Transform Your Birth
Transform Your birth Podcast will educate, entertain and support your ability to navigate pregnancy and prepare to give birth. We can't control birth, but Tracey helps us to see how we can influence it and how it helps us to become parents. Transform Parenting Founder Tracey Anderson Askew explores birth through stories and the lens of what birth can teach us. She prepares families for birth and parenting and views birth as the catalyst for the transformation necessary to go from woman to mother, and man to father. These podcasts will share that wisdom and change the current birth narrative from what happens in birth to how birth changes us.
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Maryn Green - Birth as a rite of passage and rituals for pregnancy
06/26/2024
Maryn Green - Birth as a rite of passage and rituals for pregnancy
Maryn Green has been attending women as a midwife since 2009; first as a licensed midwife and now as a spiritual midwife that helps facilitate the ceremonies of birth and mothering. Maryn is well known for being the founder of the Indie Birth Association and Indie Birth midwifery school, which educates women and midwives all over the world. She has her own podcast, “Taking Back Birth,” that encourages women and midwives to rethink what they have been taught, and re-connect with ancient wisdom and the spiritual journey of birth. She is also the author of the book Indie Birth: A Story of Radical Birth Love in 2019. Maryn has given birth to 10 children and currently lives in Hawai’i. Today we look at how birth is a rite of passage, how we can prepare for birth through ceremony and ritual, and she shares some great insights through her own birth experiences. I truly loved having a conversation about birth that goes beyond the things that can happen, to exploring the greater meaning of birth as a transformational process for the birthing woman and the baby - and the intricate dance between the two. A fresh new perspective. Enjoy dear ones. Links: Maryn's Links: You can also find Maryn @indiebirth on Instagram and on Rumble and Youtube
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Catherine Bell on Birth Mapping, a way of avoiding birth trauma
06/19/2024
Catherine Bell on Birth Mapping, a way of avoiding birth trauma
I am so excited to bring you Catherine Bell, the developer of the Birth Mapping process. Decision making during pregnancy and birth will have the most profound and significant influence on how your birth unfolds. The biggest mistake people make during pregnancy and birth is completely handing over the decision making process to their carers. Your job is to step up, understand the landscape, and decide what your needs are in any given situation from pregnancy, birth and after the baby arrives. There are many potential things that can happen, by mapping your chosen options, you are more likely to be able to adapt to the many paths that this experience can take a birthing family. Catherine will help us to understand how to do this through her PHD research on birth mapping. She also brings to us some of the recommendations from the recent release of NSW Birth Trauma report. From Catherine’s research, she can see that this process can contribute to the prevention of birth trauma. This is a ‘must listen,’ episode for all pregnant women. You will find Catherine’s contact details in the show notes below this episode. Catherine Bell is a Mother, consumer advocate, and Master of Science Communication about to complete her PhD evaluating her book, The Birth Map. You can find her on instagram @birthmapping and on Facebook @TheBirthMap Links:
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Lauren and Dan - Preparation, a great team, long second stage, Post-partum haemorrhage
06/12/2024
Lauren and Dan - Preparation, a great team, long second stage, Post-partum haemorrhage
This week on the podcast we have Lauren and Dan. They share the shift in mindset they experienced when preparing for birth, through the ‘Transform Your Birth’ course. Lauren really enjoyed her birth, largely due to the incredible team of midwives from the birth centre and her student midwife. With Dan well prepared and providing loving and practical support, she stayed completely in labour land and experienced that beautiful high after birth. She goes on to have a long pushing stage, a little problem getting the placenta out, and a post-partum haemorrhage, however with the wonderful team around her, she knew she was in the right place for them to manage this - and stayed completely calm through these challenges. A perfect example of great preparation, and a great team to manage whatever unfolds on the day. Links:
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Dealing with your fears and overcoming trauma, that could get in the way of your birth, with Jennifer Summerfeldt
06/05/2024
Dealing with your fears and overcoming trauma, that could get in the way of your birth, with Jennifer Summerfeldt
