We Are Mothers.

Sarah
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  • Parenting
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We Are Mothers is a podcast dedicated to real, honest motherhood stories. Chapter One centres on birth. Not to tell you how it should happen, but to honour how it actually did. Hosted by Sarah - mumma and storyteller, this podcast creates a calm, safe space for women to share their birth experiences in all their complexity. Through storytelling, women can heal their own birth experiences while helping others learn, prepare, and trust themselves as they approach birth and motherhood. Every birth matters. Every story belongs.

  1. 4 days ago

    S2 EP7 | Cheree’s Story: IVF, Second Trimester Loss, Pregnancy Complications & a Planned C-Section turned Unexpected Emergency Caesarean

    After three years of infertility, IVF treatment and pregnancy loss, Cheree finally welcomed her son Teddy into the world. In this deeply honest conversation, Cheree shares the emotional road from deeply wanting to become a mother to navigating a pregnancy complicated by rapidly rising liver function tests and an unexpected emergency caesarean birth at 37 weeks. When concerns around Teddy's wellbeing escalated, Cheree's carefully planned birth took an unexpected turn. Teddy required support in Special Care Nursery immediately after birth, forcing an unexpected separation during those first precious hours of motherhood. Five weeks postpartum, Cheree reflects on: Her three-year journey through infertility and IVFThe emotional impact of pregnancy after lossDeveloping significant liver complications during pregnancyMonitoring, testing and navigating uncertainty in late pregnancyHow her planned birth changed unexpectedlyUndergoing an emergency caesarean birth at 37 weeksTeddy's admission to Special Care Nursery for respiratory supportMissing the "golden hour" she had hoped forReuniting with Teddy and establishing breastfeedingThe realities of breastfeeding a late preterm babyNipple vasospasm, cracked nipples and seeking lactation supportRecovering physically and emotionally from a caesarean birthCreating a strong postpartum support plan with her husband NickIntroducing Teddy to their beloved dog, FranklinWhat birth after infertility taught her about trust, advocacy and flexibilityWhy informed decision-making matters throughout pregnancy and birthCheree's story is a powerful reminder that birth doesn't always unfold according to plan, but even when the path changes, there can still be beauty, strength and deep empowerment in the experience. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Cheree at: https://www.instagram.com/chereeanne_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@chereeanne?_r=1&_t=ZS-969wuVodRdl

    51 min

  2. 14 June

    S2 EP6 | Cata’s Story: 36 Hour Labour and First Time Home Birth

    In this episode, Cata shares the story of her first pregnancy, a deeply intentional home birth journey that began before conception and ultimately helped her rewrite the birth narrative she had inherited growing up. After hearing stories of her own traumatic birth throughout childhood, Cata believed hospital birth with an obstetrician was the only safe option. But after watching a birth documentary, diving into birth education and researching the evidence for herself, she and her husband made the decision to plan a home birth before they even started trying for a baby. We discuss: Growing up with stories of birth trauma and how they shaped her early beliefs about birthThe documentary that completely changed her perspective on physiological birthWhy she chose a private midwife and home birth before conceptionPreparing mentally and emotionally for birth through education, podcasts and researchWhat home birth care looked like throughout pregnancyGoing into labour at 39 weeks and 5 daysLabouring at home for over 36 hoursUsing a TENS machine, water, movement, hip squeezes and doula supportThe emotional highs and lows of a very long labourDiscovering her baby was slightly malpositioned and working to help her rotateThe moment hospital transfer was discussed and how she navigated that decisionPushing for hours while trusting that her baby was still wellGiving birth at home just moments before an ambulance transferWelcoming daughter Lupe into the world surrounded by her birth teamWhy she believes education and informed decision-making are critical during pregnancyThe postpartum support systems she intentionally put in placeHow birth helped heal a generational story within her familyLearning to trust her intuition and inner knowing as a motherThis episode is a beautiful exploration of informed choice, physiological birth, perseverance through a long labour and the profound transformation that motherhood can bring. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Cata at: https://www.instagram.com/shiftwithpurpose/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/catalina-bonavia/ www.shiftwithpurpose.com.au Catallina Bonavia grew up in Buenos Aires listening to her own birth story. Years later, when she arrived in Melbourne and started thinking about starting a family here, that story came back to her, and so did the weight of how birth experiences shape everyone in the room, not just the baby.   As a human-centred designer (and founder of @shiftwithpurpose) Cata spends her days understanding how systems work and how they land on the people inside them. So when it was time to think about her own birth, she did what she does best: she researched the system, mapped her options, and went looking for the people who could help her have the experience she needed. Check out Shift With Purpose for all your human centred design needs!  Resources mentioned in this episode: Birth Time: The Documentary https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13092582/

