January 7, 2025 • 28 mins
Jules Robinson tells her incredible birth story with Carter. After doing everything ‘right’ in pregnancy, Carter had his own plans and entered the world in an exhausting and dramatic fashion! Jules details how she worked to stay in tune with her own body during a challenging labour and post-partum period, and shares her struggles with pre-eclampsia. Dr Golly explains this condition and what you can do to avoid it.
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Diary Of A Birth features mums telling their miraculous stories of bringing life into the world, and we have all medical questions and concerns cleared up by one of Australia’s favourite paediatricians, Dr Golly.
If you’d like to share your birth story, we’d love to hear from you at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note here.
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CREDITS:
Host: Ksenija Lukich
Expert: Dr Golly
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Audio Producer: Scott Stronach
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
You're listening to a MoMA Mia podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters
that this podcast is recorded on. We pay our respects
to elder's past, present and emerging and feel privileged to
continue the sharing of birth stories and knowledge that has
been a fundamental part of Indigenous culture.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm Cassanna Lukit and this is diary of her birth.
Today we hear the story of a second time mum
who was keen to emulate her perfect birth with number one.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
And I was like, oh, I've had all the chili,
I've had the pineapple, I've done this, and I've done that,
and she said, look, the only thing that's going to
work is semen. So got home, had the most comical
sex you've ever could imagine, Like it was hilarious. But
then within two hours later, my water broke. She did
everything right for her own body in this second pregnancy,
(01:16):
but of course bub had other plans. I was naked.
It was like a two day ben die. You know why.
I'd been there for like seven hours and Cam actually
said that I was starting to drift underwater, like in
between the surges. But after the birth she had to
deal with a form of one of the scariest pregnancy conditions.
It's super super rare, but it was really scary because
(01:36):
they're like, if we don't control this, like you could
actually have a stroke. But her story works out beautifully
and then at the end my husband was like, you
are incredible and I've had enough energy. It would have
been like I fucking know. So let's get into it
and meet today's mum.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
Hi.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
I'm Jills Robinson and this is the Diary of my
birth with Carter.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Jules is one of Australia's most love personalities. We watched
her and Cam fall in love on TV and now
we get to see their family grow. Jules can laugh
like all mums about how busy she thought her pre
baby life was.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Well, I thought I was busy. Then I look back
and think, God, my life was blissful and I was
still very busy, but I just had so much more
spare time. It was something that I always wanted, was
to have children in my thirties. That's when it kind
of hit me like, yep, I want to have a child.
Before that, I never really thought about it. I had
a little bit convincing to do with my husband to
(02:33):
get him to speed up to where I was because
I'm a little bit older than him. But a honeymoon,
we started trying and two months later I was pregnant.
You know, all those tests that I did, lived in
fear for five years. I really shouldn't have wasted so
much energy on thinking that maybe it wasn't going to happen.
Because a chart telling me that I had low count
and all that, I just put my hand up. I
(02:54):
did my head in for no reason, and within two
months I was very fortunate and manifested that little baby
into my life. My birth with Olli, my first son,
was like my birth wish came completely true. It was
a four hour berth. All the effort I put into
my hypno birthing, it really was amazing. My husband was amazing,
(03:14):
and I couldn't have asked for a better birth wish
that really did happen for me.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
We love hearing about these incredible berths that follow their plan.
But like many new mums, Jewels found the next step
a real challenge. Bringing him home was really hard. I
look back on it now and afterwards.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
I was diagnosed with pre mensial dyspic disorder, and that's
when It really hit home after getting my first period
after having Ollie, and it was a really testing time
having a newborn, got my ol plates on, and then
having to deal with this diagnosis at the same time.
But Jewels soon settled into motherhood and it wasn't long
until she started wanting to add to her brood. We
(03:53):
started trying for Carter baby number two when Ollie was
about not even two years old. We were like, yep,
let's give it a go. So it took two years
really for it to happen. I really discovered the aa
aadic medicine and went down that route, and when I
had my first consultation, it just the penny dropped. There
(04:13):
was no way my body was going to make a baby.
It was on fire. So I really had to tap
into my calm, my meditation. I stopped doing any adrenaline
kind of exercise, and I really believe all this contributed
to me falling pregnant again. As I said, it took
nearly two years to even when it actually happened, I
was like, oh my god, is this actually real? Like
the line was so faint and I had it on
(04:35):
every angle possible, and I'm like, is it there is
it just because I wanted to be there, and yeah,
it happened, it just didn't feel real because I've been
waiting so long for.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
It And now that she'd entered a new decade, Jill's
found this second pregnancy a different experience.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
I do believe that it hits different in your forties.
I really do. Like I was so fit this time.
I was the personal trainer up until five days before
I gave birth, But there were times in the evening
where I'm like, is that like gonna move in front
of the other. It was quite tabilitating, but overall, like,
I really enjoy being pregnant. The first trimester a little
(05:10):
bit sick or the usual things, but the second I
am on full force, I am nesting. I just get
shit done. Like I actually really enjoyed that about being pregnant.
And then as I got bigger Ideah, it was a
little bit debilitating but absolutely healthy.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I'm one of those like annoying people that say I
love being pregnant, like I love watching my body change.
I love all that. So after an enjoyable but tiring pregnancy,
the end came into sight for Jewels. So at the
end of my pregnancy, I was super fit up until
the very last minute. I've been at water aerobics. On
the Saturday, I had acupuncture to bring on the birth
(05:50):
as well. On the Saturday, I had a thing about
it falling on exactly the same day because my first
child was on d Day, and I was like, this
one's going to come to it, So anything's in time
in my life is my children. So I had the
acupunture and I got off the bed and my stomach
had dropped so much. It was quite painful having that acupuncture,
and I'm quite sensitive to things, so by that evening
(06:10):
I was really starting to get the feels. And my
parents came because they were going to stay with us
for a week when we brought this child into the world,
so that was fantastic. And then on the Monday it
didn't come all the fields. And then on the Monday
two days later, I went into water aerobics and in
the pool there was a midwife who funnily enough, ended
up seeing in hospital at Northern Beaches a couple of
days later, and I was like, Oh, I've had all
(06:31):
the chili, I've had the pineapple, I've done this, and
I've done that and done this. She said, look, the
only thing that's going to work is semen. And I
was like, really, where's out? And she's explaining how it's
got something in it that helps open up be a
pelvic floor. And I was like, she because it's almost
like being in juice, Like it's the same. There's something
in it that's the same. Anyway, So I was like okay.
