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This week I share my chat with Joan, who shares each of her two birth stories with us.
She reflects on the incredible support of her midwife throughout labour and opens up about her experience with an episiotomy, recovery, breastfeeding, and those early postpartum days.
We then move on to her second pregnancy, including a challenging kidney infection just days before her baby arrived. Joan shares her second labour story in detail, highlighting her determination to avoid an epidural this time around and the unforgettable oxytocin rush she experienced once again. Joans son was admitted to hospital at just three weeks old with viral meningitis, something no parent wants to experience.
There’s so much more in this episode.
Thanks Joan
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Louise, who talks me through each of her three very different birth stories.
Louise opens up about her long journey with multiple pregnancy losses over 7 years. After undergoing treatment, she fell pregnant once again, and thankfully the treatment was successful, allowing her to carry to full term.
We talk through her first birth experience, which was particularly tough and involved vacuum assistance due to shoulder dystocia. Louise then shares her two subsequent birth stories, both of which were completely different experiences and gave her a much more positive start to those early postpartum days.
We finish our chat by talking about the importance of asking for help, and why none of us should feel we have to do it all alone.
Thanks Louise
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Audrey. This episode will give hope to so many families who have preemie babies and also those navigating life supporting their baby in hospital.
Throughout Audrey’s pregnancy it wasn’t know if Luna would survive. Her daughter came into the world at 28 weeks and 1 day. Luna literally defied all odds and is now a thriving, beautiful, happy and healthy two year old.
Audrey shares feeling something wasn’t right from very early on, coping with expecting the worst and life with a baby in NICU. She shows us that there can be a positive end to that long road of recovery and the tools she used to look after herself in the latter days.
Thank you Audrey
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Lauren, who talks me through each of her three pregnancies and two births. Lauren was induced with each of her babies, using the power of hypnobirthing and antenatal preparation to help her focus and move into her “inner world” as she worked through the late stages of labour. She highlights how important postnatal preparation was for her, especially after her second baby. Her doula, Jen, was everything she needed at that time in her life.
When Lauren’s first baby was just 18 months old, her world changed. Her husband, Daragh, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Throughout such a heavy and difficult time in their lives, they continued to grow their family while navigating everything that comes with a life-altering diagnosis. Lauren experienced a pregnancy loss while Daragh underwent treatment, which she shares in detail. Months later, they welcomed their second daughter as she powered her way into the world.
Something Lauren said while sharing her story will always stay with me: “We pushed back his (Daragh’s) chemo for a week so that we could schedule my induction.” We truly never know what other people are going through.
Thank you, Lauren.
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week, I share my chat with Sarah, who talks me through each of her three birth experiences. We explore all the “firsts” her first pregnancy, her first birth, and her first steps into motherhood including attending additional appointments for her baby. We then move on to her second birth story, which was an induction just like her first. This time, she felt more prepared for postpartum recovery, having made sure she received the right care to support her pelvic health after experiencing a prolapse following her first birth. Sarah then talks through making the decision to have her third baby. Together with he husband they decided to continue growing their family and her third baby arrived quick and fast. A very different experience to each of her previous births.
Thanks so much Sarah
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week, I share my chat with Ciara, who talks me through each of her three pregnancies and births. Ciara welcomed all three of her boys via C-section, and she speaks very honestly about the guilt she felt for not giving birth “the natural way,” as she describes it. After her first son was born, Ciara experienced a post-dural headache, which was eventually treated with a blood patch. We then discuss the birth of her second son, who was also born via C-section. During her third pregnancy, Ciara suffered from severe sickness and vomited daily. We talk through that challenging period, the birth of her third son, her experience of motherhood, and lots of bits and pieces in between.
Thanks so much Ciara
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week, I share my chat with Anna, who talks me through each of her four pregnancies and two births. Anna revisits her first pregnancy, where a routine scan revealed a blighted ovum. She speaks openly about the physical and emotional impact of that miscarriage.
We then move through her two birth stories the first, an unplanned emergency C-section after progressing to 8cm, and the second, a planned C-section that offered a very different experience. Anna also shares the heartbreak of her fourth pregnancy, during which she experienced another miscarriage and underwent a D&C. Throughout all four pregnancies, she was supported by her consultant, whose care she recalls with deep gratitude.
