Explore every episode of the podcast Transform Your Birth
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| Caitlin - Mental health, induction, great support and what we can do with placentas. | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:40:03 | |
Caitlin had a history of mental health challenges. Through the support of her GP, was able to access the right people through the hospital and community to set in place support that enabled her to feel more relaxed about giving birth. She also prepared with yoga and the ‘Transform Your Birth,’ course that enabled her to access her own inner calm - which as an anxious person helped enormously on the day. She chose to be induced when her blood pressure was considerably high. She shares with us some great strategies that she used to support her inner calm, from affirmations to tools her partner offered to find comfort. Her birth was a wonderful experience which caused her to feel very proud of herself. As a result, her mental health post birth has been very positive as she enjoys getting to know her baby. Caitin shares some great wisdom in this episode.
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| Emma - 3 births, induction, short, water birth and a placenta that needed help | 19 Mar 2025 | 00:28:44 | |
Emma goes briefly into her first two births when she was younger and feeling good through her pregnancies. With baby number 3, she experienced a lot of pain and discomfort and chose to induce her labour. It was a short labour, and resulted in a water birth. Her placenta needed help to be removed. Emma is very pragmatic about women’s ability to birth, and she reminds us all how powerful women are, and we can give birth, even when we think we can’t. Enjoy Emma’s stories.
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| Tracey - Doing the inner work to prepare for birth | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:23:27 | |
During this episode I will talk about another form of preparation - that is, doing the inner work. Our birthing traditions focus on foods you can eat, and the growth of the baby - but rarely do we talk about the growth of the mother. Mother nature wants you to upgrade into the mother. This is a ripe time for growth and transformation so listen in to find out more.
For more on Rapid Transformational Therapy that Tracey uses to support her families, see here. https://traceyandersonaskew.com/ Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Hope - Fear of birth transformed into a painless labour, her preparation and how it influenced her experience of mothering | 04 Jan 2023 | 00:30:31 | |
Hope had an intense fear of birth and a history of anxiety. She discusses her preparation, and what are the things that changed the way she felt about giving birth. She committed fully to the practices, and really shifted her inner beliefs and responses to the idea of giving birth, so much so she experienced painless labour. Hope also identifies how her birth supported her transition into motherhood. I love this story, as it can open our minds to the possibilities of how we can experience the sensations of labour.
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| Sheena - 2 births, induction, big baby, asking questions, engaging partner support, breech and caesarean | 28 Dec 2022 | 00:40:35 | |
Sheena shares her story of two babies under two different models of care. Her first birth began with an induction due to size. She reflects later that she didn’t ask a lot of questions and just followed medical advice. Second time round she chooses continuity of midwifery care, and then does the ‘Transform Your Birth’ course. This choice engaged her partner more which put them on the same page. It also helped them to adapt to a dramatic change when the baby was breech. Sheena is very pragmatic and has taken two very different births in her stride and gives us a powerful message of trusting in yourself as a birthing woman. She believes we are born for this, and we can get over whatever speed bumps come our way. Enjoy!
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| Erika - 2 births, overcoming the negative birth culture, birthing in Bangkok and being an advocate for herself and her baby | 21 Dec 2022 | 00:33:11 | |
Erika shares her two birth stories. She had to overcome the negative culture and advice she was being given. Erika used calmbirth to lock in a new mindset. She discusses her process of change. Affirmations were a huge tool she used. With baby number 2, she gives birth in Bangkok, and this time hires a doula. Fortunately, through the confidence she experienced with her first birth, She was able to powerfully advocate for herself and her baby. I think you will enjoy Erika’s and her passion for birth. | |||
| Tiahna - Breech and caesarean, overcoming feelings of failure, accepting emotions and microbial seeding | 14 Dec 2022 | 00:36:06 | |
Tiahna finds herself with a breech baby and low fluid and needing to have a caesarean. She adjusts to a new plan, which isn’t easy, and she eventually overcomes her feelings of failure. She also speaks of the emotional rollercoaster that comes with birth, which is an important part of our growth as a new mother.. She has a gentle caesarean and makes some special requests which helps her to take back some control. She shares how her partner adjusted and supported her. Microbial seeding and what she learnt about herself as well as some great advice for pregnant women. This story is gold!
