Today on the show I speak to musician and Mama of two Sarah Saunders. Sarah planned to have her first child in the birth centre but promptly turned into a hospital transfer with an episiotomy, which then turned into a 3rd degree tear. She then ended up in theatre with an epidural (after a drug free birth) to fix the tear and with the combination of drugs and the trauma of what had just happened Sarah came into motherhood with tears streaming down her face. Skip to her next pregnancy - Sarah knew what she wanted this birth to be different. She knew mainly the thing she needed was a lot of spiritual growth and that she did, with the help of some beautiful friends and her much beloved unicorn midwife Norafiah Lever (who is also a dear friend of mine). She talks about how she did the processing by talking over the phone to her friend Asha, almost daily. She says it was like journalling which helped her reflect and grow and work through some blockages, especially around her mother’s death when she was 19. Her birth - like a lot of freebirths, was completely normal and straightforward - just another day she says. These simple birth stories are becoming more and more common for those women that do the work and then leave birth alone. Sarah is such a bubbly personality with a contagious laugh, you are sure to smile while listening to this one. More about Sarah: Musician, mother, wife, sister, daughter and student of life! Sarah’s dances in a world of piano playing, music education and being Mumma to two beautiful girls among her friends, family and community️ Her professional career and passion as a pianist and accordionist has taken seen her performing in many festivals and shows across WA over the past 15 years, and she specialises in both world music and classical. After studying Argentine Tango music in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a rich decade of journeying into this art form has drawn her across Australia, to the USA and Europe in her creative pursuits. She’s passionate about bringing the cultural milieu of Argentine Tango to the hearts and ears of Perth audiences and is the director, founder and pianist of the Perth Tango Orchestra. Also performing on accordion in local Irish band, The Rogues, Sarah can be seen jigging in local pubs and folk festivals. Music education has always been the ying to the yang of her musical expression and she has spent over 15 years nourishing (and being nourished!) by a beautiful community of young pianists from her home studio and in schools across Perth. The journey deep into the women’s world of pregnancy, birth and beyond has been empowering, enriching and completely infused into her life as a mother, musician and again, student of life.