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A podcast series featuring interviews with people who planned to birth their babies at home. Listen as homebirth parents share their unique stories of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Episodes
Friday Sep 04, 2020
Friday Sep 04, 2020
In this episode I am sharing Part 2 of Steffi’s birth stories. You can find the first part of her birth story in episode 21.
Today we hear about the 13 week pregnancy and birth of Star Baby. Steffi gives a profoundly beautiful and detailed account of the physical and emotional process of miscarriage and the months of grieving which followed.
She shares more about some of the different techniques and rituals she practices and provides for pregnant, birthing and postpartum women, including the Closing of the Bones ceremony, Rebozo, Birth Circles, and turning of a breech baby.
Steffi winds up this episode with the story of her final pregnancy and birth with youngest son Manu. Manu’s birth was very fast, just a couple of hours of very intense labouring, and was followed by an extended first stage where Steffi actually ended up manually assisting with delivering her own placenta.
Steffi’s story depicts a physically straight forward story of miscarriage which was safely managed at home.
Like any birth a miscarriage comes with the potential for risk & it is essential to be well informed & appropriately cared for when choosing to remain at home.
I would like to acknowledge that this episode contains strong emotional themes around grief and loss, as well as very honest and raw descriptions of the actual process of miscarriage. If you’re feeling that this might be triggering for you, I have noted the timing that we move onto Manu’s birth in the show notes, so you can skip straight to that and come back to Star Babies birth story at another time when you’re feeling ready to listen. That being said, if you have listened to part one of Steffi’s story you will already know what a beautiful story teller she is, and I think she navigates this topic in the most gentle and respectful way.
This episode is laced with so much profound wisdom and is true medicine for women in their childbearing years, so I’ll let Steffi share her story.
If you would like to see some more photos of Steffi and her beautiful children, head over to my instagram @keepbirthwild.podcast.
During this podcast Steffi makes mention of Mapuru & The Arnhem Weavers http://www.arnhemweavers.com.au/
& Aunty Minmia http://www.dromanabooks.com.au/home/events/quandongtree.htm
Steffi also speaks about The Closing of The Bones & the of the use of Mexican Rebozo. You can find more information about traditional Mexican approaches to birthwork & to purchase traditional rebozos at https://www.naolivinaver.com/index.html & https://lamatriz-105776.square.site/
And for those wanting to learn more about the practice of womb/ pelvic steaming you can visit @steamychick on instagram.
Thank you again for listening and keep an ear out for the next episode!
Friday Aug 28, 2020
Friday Aug 28, 2020
In todays episode I’m chatting to my god mother Steffi. In addition to the very important role of god mother, Steffi is also a doula, birth educator, body worker and facilitator of many sacred rituals and practices around birth and womanhood.
This is part one of two episodes, to allow plenty of time for her to share the stories of her births, as well as many beautiful reflections on her practices as a birth worker.
In this episode Steffi talks about her journey into birth work, and takes us through the pregnancies, births and postpartum times for her eldest two children, who were both born at home.
Stay tuned for the second half of this interview which will be released next week.
If you feel called to donate to either of the charities Steffi works with to deliver birth and menstrual education in Laos you can find the details below.
Days For Girls - Providing menstrual kits and education in developing countries.
Send Hope Not Flowers - Helping more mothers survive childbirth across developing countries.
And if you have enjoyed todays episode, or are listening regularly and finding value in the show, it would mean a lot to me if you could scroll down on your app and leave a star rating and quick review.
Thank you!
Friday Aug 21, 2020
Friday Aug 21, 2020
In todays episode I am chatting to Gemma about the births of her three children.
Gemma naturally conceived her first baby but went on to require assistance conceiving her next two children, so she shares a little about her journey with IVF.
Gemma first birth was a vaginal birth in hospital, however she didn’t experience the urge to push her baby out and required a forceps delivery. She shares about how she longed for the experience of pushing her next baby out and was excited to give birth again and have that opportunity.
Four years later after undergoing IVF Gemma fell pregnant with her daughter. Her waters broke at 35 weeks and baby was delivered via c section at 36 weeks.
Gemma’s youngest daughter is just 5 weeks old now! She was originally planning another hospital birth however as the Covid situation developed and she was facing the reality of birthing without her doula she started to look at other options.
Gemma went on to have a beautiful birth at home and experienced the longed for sensation of pushing her baby out.
Theres a little bit of everything in this story and its a great one to recommend to anyone who might be considering home birthing due to the Covid pandemic.
You some beautiful photos from Gemma’s homebirth on my instagram page @keepbirthwild.podcast.
I’ve had my hands full with a toddler in lockdown which is why I haven’t been getting an episode out every single week. If you click subscribe you will get notified every time a new episode is published.
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
In todays episode I am chatting to Mikayla about the birth of her daughter Nyra.
Mikayla planned a home birth through the Publicly Funded Midwifery program at her local hospital in Perth. Unfortunately at a late ultrasound it was picked up that Nyra was measuring on the smaller side and she was no longer cleared to home birth through that program.
Mikayla laboured at home with her husband and doula but delivered in hospital under the care of her MGP midwife.
Mikayla shares how although Nyra’s birth was straightforward and there was minimal intervention, she still left feeling disappointed with the experience and struggled for a long time to accept that she didn’t get the home birth she had envisaged.
