Midwife Crisis : The Podcast

• Witness to the Wound – Midwives, Mothers & the Weight of Birth Trauma

  In this episode of Midwife Crisis, Kelli Zakharoff is joined by the incredible Jess—a midwife, lactation consultant, hypnobirthing practitioner, and Australia’s first certified birth trauma resolution therapist. You’re going to want to lean into this one.Jess shares her personal and professional journey into the complex world of birth trauma, and what it means not just for birthing families, but for the midwives and professionals who witness it day in and day out. From recognising the signs of secondary trauma to practical healing tools like the Rewind Technique, this conversation is equal parts grounding and transformative.Together, Jess and Kelly explore how we can create safer, more trauma-informed spaces for caregivers and why the system urgently needs to shift to better support the people holding the space. It’s raw, wise, and deeply moving—an essential listen for anyone working in perinatal care. (00:29) Meet Jess: A Journey in Perinatal Care(01:54) Reading from 'Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma'(03:05) Jess's Professional Journey and Birth Trauma Work(06:06) The Rewind Technique: Healing Birth Trauma(10:52) Recognising and Addressing Trauma in Midwives(18:42) Balancing Professional and Personal Well-being(24:56) The Importance of Support and Debriefing Thanks for listening, for more resources and support relating to today's episode check out these links:https://www.collectivebeing.org/https://blueknot.org.au/https://blueknot.org.au/supporters/self-care-for-supporters/https://nursemidwifehpa.org.au/our-program/peer-support-service-explainedhttps://www.nmsupport.org.auhttps://www.anmf.org.au/https://www.nmsupport.org.au/managers-employers-and-educators/Navigating-the-notification-processhttps://pynkhealth.com.au/psychologist-for-traumahttps://ntgcounselling.com.au/contact/ Griefline 1300 845 745 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline AustraliaHours: Available 24 hoursCall 13 11 14 or Text 0477 13 11 14 Midwifery Birth Trauma Support by Jess The Midwife Instagram - @jess.themidwife To buy your copy of Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma visit: midwifecrisis.com.auFollow Kelli on Instagram: @kellizak

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• Induced to Obey? Midwives, Mothers, and the Cost of the Induction Epidemic with Melanie Jackson

  Welcome to episode 15 of Midwife Crisis! This week, Kelli sits down with the incredible Melanie Jackson to tackle one of the most pressing issues in maternity care right now: rising induction rates. With 43% of first-time mums in Australia being induced, this isn’t just a blip—it’s reshaping the whole birth landscape.Melanie brings her usual fire and wisdom as a midwife, educator, and advocate, breaking down what’s really driving these numbers, the impact on women, and the pressure midwives are under to toe the line. This one’s all about informed choice, pushing back against fear-based care, and standing up for what matters.Oh—and if you’ve been curious about the Great Birth Rebellion Convergence, Melanie’s got all the juicy details. Don’t miss it. (00:28) The Rising Rate of Induction(01:06) Impact on Midwives and Mothers(02:58) Exploring the Reasons Behind Inductions(03:44) Interview with Melanie Jackson(04:17) Melanie's Bold Statement: Just Stop It(07:38) Midwives' Role and Challenges(11:29) Empowering Women with Information(25:45) The Rise in Inductions: Causes and Consequences(28:07) Accuracy of Growth Scans in the Third Trimester(29:48) Navigating Informed Decision to Decline(30:44) Challenges for Private Midwives(31:41) Importance of Thorough Documentation(37:39) Midwives Managing Induction Epidemic(40:21) Advice for Midwives: Practical Tips and Mindset Thanks for listening, for more resources and support relating to today's episode check out these links:https://www.collectivebeing.org/https://blueknot.org.au/https://blueknot.org.au/supporters/self-care-for-supporters/https://nursemidwifehpa.org.au/our-program/peer-support-service-explainedhttps://www.nmsupport.org.auhttps://www.anmf.org.au/https://www.nmsupport.org.au/managers-employers-and-educators/Navigating-the-notification-processhttps://pynkhealth.com.au/psychologist-for-traumahttps://ntgcounselling.com.au/contact/ Griefline 1300 845 745 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline AustraliaHours: Available 24 hoursCall 13 11 14 or Text 0477 13 11 14 Midwifery Birth Trauma Support by Jess The Midwife Instagram - @jess.themidwife To buy your copy of Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma visit: midwifecrisis.com.auFollow Kelli on Instagram: @kellizak

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• Reported in a Small Town – Surviving AHPRA, Silence, and Starting Again

