Nurture Hub - Pregnancy, Birth & Parenting Podcast

We just love having some inspiring things to add to our podcast and we loved interviewing Jess from The Collectively Organised

We talked about how to prepare the home for the arrival of Babies and beyond.

Shari & I both shared how much we wished we had, had a Jess in our lives before birth.. what an amazing Baby Shower Gift

Jess has recently released her new ebook and some new online products so head to her instagram and website for more info and tell her you listened to the podcast..

Sit back with a pen and paper on the ready:)

Website https://www.collectivelyorganised.com.au/services

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/collectively_organised

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

In this episode we have a couple Kerri & Tom come onto the podcast to share their journey of pregnancy & birth.

It was so beautiful to listen to them both and how they were very conscious of the decisions they made every step of the way from getting their mind and bodies ready to call in their daughter to the journey of pregnancy and how they supported each other.

Doing Hypnobirthing with Shari and how that helped them feel confident in the decisions they made to have a home birth and how now Kerri is supporting mums herself now through their journeys.

Kerry is a mindset coach, conscious parent educator, hypnosis, and NLP master practitioner and her mission is to support women and mamas to create sustainable connect with themselves and within their families.

Dr Hazel Keedle, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery at The School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. Hazel has more than two decades of experience as a clinician in nursing and midwifery, educator and researcher. Hazel’s research interests are vaginal birth after caesarean, birth trauma and maternity experiences explored primarily using feminist mixed methodologies. Hazel's work is recognised nationally and internationally, with many invited conference and seminar presentations including academic publications and a book for women based on her PhD findings ‘Birth after Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth’. Hazel is the lead researcher on the largest maternity experiences survey, The Birth Experience Study.

In this interview we cover topics around

• Birth trauma

• Models of care and the impact they have on women’s experiences 

• Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC)

We really enjoyed our chat with Dr Hazel and love the impact she is making with her research around the world so much so that we have invited her to come to the Gold Coast to hold her workshop for Medical Professionals, Doulas, Birthworkers & Childbirth Educators to support women better through VBAC (sorry this is not a workshop for mums wanting to have a VBAC but through this education we will be able to support you more so please reach out to us if you would like support in preparing for your VBACK)

The event will be held on Saturday the 28th of October 2023 in Robina on the Gold Coast from 8:30am-5pm tickets are $247 inc gst and this includes a copy of Dr Hazel Keedles book.

This episode we interview new mama Monique. Monique is mama to beautiful baby boy who is 4 months old.

Through chatting with Monique we talk about her experience about early miscarriage and we too share our own experiences off loss and how different each experience is.

Monique shared that from the loss of her first baby which happened the week she was due to get married it then lead her to feel quite anxious about her second pregnancy and the potential to loose this baby so she felt that she wasn’t able to enjoy the pregnancy as much as what she wanted.

Monique shares how she gathered her ‘Positive Birth’ team and felt so supported by them all in the lead up to and also during her birth where they were with her every step of the way.

Through Hypnobirthing she was able to create a beautiful practice routine where she visualised her perfect birth and really prepared her mind and body through birth with the support of her team.

Her birth story had us on the edge of our seats because at one stage we through this story was leading to having her baby in the car…

We won’t spoil it for you though and highly recommend you listen to this AMAZING birth story.

We also shared that our next pregnancy retreat on the Gold Coast is coming up soon on Saturday the 2nd of September in the beautiful Gold Coast Hinterland.

Tickets are only $147 plus GST and we highly recommend that you book in advance as our last retreat did sell out.

Welcome our episode today, focusing on the power of decisions during pregnancy and birth. Today, we delve into the crucial role of conversations with your partners, family, OB/GYNs and midwives in shaping your birthing experience.

As a Mother, the decisions you make during this journey can profoundly impact your childbirth process. From discussing prenatal care options to exploring birthing plans, the conversations you have with your healthcare providers hold immense significance.

Join us as we explore how these conversations empower you to make informed choices, ensuring a safe and rewarding birthing journey. Through heartfelt stories and expert insights, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate this transformative phase.

