The Kick Pregnancy Podcast

Welcome back to The Kick Pregnancy Podcast! We've been very busy behind the scenes and are so excited to be back in your ears.  In this episode, we're discussing everything about the menstrual cycle. We have many frequent questions from listeners about their periods and the symptoms they're experiencing so Dr Pat is pulling back the curtain today to answer every question that impacts the cycle.  We'll delve into how the menstrual cycle works, the days of the cycle, how the cycle changes throughout a woman's life, the causes for irregularities, PCOS, Endometriosis, treatments, pregnancy and so much more.  There are many temporary factors that can impact your period such as weight loss, emotional stress, the Covid vaccine and over-exercising to name a few. Dr Pat will explore each of them to explain how they impact your body and what they mean for your cycle.  This episode is perfect for all women to learn more about their menstrual cycles and understand when there may be a need to seek medical help.   LINKS Previous episode mentioned:  How to become an Ovulation Ninja and fast track getting pregnant Maybe I have PCOS? Click here for a Menstrual cycle diagram Ask a question on the podcast. Send a voice message to GrowMyBaby FREE MASTERCLASS Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/ Instagram: @grow_my_baby

When you become pregnant, endless information is thrown at you regarding what foods you can and can't eat for the next 9 months. It can be very difficult to work out what is scientifically accurate and what has just been passed down from older relatives.  In this episode, Brigid is talking about safe food in pregnancy with food and safety expert, Gary Kennedy. Gary has worked with more than 1000 companies and government departments to ensure their food handling is safe and complies with health standards.  In this festive time of year, we're all going to gatherings where food will be laid out on tables or at the barbeque in the backyard for an extended amount of time. We wanted to talk to an expert to keep you safe during the holidays and ensure your pregnancy is healthy.  We discuss how to store food safely, how to choose safer food options when you're out and about, what food is best to avoid and why, and what the safer options are for you at Christmas.  This episode is absolutely jam packed full of useful and insightful information. Gary is a wealth of knowledge and we're very grateful to have him on the show today to help educate pregnant women to make safer food choices.   LINKS   Ask a question on the podcast. Send a voice message to GrowMyBaby   FREE MASTERCLASS Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/ Instagram: @grow_my_baby

This episode has a trigger warning for parents who have experienced loss.  Planning your pregnancy after the loss of a baby can be a very difficult and anxious time. There are thousands of worries running through your mind and you will want to check on the health of your baby constantly. But it's important to remember there is also life, hope and joy after loss. Our next guest will bravely share her own story to help other parents open up and support each other to heal.  In this episode, Brigid is talking with the inspiring and remarkable Priyanka Saha. Priyanka has founded the Lily Calvert foundation and set up the storytelling platform ‘The Murmuring of Ten Million'. She is also a lawyer, runs a cyber security company, and is on the board of a regional Victorian health service.  Priyanka's first-born daughter, Lily, died when she was just 10 months old from an incurable brain condition known as Miller Dieker Syndrome. She found out she was pregnant again only one week after the funeral for Lily. This was such a terrifying and challenging time for her and her partner trying to handle all of the anxiety and dread that there would be something wrong.  Priyanka defines a ‘rainbow baby' as sunlight shining through water to create a rainbow. This means allowing the happiness and the sadness to sit alongside one another - feeling happy does not cancel out your grief. Once you understand this, you will begin to find peace.  Priyanka courageously shares her experience of parenting a child who is dying and speaks candidly about the realities of trying to conceive and go through pregnancy after loss. By sharing her story she is hoping to help others to navigate the highs and the lows, grief and joy, and the anxieties that exist during pregnancy and parenting your rainbow baby.   Where to find Priyanka:    Instagram: @the_lilyflower  Website: www.priyankasaha.com.au  Instagram: Founder @thelilycalvertfund Resources for stillbirth and newborn loss https://www.theperinatallosscentre.com.au/community-support.html      Ask a question on the podcast. Send a voice message to GrowMyBaby   FREE MASTERCLASS Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/ Instagram: @grow_my_baby

Clotting in pregnancy and during the postpartum period can be a significant concern for a new Mum. To treat clots, doctors will try to adopt a preventative approach and prescribe anticoagulants during pregnancy and the postpartum phase to reduce the risk in at risk patients.  But who is an at risk patient?  Will the baby be affected?  In this episode, we are discussing everything you need to know about clotting. Pregnancy increases your risk of clotting by 5 to 10x and the postpartum period increases your risk 15 to 35x!  We'll talk about the different factors that increase your risk and the type of preventative measures that doctors will prescribe. We'll go through exactly what you can expect when taking anti-coagulants during your pregnancy and after you've given birth. To ensure you have the full picture, we'll discuss the signs and symptoms of a clot and explore how your hospital will diagnose it.  The potential of developing a clot can understandably cause anxiety in new Mums so we wanted to inform you all about how this is prevented, diagnosed and treated to assuage your concerns. Let us know if you have any questions or thoughts on this topic, we'd love to hear from you. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast. Send a voice message to GrowMyBaby FREE MASTERCLASS Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/ Instagram: @grow_my_baby

