Join us as Lilly details the arrival of her son Ru. Ru’s birth was not what Lilly had imagined and required some quick decision making from her team to ensure his safe arrival. Lilly takes us through what it was like to journey this and the ongoing tussle she had between midwife and mum mode. Despite facing elements of complexity, Lilly describes this experience as a positive one and shares her thoughts and feelings so generously. This episode is a great listen for both pregnant and postpartum mums with many nuggets of wisdom embedded within. Enjoy! 

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Beth and Lilly explore how Beth prepared for her recent birth and look at the ways in which preparing to birth for a second time differs from your first. This episode is filled with practical strategies for birth preparation, no matter where you’re at in your motherhood journey. 

Some of the resources mentioned include: 

Alfie’s Birth Story on Australian Birth Stories Podcast, The Birth Class, Rhea Dempsey and Beth’s Melbourne Acupuncturist 

If you loved this episode make sure you’re following along in your podcast app of choice and join our online community on Instagram @growingthepodcast 

In this episode we dig a little deeper into your hosts Beth and Lilly’s experience of motherhood, midwifery and some of the lessons along the way. With many relatable topics covered, this episode is the perfect listen while you rock your baby to sleep or hit the pavement with the pram. 

If you are loving the show and want to connect with your Growing hosts, you can find us on IG @growingthepodcast 

Thank you for listening! 

Growing is BACK with a fresh direction and a brand new co-host. Join Beth and Lilly, midwives and mothers for weekly episodes on birth, babies and beyond. 

Follow us on IG for updates @growingthepodcast

In this episode host Beth shares her key learnings from a recent overseas trip with her 2.5 year old. If you are planning to travel with young kids or babies, this is a must listen. Beth shares what worked on the plane, what didn’t and how you can manage your expectations to set you up for an enjoyable trip. In this episode Beth mentioned a couple of key pieces of equipment including the BabyZen YoYo Travel Pram, the Kooshy Kids inflatable foot stool,and the Tula Toddler Carrier.

A huge thank you to this week's podcast sponsor, Gro-To Skincare. If your little one is experiencing dry or flaky skin, I highly recommend giving Skin Wizard a go. You can get your hands on Skin-Wizard and the entire adorable Gro-To range in-store at Coles or online. When shopping online, get 15% off using the code GROWING15. For all of you Go-To lovers, this code is applicable site-wide so go forth and stock up!

In this episode, host Beth sits down with Kate - mum of three and postpartum doula to talk about all things twins. 

Kate shares generously about her experience becoming a twin mama including what it was like to find out, how this changed her plans for a home birth, how she prepared her home to welcome two newborns and the ways in which her and her medical team collaborated to ensure her birth experience was a positive one. 

There is so much wisdom in this episode, specifically about the power of letting go in motherhood. If you’re pregnant with twins or otherwise, you will love this episode. 

Kate also shares some of her ‘must-have’ resources for twin life including the My Breast Friend Feeding Pillow , Baby Bjorn Bouncers and The Holistic Guide to Twin Pregnancy by BreAnn Blenhm.  Make sure you follow Kate on IG @katebloomdoula 

Pregnant and looking to get educated and prepared? Beth and her team offer a range of incredible classes both online and face-to-face. Head to www.powerbirthcourse.com.au to book yours. 

In this episode, host Beth is joined by the incredible Liesel, who you may know by her Instagram handle, @mommy.labornurse

Liesel is not only an experienced labour and delivery nurse from the US, she has been educating in the online space for years and has supported thousands of families to prepare for birth with her incredible resources. 

Liesel joins Beth today for a candid chat about what you can expect within the American maternity system and both Beth and Liesel answer questions submitted by Liesel’s online community, which explore some of the differences and similarities for mama’s on opposite sides of the world.

This chat is super informative no matter where you are based and a must listen if you are pregnant and curious about birthing in the hospital system.

We also want to say a HUGE thank you to our episode sponsor Gro-To. 

As a Growing listener you can enjoy 15% off site wide (yep! that means you can get a discount on your favourite Go-To products too!) using our exclusive discount code GROWING15. 

This code is valid from November 1 to midnight 29th November when you spend $60 or more. 

If you prefer shopping in-store, Gro-To is also available at coles, which makes it easy to grab as part of your regular shop. 

We are absolutely loving Sud-Bud, Skin-Wizard and my personal favourite, the ‘Two-in-Fun’ detangling shampoo. Thank you so much Gro-To for supporting this episode of Growing. 

In this episode of Growing, host Beth sits down with Alexandra Collier, an award-winning Melbourne writer who alongside an amazing career is a solo mum by choice. 