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| Alex - Two births, recovery from tearing, trance state and the subconscious, the role of environment and time | 07 Dec 2022 | 00:34:39 | |
Alex shares with us the stories of both her boys She shares how her preparation gave her confidence. She experienced tearing with her first, and needed to work on her fear, and bring in strategies to avoid tearing again for baby number two. She discusses the role of subconscious preparation and going into a trance state, and how that was a challenge for her second birth through extra monitoring. Her story also highlights the importance of an intimate birthing environment and not focusing on time. Lots of great learning. Enjoy!
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| Katie – shares 2 births, choice and control, preparation, big baby and induction | 30 Nov 2022 | 00:49:33 | |
Katie shares with us her story of two births. During her first birth, she felt things were done to her and she really had no choice. For her second birth she made some very different decisions. She chose a different model of care, and she sourced education beyond the hospital classes that catered to both her and her partner. This changed her second birth dramatically. Katie did acupuncture and tapping later in her pregnancy, was induced and gave birth to a 4.1kg baby, whilst being small herself. Katie also shares her experience of newborn care – using newborn osteopathy which helped both her boys with two very different conditions.
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| Welcome to Transform Your Birth | 10 Nov 2022 | 00:01:05 | |
The Transform Your birth podcast will educate, entertain and support your ability to navigate pregnancy and prepare to give birth. We can't control birth, but Tracey helps us to see how we can influence it and how it helps us to become parents. Transform Parenting Founder Tracey Anderson Askew explores birth through stories and the lens of what birth can teach us. She prepares families for birth and parenting and views birth as the catalyst for the transformation necessary to go from woman to mother, and man to father. These podcasts will share that wisdom and change the current birth narrative from what happens in birth to how birth changes us. | |||
| Baby brain: An expansion of capability and self | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:23:01 | |
In this session I am going to help you to understand a little about how a pregnant brain changes, preparing us for motherhood and to meet the needs of our children. These changes last a lifetime, and are definitely an upgrade of the system. This information has come from the book by a neuroscientist, Dr Sarah McKay, ‘Baby Brain,’ The surprising neuroscience of how pregnancy and motherhood sculpt our brains and change our minds (for the better). Links: | |||
| Chelsea - Body Work, 2 day labour, Big baby | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:56:57 | |
In this episode, Chelsea talks a lot about her preparation. She used Chiropractic, acupuncture and a women’s health physio that all contributed to her pregnancy feeling more comfortable, and the birth of her almost 4.5 kg baby. She had a well prepared partner, a student midwife, and another highly skilled midwife that supported the safe delivery of her baby. Chelsea’s situation in second stage could have very easily ended in a cesarean, however, with her freedom to move, and respond to what her body was telling her - and some skilled hands of the midwife she gets the baby out with only a minor tear. An Inspiring story to say the least with much wisdom shared. Absolutely worth a listen. Links: | |||
| Tracey coaches birthing couples on how to prepare and manage induction of labour | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:25:39 | |
This episode contains important information when making decisions around induction - and understanding the full ramifications of those decisions. In the next episode of the ‘Transform Your Birth,’ podcast I will share with you the coaching I give all my birthing women who are choosing to induce. I will be talking about birth readiness, and how to prepare emotionally and mentally leading up to the induction, as well as what to negotiate on the day, and explore the role of partners more deeply so they know what to look out for and how to support in these circumstances. Little things can make a big difference, and so please take the time to listen, and take notes - so you can communicate to your carers how you are approaching the induction and what they can do to support you. Links: | |||
| Professor Hannah Dahlen discusses what we need to know about induction, the evidence and the importance of making fully informed decisions | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:52:40 | |
Today I am truly honoured to bring to you Professor Hannah Dahlen, to discuss a very important topic of induction of labour. If you have been recommended an induction - this is a powerful podcast to understand the full ramifications of that decision. In the next episode of the ‘Transform Your Birth,’ podcast - I will take this topic one step further, and share how I prepare women for induction. These two episodes together, will help you step into your power when making a decision to induce and prepare. The key message of this podcast - when making these significant decisions, we need to take into account the individual pregnancy and individual woman’s choices when making these decisions. NICE induction of labour guidelines Hannah Dahlen is the Professor of Midwifery and Associate Dean in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. She has been a midwife for more than 34 years. She is one of the first midwives in Australia to gain Eligibility and access to a Medicare provider number and prescribing rights following government reforms in 2010. Hannah worked for nearly 10 years as a privately practising midwife alongside her role as a Professor of Midwifery. Hannah has published over 300 papers and book chapters and has strong national and international research partnerships. In 2019 Hannah was awarded a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her significant services to midwifery, nursing and medical education and research. In November 2012 Hannah was named in the Sydney Morning Herald’s list of 100 “people who change our city for the better” and named as one of the leading “science and knowledge thinkers” for 2012.