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Summerfeldt from Canada. Jennifer holds an MA in counselling psychology and is a Certified Canadian Counsellor. She is the Chief Empathy Officer of . She is the creator of the . With over 20 years of experience within the fields of maternal health, childbirth, psychology studies, and the transpersonal, she uses her expertise and voice to help advance the dialogue on trauma-informed care, maternal mental health, and healing in general. We are going to speak about her own personal experience of overcoming trauma, as the gateway into her current work of helping others transform through trauma, using her modality, called the Flowing fears process. I found our conversation fascinating, in that it broke down the places where the nervous system can get stuck in the story, and when we move to the somatic experience, we have a doorway into exploring much deeper patterns that can unlock our own potential. There are links to Jennifer's work in the show notes below. Put on your seatbelts people, we are going for a ride. Links: Jennifer's Links:
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Preparing your body for birth with Lynn Schulte
05/29/2024
Preparing your body for birth with Lynn Schulte
Lynn Schulte has been a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist for over 30 years and she is the Founder and principal instructor of the Institute for Birth Healing. Lynn helps pregnant women to balance their body, both before and after birth. She is on a mission to help women prevent and avoid birth complexity, injury and wounding, by promoting optimal physiology for the labour and pushing stages of birth. Knowing we are more than just our bodies, Lynn works on all levels, physically, energetically, and spiritually with women to help them access their full potential. She offers a certification process to help birth professionals become Birth Healing Practitioners. In this episode, we talk specifically about 3 areas of the body worth focusing on. Balancing the body, promoting good positioning of the baby and avoiding tearing are all great goals and worth preparing for. Fascinating insights from a woman who knows her trade. Also included in the show notes are links that include her programs, a directory of body workers and some wonderful resources that will support the preparation for birth. I feel so proud to bring you this episode. Links: Lynn's Links:
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Alicia - Induction with 2 false starts, the influence of the environment, vaginal examinations, choosing to avoid the drugs
05/22/2024
Alicia - Induction with 2 false starts, the influence of the environment, vaginal examinations, choosing to avoid the drugs
Alicia in her pregnancy didn’t really believe she could have an unmedicated birth, but after doing the ‘Transform Your Birth’ course she starts to open her mind to new ways of thinking. She ends up not even wanting the drugs during her labour. I loved the level of detail Alicia goes into when sharing her story. She weaves together the different twists and turns of her birth experience and the impact it had on her mindstate. She was exceptional in how she adapted, from going in to have an induction, and being sent home because they were too busy. This happened twice! She was incredibly gracious, and on the third attempt they were able to get the labour going. She shares how she managed the intensity of labour, vaginal examinations and how she made the different decisions by asking questions. Such great wisdom in this episode. Enjoy listening to Alicia’s story. Links:
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Emily and Brad - Fast first birth, posterior, tearing and bonding
05/15/2024
Emily and Brad - Fast first birth, posterior, tearing and bonding
Emily and Brad join us today to share the story of Isabelle’s arrival. We often don’t expect first births to be quick, and yet it can indeed happen. Quick births are often intense, and pushing out a baby who is face up can also be difficult. Emily, with the help of Brad, managed it beautifully, as she had learnt to trust her body and relax deeply. Emily shares her advice, that your body knows what to do - just trust it. Another great episode to help us all to learn to respect the birth process. Links:
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Penny - What to expect when baby arrives, the role of Grandparents
05/08/2024
Penny - What to expect when baby arrives, the role of Grandparents
Today I had a conversation with a Mega parent of 8 children and grandparent of 15, and great grandparent of 2 - Penny. We discuss what new parents need and the role of grandparents. This episode will give you a great insight into how you might change when your baby lands and what your needs might be. It is a great episode worth sharing with emerging grandparents as this role is vital and doesn't come with a handbook. We have also attached a popular blog to the show notes. Links:
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Suzzie - The role of a doula, the power of the mind to change birth
04/24/2024
Suzzie - The role of a doula, the power of the mind to change birth
Suzzie is a doula and mother of two. She shares her experiences that led to her becoming a birth worker. We explore the role of the doula, how they can offer continuity and emotional support when the medical system often can’t. We also look at the role of the mind in birth, and how it can change the way you experience your birth and even the pain. Suzzie is a very experienced doula and has great wisdom to share. Sit back and enjoy this episode. Links:
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Sheena - VBAC, 3 births, advocacy, patience and surrender
04/17/2024
Sheena - VBAC, 3 births, advocacy, patience and surrender
