In this episode I’m joined by Gabby, who shares her IVF journey and positive induction birth. Gabby opens up about years of having no natural cycle, navigating dismissed concerns, choosing to go private, trying IUI before moving to IVF, and conceiving on her first IVF transfer. She then takes us through advocating for herself around induction timing, having her waters broken, intense early contractions, opting for an early epidural, a long dilation phase, and a very quick 15-minute pushing stage. We also talk about late-pregnancy breech worries, birth preferences, golden hour, post-birth antibiotics, the realities of breastfeeding and jaundice, switching to combination feeding and formula, and the emotional hormone drop in the early postpartum days.

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.

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Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

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

In today’s episode, I spoke with Lauren about her experience of having a calm, physiological NHS home birth, a birth she once never imagined would be possible for her.

Lauren shares how she spent much of her life unsure about motherhood and deeply fearful of birth, and how that fear initially shaped her expectations around pregnancy and labour. She talks honestly about sitting on the fence for years, what finally led her to try to conceive, and how approaching conception with a relaxed mindset played a big role in her experience.

As her pregnancy progressed, Lauren explains how educating herself completely transformed how she felt about birth. What began as a desire for “all the interventions” slowly shifted into a wish for a low-intervention, evidence-based birth rooted in feeling safe, informed, and in control. She shares the resources, research, and mindset shifts that helped her move from anxiety to confidence.

Lauren takes us through planning an NHS home birth, what the process actually involved, and how supported she felt by her midwifery team throughout. She describes labour beginning quietly at home, progressing steadily, and moving into the birth pool, where her body took over completely. She shares her experience of the fetal ejection reflex, never consciously pushing, and how birth felt more powerful than painful.

She also speaks candidly about the moments after birth, including not feeling an immediate rush of love, normalising how varied early bonding can be, and how that connection grew in the days that followed. Lauren reflects on the emotional intensity of the postnatal period, the hormone shifts, and the overwhelming love that eventually came flooding in.

This episode is a grounded, reassuring look at NHS home birth in the UK, informed choice, and what can happen when women feel safe, supported, and trusted in their bodies.

This conversation reflects one mother’s personal experience and is not intended to replace medical guidance or professional 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.

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Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

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

In today's episode I welcome Megan from Birth-ed back to the podcast to share the story of her second birth: a planned physiological home water birth after a pregnancy again affected by hyperemesis. Having previously experienced induction, Megan approached this birth differently — declining additional intervention and focusing on building deep self-trust throughout pregnancy. When her waters broke at home, labour unfolded quickly and calmly, and her baby was born just four hours later in a pool in her living room. Megan reflects on the contrast between her two births, navigating NHS care, and how confidence and preparation can shape the birth experience.

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare 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.

In this week's episode I spoke with Megan, founder of Birth-Ed who shared the story of her first birth: an NHS induction at 39 weeks following reduced movements.

After a pregnancy complicated by severe hyperemesis, Megan trusted her instincts when something felt “off” at the end of pregnancy. Although initial scans were normal, she chose induction, navigating hospital pressure, decision-making as a student midwife herself, and being told she wasn’t in established labour. What followed was a fast, intense hospital birth that challenged everything she thought she knew about labour. Megan speaks openly about induction, self-advocacy within the NHS, and the importance of being truly listened to during birth.

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare 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.

In this episode I interviewed Jenna about her two very different NHS birth stories, her first, a long hospital labour ending in a forceps delivery, and her second, a fast and deeply healing home birth. Jenna talks openly about conceiving after an ectopic pregnancy, then labouring for over 42 hours with her first son after her waters broke early. She describes being repeatedly sent home, left without adequate support, denied pain relief, and physically restrained during pushing, an experience she later recognised as birth trauma. Although her baby was born safely, the emotional impact lingered well into the postnatal period.

For her second pregnancy, Jenna was clear from the outset: she wanted a planned NHS home birth. She shares how hypnobirthing, self-education, and feeling genuinely supported by her midwives allowed her body to labour instinctively and undisturbed.

We also explore postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, recovery, and how the right support, or lack of it, can shape the early days of motherhood.

This episode is a powerful reflection on birth trauma, informed choice, and how a positive birth can help heal what came before.

