Birth Choices

In this episode, we speak with Elysia's younger sister, Corinne, who shares her journey from planning a publicly-funded homebirth to an unexpected diagnosis at her 20-week ultrasound that changed the course of the rest of her pregnancy and her birth. The ultrasound revealed Corinne had placenta previa, a marginal cord insertion, and an extremely rare condition called vasa previa. Corinne walks us through how she processed this news, how she prepared for her lengthy hospital admission, and pre-term caesarean section. She reflects on the beautiful support her MGP midwife provided in the midst of a now very medicalised pregnancy, and the impact that midwifery-led care and education had in preparing her for birth and beyond. Corinne shares the choices she made in her caesarean section, the breastfeeding supports she leaned on in postpartum, and how her village rallied around her in surprising and sweet ways throughout.Links:Joan Kirner Homebirth ProgramMAMA Antenatal Breastfeeding WorkshopChoices in a Caesarean Section Positive Caesarean episode on The Great Birth Rebellion podcastMAMA Lactation Support and Sarah IBCLCAustralian Breastfeeding AssociationTo learn more about your choices in pregnancy, birth and postpartum follow us on Instagram or visit www.birthchoices.com.au

In this episode we speak with Sammy Veall, artist and former yoga teacher and studio owner, about the contrasting pregnancy and birth experiences of her two boys. Sammy shares her experience of an unplanned caesarean in a private hospital under obstetric care, and how that experience shaped her decision to have a homebirth after caesarean (HBAC) with private midwives for her second son. Sammy speaks beautifully about the ripple effects of her positive and transformative birth experience on not only her mothering, but career and life choices more broadly. A content warning — Sammy speaks openly about a non-consensual stretch and sweep late in pregnancy with her first baby, and the physical and mental impact this had on her both in the lead up to and during that labour, as well as in preparing to birth again. We discuss epidurals, and the impact of that loss of sensation for Sammy, physically and emotionally. Sammy speaks about the importance of following your own instincts and listening to your own inner voice, of choosing a care provider that not only aligns with your wishes for birth, but the preparatory work you are doing. She shares her experience of care from a private midwife and doula in pregnancy, and how those relationships, and that of her husband, supported her through her own crises of confidence in the lead up to labour, as well as through the intensity of her labour and physiological birth of her baby and placenta at home. 02:59 Initial visions for birth and choosing her first care provider06:13 First pregnancy08:21 Stretch & sweep leading into labour 12:07 Epidural and unplanned caesarean18:38 Postpartum experience and coming to terms with first birth experience24:07 Preparing for a second birth, working through previous trauma26:46 Navigating societal and family's views on homebirth and HBAC28:00 Choosing private midwifery care31:39 Choosing doula support 38:21 The onset of labour53:58 Postpartum experience and support56:37 Empowerment beyond birth Links:MAMA Midwifery Practice MAMA Midwifery Birth Class - VBAC Rhea Dempsey's Birth Debrief & Embracing the Intensity birth course Jo Askham doula 

In this episode we speak with Kelly Langford, co-founder of Victoria's first private midwifery group practice MAMA Midwifery, about choosing private midwifery care for your pregnancy and birth. After being mentored into private practice early in her midwifery career, Kelly is a passionate advocate for families and midwives alike. Kelly joins us to talk about what a private midwife is, what continuity of care from a private midwife looks like (and the different ways you can choose to be supported, whether you are birthing at home or in hospital), exciting changes affecting the maternity space right now, and what she loves most about providing care to families in this transformational time of their lives.Links:MAMA Midwives MAMA Lactation Support

