Ireland's Birth Stories

This week, I share my chat with Laura, who talks us through the birth of her daughter. Together with her partner, Jack, Laura they spent time educating themselves as part of preparation for the labour and birth. As Laura approached the later stages of pregnancy, she started to hear conversations around induction. Her decision was to decline an induction which she stuck to but she recalls feeling some pushback. Laura did have a positive interaction with a consultant who took a more supportive approach and advised there was no intervention needed so she hit the road home. At 42 weeks’ gestation, Laura went into labour spontaneously at home, supported by both Jack and her doula. She describes the early stages of labour, the conversations in the hospital as she laboured into 42+1 weeks and meeting her baby for the first time.

Thanks so much Laura

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Judy who talks me through each of her four pregnancies. Judy gave birth to her first little boy at 26 weeks gestation. His birth was a total shock with no indication he was on the way. Judy shares how life looks with such a premature baby from holding him for the first time, meeting other people in a similar situation to bringing her little man home. After we chat through each of Judy's two early pregnancy losses following her first experience, we then move on to revisit her fourth pregnancy. Their life was planned around this pregnancy between careers and building a house. All was going so well, her baby was thriving when at a routine appointment it was discovered Judy needed a cervical cerclage. At 15 weeks gestation Judy underwent this procedure but within days everything changed. She was admitted to hospital after her waters unexpectedly broke. The following two weeks were incredibly tough with the weight of making a decision no parent should have to face. So much of Judy's story is hard to hear but just so important if you are supporting someone through loss but also navigating life with a preemie baby. Thank you Judy x

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IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Niamh who talkse through each of her three pregnancies and two birth stories. Niamh gave birth to her first little boy vaginally in hospital. She shares her experience with Remifentanil which is an alternative to an epidural. Between her first and third birth she suffered early pregnancy loss which she touches on. Niamh loved the idea of a Homebirth so immediately put plans in place to make it happen with the support of her husband. At a routine appointment Niamh’s plans of a homebirth changed very quickly and her son was brought into the world by c-section.

Thanks Niamh

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IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Bebhinn who shares each of her experiences from pregnancy, loss, grief and coping with pregnancy after loss. Bebhinn has suffered so much loss. At her routine 12 week appointment she heard that silence that women have described before, no heartbeat was found. Bebhinn shares how life looked after experiencing such loss. Devastatingly Bebhinn suffered more loss once again, her daughter Aoibhín was stillborn at 23 weeks and 2 days gestation. An incredibly tough time for both Bebhinn and her partner. She also shares the complexities of that grey area between loss at 23 and 24 weeks from recognition of her child to maternity leave. After seeing her third positive pregnancy test she again suffered loss discovering this pregnancy was a blighted ovum.

This weekend Bebhinn and her family celebrate their son’s first birthday. Tomás was brought into the world by planned C-section. I will let you hear all the details around his birth in Bebhinns own words.

Thank you Bebhinn

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E: [email protected]

IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with the gorgeous Aidín who revisits each of her eight pregnancies and five births. After the birth of Aidíns first daughter she suffered three miscarriages which we go through individually. We then chat through her experience with a fertility clinic and what led to her fifth pregnancy. What followed was four beautiful and very quick hospital births supported by her husband who was very much in tune with his wife. Aidín uses words such as “gentle, amazing and beautiful” to describe just some of her experiences. A great episode shared by such a wonderful storyteller.

Thanks Aidín

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E: [email protected]

IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Erin, who talks me through each of her pregnancies. Erin first revisits the birth of her first daughter, bringing us through her induction and those precious early moments after her baby was born. We also speak about early pregnancy loss, which Erin experienced during her second pregnancy.

Erin then conceived again and enjoyed a smooth pregnancy until 32 weeks, when she attended a routine appointment. During that visit, she was told that no heartbeat could be found. Erin shares so much of her experience following the loss of her daughter, Summer, from the birth itself, to the incredible support they received from the hospital, and the conversations she and her partner had with their first daughter.

Despite the utter heartbreak their family experienced, Erin reflects on the beautiful moments they were able to share with Summer, alongside friends and family who visited to meet their little girl.

Erin is currently 20 weeks pregnant and also opens up about what life looks like navigating pregnancy after the loss of a child.

Thank you so much Erin.

Get in touch

E: [email protected]

IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Katrina, who talks me through each of her three pregnancies and two births. At 13 weeks’ gestation, Katrina experienced pregnancy loss that came as a complete shock. We talk openly about how taboo pregnancy loss still is, despite so many people living through loss at different stages of pregnancy.

Katrina then takes us through her second pregnancy. Labour and the birth of her first baby were much quicker than she expected, but overall it was a very positive experience. We go on to discuss her next pregnancy and birth, which was again fast, but this time Katrina was able to recognise the sensations of her baby making their way into the world, helping her feel prepared and ready.

We finish with a lovely, reflective chat to round out our conversation.

Thanks so much Katrina

Get in touch

E: [email protected]

IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Stephanie, who talks me through her third experience with birth. We talk through pregnancy while also looking after other kids, life, and work.

The original plan was to give birth at home, just as she had with her previous experiences. At 41 weeks, Stephanie was admitted to hospital as baby wasn’t head down and there were increased waters. Throughout her experience, Stephanie was supported by each HCP she interacted with, all of whom gave their time to discuss options and listen to her wants and concerns.

I’m delighted to share Stephanie’s third and final story, which I was so happy to hear was as powerful and positive as each of her previous experiences.

Thanks Stephanie

Below I have included Stephanie's previous episodes

EP37 - December 2020

EP112 - July 2022

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E: [email protected]

IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Aisling who talks me through each of her two birth stories. Aisling invested so much time preparing for birth, so when the delivery room became very busy and interventions were needed, she felt informed and ready. The decision was made to bring baby into the world via emergency c-section.

During her second pregnancy, at 35 weeks pregnant, Aisling’s dear dad passed away suddenly which was a complete shock. She shares how this profound loss impacted her during the final stages of pregnancy. Her second labour looked very different, and she ultimately went on to have the VBAC she had hoped for. This is a gorgeous, positive VBAC story that so many people need to hear.

Thanks Aisling

Get in touch

E: [email protected]

IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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

This week I share my chat with Joan, who shares each of her two birth stories with us.

She reflects on the incredible support of her midwife throughout labour and opens up about her experience with an episiotomy, recovery, breastfeeding, and those early postpartum days.

We then move on to her second pregnancy, including a challenging kidney infection just days before her baby arrived. Joan shares her second labour story in detail, highlighting her determination to avoid an epidural this time around and the unforgettable oxytocin rush she experienced once again. Joans son was admitted to hospital at just three weeks old with viral meningitis, something no parent wants to experience.

There’s so much more in this episode.

Thanks Joan

Get in touch

E: [email protected]

IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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