Birth Tales

In today's episode Ellie shares her extraordinary journey into motherhood. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until a few high blood pressure readings in her second trimester, so Ellie was taken by surprise when she was suddenly told she needed to remain in hospital until her baby's birth. She shares the debilitating anxiety she experienced whilst being monitored and waiting day by day to hear when her son would need to be born. At 31 weeks the decision was made for him to arrive by caesarean. Ellie reflects on how grateful she feels for the care they received and how well the team managed the situation, helping to make the experience a positive one despite the circumstances. She also shares about their five weeks in the NICU and the incredible support they had as they learned how to feed and care for their premature baby. Ellie's story is an amazing example of a mother's resilience and strength in the face of uncertainty. Ellie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellieaustinwilliams/ The Birth Prep Bundle: https://sincere-union-68693.myflodesk.com/zkj6c4q686 My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

Following on from Tania's first birth story in episode 6, today she returns to share her second pregnancy and birth with her daughter, Juniper. Much like the first time around, Tania struggled in the first trimester but she was lucky to have a fairly smooth pregnancy after that. She planned to birth her baby at home with the support of her local homebirth midwives and went on to have a truly joyful and healing experience. We talk about adjusting to life as a family of four, how much more she trusted her intuition and her body this time around, the simple pleasure of having access to your own shower and bed immediately postpartum and the power of feeling deeply supported by the people you invite into your birth space. Tania's first birth: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-tales/id1703057905?i=1000630265413 Tania's IG: https://www.instagram.com/taniajoyfjane/ Tania's birth story Substack https://taniajoys.substack.com/p/junipers-pregnancy-and-birth-story?r=11s4h0&utm_medium=ios&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv4&fbclid=PAVERFWARTXp1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad0gaymQU-In995tC-2uAvkGDV7BBePihyuuYnHDP-Svu9HS2lkO_w_woh5Tg_aem_-ObDqES82S94o1UAc-Z8LA&triedRedirect=true My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In this episode Jess shares her experience of birthing her third baby. As a midwife and a mum who had previously had two uncomplicated births, her plan was always to have a homebirth. Unfortunately her third trimester threw some unexpected curveballs and Jess ended up being induced at 39 weeks. We talk about midwives' intuition, how incredible intervention can be when it's truly needed and how her induced labour compared to her previous physiological births. This is such a beautiful example of how birth can still be an incredibly positive experience, even when plans change. Jess's passion for birth is totally contagious and I know you're going to love this episode. Jess's first birth: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-tales/id1703057905?i=1000647490787 Jess's IG: https://www.instagram.com/__jessica__rose__/ 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.

In today's episode I'm welcoming Monika back to the podcast to share the story of her youngest son's birth. After a traumatic induction first time around, she didn't engage with preparing for the birth until about 20 weeks, at which point Monika hired a doula and made the decision to birth her second baby at home. We talk in depth about how she juggled pregnancy sickness with caring for her toddler full time, managing a borderline gestational diabetes diagnosis and moving both house and hospital in the third trimester. It was so lovely to hear how the fear she had experienced during her first labour was replaced this time with a sense of calm, resulting in a birth which was (in her own words) "the most beautiful moment of my life". Monika is always such a joy to chat to, so I know you're going to gain so much from this episode. If you haven't listened to her first birth yet and would like the back story before getting stuck into this one, that was episode 3 and I'll link it in the show notes below. Cushy Puff - use code SERENAL20 for 20% off: http://cushypuff.com/ Monika's doula: https://www.jessicaslender.co.uk/ Monika's first birth: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/003-monika-morning-sickness-hospital-birth-induction/id1703057905?i=1000627819214 Monika's IG: https://www.instagram.com/monika_chatterton/ 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.

In today's episode we're hearing from Ella about her son's birth. She explains how using the fertility awareness method helped her to conceive, how much she loved being pregnant and why she chose to plan a homebirth with the support of a doula. Ella talks honestly about finding it mentally challenging to go beyond 40 weeks and describes her long labour at home, including the coping techniques she leant on. After hours of pushing the decision was made to transfer, which was a scary experience for both Ella and her partner. Thankfully all was well with the baby and after the doctor assisted with a manual rotation, he was born soon after arriving at the hospital. Ella shares what it was like being taken into theatre postpartum to repair a severe tear and how she's feeling as she prepares for her upcoming birth, making this a really interesting episode. Ella's IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellamooneywellness/ Mama Mooney: https://www.instagram.com/mama_mooney_/ 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.