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Jocelyn - Third baby, continuity of care, spontaneous labour, water birth | 09 Oct 2024 | 00:26:47 | |
Jocelyn didn’t prepare for her first baby, and so for her second birth she knew she wanted to do things differently. She did the ‘Transform Your Birth’ course and used the practices to have a completely different experience. For her third birth, once again she did the practices. She was able to get into the continuity program with her own midwife - and after a short labour, experienced a beautiful water birth. Jocelyn’s birth teaches us that with a few key ingredients, like preparation, continuity, a partner who knows what they are doing and some great tools for comfort, we can create the optimal conditions for birth to progress in the way nature intended. Links: | |||
| Renee and Shirley - Single mum, supported by her mother to make powerful decisions when welcoming their baby | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:50:56 | |
In the podcast today we have Renee and her mother Shirley. Renee, a single mum by choice, shares with us today her journey of making decisions when her baby was showing reduced movements in utero. Through her preparation, she was very clear about what she wanted and what she didn't want. Her labour started with an induction, and an early labour which she enjoyed and appreciated. She then lost her focus due to an unskilled doctor - and took back her power to make a decision that was in line with her vision for her daughter's arrival. The power of her preparation ensured she was able to say ‘no’, and follow her own path. Lot’s to learn in this story. Links: | |||
| Laura - Deciding on a homebirth - the power of good care | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:45:50 | |
Laura shares with us her path to making a decision to have a homebirth. She fortified herself with facts when others expressed their opinions about her choice. When she met her midwife, she knew instantly it was a fit. She prepared using chiropractic and the Transform Your Birth course. Her labour started at home with water breaking, and she spends a lot of her labour in a state of deep relaxation and doesn’t think of the contractions as painful. She goes into detail how her partner was able to support her to find comfort. She birthed her little boy into her partner's hands and goes on to explain the role of the midwife in helping her to avoid tearing. A beautiful inspiring story to help us understand what is possible during birth. Links: | |||
| What we need when we have a baby | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:22:12 | |
Today in the podcast we are looking at what new mothers need when their baby arrives. It is a precious time, and we don’t always appreciate what the new mother is going through. Today I will help you to see it through the lens of the changes that take place, when we go from the woman into the mother. A new part of you is emerging – and it ultimately becomes an expansion of self – or as I like to call her, the butterfly. Enjoy!
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| What babies need when they are born with Tracey | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:22:21 | |
You can talk to a lot of new mums, who will share what it was like for them – but it is very difficult to know what it will be like for you. Every labour is different, every birth is different, and every baby is different – and you are different. There is a unique dance that happens between the circumstances, the newborn and its parents. So nobody can really prepare you – but in this podcast I will do my best to help you to understand what your baby will need when they arrive. Next week I will cover what you will need. So enjoy this topic - it is a precious time. For more about our new parent services; https://transformparenting.com.au/thriving-as-a-new-parent/ Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Sarah Buckley - Oxytocin - The incredible hormone of sex, labour, birth and parenting | 26 Feb 2025 | 00:55:58 | |
Dr Sarah Buckley is trained as a GP/family physician and has further qualifications in GP-obstetrics and family planning. She is the mother of four adult children, all born at home, and lives in Brisbane, Australia. She is the author of “Gentle birth, Gentle mothering, and Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing Dr Buckley has been writing and lecturing on pregnancy, birth and parenting since 1997 and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, where her research is focused on oxytocin in labour and birth and the impacts of interventions. Dr Buckley’s work critiques current practices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting from the widest possible perspectives, including scientific, anthropological, cross-cultural, psychological, and personal. Today Sarah talks to us extensively about the hormone of oxytocin during labour, breastfeeding and parenting. Our talk reminded me of the intricacies of mother nature’s blueprint, and just how well she has set us up for birth and parenting. It left me wondering - when we interfere with birth - at what cost? She encourages us to be fully informed in our decision-making; to listen to our hearts and our intuition; and to claim our rightful role as the real experts in our bodies and our children. This episode is dense in detail, and yet left me feeling in awe of the human journey of reproduction.
