What is it like to experience a home birth from the perspective of the person supporting the woman through it?

In this episode of The Gossip, Mia’s partner joins us for an honest conversation about home birth, sharing what it felt like to be there, the role of a support person, and the incredible euphoria that can come with witnessing birth in such an intimate and powerful way.

We explore why the decision to have a home birth needs to be a joint one, the importance of understanding why your partner wants to birth at home, and what it means to truly support her through that choice. It’s about more than simply agreeing to a birth plan. It’s about listening, building trust, working through your own feelings and fears, and understanding what this experience means to the woman you love.

We also talk about the emotions that can unfold during birth, the experience of being present, and how witnessing your partner bring your baby into the world can be an incredibly powerful and euphoric experience in its own right.

This conversation offers a different perspective on home birth, reminding us that while the woman is the one giving birth, the experience can profoundly shape both partners.

Whether you're considering a home birth, preparing to support someone through birth, or simply curious about what the experience can be like for partners, this episode is an invitation to listen, reflect and open up the conversation.

Because birth is her experience, but how we prepare for it, support each other through it, and make decisions together matters.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Contact sam@mbmot.com.au and mia_briski@hotmail.com

Instagram: rewoven_matrescence_by_mbm and _theempoweredbirthexperience

Life doesn’t always slow down when we need it to, and sometimes we find ourselves navigating more than we feel equipped to handle.

In this episode, Sam (OT) shares honestly about the challenging days her family has been experiencing, with her son enduring severe abdominal pain and the distress of repeatedly seeking medical care before finally being heard and having investigations completed. With specialist appointments still ahead, sleep deprivation taking its toll, and a new baby only weeks away, Sam reflects on the emotional weight of holding so much at once.

We talk about the difficulty of finding moments to ground ourselves when life feels uncertain, the worries that come with being heavily pregnant while caring for a child who is unwell, and the reality of preparing to welcome another baby when your mind and body are already carrying so much.

Sam also shares her plans for the final weeks before maternity leave, including stepping back from work, making space for rest, and returning to art as a way to reconnect with herself and find some calm.

Mia (birth coach) shares how things are going at home and work, reflecting on finding a balance that feels sustainable and the sense of purpose she gets from supporting women and mothers through some of life's biggest transitions.

A conversation about the messiness of real life, the different seasons we move through, and the importance of finding small ways to care for ourselves when everything feels like a lot.

Because sometimes life is chaotic, the answers aren't clear, and all we can do is take it moment by moment.

In this episode of The Gossip, Mia, a birth coach, and Sam, an OT, unpack the topic of induction of labour.

We talk through the statistics, why more women are being induced, the different reasons an induction might be recommended, and what the evidence actually tells us. We also explore the potential cascade of intervention that can follow an induction, from monitoring and augmentation through to assisted birth or caesarean.

Most importantly, we share our own experiences of induction, how those experiences felt, what we wish we had known, and the importance of informed decision-making and feeling supported throughout pregnancy and birth.

A conversation about the choices, the questions, the uncertainty and the reality of induction from two women with very different experiences.

In this episode of The Gossip, we're sharing a real-life catch-up on the highs and lows we're navigating right now.

Mia opens up about experiencing a pregnancy loss earlier this year during her fourth pregnancy, and the journey of grieving, healing, and coming to peace with the decision that her family feels complete. She also shares the incredible experience of attending a beautiful free birth, arriving just moments after baby entered the world, and how moving house has brought a sense of calm and grounding into this season of life. As she looks ahead, she's feeling especially passionate about supporting more women through VBAC births.

Sam shares an update on her pregnancy, including the fatigue of balancing work while growing a baby and supporting two young children, and the relief of moving through the worst of her nausea after discovering a food trigger. She talks honestly about living with placenta previa, the uncertainty that comes with it, and the shift from trying to control the outcome to trusting the process. Together with her midwife, she's choosing to wait until her 32-week scan before making decisions about birth, while entering the third trimester with hope and flexibility.

This episode is a reminder that motherhood is rarely linear. Sometimes it's about grief, sometimes it's about surrender, and often it's about learning to hold both uncertainty and hope at the same time.

Key takeaways

• Processing pregnancy loss and finding peace after grief.
• How environment and life changes can support nervous system regulation.
• The beauty and power of physiological birth and Mia's passion for VBAC support.
• Navigating pregnancy fatigue while running a business and parenting.
• Letting go of control during pregnancy complications and trusting the next step instead of the whole journey.
• Entering the third trimester with openness, hope, and a willingness to adapt as new information comes.

A gentle, honest conversation for anyone moving through the unexpected ups and downs of motherhood, pregnancy, and life.

There’s a difference between being informed… and being pressured.

On the podcast this week, Mia (birth coach) and Sam (OT) spoke about modalities of care, hospital policies, and the way many women can feel pushed into decisions instead of genuinely supported through them.

We spoke about the importance of continuity of care — having a trusted midwife who knows you, who listens, who allows space for questions, who respects your “no,” and who supports informed choice rather than fear-based decision making.

Because women deserve care that is relational, not transactional.

Birth should never feel like something happening to you.

It should feel like care that happens with you.

Pregnancy after loss can hold so many emotions at once — hope, fear, excitement, and anxiety all living side by side.

In this episode, Mia (birth coach) and Sam (OT) have an open and honest conversation about navigating pregnancy after loss. Sam shares her own personal journey, speaking to the emotional complexity of feeling both deeply anxious and cautiously excited.

Together, they explore gentle, practical ways to cope with the uncertainty — from simple regulating strategies to support your nervous system, to the importance of having the right people around you during this time. This episode is a reminder that your feelings are valid, you’re not alone, and it’s okay for joy and fear to coexist.

A supportive listen for anyone walking this tender path 🤍

In this episode, Mia (birth coach) and Sam (OT) explore the realities of sleep in motherhood — from co-sleeping and night waking to the ever-changing flow of children’s sleep. They discuss how sleep isn’t linear, but instead moves through phases shaped by development, growth, and connection.

Together, they reflect on the impact of sleep deprivation — the mental load, exhaustion, and emotional toll that comes with broken nights — and gently shift the focus away from “fixing” children’s sleep, toward supporting mothers instead.

Mia and Sam share simple, realistic strategies for coping, including prioritising rest (even without sleep), creating calming sleep environments through meditation, music or white noise, and finding small moments to reset throughout the day.

A validating and reassuring conversation for any mother navigating the challenges of sleep — reminding you that this is a season, and you’re not alone in it.

Find Mia and Sam on instagram:

_theempoweredbirthexperience

rewoven_matrescence_by_mbm

In this episode of The Gossip, Sam (OT) and Mia (birth coach) have an honest conversation about the reality of trying to balance work and motherhood. They unpack the mental load so many mothers carry — the constant juggling, the feeling of trying to fit everything in, and the guilt that can arise when time is split between work and family.

Sam and Mia reflect on how work–life balance often feels like a daily negotiation rather than something perfectly achieved. They talk about practical ways they try to support themselves, including setting clearer boundaries, switching off “work brain” when they are with their children, and using simple systems like to-do lists to focus on one task at a time while at work.

The conversation also explores the importance of not spreading yourself too thin, recognising that some seasons of life are naturally busier than others, and allowing space to outsource or ask for help when needed. They also highlight the role partners can play in sharing the mental load — sometimes by simply naming tasks and inviting them into the responsibility.

This episode is a validating and practical reflection on the imperfect reality of balancing work, motherhood, and everything in between.

To reach out contact:

Sam: sam@mbmot.com.au

Mia: mia_briski@hotmail.com