Best thepowerofbirth Podcasts (2024)

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Ep.60: Relationship Changes & Challenges in Parenthood with Elly Taylor 54:50

9d ago54:50

54:50

Elly Taylor, an experienced relationship counsellor and perinatal researcher, shares her insights on why 92% of parents experience increased conflict and why 67% feel less happy in their relationships during the first year of parenthood. With over 25 years experience, Elly combines her extensive knowledge, insight, and personal journey to create a …

1
Ep.59: Amber's Story: Surviving Preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome & Birth Trauma 1:04:23

16d ago1:04:23

1:04:23

#birthtraumaawareness Amber Melissa Kennedy, a two-time preeclampsia survivor, opens up about her traumatic experiences with preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, and a rare epidural complication during childbirth. Amber shares about her pregnancies, labour and early postpartum experiences, including being sent home from the ER with severe preeclampsia. Am…

1
Ep.58: Ebony's Story: Epilepsy, CMT & Motherhood 53:12

29d ago53:12

53:12

In this episode, Amber-lee, your host, sits down with Ebony, a young mother from Brisbane, as she shares her journey living with Epilepsy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), which is a group of inherited disorders that cause nerve damage. Ebony opens up about her diagnoses, the impact of these conditions on her young life and current life, and t…

1
Ep.57 Navigating Prenatal Diagnosis with Pieta Shakes 1:08:12

2M ago1:08:12

1:08:12

This episode delves into the complex and often overlooked topic of prenatal diagnosis. Prenatal diagnosis involves genetic, developmental, or health issues in an unborn baby and statistics show that approximately 1 in 22 babies have a major congenital anomaly, and many of these diagnoses are made before birth. These diagnoses can be distressing and…

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Ep.56 Postnatal Psychosis: 'Because I'm Not Myself, You See' with Ariane Beeston 1:09:06

3M ago1:09:06

1:09:06

*As always, please consider what you are consuming Amber-lee is joined by Ariane Beeston, postnatal psychosis survivor, psychologist, former child protection caseworker, and writer who courageously shares her journey through postnatal psychosis after the birth of her son over a decade ago. Ariane's harrowing experience, detailed in her memoir "Beca…

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Ep.55 Your Maternal Brain: Challenging 'Baby Brain' & Relearning How Motherhood Changes Our Brains (for the better) 1:11:20

4M ago1:11:20

1:11:20

Do you feel different after having a baby? We've talked about matrescence but this episode is dedicated to understanding the biological changes and components of matrescence through a neuroscience lens. Host Amber-lee is joined by Dr. Sarah McKay, a renowned neuroscientist and author of Baby Brain: The surprising neuroscience of how pregnancy and m…

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Ep.54 We Have So Many Reasons To Be Angry: Unpacking Anger & Rage in Motherhood 1:09:55

4M ago1:09:55

1:09:55

In this enlightening episode, host Amber-lee, delves into the complex web of anger and rage in motherhood with guest Yara Heary, a dedicated psychologist from Life After Birth Psychology. They explore the nuances of anger as both a valid and misunderstood emotion, distinct yet connected to the journey of mothering. The conversation traverses the la…

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Ep.53 Mental Health Mini Series #6 Make Self Compassion Your Superpower 19:15

4M ago19:15

19:15

In the final episode of the mental health mini-series, join host Amber-lee as she explores the transformative power of self-compassion. I delve into the concept of self-compassion with insights from leading researcher Dr. Kristen Neff and discover the key elements of self-kindness, shared humanity, and mindfulness as tools to nurture understanding …

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Ep.52 Mental Health Mini Series #5 Acceptance 20:52

4M ago20:52

20:52

In this episode, Amber-lee, the host of the mental health mini-series, delves into the powerful concept of acceptance. Drawing from her training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, she explores the importance of allowing emotions to be felt without judgment or resistance. Through a meditative exercise, Amber-lee guides listeners on a journey to a…

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Ep.51 Mental Health Mini Series #4 Mindfulness 22:19

5M ago22:19

22:19

#4 of the Mental Health Mini Series focuses on mindfulness and explores the importance of being present in the moment. Your host, Amber-lee shares insights on the concept of mindfulness, its benefits, and guides listeners through two mindfulness exercises they can incorporate into their daily lives. The first exercise, '5-4-3-2-1 Senses Grounding,'…