Sheena joins us again on the podcast with the story of her third birth. She acknowledges the way every experience of welcoming our babies causes us to grow, and will have a profound influence on the next birth. She has the wisdom of a woman who has travelled 3 completely different paths to welcome her daughters and provides a message of patience, surrender but also the importance of self-advocacy. Such great birth wisdom. Definitely worth listening to. Links:
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Breastfeeding matters with Anne Endres
04/10/2024
Breastfeeding matters with Anne Endres
Today we have a special guest, who is a midwife, lactation consultant and leads a practice of independant midwives working in the community - called Evolve Midwifery Services. Anne sees breastfeeding as not just a physical challenge to be overcome, but involves our emotional and mental well being. Anne covers topics like, how do you know if it isn’t working, expressing during pregnancy and the role of the partner in successful breastfeeding. This is a great episode to prepare you for breastfeeding and understand the tricky landscape of feeding a newborn baby. Sit back, relax and enjoy! Make sure you check out You can find Anne on socials at evolve_midwifery Links:
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Tracey talks about making decisions through pregnancy and birth
04/03/2024
Tracey talks about making decisions through pregnancy and birth
Today I will be talking about how to make good decisions during pregnancy and childbirth. The key is preparation so that you understand the birth process and start to discover what are the things that are important to you. When making decisions, you will need to ask the questions both prior to birth and on the day. Your job is to identify the difference between a medical necessity and a choice. I have created a handout for you capturing some of the examples from this episode and many more. To receive your free download, just use the link in the show notes. Links:
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Mel - Acupuncture induction, waters breaking, the moment of birth
03/27/2024
Mel - Acupuncture induction, waters breaking, the moment of birth
Mel came into her birth experience after navigating a lot of life changing events throughout her pregnancy. At 39 weeks pregnant she realised she needed to work out how she was going to birth this baby. After doing the Transform Your Birth course, all her questions were answered - so that when she went into labour, she was able to ask for what she needed to support the birth process. Mel received kind, thoughtful and skilled care. I loved listening to Mel share her experience of meeting her son - it was beyond words. Links:
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Rebecca - 3 homebirths, 3 very different experiences of the pain and pushing sensations
03/20/2024
Rebecca - 3 homebirths, 3 very different experiences of the pain and pushing sensations
Bec’s three stories highlight just how different every birth can be. They all resulted in straightforward births, and yet the experience for Bec was completely different. She highlights her journey to transforming her experience of the pain when having contractions. By the time she had her third baby, her mindset completely changed as she leaned into the sensations without resistance, and saw them as a muscle working hard. She also managed to do the same thing for the pushing stage of labour. Bec has much wisdom to share from her three experiences of birth. Please enjoy! Links:
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Tasha Jennings - Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby, importance of choline, breastfeeding nutrition
03/13/2024
Tasha Jennings - Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby, importance of choline, breastfeeding nutrition
I am honoured today to be having a conversation with Tasha Jennings, a fertility naturopath and nutritionist. She shares with us the 5 elements of a healthy pregnancy. This information can have a profound effect on conception, pregnancy, breastfeeding and growing healthy children. Tasha reminds us that we need to be proactive when it comes to health, which is not just the absence of disease, but optimising the body’s response through these significant stages. She also highlights the importance of choline, an often overlooked and yet essential nutrient. You will find Tasha’s details in the show notes. Links: Tasha's links: Tasha's Socials:
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Danica - Vaginal birth with meconium and managing tearing.
03/06/2024
Danica - Vaginal birth with meconium and managing tearing.
Danica shares with us her experience of preparing for birth, and what made the biggest difference on the day. Her early labour involved some starting and stopping, and ultimately it was a walk that kicked her labour into the next gear. She shares with us how her partner supported her to find comfort, and what she focused on with her mind. During her labour, there was some meconium which required some extra monitoring. Danica also shares that her biggest fear was tearing up, and discovered that even when it happened, she was surprised to discover that it was no big deal. There are some great little tips in this episode - certainly worth listening to. Links:
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Gina - Author of ‘A Parents Guide to Safer Childbirth.’
