We Are Mothers.

Sarah
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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. 14h ago

    S3 EP 7 | Kellie’s Story: Two Empowering Births - From Private OB to Home Birth and Enjoying Labour

    This week we're joined by Kellie, a mum of two based in Brisbane, who shares two genuinely empowering birth stories, including a wild postpartum twist nobody saw coming. Kellie takes us through the birth of her first daughter, a positive, well-supported private hospital birth guided by a trusted OB. She used hypnobirthing preparation, despite a gestational diabetes diagnosis and a posterior baby that led to days of early labour.  She also shares her daughter’s post-birth thyroid diagnosis and the sensitive way the gestational diabetes result was originally delivered to her. For her second birth, Kellie made the leap from private obstetric care to a home birth, navigating the search for the right midwife, a breech baby that flipped just in time, and a fast, intense labour that ended with a peaceful water birth at home with her toddler watching on. Then, just six weeks postpartum, Kellie's story takes an unexpected turn: a misdiagnosed appendix that turned out to be gangrenous and close to rupture, leading to four days in hospital while recovering from birth and relying on her "village" to keep breastfeeding going. This is an uplifting, honest conversation about finding the right care for you, advocating for yourself, and how differently two births and two babies can go. In this episode: Falling pregnant quickly and choosing a private OB and hypnobirthingA gestational diabetes diagnosis delivered without much careA three-day posterior labour and a supported, low-intervention hospital birthHer newborn thyroid diagnosisDeciding to pursue a home birth for baby twoNavigating a breech baby and spinning babies techniquesA fast, intense, peaceful water birth at home with her toddler presentA near-ruptured appendix discovered six weeks postpartumLeaning on her "village" to keep breastfeeding through a hospital stayAdvice for first and second-time mums 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 Kellie at: https://www.instagram.com/kellie.bright_/

  2. Sep 6

    S3 EP 6 | Hayley’s Story: A midwife navigating hospital birth trauma, a home birth with shoulder dystocia and why birth debriefs truly matter

    This episode discusses birth trauma, a non-consented vaginal examination, neonatal resuscitation, and postpartum psychological therapy. Listener discretion advised. This week we're joined by Hayley - a midwife, wife, and mum of two who shares two profoundly different birth experiences from a truly unique vantage point: as both the woman giving birth and a clinician who understands exactly what's supposed to happen in that room. Hayley takes us through the birth of her first daughter, Adeline, a labour that started smoothly before her epidural catheter dislodged during transition, leaving her in unmanaged pain during one of birth's most intense phases.  She shares the moment a doctor continued a vaginal examination despite Hayley repeatedly asking her to stop, and the deep sense of violation and dissociation that followed - plus the difficult, drawn-out process of getting a genuine debrief and accountability from her care team afterwards. She then shares the story of her second daughter, Elsie, a carefully chosen home birth guided by trusted midwives, a shoulder dystocia managed calmly at home, and a birth she describes as redemptive, though not without its own challenges. This is an honest, deeply informed conversation about informed consent, birth trauma, advocacy (even when the people involved are your colleagues), and what true accountability in maternity care should look like. In this episode: Falling pregnant quickly, twice, despite expecting a longer journeyChoosing MGP care for her first birth as a midwife herselfA fast-progressing first labour and a home stretch that changed everythingAn epidural catheter dislodging during transitionA non-consented vaginal exam and the moment trust was lostHer baby needing respiratory support after birthThe long road to processing birth trauma, therapy, and EMDROrganising a formal debrief with her own colleaguesChoosing a home birth for baby two after a traumatic first experienceA shoulder dystocia managed calmly at homeWhat she hopes her daughters take from their birth stories 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 Hayley at: https://www.instagram.com/hayleyclack_/ Midwives in this episode: 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 You can find Taan at:  https://www.instagram.com/taanmw/

  3. Aug 30

    S3 EP 5 | Renea’s Story: Three Births | Induction and Intervention Leading to Education and a Sacred Homebirth