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Ep.50 Mental Health Mini Series #3 Progressive Muscle Relaxation 20:43

5M ago20:43

20:43

This episode in the Mental Health Mini Series, I, your host Amber-lee, take you through one of my favourite techniques, Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). This technique nourishes your mind and soul having a deep impact on your mental health and physiological responses to stress. Motherhood introduces unique psychological stresses, making us vuln…

1
Ep.49 Mental Health Mini Series #2 Box Breathing 15:46

5M ago15:46

15:46

Box Breathing, also known as square breathing or four-square breathing, is a structured breathing technique with roots in ancient yogic practices. This technique involves a rhythmic pattern of inhalation, holding the breath, exhalation, and holding the breath again, each for an equal count of time, typically ranging from four to eight counts. As a …

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Ep.48 Mental Health Mini Series #1 Body Scan 31:07

6M ago31:07

31:07

Welcome to season 4 of Can We Talk About This?! I am kicking off with a Mental Health Mini Series designed with mums in mind, where you get 6 episodes with me, Amber-lee Buendicho, offering some basic tools and resources for your mental health that you can incorporate in your daily life. We all know the demands of mothering and personal life can be…

1
Episode 47: Brianna’s Story: The Dark Cloud that Follows You After Loss 2:00:05

10M ago2:00:05

2:00:05

Brianna talks about her experience in her first pregnancy which was full of excitement and preparation to then find out at 14 weeks her baby had passed at 10 weeks gestation. Brianna talks about the devastating realisation she had been carrying a dead baby and openly talks about what her physical loss looked like and the aftermath of her ‘missed mi…

1
Episode 46: Rebecca’s Story: Perinatal Acute Anxiety, Tokophobia, Postnatal Depression, OCD & PTSD 1:32:40

12M ago1:32:40

1:32:40

Rebecca bravely shares her experiences struggling with her mental health since childhood and how her experiences becoming a mother exacerbated her struggles. Rebecca openly shares about her very wanted pregnancy and how anxiety and tokophobia (clinical fear of childbirth) robbed her of any joy or excitement and how that impacted her birth decisions…

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Episode 45: It’s Just the Baby Blues… Or Is It? 33:47

1y ago33:47

33:47

Too often struggling mums go to get support for their mental health and are told, “its just the baby blues, it will pass” when really, it’s not the baby blues. I, Amber-lee your host, thought an episode addressing all things baby blues would be helpful to this audience so that we can have an understanding of what is normal and what is not in early …

1
Episode 44: ’More Than A Healthy Baby’ - Perinatal Trauma & Post Traumatic Growth with Dr Erin Bowe 1:19:08

1y ago1:19:08

1:19:08

This episode delves into the often-overlooked world of perinatal trauma and post-traumatic growth. Your host Amber-lee Buendicho is joined by the very down-to-earth and insightful Dr. Erin Bowe, author of the book 'More Than A Healthy Baby: Finding Strength & Growth After Birth Trauma'. We talk about what led her to write this book and Dr Erin expa…

1
Episode 43: Sex After Baby & Rediscovering Sensuality 1:22:06

1y ago1:22:06

1:22:06

Join me as I sit down with Vanessa, mum and Sex Therapist from Authentic Awareness, for an eye-opening discussion on the topic of sex after having a baby. Together, we delve into the often overlooked aspects of postpartum sex and how the conventional postpartum six-week clearance from healthcare providers can be a missed opportunity for important c…

1
Episode 42: Embracing Healing After a Traumatic Homebirth (HBAC) 1:05:47

1y ago1:05:47

1:05:47

In this powerful episode, we follow the courageous journey of Bec Black, a perinatal psychologist and mother of three, as she shares her deeply personal and traumatic experience of attempting a Homebirth After Caesarean (HBAC). Bec takes us through her emotional and physical struggle, the unforeseen challenges she faced during labour, and her trans…

1
Episode 41: Tips for Finding the Right Therapist 26:51

1y ago26:51

26:51

This episode is a little different as your host, Amber-lee offers some practical tips and experiences with finding the right psychologist or mental health professional during the perinatal period. This episode offers an exploration of unique challenges that arise during the perinatal period and why it is crucial to seek a mental health professional…