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Mel - IVF conception, open mindset, long labour followed by a caesarean | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:45:36 | |
Mel conceived her baby using IVF which was a long journey. When she was pregnant, she started to realise she needed to get this baby out, and was open to using anything. After hearing some stories, she realised she needed to prepare. When she did the Transform Your Birth Course she could see how her and her partner could get through, using tools and breathing, and getting on the same page. This changed her mindset dramatically as she could see the value of the birth process. What resulted was a long labour, a caesarean and a feeling of excitement to meet her baby. She says it would have been very easy to get scared, but through preparation - she experienced the changes easily and with a sense of agency. Lots to be learnt through Mel’s story.
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| Emily - Tens machine, Waterbirth, tearing, the power of good support | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:51:26 | |
Emily comes from a family who spoke very positively about birth. She then does the ‘Transform Your Birth,’ course which helps her to get her mind onboard and have a greater understanding of how she can manage the unpredictability of birth. She goes into spontaneous labour, and she shares with us how she was able to manage the different stages, and what she did with her mind. An incredible story of labour and birth, highlighting the incredible power of the hormones and the body’s innate wisdom. With great support from her midwife, student midwife, partner and her mother cheerleading - she goes on to experience the full power of her body. An inspiring story! Enjoy. Links: | |||
| Dee - Homebirth transfer, VBAC, dealing with conflicting information and decision making | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:41:42 | |
Dee shares her story of two births. After her first experience, she decides on a homebirth, and her goal is to have a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). She prepares by completing the ‘Transform Your Birth’ course, and accesses many resources to support her belief in herself, even in the face of other people’s opinions about what she should be doing. She develops a wonderful relationship with her homebirth midwife and this proves to be very important to her experience. Ultimately she ends up transitioning to hospital where she is met with alternative viewpoints and conflicting information. Decision-making in these circumstances can be very tricky - and we discuss how Dee was able to follow her own guidance with the support of her homebirth midwife. A story with lots to teach us. Links: | |||
| Emily and Josh - Preparation, teamwork, birthing with love not fear | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:36:56 | |
The story I am sharing with you today left me with goosebumps from head to toe. Through preparation, birth readiness and team work - Emily and Josh were able to activate mother nature’s blueprint - and how she wants us to experience birth. You will find this story very inspirational - and a great reminder of the benefit of birth to our preparation as a mother. Enjoy! Links: | |||
| Preventing birth trauma with Tracey | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:30:40 | |
In this episode, I will guide you through some practical tips on preparing for birth, with an intention to reduce the likelihood of birth trauma. For anyone preparing for birth, this episode is worth listening to. We will also be taking a break in releasing the podcast, but please stay connected we will be back on board with more inspiring and educational stories. We have loved getting your feedback - and so please feel free to contact us - at hello@transformparenting.com.au. In the meantime - enjoy this episode.
Australian and international research suggests that up to 1 in 3 women identify their birth experience as traumatic (Heyne et al, 2022; Watson et al., 2021). Psychological birth trauma is estimated to affect between 10% to 44% of women (Pidd et al., 2023).
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Hazel - 4 Factors that impact your experience of birth and VBAC | 03 Jul 2024 | 00:55:41 | |
I have for you today Dr Hazel Keedle who is a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery at The School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University. Hazel has more than two decades of experience as a clinician in nursing and midwifery, educator and researcher. Hazel’s research interests are vaginal birth after caesarean, birth trauma and maternity experiences explored primarily using mixed methodologies. Hazel's work is recognised nationally and internationally, with many invited conference and seminar presentations including academic publications and a book for women based on her PhD findings ‘Birth after Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth’. Hazel is the lead researcher on the largest maternity experiences survey, The Birth Experience Study.
