What if we were taught..

Today’s episode is with new Mum Natalie. Natalie is currently 5 weeks into her Motherhood journey so I felt extremely honoured to hear this story (for the first time with you) during such a sacred and special stage. Often we hear this generalisation that “your first birth may be longer”, well Natalie is a beautiful example of how birth cannot be generalised but is individual and how we cannot predict the length of anyones labour! After just 4.5 hrs of labour, Natalie and Scott welcomed baby Nelly to their world! In this episode we chat about; What labour was like for her and how Scott was able to best support her How she planned for her birth and what she found useful Her positive experience of her hospital birth Her tips for the Postpartum And sooo much more.. This is a beautiful and inspiring story of birth and I thankyou Natalie for sharing it with us. To connect with me Head to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast for the show notes. Email: kate@thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.      

This episode was inspired by Lauren, a fellow Mum who joined us on Episode 21 where she shared her own beautiful and inspiring birth stories. Following that episode she asked if she could turn the table, so to speak, and interview me about my births. I loved so much connecting with Lauren and the dynamic of our heart felt conversations that I felt privileged to say yes. So today, I share with you my own birth stories of both Tallow- born in the hospital and Jax born at home.  In this episode we chat about; How I prepared for my birth How I chose my birth team How incredible Nelson, my partner was during my birth - he was everything, knew everything and I fell so much deeper in love with him during our births! What I learnt from my first birth. The differences I found between hospital verse home birth The struggles I faced during the Postpartum. It’s taken a while to share my journey. I sincerely hope it inspires, empowers and helps prepare you for not only birth but also The Postpartum- a time that truly needs to be about Resting, Restoring and Bonding.  For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

In today’s episode we are joined with 2 incredible women’s health physio’s; Zara and Renee.In it we explore in detail “Persistent pelvic pain”, which affects a significant number of women. So what is “persistent  pelvic pain”? And if we suffer from it what can we do about it?Today’s episode covers these questions and so much more. Zara Howard Zara has a strong interest in pelvic and sexual pain conditions. In 2018, Zara completed her Masters of Clinical Physiotherapy (Major in Continence and Women’s Health), at Curtin University. This dedication to her work and study allows Zara to be classified as an Australian Physiotherapy of Australia (APA) Titled Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist.  Zara has worked alongside Urogynaecology doctors and nurses in the public health as the Senior Physiotherapist in the Physiotherapy-Led Pelvic Health Clinic (2016-2023). In this clinic she treated women with incontinence, prolapse, pelvic pain, bowel conditions, sexual dysfunction, and tears after birth. Prior to this Zara’s career experience was in inpatient and outpatient Women’s Health services. Research and best practice care is paramount to Zara. Over the last 7 years Zara has published peer-reviewed research articles surrounding Pelvic Health and optimal provision of healthcare utilising group-based programs.  Zara has her own private practice on the Gold Coast, and prides herself on blending evidence-based with intuitive care.    Renee Loughlin Renee graduated in 2014 with a combined Bachelor of exercise science and Master of Physiotherapy degree and has been working for QLD health in tertiary hospitals for the past 9 years. Over the years Renee became passionate about supporting those with persistent pain which has led to further professional development in persistent pain including a professional certificate in pain theory and concepts. Renee has helped people with all types of pain conditions in both individual consults and through group programs. Throughout the years Renee has worked with pain specialists and other members of the multidisciplinary teams. During her recent years her interest has also turned to women’s health, which has led her to working with women with persistent pelvic pain. Recently Renee has started running her own mobile physiotherapy business called “Future First Physiotherapy” as well as co-founding NURTURE which is a persistent pelvic pain program with Zara. Renee’s goal is to educate and empower all her clients to have the confidence in managing their conditions and equipping them with the tools and knowledge to achieve their goals In this episode we chat about; Both Zara and Renee’s professional and personal backgrounds that led them to specialise in “ Persistent Pelvic Pain (PPP)”. What is the definition of persistent pelvic pain and how common is it? The affects PPP can have on women’s lives. Zara and Renee’s unique program “Nurture” and their approach to PPP Why a holistic and integrative approach is important And sooo much more For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective Check out their program "Nurture" at: www.boutiquepelvichealth.com Follow Zara and Nurture program on Instram at; boutiquepelvichealth Follow Renee on Instagram at; futurefirst_physiotherapy   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