So I got home, had the most comical sex you've
(06:54):
ever could imagine, Like it was hilarious. But then within
two hours later, my water broke. So there's got to
be something in that. There you go, an old wives
tale proven true. Later in this episode, you'll hear the
science behind this from doctor Gollye and what other tricks
you can do at home that are proven to bring
on labor. Right, So, Jules's water had broken, and it
(07:16):
broke like the movies, not like a little trickle. It
was like, oh my god, this is like the movies,
which genuinely doesn't happen like that. So and I was
lying on the couch and I have my son in
my hands and I was bringing on the oxytocin. I
was just stroking him and feeling all the love and
he fell asleep and I actually was getting up to
go to bed, which was actually not great then going
into labor, because I was like so knackered by you know,
(07:38):
eight o'clock at night, as you do in the last
Droe mister Yeah. And I got up and it was like,
oh my god, Wow, Okay, we're on and because of
my last birth being in four hours, ring the hospital
and they're like you get in here quick, girl, because
it's gonna happen. So packed our bags and off we went,
coming up. And then I was on the floor and
they're like, you got to get up to the bed,
and I just was like this mountain goat. I was like,
(07:58):
oh my god, it's just so far away. So after
a quick drive to the hospital, Jewels and camp pulled
up around a quarter to nine that night. I was
definitely starting to get the surges and feeling it, and
I used a tennis machine on my first burd and
(08:22):
hands up, I will tell anyone that will listen, if
you're wanting to give birth or you're tougher with any
kind of pain, this machine basically tricks your brain of
where the pain is and it takes your mind off
what's happening, and it honestly is a game changer, especially
because I was going in with the ambition to have
a natural birth again as in meaning nothing no chemicals,
like you know, no needles or anything like that. So
(08:44):
I got into hospital and my husband is useless on
no sleep, so I knew that I had a little
bit to go until I was going to get to
the place. I was like, you go to sleep and
I'll be here. So I had my meditation tape some
on really got in the zone, bouncing up and down,
and then I just kind of got a bit over
the hypno voice, like it gets a little bit after
a couple of hours, I'm done with you. And I
spent about six months making a birth wish playlist on Spotify,
(09:08):
and every midwife's like, oh my god, your music's amazing.
And it really was like Belses that you can sing
just songs that you know, a little bit of romance,
a little bit of cheese, like just a really good
playlist that is just perfect in that setting. I know
what you're gonna ask, which bangers does Jules Robinson have
on her birthday playlist? Well, let's take a dive in
to listen.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
I Love you down to your bom naked in faith.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
It on me that way, you know, I bebb there you.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
Say I've got enough, And I saw my reflection in
snow booties.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
So after I got to about four hours where you know,
the midwife was like she didn't check if I was dilated,
because she's like, you really do know your body and
you're very in tune with it. She's like, you just
do what you need to do. And after about four hours,
like I just wasn't feeling like I was getting to
the next level. Like I was like, it's coming, it's near,
but I know that there was a lot more to go.
So my tens machine basically wasn't on that high, like
(10:20):
I was just channeling through it. So she came in
and she said, look, my intuition tells me that your
water hasn't fully broken. I'm like, really, oh my god,
you should have seen what happened on the floor in
my hallway. So she got out this thing that I
can only explain as like a big knitting needle, and
she then inserted it to break my water. And she
was right. It was basically I'd done four or five
(10:43):
hours of the head just hitting on this little puddle
of water in a sack, which is why after birth
I then got pubist symphonius disorder, which is basically just
that belting on the pelvic floor. Like I just reallyok
that bone was so painful, like I couldn't walk about
a week afterwards, like it was sliding. There was no
lifting of the feet at all. So once she did that,
(11:05):
and also but in that moment, I was like, Okay,
I'm bored of this. I'm bored of this scenario. And
I wanted also to have a different berth than last time,
just to experience something new. So I got into the
bath and within like honestly three minutes like not to
one thousand from her then piersing the water. So in
the bath I enjoyed it. It wasn't for me though.
I did a couple of hours and eventually like I
(11:28):
was knacked. It was like a two day bender, you
know why. I'd been there for like seven hours, and
Cam actually said that I was starting to drift underwater
like in between the surges because I was so tired,
like I really gave it my all. But I also
think that I wasn't letting myself get to the next stage.
I don't know, I just wasn't sold on the whole
water thing. I enjoyed. It was different. It was good
(11:48):
to do something different. So anyway, I got out and
I was having a little bit gas by that point,
and they were like, okay, let's get you back to
the bed, and oh my god, like from the bath
to the bed was like a million miles away, and
I was like, okay, I can do it. Anyway, I
got there, and of course they must put like towels
in ovens or something in the hospital because I was freezing,
and also the fact of having to get out of
(12:08):
the water and get over there was quite you know,
not the most pleasant thing. So I got out and
there wrapped me up in the sheet and got me
warm really quickly before the next contraction was coming. And
I just was like, give me gas, give me my
tens and everything. So I finally got it on and
then I was on the floor and they're like, you
gotta get up to the bed, and I just was
like this mountain goat. I was like, oh my god,
it's just so far away. And by this time I
was on a bit of gas, so everything was just
(12:30):
like airy fairy. And then Cam and I looked at
each other in the eye and if by this time
it was like oh six am, you know, I'd been
at it like and I'd been giving at my all
and we looked at each other and when you know
your partner inside it out, our eyes just basically said,
if I'm not fully dilated, I don't care, like to
get this baby out of me, I do not care
what happens like because I'm done anyway. So of course
(12:54):
checked and they're like, you're fully dilated, this is it,
And I just was like, I just had to dig
so deep. And yeah, the gas was great. Gas highly
recommend giving birth and a tens machine and I remember
clicking the tens machine so far that my stomach was
contracting at the same time. And then I remember thinking,
oh my god, what if I've gone to the end,
because I knew there was still more that was going
(13:15):
to more pain was going to come, so then I
had to retract it back and then go again. And yeah,
and you know what's really amazing. On my birth wish
playlist in my home, I have for my first son
a beautiful big artwork that has like Northern Beach's Hospital
or the date that he was born in the time
and his birth song, which was Rise Up and it
(13:36):
has the music the sound notes of it printed and
to my son Carter, I actually gave birth to that song.
It was actually really really amazing and I was like, oh,
that's so special because it's such a beautiful, empowering song.
