This week I share my chat with Aoife. She talks me through her diagnosis of endometriosis in her 20s and the concerns she had about the impact it might have on trying to conceive. Thankfully, she conceived without delay and shares the story of her first pregnancy and the birth of her daughter. Aoife was induced just shy of 42 weeks and fully expected a long labour. Much to her surprise, her daughter arrived the very same day. We also talk about the transition to motherhood without the physical presence of her mum, who sadly passed away a short time before Aoife got married. It's an incredibly moving part of her story that I know many of you will, sadly, relate to. We then revisit the birth of her second baby, her son. This time, Aoife was really hoping to go into labour spontaneously, and after a couple of tiring days of contractions starting and stopping, that's exactly what happened. Just like his big sister, her son made a speedy arrival, with Aoife going from 2 cm to fully dilated in a remarkably short space of time. I absolutely loved listening to Aoife share her journey with such honesty and warmth, and I know you will too.

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This week I share my chat with Róisin, who talks me through her pregnancy and the birth of her son. Throughout her pregnancy, Róisin was told she had a low-lying placenta, but the hope was that it would move as her pregnancy progressed. However, at 31 weeks, she suffered a severe haemorrhage and was admitted to hospital. Things changed suddenly, and the decision was made to bring her baby into the world immediately via an emergency caesarean section.

Her son was born and taken straight to the NICU, where Róisin and her husband began an unexpected journey through early parenthood. She shares what life was like recovering from major surgery while navigating the emotional challenges of having a baby in special care. Together, they also faced some incredibly difficult conversations with the team of consultants overseeing their son's care.

Today, Róisin, her husband, and their little boy are a gorgeous, happy, healthy family of three.

Thank you so much,

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This week I share my chat with Chiara, who talks me through her four pregnancies and three home births. Chiara experienced an early pregnancy loss with her first pregnancy, which was incredibly difficult but ultimately strengthened her decision to start a family. Chiara chose to give birth to each of her babies at home, supported by two midwives and a doula. As a midwife herself, she understands just how powerful birth can be when you're surrounded by the right support. Throughout each of her births, she felt loved, held, and deeply supported not only physically, but emotionally and within the space she created to welcome her babies.Her third birth challenged her in ways she hadn't expected. She dug deep, leaned into the support of the women around her, and worked through an incredibly intense transition.

We also chat about the transition into motherhood and everything that comes that.

Thanks so much Chiara

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This week, I share my chat with Laura, who talks me through the birth of her daughter, Saoirse. Laura is so honest at the beginning of our conversation, sharing how she felt when she saw the positive pregnancy test. Her pregnancy was unplanned, which brought a huge shock and a mix of emotions. She changed her mindset and started putting a lot of time into educating herself and preparing for the months ahead.

Laura opted for a home birth, but after it was discovered that she had a fibroid, the decision was made at 38 weeks' gestation that she would give birth in a Midwife-Led Unit (MLU). Looking back, she tells us she is happy with her decision. The level of support she received from the midwives was just incredible not only throughout labour, but also during her antenatal care and in the days following her discharge. We also talk about breastfeeding and her transition to motherhood.

Thanks so much Laura

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This week, I share my chat with Silvija. Together with her wife, she went through a long journey to bring their baby girl into the world. After nine fertility treatments and four pregnancy losses, they finally saw that positive pregnancy test with no fading lines.

Silvija shares everything about their fertility experiences, including the decision to try double reciprocal IVF. We talk through her pregnancy and the anxiety that came with it as a result of her previous experiences. She also shares the story of her baby girl being brought into the world via an emergency C-section. Silvija also shares the medical emergency that followed as her own body reacted while she was being prepped for surgery. Now, they are happy, healthy family of three.

