British Birthing Stories

Georgia McGivern

A weekly podcast sharing real stories of childbirth in the UK, from labour and delivery to postpartum recovery. Mothers across the UK talk openly about their personal birth experiences, created to educate, inform, and empower women preparing for birth and the early weeks of motherhood.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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58 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes58

Newest first

May 26 · 1 hr 9 min
Jade: Three Positive Births, Sonographer’s Perspective, Water Birth, Fast Labour, Meconium Waters, Fetal Ejection Reflex, NHS Home Birth & Baby Born in the Pool With a Veil
Jade went into her first pregnancy thinking birth was something medical that happened in hospital. But after hypnobirthing opened her mind to a different way of seeing birth, she went on to have three very different but positive birth experiences. Jade is a mum of three and a sonographer from near Manchester. In this episode, she shares her unique perspective as someone who works in women’s health, scanning babies every day, while also experiencing pregnancy and birth herself. Her first baby was conceived during lockdown and, after initially thinking she would simply “have all the drugs,” Jade’s mindset shifted after taking a hypnobirthing course and learning more about physiological birth. Her first labour began with mild cramps and a fresh bleed, which led her into hospital to be checked. While waiting in triage, her contractions intensified, but she assumed she was still in early labour. When a midwife examined her, she was already 8cm dilated. She went on to have a positive water birth in the birth centre, using gas and air, and describes the pool as giving her instant relief. Jade’s second pregnancy was emotionally very different, as her dad died when she was around 25 weeks pregnant. She speaks openly about grieving during pregnancy, finding joy in small moments, and how her second son was born the day after her dad’s birthday and looks just like him. His birth was much faster and more intense. After her waters broke with meconium at home, Jade knew she would no longer be able to birth in the pool. She arrived at hospital asking for an epidural, but there was no time. Her baby was born almost immediately after she got into the room. With her third baby, a surprise but very wanted pregnancy, Jade was offered the option of an NHS home birth. At first, her husband was unsure, but after attending a home birth information evening, they both felt reassured. After a few false starts at 41 weeks during a heatwave, Jade finally went into labour at home. She got into the birth pool at around 4cm, and things quickly picked up. Her daughter was born in the water, with her waters breaking as she came out, and a veil over her face. In this episode we talk about: • Jade’s perspective as a sonographer and mum of three • Pregnancy and birth during lockdown • How hypnobirthing changed her view of birth • Growth scans, baby measurements and how accurate they really are • A positive birth centre water birth with gas and air • Grieving the loss of a parent during pregnancy • Meconium waters and a very fast second labour • Fetal ejection reflex and feeling out of control during birth • Planning an NHS home birth after two hospital births • Giving birth to her daughter in the pool at home with a veil over her face This episode is for anyone who is curious about birth from the perspective of someone who works in maternity care, anyone considering a home birth after hospital births, or anyone wanting to hear three very different but positive birth stories. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 21 · 52 min
Frankie: Two Births: First Birth Obstetric Cholestasis, Emergency Ventouse, Second birth: Twin Pregnancy, Planned C-Section at 34 Weeks, NICU, Bonding Difficulties, Postnatal Depression
Frankie had a really tough first pregnancy. She had already been through obstetric cholestasis, a long induction, and an emergency ventouse delivery with her first. Second time around she was carrying twins. She knew she could not go through that again. Frankie is a mum of three boys from Sheffield who shares two very different birth stories shaped by PCOS, endometriosis, multiple miscarriages, and a fertility journey that took years. Her first son Dawson was conceived on Clomid after nearly two years of trying. Her twins Blake and Holden were conceived within two cycles of medication. Nobody was more surprised than her. With her twin pregnancy came obstetric cholestasis again, severe pelvic girdle pain so bad she could not walk, and a decision to deliver at 34 weeks. Her planned C-section went smoothly. What came after did not. Both boys went to NICU for a month. One came home on oxygen with chronic lung disease. Frankie found herself learning to administer tube feeds, check pH levels, and manage medical equipment while recovering from major surgery and trying to parent a five year old. Bonding with her youngest twin Holden took nine months. She hated herself for it every single day. And nobody really came to help. In this episode we talk about: What obstetric cholestasis is and how it affected both of Frankie's pregnancies The decision to deliver twins at 34 weeks and what that meant for her boys What NICU is really like as a parent and why nobody prepares you for it Why bonding after a NICU stay is so much harder than anyone tells you Postnatal depression, sleep deprivation, and what finally helped This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they were failing when actually they were just surviving something enormous. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 19 · 43 min
