In this episode Sophia shares the stories of her two homebirths. Her first birth was long and winding, with many visits from bodyworkers and a hospital visit in an effort to spur along labour after her waters broke, eventually ending in the safe deliver of her son Abel after five days. Her daughter, Bowie was born 20 months later, and her experience of labour the second time around is very different, with it being very fast and powerful.

Sophia is interviewed by Indi as part of the handover of the podcast, as Sophia will be taking over as host of the Keep Birth Wild Podcast in an effort to bring back much needed story-telling medicine.

Sophia is a doula working in Naarm (Melbourne) and living with her two children in the bushy hills along the Birrarung. She speaks about her journey into Rites of Passage and Ceremony as a space holder for expecting and new parents. Her deep belief in the healing properties of community lead her to this work and she hopes that the more we speak about birth as a normal physiological experience, the less we have to fear from it.

Sophia Grant - Sophiagrantdoula

Lisa Wraith - Mimosa Midwifery

Robbie - Essence Midwifery

Steffi Arvanitakis - Sacred Ways of Being

In this episode Jess shares the stories of her two births. Both of her pregnancies were unplanned but very lovingly received. Her daughter was born in hospital, and although the birth was relatively straight forward, Jess describes the experience as traumatic and a catalyst for choosing a very different model of care for her next birth.

During her next pregnancy she explored several options for homebirthing, and opted to have the birth attended by a birthkeeper. She describes the whole experience as an exercise in tuning in to her own intuition and exercising autonomy over her choices.

Jess runs a wonderful women’s circle in the Yarra Valley, and you can follow her on instagram @welcometojessland to find out more about how to access her circle and her new offerings as they unfold.

Photos by Mother Mehndi

Ten Moons by Jane Hardwicke Collings

The Down to Earth Birth Book by Jenny Blyth

Newborn Mothers by Julia Jones

The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson

In this episode Sarah shares the story of her second birth with her son Freddie. You can find Sarah’s first birth story all the way back in Episode 1, so be sure to head back and listen to that one first if you haven’t done so already.

After sharing Freddie’s fast and furious birth, Sarah goes on to talk about postpartum, tandem breastfeeding, and what she envisions for her next birth.

You can find Sarah on instagram @simplifyfit