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

Shari & I love hearing & sharing women's Birth Story's and over the remainder of this year we will be welcoming beautiful women all wanting to share their experiences along the journey of pregnancy into birth.

Todays beautiful guest is Akasha, 28 years old Mum to Freya who arrived into water on 22 November 2022 on the Gold Coast.

Akasha is a registered Nurse and we talked about the moments of pregnancy with a physically demanding profession.

There are so many amazing parts to Akasha's journey that will be so helpful to you if your planning your birth or want to feel inspired.

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

We meet beautiful Kirryn in todays episode.  Kirryn is an Energy Coach, Matrescence Mentor, co-parent to two little gals and recovering people pleaser. Kirryn is on a mission to support other mothers to stop living to please others and start living for their magnificent selves. Matrescence throws us into a whirlwind of self doubt, grief, disconnect, loneliness and a whole bunch of other toughness no one tells us about!

This transition is begging mothers to pay attention and Kirryn believes this time is a spiritual awakening for all. Kirryn supports Mama’s to become their own healers through the bigness of this transition. 

Kirryn used to hold judgemental opinions on spirituality; and also used to hold herself high on the mothering pedestal well before she had actual human children; she knows firsthand the power of leaning into the unknown, releasing perfectionism and surrendering to the messiness of it all. 

We recently held our first Nurture Hub Pregnancy Retreat and we wanted to share our reflections from this day..

We would love to bring this experience online... Its coming soon :)

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

Meet the founder of Fitnest Mama, Katherine Baquie, a proud mama of 3, perinatal physiotherapist and podcast host.

She has over 16 years of professional experience guiding mamas through their pregnancy fitness journeys and postnatal rehab, and she specialises in pelvic floor rehabilitation. With these credentials, it’s not hard to see why mamas are flocking to Kath for pre and postnatal fitness help!

We wanted to really nut out some deep conversations about pelvic floor during pregnancy, during birth and post partum, the conversation could have been a 3 hour podcast so we are definitely having Kat back for Part 2 ..

We are going to open up a Q&A for all our listeners who a question for Part 2.. So please send us all you questions about

Pregnancy / Postpartum - Fitness

Pelvic Floor

Birth Recovery

Your pelvic floor questions around your own recovery

Please submit all questions into

We are excited to share this beautiful Pregnancy & Birth journey with Amanda Jane Mckay.

Amanda is a Destiny Mapping Facilitator, a Mumma to Artemis & Phoenix, wife to Rhys.

I loved every moment supporting Amanda through this journey of pregnancy into x2 births both completely different, I feel that we often overlook the simple in birth... your breath and using your innate birthing wisdom.

I really wanted to interview Amanda and for this to offer some curiosity around home birth and the use of breath in your birth..

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

We have been really wanting to talk to the journey of IVF and Conception and we feel this topic gets hidden away and not enough exposure and so many women who listen here will have been on the IVF journey or experienced difficulties with fertility in some way… So we wanted to bring in a light, someone who has tried a different way..

Pregnancy is an exciting and overwhelming time, putting in the practice before birth will help ensure that you are well-prepared and ready to welcome your little one into the world.

We meet many women who come to us looking for support through their 2nd pregnancies and are wanting to change how they approach the birth through more education and learning how to relax and feel more empowered.

In Practicing different breathing techniques, positions, and relaxation methods can help you to stay calm and relaxed during your birth. Knowing what to expect can also help you to make informed decisions about your care during the birth and delivery.

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We are so excited to offering online Pregnancy Circles and soon to be running in person Half Day Retreats on the Gold Coast..

This is one episode that we hope all women who are pregnant listen to... because this is such an ear-opening discussion about how we as women & birthing people protect ourselves through pregnancy, labour, and birth.

We are so pleased to welcome Katie to the podcast, sit back and soak up this amazing conversation.. (its mind opening) 

Katie is an experienced doula and hypnobirthing educator, she consciously conceived and hypnobirthed her two boys into the world with tremendous love, focus and strength and it was their transformational births that inspired her to follow the call to become a Birthkeeper. Katie is also a trained Natural Therapist, Hypnotherapist, Birth Doula, Energetic Healer, Flower Essence specialist, Angelic Reiki Master Teacher, Conscious conception facilitator, Sacred Wombkeeper and Earthkeeper.