    This week we're joined by Renea, a mum of three based in Queensland, who takes us through an incredible evolution across three completely different birth experiences. Renea's first birth took place during COVID lockdowns, with fragmented antenatal care, an induction that spiralled into two Code Pink emergencies, an episiotomy and forceps delivery without consent, and a postpartum haemorrhage. This was followed by an isolating, under-supported hospital stay with an underweight newborn on a gruelling feeding schedule. For her second birth, Renea sought out continuity of care, private education, and ultimately hired the doula who would become one of her most trusted birth supports.  She shares how informed consent, a calmer environment, and a supportive midwife transformed the experience into one she describes as healing and empowering. By her third pregnancy, Renea had made the decision to birth at home. She walks us through six weeks of false labour, a birth guided almost entirely by her own instincts, and the powerful, "sacred" experience of birthing her son on her own terms, surrounded by private midwives, her doula, and her family. This is a moving conversation about advocacy, informed consent, the impact of continuity of care, and what it really means to reclaim your birth story. In this episode: Falling pregnant amid the uncertainty of early COVID lockdownsFragmented care and a chaotic, conflicting induction processTwo Code Pink emergencies, forceps delivery, and an unconsented episiotomyPostpartum haemorrhage and an isolating hospital stayChoosing continuity of care and hiring a doula for birth twoA calm, empowering hospital birth with the MGP modelDeciding to have a home birth for baby threeSix weeks of false labour and trusting her body's instinctsA powerful unassisted-feeling home birth, caught in a towelWhat empowerment in motherhood means after three transformative births 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 Renea at: https://www.instagram.com/reneacurrie_/ Midwives in this episode: 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 You can find Taan at:  https://www.instagram.com/taanmw/

  4. Aug 23

    S3 EP 4 | Mardie’s Story: Hyperemesis, Uterine Inversion, Emergency Surgery & Two Calm Caesareans

    This week we sit down with Mardie, a stay-at-home mum of three living on a farm in country Victoria, to hear the story of her three very different births. Mardie takes us through the birth of her son Harrison, a smooth labour and delivery that turned into a medical emergency when her uterus inverted following the birth, leading to major blood loss, emergency surgery, and a night in ICU separated from her newborn. She shares what it was like to have that first-time-mum experience turn so unexpectedly, and how long it really took to process what happened. Mardie then shares how that experience shaped her decisions for her second and third births — both planned caesareans, both calm, and both revealing the same unexplained issue with her placenta. She talks candidly about hyperemesis (severe pregnancy sickness) across all three pregnancies, breastfeeding challenges with inverted nipples, and the postpartum support that got her through. This is a warm, honest conversation about trusting your body, the power of community support after birth, and what empowerment in motherhood really looks like once you're on the other side of it. In this episode: Falling pregnant with Harrison after 12 months of tryingSevere pregnancy sickness (hyperemesis) across all three pregnanciesA smooth labour that turned into a uterine inversion emergencyMajor blood loss, emergency surgery, and a night in ICUWhy they chose planned caesareans for births two and threeThe unexplained "stuck placenta" pattern across all three birthsBreastfeeding struggles with inverted nipples and pumpingThe value of practical postpartum supportAdvice for expecting and postpartum mumsWhat empowerment in motherhood means after three very different births 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 Mardie at: https://www.instagram.com/mardiekrause/

  5. Aug 16

    S3 EP 3 | Alana’s Story: Losing Zara, Fighting for Harvey, Saying Goodbye to Daisy: One Mum's Pregnancy Loss Journey

