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/

In this episode we're hearing from Eleanor about her first pregnancy and birth during lockdown. Having learned lots about birth from her midwife sister and planning for a homebirth, her estimated due date came and went with no sign of labour starting. At nearly 42 weeks she accepted an induction and was able to return home to wait for things to begin.

When her contractions became regular, Eleanor and her husband went to the midwife-led unit where she laboured in the pool until concerns were raised about meconium in her waters. After an epidural, a period of rest and infection concerns for both mum and baby, a caesarean was recommended.

Eleanor shares the challenges their family faced in the weeks that followed, including being separated from her baby after the birth, navigating visiting hours, pumping and breastfeeding in the NICU and Enid's recovery at home on oxygen.

This is a fascinating and really valuable episode about navigating the unexpected and staying strong and positive through it all.

Eleanor's IG: https://www.instagram.com/elebusing/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

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/

In today's episode we're hearing from Loren, who reflects on her homebirth at just 9 weeks postpartum. She generously shares the challenges she faced conceiving, how she processed her son's talipes diagnosis and how she and her partner are navigating his ongoing treatment.

Loren talks us through her labour, which was surprisingly quick, with the midwives arriving just after her baby was born. Despite the unexpected twists along the way, she reflects on the birth as a positive experience and talks about how incredibly well supported she felt throughout.

I'm so grateful to Loren for sharing so openly and I know you're going to learn so much from this episode.

Upcoming Hypnobirthing Course Dates: https://serenalouth.com/hypnobirthing

Loren's IG: https://www.instagram.com/_coach.loz_/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

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/

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/

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

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/

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 this week's episode I chat to Tassy about her planned c-section. She conceived quickly after coming off the pill and Tassy really enjoyed being pregnant and learning about birth. At 32 weeks her midwife flagged concerns around her baby's small size and after accepting some additional growth scans she quickly realised the birth centre birth she had hoped for was becoming increasingly unlikely. Tassy shares how empowering it felt to choose a caesarean over the induction she was being recommended and how ultimately it felt like a really special and positive way to birth her baby. This is such a lovely example of the value of education in making informed choices and I know you're going to love hearing Tassy's story.

Tassy's IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_littlegrape/

Little Grape: https://thelittlegrape.co.uk

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/