British Birthing Stories

Georgia McGivern

A weekly podcast sharing real stories of childbirth in the UK, from labour and delivery to postpartum recovery. Mothers across the UK talk openly about their personal birth experiences, created to educate, inform, and empower women preparing for birth and the early weeks of motherhood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Kaci’s Birth Story: From Obstetric Cholestasis to a Cord Prolapse and CAT-1 Emergency C-Section

    In today’s episode, I speak with Kaci, who shares her first birth story, which unexpectedly ended in an emergency (Category 1) C-section under general anaesthetic following a cord prolapse. Kaci talks about a physically and emotionally challenging pregnancy, including PCOS, endometriosis, frequent hospital visits for reduced movements, and later being diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis after persistent itching and advocating to be heard. She shares how her waters broke spontaneously, labour progressed with the support of a hormone drip, and how quickly everything changed. We also discuss recovery after an emergency caesarean, early feeding experiences, processing birth trauma, and Kaci hopes of planning a VBAC in the future.   This episode is shared for storytelling purposes only and should not be taken as 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.

    44 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    Kailey: Third Birth, Birth Before Arrival (BBA), Freebirth at Home, Precipitous Labour, 42+4 Pregnancy & NHS Experience

    In this episode I chat with Kailey who shares her incredible third birth story, including a birth before arrival (BBA) where she gave birth completely alone at home before midwives or paramedics arrived.   After two previous births where she felt her experience was disrupted, Kaylee went into this pregnancy determined to have a physiological home birth on her terms. Navigating pregnancy as a single mum of three, she opens up about advocating for herself within the NHS system, declining interventions, and facing pressure around being 42+4 weeks pregnant.   Her labour began calmly but quickly turned into an intense precipitous labour, with her baby born just 16 minutes after calling the midwives. Guided only by a midwife on the phone, Kaylee experienced a powerful fetal ejection reflex, catching her own baby in the dark, an experience she describes as deeply healing and empowering.   She also shares the reality of postpartum recovery, from the day 4 emotional dip to navigating newborn life solo, and how this birth transformed her confidence as a mother. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in home birth, freebirth, birth before arrival, post-term pregnancy, and advocating for yourself in maternity care.   Please note: this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute 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.

    57 min

  3. 16 APR

    Amanda: Two births, Hospital Induction, Forceps Birth, Home Water Birth, Physiological Birth & Becoming a Doula

    In today’s episode, I speak with Amanda about her journey from a traumatic birth experience to a positive home birth, and how it led her to become a birth doula. Amanda shares how her first pregnancy involved concerns about a small baby, which led to pressure to accept an NHS hospital induction. This resulted in a cascade of interventions, including a forceps birth and episiotomy, leaving her feeling shocked, disconnected and physically traumatised. She opens up about her difficult postpartum recovery, including post-birth infection, tailbone pain after birth, breastfeeding difficulties, reflux in newborns, and the impact on her postnatal mental health. Amanda reflects on feeling unsupported during labour and the challenges of advocating for yourself in birth. When Amanda became pregnant again, she chose a completely different path. With the support of a birth doula, she was able to process her birth trauma, rebuild confidence and make informed decisions throughout pregnancy. Amanda planned a home birth within the NHS, choosing to avoid unnecessary interventions and trust her body. She describes her physiological home water birth as calm, empowering and deeply healing. This episode covers induction of labour, forceps delivery, episiotomy recovery, birth trauma, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding challenges, home birth, hypnobirthing, doula support, birth advocacy and maternal mental health, offering an honest and informative insight into how birth experiences can shape early motherhood. This episode is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider. 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.

    57 min

  4. 14 APR

    Jeanette: Two Births, Breech Baby, Attempted Vaginal Breech and Unplanned C-Section, VBAC and Emergency C-Section Under General Anaesthetic, Miscarriage, Tongue Tie, Breastfeeding Challenges,

    This week I'm joined by Jeanette, who shares two very different births that both ended in unplanned C-sections.   Her first baby turned breech right at the end of pregnancy. After three failed ECV attempts and a lot of research, she planned a C-section but went into labour first. When her baby showed signs of distress, the decision was made and she had an unplanned C-section.   For her second birth, Jeanette had a miscarriage between pregnancies before conceiving her rainbow baby. She was planning a VBAC when her waters broke at 40 weeks. Back at hospital her contractions became constant with no break between them and her baby's heart rate dropped. It was a category one emergency. Jeanette was taken for surgery under general anaesthetic alone, without her husband. Her baby was born not breathing and needed resuscitation.   Jeanette wanted to share her story so other mothers know that even when birth doesn't go to plan and the situation becomes frightening, you can still come out the other side feeling grateful and at peace with how it happened.   The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. 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.

