Hollywood has a lot of bad pregnancy expectations to answer for. You know, the sort which ends in a speedy but horrific labour where she’s rushed to the hospital so that she can scream-push a three-month-old baby out of her vagina. Oh, and don’t worry about any lasting effects of any trauma she’s experienced in the hospital because, cut to the next scene, everyone is living happily ever after. So, that’s why in this episode, we’re talking about what it means to have an empowered birth instead. We'll be exploring real stories of preparing for childbirth and who to have on your side, so that you have the most unHollywood like experience possible.

Thank you to the experts and guests: women's health physiotherapist Anna Scammell (www.thewholemother.com); personal trainer Tanya Poppett (www.instagram.com/tanyapoppett); doula Renee Adair, founder of the Australian Doula College; money expert Serina Bird, author of The Joyful Frugalista; midwife Sarah Tooke (www.childbirtheducationonline.com.au); Josie Rozenberg-Clarke, co-host of The Zest Is History.

HOST AND PRODUCER: Lizza Gebilagin (www.lizzagebilagin.com). MORE INFO AND SHOW NOTES: Visit http://holyshitimpregnant.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For me, the anxiety usually starts with a thought. A “what if” that spirals into the worst possible scenario, the fear spreading through my body until it stuns me immobile. The other day it was in reaction to the news that my placenta was still covering my cervix.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had to reign in anxious thoughts during my pregnancy. And after chatting with a range of women for this podcast, I know these emotional challenges are something many of us share. So, that’s what this episode is all about: the strategies that have helped us get through, the expert recommendations on what we can do, and how to recognise when we need extra help from the pros.

Thank you to the experts: Caitlin Cady, founder of the app Heavily Meditated, and clinical psychologist Dr Nicole Highet, founder of COPE: the Centre of Perinatal Excellence.

HOST AND PRODUCER: Lizza Gebilagin (lizzagebilagin.com). MORE INFO AND SHOW NOTES: Visit http://holyshitimpregnant.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like everyone else, before my body started the amazing process of creating a human, I knew I might experience nausea – it’s the most common question people ask me when they want to know how my pregnancy has been. But I didn’t know about all the other pregnancy body changes, from the really weird (like how the smell of your wee can get stronger) to the curious (such as the appearance of skin pigmentation) and the weirdly painful (like the brilliantly named “lightning crotch” also known as the less porn-star-sounding name of “lightning pain”). And all those pregnancy body changes are what this episode is about. Thank you to the experts: accredited practising dietitian Chloe McLeod and GP and co-founder of ESK Dr Ginni Mansberg.

HOST AND PRODUCER: Lizza Gebilagin (lizzagebilagin.com). MORE INFO: Visit http://holyshitimpregnant.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.