In today’s episode we are joined by Danielle and Daniel Lamb where they share their incredible VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) story. This is a beautiful heartfelt episode where both Daniel and Danielle authentically share the challenges of their first birth with baby Noah which resulted in a Caesarean, through to the transformative VBAC birth of baby Zara. It is so special to be joined by both parents to hear their own experiences of two very different births. In this episode; They share the challenges they found during their first birth, the hindsight’s and insights they took from this experience and the changes they then applied to their second birth. How communication as a couple was such an essential element to their second birth. They share the importance of the environment, the team and preparation for birth. They share what techniques they employed and the mindset shifts they adopted for their second birth and Danielle shares her top tips for the support partners of birth. Daniel beautifully shares his perspective of birth as the support person and what helped him the most for their second birth. I wish to acknowledge Danni and Dan for sharing their story here. I feel so deeply honoured to have met them. Thankyou both for sharing your story with us all.  For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective Follow Danielle on Instagram: danielle_betamenutritionist Find out more about Danielle at; www.betame.com.au   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

Today’s episode is a very very short one just to let you know that I'll be hitting pause for 3 months while we take our boys around oz!!!  What does this mean for the podcast? It simply means you will be hearing monthly episodes during this time rather than fortnightly! Trust me they will still be awesome! In this episode I share why we are doing this trip and what book inspired us and that we are basically basing this trip on!!! And if you would like to follow the trip check out: Instagram the_pregnancy_collective and my personal family one (this is more a hobby one where is share food and fun family stuff) cookupsandcamping    

If you have only ever seen birth on  TV shows and movies you’ll notice it tends to go for drama and often portrays birth as a medical, painful and dramatic event right? But is this really what birth is like? Most people have never seen what a physiological birth can actually look like- let alone a home birth. If this is so, they have not seen the POWER, the MAGIC and the HEALING ability that birth truly can be.  Finally, we have a film that shows us what birth can truly look like. Born at Home is a stunning documentary film exploring what it takes to have a positive and transformative birth experience and emphasises that where and how women choose to birth matters. So today we are joined with Producer and co creator Amanda Banks and Eleanor Currie -co creator as well as documentary filmmaker, videographer, photographer of this incredible film. If you are wishing to explore the possibilities of birth and learn about the different choices available, then this is the episode for you. In this episode we chat about; The creative process behind the scenes of this film The overall message or “feeling” that they wanted this film to portray Eleanor shares her traumatic birth experience with her first baby and how making this film empowered her to have her own home VBAC! What inspired Amanda to make this film a reality The incredible panels that they produce at screenings in Australia And so much more. If you have the chance to see this film on the big screen I highly encourage you too- or bring a screening to your own town through demands films which we chat about in this episode and you can check out HERE. This episode is an important one. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective Check out Born at Home over at; www.bornathomefilm.com.au Follow on Instagram at; @bornathomefilm   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

In this episode we take a deep dive into the Postpartum and why it is so important we plan and prepare for it. We know we need a village to support a Mother, so how do we create a modern “village” in 2024? So who better to chat about this with than Leila Armour. Leila Armour Leila Armour is a Postpartum Doula, Holistic Nutrition Consultant and Mother of three living in south-east Queensland. She is the author of the postpartum recipe book, Village for Mama - Nourishment for the Fourth Trimester. Her book has been created to help expectant mothers gather their village and organise homemade meals during their fourth trimester. Each book includes 30 recipe gift cards with a pre-written letter explaining the importance of the postpartum period and the essential role loved ones play in shaping a new mother’s experience. Leila is dedicated to helping new mothers feel held and supported through nourishing food and a village.   In this Episode we chat about; Leila’s personal experience with HypnoBirthing How she prepared for her first birth, a planned home birth Her experience of private continuity Midwifery care Her positive hospital twin birth The inspiration behind Village for Mama The benefits and importance of planning for the postpartum What makes her book a truly unique postpartum preparation book How her work prepared her for her twins   And so much more.. This episode is an important one. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective Check out Leila Armour over at; www.villageformama.com Follow Leila on Instagram at; @vvillageformama   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

