Held in Motherhood with Hannah Willsmore

In this episode of the Changing Birth Podcast, we explore how to prepare your partner to be the best support during labor and birth. We discuss the importance of open communication, addressing their fears, understanding the birth plan, and playing to their strengths. Practical advice includes watching birth videos together, practicing massage techniques and comfort measures for labour and more! Th...

Anna Ritan is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian-Nutritionist with over 12 years experience, and she specializes in paediatric and neonatal nutritional therapy and dietary education. She is an Adelaide gal like me and my go to person for dietary advice for kids and babies.  We dive into a series of listener-submitted questions covering topics such as baby poo concerns, starting solids, managing re...

In this solo episode, I dive into a variety of listener questions covering topics from our new business ventures and personal updates, to preparing for birth and breastfeeding. I discuss our new services, including infant sleep workshops and private mothers groups, and share personal stories about my family's ongoing house search and health challenges. Key topics include managing gestational...

Are you expecting your second baby and wondering how to prepare your toddler? In this episode I bring on my beautiful friend Adele who is a prenatal yoga teacher and mum of four, to share how she supported her older children with the arrival of a new baby. Adele shares lots of tips and practical advice that I know will be so helpful if you are navigating this transition too. If you haven't al...

Are you expecting your second baby and wondering how to prepare your toddler? In this episode I bring on my beautiful friend Adele who is a prenatal yoga teacher and mum of four, to share how she supported her older children with the arrival of a new baby. Adele shares lots of tips and practical advice that I know will be so helpful if you are navigating this transition too.  In this episode we di...

It's World Breastfeeding Week! To celebrate I am offering a whopping 40% off my Positive Breastfeeding and Postnatal Course. Bite sized, evidenced based education on all things breastfeeding and life with a newborn - all for only $58! Just enter the code BREASTFEEDINGWEEK24 at the checkout to apply your discount. In today's podcast episode I share my favourite breastfeeding tips of all t...

While in the hospital, we always aim to keep mum and baby together, and your baby will routinely 'room in' with you. However, if your baby requires more extensive medical support after birth, they may need to be transferred to a Special Care Nursery/Baby Unit, or a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This can understandably be a very distressing situation for a new mum and family, and i...

More and more women are planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean), so in today's episode I share five strategies for birth preparation specific to VBAC. I love working with VBAC mamas as they are determined, knowledgable and ready to advocate for what they want. In todays episode we cover: How to know if you have a VBAC supportive midwife or ob - and what to do if you don't! Why le...

Wind, gassiness, burping, back arching during feeds and squirmy sleep - what is up with newborns and their digestive system?  Let's break down the research and what we know about our babies digestive system.  In todays episode we cover: What symptoms you might see in your baby. When this is likely to occur, and when it gets better. When it's a good idea to see your midwife, lactation con...

Have you ever seen a positive birth in a movie or TV scene? Me either! Buckle up because today I break down how the media can negatively impact  our birth, and what we can do about it!  In today's episode I dive into:  Why TV and movies almost always portray birth in a negative light, and how this subconsciously impacts our view of birth from teenage years.  How this negative view of contract...

The Night Weaning episode that I released a few months ago has been one of our most popular episodes ever! I have received so many DMs and questions that I thought I would dedicate a whole episode to answering them for you. There isn't much info out there about night weaning, so I hope this can be a resource that you can come back to if you are considering how to approach stopping feeding in...

In this episode of Changing Birth, I delve into the top-up trap and its impact on breastfeeding. We explore how supplementing breastfed babies with formula can inadvertently disrupt breastfeeding success and lead to challenges for new mums. I step you through the two common reasons why women find themselves in the top up trap, some of the long-term effects of early formula introduction, and we dis...

In your journey of pregnancy and birth, having the right support team can make such difference to your experience. I often get asked what the difference is between a doula and a midwife - which is a very valid question! While both can provide incredible support during pregnancy, labour and birth, their roles, scope, and care provided differ. Let's explore these differences to help you make an...

