Diary Of A Birth

Enjoy this free bite of Mia Freedman exploring what we're (scientifically) calling 'weird twin shit' with resident Mamamia twins, Jessie (pregnant with twins) and Clare Stephens (she has news). Catch the full chaos of Jessie And Clare Stephens’ Weird Twin Shit Just Got Weirder by subscribing. Not a subscriber yet? Honestly, why wait? Jessie Stephens is pregnant with twins — which feels cosmically aggressive when you remember she is a twin (to Clare Stephens — keep up, people). Especially when you consider that Jessie and Clare were raised by a woman who had two sets of identical twins herself. And yes, Anne Stevens would like the universe to calm down. On this subscriber episode, Mia Freedman gets Jessie and Clare in the studio to unpack eerie twin intuition (just one example: Clare knew Jessie had two heartbeats going on in her womb before Jessie even told her), and the very real logistics of carrying two babies at once. We talk: Why some people say “How exciting!” at the news of twins while others go instantly grey The science vs superstition of twins having twins Miscarriage, sibling timing, and the emotional whiplash of joy and fear Collapsed ribs, reflux, and the indignity of sleeping upright Plus, there’s debate about birth-room access, grandparent maths, and whether 'weird twin shit' is now officially hereditary. It’s intimate. It’s chaotic. It’s extremely twin-coded.Remember, this is your free sample of Mamamia Out Loud's subs episode. Listen to the full Clare and Jessie debrief by subscribing. What To Listen To Next:  Listen to our latest episode: An Affair Confession Live On Air Listen: The Best (And Worst) Generations Of Parents. A Leaderboard! Listen: The Most Bizarre Celebrity Profile We’ve Ever Read Listen: Do I Matter? & The Bathroom Taboo Listen: The Female Emaciation Era — Holly & Jessie Weigh In Listen: An Urgent Theory About Kim Kardashian & Lewis Hamilton Listen: Scurrilous Gossip - Karl Stefanovic, Melania Trump & Sydney Sweeney, Oh My Listen: Fertility Vampires & The Murkiness Of 'Affair Baiting' Listen: Jessie's Twins Update & What We Really Did Over The Holidays Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts  Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here including the very latest episode of Parenting Out Loud, the parenting podcast for people who don't listen to... parenting podcasts. SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media  Watch Mamamia Out Loud: Mamamia Out Loud on YouTube What to read:  JESSIE STEPHENS: On being pregnant with twins. As a twin. With twin brothers. "We lived 30 years as fraternal twins. Then, two weeks ago, we took a test." CLARE STEPHENS: 'The story of how I became a (very viral) meme.' CLARE STEPHENS: A rude stranger, a note from a neighbour and the age of utter intolerance. THE END BITS:  Check out our merch at MamamiaOutLoud.com GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us an email at outloud@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message. Join our Facebook group Mamamia Outlouders to talk about the show. Follow us on Instagram @mamamiaoutloud and on Tiktok @mamamiaoutloudSupport the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. Serenity Mackay had always wanted to give birth in water. She loved the beach and swimming, and that's where she felt most comfortable. But unfortunately when she fell pregnant, water birth wasn’t an option at her local hospital. Nevertheless, as a proud first nations woman with ties to the Biripi nation, Serenity was determined to feel connected to the earth on which she gave birth. So she sought the help of the Waminda Birthing On Country program to make her delivery as culturally significant as possible. Listen to more from Delivery Room here.  CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Serenity Mackay & Melanie Briggs Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au. Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. What happens when you give birth to two sets of twins in 2 years? A bloody good story, that’s what. Today on The Delivery Room, Jessie Stephens is sitting down with her mother Anne to find out what happened when Anne found herself pregnant, with twins, two times in a row.  The first time, Anne had a vaginal birth. But the second? She needed a C-Section, this is her story... Listen to more from Delivery Room here. CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Anne Stephens Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au. Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. When Louisa Dow found out she was pregnant, she had a feeling she was having twins. She had no proof… but it was just a feeling she couldn’t shake. And of course, she was right. But what Louisa and her partner Mick didn’t know was that their twins shared the same placenta. This made Louisa’s pregnancy extremely high risk. And extremely rare. Then, 32 weeks into the pregnancy, Louisa had a ‘veiled birth’... or a ‘mermaid birth’. Which in some cultures, they believe are magic... Listen to more from Delivery Room here.  CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Lousia Dow Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au. Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. Prue Thomas was 19 and setting up for a function at work when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. As the day went on, the pain increased, so Prue and her mum headed to the hospital. It was here, that Prue found out that her pain was actually labour. Prue was about to give birth, and up until that point, she didn't realise she was pregnant. This is her story... Listen to more from Delivery Room here.  CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Prue Thomas Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au or call the podphone on 02 8999 9386.  Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. It was early 2010, and Fran and her husband of 3 years, Tom, decided to take the next step in their relationship. They bought a dog. But a month later? They were pregnant. And the level of responsibility they had wanted went up. A lot. And while Fran was excited to have a baby on the way, she was also a little scared of the idea of actually giving birth. On this episode of The Delivery Room, we learn all about a planned C-Section… Listen to more from Delivery Room here.  CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Fran Romano Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au. Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. Model and former Biggest Loser host Fiona Falkiner and her fiance, journalist Hayley Willis, didn’t really have a birth plan. Fiona did know two things. She wanted to be induced. And she didn’t want to see a pair of forceps in the room with her. So, did her birth wishes come true? In this episode of The Delivery Room, Fiona and Hayley join Jessie to discuss the long road that led them into the birthing suite in March 2021. Listen to more from Delivery Room here CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Fiona Falkiner & Hayley Willis Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au. Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. Childbirth with no pain, that's the dream right? You get the beautiful bundle of joy without the discomfort that comes with a tiny human exiting your body. Well on this week's episode we talk to Sam Oliver, who used hypnobirthing techniques to manage the pain of delivering her baby... Listen to more from Delivery Room here CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Samantha Oliver & Hayden Foster Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au. Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer we've curated your Diary Of A Birth playlist, bringing you our even more birth stories with unmissable episodes from the Delivery Room podcast. When it comes to life, Leigh Campbell is very prepared. But there was one thing she really couldn't prepare for, the birth of her son. Because even the most well-intentioned of plans can be derailed in an instant, or in this case, 32 hours.  Leigh sits down with Jessie Stephens, alongside her husband Rich, to talk about their birth story... Listen to more from Delivery Room here.  CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Leigh Campbell and Rich Gioutsos Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff GET IN TOUCH: Tell us what you think of the show! Send an email to podcast@mamamia.com.au. Want this and other podcasts delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our podcast newsletter. The Delivery Room is a podcast by Mamamia. Listen to more Mamamia podcasts here. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Hello, Bump, a podcast about what you’re not expecting when you’re expecting. Each episode, we take you through exactly what's happening to you and your baby in each week of pregnancy. In this episode, hosts Jana Pittman and Grace Rouvray help you navigate finding out you’re pregnant, which often happens after a missed period around the four-week mark.  They’ll walk you through the physical changes, emotional ups and downs and give you practical tips on what you can do at this point in the pregnancy. Want more Hello Bump? Listen to the full season of episodes of Hello, Bump here. THE END BITS: Discover more Mamamia podcasts here. Email us: podcast@mamamia.com.au Share your story or feedback. Send us a voice message, and one of our podcast producers will get back to you ASAP. Are you a mum of a child aged 5 years or under? Are you expecting a little one? We want to hear from you! Complete our survey now for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! CREDITS: Hosts: Jana Pittman and Grace Rouvray Executive Producer: Courtney Ammenhauser Audio Production: Thom Lion Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Courtney thought her family was complete with two beautiful children, she was finally ready to focus on herself. After her doctor found pre-cancerous cervical cells following her first birth, she'd been advised to have a completion hysterectomy once her family was finished—and at 38, with a four-year-old and almost two-year-old, that time had finally come. Her hysterectomy was booked for March of that year. But in February, just weeks before her scheduled surgery, Courtney discovered she was pregnant with her third child. The culprit? Her two-year-old daughter Margo, who had been secretly chewing on condoms thinking they were chocolates, making tiny holes that rendered them useless. In today's candid episode, Courtney vulnerably shares her initial shock upon discovering the pregnancy, her fear about making the "wrong" decision, and how seeing her baby healthy at 17 weeks felt like a sign. She reflects on navigating a high-risk pregnancy with a shortened cervix, enduring three weeks of prodromal labour, and the dramatic 12-minute birth that caught everyone off guard—including herself. Diary Of A Birth will be taking a break for now, the show features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Please continue to share your birth stories at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Courtney Ayre  Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content Warning: This episode discusses stillbirth, infant loss, and termination for medical reasons. Please proceed with care. After falling pregnant on their first time trying into their marriage, Darci and her husband were overjoyed to be expecting their first child—the first grandchild for both sets of parents. But what began as an uncomplicated pregnancy quickly transformed into a medical emergency when Darci's blood pressure reached dangerously high levels, requiring multiple hospital admissions and constant monitoring. In today's profoundly moving episode, Darci courageously shares the devastating moment at 21 weeks when doctors discovered her baby was measuring the size of an 11-week foetus. Faced with an impossible choice, she and her husband made the heartbreaking decision to terminate for medical reasons and elected to be induced and proceed with the birth.  She shares Dylan's story not just as a tribute to her son, but as a lifeline for other bereaved parents who may feel alone in their grief—because these babies were loved, their lives had meaning, and their stories deserve to be told. If you have been affected by any of the content in this episode, here are some resources,  including Bears of Hope—an organisation that greatly helped Darci. Bears of Hope Stillbirth Foundation Australia Resources Beyond Blue. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on InstagramCREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Darci Crocker Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this weeks episode, Ksenija introduces us to a previous chat Mamamia's Jessie Stephens had with Prue Thomas. At 19 Prue was setting up for a function at work when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. As the day went on, the pain increased, so Prue and her mum headed to the hospital. It was here, that Prue found out that her pain was actually labour. Prue was about to give birth, and up until that point, she didn't realise she was pregnant. CREDITS Host:  Jessie Stephens  Guests: Prue Thomas Producer: Gia Moylan Executive Producer: Elissa RatliffSupport the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this weeks episode, Ksenija is pulling our attention back to an incredible interview between Jessie Stephens and Nothing To Wear & You Beauty host Leigh Campbell. When it comes to life, Leigh Campbell is very prepared. But there was one thing she really couldn't prepare for, the birth of her son. Because even the most well-intentioned of plans can be derailed in an instant, or in this case, 32 hours.  Leigh sits down with Jessie Stephens, alongside her husband Rich, to talk about their birth story... THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you. CREDITS Hosts: Ksenija Lukich & Jessie Stephens  Guests: Leigh Campbell and Rich Gioutsos Producer: Gia Moylan & Ella Maitland Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Carly's doctor told her it was time to consider surrogacy after 25 failed IVF transfers, her sister Sophie had already made an offer that would transform their family forever. After eight years of trying and watching all her siblings grow their families while she couldn't, Carly was about to embark on the most emotionally complex journey of her life. In today's episode, Carly vulnerably shares the profound experience of watching her sister carry her biological child—from the struggle to connect with the baby growing in Sophie's body to the overwhelming moment when Goldie was born and she could finally hold her daughter. The story takes an even more remarkable turn when Carly discovers she can actually carry a pregnancy herself, leading to the birth of her son Freddie just three weeks before our interview. Carly reflects on finding peace in potentially living child-free, the toxic positivity surrounding infertility, and how sometimes letting go can be more powerful than holding on. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Carly Prebble Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this weeks episode, we take a look back at an insightful interview Mamamia's very own Jessie Stephens had with Model and former Biggest Loser host Fiona Falkiner and her now wife, journalist Hayley Willis. They didn’t really have a birth plan, Fiona did know two things. She wanted to be induced. And she didn’t want to see a pair of forceps in the room with her. So, did her birth wishes come true? In this episode of The Delivery Room, Fiona and Hayley join Jessie to discuss the long road that led them into the birthing suite in March 2021. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you. CREDITS Hosts: Ksenija Lukich & Jessie Stephens  Guests: Fiona Falkiner & Hayley Willis Producer: Gia Moylan & Ella Maitland Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Marni's IVF embryo spontaneously split at 13 weeks, she was excited to be bringing not one but two babies into the world. But over half way through her pregnancy her doctors discovered one of the rarest twin complications - TAPS. In today's emotional episode, Marni shares how TAPS turned her pregnancy into a fight for survival, with one twin slowly losing blood while the other's blood became dangerously thick. Marni takes us through the incredible medical interventions that followed—two groundbreaking in-utero procedures at 29 and 32 weeks. When an E. coli infection threatened their survival, Billie and Poppy arrived via emergency caesarean at 33 weeks, beginning a 27-day NICU journey that would test every ounce of Marni's strength. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Marni Cochrane Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Lauren planned her second birth, she envisioned a calm home birth with her private midwife—complete with a birth pool, fairy lights, and her trusted care team by her side. After feeling unsupported in the public system, she'd carefully crafted the perfect birth environment at 41 weeks. But when labour finally began on a quiet Monday afternoon while her husband was at work, everything unfolded faster than anyone could have imagined. What started as a few bathroom trips quickly escalated into intense contractions just two minutes apart, leaving Lauren alone on her ensuite floor with her midwife stuck in traffic and her husband racing home. In today's gripping episode, Lauren shares her remarkable 40-minute labour—from that first contraction to holding her son Finley, with paramedics arriving just in time to catch him. She reflects on the primal strength that emerged when birth didn't go to plan, and how she maintained control even when everything felt chaotic. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Lauren Watson Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After having to go under general anaesthetics for the birth of her first baby, Jordan spent her second pregnancy working with anaesthetists to ensure she'd be awake for baby Dakota's arrival. But when two spinal blocks failed and doctors warned they'd never given a third dose to anyone, Jordan had seconds to decide whether to go under or fight through the pain. In today's episode, Jordan shares how witnessing Dakota's arrival—despite the physical pain—became profoundly healing, and opens up about her hopes for a different experience with baby number three, who's on the way.  Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Jordan Loughnane Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pregnancy is often described as a transformative journey, but for Briar, it became something far more complex. Having already navigated the life-altering experience of spinal surgery and disability in her twenties, she approached motherhood with both excitement and careful consideration. She'd rebuilt her life, regained her independence, and felt ready to embrace this new chapter. From the very beginning of her pregnancy, however, Briar's body began responding in ways that challenged everything she thought she knew about managing her disability. The same hormones that were nurturing her growing baby were also affecting the delicate balance she'd achieved in her own physical recovery. What started as manageable discomfort gradually escalated into pain that threatened to overwhelm her carefully constructed coping strategies and potentially prevent her from carrying Theodora to term.  Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here. THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Briar Harte Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.