Can you choose the sex of your baby?  This is probably one of the most commonly asked questions when someone becomes pregnant and has been requested from one of our listeners.   It's easy to understand why people would want to choose the sex. Perhaps you have a family of three boys already and are hoping for a girl or vice versa.  In this episode, we discuss the stories floating around that promise to deliver a certain sex. Everybody has heard them - whether you have to face north at the time of conception or schedule your perfect date and time of conception with numerical planning - we've heard them all.  We'll explore the Shettles Method and if there is any merit to this procedure.  Unfortunately, there is only really one way to guarantee the sex of your baby and that's through IVF. We'll talk about how this method works to ensure a particular sex and the strict limitations to using this procedure in Australia. We'll also discuss the disappointment and guilt new parents can feel when they have a baby that isn't the sex they were hoping for. This feeling can continue on into parenting, so it's important we look at how to handle these emotions to support each other.   LINKS   Ask a question on the podcast. Send a voice message to GrowMyBaby   FREE MASTERCLASS Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/ RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Shettles Method: https://embryo.asu.edu/printpdf/pages/shettles-method-sex-selection    

We have all heard about how important iron is during pregnancy, but did you know that it is just as important when you are pre-pregnancy and breastfeeding?  In today's episode, we are talking about all matters relating to iron. Pregnant mothers' bodies need to literally make more blood to support the growing baby, and to do this she needs adequate iron levels. Through the birthing process, women lose blood, so it is important that you are not iron deficient or anemic leading into it because you need to have blood to spare.  The challenge is that you may think low iron symptoms, such as feeling tired, are because you are pregnant, but in actuality, you may be iron deficient.  Remember, it is so important to advocate for yourself with your doctor to ensure that you are being tested for iron deficiency (both through hemoglobin and ferritin) if you are feeling tired, fatigued, exhausted, or depressed.  We all need iron, it doesn't matter if you are a man or a woman. But women have the added complexities of the pre-pregnancy phase, the pregnancy phase, the breastfeeding phase, and the loss of iron through menstruation.  We love hearing from you! Send us your questions for our next podcast through Speak Pipe so we can have your voice on the show. LINKS This episode is sponsored by Maive & Bo https://maiveandbo.com.au/ Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to  GrowMyBaby FREE MASTERCLASS Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

If there was a gold standard for being a Dad, it's sure to look like Mitch Papas, who joins us today to talk about how to be a supportive partner during pregnancy and beyond. In this episode, Mitch shares the journey he and his wife, Georgia, went on as they planned to conceive and the importance of being curious, doing research and supporting your partner as much as you can.  We talk about tracking cycles, learning about your partner's medical history, and thinking ahead so you can speak to your employer about taking time off work. Mitch shares his practical advice for how Dads can be the best possible support to their partners and we also talk about the importance of celebrating men who are doing so. We'll be releasing Part 2 to this episode on how to be a great partner in childbirth, which will be exclusively available only for members in the Grow My Baby program. Join up to check it out.   LINKS Mitch's Instagram: @mitchcpapas Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy is pretty common, which doesn't make it any less yucky, but most women do start feeling better around 12 weeks. Unfortunately for some women who are diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), their experience is much more severe. We have a lot of compassion for those women battling through pregnancy. Hyperemesis Gravidarum is something that has been somewhat misunderstood and these women can be seen as someone with morning sickness who just complains a lot. We want to break that stigma today as we unpack what HG is, how it's diagnosed, the common treatments and when it will finally end. Dr Pat sheds some light on what happens when nausea doesn't get under control, when hospitalisation may be necessary, how to make sure you and your baby get the nutrients you require and the importance of looking after your mental health throughout pregnancy and beyond. If you're battling morning sickness or even worse, HG, hang in there and make sure you visit your GP for a checkup.   LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/   RESOURCES MENTIONED: NVP EXEC Summary PDF @hyperemesisaustralia

We have an important bonus episode for you today to keep all our listeners up to date with the latest Australian recommendations for the Covid vaccination during pregnancy.    Due to the nature of Covid, we're learning information as we go along. In this episode, Pat gives us the run down on previous advice from the Australian government and how this advice has changed now that we have more significant data on the effects of Covid and the Covid vaccine in pregnant women.   Pat explains what an mRNA vaccine is, how it works, the possible side effects and sheds some light on some of the “Instanews” you may have heard on social media.   LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

We get a lot of questions coming in through our DM's and this episode is a response to a request from one of those lovely listeners who was diagnosed with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) at week 15 of pregnancy. What is Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, you ask? Apart from being a mouthful to say, it can also be referred to as pelvic girdle pain and it's something I struggled with during my third and fourth pregnancies. And let me tell you, it's painful.  To help answer some questions surrounding pelvic girdle pain, what it is, why women get it and what can be done about it, I'm joined by Kath Baquie, a perinatal physiotherapist, mum of three young girls with plenty of personal and professional experience in the area.  Kath is the founder of FitNest Mama, an online membership providing support and inspiration for pregnant women and new mums. In this episode we talk about the different reasons why some women develop pelvic girdle pain, the common risk factors and different ways to help ease the pain and discomfort associated with it.  We talk about the importance of taking care of our bodies as they undergo such huge change throughout pregnancy and childbirth and Kath's recommendation for all women to engage in a postnatal rehab plan.  If you've got a little niggle or perhaps battling severe discomfort, this episode will be really helpful for you. Don't put up with pain if you don't need to!   LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/   Where to find Kath: Instagram: @fitnestmama Website: https://www.fitnestmama.com/ Podcast: The FitNest Mama Podcast RESOURCES MENTIONED: Aquamums