Kat: First Birth, Precipitous Labour, Turned Away by Hospital, 50 Minute Drive in Active Labour, No Pain Relief, Born in 24 Minutes
SUMMARY: At 3am Kat was in hospital being told by a doctor she was not even in early labour. She went home. Within 30 minutes she was screaming. When her husband rang the hospital back they said the unit had closed. Twenty four minutes after arriving at a different hospital, her son was born. Kat is a first time mum from Harrogate who shares one of the most dramatic birth stories you will ever hear. With her local unit closed and no hospital able to take her, she ended up in a car in the dark and the rain, a nearly 50 minute drive to Bradford, dilating to 10cm on the way. She arrived, dropped to all fours in front of three Yorkshire security guards, and screamed for an epidural that never came. Her son was born 24 minutes later with no pain relief at all. And despite every twist and turn she says she would not change a thing. Because her baby was healthy. And because sometimes your body just knows. In this episode we talk about: What it is actually like to be turned away by your hospital in active labour How Kat went from being told she was nowhere near labour to giving birth 24 minutes after arriving somewhere else What contractions really feel like when you have no idea you are in labour Dilating to 10cm in the car and what that experience was actually like Why she is already thinking about a home birth next time This episode is for anyone who thinks they know what their birth will look like. Kat's story is a reminder that your body will do exactly what it needs to do whether you are ready or not. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 14 · 49 min
Mil: Second Birth, Healing After Traumatic First, Water Birth, Shoulder Dystocia, Birth Centre
What does it feel like to go back into labour knowing everything that went wrong the first time — and come out the other side feeling like you got your birth back? In this episode of British Birthing Stories, Mil returns to share the birth of her son Billy: an NHS birth centre water birth, a shoulder dystocia, and the most healing experience of her life. After her first birth left her with a postpartum haemorrhage, a serious infection, birth trauma, and postnatal depression, Mil was determined to do things differently second time around. She switched hospitals, switched her birth plan from a list of preferences to a set of feelings — safe, heard, in control — and fought to be approved for a birth centre birth despite her history. What followed was a labour that started calmly, progressed quickly, and then threw one final curveball: Billy's shoulder got stuck, and the midwives hauled Mil out of the bath, laid her on the floor, and freed him in what she can only describe as a wrestling move. He was briefly given oxygen, then handed over screaming. She was stitched up in ten minutes and eating toast in a fairy-lit room while her husband fell asleep beside her. She wrote the midwives a letter when she got home. She told them they had fixed something she hadn't realised was still broken. In this episode we chat about: Switching hospitals after her first experience and fighting to be approved for a birth centre birth Going overdue at 41+1 and choosing induction after weeks of false starts and sweeps A positive induction experience — and how different it felt from the first time Labouring calmly in the birth centre with just a TENS machine and no pain relief for hours Waters breaking at 3pm and things progressing quickly from there Transition, vomiting, gas and air that didn't really help, and being 8.5cm without realising it A shoulder dystocia — and the midwife who hauled her out of the bath and onto the floor Billy needing a little oxygen before his first cry — and the relief when it came A first-degree tear, ten minutes of stitches, and being up walking within the hour The night and day difference in recovery compared to her episiotomy first time around Combo feeding second time around and how much it helped her mental health postpartum Writing the midwives a letter — and what she means when she says they gave her something back Find Mil on Instagram and Tiktok The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 12 · 58 min
Mil: NHS Induction at 39 weeks for reduced movements, forceps, episiotomy, Postpartum Haemorrhage, Blood Transfusion, Postnatal Depression and Anxiety , Breastfeeding Challenges
