannah knew she wanted a physiological birth and chose a model of care that supported this. She talks openly about navigating Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), discovering she had a placental shelf, and the testing she chose to have and chose not to have during pregnancy. We also chat about her labour starting just days before her due date, breastfeeding, and the reality of postpartum mental health, including her experience with postpartum OCD. Links: Gidget Foundation Australia Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Siobhan as she shares the stories of her two very different birth experiences and the lessons she learned along the way. For her first pregnancy, Siobhan chose private obstetric care, hoping for a vaginal birth. She reflects on how, in hindsight, the model of care she chose didn't align with her birth preferences and unpacks the decisions she made throughout labour, including navigating conversations around induction, choosing an epidural, and experiencing an episiotomy. She also opens up about the often-overlooked postpartum period, sharing her breastfeeding challenges during the COVID pandemic and reflecting on the gaps she experienced in private obstetric care after birth. Determined to have a different experience the second time around, Siobhan chose a completely different model of care with a private midwife and planned a homebirth. She shares what led to that decision and how this birth transformed the way she viewed pregnancy, labour and birth. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jemima shares her journey through five pregnancies, two births, two miscarriages, and the exciting news that she's currently expecting her third baby. She takes us back to her first pregnancy, when she was accepted into a publicly funded homebirth program. Although she planned to birth at home, labour took an unexpected turn, leading to a hospital transfer and a birth that looked very different from what she'd hoped for. Jemima talks about the impact that experience had on her, and how birth debriefs afterwards helped her process what had happened. After experiencing a miscarriage, Jemima approached her next pregnancy differently, choosing to hire a private midwife and preparing for the birth she hoped for. She shares what led to that decision, how much she'd learnt since becoming a first-time mum, and the confidence she found along the way. When Jemima unexpectedly fell pregnant for the fourth time, she was faced with another heartbreaking miscarriage. She shares what it was like waiting three weeks for her baby to pass naturally before ultimately choosing to have a D&C, and the emotional toll that journey took. Now pregnant again, Jemima reflects on everything she's learnt through the highs and lows of growing her family. It's an honest conversation about birth, loss, healing, and finding your own path through motherhood. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail We're back after a little mid-year break and kicking things off with a life update episode. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage. Laura shares where she's been at on her TTC journey and opens up about a recent miscarriage. Aimee also shares her own experience with miscarriage from a few years ago. We also chat about how different life looks for Aimee these days - seven months on from her separation, living on her own, and in a completely different headspace to where she was at the end of last year. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sinem shares the journey behind her two very different birth experiences and how motherhood transformed the way she viewed birth, fear, and trust in herself. After entering her first pregnancy feeling deeply fearful of birth, she reflects on the experiences, decisions, and challenges that slowly reshaped her understanding. From private obstetric care and an early arrival with her first baby, to choosing a very different path during her second pregnancy, Sinem’s story highlights how knowledge, support, and lived experience can influence the choices we make as mothers. She also speaks candidly about the realities of breastfeeding, the lessons she learned between pregnancies, and the mindset shifts that led her toward a more instinctive and empowering second birth experience. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Laura, postpartum doula, dance teacher, and mother, as she shares the story of her first birth. Laura takes us behind the scenes of what it really looks like to plan a homebirth as a first-time mum, speaking to how she navigated the process and advocated for her choices. She also shares her experience with PUPPPs toward the end of her pregnancy. Her labour began at 39+1 with her waters breaking and unfolded quickly, with her son arriving in just under three hours. Laura speaks openly about the intensity of a fast birth, as well as the moments immediately after, including her baby receiving oxygen support. She also reflects on aspects of her care during labour and after birth that did not align with what she had hoped for, an experience that shaped the way she approached finding care providers this time around, interviewing multiple midwives to find the right fit and feeling more anchored in what matters most to her. Links: Laura's Instagram Laura Lushington - Website Ova Acupuncture Ellen Freeman Aaria - birth keeper and ceremonialist QLD homebirth directory Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lasche shares her two birth stories, one in hospital and one at home. Throughout both of her pregnancies, she experienced ongoing nausea and vomiting right up until birth. With her first, she chose to birth through the MGP program and went beyond 42 weeks before going into spontaneous labour. During labour, she was sent home as she wasn’t yet in active labour. After her waters broke, she returned to hospital where meconium was found in the waters. Her care team recommended starting syntocinon, and she gave birth not long after, with contractions becoming intense and close together. After reflecting on and questioning her first birth experience, Lasche decided she wanted something different the next time. For her second pregnancy, she chose a home birth with a private midwife. Her labour was fast, lasting just 2.5 hours, and her baby was born before the midwife arrived. Links:  - Court Case  Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Christine shares the story of her three very different births and her experience navigating hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) in every pregnancy. Christine became a mum at 20. Her first birth began spontaneously at 41 weeks before a planned induction and included an epidural, a vacuum assisted birth and a shoulder dystocia.  