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When Michelle received a gift of a massage after the loss of her baby, a massive ripple effect started. An idea was sparked, Michelle took action and now supports hundreds of mothers per year following the loss of a baby. In this episode Michelle shares her journey, thoughts and feelings of loss on Mothers Day and 2020 lockdown. We hear all about how her journey has lead to the creation of a charity and all about Massage After Miscarriage. If you would like to support this worthwhile charity head to www.massageaftermiscarriage.com or connect with Michelle on @massageaftermiscarriage for a free guided meditation track to support the process of healing, head to www.positivebirths.co.nz/miscarriage-healing

To mark Baby Loss Awareness week (Oct 9-15) we are here to acknowledge the short life of Lottie. Kaz openly and vulnerably shares her story just 4 weeks after her loss of Lottie in mid 2026. Lottie was  thought and planned for, conceiving with IVF, and with consideration Kaz may experience HG again. They went to their 12 week scan and discovered no heartbeat. Kaz speaks about her options and feelings as there were no signs of miscarriage. After deciding to go private for the quickest procedure, her body didn’t respond to misoprostal, and she ended up with GA at public hospital. We chat on: -Balancing being in mum mode with grieving and processing -What has helped her through the first 4 weeks -The monarch butterfly experience -Connection and support from her partner Will -Other people’s opinions and thoughts, -At what point in time is it socially considered enough of aloss to grieve? -The real and raw conversations about moving ahead. At the time of this episode going to air Kaz is now pregnant again with a baby boy due in February. You can find Kaz on @bountiful_nz For a relaxation track and resources for healing head to: https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/miscarriage-healing/

”They told me that the day before, that labor could be quite quick with pre-eclampsia. Your body often just needs to get the baby out.” Edith shares her smooth induction with pre-eclampsia tofirst baby Jasper. Included in this chat: -Doing the recorded online Positive births course -High blood pressure 33 weeks -Admitted to hospital at 36+2 -Being well supported at Invercargill hospital -Misoprostal one day -Syntoncin on day 2 -Spent time in the water -Birthed in the pool (but not into the water) -Iron transfusion -Overwhelm with information postpartum and challenges with breastfeeding If you would like to feel calm and confident no matter whatchallenges or curveballs you face in your pregnancy, labour, birth you will enjoy the Birth with Calm and Confidence online recorded course, available at https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/online-recorded-classes/ For one on one support with breathwork, relaxation, mindsetskills, emotional support and fear release email [email protected] Get your free relaxation track and guide to a positive birth here:https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-birth-top-resources/ For more inspiration and information follow us on@positive_births_nz

To celebrate our 200th episode we chat to the internationally recognised Kiwi researcher and educator in the field of pregnancy and birth; Dr Sarah J Buckley who has just completed a PhD on Oxytocin. Within this chat amongst many topics, we cover: -the  positive feedback loop of labour. -Filling in of hormonal gaps -10 years to write up the PhD – (we are still waiting for thedata to be available to the public) -The uterus becoming more sensitive to oxytocin towards end of pregnancy – oxytocin receptor density -Baby’s system getting oxytocin -Are we ever going to know what causes labour to start? -The interesting find about Synthetic Oxytocin -Breast crawl can reduce postpartum hemorrhage -The increasing rates of intervention -Epidurals and filling the hormonal gaps -Getting into the parasympathetic system is beneficial allthrough your pregnancy -Setting yourself up for physiological birth   For more information on Sarah's work head to : www.  sarahbuckley.com, click the All the Science button, you'll find links to all of the free full text articles. To get your free guide on how to prepare for a positive birth and a free relaxation track head to www.positivebirths.co.nz For personal support or group classes email [email protected] For more information and inspiration follow us on @positive_births_nz