Thanks so much Silvija

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This week, I share my chat with Paige, who I'm sure many of you will recognise. In this episode, Paige shares the birth of her fourth baby. During her pregnancy, Paige experienced sickness and quickly realised that medication would be necessary this time around. Later, in her third trimester, she noticed reduced fetal movements on a number of occasions. During a routine appointment with her consultant, these concerns were discussed further, and at 37 weeks the decision was made to proceed with an induction. Throughout her induction, Paige was supported by an incredible team of midwives who helped her feel safe, heard, and comfortable every step of the way. Everything was put in place for the epidural Paige had chosen, but once labour progressed and baby was ready to make their way into the world, there was no time for anything else but to let Paige's body work its magic.

Thanks so much Paige

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xWE8ztPjawTr4TRrIYENw?si=qVzHAM8HTsG3v6WdsfGZFQ

https://open.spotify.com/episode/33jYdgZivoSIhEjqpIGM83?si=985e012c6f324175

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I’m sharing my chat with Úna, who talks me through her three very different birth experiences. During her first pregnancy, Úna was closely monitored after her baby was diagnosed with IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction). As concerns grew, she was admitted to hospital for more intensive monitoring, and her baby was born by c-section at just 29 weeks. Úna shares her experience of navigating life with a premature baby in the NICU.

We then revisit her second pregnancy and the VBAC she had hoped for. While the birth itself was a positive experience, Úna reflects on how the everything connected with her first experienced surface as she welcomed her second child. Finally, we discuss her third pregnancy and another VBAC. Supported by her husband and midwives who wholeheartedly believed in her, Úna describes a birth experience that left her feeling empowered and supported.

Thanks Úna

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This week I share my chat with Alana, who talks me through each of her two birth experiences. Alana dedicated a lot of time and effort to preparing for birth, making sure she stayed fit and strong throughout both of her pregnancies. With her first baby, she laboured at home for as long as possible before heading to the hospital, arriving just in time. Her baby was born shortly after, with the support of her husband and the amazing midwives she speaks so fondly of. Alana experienced profound loss with the passing of her much loved father and later mother-in-law in a very short space of time. Throughout this time she discovered she was pregnant with their second baby which leads us to chatting through the juxtaposition of coping with raw grief and the joy of pregnancy.

For her second birth, Alana planned a home birth with the support of her midwife. However, late in her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia so home birth was no longer an option. As labour began naturally, Alana was keen to avoid an induction and asked the hospital to give her more time. Trusting her instincts, she continued to labour and was able to stay on that path without intervention. She welcomed her baby boy into the world exactly as she had hoped vaginally and without intervention supported once again by the midwives she has nothing but positive things to say about.

Thanks so much Alana

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This week, I share my chat with Shauna who talks me through each of her birth stories. Shauna absolutely loved being pregnant and really thrived in the lead-up to welcoming her first baby. At 42 weeks pregnant, she was induced, and what followed were two long and intense days of labour.

Shauna credits hypnobirthing with helping her stay grounded and focused throughout the experience. At 42 weeks + 2 days, she welcomed her little boy and felt incredibly proud to have achieved the birth she wanted, without the epidural she knew she didn’t want.

Then, at six months postpartum, Shauna discovered she was pregnant again. This time around, she hoped for a homebirth, but unfortunately it wasn’t signed off, meaning she had to come to terms with birthing in hospital once more. When it was least expected, Shauna went into spontaneous labour and welcomed her second little boy in a beautiful, calm birth, surrounded by her husband and supportive midwives.

Thanks Shauna 

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This week, I’m sharing my chat with Sarah as she talks through each of her three birth experiences. After spending a year trying to conceive, Sarah discovered she was pregnant just before making the final decision to move forward with fertility treatment.She reflects on the birth of her first daughter, a birth she still looks back on fondly, despite some difficult moments surrounding intervention and an unwanted episiotomy. We also chat through her two subsequent births, both of which were positive vaginal birth experiences.Sarah shares how powerful hypnobirthing was for her throughout second but mostly third pregnancies, and even more so with the birth of her third baby. There’s also a moment in her story where she felt strongly that she needed to say “no,” highlighting the importance of self-advocacy and trusting your instincts when something doesn’t feel necessary.

Thanks so much, Sarah

Get in touch

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IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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