Best Sam And Tayla Podcasts (2025)

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549 | Anthea - Three Births, Bed Rest, and Finding Strength in Unexpected Challenges 1:06:09

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2d ago1:06:09

1:06:09

In this deeply moving episode, I chat with Anthea about her three very different birth experiences, including a challenging third pregnancy that required months of strict bed rest during COVID lockdowns with two toddlers at home. After experiencing an ectopic pregnancy and a nine-month journey to conceive, Anthea went on to have two hospital births…

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548 | Natalia - En Caul Birth, Two Home Waterbirths, Indigenous Birth Rituals, Birthing On Country 1:10:53

6d ago1:10:53

1:10:53

In this week’s episode I chat to Natalia @wildearthexpeditions about her two home water births with her daughters Estelle and Coco. Natalia’s story encapsulates her connection with her Indigenous family, the Ngarrindjeri people of South Australia. During her first visit to country she learnt to weave with her elders, a traditional ritual to welcome…

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547 | Katherine - IVF, Azoospermia, Pregnancy After Loss, Royal Women's Hospital 56:36

9d ago56:36

56:36

In this episode, I chat with Katherine about her journey to motherhood through IVF and her birth experience with daughter Zendaya. Katherine shares her story of discovering her partner Aaron's rare diagnosis of azoospermia (where there is sperm in the body but none in the ejaculate), their IVF journey, and her eventual birth at the Royal Women's Ho…

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546 | Gemma: Three births, placenta previa, VBA2C, planned caesarean. 1:26:10

16d ago1:26:10

1:26:10

In this week's episode, I chat with Gemma, a writer and Pilates instructor living on the lands of the Awabakal and Wurrumi people in Newcastle, NSW. Gemma shares her three distinctly experiences, culminating in a healing VBAC after two caesarean births. Are you preparing for birth and looking for a natural way to manage labour pain? Discover the di…

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545 | Sarah - three births, induction, ectopic pregnancy, healing water birth 1:26:50

23d ago1:26:50

1:26:50

In this week's episode, I chat to Sarah about her three very different birth experiences spanning five years. Sarah lives in Sydney with her partner Jad and their three children – Remy (5), Navy (3), and newborn Hugo (just two weeks old). Her story beautifully illustrates how birth experiences can evolve with knowledge, preparation and support, tak…

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544 | Prue Craven: A Groundbreaking Journey to Motherhood Through Uterus Transplantation 55:20

27d ago55:20

55:20

In this extraordinary episode, Prue shares her remarkable 11-year journey to motherhood, culminating in becoming the third woman in Australia to give birth following a uterus transplant. Her story is one of incredible perseverance, medical innovation, and the profound desire to become a mother against seemingly impossible odds. If you've been consi…

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543 | Bonnie - Two Births, Hospital Induction to Empowered Water Birth 1:00:51

1M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

In this week's episode, I chat with Bonnie about her two positive birth experiences. Bonnie lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches with her husband Ben and their two-and-a-half-year-old son Will, and three-week-old Oscar. Her story beautifully illustrates how knowledge, confidence and the right support can lead to empowering birth experiences, even whe…

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542 | Laura's IVF Journey and Surprise Identical Twins 55:39

1M ago55:39

55:39

Mother of three Laura shares her journey through IVF, a physiological first birth, and the unexpected arrival of identical twins. After marriage in early 2019, Laura and her husband Yanni embarked on their path to parenthood, facing challenges with irregular periods that made conception difficult. "I was getting very irregular periods. And so it wa…

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541 | Allison – Pregnancy with Autism and ADHD 1:12:34

1M ago1:12:34

1:12:34

In this episode Allison takes us through her journey to motherhood and subsequently, her empowering and enlightening autism and adhd diagnosis. She weaves in and out of her pregnancies to share information about music therapy and the brain and how music – rhythm, tempo, mantra – is one of the best soothing tools we can teach our children and use fo…

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540 | Emily's Birth Story: Managing Type 1 Diabetes Through Pregnancy, OCD diagnosis 59:27

1M ago59:27

59:27

In this episode, teacher and first-time mother Emily shares her experience of managing type 1 diabetes during pregnancy and her challenging birth at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth. Emily has lived with diabetes since she was just 14 months old, bringing a unique perspective to her journey to motherhood. If you'd like to listen to more birth…

