Birth Tales

Serena Louth
  • 5.0 (21)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

Welcome to Birth Tales. Conception, pregnancy, birth and those first hazy postpartum days are a physical and emotional whirlwind. My hope is that by sharing these unique experiences we can support, educate and inspire others on their journeys to becoming parents.

  1. 070 - Tassy | small baby, hypnobirthing, planned c-section, breastfeeding challenges

    30 OCT

    070 - Tassy | small baby, hypnobirthing, planned c-section, breastfeeding challenges

    In this week's episode I chat to Tassy about her planned c-section. She conceived quickly after coming off the pill and Tassy really enjoyed being pregnant and learning about birth. At 32 weeks her midwife flagged concerns around her baby's small size and after accepting some additional growth scans she quickly realised the birth centre birth she had hoped for was becoming increasingly unlikely. Tassy shares how empowering it felt to choose a caesarean over the induction she was being recommended and how ultimately it felt like a really special and positive way to birth her baby. This is such a lovely example of the value of education in making informed choices and I know you're going to love hearing Tassy's story.   Tassy's IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_littlegrape/  Little Grape: https://thelittlegrape.co.uk   My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

    39 min
  2. 069 - Serena | 2nd baby, homebirth, doula, waterbirth, continuity of care, hypnobirthing, physiological birth

    23 OCT

    069 - Serena | 2nd baby, homebirth, doula, waterbirth, continuity of care, hypnobirthing, physiological birth

    In today's episode I'm sharing my own story of birthing my second son, Sidney. I talk about how I experienced pregnancy with a toddler in tow, the choices I made differently this time and how much I loved birthing my baby at home. After a long and physically exhausting previous birth, this labour challenged me mentally so I share all the coping techniques and comfort measures that helped me through when self-doubt arose. Throughout pregnancy and labour I was cared for by the most awesome midwife Annie, so a strong theme of my birth story is how incredible it was to receive continuity of care from both a midwife and amazing doula Michele who made me feel so safe, listened to and nurtured. The Birth Prep Bundle: https://sincere-union-68693.myflodesk.com/zkj6c4q686  My previous birth story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/016-serena-pregnancy-after-loss-doula-gbs-positive/id1703057905?i=1000638522383  My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ Milestoneable sculptures: https://milestonable.com

    1h 15m
  3. 068 - Laura | 2nd baby, homebirth, post dates pregnancy, big baby, spinning babies, doula, waterbirth

    9 OCT

    068 - Laura | 2nd baby, homebirth, post dates pregnancy, big baby, spinning babies, doula, waterbirth

    In this episode we've got Laura back on the podcast to share her second birth story. After a long back to back labour in the hospital with her daughter, Lauren knew she wanted to approach things differently this time and planned to birth to her baby at home. She shares how different her experience of conceiving was second time around, why hiring a doula was the best decision she made and how she dealt with the immense pressure she felt to accept an induction once she passed 42 weeks. She trusted her instincts and went on to have an amazing homebirth for her surprisingly big baby boy!   Laura's IG: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1582903528590264/  Laura's first birth: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/033-laura-hypnobirthing-hospital-birth-gas-air-op-baby/id1703057905?i=1000653532310 FB group 10 month mamas: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1582903528590264/  My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

    50 min
  4. 067 - Beth |  type 1 diabetes, induction, ARM, ventouse, episiotomy, breastfeeding

    2 OCT

    067 - Beth |  type 1 diabetes, induction, ARM, ventouse, episiotomy, breastfeeding

    In today's episode Beth shares her experience of conception, pregnancy and birth with type 1 diabetes.  She talks us through the support she received from a fellow nutritional therapist, the preparation she undertook for her son's birth and the implications of her condition. Whilst induction wouldn't have been her preference, Beth managed to create a plan that both aligned with the recommendations of her care providers and also felt good to her, so despite the challenges that arose during her labour she came away from the experience feeling positive. I'm so grateful to Beth for sharing her professional wisdom along with her personal story and I know this is going to be a really valuable episode for anyone else navigating pregnancy with type 1 diabetes.   The Birth Prep Bundle: https://sincere-union-68693.myflodesk.com/zkj6c4q686  Beth's IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethedwardsnutrition/?hl=en   Beth's website: https://www.bethedwardsnutrition.com/  My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

    52 min
  5. 066 - Alice | homebirth, hypnobirthing, waterbirth, physiological birth, continuity of care, meconium

