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.

Sponsor:

After going through two very different postpartum experiences herself, the founder Keira realised just how much support exists for pregnancy and birth, but how little is really focused on the mother once the baby arrives. So they created Postpartum Replenish. A delicious Mandarin and Yuzu formulated beverage designed specifically for life after birth. With nutrients that support normal neurological function, hormonal activity, wound healing and digestive health, plus magnesium and B vitamins that contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Drink alongside Hydramama or on it's own. It's going to be a game changer for new mums. Head to miniandme.co and use the code ABS20 for 20% per cent off. Excluding sample packs and gift cards.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I chat with Jessie Stephens, who many of you will remember from her first birth story with her daughter Luna in episode 415. Jessie returns to share her second pregnancy and birth journey, this time with a twist nobody expected, twins. She takes us through the heartbreak of a miscarriage, the shock of discovering twins at her scan, gestational diabetes, a premature caesarean birth at 33 weeks, weeks in NICU and the reality of triple feeding two newborns. It's an honest and moving conversation about the highs and lows of a twin pregnancy and birth.

Today's episode is brought to you by Nutra Naturals.

Made from Australian grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken bones, Nutra Naturals' award-winning bone broths are slowly cooked and concentrated into either a rich paste or convenient powder. So you get the rich flavour and naturally occurring collagen protein you'd expect from a traditional homemade bone broth - without spending hours in the kitchen.

Plus there’s added Zinc and B Vitamins too! No preservatives, no fillers, no nasties. Just clean wholefood ingredients that make healthy eating feel effortless. And that is really what we are all after isn't it.

The range starts from $34.95 and you can shop online at nutranaturals.com.au. Use the code AUSBIRTHSTORIES at checkout to get 20% off.

But be quick, this offer is only available until the 18th of September 2026 and cannot be used on bundles or with any other offer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I chat with Danni, a mother of four living on the Gold Coast, who takes us through eight remarkably eventful years of motherhood. Danni shares her path to becoming a mum of four, including a miscarriage before her first pregnancy, the surprise of conceiving twins through ovulation induction, an emergency caesarean for her daughter Harlow, a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) she fought hard for with her fourth baby, and finally, the bowel cancer diagnosis that arrived just seven months after giving birth to her youngest, London. Danni speaks candidly about postpartum body image, breastfeeding struggles, the heartbreak of miscarrying at 13 and a half weeks on a flight home from the UK, and the devastating decision to stop breastfeeding mid chemotherapy. Her story is raw, funny in places and deeply moving, and it carries an important message for anyone under 45 experiencing unexplained symptoms: trust your body and advocate for your health.

Today's episode is brought to you by iL Tutto Plus Collection

Meet Henry Plus, the first release from the innovative new iL Tutto Plus Collection.

Henry Plus combines iL Tutto’s signature style and ergonomic support with soothing back massage, heat therapy in the seat and adjustable air lumbar support, so you can personalise your comfort.

It also features effortless electric recline, an extended footrest, smooth gliding motion, a 180-degree swivel and USB-A and USB-C charging. Available in Eggshell, Vanilla Bouclé and Pure Grey, Henry Plus supports you through pregnancy, feeding, settling and beyond, because your comfort matters too.

Australian Birth Stories listeners can use code ABS20 for 20% off full-priced items, excluding Henry Plus that already has a 15% intro offer and iL Tutto’s award-winning chairs. Or create a nursery bundle and save up to 30% with their interactive Bundle Experience.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, high school teacher and mother of two Grace shares her contrasting birth stories from Wollongong, NSW. Her first pregnancy was meticulously researched and planned. Grace approached conception with the same precision she'd bring to organising a holiday, using ovulation tracking and basal temperature monitoring to conceive her daughter Frankie. Though she'd arranged a private homebirth midwife, a late-pregnancy scan showing low amniotic fluid led to an unplanned induction and vaginal birth in hospital. Four years later, her second pregnancy with son William unfolded very differently: a slow, gentle build-up of pre-labour signs culminated in an unassisted, precipitous homebirth on her bedroom floor, with three-year-old Frankie as an unexpected witness. Grace's story is a masterclass in informed decision-making, the emotional complexity of losing bodily autonomy, and the profound difference a trusted care provider makes to a woman's confidence in her own body.

Today's episode is brought to you by Nutra Naturals.

Made from Australian grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken bones, Nutra Naturals' award-winning bone broths are slowly cooked and concentrated into either a rich paste or convenient powder. So you get the rich flavour and naturally occurring collagen protein you'd expect from a traditional homemade bone broth - without spending hours in the kitchen.

Plus there’s added Zinc and B Vitamins too! No preservatives, no fillers, no nasties. Just clean wholefood ingredients that make healthy eating feel effortless. And that is really what we are all after isn't it.

The range starts from $34.95 and you can shop online at nutranaturals.com.au. Use the code AUSBIRTHSTORIES at checkout to get 20% off.

But be quick, this offer is only available until the 18th of September 2026 and cannot be used on bundles or with any other offer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join me today for a conversation with my sister, Hilary who shares her second pregnancy and birth with her daughter Rhoda.  I was in the birth centre from the moment her waters broke. It was the first birth I’ve ever attended and such a precious experience (although I think it confirmed that I wouldn’t be the best doula). I had a few roles on the day: support sister, photographer and baby catcher. Needless to say, it was unforgettable.

Today's episode is brought to you by Nutra Naturals.

 
Made from Australian grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken bones, Nutra Naturals' award-winning bone broths are slowly cooked and concentrated into either a rich paste or convenient powder. So you get the rich flavour and naturally occurring collagen protein you'd expect from a traditional homemade bone broth - without spending hours in the kitchen.

