The Birth Chapter

Vaginal exams are commonly used but they don’t always give the full picture. In this short educational episode, we chat through: • what a VE can (and can’t) tell you • when they might be helpful • why they can impact the flow of labour • your right to informed consent and refusal Birth isn’t a number, it's a process and this episode is your permission slip to question it, understand it, and ch...

Today we're chatting to @chelseaelliss about her second birth to Lola. Chelsea shares her journey through hyperemesis and gestational diabetes again, navigating pregnancy with resilience, and ultimately choosing her dream of a home birth even when it went against hospital advice. With a fast, intense active labour and a deeply positive postpartum experience, this conversation is honest, empowering...

We are finally back for another episode after a long break! Happy 2026 to all our listeners. We sat down and chatted to Lucie who went through the journey of being a surrogate for the past few years. She answers all the questions you are probably wondering too and shares her heartwarming story of helping to create a family after completing her own. You can find us on instagram @thebirthchapter_ an...

✨ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of birth trauma. Please listen with care. ✨ In this week’s episode of The Birth Chapter , we sit down with Carla — a birth trauma support practitioner and former midwife. Together we open up a really important and sometimes uncomfortable)conversation around what birth trauma can look like, why it happens, and the ripple effects it can have on w...

Let's talk about sex, baby! This week we’re joined again by women’s health physio Grace Coombs for a chat that’s as informative as it is hilarious. We’re talking all things postpartum sex — from pain and discomfot to pelvic floor and all things hormones. Nothing is off limits, and yes, there are plenty of laughs. Whether you’re nervous, curious, or just need to know you’re not the only one, th...

In honour of C-Section Awareness Month, we’re sharing Alice’s two wild birth stories, very different from each other but both full of unexpected twists! Her first birth ended in an emergency c-section without her husband by her side. Her second, an attempted HBAC, so close to her dream goal but eventually led to a rare classical c-section. Alice speaks candidly about how these experiences impacted...

🎙️ Season 3 is here! We’re back in your ears with a brand new season of The Birth Chapter with a bit of a revamp! Sharing honest stories, expert tips, and those little golden nuggets of wisdom you didn’t know you needed. We’re kicking things off with a bang. In this episode, we’re diving into Mikaelah's second birth story, another speedy birth at home. We chat about going into another HG pregn...

In this episode we chat with Gabs about the birth of her first baby boy. Gabs is also a step mum so her and her husband weren't sure whether they would add to their family but as you'll here through the episode, despite a very rough pregnancy journey with hyperemesis and mental health Gabs absolutely loves being a mum. We really enjoyed chatting to Gabs about the ups and downs of her journey and s...

In this episode we chat with Grace from FOUR Physio in Christchurch about C-section birth recovery in regards to pelvic floor and abdominal health as well as scar massage and the return to exercise.

In this episode we chat with Brittney, farmers wife, mum of 3, garden lover, crafter and DIYer (she has a lot of hobbies!) about her three birth stories as well as her journey to falling pregnant and her experience of two miscarriages. Brittney suffered from hyperemesis particulary badly in her first full term pregnancy, as well as SPD which got worse each time - making running around after toddle...

Today we are joined by the epic Grace Coombs from FOUR Physio here in Christchurch for the second episode in our postpartume series to chat about some of the pelvoc floor issues we can face postpartum. Grace is a Womens Health Physio and sees many pre and postnatal mums during their journey. She is full of knowledge and so easy to listen to. We hope you gain something from this episode! Follow us...

In this episode we chat with Kate a NICU nurse and Lactation consultant from Little Bird Lactation, about her three very different birth stories. Kate unfortunately suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (severe vomiting/nausea) during all of her pregnancies so having a third baby was a big decision! Despite her pregnancies she had three positive births, one an accidental home birth and then a plann...

Today we are joined by the epic Grace Coombs from FOUR Physio here in Christchurch for the first episode in our postpartume series. Grace is a Womens Health Physio and sees many pre and postnatal mums during their journey. She is full of knowledge and so easy to listen to. We hope you gain something from this episode! Follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebirthchapter_⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@andhoney.store⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts:...

In this episode we chatted with Janelle about her home birth with her first baby. Janelle decided on a wild pregnancy (very little care provider involvement) journey and almost free birth, she didn't want any interventions but did want a midwife there for support. Janelle fully trusted her body and gave birth quite quickly after her waters broke at the movies! Janelle was so lovely to talk to...

We're back for 2024! Where have we been, you might be wondering? We answer this and other questions and give some juicy details, never before heard stories of running a business and some personal updates. Grab a cuppa and hang out with us for an evening! Find us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebirthchapter_⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@andhoney.store⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we chat with Hallie Campbell, NZ Birth Stories owner and creator. Hallie shares about her four very different birth stories, how her first birth paved the way for her to want to be more informed and autonomous in her following births. Follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠@thebirthchapter_⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@andhoney.store⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠@authored_nz⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@wearethecashs⁠⁠⁠ Guest: ⁠⁠@nz_birthstories

In this episode we give you a run down of what to expect in your first trimester with tests, what your options are and what they might look like. Follow us on instagram ⁠⁠@thebirthchapter_⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@and.honeystore⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@authored_nz

In this episode we chatted with Abby about her wild rollercoaster of a journey. Abby struggled with endometriosis for years and sadly had a miscarriage before falling pregnant with her girl Awhi. Abby shares all about her third trimester, pre-rupture of mambranes, having a prem baby and going through Awhi's time in NICU. Abby is great to listen to and she has so much to her story! We absolutel...

Our new Q+A segment, Ask the Midwife! With our own Jess Jenkinson Keep an eye out on our stories to submit your anonymous questions for our next Q+A episode! Follow us on instagram ⁠@thebirthchapter_⁠ ⁠@and.honeystore⁠ ⁠@authored_nz

In this episode we chatted with Lucy who after 4 years of unexplained infertility was accepted into an IVF research study which resulted in her falling pregnant with Charlie. She had an amazing natural birth at Wanganui Hospital with her chosen support crew. She also shares a bit about her hospital experience and struggles with breastfeeding which eventually lead to her choosing to formula feed to...

In this episode we kick off our First Trimester education series all about midwives. We share a bit about our own experiences of finding midwives and give you some questions to ask and advise around what to look for in a midwife as it can be a bit tricky to navigate especially as a first time mum, we hope you find this helpful!

In this episode our very own Mikaelah shares her positive home birth story. Her journey has many ups and downs through a very difficult pregnancy to a straight forward 'to plan' birth and challenging postpartum recovery. Follow us on instagram @thebirthchapter_ @and.honeystore Hosts: @authored_nz @wearethecashs

Welcome to our first birth story episode! Today we are chatting with Jess about her birth with Imogen back in 2021. Follow us on instagram @thebirthchapter_ @and.honeystore Hosts: @authored_nz @wearethecashs Guest @dayswithmumma

Welcome to our first episode! Today we are sharing a bit about our personal journey's and how we ended up working in the birth space. We hope you enjoy getting to know us!

Coming 18.09.23!