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Share Your Story
We want to hear from you!
You can send us your birth story, postpartum experiences, challenges you faced in your motherhood journey, things you want others to know about - anything you want! You can also write to us if you would like to come on the podcast for a chat regarding women's health and wellbeing - your story matters and by sharing your story it can help raise awareness, give perspective and collectively, our voices can be heard.
Don't forget to follow on instagram @thepowerofbirth
Share your story!
Why the Standard Six-Week Postnatal Check Is Not Enough
By Amber-lee Buendicho @thepowerofbirth Six weeks is a long time when you have just had a baby. In those six weeks, a mother may be recovering from major abdominal surgery, stitches, tearing or pelvic floor injury. She may be trying to establish feeding while functioning on very fragmented sleep. She may be experiencing pain, bleeding, wound concerns, mastitis or difficulties with incontinence. She may also be trying to understand a birth that did not go as expected, even tra
thepowerofbirth
7d5 min read
A Healthy Baby Is Not All That Matters
There is a sentence we need to retire from conversations about birth: “The baby is healthy, that’s all that matters.” It is often said with good intentions. Sometimes it comes from relief. Sometimes people simply do not know what else to say. But it carries a message that is far more damaging than we acknowledge: The baby is okay, therefore you should be okay. Your body may have been injured. You may have haemorrhaged. You may have experienced a third- or fourth-degree tear.
thepowerofbirth
Sep 156 min read
Birth Trauma Is the Symptom. Birth Bias Is the Disease.
Opinion piece by Amber-lee Buendicho I was recently chatting with a new mum about her birth experience which to me, if I am honest, was a lot. She had every intervention you could think of: stretch and sweeps, induction by balloon, synthetic oxytocin, artificial rupture of membranes, epidural, episiotomy, and forceps. Yet she described her birth experience as empowering. When I asked her what was empowering about it, she said because she had choices. She felt in control, resp
thepowerofbirth
Aug 14, 20256 min read
I Don't Know If I Can Do This Because Postnatal Depression Is Tearing Me Apart - A new take on Taylor Swifts hit 'I Can Do This With A Broken Heart'
By Amber-lee Buendicho @thepowerofbirth Motherhood is often portrayed as a time of pure joy and fulfillment, a season of life filled with little feet, bonding, and coffee dates. However, the reality for many mothers is far more complex and challenging. Postnatal depression (PND) affects 1 in 5 mothers, and its high-functioning presentation is an especially insidious form that often goes unnoticed. When people think of depression, they typically imagine symptoms such as an ina
thepowerofbirth
Jul 2, 20245 min read
There's No Such Thing As Severe Morning Sickness - It's Hyperemesis Gravidarum and It's Not All In Your Head
By Amber-lee Buendicho @thepowerofbirth It's Hyperemesis Awareness Day, May 15th. Firstly, let's get one thing straight - Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is not morning sickness; it's a debilitating condition that can have severe consequences for both the mother and her family. The recent story of aussie pregnant mother and HG sufferer, Jessica, driven to attempt suicide, later losing her and her baby's life, due to negligent medical care, highlights the urgent need for a better
thepowerofbirth
May 15, 202410 min read
The Rise of Feminine Psychology and Redefining Perspectives in Mental Health
By Amber-lee Buendicho Psychology’s history is full of male dominated theories and perspectives and while several have been debunked, feminine psychology has led to broader concepts and approaches that have improved our understanding of the human experience. Pioneers in feminine psychology explained that early psychology only offered minimal insights in relation to females, where societal norms silenced and suppressed women indicating a lack of gender equality and scope (Leun
thepowerofbirth
Feb 28, 20246 min read
The Birth that Created ThePowerOfBirth
By Amber-lee Buendicho Five years ago this month, the course of my life took a profound turn as I welcomed my first baby into the world. Little did I know, this transformative experience would not only shape the trajectory of my life both personally and professionally, but it ignited a passion within me to talk about it and share others' experiences. And with that, thepowerofbirth was born (2020). As I reflect on my first birth, I became motivated by a desire to understand th
thepowerofbirth
Jan 22, 202412 min read
Understanding the Difference Between Baby Blues and Postnatal Depression: A Guide for New Mothers
By Amber-lee Buendicho @thepowerofbirth Trigger warning as distressing content is discussed. "I have this memory of finally putting the baby down asleep and noticing that it was raining, so I walked outside the front of my house and stood there, smelling and feeling the rain. At that moment my husband came home from work and asked, "what are you doing?" I replied tearfully, "I'm just smelling the rain". We both laughed together about how dramatic it seemed, but that was the r