What happens when you've done the NCT course, made the birth plan, and gone into hospital as prepared as you possibly can and it still falls apart? In this episode of British Birthing Stories, I sit down with Mil, a stay-at-home mum, content creator, and freelance copywriter, who shares her honest account of her first NHS birth: induction, forceps, episiotomy, a postpartum haemorrhage, and a blood transfusion. Mil was admitted for a routine reduced movement check at 39 weeks when the decision was made to induce her that day - no warning, no chance to go home and prepare. What followed was 12 hours in a waiting room in active labour, a serious infection, a baby in distress, and every intervention she'd hoped to avoid. Then the haemorrhage. Then a blood transfusion at 2am. Then eight days in hospital while her daughter recovered from severe jaundice. And a postnatal anxiety and depression that went undiagnosed for nearly a year. Mil also opens up about the breastfeeding guilt that compounded everything — a missed tongue tie, a supply that never came in, and hiding her daughter's bottle in the car park at Baby Sensory. But this isn't where her story ends. Her second NHS birth was, in her own words, the most beautiful and magical experience of her life. In this episode we chat about: Going in for a reduced movement check and leaving being induced with no time to go home 12 hours in a waiting room in active labour with inadequate pain relief Labour stalling, a serious infection, and being rushed to the labour ward Forceps, ventouse, and episiotomy after baby's heart rate dropped A postpartum haemorrhage and blood transfusion Eight days in hospital while her daughter recovered from severe jaundice Postnatal anxiety and depression going undiagnosed for almost a year Breastfeeding guilt, a missed tongue tie, and formula-feeding shame Why her second NHS birth was everything her first wasn't Find Mil here on Instagram and Tik Tok The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 7 · 52 min
Dani: First Birth, Positive Planned NHS Home Birth After Fertility Struggles, PCOS, Hypnobirthing, Doula Support, No Pain Relief, Placenta Encapsulation
She always knew she wanted a home birth. From the moment she decided she wanted children, there was never any question. Hospital was not even in her mind. Dani is a first time mum from Devon who shares a deeply beautiful first birth story after two years of trying to conceive with PCOS. She conceived the day before moving across the country from Hertfordshire to Devon — a moment she describes as feeling like pure divine timing. She prepared for her birth like a marathon. Hypnobirthing with a doula, affirmations on the walls, a birth playlist, fairy lights, an astronaut projector covering the ceiling in stars, and a birth pool set up in her mum's annex. She refused extra growth scans in her third trimester on instinct alone. Her baby was born weighing 8lb 3oz. Labour started at 2am on her due date. She laboured quietly through the night and all the next day. She ate a Chinese takeaway on the toilet while going through contractions. She never had a single internal examination and never knew how dilated she was. Her daughter Aurea was born at 11.26pm with no pain relief, no stitches, and a delayed cord clamp. The midwives she had never met before did everything on her birth plan without being asked. In this episode we talk about: What it is really like to try to conceive with PCOS and what finally helped How hypnobirthing completely changed Dani's mindset around birth and fear What a doula actually does during pregnancy and how to find the right one Labouring at home all day without intervention and what that felt like Why she refused extra growth scans and what her instinct told her Placenta encapsulation and whether it helped her postpartum recovery Grieving your old self after becoming a mum and how long that really takes This episode is for anyone who has ever dreamed of a calm physiological home birth and wondered if it is really possible. Dani's story is proof that it absolutely is. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 5 · 58 min
Chloe: First Birth, Positive Emergency C-Section After Water Birth 48 Hour Labour and Succenturiate Placenta
She pushed for five hours. Her baby kept getting stuck. And when she finally made the call for a C section, the medical team tried to talk her out of it before admitting it was probably the right idea all along. Chloe is a veterinary neurologist from West Berkshire and a first time mum who went into birth as prepared as anyone could be. Hypnobirthing, research, a birth pool, a TENS machine, and a very clear birth plan. What followed was 48 hours of labour, a cervical lip that nobody had spotted, and a pushing stage that lasted five hours before things came to a halt. Chloe trusted her gut, held her ground with the team, and consented to an emergency C section. Then came the moment that reframed everything. Her placenta turned out to be a rare succenturiate type, meaning a vaginal delivery could have had very serious consequences for both of them. In this episode we talk about: How Chloe combined hypnobirthing with a research driven approach and what she took from each What a cervical lip is and how it can stall even the most established labour Why Chloe asked for a C section herself and had to fight for it The rare succenturiate placenta discovery and what it meant for her birth outcome How to reframe a birth that looked nothing like the plan and still call it a positive experience This episode is for anyone heading into their first birth wanting to understand how staying open minded can completely change how you feel about whatever happens on the day. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 30 · 43 min