02/28/2024
Gina - Author of ‘A Parents Guide to Safer Childbirth.’
Today I am talking to Gina Mundy. For over 20 years, Gina has been an attorney that has specialized in childbirth cases that have gone wrong. It has been this experience which motivated her to write the book, "A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth." She wants women to use the power of knowledge to help them to make choices that support the healthy delivery of her baby. This is such an interesting conversation and comes with many warnings of things to be aware of, that can potentially be harmful to both the mother and baby. An eye opening conversation that helps us to understand that there is no one way, and every decision matters. To get the book; Links:
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Muriel - A homebirth with all the family and the dog
02/21/2024
Muriel - A homebirth with all the family and the dog
Muriel is from France, and never imagined home as a place to give birth. It was her husband and his family who had all birthed their babies at home that gave her the confidence. What she discovered was her own strength, by going deeper into herself to manage the intensity of labour. It is the journey inward that unlocks our own potential - and of course this is exactly what we need to learn for parenting. A lovely story to inspire confidence - please enjoy Muriel’s story. Links
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Sarah - Induction and she loved it!
02/14/2024
Sarah - Induction and she loved it!
Sarah shares her experience of having an induction. Her body responded to the first stage, and she was able to do the rest of the birth without the need for any further intervention. She cites the support of her partner as being the biggest game-changer for her, as he coaches her to use her breath and soften her hands. She also has some interesting things to say about the pain of labour. Well worth tuning into, as we learn more about what moves the needle in birth. Links:
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Emily - Two births, one homebirth, practical tools and skills to support her
02/07/2024
Emily - Two births, one homebirth, practical tools and skills to support her
Emily almost didn't have children due to her fear of pregnancy and birth. She shares with us the internal changes she makes as she learns more about birth. She ultimately experiences two straight forward births, one in the birth centre and one born at home. Emily is very practical and shares in great detail the power of the tools she uses to find comfort. She believes her greatest tool in the tool kit was the support of her partner Jeremy. Some great birth wisdom in this episode. Enjoy! Links:
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Dannielle - An ideal birth, long labour, detailed second stage and avoids tearing
01/31/2024
Dannielle - An ideal birth, long labour, detailed second stage and avoids tearing
Dannielle experiences an ideal birth. She highlights to us what she thinks led to this outcome. We always acknowledge we can’t control birth, but there are many things that influence it. Danni helps us to understand those factors. Listen closely for those key ingredients, which all came together to support Danni to discover what she had inside of her. She also experienced the incredible skill from her midwife who was able to read her beautifully and came in just when she needed her most. Well worth a listen. Links:
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Chelsea - Two births, big babies, one forceps, no tearing, loved both births
01/24/2024
Chelsea - Two births, big babies, one forceps, no tearing, loved both births
Chelsea brings to us both stories of having big babies. She prepared well for both, and got her partner on board by doing the Transform Your Birth course. She also experienced incredibly skilled caregivers, which meant - even when her first son needed help with forceps, she was able to remain calm and experienced no tearing. There’s loads of wisdom in this story - well worth a listen. Links:
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Finding comfort in labour
01/17/2024
Finding comfort in labour
Today I will be discussing all the different options to support a woman during labour to find comfort, and be able to manage the intense sensations of labour. We are often told that the only options to get through labour are the drugs. They are certainly tools in the toolbox, but there are many other options also - that don’t have the same side effects to you - or your baby. Get ready to fill your tool kit by listening to this episode. You will likely want to record these other options if you are preparing to give birth. Enjoy! Links:
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Janina - 2 waterbirths, two very different labours
01/10/2024
Janina - 2 waterbirths, two very different labours
Janina shares with us her two water birth stories, one long and one short. Her story highlights how different each birth can be. She needs to work with her fear of the pain, and ultimately harnesses the power of her mind, both times. Janina shares some great wisdom about getting clear on what your non-negotiables are so you can communicate that to your supporters and health professionals on the day. This type of mental preparation goes a long way to getting the support that we need in birth. Another wisdom filled episode - enjoy! Links:
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Kanny and Al - Physiological birth, partner perspective and perineal massage
