Australian Birth Stories

Leila returns to share her incredible second twin birth story - a Christmas Day birth that began at home and culminated in a powerful breech water birth at hospital. As the founder of Village for Mama and mother to five children (including two sets of DCDA fraternal twins), Leila takes us through her unexpected pregnancy discovery at 21 weeks, her journey of informed choice-making, and the profound difference that building your village can make during pregnancy and postpartum.

From dancing with a glass of non-alcoholic bubbles on Christmas morning to birthing her daughter Elka at home and then transferring to hospital for a footling breech birth of baby Finn in the birth pool, Leila's story is one of trust, intuition, and the incredible power of water birth for twins. She also shares invaluable insights about postpartum planning, the reality of caring for five children, and how she honoured her final 40-day lying-in period.

Today's episode is brought to you by iLTutto

iL Tutto is known for beautifully designed nursery furniture that combines comfort, functionality and timeless style. They’ve just introduced a brand-new Soft Tweed fabric in two gorgeous colours, designed to complement their much-loved Teddy Fleece and Corduroy Frankie and Louie recliners.
You can enjoy 20% off iL Tutto’s range for a limited time. Simply visit iltutto.com.au and use the code ABS20 at checkout.

This offer ends 25 March 2026. Conditions apply.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Jazz a midwife, maternal and child health nurse, and sleep consultant, takes us through her remarkable journey to motherhood. From her first precipitous birth during the height of COVID-19 to navigating severe hyperemesis gravidarum whilst living in Far North Queensland, Jazz's story is one of resilience, professional insight, and the reality that being a healthcare professional doesn't make your own birth and parenting journey any easier. Jazz shares candidly about her postpartum anxiety, the pressure she placed on herself as a professional in the field, and how she learned to be kinder to herself the second time around. Her story beautifully illustrates how each pregnancy and birth is unique, even for the same woman, and offers valuable insights for both parents and birth professionals alike.

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I wanted to share something important with you — especially if you’re currently pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or supporting someone who is. Over the past seven years of Australian Birth Stories, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with more than 600 women and their families to hear their pregnancy and birth stories. And alongside that, I’ve also birthed my own three boys — each pregnancy, each labour, and each birth teaching me something different about preparation, trust, and the importance of feeling informed and supported.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned — both through my own births and through hundreds of conversations — it’s this:
Birth rarely unfolds exactly how we imagine it will.

But the women who feel calm, confident and empowered aren’t the ones who had a specific type of birth…
They’re the ones who understood their options.
They’re the ones who knew how their body worked.
They’re the ones who had practical tools, trusted support, and evidence-based education behind them.
That’s exactly why I created The Birth Class.

I wanted to bring together everything I’ve learned — from my own experiences, from the stories shared on this podcast, and from Australia’s leading midwives, obstetricians, physiotherapists, lactation consultants, and birth educators — into one calm, clear, comprehensive course.
Because when you understand birth, fear naturally begins to dissolve.

You stop feeling like birth is something happening to you…
And instead, you feel like an active participant in the experience.
You understand how labour works.
You understand your choices.
And you trust yourself to navigate whatever unfolds.

Since launching The Birth Class, more than 7,000 women and their partners have taken the course.
And the feedback I hear again and again is:
“I felt calm.”
“I felt prepared.”
“I felt confident — even when my birth didn’t go to plan.”

Because this isn’t about promising a perfect birth.

It’s about preparing you for a positive experience — whatever that looks like for you.
And for the next few days, all of our online courses are available at 25% off.

You can access the sale using the code BIRTH25.
If you’ve been thinking about preparing for birth…
If you’ve been meaning to enrol…
Or if you’ve been listening to these stories and wondering how to prepare yourself…
This is a beautiful time to begin.

Because birth education doesn’t just change how you give birth.
It changes how you feel walking into it.
You deserve to feel calm.
You deserve to feel informed.
You deserve to feel confident in your choices.
And most importantly, you deserve to feel supported.

You can find all the course details HERE and use the code BIRTH25 to access 25% off.
I’m so honoured to support you in your preparation for birth.

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Fatuma shares her transformative journey through a high-risk pregnancy that challenged everything she thought she knew about birth, motherhood, and her own strength. What began as an unexpected pregnancy during her honeymoon period quickly became a complex medical journey involving hemiplegic migraines and a toxoplasmosis diagnosis that led to recommendations for termination at 22 weeks. Fatuma's story is one of profound cultural reconnection, medical advocacy, and the power of trusting your instincts as a mother. Her experience highlights the importance of having strong advocates in the birthing room and the beautiful intersection between Western medicine and traditional African birthing practices. This episode will resonate deeply with anyone who has faced difficult decisions during pregnancy or felt the need to advocate for themselves in medical settings.

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Ready to embrace generational care for your family? Visit UKOO today and use code "ABS15" for 15% off their entire range.
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In today's episode, I chat with Serrin a graphic designer from Byron Bayabout her extraordinary pregnancy journey involving a life-threatening arteriovenous malformation (AVM). What began as severe headaches that were initially dismissed as normal pregnancy symptoms escalated into a major brain haemorrhage at 22 weeks. Serrin takes us through her weeks in ICU at Gold Coast University Hospital, living in Airbnbs throughout her pregnancy due to medical restrictions, and ultimately welcoming her daughter Bobby via caesarean at 38 weeks. She also shares her challenging recovery journey, including a second brain bleed following post-birth surgery when Bobby was six months old. This is a powerful story of medical complexity, community support, and finding strength through vulnerability - with important lessons about trusting your instincts and advocating for proper care when something doesn't feel right during pregnancy.

Proudly brought to you by iL Tutto.

To celebrate the release of iL Tutto’s newest award-winning Frankie Electric Recliner, listeners of Australian Birth Stories can enjoy an exclusive 20% off the iL Tutto Trend Collection for a limited time. iL Tutto creates beautifully designed nursery furniture that supports parents through every stage, from those first days at home to life beyond the nursery.

Their ever-growing premium Trend Collection brings together thoughtfully designed, sustainable timber cots and chests, alongside award-winning nursing chairs, including the much-loved Frankie and Louie in Teddy-Fleece and Corduroy.

And now, iL Tutto has welcomed the newest addition to the collection, the award-winning Frankie Chair in Soft Teddy-Fleece, available in two stylish, trend-led colours designed to elevate your nursery and live beautifully in your home long after the baby years.

To celebrate, enjoy 20% off iL Tutto’s Trend Collection for a limited time.
Simply use the code ABS20 at iltutto.com.au.

This offer ends 25 March, 2026.Conditions apply.
iL Tutto, designed for comfort, made to last.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.