Pre- and post-natal fitness expert Shakira Akabusi joins Clemmie this week to discuss how she managed her OCD, needle phobia and anxiety during her second birth. Shakira’s positive first birth created high expectations for the second, but she had to fight to get the care she needed and struggled to find time to connect with the pregnancy. Clemmie and Shakira discuss mental health provisions in the NHS, what it feels like to have an epidural and the unfair stigma around pain relief in childbirth. They also take a question about having a phobia of blood loss. 
Find out more about Shakira’s campaign at stronglikemum.com
Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/ Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/
Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Epidurals and golf courses with Shakira Akabusi

Midwife and mother of four Clemmie Hooper (aka Mother of Daughters) chats to brilliant guests about the amazing and unique ways they had their babies, looking honestly at the highs and lows of childbirth in a weekly podcast.
*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Nadiya was just 21 when she gave birth to her first child, Musa, in 2006. Although she was hoping for a quick and stress-free birth, her labour ended up taking 5 days from the first contractions to her baby finally being born. She and Clemmie discuss how her anxiety stopped her from attending antenatal classes, how sustaining a 3rd/4th degree tear during birth impacted her relationship with her son in the first few weeks of his life, and how ice lollies were an important part of her post-birth recovery. They also take a listener question about having a second child after an episiotomy.
Nadiya's books Finding My Voice and My Monster and Me are out now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1472259963/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1, https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1444946439/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4
This is the last episode in series 1, stay subscribed to be the first to hear about series 2, which will be coming soon.
Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/ Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/
Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383
Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script
*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* 
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rocky bars and stitches with Nadiya Hussain

Michelle chose to give birth privately after researching all the options available to her, but didn't look into c-sections as she was convinced she would have a vaginal birth. Clemmie and Michelle discuss Kate Middleton, calcified placentas, and how it felt when Michelle had to have an elective section after going past her due date. They also take a listener question about feeling negatively towards your body during pregnancy.
Find out more about Michelle's app Peanut here: https://www.peanut-app.io/
Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/ Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/
Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383
Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script
*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spreadsheets and the Lindo Wing with Michelle Kennedy

DJ and broadcaster Annie Mac joins Clemmie this week to discuss the birth of her first son in 2013. With a history of speedy births running in the family, Annie was expecting her baby to arrive at a similar pace and decided not to make a birth plan in order to not create too many expectations. Annie and Clemmie discuss the noises women make during labour, how knitting was used to help midwives and why placentas are so fascinating. They also take a listener question about antenatal classes and making 'Mum mates'.
The book discussed in the podcast is Ina May Gaskin's book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0091924154
You can listen to Annie's podcast Finding Annie here: http://smarturl.it/FindingAnnie
Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/ Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/ Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383
Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script
*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bloody shows and traffic jams with Annie Mac

Mother of two Cathy Kamara talks to Clemmie this week about the birth of her first daughter, who arrived two months early by emergency section following a fall. Her baby was kept in neonatal care for two months to help her temperature and breathing, which led to Cathy losing confidence in herself as a mother. She also tells Clemmie about being a mum with achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism, and how that impacted the way she and her baby were cared for during pregnancy and birth.
Follow Cathy on Instagram: instagram.com/thatsinglemum/
Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/ Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/ Clemmie's book How to grow a baby and push it out is available now: amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383
Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script
*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shuttle buses and neonatal care with Cathy Kamara

Scummy Mummy Helen Thorn gave birth to her first daughter in a birthing pool at home with no pain relief. She and Clemmie talk about having an ‘annoyingly perfect’ birth, using a TENS machine, and why birth sometimes involves sieves. They also take a question about pooing during labour, and Clemmie explains why midwives often get excited about it.
You can find Helen on Instagram: instagram.com/helenwearsasize18
Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/ Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/ Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383
Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script
*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Epidurals and golf courses with Shakira Akabusi

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