And yeah, so anyway, it was thirteen hours in the
end and it was oh and then at the end
my husband was like, you are incredible, and I've had
(13:57):
enough energy. It would have been like I fucking know.
So Jules had finally done it. I wondered if she'd
change anything if she could. It was amazing. It was
really hard, like if I go again, like I think
I might do an epidural, like it was like the
four hours the first time, Like oh my god, that
was amazing, Like just going in and out and have
(14:17):
a baby like this was this took every bit of
energy from me. And as I said, like, it does
hit different in your forties, like I just my body.
It feels different having a baby this time round. Maybe
because it's the second one. I don't know, but yeah,
I mean I love the process of giving birth. I think,
you know, as a woman, it's the most amazing thing
you can go through. Jules had done the incredible birthed
(14:41):
a beautiful baby boy. But unfortunately the health concerns didn't
stop when Carter came out. So I was in hospital
only for the two days, which was great, but I
could start to feel I had really bad mistitis the
first time round, like so badly that I had to
(15:03):
go back to hospital for five days. So I was
very on the fence of like, oh, should I breastfeed
again because I was so sick last time. I couldn't
actually look after my baby like I'm talking like my
scalp hurt my skin her like, I was so ill.
So I thought, nah, give it a go, give it
a go. And I did try, and then I came
home forty eight. I was in the hospital for two days.
(15:24):
I came home and the midwife came out and my
blood pressure was so high that they then said, look,
you have to go back to hospital. And I was like,
all right, find the positive. I got back to hospital,
but at least I can use their fantastic pump and
I can, you know, really get going on that while
I'm sitting in there waiting for the doctors and the
tests and everything. So I went back in there and
I think I pumped like ten meals or something, you
know like that. And yeah, unfortunately, my blood pressure just
(15:47):
kept on rising like super super high. I had I'd
had had a headache for two days, but I just
didn't really think about it. And it turns out I
had pre eclempsia, which is something that you generally get
when you are pregnant towards the end. So this is
like it's super super rare. But it was really scary
because they're like, if we don't control this, like you
could actually have a stroke or you could you know.
(16:07):
And I'm there just go, oh my god. All I'm
trying to do is get some milk out of me
in here. I've been told that. So yeah, that wasn't fun.
Wasn't That wasn't fun at all? And then so then
I was in hospital for another three days with that.
And then my boobs, oh my god, my boobs. I
had four frozen Huggies nappies on me because they were
just like you never see anything like it. And then
(16:28):
I just had to because I was like, I just
made the decision. I was like, you know what, it's
not for me. I could I could start to feel
that feeling and the PTSD of what I went through
that I just had to shut it down, which meant
two sports bras the ice and just no stimulation, like
do not touch your boobs at all, and it worked.
I did three days of doing that and it went away.
But with the pre ACCLEMSA, I had to They eventually
(16:49):
found the medication that suited me that it wasn't making
it go away and then come back again to the
same level. But yeah, that was a bit sad, like
I was. I had a bit of a bit of
a cry and a bit of a sob for myself.
And the midwives were amazing, like they came and took
him one night and just walked around the hallway and
that just because I just needed to sleep and I'd
got I just was so emotionally hormonally, and then that
on top and I just was like, oh, this wasn't
(17:11):
in the plan, you know, But that's what happens, isn't it.
You never know what actually is going to happen when
it comes to giving birth coming up. But the seriousness
of it was if I didn't get it under control,
like I could have had a stroke, so you know,
which is just devastating to think, like, here you are
with this beautiful thing that's just happened, and then there's
this side effect.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
We'll hear more from doctor Golly soon, but Jules's condition
is incredibly rare. But it's such a wild time when
you get home with the baby and your body has
been through well trauma. So I'm fascinated by what made
Jewels go, Okay, this isn't just post birth pain, this
is something more.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
When I had the headache for two days, I just thought,
I'm just really tired. I'm just you know, I'm up
every two hours. I just didn't really think of it.
But when she was saying where and I was like, yeah,
like right in the middle of my forehead, and then
I've kind of got this feeling in my neck.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
You know.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
All the symptoms were very spot on to what happens
when you get pretty cclemsia. So it just meant that
I had to take medication every day and then go
and get my blood pressure checked all the time, which
was not to see the most annoying part like coming
to go to the doctors of the pharmacy, like you know,
every couple of days and I'm fine now, but it
was a scary thought that this could be forever, this
(18:30):
could be I'm taking blood pressure tablets. I'm like, I
don't want to do that, Like I'm healthy, I've never
had I've never had a blood pressure problem in my
whole life. So no one knows why it happened. It's
just something we had to find a solution there. And
then I'm pretty impressed that Jewels was able to manage
some self care and stay in tune with herself during
this tricky time, which is really really hard but so crucial.
(18:51):
I think, you know, being in tune with your body
is so important. But you know, hands up in that moment,
like I didn't care about me, Like I just was like,
oh no, I'll be fine. I don't want to get
back to hospital, like I just wanted to be at
home and nesting. But the seriousness of what it was,
if I didn't get it under control, like I could
have had a stroke, so, you know, which is just
devastating to think, like here you are with this beautiful
(19:12):
thing that's just happened, and then there's this side effect.
So I think, you know, it is really important as moms,
like we don't sometimes put ourselves first or heal and
we think, oh, yeah, I'll get that checked eventually, and
you don't, but you do have to. You know, the
best place for me was in hospital in that moment,
I just had to surrender to it because I really
didn't want to be there.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
So what is something that Jules wishes all pregnant women
you ahead of their births.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Something I don't think people talk about is that you
birth are placenter. Honestly, you like what I'm going to do?
What Like, I did not prepare for that first time around,
And yeah, I just think birthing a placenta is like
it's literally like having another baby. I planted mine in
the garden and put an olive tree on the top
of it for my first son, and I've actually got
(19:58):
my placenta still in the fridge at the moment. I
still haven't decided what plan I'm going to put over it.
But yeah, the placenter thing. But one thing I learned
second time around is that I watched the video back
actually of me giving birth to my first son, because
they then come around and they just put a needle
in my leg, which brings on the birth of the placenta,
and it's basically just like being induced, but a smaller
(20:21):
and I was like, oh my god, really, so I've
gone all this effort to try and not have any
chemicals in me. Then I did that without even really knowing.
