Her Herd

Alicia “Quirky” Lucas - Olympic gold medalist, commentator, physio and proud country girl - sits with me to unpack two wildly different births. We start in Tokyo during peak COVID, where language barriers, strict protocols and a scheduled breech caesarean meant Matt could only meet baby Matilda via FaceTime (and a stolen extra few hours thanks to one very polite midwife). Alicia lets us into the admin maze that followed - citizenship by descent, emergency passports, hotel quarantine with a newborn - and the ache of being far from home.Fast-forward to Agnes Water and Bundaberg: no private options, long drives, and a crash-course in rural maternity realities. Alicia plans for a VBAC, walks in at 40+1 already 5 cm, detours home to tuck Tilly into bed (iconic), then rockets back for a 45-minute, hands-on, coached delivery of Daisy. We talk TENS machines, monitoring and cannula “non-negotiable,” the moment her waters went everywhere (RIP Uggs), the surge of “I did it,” and naming Daisy Lee after her mum - who, in perfect family-chaos form, turned up with a freshly broken ankle and a full heart.Beyond the play-by-play, Alicia shares what elite sport taught her about labour mindset, how to hold both grief and gratitude, and practical ways to keep agency when the system is rigid - especially in the bush. If you’re navigating VBAC decisions, rural care, or just need a brave, generous story to remind you you’re not alone

Today we sit with Em from Warwick, QLD - wife to Max and mum to two-year-old Levi - to trace a first pregnancy that began with hope and quickly collided with the same refrain we hear from so many rural first-time mums: “I didn’t know.” Em takes us from deciding to try for a baby, through eight months of TTC, to that middle-of-the-night positive test, and into a system where timely information and continuity of care were often missing.Across this conversation you’ll hear the rural realities: a GP visit that felt like a non-event; waiting until 19 weeks to be “picked up” by midwives; early, matter-of-fact risk talk focused on BMI and a likely transfer to Toowoomba; the fear of birthing far from home; and the emotional toll of repeating trauma histories to a new clinician at every appointment. Em shares how a borderline GDM diagnosis (and real-time Bluetooth monitoring) amplified anxiety, how advice landed differently depending on who offered it, and how the absence of relationship-based care can make a healthy pregnancy feel anything but safe.You’ll also hear what made a difference. Em found credible education (Great Birth Rebellion, Core & Floor Restore’s free antenatal videos, Dr Sarah Buckley’s work, and Catherine Bell’s Birth Map), a local circle of mums who said “you’re one of us,” and - crucially - a private midwife who offered a soft place to land late in pregnancy. With that support, Em built clear, values-led plans (yes/no flowcharts and all), watched her blood sugars settle, and entered labour at 40+1 with a toolkit that included TENS, gas, horse’s breath, and a fiercely present partner. We follow her fast escalation from home to clinic to birth suite, waters breaking on the table, a gentle in-and-out catheter to quiet her mind, a tiny cervical lip moved aside, and finally an unaugmented vaginal birth crowned by the words every woman deserves to hear: “Look at you. Clever girl.”This is an episode about how knowledge, safety, and continuity reshape the experience - and why rural models of care must center them. Part 2 continues tomorrow with Em’s postpartum, reflections on what she wishes she’d known earlier, and what she wants every rural parent and clinician to take forward.

In this episode, we sit down with Jenny, a rural mum whose birth story takes us deep into the complexity of what it means to carry risk, fear, and strength all at once.After trying to conceive for five months, Jenny was told her pregnancy was high-risk due to her BMI and a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. What followed was weeks of uncertainty, a five-hour relocation to Newcastle for care, an induction at 38 weeks, and an emergency caesarean under general anesthetic. Her baby was born small and unexpectedly, with forceps. But that wasn’t the end — days later, Jenny developed sepsis and was hospitalised for 10 days.Jenny speaks with honesty and clarity about the mental toll of her experience, the trauma that followed, and the hard decision not to have more children. But she also shares her resilience — in finding support, making changes for her mental health, and in speaking up for herself and other women navigating birth in larger bodies.This conversation is a reminder that trauma and strength often walk side by side — and that no one should have to carry it alone.We’re so grateful to Jenny for trusting us with her story.

In this episode, we sit down with Shara, a rural mum who shares the extraordinary journey of her four births - each one completely different, each shaped by its own set of challenges, decisions, and lessons. From a hospital birth during the peak of COVID-19 restrictions at just 21, to the calm of a water birth, the chaos of an unplanned roadside delivery, and finally, a planned home birth supported by family - Shara’s story is full of grit, self-trust, and quiet determination.She reflects on what it was like navigating a system with limited midwifery options and no continuity of care, and how that shaped her choices along the way. With every birth, Shara grew more confident in listening to her body, asking questions, and making informed decisions - even when they went against what others expected.This is a story about learning as you go, finding your voice, and doing birth your own way - four times over. We’re so grateful to Shara for sharing her story with us. It’s one that reminds us just how strong women are, and how every birth deserves to be seen and heard.