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539 | Carla Hackett: Three Births, Three Different Journeys 1:03:54

2M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

In this episode, Carla Hackett shares her three very different birth experiences - from a hospital birth with her first son Raph, to an unexpectedly rapid home birth with her second son Noah, and finally a beautiful water birth with her daughter Maeve. ___________ Download our free guide: Labour tips for birth partners What is a birth support partn…

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538 | Dr. Rebecca Dekker from Evidence-Based Birth, and Creating Change 59:27

2M ago59:27

59:27

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Rebecca Dekker, founder of Evidence-Based Birth®, about her three very different birth experiences and how they led her to create a global resource for evidence-based information on pregnancy and childbirth. Follow us on Instagram for photos and more from today's episode. EPISODE SPONSOR: ergoPouch (the beloved slee…

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537 | Madi’s Third Birth Story: A Home Birth After Caesarean 53:43

2M ago53:43

53:43

In this week's episode I chat to Madi about her third birth - a planned home water birth after cesarean. Madi's story is particularly interesting as she navigated this birth both as a mother and as a newly qualified midwife. After experiencing a relatively quick vaginal birth with her first daughter Oakley and then a caesarean under general anaesth…

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536 | Jess - endometriosis, miscarriage, en caul birth, sterile water injections, acid reflux 48:21

2M ago48:21

48:21

Today I chat to Jess about her two very different birth experiences with her children Ruby and Vincent. After experiencing an induced birth with her first baby during COVID, Jess shares how she approached her second pregnancy with intention and preparation, ultimately achieving the birth she hoped for. Follow us on Instagram for photos and more fro…

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535 | Kaylee Bell - Managing DVT in Pregnancy, high risk pregnancy, planned caesarean 39:44

2M ago39:44

39:44

In this episode, country music artist Kaylee Bell shares her remarkable journey to motherhood - from managing chronic health conditions to an unexpected pregnancy while touring, and navigating a challenging birth due to a DVT diagnosis. Her story beautifully illustrates how life's biggest surprises can lead to the most meaningful experiences. Subsc…

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534 | Candice - Long fertility journey, pregnancy loss, low AMH, and IVF 54:34

3M ago54:34

54:34

In this week's episode, I chat to Candice about her challenging journey to motherhood. After experiencing two miscarriages and discovering she had low ovarian reserve at just 32, Candice and her husband Tom turned to IVF with PGT-A testing. She shares the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatments, the isolation of pregnancy loss, and the joy …

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533 | A GP's Personal Journey Through Birth & Breastfeeding with Dr. Eliza Hannam 51:43

3M ago51:43

51:43

In this deeply personal episode, GP and IBCLC Dr. Eliza Hannam shares her varied experiences with birth and breastfeeding across her three children. Her story beautifully illustrates how even healthcare professionals can face unexpected challenges in their own journeys to parenthood, and how these experiences can shape both personal growth and prof…

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532 | Lila three very different birth experiences, shared care, home birth, Hirschsprung disease 1:07:15

3M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

In episode 532 Lila shares her three distinctly different birth experiences, from a hospital induction to a dramatic roadside almost-birth, and finally achieving her dream homebirth. Her story takes an unexpected turn when her third baby is diagnosed with a rare condition Hirschsprung disease. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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531 | Naomi's Birth & Postpartum story – homebirth, gestational diabetes, postpartum doula 49:28

3M ago49:28

49:28

In today’s episode Naomi takes us through her first pregnancy and admits that she was so focussed on her birth preparation that she didn’t once think about her postpartum journey. Her birth was challenging and the newborn days were full of anxiety, severe sleep deprivation and a lot of not-knowing. Four months later she learnt about traditional pos…

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530 | Taylah's Quadruplet Journey - IVF, High-Risk Pregnancy, Caesarean Birth 1:10:56

3M ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Today we welcome Taylah Tudehope-Glachan who shares her extraordinary journey of conceiving and birthing quadruplets. Taylah and her husband Sean's path to parenthood was complicated by PCOS diagnosed at age 21 and she later discovered she also suffers from stage four endometriosis. ___ To learn more about The Birth Class and all our other fabulous…

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529 | Tayla - MGP, unmedicated, physiological, unplanned Home Birth 49:00

