S4 EP: 4 Christine - Three Births, HG, Shoulder Dystocia, Instrumental Birth, Hospital Birth, Induction, Private Midwife, Homebirth, PTSD.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Christine shares the story of her three very different births and her experience navigating hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) in every pregnancy.Christine became a mum at 20. Her first birth began spontaneously at 41 weeks before a planned induction and included an epidural, a vacuum assisted birth and a shoulder dystocia. Ten years later, while on her honeymoon, Christine conceived her second baby. Because of the shoulder dystocia in her first birth, growth scans were recommended throughout the pregnancy. When one scan raised concerns, an induction was suggested. After the induction process began, labour progressed quickly, leaving her with no time to have concerns for what had happened in her previous birth. After a miscarriage, Christine was later diagnosed with PTSD connected to her HG pregnancies and began to understand how deeply those experiences had affected her. In this episode she speaks openly about HG, sharing preparation tips, medication options and things that helped her cope.Christine’s third birth was a very different experience, welcoming her baby at home in the birth pool surrounded by her midwives, partner and mother. Links:Embrace Midwifery Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show. 

Send a textIn this episode, we sit down with Marley to hear her two very different birth stories and how they shaped her journey in the motherhood space. Marley is a doula, birth educator, nanny, and babysitter who continues to support families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenting.Her first pregnancy followed the cascade of interventions, ultimately leading to an instrumental birth. During her second pregnancy, Marley planned a home birth. However, after discovering her baby was breech and having open discussions with her midwife and hospital team, weighing up the information available to her at the time, she chose to have a caesarean birth. She proactively wrote to the hospital outlining her wishes and the context surrounding her decision, advocating for a respectful and supported experience.Her second baby was admitted to NICU with pathological jaundice, and Marley also navigated recovery from a caesarean infection.Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textOriginally from the USA and now based in Canberra, Shelby is a rebirthing breath worker, yoga teacher, and mother of three. In this open and reflective conversation, she shares her birth imprint, her experience of neurodivergence, and how pain and trauma shaped her early births.Her first birth at the birth centre included a shoulder dystocia, 3B tear, major postpartum haemorrhage, retained placenta requiring surgery, transfusions, and a later prolapse. Her second began with prodromal labour and ended in an emergency caesarean.During her third pregnancy, Shelby realised she didn’t fully trust birth — and she was no longer able to return to the birth centre due to her previous experiences. As labour began, she chose to stay home and see how things unfolded, setting up her birth pool and ultimately birthing her baby there before transferring to hospital with concerns of postpartum haemorrhage.Links:(Instagram) Shelby Trevillian | RBM Breathwork • RPYT 500 • Somatic CoachSupport the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textIn today’s episode, Hannah shares her deeply personal journey through three very different birth experiences. Originally from the United States, Hannah is a midwife and PhD candidate who now lives in Switzerland. She worked as a midwife in Australia, where she also had her children.Based on her experiences as a midwife, Hannah had planned to birth her babies at home. After a medically necessary termination at over 20 weeks in her first pregnancy, her first baby was born in hospital. She speaks openly about the birth, the grief that followed, and giving birth in circumstances she had not planned for.Hannah later went on to birth her second and third babies at home. Her second birth unfolded over five days, while her third was the complete opposite.Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textOn today’s final episode of 2025, Aimee and Laura catch up on what’s been happening in their lives and reflect on the year that’s been. They also chat about what’s next and share their plans for the podcast in the year ahead.A huge thank you to everyone who tuned in this year, and a special thank you to those who’ve been with the podcast from the very beginning. The support throughout the year has meant more than words can say.Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textIn this episode, Elizabeth, a midwife and first-time mum, shares the story of her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. She always knew she wanted a homebirth, and the moment she saw her positive pregnancy test she contacted her private midwife to begin planning.During pregnancy she also reflects on how her work as a midwife brought up certain fears and vicarious trauma. She talks about how going on leave before birth gave her the space to process these feelings and prepare emotionally for her own experience.Elizabeth went into labour on her due date, and her labour unfolded over 26 hours from her first surge to the moment her daughter was born. At 40+1, she gave birth in the bath at home, surrounded by her partner, her mum, her two sisters, a birth photographer, and a student midwife. Her baby arrived with one hand next to her face. Elizabeth describes feeling a shift during labour and instinctively changing positions to help her baby move down. She also shares her experience of having a second-degree tear.In the postpartum period, she navigated her daughter’s oral ties, which led to 12 challenging weeks of painful breastfeeding. During this time, she decided to remove dairy from her diet while breastfeeding, which had a huge positive impact on her daughter. She also talks about how her family approached co-sleeping and eventually found what worked best for them.Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textIn this episode, Georgia from Western Australia shares the two birth experiences that shaped her journey into motherhood.Her first birth at 41+1 began with an induction and unfolded in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Georgia speaks about labouring on her own for a period — even after asking for her partner and doula, who weren’t allowed in right away — and being offered pharmaceutical pain relief before having an epidural. Her baby was born with the help of a vacuum, along with an episiotomy and a second-degree tear. She also reflects on missing that initial skin-to-skin moment and the breastfeeding challenges that followed as she navigated her baby’s reflux.Falling pregnant again just seven months later, Georgia followed her intuition toward a more supported experience. She chose a private midwife and planned a homebirth that felt more aligned. At 41 weeks she birthed her 4.3kg baby at home, experiencing another second-degree tear and transferring to hospital.Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textIn this episode, Katie shares the stories of her two births. After a long journey to conceive, her first pregnancy was marked by hyperemesis gravidarum. With the support of a Midwifery Group Practice, she went into spontaneous labour and gave birth in hospital. Katie reflects on the overwhelming moments immediately after birth, the early challenges of breastfeeding, and how she gradually established feeding over the following months.Just six months later, Katie conceived again and experienced hyperemesis gravidarum for a second time. Planning a homebirth, she describes how the birth unfolded, her transfer to hospital due to a postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and large blood clots, and her recovery afterward. She also shares her baby’s laryngomalacia diagnosis and how it shaped her second breastfeeding journey.Where to find Katie:Shes True Blue InstagramYeah the girls off road InstagramSupport the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textIn this episode, Emma, a mum from Western Australia, shares her two very different birth experiences.During her first pregnancy, Emma received GP shared care and went in for reduced movements late in pregnancy. A scan suggested her baby was measuring large, and she was induced. After a long pushing phase, she birthed her 4.59kg baby via caesarean.For her second birth, Emma chose a completely different model of care — working with a private midwife and planning a homebirth after caesarean (HBAC). She reflects on how different the care, support, and overall experience were the second time around. After her daughter was born at home, they were transferred to hospital due to breathing difficulties, where her baby received CPAP support.Emma also opens up about her breastfeeding journeys with both babies — how unique each experience was, and what she learned along the way.Links:Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.

Send a textIn this episode of our Homebirth Transfer Mini-Series, we speak with Sarah, who shares her two very different birth experiences—both at the same hospital, but under two very different models of care.Her first birth, under the care of a private midwifery group within the hospital, involved a long stretch of prodromal labour, an induction at 42+ weeks, and an artificial rupture of membranes where meconium was present. After a lengthy labour, Sarah made the decision to take control of the situation and have a caesarean.Her second pregnancy began with plans to birth at home, supported by a privately hired midwife. When her waters broke at 39 weeks, Sarah waited several days, carefully monitoring her health and signs of infection. On her second visit to hospital, she was transferred into the public system, where they discovered her baby was in breech position. Faced with limited options, she chose to have a caesarean.Throughout her journey, Sarah weighed up the risks and benefits at every turn, advocating for herself and her baby by asking questions, doing research, and making decisions as she navigated the challenges of labour, birth, and postpartum.Support the show@homebirthstoriesaustralia Support the show by buying us a coffee! Please be advised that this podcast may contain explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.The information, statistics, and research presented in this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. All information discussed can be found online and is provided in the links in the show notes. It is always recommended to conduct your own research and make informed decisions. We advise you to discuss any topics or concerns with your healthcare provider. While we strive to incorporate the most up-to-date research in our episodes, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information discussed on the show.