    25 SEPT

    066 - Alice | homebirth, hypnobirthing, waterbirth, physiological birth, continuity of care, meconium

    In today's episode we're hearing from Alice. She always knew she wanted a homebirth so when she found out she was pregnant it felt like the obvious choice. She shares how she prepared in the lead up to birth; what she read, how she loved science behind hypnobirthing and how supportive she found affirmations for her mindset. Alice's patience was tested with a few days of latent labour, but after chatting to some helpful midwives she was able to relax into it and once things got going her son ended up being born pretty quickly. This is such a lovely story of first time homebirth and the benefits of being supported by a midwife you know and trust. A short and sweet episode for what ended up being relatively short labour in the end!   The Birth Prep Bundle (guided meditations for pregnancy):  https://sincere-union-68693.myflodesk.com/zkj6c4q686  Alice's IG: https://www.instagram.com/alice_inwineland/  Helena's episode:  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/046-helena-physiological-birth-mlu-gbs-positive-gas/id1703057905?i=1000664690760  My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

    40 min
  6. 065 - Bec | traditional birthkeeper, wild pregnancy, freebirth, OP baby, waterbirth, physiological birth

    11 SEPT

    065 - Bec | traditional birthkeeper, wild pregnancy, freebirth, OP baby, waterbirth, physiological birth

    In this episode Bec shares her wild pregnancy and freebirth. As a traditional birth keeper she had plenty of experience supporting women choosing to birth outside the system, so this felt like the obvious choice for her own pregnancy. From the moment she conceived she had no tests, scans or interaction with the maternity system and she talks about how she worked through the range of emotions that came up throughout the process.  Bec takes us step by step through her blissful final few weeks of pregnancy, labouring in the woods with her partner and pushing for an intense 6 hours before her son was finally born into the water. She shares how they chose to honour the placenta, how birth has humbled her and how her own experience has influenced the way she supports other mothers through this transition.   Bec's IG: https://www.instagram.com/becoakaiah/  Bec's website: https://subscribepage.io/thejurassiccoastbirthkeeper  My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

    58 min
  7. 064 - Anna | 2 births, unplanned c-section, reflexology, gestational diabetes, independent midwife, planned c-section, breastfeeding

    4 SEPT

    064 - Anna | 2 births, unplanned c-section, reflexology, gestational diabetes, independent midwife, planned c-section, breastfeeding

    In this episode I'm chatting to Anna about the birth of her 2 little boys. She shares how much she enjoyed pregnancy and the healing effect it had on her relationship with her body. After going into spontaneous labour shortly before 40 weeks, her baby was born via c-section due to concerns around his heart rate and whilst this wasn't what she'd hoped for, she still found the birth to be really positive and amazing. Anna was hoping to experience a vaginal birth second time around and threw herself into preparing for that, but for various reasons ended up having a repeat caesarean. She talks us through how different she found the planned c-section, finding acceptance with letting go of the VBAC she was planning and the importance of really kind and understanding care providers.   Anna's IG: https://www.instagram.com/annaolewistrounce/ My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

    1 hr

  8. 21 AUG

    063 - Shanna | 2 births, induction, post dates pregnancy, sterile water injections, shoulder dystocia, homebirth, doula

    In today's episode we're hearing about Shanna's two births; one at the hospital and the other at home. Throughout her pregnancy she had a very clear idea of what she was and wasn't comfortable accepting in terms of intervention and she was very confident in her intuition around the birth. She explains how she resisted the pressure to accept an induction until she was nearly 43 weeks and shares how her birth was managed when her baby was born with a shoulder dystocia. Her first labour and the way it left her feeling massively impacted the decisions Shanna made when preparing for her second birth. She hired a doula, chose to birth at home and was very aware of her positioning and alignment during her pregnancy. Despite a few complications in the final weeks, she once again trusted her instincts when it came to making decisions around her care and went on to have her beautiful homebirth. Shanna shares how she struggled to find accounts of other mother's whose babies had had a shoulder dystocia so she was really keen to tell her story in the hope its supportive for anyone else who finds themselves in her position.   Shanna's IG: https://www.instagram.com/shanna1hn/  My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

    1 hr
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Trailer

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Welcome to Birth Tales. Conception, pregnancy, birth and those first hazy postpartum days are a physical and emotional whirlwind. My hope is that by sharing these unique experiences we can support, educate and inspire others on their journeys to becoming parents.

Information

  • Creator
    Serena Louth
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Birth Tales

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