If you are thinking about having a baby then this is the episode for you! In this episode I am joined with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack to talk all about her new book Real Food for Fertility which she co authored with Lilly Nichols. When I first heard about this collaboration I was beyond excited because I understood the immense collective knowledge that these two power house women would bring to this much needed space. In Real Food for Fertility, they show how preconception nutrition and lifestyle choices support your health and vitality and lay the essential groundwork for your baby's development. From promoting optimal egg and sperm quality to regulating your menstrual cycle and reducing the risk of pregnancy complications, the benefits of this investment are priceless. But this book isn't just about nutrition. They delve into topics like the menstrual cycle, fertility awareness, birth control, stress management, toxins, artificial reproductive technology, and the most common reproductive health challenges affecting your fertility. It is a book that I truly believe has the potential to dramatically change the current trajectory of fertility issues for the better. Lisa Hendrickson- Jack Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is a certified Fertility Awareness Educator and Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner who teaches women to chart their menstrual cycles for natural birth control, conception, and monitoring overall health. She is the author of three bestselling books The Fifth Vital Sign, the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook, and her most recent book Real Food For Fertility, which she co-authored with Lily Nichols RDN. Lisa works tirelessly to debunk the myth that regular ovulation is only important when you want children by recognising the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Drawing heavily from the current scientific literature, Lisa presents an evidence-based approach to help women connect to their fifth vital sign by uncovering the connection between the menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall health. With well over 4 million downloads, her podcast, Fertility Friday, is the #1 source for information about fertility awareness and menstrual cycle health In this Episode we chat about; The concept behind the book and who wrote which part What a normal healthy menstrual cycle should look like Why we should consider the menstrual cycle as a vital sign How our society normalises dysfunction rather than addressing the underlying issue Dispelling common myths that most of us were taught (and are NOT true) surrounding our cycle. How the pill works Potential side affects of the pill When is the ideal time to come off the pill if we are thinking of conceiving. What fertility awareness is and how it help with conception. Male fertility! We chat about the the current sperm guidelines and how they were developed, and why they don't represent what would be 'optimal' for conception. The impact the sperm has on placental development What men can do to optimise their sperm quality How fertility awareness can help men with low sperm count conceive And so much more.. This episode is an important one. I invite ALL health care professionals to listen to this so that we can provide women with current research surrounding nutrition for fertility and the role our menstraul cycle plays. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective Check out Lisa Hendrickcon- Jack over at; https://fertilityfriday.com Follow Lisa on Instagram at; fertilityfriday Check out Lisa's Podcast at; Fertility Friday Radio Check out Real Food For Fertility (and download the first chapter for FREE) at; https://realfoodforfertility.com Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

Today’s episode is a special one. Lauren is a Mum of 2 who I connected with through this podcast during her second pregnancy. After many back and forth messages, where we completely hit it off, I asked if Lauren would be willing to come on the show and tell her story. I feel deeply privileged to have shared this honest, raw and real conversation with Lauren and hear about her amazing 2 (very different) pregnancy and birth stories. What I love about Lauren is her deeply authentic nature with how she openly shares her experiences- the highs and the lows. She walks us beautifully through both pregnancies and the different lifestyle approaches and provider choices she applied second time round and the difference they made. This conversation had me smiling, laughing and crying all in the 1 hour. It was a deeply beautiful chat and I thank-you Lauren for sharing it with us. In this episode we chat about; The importance of birth preparation The importance for having trust with your provider or team The importance of feeling safe in your chosen birthing environment The challenges she found during her first pregnancy and what she changed that made her second pregnancy  COMPLETELY different than her first. Her frankly hilarious story of how she found out she was pregnant What she has learnt on this Mothering journey And her tips for the Postpartum And so much more. You are going to want to listen to this one in its entirety. To connect with me Head to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast for the show notes. Email: kate@thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