The phrase "your baby is in distress" can change the course of your baby's birth... and your experience of becoming mama. This topic is a request from a second time mama, ready to have her second baby but still holding the memory of her first birth. Remember, we want you to birth the first time like its your second. What does this mean? This means that we get educated! We know second time mamas will listen to this and we invite all first time mamas to do the same. We are here for support and to help with your questions on our socials.  IG: @grow_my_baby FB: GrowMyBabyDoctor In this episode we cover: (3:30) The general pattern for first and subsequent births (5:33) Doppler monitoring (6:09) CTG monitoring (7:56) Syntocinon infusion and its impact it can have on a baby and what we need to do (10:15) How fetal scalp electrode and fetal venous blood sampling can be used to determine you baby's wellbeing (18:57) How we can help prevent the "lights and siren" emergency (21:08) Making decisions when there is a degree of uncertainty (27:17) Mindset around intervention and how education helps +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to check out our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

At your antenatal appointments, from about 20 weeks of your pregnancy you will (…should) be having some monitoring of your baby's growth. Firstly, by the simple tape measure test, up over your tummy to the top of your uterus and then by ultrasound if needed. What we are trying to determine is if your baby is small for dates. This is known as Intrauterine Growth Restriction or IUGR. In this podcast we talk about: What is EFW or estimated fetal weight How EFW is measured and the measurement accuracy. What other ways we measure your baby's health Problems that can arise if your baby is diagnose with IUGR What plans need to be made if your baby is measuring small for dates. When sometimes... you just have a small baby. Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or UP LEVEL your knowledge and support by joining our program at www.growmybaby.com.au And a BIG thank you for listening to ‘The Kick' and please if you haven't already please subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

How long between babies is a question that pops up ALOT. It is a big topic with lots of different factors in helping you make your decision. Financially able? Physically ready? Emotionally ready? Mentally ready?  Even how many babies are you planning? All of these things matter when trying to decide when to have your next baby. In this episode we sneak in a little chat about our own journey and the factors we considered to help us decide when to try for another baby. +MORE Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through your pregnancy? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. Come and join us in our GrowMyBaby program We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/    

This episode Brigid talks with early parenting consultant, Jen Butler. Jen is a midwife, maternal and child health nurse, IBCLC trained lactation consultant, sleep consultant and circle of security facilitator. Jen talks about her top tips when it comes to the common things on a new parent's mind. Namely - Feeding, Sleeping and understanding what is normal baby development. Jen is the creator of The Happy Baby Code and can be found at https://www.jenniferbutler.com.au/  In the podcast she mentions her free training. Register here until Aug 20th, 2020 click this link Jen Butler's Parenting Workshop If you want expert information during your pregnancy to help stop the overwhelm come and join Brigid and Dr Pat in their online pregnancy program . LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Today we talk to Founder and Director of @naturalgraceaustralia Libby Moloney. It is a truly beautiful and at times heartbreaking conversation about the 'next steps' that a family can take if their baby dies.  We hope everyone listens if only to help support friends, family, strangers who might be going through the heartbreak of the loss of their baby. There are some incredible resources for everyone to access who may have experienced pregnancy and baby loss and for people who may need support after listening to our podcast. (Sorry if we have missed any) Organisations like: @pinkelephantsupport @bearsofhope @pandanational @cope.org.au And some incredible women who have developed resources after the loss of their baby: @miles_apart @heartspacebook @mybabysvoice @mylifeof_love And of course we are in our DMs to chat over on instagram @grow_my_baby Little babies. Held in our hearts. ❤️ LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

This is the first of our two part series about baby loss. It was recorded ages ago but we've delayed publishing it again and again. We just thought there's too much heartbreak at the moment to add something else to the mix of 2020. But you have requested this topic many times and we realised that it is needed. There are parents coping with the loss of their baby every day. This is for them but it also for everyone else so we can all be better supports for our friends, family and strangers. It will be hard for some, probably most, and we have compiled a list of resources for everyone to access who may have experienced pregnancy and baby loss and for people who may need support after listening to our podcast. (Sorry if we have missed any) Organisations like: @pinkelephantsupport @bearsofhope @pandanational @cope.org.au And of course we are @grow_my_baby in our DMs to chat. Little babies. Held in our hearts. ❤️ Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through your pregnancy? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. Come and join us in our GrowMyBaby program We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

