Ireland's Birth Stories

This week I share my chat with Louise, who talks me through each of her three very different birth stories.

Louise opens up about her long journey with multiple pregnancy losses over 7 years. After undergoing treatment, she fell pregnant once again, and thankfully the treatment was successful, allowing her to carry to full term.

We talk through her first birth experience, which was particularly tough and involved vacuum assistance due to shoulder dystocia. Louise then shares her two subsequent birth stories, both of which were completely different experiences and gave her a much more positive start to those early postpartum days.

We finish our chat by talking about the importance of asking for help, and why none of us should feel we have to do it all alone.

Thanks Louise

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Audrey. This episode will give hope to so many families who have preemie babies and also those navigating life supporting their baby in hospital.

Throughout Audrey’s pregnancy it wasn’t know if Luna would survive. Her daughter came into the world at 28 weeks and 1 day. Luna literally defied all odds and is now a thriving, beautiful, happy and healthy two year old.

Audrey shares feeling something wasn’t right from very early on, coping with expecting the worst and life with a baby in NICU. She shows us that there can be a positive end to that long road of recovery and the tools she used to look after herself in the latter days.

Thank you Audrey

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Lauren, who talks me through each of her three pregnancies and two births. Lauren was induced with each of her babies, using the power of hypnobirthing and antenatal preparation to help her focus and move into her “inner world” as she worked through the late stages of labour. She highlights how important postnatal preparation was for her, especially after her second baby. Her doula, Jen, was everything she needed at that time in her life.

When Lauren’s first baby was just 18 months old, her world changed. Her husband, Daragh, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Throughout such a heavy and difficult time in their lives, they continued to grow their family while navigating everything that comes with a life-altering diagnosis. Lauren experienced a pregnancy loss while Daragh underwent treatment, which she shares in detail. Months later, they welcomed their second daughter as she powered her way into the world.

Something Lauren said while sharing her story will always stay with me: “We pushed back his (Daragh’s) chemo for a week so that we could schedule my induction.” We truly never know what other people are going through.

Thank you, Lauren.

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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 Sarah, who talks me through each of her three birth experiences. We explore all the “firsts” her first pregnancy, her first birth, and her first steps into motherhood including attending additional appointments for her baby. We then move on to her second birth story, which was an induction just like her first. This time, she felt more prepared for postpartum recovery, having made sure she received the right care to support her pelvic health after experiencing a prolapse following her first birth. Sarah then talks through making the decision to have her third baby. Together with he husband they decided to continue growing their family and her third baby arrived quick and fast. A very different experience to each of her previous births.

Thanks so much Sarah

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Ciara, who talks me through each of her three pregnancies and births. Ciara welcomed all three of her boys via C-section, and she speaks very honestly about the guilt she felt for not giving birth “the natural way,” as she describes it. After her first son was born, Ciara experienced a post-dural headache, which was eventually treated with a blood patch. We then discuss the birth of her second son, who was also born via C-section. During her third pregnancy, Ciara suffered from severe sickness and vomited daily. We talk through that challenging period, the birth of her third son, her experience of motherhood, and lots of bits and pieces in between.

Thanks so much Ciara

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Anna, who talks me through each of her four pregnancies and two births. Anna revisits her first pregnancy, where a routine scan revealed a blighted ovum. She speaks openly about the physical and emotional impact of that miscarriage.

We then move through her two birth stories the first, an unplanned emergency C-section after progressing to 8cm, and the second, a planned C-section that offered a very different experience. Anna also shares the heartbreak of her fourth pregnancy, during which she experienced another miscarriage and underwent a D&C. Throughout all four pregnancies, she was supported by her consultant, whose care she recalls with deep gratitude.

We also talk about the moment you recognise your family is complete and how complex and emotionally challenging it can be to reach that place.

Thanks Anna

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Michele, who talks me through her two birth stories from the 1990s. Michele takes us on the journey from meeting her husband and buying their first home together, right through to welcoming their two children.

She chose private care under the same consultant for each pregnancy, and she reflects on how different maternity care looked at the time with little to no birth preparation, no conversations around birth preferences, and very few postnatal supports.

Michele also shares the next stage of her life: welcoming her much-loved dad into their family home. It was a beautiful chapter for everyone under their roof a united family in every sense.

Thanks Michele x

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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 Lisa, who talks me through the past nine years of her life. Together with her husband, she faced years of fertility struggles enduring IVF, tests, appointments, surgery and the heartbreak of negative tests, month after month, year after year.

Eventually, they received the long-awaited positive result, which thankfully led to a healthy, full-term pregnancy. However, when Lisa was 27 weeks pregnant, her family received devastating news her mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

We talk about grief, navigating motherhood through loss, continuing on the path of growing her family. Lisa went on to conceive again but sadly experienced a missed miscarriage. In her third and most recent pregnancy, she welcomed her baby just shy of 35 weeks via emergency c-section due to placenta abruption.

I’m so grateful to Lisa for sharing so openly and honestly about her journey.

Thank you, Lisa.

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 chat with Susan, who takes us through her five pregnancies and births.

She looks back on each experience fondly, reflecting on the kindness and support she received along the way. Tragically, five months after the birth of her first baby, Gillian, Susan faced the loss of her daughter. We chat through how few services were available to help mothers begin to process such profound grief.

We then move on to discuss her subsequent births, how she managed life with a growing young family, and the role of community support then versus now.

Very grateful to Susan for sharing her stories with me.

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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I love this episode. Becky revisits each of her three, very different birth stories. Her first birth was an induction at 41+ weeks, second birth just shy of 37 weeks and her third experience an unplanned homebirth. Her outlook throughout each of her experiences is so amazing. She remained incredibly positive and she got to experience that rush of oxytocin on each occasion too which is what we wish for every woman. At 24 weeks pregnant with her third baby Becky experienced symptoms relating to cholestasis. She was later diagnosed which meant lots of blood tests, lots of hospital visits and even more uncertainty. Again, Becky seemed to go with the flow but still very much keeping in mind her desires birth plan if all was well. Becky welcomed her third child at home with the support of her husband. Baby was coming and there was absolutely no waiting around. I love this part of her story, I know you will too. Thanks so much @beckynidhuill 

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.