In this episode we speak with paramedic and fellow student midwife, Ruth, about her experience of choosing her care provider and place of birth in her first and second pregnancies, receiving care from private midwives with admitting rights in a private hospital in Brisbane, and then after being unable to find that same model in Melbourne, choosing to birth at home with the support of private midwives (and an unofficial backup plan with a supportive OB). Ruth talks us through her marathon first labour, and how morphine (while deviating from her plan) allowed her to get the rest she needed before birthing her first daughter in the pool. Ruth speaks so eloquently about her experience, including of postpartum haemorrhage and the experience of having a big and otherwise well baby in the special care nursery. For her second birth, after being unable to find a similar model of care, Ruth chose to birth at home with private midwives. She takes us through that decision and the considerations given her history of PPH, and the fast but intense labour and waterbirth of her second daughter. We talk about the experience of continuity, the experience of good postpartum care both in hospital and then at home, and the importance of thinking about what you want out of birth and choosing your care providers and place of birth with that in mind.Links:Study comparing outcomes among women who begin labour intending to birth at home vs those intending to give birth in hospital: Reitsma, A., Simioni, J., Brunton, G., Kaufman, K., & Hutton, E. K. (2020). Maternal outcomes and birth interventions among women who begin labour intending to give birth at home compared to women of low obstetrical risk who intend to give birth in hospital: A systematic review and meta-analyses. EClinicalMedicine, 21, 100319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100319Kindred Midwifery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Ruth's Brisbane care providers)MAMA Midwives (Ruth's Melbourne care providers)

In this episode we speak with Georgia and Talbot, barrister and engineer, about their decision to birth their first baby at home. Georgia and Talbot initially chose a private midwife as no publicly funded programs were running after COVID, but late in pregnancy, after agonising over the decision, changed to a publicly funded program. Georgia reflects on the impact of her mum's work as a midwife on her philosophy of birth (and the beautiful support she then gave them during labour and birth), and how when seeking a physiological birth, home felt like the most appropriate choice for them. They take us through those last weeks of pregnancy, including one of the best oxytocin-inducing activities we've heard yet. Like many first time birthers, Georgia set her expectations on a marathon birth, bossing her way through labour and denying it until they could deny it no longer. This is an exhilarating listen for reasons you will come to understand. LinksBirth Time — the documentary Internal pelvic release through The Pelvic Space 

In this episode we speak with Res McCalman, a Ballardong woman, midwife and researcher who is part of the team responsible for the Baggarrook Yurrongi culturally inclusive caseload midwifery pilot program, a project which implemented continuity of midwifery care for First Nations women and babies at three key maternity sites in Victoria (with plans for expanded rollout). In this episode Res speaks about the choices available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and those having a First Nations baby in Victoria, and the importance of offering culturally responsive, strengths based care (and how that is defined). Res speaks about the importance of listening to women's experiences of care beyond the statistics, some of the findings from her and her team's research, as well as what birthing on country is and how those models of care seek to recognise and reintegrate the rich history of birthing practices that existed before colonisation. This is a must-listen for anyone working in the maternity space, as well as for those seeking to understand more about care provider choices for First Nations women and babies. Links:Read more about the Baggarrook Yurrongi program here, and the study via the Lancet here Res McCalman — Research output (where you'll find the papers she discussed, including "Safe, Connected and Supported in a Complex System" and more)Pregnant in Victoria and seeking a referral to one of the caseload programs? Read more about Baggarook at The Womens' (Parkville), Galinjera at Joan Kirner (Sunshine), and  Nangnak Wan Myeek Program at Mercy (Heidelberg).Find out where your local Koori Maternity Service or Aboriginal Maternal Child Health Service is at this link.   Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights (Charles Darwin University) Visit our birthchoices directory of care provider and service offerings for First Nations mothers and babies across Australia (and please let us know of any programs we have missed!)

In this episode we speak with Kyla about her experience of navigating her choice of pregnancy care provider, and deciding to birth in a private hospital under the care of an obstetrician, with doula support. Coming from the US, Kyla was drawn to the possibility of public maternity care and also knew from her research that midwifery-led care was appropriate for her and her hopes for birth.  Kyla's pregnancy took place in the time of ongoing COVID restrictions and changes to pregnancy care, which meant that for her booked hospital, all appointments were by telehealth until well past 20 weeks. It was at this point that Kyla chose to reconsider her care provider and place of birth, and with the guidance of Sarah from @nurturedbirthmelbourne, decided to engage a private OB who was supportive of her desire to have a physiological birth, then engaging a birth doula for additional emotional and physical support. Kyla talks us through how she ensured that her OB was the right fit for her, and her experience of going well past her “due date” — feeling the social pressure but good in herself and support from her care provider to wait until she went into spontaneous labour at just shy of 42 weeks. She speaks positively about how doula support enabled her to labour at home before presenting to hospital ready to push her baby out, continuing to use her TENS machine as her main comfort measure. Kyla's story is a great example of knowing your options and seeking out a care provider and the kinds of support that you want, no matter what category they fall under. Links:Birth education via MAMA Birth with Confidence by Rhea DempseyCare provider choices

