Shows
The VBAC Homebirth Stories PodcastEP147 | Rhea Dempsey: A Conversation on VBAC Homebirths, Confidence, and the Power of BirthIn this heartwarming and insightful episode, I sit down with renowned childbirth educator and doula Rhea Dempsey to explore the world of VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) homebirths.
With nearly 50 years of experience, Rhea shares her wisdom on embracing the power of physiological birth, managing the “crisis of confidence” during labour, and reframing pain as a sign of strength.
Rhea also reflects on the evolving homebirth landscape in Australia, the importance of building a strong support team, and why understanding past birthing experiences is crucial for planning a VBAC homebirth.
Whether you're preparing for...2024-11-201h 29
Growing Up Raising UsJoelleen Winduss Paye on why she knew she wanted a homebirth as a midwifeIn this episode, we're joined by Joelleen Winduss Paye (she/her), an IBCLC holistic lactation consultant, midwife, naturopath, educator and mother. Joelleen joined us on the podcast to share her journey into motherhood, and how her professional work as a midwife of 13+ years and holistic lactation consult has informed her own decisions around pregnancy, birth and postpartum care.
Joelleen shares with us her two births - the birth and loss of her daughter at 16 weeks, followed by the birth of her son, Mali. Joellen reflects on how she prepared for and navigated pregnancy after loss, her reasons a...2024-09-3045 min
Birth Choices15. Kyla’s birth story — physiological birth with private OB + doulaIn this episode we speak with Kyla about her experience of navigating her choice of pregnancy care provider, and deciding to birth in a private hospital under the care of an obstetrician, with doula support. Coming from the US, Kyla was drawn to the possibility of public maternity care and also knew from her research that midwifery-led care was appropriate for her and her hopes for birth. Kyla’s pregnancy took place in the time of ongoing COVID restrictions and changes to pregnancy care, which meant that for her booked hospital, all appointments were by telehealth until well past 20 wee...2024-07-3156 min
The Road to Wisdom PodcastThe Birth Mindset: Can We Heal Trauma in Birth? with Rhea Dempsey
In Episode 61 of The Road to Wisdom Podcast Chloe and Keshia welcome back Rhea Dempsey for another conversation to explore the psychological barriers and constraints that women face during pregnancy and childbirth which are main themes in her latest book "Beyond The Birth Plan". We highlight the importance of addressing these issues and the impact they can have on birth outcomes. This episode covers topics such as the role of midwives and doulas, the integration of counseling and psychology in birth work, and the need to address past trauma. The conversation also delves into the concept of Pandora's Box and...2024-07-291h 11The Road to Wisdom PodcastThe Birth Mindset: Can We Heal Trauma in Birth? with Rhea Dempsey
In Episode 61 of The Road to Wisdom Podcast Chloe and Keshia welcome back Rhea Dempsey for another conversation to explore the psychological barriers and constraints that women face during pregnancy and childbirth which are main themes in her latest book "Beyond The Birth Plan". We highlight the importance of addressing these issues and the impact they can have on birth outcomes. This episode covers topics such as the role of midwives and doulas, the integration of counseling and psychology in birth work, and the need to address past trauma. The conversation also delves into the concept of Pandora's Box...2024-07-291h 11
The Whole Doula Podcast3: Becoming Your Own Doula First with Maddison SharmanBased in Melbourne (on Wurundjeri land) , Maddison Sharman (she/her/they/them) has been in the Healing Arts for 13 yrs, running a developed solo practitioner business in which she currently offers bodywork, yoni massage, remedial and pregnancy massage, flower essences, sound healing, reiki, sacred sexual healing and more.
Maddison is a new doula, training at the time of recording with Rhea Dempsey, and on call to attend her first birth.