When it comes to book recommendations for pregnancy there is 1 book that makes my TOP recommendation to read and that is real food for pregnancy by Lily Nichols. When it comes to nutrition in pregnancy we are often told what NOT to eat, but rarely what we SHOULD and NEED to actually nourish our bodies and our babies as well as minimise a range of pregnancy and neonatal complications. Lily Nichols books - Real Food for Gestational Diabetes and Real Food for Pregnancy are by far the most evidence based and meticulously researched pregnancy nutrition books I have ever read! If you are wanting to be informed on what to eat then this is the episode for you!! AND.. in this episode Lily gives us a sneak peak into her third book Real Food for Fertility, which hits publication today!!! And lastly, if you are wanting to get your hands on a free copy of Real Food For Pregnancy then head over to my Insta page @the_pregnancy_collective to see how.   Lily Nichols Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is founder of the Institute for Prenatal Nutrition™, co-founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy and the author of two books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily’s bestselling books have helped tens of thousands of mamas (and babies!), are used in university-level maternal nutrition and midwifery courses, and have even influenced prenatal nutrition policy internationally. She writes at https://lilynicholsrdn.com   In this Episode we chat about; Lily’s extensive background and qualifications and what led her to write her first book Real Food for Gestational Diabetes and her second book Real Food for Pregnancy. Gestational diabetes and how the “conventional” approach is failing women We debunk the outdated guidelines and myths surrounding low fat diets and explain what healthy fats are and why they are so essential Why protein is so essential in pregnancy and the true amount that we should be getting (hint it’s way more than what conventional guidelines say!!) The implications of low protein intake The implications of LOW Vit A intake  Eating liver during pregnancy  The importance of choline in pregnancy Glycine in pregnancy- its role and where to find it What you need to know if you are vegetarian or vegan The postpartum and why we need to prepare for this. And so much more.. This episode is an important one. I invite ALL health care professionals to listen to this so that we can provide women with current research surrounding nutrition in pregnancy.    For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective Check out Lily Nichols over at; https://lilynicholsrdn.com Follow Lily on Instagram at; https://www.instagram.com/lilynicholsrdn/ Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

Welcome and happy new year 2024!! We kick off 2024 with a Dad's perspective of Pregnancy, Birth and the Postpartum!!! Joining us for this special episode is Josh, who recently became a new Dad in Dec2023!! I had the deep honour and privilege of meeting Josh and his partner Dani during their pregnancy and teaching them the HypnoBirthing International course.  Right from the start meeting this couple was beautiful. They were both fully committed to the program, both incredibly open and both dived head first and did every bit of preparation possible for birth and the postpartum for Dani! But what we didn’t cover in our preparation was preparing the Father for the postpartum! Josh is, as he says, “an open book” and he so openly and honestly talks about what the birth and postpartum was like for him, the amazing time it was but also the struggles and what his personal experience was like, which he wasn’t prepared for. He is authentic and vulnerable and I deeply thank him for sharing his experience. Because of Josh I know I will now be incorporating preparing our fathers for the postpartum in my future education, so thankyou Josh for all you have taught me. In this episode we chat about; The importance of birth preparation The importance for having trust with your provider How important it is for Men to prepare for birth ESPECIALLY if they think they will struggle to support their partner at that time. The importance of the hour after birth The unexpected feelings that showed up for him in the postpartum and how he navigated this and his tips for Dad’s to be. And so much more. You are going to want to listen to this one in its entirety. To connect with me Head to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast for the show notes. Email: kate@thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective  