In this episode we speak with first time parents Emily and Josh about their experience of navigating their choices in pregnancy and birth, and preparing for what was a beautiful physiological waterbirth in the public system. Em and Josh sought out continuity of care through their local caseload program, and chose additional support from a doula. We hear about the positive social influences on their mindset for pregnancy and birth, their experience of reviewing the evidence on midwifery continuity of care in choosing where and with whom to birth, and in navigating other choices throughout their pregnancy and birth. Em experienced hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) right until the very end of her pregnancy, and speaks of the value of continuity of care while navigating that emotional and physical rollercoaster. They take us through their experience of coming up against hospital-based timeframes and the advocacy and support needed to allow physiology to unfold, while birthing in the system. Theirs is a wonderful story of the power of getting informed and arming yourself with a great support team, and how a positive first birth is not only eminently possible, but really powerful. Links:@karlismith.doula & The Hospital Birth CourseRhea Dempsey's Birth with Confidence & birth courseGreat Birth Rebellion podcastHyperemesis Australia Cochrane Review (2024): Midwifery Continuity of Care & birthchoices care provider info page

In this episode we speak with private midwife Clare from @tobirthbeautifully_ about the births of her four boys by caesarean section, and her various experiences of both labour and theatre. Choosing midwifery-led care (via MGP) for her first pregnancy, Clare takes us through her first labour and birth, and the choices she made which she feels contributed to her first caesarean section, setting the path for the three experiences that followed. Clare continued to seek a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) in her second, third and fourth pregnancies, while also developing her preferences around caesarean section. For the birth of her fourth baby earlier this year, by then a privately practising midwife with a passion for homebirth, Clare considered homebirth, before ultimately choosing private obstetric care with a provider who respected and honoured the very clear preferences she had for not only the timing of her caesarean (and her desire to labour), but for the caesarean itself and the management of both her and her baby. Clare reflects on how her experiences and development as a midwife contributed to the choices she made in her various pregnancies, labours and births, evolving alongside her and her practice. We touch on positive postpartum, the experience of honouring rest while wrestling with feelings of loneliness, and the self and external judgement that can come as a midwife birthing your babies by caesarean. LinksVisit Clare on Instagram and via her websiteDr Sarah Buckley's “How to have the best caesarean” and book “Gentle birth, Gentle Mothering”

In this episode, Elysia and Alice discuss the role of a student midwife and why you might choose one to provide additional (and free) support to you in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. We discuss what's involved, what some evidence says about the physical and emotional outcomes, and how you can find the right student for you. LinksFor links to the studies discussed, as well as to the Facebook and other pages to find a student midwife, check out our student midwife page on the websiteTo connect with a student midwife, post a comment on our “matchmaking” instagram post.

In this episode we hear from physio and internal pelvic release practitioner, Olivia, about the births of her two sons. Olivia received private midwifery care in her first pregnancy. Her plans for homebirth changed when she chose induction at 41+3, and Olivia talks us through her experience of birthing in hospital without the support of her private midwife due to covid restrictions, and the unplanned emergency caesarean section under general anaesthetic that followed. Olivia reflects on the damaging narratives around people who have birth preferences (or plan to birth at home), and her and her husband's experiences of trauma from that birth, and how that shaped her selection of care provider for her healing VBAC that followed — a carefully selected private obstetrician with the additional support of a doula. We also touch on the role of physio in pregnancy, birth preparation and postpartum recovery (including, wait for it, reaching your ‘poo potential'), and what internal pelvic release and training from Fiona Hallinan has brought to her practice. Links: Find out more about Olivia's work as a physio at Health Canvas or via @physio.therapeutic.yoga.Olivia is available for internal pelvic release work at Health Canvas and in June and July at The Pelvic Space.Read more about shared care with a private midwife (Olivia engaged MAMA Midwives) and other models of care via our care provide guide Chapters:(19:11) First birth — the morning of 41+3(33:39) First postpartum and recovery(38:05) Second pregnancy — planning for a VBAC(49:04) Second birth

