Home Podcasts Pregnancy Uncut
Pregnancy Uncut

Pregnancy Uncut

Dr Alex Umbers and Dr Kara Thompson 63 Episodes Aug 28, 2026

Pregnancy Uncut explores the often hidden, untold and traumatic stories of pregnancies and births that did not go to plan. It is hosted by doctors working in women's health, Alex Umbers and Kara Thompson, and offers a soft place for hard conversations about topics society has historically treated as taboo. Each episode features a guest with firsthand experience of complications such as infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, obstetric emergencies, birth trauma, perinatal mental health, and baby loss at any stage. Health care professionals also provide context, and the show aims to raise awareness, create language and hope, and build support for people affected by pregnancy-related complications.

Episodes

S7. Ep3. Sophie's story. When a concealed placental abruption changes everything.
S7. Ep3. Sophie's story. When a concealed placental abruption changes everything. Aug 28, 2026 3451 When Heidi was pregnant with her second child she and her partner made the decision to return to Australia to be close to family. Having managed an intercontinental flight at 34 weeks pregnant with a toddler in tow, she hoped things would be smooth from then on.Arriving in Australia, Heidi quickly signed up with an obstetrician and, with her due date in sight, they discussed a date for induction -
S7. Ep2. An unknown ending. A story of recurrent miscarriage, IVF and continuing secondary infertility.
S7. Ep2. An unknown ending. A story of recurrent miscarriage, IVF and continuing secondary infertility. Jun 16, 2026 3142 After the birth of her son Angus, Rebecca and her partner were keen to have a sibling for him and at the time had no reason to imagine that this would be anything but straightforward. However, what followed was a journey of recurrent miscarriage, including a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, emergency surgery and multiple IVF attempts. That journey is ongoing and Rebecca feels that there is impact in sh
S7. Ep1. An Impossible 'choice' - When the ultimate act of love is doing the unthinkable
S7. Ep1. An Impossible 'choice' - When the ultimate act of love is doing the unthinkable May 12, 2026 3942 When Alice went for her 20 week morphology scan she had no reason to be nervous. Her pregnancy had been straightforward and included doing all standard testing offered, but a noted anomaly of a small baby was quickly followed by referral to fetal medicine specialists, the discovery of soft markers on ultrasound and, after an amniocentesis, the words that would tip their world on its axis. Alice ta
S6. Bonus Episode. Caroline De Costa - A Lifetime of Leadership
S6. Bonus Episode. Caroline De Costa - A Lifetime of Leadership Oct 10, 2025 3088 Few people can genuinely claim to have changed the course of healthcare but Caroline de Costa could do just that. Not that she would, for her - pioneering change and fighting for women's rights in healthcare is just part of the all-encompassing job of an obstetrician.With a career spanning decades, Caroline has been on the frontline of ensuring women have active choice over their reproductive
S6. Ep10. Disrupting the status quo - When your birth plan provokes public debate
S6. Ep10. Disrupting the status quo - When your birth plan provokes public debate Oct 16, 2024 4124 In our final episode for season 6, Kara talks to Dr. Imogen Hines about Induction of labour, specifically planned induction and the surprising reaction it can prompt.As an orthopedic doctor, Imogen was no stranger to research and so when she found out she was pregnant she didn't hesitate to put that to the test researching the birth that was going to be best for her and her baby. Based on her
S6. Ep9. Informed consent. The cornerstone of maternity and obstetric care.
S6. Ep9. Informed consent. The cornerstone of maternity and obstetric care. Sep 27, 2024 4323 In this episode we are thrilled to welcome back to the podcast, Amy Dawes - co-founder and CEO of the Australasian Birth Trauma Association to talk with Kara about informed consent. This was the theme of this year's birth trauma awareness week and Kara and Amy do a deep dive on just why it is so important.When Amy was last on the podcast she spoke openly about her personal journey of birth tr
S6. Ep8. Outside of my own body. When birth triggers long-buried trauma
S6. Ep8. Outside of my own body. When birth triggers long-buried trauma Sep 5, 2024 2621 Hayley is a qualified trauma counsellor and mum of two. With her education and expertise she felt well equipped to manage her own trauma from sexual assault, particularly when her first birth was straightforward.Going into her second Hayley felt prepared and excited. However, in the midst of her labour and birth she found herself disassociating and unable to reach anyone who would be able to help
S6. Ep7. The memory of a sound - how vividly our birth experiences stay with us
S6. Ep7. The memory of a sound - how vividly our birth experiences stay with us Aug 23, 2024 2733 Family is everything to Renee. At 95, she is a living legend, and our oldest guest on Pregnancy Uncut. Renee' s memory is impressively sharp and despite her age, her experiences of her five births remain vivid and profound. Renee now has three grown up children, but she also has two children no longer earthside: she is a survivor of her time, to say the least.Renee is one of ten (10!!) and gr
S6. Ep6. 'Love from Dad': A bereaved father's journey through birth trauma, grief and advocacy
S6. Ep6. 'Love from Dad': A bereaved father's journey through birth trauma, grief and advocacy Jul 18, 2024 3580 When his partner Maddy went into labour with their second child, Matt was excited to meet the new addition to their family, but a cord prolapse leading to emergency surgery, saw him instead, alone in a waiting room looking at the seemingly motionless hands of a clock. When Baby Wren was born, she required intensive breathing support, and soon afterwards Matt and Maddy had to make the impossible de
S6. Ep5. When a nagging feeling becomes a confirmed diagnosis - Breast Cancer in Pregnancy.
S6. Ep5. When a nagging feeling becomes a confirmed diagnosis - Breast Cancer in Pregnancy. Jul 2, 2024 2750 After a complex fertility journey and a birth and post-partum overshadowed by Covid, Isla was hopeful that she was through the complexity and her journey to her next baby would be more straightforward. At first, this seemed to be the case - as Isla naturally fell pregnant with second baby Freddie. Everything seemed to be going well when Isla discovered a lump on her breast.Thinking it was likely n
S6. Ep4: Into the unknown: Navigating a congenital CMV diagnosis.
S6. Ep4: Into the unknown: Navigating a congenital CMV diagnosis. Jun 13, 2024 4194 When Candice took her baby boy Emmett home from hospital he had twice failed the standard hearing tests. However, no one seemed too concerned,  her pregnancy had been uncomplicated and everything seemed well. However an outpatient audiology consult that should have taken a couple of hours, lasted nearly a full day and maternal instinct started tingling.  At the end of that day she was told that Em
S6. Ep3. Birth of a Feminist – An interview with RANZCOG Vice President Dr. Nisha Khot
S6. Ep3. Birth of a Feminist – An interview with RANZCOG Vice President Dr. Nisha Khot May 24, 2024 3358 In this episode we side-step from our usual content to hear the considered insights of Dr. Nisha Khot.Nisha grew up, studied and practiced to become a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in India - where 'a feminist was born'.  After further training and working in the UK she landed on Australian shores, practising and training the next generation of O&G specialists, many (incl

Recommended