thepowerofbirth
Jun 17, 20239 min read
Postpartum from a Filipina Mama
This mama wanted to stay anonymous when sharing a very small part of her journey. I find it fascinating that there are similarities in all cultures when becoming a mother. This has been translated from Tagalog to English. "I had an emergency caesarean. I'm not sure why it was an emergency, they never explained that to me. I feel like maybe I had some postpartum depression. I would wake up at night and just cry so hard. My husband would wake up and tell me if I do that, I'll g
thepowerofbirth
May 15, 20232 min read
The Hyper-Independent Society and Its Impact on Maternal Mental Health
By Amber-lee Buendicho @thepowerofbirth The idea of the 'perfect mother' is a pervasive myth in modern society; one that often contributes to feelings of guilt, anxiety and stress among many mothers. The prevalence of the hyper-independent society reinforces this myth, leading to decreased mental health among mothers who are expected to achieve an unrealistic level of perfection in all aspects of their lives. The Importance of Connection Humans have a natural inclination for
thepowerofbirth
Apr 26, 20237 min read
Labour Without Pain?! A Silent Labour and Birthing During the Pandemic
**PHILIPPINES EDITION** @shantawoolley shares her birth story which was during the pandemic. Shanta had a slient labour – she felt NO PAIN at all. English is like her 4th language but I love the way she describes things! "I must first say that I was terrified of giving birth. I still am, actually. I was so scared of it that when I was younger, I didn’t want to get married because I didn’t want to get pregnant and deliver a person. Few years later and here I am! I have my own
thepowerofbirth
Apr 25, 20236 min read
From a HG pregnancy to a traumatic birth
By Anonymous "A lot of doctors, social media influencers etc describe pregnancy and birth as sunshine and rainbows. But a lot of the time it isn't that at all. I have had 3 children and my youngest son is now 9months old his pregnancy was by far the hardest. I suffered the whole 9mnths with extreme Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) which was severe nausea/vomiting, migraines, sciatic nerve pain/damage, swollen everything, gallstones, and extreme heartburn to list a few. My baby was
thepowerofbirth
Feb 8, 20233 min read
What is a Women's Health Physio?
By Amber-lee Buendicho A few hours after I gave birth to my first son which resulted in a childbirth injury after a forcep delivery, I had a hospital physiotherapist come and visit me (among many other professionals) to chat to me about the severity of my injuries and how to have the best recovery. In my haze of birth trauma, sleep deprivation and confusion, I intensely listened to this wonderful physio, because I quickly realised I did not know just how bad things were, I wa
thepowerofbirth
Jan 6, 20236 min read
An unexpected freebirth
"I had a very high intervention birth with my first and after realising that none of what happened would have happened if I was left alone to let my body do it’s thing I was set on doing everything I could to have a more positive birth this time. Being rural my local hospital only takes low risk women and often has no doctor there so you can’t actually birth there and are sent an hour and a half away to a bigger hospital. This was stressing me out because I had never had a sp
thepowerofbirth
Oct 8, 20227 min read
My struggle with breastfeeding and D-MER: Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex
By an anonymous mama "I didn't have the courage to call or talk to anyone at first, but I did do a lot of reading and came across D-MER: Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. It describes exactly how I felt and what I was experiencing, I'd never heard of it before?! I would feel a variety of emotions such as, anger, sadness, irritability, fatigued and general exhaustion. I only started noticing once I picked up on this feeling and made myself think about what was causing it. Someti
thepowerofbirth
Aug 9, 20222 min read
Real talk on breastfeeding
By Michaela Butler "Look away if a woman feeding her child makes you uncomfortable. It’s not the first time this has happened for me or any mother feeding actually, but this isn’t for you, this is for me. This is for every mother that currently is, has done, will do, longs to, can’t or chooses to feed her baby alternatively. Fed is best and you do what works for you and your baby. For me, I have been fortunate to breastfeed all my babies. What a beautiful and nurturing experi
thepowerofbirth
Aug 8, 20224 min read
Vaginal birth after Pelvic Organ Prolapse is possible - Ari shares her story
"My pregnancy with Wilder was much worse than my previous 2 pregnancies, I was sick up until 26 weeks vomiting and feeling nauseous every day from about 4 weeks. The vomiting was mostly once a day which was manageable but the mental strain of the regular vomiting was much worse. I was constantly worried about my pelvic floor and prolapses with all the pressure from vomiting, terrified that I was going to cause more damage. That was a pretty constant theme throughout my pregna
thepowerofbirth
Jun 29, 20226 min read
The problem does not lie in whether a woman is educated or not in birth. Jess shares her story.