Katie’s why as an holistic birthing expert through her offerings at Harmonic Hypnobirthing is to inspire women and their birthing companions to achieve a truly sacred and intentional experience of conception, pregnancy and birth. The metaphysical and spiritual dimensions of this journey to birth are her special area of interest and expertise and she connects with mothers and their partners who desire to create a conscious experience of calling in their soul babies, nurturing their babies and mindset through quantum pregnancy practices and rituals, and offering the tools and practical wisdom to prepare for their birth in a sovereign and sacred way. The Hypnobirthing philosophy is at the core of her work which sees each family as unique and whole and provides the knowledge, tools and wisdom for each woman to vision and achieve the birth she truly deserves.

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

Love

Nicola & Shari

We will be running Nurture Hub Events for 2023 if your interested in being informed please follow our new website and join our list for up and coming events online and in person

We are really back, ready to make some amazing podcasts for you this year Welcome 2023!!!

We have missed you and we are ready to open great conversations around the clients we are coaching and connecting with in real time and by opening these conversations we hope it brings empowerment, reassurance, questions and actions you can take so you’re not feeling alone.

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

Love

Nicola & Shari

We will be running Nurture Hub Events for 2023 if your interested in being informed please follow our new website and join our list for up and coming events online and in person

We are closing up this year 2022 with a huge thank you for listening and apart of this journey In your planning, birthing and entering motherhood.

We will be back in 2023 with some amazing guests and wisdom to share. 

We are grateful everyday for your support.

Have a beautiful Christmas and New Year

Love 

Nicola & Shari 

If you are looking to work with Nicola and gain more support, understand how to move and breathe in pregnancy / birth and beyond,  please visit her on

This journey into motherhood is a transformational experience and the people who we choose to support us on this journey should make us feel amazing and support and uplift us each step of the way.

In our western culture, we grow constantly hearing how 'Painful' birth is and so many women even before they are pregnant have a huge fear of birth.

If we only were taught from a young age just how powerful we are as women and that contractions are a purposeful and powerful sensation then our whole perception of birth could change.

In this solo episode, Nicola & Shari talk about how you can change your perception of birth through the thoughts and language you use.

We hope you enjoy this episode and please share this with any pregnant mamas you may feel this may help.

We have been thinking about this episode for a while now, from our last episode “The First Shower” we have realised that many women focus on the birth but are not given education on how to prepare for the immediate postpartum care, what to pack in your bag, and how to look after your body straight after birth. Some of the topics can sometimes be a shock for women and birth partners so we feel so excited to introduce our next guest into the studio..

Meet Lydia owner and creator of Partum Panties, Maternity Underwear. A Registered Midwife, a Mother of two daughters.

Lydia has always been very passionate about supporting women and her passion is to provide women with products that allow for a greater postpartum recovery.

In the early postpartum period women often use underwear that are loose or tight. They experience leaking, pads that bunch up and underwear pulls up tightly onto their caesarean or perineum wound. Women are even wearing adult diapers, as there is nothing else on the market available to them.

Lydia also recognised one of the many challenges new mums face, is feeling comfortable with the right underwear. Women want to focus on their new baby and not have to worry about their heavy bleeding or the feeling of discomfort from bulky maternity pads and underwear.

This is why Lydia decided it was time to find a better solution for the postpartum woman and Partum Panties was born.

In this episode we also asked Lydia about post partum bleeding to haemorrhages to the first wee and poo to discussing care for tears and cesarean wounds.

To connect with Lydia

This is a solo episode today, this year is flying fast.. 

We really wanted to sink into this first moment of being alone in the shower after birth

What that can feel like and how you navigate your emotional, physical and spiritualness.  

Its a sacred moment, however it can feel very big.. so we wanted to give you that feeling of okay this moment, how can I prepare, what could I say to myself.. 

We loved this episode, it flooded us with memories and love for ourselves, we hope it does the same for you. 