So this time around, I actually on my birth wish
I was that person everyone on the door and the
midwife's like, no, we love people that do this. I'm like, yeah, right,
they're probably out in the hall way going, oh god,
she's a been and the ass isn't g But it
was one of my things that I wanted to hold
(20:41):
the baby first. I wanted Cam and I to say
what the sex was because I'm like, we waited ten
months for this, so we're going to see that first.
And also it was to naturally birth the placenta and
to not have that injection and to not you know,
have those chemicals put in me. So it did take
a little bit longer. But yeah, Bert like, people go,
you what, like, yeah, I don't think we talk about
(21:03):
that enough.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Well, lucky enough to have the services and wisdom of
doctor Golly, one of the country's top pediatricians, to provide
answers to the medical questions that come up in our stories.
So Jules and Cam employed the old sex to bring
on the baby trick to get jewels moving. Here's doctor
golly On and how on earth this works? And what
are some other Old wives tales that doctors believe actually
(21:26):
help when you're very keen to get labor moving.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I love this question, and my god, Cam will absolutely
hate me for saying this, But there isn't a huge
amount of science to back this up. As you can imagine,
it's not the easiest thing to study. But the answer
actually is probably yes, because theoretically semen does contain prostaglandins.
That's the substance which ripens the cervits, and sex also
(21:50):
does release oxytocin in women, which increases the strength of contractions. Also,
while we're on the topic, nipple stimulation, which is usually
done by babies with feeding but can be done by partners,
it certainly also releases oxytocin. So the answer is probably yes.
Just don't do this stuff if there's a history of
pre term labor. All of the other old wives tales,
(22:12):
I'm sorry, Curry, long walks and stands.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
You name it. No, no, no, no no. Do what
you enjoy is the bottom line.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
And even though it is more unusual to be diagnosed
with preer clamsia after birth rather than during pregnancy.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
It's always a scary outcome. Here's doctor Gollie on what
pre clamsia is and how we can try to avoid it.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
So preclamsia, well, a clamsier comes from the Greek word
for lightning, which is a way of describing the seizures
that can occur during or after childbirth. The real reason
and the real sort of explanation for what preclampsia is
is because of uncontrollably high blood pressure, and we call
that preclampsia. That is the best way to understand it
(22:56):
is imagine that mum during pregnancy is beating that fetus
through the placenta and the umbilical cord. If the cord
and the placenta, which are only designed to last for
nine months, if they happen to fail, if they start
failing earlier than that, what's going to happen is that
(23:16):
the fetus is getting less blood flow and so the
feat to send a message quite intelligently back to the
mum through the blood circulation. Would you mind sending some
more blood please, because my supply is dropping and it's
not an issue of volume. It's an issue of pressure.
You've got to squeeze the blood through the placenta and
(23:38):
then through the cord into the baby. So baby is
sending messages to mum, please increase the pressure in the
blood because I'm not getting enough. Now we know that
the reason the baby's not getting enough is because, for example,
we might have a failing placenta or one that's running
out of juice. But the baby continues to not get enough,
(23:58):
so continues to send these messages to the mum. And
so she just increases her blood pressure again and again
and again and again to try to fuel and feed
that fetus. And that's where we have problems because while
it does supply more blood pressure to the fetus, it
also causes potential problems for mum. So preclaim it can
(24:20):
happen anytime from twenty weeks onwards. It can even last
for days and weeks after a baby's delivered. It's one
thing I remember from my medical training during university. The
only cure for preclampsia is delivery. So it accounts for
actually fifteen percent of pre term deliveries because of maternal preclampsia,
(24:41):
and it is quite a common condition we're talking about
five to ten percent of pregnancies worldwide. So in terms
of the dangers to mum, there is obviously the risk
of pre term delivery, which is more of a danger
to the baby, but then it also leads to high
blood pressure and the mum protein in the urine and
ultimately organ involvement, specifically brain, which is why we talked
(25:02):
about seizures, but also the liver and the system that
takes care of blood clotting. So it can happen anytime
from twenty weeks of pregnancy, which is halfway, and it
can last for days and even weeks after birth, as
was the case with jewels. Look, the key is just
good prenatal health, general health, and blood pressure. The list
(25:25):
is quite predictable. You know, quit smoking, get a good
amount of sleep, exercise. But really the most important thing
is is understanding and appreciating that you can be the
healthiest person on the planet and still get pre clamsy
because it has to do with the health of the
placenta and the cord and mirroad other reasons. The key
is regular blood pressure checks during pregnancy, and in that case,
(25:48):
some women will be commenced on different types of medicines,
for example, low dose aspirin, but you've got to be
checking that blood pressure quite frequently.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
To make sure that it's not being missed, so as
regular listeners to this podcast will know. As well as
exploring the wonderful world of birth, we're also passionate about
discussing that all important forth trimester. It can be so
easy to overlook during pregnancy. But what is Jules's advice
when you get your baby home? Fourth trimester? Like there's
(26:17):
something to be said about that, Like it's called that
for a good reason, because really it's a bit tough.
Obviously it's super happy because you've got this beautiful baby,
but just that hormonal rollercoaster that you're on, Like I
cried eighteen days straight this time, like just over little things,
over big things. But you're just gonna give yourself that
grace to know that like it's okay, and everyone is
(26:38):
feeling the same way generally when you're in that stage.
I think my best advice would be that, like you
literally are a magician and you're a wizard like trush
your instinct, Like I just think that superpower of a
mother is that you just know, like you just learn
those little noises and you know what they want and
like that's when you're like, oh my god, I'm fucking awesome,
(27:00):
Like I'm magic right now. So that to me, I think,
trust your instincts and also like don't be hard on yourself,
like you know, I said, like having little cries over nothing,
like you know what, You're so allowed to just do
whatever you need to do. And this time around, like
I had my baby attached to me for like five weeks,
like I slept with him, I you know, did everything
(27:22):
like in my pillar, had it sitting up and in
my arms, like I really again because I was like
is this going to be the last time? I don't know,
And I just wanted to suck in every little bit
of him. And in a way it was like really
in my first because they looked so identical, I was like,
I'm living it again. Yeah, it was really. I did
it a little bit differently this time, just because I
think I'm in a different place than I was first time,
(27:43):
as in you know, workwise, and that that I had
the space to be able to go, Okay, everything can
stop and then I'm just gonna be with this baby.