    Content warning: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, infant death, medical termination for medical reasons (TFMR), and NICU experiences. Please take care while listening. In this episode, we sit down with Alana, a mum from South Gippsland, who takes us through three profoundly different pregnancies — and the devastating losses and hard-won joys that shaped her into a mother of three. Alana shares the story of her first pregnancy with daughter Zara, who was born at 23 weeks after an undiagnosed incompetent cervix and a traumatic hospital experience where her pain was repeatedly dismissed. She opens up about the seven minutes she and her partner spent holding Zara before she passed away, and the diagnosis that followed — and shaped every pregnancy after. She then walks us through her second pregnancy with son Harvey, including a rare cervical stitch procedure, months of bed rest, a 35-week emergency birth, and weeks in the NICU — plus what it was like navigating his fragile immune system through the early days of COVID. Finally, Alana shares her most recent pregnancy with daughter Daisy, an "easy" pregnancy that took an unexpected turn at 30 weeks when scans revealed a serious brain abnormality. She speaks candidly about the decision to pursue medical termination for medical reasons (TFMR), the support — and the gaps — she encountered in the medical system, and how she and her family continue to honour Zara and Daisy's memory. This is a raw, honest conversation about advocating for yourself in the medical system, the realities of incompetent cervix and cervical stitches, grief, resilience, and what it means to keep going. In this episode: Alana's first pregnancy and the signs that were missedWhat an incompetent cervix is and how it's diagnosedBeing born at 23 weeks — holding Zara for her final seven minutesThe lack of aftercare support following infant lossSecond pregnancy: a rare transabdominal cervical stitchHarvey's premature birth at 35 weeks and weeks in NICUNavigating an immunocompromised baby through COVIDA surprise pregnancy after fertility strugglesDaisy's diagnosis at 30 weeks and the decision to pursue TFMRHow the family keeps Zara and Daisy's memories aliveAdvice for expecting mums: trust your gut and advocate for yourselfIf this episode has raised anything for you, please reach out to Pink Elephants, Red Nose, or your GP. You are not alone. 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 Alana at: https://www.instagram.com/alana.spencer/ Resources for infant loss mentioned in this episode: Pink Elephants - TFMR Private Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3230922303638400/?ref=share&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=BF5Yjz9LeQcQydU8&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fg%2F1EBSMnRQcg%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr# Pink Elephants - Pregnancy After Loss Private Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/825313904330950/?ref=share&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=jK20OI2Y16n0bwxk&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fg%2F17efiQUFDV%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr# Pink Elephants - Live Chat Support for Pregnancy Loss https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/live-chat Rebecca Jane Foundation - Gifting Farewells to Angel Babies https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaJaneFoundation Red Nose - Grief and Loss Support https://rednose.org.au/grief-and-loss-support/overview/

  6. Aug 9

    S3 EP 2 | Sarah’s Story: 42 Weeks and Trusting the Wait | Fourth Birth, First Homebirth

    In this episode, birth and postpartum doula Sarah shares the story of her fourth and final birth, a home water birth in northern NSW that arrived sixteen days past her due date, right as COVID lockdowns began. Sarah opens up about the emotional preparation that shaped this birth: hypnobirthing, acupuncture, and confronting a long-standing pattern of people-pleasing that had surfaced in her previous births. She talks candidly about navigating pressure from the hospital system while planning a home birth well past 42 weeks, the surreal experience of falling asleep mid-labour, and how she consciously chose to stop "overriding" her body during pushing, after a very different experience with her third baby. This is a conversation about surrender, self-trust, and giving yourself full permission — in birth, and in motherhood. In this episode: Preparing emotionally (not just physically) for birthNavigating a 42+ week pregnancy during COVIDThe role of hypnobirthing in shifting fear and anxietyFalling asleep in active labourChoosing trust over control during pushingA peaceful, cocooned postpartum in lockdownAdvice for first-time mums preparing for their own birth 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 Sarah at: https://www.instagram.com/birth_in_love/ https://sarahdwyer.com.au/ Sarah is a doula and a certified hypnobirthing practitioner and can support you in a positive birthing experience so that you can approach your birth with confidence, calmness, and control.  With a deep understanding of the mind-body connection, she guides clients through evidence-based techniques, visualisations, and relaxation methods to release fear, manage pain, and enhance their overall birth experience.  She brings her experience of supporting families for the last 4 years and birthing her own children in hospital & at home. She support families across Northern Rivers and Gold Coast.  Resources mentioned in this episode: Books: Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering - Dr Sarah Buckley https://sarahbuckley.com/gentle-birth-gentle-mothering/ Spiritual Midwifery - Ina May Gaskin https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1570671044?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au The First Forty Days - Heng Ou https://www.amazon.com.au/First-Forty-Days-Essential-Nourishing/dp/1617691836 Podcast: The Great Birth Rebellion - Dr Melanie Jackson https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion

