Australian Birth Stories

In this episode I chat with Jess Evans, a mother of two from Melbourne who has spent eight years working with baby brand ErgoPouch. Jess takes us through the misdiagnosis that delayed her first pregnancy, a joyful and completely intervention free vaginal birth with her son Hunter, and then the devastating loss she experienced when trying for a second baby, not long after her husband Craig was diagnosed with testicular cancer. She talks candidly about grief, pregnancy after loss anxiety, and finally, the whirlwind two hour vaginal birth of her second son August. This episode is honest, moving and full of practical wisdom for anyone who has faced a bump in the road on their way to becoming a parent.
Today's episode is brought to you by ergoPouch, the brand behind some of my favourite sleepwear for baby, infant, toddler and beyond.

ergoPouch is a premium Australian sleepwear brand using certified organic cotton and natural fibres to create TOG-rated sleep solutions from newborn to six years. I love their TOG rating system; it takes the guesswork out of dressing bub for sleep, so you always know they're at the right temperature no matter the season.

Our friends at ergoPouch are gifting you $15 off your first order; just head to ErgoPouch and sign up before their new season drops to grab your code.

Keep an eye out too, because their new Nursery Rhymes collection launches August 27th, just in time for spring and summer babies. Two signature prints, Melody in warm caramel tones with a fiddle-playing cat, and Lullaby in a softer cream, bring classic lullabies to life. T&Cs apply.
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In this episode I chat to Elise, originally from Scotland and now living on Sydney's Northern Beaches with her partner Dan and their three children. Elise has experienced severe hyperemesis gravidarum in all three of her pregnancies, and she takes us through an incredibly quick, vaginal birth with her first daughter Delilah, the heartbreaking termination for medical reasons of her daughter Rain following a trisomy 18 diagnosis, and finally the induced vaginal birth of her twins, Posey and Ziggy, which included a frightening resuscitation moment in the birth suite. Elise speaks openly about hyperemesis gravidarum, secondary fertility while breastfeeding, and adjusting to life with three children under three. It's a raw, generous conversation about how vastly different birth experiences can be, even for the same woman, and how the right care provider can change everything.
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In this episode I chat to Tully Smyth about her winding road to motherhood and the birth of her daughter, Elke. Tully shares her honest experience of being single well into her thirties, the decision to freeze her eggs twice, and how that choice changed the way she approached dating and eventually met her partner, Ned. She talks candidly about choosing an elective caesarean, the guilt and shame she carried around that decision, and the realities of her recovery, which was far from the straightforward experience she expected. Tully also opens up about grieving her mother, who she lost to early onset dementia, and how becoming a mother herself has brought that grief back in unexpected waves. This is a raw, funny and deeply honest conversation for anyone navigating pregnancy, birth choices or the messy, non linear feelings that come with becoming a parent.
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In this episode I chat with Amy, a birth photographer and former doula living on the Sunshine Coast, about the birth of her fifth baby, her first with her now husband after a divorce from the father of her first four children. Amy takes us through meeting her husband, the decision to grow their blended family, a frightening heterotopic pregnancy scare, weeks of prodromal labour, her waters breaking in the frozen aisle at Coles, and a birth that took some unexpected turns when her baby wouldn't move down into a good position. She speaks so honestly about needing to meet an entirely different version of herself in labour and how, even when her plans changed, feeling safe and supported meant she still walked away with the birth she needed. This is a beautifully raw episode for anyone navigating a birth after loss, a birth with a new partner, or a labour that doesn't go the way they'd hoped.
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Breastfeeding and sleep concerns are common in early parenthood but unfortunately, many GP’s aren’t qualified to support you through these challenges. So where do you go for professional advice? In this episode, Dr Eliza Hannam discusses her early motherhood experiences alongside her role as a GP, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Neuroprotective Development Care practitioner. What does all this mean? She’s the gold standard when it comes to perinatal care. Eliza explains how she supports new parents, the rebates available for allied health services including mental health plans, and how you can access free breastfeeding support.
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