Welcome to Birth Tales. Conception, pregnancy, birth and those first hazy postpartum days are a physical and emotional whirlwind. My hope is that by sharing the...
In today’s episode we’re hearing from Sophie who was one of the very first guests on the podcast and she is back to share her homebirth experience. After finding out she was pregnant by surprise at her friend’s wedding, Sophie admits she found this pregnancy tougher than her last due to sickness, tiredness and lots of travel for her partner’s work. She hired the same lovely doula who supported her first birth and on the whole felt very confident in her ability to birth her baby considering things had gone smoothly with her previous birth. Her labour began at 39 weeks and she birthed her baby in the water at home supported by her midwife, partner, doula and mum with her toddler sleeping soundly upstairs. She shares what a calm and positive experience the birth was, the tools she used to keep herself focussed and relaxed when things felt tough, and how she went about introducing her toddler to her new little sister. This was actually the final episode I edited before birthing my second son at home and it was perfect for getting me in a positive birth mindset so its well worth a listen for anyone who is giving birth soon! Sophie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sophiexanneliese/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/
In today’s episode I’m speaking to Rosie who had her baby girl Poppy 9 months ago. At her 12 week scan blood tests showed low levels of PAPP-A which resulted in multiple extra scans through her pregnancy and conversations starting early around a potential induction. As it turns out, Rosie’s labour began spontaneously shortly before 37 weeks on the day she was supposed to be moving house. When her waters released the move was put on hold and she ended up giving birth at her mum’s local hospital. She shares how the experience differed from what she imagined, the amazing high she felt in the weeks following the birth and how with hindsight she wishes she had got everything prepared a little bit sooner! Rosie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/rosiefitzy1/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/
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054 - Rochelle | 2nd baby, homebirth, waterbirth, subchorionic haematoma, ventricular septal defect, hypnobirthing, continuity of care, en caul birth
In this episode I’m chatting to Rochelle about her second birth which took place just 2 weeks before recording! Her pregnancy differed in so many ways from her last; she suffered with terrible morning sickness for the first 5 months, had the added worry of a subchorionic haematoma and found at 20 weeks that her baby had a ventricular septal defect. Despite all the extra tests and complications, Rochelle was able to go ahead with the homebirth she hoped for and - after what she describes as an extreme dress rehearsal the day before - she birth her daughter in the water at home with her membranes still intact. We discuss how she prepared for her second labour, the incredible benefits of having continuity of care from a known midwife and how her homebirth was a surreal and magical experience. Rochelle’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/roshiimcinscottii/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ This episode is sponsored by Milestoneable. Visit their website here: https://milestonable.com
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053 - Katie | maternal mental health, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypnobirthing, midwife lead unit, ARM, waterbirth
In today’s episode we’re hearing from Katie, who is back on the podcast to tell her second birth story. She shares how different her pregnancy was this time around from the symptoms she experienced to the support she received, plus the fact her first was heavily affected by covid restrictions. Having suffered with postnatal depression after birthing her first son, Katie was careful to prioritise her mental health. She revisited her hypnobirthing techniques and overall felt confident about giving birth again. Katie’s labour began shortly before her estimated due date and she birthed her son in the water in the birth centre with the support her partner Tyler. She shares how the experience left her feeling positive, empowered and like she could take on the world, plus how they went about introducing their eldest Rory to his new little brother. Katie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/___luscious_lavender___/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/
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052 - Velika | doula, birth pool, hypnobirthing, homebirth transfer, c-section, breastfeeding challenges
In today’s episode we’re hearing from Velika just 10 weeks after giving birth to her son Elio. At the start of her third trimester, having hired a doula and learned about hypnobirthing, Velika opted for a homebirth to guarantee her access to a birth pool. She laboured at home until she was fully dilated, at which time her contractions started to become less frequent. When labour didn’t pick up again despite her best attempts, Velika decided to transfer in to hospital for additional support. An internal examination showed her baby’s head was no longer engaged so the decision was made to head to surgery for a c-section. Velika shares how she managed to get herself into a positive mindset about the birth despite it being so far from what she wanted, about the challenges she faced with breastfeeding and how she is still coming to terms with their feeding journey looking different to how she had hoped. Velika’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/vileh/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/
Welcome to Birth Tales. Conception, pregnancy, birth and those first hazy postpartum days are a physical and emotional whirlwind. My hope is that by sharing these unique experiences we can support, educate and inspire others on their journeys to becoming parents.
UK