Kiwi Birth Tales

In episode 58 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Jade Weston about her two births of Frankie and Boston. Jade had a cyst on her ovaries before falling pregnant which meant she didn't have regular periods, Jade found out she was pregnant with Frankie and had a great pregnancy experience under Midwifery care. Jade ended up going 16 days overdue and was induced, she gave birth to a very healthy Fr...

In episode 57 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Katie Hawkey about the birth of her daughter Coco. Katie takes us through their journey getting pregnant, her extreme Hyperemesis Gravidarum which was paired with antenatal anxiety (and mainly linked to this). Katie was living in London and takes us through the healthcare model there, as well as antenatal mental health appointments to assist with anxi...

This is a bonus episode of Kiwi Birth Tales and part of an ongoing series of interviews with professionals around Womens Health and Wellness with a focus on Pre and Post Natal periods.  In this interview I chat with Katie Richardson from Whole Health NZ. Katie is a Physiotherapist with a particular interest in Women's Health, Nutritionist, Pilates Instructor and Therapeutic Yoga teacher. I to...

In Episode 56 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Nina about her 2 birth stories. Nina takes us through coming off the pill and being diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (Menopause), her symptoms and what this meant for her trying to fall pregnant. When Nina did fall pregnant she was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and was monitored regularly through out her pregnancy...

In Episode 55 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Matilda Green about the birth of her son Milo. Matilda takes us through her pregnancy journey where she was sick for 16 weeks and extremely exhausted, finally enjoying being pregnant in the third trimester. Matilda kept active during her pregnancy and takes us through what she was doing during this time.  Matilda and Husband Art did a Calm Birth cours...

In this weeks episode of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Olivia Hewetson who takes us through her two birth stories with sons Beau & Leo.  Olivia spends time taking us through her pregnancy and birth with Leo as everything was tracking as it should have been until a 41 week growth scan showing abnormalities in growth with her baby. They were told it was extremely likely Leo would have a form of...

In Episode 53 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Jane about her pregnancy and birth journey with son Beau. Jane takes us through their fertility difficulties, being treated for Endometriosis, unexplained infertility and 3 rounds of IVF. Jane lost over 20kgs in her journey to pregnancy as she didn't want this to impact their ability for IVF, the requirement at the time was to have a BMI of under...

In Episode 52 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Christina about the births of Valor & Zeph. Christina takes us through her extreme Hyperemesis Gravidarum in both pregnancies, how she brought on labour and her two quick births.  Christina shares her wild ride of expecting to be in labour for hours on end but ending up only just making it to the hospital in time to birth both boys, with Zephs lab...

In Episode 51 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Aleisha about the births of her two children, Max and Millie. Aleisha talks through her initial anxiety around giving birth and how both her and her partner read Ina May Gaskins book Guide to Childbirth which completely changed their mindset. After reading the book Aleisha and her partner decided on a Homebirth for their first child, supported by thei...

In Episode 50 of Kiwi Birth Tales I interview Lauren about her journey to Motherhood, Lauren takes us through her long fertility journey as she was diagnosed with PCOS and Endometriosis. Lauren tried for years to get pregnant before seeking help where she was put on Clomophine unsuccessfully, after suffering a miscarriage Lauren was referred to Fertility Associates Christchurch and during this tim...

In Episode 49 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Olivia about the birth of her son Gus. Olivia takes us through her experience falling pregnant unexpectedly, being on her feet all day with her job and the things she did to keep fit and healthy. Olivia also discusses the Hypnobirthing materials she used to prepare for her birth and her mindset leading into labour.  Olivia went into labour at home at...

In Episode 48 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Chavvah about the birth of her son Hudson. Chavvah had a textbook pregnancy until week 24 when she was walking home from work and thought she had wet her pants, as it turns out Chavvah had started to lose her waters and she was immediately admitted to hospital on constant bedrest.  Chavvah takes us through her experience with being in hospital, not kn...

