Born on The Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories

KEY TOPICS: 2 pregnancies, induction, assisted delivery, natural delivery, mastitis, post-pandemic, cervical cancer

It’s a powerful episode to start Season 6 with local journalist and co-founder of 'Little English' language school, Sophie Clifton-Tucker Hedley. She recounts the births of her two young sons... and what it’s like when abnormal smear tests threaten your future as a new mother.

Sophie travelled around the world with her husband, before setting up the Rock’s first language school ‘Little English,’ – you could say it was their first baby! In 2022 they discussed starting a family – and became pregnant very quickly.

Sophie had a good pregnancy journey, but went past her due date. There are some candid moments of humour as she describes the start of labour, and how birth plans can change! After an induction and long labour, there were concerns over mother and baby’s heart rates before her little boy was born safely by assisted delivery.

Sophie is very open about the emotional rollercoaster after having a baby, and the difficult process of establishing breastfeeding. She describes the invaluable support of her husband, and other mothers in guiding and building confidence as she recovered.

With her second pregnancy, Sophie describes a much faster labour for the birth of her youngest son in 2025. We discuss growing confidence, plus what it’s like introducing a toddler to their new sibling. However, her recovery was overshadowed by painful recurring mastitis… and abnormal smear test results.

At just five months postpartum, the couple’s world came crashing down with Sophie’s diagnosis of stage 1 cervical cancer. She speaks honestly about the treatments, tests and procedures to reach an all-clear, just months before this recording.

We highlight the importance of awareness, early detection and attending smear tests – with encouragement and tips to make it easier! Sophie considers words of advice she would give herself as a new mum - and expresses gratitude for her husband’s support. Thank you Sophie for sharing her motherhood journey with her two Gibraltar Birth Stories! (Recorded June 2026).
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To book a smear test through the GHA, call the Cervical Screening team on 5600 4698
Find more info at https://www.gha.gi/public-health/cervical-screening/
Eve Appeal Gynaelogical Cancers Charity: https://eveappeal.org.uk/
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📢 SEASON 5 of the podcast is complete! 🙌

No time to listen, but want to hear what the stories are about? Play the Season 5 trailer now!
*Please note, this audio contains mention of baby loss*

Brave local mothers told their unique birth stories over:

💜 11 episodes (April to July 2026)
💜 15 hours of audio
💜 From the 1980's to last year
💜 22 babies born!

We love capturing these life-changing stories and building a powerful local library. GBC's 'Born on the Rock' podcast aims to provide a supportive resource for our community and beyond, normalising real conversations around parenthood. There's a huge range of topics covered... do any match your pregnancy experience?

Thanks for listening, and to our guests for sharing!
Do you want to be part of Season 6? Email Lucinda: bornontherock@gbc.gi
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KEY TOPICS: 4 pregnancies, miscarriage, hyperemesis gravidarum, genetic testing, IVF, secondary infertility, caesarean, female sterilisation

To complete Season 5, I’m thrilled to welcome back our first ever returning guest! Former nurse Tara Montegriffo recorded her daughter's birth story in November 2024 as part of Season 1. At that stage, she and her husband faced secondary infertility and a very uncertain future, as they tried to grow their family.

After the couple welcomed their daughter in 2021, they suffered two devastating losses – one in the second trimester, due to a genetic condition. As time passed without conceiving, they embarked on IVF treatment at a fertility clinic in Spain... and in this episode, Tara walks us through what happened next.

She describes the medical stages and genetic testing process, plus lifestyle approaches. Despite successfully becoming pregnant, Tara was unable to get excited due to first-hand experience of miscarriage... and the return of an old ‘friend’ – hyperemesis gravidarum. Her description of debilitating sickness and nausea is powerful – rendering her bed-bound and vomiting up to 30 times a day. She felt deep guilt at being unable to care for her daughter, and researched strong medications in a bid to manage the condition.

We discuss the huge contrast between an emergency and a planned caesarean, before the safe arrival of the couple’s second daughter in December 2025. Tara allowed herself a slower, more peaceful recovery too. We have an honest chat about introducing an older child to a new baby, and family planning decisions too.

