Session Seven: Amanda

Session Eight: Phoebe

Phoebe shares her story of the unexpected but very welcome conception of her daughter Winter with her husband Ren. As the COVID pandemic hit during her pregnancy, Phoebe and Ren lives and future plans were completely disrupted and they found themselves in Australia for Winter's birth, though this is not where they had planned to be. We talk about the impact of this on her 3rd trimester, the importance of connection and the feminine leading up to labour and postpartum, and what it felt like to be in isolation whilst waiting to give birth. Phoebe shares her remarkable transformation of becoming a mother and how her postpartum experience has shifted her relationship with her emotions and how she labels them. We talk about the benefits this has on her daughter as she learns what it means to be human and vulnerable. Phoebe shares that both her and Winter were, and still are learning together, and the beauty that comes in allowing herself to feel it all and make mistakes. Music: www.bensound.com

Session Seven: Amanda

During this session I chat with Amanda about her easy pregnancy and positive vaginal birth at the Byron Birth Centre. I felt so in awe of Amanda'a honesty and clarity around her feelings after her daughter's birth. Amanda talks about her struggle as she morphed into a mother in the first few weeks of postpartum life and the way in which society could be more honest and real about the complexities of becoming a parent.

Session Six: Kara

During this session, I chat with Kara. Kara discovered her daughter was in breech position and explored all her options. She wanted to have a vaginal breech birth, but had to find the right medical professionals to support her. Kara talks about the challenges of finding the appropriate medical team and birth plan (vaginal vs c-section). Kara also talks about her healing second birth with her son, which was an unmedicated delivery at her local birth centre. Kara speaks about her feelings that she had failed during her daughter's birth, after receiving an epidural, to her sense of empowerment after her second birth experience. What a beautiful realisation that she was a powerful and strong woman through it all! Music: www.bensound.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bensound.com&token=f46dcb-1-1603777785644]

Session Five: Freya

During this session I chat with Freya. Freya has had 2 birth experiences and it was so interesting to talk about the way each birth differed so greatly. Her first birth, with her daughter Mae, was an induction at 38 weeks due to high blood pressure. She speaks of the lack of support and empathy during Mae's delivery, which resulted in a traumatic birth experience. Her second birth, with her son Ollie, was extremely healing - it was spontaneous and Freya birthed with no intervention. What an amazing and extreme contrast Freya's births were! Freya's ability to process her first birth was really astounding and I was pretty awe struck by her determination to do it again. Music: www.bensound.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bensound.com&token=f46deb-1-1603777552705]

Session Four: Emily

During this session The Birth Library chats with Emily. Emily and Brett had been trying to conceive for over a year when they found out they were pregnant. Emily felt healthy and beautiful throughout her pregnancy. She found out she had gestational diabetes, which was treated with oral medication. An induction was scheduled for 39 weeks. Zoe was delivered vaginally after a long labour. Emily had issues with her milk supply and talks about her incredible journey of acceptance that things don't always go the way we plan - and knowing that it's okay. As mothers we do so much readjusting of expectations that we have put on ourselves and I think that Emily's story mirrors this notion perfectly. Her determination is inspiring! Music: www.bensound.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bensound.com&token=f393bb-1-1603777297721]