The Birthing Dads Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Birthing Dads Podcast, host Steven Kennedy speaks with Carly from Little Sparklers, a charity supporting families with sleep challenges. Carly shares her personal journey from struggling with an extremely unsettled baby to founding an organization that now supports nearly 200,000 families.

Key topics covered include:

• The wide spectrum of normal infant sleep needs and why some babies naturally need less sleep
• Understanding co-regulation and how parents help babies learn to self-soothe over time
• Critical analysis of sleep training methods and their potential drawbacks
• Safe co-sleeping practices and bed-sharing guidelines
• Practical alternatives to sleep training that work with your baby's natural needs
• Managing sleep challenges when returning to work
• Creating realistic expectations for infant and toddler sleep patterns

Carly emphasizes trusting your instincts as parents, responding to your baby's individual needs, and understanding that frequent night waking is often normal developmental behaviour rather than a problem to be fixed.

https://littlesparklers.org/

Michael shares his transformative journey from a challenging 2-year fertility struggle to an empowering home birth during COVID-19. He opens up about the emotional reality of new fatherhood, including his gradual bonding process and learning to navigate a sensitive baby's needs.

The conversation covers practical insights on supporting partners through pregnancy and birth, dealing with breastfeeding challenges like mastitis, and developing a collaborative parenting approach.

Michael offers honest advice about preparing emotionally for parenthood beyond just the birth itself, emphasizing teamwork, flexibility, and finding joy amidst the inevitable challenges of early parenting.

In this podcast, Simon shares the journey of his partner's early miscarriage and the two subsequent births that followed. He reflects on the support he provided to his partner, who battled sickness throughout her pregnancy. Simon's story extends beyond the joys of parenthood, his passion for raising awareness about Men's Mental Health led him to establish Mindful Men in 2021.  Simon's mission is clear: to normalise conversations about mental health and empower men to open up, embrace vulnerability, and address the challenges that too often isolate them in their struggles.

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Learn more about Mindful Men https://mindful-men.com.au/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au

Erika Munton is one of the most experienced birth workers in Melbourne today.  Attending 400 births over 20 years as a doula she has supported hundreds of couples.

Erika defines the role of a doula.  Outlines what dads can do to help throughout the perinatal period and discusses intimacy and relationship dynamics post-birth.  

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Connect with Erika Munton https://birthready.com.au/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au

A candid discussion with one of Australia’s leading Obstetricians, Dr Vijay Roach.  We talked about advocacy, the role of the modern father and Vijay’s own experience of fatherhood.  Vijay also shares his perspective on post natal depression after supporting his wife through a very difficult time.  

Former President, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.  

Vijay is an obstetrician and gynaecologist with more than 20 years experience. He consults in general gynaecology with interests in miscarriage, traumatic birth experience, contraception, menopause, infertility, menstrual disturbances, vulval and vaginal disorders and abnormal cervical pathology. He has a particular interest in the importance of integrating psychological and physical health. 

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au   This podcast was recorded edited and produced by Steven Kennedy, Founder of the PREPARE Foundation https://prepare.org.au.

 

Dr Howard Chilton (babydoc) is a neonatal paediatrician, Dad, Granddad and author of two books, 'Your cherished baby' and 'Baby on Board'. Howard shares his vast wisdom for expectant and new dads drawing on over 40 years of clinical practice.  

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Learn more https://www.babydoc.com.au https://www.babydoc.com.au/boys-will-be-boys/ https://www.babydoc.com.au/boys-will-be-boys-2/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au   This podcast was recorded, edited and produced by Steven Kennedy, Founder of the PREPARE Foundation https://prepare.org.au.

 

In this episode, Stuart from Melbourne shares his story of supporting his partner through an emergency Cesarean Section, a decision prompted by a difficult induction process. Stuart talks about the importance of informed choice and advocacy in a hospital setting. He opens up about the whirlwind of emotions he felt as he awaited the birth of his daughter and the time it took for that profound bolt of love to fully hit. He emphasizes the role of mental health care and mindfulness in helping him navigate some of the challenges of parenthood. We also chat about changes in intimacy and gentle parenting.

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Book: The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au     This podcast was recorded edited and produced by Steven Kennedy, Founder of the PREPARE Foundation https://prepare.org.au.

 

We welcome Matt Ashbolt from Lismore, who shares his journey of supporting pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. Matt opens up about his relationship with his father, recounting the challenges he faced in connecting during his teenage years and how his perception evolved after becoming a parent himself. Matt describes how much he loved witnessing the birth of his son, which unfolded in a hospital setting involving an epidural and episiotomy, following a transfer from a birth center. Matt touches on the lack of birth education regarding the role of fathers, He speaks about feeling well-prepared for the birth itself but unready for the challenges of the early days, especially when their son struggled to settle. He openly reflects on the subtle undercurrents of depression during the initial weeks post-birth, alongside moments of sheer bliss.

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au   This podcast was recorded edited and produced by Steven Kennedy, Founder of the PREPARE Foundation https://prepare.org.au.

We welcome Matt Lane to share his personal journey into fatherhood. Matt opens up about the birth of his 15-week-old daughter, which involved a forceps delivery after induction.

Matt and his partner opted for a private model of care, entrusting their journey to an obstetrician. During the birth, Matt recounts surreal first moments of skin-to-skin contact with his daughter while his wife underwent surgery for a fourth-degree tear. He shares his insights on how he provided unwavering support to his wife during the birth and the subsequent recovery process. Matt also discusses the importance of "reading the room" during childbirth, a skill that enabled him to be a truly present birth partner.

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au     This podcast was recorded edited and produced by Steven Kennedy, Founder of the PREPARE Foundation https://prepare.org.au.

In this podcast episode, we're joined by Ian, a father who shares the birth story of his twins, including the challenges they faced when their son was born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Ian recounts the world of uncertainty he faced during his wife's birth and the early weeks of his twin's life in the NICU. He also opens up about supporting his wife through postnatal depression and how critical support from family, friends, and colleagues played a pivotal role in helping them navigate the complexities of twin parenting and inspired their involvement in the Australian Multiple Births Association.

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Ready to give yourself a confidence boost ahead of the big day and start your transformation into parenthood? Visit our website and kickstart your journey today with the Birthing Dads program.

Use Code: POD for a 10% Discount https://www.birthingdads.com.au/

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Learn more about the Australian Multiple Births Association https://www.amba.org.au/

Helpful Resources Antenatal https://prepare.org.au/resources/ https://www.birthingdads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ https://www.sms4dads.com.au

Perinatal Mental Health Support https://panda.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au https://www.cope.org.au https://forwhenhelpline.org.au     This podcast was recorded edited and produced by Steven Kennedy, Founder of the PREPARE Foundation https://prepare.org.au.