Vicky: Two Positive NHS Hospital Vaginal Births, Large Baby, Informed Second Birth
They warned her throughout her entire second pregnancy that her baby was measuring large and that there could be complications at delivery. He was out in two pushes. Vicky is a mum of two boys from Kent who shares two positive NHS hospital vaginal births. Her first birth was harder than expected. A midwife changeover at a critical moment left her without the pain relief she had been promised and pethidine administered too late meant she felt out of sorts in the precious first moments with her baby. Second time around she went in informed, prepared, and knowing exactly what she needed. What made the difference was simple. She understood her options. She knew how to use gas and air properly. And when the moment came, despite being warned all pregnancy that her large baby could cause complications, she delivered him in two pushes with no stitches and was home the next day. In this episode we talk about: How a midwife changeover in active labour affected Vicky's first birth and what she took from it How learning to use gas and air properly transformed her second birth experience What it is like to be warned all pregnancy about a large baby and shoulder dystocia and then deliver in two pushes Navigating the emotional juggle of a newborn and a toddler in those early postpartum weeks This episode is for anyone going into a second birth wanting to understand how knowledge and preparation can completely change your experience. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 28 · 47 min
Hannah: First Birth, 36 Hour Labour, Failed Induction, Unplanned C-Section
She planned a natural water birth. She hypnobirthed. She researched everything. And after 36 hours in labour and a failed induction drip still stuck at 5cm, she made the most empowered decision of her birth. Asking for a C-section she never planned for. And she would do it all again. Hannah is a first time mum who shares her honest and empowering story of a 36 hour labour, a failed induction, and an emergency C-section on the NHS. Despite spending months preparing for a medication free water birth, Hannah found herself at a crossroads in the early hours of the morning, advocated for herself clearly and confidently, and came out the other side feeling something she never expected to feel. Completely proud of her birth. Hannah did not get the birth she planned. She got something better. A birth where every single decision was hers, made with knowledge, clarity and confidence. She is not someone who feels like her birth went wrong. She is someone who knows exactly why it went the way it did and would make every single choice again. In this episode we talk about: Planning for a natural birth and navigating when labour does not progress What it really feels like to go on an NHS hormone drip and why Hannah chose to come off it How to advocate for an unplanned C-section and what that process looks like on the NHS What nobody tells you about C-section babies in the first hours after birth Recovery tips for C-section mums that will actually make a difference in those early days This episode is for anyone who has ever worried that a C-section means their birth went wrong. Hannah is proof that it absolutely does not. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 23 · 43 min
Kaci’s Birth Story: From Obstetric Cholestasis to a Cord Prolapse and CAT-1 Emergency C-Section
In today’s episode, I speak with Kaci, who shares her first birth story, which unexpectedly ended in an emergency (Category 1) C-section under general anaesthetic following a cord prolapse. Kaci talks about a physically and emotionally challenging pregnancy, including PCOS, endometriosis, frequent hospital visits for reduced movements, and later being diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis after persistent itching and advocating to be heard. She shares how her waters broke spontaneously, labour progressed with the support of a hormone drip, and how quickly everything changed. We also discuss recovery after an emergency caesarean, early feeding experiences, processing birth trauma, and Kaci hopes of planning a VBAC in the future. This episode is shared for storytelling purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 21 · 57 min
Kailey: Third Birth, Birth Before Arrival (BBA), Freebirth at Home, Precipitous Labour, 42+4 Pregnancy & NHS Experience