"My story begins 5 years ago, when we first started trying to conceive and the years that proceeded - failing, in that time I’d gone through the grief of accepting that we may never have a child of our own. Until last year our beautiful little cherub decided to choose us. Wow was pregnancy a wild ride. I was high risk for miscarriage up to the third trimester due to adenomyosis and endometriosis, high risk for pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, high risk for pre-term birth,
thepowerofbirth
Jun 20, 20225 min read
From 2 beautiful births to a devastating postpartum
Birth "Blake and I woke up and planned to go to the gym. As I was getting ready I had a few niggly pains, but nothing that was going to stop me from doing a work out. I braided my hair though just in case things progressed. By the time we got home from the gym I was starting to have stronger pains. I had planned to catch up with my friend at lunch time, when she called to see if we were still on I told her I was having early labour pains but to still come over. I bounced on a
thepowerofbirth
Jun 20, 20226 min read
A positive water birth experience
"I had period pain like contractions start on Sunday evening, it was on and off so we didn’t think much of it. Every day I had an hour or so of inconsistent early labour pains. I had an appointment with my midwife on the wednesday, at my previous appointment she had discussed doing a stretch and sweep at this appointment. I told her about my cramping so she decided not to do it and said to me that she thought I would have a baby by the weekend. As I was driving home I started
thepowerofbirth
Jun 20, 20224 min read
Prolapse - it's not a dirty word!
By Kaityln Bywater @holding_mama "So if the Skyhooks were able to sing to the world to remind us that ‘ego is not a dirty word’, do you think they could do the same for prolapse? Because until we live in a world where anything to do with vaginas, birth and birth injuries isn’t a dirty word – we can’t really make any progress. So let’s start here! Repeat after me … ‘vagina’. Vuh – jai -nuh. Vagina. VAGINA! Good? Great. Also, while we are here can we just take a moment to clari
thepowerofbirth
Jun 10, 20225 min read
Ptyalism, Hyperemesis Gravidarum and what the hell is happening to me...
Its now been almost 3 years since my HG pregnancy ended and 2 years since I first shared my story. Over these years I realised there isn’t much out there on my other, rather all consuming conditions I suffered from - Ptyalism. So here is this story. My pregnancy started when I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks in. I was tracking my cycle as a form of contraception and soon after I got that positive pregnancy test I started to dream big. I imagined all of the changes my body
thepowerofbirth
May 31, 20228 min read
Always listen to your instincts in birth
"My 40wk appointment 2 days before my due date. I had been getting weekly checks in my platelets (too low and you cant have an epi if you need it) and since they were at a good level, my doctor booked me in to be induced at 3:00pm on my due date. I also asked about a possible leak I thought I was having but the midwife did a “check” and told me it was just the usual discharge. I really thought it was different but assumed they know what they were talking about. I was so certa
thepowerofbirth
Nov 26, 20213 min read
The impacts of birth trauma on bonding with your baby
"After my emergency c-section, I had so many questions. Why had my body failed me? Why hadn't I been able to birth my baby vaginally? The OB that came to review me on the ward the following day had no time for my questions and frankly seemed uncomfortable I was breastfeeding which seems bananas, but she left quickly without really saying much at all. When I got home I found it very difficult to bond with my daughter. I cried a lot. I was so sad that I hadn't had a natural bi
thepowerofbirth
Nov 26, 20212 min read
Perinatal Mental Health Week: medication is a viable treatment option for struggling mums
"I’ve been on Sertraline for a year now but have suffered from anxiety for many years. Once I fell pregnant, my thinking had changed as I had come to realise I need to be healthy and stay alive in order to care for my baby. Though before she was even here the overthinking had begun. Halfway through my pregnancy my anxiety started to increase. Dirty dishes and unfolded clothes caused panic attacks that I had no control over. Though it wasn’t until the end of my pregnancy when