Bonus end of year episode! The end of the 2023 is around the corner and I wanted to do a quick solo episode to say thank you to you for all the listens and dowloads and shares! I have been blown away by all the messages and feedback (I read every single one).  I’d also like to thank and acknowledge all the guests we had on the show for its first year (I go through the incredible lineup in today's show). Every single guest agreed to come on before this podcast even commenced and that is a testament to the work they do, their dedication and that they share the belief that there is more that we could be “taught”. I cannot wait for you to see what is in stall for 2024!! Listen for a sneak peak of one of my favourite author and researcher who will be joining us in 2024! Also, I would love to hear from you! What do you wish you had of been taught? Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to hear about? Send me a email or message on social, I’d love to hear from you. Finally, I am taking some time for quality family connection in January so this podcast will recommence 1st Feb 2024! See you all in the new year! Kate Martyn Kate has over 13 years experience as a Midwife, over 15 years as an Emergency Nurse and has been teaching HypnoBirthing and for 11 years. She is also a Mum to two boys, both born in water, 1 born in hospital and 1 a planned home birth and both with private midwifery continuity of care. Her passion is education and informed choices. As a Midwife and Mum she believes there is so much more we can offer in terms of education from preconception to postpartum and with that in mind she created and is the host of the "what if we were taught" Podcast. On this she brings experts from around the world to share their knowledge, research and wisdom in all of these fields, whilst weaving empowering birth stories amongst it.  We need a a village to raise a child, we also need a tribe/ team for our pregnancy to postpartum journey. To offer the best woman centre care Kate believes a true collaborative care approach is essential and continuity of care is ideal.  To connect with me Head to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast for the show notes. Email: kate@thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective

Almost all birth workers have at some point heard the phrase “once a caesar always a caesar”. So let’s examine the research surrounding vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). And who better to discuss this with than Author and Researcher Dr Hazel Keedle. Dr. Hazel Keedle  Dr Keedle a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. She has over two decades of experience as a clinician in nursing and midwifery, educator, and researcher. Her research interests are vaginal birth after caesarean, birth trauma, and maternity experiences, which she explores primarily using feminist mixed methodologies.  Dr. Keedle's work is recognised nationally and internationally. She has made many invited conference and seminar presentations, and her research has been widely published in academic journals and books. She is the author of the book "Birth after Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth," which is based on her PhD findings. Dr. Keedle is also the lead researcher on the largest maternity experiences survey, The Birth Experience Study. In September 2022, she became the Editor in Chief of The Practising Midwife Australia from All4Maternity. Dr Keedle is passionate about improving the experiences of women during childbirth. She is committed to using her research to advocate for women's rights and to ensure that all women have access to respectful, supportive maternity care.  In this episode we; Break down the actual statistical risks associated with VBAC as well as the risks associated with repeat caesarean Bust the myth surrounding this “100 year outdated” saying “once a ceasar always a ceasar”. Hear about Dr Keedle’s own birth’s and how they became the catalyst of her researching journey which then ultimately led to the writings of her book. Discuss how women can best be supported in their VBAC journey And so much more.. This episode is an important one and you will want to stay around till the very end to hear a very very exciting announcement by Dr Keedle!! I invite ALL health care professionals to listen to this so that we can provide women with current research surrounding VBAC and ultimately true Informed consent.   For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective   Check out Dr Hazel Keedle on Instagram ; hazelkeedle   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

In episode 13 of the podcast we chatted with Cat McArthur on "Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and our Pelvic Floor" and we received a tonne of feedback from this episode! So we opened up the doors for any questions anyone has related to their pelvic floor and prolapse and suffice to say we got an entire episode worth, so here they are. Your questions answered.  If you haven’t already heard episode 13 I invite you to listen. In it we discuss what POP is, symptoms, contributing factors to developing POP, our pelvic floor and so much more as well as my own personal journey with having a prolapse. Cat McArthur Cat is a Gold Coast based Physiotherapist with additional training in Pelvic & Continence health. Drawing on her own experience as an Olympic athlete, Cat strives to work with her clients to ensure they are working towards their own goals and providing them with the tools in which they need to prevent injury throughout all stages of life. Educating and empowering others in order to become the master of their own bodies and health is how Cat practices as a physiotherapist. Cat loves to work in all settings – practicing out of two clinics in Robina and Tweeds Heads, taking community-based exercise classes and offering home visit physiotherapy appointments as well as telehealth to ensure patients can access good quality healthcare in any environment they choose.   In this episode we discuss; Cat’s background as an Olympian and what led her to become a women’s health physio. Current research findings surrounding pessaries Symptoms of POP and when to seek support If there is a degree to which a prolapse would preclude having a vaginal birth The affects on existing prolapse with subsequent pregnancies and births How a tight pelvic floor affects birth Abdominal separation, when it becomes an issue and how to manage Does doing our pelvic floor exercise make sex better? Do yoni eggs and other devices help our pelvic floor? And so much more… For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective   Check out Cat McArthur ; https://www.catmcarthurphysio.com Follow Cat on Instagram: cat.pelvichealthphysio   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

