In this episode, Maddy shares the raw and evolving story of her three births. Each one radically different, each one shaping her identity as a mother and ultimately leading her into the world of birth work.

With no prior exposure to birth, Maddy entered her first experience trusting the system, only to be met with an intense, fast-paced induction that left her shocked and searching for answers.

Her second birth became a turning point - a deeply empowering, low-intervention experience that opened her eyes to what birth could feel like when supported and understood.

By her third, Maddy chose a home birth, grounded in trust, education, and intuition, navigating both the beauty and unexpected challenges, including a postpartum haemorrhage.

This episode is a powerful reflection on how knowledge changes experience, how support shapes outcomes,
and how birth can transform not just a moment… but an entire life path.

In this episode we cover:

• Falling pregnant young and navigating birth with little exposure
• The intensity of induction and rapid labour
• The difference between physiological labour and syntocinon-led birth
• Feeling let down by lack of education and support
• Discovering hypnobirthing and informed consent
• A completely different second birth experience
• The moment that led Maddie to become a doula
• Choosing a home birth for baby number three
• Navigating a postpartum haemorrhage at home
• The importance of advocacy and support in birth
• Preparing for postpartum with intention
• How birth can reshape identity, career, and worldview

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 Maddy at:

https://www.maddythedoula.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/maddy.thedoula/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100075920515191

Maddy is a mother of three and a birth and postpartum doula based in Hobart, Tasmania, who has spent nearly five years supporting women and their partners in the birth space. Her own births and experiences of maternity care are what led her into this work and continue to shape the way she cares for women and families.

She shares openly about motherhood, birth, and the importance of birth partner support on her socials if you’d like to follow along. In this episode, Maddy opens up about her own three personal birth stories and how they shaped her understanding of birth and maternity care, ultimately leading her to the path of working with families as a doula.

In this episode, Rikki shares her experience of becoming a mother for the first time and choosing a natural home birth with her daughter, Ruby.

After initially following what felt like the “standard” path, Rikki began to explore her options more deeply during pregnancy — leading her to realise that there was more than one way to approach birth.

With the support of a private midwife and a strong sense of alignment, she chose a home birth experience that felt intimate, calm, and true to her.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Rikki’s journey into motherhood and deciding she wanted children
• Conceiving naturally after coming off long-term contraception
• Navigating pregnancy as a first-time mum
• The decision to choose a home birth and what led her there
• Moving through external opinions, doubt, and social pressure
• The role of a supportive midwife and partner
• What labour looked like at home — from a slow start to active labour
• Unexpected moments during birth, including baby’s positioning and adapting in the moment
• The experience of pushing and birthing her baby in her own space
• The immediate postpartum bubble and early days at home
• Reflections on postpartum care and the importance of supporting yourself as well as your baby

Rikki shares honestly about the moments of doubt, the power of feeling supported, and the deep sense of trust she developed in her body throughout the process.

Her story is a reminder that while birth can look different for everyone, feeling informed, supported, and aligned in your choices can shape the entire 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 Rikki at:

https://www.instagram.com/rikkibwabe/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Birthing Mum Midwifery

https://www.instagram.com/birthingmum/

The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/3gQRikeOcaHkJjWTtcT1B1?si=52dca2d52298439f

In this episode, Ashleigh shares her journey through loss, IVF, and two very different birth experiences — and what changed the second time around.

After a first birth that she reflects on as traumatic, but pivotal, Ashleigh went into her second pregnancy with one clear intention: she wanted it to be different.

What unfolds is a powerful exploration of:

• Pregnancy after loss and the heightened fear that comes with it
• The difference between standard hospital care and private midwifery support
• The reality that many choices in the system don’t always feel like true choices
• How seeking evidence, information, and continuity of care changed everything
• The emotional and physical shift from a medicalised birth to an empowering one

Ashleigh speaks candidly about:

• Feeling like options in the system were presented in a way that made it hard to say no
• Wanting informed consent and autonomy the second time around
• Choosing a private midwife early in pregnancy and the impact of continuous, personalised care
• The contrast between a birth she describes as “traumatic, but pivotal” and one that felt “empowering, incredible and magic”

It’s a powerful episode that we hope you enjoy.

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 Ashleigh at:

https://www.instagram.com/ashleighburgis/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Midwife / IBCLC:

Tamika Newman

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/midwifetamika/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://tamikanewmanibclc.com/⁠