Plus there’s added Zinc and B Vitamins too! No preservatives, no fillers, no nasties. Just clean wholefood ingredients that make healthy eating feel effortless. And that is really what we are all after isn't it.

The range starts from $34.95 and you can shop online at nutranaturals.com.au. Use the code AUSBIRTHSTORIES at checkout to get 20% off.

But be quick, this offer is only available until the 18th of September 2026 and cannot be used on bundles or with any other offer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I chat with Freya, a paediatric doctor from Melbourne, about her pregnancy and premature vaginal birth of her daughter Goldie. Freya's journey to motherhood came with more challenges than most; she battled severe hyperemesis gravidarum for her entire pregnancy, was involved in a serious car accident at 34 weeks, and went into spontaneous labour at just 35 weeks. Her professional background in paediatrics influenced many of her fears around childbirth, yet she still managed to find a positive, empowering birth experience. Freya also speaks candidly about the guilt and shame that so often accompanies pregnancy sickness, the emotional complexity of a NICU-adjacent birth, and a gruelling three-month breastfeeding journey.

Today's episode is brought to you by Nutra Naturals.
Made from Australian grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken bones, Nutra Naturals' award-winning bone broths are slowly cooked and concentrated into either a rich paste or convenient powder. So you get the rich flavour and naturally occurring collagen protein you'd expect from a traditional homemade bone broth - without spending hours in the kitchen.

Plus there’s added Zinc and B Vitamins too! No preservatives, no fillers, no nasties. Just clean wholefood ingredients that make healthy eating feel effortless. And that is really what we are all after isn't it.

The range starts from $34.95 and you can shop online at nutranaturals.com.au. Use the code AUSBIRTHSTORIES at checkout to get 20% off.

But be quick, this offer is only available until the 18th of September 2026 and cannot be used on bundles or with any other offer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jade is a registered nurse of fourteen years, a newly qualified doula, and a birth photographer living on Sydney's Northern Beaches with her husband Matt, her daughters Milla, four, and Remi, seventeen months, and their beloved Westie, Doug. Diagnosed with stage four endometriosis at twenty-one, Jade spent years wondering whether motherhood would come easily. Thankfully it did, but what followed were two pregnancies and births that could not have been more different. Her first, marked by severe hyperemesis, a prolonged epidural process, postural headaches, and a postpartum she is still making sense of. Her second, a deeply prepared, woman-centred water birth that she describes as chalk and cheese. This is an honest, generous, and deeply relatable episode for anyone navigating fear, trauma, or the hope of a different experience second time around.

Follow us on Instagram for photos and video from today's birth story.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren is a yoga teacher, women's circle facilitator and prenatal yoga educator living in Sydney's northwest with her husband James and their two children, Joel, who is nearly four, and Grace, who is just three months old. From the moment she came off the contraceptive pill, Lauren embarked on a deeply intentional journey into her own body, her cycle, and ultimately, her path to motherhood. She shares two profoundly different yet equally positive birth experiences at the same private hospital, and takes us through the grief, the ritual, the surrender, and the extraordinary moments that shaped both.

Today's episode is brought to you by Once Upon, the app that makes creating photo books surprisingly easy.

You can create beautiful photo books straight from your phone without needing hours of spare time or any design skills. You just choose your photos, arrange them how you like, and Once Upon does the rest.

They've also recently added more colours and pattern options for their photo books, so you can personalise them in a way that feels like you and your family.

I've been using it to capture our family memories and what I love most is that it doesn't have to be the big milestone moments. Some of my favourite photos are the everyday ones — the kids playing in the backyard, family dinners, holidays, little moments that I know I'll want to remember years from now.

And there's something really special about having those memories in a physical book rather than buried in your camera roll. The boys love flicking through old photos and seeing how much they've changed.

So if you've been meaning to create a photo book but keep putting it off, consider this your sign.

Download the Once Upon app and use the code ABS25 for 25% off your photo book order. The code is valid until 27 July 2026.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah first shared her birth story in a previous episode (episode 402) a home water birth with her 5.1kg son Archie. Now, four years later, she returns to share the story of her second home water birth with baby August, born at 41+2 weeks and weighing 5.2kg. This episode is rich with clinical insight, raw honesty and the kind of grounded wisdom that only comes from someone who has walked both sides of the birth room. Hannah talks candidly about gestational diabetes, pelvic girdle pain, the mental load of a prolonged latent phase, stretch and sweeps, using a breast pump to encourage labour, and a postpartum haemorrhage that was managed beautifully at home. If you are pregnant, a doula or a midwife, this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered and deeply reassured.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is part of The Fourth Trimester Village, a four-part series in partnership with Bugaboo exploring what it actually takes to navigate those first twelve weeks after birth. Not just physically, but emotionally, socially and practically. Because we spend so much time preparing for birth, but not nearly enough time talking about what comes after.

Francesca Hung joins us to share her pregnacy and birth expereince. From a pregnancy marked by low platelet levels and a tumble down a cliff face at twelve weeks, to waking at 3:30am on Christmas morning in precipitous labour and nearly birthing her daughter on her parents' front doorstep, Francesca's story is equal parts wild, funny, and deeply moving. She speaks honestly about the delayed emotional connection she felt after birth, the brutal early weeks of breastfeeding, and how living with her parents in those first months gave her the village she needed to find her footing as a mother. This is a brilliant episode for anyone navigating the unexpected in birth and postpartum and a reminder that the village isn't just helpful, it's everything.

You can learn more about Bugaboo and their Kangaroo Pram over at Bugaboo

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.