3M ago49:00

49:00

In this episode Tayla shares her empowering journey to motherhood, culminating in an unexpected but beautiful home birth. Her story highlights the power of preparation, surrender, and trusting your body's innate wisdom. ____ To learn more about The Birth Class and all our other fabulous courses, head to the shop here. See omnystudio.com/listener fo…

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528 | Elizabeth - second positive physiological birth, MGP, tens machine, 4.58Kg baby 1:02:56

4M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

In this episode, we welcome Elizabeth back to share her second birth story. You can listen to her first birth experience in episode 427. Elizabeth lives in Brisbane with her husband Lindsay and their two children - Margaret (2) and Wesley (4 months). ____ The empowering, evidence-based online birth education programs that will help you confidently …

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527 | Hanna, Homebirth transfer, autoimmune disease, psoriatic arthritis, prolapse, breastfeeding challenges 1:07:30

4M ago1:07:30

1:07:30

Today we welcome Hanna, who shares her journey through pregnancy, birth, and a particularly challenging postpartum period complicated by autoimmune disease. Originally from Poland and now living on the Bellarine Peninsula with her husband Zach and their seven-month-old daughter Runo, Hanna's story highlights the complex intersection of chronic illn…

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526 | [Replay] Paige - Positive birth, Intervention free, MGP, CAPS, the birth class, spontaneous labour, fetal ejection reflex 1:00:51

4M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

In this episode Paige shares her incredibly positive first birth experience. If you are new to the podcast or feel like you want an encouraging story to inspire you, this is it. After conceiving easily, she started listening to the podcast and knew she wanted a continuity model of care. She contacted Canterbury Antenatal and Postnatal Services (CAP…

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525 | Cassie - Three Births, Postnatal Anxiety, Identical Twins, Mental Health Journey 1:00:17

4M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

In today's episode, Cassie shares her profound journey into motherhood as an early years teacher who experienced three births and navigated postnatal anxiety. After carefully planning their family with husband James, they welcomed three daughters - Nara (6) and identical twins (5) - through experiences that would challenge and transform her underst…

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524 | Kristy - Second Birth, TGA Heart Condition, newborn Heart Surgery, MS 1:10:52

4M ago1:10:52

1:10:52

In today's episode, we welcome Kristy back to share her second birth story. You can hear her fist birth experience in episode 373. After having her first son Kylo, Kristy and her fiancé Clint experienced a miscarriage before conceiving their daughter Ren. At their 20-week scan, they received the news that their baby had Transposition of the Great A…

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523 | Heather - PCOS, Water Birth, Third Degree Tear, Hospital Transfer, FIFO 50:48

4M ago50:48

50:48

Heather lives just outside Mareeba in Far North Queensland with her husband Jack and their 15-week-old daughter Paige. After being diagnosed with PCOS, Heather's journey to conception took 15 months, involving lifestyle changes and medication to help regulate her cycles. _________ Sleep more comfortably with Sleepybelly, the breakthrough pregnancy …

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522 | [Replay] Steph Claire Smith, Vaginal Birth, Private Obstetrician, PCOS, Induction, Antenatal Expressing 57:46

5M ago57:46

57:46

In today’s episode I interview Steph Claire Smith who was first diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 21. She managed to regulate her menstrual cycles by focusing on health, wellness and regular acupuncture treatments and years later, fell pregnant easily. She timed her exhausting first trimester with stage four lockdown in Melbourne and sailed through…

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521 | [Replay] Oceane, Same-Sex Marriage, IVF, Donor Sperm, Homebirth, Midwife 1:23:51

5M ago1:23:51

1:23:51

Today we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes back from 2020, so there's a chance you haven't heard it yet! In this episode I chat to Oceane, a midwife and mother of three who so generously shares the beautiful, intricate details of her two homebirths. She also tells the story of her wife’s birth and the journey they have taken to beco…

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520 | Monica, two births, homebirth, carpal tunnel syndrome, eczema, hospital transfer 42:02

5M ago42:02

42:02

In this episode, we meet Monica, a registered nurse at the Children's Hospital of Westmead with a deep passion for paediatrics. She shares her journey through two very different births, highlighting how even the most carefully laid birth plans sometimes need to change. Her story beautifully illustrates the delicate balance between pursuing natural …

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519 | Sam, three births, MGP, private and public care, 4kg+ babies 1:59:13