In this episode we speak Fiona Hallinan and Agia Nenke, midwives and internal pelvic release practitioners, about the role of the pelvis in understanding labour and birth, the role of soft tissue and the impact of tension, perineal massage (or more relevantly, perineal kneading, and what not to do!), spinning babies and how to best support women and babies bodies to work together and minimise trauma both emotionally and physically when doing the birth dance.Fiona and Agia speak beautifully about  the history we all hold in our bodies, and the need for midwives and other birth workers to have the skills to be able to support physiology when that history gets in the way. This is an incredible opportunity to hear from two leaders in this space in this space and we know you (whether you are preparing to birth, or supporting others in birth) will love it. Links:The Pelvic SpaceNo Bullsh*!t Birth Preparation course with Fiona, Agia and Lani at The Pelvic Space

In this episode we hear from co-host Alice and her husband Dave about their road from birthing in a private hospital under private obstetric care, through the grief of two miscarriages, to then birth at home via a publicly funded homebirth program. Alice looks back on her first vaginal birth, which she emerged from feeling victorious, now through the lens of greater understanding of birth and the role that her model of care and place of birth played in influencing the dynamic in the birth space, and the interventions that resulted. We speak about the process leading up to the decision to birth at home, and the common questions that come up for partners and support people along that road. This is a great listen for anyone wanting to hear about the difference in experience between continuity of obstetric care and continuity of midwifery care, for those considering homebirth, and for partners who would benefit from another story from both sides (see also Elysia & Andrew's episode!) Links:Fiona Hallinan & internal pelvic release via The Pelvic Space, and birth education with Agia, Fiona + IlanaWomen's Health Physio - Embrace Physio & PilatesDoula Sue LeeThe Great Birth Rebellion on Episiotomies “Is Home Birth Safe” Summary of EvidenceSafer Care Victoria Homebirth Guideline“Puts the magic back into life — Fathers' experience of planned homebirthhh“It could not have been more different.” Comparing experiences of hospital-based birth and homebirth in Ireland: A mixed-methods surveyPrivate birth education with midwife Danielle Sorbello Chapters (00:54) Introduction (06:34) Choosing private obstetric care (25:25) Hugo's labour and birth(42:17) First postpartum(48:36) Pregnancy loss  (01:06:09) Billy's pregnancy and the road to homebirth(01:19:18) Experiences of midwifery continuity of care(01:23:32) Managing other people's opinions on homebirth (01:36:35) Billy's labour and homebirth Disclaimer: This podcast aims to share stories and education to assist you in navigating your pregnancy and birth and in discussing these choices with your chosen pregnancy care provider. The information and resources provided are educational in nature and do not constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. While we have worked hard to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and based on reliable and up to date evidence, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Our website and podcast are intended to complement, and never to substitute, your midwifery or medical clinical care.

In this episode we speak with obstetrician Dr Natalie Elphingstone about her obstetric training and how that contributes to a certain dominant philosophy of birth, her road to “doing” less and learning from and collaborating with midwives and doulas, the question of obstetric care for “low risk” or uncomplicated pregnancies, homebirth, curating postpartum support, and your choices in caesarean section. As you can see, this is a juicy one, and a must listen for all entering the maternity setting whether you are seeking obstetric care or not. Links:Dr Natalie Elphingstone on InstagramDisclaimer: This podcast aims to share stories and education to assist you in navigating your pregnancy and birth and in discussing these choices with your chosen pregnancy care provider. The information and resources provided are educational in nature and do not constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. While we have worked hard to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and based on reliable and up to date evidence, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Our website and podcast are intended to complement, and never to substitute, your midwifery or medical clinical care.

