S2 EP2 | Tara’s Story: A Fast Water Birth, Emergency Surgery & Finding Healing The Second Time

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Tara, content creator, actor, podcast host and mum of two, to hear the full story behind both of her births and the postpartum journeys that followed.Tara shares how she went from feeling unsure whether motherhood was for her, to becoming completely transformed by pregnancy, birth and raising her children.  After years of travelling and focusing on career goals, she decided to start trying for a baby in her mid-30s and quickly became immersed in learning about physiological birth and hypnobirthing.Tara takes us through her first pregnancy with Beau, including:Conceiving later in life and navigating anxiety after miscarriageWhy watching her sister birth changed her entire perspective on labourChoosing continuity of care through the Gold Coast MGP programPreparing for an unmedicated water birthGoing into labour at 41+5 during COVIDLabouring at home before arriving at hospital already 8.5cm dilatedUsing the shower and water as pain reliefThe intense transition phase and instinctual “deep growl” during labourWelcoming Beau in the birth pool in a fast, unmedicated water birthExperiencing a severe grade 3C tear and postpartum haemorrhageBeing taken to surgery shortly after birthThe emotional impact of separation from her newborn in those first hoursDifficult postpartum recovery, retained placenta and breastfeeding strugglesThe importance of trusting your instincts when something doesn’t feel rightTara also shares how her second birth with daughter Marlowe became deeply healing:Trying to conceive again while navigating age-related fertility pressureFalling pregnant naturally just before attending an IVF consultationApproaching birth with more confidence and trust in her bodyPreparing intentionally for postpartum the second time aroundExperiencing a calm, empowering and restorative birthThe emotional grief of transitioning from one child to twoHow healing it felt to finally experience the golden hour she had hoped forThroughout the episode, Tara speaks beautifully about empowerment in motherhood, learning to advocate for yourself, and why birth stories matter.A deeply honest conversation about strength, softness, recovery and trusting your body through every stage of motherhood.Want more?You can find episode photos over at:⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠You can find me at:⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠You can find Tara at:https://www.instagram.com/thesocialmummagc/