When we first become pregnant it can be confusing knowing where to start and what birthing options are even available to you. Many people aren’t aware that there are actually many different models when it comes to antenatal, birth and postpartum care. So for this podcast I’m joined with a Midwife that’s done it all- she has worked in both the private and public sector and recently made the shift to becoming a private practicing Midwife. This episode is all about explaining the different birth models available, so that you can make the right informed choice for you.  Nicole Garratt  Nicole is a mama and a Midwife who now works in a continuity model of care, across all aspects of pregnancy and postpartum care, including home birth and supporting women who choose to birth in hospital. Nicole believes in family centred holistic midwifery which places women as the leaders in their care and supports them to connect with their baby, their body and awaken their intuition.  She supports women to blossom into mothers and it’s blooming wonderful.    In this episode we discuss; The Public health model- high risk and low risk Shared care What postpartum care looks like in the public sector Midwifery group practice /case load and what this involves for the antenatal, birth and postpartum Private obstetric care for antenatal, birth and postpartum Private Continuity of care with a Midwife- its individualised approach to antenatal, birth and postpartum care  The role of the private Midwife in home birth and when/if transferred to hospital Why it's so important we consider what our birth goals and postpartum goals are How having a support person such as a midwife in the hospital can be so beneficial   And so much more.. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective Check Nicole Garratt ; https://www.bloomingmidwifery.com.au/ Follow Cat on Instagram: bloomingmidwiferygc  Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

Something I wish I had of been taught as a Midwife and as a Woman is about my Pelvic Floor and all the things that can contribute to Prolapse. This episode is a big and personal one for me as I share my own experience of having a Prolapse. I am joined with an incredible Women’s Health Physio who has helped me in my own personal journey with a prolapse as well as countless other women. Cat Mc Arthur Cat is a Gold Coast based Physiotherapist with additional training in Pelvic & Continence health. Drawing on her own experience as an Olympic athlete, Cat strives to work with her clients to ensure they are working towards their own goals and providing them with the tools in which they need to prevent injury throughout all stages of life. Educating and empowering others in order to become the master of their own bodies and health is how Cat practices as a physiotherapist. Cat loves to work in all settings – practicing out of two clinics in Robina and Tweeds Heads, taking community-based exercise classes and offering home visit physiotherapy appointments as well as telehealth to ensure patients can access good quality healthcare in any environment they choose. This episode is a big and long one but you’ll want to hang around for the whole thing believe me!   In this episode we discuss; My own personal journey with a prolapse and the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of this What is our pelvic floor? How to do our pelvic floor exercises and why we need an individualised approach to this Why it's equally important that we know how to relax our pelvic floor as well as tighten it What is POP -Pelvic Organ Prolapse? What are the contributing factors that contribute to prolapse How to decrease your risk of developing a prolapse  Diaphragmatic breathing and it's implications on your pelvic floor  How our Glute’s and posture affect our pelvic floor Coached pushing and it's affects on our pelvic floor Symptoms of prolapse How to manage prolapse symptoms Pessaries What should we be doing/not doing during our postpartum to protect our pelvic floor? Preparing for our postpartum And so much more… For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective   Check out Cat McArthur ; https://www.catmcarthurphysio.com Follow Cat on Instagram: cat.pelvichealthphysio   Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

