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Dr Pat and Brigid talk about what to do once you have done a home pregnancy test and it is positive. This episode covers when to see a doctor, what happens at this first appointment, what all the blood tests are for, what estimated due dates mean, what an unsighted pregnancy is, what beta hCG is and what medical history needs to be discussed with your doctor. Plus loads more. If you have a question you want answered, please leave your message on speakpipe to be chosen for Dr Pat to answer during a Q&A: LINKS Join our pregnancy and birth course Join our pregnancy course Instagram @thekickpregnancypodcast Facebook @thekickpregnancypodcast Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/ Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Hello, Bump, a podcast about what you’re not expecting when you’re expecting. Each episode, we take you through exactly what's happening to you and your baby in each week of pregnancy. In this episode, hosts Jana Pittman and Grace Rouvray help you navigate finding out you’re pregnant, which often happens after a missed period around the four-week mark.  They’ll walk you through the physical changes, emotional ups and downs and give you practical tips on what you can do at this point in the pregnancy. Want more Hello Bump? Listen to the full season of episodes of Hello, Bump here. THE END BITS: Discover more Mamamia podcasts here. Email us: [email protected] Share your story or feedback. Send us a voice message, and one of our podcast producers will get back to you ASAP. Are you a mum of a child aged 5 years or under? Are you expecting a little one? We want to hear from you! Complete our survey now for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! CREDITS: Hosts: Jana Pittman and Grace Rouvray Executive Producer: Courtney Ammenhauser Audio Production: Thom Lion 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Courtney thought her family was complete with two beautiful children, she was finally ready to focus on herself. After her doctor found pre-cancerous cervical cells following her first birth, she'd been advised to have a completion hysterectomy once her family was finished—and at 38, with a four-year-old and almost two-year-old, that time had finally come. Her hysterectomy was booked for March of that year. But in February, just weeks before her scheduled surgery, Courtney discovered she was pregnant with her third child. The culprit? Her two-year-old daughter Margo, who had been secretly chewing on condoms thinking they were chocolates, making tiny holes that rendered them useless. In today's candid episode, Courtney vulnerably shares her initial shock upon discovering the pregnancy, her fear about making the "wrong" decision, and how seeing her baby healthy at 17 weeks felt like a sign. She reflects on navigating a high-risk pregnancy with a shortened cervix, enduring three weeks of prodromal labour, and the dramatic 12-minute birth that caught everyone off guard—including herself. Diary Of A Birth will be taking a break for now, the show features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Please continue to share your birth stories at [email protected] or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. 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 Birth Story: Courtney Ayre  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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content Warning: This episode discusses stillbirth, infant loss, and termination for medical reasons. Please proceed with care. After falling pregnant on their first time trying into their marriage, Darci and her husband were overjoyed to be expecting their first child—the first grandchild for both sets of parents. But what began as an uncomplicated pregnancy quickly transformed into a medical emergency when Darci's blood pressure reached dangerously high levels, requiring multiple hospital admissions and constant monitoring. In today's profoundly moving episode, Darci courageously shares the devastating moment at 21 weeks when doctors discovered her baby was measuring the size of an 11-week foetus. Faced with an impossible choice, she and her husband made the heartbreaking decision to terminate for medical reasons and elected to be induced and proceed with the birth.  She shares Dylan's story not just as a tribute to her son, but as a lifeline for other bereaved parents who may feel alone in their grief—because these babies were loved, their lives had meaning, and their stories deserve to be told. If you have been affected by any of the content in this episode, here are some resources,  including Bears of Hope—an organisation that greatly helped Darci. Bears of Hope Stillbirth Foundation Australia Resources Beyond Blue. 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 InstagramCREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Darci Crocker 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this weeks episode, Ksenija introduces us to a previous chat Mamamia's Jessie Stephens had with Prue Thomas. At 19 Prue was setting up for a function at work when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. As the day went on, the pain increased, so Prue and her mum headed to the hospital. It was here, that Prue found out that her pain was actually labour. Prue was about to give birth, and up until that point, she didn't realise she was pregnant. CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Prue Thomas Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this weeks episode, Ksenija is pulling our attention back to an incredible interview between Jessie Stephens and Nothing To Wear & You Beauty host Leigh Campbell. When it comes to life, Leigh Campbell is very prepared. But there was one thing she really couldn't prepare for, the birth of her son. Because even the most well-intentioned of plans can be derailed in an instant, or in this case, 32 hours.  Leigh sits down with Jessie Stephens, alongside her husband Rich, to talk about their birth story... THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you. CREDITS Hosts: Ksenija Lukich & Jessie Stephens  Guests: Leigh Campbell and Rich Gioutsos Producer: Gia Moylan & Ella Maitland Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Carly's doctor told her it was time to consider surrogacy after 25 failed IVF transfers, her sister Sophie had already made an offer that would transform their family forever. After eight years of trying and watching all her siblings grow their families while she couldn't, Carly was about to embark on the most emotionally complex journey of her life. In today's episode, Carly vulnerably shares the profound experience of watching her sister carry her biological child—from the struggle to connect with the baby growing in Sophie's body to the overwhelming moment when Goldie was born and she could finally hold her daughter. The story takes an even more remarkable turn when Carly discovers she can actually carry a pregnancy herself, leading to the birth of her son Freddie just three weeks before our interview. Carly reflects on finding peace in potentially living child-free, the toxic positivity surrounding infertility, and how sometimes letting go can be more powerful than holding on. 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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. 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 Birth Story: Carly Prebble 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this weeks episode, we take a look back at an insightful interview Mamamia's very own Jessie Stephens had with Model and former Biggest Loser host Fiona Falkiner and her now wife, journalist Hayley Willis. They didn’t really have a birth plan, Fiona did know two things. She wanted to be induced. And she didn’t want to see a pair of forceps in the room with her. So, did her birth wishes come true? In this episode of The Delivery Room, Fiona and Hayley join Jessie to discuss the long road that led them into the birthing suite in March 2021. 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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you. CREDITS Hosts: Ksenija Lukich & Jessie Stephens  Guests: Fiona Falkiner & Hayley Willis Producer: Gia Moylan & Ella Maitland Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Marni's IVF embryo spontaneously split at 13 weeks, she was excited to be bringing not one but two babies into the world. But over half way through her pregnancy her doctors discovered one of the rarest twin complications - TAPS. In today's emotional episode, Marni shares how TAPS turned her pregnancy into a fight for survival, with one twin slowly losing blood while the other's blood became dangerously thick. Marni takes us through the incredible medical interventions that followed—two groundbreaking in-utero procedures at 29 and 32 weeks. When an E. coli infection threatened their survival, Billie and Poppy arrived via emergency caesarean at 33 weeks, beginning a 27-day NICU journey that would test every ounce of Marni's strength. 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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. 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 Birth Story: Marni Cochrane 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.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 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.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 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.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 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.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 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.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 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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 Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.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 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/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.