Positive Birth Australia

On today’s show I speak with author, nutritionist and mother-of-two, Tahlia, about her two homebirths. Her first labour was a test of endurance, beginning with inconsistent surges that grew in intensity over a 30 hour period. Her second birth experience she describes as never quite kicking up a notch like she was anticipating it would; giving birth dramatically faster than anyone was expecting. Tw...

Welcome back to season 3 of Positive Birth Australia. I am beyond excited to be back sharing inspiring and educational stories to assist you along your journey. It gives me the greatest pleasure to start this year off with one of the greatest, a Women’s Mysteries teacher and founder of “The School of Shamanic Womancraft, Jane Hardwicke Collings. Jane is a self described postmenopausal grandmother...

Today is a bonus episode I have recorded with previous PBA guest, Dr Diana Pakzamir from Blossom Family Chiropractic. You might remember she had an accidental free birth at home during the height of the pandemic, which you can listen to over on episode 59. Today Diana is giving us some insight into the benefits of chiropractic care and how it can support you and your family along your journey. Ins...

S2 EP65: Today’s episode features the inspirational journey of freebirthing twin mama, Ally. The birth of Ally’s first daughter was a pleasant enough experience for her to opt back into the same model of care during her second pregnancy, until one simple question from her five year old daughter prompted her to consider a homebirth. Using fertility treatments to fall pregnant with her second child,...

On today’s show I chat with Perth mother, Jenna, about her two births. Jenna’s first birth at a birthing centre was relatively straight-forward, until the moment her daughter lagged taking her first breath causing her to be swiftly taken away. When she called in her second baby, a son that she had felt around her from a small child, she initially decided to go back to the birthing centre because o...

On today’s show I chat with birth photographer and mother of three, Bianca. Having birthed her first two babies within the hospital system, it wasn’t until she started documenting birth that the potent contrast between birth environments and the impact that can have on women, became apparent. When she conceived her third baby, she applied all the knowledge and wisdom she had gained through support...

On this week's episode I chat with first-time mum, Lucy, about her unmedicated birth in the hospital. Lucy admits she knew nothing about birth when she first fell pregnant but dreamed of having a natural, physiological birthing experience. Seeking out the knowledge she required, she found a hypnobirthing course provided her, and her partner, with all the tools and wisdom she needed for her journey...

Today’s episode features the four births of Brisbane midwife and soon-to-be mother of five, Dayna. Having her first child at a young age meant she entered her journey from maiden to mother with very little knowledge on birth or the type of care she wanted. Although at the time she considered that experience a positive one, seeing her sister have a water birth prompted her to change her of model of...

Today’s episode is one of miracles and heartache - featuring the long journey of birth photographer and mother of two, Amy. After losing one of her fallopian tubes to an ectopic pregnancy and being told by a specialist that she had minimal chances of conceiving naturally, Amy finally got her miracle baby. Although feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for her healthy baby, it wasn’t until her work as...

On today’s show I chat with Melbourne chiropractor and mother of two, Diana. Coming from a long-line of generational birth trauma, Diana chose to change the narrative with her own birth journey. She hired a doula, did a hypnobirthing course and learnt all she could about physiological birth to give her the tools and knowledge she needed to navigate the system and give birth, drug-free, at her loca...

Featuring on today’s episode is award-winning Hypnobirthing Practitioner and mother of two, Shari, from Belly2Birth. Initially fearful of birth, she found herself being pulled to hypnobirthing and decided that despite the financial pressure at the time, completing a course was a non-negotiable. She describes the birth of her son as a huge awakening, transforming her in every way, and the experienc...

Featuring on today’s show is author and founder of the Positive Birth Movement, Milli Hill. Today we discuss the lessons and insights gained through her own birth experiences and how a small weekly column catapulted her to become one of the leading voices for women’s rights in childbirth. Taking snippets from her book "Give Birth Like a Feminist" we chat about why the language used in your birth s...