5M ago1:59:13

1:59:13

Sam shares her journey through early pregnancy losses to becoming a mother of three beautiful children. Living in the Tweed region on the NSW/QLD border with her husband Scott, Sam opens up about navigating pregnancy after loss, birthing “big” babies, and finding her voice to advocate for her birth preferences. For more photos and birth stories, fo…

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518 | Bec, induction birth, MGP, water birth, GBS positive, breathing techniques, second birth 50:03

5M ago50:03

50:03

In this episode, interior designer and mother of two Bec shares her contrasting birth experiences at Sandringham Hospital in Melbourne. Her journey to motherhood began after marriage, taking six to eight months to conceive Ava. "I was one of those people testing like five days before you can test and just thinking I was pregnant every time," Bec re…

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517 | Sophie Delezio: From Childhood Burn Survivor to Motherhood - A Story of Strength, Adaptation, and a Peaceful Caesarean Birth at 37 Weeks 43:40

6M ago43:40

43:40

In this weeks episode I speak with Sophie Delezio, whose story of survival and resilience has long captured Australian hearts. Now embarking on a new chapter as mother to 10-week-old Frankie, Sophie shares her journey through pregnancy and birth, offering insights into navigating motherhood with a disability while challenging common misconceptions.…

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516 | Josie, secondary infertility, fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, water birth, student midwives 1:00:38

6M ago1:00:38

1:00:38

In this episode, we meet Josie, a qualified teacher living in the Albury-Wodonga region who shares her journey to motherhood and her two unique birth experiences. Her story highlights the complexities of navigating healthcare across state borders and the resilience required through pregnancy loss, renovation chaos, and building a family. __________…

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515 | Alysha, Birth Trauma and the Mother-Infant Bond: A Psychologist's Postpartum Journey 54:12

6M ago54:12

54:12

In this episode, we speak with Alysha, a psychologist and PhD candidate whose research into traumatic birth and mother-infant relationships stems from her own profound experiences. As both a mental health professional and mother of two boys, her story offers unique insights into the complexities of birth trauma and its lasting impact on early bondi…

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514 | Stacey, second birth experience, infertility, pregnancy loss, IVF, natural killer cells, home birth 1:19:24

6M ago1:19:24

1:19:24

It’s such a pleasure to welcome Stacey back onto the show. You can listen to her first birth in episode 181. Today, she shares the journey to conceiving her second child. It is a story of profound resilience through multiple losses, IVF challenges, and eventually, a beautiful home birth. After experiencing a relatively straightforward path to conce…

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513 | Chloe Grayling, TTC journey, pregnancy loss, physiological birth, home water birth 1:37:47

6M ago1:37:47

1:37:47

In this beautiful episode, Chloe Grayling @lovechloejane shares her journey into motherhood, from an emotional year of trying to conceive to achieving a beautiful and empowering home water birth. Living in a 140-year-old cottage on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula with her husband Patrick and their menagerie of animals (including Highland cows!…

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512 | Hashini, Emergency caesarean, hydronephrosis, planned caesarean, pediatric surgery 1:15:40

6M ago1:15:40

1:15:40

In today’s episode, Hashini takes us through her two very different births and the medical journey that followed with her second son. After experiencing a very straightforward first pregnancy, Hashini opens up about the emotional complexity of trying to conceive her second baby. Her second son’s pregnancy brought unexpected challenges when at his 2…

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511 | Maddie, Emergency caesarean, twin VBAC, ICU, perinatal mental health 1:19:56

7M ago1:19:56

1:19:56

Today I'm joined by Maddie who lives in Queensland with her husband Nicholas and their three beautiful boys - Oscar (who they affectionately call Ozzy) and five-month-old twins, Angus and Archie. In this episode, Maddie shares her remarkable journey from a traumatic emergency cesarean with her first son to achieving a successful twin VBAC (Vaginal …

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510 | Julie, PANDA CEO, perinatal anxiety and depression, postpartum mental health 28:16

7M ago28:16

28:16

It’s Perinatal Mental Health Week and in this episode, I chat with Julie Birkendorf, the CEO of PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia). One in five new mums, and one in 10 new dads will experience a mental health challenge in postpartum so conversations like this one are vital to raising awareness and minimising stigma. Julie nods to th…

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509 | Sonja, two babies, shared care, syntocinon, vaginal birth, painful periods, pelvic pain, pelvic congestion syndrome, endometriosis 1:10:28