In this episode I chat with Kailey who shares her incredible third birth story, including a birth before arrival (BBA) where she gave birth completely alone at home before midwives or paramedics arrived. After two previous births where she felt her experience was disrupted, Kaylee went into this pregnancy determined to have a physiological home birth on her terms. Navigating pregnancy as a single mum of three, she opens up about advocating for herself within the NHS system, declining interventions, and facing pressure around being 42+4 weeks pregnant. Her labour began calmly but quickly turned into an intense precipitous labour, with her baby born just 16 minutes after calling the midwives. Guided only by a midwife on the phone, Kaylee experienced a powerful fetal ejection reflex, catching her own baby in the dark, an experience she describes as deeply healing and empowering. She also shares the reality of postpartum recovery, from the day 4 emotional dip to navigating newborn life solo, and how this birth transformed her confidence as a mother. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in home birth, freebirth, birth before arrival, post-term pregnancy, and advocating for yourself in maternity care. Please note: this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 16 · 56 min
Amanda: Two births, Hospital Induction, Forceps Birth, Home Water Birth, Physiological Birth & Becoming a Doula
In today’s episode, I speak with Amanda about her journey from a traumatic birth experience to a positive home birth, and how it led her to become a birth doula. Amanda shares how her first pregnancy involved concerns about a small baby, which led to pressure to accept an NHS hospital induction. This resulted in a cascade of interventions, including a forceps birth and episiotomy, leaving her feeling shocked, disconnected and physically traumatised. She opens up about her difficult postpartum recovery, including post-birth infection, tailbone pain after birth, breastfeeding difficulties, reflux in newborns, and the impact on her postnatal mental health. Amanda reflects on feeling unsupported during labour and the challenges of advocating for yourself in birth. When Amanda became pregnant again, she chose a completely different path. With the support of a birth doula, she was able to process her birth trauma, rebuild confidence and make informed decisions throughout pregnancy. Amanda planned a home birth within the NHS, choosing to avoid unnecessary interventions and trust her body. She describes her physiological home water birth as calm, empowering and deeply healing. This episode covers induction of labour, forceps delivery, episiotomy recovery, birth trauma, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding challenges, home birth, hypnobirthing, doula support, birth advocacy and maternal mental health, offering an honest and informative insight into how birth experiences can shape early motherhood. This episode is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 14 · 1 hr 19 min
Jeanette: Two Births, Breech Baby, Attempted Vaginal Breech and Unplanned C-Section, VBAC and Emergency C-Section Under General Anaesthetic, Miscarriage, Tongue Tie, Breastfeeding Challenges,
This week I'm joined by Jeanette, who shares two very different births that both ended in unplanned C-sections. Her first baby turned breech right at the end of pregnancy. After three failed ECV attempts and a lot of research, she planned a C-section but went into labour first. When her baby showed signs of distress, the decision was made and she had an unplanned C-section. For her second birth, Jeanette had a miscarriage between pregnancies before conceiving her rainbow baby. She was planning a VBAC when her waters broke at 40 weeks. Back at hospital her contractions became constant with no break between them and her baby's heart rate dropped. It was a category one emergency. Jeanette was taken for surgery under general anaesthetic alone, without her husband. Her baby was born not breathing and needed resuscitation. Jeanette wanted to share her story so other mothers know that even when birth doesn't go to plan and the situation becomes frightening, you can still come out the other side feeling grateful and at peace with how it happened. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 9 · 1 hr 15 min
Ellie: Infertility, Positive NHS Hospital Induction, 3B Tear, Retained Placenta & Fibroids
In this episode, Ellie shares the story of conceiving her son after two and a half years of trying, following years on the contraceptive pill and eventually discovering during pregnancy that she had a large uterine fibroid. With concerns about her baby’s growth and blood flow between the placenta and uterus, she was placed under consultant-led care and scheduled for an induction on her due date. Ellie describes arriving at hospital for the induction, receiving a pessary, and unexpectedly progressing into labour quickly overnight. What followed was a fast and intense labour, where she laboured using gas and air, pethidine, and the bath before rapidly reaching full dilation just as she was being moved to the delivery ward for the epidural she had planned. Her son was born vaginally after a short pushing stage, but the birth was complicated by him being born with his arm up, resulting in a severe 3B tear. She also speaks honestly about the immediate postpartum complications that followed, including a retained placenta requiring surgery, missing the “golden hour” with her baby, significant blood loss, and the emotional impact of recovering from a serious birth injury. Ellie reflects on the challenges of early feeding, the slow physical recovery from a third-degree tear, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and learning to reconnect with her body after birth trauma. This episode offers a detailed, honest, and reassuring insight into induction birth, retained placenta, severe tearing, and the realities of postpartum recovery after a traumatic birth. This podcast shares personal birth experiences and is not intended as medical advice. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 7 · 48 min