Today’s episode features the two birth stories of Adelaide mother, Emma. Scheduling an induction after a rise in concern around her baby’s growth, Emma experienced a fast, whirlwind birth that left her feeling stunned and dazed. Second time around she educated herself by completing a hypnobirthing course and describes her daughter’s birth as painless and deeply beautiful. Instagram: @raising.natur...

Today’s episode features midwife, Anna, taking us through her breech birth journey. Originally wanting to birth at home through her hospitals midwifery program, she realised it was not an option after exhausting all efforts to turn her baby. Initially expecting to feel devastated when her final attempt ,doing an ECV failed, she left that appointment with a deep knowing and trust that her baby was...

On today’s episode we hear the birth story of first-time mum, Madelin. Having no concept of the types of care available to her, she entered the system and quickly felt overwhelmed and stressed by certain experiences. After completing a hypnobirthing course with her husband, they felt armed with knowledge walking into a midwife appointment at the hospital to discuss their birth preferences. Leaving...

On today’s episode I chat with Lisa about her fast and furious birth. Prior to her daughter being born Lisa says she felt terrified of birth and completely unprepared for what was ahead of her. Having only heard trauma-filled birth stories, she was consumed with doubt in her bodies abilities and lacked the knowledge to navigate the system. After booking an induction for 40 weeks, she went into spo...

Todays show features the two contrasting births of Perth mum, Shannon. She describes her first birth as a traumatic and powerless experience that led her into a dark postpartum period, leaving her feeling incompetent. When she and her husband decided to try for another baby, they both agreed they did not want to relive that same story and opted to have a homebirth through the hospitals Community M...

Today I have the honour of interviewing a mother and midwife, podcast host (The Midwives’ Cauldron), award-winning blog writer (Midwife Thinking), author and academic, Dr Rachel Reed. On today’s episode we discuss the link between labelling pregnant women and interventions, the true risks associated with meconium stained waters, beyond the label of gestational diabetes, and so much more. Rachel al...

Today’s episode features the inspiring journey of mum of two, Carlie. She had originally planned to birth in her local hospital but was encouraged by a midwife to access their homebirth program. A scan at 38 weeks revealed her baby was frank breech (bum down) meaning she wouldn’t be able to birth at home unless her baby turned. Fortunately, her waters broke shortly after and she went on to have a...

On todays show I chat with artist and birthkeeper, Amy, about her three births. It was never a question that she would birth her babies in the safety and comfort of her home; having an innate trust in her body, Amy went on to have two powerful, life-changing experiences, utilising midwifery care. When she called in her third baby, she never felt the need to contact anyone and intuitively went down...

Today is a special episode focused solely on, and highlighting, the importance of the postpartum period - or fourth trimester. Previous PBA guest and postpartum doula, Loz, from Mother Bloom, dives deep into why our postpartum period matters and how we can best nurture and support ourselves to replete, recover and restore our bodies after pregnancy and birth. Loz breaks down the general timeline o...

On today’s show I chat with Emily about her three births. Her first planned homebirth, through the community midwifery program, unfortunately ended in a somewhat traumatic transfer to hospital. Emily then had to do a lot of work to unpack the fears left behind from that experience for her next birth, which was at home with a private midwife. She went on to have the birth of her dreams that she des...

On today’s show I interview Crystal, from The Gentle Counsellor, about her two hospital births. Crystal went into her first birth armed with the knowledge gained from a 'Calm Birth' course. Although feeling deflated by prolonged pre-labour, she went on to have the ideal water birth she desired. Her second birth was met with the same prolonged pre-labour and although there were elements of interven...

On today's show I chat with midwife, Amanda, about her two homebirths. Being a midwife almost made it harder for Amanda to get out of her head during labour, particularly when she reached those 'crisis of confidence' moments. She shares with us the valuable tools she took away from each of her births to use in her practice supporting woman in the hospital. We also chat about the effects her mental...

Today’s episode features birthkeeper, Emily, sharing her two births. Emily’s first birth was at home with the support of a private midwife which she describes as an empowering experience that changed her forever. This was also the birth that ignited the fire in her to support women on their own rite of passage. When she consciously conceived her daughter, she decided to take back her power, choosi...