In this episode we speak with Karli Smith, a doula with a background in international human rights law and humanitarian aid, who now spends her time supporting women and birthing people on an individual and broader systems level in advocating for rights in maternity care. We speak about the role of doulas in pregnancy, birth and postpartum, the power and magic of birth and having someone hold you in your vision for birth, the importance of informed consent and autonomous decision-making in birth, and strategies for navigating the (public and private) hospital system. Karli gives us some great pointers for language you or your support people can use in the birth space, something she builds on more deeply in her amazing course, “The Hospital Birth Course” (with a version for women and birthing people, and another specifically geared to birth workers). Links:The Hospital Birth CourseReport of the Special Rapporteur — violence against women, its causes and consequences on a human rights-based approach to mistreatment and violence against women in reproductive health services with a focus on childbirth and obstetric violenceAIHW: Australia's Mothers and Babies (the birth stats we touched on)

In this episode we hear from our very own Elysia, as she and her husband Andrew give us a snapshot of their first three birth experiences — the first two in integrated birth centres in the UK, the third in a Melbourne public hospital, before delving into what led them to choose homebirth for their most recent birth of baby number 4, at home via a publicly funded homebirth program. We discuss the cultural and social influences on your choices around how and where to birth, as well as the journey towards choosing homebirth. We touch on Elysia's experience of a third degree tear in her first birth (and the improved perineal outcomes with each subsequent birth), and when it came to homebirth — the common partner questions, the role of a student midwife, and their reflections on just how different that model of care, and experience of being in your own home was, for both Elysia and Andrew. Links:- The Great Birth Rebellion on Group B Strep (GBS) and Pushing Out Your Baby- The Midwives Cauldron episode on Gestational Diabetes - Rachel Reed on Big Babies - Cochrane Review into midwifery-led continuity of care: Sandall, J., Soltani, H., Gates, S., Shennan, A., & Devane, D. (2015). Midwife-led continuity models versus other models of care for childbearing women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9, CD004667–CD004667. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub4Birth Choices, through this website and our podcast, aims to share stories and collate information to assist you in navigating your pregnancy and birth and in discussing these choices with your chosen pregnancy care provider. The information and resources provided are informational and educational in nature and does not constitute medical or midwifery advice and shall not be construed as constituting or replacing medical or midwifery advice. While we have worked hard to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and based on reliable and up to date evidence, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Our website and podcast are intended to complement, and never to substitute, your midwifery or medical clinical care. 

In this episode we welcome back Dr Hazel Keedle to discuss all things vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). We speak about her research that collated in her book, Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth, what informed consent looks like in this space, the benefits of relationship-based care, the four contextual factors impacting on women's experiences of VBAC, and how the ripple effect of a positive VBAC can echo through communities and pass down through generations. Links:- Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth - Dr Kristen Small of Birth Small Talk for more resources on CTG MonitoringDisclaimer: This podcast aims to share stories and education to assist you in navigating your pregnancy and birth and in discussing these choices with your chosen pregnancy care provider. The information and resources provided are educational in nature and do not constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. While we have worked hard to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and based on reliable and up to date evidence, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Our website and podcast are intended to complement, and never to substitute, your midwifery or medical clinical care.

In this episode we speak with postpartum doula, Jules Meyer of @flo.to.grow, about her experience of the “cascade of intervention” in her first birth following induction, her journey of preparing for a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), the ongoing advocacy required through her pregnancy, and birth, and how it felt to birth her second baby vaginally, both in those minutes and hours post-birth, and now, weeks into her postpartum. She reflects beautifully on the shift from being what she thought was informed first time around, to getting really informed, and standing in her power to birth her baby as she wanted to. This is a great story for anyone preparing to birth their baby, as well as for anyone preparing for a VBAC. Jules also takes us through how she prepared for and is experiencing postpartum second time around. Links:Jules drew on the following resources in preparing for VBAC Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth (we cover this with Hazel in an upcoming episode)Flor Cruz https://www.instagram.com/badassmotherbirther/B from Core and Floor Restore https://www.instagram.com/coreandfloorrestore/ Rachel Reed on VBACRhea Dempsey - Birth with ConfidenceEvidence Based Midwife on the ARRIVE Trial Learn more about Jules and her postpartum doula offerings at: https://flotogrow.com/Disclaimer: This podcast aims to share stories and education to assist you in navigating your pregnancy and birth and in discussing these choices with your chosen pregnancy care provider. The information and resources provided are educational in nature and do not constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. While we have worked hard to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and based on reliable and up to date evidence, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Our website and podcast are intended to complement, and never to substitute, your midwifery or medical clinical care.