And it was just beautiful. But yeah, I think that
would be my number one thing to be, like, just
trust your instincts and know that you know what that
little person needs, and that's like such an amazing thing
about being a mum.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Thank you for joining us on Diary of a Birth,
where we celebrate all the amazing ways that we as
women bring life into the world. If you'd like to
share your birth story with us, we'd love to hear
from you.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Details are in the show notes.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Diary of a Birth was hosted by me because then
you like, with expert input from doctor Gollie, Audio production
by Scott Stronach and our executive producer is Georgie Page.
You're listening to a MoMA Mia podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters
that this podcast is recorded on. We pay our respects
to elder's past, present and emerging and feel privileged to
continue the sharing of birth stories and knowledge that has
been a fundamental part of Indigenous culture.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm Cassanna Lukit and this is diary of her birth.
Today we hear the story of a second time mum
who was keen to emulate her perfect birth with number one.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
And I was like, oh, I've had all the chili,
I've had the pineapple, I've done this, and I've done that,
and she said, look, the only thing that's going to
work is semen. So got home, had the most comical
sex you've ever could imagine, Like it was hilarious. But
then within two hours later, my water broke. She did
everything right for her own body in this second pregnancy,
(01:16):
but of course bub had other plans. I was naked.
It was like a two day ben die. You know why.
I'd been there for like seven hours and Cam actually
said that I was starting to drift underwater, like in
between the surges. But after the birth she had to
deal with a form of one of the scariest pregnancy conditions.
It's super super rare, but it was really scary because
(01:36):
they're like, if we don't control this, like you could
actually have a stroke. But her story works out beautifully
and then at the end my husband was like, you
are incredible and I've had enough energy. It would have
been like I fucking know. So let's get into it
and meet today's mum.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
Hi.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
I'm Jills Robinson and this is the Diary of my
birth with Carter.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Jules is one of Australia's most love personalities. We watched
her and Cam fall in love on TV and now
we get to see their family grow. Jules can laugh
like all mums about how busy she thought her pre
baby life was.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Well, I thought I was busy. Then I look back
and think, God, my life was blissful and I was
still very busy, but I just had so much more
spare time. It was something that I always wanted, was
to have children in my thirties. That's when it kind
of hit me like, yep, I want to have a child.
Before that, I never really thought about it. I had
a little bit convincing to do with my husband to
(02:33):
get him to speed up to where I was because
I'm a little bit older than him. But a honeymoon,
we started trying and two months later I was pregnant.
You know, all those tests that I did, lived in
fear for five years. I really shouldn't have wasted so
much energy on thinking that maybe it wasn't going to happen.
Because a chart telling me that I had low count
and all that, I just put my hand up. I
(02:54):
did my head in for no reason, and within two
months I was very fortunate and manifested that little baby
into my life. My birth with Olli, my first son,
was like my birth wish came completely true. It was
a four hour berth. All the effort I put into
my hypno birthing, it really was amazing. My husband was amazing,
(03:14):
and I couldn't have asked for a better birth wish
that really did happen for me.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
We love hearing about these incredible berths that follow their plan.
But like many new mums, Jewels found the next step
a real challenge. Bringing him home was really hard. I
look back on it now and afterwards.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
I was diagnosed with pre mensial dyspic disorder, and that's
when It really hit home after getting my first period
after having Ollie, and it was a really testing time
having a newborn, got my ol plates on, and then
having to deal with this diagnosis at the same time.
But Jewels soon settled into motherhood and it wasn't long
until she started wanting to add to her brood. We
(03:53):
started trying for Carter baby number two when Ollie was
about not even two years old. We were like, yep,
let's give it a go. So it took two years
really for it to happen. I really discovered the aa
aadic medicine and went down that route, and when I
had my first consultation, it just the penny dropped. There
(04:13):
was no way my body was going to make a baby.
It was on fire. So I really had to tap
into my calm, my meditation. I stopped doing any adrenaline
kind of exercise, and I really believe all this contributed
to me falling pregnant again. As I said, it took
nearly two years to even when it actually happened, I
was like, oh my god, is this actually real? Like
the line was so faint and I had it on
(04:35):
every angle possible, and I'm like, is it there is
it just because I wanted to be there, and yeah,
it happened, it just didn't feel real because I've been
waiting so long for.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
It And now that she'd entered a new decade, Jill's
found this second pregnancy a different experience.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
I do believe that it hits different in your forties.
I really do. Like I was so fit this time.
I was the personal trainer up until five days before
I gave birth, But there were times in the evening
where I'm like, is that like gonna move in front
of the other. It was quite tabilitating, but overall, like,
I really enjoy being pregnant. The first trimester a little
(05:10):
bit sick or the usual things, but the second I
am on full force, I am nesting. I just get
shit done. Like I actually really enjoyed that about being pregnant.
And then as I got bigger Ideah, it was a
little bit debilitating but absolutely healthy.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I'm one of those like annoying people that say I
love being pregnant, like I love watching my body change.
I love all that. So after an enjoyable but tiring pregnancy,
the end came into sight for Jewels. So at the
end of my pregnancy, I was super fit up until
the very last minute. I've been at water aerobics. On
the Saturday, I had acupuncture to bring on the birth
(05:50):
as well. On the Saturday, I had a thing about
it falling on exactly the same day because my first
child was on d Day, and I was like, this
one's going to come to it, So anything's in time
in my life is my children. So I had the
acupunture and I got off the bed and my stomach
had dropped so much. It was quite painful having that acupuncture,
and I'm quite sensitive to things, so by that evening
(06:10):
I was really starting to get the feels. And my
parents came because they were going to stay with us
for a week when we brought this child into the world,
so that was fantastic. And then on the Monday it
didn't come all the fields. And then on the Monday
two days later, I went into water aerobics and in
the pool there was a midwife who funnily enough, ended
up seeing in hospital at Northern Beaches a couple of
days later, and I was like, Oh, I've had all
(06:31):
the chili, I've had the pineapple, I've done this, and
I've done that and done this. She said, look, the
only thing that's going to work is semen. And I
was like, really, where's out? And she's explaining how it's
got something in it that helps open up be a
pelvic floor. And I was like, she because it's almost
like being in juice, Like it's the same. There's something
in it that's the same. Anyway, So I was like okay.
