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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
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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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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
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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
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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
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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
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TikTok: @motherdragon.ie
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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
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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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This week I share my chat with Emma who talks me through each of her two births. Emma opted for an epidural with her first labour giving her the much needed relief she was looking for. She then talks us through her second pregnancy which was a shock but very much wanted. At the latter stages of pregnancy she was just ready for baby to join her family and thankfully he decided he was ready too. She went into spontaneous labour and had an unmedicated birth. The days, weeks and months to follow were so tough with her son suffering from reflux. Emma revisits just how tough it was with the sleepless nights, feeling completely helpless, the constant vomiting and more. Together with her husband they attended every practitioner under the sun in sought of help. The cure was time it seems. This episode will resonate with so many of you who have tried to comfort your babies through months of colic or reflux, you certainly aren't alone.
Thanks Emma
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This week I share part two of my chat with @aoifekeogh20 who talks me through life after Ríans major surgery and his passing at 14 months. Aoife also chats through discovering she was pregnant and navigating the loss of your child while watching your bump grow.
Aoife took time to focus on the labour and birth of her second baby attending classes again including @urmamastrength and hypnobirthing. She really wanted to avoid another c-section which she did. She had a completely unmedicated VBAC and got to experience that high!
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This week I share part one of my chat with @aoifekeogh20 who talks me through her first pregnancy and the birth of her gorgeous boy, Rían. Aoife and her husband received the devastating news that their gorgeous baby had a life limiting condition. It was thought at the time their baby wouldn’t survive to full term but Rían defied the odds and lived for 14 months.
Aoife revisits receiving the diagnosis and everything that comes with that from scans, conversations, preparation for the unknown and undergoing a C-section which is something she really didn’t want.
She shares navigating so much more which leads us into part two of her story which will follow next week, pregnancy through grief.
Aoifes story is so hard to hear for so many reasons but I have absolutely no doubt that it will provide many others with comfort.
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This week I share my chat with Sarah Louise (The Village Pilates) who talks me through the second part of her story, two home births and her experience with miscarriage. In PT1 of Sarah Louises (EP 166) story she shares how quick her second labour was birthing her daughter at home which was completely unplanned, she was coming and there was no doubt about it. Considering how quick her second labour was she naturally decided to opt in for the home birth scheme under the care of the SECM. She then shares her own experience with miscarriage and her decision to TTC straight away. We then chat through the birth of her fourth daughter which was equally as gorgeous as her previous story.
Thank you to Sarah Louise
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 each of her pregnancies including an ectopic pregnancy. Lisa gave birth prematurely to her first baby at 34 weeks, thankfully her daughter was healthy with no complications to follow as a result of coming into the world early. We then chat through Lisa's second pregnancy, an ectopic pregnancy. She really went through so much enduring prolonged pain and multiple trips to hospital. We then revisit Lisa's third pregnancy which she admits was nerve wracking for a number of reasons. Her second daughter came into the world full term with the support of an amazing midwife who supported her in the best way possible.
Thank you so much for sharing Lisa
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
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This week I share my chat with Eleonora who talks me through the birth of her son Adam. Eleonora talks us through TTC and how she navigated those 6 month’s waiting to see a true positive test.
She then talks through the plan which was to induce her at 39 weeks but this changed later in her pregnancy. Labour started all own its own but baby was happy to stay put. She was later induced and opted for an epidural which gave her the rest her body desperately needed.
We chat through some early motherhood challenges later in the episode too….feeding a sleepy baby!
Thanks so much Eleonora
Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions
https://www.letsmatchmums.com/
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