In this episode we get real about Motherhood and have a heartfelt chat about self worth, self enquiry and Mothering. Shea Gready Shae is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, with a particular interest in subtle energy systems, sound healing, Yoga and Buddhist philosophy, as well as other ancient cultures and transcendental practices and beliefs.  Deeply connected to Mother Earth, Shae's energy is grounding. Behind everything she does is the intention to inspire a great remembering of our inherent interconnectedness to each other, all sentient beings and our shared home.  Shae loves to explore with different practices of mindfulness, meditation and movement that bring us into the present moment and into our bodies.  When she isn't geeking out on yoga stuff or meditating, you can find Shae at the beach, in the rivers, at the farmers markets, dancing, singing and shaking off the seriousness of life with her beautiful family, two young daughters, husband/best friend and two appropriately spoilt Labradors Daphne and Delilah. In this episode we discuss; Our own stories and how they show up The real struggles of Mothering Triggers How to do it differently Where to start with "the work" Reframing and recognising Mothering and Fathering as the most important job in the world  And so much more. This is a real honest heart felt chat and I’m sure you will get so much out of it. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective Check out Shae Gready ; Instagram: shae_yoga

“Women crave emotional connection and being heard… Men just want to “fix it”. Does this sound familiar? In this episode we are joined once again with Dan Hanson to take a deep dive into self enquiry and explore the differences between Men and Women. This is such a refreshing conversation to hear the masculine and feminine perspective from a man that is incredibly humble, honest and has done the work. What does this have to do with a Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting podcast…..?? EVERYTHING! Because we are raising little humans, we are shaping their emotional intelligence and how we (parents) communicate to one another shapes how they communicate.  Dan Hanson Dan Hanson was an extremely well known Myofunctional Dentist up until 2021 when he temporarily retired due to the covid response restrictions. Up until 2021, Dan was helping to prevent children from needing orthodontic treatment using Myofunctional Orthodontics, as well as helping infants to feed, performing oral surgery for congenital mouth defects. Dan remains active in this space- lecturing on such subjects, speaking at conferences and educational events worldwide. But it doesn’t stop there- Dans expansive knowledge and wisdom extends so much further than dentistry. In more recent years he has founded “The Community Solution” and is author of the book ‘The Community Solution – A Vision for Connecting Humanity’. Dan’s mission with ‘The Community Solution’ is to inspire and guide others to set up and facilitate sustainable, decentralised communities like his own. His intention is to birth a time when people sit face to face regularly, have fun, and support each other through challenges while forming unshakable bonds. Dan is also a ‘men’s guide’ and group personal development facilitator with a passion for self-inquiry. He creates and facilitates ‘self-inquiry’ events for both men and women who have the desire to better know themselves and to understand and transform their relationships to self and other . To this end he founded Breathe Health Retreats, which provides transformational self-awareness and leadership events as well as  Rites Of Passage programs encouraging emotional growth and self-awareness in young men during their transition to manhood.  To sum up I feel deeply privileged to have the opportunity to talk and to have worked with Dan. His knowledge base is extensive and he truly walks the talk of a holistic health professional that deeply wants to positively impact those around him. He is one of the most humble and inspiring life teachers I have ever had the privilege of knowing and I am sure you will learn a lot from this episode and future episodes to come. In this episode we discuss ; Self enquiry and how our own upbringing shapes our parenting journey Dans own Personal struggles with sleep apnea and bodily symptoms and how that introduced him into breath-work and an intense health exploration journey How his marriage crises was a pivotal point into self enquiry and self work How he identified his own self judgment and his realisation that he is a equal contributor to his relationship How his own childhood trauma profoundly influenced him as an adult and the work he had to do to unpack that  How meeting the woman's emotional needs helps in the bedroom How we are a culture that is deeply uncomfortable with feelings and emotional releases How women just want to be heard and men just want to “fix it”, how to navigate this, serve each other and have a better understanding of the masculine and feminine. Where to start with the work What Dan's Men's retreats and Men's groups look like Exploring your “shadow” self and Ego The father and sons rights of passage he facilitates The importance of rights of passage for boys Women's cycles and the profound impact it had on his own relationship when he had this understanding The community work he is doing And so much more… For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to www.thepregnancycollective.com.au/podcast Follow me on Instagram: the_pregnancy_collective Follow me on Facebook: The Pregnancy Collective   Check out Dan Hanson ; Self Enquiry and Rites of Passage work  Breathe Health Retreats Check out his Community Solution work here The Community Solution Check out his work with Myofunctional therapy here; Myofocus Education Follow Dan Hanson on Facebook  Dan Hanson Facebook Breath Health Retreats Facebook: The Community Solution Follow Dan on Instagram: Breath Health Retreats Please note; all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