1
Episode 40: C-Section Recovery & Pelvic Floor Health with a Perinatal Physiotherapist 39:04

1y ago39:04

39:04

In this episode, join me as I sit down with Kath from FitNest Mama to talk about all things c-section recovery, and your pelvic floor does not escape this conversation! We explore a range of important aspects surrounding this subject, shedding light on what to expect during the recovery process, signs and symptoms something isn’t right, safe sequen…

1
Episode 39: Danni’s Story: Navigating Infertility and IVF in Rural Australia 1:02:13

1y ago1:02:13

1:02:13

In this episode, your host Amber-lee, speaks to Danni-Leigh about her experiences and challenges with infertility living in rural Queensland, Australia, receiving a late diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the emotional rollercoaster of navigating in-vitro-fertilisation (IVF), and the unforeseen emergency surgery to drain her ovaries and…

1
Episode 38: The Birth Evolution from Mother to Doula 46:13

1y ago46:13

46:13

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Sarah Z, a courageous mother and founder of Birth Made Mindful, who shares her transformative journey through birth experiences and her subsequent path to becoming a doula. Sarah's story begins with a difficult birth that unexpectedly turned into a caesarean section with her first baby. Determined to…

1
Episode 37: Embracing the Challenges and Beauty in Raising Neurodiverse Children 1:06:28

1y ago1:06:28

1:06:28

Neurodiverse people make up about 12% of Australians and are often underrepresented and misunderstood and so it is really important to have conversations and bring awareness to such a deserving topic. In this episode, Sarah, mum of 3 children, 2 with neurodiversity, chats to me about her experiences becoming a mother and realising her children were…

1
Episode 36: What Makes Birth Traumatic? All Things Birth Trauma with Dr Rosie Pajak 1:09:23

1+ y ago1:09:23

1:09:23

In a world where 1 in 3 women describe their birth experience as traumatic and up to 1 in 10 go on to develop PTSD following childbirth, conversations like this are a necessity. Raising awareness and openly talking about ways to recognise and seek support. I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr Rosie Pajak, a clinical psychologist about all things …

1
Episode 35: Bec’s Story: Termination For Medical Reasons (TFMR) 1:28:56

1+ y ago1:28:56

1:28:56

With the ongoing political & religious debate on abortion, a mother of a genetic disorder opens up about her experience of TFMR and the impact this has had on her. Bec shares information about her genetic disorder and how that changed what her family would look like, having a 'missed miscarriage' D&C and a 'chemical miscarriage' after the birth of …

1
Episode 34: The Truth About Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) and Understanding Obstetric Violence 1:35:47

1+ y ago1:35:47

1:35:47

In Australia we have a high caesarean section rate (37%) and a very low VBAC rate (12%). Dr Hazel Keedle is a VBAC researcher and VBAC mama herself and she joins me to chat about why it is so challenging for women to have a VBAC, the truth about risk of uterine rupture and vaginal tearing, what to do to increase your chances of a VBAC, advocating f…

1
Episode 33: Dismantling ‘Perfect’ Mothering and Becoming Our Own Version of a Good Enough Mother 1:06:27

1+ y ago1:06:27

1:06:27

This is an episode FULL of gems!! Have you struggled with the pressures of being a perfect mother or never feeling good enough?! Ali Pember, a coach and psychotherapist for 10 years who works with mothers shares a snippet of her experience becoming a mother unexpectedly later in life and the role matrescence played in her life choices. Ali also sha…

1
Episode 32: Research Project: Perceptions of Birth and Wellbeing After Birth Debriefing Among Women Who Describe Their Birth as Traumatic 49:28

1+ y ago49:28

49:28

This episode is a little different as it is just me, Amber-lee, your host behind the mic chatting about my recent Honours research study on subjective birth trauma and birth debriefing and my findings but also what led me down the childbirth rabbit hole 18 months ago. There’s a lot of information in this episode but I hope you find it interesting! …

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Episode 31: Responsive Parenting: There’s No Such Thing As a Perfect Parent 56:50

2y ago56:50

56:50

There’s no such thing as a perfect parent, right?! Yet there is a myriad of conflicting parenting advice that puts pressure on parents to be perfect, particularly mothers, and it is hard to know if we are getting it right. Becoming a mother has a funny way of getting us to reflect on how we were parented and at times gives us a way of reparenting o…