Maddison's journey to birthwork was almost by accident when one of her pregnant clients asked her to accompany her fo...2024-07-2642 minBirth Choices14. Emily & Josh’s birth story — physiological waterbirth in the public system with caseload midwifery care + doula supportIn this episode we speak with first time parents Emily and Josh about their experience of navigating their choices in pregnancy and birth, and preparing for what was a beautiful physiological waterbirth in the public system. Em and Josh sought out continuity of care through their local caseload program, and chose additional support from a doula. We hear about the positive social influences on their mindset for pregnancy and birth, their experience of reviewing the evidence on midwifery continuity of care in choosing where and with whom to birth, and in navigating other choices throughout their pregnancy and birth...2024-07-161h 12
Hormone Health Podcast35 - Birth With Confidence With Rhea DempseyThis episode is a must for those preparing for labour and birth and for those, including birth partners, who will be present during a labour and birth. We were lucky enough to speak with well-known, Rhea Dempsey, who over the last 40 years has attended thousands of births. This was such a fascinating chat about: The stats mothers are up against birthing in this modern world Understanding pain in labour - functional physiological pain vs pathological painThe hormonal changes that happen during normal physiological birth - the dance between Queen Oxytocin, Endorphins, and AdrenalineThe similarities between Runner's...2024-07-091h 17
Natural Birth Co. Podcast#67 PROFESSIONAL How to Birth with Confidence with Childbirth Doula, Educator & Author, Rhea DempseyWarning: today’s podcast guest may have you fangirling… In today’s episode I sat down with Rhea Dempsey, a childbirth doula and educator, counsellor and author to Birth With Confidence & Beyond The Birth Plan, (two of NBC’s mamas’ favourite reads)!Rhea came into this space after experiencing an out-of-control birth experience with her first bub, which really opened her mind to the existing birth culture around physiological birth, and birthing in the hospital setting. This is what set her on this path to make so many waves in the physiological birthing space and e...2024-06-231h 27
The Mama VillageAlison - first time mum shares her incredible journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Alison chose to have a home water birth, supported by a private midwife and a doula.Welcome back to another episode of The Mama Village Podcast.
Joining us today is Alison, a first-time mum who will be sharing her incredible journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Alison chose to have a home water birth, supported by a private midwife and a doula, and her story is a testament to trusting one’s instincts and the profound power of feeling at home in your own birthing experience.
Throughout her pregnancy, Alison faced the challenge of carpal tunnel syndrome, adding an extra layer of complexity to her journey. Despite this, she made the em...2024-06-2044 min
Homebirth Stories AustraliaS2 EP: 12 Kristyn - Two Births, Private Midwife, Emergency Caesarean, General Anaesthesia, Ruptured Appendix, NICU, Breastfeeding Trauma, Ectopic Pregnancy, Homebirth, Episiotomy, HBACSend us a textIn today's episode we interviewed Kristyn, who is a mum of two and the president of Homebirth Australia. Kristyn planned to birth her first baby at home with her private midwife. When Kristyn was 36+6 weeks pregnant she went to hospital with pain on her left side. After a long and painful wait, Kristyn's appendix ruptured resulting in an emergency caesarean under general anaesthesia. Kristyn experienced breastfeeding trauma due to the inadequate care she received from staff within the hospital as she wanted to breastfeed whilst her baby was in the NICU. ...2024-06-192h 07
Cuppa with a doula#037 Sarah - Endometriosis, birth centre, hypnobirthing, home birth x2, midwife sister, tongue tie releaseThanks for tuning into today’s conversation with the amazing Sarah, who is a special ed teacher, mum to 2 and now an author of her very own book “Little Harvey’s big feelings”, which you will hear more about on the podcast very soon!
In this episode we chat all about
✔️tossing between birthing at a birth centre or having a home birth with a private midwife, based on her sister’s two births and the fact that her sister is a midwife in an MGP program
✔️deciding to birth at...2024-05-191h 28The Mama VillageElise - dedicated chiropractor & loving mother of two. Elise dives into chiropractic care and also shares her birth stories, one a hospital birth & the other a free birthWelcome to another episode of The Mama Village podcast. Today, I have a very special guest joining us, Elise, a dedicated chiropractor and loving mother of two. Elise brings a wealth of knowledge as she dives into the
profound role of chiropractic care, viewing the body as an interconnected whole.
In this insightful conversation, Elise sheds light on the
pervasive levels of chronic stress we experience, leading to what she terms as "sympathetic dominance." She passionately discusses the importance of restoring balance to our nervous system and how chiropractic adjustments can play a pivotal role in achieving...2024-05-171h 37The Mama VillageJess - FTM shares her blissful pregnancy journey which took a surprising & empowering turn with an unplanned home birth. Jess also shares her postpartum story, incl. the struggles & challengesWelcome back to another episode of The Mama Village podcast.
Today I am honoured to be joined by Jess, a radiant first-time mum whose journey into motherhood took a surprising and empowering turn with an unplanned home birth.
As Jess recounts her experience, she vividly describes the rush of pride and excitement that flooded her heart when she realised her baby would be welcomed into the world within the comforting walls of her own home.