Sit back and relax beautiful Mumma. 

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

We are excited to introduce Steph, a Midwife in the UK before moving to the sunny Gold Coast in 2003.

With a passion for education and improving birth outcomes, Steph is on a mission to help all women achieve the empowering positive birth experience that they deserve.

She supports women to know that they have an innate ability to birth, and that good preparation can help them to realise this.

Steph believes that with the right knowledge and support, parents are able to feel fully equipped and ready to confidently meet their baby no matter how their birthing journey unfolds.

A certified Hypnobirthing Australia ™ Practitioner and a certified Optimal Maternal Positioning Educator. Working extensively in continuity of care, Steph has been able to witness the success of both Optimal Maternal Positioning and Hypnobirthing Australia`s Positive Birth Programme.

How it empowers parents to take control of their birth experience and achieve their desired birth.

Steph have also seen how parents can enter parenthood free from trauma even when their birth did not turn out as planned.

This philosophy aligns with her own values and she is so excited to be able to share this incredible knowledge and help make the difference that is so desperately needed.

Sit back and relax….

To work with Steph

Welcome back beautiful mamas and partners today on the podcast we chat with 2 of the creators of the Birth Time Documentary. Jo Hunter & Jerusha Sutton.

These women have embarked on a mission to find out why an increasing number of women are emerging from their births physically and emotionally traumatised. Their discoveries have led them to join the birth revolution and forge a movement that hopes to change the face of birth here in Australia

Jo Hunter is a mother of four and an endorsed Medicare-eligible midwife in private practice.

She has worked with birthing families since 1998, first as a doula and childbirth educator and since 2009 as a privately practising midwife.

Jo now works across the full scope of midwifery practice offering continuity of midwifery care primarily to women who are planning to birth at home.

Jerusha is a doula, and birth photographer & videographer based in Northern NSW. She trained as a doula in 2006 through Childbirth International and has since worked extensively as a birth and postnatal doula in both London and Sydney.

Jerusha found the beauty of birth so captivating that she soon trained in photography so she could capture the magic of what she was seeing with her doula clients, to provide lifelong visual memories of their birthing experience.

Reading their mission statement on their website they say…

It was clear from the research They conducted that our maternity system is broken.

We have a postnatal depression epidemic, with suicide being the leading cause of maternal death in the developed world.

Birth trauma is rampant.

We have incredibly high intervention rates in birth, yet research shows that this is not leading to better outcomes for mothers and babies.

Globally, we are losing connection and trust in one of the most transformative, powerful, primal and pivotal rites of passage we will ever undertake in our lives.

We live in a time where it has become normal to disregard the importance of a woman’s/persons experience of birth. It is not widely known that our birth and birthing experiences deeply impact the way we navigate the world.

Nicola & I both saw the documentary and we want to be a part of this movement and help them spread this awareness so if you have an opportunity to watch the documentary please do yourself a favour and do it.

Welcome back beautiful mama to another episode of the Nurture Hub Podcast.

In this episode, we invite Dr.Elise Flipo, A Holistic Chiropractor who is the founder of Wellness Within Studio.

Elise supports your family from fertility into birth & beyond.

The Wellness Within Studio believe that chiropractic care is for everyone from babies to boomers.

They understand each person is unique and their goal is to allow your nervous system to thrive!

They see babies, children and pregnant women at Wellness Within Studio, combining chiropractic experience with specific gentle techniques.

Their Philosophy is that your body is inherently healthy and their aim is to ensure that the part that keeps it healthy, your nervous system in your spine, is functioning as nature intended.

Your brain is the control centre for every function of your body and delivers messages via the nerves in your spine back to the cells, organs, muscles and joints. This is how your body is able to heal itself.

They focus on restoring health by removing any interference in this system that may arise from the different types of stress experienced in our busy day to day lives.

They are passionate about your body’s ability to heal and thrive and believe that the health of a generation can be restored with chiropractic care, as your body heals well from the inside out.

Welcome back beautiful mama to another episode of the Nurture Hub Podcast. 

