In this episode I interviewed Jenna about her two very different NHS birth stories, her first, a long hospital labour ending in a forceps delivery, and her second, a fast and deeply healing home birth. Jenna talks openly about conceiving after an ectopic pregnancy, then labouring for over 42 hours with her first son after her waters broke early. She describes being repeatedly sent home, left without adequate support, denied pain relief, and physically restrained during pushing, an experience she later recognised as birth trauma. Although her baby was born safely, the emotional impact lingered well into the postnatal period.

For her second pregnancy, Jenna was clear from the outset: she wanted a planned NHS home birth. She shares how hypnobirthing, self-education, and feeling genuinely supported by her midwives allowed her body to labour instinctively and undisturbed.

We also explore postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, recovery, and how the right support, or lack of it, can shape the early days of motherhood.

This episode is a powerful reflection on birth trauma, informed choice, and how a positive birth can help heal what came before.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

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Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah, who shares her first and second birth stories, both planned NHS home births, during and after the COVID pandemic.

Hannah talks through choosing home birth for her first baby in 2021, being supported by a dedicated NHS home birth team, and navigating late-pregnancy pressure around induction due to a small-measuring baby. She shares a long early labour, a powerful transition, and a calm water birth at home, including experiencing a fetal ejection reflex and being the first to lift her baby from the pool.

We also dive into Hannah’s second home birth, planned under a different trust without a dedicated home birth team. She opens up about weeks of stop-start labour, the mental challenge of holding trust in her body, and advocating for her choices despite uncertainty around midwife availability. Hannah shares a shorter, more intense labour, another water birth, and the contrast between postpartum recovery with and without stitches.

Throughout the episode, Hannah reflects on continuity of care, birth preparation through hypnobirthing, the realities of NHS home birth availability, and why home birth doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” approach to medical support. She also shares thoughtful insights on postpartum recovery, breastfeeding across two very different babies, and parenting with a three-year age gap.

This episode reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I’m welcoming Layla back to the podcast as she shares her second birth story a positive NHS hospital water birth of identical twins, planned outside of hospital guidelines. Layla talks about being strongly encouraged towards a planned caesarean, choosing instead to educate herself, understand her rights, and advocate for a vaginal twin birth. We discuss navigating consultant care, negotiating access to the birth pool, and securing permission for her doula to attend during COVID, which became a crucial source of emotional safety and continuity.

She shares the emotional decision to agree to an induction at 36+5 due to growth concerns, managing CTG monitoring and repeated pressure for a C-section, and how strong midwifery and doula support helped her stay calm and grounded. Layla describes birthing her first twin in water, followed by a more urgent assisted delivery for her second twin, with both babies born safely.

We also touch on the early postnatal period, including breastfeeding support, jaundice, a five-day hospital stay, and the ongoing importance of self-advocacy.

This episode reflects personal experience and is not medical advice.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode I chatted with Erin shares her first birth story, positive NHS hospital induction after reduced fetal movements, leading to a fast vaginal birth.

Erin talks through days of monitoring, repeated pessary attempts, and how labour ramped up quickly once her waters were broken. She shares what helped with pain relief (TENS, gas and air, and diamorphine), what it felt like being close to intervention during pushing, and the moment she found her voice and delivered her son.

We also chat honestly about the post-birth feeding journey, including a sleepy newborn after opioid pain relief, breastfeeding struggles, pumping, combi-feeding, and eventually formula — plus Erin’s reassuring advice about knowing your options and trusting your instincts.

This episode is for informational purposes only and reflects personal experiences. It does not replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Cat, a mum of two, who shares her experiences of an NHS birth centre water birth and a planned home birth that became an unexpectedly fast delivery before midwives arrived. Cat first reflects on welcoming her daughter in a birth centre, describing a calm, physiological labour supported by NHS midwives, gas and air, and the freedom to move and follow her instincts. She then shares her second birth, a planned NHS home birth that unfolded rapidly at home. Alongside both birth stories, Cat speaks openly about the emotional impact of becoming a mother after losing her own mum. She reflects on how grief resurfaced in the early postnatal period, the intensity of post-birth hormonal shifts, and the emotional challenges of transitioning from one child to two. This episode explores themes of NHS birth options, birth centre and home birth, trusting your body, informed decision-making, grief in motherhood, and postpartum emotional wellbeing.

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I spoke with Rosie who shares her unforgettable first birth story, a fast, intense, and ultimately positive NHS hospital birth. From months of trying to conceive and pregnancy growth-scan worries, to a labour that began amid a burglary, car shopping in Manchester, and escalated far quicker than anyone expected. She talks honestly about CTG monitoring, consenting to an episiotomy, and the shock of realising she was already in advanced labour on arrival at hospital. Rosie also opens up about recovery, breastfeeding challenges, and experiencing postpartum anxiety, offering a raw, funny, and reassuring reminder of just how unpredictable birth and early motherhood can be.

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I'm joined by Layla, a mum of three and a doula based in Devon, who shares her experience of planning and having an NHS-supported home birth with her first baby.

Layla reflects on her pregnancy journey and explains why home birth felt like the right choice for her. Feeling safest and most at ease in her own environment, alongside having continuity of care through NHS midwifery services, helped her feel confident in trusting her body and approaching labour calmly. Learning more about physiological birth, and being supported by both her midwife and a doula, reinforced her belief that home was the place where she would feel most listened to and supported.

While Layla describes her home birth as a positive and empowering experience, she also speaks openly about the challenges she faced in the postpartum period. She reflects on the emotional and physical adjustments of early motherhood, the unexpected difficulties she encountered after birth, and how this time deepened her understanding of the importance of ongoing support beyond labour itself.

Layla shares how her birth and postpartum experiences went on to influence her later pregnancies and ultimately her decision to become a doula herself. This episode explores themes of NHS home birth, continuity of care, self-trust, and postpartum vulnerability, highlighting the lasting impact birth experiences can have long after birth.

Layla is a holistic heart-led Doula, based in Devon; weaving together practical & soulful support for women navigating the transformational path of pregnancy, birth & early motherhood. I walk alongside you on this journey; cheering you on, reminding you of your strength & inner wisdom 🤍

Find out more about Layla and work together with her here:

www.fullbloomdoula.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/full_bloom_doula?igsh=eHVkMnR6cHF5ZW1i&utm_source=qr

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's interview I'm joined by Faye, who shares her positive hospital birth experience in the UK, following a highly medicalised and high intervention first birth in Canada.

Faye reflects on how her previous experience shaped her hopes for a different kind of birth the second time around, including her wish for a home birth. She speaks openly about how staffing shortages in her area meant this wasn’t possible, and how she navigated the disappointment while still holding onto what mattered most to her, feeling informed, supported, and trusted.

During labour, Faye describes how a changeover in midwives had a noticeable impact on her experience. She reflects on how the arrival of a new midwife, who trusted her instincts and approach to labour, helped her feel calmer, more confident, and better able to stay in her own rhythm. Feeling listened to and believed in allowed her to trust herself, labour intuitively, and avoid unnecessary checks or interventions.

Throughout the conversation, Faye shares how self-trust, advocacy, and supportive care shaped her birth experience, and how a hospital setting did not prevent her from having a positive, empowering birth. This episode explores themes of flexibility, autonomy, and the profound difference it can make when care providers truly trust the birthing woman.

These stories are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They should not be taken as medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery.

These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.