Despite the initial shock of an unplanned home birth, Jess
reflects on the profound sense of empowerment that...2024-05-1153 min
Health, Happiness & Human KindHHHK 482: Birth, Trauma & the Senate Inquiry with Rhea Dempsey In today’s episode we are again joined by Rhea Dempsey, childbirth educator and author of two incredible bibles – Birth with Confidence and Beyond the Birth Plan. Together we explore birth trauma – the statistics, the realities, the role of Queen oxytocin, the butterfly effect of synthetic oxytocin, the 2024 Senate inquiry into birth trauma and so much more. Head to https://www.stephlowe.com/podcasts/482 for show notes, episode transcripts and more.2024-04-241h 29
Born for thisEpisode 10 - Astrid - 43 week homebirth, brain tumor, self advocacyIn this episode, I speak with my friend Astrid about her birth experiences. We discuss Astrid's perception of birth growing up, her previous births, and the planning for her third child, Frankie. Astrid shares how her partner's brain tumor diagnosis affected her pregnancy and birth plans. Despite the challenges, Astrid advocated for a home birth and had to navigate the fear of induction. Astrid's story highlights the importance of trusting one's body and making informed decisions during pregnancy and birth. She also talks about the emotional journey she went through leading up to the birth and the deep connection...2024-04-2255 min
BirthfulThe Purpose of Childbirth Pain, with Rhea DempseyRhea Dempsey is one of the foremost thinkers on the topic of working with pain in childbirth. She shares with Adriana the physiological purpose of pain during labor, why it gets such a bad rap, and suggests the pain relief paradigm is a medical construct that undermines our capacity for peak performance and body potency that ultimately facilitates birth. In other words: bring it on!Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.If you liked this episode, listen to our interview...2024-04-1047 minThe Mama VillageTess - positive birth experience in a private hospital, birth & postpartum doula, infertility struggles, holding space for the motherToday, on The Mama Village podcast, we have the privilege of hearing from Tess, a remarkable woman who has journeyed through the depths of infertility struggles to find herself in the radiant light of motherhood. Her path led her to a private hospital where she experienced a birth filled with love, support, and power.
But Tess's journey doesn't end there. Inspired by her own experiences, she has become a doula, offering her unique gift of support to women who face similar challenges on their path to motherhood. Tess's passion lies in holding space for mothers during the...2024-03-211h 10
Positive Birth AustraliaS5 EP145: Astrid Rene: Homebirth Transfer + Birth Centre + Homebirth/43 Weeks/"Big" Baby/Stressful Pregnancy - Partner Brain Tumour DiagnosisIn this episode, Astrid reflects on her three unique birth experiences, each contributing to her deep respect for the journey of birth. Her trust in birth was instilled at a young age as she witnessed her siblings being born at home.Her first birth, initially planned for a homebirth but ending in a transfer, became a pivotal moment for Astrid. It prompted her to explore the essence of physiological birth more deeply. The natural unfolding of her second baby's birth further solidified her trust in her body’s innate wisdom.However, it was Astrid's third pr...2024-03-1958 minThe Mama VillageSarah - three healing births after a traumatic first birth, hypnobirthing practitioner, unplanned homebirthHello everyone and welcome back to another episode of
The Mama Village podcast. I am your host Ellen and today we have a remarkable guest: Sarah, a mother of four and hypnobirthing practitioner. In this episode, Sarah generously shares her deeply personal journey through her four contrasting birth stories, each a chapter in her incredible journey.
Sarah begins by giving a deeply honest and raw recount of her first baby’s birth – a traumatic experience. Through vulnerability, she sheds light on the challenges faced by many mothers during childbirth. But Sarah’s story doesn’t end there. She goes...2024-03-161h 31The Mama VillageTempest - Physiological twin birth in hospital, innate belief in women to birth, tandem breastfeeding, village of support postpartum, challenges the conventional medical modelWelcome back to another episode of The Mama Village! A podcast filled with education and positive stories about pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
I am your host Ellen, and in today’s episode, I am honored to sit down with Tempest, a mother of three, who shares her extraordinary twin birth story with us. Tempest's journey is nothing short of remarkable, filled with twists and turns that ultimately led her to an awe-inspiring physiological birth experience in the hospital.
As Tempest recounts her pregnancy journey, we learn of her initial decision not to undergo ultrasounds, only to...2024-03-071h 33Birth Choices04: Birth story — choosing VBAC and advocating for your preferences with postpartum doula, Jules Meyer @flo.to.growIn this episode we speak with postpartum doula, Jules Meyer of @flo.to.grow, about her experience of the “cascade of intervention” in her first birth following induction, her journey of preparing for a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), the ongoing advocacy required through her pregnancy, and birth, and how it felt to birth her second baby vaginally, both in those minutes and hours post-birth, and now, weeks into her postpartum. She reflects beautifully on the shift from being what she thought was informed first time around, to getting really informed, and standing in her power to birth her baby...2024-02-121h 48
This Rich Life with Abbey Sanderson-Milera#11. BEFORE AND BEYOND BIRTH WITH SKYEOur first guest episode!!! With the wonderful Skye, from Before and Beyond Birth. Skye is a pregnancy, birth and post-partum doula supporting women to have their most powerful birth. We delve into some juicy questions asked by listeners and clear up some misconceptions...