So I got home, had the most comical sex you've
(06:54):
ever could imagine, Like it was hilarious. But then within
two hours later, my water broke. So there's got to
be something in that. There you go, an old wives
tale proven true. Later in this episode, you'll hear the
science behind this from doctor Gollye and what other tricks
you can do at home that are proven to bring
on labor. Right, So, Jules's water had broken, and it
(07:16):
broke like the movies, not like a little trickle. It
was like, oh my god, this is like the movies,
which genuinely doesn't happen like that. So and I was
lying on the couch and I have my son in
my hands and I was bringing on the oxytocin. I
was just stroking him and feeling all the love and
he fell asleep and I actually was getting up to
go to bed, which was actually not great then going
into labor, because I was like so knackered by you know,
(07:38):
eight o'clock at night, as you do in the last
Droe mister Yeah. And I got up and it was like,
oh my god, Wow, Okay, we're on and because of
my last birth being in four hours, ring the hospital
and they're like you get in here quick, girl, because
it's gonna happen. So packed our bags and off we went,
coming up. And then I was on the floor and
they're like, you got to get up to the bed,
and I just was like this mountain goat. I was like,
(07:58):
oh my god, it's just so far away. So after
a quick drive to the hospital, Jewels and camp pulled
up around a quarter to nine that night. I was
definitely starting to get the surges and feeling it, and
I used a tennis machine on my first burd and
(08:22):
hands up, I will tell anyone that will listen, if
you're wanting to give birth or you're tougher with any
kind of pain, this machine basically tricks your brain of
where the pain is and it takes your mind off
what's happening, and it honestly is a game changer, especially
because I was going in with the ambition to have
a natural birth again as in meaning nothing no chemicals,
like you know, no needles or anything like that. So
(08:44):
I got into hospital and my husband is useless on
no sleep, so I knew that I had a little
bit to go until I was going to get to
the place. I was like, you go to sleep and
I'll be here. So I had my meditation tape some
on really got in the zone, bouncing up and down,
and then I just kind of got a bit over
the hypno voice, like it gets a little bit after
a couple of hours, I'm done with you. And I
spent about six months making a birth wish playlist on Spotify,
(09:08):
and every midwife's like, oh my god, your music's amazing.
And it really was like Belses that you can sing
just songs that you know, a little bit of romance,
a little bit of cheese, like just a really good
playlist that is just perfect in that setting. I know
what you're gonna ask, which bangers does Jules Robinson have
on her birthday playlist? Well, let's take a dive in
to listen.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
I Love you down to your bom naked in faith.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
It on me that way, you know, I bebb there you.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
Say I've got enough, And I saw my reflection in
snow booties.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
So after I got to about four hours where you know,
the midwife was like she didn't check if I was dilated,
because she's like, you really do know your body and
you're very in tune with it. She's like, you just
do what you need to do. And after about four hours,
like I just wasn't feeling like I was getting to
the next level. Like I was like, it's coming, it's near,
but I know that there was a lot more to go.
So my tens machine basically wasn't on that high, like
(10:20):
I was just channeling through it. So she came in
and she said, look, my intuition tells me that your
water hasn't fully broken. I'm like, really, oh my god,
you should have seen what happened on the floor in
my hallway. So she got out this thing that I
can only explain as like a big knitting needle, and
she then inserted it to break my water. And she
was right. It was basically I'd done four or five
(10:43):
hours of the head just hitting on this little puddle
of water in a sack, which is why after birth
I then got pubist symphonius disorder, which is basically just
that belting on the pelvic floor. Like I just reallyok
that bone was so painful, like I couldn't walk about
a week afterwards, like it was sliding. There was no
lifting of the feet at all. So once she did that,
(11:05):
and also but in that moment, I was like, Okay,
I'm bored of this. I'm bored of this scenario. And
I wanted also to have a different berth than last time,
just to experience something new. So I got into the
bath and within like honestly three minutes like not to
one thousand from her then piersing the water. So in
the bath I enjoyed it. It wasn't for me though.
I did a couple of hours and eventually like I
(11:28):
was knacked. It was like a two day bender, you
know why. I'd been there for like seven hours, and
Cam actually said that I was starting to drift underwater
like in between the surges because I was so tired,
like I really gave it my all. But I also
think that I wasn't letting myself get to the next stage.
I don't know, I just wasn't sold on the whole
water thing. I enjoyed. It was different. It was good
(11:48):
to do something different. So anyway, I got out and
I was having a little bit gas by that point,
and they were like, okay, let's get you back to
the bed, and oh my god, like from the bath
to the bed was like a million miles away, and
I was like, okay, I can do it. Anyway, I
got there, and of course they must put like towels
in ovens or something in the hospital because I was freezing,
and also the fact of having to get out of
(12:08):
the water and get over there was quite you know,
not the most pleasant thing. So I got out and
there wrapped me up in the sheet and got me
warm really quickly before the next contraction was coming. And
I just was like, give me gas, give me my
tens and everything. So I finally got it on and
then I was on the floor and they're like, you
gotta get up to the bed, and I just was
like this mountain goat. I was like, oh my god,
it's just so far away. And by this time I
was on a bit of gas, so everything was just
(12:30):
like airy fairy. And then Cam and I looked at
each other in the eye and if by this time
it was like oh six am, you know, I'd been
at it like and I'd been giving at my all
and we looked at each other and when you know
your partner inside it out, our eyes just basically said,
if I'm not fully dilated, I don't care, like to
get this baby out of me, I do not care
what happens like because I'm done anyway. So of course
(12:54):
checked and they're like, you're fully dilated, this is it,
And I just was like, I just had to dig
so deep. And yeah, the gas was great. Gas highly
recommend giving birth and a tens machine and I remember
clicking the tens machine so far that my stomach was
contracting at the same time. And then I remember thinking,
oh my god, what if I've gone to the end,
because I knew there was still more that was going
(13:15):
to more pain was going to come, so then I
had to retract it back and then go again. And yeah,
and you know what's really amazing. On my birth wish
playlist in my home, I have for my first son
a beautiful big artwork that has like Northern Beach's Hospital
or the date that he was born in the time
and his birth song, which was Rise Up and it
(13:36):
has the music the sound notes of it printed and
to my son Carter, I actually gave birth to that song.
It was actually really really amazing and I was like, oh,
that's so special because it's such a beautiful, empowering song.
And yeah, so anyway, it was thirteen hours in the
end and it was oh and then at the end
my husband was like, you are incredible, and I've had
(13:57):
enough energy. It would have been like I fucking know.
