The Positive Births NZ podcast

Dalen speaks about the different feelings she had between her first birth and second with feeling disconnected in her first birth to Oaklee but very grounded and present for Asher’s birth. This is an episode where there is definitely quite a difference between first birth and second birth experiences.
In this chat we cover:
-Being a younger mum
-Intense long labour (convinced it would be fast) for first birth
-Got to birth centre 1cm dilated
-Felt disconnected
-Difficult time and difficult recovery determined for this not to happen again
-Education and communication with partner Josh as to how he could be even better support in 2nd birth
-Using TENS machine, being in water, soft loose body
-Very present for 2nd birth at home in the water
Dalen is owner of @labourandlovenz  https://labourandlove.co.nz/ where you can find a conscious practitioner directory, birth pool hire, natural products for birth and postpartum.
This episode is sponsored by www.tenshire.co.nz, Natal Care Naturally has offered all listeners a 5% discount on their TENS machine hire. Use code: POSITIVEBIRTH
A tens machine helps you to cope with the sensations of labour by using pulsing vibrations that reduces the intensity of the feelings by your brain. It also helps to stimulate endorphins the feel good hormones and naturally occurring body’s own morphine. All of this means that you’re more likely to feel more comfortable during your labour and of course a TENS machine works beautifully in conjunction with your hypnobirthing breathing and relaxation exercises too.
You’ll get 6 weeks of hire and for those of you using hypnobirthing skills, you can practise these with the tens machine before you go into labour to feel how well they work together.
If you’d like to gain some valuable hypnobirthing tools head to www.positivebirths.co.nz for course options and a Free Relaxation track.
For more chats and info on a positive birth journey follow @positive_births_nz

Having enjoyed a very smooth pregnancy and feeling excited about her home bus birth Gemma was not expecting the curveball of a pre-eclampsia diagnosis just beforeweek 40.
In this episode our chat includes:
- Excited for birth, being surrounded by positive stories & the plan was a homebirth in their house bus
- Diagnosis of pre-eclampsia just prior to week 40 and resistance to a hospital birth
-Gemma’s decision not to have scans in her pregnancy
-Getting into a positive mindset for the induction, using a hypnotherapy track to help
-Induction with one dose of prostaglandin
-Jared’s support and the inability to speak when she was deep in her zone
-Listening-to her body when it felt pushy and not forcing it.
 
The podcast episode Gemma mentions is episode #151 Natasha’s induction to Aiden on The Positive births NZ podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/5c4G73U82WkWpBq30Ny7Fc
If you too need support to get your mind into the right state for an unexpected induction, please reach out for your options at [email protected]
If you’d like to learn tools and techniques for your labour and birth you can find a range of course options and personal support at www.positivebirths.co.nz
For more info and chat about a positive birth journey follow us @positive_births_nz

Midwife Courtney shares her experiences of a hospital birthto Molly and homebirth to Teddy – both are posterior births.
Within this chat we cover:
-Courtney’s experience as a midwife of 3 years prior to firstbirth
-Inaccuracy of scan predicting her baby to be big
-Meconium stained waters when released, posterior labour,significant bleed, ambulance transfer to hosptial, epidural,
-Tough postpartum and support through first 6 weeks
-Missed miscarriage and healing from two miscarriages
-Hypnobirthing with Teddy’s pregnancy and the importance of mental preparation
-Going into labour just as maternity leave started at 37+4
-Posterior labour and homebirth to Teddy.
 
If you’re also looking for other stories on this podcast featuring posterior babies, you can find
-Tammy’s 3 waterbirths,
-Leanne's powerful mind in an induction and posterior birth to Ayla
-Gaia’s  unassisted homebirth to Atley

To get access to a free relaxation track to start your positive birth journey head to https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-birth-top-resources/

Register for the free webinar : How to prepare for your positive birth here: https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/7pm Monday 8th June 2026
(if you've missed this one, there will be a recording on the website and another held in a few months time)
For more info and chats on positive birth experiences follow @positive_births_nz

Rachel shares her experience of 4 pregnancies withHyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) and her 4 positive births to Rhys, Harper, Brooklyn and George.
In this episode our chat includes:
- Rhys born 2020 at 38 weeks + 5 days, a straight forwardbirth with 4 hours of established labour,
-difficult after pains
-Pregnant again soon after and dealing with HG with an 8month old
-Harper 2022 – born at week 40. Rachel took laxatives the day before to see if that would help ramp things up, fast efficient birth, struggled to bond, hard to settle baby
-Third pregnancy with Brooklyn in 2024 was the most difficultHG experience
-Incredible support from Timaru hospital
-Moving house around due date, laxatives to get labourstarted
-George 2026 – very different experience with Waikato DHB,luckily HG didn’t last as long as previous pregnancies,  born 38+5 labour story a little bit different from his siblings likely due to position.
You can find Rachel’s baby boutique: Zus and Co: @zusandco.nz, www.zusandco.co.nz
Mentioned as a supplement support for HG and general morning sickness: Weareaggie.co.nz
Use discount code: AGGIEPB20 for a 20% discount of the Morning Relief supplements
If you would like to learn a range of skills to help youmentally prepare for labour and birth check out your options at www.positivebirths.co.nz
For more chats and info on preparing for your positive birthfollow us @positive_births_nz

Elyn says she "hit the jackpot" by finding this podcast and the Positive Births resources. She did an amazing job, and she has so much to share with you. In this episode we discuss: -
-Conception while on her OE and having to choose a midwife from overseas
 - Superficial thrombosis on foot lead to practising breathing while getting a needle into her stomach each night
-Spontaneous labour at 40+1, at home until body was pushing
-Having to hold on and fight the urge to push car ride to birthcentre and stuck behind a tractor
-Meconium in waters and how that impacted the pushing stage
-Challenges breastfeeding, triple feeding, postpartum anxiety
-Learnings from the breastfeeding journey, postpartum preparation and discussion of Matrescence
Mentioned is the book Matrescence by Lucy Jones
If you too would like to prepare for your postpartum with some tools and strategies to cope mentally and emotionally (regardless of what plays out) you might like to register for the next online course of the Positive Postpartum workshop.
Book here: www.positivebirths.co.nz/positive-postpartum
To order the Positive Birth in NZ book: www.positivebirths.co.nz/book-positive-birth-in-nz/
For more chats, info, inspiration and positive birth tips and tricks follow @positive_births_nz