Emma: Second Birth, NHS Home Birth After Caesarean (HBAC), VBAC, Water Birth, Physiological Birth
In this episode I’m joined by Emma, who shares the story of her second birth, an NHS home birth after caesarean (HBAC) and VBAC birth story. Emma reflects on choosing an elective C-section for her first baby during Covid, navigating postpartum recovery, and her difficult early breastfeeding journey. For her second pregnancy, Emma prepared for a VBAC home birth with the support of a doula and hypnobirthing, while advocating for her birth choices despite pushback from healthcare professionals. She takes us through spontaneous labour at 37 weeks, labouring through the night in water, and welcoming her baby in a powerful physiological birth at home. We also talk about planning a home birth after caesarean, birth rights, doula support, physiological birth, and Emma’s successful breastfeeding journey second time around. This episode is shared for storytelling and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek personalised guidance from your healthcare provider. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 2 · 1 hr 6 min
Harriet: Infertility Struggles, IVF, Post-Dates, NHS Home Water Birth & Physiological Third Stage, Breathwork and Meditation
In today’s episode, I speak with Harriet, a midwife, yoga teacher, and first-time mum, about her experience of conceiving through IVF and going on to have a planned NHS home water birth with her daughter, Juno. Harriet shares her journey to conception after two and a half years of trying, eventually discovering that both she and her husband were facing fertility challenges. They went on to have IVF with ICSI and were left with just one embryo, which became their daughter. Harriet reflects on navigating pregnancy as a midwife herself, including experiencing severe sickness throughout much of her pregnancy. She talks through planning a home birth within the NHS, reaching 40+12 weeks pregnant, and navigating the pressure around induction as she waited for labour to begin. Harriet shares how labour started quietly at home and progressed throughout the day, using movement, breathwork and instinctive positions to support her body through back-to-back surges. Harriet’s daughter Juno was born in the birth pool at home just after midnight, caught by her husband and brought straight to her chest. She also shares her experience of a physiological third stage, the early postpartum hormone shifts, and their breastfeeding journey, including navigating tongue tie in the early weeks. This episode offers an honest account of IVF, post-dates pregnancy and planning a home birth within the NHS, alongside reflections on trusting the body, birth preparation and the realities of the early postpartum period. This episode is shared for storytelling purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 31 · 55 min
Georgia: VBAC, Short Cervix, Episiotomy, Forceps Delivery, NICU stay, PostPartum Haemorrhage
In today’s episode, I interview myself and share the birth story of my second son Kit. After having a previous C-section with my eldest son, Finn, I knew that I desperately wanted a VBAC birth with Kit. I did everything I could to prepare for Kit's birth, such as listening to lots of birth stories, downloading a hypnobirthing course, which was Pop That Mama's Birth Box, and making sure that I just did as much research as I could into how I could make this possible. I spoke with a consultant midwife and was able to start my labour on the midwife-led unit, but then eventually had to transfer to the main labour ward as my labour just progressed really slowly. Towards the end of labour, I had to have an episiotomy and forceps delivery, and Kit struggled to breathe once he was born, so he was sent away to NICU, and I had a postpartum haemorrhage and blood transfusion, which was really difficult at the time, but I am so grateful for everything that I'd done ahead of the birth, which meant that I was able to really cope and manage what was going on during my labour and birth. I share what it's like experiencing not having the birth you'd hoped for and being separated from your baby after birth. I also talk really openly about what it was like not experiencing love and struggling to bond with your baby and what it's like having a baby in NICU even for a short stay. I hope this helps other women out there. And ultimately, it was this birth that made me really want to start this podcast to help other women learn how to advocate for themselves because even though the birth that I experienced was quite traumatic to me, it wasn't actually that bad. And I guess that's because I felt so prepared. And as you'll hear if you listen to this birth story, I really advocated for myself the entire way through and I knew exactly what I was signing up for throughout that entire labor in terms of my interventions. So I hope that this is helpful and I can't wait to hear what you think. Please note that this episode shares my personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth journey is unique, so if you have any concerns about your own health or pregnancy, please speak with a qualified medical professional. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 27 · 3 min