Despite significant physical, emotional and financial challenges, it's encouraging to hear how Tara navigated secondary infertility and completed her family… as we complete season 5 of the podcast. I’m so grateful to Tara for returning to share the second chapter of her Gibraltar Birth Stories! (Recorded June 2026).
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KEY TOPICS: 2 births, caesarean, retroverted uterus, failure to thrive (FTT), postpartum hypomania, bipolar disorder (BPD), obesity, maternal mental health (MMH)

Emily Adamberry Olivero (MBE GMD MBPSS) is the Chairperson of Clubhouse Europe, and former chief director and founder of Clubhouse Gibraltar – a local charity providing mental health support. In this episode she gives an honest account of her motherhood and mental health journey through the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Emily grew up in the 1950’s as one of eight siblings. She married and was expecting in 1983, but through pregnancy her weight provoked unwelcome comments. Due to a tilted uterus, Emily had a caesarean. Her daughter was an ‘easy’ baby, but didn’t gain weight for many weeks. We discuss mother's instinct, and the feeding journey.

Emily returned to work and seemed to adapt well to motherhood - at first. But she felt ‘wired,’ and barely slept, as a colleague urged her to seek help. Her postpartum hypomania and subsequent bipolar disorder took time to diagnose, and she describes referrals to doctors in Spain. Emily went to great lengths to avoid admission to KG5, the psychiatric hospital… where three of her brothers had also received care.

With medication, time and her spiritual faith, Emily recovered and founded the first psychological support group on the Rock in 1992. As she gained qualifications, she also gained confidence that she now had a mental health ‘safety net,’ to have another baby. An easier pregnancy and recovery saw the birth of her second daughter, a decade after her first.

Worldwide, around 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental health disorder.* Untreated, it can become so severe that it impacts daily functioning and care for the baby... and may even pose serious risk to the mother's life ⚠️ But maternal mental health disorders are treatable; as Emily says - "there IS life after a mental health episode.' She's passionate about empowering all in our community to live satisfying lives, and you could say she 'gave birth' to Clubhouse Gibraltar! Thank you Emily for sharing two Gibraltar Birth Stories on such important - and often taboo - topics (Recorded May 2026).

Local Resources:
If you’re facing a mental health crisis, call the GHA on 111.
Local support info: https://www.gha.gi/public-health/mental-health/
For more on Clubhouse: https://clubhousegibraltar.com/
GibSams: https://gibsams.gi/

Maternal Mental Health Resources:
*World Health Organisation (WHO): https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/promotion-prevention/perinatal-mental-health
Maternal Mental Health Alliance: https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/about-maternal-mental-health/perinatal-mental-illnesses
World Maternal Mental Health Day: https://wmmhday.org/
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KEY TOPICS: 3 births, adolescent pregnancy, natural deliveries, miscarriage, hypotension, advanced maternal age, large age gap, jaundice, grandparent

This week’s guest is Kationa Matto: a mother of three with qualifications in child development, wellness and yoga… and a parenting career spanning four decades! From a teenage pregnancy in the 1990’s to a last baby in her 40’s, she’s had a fascinating journey with her husband by her side. At the time of recording, her children were aged 34, 30 and 10.

Kationa explains what it was like to discover pregnancy... as she prepared to finish school at sixteen. Despite family support, she eloquently describes the weight of shame she carried through her trimester, and for years after. Kationa and her husband wed, and after a long labour she delivered their son at the old St Bernard’s hospital in 1992.

The couple felt ready to grow their family four years later, and conceived easily. Kationa embraced this pregnancy, though had a more painful labour for the birth of their daughter in 1996. There’s a sweet story about the siblings meeting with a gift as they settled into life as a four, believing the family to be complete.

But in 2014, Kationa researched books and meditation resources to approach parenting challenges – and it marked the start of a powerful journey of self-discovery. She describes the strong vision of having another child with her husband – “I had to.” Sadly the couple faced a first trimester loss, before a healthy pregnancy with their last child.

Kationa explains the connection with her baby before his fast birth, and feeling truly ready this time as well as proud... not ashamed. These are three totally different experiences that Kationa tells so well, and I’m so grateful to her for sharing her Gibraltar Birth Stories! (Recorded June 2026).
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