So Jules had finally done it. I wondered if she'd
change anything if she could. It was amazing. It was
really hard, like if I go again, like I think
I might do an epidural, like it was like the
four hours the first time, Like oh my god, that
was amazing, Like just going in and out and have
(14:17):
a baby like this was this took every bit of
energy from me. And as I said, like, it does
hit different in your forties, like I just my body.
It feels different having a baby this time round. Maybe
because it's the second one. I don't know, but yeah,
I mean I love the process of giving birth. I think,
you know, as a woman, it's the most amazing thing
you can go through. Jules had done the incredible birthed
(14:41):
a beautiful baby boy. But unfortunately the health concerns didn't
stop when Carter came out. So I was in hospital
only for the two days, which was great, but I
could start to feel I had really bad mistitis the
first time round, like so badly that I had to
(15:03):
go back to hospital for five days. So I was
very on the fence of like, oh, should I breastfeed
again because I was so sick last time. I couldn't
actually look after my baby like I'm talking like my
scalp hurt my skin her like, I was so ill.
So I thought, nah, give it a go, give it
a go. And I did try, and then I came
home forty eight. I was in the hospital for two days.
(15:24):
I came home and the midwife came out and my
blood pressure was so high that they then said, look,
you have to go back to hospital. And I was like,
all right, find the positive. I got back to hospital,
but at least I can use their fantastic pump and
I can, you know, really get going on that while
I'm sitting in there waiting for the doctors and the
tests and everything. So I went back in there and
I think I pumped like ten meals or something, you
know like that. And yeah, unfortunately, my blood pressure just
(15:47):
kept on rising like super super high. I had I'd
had had a headache for two days, but I just
didn't really think about it. And it turns out I
had pre eclempsia, which is something that you generally get
when you are pregnant towards the end. So this is
like it's super super rare. But it was really scary
because they're like, if we don't control this, like you
could actually have a stroke or you could you know.
(16:07):
And I'm there just go, oh my god. All I'm
trying to do is get some milk out of me
in here. I've been told that. So yeah, that wasn't fun.
Wasn't That wasn't fun at all? And then so then
I was in hospital for another three days with that.
And then my boobs, oh my god, my boobs. I
had four frozen Huggies nappies on me because they were
just like you never see anything like it. And then
(16:28):
I just had to because I was like, I just
made the decision. I was like, you know what, it's
not for me. I could I could start to feel
that feeling and the PTSD of what I went through
that I just had to shut it down, which meant
two sports bras the ice and just no stimulation, like
do not touch your boobs at all, and it worked.
I did three days of doing that and it went away.
But with the pre ACCLEMSA, I had to They eventually
(16:49):
found the medication that suited me that it wasn't making
it go away and then come back again to the
same level. But yeah, that was a bit sad, like
I was. I had a bit of a bit of
a cry and a bit of a sob for myself.
And the midwives were amazing, like they came and took
him one night and just walked around the hallway and
that just because I just needed to sleep and I'd
got I just was so emotionally hormonally, and then that
on top and I just was like, oh, this wasn't
(17:11):
in the plan, you know, But that's what happens, isn't it.
You never know what actually is going to happen when
it comes to giving birth coming up. But the seriousness
of it was if I didn't get it under control,
like I could have had a stroke, so you know,
which is just devastating to think, like, here you are
with this beautiful thing that's just happened, and then there's
this side effect.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
We'll hear more from doctor Golly soon, but Jules's condition
is incredibly rare. But it's such a wild time when
you get home with the baby and your body has
been through well trauma. So I'm fascinated by what made
Jewels go, Okay, this isn't just post birth pain, this
is something more.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
When I had the headache for two days, I just thought,
I'm just really tired. I'm just you know, I'm up
every two hours. I just didn't really think of it.
But when she was saying where and I was like, yeah,
like right in the middle of my forehead, and then
I've kind of got this feeling in my neck.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
You know.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
All the symptoms were very spot on to what happens
when you get pretty cclemsia. So it just meant that
I had to take medication every day and then go
and get my blood pressure checked all the time, which
was not to see the most annoying part like coming
to go to the doctors of the pharmacy, like you know,
every couple of days and I'm fine now, but it
was a scary thought that this could be forever, this
(18:30):
could be I'm taking blood pressure tablets. I'm like, I
don't want to do that, Like I'm healthy, I've never
had I've never had a blood pressure problem in my
whole life. So no one knows why it happened. It's
just something we had to find a solution there. And
then I'm pretty impressed that Jewels was able to manage
some self care and stay in tune with herself during
this tricky time, which is really really hard but so crucial.
(18:51):
I think, you know, being in tune with your body
is so important. But you know, hands up in that moment,
like I didn't care about me, Like I just was like,
oh no, I'll be fine. I don't want to get
back to hospital, like I just wanted to be at
home and nesting. But the seriousness of what it was,
if I didn't get it under control, like I could
have had a stroke, so, you know, which is just
devastating to think, like here you are with this beautiful
(19:12):
thing that's just happened, and then there's this side effect.
So I think, you know, it is really important as moms,
like we don't sometimes put ourselves first or heal and
we think, oh, yeah, I'll get that checked eventually, and
you don't, but you do have to. You know, the
best place for me was in hospital in that moment,
I just had to surrender to it because I really
didn't want to be there.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
So what is something that Jules wishes all pregnant women
you ahead of their births.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Something I don't think people talk about is that you
birth are placenter. Honestly, you like what I'm going to do?
What Like, I did not prepare for that first time around,
And yeah, I just think birthing a placenta is like
it's literally like having another baby. I planted mine in
the garden and put an olive tree on the top
of it for my first son, and I've actually got
(19:58):
my placenta still in the fridge at the moment. I
still haven't decided what plan I'm going to put over it.
But yeah, the placenter thing. But one thing I learned
second time around is that I watched the video back
actually of me giving birth to my first son, because
they then come around and they just put a needle
in my leg, which brings on the birth of the placenta,
and it's basically just like being induced, but a smaller
(20:21):
and I was like, oh my god, really, so I've
gone all this effort to try and not have any
chemicals in me. Then I did that without even really knowing.
So this time around, I actually on my birth wish
I was that person everyone on the door and the
midwife's like, no, we love people that do this. I'm like, yeah, right,
they're probably out in the hall way going, oh god,
she's a been and the ass isn't g But it
was one of my things that I wanted to hold
(20:41):
the baby first. I wanted Cam and I to say
what the sex was because I'm like, we waited ten
months for this, so we're going to see that first.