She Stopped Feeling Her Baby Kick at 24 Weeks - This Is Why Movements Matter | Anonymous Stillbirth Story
CONTENT WARNING: this episode discusses still birth. Please take care while listening. This anonymous birth story has been shared by a mother who gave birth to her baby boy sleeping at 24 weeks pregnant, after noticing reduced movements and that her baby had stopped kicking, despite having no other symptoms. She wants to raise awareness of stillbirth and highlight why it is so important to be aware of your baby’s movements and notice any changes in your baby’s kicks during pregnancy. By sharing her experience of reduced fetal movements and stillbirth, she hopes other parents will feel empowered to trust their instincts and advocate for themselves. If you notice any changes in your baby’s movements, please seek medical assistance and get immediate help if something doesn’t feel right. She also shares this for anyone who has experienced pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or miscarriage so you know you are not alone and your story matters. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 26 · 50 min
Georgia: Gender Disappointment, Short Cervix, Cerclage, Breech, Planned C-section
In today’s episode, I interview myself and share the birth story of my first son, Finn. When I was a young woman living in Australia, I was diagnosed with pre-cancerous cells on my cervix and had to undergo two LLETZ procedures. Later, when I became pregnant with Finn, I learned that these procedures had affected my cervix, leaving me with a short cervix and placing me at higher risk of preterm birth. Because of this, I was monitored under consultant-led care through the preterm birth clinic. At 18 weeks pregnant, my cervix began to open and funnel, and I had to have a cervical cerclage fitted which is a stitch placed in the cervix to help keep the baby safely inside. I share honestly about what it was like navigating that experience, the uncertainty and worry of hoping I would make it to full term, and how that period of pregnancy felt emotionally. Thankfully, I did go on to reach full term. However, Finn was in the breech position and never turned. I tried everything I could, including techniques like Spinning Babies and two ECV attempts to try to turn him, but ultimately he stayed breech. In this episode, I also open up about something that can be difficult to talk about: gender disappointment. I share the shame I felt around those emotions and why I believe it’s important to talk about them more openly, in the hope that other women who may be experiencing similar feelings feel less alone. In the end, I chose to have a planned C-section with Finn, which was the right decision for me. I share what it was like going into that experience and having a caesarean birth. Please note that this episode shares my personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth journey is unique, so if you have any concerns about your own health or pregnancy, please speak with a qualified medical professional. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 23 · 52 min
Lauren: First Birth, Planned NHS Home Birth, Physiological Water Birth, Fetal Ejection Reflex, Meditation & Breathwork
In today’s episode, I speak with Lauren, an NHS worker and meditation and breathwork teacher, about her experience of having a planned NHS home water birth with her first baby. Lauren shares her journey to conception, including the emotional pressure of trying for nearly a year, working in the NHS during COVID, and how stress shaped her experience of fertility. She reflects on how taking the pressure off trying to conceive ultimately led to pregnancy and changed how she viewed the connection between the mind and body. She talks through how her understanding of breathwork and hypnobirthing influenced her birth choices, leading her to plan a home birth despite it being her first baby. Lauren describes labour beginning quietly at home, moving into the birth pool, and the powerful moment her body began pushing instinctively, experiencing the fetal ejection reflex. Lauren also shares honestly about the realities of the postnatal period, including breastfeeding challenges, reflux, hormone crashes, and the emotional intensity of early motherhood, both for her and her partner. This episode offers a calm, honest account of a first-time NHS home birth, alongside reflections on preparation, breathwork, and navigating the postpartum period. This episode is shared for storytelling purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.