“I can’t wait to give birth again” even though her whole journey included many challenges, Caitlin shares all the details involved to meeting baby Remy.   In this chat we discuss the following: -Lengthy conception journey -Family history of pre-eclampsia, recommended aspirin butdeclined due to allergy despite recommendations – didn’t get pre -eclampsia -The Mitre 10 lady with her story…. -getting to 42 weeks and navigating induction -Foley balloon, misoprostal -Felt a band popping, nausea, shaking -Fast labour 9minutes to push him out -Tearing and episotomy -Post birth high -Loving postpartum   For your free guide to a positive birth and a freerelaxation track head to www.positivebirths.co.nzFor more info and inspiration follow us on @positive_births_nz

More than just a birth story, in this episode we chat on some deep and meaningfuls like death, loss and grief and children who remember before they were conceived. Wai speaks to the empowerment of a homebirth, losing her mum to cancer 4 months into her pregnancy, why she chose the support of a doula and how she felt after her quick homebirth.   Topics included : -The grief process and navigating it through pregnancy -3 yr old Aria’s experiences of birth and death -Support from a doula -Going 16 days past her due date -2 hours of established labour -Feeling ecstatic and energised after birth -Comparisons with a  psychedelic  journey and birth -Mothers blessing ceremony If you’d like to hear Wai’s first birth journey to meetingAria, you can find it here: Waimarie’s home waterbirth to Aria https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hCpcJrHhtBV9wdcGRbCnm   Resources mentioned: Anita Moorjani = Dying to be me The Signs – Laura Lynn Jackson The Light Between us - Laura Lynn Jackson To get your free relaxation track and guide to a positive birth head to www.positivebirths.co.nz Helen offers a range of hypnobirthing courses to support you in a calm, confident and empowered birth and one on one therapy and support in all aspects of birth. You can contact her directly [email protected] For more inspiration and information follow us on @positivebirths_helen

"It was everything opposite to what I planned." Arlene is here to share her story of experiencing the kindof birth she had hoped to avoid — and how, despite everything unfolding so differently from what she had planned, she was still able to have a positive birthexperience. Some of the topics in our chat today include: -Giving birth at age 42 -Reprogramming thoughts and fears about birth -Trigger warning - we talk about Baby loss of Arlene’s and a friend's -Miscarriage at age 40 – you can hear Arlene’s story at episode #115. Miscarriage chat with Arlene https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dZ0gu2pWwAbXerbbyyYk9 -Preparing for conception with fertility naturopath -Difficultly with constant nausea and throwing up all through pregnancy -Home burglary while 5 months pregnant – creating a safe space for a homebirth -Declining Gestational Diabetes test and plan if baby had it at birth -Arlene’s midwife supporting her desire to have an autonomous birth -5 days of labour at home -Complete respect from hospital staff -Successful walking epidural Leave any comments and questions in the comments below for Arlene or Helen. If you would like to receive your free guide on how to prepare for a positive birth and a free relaxation track head to www.positivebirths.co.nz For more information on a range of courses to help you feel calm, confident and empowered in any type of birth scenario see www.positivebirths.co.nz Helen offers trauma informed hypnotherapy and support for healing after loss and trauma. Please reach out if you'd like to have a confidential chat about support. For more information and inspiration follow us on @positive_births_nz

We finally have a twin birth story!!! – thanks to Devon whoshares with us her recent experience of a vaginal birth to her fraternal twin boys, Marlon and Remy In this chat we discuss:  - Di-di twins (dichorionic-diamniotic twins) are a type oftwin pregnancy where each baby has their own separate amniotic sac and placenta -How Devon was resigned to the fact that what was going tohappen would happen - Her relaxed, low key approach - The physical challenges - Extra scans  as Twin A flagged for growth restriction, -Induction with misoprostal, contractions without much restin between -Epidural & vaginal birth - Breastfeeding - First 3 months of life with babies Do listen to the end for Devon’s really  great advice at the end for all mums going through the newborn stage! If you'd like to prepare for your positive birth - no matter what circumstances you face, learn mindset skills, breathwork, relaxation tools and loads more at www.positivebirths.co.n To start today join the recorded online Birth with Calm and Confidence course: https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/online-recorded-classes/ For more information and inspiration follow us on @positive_births_nz

