Reclaiming the Narrative in the Digital Age

The digital age has ushered in an era of unprecedented access to information, transforming the way people seek knowledge and make decisions about their health. While this explosion of information holds immense potential, it also presents challenges, particularly in maternity care, where informed decision-making relies on quality information. The growth of social media and online platforms has given rise to a proliferation of unqualified influencers, often disseminating misinformation and promoting potentially harmful practices. In this environment, where evidence-based information competes with unsubstantiated clickbait claims, the voices of qualified healthcare professionals risk being diminished or drowned out.

Our Aim: Empowering Consumers and Professionals Through Shared Stories

Pregnancy Uncut was developed during a night shift on the birth suite at a regional hospital, sharing stories of our own personal fertility and pregnancy struggles. We wondered, “why are these stories so hidden?” “If we, as maternity professionals, felt shame and stigma about sharing our experiences, what must the women and families we look after be feeling?”. From this honest conversation in the early hours of the morning, Pregnancy Uncut was born. As patients, these are the conversations we wished we had heard. As doctors, these are the conversations we wanted to share.

We had three core objectives:

• Amplifying consumer voices: To provide a platform for individuals to share diverse experiences of pregnancy and birth, including those often marginalised or silenced. By centring these narratives, we aimed to foster community, reduce stigma, and validate the realities of pregnancy and birth.
• Promoting evidence-based practice: To counter misinformation by offering accurate information grounded in research and clinical expertise. We sought to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and lived experiences, ensuring listeners understand both the “why” and the “how” of maternity care.
• Fostering collaboration and understanding: To create a space for dialogue and mutual learning between consumers and healthcare professionals and between multidisciplinary care providers.

Our Methods: Weaving Birth Stories with Expert Commentary

Each episode of Pregnancy Uncut features a guest sharing their personal journey through a specific pregnancy or birth-related challenge. These raw and emotional narratives provide listeners with invaluable insights into lived realities of conditions such as pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and perinatal mental health.

To demonstrate the power of vulnerability, co-host Dr Alex Umbers shared her own personal experience with recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy loss. This resonated deeply with the audience, demonstrating that healthcare professionals are not immune from these challenges. By openly sharing her story, Alex created a space for patients to feel comfortable discussing their own vulnerabilities and seeking support.

Interwoven with these personal stories are insights from multi-disciplinary health professionals, including obstetricians, midwives, psychologists, physiotherapists and social workers. These experts offer evidence-based information, practical advice, and compassionate support, contextualising the lived experiences and providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Results: Reaching a Wide Audience and Making a Tangible Impact

Over almost four years and six seasons, Pregnancy Uncut has become a trusted resource for expectant parents and healthcare professionals. The podcast has achieved significant reach:

• Diverse range of topics: With 60 episodes, the podcast covers infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, complicated twin pregnancies, obstetric emergencies, and topics like postpartum psychosis, congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), cancer in pregnancy, and uterine transplantation. No topic is off-limits. To ensure diverse representation, we have featured voices from remote and regional areas, Indigenous Australians, queer and gender-diverse people, and those embarking on solo parenthood and surrogacy.
• Guests include Positive birth advocates, Amy Dawes, (CEO Australasian Birth Trauma Association) and influential author and doula, Gabrielle Nancarrow. We have also been privileged to feature the voices of our colleagues who have bravely shared their stories, including Dr Pip Costley, Dr Carmen Brown, Professor Caroline de Costa, and RANZCOG Vice President, Dr Nisha Khot. By sharing their deeply personal stories, these leaders in women’s health have shown our audience that specialist doctors can also be vulnerable and struggle to navigate difficult pregnancy and birth experiences.
• Growing listenership: The podcast has garnered over 80,000 downloads, demonstrating a strong demand for accessible and relatable information on these important issues.
• National recognition: The podcast has been profiled in national media outlets in both print and radio, further amplifying the podcast’s message and contributing to broader conversations about maternity care in Australia.

Discussion: Transforming Perspectives and Inspiring Change

Pregnancy Uncut has driven meaningful change by showing our diverse audience how authentic storytelling and open dialogue can improve maternity care.

For our listeners: The podcast has become a source of validation and empowerment. By hearing others’ stories, listeners have reported feeling less alone and more equipped to advocate for their needs. The podcast also provides valuable information, empowering consumers to make informed care decisions.

For healthcare professionals: Pregnancy Uncut offers a unique opportunity for professional development and personal reflection. By listening to the unfiltered experiences of consumers, clinicians gain invaluable insights into the emotional, social, and psychological impact of various pregnancy and birth complications that often endure for years beyond when we wave goodbye to them after their hospital experience. This fosters empathy and understanding, leading to more compassionate and patient-centred care. Furthermore, the podcast encourages reflection on communication styles, the use of inclusive language, and clinical practices prompting healthcare professionals to consider how they can better support their patients throughout their journey. It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child, and we would add that it takes a village of care providers to support a mother. By sharing expertise of various disciplines and strengths in maternity care, we have fostered a mutual appreciation of the value in multidisciplinary collaborative care.

For us as producers: This project has been profoundly transformative. By flipping the intrinsic power imbalance between patients and care providers, it has deepened our understanding of the consumer experience and reinforced our commitment to compassionate, holistic care. At times, it has shed light on our own unconscious biases and reminded us that in maternity care, there is so much more to our jobs than making the right clinical call. By immersing ourselves in the stories of our guests, we have gained a renewed appreciation for the resilience, strength, and vulnerability of those navigating the complexities of pregnancy and birth, and how each of our encounters can shape these experiences. This has undoubtedly enriched our clinical practice and strengthened our connection with the individuals we serve.

Ultimately, Pregnancy Uncut demonstrates the power of podcasting to bridge the gap between lived experience and evidence-based practice. By fostering open dialogue and amplifying diverse voices, we have created a platform that empowers consumers, educates and inspires healthcare professionals, and contributes to a more informed, compassionate collaborative maternity care system.

Conclusion: A Trusted Voice in the National Conversation

In an era of misinformation, Pregnancy Uncut aims to be a trusted voice in maternity care. By harnessing the power of podcasting, we have created a platform that amplifies consumer voices, promotes evidence-based practice, and fosters collaboration between consumers and healthcare professionals. We remain committed to providing a safe and informative space where individuals can share their stories, seek support, and find connection, contributing to a more compassionate, informed, and equitable maternity care system for all.