Check her out: https://www.instagram.com/beforeandbeyond.birth?igsh=MXN5Z2JjYW1oZnZueQ==
Resources Skye mentioned in the episode:
Rhea Dempsey - Birth With Confidence
Rachel Reed - Childbirth as a Rite of Passage
Rachel Reed - Childbirth Physiology Course
2024-01-021h 13Growing Up Raising UsBree Stafford's VBA2C/HBA2CIn this episode, I'm joined by Bree Stafford (she/her), a birth doula, birth photographer, and mum of three. Bree joins us to share her VBA2C/HBA2C story.
Bree's three birth experiences have opened her heart to what is possible. Her first babies, two boys, whose arrivals took her on a journey through an intervention filled hospital birth, resulting in a Cesarean with her first son. The process of planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) with her second son, resulting in a repeat, yet empowered cesarean. With her third pregnancy with her daughter, Bree r...2023-12-1852 min
Birth As We Know It ™️-Birth Stories and Experiences42-Ashley Winning-3 Births-Cesarean & VBAC-Rosie,Annie & MillieSend Kiona a Text Message!In this episode, Ashley shares how being a bigger woman in the Australian healthcare system led to both births ending in a cesarean. For her third pregnancy, she felt safest having an unassisted free birth at home. Throughout the episode, she dives into deep detail as to why she made the decisions she did and how her experiences flourished into a business supporting other women in her community. birthasweknowitpodcast.com/42 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only with no intention of giving or...2023-12-132h 14Growing Up Raising UsDoula Bree Stafford's 'Recipes for a Successful VBAC'In this episode, I'm joined by Bree Stafford (she/her), a birth doula, birth photographer, and mum of three. She is my wonderful doula who'll be supporting my VBAC this year/early next. In this episode, Bree shares her 'Recipes for a Successful VBAC' as comprehensive tips for anyone planning for a VBAC.
More about Bree:
Bree's three birth experiences have opened her heart to what is possible. Her first babies, two boys, whose arrivals took her on a journey through an intervention filled hospital birth, resulting in a Cesarean with her...2023-12-1141 min
The Road to Wisdom PodcastThat F@#$king Epidural: Rhea Dempsey’s Unfiltered Take on Birth Options
In episode 27 of the road to wisdom podcast, Chloe & Keshia chat with Rhea Dempsey. Rhea is a childbirth educator, speaker, author, counsellor and birth attendant (doula) with experience at over a thousand births. With adult daughters and grandchildren of her own, Rhea’s understanding of birth has been gained over almost four decades of working with pregnant women, their partners, support people, midwives and medical practitioners, in home and hospital settings.
Rhea is a highly sought after speaker and presenter at conferences, seminars and workshops on birth and counselling issues. She regularly addresses pregnant women, their partners and support people; comp...2023-11-131h 12
The Road to Wisdom Podcast*Audio Only* That F@#$king Epidural: Rhea Dempsey’s Unfiltered Take on Birth Options
n episode 27 of the road to wisdom podcast, Chloe & Keshia chat with Rhea Dempsey. Rhea is a childbirth educator, speaker, author, counsellor and birth attendant (doula) with experience at over a thousand births. With adult daughters and grandchildren of her own, Rhea’s understanding of birth has been gained over almost four decades of working with pregnant women, their partners, support people, midwives and medical practitioners, in home and hospital settings.
Rhea is a highly sought after speaker and presenter at conferences, seminars and workshops on birth and counselling issues. She regularly addresses pregnant women, their partners and support people; comp...2023-11-131h 08Homebirth Stories AustraliaS1 EP: 13 Sammy Griffin (2) Two Births, MGP, Caesarean, Birth Trauma, Intuitive Birth, VBAC, Private Midwife.Send us a textSammy walks us through her first birth that follows a story we have heard so frequently, a hospital birth that led to a cesarean section. During her postpartum Sammy experienced Postnatal depression, and she speaks candidly about this impacted her fourth trimester. Once Sammy had her son, her whole perspective shifted and she realised there must be something more to birth which led to her second birth being intuitive, and calm. Sammy is a wealth of knowledge and we highly recommend going back and listening to her first episode were we...2023-10-311h 05