Two home waterbirths, two perfectly healthy babies who had both arrived after a very tech free, physiological pregnancy and birth. Tennille had no tests, no scans, no monitoring, just a few blood tests to keep an eye on her iron levels. She had no desire or need for any internal checks or monitoring of baby in either of her labours. Tennille shares with us how she became educated,worked with her body and tuned into her intuition. We discuss: - Ayurvedic living, a holistic lifestyle -The knowing of wanting a home birth -Finding a midwife during covid times -Baby born in water -Lotus birth -Intervention and technology free birth (blood tests for ironchecks) -Using intuition -Building a tiny home in 2nd pregnancy, surrendering to the birth environment -Breathwork and meditation being very familiar tools thankyou Tennille @vayu__mothers for beautifully articulating your experiences. For your free resources - your guide to a positive birth plus a free relaxation track, head to www.positivebirths.co.nz For more inspiration and information on preparing for your positive birth follow us @positive_births_nz

Abby shares her reasons and priorities as to why she chose to have an elective c-section to second baby Rorah and how this became her best decision for a positive birth. We hear about her difficult journey involving an emergency c-section to first baby Ari and subsequent severe postnatal anxiety and the loneliness of solo parenting. However, after enjoying a very different birth and postpartum to Rorah, Abby has set up a support system for other parents needing postpartum support. In this episode we cover: -Single mum journey with first baby -Emergency/crash c section with Ari -Postnatal anxiety and the relevant support networks -Maternal Mental Health -Abby's thoughts and feelings about what happened through that birth and how it impacted on her plans for 2nd baby -Fear of going through the same experience -Hyperemesis Gravadarium - Why Abby chose a c-section – her priorities -The birth and oxytocin -Breasteeding and a healing postpartum -Making hard decisions -Post partum services for mums near Hibiscus Coast, Orewa Abby can be found at: www.parentsupportpostpartum.co.nz @parentsupportpostpartum For a range of courses offering practical hypnobirthing tools, techniques and skills to feel calm, confident and capable for any type of birth see www.positivebirths.co.nz For support with trauma, fears, phobias and more feel free to reach out to Helen who is a certified trauma informed Hypnotherapist, and Healing Birth practitioner - you can book a no obligation 15 min chat by emailing [email protected] Follow for more positive birth stories and information @positive_births_nz

"The biggest achievement of my life...... it's about taking personal responsibility" Jaz shares her experience of her wild pregnancy and freebirth to her and Issak's first baby, Sage. Within this conversation we cover : -The unique environment when she discovered she was pregnant and how she told partner Issak -Wild pregnancy– no blood tests, no scans, no medical support or intervention -Taking full personal responsibility -Other people’s thoughts; a midwife’s comments -The sacredness of the sex, birth, death continuum -Dealing with any fear -The birth environment -Long early labour, using oxytocin and homeopathics -Very quick birthing phase -Aware parenting   To download your free guide on how to prepare for your positive birth plus a free relaxation track head here:https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-birth-top-resources/ If you'd like to enjoy a course that helps you to feel calm, confident, prepared for any type of birth you'll find online and live course options at positivebirths.co.nz For more info and inspiration follow us on Instagram @positive_births_nz

A powerful, story of a strong mum in an intense situation for her first birth. Danielle is not traumatized by this birth experience, in fact she is pleased to share about all that went right for her. In this episode we discuss: - The decision to have children, oral contraception for 16 years - Coming to terms with, and processing pregnancy - Sister inlaw’s stillbirth - Unicorn pregnancy - learning hypnobirthing tools for mindset shift - Reasons to avoid hospital - Finishing work at 40 weeks pregnant - 41+5 and no pressure to induce - Using a TENS machine - Fast progression of labour  - Baby became bradycardic and Danielle needed to push hard to get him out in 4 mins - Baby born with cranial hematoma - Danielle’s midwives support and comments To download your free guide on how to prepare for yourpositive birth plus a free relaxation track head here: https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-birth-top-resources/ For a range of in person and online courses along with personal sessions with Helen see www.positivebirths.co.nz For more info and inspiration follow on @positive_births_nz