She starts by discussing the 4 factors that will impact the birth experience, and how we can ensure we create the best possible conditions for birth to unfold. Hazel looked at the experiences of women attempting to have a VBAC. She assumed the most important part of their experience would be pushing a baby out of their vagina. Instead what she discovered were 4 important factors that directly influenced how they felt about their birth experience. She then goes on to share with us some of the evidence around the risks of VBAC and the real risks of uterine rupture. and leaves us with some very encouraging advice. This is a fabulous episode for those women planning a VBAC. or any woman who wants to appreciate the conditions necessary to have a good birth experience, regardless of what unfolds on the day. Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Interests
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Maryn Green - Birth as a rite of passage and rituals for pregnancy | 26 Jun 2024 | 00:54:08 | |
Maryn Green has been attending women as a midwife since 2009; first as a licensed midwife and now as a spiritual midwife that helps facilitate the ceremonies of birth and mothering. Maryn is well known for being the founder of the Indie Birth Association and Indie Birth midwifery school, which educates women and midwives all over the world. She has her own podcast, “Taking Back Birth,” that encourages women and midwives to rethink what they have been taught, and re-connect with ancient wisdom and the spiritual journey of birth. She is also the author of the book Indie Birth: A Story of Radical Birth Love in 2019. Maryn has given birth to 10 children and currently lives in Hawai’i. Today we look at how birth is a rite of passage, how we can prepare for birth through ceremony and ritual, and she shares some great insights through her own birth experiences. I truly loved having a conversation about birth that goes beyond the things that can happen, to exploring the greater meaning of birth as a transformational process for the birthing woman and the baby - and the intricate dance between the two. A fresh new perspective. Enjoy dear ones.
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
Maryn's Links: Full "Taking Back Birth" podcast archive You can also find Maryn @indiebirth on Instagram and on Rumble and Youtube | |||
| Catherine Bell on Birth Mapping, a way of avoiding birth trauma | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:54:34 | |
I am so excited to bring you Catherine Bell, the developer of the Birth Mapping process. Decision making during pregnancy and birth will have the most profound and significant influence on how your birth unfolds. The biggest mistake people make during pregnancy and birth is completely handing over the decision making process to their carers. Your job is to step up, understand the landscape, and decide what your needs are in any given situation from pregnancy, birth and after the baby arrives. There are many potential things that can happen, by mapping your chosen options, you are more likely to be able to adapt to the many paths that this experience can take a birthing family. Catherine will help us to understand how to do this through her PHD research on birth mapping. She also brings to us some of the recommendations from the recent release of NSW Birth Trauma report. From Catherine’s research, she can see that this process can contribute to the prevention of birth trauma. This is a ‘must listen,’ episode for all pregnant women. You will find Catherine’s contact details in the show notes below this episode.
Catherine Bell is a Mother, consumer advocate, and Master of Science Communication about to complete her PhD evaluating her book, The Birth Map.
You can find her on instagram @birthmapping and on Facebook @TheBirthMap
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Lauren and Dan - Preparation, a great team, long second stage, Post-partum haemorrhage | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:42:54 | |
This week on the podcast we have Lauren and Dan. They share the shift in mindset they experienced when preparing for birth, through the ‘Transform Your Birth’ course. Lauren really enjoyed her birth, largely due to the incredible team of midwives from the birth centre and her student midwife. With Dan well prepared and providing loving and practical support, she stayed completely in labour land and experienced that beautiful high after birth. She goes on to have a long pushing stage, a little problem getting the placenta out, and a post-partum haemorrhage, however with the wonderful team around her, she knew she was in the right place for them to manage this - and stayed completely calm through these challenges. A perfect example of great preparation, and a great team to manage whatever unfolds on the day.