In this episode, we invite Melissa Hays from Cocoon & Cradle to share with us some insight into a holistic approach to Sleep. 

Melissa is a Gold Coast-based Midwife, Lactation Consultant and Sleep Specialist who provides services for mums & mums-to-be who want holistic and evidence-based breastfeeding, sleep and early parenting support. As you may have guessed, Cocoon & Cradle is not your average early parenting support service. 

Most consultants have training in only one area; lactation or sleep. Whereas Melissa is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and holistic sleep coach, in addition to 10+ years of experience as a paediatric nurse and midwife. This is how she is able to offer truly holistic care. By pulling together all the pieces of the puzzle from feeding, sleep and development, Melissa is able to identify the root cause of the issue and work together with you to come up with a creative solution. 

On top of her professional experience, She is also a mum to two very energetic but beautiful toddlers. So believe her when she says, She gets what it’s like for new mamas. 

Melissa launched Cocoon & Cradle in 2020 because she felt there was not enough support and too much confusing and conflicting information regarding early parenthood. To be honest, She was sick of seeing incorrect and sometimes harmful advice being given out to unknowing mums and mums-to-be. Why? Because you deserve better. Since launching she has been able to support hundreds of mums all while focusing on responsive feeding and parenting, and biologically normal sleep. 

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

We welcome Kate Caddle

Kate is a conception and pregnancy coach, podcast host, mama and life lover.

Kate supports women so you can expand through conception, birth and beyond, so that you can land in motherhood feeling grounded, connected and supported.

After 5 years of trying to conceive, multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts, miscarriage, all of Kate’s doctors were advising that their chances of success were on the decline, their little rainbow-babe found his way to Kate’s womb. This time, without intervention.

This is such an inspiring conversation one that we feel needs to be talked through much more than it presently is, to help women feel supported at this stage of life, in all its uncertainty.

Kate is an amazing award winning coach with so much love to give, education, support and openness in this cycle of women’s lives.

Kate is about to launch her new online conception programme see below:-

In this episode of the Nurture Hub Pregnancy and Birth podcast, Shari & Nicola talk about using affirmations to help condition your mind and body for a positive birth.

Affirmations are a powerful tool that we can use to reprogram our beliefs and create new neural pathways to think and feel about birth in a different and more positive way.

If you enjoyed this episode please feel free to share and make sure you subscribe so you get notified of new episodes.

Solaine Douglas is a women's health and hormone Nutritionist. Solaine runs an online women's health clinic in which she consults with women on a range of different reproductive conditions including PCOS, endometriosis, thyroid conditions and more recently through her own journey to becoming a mother works with women from preconception through to postpartum.

Links:

We are very excited to interview the Founder & Creator of The Power of Birth, Amber-lee Buendicho, mother of two to Romeo and Nyla-May.

Amber-Lee while on maternity leave after experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum, birth trauma, postnatal anxiety and rage, Amber-Lee’s journey was not what she had expected, and at times very challenging. The Power Of Birth was created…

Amber-Lee is very passionate about women seeking support and using available resources to help them navigate and adjust to this new stage in life, all while loving yourself and embracing the rollercoaster ride, that is motherhood.

Birth has power. Our bodies can create life! So inevitably, this changes not only our physical body, but who we are as a person. The power of birth teaches us compassion, empathy, self discovery or rather, rediscovery. It has the power to grow a human, but also the power to change a human, into a mother. This transition is called Matrescence and can be difficult for some, how do you have a baby and ever be the same? It’s an adjustment, a worthwhile adjustment. But like anything worthwhile, it takes time. At The Power of Birth we are here to support you in whichever direction you’re motherhood journey takes you. We see you and your needs. You matter too!

If you need support, please reach out to Amber-Lee at Power Of Birth

https://www.thepowerofbirth.net

This birth story with mum Nat takes us through the emotional journey of what it took for Nat and Sam to conceive their beautiful boy Onyx and then how at 37 weeks he decided to come into the world and wouldn't wait for dad to come home from work. Hear how Nat used the Hypnobirthing techniques and the Tens Machine that Shari gave her.

How will I know when I am in Labour?  