In this episode we talk to Keira Rumble, founder of Krumbled foods and Beauty Bites. She candidly, and calmly, walks us through her 5 pregnancy losses as she continues on her rollercoaster journey to having a baby. She has experienced miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, a loss of a fallopian tube, endometriosis surgery and the possibility of IVF to help her get to her goal of starting her family. We talk about: Ectopic pregnancy diagnosis, treatment and recovery What we can do better to support women through pregnancy loss both medically and via our social supports. We define a heterotopic pregnancy The importance of women knowing what a normal and abnormal period is   How to manage your emotional and mental health dealing with fertility trauma +MORE Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through your pregnancy? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby You can follow Keira at @krumble on instagram LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

The umbilical cord is an incredible structure, the connection between mother and baby. It is beautifully adapted and designed to do exactly the job it needs to do, help us grow our baby. In this episode we talk about: A little bit about the anatomy How the umbilical is protected from compression True and false knots in the umbilical cord Cord accidents and what we can do to prevent them What happens if a cord is wrapped around your baby's neck When there is a cord prolapse Delayed cord clamping Cord blood storage +MORE Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through your pregnancy? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Issues with your thyroid are common in the baby-making years. In Australia about 2-3% of pregnant women are hypo or hyperthyroid. Then there is post-partum thyroditis. This is something that happens to 1 in 20 women after their baby is born. This needs careful assessment because the signs and symptoms can be dismissed as 'just part of having a newborn' or it can look like postnatal depression. In this podcast we talk about: What the thyroid gland does in our body What is hypo and hyperthyroidism The special plans you have to make in pre-pregnancy What changes during your pregnancy if you have problems with your thyroid What medication you can take during your pregnancy What is post-partum thyroiditis +MORE Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through your pregnancy? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Epilepsy is pretty common, about 1% of our population take some form of anti-epileptic medication and about 2000 women in Australia each year have a pregnancy when they have epilepsy. The effect of anti-epileptic drugs are highly relevant to women's health from the contraceptive choice, right up to the management of pregnancy and breastfeeding. If this is you, then this podcast will give you tonnes of answers.  We talk about: Who is in your healthcare team Contraception and epilepsy Folate needs during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy Labour and epilepsy How your medication needs may change during pregnancy and breastfeeding +MORE Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through pre-pregnancy and growing your baby? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

VBAC or vaginal birth after Caesarean is possible for lots of women. There are a few ‘rules' to help get you to your goal of a vaginal birth after having a Caesarean but the primary driver is…you have to want it. There are some extra interventions that will happen and knowing this before your labour is key so the interventions don't detract from your experience. In this podcast we talk about: What makes you a good candidate for a successful VBAC Why there needs to be monitoring during a VBAC labour What pain relief is available How to get in the right mindset for your VBAC Why knowing the ‘rules' of a VBAC labour helps What the elephant in the room is when it comes to VBAC. +MORE Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through your pregnancy? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

Did you know that by about 45 years old, nearly every women will have little fibroids, about 2-3 millimetres in their uterus? These are round hard swellings of your uterine muscle and are often the cause of heavy periods. Although reasonably uncommon in your pre-pregnancy years, if you have a diagnosis of fibroids there are some factors for you to consider when you are trying for a baby. In this podcast we chat about: What symptoms are caused by fibroids How fibroids are diagnosed How fibroids can impact getting pregnant What to do if you have fibroids and you are trying to get pregnant What impact they have during your pregnancy What is the treatment plan for fibroids +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby Join our program to have us walk with your through getting pregnant and having a baby www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

One of the things we are measuring when you have an ultrasound during pregnancy is the length of your cervix. We want it to be long and strong right up until late pregnancy and ideally past 37 weeks.  For some women, their cervix is found to be shortened or insufficient and they need surveillance and sometimes treatment to make sure their cervix doesn't open and trigger early labour. In this ep we talk about: How the ultrasound test is done What happens if your cervix is shortening What can be done to stop early labour What can be done to help prevent an insufficient cervix for your next pregnancy How common is insufficient cervix +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby, do our free pregnancy quiz or join our program to have us guide your through your pregnancy at www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Ectopic pregnancy is another 'not rare' situation that is worthwhile knowing something about. This comes from a listener's request where she felt lost after being diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy at an early 6 week dating scan. And we see this happen. Suddenly you are in the system as you start your medical treatment. All while you are also trying to cope with the grief of your miscarriage. In this ep we talk about: A little anatomy Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy Different treatment options Whether your fertility is impacted after an ectopic The chance of another ectopic pregnancy Why it happens  What you can do to prevent it +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz or come join our pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

We don't hear about assisted delivery as an intervention as commonly as we hear about Caesarean birth. BUT more than a third of mamas having their first baby will have their baby born with help from forceps or the vacuum. Seems like something we should know about right? In this podcast we talk about: When you need assistance in your delivery What type of assistance is used in what circumstance The risks and benefits of different procedures The questions you should ask you health provider +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

