Liz: First Birth, Positive NHS Labour Ward Birth, Unexplained Infertility, Conceived Naturally Before IVF, Subchorionic Haematoma, Bleeding in Labour, Cervical Ectropion, Gas and Air, Second Degree Tear, CMPA, Breastfeeding Challenges

British Birthing Stories · Mar 10, 2026 · 47m

I spoke with Liz, an NCT antenatal teacher and breastfeeding peer supporter, who shares her first birth story after two and a half years of unexplained infertility. She had the IVF drugs in her fridge and an appointment four days away to learn the injections when she found out she'd conceived naturally.

Her first trimester brought several bleeds from a subchorionic haematoma and more than one trip to the early pregnancy unit, and a cervical ectropion caused another bleed at 27 weeks. Liz was booked into her local birth centre, but when she saw fresh red blood in labour at 38+6 she was sent…