We are asked this question all the time and so we decided to share our thoughts and knowledge from our work with women and education. 

I know it can create a feeling of uncertainty at the end stage of pregnancy and we hope this episode helps to bring more clarity and relief. 

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, partners, families, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We would love it if you subscribed to our podcast and left a review as this will help us get in front of more pregnant women to share the word of positive birthing.

If you have a story that you want to share or looking for mentoring or guidance in your pregnancy or postpartum please contact below.

Thank you for always listening and being in this space with us..

We are really back, its been quite a year already.. 

We have missed you and we are ready to open great conversations around the clients we are coaching and connecting with in real time and by opening these conversations we hope it brings empowerment, reassurance, questions and actions you can take so you’re not feeling alone.

Please know we are sharing from our own knowledge not with medical advice, we hope this helps you to have confident conversations with your care givers, we are not medical professionals and we really support you to communicate with your medical care team.

We are delighted to be able to have the opportunity to talk to Anna aka supermum,

Caitlin Dyer is a Brisbane-based, award winning Hypnobirthing Australia Practitioner and a postpartum specialist.

With degrees in Psychology, Nursing, and Health Education Caitlin felt like she was on one path, until she had children. Her birth and postpartum experiences were transformative and led her to becoming a certified Hypnobirthing Australia Practitioner and a qualified postpartum professional. Teaching the Positive Birth Program and supporting women as they become mothers perfectly combines her qualifications and passions.

Her success as a birth and postpartum specialist lies in her ability to enable her clients to see that they deserve an individualised experience. She believes that when women are educated and prepared, they can access the power inherent in a positive birth and postpartum.

Caitlin is an American who has called Australia home for the past 13 years. Since moving down under, she has gotten married, adopted a rescue pup, and has had two children. She has no plans to leave Brisbane as she has come to love the climate and the coffee!

The Positive Postpartum Program Online Course

Today we invite you to meet two amazing mothers, Carla & Nadia Mama’s with a mission to re-shape the postpartum care in the community, for their daughters & the daughters to come.

Over time, in clinic we have both noticed that mothers are becoming more and
more depleted, stressed and isolated. This not only deeply impacts the mother, but her children, family & community.

In countries all over the world, women are cared for in a unique way after childbirth

Unfortunately in our country this care is not yet a part of our culture.

Carla & Nadia are here to break the mould, shake things up & bring women the care that they really need. It takes a village to hold the mother.

They have created an in-home, postpartum service, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine & Ayurvedic practices. Tapping into nature, using all things natural to support new mums.

They offer time for the mother to bath & nap whilst they care for baby & stock the fridge with nourishing foods

The meals provided are specifically made to heal mother, warm her body, and help with milk production.

They want to be remembered by all the women they are here to hold + nurture.

Sit back and really enjoy this conversation today, both myself & Shari would have loved this service when had our babies.

Visit their website for all offerings, gifts to new mums and a blog to self care as a new mum.

Let's talk about our menstrual cycles and periods!!

Stasha is The Period Coach, the bloody kind not the grammar kind. Founder of the Period Coaching School, certifying coaches to incorporate menstrual cycles in their work, and author of The Revolution Will Be Bloody, Stasha is also a dancer, cook, sword fighter, tai chi practicing, speaker, skateboarder, INTJ, foul-mouthed, football-loving, digital nomad. Basically pinning her down is nearly impossible. She’ll go anywhere as long as there’s a tea kettle and WiFi.

A Certified Holistic Health Coach and 20+ years of research have fueled her passion to reconnect women to the power in their period. Stasha is leading the bloody revolution to end the taboo of menstruation worldwide. No longer whispers in bathrooms, she’s leading powerful public discussions.

We loved chatting to Stasha and we hope this episode has helped you on your journey.

Today we are discussing the Dreaded due date!! 

Shari and Nicola take a moment to share what we hear, see and understand with the clients that we support around the pressure of a date.  The effects of that pressure on women, the feeling of the deadline and how that effects out mindset approaching birth. 