  7. Aug 2

    S3 EP 1 | Meg’s Story: A Hospital and Home Birth Journey into Two Under Two

    In this episode, Meg mum of two and founder of a keyword sign/Auslan training program for families shares the story of her two very different births.  For her first, Cecilia, Meg wanted a home birth, but she and her husband ultimately decided together on a hospital birth during the height of COVID lockdowns, culminating in an intense, fast-moving labour with a midwife she didn't click with and a birth that came right down to the wire.  Her second, Remy, was the home birth she'd always wanted a fast, water birth she describes as completely "easeful." Meg opens up about conception, pregnancy through a pandemic, trusting her body, postpartum with two under two, and the advice she'd give to any pregnant mum today. Key takeaways from this episode: Two very different birth experiences from the same mother show how much environment, support, and prior experience shape birth. The power of growing up around unafraid, honest conversations about birth. Why "trust your body" doesn't mean rejecting support, it means holding preferences loosely. 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 Meg at: https://www.instagram.com/babysignau/ https://babysignlanguageclasses.com.au/ Meg run’s Baby Sign - an education service for parents, carers, educators and other key stakeholders working with children in the early years. We provide key word sign (also known as baby sign language) training and early intervention services for children with speech and language delays. With Baby Sign, you’re not just learning signs – you’re building confidence, strengthening bonds, and giving the next generation a voice before they can speak.

  8. Jul 26 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode | A Pregnancy Update Planning Our Second Home Birth

    In this solo mini episode, I share a personal update on my second pregnancy and our plans for a second home birth. At 26 weeks pregnant with our second son, I answer listener-submitted questions covering everything from our IVF journey and the reasoning behind the close age gap, to navigating gender disappointment, prepping our toddler for a new sibling, and planning a home birth after a traumatic postpartum hemorrhage the first time around. Honest, unfiltered, and full of practical detail for anyone expecting a second baby — or just curious what it's really like behind the scenes. The pregnancy so far: 26 weeks along, why second pregnancies "fly by," and the mental difference between a first and second pregnancyWhy we're growing their family so quickly: an eight-year fertility journey, IVF timing, and choosing an ~18-month age gap by circumstance rather than planSymptoms & how this pregnancy compares to the first: first-trimester nausea, insomnia (possibly linked to a zinc deficiency), and fatigue while chasing a toddlerStaying active during pregnancy: continuing to weightlift three days a week, working with my coach, and prepping for a return to Masters Weightlifting post-birthBody work & birth prep: fortnightly visits to a chiropractor focused on spinal alignment, breathing, and nervous system regulation — plus dealing with rib pain this time aroundOn gender disappointment: an honest, taboo-breaking conversation about grieving the idea of a daughter, spirit baby readings, and holding grief and gratitude at the same timePreparing our toddler, Henley, for a sibling: bed-sharing, upgrading to a king bed, working with an attachment-based sleep consultant, and slowly shifting nighttime routines ahead of baby's arrivalLogistics without family support nearby: who's helping care for Henley during labour, and lining up extra support for the early newborn weeksPlanning birth #2 after a hospital transfer: revisiting the postpartum hemorrhage from Henley's birth, why home birth still feels safest, and how our midwife Jacinta is helping them plan differently this timePreparing mentally for a possibly fast labour: her first labour was under 5 hours — how she's managing expectations without "planning" for speedHerbs, supplies, and practical birth prep: tinctures for bleeding and afterpains, and reusing gear from their first home birth Want more? You can find episode photos over at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠ You can find me at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠

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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
    2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sarah
  • Show Website
    We Are Mothers.

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