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Episode 30: They Say It Takes a Village To Raise a Child, But Mothers Need a Village Too! 51:28

2y ago51:28

51:28

An honest conversation about the realities of mothering within a culture that does not centre mothers. Emma Gray chats to me about her experience entering motherhood, everything she ever wanted and the first time around really was a dream, to then add another child and the transition be much more difficult. Emma talks candidly about her experience …

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Episode 29: “The Day My Vagina Broke” with Stephanie Thompson 1:14:04

2y ago1:14:04

1:14:04

Stephanie Thompson, author of The Day My Vagina Broke – What They Don’t Tell You About Childbirth, had already endured cancer prior to becoming a mum and so entering motherhood, she had very big hopes for her future family, however her birth was not what she expected and changed her life forever. Stephanie suffered a traumatic birth injury that roc…

1
Episode 28: Nikki’s Story: Premature Twin Birth, NICU, Baby Loss, Grief and Healing 1:31:31

2+ y ago1:31:31

1:31:31

*Trigger warning for this episode* Nikki so beautifully and with so much vulnerability shares her experience of her premature twin birth and the loss of both of her baby girls, Nayara & Nabela. Her birth was quite traumatic and Nikki shares the confusion, the shock, the grief, the pain, the cost, and the emotions around premature birth, infant deat…

1
Episode 27: Chante’s Story: The Brutality of Ptyalism and Hyperemesis Gravidarum 1:19:00

2+ y ago1:19:00

1:19:00

Ptyalism (Ty-a-lis-im) and Hyperemesis Gravidarum are brutal conditions in pregnancy that we don’t often hear about or understand. Chante Campbell-Morrison shares her experience with these relentless conditions, her mistreatment, what life looked like, what happens to your mind and your body, her diagnosis with PTSD and anxiety, bonding with her ba…

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Episode 26: The Genius of Birth Mapping; The Revolution We Needed! 1:07:26

2+ y ago1:07:26

1:07:26

Birth plans tend to be controversial, insufficient and not respected, for the most part. So should we have one? What goes in it? Does your birth just all come down to luck? Well, let me introduce you to Catherine Bell who is an absolute go getter and completely hilarious! And she shares the revolution of birth mapping – not a birth plan but a map a…

1
Episode 25: Early Pregnancy Loss & a Healing Birth 1:19:03

2+ y ago1:19:03

1:19:03

Does gestation matter when it comes to loss? Who gets to decide this? Early pregnancy loss is full of mixed emotions, often not spoken about and an experience most women don’t feel validated in because of how we, as society, think about early miscarriage. Sarah chats to me about the excitement of her first pregnancy and her devastating experience l…

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Episode 24: Awakening to The Patriarchy and Reclaiming Feminine Power with Jane Hardwicke Collings 1:18:18

2+ y ago1:18:18

1:18:18

Have you ever felt like being a woman was a burden? Periods, pregnancy, birth, pelvic health, motherhood, menopause and so on, it’s not always pleasant. But maybe because the culture we live in doesn’t value the feminine, and so we internalise the messages our culture tells us, that being a woman is a burden, physically, mentally, socially, financi…

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Episode 23: Feminism, Birth and the Implications of Eliminating Sex Based Language 1:15:44

2+ y ago1:15:44

1:15:44

Milli Hill is an absolute powerhouse in the birth world and her books are a testament to that. We chat about encouraging women to think about their births and creating a birth plan, power imbalances, obstetric violence, #metoo in birth and bodily autonomy. We chat further about feminism and the messages we as women receive about our bodies and the …

1
Episode 22: The Sacred 4th Trimester and How We Can Better Prepare and Embrace Postpartum 1:05:17

2+ y ago1:05:17

1:05:17

You prepare for birth, you prepare your baby essentials, you have your baby and then you are sent on your way – for most people – and now what? We even saw during the covid pandemic that postpartum care was deemed “non essential”, which continued the narrative that postpartum, particularly the 4th trimester, wasn’t important and mothers were doing …

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Episode 21: Reclaiming Midwifery & Childbirth with Dr Rachel Reed 1:24:49