7M ago1:10:28

1:10:28

In today’s episode Sonja takes us through her two pregnancies and births but also talks at length about her pelvic pain. She’s been diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome which was exacerbated after birth and especially when her menstrual cycle returned. Her symptoms were very similar to a prolapse - a heaviness and dragging sensation in her rec…

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508 | Heidi Sze, third birth story, preconception testing, nausea, early pregnancy bleeding, subchorionic haematoma, cholestasis, castor oil 1:05:56

7M ago1:05:56

1:05:56

It’s such a pleasure to welcome Heidi back onto the show. You can listen to Heidi’s first two births in episode 126. Today, she shares the journey of her third pregnancy and birth, offering a unique perspective as a nutritionist and dietitian. Heidi opens up about the long road to conceiving her son, Philip, emphasising how important it was for her…

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507 | Beth, two babies, midwifery care, ‘big baby’, spontaneous labour, The Birth Class 1:12:14

8M ago1:12:14

1:12:14

You can listen to Beth’s first birth story in episode 254 and today she shares her second pregnancy and birth story - from the perspective of a midwife and a mother. After moving interstate, Beth had two hospitals to choose from and halfway through her pregnancy, intuition dictated she change from one to the other. While she had beautiful care thro…

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506 | Emily, three babies, miscarriage, private midwife, marginal cord insertion, short cervix, physiological birth, MCDA twins, NICU, postpartum preeclampsia 1:31:30

8M ago1:31:30

1:31:30

Sometimes we hear so much about birth - all kinds of births - that we can forget it is a normal, biological process. In today’s episode, Emily’s experience reiterates the ease of physiological birth - both at home with a single baby, and in hospital with twins. She is honest from the get-go when she admits that she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be…

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505 | Maude, breech, planned caesarean, breastfeeding, pelvic floor physiotherapist, spontaneous labour, VBAC 1:00:32

8M ago1:00:32

1:00:32

In today’s episode Maude takes us through her two pregnancies and births. She moved interstate in her first pregnancy, registered with her local public hospital and had a planned caesarean because her baby was breech. She talks at length about her positive birth experience and the challenges of breastfeeding and being a stay at home mum. When she f…

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504 | Genevieve, one baby, PCOS, private obstetrician, hematoma, induction, epidural, episiotomy, postpartum haemorrhage 55:38

8M ago55:38

55:38

In today's episode, Genevieve shares her first pregnancy and birth and details her postpartum joys and challenges. She embraced her ‘goddess energy’ in her second trimester but by the third trimester, she really felt the physical limitations of carrying a big baby and only being quite small herself. Her waters broke at home and once she arrived at …

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503 | Bron, endometriosis, triplet-pregnancy, miscarriage, induction, TENS, positive induction 50:10

8M ago50:10

50:10

At her first dating scan, Bron found out she was pregnant with triplets; one singleton, and MCDA twins who shared a placenta. A few weeks later she attended her first appointment with the head doctor of the specialist multiple birth team, who outlined the risks and complications of her pregnancy and suggested selective reduction of the twins. Bron …

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502 | Agustina, two babies, private obstetrician, physiological birth, breastfeeding, lactation consultant 1:10:08

9M ago1:10:08

1:10:08

This is a really lovely episode, where Agustina shares her two pregnancies and births, alongside her experiences as a Canadian living far away from her family. She opted for private obstetric care because she wanted extended follow-up care in the days after birth. She stayed really active in pregnancy, moved with the contractions and laboured relat…

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501 | Sarah, PPROM, NICU, antenatal expressing, nipple shield, triple-feeding, lactation consultant 29:38

9M ago29:38

29:38

If you need to hear a positive NICU breastfeeding story, this is it! Sarah shares her experience with premature prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) and the NICU journey that followed the birth of her baby at 32 weeks. She started antenatal expressing in labour and continued hand-expressing in the days after before switching to a hospital-grade p…

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500 | Celebrating 500 episodes with a recap of the last 7 years building Australian Birth Stories! 9:49

9M ago9:49

9:49

Welcome back to the show for Episode 500. This one's a little bit different. I'm not interviewing anyone today, I thought I would instead recap the last few years and share with you a little bit more about the journey. Whether you're here for the first time, or you've been here since the beginning over 7 years ago, thank you for listening. I look f…