In part 2 of our mini-series on care provider choices we speak with Dr Hazel Keedle, lead researcher on Australia's largest survey on women's experiences of maternity care, the Birth Experience Study (BESt). We discuss the findings explored in a few key papers emanating from the responses of 8,804 women to that survey, including key findings around “what women want if they were to have another baby”, as well as the strengths and and limitations of different maternity models of care accessed by women in Australia in the preceding 5 years.Links:Keedle, H., Lockwood, R., Keedle, W., Susic, D., & Dahlen, H. G. (2023). What women want if they were to have another baby: the Australian Birth Experience Study (BESt) cross-sectional national survey. BMJ Open, 13(9), e071582–e071582. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071582Pelak, H., Dahlen, H. G., & Keedle, H. (2023). A content analysis of women's experiences of different models of maternity care: the Birth Experience Study (BESt). BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 864–864. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06130-2The Conversation — More than 6,000 women told us what they wanted for their next pregnancy and birth. Here's what they said Hazel's book — Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth (which we covered with Hazel in a different episode to be released in the coming weeks)Disclaimer: This podcast aims to share stories and education to assist you in navigating your pregnancy and birth and in discussing these choices with your chosen pregnancy care provider. The information and resources provided are educational in nature and do not constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. While we have worked hard to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and based on reliable and up to date evidence, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Our website and podcast are intended to complement, and never to substitute, your midwifery or medical clinical care. 

This is Part 1 of our care provider choices mini-series. In this episode we walk you through the care provider options available to you for pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. We discuss care under the public system - from fragmented general care, to caseload/MGP continuity models, publicly funded Homebirth, and shared care with a GP or private midwife, as well as care from private midwives and private obstetricians. Choosing your car provider matters, and it shouldn't just be a case of whether you do or don't have private health insurance. To read more about your care provider choices — head to www.birthchoices.com.au/careproviderLinks:Cochrane Review into midwifery-led continuity of care: Sandall, J., Soltani, H., Gates, S., Shennan, A., & Devane, D. (2015). Midwife-led continuity models versus other models of care for childbearing women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9, CD004667–CD004667. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub4Study comparing caseload midwifery with standard or private obstetric care for first time mothers — ​​Tracy, S. K., Welsh, A., Hall, B., Hartz, D., Lainchbury, A., Bisits, A., White, J., & Tracy, M. B. (2014). Caseload midwifery compared to standard or private obstetric care for first time mothers in a public teaching hospital in Australia: a cross sectional study of cost and birth outcomes. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14(1), 46–46. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-46“Factors promoting or inhibiting normal birth”: Prosser, S. J., Barnett, A. G., & Miller, Y. D. (2018). Factors promoting or inhibiting normal birth. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(1), 241–241. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1871-5“What women want if they were to have another baby: the Australian Birth Experience Study (BESt) cross-sectional national survey”: Keedle, H., Lockwood, R., Keedle, W., Susic, D., & Dahlen, H. G. (2023). What women want if they were to have another baby: the Australian Birth Experience Study (BESt) cross-sectional national survey. BMJ Open, 13(9), e071582–e071582. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071582A content analysis of women's experiences of different models of maternity care: Pelak, H., Dahlen, H. G., & Keedle, H. (2023). A content analysis of women's experiences of different models of maternity care: the Birth Experience Study (BESt). BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 864–864. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06130-2Disclaimer: This podcast aims to share stories and education to assist you in navigating your pregnancy and birth and in discussing these choices with your chosen pregnancy care provider. The information and resources provided are educational in nature and do not constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. While we have worked hard to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and based on reliable and up to date evidence, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Our website and podcast are intended to complement, and never to substitute, your midwifery or medical clinical care. 

Welcome to our introductory episode for birthchoices — the podcast. Meet co-hosts Alice and Elysia who introduce themselves and discuss their plans for the podcast — a platform to share digestible evidence and stories from families, as well as insights from experts, about the range of choices available to you in pregnancy, birth and postpartum.