Ally’s memoir Inconceivable details her journey into motherhood after waking up one day with a strong urge to start a family, a goal that her partner didn’t share. 

In this chat, Ally shares what it was like to return to her parents home, age 37, heartbroken and yearning to be a mum, the joys and challenges of eventually realising that dream and provides insight into how we can better support people in non-traditional family structures to thrive. 

Beth absolutely loved this chat. Ally is warm, funny and incredibly clever. A must listen! 

Resource links:

Join Facebook group: Australian Solo Mothers By Choice

This week’s podcast is brought to you by Aussie baby sleepwear brand, ergoPouch. Their safe-sleep-approved range and TOG-rated pouches have been an important part of our journey with our little girl. 

Right now, ergoPouch is running a 20% off Click Frenzy Sale site-wide which means you can save big on all of their gorgeous new season prints, cult-favourite styles and sleep tools to help your little one sleep soundly. 

Terms and Conditions:

20% off Excludes Outlet, Gift Vouchers, Sleep Packs, Bundles, Gift Packs and Canvas Bags. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.

Valid from the 23rd to the 26th of October 11:59pm 2023

Well hey! On the agenda for today’s episode of Growing, host Beth steps you through what birth partners and support people can and should be doing to shift their mindset and step up as the BEST possible support person. 

Beth explains the importance of supporting from a place of confidence and trust rather than fear and lets you in on a powerful mindset shift that will change the way you look at birth support. 

This episode is a must listen for anyone preparing to give birth AND anyone preparing to support a loved one in labour. 

These strategies and techniques are just some of the tools Beth teaches in her childbirth education course PowerBirth®, an incredible resource for expectant parents and available both online and face-to-face. You can learn more at www.powerbirthcourse.com.au

A HUGE thank you to one of Beth’s all-time favourite baby brands and sponsor of today’s episode ergoPouch. ErgoPouch have just launched their gorgeous holiday sleepwear collection just in time for school holidays… and a much-needed vacay! Inspired by the warmth of the sunny rays and our underwater friends, they’re perfect for a good night’s sleep after a day at the beach!

If you’re a long-time listener, you’ll know that Pops and I are big fans of ergoPouch – their certified organic tog-rated sleepwear keeps our girl comfy overnight all year long, ensuring she’s neither over-heating nor cold. With the weather warming up, you can simply use their handy ‘What to Wear’ guide to quickly work out how to dress your baby for bed according to the temperature.

Check out their clay-colored Sunny print and sea-themed Ocean print on ergopouch.com.au. Plus, ErgoPouch have kindly given our listeners 20% off with code GROWING until the 11th of October.

As a new parent, have you ever wondered…why am I receiving SO much conflicting advice. When it comes to newborn care and early parenting it can feel like everyone has a different opinion. 

In this episode Beth breaks down the ‘why’ and provides some insight into how you can cut through the noise and make decisions that feel right for you. 

Within this chat, Beth mentions some of her favourite, reliable resources that can help with decision-making in parenthood. These are listed below: 

Eat Pray Sleep by Dr. Preeya Alexander (GP and Mum!)

The Australian Breastfeeding Association 

The Raising Children Network

La Leche League (Breastfeeding support)

Unicef Infant Formula and Responsive Feeding Guideline (Formula support) 

Sick Happens (Navigating Inevitable Childhood Illness) 

Lactation and Infant Feeding Resource with Susie Prout 

This episode of Growing is brought to you by Sleepybelly. Sleepybelly’s pregnancy pillow is honestly a game changer for pregnant women everywhere. It is no secret that getting comfortable in bed when you are pregnant becomes increasingly difficult as the months tick on. Sleepybelly’s unique design provides support for your back side and tummy, helping you to drift off and achieve a deeper, more restful sleep.

Sleepybelly are so confident that you will love their pillow that they offer a 30-night money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your pillow with the code BWB10. Visit www.sleepybelly.com.au to shop now.

Are you considering a sea change? In this episode Beth answers questions submitted by her online community about what it’s been like to move from the city to the coast. 

Topics include: 

• How did you pack up with a toddler running around? 

• Hidden costs and how to prepare

• How to support little ones through the change

• Do you miss the city? 

• Do you worry about being bored? 

• Saying goodbye to friends and family

• Building a community in a new place

And so much more. 

If you are thinking about making a big change for your family this episode is a great resource. 

Keen to connect with Beth? Follow her on Instagram @birthwithbeth_ or jump over to her website www.birthwithbeth.com.au

If you’re looking for evidence-based birth education, Beth offers a range of courses. More information available at www.powerbirthcourse.com.au

Resource links:

newysupply.com.au