Australian Birth Stories

Tamsyn shares her journey from first-time mum to birthing fraternal twins vaginaly at 40+6 weeks. After experiencing a medicalised first birth with Maya during COVID lockdowns, Tamsyn was determined to achieve the physiological birth she envisaged for her twins. Despite facing significant pressure from hospital staff to accept routine interventions, Tamsyn's story demonstrates the importance of ha...

In this episode, Ruby - a registered nurse turned midwife and maternal child health nurse - shares her positive birth experience through the Royal Women's Hospital homebirth program in Melbourne. After initially planning a homebirth, Ruby's journey took several turns including a low-lying placenta scare that kept her in limbo for months, waters breaking early, and ultimately birthing her daughter...

In this episode, personal trainer and mother of three Gen takes us through her complete motherhood journey from Richmond to the Victorian coast. Her first pregnancy was unplanned but led to a powerful physiological birth at the Royal Women's Hospital. After moving through various challenges including COVID lockdowns, job redundancy, and relocating interstate, Gen welcomed her second daughter in a...

Today I chat with Chris, a registered nurse and midwife who has been working with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood's milk program for eight years. Chris takes us through the fascinating world of donor breast milk - from the rigorous screening process for donors to how this precious resource supports the tiniest and most vulnerable babies in neonatal intensive care units across Australia. Whether you...

In this episode, Jordan, a 28-year-old midwife from rural South Australia, shares her two incredibly positive birth experiences at the hospital where she works. Living 600 kilometres from Adelaide in the tiny farming town of Port Neill, Jordan navigated the unique experience of birthing alongside her colleagues whilst balancing her partner's demanding harvest schedule. Her first labour was a marat...

Today Steph Claire Smith returns to share her second birth experience with daughter Billie. After Harvey's induction at 41 weeks, Steph was determined to experience spontaneous labour this time around. Her journey included navigating a breech presentation, trying every trick in the book to encourage baby to turn, and ultimately achieving the birth she'd always dreamed of. Use the code  AUBIRT...

Celeste's three births showcase dramatically different experiences within the same hospital system. Her first birth involved an induction that led to forceps delivery and NICU admission, her second was a precipitous labour where she dilated from 3cm to fully dilated in just 30 minutes, and her third was a planned induction that resulted in her dream water birth. Throughout all three experiences, m...

In this deeply moving episode, we speak with Hannah, a midwife and lactation consultant from the Southern Highlands, who shares her profound journey through two very different birth experiences. Hannah takes us through her first pregnancy with daughter Beatrix, including the unexpected discovery of a breech presentation, her decision to pursue vaginal breech birth at Westmead Hospital, and the cha...

In honour of World Breastfeeding Week today I sit down with Dr. Amber Hart, a Melbourne-based GP and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Dr. Hart shares her expertise on the realities of breastfeeding, the importance of antenatal education, and addresses the controversial rise in tongue tie diagnoses. Amber offers a refreshing perspective on supporting new mothers through their fee...

In this powerful episode, lawyer and mother-of-two Tessa shares her contrasting birth experiences in Darwin, Northern Territory. Her first birth with daughter Frankie was everything she'd hoped for - a quick, low-intervention delivery at a private hospital with excellent postnatal care. But when she fell pregnant with her second daughter Millie, everything changed. Healthscope announced without wa...

In this episode, Sophie Pearce shares her transformative journey through three pregnancies complicated by severe hyperemesis gravidarum. Sophie opens up about her early miscarriage, the challenge of PUPPs during her first pregnancy, and how she navigated the transition from medicine to motherhood whilst dealing with significant pregnancy-related mental health challenges. Her story beautifully illu...

In this episode, we chat with Loren, a registered midwife turned sleep safety educator at Red Nose Australia. Loren shares her comprehensive journey from supporting families through pregnancy and birth to becoming a leading voice in SIDS prevention and safe sleep practices. This conversation is packed with practical, evidence-based guidance that every new parent, midwife, and doula needs to know a...

Lisa shares her profound journey through two vastly different birth experiences that ultimately shaped her perspective on motherhood and advocacy. From battling severe hyperemesis gravidarum during COVID lockdowns to experiencing a challenging induction and difficult postpartum period, Lisa's first birth was marked by isolation and trauma. However, her second pregnancy brought healing, empowerment...

