Diary Of A Birth

Giving birth is a transformative experience. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s miraculous. And no two stories are the same. Diary Of A Birth brings you inside the delivery room to hear an extraordinary birth story every week. Hosted by Ksenija Lukich, with expert advice from Dr. Golly, you’ll hear the real life birth stories that are everything you don’t expect when you’re expecting. 

  1. Say Hello To 'Hello, Bump'

    6 SEPT

    Say Hello To 'Hello, Bump'

    Welcome to Hello, Bump, a podcast about what you’re not expecting when you’re expecting. Each episode, we take you through exactly what's happening to you and your baby in each week of pregnancy. In this episode, hosts Jana Pittman and Grace Rouvray help you navigate finding out you’re pregnant, which often happens after a missed period around the four-week mark.  They’ll walk you through the physical changes, emotional ups and downs and give you practical tips on what you can do at this point in the pregnancy. Want more Hello Bump? Listen to the full season of episodes of Hello, Bump here. THE END BITS: Discover more Mamamia podcasts here. Email us: podcast@mamamia.com.au Share your story or feedback. Send us a voice message, and one of our podcast producers will get back to you ASAP. Are you a mum of a child aged 5 years or under? Are you expecting a little one? We want to hear from you! Complete our survey now for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! CREDITS: Hosts: Jana Pittman and Grace Rouvray Executive Producer: Courtney Ammenhauser Audio Production: Thom Lion Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    13 min
  2. From Hysterectomy to Maternity Ward: The Pregnancy Nobody Planned

    26 AUG

    From Hysterectomy to Maternity Ward: The Pregnancy Nobody Planned

    When Courtney thought her family was complete with two beautiful children, she was finally ready to focus on herself. After her doctor found pre-cancerous cervical cells following her first birth, she'd been advised to have a completion hysterectomy once her family was finished—and at 38, with a four-year-old and almost two-year-old, that time had finally come. Her hysterectomy was booked for March of that year. But in February, just weeks before her scheduled surgery, Courtney discovered she was pregnant with her third child. The culprit? Her two-year-old daughter Margo, who had been secretly chewing on condoms thinking they were chocolates, making tiny holes that rendered them useless. In today's candid episode, Courtney vulnerably shares her initial shock upon discovering the pregnancy, her fear about making the "wrong" decision, and how seeing her baby healthy at 17 weeks felt like a sign. She reflects on navigating a high-risk pregnancy with a shortened cervix, enduring three weeks of prodromal labour, and the dramatic 12-minute birth that caught everyone off guard—including herself. Diary Of A Birth will be taking a break for now, the show features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Please continue to share your birth stories at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Courtney Ayre  Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min
  3. 19 AUG

    The Silence After Loss: The Isolation Of Stillbirth

    Content Warning: This episode discusses stillbirth, infant loss, and termination for medical reasons. Please proceed with care. After falling pregnant on their first time trying into their marriage, Darci and her husband were overjoyed to be expecting their first child—the first grandchild for both sets of parents. But what began as an uncomplicated pregnancy quickly transformed into a medical emergency when Darci's blood pressure reached dangerously high levels, requiring multiple hospital admissions and constant monitoring. In today's profoundly moving episode, Darci courageously shares the devastating moment at 21 weeks when doctors discovered her baby was measuring the size of an 11-week foetus. Faced with an impossible choice, she and her husband made the heartbreaking decision to terminate for medical reasons and elected to be induced and proceed with the birth.  She shares Dylan's story not just as a tribute to her son, but as a lifeline for other bereaved parents who may feel alone in their grief—because these babies were loved, their lives had meaning, and their stories deserve to be told. If you have been affected by any of the content in this episode, here are some resources,  including Bears of Hope—an organisation that greatly helped Darci. Bears of Hope Stillbirth Foundation Australia Resources Beyond Blue. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on InstagramCREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Darci Crocker Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  4. 5 AUG

    A 32 Hour Labour & An Emergency C Section: Leigh Campbell’s Birth Story

    In this weeks episode, Ksenija is pulling our attention back to an incredible interview between Jessie Stephens and Nothing To Wear & You Beauty host Leigh Campbell. When it comes to life, Leigh Campbell is very prepared. But there was one thing she really couldn't prepare for, the birth of her son. Because even the most well-intentioned of plans can be derailed in an instant, or in this case, 32 hours.  Leigh sits down with Jessie Stephens, alongside her husband Rich, to talk about their birth story... THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you. CREDITS Hosts: Ksenija Lukich & Jessie Stephens  Guests: Leigh Campbell and Rich Gioutsos Producer: Gia Moylan & Ella Maitland Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min
  5. 29 JUL

    After 8 Years Of Trying, Her Sister Became Her Surrogate.

    When Carly's doctor told her it was time to consider surrogacy after 25 failed IVF transfers, her sister Sophie had already made an offer that would transform their family forever. After eight years of trying and watching all her siblings grow their families while she couldn't, Carly was about to embark on the most emotionally complex journey of her life. In today's episode, Carly vulnerably shares the profound experience of watching her sister carry her biological child—from the struggle to connect with the baby growing in Sophie's body to the overwhelming moment when Goldie was born and she could finally hold her daughter. The story takes an even more remarkable turn when Carly discovers she can actually carry a pregnancy herself, leading to the birth of her son Freddie just three weeks before our interview. Carly reflects on finding peace in potentially living child-free, the toxic positivity surrounding infertility, and how sometimes letting go can be more powerful than holding on. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Carly Prebble Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min
  6. 22 JUL

    Needles & Stitches: The Surprising Birth Story Of Fiona Falkiner

    On this weeks episode, we take a look back at an insightful interview Mamamia's very own Jessie Stephens had with Model and former Biggest Loser host Fiona Falkiner and her now wife, journalist Hayley Willis. They didn’t really have a birth plan, Fiona did know two things. She wanted to be induced. And she didn’t want to see a pair of forceps in the room with her. So, did her birth wishes come true? In this episode of The Delivery Room, Fiona and Hayley join Jessie to discuss the long road that led them into the birthing suite in March 2021. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.If you’re pregnant, listen to Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you. CREDITS Hosts: Ksenija Lukich & Jessie Stephens  Guests: Fiona Falkiner & Hayley Willis Producer: Gia Moylan & Ella Maitland Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
  7. Dealing With TAPS: One Of The Rarest Twin Complications Ever

    15 JUL

    Dealing With TAPS: One Of The Rarest Twin Complications Ever

    When Marni's IVF embryo spontaneously split at 13 weeks, she was excited to be bringing not one but two babies into the world. But over half way through her pregnancy her doctors discovered one of the rarest twin complications - TAPS. In today's emotional episode, Marni shares how TAPS turned her pregnancy into a fight for survival, with one twin slowly losing blood while the other's blood became dangerously thick. Marni takes us through the incredible medical interventions that followed—two groundbreaking in-utero procedures at 29 and 32 weeks. When an E. coli infection threatened their survival, Billie and Poppy arrived via emergency caesarean at 33 weeks, beginning a 27-day NICU journey that would test every ounce of Marni's strength. Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.  THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood. Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS: Host: Ksenija Lukich Birth Story: Marni Cochrane Obstetrician & Gynaecologist: Dr Bronwyn Devine Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

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About

Giving birth is a transformative experience. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s miraculous. And no two stories are the same. Diary Of A Birth brings you inside the delivery room to hear an extraordinary birth story every week. Hosted by Ksenija Lukich, with expert advice from Dr. Golly, you’ll hear the real life birth stories that are everything you don’t expect when you’re expecting. 

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