After a little break from the podcast I am so excited to be back! I have missed chatting with you all and can't wait to be back in your ears sharing tips, research and exciting guest interviews!  Today's episode is a bit of a catch up of what we've been working on and why the podcast took a backseat for a little while - we've had some HUGE changes in the business, including a b...

If you follow me on insta you will know that I recently night weaned my son, and I thought instead of just sharing my journey I would bring my friend and colleague Amber Gibson to chat all things night weaning as she has just done the same with her little girl. Amber is also a midwife and IBCLC so she brings loads of professional knowledge to the discussion.  We both approached night weaning quite...

My new ebook Thriving Beyond the First Six Weeks - Your Guide to Navigating Breastfeeding and Postpartum Throughout the First Year   is here!  Over 50 pages of education, practical tips and strategies for navigating breastfeeding, sleep and emotional wellbeing in the first year postpartum. Get your copy for just $37 here . If you're keen to join my monthly newsletter list (and also get some e...

I know the title for today's episode might sound a bit controversial, but stay with me - the three areas that I chat about today can have a huge impact on your experience, and I really believe if you can address these three topics when preparing for your birth you will be in such a great position to have a positive birth experience.   You can check out all the info on our Postnatal Midwifery...

In today's episode I chat all things emotional health and self care with the wonderful Kaitlin Harkess. Kaitlin and I first met when she completed a hypnobirthing course with me in preparation for the arrival of her first baby. Kaitlin is an experienced Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), a qualified  Meditation Teacher and Sen...

*This month enter the code MERRYCOURSE20 at the checkout of any of my online courses and you’ll receive 20% off! And remember if you join my online Hypnobirthing course you’ll receive all of these courses for just $278! Huge value and the most comprehensive preparation for birth + postpartum 🤰🏼*⁠ Check out all of my Online Courses here. Hypno -what?? I know hypnobirthing sounds a bit 'hippy...

*This month enter the code MERRYCOURSE20 at the checkout of any of my online courses and you’ll receive 20% off! And remember if you join my online Hypnobirthing course you’ll receive all of these courses for just $278! Huge value and the most comprehensive preparation for birth + postpartum 🤰🏼*⁠ Check out all of my Online Courses here. Christmas with a newborn is a beautiful and exciting time,...

*This month enter the code MERRYCOURSE20 at the checkout of any of my online courses and you’ll receive 20% off! And remember if you join my online Hypnobirthing course you’ll receive all of these courses for just $278! Huge value and the most comprehensive preparation for birth + postpartum 🤰🏼*⁠ Check out all of my Online Courses here. This week's episode was inspired by a number of DMs th...

In today's episode I have the pleasure of chatting with the lovely Christie Smith - a midwife and founder of  Nurture and Mindful Motherhood. We've known each other for a few years but also had our babies only a few days apart - so have been on this motherhood journey together. In this episode we discuss the importance of building your village, how to integrate self care as a new mum and...

*My brand new Preconception + First Trimester Online Course is now available? 🎉 Click here to join today! * Special launch pricing ends Dec 6th 2023. During the first trimester of pregnancy, it's essential to take care of both your physical and mental well-being. However, I know sometimes this is easier said than done when you are battling intense fatigue (and often other symptoms like nause...

*My brand new Preconception + First Trimester Online Course is now available? 🎉 Click here to join today! * Welcome to the Changing Birth podcast! In this episode I dive into the exciting (but sometimes overwhelming!) world of trying for a baby.  I love working with preconception clients in my 1:1 appointments and am excited to be bringing you these tips! Join me as I share personal stories, offe...

In this week's podcast we are doing things a little differently and I am chatting with Lara Jezeph who openly shares her two birth stories.  Hearing others birth stories is so powerful so I can't wait for you to listen to this ep!  Lara honestly shares about her two birth experiences, and more specifically her first traumatic birth through her local public hospital, and then her healing...