    1hr 19min

  5. 9 APR

    Ellie: Infertility, Positive NHS Hospital Induction, 3B Tear, Retained Placenta & Fibroids

    In this episode, Ellie shares the story of conceiving her son after two and a half years of trying, following years on the contraceptive pill and eventually discovering during pregnancy that she had a large uterine fibroid. With concerns about her baby’s growth and blood flow between the placenta and uterus, she was placed under consultant-led care and scheduled for an induction on her due date. Ellie describes arriving at hospital for the induction, receiving a pessary, and unexpectedly progressing into labour quickly overnight. What followed was a fast and intense labour, where she laboured using gas and air, pethidine, and the bath before rapidly reaching full dilation just as she was being moved to the delivery ward for the epidural she had planned. Her son was born vaginally after a short pushing stage, but the birth was complicated by him being born with his arm up, resulting in a severe 3B tear. She also speaks honestly about the immediate postpartum complications that followed, including a retained placenta requiring surgery, missing the “golden hour” with her baby, significant blood loss, and the emotional impact of recovering from a serious birth injury. Ellie reflects on the challenges of early feeding, the slow physical recovery from a third-degree tear, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and learning to reconnect with her body after birth trauma. This episode offers a detailed, honest, and reassuring insight into induction birth, retained placenta, severe tearing, and the realities of postpartum recovery after a traumatic birth. This podcast shares personal birth experiences and is not intended as 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.

    1hr 16min

  6. 7 APR

    Emma: Second Birth, NHS Home Birth After Caesarean (HBAC), VBAC, Water Birth, Physiological Birth

    In this episode I’m joined by Emma, who shares the story of her second birth, an NHS home birth after caesarean (HBAC) and VBAC birth story. Emma reflects on choosing an elective C-section for her first baby during Covid, navigating postpartum recovery, and her difficult early breastfeeding journey. For her second pregnancy, Emma prepared for a VBAC home birth with the support of a doula and hypnobirthing, while advocating for her birth choices despite pushback from healthcare professionals. She takes us through spontaneous labour at 37 weeks, labouring through the night in water, and welcoming her baby in a powerful physiological birth at home. We also talk about planning a home birth after caesarean, birth rights, doula support, physiological birth, and Emma’s successful breastfeeding journey second time around. This episode is shared for storytelling and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek personalised guidance from your healthcare provider.   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.

    49 min

  7. 2 APR

    Harriet: Infertility Struggles, IVF, Post-Dates, NHS Home Water Birth & Physiological Third Stage, Breathwork and Meditation

    In today’s episode, I speak with Harriet, a midwife, yoga teacher, and first-time mum, about her experience of conceiving through IVF and going on to have a planned NHS home water birth with her daughter, Juno. Harriet shares her journey to conception after two and a half years of trying, eventually discovering that both she and her husband were facing fertility challenges. They went on to have IVF with ICSI and were left with just one embryo, which became their daughter. Harriet reflects on navigating pregnancy as a midwife herself, including experiencing severe sickness throughout much of her pregnancy. She talks through planning a home birth within the NHS, reaching 40+12 weeks pregnant, and navigating the pressure around induction as she waited for labour to begin. Harriet shares how labour started quietly at home and progressed throughout the day, using movement, breathwork and instinctive positions to support her body through back-to-back surges. Harriet’s daughter Juno was born in the birth pool at home just after midnight, caught by her husband and brought straight to her chest. She also shares her experience of a physiological third stage, the early postpartum hormone shifts, and their breastfeeding journey, including navigating tongue tie in the early weeks. This episode offers an honest account of IVF, post-dates pregnancy and planning a home birth within the NHS, alongside reflections on trusting the body, birth preparation and the realities of the early postpartum period. This episode is shared for storytelling purposes only and should not be taken as 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.

    1hr 6min

  8. 31 MAR

    Georgia: VBAC, Short Cervix, Episiotomy, Forceps Delivery, NICU stay, PostPartum Haemorrhage

    In today’s episode, I interview myself and share the birth story of my second son Kit. After having a previous C-section with my eldest son, Finn, I knew that I desperately wanted a VBAC birth with Kit. I did everything I could to prepare for Kit's birth, such as listening to lots of birth stories, downloading a hypnobirthing course, which was Pop That Mama's Birth Box, and making sure that I just did as much research as I could into how I could make this possible. I spoke with a consultant midwife and was able to start my labour on the midwife-led unit, but then eventually had to transfer to the main labour ward as my labour just progressed really slowly. Towards the end of labour, I had to have an episiotomy and forceps delivery, and Kit struggled to breathe once he was born, so he was sent away to NICU, and I had a postpartum haemorrhage and blood transfusion, which was really difficult at the time, but I am so grateful for everything that I'd done ahead of the birth, which meant that I was able to really cope and manage what was going on during my labour and birth. I share what it's like experiencing not having the birth you'd hoped for and being separated from your baby after birth. I also talk really openly about what it was like not experiencing love and struggling to bond with your baby and what it's like having a baby in NICU even for a short stay. I hope this helps other women out there. And ultimately, it was this birth that made me really want to start this podcast to help other women learn how to advocate for themselves because even though the birth that I experienced was quite traumatic to me, it wasn't actually that bad. And I guess that's because I felt so prepared. And as you'll hear if you listen to this birth story, I really advocated for myself the entire way through and I knew exactly what I was signing up for throughout that entire labor in terms of my interventions. So I hope that this is helpful and I can't wait to hear what you think. Please note that this episode shares my personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth journey is unique, so if you have any concerns about your own health or pregnancy, please speak with a qualified medical 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.

    55 min
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About

A weekly podcast sharing real stories of childbirth in the UK, from labour and delivery to postpartum recovery. Mothers across the UK talk openly about their personal birth experiences, created to educate, inform, and empower women preparing for birth and the early weeks of motherhood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Georgia McGivern
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © British Birthing Stories
  • Show Website
    British Birthing Stories

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