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Her Herd
Sarah (Wish Collective)
Sarah is someone who I am incredibly proud to call a friend. Our friendship has emerged out of a surprising place, online through share experience, and mission to support, help, and advocate for rural communities and people.
See Sarah and her husband Steve run the Wish Collective, a small grass roots rural creative solution supporting families going through fertility treatment. The Wish collective provides a safe community for people to share and seek support. They also provide financial support to families for supplementary treatments. Sarah speaks with such passion about how often these are the things women in particular go without due to the high financial cost associated with treatment. Sarah and Steve just launched their Wren collection which are a small collection of bereavement cards that can be gifted to a friend or family member during loss (a beautiful and much needed nod to special friends who lost their child), and their fertility affirmation cards. As soon as I saw the Wish Collective affirmation cards, I fell deeply in love with them and demanded (YES DEMANDED that sarah make me her first customer. From this Sarah and I started to talk about her and Steve’s journey to their beautiful daughter Rosie, and my gosh have these two been on a journey.
Sarah and Steve knew they wanted children and started trying straight away, when things didn’t seem to materialize, Sarah being the person she is, took matters into her own hands, and started their journey – which was rough.
Round after round of IVF Steve and Sarah were left with little more than a bill and more questions as to why. Sarah openly shares how physically, emotionally, and financially taxing IVF can be, and how their journey has really changed and shape them to the people they are today. What is clear to me is that they are a team, I feel through Sarah’s words and the way she speaks about her beautiful partner Steve that they are deeply connected, and this has been one of the major reasons they have made it through to the other side.
Overall, Sarah is brutally honest, she talks about how she knows grief having lost her mum at such a young age, and even fertility rocked her to the core. Sarah touches on how to find happiness in the small things during IVF treatment, how she and Steve examined their life and planned for a future if they didn’t have children, how she navigated a tricky high-risk pregnancy without her mum, and how she managed, life, and hope, through recurrent miscarriage. Sarah is a strong woman, I say that without a shadow of doubt in my mind to how determined this woman is, she is strong in the manner, of being unwilling to accept something it if it is below standard, but also kind, gentle, and considerate. I am in awe of Sarah’s determination and creativity, she along with Steve just want to just give back to a community she believes gave them so much.
This is an incredibly insightful chat for anyone who is in the fertility trenches or has a loved one there.
Sarah thank you so much for sharing your journey, but also thank you so much for your friendship and support, you are truly an incredible woman, and I consider myself lucky to be now considered a friend.
You can find Sarah and Steve here:
https://www.wishcollective.com.au
More episodes
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1. Allow me to re-introduce myself (Part 1)
01:23:14||Season 6, Ep. 1In this episode, Jen shares the origin story of Her Herd, which was sparked by her 2019 miscarriage amidst bushfires and her realization of the massive health gaps between city and rural maternity care. Jen and her guest-host navigate the "authentic mess" of motherhood and ADHD while discussing their current fertility journeys, including the emotional toll of hormone treatments and the pressure of being vulnerable in the public eye.Jen reflects candidly on her harrowing pregnancy with Charlie, a journey marked by passing kidney stones at 28 weeks, battling influenza, and a stressful C-section that resulted in Charlie spending time in special care. The conversation also dives into the heavy weight of advocacy, the hidden financial costs of rural healthcare, and Jen’s hope for a "redemption arc" as she balances her clinical practice with her own family’s needs. Strap in for a conversation that is real, raw, and sometimes ugly, highlighting why your postcode should never dictate the care you receive.Alicia
01:20:32|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 alone19. Em (Part2)
01:10:43||Season 5, Ep. 19Part 2 picks up in the glow of birth — that fierce post-birth high, the first feed, the shower, the “we did it” moment — and follows Em into the days and weeks that came next. What begins as ordinary newborn hard quickly tips into something else: fragmented postpartum care, escalating anxiety, pain, no sleep, and a second night on the ward that left her rattled. Back home, the joy kept swinging high, then higher — and then came the crash.Em walks us through the red flags she can see now: the inability to sleep, hyper-vigilance about Levi leaving her sight, spiraling worries about feeding and weight, and a “banshee night” that ended with an ED visit. From there, we trace a system not built for rural families: a psychiatrist who hadn’t seen postpartum psychosis before, a near-miss separation to a psych ward that can’t take babies, and two midwives who stood in the doorway and said, “You will not separate this mother and child.” A bed opens in the Gold Coast mother–baby unit; medication begins; sleep returns. Then the next hard: being away from home and husband, advocating for breastfeeding on heavy meds, finding trust with new nurses, and choosing discharge earlier than recommended because autonomy mattered.Em is clear about what helped her recovery — sleep, continuity, a small circle who showed up, and specialist perinatal mental health care — and she names the gaps: no mother–baby units in most regional areas, clunky referrals, short-supply psychology, and how easily women are told to “just get on with it.” She shares the long horizon too: the fog lifting around 10 months, another wobble at 12, and steadier ground by 14 — not the same person, but stronger, surer, and now advocating for body-weight bias reform, choice and control, and continuity of care for rural women.This episode sits with the messy middle — the fear, the funny, the fragmented memories — and ends with practical signposts: call earlier than you think (PANDA), ask your GP for a perinatal-specific referral (Gidget Foundation, COPE directory), and keep telling your story. Your voice is the change.18. Em (Part1)
01:02:26||Season 5, Ep. 18Today 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.17. Jenny
51:33||Season 5, Ep. 17In 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.16. Shara
01:19:56||Season 5, Ep. 16In 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.15. Jordan
01:29:24||Season 5, Ep. 15In 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.14. Leah
01:25:29||Season 5, Ep. 14In 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.13. Tylia
01:20:25||Season 5, Ep. 13Tylia 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.