In Episode 47 of Kiwi Birth Tales Lena takes us through her pregnancy and birth journey with son Lukas. Lena explains her experience with a long labour ending in complications that needed intervention to help bring Lukas into the world, she was too far progressed for a CSection.  Lena discusses how needing stitches was her worst fear with childbirth and as this ended up happening she needed extra...

In Episode 46 of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk with Morgan about the birth of her son Spencer. Morgan takes us through her uncomplicated pregnancy and also through the resources she used in preparing for labour / birth. Morgan attending a Peaceful Pregnancy course in Tauranga, read a Hypnobirthing book and also went to Antenatal classes all.  Morgan then takes us through her labour beginning and being i...

In this episode of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk with Amber Reid about the birth of her son Rome. Amber is a Kiwi and so is her partner, they live in Newcastle Australia and Amber gave birth in one of the local hospitals there.  Amber takes us through her quick journey falling pregnant, adjusting to her changing pregnancy body, doing an online hypnobirthing course and then into her labour and birth expe...

In this episode of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk to Kyla about the birth of her two sons - 1 when she was 18 and 1 later in life with her Husband after deciding this was the next step for their blended family.  Kyla takes us through her different pregnancy and birth experiences as well as her experience with gender disappointment, life with a newborn and older children and how her pregnancy and recovery...

In Episode 43 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Brooke about the birth of her daughter Phoebe. Brooke takes us through her extreme sickness for the majority of her pregnancy and also finding out that her Daughter only had 1 Kidney.  When Brooke went into labour she expected it to be a long time until birth as baby had been posterior a few days earlier, but she quickly progressed in her labour at ho...

In Episode 42 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Rebecca about the births of her two boys. Both births Rebecca used hypnobirthing techniques, which she explained as being particularly helpful for her partner to know what he could do to support her. Rebecca had 2 waterbirths with no tearing and explains her joy and positive feelings around birth.  This is such a lovely episode where Rebecca discusses...

In Episode 41 I speak with Jess Massey about her two Home Births. Jess takes us through her first birth in which she practiced hypnobirthing techniques from videos online as well as reading various books on calm birthing practices. Jess explains her dimly lit room, positive affirmations and incredible water birth with her daughter, which then took a turn when her daughter was taken from her chest...

In Episode 40 of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Sam about her 2 births. Sam fell pregnant when she was 18 with her daughter Harper and she takes us through finding out she was pregnant, her journey to finding a support system and her birth in the Birth Centre. Sam also talks about her experience with other friends not having babies and where she met a great friend that she is still close with now. ...

In Episode 39 of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk to Courtney Iosefo who takes us through the birth story of her daughter Afia. Courtney fell pregnant quickly with Afia and had a smooth pregnancy journey going into spontaneous labour at the end of 39 weeks.  Courtney had planned an unmedicated Birth Centre birth, however things quickly progressed as she laboured at home and when her Midwife came back to ch...

This weeks episode is sponsored by The Sleep Scout - owned by Lucy Burns, a certified infant and child sleep consultant and registered nurse who is dedicated in supporting parents through the journey of teaching their little one the very important skill of sleep. If you're struggling with early morning wake ups, routines, nap refusal, excessive night wakeups then look no further! Simply conta...

In Episode 37 of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk with Sheldon about the birth of her baby girl Bridie. Sheldon takes us through her pregnancy journey which was pretty smooth sailing, her early labour and staying at home until 8cm dilated.  Sheldon then talks about her experience in the birth centre, being transferred to the hospital due to baby being in distress and ending up needing an episiotomy and for...

In this episode of Kiwi Birth Tales I speak with Renata about her 3 birth stories. Renata has 3 gorgeous boys and their births were all very different.  Renata takes us through her PCOS journey, a CSection and how that was different from her two vaginal births, recovery from all 3 different births and also dealing with loss. She talks about the difference in age gap between her three boys and her...

In Episode 35 of Kiwi Birth Tales I talk with Cherie Metcalfe about the birth of her Daughter Pepper and Son Kit.  Cherie takes us through her first birth in hospital where Pepper was posterior until just before she was born, she talks through the pain of contractions without a break and her pain management for this birth.  Cherie then takes us through her second birth with son Kit, which was an u...