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. 1h ago

    S2 EP 10 | Elise Story: Induction, Birth Trauma, Healing & Physiological Birth

    In today’s episode we chat with Elise, doula and mum not two from the Northern Rivers.  After an induced first birth involving a postpartum haemorrhage, theatre, blood transfusions and a long physical recovery, Elise believed she had experienced a "positive induction."  It wasn't until she became pregnant again that she recognised how much unresolved birth trauma she was carrying. In this episode we discuss: • Growing up always knowing she wanted to become a mother. • Her first pregnancy, severe nausea and developing PUPPP rash late in pregnancy. • Why she agreed to an induction at 40+4 after developing high blood pressure and protein in her urine. • An induction that progressed quickly before a prolonged pushing stage, assisted delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, blood transfusions and emergency theatre. • Recovering physically while also realising later that the emotional impact of her birth had been much greater than she first believed. • Entering her second pregnancy determined to process her previous birth trauma and advocate differently for herself. • Choosing to keep baby's sex a surprise the second time and returning to Midwifery Group Practice. • Navigating suspected ruptured membranes, using evidence from birth education podcasts and confidently making informed decisions with supportive care providers. • Experiencing a calm, physiological labour with no vaginal examinations until she chose them, laughing between contractions and allowing her body to push instinctively. • Why her second birth became the healing experience she didn't know she needed. This is such a beautiful episode where the journey of birth can really take many turns along the way. 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 Elise at: https://www.instagram.com/elisethedoula/ https://www.elisethedoula.com.au/ Elise is a doula based in Tweed Heads and servicing the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast areas. She offers pregnancy, birth and postpartum support along with Tens Machine and Birth Sling hire.

    1h 34m

  2. Jul 5

    S2 EP 9 | Kaela’s Story: Home birth | Third Degree Tear and a Hospital Transfer

    For years, Kaela carried a deep fear of birth. Instead of letting that fear guide her decisions, she immersed herself in learning everything she could about physiological birth, home birth and informed consent. The more she learned, the more confident she became that home was where she felt safest. In this episode, Kaela shares the complete story of welcoming her daughter Sophia into the world through a planned home birth. We talk about: • What shifted her mindset from fear to confidence before pregnancy • Preparing physically and mentally for a physiological birth • Why she chose a private midwife and home birth model of care • Labouring at home and the freedom of moving through birth in her own space • The powerful moment her partner caught their daughter in the birth pool • Discovering their baby's gender together after birth • The unexpected third-degree tear and why she ultimately transferred to hospital • How her midwife advocated for her wishes throughout the hospital transfer • Choosing local anaesthetic over theatre so she could remain present with her newborn • Recovering from a significant birth injury while protecting her postpartum space • Preparing nourishing postpartum meals, embracing the 40 days of rest and supporting healing • Her honest reflections on birth, informed choice and what empowerment in motherhood now means to her Whether you're planning a home birth, exploring your birth options or simply love hearing honest birth stories, this episode is a beautiful reminder that birth doesn't have to be perfect to be deeply empowering. 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 Kaela at: https://www.instagram.com/kaela_banney/ Mentioned in the episode: Shetland Eller. The Birthing Mum https://birthingmum.com.au/about-2/about/ https://www.instagram.com/birthingmum/

    47 min

  3. Jun 28

    S2 EP8 | Emily’s Story: From Hospital Plans to Home Birth and Trusting Your Intuition

    In this episode, Emily shares her journey from a conventional pregnancy care pathway to an empowering home birth experience with her son, Kai. What began as a fairly standard pregnancy quickly became a deeper exploration of birth philosophies, informed decision-making, and learning to trust her own instincts. Emily opens up about feeling increasingly disconnected from the care she was receiving, the fears she initially carried about home birth, and the serendipitous meeting with a private midwife that changed the course of her pregnancy. Together we discuss: Discovering she was pregnant and preparing for her first babyWhy she initially planned a hospital birthThe growing feeling that her maternity care wasn't aligned with her valuesHow birth education completely shifted her perspective on birthThe fears and misconceptions she carried around home birthMeeting her private midwife at 30 weeks pregnant and instantly feeling alignedMaking the decision to transfer her care late in pregnancyLearning to trust her intuition throughout pregnancyEarly labour signs and the emotional lead-up to birthLabouring at home with her husband and support teamUsing a TENS machine, movement, water and hands-on support during labourThe intensity of transition and navigating self-doubt in labourGiving birth to baby Kai in a birth pool at homeDiscovering her baby's sex after birthThe beauty of remaining in her own space after birthA physiological third stage and waiting for the placenta to be born naturallyPreparing for postpartum using principles from The First Forty DaysStocking the freezer, creating a supportive postpartum environment and protecting the newborn bubbleThe unexpected challenges of breastfeeding and overcoming latch issues with nipple shieldsWhy finding care providers who align with your values mattersHer advice for women preparing for birthThe powerful role intuition played throughout her pregnancy, birth and postpartum journeyEmily's story is a beautiful reminder that there is no one right way to birth, but there is immense value in finding the path that feels right for you 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 Emily at: https://www.instagram.com/emjenkinsss_/ Mentioned in the episode: Dee - birth worker / yoga teacher: https://www.instagram.com/deva_birth_co/ The Great Birth Rebellion - The medicalisation spectrum: https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148900490

    50 min

  4. Jun 21

    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

  5. Jun 14

    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

  6. Jun 7

    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.

    1h 17m

  7. May 31

    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/

    1h 17m

  8. May 24

    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
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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
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sarah
  • Show Website
    We Are Mothers.

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