Anna's fast birth of her 4th baby in hospital while synthetic oxytocin was being 'threatened' as her membranes had released almost 2 days prior. In this chat we cover: -Miscarriage before Freddy’s conception -First part of pregnancy worried about loss – listening toheartbeat helped -Fear release -Membrane release but no sign of labour within 36 hours. -Labour starts naturally in hospital just before syntheticoxytocin given -Wireless monitor not picking up baby’s heartbeat -One hour established labour -Astrologically a special day to be born  You can listen to Anna’s 3 other birth experiences here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OkZFja4KOnK5lhyJgt1O8 If you're having your third or fourth baby too and would like a set of tools to feel calm, empowered and confident (and tools that are useful postpartum too!) here's the best course for you: https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/online-recorded-classes/ For more info and inspiration for a positive birth follow @positive_births_nz To download your free guide on how to prepare for your positive birth plus a free relaxation track head here:https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-birth-top-resources/

While the circumstances around Finley's arrival could have been traumatic Amy is speaking here as a mum who has many positives to share during her journey to meet her baby. It was necessary to have a c-section and she felt calm, safe and empowered throughout. *Trigger warning that we cover the details of the difficulty of Finley coming out during the caesarean due to his transverse position. In this episode we chat on the following topics: -Fear of not being able to have babies -Miscarriage (which turned septic) -we mention : Massage for Miscarriage -Using different midwife for pregnancy and birth due to preferred birth location -Transverse positioning of baby  at end of pregnancy -37 weeks waters start leaking -C section process -Baby born with bruising -VBAC stats (see below) To download your free guide on how to prepare for your positive birth plus a free relaxation track head here: https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-birth-top-resources/ If you would like to feel calm, confident and empowered no matter what your birth journey involves head to www.positivebirths.co.nz. You'll find a range of live and recorded course options plus one on one sessions available with Helen. For more info and inspiration follow us @positive_births_nz VBAC stats mentioned: Statistics come from various resources and presented in Kristin White’s VBAC workshop 2025. @kristindoula.birtheducatorNZ stats only 10% of mothers will chose a VBAC of those, 70% will be successfulUterine rupture risk after 1 previous c-section is approx. 0.5%, after 2 c-sections 0.9%Statistically more likely to have a cord prolapse or shoulder dystocia.Statistically more likely to have a uterine rupture if you have synthetic oxytocin than through a VBAC

Caroline and Coad both share their journey to meet Mia which involved the use of a strong mindset and tools to navigate curveballs at the end of pregnancy and during labour for the best possible outcome. In this chat we cover the following topics, and more: -First pregnancy becoming a miscarriage -Naturopath support for conception -NIPT test returning result for a baby boy -Scans weren’t able to see between baby’s legs so assumption stayed as a boy -41+4 having talks about induction, Caroline determined to go into labour spontaneously -Fear release of induction and hospital -Midwife’s check of cervix during the stretch and sweepindicated labour unlikely, however, Caroline went into labour that night -Recommendation of induction, Caroline and Coad asked formore time -Labour starts spontaneously but slow to progress – Carolineasked not to be told her dilation number (it was 0 when she thought she was in active labour) -Using mindset to keep going, sleeping between the waves, hospital staff noting Caroline is coping beautifully -3.5 hours later Caroline is at 7 cms -Episiotomy, mild forceps support for birth -40 mins after birth discovering their “boy” was in fact a“girl” Caroline and Coad joined the Positive Births Ultimate course to gain information, education, tools, techniques and ongoing support for their pregnancy. As you'll hear this proved invaluable for their end of pregnancy and labour journey. You can find the Positive Births Ultimate course at www.positivebirths.co.nz. Available in person and live online. To download your free guide on how to prepare for your positive birth plus a free relaxation track head here:https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-birth-top-resources/ We mention the use of acupressure points, a great resource is from Debra Betts at https://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/acupressure/download.aspx/ for more information and inspiration follow @positive_births_nz