Unless you are a blood donor or have had an operation in the past, you may not know your blood type until you are pregnant. This is really common. Why does it matter? As well as blood type, the ABO system, there are lots of different markers on the surface of our red blood cells. The system in pregnancy that we are interested in is the Rhesus system and the effect it can have on your baby (and subsequent babies). Want to have Dr Pat and Brigid guide you through your pregnancy? Join our expert led pregnancy program at www.growmybaby.com.au In this podcast we talk: The different blood types What the Rhesus marker means What to do if you are Rhesus negative What is Rhesus disease How do we prevent Rhesus disease How common is Rhesus negative  +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Tearing might be on your mind as you get nearer to the birth of your baby. We know you are worried about the pain and how it might impact on your pelvic floor health. Your sex life. Your continence. For first time mamas, please know everybody gets a little bit of tearing. Whether it is a little - like a graze, or a lot, like a rare fourth degree tear - depends on a few factors and we have tips in this episode to help prevent or minimise your tearing. We also talk about what to do after you have birthed your baby to give you the best chance of pelvic floor recovery. In this episode we talk about: Some anatomy. Perineum, anus, vulva. All the good bits. Things to prevent or minimise tearing. How a pregnancy coach can help slow tearing in the pushing phase of labour. What is an episiotomy and when might it be used. The difference between a first, second, third and fourth degree tear. What we mean by “Don't fear the tear, it's the undiagnosed tear without repair” We answer a listener's question “should I have a Caesarean to avoid tearing?" Why you should have a full inspection of your perineum on the day of giving birth. What to do for your second baby if you've had tearing with your first. +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

This episode is the audio from an IGTV series Dr Pat and Brigid did March 29 on @grow_my_baby. It is a four part series that covers the impact COVID19 has on pregnancy. This episode talks about coronavirus and getting pregnant, being pregnant, labour and delivery and bringing your newborn home. (It's audio quality is good not great. Apologies but we thought it best to you the information as soon as we could.) LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

1 in 5 pregnancies will end in a miscarriage but even as common as this is, it's not an easy topic to talk about it. This episode may be hard for some (or all) to hear. Please make sure you have your supports in place if you choose to listen. And we hope everyone listens. In this episode we have a poignant story from one of listeners, Mai, talking about her miscarriage, the process and the pain and the joy of becoming pregnant again.  We cover: The types of miscarriage How miscarriages are diagnosed Ways we can support someone who has had a miscarriage Treatment of miscarriage When to start trying again Plus MORE  We talk about www.cope.org.au , www.pinkelephantsupport.com and www.beyondblue.org.au Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

Sometimes we need to go back to basics. This episode is for anyone who is thinking they might need a few hints on what they can be doing to increase their chances of getting pregnant. It's a bit light hearted and for some couples, this ep will be enough to help you well on your way to BABY. In this episode Dr Pat and Brigid talk about: What we mean when we say 'better nick' What a regular cycle means What your teeth have to do with it What your potential birth choices are Even when to start working on names.  Plus lots more. Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/    

This is a tough subject. Bleeding or more specifically, a postpartum haemorrhage is a common fear women have as they get closer to the birth of their baby. Does everyone bleed at birth? Well yes, everybody has blood loss during childbirth but normal blood loss is not what everyone is worried about. It is postpartum haemorrhage. The lights and sirens emergency.  In this podcast we cover: Why not every PPH is an emergency What is considered a post partum haemorrhage. (PPH) How blood loss gets measured Who is at more risk of PPH What causes PPH What happens if you have a PPH Will you have another PPH in subsequent pregnancies +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is not simply a disease of the ovaries. The ovaries are one part of this complex hormonal syndrome which CAN include symptoms such as excess body hair, increased weight, acne and insulin resistance. Or just to trick us, no obvious symptoms until you start to trying to get pregnant. The focus then becomes the ovaries. This is because for some women with PCOS they are anovulatory meaning they don't ovulate BUT this doesn't mean PCOS = infertility, it just means you may need some help putting the extra ingredient in to your baby making mix. In this episode we cover: What is PCOS What are likely symptoms Is it painful? How it gets diagnosed What are some of the treatments available What healthcare professionals you may need What happens if you are not ovulating What is lean PCOS +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au We also talk about www.jeanhailes.org.au on this podcast. An excellent resource. And thank you for listening to ‘The Kick'. Could we ask a big favour? If you love it would you please leave us a review and share with a friend? Subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Pre-eclampsia is not rare so it is worth finding out something about it. About 7% of all pregnancies are affected by pre-eclampsia. Sometimes it just needs to be monitored, sometimes it can rapidly deteriorate and the treatment for you and your baby becomes a decision about whether your baby is better off ‘out than in'. In this episode we cover: What is high blood pressure What are the signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia Who is at risk of developing pre-eclampsia What you can do to help with high blood pressure How we treat pre-eclampsia +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick'. We would love it if you would subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