Can acupuncture and Chinese medicine help with conception, fertility, pregnancy, labour, birth and the Postpartum?!! I'm joined today with Chinese medicine expert Tabitha Fennell to answer this very question and take a deep dive into the physiology of Chinese medicine and its many modalities. Tabitha Fennell Tabitha runs a busy acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic on the Gold Coast Australia and within these 23 years she has specialised and treated all aspects of hormonal imbalances, fertility and pregnancy. Chinese medicine for Tabitha and her family is a life style,  supporting their health on all levels along the way. While being pregnant and a mum of 3 Tabitha learnt how powerful TCM theory was and continues to spread this knowledge to all her clients along their journey. After having three births of their own Tabitha and her husband Brad made an online acupressure course for labour as having used these points during their births they knew how profound it was for the birthing women and their birthing partner to have these effect tools in child birth. In this episode we chat about: The philosophy behind traditional Chinese medicine  The individual and whole body approach to Chinese Medicine  How it can be used preconception for both the female AND the MALE! It’s role with the nervous system and how acupuncture can takes us from fight or flight to our calm parasympathetic system- which is optimal for conception, pregnancy and birth It’s role in infertility for both the woman AND the MAN Sperm health and how we can optimise it! Now we are pregnant - should I continue acupuncture and Chinese medicine? How it can be helpful with labour and birth Acupressure in labour- some hot tips from Tabitha Tips for the partner during labour Tabitha’s tip for a nourishing and supportive postpartum And so so much more…. For full show notes and links for this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram the_pregnancy_collective Check out Tabitha over at: www.studioqi.com.au Follow Tabitha on Instagram at: studioqi tabithajfennell Please note all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice

What is HypnoBirthing? What does it teach? Will it prepare me for birth? Will it prepare my partner for birth? Am I “ under hypnosis”? Can I do Hypnobirthing if I am planning intervention or a hospital birth (yes you absolutely can is the answer btw!)?  When we first become pregnant it can be confusing and over whelming knowing where to even start with birth preparation education. So for this episode we are going to chat all about what HypnoBirthing is and what it offers as well as debunk some of the many myths surrounding this comprehensive childbirth preparation class. And who better to chat HypnoBirthing with then the Vice President of the HypnoBirthing® International Institute- Anthea Thomas!  Anthea Thomas In addition to being the Vice President Internationally for HypnoBirthing, Anthea is also the director and Faculty Trainer of HypnoBirthing International in Australia. Anthea is a passionate health professional, an experienced Antenatal Educator with over 17 years experience, a public speaker and a Clinical Hypnotherapist supporting families in conception, pregnancy, birthing and parenting as well as a Global Presence Ambassador for Parenting 2.0 and Former Vice President of CAPEA QLD (Childbirth and Parenting Educators of Australia).  Anthea is working with therapy based on the philosophy that our unconscious minds can heal our bodies, and control the delicate process of conception and birthing. She is focused on helping people find their unlimited potential in all areas of life, and on helping women to rediscover their natural birthing instincts and works  to provide couples with information about their bodies, the birth process, how their mind affects conception and birth helping to empower them to take control of their own journey.  In this episode we chat about: Anthea’s own incredibly heartfelt inspirational story of how she first learnt about HypnoBirthing Anthea’s own personal experience with having a VBAC and how HypnoBirthing completely removed her partners and her own fears for that birth. We take a deep dive into what this course involves and what makes it such a comprehensive childbirth class We discuss the Autonomic Nervous System and the impact it has on birth We discuss labour and birth physiology We discuss how HypnoBirthing prepares our partners for birth and the postpartum We debunk the many myths surrounding hypnobirthing And so so much more… I guarantee it will inspire and inform you.   For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode head over to: www.thepregnancycollective.com.au Follow me on Instagram; the_pregnancy_collective Check out Hypnobirthing International over at; In Australia https://hypnobirthing.com.au Internationally https://hypnobirthing.com Follow HypnoBirthing International on Instagram at; https://www.instagram.com/hypnobirthinginternational/ Please note all information shared on this Podcast by myself or guests is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice