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Birth Tales

Serena Louth

Welcome to Birth Tales. Conception, pregnancy, birth and those first hazy postpartum days are a physical and emotional whirlwind. My hope is that by sharing these unique experiences we can support, educate and inspire others on their journeys to becoming parents.

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 55 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #74
    Dec 11, 2025 · 53 min

    074 - Lara | precipitous birth, PCOS, membrane sweep, physiological birth, foetal ejection reflex, 2nd degree tear

    In today's episode we're hearing from Lara about her precipitous birth. When she found out she was pregnant she threw herself into reading, researching and preparing for labour. She hoped to give birth in the midwife lead unit, but when her contractions started it became clear her baby was coming very quickly. Lara and her partner called the paramedics who managed to get her to the hospital and her baby was born after just 95 minutes of labour. Lara talks about the mental challenge of convincing herself the baby was coming early, the intensity of such a short labour and her plans for her imminent second birth. My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or midwifery advice. It should not be used as a substitute for professional care or guidance. Always seek advice from your midwife, doctor, or other qualified health provider regarding your individual circumstances. The views and experiences shared in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be suitable for everyone. Any opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast host. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we make no guarantees regarding completeness or accuracy, and information may change over time. We are not responsible for any outcomes resulting from the use of information discussed in this podcast. Use of this information is at your own discretion.

  • #73
    Dec 4, 2025 · 55 min

    073 - Sarah | 2nd baby, doula, PGP, heart condition, polyhydramnios, unstable lie, planned c-section

    In today's episode Sarah is back on the podcast to share her second birth story. Having had a difficult experience first time around, she knew what mattered most to her this time; to feel strong, to advocate for her wishes and to feel like she had more agency. She hired a doula, planned a VBAC, changed hospitals and got lots of independent support to help her prepare for the birth. Unfortunately she faced endless obstacles along the way, which resulted in her birthing her daughter via planned caesarean. Sarah talks us through the grieving process of letting go of the VBAC she had hoped for and how despite numerous challenges she still had a beautiful, calm birth. This is a super special episode because Sarah was the first ever guest on Birth Tales! So it is a joy to have her back on again and it is so lovely that we were joined by little Sadie who you can hear chatting away throughout. FREE hypnobirthing taster session: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-introduction-to-hypnobirthing-online-event-tickets-1970359050962?aff=oddtdtcreator My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ Sarah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmalcs/ Sarah's website: https://sarahmalcolm.co.uk Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or midwifery advice. It should not be used as a substitute for professional care or guidance. Always seek advice from your midwife, doctor, or other qualified health provider regarding your individual circumstances. The views and experiences shared in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be suitable for everyone. Any opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast host. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we make no guarantees regarding completeness or accuracy, and information may change over time. We are not responsible for any outcomes resulting from the use of information discussed in this podcast. Use of this information is at your own discretion.

  • #72
    Nov 27, 2025 · 52 min

    072 - Anna | freebirth, doula, waterbirth, physiological birth

    In today's episode we're hearing from Anna who freebirthed her son with the support of her partner and doula. Having always felt trusting of the birthing process, Anna knew she wanted to have her baby at home. She shares how amazing it was to have the reassuring presence of a doula through her pregnancy and labour, about the pressure she felt to comply with maternity care that didn't feel right for her and why she ultimately chose to give birth without any midwives present. 9th December FREE hypnobirthing session: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-introduction-to-hypnobirthing-online-event-tickets-1970359050962?aff=oddtdtcreator Anna's IG: https://www.instagram.com/annawilliamson09/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

  • #71
    Nov 20, 2025 · 51 min

    071 - Maria | ectopic pregnancy, positive induction, hypnobirthing, 3rd degree tear, closing the bones

    In today's episode I'm chatting to Maria about her two pregnancies. Her first was very sadly an ectopic pregnancy and she shares her journey of expectant management, which left her feeling very lonely and anxious. When she conceived again and got through the first trimester, Maria loved her second pregnancy. She planned to birth her baby at home but ended up accepting an induction at 42+2. She talks about her experience of a 3rd degree tear, the amazing postnatal care she received and how healing her birth felt following her loss. I'm so grateful to Maria for sharing so honestly about her ectopic pregnancy and just want to flag to you listening that thats what we speak about for the first few minutes of our conversation in case you'd prefer to save this episode for another day. My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ Maria's IG: https://www.instagram.com/maria.iggy/ Maria's story: https://ectopic.org.uk/stories/an-expectant-management-experience

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes