Cuppa with a doula Alicia Cloarec-Riouat

Thanks for tuning into today’s conversation with the amazing Sarah, who is a special ed teacher, mum to 2 and now an author of her very own book “Little Harvey’s big feelings”, which you will hear more about on the podcast very soon! 



In this episode we chat all about 



✔️tossing between birthing at a birth centre or having a home birth with a private midwife, based on her sister’s two births and the fact that her sister is a midwife in an MGP program

✔️deciding to birth at the birth centre where her sister works and have her sister as a secondary midwife for the birth 

✔️loving doing hypnobirthing, reading Rhea Dempsey’s books, feeling very prepared for birth and being flexible (things didn’t go to plan at all!) 

✔️Sarah’s labour beginning at 38+6 (which she wasn’t expecting for another 2 weeks), not being ready, not having food in her house 

✔️Having to birth at a different place of birth than what she had planned as the birth centre already had a laboring mum 

✔️Embracing the change, embracing the unknown, being happy that things happen the way they did 

✔️Having Harvey’s tongue tie released at 6 weeks and being able to breastfeed pain free 2 weeks later, continuing to breastfeed for the next 17 months 

✔️falling pregnant a little bit sooner than Sarah has planned but being so excited to embark on a new pregnancy 

✔️planning a homebirth with the private midwife who was there for Harvey’s birth (Lynn) and her sister Chris as a secondary midwife 

✔️Layla’s birth unfolding so fast that Lynn (primary midwife) didn’t have time to make it and Chris found herself having to somehow fill that gap 



If you want to follow Sarah on her instagram https://www.instagram.com/the.rhyming.mum/ 



If you are currently pregnant, thinking of trying for a baby or know someone who is, please check out my FREE YouTube series “I’m pregnant! Now what?” Where I take you through how to navigate the system, how to effectively question and say “no”, what is consent, what models of care are available and so much more, it is available on my YouTube channel @Cuppawithadoula 



To be sure to be notified when a new episode comes out please subscribe to the show on your listening platform. If you would like to support the show, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a 5-star review on your podcast listening platform or Apple podcast. 



If you would like to come on the show and tell your own birth story please get in touch through this link here https://forms.gle/YCCP5dMg8bYSXuAYA 



This podcast is available on Deezer, Spotify, Apple podcast, most other podcast listening platforms and Youtube 



Follow me on social media for more content 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cuppawithadoula 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cuppawithadoula 



Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Alicia :)


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Thanks for tuning into today’s conversation with the amazing Kellie, mum to 2 living in Brisbane and who has made it her mission to share motherhood as it is on instagram @naturallykellie_ 



In this episode we chat all about 



✔️falling pregnant first go when trying for their first baby, which Kellie was not expecting at all 

✔️interviewing her OB to ensure that they would be supportive of Kellie having an undisturbed birth and be able to birth on her own terms 

✔️doing hypnobirthing and how beneficial this was for both herself and husband 

✔️finding out she had gestational diabetes without too much more explanation and going into a panic thinking she had done something wrong that would have caused this, only to find out that having hemochromatosis puts her at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes, regardless of anything else 

✔️what having hamochromatosis meant during her pregnancy to check that her iron levels weren’t too high 

✔️finding the early postpartum days very hard, being very emotional and crying a lot, but not because she was sad 

✔️getting a phone call when baby was a week old to say that it was picked up during heel prick test that baby’s TSH was high, meaning she had hyperthyroidism 

✔️falling pregnant with baby 2 on the first try, after “leaving it to the universe” but also deciding to wait a bit longer, not knowing they had already conceived 

✔️deciding to do things differently and have a homebirth this time around, her husband being very onboard while Kellie was a bit hesistant initially 

✔️only telling selective people in her circle she was having a home birth as she didn’t want people’s negative opinions or fears or didn’t want to answer “what if” questions 

✔️having a quicker labour for her second, with her daughter present for the pushing phase and then watching her birth her baby sister’s placenta on the couch 

✔️Kellie’s appendix rupturing when she was 6 weeks postpartum, having to manage giving her breastfed baby expressed milk and pumping to keep her supply going 



If you want to follow Kellie on her instagram https://www.instagram.com/naturallykellie_/ 



If you are currently pregnant, thinking of trying for a baby or know someone who is, please check out my FREE YouTube series “I’m pregnant! Now what?” Where I take you through how to navigate the system, how to effectively question and say “no”, what is consent, what models of care are available and so much more, it is available on my YouTube channel @Cuppawithadoula 



To be sure to be notified when a new episode comes out please subscribe to the show on your listening platform. If you would like to support the show, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a 5-star review on your podcast listening platform or Apple podcast. 



If you would like to come on the show and tell your own birth story please get in touch through this link here https://forms.gle/YCCP5dMg8bYSXuAYA 



This podcast is available on Deezer, Spotify, Apple podcast, most other podcast listening platforms and Youtube 



Follow me on social media for more content 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cuppawithadoula 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cuppawithadoula 



Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Alicia :)


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cuppa-with-a-doula/message

Hey hey, 



Welcome back to another episode of Cuppa with a pro where I interview professionals that work within the pregnancy, birthing or parenting space to chat about their expertise. 



Before we dive into the episode, let me introduce you to this week’s sponsor: Executive Alice, taking care of all the behind the scenes of your business so you can do what you do best
Find Steph and get in touch with her here https://www.instagram.com/executive.alice/ 



In today’s episode, I am chatting with Janelle from “The Wild Orange Tree” who is a women’s health occupational therapist and is passionate about helping mums and mums-to-be transition well into this new sphere that is parenthood and help address any challenges or changes that it comes with! 



✔️what is a pelvic health occupational therapist (OT) and how to get access to one through Medicare, private health or private paying 

✔️the role of a pelvic health OT, looking into our menstrual cycle, our pelvic floor health, dividing into both the physical and emotional side of motherhood and pregnancy 

✔️the very important role oxytocin plays after the birth, during our motherhood experience and what happens when we lack this oxytocin hormone 

✔️the uniqueness of motherhood and the support we need all throughout our parenting journey, not just the initial 6 weeks after baby is born 

✔️the difference between our western society and other asian and African cultures where motherhood is celebrated, rituals are celebrated, parents are supported every step of the way 

✔️motherhood as a rite of passage and what its three phases are  

✔️the 5 essential needs we have in postpartum and how community is at the centre of it all 

✔️giving yourself permission to evolve as a human being and become a new version of yourself with new beliefs 



You can find Janelle here https://thewildorangetree.com.au/ 



If you are currently pregnant, thinking of trying for a baby or know someone who is, please check out my FREE YouTube series “I’m pregnant! Now what?” Where I take you through how to navigate the system, how to effectively question and say “no”, what is consent, what models of care are available and so much more, it is available on my YouTube channel @Cuppawithadoula 



To be sure to be notified when a new episode comes out please subscribe to the show on your listening platform. If you would like to support the show, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a 5-star review on your podcast listening platform or Apple podcast. 



If you would like to come on the show and tell your own birth story please get in touch through this link here https://forms.gle/YCCP5dMg8bYSXuAYA 



This podcast is available on Deezer, Spotify, Apple podcast, most other podcast listening platforms and Youtube 



Follow me on social media for more content 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cuppawithadoula 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cuppawithadoula 



Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Alicia :)


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cuppa-with-a-doula/message

Thanks for tuning into today’s conversation with the amazing Cobi, actually on the day of this episode being released is Cobi’s boy’s Sidney’s 2nd birthday, so happy birthday to you little Sidney



In this episode we chat all about 



✔️initially going through an OB-led model of care, thinking she would get the highest possible care for herself and baby 

✔️having a friend tell her about home birth and meeting with a private midwife, deciding this was the right option for her 

✔️in hindsight seeing how negative her OB was, never really giving her info, just telling her how it will be, not accepting of Cobi’s birth choices or wishes 

✔️hiring a private midwife at 20 weeks and building a beautiful relationship which spanned beyond Cobi’s pregnancy! 

✔️Cobi’s labour with Sidney beginning at 41 weeks, 1 week after her husband started his leave (he was a DIDO worker at the time) 

✔️Cobi’s parents being present for her labour, having her mum braid her hair, having them support her during this transition 

✔️Cobi’s labour unfolding very quickly and finding she needed her dad present to help ground her and her partner and bring some “chill vibes” to her birth 

✔️Birthing her baby boy Sidney (4.2kg), in the shower, on her own terms, without her midwife who didn’t have time to make it

✔️Solo parenting for 4 weeks at a time while her partner is FIFO and away 



If you are currently pregnant, thinking of trying for a baby or know someone who is, please check out my FREE YouTube series “I’m pregnant! Now what?” Where I take you through how to navigate the system, how to effectively question and say “no”, what is consent, what models of care are available and so much more, it is available on my YouTube channel @Cuppawithadoula 



To be sure to be notified when a new episode comes out please subscribe to the show on your listening platform. If you would like to support the show, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a 5-star review on your podcast listening platform or Apple podcast. 