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| Dealing with your fears and overcoming trauma, that could get in the way of your birth, with Jennifer Summerfeldt | 05 Jun 2024 | 01:06:42 | |
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Summerfeldt from Canada. Jennifer holds an MA in counselling psychology and is a Certified Canadian Counsellor. She is the Chief Empathy Officer of ASK Therapy. She is the creator of the Flowing Fears Process. With over 20 years of experience within the fields of maternal health, childbirth, psychology studies, and the transpersonal, she uses her expertise and voice to help advance the dialogue on trauma-informed care, maternal mental health, and healing in general. We are going to speak about her own personal experience of overcoming trauma, as the gateway into her current work of helping others transform through trauma, using her modality, called the Flowing fears process. I found our conversation fascinating, in that it broke down the places where the nervous system can get stuck in the story, and when we move to the somatic experience, we have a doorway into exploring much deeper patterns that can unlock our own potential. There are links to Jennifer's work in the show notes below. Put on your seatbelts people, we are going for a ride. Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
Jennifer's Links: Mastering the Art of Perinatal Therapy Mentorship Program | |||
| Lizzy - PUPPs, Induction, a posterior labour and epidural used wisely | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:33:10 | |
Lizzy did her best to not overthink birth and was very selective about where she got her information. She did the Transform Your Birth course and realised very quickly that she wouldn’t be in control of birth and was able to surrender to that knowledge and feel calm about giving birth. At the end of her pregnancy she experienced a very itchy condition called PUPP rash, and chose to induce at 41 weeks. Her induction kicked into gear very quickly after they broke her waters. Her baby was in the posterior position, and so she opted for the epidural. Lizzy uses it wisely, and is able to let it wear off in order to push her baby out. Lots of wonderful learning from Lizzy’s story. Links: | |||
| Preparing your body for birth with Lynn Schulte | 29 May 2024 | 00:51:40 | |
Lynn Schulte has been a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist for over 30 years and she is the Founder and principal instructor of the Institute for Birth Healing. Lynn helps pregnant women to balance their body, both before and after birth. She is on a mission to help women prevent and avoid birth complexity, injury and wounding, by promoting optimal physiology for the labour and pushing stages of birth. Knowing we are more than just our bodies, Lynn works on all levels, physically, energetically, and spiritually with women to help them access their full potential. She offers a certification process to help birth professionals become Birth Healing Practitioners. In this episode, we talk specifically about 3 areas of the body worth focusing on. Balancing the body, promoting good positioning of the baby and avoiding tearing are all great goals and worth preparing for. Fascinating insights from a woman who knows her trade. Also included in the show notes are links that include her programs, a directory of body workers and some wonderful resources that will support the preparation for birth. I feel so proud to bring you this episode.
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
Lynn's Links: Institute for Birth Healing Educational Platform ONLINE COURSE: Confidence in your Core, Pelvic Floor and More | |||
| Alicia - Induction with 2 false starts, the influence of the environment, vaginal examinations, choosing to avoid the drugs | 22 May 2024 | 00:53:46 | |
Alicia in her pregnancy didn’t really believe she could have an unmedicated birth, but after doing the ‘Transform Your Birth’ course she starts to open her mind to new ways of thinking. She ends up not even wanting the drugs during her labour. I loved the level of detail Alicia goes into when sharing her story. She weaves together the different twists and turns of her birth experience and the impact it had on her mindstate. She was exceptional in how she adapted, from going in to have an induction, and being sent home because they were too busy. This happened twice! She was incredibly gracious, and on the third attempt they were able to get the labour going. She shares how she managed the intensity of labour, vaginal examinations and how she made the different decisions by asking questions. Such great wisdom in this episode. Enjoy listening to Alicia’s story.