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan, a mum of three from regional NSW, who shares her story of welcoming her son River into the world - born with a cleft lip and palate.Jordan speaks with openness and heart about the shock of receiving River’s diagnosis at the 20-week scan, and the uncertainty that followed. From a planned caesarean at 36 weeks to feeding challenges, early surgeries, and the many moments in between - this is a story about strength, love, and learning to parent through the unexpected.She reflects on the emotional toll, the anxiety about what lay ahead, and the deep bond that grew between them despite the complexities of care. There’s honesty here about the grief, but also so much joy and pride. Jordan also shares beautiful advice for other parents navigating similar paths - reminding us that even when things don’t go to plan, there is still room for connection, beauty, and hope.This is an episode about finding your feet while the ground is shifting. About advocacy, adjustment, and showing up for your baby in every way you can.We’re so grateful to Jordan for sharing River’s story with us.

In this episode, we sit down with Leah, a mum of three living in Narrabri, who shares the raw, beautiful, and at times deeply challenging journey of becoming a parent in regional Australia.Leah’s story spans fertility struggles, an ectopic pregnancy, IVF, and the surprise of naturally conceiving identical twins. With honesty and grace, she talks us through what it was like to face medical emergencies far from major hospitals, to drive hours for basic care, and to navigate high-risk pregnancies and diagnoses with limited local resources.From emergency surgery and IVF in Sydney, to a twin pregnancy complicated by talipes (club foot) and preterm labour at 33 weeks, Leah and her husband Pat have weathered it all with resilience and love. Their twins were born at 36 weeks via c-section and required follow-up treatment far from home - adding another layer to an already complex postpartum experience.Leah also speaks to the emotional toll - the quiet grief of pregnancy loss, the mental load of parenting under pressure, and the importance of protecting your mental health when the system isn’t built for families like yours.This is a story about trust, distance, diagnosis, and sheer determination. We’re so grateful to Leah for sharing it with us. It’s one that will stay with you.

Tylia shares the story of her first pregnancy with her son Harvey, now almost four - a pregnancy marked by placenta previa, a short cervix, leaking fluids and a birth that ended in a fast labour, significant blood loss, and later, complications that went undetected for six weeks.Her second pregnancy, after a heartbreaking miscarriage, was shadowed by anxiety and uncertainty. From an ovarian cyst to worrying scans, and finally, early induction at 37 weeks due to low fluid and a calcifying placenta - every step required Tylia to dig deep for faith, trust, and connection. She speaks candidly about the emotional toll of pregnancy after loss - how difficult it is to bond, to hope, to believe your baby will make it here safely. And she opens up about the challenges of accessing maternity care from her rural community, an hour from the nearest hospital, and the strain that distance can place on decision-making, reassurance, and basic monitoring.Tylia’s story is one of deep love, lingering fear, and incredible resilience. We are so grateful to her, and to her family, for trusting us with her story.We hope this episode helps other rural families navigating pregnancy after loss feel a little more seen, a little more supported, and a little less alone.

In this episode, we sit down with Kylie, a certified pregnancy, birth, and postpartum doula from Griffith, NSW. Kylie shares her personal journey into motherhood, a journey filled with unexpected twists, deep resilience, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom that now shapes the beautiful support she offers to other families.Kylie takes us through both of her births: from being hospitalised at the end of her first pregnancy with a severe respiratory infection, to an emergency caesarean where she lost consciousness and woke up alone in recovery. Her story doesn’t stop there. Kylie developed a rare nerve condition, Parsonage Turner syndrome, leading to the loss of function in her arm and two years of intense physiotherapy. Add to that postnatal anxiety, and you get a raw, real, and incredibly brave insight into the hidden layers of early motherhood.With her second pregnancy, Kylie faced gestational diabetes, another caesarean, and again, complications with spinal anesthesia and the return of nerve pain and anxiety. But through it all, her strength, humour, and fierce love for her boys; Spencer and Miles shine through. Now, as a working doula, Kylie channels her lived experience into her practice, offering calm, continuous, and deeply compassionate care to families across rural NSW. She speaks candidly about the importance of birth education, postpartum planning, and supporting not just the birthing person, but their partners too.This conversation is raw, heartfelt, and full of moments that will stay with you long after you’ve listened. There’s laughter, deep emotion, and so much insight. Kylie’s story is a powerful reminder of why support in birth and postpartum truly matters.