    42 min

  3. 7 June

    S2 EP5 | Kayla’s Story: You Get the Birth You Need, Not the Birth You Want | From Emergency Cesarean to Deep Surrender

    In this episode, Kayla shares the story of becoming a mother twice and how each birth transformed her in completely different ways. Growing up as the eldest of seven children, Kayla always imagined motherhood would be part of her future.  After healing her own fertility challenges associated with PCOS, she conceived her first son quickly and entered pregnancy expecting birth and motherhood to unfold relatively naturally. Instead, she found herself navigating significant anxiety throughout pregnancy, focusing heavily on preparing for baby while giving very little thought to her own postpartum recovery. Kayla shares how her first birth ultimately ended in an emergency caesarean and the emotional impact of having her baby taken to be assessed immediately after birth when all she wanted was to hold him. While her physical recovery appeared straightforward, she reflects on how the deeper emotional and spiritual impacts surfaced in the months that followed, culminating in significant depletion around nine months postpartum. As she slowly rebuilt herself through motherhood, Kayla began exploring trauma healing, nervous system work and deeper spiritual practices. When the time came to conceive again, she approached pregnancy with a completely different perspective. She prepared intentionally for postpartum, stocked her freezer months in advance, built a stronger support network and became committed to trusting her intuition throughout pregnancy. One of the most fascinating parts of this conversation is Kayla's description of her second pregnancy, where she spent many late-night hours alone in the shower processing fears, childhood experiences, family patterns and emotions that surfaced as birth approached. Rather than distracting herself, she chose to lean into the discomfort and viewed this as part of her preparation for birth. Kayla also shares: Her journey from teacher and PCOS mentor to women's healing workWhy she believes postpartum preparation matters more than most women realiseThe role her doula played in helping her feel supported and seenLabouring at home before heading to hospitalThe intensity of birthing a posterior babyProcessing childhood conditioning, father wounds and sexual trauma during labourLearning to release the need to be the "good girl" during birthWhy asking for help became one of her greatest lessons in motherhoodHer belief that birth is often as much about the mother's transformation as it is about the baby's arrivalThis is a conversation about surrender, healing, identity, motherhood and learning to trust that even when birth doesn't unfold the way we hoped, there may still be wisdom waiting within the experience. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Kayla at: https://www.instagram.com/kaylaruston/ https://www.kaylaruston.com.au If you’re after a woman’s practitioner, here’s more info on Kayla and her work: Kayla is an energetic womb practitioner, Reiki Master and Intuitive Channel, whose work was born from her own profound healing journey.  After a PCOS diagnosis she discovered the transformative power of reconnecting with the womb space and went on to regulate her cycle and conceive naturally, against all medical expectations. Motherhood cracked her open further, deepening her calling to guide other women home to themselves.  Weaving energy healing, somatic wisdom, and soul guidance, she helps women reconnect with their creative power, intuition, and purpose reminding them that the wisdom they seek has been within them all along.

    1hr 17min

  4. 31 May

    S2 EP4 | Jessica’s Story: A 27 Week Preemie, NICU Stay and Her Second A 10cm Breech Labour Turned Emergency C-Section

    In this episode, Jess shares her journey through two high risk pregnancies and births, including the emotional aftermath of extreme prematurity and NICU motherhood. Jess speaks openly about: Going into spontaneous labour at just 27 weeks with her first daughterThe shock and trauma of becoming a NICU mum overnightProcessing the grief of not getting immediate skin-to-skin or those “normal” newborn momentsEntering her second pregnancy carrying constant fear and hypervigilanceSevere pregnancy sickness with HG and managing multiple medicationsDiscovering she had an irritable uterus and recurrent contractionsWeeks of bed rest while parenting a toddlerRecurrent bladder infections potentially contributing to preterm labourBeing admitted to hospital at 33 weeks for threatened labourThe reality of steroid injections and prolonged monitoringHer waters breaking at 36+5 with a breech babyDilating to 10 centimetres before an emergency caesareanThe physical intensity of having a spinal while contractingHer daughter struggling to breathe after birth and being taken to special careThe emotional impact of once again not being able to hold her baby immediately after birthHow her first NICU experience changed the way she and her partner navigated the second birthRecovery after caesarean birth while parenting two young childrenThe emotional complexity of pregnancy after traumatic birthThis episode is a raw and honest reflection on premature birth, maternal resilience and the reality that birth doesn’t always go to plan. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Jessica at: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaafisher/