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| Emily and Brad - Fast first birth, posterior, tearing and bonding | 15 May 2024 | 00:31:53 | |
Emily and Brad join us today to share the story of Isabelle’s arrival. We often don’t expect first births to be quick, and yet it can indeed happen. Quick births are often intense, and pushing out a baby who is face up can also be difficult. Emily, with the help of Brad, managed it beautifully, as she had learnt to trust her body and relax deeply. Emily shares her advice, that your body knows what to do - just trust it. Another great episode to help us all to learn to respect the birth process. Links: | |||
| Penny - What to expect when baby arrives, the role of Grandparents | 08 May 2024 | 00:44:18 | |
Today I had a conversation with a Mega parent of 8 children and grandparent of 15, and great grandparent of 2 - Penny. We discuss what new parents need and the role of grandparents. This episode will give you a great insight into how you might change when your baby lands and what your needs might be. It is a great episode worth sharing with emerging grandparents as this role is vital and doesn't come with a handbook. We have also attached a popular blog to the show notes. Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
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| Suzzie - The role of a doula, the power of the mind to change birth | 24 Apr 2024 | 00:37:19 | |
Suzzie is a doula and mother of two. She shares her experiences that led to her becoming a birth worker. We explore the role of the doula, how they can offer continuity and emotional support when the medical system often can’t. We also look at the role of the mind in birth, and how it can change the way you experience your birth and even the pain. Suzzie is a very experienced doula and has great wisdom to share. Sit back and enjoy this episode. Links: | |||
| Sheena - VBAC, 3 births, advocacy, patience and surrender | 17 Apr 2024 | 00:36:35 | |
Sheena joins us again on the podcast with the story of her third birth. She acknowledges the way every experience of welcoming our babies causes us to grow, and will have a profound influence on the next birth. She has the wisdom of a woman who has travelled 3 completely different paths to welcome her daughters and provides a message of patience, surrender but also the importance of self-advocacy. Such great birth wisdom. Definitely worth listening to. Links: | |||
| Breastfeeding matters with Anne Endres | 10 Apr 2024 | 00:43:44 | |
Today we have a special guest, who is a midwife, lactation consultant and leads a practice of independant midwives working in the community - called Evolve Midwifery Services. Anne sees breastfeeding as not just a physical challenge to be overcome, but involves our emotional and mental well being. Anne covers topics like, how do you know if it isn’t working, expressing during pregnancy and the role of the partner in successful breastfeeding. This is a great episode to prepare you for breastfeeding and understand the tricky landscape of feeding a newborn baby. Sit back, relax and enjoy! Make sure you check out Evolve Midwifery. You can find Anne on socials at evolve_midwifery Links: | |||
| Tracey talks about making decisions through pregnancy and birth | 03 Apr 2024 | 00:20:27 | |
Today I will be talking about how to make good decisions during pregnancy and childbirth. The key is preparation so that you understand the birth process and start to discover what are the things that are important to you. When making decisions, you will need to ask the questions both prior to birth and on the day. Your job is to identify the difference between a medical necessity and a choice. I have created a handout for you capturing some of the examples from this episode and many more. To receive your free download, just use the link in the show notes. Links: | |||
| Mel - Acupuncture induction, waters breaking, the moment of birth | 27 Mar 2024 | 00:46:47 | |
Mel came into her birth experience after navigating a lot of life changing events throughout her pregnancy. At 39 weeks pregnant she realised she needed to work out how she was going to birth this baby. After doing the Transform Your Birth course, all her questions were answered - so that when she went into labour, she was able to ask for what she needed to support the birth process. Mel received kind, thoughtful and skilled care. I loved listening to Mel share her experience of meeting her son - it was beyond words. Links: | |||
| Rebecca - 3 homebirths, 3 very different experiences of the pain and pushing sensations | 20 Mar 2024 | 01:05:05 | |
Bec’s three stories highlight just how different every birth can be. They all resulted in straightforward births, and yet the experience for Bec was completely different. She highlights her journey to transforming her experience of the pain when having contractions. By the time she had her third baby, her mindset completely changed as she leaned into the sensations without resistance, and saw them as a muscle working hard. She also managed to do the same thing for the pushing stage of labour. Bec has much wisdom to share from her three experiences of birth. Please enjoy! Links: | |||
| Rebecca - Harnessing the mind during birth | 29 Jan 2025 | 00:48:37 | |
Rebecca was nervous about birth and her strategy to deal with that was to get her hands on all the books and information. She started to feel overwhelmed - and ultimately decided to do the ‘Transform Your Birth,’ course. This helped to bring the information to a central place. She did the practices and got clear on her plan. Bec’s story unfolds spontaneously. She shares many situations where her mind got in the way, and so we have some great discussions on harnessing the mind, through the mystery of birth. We never know what is going to happen on the day, and having tools to train and harness the mind, is key to getting through whatever unfolds. Much wisdom shared in this episode. Links: | |||
| Tasha Jennings - Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby, importance of choline, breastfeeding nutrition | 13 Mar 2024 | 00:39:47 | |
I am honoured today to be having a conversation with Tasha Jennings, a fertility naturopath and nutritionist. She shares with us the 5 elements of a healthy pregnancy. This information can have a profound effect on conception, pregnancy, breastfeeding and growing healthy children. Tasha reminds us that we need to be proactive when it comes to health, which is not just the absence of disease, but optimising the body’s response through these significant stages. She also highlights the importance of choline, an often overlooked and yet essential nutrient. You will find Tasha’s details in the show notes.
