Ireland's Birth Stories

Delighted to be back in action after a few weeks off. I have so many birth stories to share with you and grateful to each and everyone of you who support the pod here, it’s honestly keeps the podcast afloat. In this episode I share my chat with Kathleen who talks me through her two pregnancies and births. Kathleen welcomed her first baby, little Charlie, nearly three years ago with the support of...

In this short recording I share the words you would say to your postpartum self, shared by you. The over riding message, ask for help! Enjoy Get in touch E: irelandsbirthstories@gmail.com IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions Show Your Support Buy Me A Coffee Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks episode I share my chat with Gina who talks me through her four pregnancies and three very different births. At 9 weeks gestation Gina suffered early pregnancy loss with her first pregnancy. Soon after Gina conceived again, shares the details surrounding the birth of her first child. Her experience wasn't one that she envisioned which impacted those early postpartum days as a first t...

In this weeks episode I share my chat ith Maria who talks me through her two pregnancies and birth. Maria discovered she was pregnant in her early 20's after a short relationship. She shares how she navigated life from keeping her pregnancy hidden for nearly 18 weeks to adapting to such a huge change in her life during those early months of motherhood. She suffered birth trauma in her first experi...

In this episode I share my chat with Gráinne who talks me through her three pregnancies and two births. Both of Gráinnes boy were brought into the world by Caesarean birth (one emergency and under general anaesthetic) but each very different. Gráinne suffered an early pregnancy loss with her second pregnancy. It was later discovered after she underwent a DNC that she had a partial molar pregnancy...

In this next episode I chat to Rachael who shares her two pregnancies and births. Rachael who is a maternity care advocate amongst other things shares her experience in detail from suffering with HG throughout the early stages of both pregnancies, attending appointments alone and navigating the restrictions as she was in the height of labour with her second daughter. So much in this episode! I kno...

In this next episode I share my chat with Michelle who talks me through her one pregnancy and the birth of her son. Michelle suffered from anxiety very early on in her pregnancy that crippled her everyday, impacting her sleep and general ability to function. She was completely consumed with worry, fear and guilt to mention just a few emotions. She talks me through the birth of her son which wasn't...

In this next episode I share my chat with Fiona, founder of @feed.me.mother breastfeeding clothing. Fiona’s shares her two pregnancies and births both of which were vaginal births but very different experiences. Fiona went into labour with her first baby while attending a wedding. She gave birth in an unfamiliar hospital. She shares much more and how this possibly contributed to how she felt in ea...

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-secti...

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 d...

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 an...

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 fo...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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 w...

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 mom...

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,...

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...

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 preg...

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...

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...

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...

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...