We also talk about the moment you recognise your family is complete and how complex and emotionally challenging it can be to reach that place.
Thanks Anna
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week, I share my chat with Michele, who talks me through her two birth stories from the 1990s. Michele takes us on the journey from meeting her husband and buying their first home together, right through to welcoming their two children.
She chose private care under the same consultant for each pregnancy, and she reflects on how different maternity care looked at the time with little to no birth preparation, no conversations around birth preferences, and very few postnatal supports.
Michele also shares the next stage of her life: welcoming her much-loved dad into their family home. It was a beautiful chapter for everyone under their roof a united family in every sense.
Thanks Michele x
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week, I share my chat with Lisa, who talks me through the past nine years of her life. Together with her husband, she faced years of fertility struggles enduring IVF, tests, appointments, surgery and the heartbreak of negative tests, month after month, year after year.
Eventually, they received the long-awaited positive result, which thankfully led to a healthy, full-term pregnancy. However, when Lisa was 27 weeks pregnant, her family received devastating news her mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
We talk about grief, navigating motherhood through loss, continuing on the path of growing her family. Lisa went on to conceive again but sadly experienced a missed miscarriage. In her third and most recent pregnancy, she welcomed her baby just shy of 35 weeks via emergency c-section due to placenta abruption.
I’m so grateful to Lisa for sharing so openly and honestly about her journey.
Thank you, Lisa.
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week, I chat with Susan, who takes us through her five pregnancies and births.
She looks back on each experience fondly, reflecting on the kindness and support she received along the way. Tragically, five months after the birth of her first baby, Gillian, Susan faced the loss of her daughter. We chat through how few services were available to help mothers begin to process such profound grief.
We then move on to discuss her subsequent births, how she managed life with a growing young family, and the role of community support then versus now.
Very grateful to Susan for sharing her stories with me.
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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I love this episode. Becky revisits each of her three, very different birth stories. Her first birth was an induction at 41+ weeks, second birth just shy of 37 weeks and her third experience an unplanned homebirth. Her outlook throughout each of her experiences is so amazing. She remained incredibly positive and she got to experience that rush of oxytocin on each occasion too which is what we wish for every woman. At 24 weeks pregnant with her third baby Becky experienced symptoms relating to cholestasis. She was later diagnosed which meant lots of blood tests, lots of hospital visits and even more uncertainty. Again, Becky seemed to go with the flow but still very much keeping in mind her desires birth plan if all was well. Becky welcomed her third child at home with the support of her husband. Baby was coming and there was absolutely no waiting around. I love this part of her story, I know you will too. Thanks so much @beckynidhuill
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Ellen who shared her first two birth stories back in Sept 2020 and now revisits the birth of her third child last year. Since we spoke back in 2020 Ellen has qualified as a postpartum doula which gave her all the tools she needed in preparation for her third labour and birth. She shares her reasons behind opting for a homenirth, preparation and the moment she caught her baby. When we first spoke back in 2020, Ellen was open about breastfeeding grief and the weight that carried. Eleven months in and Ellen is still enjoying breastfeeding her baby boy so this time around her experience has been very different.
Thanks Ellen
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Danielle who talks me through her four pregnancies and births. Danielle revisits processing an unplanned pregnancy, the changes that brought to her life and discovering her baby had a rare genetic condition at 4 months old. We chat through each of her four births, two tough experiences both with epidurals followed by two really positive, healing, unmedicated births. There is so much in this episode from navigating unplanned pregnancies at two very different stages of life, balancing pregnancy, work, family, life and feeling the powers of that healing birth.
Thanks Danielle
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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share the first birth story under the new title "Birth Back Then". Mairead revisits each of her three miscarriages followed by her two birth stories. Mairead worked as a nurse all her life so gives us an insight into what that looked like along with how life looked in the 1980's as a working women trying to build her family. She gave birth to her first son unmedicated with the support of her husband within the hospital setting. We then move onto her second birth story which was very different. She was blighted with constant sickness and crippling pain. It was discovered at 26 weeks gestation that Mairead infact had a huge cyst along with other diagnosis and underwent emergency surgery.
Mairead then takes us through life post surgery and the remainder of her pregnancy. It's so hard to her how after such a short space of time her life returned to "normal", working for as long as she could until she went into labour while still very much feeling the impact of her surgery.
