In the next episode share my chat with Leanne back in Feb 2021 who talks me through her pregnancy and the birth of her little boy, James. Leanne planned a homebirth, built a relationship with her midwife and prepared her home but later for reasons which she will go through, it was decided she should birth her baby in hospital.She talks me through her long labour which finally ended with a C-section to bring her boy into the world. It wasn't what she ever envisaged the outcome would be but she...

In this weeks episode I share my chat Ruth-Ann who talks me through her one pregnancy and birth. Ruth-Ann struggled to conceive for almost 5 years. She found a really supportive HCP who led her to another HCP. Together they gave her the treatment and guidance she needed. She fell pregnant within a matter of weeks and shares her struggle to process seeing a positive test. Ruth-Ann then shares her daughters birth which wasn’t the experience she hoped for. She talks me through the hours that...

Before I share details of Celine’s story I want to mention that parts of our conversation surround stillbirth. I know lots of you won’t be in a position to listen to an incredibly difficult story but from speaking to you, I also know many of you need to hear Celine’s story. Celine shares her first experience which resulted in an emergency caesarean birth. She then chats about suffering from PNA and the struggles that brought. We then chat about her daughter Izzy’s birth who was stillborn at...

In this next episode I share my chat with Stephanie who talks me through the birth of her little girl Morgan. I previously spoke to Steph in EP37,she had a planned homebirth and welcomed her first girl Ada with the support of @midwife_aine who was also present for her most recent birth.Stephs pregnancy was pretty uneventful until the 30 week mark. She caught Covid. She was admitted to hospital for one week due to an unstable lie. She was blighted with severe pelvic girdle pain and she was...

This week I share my chat with Jess who talks me through the birth of her three girls. I have to say, Jess bared all and shared so much of her journey over the past 8 years. At the age of 20 she discovered she was pregnant with her first little girl who was born via caesarean birth and later diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. She talks me through those first few weeks of Georgias life who is now a happy, healthy 8 year old. In the podcast show notes I have linked a Facebook page Jess...

There is no new episode but I’m re-releasing EP92 as a nod to Pride month. This conversation is so important, it highlights what’s possible, a family for same sex couples. I just sat back and enjoyed watching Katie & Jo reminisce over the birth over their son, Sonny.They were supported by their doula @pamjdpilates and really invested in birth preparation. They share some truly beautiful moments. Our conversation didn’t end there but in time Jo and I will continue our chat which we will no...

In this weeks episode I share my chat with Jennifer who talks me through her one pregnancy and the birth of her son Jimmy. Jen was induced at 37 weeks  as they suspected her son was measuring small. Jena water were artificially broken by a midwife, it was then discovered she has chord prolapses. Within moments Jen was on all fours being whisked to theatre for an emergency caesarean birth. Jen woke up soon after feeling her stomach and realising quickly her boy was born. It all happened so...

In this weeks episode I share my chat with Aisling (@mellow_mindfulness) who talks me through her one pregnancy and the birth of her daughter Olivia. Within this episode you will hear such amazing examples of midwife care. One midwife in particular stood out, she ensured Aisling was cared for when she wasn’t receiving the attention she needed. Olivia’s birth was such a positive experience and as a someone who meditates Aisling definitely tapped into hypnobirthing tools to help her through...

In this weeks episode I share my chat with Kathleen who talks me through her two pregnancies and births. After Kathleen underwent cancer treatment she feared her fertility would be impacted but thankfully she concieved her little boy quite quickly. An uneventful pregnancy took a drastic turn of events as she was diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia. Her little boy was born via Caesarean birth at just 30 weeks weighing under 2kg. Kathleen went on to conceive again and spent a lot of time researching...

In this weeks episode I share my chat with Jennifer who talks me through her two pregnancies and three births. Jennifers experiences were so different, she felt fearful and a complete lack of control throughout her first labour. In her words she felt  defeated after birthing her little girl which is a feeling she carried throughout her transition into early motherhood. Jennifer then shares the moment she discovered she was expecting twins, the shock but also her decision to educate herself as...

This week I’m sharing my chat with Tjarda who talks me through her journey to motherhood from discovering she was pregnant at 19 to having the most incredible support bringing each of her babes into the world. Tjardas experience in the hospital gave me goosebumps. She was surrounded by women who showed her respect, compassion and love. Her experience with birth the second time around was similar, nothing by support from everyone she was surrounded by. On both occasions she stayed in her...

In this next episode I share my chat with Brenda who talks me through her two birth experiences and one early pregnancy loss. Brenda’s perspective as someone who is hard of hearing is an important listen. She talks me through suffering from what she calls “deaf anxiety” worrying that she will miss her name being called at appointments, can she lip read or can she understand everything she has been told. For this reason along with others she opted for homebirths with both of her babes. She...