thepowerofbirth
Nov 26, 20214 min read
"With help you will be well again"
"In April of 2020 I gave birth to a baby girl. The birth experience was awful and resulted in postpartum anxiety. My symptoms were crazy. Insomnia, loss of appetite, panic attacks, inability to focus. I had no joy anymore, only fear. I was scared of zoloft, I was scared of lorazepam. I was scared that I'd never be the same. I cried to God so many times, praying for my life back. I had tried so many things, meditating, therapy, chiropractor, weed, acupuncture... nothing touche
thepowerofbirth
Nov 26, 20211 min read
"Induction felt best for me"
18/07/18 we chose to be induced as Lane was looking to be on the bigger side and I’m definitely on the smaller side! It was exciting. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and had no apprehensions or worries about going into labour. If anything, I was intrigued and would read labour stories (good & bad) and welcomed anyone’s personal stories. At 6:30 we checked into the hospital and by 7 am I had my waters broken which was uncomfortable but not painful. Contractions st
thepowerofbirth
Nov 10, 20213 min read
"Lifes sweetest hello's & hardest goodbyes"
In honour of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month (October) I thought this was a necessary share. @immi_walker_ thank you for allowing me to share your story and this image. Thank you for saying that hard things out loud. Thank you for talking about infant loss. It helps others understand, gain perspective and activates compassion. October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. Here are some words by @unexpectedfamilyouting that I really loved. Bill Of Rights for
thepowerofbirth
Nov 4, 20212 min read
Birthing for a second time doesn't always mean birth is 'easier'
"In my first pregnancy I was induced, so this time around I really had no idea what to expect in terms of knowing when to go to the hospital. I was due on the 10th of May 2020 and on the 6th of May, I had lower back pain and lots of early labour contractions. That night, I barely slept, had painful Braxton hicks all night and period like cramps all morning. I went and did the grocery shopping that morning with Lane in tow and went home and put lane to bed for his nap. By this
thepowerofbirth
Nov 4, 20214 min read
Birth after unexplained infertility and 3 miscarriages
"I was hoping and praying that my baby would come early as I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. I had several false labours (which started exactly the same as my previous labour) but as the name entails.. got to a point and just stopped all together. Every night I would go to sleep hoping that ‘tonight would be the night’.. I would monitor the ‘labour pains’ and I would wish that they would progress and become super intense so I could finally meet my baby. After 9 days
thepowerofbirth
Oct 11, 20214 min read
"My easiest birth"
"We fell pregnant with our last little girl unexpectedly and I was not prepared for what we were to go through with her. I had the worst case of HG possible all through my pregnancy and as a result of this she was measuring small the whole time. I was so fortunate enough to get my same midwife as with my second and thank goodness because I really needed her through this horrible time. However I was booked for an induction at 39 weeks. On the morning of 1st June at 38+5 I woke
thepowerofbirth
Sep 12, 20213 min read
When she was listened to, respected and encouraged, it was a game changer for her birth.
My second pregnancy was quite a journey for my partner and I. It took a while to conceive, however when we did she sure let us know she was there. Diagnosed with HG it was a very difficult time especially trying to chase round a toddler. We had relocated by this time and in our state we were offered MGP which I couldn’t be more grateful for in my life. I had my own midwife and I think of her as a female goddess. From the moment I met her I had never felt more calm, collected
thepowerofbirth
Sep 12, 20212 min read
A birth story that captures just how crucial listening to the birthing woman is.