This is a long list of ALL of the symptoms in LATE pregnancy. Ok, not all. It is already the longest episode we have ever recorded. But if you've been wondering if you should worry about the itch on your belly or see someone about your swollen ankles or what you can do about not sleeping at night then you need to listen to this podcast. In this episode we talk about: Good benefits of late stage pregnancy. Yes we found a few. Insomnia Urinary frequency Pelvic pain Carpal tunnel syndrome PUPPS All the different types of varicose veins Pregnancy headaches Anxiety and depression +MORE. Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick'. We would love it if you would subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Two heart beats. Everyone has questions about twins. Fraternal, identical, same placenta, double ovulation, why twins seem more common? We are fascinated by how twins occur, how they grow in utero, how they are born... In this ep we give some gold for twin mamas and for those simply curious about twins. We also have a special treat – the women from “too peas in a podcast' have a little cameo and give us practical tips about their experience as mothers of twins. This episode talks about: The different types of twins Why twins are often a high risk pregnancy A little bit of myth busting What is considered full term for twins Questions to ask your hospital Vaginal and Caesarean birth of twins +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick'. We would love it if you would subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. And have a listen to our friends over at “two peas in a podcast” LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

1 in 10 women have endometriosis - painful periods, pain with sex, bloating, pelvic pain, infertility or NO symptoms at all. Until they try to get pregnant.  In this ep we talk about: The diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis Having a laparoscopy for endo treatment How the normal rules of ‘how long does it take to get pregnant?' do not apply The steps you need to take after a laparoscopy and coming off your contraception +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au On this ep we also talk about some insta sites @endogram and @qendoau And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick'. We would love it if you would subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

We don't usually learn about recovering from a Caesarean section until we are IN recovery. That's not what we recommend. This can leave you blindsided, confused and disheartened. If you listened to our last ep, you'd know that caesarean section is NOT rare SO good birth prep means we need to include how to recover from Caesarean section right? In this ep we talk about: The hours just after a caesarean section What happens in the hospital in the first few days Pain and pain relief Moving after a Caesarean section What to do when you need to cough, sneeze and go to the toilet What to expect in the first 6 weeks. +MORE Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick'. We would love it if you would subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

We all know Caesarean birth is not rare – it seems as though many of our friends have had Caesarean sections, some of our neighbours, maybe our sisters too. BUT  Even for something this common, a Caesarean section for some women is a mystery right up until it becomes her reality. This is where we hear, “if only someone had told me”. Well here is the good news, we've put some gold into this podcast to help you be the full bottle. Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au In this podcast you will learn: The rate of caesarean section Factors that impact on the rate of caesarean section What a planned Caesarean section is What an emergency Caesarean section is The reasons for Caesarean section What to expect during the Caesarean birth Requests you can make during the Caesarean birth What a maternal assisted Caesarean birth is. And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick' and please if you haven't already please subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Pregnancy in diabetes, or gestational diabetes, is really common. Up to about 12-14 percent of all pregnancies. There are certain women that are more at risk of developing gestational diabetes but in fact, everybody is at risk. This can be hard because you might think – I am young, healthy and without symptoms so what am I doing with diabetes? And it is an issue in pregnancy that needs to be addressed. Most people know that in a diabetic pregnancy the baby can get very big which can complicate the birth. Once born, the big baby can also be unwell. Less people know that the placenta can be affected and result in the baby being growth restricted. Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our family over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au In this podcast we talk about: When and how you are tested for gestational diabetes Blood sugar limits for testing for diabetes How testing positive for diabetes isn't a failure! The risk factors that increase your chances of gestational diabetes Treatment options to help bring your blood sugar level down The importance of a good diabetes educator How diabetes may change over the course of your pregnancy Why getting induced is common if you have gestational diabetes What happens after you have your baby And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick' and please if you haven't already please subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

This ep is a bit of a pandora's box. What can you say no to during pregnancy and birth? Well, you can literally say NO to everything. Ethically a health care provider can't force a woman to accept any sort of treatment, even if they strongly believe their treatment plan is in the best interests of the mother and/or her baby. You have choice in your pregnancy and birth, your consent needs to be given and you are your own best advocate. The trick is knowing from an informed position what is worth advocating for. Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally change her experience of pregnancy and birth. We invite you to be our part of our crew over on Instagram @grow_my_baby or do our free pregnancy quiz at www.growmybaby.com.au This episode talks about: How to feel empowered about decision making during pregnancy and birth How to advocate for yourself The key to informed decision making Different ways of communicating with your healthcare provider How trust is crucial for good outcomes And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick' and please if you haven't already please subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Having a baby in the breech position presents its own set of challenges. A baby from 20 – 30 weeks moves around tonnes and that is expected and wanted because a healthy baby moves. If though, your baby is still ‘head up' at 35 weeks we will need a plan for your baby's birth. Why did we start this podcast? Well we think there is a barrier for women to get EXPERT pregnancy info that is practical, relatable and easy to understand. Dr Pat has helped 1000s of women have their babies and through this experience, as well as having four boys ourselves, we know that this kind of information given to a woman at the right time can totally empower her throughout pregnancy and birth.  We invite you to join us over on Instagram @grow_my_baby. We also have a free pregnancy quiz for you to do at www.growmybaby.com.au  In this podcast we talk about: How common breech positioning is The different types of breech presentations What are the key criteria to having a vaginal breech birth Vaginal breech birth with twins What most obstetricians recommend if your baby is breech at term + more  And a big thank you for listening to ‘The Kick' and please, if you haven't already, please subscribe (iTunes) or follow (Spotify) and share with a friend.  Dr Pat and Brigid LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