You some beautiful photos of Mikayla and Nyra on my instagram page @keepbirthwild.podcast.
If you’re listening in every week, don’t forget to click subscribe so you get notified when a new episode is published, and leave a star rating or review.
I would love to know your thoughts on the show, what you’re enjoying and anything you would like to hear more of.
Sunday Jul 26, 2020
Sunday Jul 26, 2020
In todays episode I am chatting to Kellie Andrews about her two home births.
Kellie has just started a project called The Furry Turtle, where she creates upcycled garments. All profits go to Sisters Inside, an independent community organisation advocating for the human rights of First Nations women and girls in the prison system, and providing services to meet their individual needs.
If you would like to support Kelly and Sisters Inside, you can find the The Furry Turtle on instagram @the_furry_turtle.
Visit Sisters Inside at https://sistersinside.com.au/ to find out more about their services and for more ways to get involved.
Kellie birthed both her two daughters at home and had very different but beautiful and empowering births.
With Banjo Kellie had a long labour and birth which ended in a hospital transfer after birth due to excessive bleeding and retained membranes.
During Wilke’s pregnancy Kellie experienced a condition where her heart rate suddenly increased and changed in rhythm. She was lucky to get treated and discharged from hospital quickly and went on to have a fast powerful birth at home. This time around Kellie opted for a managed third stage and although she did still experience heavy bleeding it was able to be managed at home.
Kellie takes us right through both of those births, and along the way we discuss consent in the context of the hospital system, experiencing pleasurable feelings during birth, and the importance of prioritising a woman experience of her birth as well as a healthy baby.
Kellie had a birth photographer at both of her births and the images are absolutely amazing so make sure you check those out at keepbirthwild.podcast
Saturday Jul 18, 2020
Saturday Jul 18, 2020
In this episode I chat to Toni Kara about the births of her two children Arrow and Mica.
Toni planned to birth Arrow at home but after a long posterior labour and 4 hours of pushing she transferred to hospital and Arrow was born via c section.
For Mica’s birth she planned a home birth again, and shares the story of her beautiful healing VBAC.
Head over to instagram @keepbirthwild.podcast to see some gorgeous photos from Toni's births.
Sunday Jul 12, 2020
Sunday Jul 12, 2020
In todays episode I’m chatting to Zoe about the births of her two sons Gordy and Finley.
Gordy was born in hospital, where Zoe who is a nurse herself was confidant and comfortable to advocate for herself and the birth she wanted, but as time passed her perception of her birth changed and she started considering a home birth for the next time around.
Zoe’s had a miscarriage between her two sons and her experience of miscarrying naturally at home solidified her wishes to home birth her next baby.
Finleys birth was quick and Zoe was beautifully supported, at home, by her birth team made up of friends and family.
Resources:
Juju Sundin - Birth Skills
Dr Sarah Buckley - Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
Dr Sara Wickham - Anti D in Midwifery: Panacea or Paradox
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
In this episode I chat to Laura about the births of her two children Ester and Teddy.
Laura birthed Ester in hospital as part of the group midwifery program. She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and went on to have an induced vaginal birth.
When she fell pregnant with Teddy she decided to have a home birth. It was identified at Teddy’s 20 week scan that there was an irregularity with his digestive system, however she was still able to go ahead with her home birth as planned. Teddy had surgery on his intestines at 3 days old so Laura describes what it was like to realise that there was something not right with him and her experience of having a baby in the NICU.
You can see photos from Laura's homebirth with Teddy on my instagram @keepbirthwild.podcast and you can also find Laura on Instagram @this.wild.mama !
Thursday Jun 18, 2020
Thursday Jun 18, 2020
In today's episode I chat with Tori about the births of her two children Badger and Scout.
Tori’s first birth was in hospital where she was induced due to reduced amniotic fluid. Being a first time mum Tori put her all her trust in the hospital system but ended up not feeling prepared for the birth, or like the reasons for induction were fully explained to her.
The second time around she knew she wanted the opposite experience to her first birth. She chose to birth at home with her husband and a doula, however her plans changed due the bushfires and coronavirus pandemic. Tori went on to have a beautiful healing unassisted birth at home with her husband, mum and sister.
I just wanted to say a quick thank you to those of you who have taken the time to scroll down on your podcast app and leave a rating or a review there. This is a love project that I do in my spare time because I’m really passionate about getting these stories out to you, and it does take a lot of work, so I’m always so excited and grateful every time someone leaves a review or sends a message to let me know that they are enjoying it!
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Friday Jun 12, 2020
In today's episode I'm sharing my own birth story! My good friend Joelle Constance (Ep 2) joins in the show to interview me about the birth of my daughter Alice.
We start off by discussing a prior pregnancy I had when I first met Alice's dad and how that was the catalyst to wanting to start a family young. I initially wasn't planning a homebirth so we go into detail about what factors played into that decision and then how the pregnancy and birth panned out.
After dinner, putting the babies to sleep, and a few glasses of wine, we then go on to discuss what my postpartum and breastfeeding journeys were like including my experiences with blocked ducts and mastitis.
I really hope you enjoy todays episode and as always please come say hi on instagram and let me know if you have any questions! @keepbirthwild.podcast