#19 Kirby Hood Birth Photographer- Infertility, Loss, IVF, Step Parenting, Weight Discrimination

The Matrescence Podcast

In this weeks episode we talk to a beloved member of our Brisbane birth community, Kirby Hood. @olivejuicelifestyle

Kirby is a birth photographer, videographer, Doula and more and was responsible for capturing Emmy’s birth.

While Kirby is well known in the birth community, few know her story.

Kirby’s introduction to motherhood began when she became a step parent to a beautiful two year old girl. As she navigated her co-parenting journey, she was on her own journey to conceive.

What followed was multiple pregnancies, rounds of IVF and devastating losses.

Somewhere along the line Kirby discovered her passion for birth work and began photographing and supporting mothers through pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Some questioned whether she was just torturing herself by surrounding herself with people doing what she longed to do herself.

Kirby and her husband Alex are finally ready to explore IVF again after encountering many barriers relating to her weight. She shares her hopes and dreams for this experience.

Throughout the episode we explore the challenges she has had to work through in order to make peace with her identity as a mother, how being a step parent and experiencing multiple losses has shaped her matrescence journey and the stigma she feels around being a birth worker who has not birthed a full-term live baby.

@unexpectedfamilyouting

@fatpositivefertility

Red Nose Grief and Loss Support Services: 1300 308 307

SANDS miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support 24/7 bereavement support line: 1300308307

https://www.pregnancylossaustralia.org.au/

https://www.lifeline.org.au/