This is one of those tests that can feel a bit icky and remind you that yep, the process of growing a baby is at times, undignified. Some women choose not to have the GBS test and that is totally their right. Some women have the test and wonder later “what was that for?” This ep is 20 mins of power to help you be the full bottle on GBS testing so you can make some red hot decisions about your health care. If you like our style of pregnancy information then we have a free pregnancy quiz on our website www.growmybaby.com.au. Or come and join us on instagram @grow_my_baby If you have a question you want answered on a podcast then send us the topic  at info@growmybaby.com.au Firstly, what is GBS? GBS stands for Group B streptococcus and it is a bacteria that is normal to have in the vagina. About 20 percent of women will have GBS most of the time and it's completely harmless, until it's not. This podcast talks about What happens when GBS infection happens in labour The stats on whether to treat or not treat if you have GBS What treatment is available for GBS What is involved in having the test When you may be more prone to having GBS sepsis   + MORE AND in exciting news. The show has just hit 10,000 downloads Thanks for supporting us. What we would love you to do, if you haven't already, is to subscribe (iTunes) or follow (spotify) and tell a friend. This really supports us to keep producing content and we are sure you have more questions! (Plus we are putting podcasting time down as ‘quality time' #couplegoals ) LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

First trimester screening is a test for genetic abnormality and is commonly called the Down Syndrome screen. The types of test, the accuracy, the costs and the ability to give you a definitive answer about genetic abnormality is really not well understood by patients…and sometimes care providers. At times, a screening test can create more questions than answers. Firstly, it is normal to assume all will be fine. Most of us do that, right? It can then come as an enormous shock to you if you get a result you weren't expecting, particularly if you haven't had a really good chat with your care provider before the test. This test is purely your choice. What you choose to do with the results is your choice. Our hope is that we all (care providers, family, friends, community) then support your choice with respect and non-judgement. In the GrowMyBaby program we give you expert led pregnancy information. If you are new to having a bump or you feel a bit lost in your pregnancy then head over to our pregnancy quiz: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/pregnancy-quiz In the meantime, have a listen to this podcast. It gives some key points to help you with your choice for first trimester screening tests. We cover: - What are your chances of having a baby with a genetic abnormality - How to assess your background risks - What tests are available - What are the timeframes to have each test - What are general costs +more   And if you haven't subscribed yet - just hit the subscribe or follow button in your app of choice. A big thanks for listening, Brigid and Dr Pat. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Most women spend most of their fertile time trying to NOT get pregnant but for those who want babies in the future, thoughts can wander to “what if my history of contraception impacts my fertility?” And it's a common question. Contraception forms an integral part of a women's life and is a very individual journey. What suits one woman may not suit another, even what suits you right now may not suit you at a different phase of your life. It is worth thinking about your options and putting a contraception plan in place. This podcast covers: The different types of contraception – barrier methods, hormonal contraception and Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs), fertility awareness method, tubal ligation and vasectomy. When to stop your contraception and when to start trying for a baby What contraception types can delay your return to fertility How to make sure you are on the safest contraception for you A comparison of contraceptive effectiveness What contraception to consider after your baby is born If you have just started listening to The Kick and are thinking about getting pregnant, there's loads of information in episode 2 “How to become an ovulation ninja”. And of course if you like the show, please subscribe and if you are feeling particularly generous give us a review. We read each and every one and it helps us to spread the word to other women just like you who want information straight from the expert's mouth. We can be found over in Instagram @grow_my_baby or you can jump on to our website www.growmybaby.com.au for some awesome free tools like our pregnancy quiz and our “first appointment checklist”. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Baby movements is your baby's way of telling you all is well. A healthy baby should move. Imagine if you were really sick, you would still move around the bed and get up several times a day to go the toilet. If you lay in bed for many hours, not moving at all, you would probably be dreadfully ill. A baby that's doing nothing is not normal.  And why are we so insistent about baby movements? If we look at unexpected stillbirths in the third trimester, an alarming number of those stillbirths are preceded by a couple of days of decreased or absent fetal movements. Your main defence against this is to be focused, from about 28 weeks, on YOUR baby's pattern of movement. This podcast covers: How picking your baby's pattern of movement is important Why we moved away from ‘kick charts' Why going to sleep on absent fetal movements is not a strategy What to do if you think you have reduced or absent fetal movements Why a baby ‘slowing' down at term is not a sign you are going into labour. We'd love to hear your biggest takeaways from this ep, put them in your Instagram Stories and tag @grow_my_baby to share with us and others. And if you haven't yet subscribed, hit the subscribe button now and thanks so much for your support. All show notes can be found at www.growmybaby.com.au/podcast LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

