Born on The Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories

Season 4 of the podcast is complete! 🙌

Hear a summary trailer of our wonderful guests, who told their unique birth experiences across episodes 41 - 52.
12 local mothers bravely shared their birth stories in their own words, with fascinating topics and perspectives.
Deeply emotional, educational, surprising, amusing and inspirational... these stories are told by women living right here in Gibraltar!

💜 12 episodes (January - March 2026)
💜 Over 15 hours of audio
💜 Stories from 1989 - 2025
💜 27 babies!

Birth is so intimate and life-changing... your experience is unique.
Want to share your story? Contact Lucinda: [email protected]

Thank you for listening, and join us for Season 5 starting in May 2026!

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KEY TOPICS: 3 births, caesarean, hyperemesis, diastasis recti, doctor, pandemic

Local doctor, author and campaigner Meenal Viz changed UK law during the pandemic… while starting her family! This driven mum-of-three is passionate about positive change, shares her motherhood journey in this end-of-season special.

Meenal discovered she was pregnant while working for the NHS with her doctor husband… as the pandemic hit. She was profoundly affected by the death of a fellow pregnant medical worker amid conflicting Covid advice, and campaigned against inadequate protection for healthcare workers. Meenal staged a solo protest outside 10 Downing Street... while 6-and-a-half months pregnant.

The couple's first daughter was born by caesarean in 2020, in over-stretched conditions with Covid restrictions. Breastfeeding was initially difficult, and Meenal spent lonely postpartum months working on her legal challenge and coping with - rather than enjoying - motherhood.

The couple moved back to Gibraltar in 2023 when Meenal was in the third trimester of her second pregnancy. She juggled more sickness while parenting and writing her book. She had a far more positive CS birth, feeling safe and respected – Meenal speaks highly of the midwives, and began to enjoy motherhood more.

A third pregnancy in 2024 brought challenges - hospital admissions for worsening hyperemesis, Covid, plus caring for two young children! Meenal felt this pregnancy passed in a blur, before another positive CS birth experience.

We have an interesting chat about her Indian Hindu heritage and relationship with her own mother, as well as the importance of supporting new mothers and speaking up for creating positive change. Thank you Dr Meenal for sharing your inspirational birth stories! (Recorded February 2026).

Instagram: https://www.meenalviz.com/
Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Protest-Healthcare-Meenal-Viz/dp/1839978414
GibTalks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYx3dvu9-CU
GBC: https://www.gbc.gi/news/gibraltarian-doctor-shares-story-of-ppe-protest-during-pandemic
UK news: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/doctor-couple-challenge-uk-government-on-ppe-risks-to-bame-staff
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KEY TOPICS: 2 births, natural delivery, phenylketonuria (PKU), genetics, pandemic

Welcome to an educational episode with mum of two, Stephanie Marzan. She describes parenting a child with PKU - a rare metabolic disorder affecting just 1 in 15,000 babies, where too much protein can lead to irreversible brain damage.

Stephanie became pregnant easily and had a good pregnancy in 2017. She was induced and had a long labour, before their daughter arrived safely at almost 42 weeks - however, just days later the couple received a call to say their baby's heel-prick test result showed a serious issue. More blood tests followed over several weeks, with an emergency trip to Evelina Children's Hospital, before they finally received a diagnosis of phenylketonuria (PKU).

Stephanie explains the complex steps she faces daily, to keep her daughter on a strict diet of low phenylalanine - an amino acid commonly found in high protein foods and artificial sweetener. Weaning required training by a dietician, and Stephanie became an expert at reading food labels, navigating party bags and restaurants - even carrying scales in her bag to measure food. The pandemic made things harder for the family to source foods, leading to costly bulk shipments. We discuss the impact on family life and work, and how Stephanie successfully lobbied local medical authorities to get a specialist medication made available in Gibraltar 💪

And then: another pregnancy! This journey in 2021 was trickier with pain and weekly monitoring through the third trimester, before another induction and natural delivery. The heel-prick test for their second daughter was clear; an experience most new parents take for granted. We discuss how their younger daughter understands PKU dietary restrictions, the difficulty in planning logistics around hobbies, plus the vital role of support from family and friends. It's an honest and powerful story of true parental devotion - thank you Stephanie for bravely sharing your two Gibraltar birth stories (Recorded January 2026).
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KEY TOPICS: 2 births, miscarriage, subchorionic hematoma (SCH), bicornuate uterus, symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), natural delivery, retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), pandemic

Welcome to a bumper episode with Layla Bates! This mum of two tells her eventful motherhood journey, step-by-step and in honest detail. She and her partner had a uncertain start to their first pregnancy, with the baby not visible on the scan partly due to the shape of Layla's uterus, and a large hematoma that caused worrying bleeding into the second trimester.

Although their daughter was born safely, Layla hemorrhaged and required surgery for retained placenta. Combined with the pandemic, it was an eventful time as the couple adjusted to family life! We chat about balancing work and childcare after maternity leave.

Sadly, the couple had two miscarriages in the following years. Please note there are graphic descriptions that some listeners may find difficult to hear. Layla highlights a meaningful 'sign' before discovering her fourth pregnancy. Deemed high-risk, she was monitored closely with use of progesterone, aspirin and bedrest due to pelvic pain and low-lying placenta. She faced anxious decisions about her birth plan, though happily this labour was a far more ‘textbook’ experience; her daughter arrived quickly and without complications.

We discuss the bond between her daughters, Layla’s seemingly changed uterus shape after pregnancies, and excitingly – the couples’ upcoming wedding! Layla hopes her story is encouraging to other women who might have uterine anomalies, bleeding through pregnancy or face miscarriage. Thank you Layla, for sharing your story! (Recorded January 2026).
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KEY TOPICS: 2 births, miscarriage, natural delivery, big baby, ovarian ectopic pregnancy (OEP), breast cancer (DCIS)

Welcome to our first guest formally recognised on the New Year's Honours list for her trailblazing local charity work! Isobel Ellul was made Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the community - most notably setting up Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar. This is a rollercoaster story of Isobel's journey into parenthood, whilst overcoming several of her own health challenges.

Isobel grew up during the closed Frontier times, before becoming pregnant in the mid-1990's. Very sadly she experienced two miscarriages at 9 & 13 weeks, and recalls specific details of that time. Happily a third pregnancy saw the safe natural delivery of her son in 1997. Isobel found that working postpartum (as a former GBC TV presenter!) was good for her mental health.

Two years later, a doctor saved Isobel's life by recognising signs of an ectopic pregnancy. With surgery, she expected her fertility to be impacted... but went on to welcome a Millennium baby! Local TV audiences saw her grow bigger across the pregnancy, before her second son was born with a much easier labour.

Isobel discovered a cancerous lump in her breast, while the boys were still very young. She speaks candidly about her mastectomy, recovery, bringing her sons to awareness-raising events, and lobbying Government to establish screening processes and support. Serious spinal surgery and a second breast cancer diagnosis followed years later, which she overcame.

We chat about being a parent to adults, the importance of self-care and checking your breasts, and her positive mindset approach to life's challenges. Thank you Isobel for sharing your Gibraltar Birth Stories in this fascinating, empowering episode! (Recorded January 2026).

For support, please see https://breastcancergib.com
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