2+ y ago1:24:49

1:24:49

Dr Rachel Reed is one of the leading researcher’s in childbirth who discusses physiological birth and how misunderstood women’s bodies are. She also talks about birth as a rite of passage, birth culture, interventions, herstory, policy vs evidence based practice, and midwifery practice, and the complications that arise juggling culture, policy, inf…

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Episode 20: From hospital birth, to home birth, to free birth 58:55

2+ y ago58:55

58:55

Only 2% of Aussie mums birth at home and even less have a free birth. Home births tend to have a “dangerous” stigma attached to it and it appears home births are very misunderstood, despite plenty of evidence to show they are safe. Natasha shares her experiences in this episode as a rural mum of 4, home schooling her children, all while helping her…

1
Episode 19: ”My planned caesarean” 59:22

2+ y ago59:22

59:22

Samantha Keen chats to me about her birth experiences; induced vaginal birth that went relatively smoothly and then her planned caesarean and recovery. Samantha shares her reasons for opting for a caesarean after a positive vaginal birth experience due to lack of education and support for her pelvic floor and the trouble that followed. Samantha’s s…

1
Episode 18: A conversation with birth doula Micah 1:10:48

3y ago1:10:48

1:10:48

A humorous conversation with Micah from Waco, Texas USA, a birth doula for over 20 years, mum of 6 and author of The Humour in Birth. Micah currently trains upcoming doulas and has supported over 200 births in her phenomenal career. Micah shares her experiences home birthing and her preterm birth with baby number 6 and shares her wisdom with us for…

1
Episode 17: Sheree’s story: shining a light on PND/A, Endometriosis, Adenomyosis and her sons diagnosis with failure to thrive 1:03:25

3y ago1:03:25

1:03:25

Sheree shares her experience navigating pelvic health conditions; endometriosis and later diagnosed Adenomyosis and how she copes with these conditions raising children, working and studying. Sheree also talks about the model of care she chose for birth and why she would choose differently next time. She also shares the impact covid had on her ment…

1
Episode 16: Kate’s story: emergency caesarean birth, postnatal depression and mum life raising 3 boys 54:05

3y ago54:05

54:05

Kate Smith from @yourmumfriend shares her experiences entering motherhood, her struggles, her third birth which was a CAT1 emergency caesarean section to save her baby’s life and how she processed and coped with her intense birth experience. Kate also shares her experience with undiagnosed postnatal depression which manifested as rage and how life …

1
Episode 15: The power of pilates for pre and postnatal bodies 44:37

3y ago44:37

44:37

Laura from @unwindpilates chats to me about the physical and mental benefits of pilates for pre and postnatal women and why its important to listen to your body, slow down and find the right kind of movement for you when carrying a baby or recovering from birth. We chat about pelvic floor and Women’s Health Physio’s and how local pilates instructor…

1
Episode 14: Fear in birth and what we can do about it 46:38

3y ago46:38

46:38

Once upon a time, women did not fear birth, and yet today, fear in birth is common and problematic. Rebecca Black, a psychologist, mother, hypnobirth practitioner and founder of The Mindful Birth Movement chats to me about the role of fear in birth, where it comes from, how to eliminate it and how hypnobirthing can help you unpack, process and rele…

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Episode 13: Shoulder Dystocia, infant death and grieving the loss of your baby 1:10:14

3y ago1:10:14

1:10:14

We chat to Imajyn Walker who was categorised as low risk in pregnancy to then deliver her baby who got ‘stuck’ for a significant amount of time resulting in baby Asher’s death in the NICU. Immi is very vocal about shoulder dystocia and how a woman’s intuition should always be considered in birth decisions and outcomes and knowing your rights as it …

1
Episode 12: Normalising doulas for birth support 1:06:24

3y ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Birth doulas can be the difference in positive birth experiences and outcomes, yet, it is rare for birthing women to have a doula support her. We even have the research to back up the need for a doula in our current maternity system, so why aren’t we using them!? A lot of people still remain unaware of the role a doula has in birth and the benefits…

1
Episode 11: Postnatal Depletion – a naturopaths perspective 52:42

3y ago52:42

52:42

Nutrient depletion has a huge impact on our wellbeing throughout pregnancy and postpartum but it is something that often is overlooked in maternal health. We chat to Lucy Fitzgibbons a womens health naturopath about the impacts pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding can have on your body and ultimately your health and why its important to put more focu…

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