Ten years later, while on her honeymoon, Christine conceived her second baby. Because of the shoulder dystocia in her first birth, growth scans were recommended throughout the pregnancy. When one scan raised concerns, an induction was suggested. After the induction process began, labour progressed quickly, leaving her with no time to have concerns for what had happened in her previous birth.  After a miscarriage, Christine was later diagnosed with PTSD connected to her HG pregnancies and began to understand how deeply those experiences had affected her. In this episode she speaks openly about HG, sharing preparation tips, medication options and things that helped her cope. Christine’s third birth was a very different experience, welcoming her baby at home in the birth pool surrounded by her midwives, partner and mother.  Links: Embrace Midwifery Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Marley to hear her two very different birth stories and how they shaped her journey in the motherhood space. Marley is a doula, birth educator, nanny, and babysitter who continues to support families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. Her first pregnancy followed the cascade of interventions, ultimately leading to an instrumental birth. During her second pregnancy, Marley planned a home birth. However, after discovering her baby was breech and having open discussions with her midwife and hospital team, weighing up the information available to her at the time, she chose to have a caesarean birth. She proactively wrote to the hospital outlining her wishes and the context surrounding her decision, advocating for a respectful and supported experience. Her second baby was admitted to NICU with pathological jaundice, and Marley also navigated recovery from a caesarean infection. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail Originally from the USA and now based in Canberra, Shelby is a rebirthing breath worker, yoga teacher, and mother of three. In this open and reflective conversation, she shares her birth imprint, her experience of neurodivergence, and how pain and trauma shaped her early births. Her first birth at the birth centre included a shoulder dystocia, 3B tear, major postpartum haemorrhage, retained placenta requiring surgery, transfusions, and a later prolapse. Her second began with prodromal labour and ended in an emergency caesarean. During her third pregnancy, Shelby realised she didn’t fully trust birth — and she was no longer able to return to the birth centre due to her previous experiences. As labour began, she chose to stay home and see how things unfolded, setting up her birth pool and ultimately birthing her baby there before transferring to hospital with concerns of postpartum haemorrhage. Links: (Instagram) Shelby Trevillian | RBM Breathwork • RPYT 500 • Somatic CoachSupport the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Hannah shares her deeply personal journey through three very different birth experiences. Originally from the United States, Hannah is a midwife and PhD candidate who now lives in Switzerland. She worked as a midwife in Australia, where she also had her children. Based on her experiences as a midwife, Hannah had planned to birth her babies at home. After a medically necessary termination at over 20 weeks in her first pregnancy, her first baby was born in hospital. She speaks openly about the birth, the grief that followed, and giving birth in circumstances she had not planned for. Hannah later went on to birth her second and third babies at home. Her second birth unfolded over five days, while her third was the complete opposite. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail On today’s final episode of 2025, Aimee and Laura catch up on what’s been happening in their lives and reflect on the year that’s been. They also chat about what’s next and share their plans for the podcast in the year ahead. A huge thank you to everyone who tuned in this year, and a special thank you to those who’ve been with the podcast from the very beginning. The support throughout the year has meant more than words can say. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Elizabeth, a midwife and first-time mum, shares the story of her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. She always knew she wanted a homebirth, and the moment she saw her positive pregnancy test she contacted her private midwife to begin planning. During pregnancy she also reflects on how her work as a midwife brought up certain fears and vicarious trauma. She talks about how going on leave before birth gave her the space to process these feelings and prepare emotionally for her own experience. Elizabeth went into labour on her due date, and her labour unfolded over 26 hours from her first surge to the moment her daughter was born. At 40+1, she gave birth in the bath at home, surrounded by her partner, her mum, her two sisters, a birth photographer, and a student midwife. Her baby arrived with one hand next to her face. Elizabeth describes feeling a shift during labour and instinctively changing positions to help her baby move down. She also shares her experience of having a second-degree tear. In the postpartum period, she navigated her daughter’s oral ties, which led to 12 challenging weeks of painful breastfeeding. During this time, she decided to remove dairy from her diet while breastfeeding, which had a huge positive impact on her daughter. She also talks about how her family approached co-sleeping and eventually found what worked best for them. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Georgia from Western Australia shares the two birth experiences that shaped her journey into motherhood. Her first birth at 41+1 began with an induction and unfolded in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Georgia speaks about labouring on her own for a period — even after asking for her partner and doula, who weren’t allowed in right away — and being offered pharmaceutical pain relief before having an epidural. Her baby was born with the help of a vacuum, along with an episiotomy and a second-degree tear. She also reflects on missing that initial skin-to-skin moment and the breastfeeding challenges that followed as she navigated her baby’s reflux. Falling pregnant again just seven months later, Georgia followed her intuition toward a more supported experience. She chose a private midwife and planned a homebirth that felt more aligned. At 41 weeks she birthed her 4.3kg baby at home, experiencing another second-degree tear and transferring to hospital. Support the show @homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.