In this weeks episode I share my chat with Sinead, this is a long episode but I found it hard to edit any of our chat as I felt each stage of her journey to motherhood was so important to hear. She was diagnosed with endometriosis after years of excruciating periods and uncomfortable situations. When the time felt right, Sinead along with the support of her fertility doctor discovered she was pregnant. Many highs and lows were to follow! Her labour and birth story is certainly not linear....

In this next episode I share my chat with Yasmine who talks me through her two very different birth experiences. Yasmines experience in hospital birthing her little girl wasn’t one where she felt very supported for various reasons. Her little girl arrived into the world making her presence known with her cry but Yasmine didn’t feel that immediate rush of love. She was exhausted, unsure as to what just happened and needed some tlc which she received when they returned to the comfort of their...

In this next episode I chat to Mairead who talks me through her two pregnancies and homebirths. She chats about sickness in early pregnancy, diagnosis of a haematoma and thankfully the ok for her homebirth at 32 weeks. She shares the moments her daughter was born after a short labour and her fierce first latch that she remembers vividly. We then chat about her second pregnancy which was similar to her first in terms on sickness in the early months. Mairead once again decided to have her...

You previously asked for episodes that focus on the postpartum period of a woman’s life and this episode is just that. Sinead previously shared her five pregnancies, four births, early pregnancy loss and her experience with sepsis in EP68 Listen here!. This time we chat about life after each baby especially the expectation we have before our first born comes into the world. Sinead shares how she coped each day, accepting that some days (most) you just do what you need whatever is necessary...

In this next episode I share my chat with @fairy.quad.mother who talks me through the loss of her first son Dylan, coping with grief, the overwhelming need to get pregnant once again and the spontaneous conception of her quadruplet’s. The first 20 mins of our chat is incredibly tough to hear as Lorraine shares the loss of her son Dylan. Within the episode intro I will give you the exact moment to tune in if you aren’t in a place to listen to such heartbreaking story. In saying this, I know...

In this next episode I share my chat with Brana who talks me through the birth of her little girl Evie and her very recent pregnancy loss. After undergoing testing due to concerns following a routine 12 week scan, Brana and Ross received the news that their little girl had Trisomy 21 also known as Down Syndrome. She shares much more surrounding Evie’s diagnosis which I know many other parents can relate too. Brana then chats through her induction and the decision to bring Evie into the world...

In this next episode I share my chat with Pam, Phil and of course the star of the show Teddy. Pam shares many aspects of her pregnancy from coping with pregnancy after loss (EP40 Pam shared her previous birth experiences) gestational diabetes, extensive preparation 🙌and the birth of her little boy Teddy at home. I was joined by Phil her love, her husband and an incredible support. I adore chatting with couples, I love watching them reminisce over such an intimate experience. It’s an honour...

In this next episode I share my chat with Amy who talks me through her one pregnancy and the birth of her son Cooper. Amy read books, attended classes, watched YouTube videos and listened to podcasts as part of her preparation for birth and motherhood. She spent time educating herself to ensure she knew the risks and benefits of various interventions. Amy shares her positive induction story and the moment her son Cooper came into the world. Twelve days later everything changed Amy and her...

In this next episode I share my chat with Amy who talks me through her one pregnancy and the birth of her son Cooper. Amy read books, attended classes, watched YouTube videos and listened to podcasts as part of her preparation for birth and motherhood. She spent time educating herself to ensure she knew the risks and benefits of various interventions. Amy shares her positive induction story and the moment her son Cooper came into the world. Twelve days later everything changed Amy and her...

In this weeks episode I share my chat with Jill who talks me through her one pregnancy and the birth of her daughter Charlotte. Jill really had to focus on tracking her ovulation, the ovulation sticks (as with many of you) weren’t helping her much so she focused on natural indicators too. She put a lot of time into preparation and stayed active throughout her pregnancy including teaching yoga. I think an important part of Jill’s story is where she chats about passing her estimated due date...

In this episode I share my chat with Aisling who talks me through her two pregnancies and births. I recently asked if you wanted me to keep conversations surrounding early motherhood in the podcast and there was a resounding yes! I have done just that with this episode, I know so many of you will relate to some if not all of what Aisling speaks about. She chats about the initial overwhelm when discovering she was pregnant, her preparation for birth, her experiences (so similar but different...

In this next episode I share my chat with Jane who talks me through her two pregnancy’s and births. Jane’s first baby was brought into the world via emergency c-section as she went into labour at 32 weeks. She thought she could feel a cord prolapse but infact it was her little boys foot! Her second baby also came into the world early at 36 weeks but thankfully she had an experience much closer to what she hoped for, a vaginal birth. She shares her struggles with breastfeeding which led to...

In this next episode I chat to Nicola who talks me through her spontaneous triplet pregnancy. Nicola and her husband attended an early scan when they discovered they were expecting twins, they left that appointment shocked as many of us would. They later attended their hospital scan around the 3 month mark when they saw a third little one on the monitor. So much changed from that moment on!Nicola was monitored closely in hospital from the latter stages of her second trimester. Thankfully her...