    1hr 17min

  5. 24 May

    S2 EP3 | Claire’s Story: From Calm Labour to Emergency Caesarean Under General Anaesthetic

    In this episode, Claire shares the full story of welcoming her daughter Ellie via emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic after a rapid and intense labour. After spending pregnancy preparing for a calm, physiological hospital birth, Claire went into labour gradually at home.  She used movement, curb walking, affirmations, her TENS machine and music to manage contractions while spending the evening with her husband and mum in a relaxed environment. By the time she arrived at hospital late Friday night, she was already 5cm dilated and feeling positive about the progression of labour. Her birth space was calm and personalised with fairy lights, music, combs, movement and support from her midwife and partner. But labour intensified quickly. Claire began experiencing extremely strong back-to-back contractions with virtually no break between them, while Ellie’s heart rate became increasingly difficult to monitor. In this conversation, Claire speaks openly about: A HG pregnancyPreparing for a physiological birth in hospitalLabouring at home with a TENS machine, movement and musicArriving at hospital at 5cm dilatedExperiencing continuous contractions with no rest periodsFetal distress and monitoring challenges during labourHaving her waters broken and progressing rapidly to 8cmThe moment her maternal instinct told her something was wrongBeing rushed to theatre for an emergency caesareanUndergoing surgery under general anaestheticHer husband waiting outside theatre not knowing if she or Ellie were okayMeeting her daughter after waking from surgeryProcessing the emotional aftermath of an emergency birthClaire’s story is a powerful reminder that birth can shift unexpectedly, even when everything begins normally. It’s also a conversation about instinct, surrender, support, and navigating the emotional complexity of an emergency birth experience. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Claire at: https://www.instagram.com/shortandsweetercollective/ https://shortandsweetercollective.com/ Claire is the founder of Short & Sweeter Collective.  At Short & Sweeter Collective, we’re here to turn everyday moments into something a little more playful, a little more meaningful, and a lot more you.Founded by a proudly ADHD mind and created with all kinds of minds in mind, we design sensory-considerate clothing that feels like home. Made to spark connection, celebrate chaos, and champion the kind of honesty that makes life a little sweeter.From embroidered caps to collectible affirmations, our mission is to leave people better than we found them with softness, humor, and heart stitched into everything we make. Because around here, it’s all about embracing the mess, making space for magic, and saying it with love, always. (Love you, bye.) Go check them out!

    51 min

  6. 17 May

    S2 EP2 | Tara’s Story: A Fast Water Birth, Emergency Surgery & Finding Healing The Second Time

    In this week’s episode, I sit down with Tara, content creator, actor, podcast host and mum of two, to hear the full story behind both of her births and the postpartum journeys that followed. Tara shares how she went from feeling unsure whether motherhood was for her, to becoming completely transformed by pregnancy, birth and raising her children.   After years of travelling and focusing on career goals, she decided to start trying for a baby in her mid-30s and quickly became immersed in learning about physiological birth and hypnobirthing. Tara takes us through her first pregnancy with Beau, including: Conceiving later in life and navigating anxiety after miscarriageWhy watching her sister birth changed her entire perspective on labourChoosing continuity of care through the Gold Coast MGP programPreparing for an unmedicated water birthGoing into labour at 41+5 during COVIDLabouring at home before arriving at hospital already 8.5cm dilatedUsing the shower and water as pain reliefThe intense transition phase and instinctual “deep growl” during labourWelcoming Beau in the birth pool in a fast, unmedicated water birthExperiencing a severe grade 3C tear and postpartum haemorrhageBeing taken to surgery shortly after birthThe emotional impact of separation from her newborn in those first hoursDifficult postpartum recovery, retained placenta and breastfeeding strugglesThe importance of trusting your instincts when something doesn’t feel rightTara also shares how her second birth with daughter Marlowe became deeply healing: Trying to conceive again while navigating age-related fertility pressureFalling pregnant naturally just before attending an IVF consultationApproaching birth with more confidence and trust in her bodyPreparing intentionally for postpartum the second time aroundExperiencing a calm, empowering and restorative birthThe emotional grief of transitioning from one child to twoHow healing it felt to finally experience the golden hour she had hoped forThroughout the episode, Tara speaks beautifully about empowerment in motherhood, learning to advocate for yourself, and why birth stories matter. A deeply honest conversation about strength, softness, recovery and trusting your body through every stage of motherhood. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Tara at: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialmummagc/