  In this powerful episode of Midwife Crisis, host Kelli Zakharoff speaks with an anonymous midwife, 'Sarah', about the emotional and professional challenges that come with being reported to regulatory authorities. Set against the backdrop of a small community and independent practice, Sarah shares the aftermath of an adverse event that changed everything.The episode explores the realities of isolation, financial strain, and the ripple effects on mental health and family life. It also highlights the strength required to keep going in a system that can feel punishing and unsupportive. Sarah’s story is a rare, honest look into the burden midwives can carry—and the resilience that keeps them standing. In this powerful episode of Midwife Crisis, host Kelli Zakharoff speaks with an anonymous midwife, 'Sarah', about the emotional and professional challenges that come with being reported to regulatory authorities. Set against the backdrop of a small community and independent practice, Sarah shares the aftermath of an adverse event that changed everything.The episode explores the realities of isolation, financial strain, and the ripple effects on mental health and family life. It also highlights the strength required to keep going in a system that can feel punishing and unsupportive. Sarah’s story is a rare, honest look into the burden midwives can carry—and the resilience that keeps them standing. Thanks for listening, for more resources and support relating to today's episode check out these links:https://www.collectivebeing.org/https://blueknot.org.au/https://blueknot.org.au/supporters/self-care-for-supporters/https://nursemidwifehpa.org.au/our-program/peer-support-service-explainedhttps://www.nmsupport.org.auhttps://www.anmf.org.au/https://www.nmsupport.org.au/managers-employers-and-educators/Navigating-the-notification-processhttps://pynkhealth.com.au/psychologist-for-traumahttps://ntgcounselling.com.au/contact/ Griefline 1300 845 745 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline AustraliaHours: Available 24 hoursCall 13 11 14 or Text 0477 13 11 14 Midwifery Birth Trauma Support by Jess The Midwife Instagram - @jess.themidwife To buy your copy of Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma visit: midwifecrisis.com.auFollow Kelli on Instagram: @kellizak

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• Seen It All – One Midwife’s Journey Through Chaos, Comedy and Care

  In this episode of Midwife Crisis, Kelli is back with another brilliant conversation—this time with Victoria, a midwife of over 20 years and mum of seven (yes, seven!), including one through surrogacy. Many of you will love this one: Victoria takes us right back to where her midwifery journey began (spoiler: it started in childhood), and walks us through the highs, lows, and absolute chaos of life as both a midwife and a mother.She gets real about dealing with hyperemesis in her pregnancies, the realities of working across different models of care, and why informed choice and truly meeting women where they are is everything. It’s warm, funny, and full of the kind of wisdom only years on the job can bring. Thanks for listening, for more resources and support relating to today's episode check out these links:https://www.collectivebeing.org/https://blueknot.org.au/https://blueknot.org.au/supporters/self-care-for-supporters/https://nursemidwifehpa.org.au/our-program/peer-support-service-explainedhttps://www.nmsupport.org.auhttps://www.anmf.org.au/https://www.nmsupport.org.au/managers-employers-and-educators/Navigating-the-notification-processhttps://pynkhealth.com.au/psychologist-for-traumahttps://ntgcounselling.com.au/contact/ Griefline 1300 845 745 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline AustraliaHours: Available 24 hoursCall 13 11 14 or Text 0477 13 11 14 Midwifery Birth Trauma Support by Jess The Midwife Instagram - @jess.themidwife To buy your copy of Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma visit: midwifecrisis.com.auFollow Kelli on Instagram: @kellizak

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• Changing the Narrative Around Pregnancy Loss with Catherine Isaac

  In this episode of Midwife Crisis, host Kelli Zakharoff sits down with Catherine Isaac — a clinical nurse and founder of Two Souls Co — to share a conversation that is both deeply personal and powerfully important. Catherine opens up about her own experience of multiple pregnancy losses and the emotional toll they took, not just as a parent, but as a healthcare professional.Out of her pain, she created the Soul Collection Kit — a gentle, practical resource designed to help families and healthcare providers navigate early pregnancy loss with care, compassion, and dignity. Together, Kelly and Catherine explore what it means to grieve while still showing up in a demanding healthcare environment, and why the system needs to do more to support both patients and the people who care for them.This is an honest and heartfelt episode about loss, resilience, and the power of turning personal grief into meaningful change. (00:39) Meet Catherine Isaac: A Journey Through Loss(02:17) The Day That Changed Everything(03:04) Navigating the Healthcare System(04:41) The Emotional and Physical Toll of Miscarriage(13:39) Returning to Work After Loss(17:19) Creating the Soul Collection Kit(21:10) Impact and Future of the Soul Collection KitTo learn more about Catherine’s work and the Soul Collection Kit, visit twosoulsco.com.au, follow @two.soulsco on Instagram, or reach out directly at [email protected]. Thanks for listening, for more resources and support relating to today's episode check out these links:https://www.collectivebeing.org/https://blueknot.org.au/https://blueknot.org.au/supporters/self-care-for-supporters/https://nursemidwifehpa.org.au/our-program/peer-support-service-explainedhttps://www.nmsupport.org.auhttps://www.anmf.org.au/https://www.nmsupport.org.au/managers-employers-and-educators/Navigating-the-notification-processhttps://pynkhealth.com.au/psychologist-for-traumahttps://ntgcounselling.com.au/contact/ Griefline 1300 845 745 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline AustraliaHours: Available 24 hoursCall 13 11 14 or Text 0477 13 11 14 Midwifery Birth Trauma Support by Jess The Midwife Instagram - @jess.themidwife To buy your copy of Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma visit: midwifecrisis.com.auFollow Kelli on Instagram: @kellizak

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