Links: Free resource: Medical Necessity vs Choice
Tasha's links: Tasha's Socials:
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| Danica - Vaginal birth with meconium and managing tearing. | 06 Mar 2024 | 00:38:54 | |
Danica shares with us her experience of preparing for birth, and what made the biggest difference on the day. Her early labour involved some starting and stopping, and ultimately it was a walk that kicked her labour into the next gear. She shares with us how her partner supported her to find comfort, and what she focused on with her mind. During her labour, there was some meconium which required some extra monitoring. Danica also shares that her biggest fear was tearing up, and discovered that even when it happened, she was surprised to discover that it was no big deal. There are some great little tips in this episode - certainly worth listening to. Links:
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| Gina - Author of ‘A Parents Guide to Safer Childbirth.’ | 28 Feb 2024 | 00:50:40 | |
Today I am talking to Gina Mundy. For over 20 years, Gina has been an attorney that has specialized in childbirth cases that have gone wrong. It has been this experience which motivated her to write the book, "A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth." She wants women to use the power of knowledge to help them to make choices that support the healthy delivery of her baby. This is such an interesting conversation and comes with many warnings of things to be aware of, that can potentially be harmful to both the mother and baby. An eye opening conversation that helps us to understand that there is no one way, and every decision matters. To get the book; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9KFNPNQ/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687943679&sr=8-1 Links: | |||
| Muriel - A homebirth with all the family and the dog | 21 Feb 2024 | 00:34:50 | |
Muriel is from France, and never imagined home as a place to give birth. It was her husband and his family who had all birthed their babies at home that gave her the confidence. What she discovered was her own strength, by going deeper into herself to manage the intensity of labour. It is the journey inward that unlocks our own potential - and of course this is exactly what we need to learn for parenting. A lovely story to inspire confidence - please enjoy Muriel’s story. Links | |||
| Sarah - Induction and she loved it! | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:34:24 | |
Sarah shares her experience of having an induction. Her body responded to the first stage, and she was able to do the rest of the birth without the need for any further intervention. She cites the support of her partner as being the biggest game-changer for her, as he coaches her to use her breath and soften her hands. She also has some interesting things to say about the pain of labour. Well worth tuning into, as we learn more about what moves the needle in birth. Links: | |||
| Emily - Two births, one homebirth, practical tools and skills to support her | 07 Feb 2024 | 01:06:28 | |
Emily almost didn't have children due to her fear of pregnancy and birth. She shares with us the internal changes she makes as she learns more about birth. She ultimately experiences two straight forward births, one in the birth centre and one born at home. Emily is very practical and shares in great detail the power of the tools she uses to find comfort. She believes her greatest tool in the tool kit was the support of her partner Jeremy. Some great birth wisdom in this episode. Enjoy! Links: | |||
| Dannielle - An ideal birth, long labour, detailed second stage and avoids tearing | 31 Jan 2024 | 00:56:55 | |
Dannielle experiences an ideal birth. She highlights to us what she thinks led to this outcome. We always acknowledge we can’t control birth, but there are many things that influence it. Danni helps us to understand those factors. Listen closely for those key ingredients, which all came together to support Danni to discover what she had inside of her. She also experienced the incredible skill from her midwife who was able to read her beautifully and came in just when she needed her most. Well worth a listen. Links: | |||
| Chelsea - Two births, big babies, one forceps, no tearing, loved both births | 24 Jan 2024 | 00:56:59 | |
Chelsea brings to us both stories of having big babies. She prepared well for both, and got her partner on board by doing the Transform Your Birth course. She also experienced incredibly skilled caregivers, which meant - even when her first son needed help with forceps, she was able to remain calm and experienced no tearing. There’s loads of wisdom in this story - well worth a listen. Links: | |||