If you would like to come on the show and tell your own birth story please get in touch through this link here https://forms.gle/YCCP5dMg8bYSXuAYA 



This podcast is available on Deezer, Spotify, Apple podcast, most other podcast listening platforms and Youtube 



Follow me on social media for more content 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cuppawithadoula 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cuppawithadoula 



Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Alicia :)


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cuppa-with-a-doula/message

Thanks for tuning into today’s conversation with the amazing Mel who at the time of this recording is a mum to her daughter Alaska and has since welcomed into the world her baby boy Lakai 



In this episode we chat all about 



✔️knowing she wanted to be a mum at a young age and having her daughter Alaska at 22 

✔️finding out about home birth by total chance and just knowing instantly that this was the way to birth for her 

✔️still getting a referral for MGP after hiring private midwife and going to MGP appointment to really realise that this environment wasn’t where Mel wanted to birth 

✔️listening to a lot of birth podcasts to really understand the variations of labour, the last one she listened to being one with a mum who had pre-labour for days 

✔️Having pre-labour surges come on at night, 2 nights in a row but that would fizzle out by the morning 

✔️Loving the pushing phase, feeling so much better while pushing, being able to eat again 

✔️choosing to not suture her 2nd degree tear and let it heal naturally 

✔️finding her flow as parent and going with Alaska’s cues 

✔️focusing on postpartum for her second pregnancy and really diving into traditions and meal train to improve her recovery 



If you are currently pregnant, thinking of trying for a baby or know someone who is, please check out my FREE YouTube series “I’m pregnant! Now what?” Where I take you through how to navigate the system, how to effectively question and say “no”, what is consent, what models of care are available and so much more, it is available on my YouTube channel @Cuppawithadoula 



To be sure to be notified when a new episode comes out please subscribe to the show on your listening platform. If you would like to support the show, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a 5-star review on your podcast listening platform or Apple podcast. 



If you would like to come on the show and tell your own birth story please get in touch through this link here https://forms.gle/YCCP5dMg8bYSXuAYA 



This podcast is available on Deezer, Spotify, Apple podcast, most other podcast listening platforms and Youtube 



Follow me on social media for more content 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cuppawithadoula 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cuppawithadoula 



Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Alicia :)


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cuppa-with-a-doula/message

Thanks for tuning into today’s conversation with the extremely funny Katherine, I had an absolute blast recording the 3 incredible births of Katherine, who gave birth to her 2 children and was a surrogate for a couple in Australia ! 



In this episode we chat all about 



✔️having difficult access to birth education 14 years ago, but doing calm birth to help her prepare for a physiological birth 

✔️birthing her son with the same obstetrician, being very obedient and accepting an induction of labour 

✔️not feeling completely done with her family but her husband being totally done after having 2 kids 

✔️diving into the world of surrogacy, telling her husband, who initially was against the idea 

✔️drip feeding information about surrogacy to her husband who started to come around and accept the idea 

✔️steps to become a surrogate, from finding intended parents to counseling with IVF clinic to independent counseling to legal documents to being approved by a surrogacy commission before being able to actually begin the IVF process 

✔️finding her intended parents right before the global pandemic 

✔️beginning the process of transferring an embryo as the intended parents had embryo frozen 

✔️discussing birth choices with intended parents and during pre-counseling about how Katherine would like to birth as she has autonomy over her body 

✔️how the pregnancy and birth unfolded, birthing at home with baby’s intended parents present and involved 

✔️how Katherine breastfed surro baby for a bit while intended parents were around and then continued to express breastmilk and donated over 150L of milk to babies in need 

✔️how Katherine’s journey as a surrogate, someone who has birthed at home and is a doula has educated her children around fertility and birth in a whole different way 



Australian Surrogacy community Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ftsaust?locale=fr_FR 



If you are looking for donations of breastmilk or want to donate breastmilk https://www.facebook.com/hm4hb/ 



If you are currently pregnant, thinking of trying for a baby or know someone who is, please check out my FREE YouTube series “I’m pregnant! Now what?” Where I take you through how to navigate the system, how to effectively question and say “no”, what is consent, what models of care are available and so much more, it is available on my YouTube channel @Cuppawithadoula 



To be sure to be notified when a new episode comes out please subscribe to the show on your listening platform. If you would like to support the show, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a 5-star review on your podcast listening platform or Apple podcast. 



If you would like to come on the show and tell your own birth story please get in touch through this link here https://forms.gle/YCCP5dMg8bYSXuAYA 



This podcast is available on Deezer, Spotify, Apple podcast, most other podcast listening platforms and Youtube 



Follow me on social media for more content 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cuppawithadoula 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cuppawithadoula 



Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Alicia :)


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cuppa-with-a-doula/message