    49 min

  7. 10 May

    S2 EP1 | Midwife Jacinta: The Truth About Home Birth, Private Midwifery & Physiological Birth

    In this episode, I sit down with private midwife Jacinta for a deep and honest conversation about modern maternity care, physiological birth, home birth, and what women actually need to feel safe, informed and supported throughout pregnancy and labour. Jacinta shares her experience working both within the hospital system and now in private midwifery care, explaining why continuity of care, relationship-based support and informed decision making can dramatically impact a woman’s birth experience. We unpack the common misconceptions around home birth and discuss what the research actually says about safety, outcomes and intervention rates.  Jacinta explains why home birth is often misunderstood, and why many women experience better emotional and physical outcomes when birth unfolds undisturbed in a safe and supported environment. This episode also explores the pressure many women feel around “the clock” during labour, including timelines around contractions, waters breaking and cervical dilation.  Jacinta shares why physiological birth rarely follows a predictable timeline and how different birth can look when women are supported rather than managed. We also discuss: What private midwifery care actually looks likeThe difference between hospital-based care and continuity modelsWhy many women don’t realise they have options during pregnancy and birthThe assumptions people make about home birthThe role of fear, nervous system safety and mindset in labourWhy informed consent and unbiased education mattersThe research around intervention rates and birth outcomesPreparing your body, environment and nervous system for birthWhy birth preparation should start early in pregnancyThe importance of advocacy and support during labourHow partners become empowered through education tooWhy no two labours look the sameThe problem with rigid contraction timelines and labour expectationsCreating a birth experience that aligns with your values and instinctsThis conversation is empowering, practical and deeply validating for any woman wanting to approach birth feeling more informed, confident and connected to herself. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Jacinta at: https://www.instagram.com/intuitive_birth_collective https://www.intuitivebirthcollective.com/ Download her free labour toolkit here: https://intuitivebirthcollective.mykajabi.com/thelabourtoolkit?utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3_a1denni6i48x9b

    51 min

  8. 12 Apr

    S1 EP11: | Nicole’s Story: Surrender, Strength & the Birth That Changed Everything

    Nicole shares her birth stories, a journey that began with a clear vision for how things would unfold, but quickly shifted into something far more intense and unpredictable. In this episode, Nicole walks us through: What she expected birth to look and feel like going inHow her labour actually unfolded in real timeThe moment things began to shift and feel outside of her controlThe physical intensity of labour and how she navigated itThe emotional experience of letting go of the plan she had in mindHow she worked through those moments to stay present in her bodyThe role of her support system during labourWhat the birth felt like immediately after, both physically and emotionallyHow this experience reshaped her understanding of birth and motherhoodNicole also reflects on: The gap between what we’re told birth will be like vs the realityHow expectations can impact the way we experience labourWhat she would do differently with the knowledge she has nowHer advice for other women preparing for birthThis is a deeply honest conversation about what happens when birth doesn’t follow the plan and the strength that can come from navigating it anyway. A powerful listen for anyone preparing for birth, or processing a birth that didn’t go as expected. Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠ You can find Nicole at: https://www.instagram.com/nicolemaryx/

    41 min
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About

We Are Mothers is a podcast dedicated to real, honest motherhood stories. Chapter One centres on birth. Not to tell you how it should happen, but to honour how it actually did. Hosted by Sarah - mumma and storyteller, this podcast creates a calm, safe space for women to share their birth experiences in all their complexity. Through storytelling, women can heal their own birth experiences while helping others learn, prepare, and trust themselves as they approach birth and motherhood. Every birth matters. Every story belongs.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sarah
  • Show Website
    We Are Mothers.

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