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.

In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah, who shares her first and second birth stories, both planned NHS home births, during and after the COVID pandemic.

Hannah talks through choosing home birth for her first baby in 2021, being supported by a dedicated NHS home birth team, and navigating late-pregnancy pressure around induction due to a small-measuring baby. She shares a long early labour, a powerful transition, and a calm water birth at home, including experiencing a fetal ejection reflex and being the first to lift her baby from the pool.

We also dive into Hannah’s second home birth, planned under a different trust without a dedicated home birth team. She opens up about weeks of stop-start labour, the mental challenge of holding trust in her body, and advocating for her choices despite uncertainty around midwife availability. Hannah shares a shorter, more intense labour, another water birth, and the contrast between postpartum recovery with and without stitches.

Throughout the episode, Hannah reflects on continuity of care, birth preparation through hypnobirthing, the realities of NHS home birth availability, and why home birth doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” approach to medical support. She also shares thoughtful insights on postpartum recovery, breastfeeding across two very different babies, and parenting with a three-year age gap.

This episode reflects personal experiences and is not 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.

In this episode, I’m welcoming Layla back to the podcast as she shares her second birth story a positive NHS hospital water birth of identical twins, planned outside of hospital guidelines. Layla talks about being strongly encouraged towards a planned caesarean, choosing instead to educate herself, understand her rights, and advocate for a vaginal twin birth. We discuss navigating consultant care, negotiating access to the birth pool, and securing permission for her doula to attend during COVID, which became a crucial source of emotional safety and continuity.

She shares the emotional decision to agree to an induction at 36+5 due to growth concerns, managing CTG monitoring and repeated pressure for a C-section, and how strong midwifery and doula support helped her stay calm and grounded. Layla describes birthing her first twin in water, followed by a more urgent assisted delivery for her second twin, with both babies born safely.

We also touch on the early postnatal period, including breastfeeding support, jaundice, a five-day hospital stay, and the ongoing importance of self-advocacy.

This episode reflects personal experience and is not 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.

In this week’s episode I chatted with Erin shares her first birth story, positive NHS hospital induction after reduced fetal movements, leading to a fast vaginal birth.

Erin talks through days of monitoring, repeated pessary attempts, and how labour ramped up quickly once her waters were broken. She shares what helped with pain relief (TENS, gas and air, and diamorphine), what it felt like being close to intervention during pushing, and the moment she found her voice and delivered her son.

We also chat honestly about the post-birth feeding journey, including a sleepy newborn after opioid pain relief, breastfeeding struggles, pumping, combi-feeding, and eventually formula — plus Erin’s reassuring advice about knowing your options and trusting your instincts.

This episode is for informational purposes only and reflects personal experiences. It does not replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare 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.

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Cat, a mum of two, who shares her experiences of an NHS birth centre water birth and a planned home birth that became an unexpectedly fast delivery before midwives arrived. Cat first reflects on welcoming her daughter in a birth centre, describing a calm, physiological labour supported by NHS midwives, gas and air, and the freedom to move and follow her instincts. She then shares her second birth, a planned NHS home birth that unfolded rapidly at home. Alongside both birth stories, Cat speaks openly about the emotional impact of becoming a mother after losing her own mum. She reflects on how grief resurfaced in the early postnatal period, the intensity of post-birth hormonal shifts, and the emotional challenges of transitioning from one child to two. This episode explores themes of NHS birth options, birth centre and home birth, trusting your body, informed decision-making, grief in motherhood, and postpartum emotional wellbeing.

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare 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.

In this week's episode I spoke with Rosie who shares her unforgettable first birth story, a fast, intense, and ultimately positive NHS hospital birth. From months of trying to conceive and pregnancy growth-scan worries, to a labour that began amid a burglary, car shopping in Manchester, and escalated far quicker than anyone expected. She talks honestly about CTG monitoring, consenting to an episiotomy, and the shock of realising she was already in advanced labour on arrival at hospital. Rosie also opens up about recovery, breastfeeding challenges, and experiencing postpartum anxiety, offering a raw, funny, and reassuring reminder of just how unpredictable birth and early motherhood can be.

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare 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.