Mairead's story is precisely why I decided to make this addition to the podcast and open the space up for women to share their historical births.
Thank you so much Mairead
This episode is brought to you by Mother Dragon
Instagram: @motherdragonireland
TikTok: @motherdragon.ie
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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Sarah who talks me through her decision to create a family on her own, two pregnancies and two very different birth stories. Sarah chats briefly on her decision to start her family solo with the help of a donor and the realisation after seeing that positive test. We then chat through her first pregnancy which was blighted with anxiety due to a number of factors. The days leading up to her daughter's birth were not conducive with the labour Sarah wished for. We then revisit Emily's birth and the months that followed. Second time round looked very different, although Sarah didn't give birth at home which she hoped for, she did receive the care and attention of some amazing midwives. She experienced that rush of love as her boy came into the world.
Thanks Sarah
This episode is brought to you by Mother Dragon
Instagram: @motherdragonireland
TikTok: @motherdragon.ie
Pinterest: @MotherDragonIreland
WhatsApp: Mother Dragon
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Julie who talks me through her second birth story, the birth of Billy. We spoke last year revisiting the birth of her first son but this story is thankfully very different. Julie expected a long labour similar to her first experience but Billy had very different plans. Julie was surrounded by supportive midwives who were rooting for her to continue on the path she was on to a completely unmedicated birth. A gorgeous positive birth story.
Below I have included by first chat with hJulie which is almost a year to the day.....I promised that wasn't planned!
Thanks Julie
This episode is brought to you by Mother Dragon
Instagram: @motherdragonireland
TikTok: @motherdragon.ie
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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share part 2 of my chat with Amber who talks continues to talk me through her experience with postpartum psychosis along with her second pregnancy and planned induction. Amber goes into further detail around the weeks following the birth of Billy. She shares how PPP looked for her from hallucinations to the impact it had on her senses. We then talks through her second birth story, her decision to have a planned induction and the birth of her daughter Polly.
Amber has shared so much with us which I know is greatly appreciated. I hope the experiences she has shared can provide comfort to you or others around you and also to just share life after PPP. It does exist x
This episode is brought to you by Mother Dragon
Instagram: @motherdragonireland
TikTok: @motherdragon.ie
Pinterest: @MotherDragonIreland
WhatsApp: Mother Dragon
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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In this weeks episode I share PT1 of my two part chat with Amber. In her early 20's, Amber discovered she was pregnant which was later diagnosed as an ectopic pregnancy. Ambers second pregnancy was hard as she struggled with sickness throughout, mentions of IUGR from doctors and also discovering her baby had a two vessel chord. Following an induction, Ambers first baby was born weighing a healthy 7 pounds into the arms of very happy parents. This is where her story changes dramatically as she suffered a haemorrhage and needed specialised care much quickler than she received it. Amber goes on to share her experience with postpartum psychosis which we chat about in the latter stages of her story but we really dive into in the next part of her story.
Thanks Amber
This episode is brought to you by
Mother Dragon
Instagram: @motherdragonireland
TikTok: @motherdragon.ie
Pinterest: @MotherDragonIreland
WhatsApp: Mother Dragon
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Jess who talks me through each of her two birth stories. Jess discovered she was pregnant in her 20's which although was a suprise, it was more of an adjustment to the plan as having children was always on the trajectory. We revisit her daughters birth who came into the world one day after her due date surrounded by fellow midwives for support. We then chat through her second pregnancy, TTC, the joy in seeing that positive pregnancy test and the reason why Jess opted for an induction.
At the end of our chat we both get a little emotional but for the same reason. We all want women to have the experience they want, regardless of how it looks. Grieving the birth Jess didn't and won't have is something we go into.
Thanks Jess
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Hannah who talks me through each of three pregnancies. Hannah revisits TTC, pregnancy loss and giving birth at home supported by SECMs. After suffering a miscarriage with her first preganancy Hannah was blighted with anxiety throughout the early stages of her subsequent pregnancies. During a routine scan on her second pregnancy it was discovered Hannah was pregnant with twins but one of the twins didn't survive which is described as a "vanishing twin". We talk through her decision to birth each of her babies at home surrounded by her husband and amazing midwives.
Thanks Hannah
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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