Katie takes us through her two contrasting birth experiences in Brisbane. After struggling with undiagnosed endometriosis for over a decade, Katie's journey to motherhood began with conception on just the second cycle. Her first birth at 41+4 weeks resulted in a rapid, intense labour following induction, culminating in a forceps delivery and third-degree tear that she wasn't fully informed about a...

In episode 556 Corinne shares her complete journey to motherhood - from a difficult early pregnancy loss overseas to welcoming four beautiful children. Coming from a family of seven, Corinne always knew she wanted multiple children and to start young. Her story encompasses the complexity of early relationships, making difficult decisions, and ultimately finding joy and confidence in birth. With he...

Tarrah shares her remarkable three-year journey from trying to conceive naturally to welcoming her miracle IVF baby, Aspen. After starting to try for a family in September 2021, Tarrah and her husband Alexander faced the heartbreak of unexplained infertility, leading them through 10 rounds of IVF, pregnancy loss, and ultimately to their beautiful son born at 37 weeks via planned caesarean. Tarrah'...

In this deeply moving episode, midwife and mother Ria shares her journey through motherhood with her daughter Olive, who has a rare genetic condition. Ria's story is one of resilience, advocacy and the profound love that comes with parenting a child with additional needs. If you're preparing your nursery or planning for a new arrival, here's a little heads-up you won't want to miss. iL Tutto's End...

In this episode, Rebecca shares her journey of having three children in quick succession, all with positive hospital birth experiences. As a high school teacher and mother to Theo (3), Reuben (18 months), and Josie (6 weeks), Rebecca's story highlights how knowledge, preparation, and the right care provider can make all the difference in birth experiences. Rebecca's path to motherhood began shortl...

Ali shares her journey of having two daughters via maternal-assisted caesarean births due to preeclampsia. Ali lives in Melbourne's inner west with her husband Brad and their daughters Evie (3.5) and Iris (9.5 months). Ali conceived Evie quickly and had a relatively smooth pregnancy until around 30-32 weeks when her blood pressure began rising. "My blood pressure wasn't like super duper high, like...

In this week's episode, I chat with Claire about her two very different birth experiences at public hospitals in Melbourne. Claire's journey began with meticulous preparation - she and her partner Aaron spent six months optimising their health with a naturopath before trying to conceive. Her first pregnancy was textbook perfect, leading to a beautiful physiological birth with her daughter Amelia....

In this episode, Mel shares her comprehensive journey to motherhood with her partner Peta in Melbourne. As a same-sex couple, their path to parenthood required careful planning, patience, and resilience through the assisted reproductive treatment system. Mel's story beautifully illustrates the unique challenges and joys of same-sex conception while highlighting the importance of flexible birth pla...

In this deeply moving episode, I chat with Anthea about her three very different birth experiences, including a challenging third pregnancy that required months of strict bed rest during COVID lockdowns with two toddlers at home. After experiencing an ectopic pregnancy and a nine-month journey to conceive, Anthea went on to have two hospital births - Harriet via induction at 38 weeks and Florence...

In this week's episode I chat to Natalia @wildearthexpeditions about her two home water births with her daughters Estelle and Coco. Natalia's story encapsulates her connection with her Indigenous family, the Ngarrindjeri people of South Australia. During her first visit to country she learnt to weave with her elders, a traditional ritual to welcome a woman into motherhood and only three months lat...

In this episode, I chat with Katherine about her journey to motherhood through IVF and her birth experience with daughter Zendaya. Katherine shares her story of discovering her partner Aaron's rare diagnosis of azoospermia (where there is sperm in the body but none in the ejaculate), their IVF journey, and her eventual birth at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. Follow us on Instagram for ph...

In this week's episode, I chat with Gemma, a writer and Pilates instructor living on the lands of the Awabakal and Wurrumi people in Newcastle, NSW. Gemma shares her three distinctly experiences, culminating in a healing VBAC after two caesarean births.  Are you preparing for birth and looking for a natural way to manage labour pain? Discover the difference with a TENS machine from Bliss Birt...