In this episode, we speak to our very first international guests, Úna and Andreas, who share their story of navigating their pregnancy and birth choices as expats having their first baby in Portugal. We hear about their experience of initially choosing a private obstetrician based on word of mouth, before changing care providers late in the third trimester once it became clear that there was a misalignment between their birth preferences, the evidence, and the practices of their chosen care provider. Úna and Andreas’ story is one of research, advocacy, intuition and trust. It highlights the importance of digging deeper in the stories that are shared between the networks of families and friends, doing the work and ultimately trusting your instincts to choose a care provider and place of birth that makes you feel the most at ease, irrespective of the label.

Links:

- "Birth and Breastfeeding: Rediscovering the Needs of Women During Pregnancy and Childbirth" by Michel Odent

- Doula Carla and her NGO work at OVO Portugal

- "Expecting Better" by Emily Oster

- World Health Organisation recommendations on episiotomy

- "Hypnobirthing: A Natural Approach to a Safe, Easier, More Comfortable Birthing" by Marie Mongan

- "Choosing a Care Provider" episode

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 Program
• MAMA Antenatal Breastfeeding Workshop
• Choices in a Caesarean Section
• Positive Caesarean episode on The Great Birth Rebellion podcast
• MAMA Lactation Support and Sarah IBCLC
• Australian Breastfeeding Association
  
  

To learn more about your choices in pregnancy, birth and postpartum follow us on Instagram or visit www.birthchoices.com.au

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 provider

06:13 First pregnancy

08:21 Stretch & sweep leading into labour

12:07 Epidural and unplanned caesarean

18:38 Postpartum experience and coming to terms with first birth experience

24:07 Preparing for a second birth, working through previous trauma

26:46 Navigating societal and family’s views on homebirth and HBAC

28:00 Choosing private midwifery care

31:39 Choosing doula support

38:21 The onset of labour

53:58 Postpartum experience and support

56:37 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