What to do about visitors to your newborn baby? Firstly, feel confident to stand by YOUR rules. This episode talks about one potential rule 'all visitors to have a whooping cough booster before visiting the baby'. Banning people from having contact with your baby, particularly if they are showing signs of a persistent cough, is really smart. We know it's hard to not share the joy of a brand new baby with loved ones (hands up who loves a snuggle with a newborn?) but after a quick listen to this ep you will be able to confidently stand by your decisions. If you are interested in more expert pregnancy facts and tips make sure you subscribe to The Kick Pregnancy Podcast. If you've got a question that needs answering you can email us at podcast@growmybaby.com.au Our website www.growmybaby.com.au also has some great tools like our pregnancy knowledge checker as well as a free checklist to take to you doctor at your first visit. This Episodes's fast facts: 10,000 to 40,000 cases of whooping cough are reported each year in Australia Adults don't have the telltale ‘whoop' but a persistent cough may be whooping cough Every new pregnancy needs a whooping cough booster in the third trimester. This helps your newborn have partial immunity to whooping cough in their first 6-8 weeks. In all states of Australia, pregnant women can get their FREE vaccine from their GP. In some states, partners are eligible for a FREE vaccine also otherwise it costs approx. $45. LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

Induction of labour. This is recommended listening for every woman who is pregnant, particularly those getting close to the end of their pregnancy. Inductions AREN'T rare and can represent a challenge for some who feel blindsided by the significant change of plans. And blindsided is like a dirty word in your pregnancy, right? It's our mission to help women everywhere have access to information that is practical, expert and relatable so you can ask the right questions and go into each new stage of pregnancy with CALM and CONFIDENCE. If you are listening along, tag us @grow_my_baby on your insta stories. We'd love to hear your takeaways. In this episode we talk about: Why you may need an induction When you may advised to have an induction What the different types of induction are The benefits and risks of induction  The practicalities of what happens on the day(s) of your induction The questions to ask your provider to help you with your decision making What is a gentle induction We also explore some common fears about induction aimed at helping to bring calm back to this stage of your pregnancy. And if you have found this information useful please give us a review. A BIG thanks for supporting the show. Don't forget we have a couple of great FREE downloads on our website www.growmybaby.com.au to help you in your pregnancy.  Dr Pat and Brigid x LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/  

The placenta is the frisbee shaped wonder pack that really has so many jobs as you grow your baby.  Firstly, it sends oxygen and nutrients from the mother's circulation, down the cord into the baby. In reverse, it sends fetal waste products back up the cord into the placenta and off around the mother's body for excretion. It also is a gland that makes pregnancy hormones. BUT sometimes your placenta's position gets in the way of allowing your baby to head out your cervix when it's time for birth. A complete placenta praevia occurs in 1 in 200 pregnancies. This is where the placenta completely covers the uterus and prevents you from having a vaginal birth.  This episode talks about the different types of praevia, when you get checked for praevia, what risks are involved and what to do if this is you.   And if you do want to hear about anything to do with this episode or any other episodes, email us at podcast @growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

We've all heard the term 'Premmie" and we've seen the little babies in the Special Care nurseries with their naso-gastric tubes, little caps on their heads and surrounded by monitors. It's a frightening image but sometimes it always seems to happen to someone else - until it doesn't. This podcast is all about defining what prematurity is. It covers: - The known reasons for why a baby comes early. - The signs that your baby might be coming early. - The treatment your baby would need if they are born early - The current medical thinking about preventing prematurity. We also talk about what we can all do to support mums of preterm babies. Visit: www.growmybaby.com.au for our free pregnancy quiz.  LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

Bleeding and spotting in early pregnancy can be really frightening.  We've got our own experience of Brigid having a big bleed when she was seven weeks pregnant and it came as such a shock and I remember feeling anxious -  thinking we lost the baby.  Even with my expert knowledge, I was really scared. This episode is about giving you the knowledge so you know what types of bleeding are common and when you need further investigation.   We cover: Implantation bleeding, bleeding after sex, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and any of the treatments that might be required.  This episode tries to help you navigate the waters of early pregnancy so you have a sense of calm. We can be contacted at podcast@growmybaby.com.au You can do our pregnancy quiz at growmybaby.com.au LINKS Ask a question on the podcast: Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby Join the Grow My Baby Program Get our tips for a CALM + CONFIDENT pregnancy Just pregnant? Download our checklist to take to your first appointment. Join the waitlist for our Pregnancy and Birth Course Website: https://www.growmybaby.com.au/

In the early stages of pregnancy, up to 12 weeks, you will question every symptom you are feeling. This is so normal. Sore nipples, shortness of breath, metallic taste in your mouth, a super sensitive gag reflex making toothbrushing a nightmare - there is a big long list which we cover in detail and offer suggestions as to what is going on to you physically, mentally and emotionally as you grow your baby. Some symptoms will really worry you - but needn't. Some symptoms you won't give a second thought to - but should. As an obstetrician, I outline which symptoms I want you to seek help for. Take our pregnancy quiz here https://www.growmybaby.com.au/pregnancy-quiz Follow Dr Pat and Brigid on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/grow_my_baby/