Podcast Episode #252
Positive Birth Story Podcast Episode
A calm, spontaneous birth, pelvic girdle pain tips, and a recovery journey led by intuition and support.
In this episode, Ellen—a women’s health physio and first-time mum—shares her positive birth story, offering real-life insight into pregnancy challenges, natural labour, and early postpartum life.
Whether you’re pregnant, preparing for birth, or newly postpartum, this episode is filled with wisdom, warmth, and practical takeaways.
What we cover in this episode:
- Managing pelvic girdle pain in the second and third trimester
- Ellen’s experience with perineal massage and pelvic floor preparation
- How she used a TENS machine for labour pain relief
- The story of her spontaneous vaginal birth at 39+2 weeks
- Breathing techniques and movement during labour
- Why mindset matters—and how she reframed pain
- How her husband supported her through birth (and read Pride and Prejudice during contractions!)
- Early postnatal recovery and rebuilding strength
- Navigating mastitis and a breast abscess in the fourth trimester
- Why Ellen joined FitNest Mama two weeks postpartum—even as a physio herself
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In this article you'll find tips to:
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Manage pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy using physio-recommended movement strategies
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Prepare your pelvic floor with perineal massage and targeted stretching
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Use a TENS machine effectively during labour for natural pain relief
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Support spontaneous labour at home with movement, breathing, and mindset tools
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Create a calm birth environment—even without intervention
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Reframe labour pain as purposeful and productive
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Navigate early postnatal recovery gently and confidently
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Start safe and gradual postpartum exercise
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Understand how to recognise and respond to signs of mastitis
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Support breastfeeding recovery with therapeutic tools like ultrasound
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Choose the right support tools—like FitNest Mama—for your pregnancy and postpartum journey
Pregnancy and birth can feel unpredictable – but they don’t have to feel overwhelming. In this podcast episode of the Pregnancy, Birth and Recovery Podcast, we hear from Ellen, a first-time mum and women’s health physiotherapist, who shares her uplifting journey from pregnancy through to postpartum recovery.
Her experience is a perfect example of the kind of story we love to showcase on the positive birth story podcast—grounded in evidence, emotionally reassuring, and full of practical wisdom.
Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Personal & Professional Perspective
During her second trimester, Ellen developed pelvic girdle pain—a common but uncomfortable symptom in pregnancy. As a physiotherapist, she leaned on her professional knowledge to manage the discomfort:
- Swapped out wide lunges and squats for narrower, more stable movements
- Took extra care with everyday tasks like getting into the car or pulling bins
- Avoided single-leg loading and maintained alignment in daily movement
This first-hand experience gave her a deeper appreciation for the small adjustments that can make a big difference in pregnancy.
A Spontaneous Vaginal Birth: Calm, Natural, and Empowering
At 39 weeks and 2 days, Ellen’s waters broke spontaneously. Labour built slowly throughout the day, and she was able to stay home and labour naturally until the final stages. By the time she arrived at hospital, her baby was already crowning.
Ellen gave birth with no medical intervention – a deeply instinctive and empowering spontaneous vaginal birth.
TENS: Her Unexpected Labour MVP
Ellen credits the TENS machine as one of her most valuable tools during labour. She began using it as soon as contractions became consistent and wore it all the way through active labour.
It helped her stay grounded, manage pain naturally, and focus through surges—offering non-invasive, on-demand support throughout the experience.
Perineal Massage, Birth Prep & Breathing Techniques
Starting from 36 weeks, Ellen took a proactive approach to preparing for birth:
- Perineal massage to help reduce tearing risk
- Stretching her adductors and improving hip mobility
- Down-training her pelvic floor to promote relaxation
- Attending a birth course (Born Ready)
- Listening exclusively to positive birth stories in the lead-up to delivery
These strategies combined gave her confidence and helped create a calm headspace in the final weeks of pregnancy.
Labour Techniques: Breathing, Movement & Trust
Throughout labour, Ellen followed her instincts. She:
- Used upright, forward-leaning positions and gentle swaying
- Focused on rhythmic breathing to ride each contraction
- Maintained eye contact and connection with her husband, who read aloud to distract and support her
This intuitive approach to movement and breathwork reinforced her trust in her body and allowed her to stay present through each phase.
Postnatal Recovery: Gentle Progress & Physio-Led Support
After birth, Ellen focused on slow, steady recovery:
- She began short walks within a few days postpartum
- Introduced gentle core exercises from FitNest Mama after two weeks
- Attended regular pelvic floor physio sessions
- Prioritised sustainability over speed
Even with professional knowledge, she found that having a structured program helped reduce overwhelm and supported her mental and physical wellbeing in those early weeks.
How FitNest Mama Helped
Ellen joined FitNest Mama just two weeks after giving birth. As she shared in this episode:
“Even as a physio, I didn’t want to carry the mental load of figuring out what exercises to do. FitNest Mama gave me structure, guidance, and confidence.”
The short, accessible videos and physio-informed programs were exactly what she needed to gently rebuild strength—without pressure or complexity.
Breastfeeding & Mastitis: A Postpartum Challenge
While breastfeeding generally went well, Ellen experienced recurrent mastitis, including a breast abscess. She worked closely with a lactation consultant and used therapeutic ultrasound, which helped reduce inflammation and discomfort.
This part of her story is an important reminder that postpartum recovery isn’t always linear—and that seeking help early can make a big difference.
Ellen’s Words of Wisdom
For mums preparing for birth, Ellen offers this encouragement:
“Your body is capable of incredible things. Birth can be smooth, intuitive and positive—trust that it’s possible.”
Her story is one of confidence, clarity, and calm—and a beautiful example of a positive birth story.
** This podcast has general information only. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health or medical condition.
Links
Free Register now: https://www.fitnestmama.com/pregnancyworkshop
Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist
Free 7 Day Trial Pregnancy Workouts
Free 7 Day Trial Postnatal Workouts
Instagram @kathbaquie.physio
1:1 Consultation with Physio Kath
Previous episode mentioned: Starting Solids with Confidence
