Shows / British Birthing Stories
British Birthing Stories
A weekly podcast sharing real stories of childbirth in the UK, from labour and delivery to postpartum recovery. Mothers across the UK talk openly about their personal birth experiences, created to educate, inform, and empower women preparing for birth and the early weeks of motherhood.
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Episodes
- British Birthing Stories
Harriet: Infertility Struggles, IVF, Post-Dates, NHS Home Water Birth & Physiological Third Stage, Breathwork and Meditation
In today’s episode, I speak with Harriet, a midwife, yoga teacher, and first-time mum, about her experience of conceiving through IVF and going on to have a…
- British Birthing Stories
Georgia: VBAC, Short Cervix, Episiotomy, Forceps Delivery, NICU stay, PostPartum Haemorrhage
In today’s episode, I interview myself and share the birth story of my second son Kit. After having a previous C-section with my eldest son, Finn, I knew that…
- British Birthing Stories
She Stopped Feeling Her Baby Kick at 24 Weeks - This Is Why Movements Matter | Anonymous Stillbirth Story
CONTENT WARNING: this episode discusses still birth. Please take care while listening. This anonymous birth story has been shared by a mother who gave birth to…
- British Birthing Stories
Georgia: Gender Disappointment, Short Cervix, Cerclage, Breech, Planned C-section
In today’s episode, I interview myself and share the birth story of my first son, Finn. When I was a young woman living in Australia, I was diagnosed with…
- British Birthing Stories
Lauren: First Birth, Planned NHS Home Birth, Physiological Water Birth, Fetal Ejection Reflex, Meditation & Breathwork
In today’s episode, I speak with Lauren, an NHS worker and meditation and breathwork teacher, about her experience of having a planned NHS home water birth…
- British Birthing Stories
Laura: Second Birth, Planned NHS Home Birth, Hyperthyroidism, Unstable Lie, Breech Baby & Hospital Transfer for Postpartum Haemorrhage
Today I welcomed Laura back to the pod to share her second birth. After her first daughter was born by forceps following a long hospital induction, Laura…
- British Birthing Stories
Laura: First Birth, Difficult NHS Hospital Induction, Hyperthyroidism, Polyhydramnios, Low PAPP A, Forceps Delivery, Episiotomy and Breastfeeding After a Breast Reduction
I had Laura on the pod to share her first birth, and it's one so many women will recognise. Laura has hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, and during her…
- British Birthing Stories
Liz: Second Birth, Positive NHS Birth Centre Water Birth, Midwife Led Unit, Fast Labour, Gas and Air, No Vaginal Examinations, Fetal Ejection Reflex, No Tear After Second Degree Tear, Subchorionic Haematoma, Postnatal Anxiety
In today's episode Liz is back to share the birth of her daughter at her local NHS birth centre. After two and a half years of trying for her son, she went…
- British Birthing Stories
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
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…
- British Birthing Stories
Gabby: First Birth, Positive NHS Hospital Induction, IVF After IUI, Hormone Imbalance, No Periods, Breech Baby Turned, Moxibustion, Epidural, 15 Minute Pushing Stage, No Tearing, Breastfeeding Challenges, Jaundice
I spoke with Gabby, a first time mum from London who shared her journey through IVF and her positive NHS hospital induction. Gabby had never really had a…
- British Birthing Stories
Lauren: First Birth, Planned NHS Home Birth, Physiological Birth, Water Birth, Fetal Ejection Reflex
In today’s episode, I spoke with Lauren about her experience of having a calm, physiological NHS home birth, a birth she once never imagined would be possible…
- British Birthing Stories
Megan: Second Birth, NHS Home Water Birth & Physiological Birth
Megan's waters broke with an audible pop just before ten at night. Four hours later, her son was born at home, in the pool, in her own lounge. Megan Rossiter…
- British Birthing Stories
Megan: First Birth, NHS Hospital Induction, Reduced Movements & Fast Hospital Birth
Megan was a student midwife, 39 weeks pregnant, and planning a home birth. Then her baby stopped moving the way he should. Megan Rossiter is the founder of…
- British Birthing Stories
Jenna: Two Births, NHS Hospital Forceps Birth, Denied Gas and Air, Ectopic Pregnancy, Birth Trauma and Healing NHS Home Birth
Jenna is a mum of two boys, Bertie and Laurie, from Kent. She shares two very different NHS experiences: a traumatic first hospital birth that ended in a…
- British Birthing Stories
Hannah: Two Planned Positive NHS Home Births, Water Birth, Physiological birth, Hypnobirthing, Fetal Ejection Reflex, Retained Placenta
Two home births. Two boys born in the pool. Two labours where her body did almost everything on its own and no pain relief either time. Hannah is a mum of two…
- British Birthing Stories
Layla: Second Birth, Positive Twin Water Birth, Identical Twins, Physiological Birth, Birthing Out of Guidelines, Induction, Ventouse Twin Two
The consultant told her on her head be it. She was 30 weeks pregnant with identical twins and asking for a water birth so she changed care providers and…
- British Birthing Stories
Erin: First Birth, Positive NHS Hospital Induction, Reduced Movements, Three Failed Pessaries, Diamorphine, Fast Vaginal Birth
She was admitted the day before her due date with reduced movements. And then her body kept expelling every single pessary they put in. Erin is a mum of two…
- British Birthing Stories
Cat: Two Births, NHS Birth Centre Water Birth & Unexpected Unassisted Birth Before Arrival Home Birth, Endometriosis
Her first birth was a calm, quick water birth at the birth centre. Her second was a home birth except the pool wasn't filled, the midwife wasn't there, and her…
- British Birthing Stories
Rosie: First Birth, Positive Hospital Birth, Planned Pregnancy After 10 Months of Trying, Consultant Led Care, Hypnobirthing, Unmedicated Labour, Postpartum Anxiety
Everything was calm. Candles on, playlist playing, TENS machine working, and Rosie labouring at home exactly as she had hoped. And then the police arrived to…
- British Birthing Stories
Layla: First Birth, Positive NHS Home Birth, Doula Support, Meconium in Waters, No Pain Relief, Postnatal Depression
Everything was going perfectly. Six hours of labour, no pain relief, at home exactly where she wanted to be. And then her waters broke and there was meconium…
- British Birthing Stories
Faye: Second Birth, Positive Hospital Birth, Meconium in Waters, Spontaneous Labour, Gas and Air, Postpartum Haemorrhage
She had planned a home birth. She had done hypnobirthing. She had her playlists ready. And then the NHS called and said there were no midwives available. Most…
- British Birthing Stories
Katie: Two Positive Births, Planned Home Birth and Before Arrival, Independent Midwife, PCOS, Covid, Second Unplanned Freebirth In Bath
She was a midwife. She knew the system inside out. And she still couldn't get the care she actually wanted. Katie is an independent midwife now based in…
- British Birthing Stories
Welcome to British Birthing Stories
Welcome to British Birthing Stories. This weekly podcast is a space where women across the UK share honest, real-life birth stories. In this introduction…