And also it was to naturally birth the placenta and
to not have that injection and to not you know,
have those chemicals put in me. So it did take
a little bit longer. But yeah, Bert like, people go,
you what, like, yeah, I don't think we talk about
(21:03):
that enough.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Well, lucky enough to have the services and wisdom of
doctor Golly, one of the country's top pediatricians, to provide
answers to the medical questions that come up in our stories.
So Jules and Cam employed the old sex to bring
on the baby trick to get jewels moving. Here's doctor
golly On and how on earth this works? And what
are some other Old wives tales that doctors believe actually
(21:26):
help when you're very keen to get labor moving.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I love this question, and my god, Cam will absolutely
hate me for saying this, But there isn't a huge
amount of science to back this up. As you can imagine,
it's not the easiest thing to study. But the answer
actually is probably yes, because theoretically semen does contain prostaglandins.
That's the substance which ripens the cervits, and sex also
(21:50):
does release oxytocin in women, which increases the strength of contractions. Also,
while we're on the topic, nipple stimulation, which is usually
done by babies with feeding but can be done by partners,
it certainly also releases oxytocin. So the answer is probably yes.
Just don't do this stuff if there's a history of
pre term labor. All of the other old wives tales,
(22:12):
I'm sorry, Curry, long walks and stands.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
You name it. No, no, no, no no. Do what
you enjoy is the bottom line.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
And even though it is more unusual to be diagnosed
with preer clamsia after birth rather than during pregnancy.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
It's always a scary outcome. Here's doctor Gollie on what
pre clamsia is and how we can try to avoid it.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
So preclamsia, well, a clamsier comes from the Greek word
for lightning, which is a way of describing the seizures
that can occur during or after childbirth. The real reason
and the real sort of explanation for what preclampsia is
is because of uncontrollably high blood pressure, and we call
that preclampsia. That is the best way to understand it
(22:56):
is imagine that mum during pregnancy is beating that fetus
through the placenta and the umbilical cord. If the cord
and the placenta, which are only designed to last for
nine months, if they happen to fail, if they start
failing earlier than that, what's going to happen is that
(23:16):
the fetus is getting less blood flow and so the
feat to send a message quite intelligently back to the
mum through the blood circulation. Would you mind sending some
more blood please, because my supply is dropping and it's
not an issue of volume. It's an issue of pressure.
You've got to squeeze the blood through the placenta and
(23:38):
then through the cord into the baby. So baby is
sending messages to mum, please increase the pressure in the
blood because I'm not getting enough. Now we know that
the reason the baby's not getting enough is because, for example,
we might have a failing placenta or one that's running
out of juice. But the baby continues to not get enough,
(23:58):
so continues to send these messages to the mum. And
so she just increases her blood pressure again and again
and again and again to try to fuel and feed
that fetus. And that's where we have problems because while
it does supply more blood pressure to the fetus, it
also causes potential problems for mum. So preclaim it can
(24:20):
happen anytime from twenty weeks onwards. It can even last
for days and weeks after a baby's delivered. It's one
thing I remember from my medical training during university. The
only cure for preclampsia is delivery. So it accounts for
actually fifteen percent of pre term deliveries because of maternal preclampsia,
(24:41):
and it is quite a common condition we're talking about
five to ten percent of pregnancies worldwide. So in terms
of the dangers to mum, there is obviously the risk
of pre term delivery, which is more of a danger
to the baby, but then it also leads to high
blood pressure and the mum protein in the urine and
ultimately organ involvement, specifically brain, which is why we talked
(25:02):
about seizures, but also the liver and the system that
takes care of blood clotting. So it can happen anytime
from twenty weeks of pregnancy, which is halfway, and it
can last for days and even weeks after birth, as
was the case with jewels. Look, the key is just
good prenatal health, general health, and blood pressure. The list
(25:25):
is quite predictable. You know, quit smoking, get a good
amount of sleep, exercise. But really the most important thing
is is understanding and appreciating that you can be the
healthiest person on the planet and still get pre clamsy
because it has to do with the health of the
placenta and the cord and mirroad other reasons. The key
is regular blood pressure checks during pregnancy, and in that case,
(25:48):
some women will be commenced on different types of medicines,
for example, low dose aspirin, but you've got to be
checking that blood pressure quite frequently.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
To make sure that it's not being missed, so as
regular listeners to this podcast will know. As well as
exploring the wonderful world of birth, we're also passionate about
discussing that all important forth trimester. It can be so
easy to overlook during pregnancy. But what is Jules's advice
when you get your baby home? Fourth trimester? Like there's
(26:17):
something to be said about that, Like it's called that
for a good reason, because really it's a bit tough.
Obviously it's super happy because you've got this beautiful baby,
but just that hormonal rollercoaster that you're on, Like I
cried eighteen days straight this time, like just over little things,
over big things. But you're just gonna give yourself that
grace to know that like it's okay, and everyone is
(26:38):
feeling the same way generally when you're in that stage.
I think my best advice would be that, like you
literally are a magician and you're a wizard like trush
your instinct, Like I just think that superpower of a
mother is that you just know, like you just learn
those little noises and you know what they want and
like that's when you're like, oh my god, I'm fucking awesome,
(27:00):
Like I'm magic right now. So that to me, I think,
trust your instincts and also like don't be hard on yourself,
like you know, I said, like having little cries over nothing,
like you know what, You're so allowed to just do
whatever you need to do. And this time around, like
I had my baby attached to me for like five weeks,
like I slept with him, I you know, did everything
(27:22):
like in my pillar, had it sitting up and in
my arms, like I really again because I was like
is this going to be the last time? I don't know,
And I just wanted to suck in every little bit
of him. And in a way it was like really
in my first because they looked so identical, I was like,
I'm living it again. Yeah, it was really. I did
it a little bit differently this time, just because I
think I'm in a different place than I was first time,
(27:43):
as in you know, workwise, and that that I had
the space to be able to go, Okay, everything can
stop and then I'm just gonna be with this baby.
And it was just beautiful. But yeah, I think that
would be my number one thing to be, like, just
trust your instincts and know that you know what that
little person needs, and that's like such an amazing thing
about being a mum.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Thank you for joining us on Diary of a Birth,
where we celebrate all the amazing ways that we as
women bring life into the world. If you'd like to
share your birth story with us, we'd love to hear
from you.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Details are in the show notes.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Diary of a Birth was hosted by me because then
you like, with expert input from doctor Gollie, Audio production
by Scott Stronach and our executive producer is Georgie Page.
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