The Positive Births NZ podcast

From the moment Anneke’s first baby Monty arrived she knew her next birth would be a VBAC.Therefore, excited to pregnant and expecting baby #2 Anneke intended, prepared, visualised and believed in her ability to have this VBAC.Her midwives were on board and all was going well until……..the routine appointment with the hospital obstetrician at 33 weeks.Get ready to tear your hair out about what the obstetrician says to Anneke and – how it derailed her – but only for a short time.After releasing her fear and negative emotions and moving through a hypnotherapy exercise, plus repeating the VBAC education workshop, Anneke was back in the drivers seat ready to go into labour naturally and avoid another C-Section.This is Anneke’s powerful journey of really listening to her own intuition, trusting herself, and for the very first time ever in her life going against what a medical professional suggested and she comes out so very super proud of herself.If you too would like tools and techniques and/or to release trauma or fear please check out all your options including one-on-one personal sessions, online recordings or live group classes see: www.positivebirths.co.nz.For the VBAC education workshop see: @Kristinwhite.vbaceducator

If you’d like another example of a normal, natural healthy, physiological birth of a first baby you’re in the right place today.Anna’s homebirth experience has helped her develop a senseof self trust that she is no relying on in her postpartum and we discuss how important this is.At 38 weeks Anna experienced a very long (almost 7 days)latent labour. Despite the long days and nights of intermittent sensations impacting her energy levels and testing her resolve she knew a short term fix (ie induction) would interfere in the type of birth she had planned an prepared for; therefore Anna persevered.Finally one night labour kicked off and as her midwife said, that week of latent labour was “money in the bank” because when Anna suspected things were happening and asked her midwife to check where she was at, she was doing pretty well.Her breathing and relaxation was her saving grace through both the latent and active stages of labour and if you too would like to benefit from some tools and techniques that are useful and relevant for all types of birth check out your options on www.positivebirths.co.nz.

Kiwi Beth and her partner moved to Majorca Spain whilepregnant with their first baby. Beth’s plan was to have a homebirth and she shares what she needed to do to make that happen – as the system in Spain is very different to NZ. Despite what was planned baby had other ideas as he wasready to arrive at 34+5 so this birth ended up being in hospital. Beth explains what happened after baby was born and how it was difficult to advocate for herself and baby due to the language barrier.In her second pregnancy Beth was determined to have the homebirth and of course she did and she shares her very fast straight forward experience with baby #2.Beth can be found at www.mybody-mybirth.comand you might like to check out her exploration card pack – designed to inspire open and meaningful conversations between you and your birth partner so you can feel more connected, prepared, and confident as you prepare to welcome your baby.For all listeners – purchase a pack of the birth cardsbefore December 31 2025, use code Positive20 for a 20% discount!

After a beautiful pregnancy and birth to Olive (which hadinvolved a major mindset shift about birth) Nicole found herself in her second pregnancy fearful of not being able to have another positive birth. She searched for stories of mums having the experience of 2 great birth stories andcame up short. Which is one of the big reasons she is here – to share the fact that it IS possible.In this episode you’ll hear about Olive’s conceptionjourney, the smooth pregnancy, the not knowing and then the learning for Nicole's first birth. The mindset work Nicole did in her second pregnancy to Juno, where she overcome doubts and fears;  her thoughts about freebirth, a dream her midwife had and how they navigated quite a quick transfer to the birthcentre with Olive in tow.If you too would like to learn skills and tools for yourpositive birth journey, you can find out more at www.positivebirths.co.nz.There are live group courses in person and online, plus online recorded digital packages. Helen also offers one on one support for complex fears and trauma and deeper emotional support.

"It turned into this incredible natural, beautiful, almost pain free like experience with such a natural high. It was phenomenal".Natasha and Joel prepared in pregnancy with learning skills and tools from their Positive Births hypnobirthing course. Natasha explains how they used their tools in her pregnancy and for labour, with Joel being an incredible support during the induction process.Due to high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia Natasharequired an induction which started with misprostal and then moved onto the balloon, release of membranes and synthetic oxytocin. Throughout this she used her mindset, relaxation and breathwork to keep calm and relaxed. When her bodywas ready to birth baby, she describes the involuntary pushes, with baby Aiden born rapidly.If you too would like to have the skills, tools and mindsetfor you and your partner to use in your labour, birth and life beyond, head to www.positivebirths.co.nz for yourcourse options. Natasha mentions listening to another episode from this podcast which is: Jess' experience of PUPPPS, positive induction and hospital birth to Will.