Ali shares her journey with IVF which culminated with the conception and birth of her two wonderful sons.

The Midwives Cauldron episode mentioned about Women's Rites of Passage is available here

Her own birth and some fairly hair raising medical interventions

Angela is a qualified midwife. Three years ago, she came off the MC register and became a birth keeper.

In this episode we discuss the state of maternity services in the UK today and delve into Angela's reasons for changing the way she works.

You can find out more about Angela at her website

And Nickita's website

Nickita and Angela jointly set up the Artemis Birth Attendant Academy

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠⁠⁠here⁠

Yemese describes the arrival of her five babies in nine years. Her births were all in hospital and all vaginal. Thank you Yemese for sharing your stories so freely xx

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠⁠here⁠

Maddie McMahon is the founder of Developing Doulas.

A doula since 2003, she has written two books - Why Doulas Matter and Why Mothering Matters.

Maddie shares her own birth story from 2000 and we discuss the very simple measures that can improve the birth experience for many women and save the NHS lots of money !!

You can find out more about Maddie's work here:

And the campaign that Maddie speaks about at the end of the podcast is Delivering Better:

See their Instagram here

Anther organisation campaigning for better outcomes, specifically focused on Black maternal health is FiveXMore

We also spoke about Sheena Byrom, a midwife who works tirelessly with her daughter and other collaborators to improve maternity and midwifery services

The satirical film Push can be found on YouTube

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠⁠here⁠

Emma's doula facilitator shares the story of her induction in Gibraltar in 2009. She also shares pearls of wisdom having attended over 100 births.

Aimee is a birth and post natal doula and energy healer. You can find out more about her and the services she offers here

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠⁠here⁠

Emma's 'spiritual daughter' shares the story of the free birth of her son in Lisbon, Portugal, 2023.

Links we discussed:

When Push Comes To Shove

Laura Shanley

Online course

Ina May Gaskin  

Lucy’s podcast

Ingredients for after birth pads witch hazel, aloe vera & lavender

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠⁠here⁠

Joanna tells how she used hypnobirthing to help her with the home births of her two sons - 2021 and 2024

Inspired by her births, Joanna has become a hypnobirthing facilitator herself and set up her Brighton based business Feminine Empowered Space

You can find her here and on Instagram

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠⁠here⁠

Emma's sister shares the stories of her two physiological births in hospital - one in water and one narrowly avoided induction !! 2004 and 2006

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠⁠here⁠

Emma's mum shares her birth stories

Six physiological hospital births and one very short adoption between 1963 and 1972

If you feel called to share the stories from your womb, book a call to meet Emma ⁠here⁠