Please understand we are not medically trained and we are not giving medical advise,  if you have questions please ask your chosen care givers, we hope this episode offers the opportunity to a discussion or conversation about the fears around this pressure and we hope this gives you some support.  

If you need support or any coaching or support please do not hesitate to contact us.

So if you are working within the birthing industry or you’re pregnant or recently became a mum, please listen to this episode and share.

If you are looking to work with Nicola and gain more support, understand how to breathe in pregnancy / birth and beyond,  please contact Nicola

Shari & Nicola are honoured to be able to interview an inspiring world leader in the Breath Work, Binnie A Dansby

Binnie is a pioneering and inspired international teacher/facilitator of human transformation. She is also a gifted therapist, philosopher and author. In essence Binnie is dedicated to transforming the quality of life through the acknowledgement of the effects of birth on human consciousness and culture.

Binnie began her career in Breathwork in 1975 in NYC. Pre- and peri-natal psychology is the foundation for the theory, principles and practice she has developed. Binnie created, and has been teaching, SOURCE Process and Breathwork since 1988 in England, Germany, Denmark and Estonia.

She has supported hundreds of births.

She says, “Birth is my greatest teacher and guide!”

Sit back and breathe in every moment with Binnie.

To visit Binnie’s work please visit

We love this topic, its definitely not one that many pregnant women discuss and yet its so important as this was how we created our babies in the first place.. plus the discussion about after birth..

Let's meet Karlyn, The Erotic alchemist 

'Karlyn specialises in guiding women through transformational processes, drawing upon her training in Yoni Mapping Therapy, Tantric Bodywork & Sacred Sexuality, Conscious Birth, Breathwork Mastery, Life Coaching and Yoga.

Her work is trauma-sensitive and the focus is on soothing the nervous system, integration of unresolved past events and empowering people to tap into their own healing capacity. Her passion is in creating a safe and therapeutic environment to enable people to touch the divine within and know this as their truth. With almost 20 years experience working in the field of complementary health, she holds the space of profound kindness, understanding and integrity.

She’s the Mother of a gorgeous and sassy 6 year old girl.

Nature and community, spiritual practice and embodiment are the realms which nourish her most. '

To connect with Karlyn

We are so grateful to be able to share this special interview with Jane Hardwicke Collings - A Women’s Mysteries Teacher, Women-crafter, a Mother, Grandmother, Former Midwife, A Writer, Teacher, Workshop Facilitator.

Jane is a former Registered Nurse, and worked in that capacity in Paediatric Intensive Care Units and Women’s Operating Theatres.

Jane became a midwife at 26 and left the hospital system so as not to be complicit with institutionalised acts of abuse and violence on women and babies masquerading as safety.

Jane ‘grew up’ in the home-birth world and was a home-birth midwife for 30 years in the city and then rural areas.

Her own births have taught her who she is and what she is capable of.

Jane travels to give workshops on the wisdom of the cycles and the spiritual practice of menstruation; preparation for menstruation for mothers and daughters; and the sacred and shamanic dimensions of pregnancy, birth, mothering and menopause; and how to reclaim and heal our rites of passage. Jane also offers teacher training for these. Jane speaks at conferences and festivals and offers her books and e-courses to help heal the wounded feminine and wounded masculine of our patriarchal culture.

Jane is on a mission and is committed to working to help heal birth through helping mothers be more informed about how the system works and their rights, to heal traumatic birth experiences, to help birth workers be more aware of their impact on babies, mothers and fathers, to help heal menstruation by encouraging conscious rites of passage at menarche (first period) and helping women remember the importance of being connected to their body and their menstrual cycle, to banish menstrual shame and co-create a positive menstrual culture, and to reclaim menopause from medicine and help women harness the transformation powers of menopause.

Basically to reclaim feminine knowledge, wisdom and power through reconnection with the women’s mysteries.

Sit back and enjoy every moment of Jane’s Wisdom.

We hope you enjoy this episode and if you would like to work with us further click on the links below to see our programs.

Can we be honest with you??? We hate the term 'BIRTH PLAN'!! you are probably thinking What? Why??