01/03/2024
Kanny and Al - Physiological birth, partner perspective and perineal massage
We are joined this week with Kanny and Al who share the experience of a physiological birth from the perspective of a birthing mum, and her partner. This was a team effort, and this story highlights the power and importance of both roles. Kanny also shares her experience of resisting perineal massage, and with the support of Al she overcomes the resistance and gets to a place of appreciating the sensations. This had a significant influence on how she felt when her body was stretching to release her daughter. There’s plenty of birth wisdom in this episode, so sit back and enjoy! Links:
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Deborah - The importance of the birthing environment, induction and augmentation
12/13/2023
Deborah - The importance of the birthing environment, induction and augmentation
Professor Deborah Davis joins me today from the University of Canberra and ACT Health to discuss the impact of the environment on birthing women, a topic we must all consider when optimising our body’s response to birth. Even though a woman might consciously feel safe in an environment, her body will tell her otherwise if there are aspects to her environment that cause her to release adrenaline, changing the way labour unfolds. We also delve into the high rates of labour induction and augmentation - and questions to ask your carers when making these decisions, to identify the difference between a medical necessity and a choice. This is a deeply informative episode that will help you to navigate the birth process. Enjoy! Links:
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Chelsea and Bilal - Optimising lifestyle and mindset to promote physiological birth
12/06/2023
Chelsea and Bilal - Optimising lifestyle and mindset to promote physiological birth
Chelsea and Bilal, both Chiropractors, went into their pregnancy with a great respect for the body and how to optimise its response to labour. They did the ‘Transform Your Birth,’ course to support and promote an optional mindset, and clearly define their roles in the birth process. The result? Listen in to find out. We end up having a unique conversation about what they think made the biggest difference to creating a beautiful entry for their daughter. Enjoy dear ones, well worth the listen. Links:
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Lyndsay - 4 completely different births, pregnancy after loss
11/29/2023
Lyndsay - 4 completely different births, pregnancy after loss
Lyndsay very generously shares with us her journey giving birth to her 4 children. Her third child, precious Frankie, passed away two days after being born. This heartbreaking loss gave way to a family journey of grief and finding ways to live with this excruciating pain. She has a dream that shows her that her family is not complete - and they ultimately end up welcoming their 4th child into the world. A tender story of grief transformed. Now they are behind an initiative to help families who lose a child, support the siblings with books as a catalyst to bring words to their children’s grief. I was deeply moved by Lyndsay’s ability to speak with such love and care for people everywhere who go through the experience of loss. Bringing this topic to the podcast helps us all to understand this harrowing journey - that ultimately we must all experience when we lose someone we love. A big thank you to Lyndsay and her family for allowing us into their world. Links:
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Amy - Two physiological births, avoiding induction
11/22/2023
Amy - Two physiological births, avoiding induction
Amy shares her story of two straight forward births, each one very different. She goes into detail of the things she does to manage each one, preferring to be still and not have people observe her. Her partner also plays an important role. She also shares more deeply about her ability to feel confident to push back on a suggested induction, sensing that her baby was still fine. A wonderful inspiring story to remind us all that we have everything we need within us to deal with whatever unfolds. Please enjoy this interview.
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Chanelle - Physiological homebirth highlighting what made a difference to support this beautiful experience
11/15/2023
Chanelle - Physiological homebirth highlighting what made a difference to support this beautiful experience
Chanelle shares with us her decision-making process when she decided to have her baby at home. Pushing beyond other people’s opinions isn’t always easy and we discuss in detail the wisdom of women to know where they feel safest to give birth. She shares the importance of getting her mind to be ok should she need to transfer, and to surrender to the mystery of what lies ahead. Chanelle ends up with a long labour, and yet uses her mindset to go into a trance state, maintaining her capacity to keep going. She goes into a state of timelessness and the length of her labour does not worry her at all. She pushes her baby out, births the placenta and has a perineum that is completely intact. A very straightforward, uncomplicated birth that all women should listen to to remind us that birth can be this way, to counteract much of the fear surrounding the birth process. She also shares with us her mother-beast awakening. Enjoy dear ones, and allow her story to inspire you to open your mind to what is possible.
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