Birth Choices

• 21. Corinne’s birth story — from planning a homebirth to a vasa previa diagnosis, extended hospital stay, and planned pre-term caesarean section with MGP midwifery support

  In this episode, we speak with Elysia’s younger sister, Corinne, who shares her journey from planning a publicly-funded homebirth to an unexpected diagnosis at her 20-week ultrasound that changed the course of the rest of her pregnancy and her birth. The ultrasound revealed Corinne had placenta previa, a marginal cord insertion, and an extremely rare condition called vasa previa. Corinne walks us through how she processed this news, how she prepared for her lengthy hospital admission, and pre-term caesarean section. She reflects on the beautiful support her MGP midwife provided in the midst of a now very medicalised pregnancy, and the impact that midwifery-led care and education had in preparing her for birth and beyond. Corinne shares the choices she made in her caesarean section, the breastfeeding supports she leaned on in postpartum, and how her village rallied around her in surprising and sweet ways throughout.Links:Joan Kirner Homebirth ProgramMAMA Antenatal Breastfeeding WorkshopChoices in a Caesarean Section Positive Caesarean episode on The Great Birth Rebellion podcastMAMA Lactation Support and Sarah IBCLCAustralian Breastfeeding AssociationTo learn more about your choices in pregnancy, birth and postpartum follow us on Instagram or visit www.birthchoices.com.au

  --------  

  56:07
• 20: Sammy's HBAC — from unplanned caesarean section with private OB to homebirth with private midwives + doula

  In this episode we speak with Sammy Veall, artist and former yoga teacher and studio owner, about the contrasting pregnancy and birth experiences of her two boys. Sammy shares her experience of an unplanned caesarean in a private hospital under obstetric care, and how that experience shaped her decision to have a homebirth after caesarean (HBAC) with private midwives for her second son. Sammy speaks beautifully about the ripple effects of her positive and transformative birth experience on not only her mothering, but career and life choices more broadly. A content warning — Sammy speaks openly about a non-consensual stretch and sweep late in pregnancy with her first baby, and the physical and mental impact this had on her both in the lead up to and during that labour, as well as in preparing to birth again. We discuss epidurals, and the impact of that loss of sensation for Sammy, physically and emotionally. Sammy speaks about the importance of following your own instincts and listening to your own inner voice, of choosing a care provider that not only aligns with your wishes for birth, but the preparatory work you are doing. She shares her experience of care from a private midwife and doula in pregnancy, and how those relationships, and that of her husband, supported her through her own crises of confidence in the lead up to labour, as well as through the intensity of her labour and physiological birth of her baby and placenta at home. 02:59 Initial visions for birth and choosing her first care provider06:13 First pregnancy08:21 Stretch & sweep leading into labour 12:07 Epidural and unplanned caesarean18:38 Postpartum experience and coming to terms with first birth experience24:07 Preparing for a second birth, working through previous trauma26:46 Navigating societal and family’s views on homebirth and HBAC28:00 Choosing private midwifery care31:39 Choosing doula support 38:21 The onset of labour53:58 Postpartum experience and support56:37 Empowerment beyond birth Links:MAMA Midwifery Practice MAMA Midwifery Birth Class - VBAC Rhea Dempsey’s Birth Debrief & Embracing the Intensity birth course Jo Askham doula 

  --------  

  1:00:33
• 19. Choosing private midwifery care - with private midwife Kelly Langford of MAMA Midwives

  In this episode we speak with Kelly Langford, co-founder of Victoria’s first private midwifery group practice MAMA Midwifery, about choosing private midwifery care for your pregnancy and birth. After being mentored into private practice early in her midwifery career, Kelly is a passionate advocate for families and midwives alike. Kelly joins us to talk about what a private midwife is, what continuity of care from a private midwife looks like (and the different ways you can choose to be supported, whether you are birthing at home or in hospital), exciting changes affecting the maternity space right now, and what she loves most about providing care to families in this transformational time of their lives.Links:MAMA Midwives MAMA Lactation Support

  --------  

  1:03:16
• 18. Paramedic & student midwife Ruth's birth stories — choosing midwifery-led care within a private hospital followed by private midwifery care and a speedy homebirth

  In this episode we speak with paramedic and fellow student midwife, Ruth, about her experience of choosing her care provider and place of birth in her first and second pregnancies, receiving care from private midwives with admitting rights in a private hospital in Brisbane, and then after being unable to find that same model in Melbourne, choosing to birth at home with the support of private midwives (and an unofficial backup plan with a supportive OB). Ruth talks us through her marathon first labour, and how morphine (while deviating from her plan) allowed her to get the rest she needed before birthing her first daughter in the pool. Ruth speaks so eloquently about her experience, including of postpartum haemorrhage and the experience of having a big and otherwise well baby in the special care nursery. For her second birth, after being unable to find a similar model of care, Ruth chose to birth at home with private midwives. She takes us through that decision and the considerations given her history of PPH, and the fast but intense labour and waterbirth of her second daughter. We talk about the experience of continuity, the experience of good postpartum care both in hospital and then at home, and the importance of thinking about what you want out of birth and choosing your care providers and place of birth with that in mind.Links:Study comparing outcomes among women who begin labour intending to birth at home vs those intending to give birth in hospital: Reitsma, A., Simioni, J., Brunton, G., Kaufman, K., & Hutton, E. K. (2020). Maternal outcomes and birth interventions among women who begin labour intending to give birth at home compared to women of low obstetrical risk who intend to give birth in hospital: A systematic review and meta-analyses. EClinicalMedicine, 21, 100319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100319Kindred Midwifery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Ruth's Brisbane care providers)MAMA Midwives (Ruth's Melbourne care providers)

  --------  

  1:49:36
• 17. Georgia & Talbot’s birth story — choosing homebirth for their first baby

  In this episode we speak with Georgia and Talbot, barrister and engineer, about their decision to birth their first baby at home. Georgia and Talbot initially chose a private midwife as no publicly funded programs were running after COVID, but late in pregnancy, after agonising over the decision, changed to a publicly funded program. Georgia reflects on the impact of her mum’s work as a midwife on her philosophy of birth (and the beautiful support she then gave them during labour and birth), and how when seeking a physiological birth, home felt like the most appropriate choice for them. They take us through those last weeks of pregnancy, including one of the best oxytocin-inducing activities we’ve heard yet. Like many first time birthers, Georgia set her expectations on a marathon birth, bossing her way through labour and denying it until they could deny it no longer. This is an exhilarating listen for reasons you will come to understand. LinksBirth Time — the documentary Internal pelvic release through The Pelvic Space 

  --------  

  1:09:07

More Kids & Family podcasts

Trending Kids & Family podcasts

About Birth Choices