Because when we put one 'Plan' on one experience then we put a lot of expectation on ourselves and when things don't 'go to plan' then we can come out of our birth feeling disappointed and even traumatised.

We both work with women through pregnancy to help them prepare for all kinds of births and so when we met Catherine Bell and did her 'Birth Cartography - Birth Mapping' workshop we felt this was the answer that we were looking for in helping you all prepare for birth and any possible detours that came up.

Catherine Bell is The Birth Cartographer and author of The Birth Map: boldly going where no birth plan has gone before.  She created the concept of Birth Maps to facilitate communication and aid confident navigation of the maternity landscape.    After her second child was born, she trained as a doula and breastfeeding educator, as much to learn about Mothering as to be able to support others.  This led to becoming a birth advocate and consumer representative, with a keen focus on communication and the undertaking of a PhD.  

We hope you enjoy this episode and if you would like to work with us further click on the links below to see our programs.

We live such busy lives that even in pregnancy we don't tend to take the time to slow down and connect into what our body and our baby needs.

Many women keep busy to get out of their heads but then in turn this can cause more stress and anxiety as we are pushing down our emotions and not dealing with the fears we feel in the lead up to our birth.

In this episode, Nicola Laye and Shari Lyon have a chat about how to take time to slow down in the weeks leading up to birth.

Today we have our special guests Tabitha & Brad Fennell, they are experts in the coaching couples through the journey of loving relationships.

We are discussing the bumps, up’s and downs in the journey during pregnancy and birth, how the relationship changes and how to navigate this time together.

We are often guilty of not looking at our love relationships during this time, it’s an episode we are excited to share with you all today, and especially having Brad & Tabitha with us today.

A husband and wife team Brad and Tabitha Fennell are the creators of Studio Qi Acupuncture clinic located in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

They are both Acupuncturists and Coaches with more than 20 years of experience they have the skills to bring awareness to you and your circumstances.

Their coaching sessions are about supporting you to make the changes that you're looking for in your life or relationship through our facilitation techniques. They can help you to understand what it is that's going on to create real change.

From knowing your purpose to understanding your relationship, they will help you to understand you and grow, this is especially important during the changes in pregnancy, birth & beyond.

They also are the creators of “Turn on the Podcast”, take some time to head over and have listen.

Tabitha & Brad Fennell

Claire & Luke attending the live 12-hour Hypnobirthing course with Shari to help them prepare for birth and when Claires water broke she thought for sure everything was going to happen in perfect timing... but when it didn't and there was a risk of infection they had to draw on the knowledge they learned in their Hypnobirthing course,  consult with their caregiver who recommended that induction of labour was safest to birth their baby boy Beau.

With everything they learned Claire was able to breathe through her surges and Luke knew how to support Claire through a posterior labour using the acupressure points.

They shared their beautiful birth video on their Instagram IGTV. You can follow them at @coachedbyclaire @islandofluke  @vanlifestraya and watch their amazing induction birth video.

Thank you Claire and Luke for sharing this empowering birth story with us.

We get down to the nit and gritty of how to support our bodies and Pelvic Floor during pregnancy and postpartum with Sarah Anderson.

Sarah is a Women’s Health Physiotherapist and specialises in Pelvic Floor Health.  Sarah has a practice on the Gold Coast and also has a great podcast called Listen Up Ladies.

Please note that what we share in this podcast is for information purposes to help you understand your changing body during pregnancy & postpartum, we are not giving medical advice, please ensure you seek advice from your own health care team or please contact Sarah directly via;-

Positive Birth Story Time:

Pip Wynn Owen is an Advanced Childbirth and Parenting Educator, Registered Midwife, Award-Winning Hypnobirthing Australia™ Practitioner, and a Mother of 4 based in Perth Australia.

We wanted to invite Pip onto this episode today to talk about the randomized controlled trial that took place in the USA called the ARRIVE Trial that now many caregivers are referring to when recommending induction of labour to women at 39 weeks to help reduce the rate of Caesarean Section.

We wanted to unpack the study and look at it from a number of views so that if you are being recommended induction that you could equip yourself with questions to ask caregivers so you feel that you are making an informed decision.