Vicky: Two Positive NHS Hospital Vaginal Births, Large Baby, Informed Second Birth

About this episode

Vicky shares her experiences of two positive NHS hospital vaginal births, highlighting the importance of knowledge and preparation.

  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…

People in this episode

Host: Georgia McGivern

Guest: Vicky

Topics covered

• vaginal birth
• NHS hospital
• birth experience
• pain relief
• large baby
• postpartum
• informed birth

Keywords

• vaginal birth
• NHS
• pain relief
• gas and air
• large baby
• shoulder dystocia
• postpartum

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NHS

Places: Kent

More episodes of British Birthing Stories

• Charlotte: Second Birth, NHS Birth Centre Birth, Two Miscarriages, Prolonged Early Labour, Retained Placenta, Theatre, Informed Second Birth, Becoming a Doula · June 11, 2026 · 49 min
• Charlotte: First Birth, NHS Hospital Birth, Birth Centre Transfer to Labour Ward, 9 Days Overdue, Meconium, Hypnobirthing, Informed Consent, Coach Pushing, Retained Placenta, Theatre, Postpartum Haemorrhage, Birth Trauma, Hypermobility · June 9, 2026 · 45 min
• Lauren: First Birth, Positive Planned C-Section, Vanishing Twin Syndrome, NHS Antenatal Care, Breastfeeding Struggles, Scar Recovery · June 4, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Shannon: VBAC After Three C-Sections, Hospital Birth Centre Water Birth, Fourth Birth, Shoulder Dystocia Concerns, Large Baby, Second Degree Tears, Postpartum Haemorrhage, Birth Coercion, Lockdown Birth Trauma · June 2, 2026 · 49 min
• Polly: Two Positive Fast Physiological Births, NHS Midwife Led Unit Birth, Fully Dilated on Arrival, Second Degree Tear, Planned NHS Home Birth, TENS Machine Only, Tongue Tie and Breastfeeding Challenges · May 28, 2026 · 43 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 · May 26, 2026 · 1h 9m