In today's episode we're hearing from Molly about her daughter's birth. Having loved being pregnant, the biggest challenge she faced was deciding whether or not to accept an induction. Molly talks us through her decision-making process and shares her experience of the different stages of her labour in the hospital. She reflects on the importance of feeling well supported, the brilliant care she received throughout and how that helped her come away from the experience feeling really positive, even with a failed epidural along the way. It's so lovely to be able to share a genuinely positive induction story and I know this will be a reassuring listen for anyone facing similar choices. We recorded this episode on Nora's first birthday which makes it feel extra special, so I really hope you enjoy listening. Molly's IG: https://www.instagram.com/moll.nicholson/ 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.

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.

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

In today's episode I'm sharing my own story of birthing my second son, Sidney. I talk about how I experienced pregnancy with a toddler in tow, the choices I made differently this time and how much I loved birthing my baby at home. After a long and physically exhausting previous birth, this labour challenged me mentally so I share all the coping techniques and comfort measures that helped me through when self-doubt arose. Throughout pregnancy and labour I was cared for by the most awesome midwife Annie, so a strong theme of my birth story is how incredible it was to receive continuity of care from both a midwife and amazing doula Michele who made me feel so safe, listened to and nurtured. The Birth Prep Bundle: https://sincere-union-68693.myflodesk.com/zkj6c4q686 My previous birth story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/016-serena-pregnancy-after-loss-doula-gbs-positive/id1703057905?i=1000638522383 My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ Milestoneable sculptures: https://milestonable.com

In today's episode Beth shares her experience of conception, pregnancy and birth with type 1 diabetes. She talks us through the support she received from a fellow nutritional therapist, the preparation she undertook for her son's birth and the implications of her condition. Whilst induction wouldn't have been her preference, Beth managed to create a plan that both aligned with the recommendations of her care providers and also felt good to her, so despite the challenges that arose during her labour she came away from the experience feeling positive. I'm so grateful to Beth for sharing her professional wisdom along with her personal story and I know this is going to be a really valuable episode for anyone else navigating pregnancy with type 1 diabetes. The Birth Prep Bundle: https://sincere-union-68693.myflodesk.com/zkj6c4q686 Beth's IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethedwardsnutrition/?hl=en Beth's website: https://www.bethedwardsnutrition.com/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In this episode Bec shares her wild pregnancy and freebirth. As a traditional birth keeper she had plenty of experience supporting women choosing to birth outside the system, so this felt like the obvious choice for her own pregnancy. From the moment she conceived she had no tests, scans or interaction with the maternity system and she talks about how she worked through the range of emotions that came up throughout the process. Bec takes us step by step through her blissful final few weeks of pregnancy, labouring in the woods with her partner and pushing for an intense 6 hours before her son was finally born into the water. She shares how they chose to honour the placenta, how birth has humbled her and how her own experience has influenced the way she supports other mothers through this transition. Bec's IG: https://www.instagram.com/becoakaiah/ Bec's website: https://subscribepage.io/thejurassiccoastbirthkeeper My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing about Shanna's two births; one at the hospital and the other at home. Throughout her pregnancy she had a very clear idea of what she was and wasn't comfortable accepting in terms of intervention and she was very confident in her intuition around the birth. She explains how she resisted the pressure to accept an induction until she was nearly 43 weeks and shares how her birth was managed when her baby was born with a shoulder dystocia. Her first labour and the way it left her feeling massively impacted the decisions Shanna made when preparing for her second birth. She hired a doula, chose to birth at home and was very aware of her positioning and alignment during her pregnancy. Despite a few complications in the final weeks, she once again trusted her instincts when it came to making decisions around her care and went on to have her beautiful homebirth. Shanna shares how she struggled to find accounts of other mother's whose babies had had a shoulder dystocia so she was really keen to tell her story in the hope its supportive for anyone else who finds themselves in her position. Shanna's IG: https://www.instagram.com/shanna1hn/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing about Jessi's two vastly different births. Her first - an induction that sent her into uterine hyperstimulation and was heavily influenced by covid restrictions. Her second - an empowering waterbirth in her living room with continuity of care from an amazing homebirth team. She shares how her first birth influenced the choices she made around her second, what a physiological labour was like in comparison to an induced one and how her postpartum healing differed after the two. Jessi's IG: https://www.instagram.com/tokissthecook/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/