"I was quite young when I found out I was pregnant. I was 21 when I was due to give birth but I felt like I could do it. I wasn’t scared of the pain but unsure wether I would know what to do when it came time. I remember hitting 40 weeks and she still wasn’t here. I began bouncing on the balls and the night I was 40+3 contractions began about 8:30. I said to my partner. I think things are starting. He was calm and asked what I wanted to do. I called the hospital and they told
thepowerofbirth
Sep 12, 20212 min read
An empowering birth
When I was in the final weeks of my 3rd trimester, 38 weeks pregnant to be exact I had a stretch and sweep, a pregnancy induction massage, as I was already 1cm dilated but not signs of labour. I had what my OB refers to as false labour which is Braxton Hicks that would commence everyday at 4pm and then completely disappear around 9pm. So it was frustrating knowing my body was gearing up but not actually advancing I was very active throughout my pregnancy and very rarely sat
thepowerofbirth
Jul 12, 20214 min read
Baby number two. Can we ever say birth gets easier?
Thursday the 16th August 2018 I went and had acupuncture to help get things moving. My son was due on the Sunday but I didn’t want to go over like I did with my daughter. On my way to pick up my daughter I got out of the car to realise my seat was wet. It wasn’t pee, I triple checked. That next day I lost my plug but contractions only started 3am Saturday 18th August. I laboured all day at home, bouncing on the medicine ball, showering and just pacing my house. I started to w
thepowerofbirth
Jul 12, 20212 min read
After a very long labour, our baby was finally here!
Brittney shares her first birth story after her infertility battles. The long awaited arrival of her baby girl and it certainly wasn't easy. Birth is incredible and we are so damn strong! "Pregnancy was pretty smooth right up until the end when I had severe swelling and itchy rashes come up all over my body which was nearly a cause for them to induce me early. Thankfully it settled and I was able to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy until the waiting game of an overdue baby had
thepowerofbirth
Jul 12, 20215 min read
Planning for a family isn't always so simple.
"When my husband and I decided we were ready for a baby we thought it would be easy. But just like myself and I am sure so many others have experienced months would roll by and I would see the dreaded one line on the pregnancy test each month. I got the usual “It will happen, just relax”, “You are over thinking it”, “It will happen when you stop trying” and the list of advice and so called encouraging comments list goes on. We had questions so decided to both get checked. I
thepowerofbirth
Jul 7, 20214 min read
Why aren't we talking about the things that really matter in motherhood?
Why aren’t we talking about the things that really matter? Generally, when you become a new mum the conversation revolves around whether or not your baby is a “good” baby, what pram or car seat you have, if you baby self settles or sleeps through the night or even around how quickly your body “bounces back”. Why are these things so important it’s the first comment made or question asked? Why is this the conversation? Why are we putting ridiculous expectations on each new mama
thepowerofbirth
Mar 5, 20213 min read
From birth trauma to a healing birth.
This is such a special birth story! Well done @libel.creations and congratulations on your beautiful second bub, Taya 💜 "After having a traumatic experience with my first baby I was determined to have a different / better experience with our second baby. I had an ultrasound at 36 weeks to check the size of my baby and as expected they estimated she was already 3.6kg. So an induction was set for 39 weeks. October 20th I went to hospital to get a Foley balloon in (to start m
thepowerofbirth
Jan 12, 20214 min read
Emergency cesarean birth and hard postpartum times
@samanthawarren92 shares her first birth of baby Hunter and how tough the postpartum period is right after baby is born. "We found out we were expecting a baby on our way to our honeymoon! We were so surprised it happened just after our first time trying. It was a great pregnancy, no sickness almost to good to be true for the most part! At 37 weeks though I got a bad cold and then ended up with pneumonia in hospital for a few days. From then on I kept getting shortness of b
thepowerofbirth
Jan 12, 20214 min read
Birthing in COVID and dealing with PND/A
@sammii_walters shares her continuous journey of healing from Postnatal Depression and Anxiety. I love what she has to say! "Fighting so hard to conceive London in the first place I imagined the beginning of her life would be prefect. From her birth, the first time I held her, kissing her and telling her that Mama had waited so very long to have her in my arms and I loved her, to our friends and family coming to the hospital, excitedly buying tiny gifts for her and giving he
thepowerofbirth
Jan 12, 20214 min read
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