In today's episode we're hearing from Rochelle about the birth of her son, Jude. Despite having had a previous early pregnancy loss, she felt confident and intuitively very positive right from the beginning of her pregnancy. Thanks to minimal symptoms she was able to stay busy with work, but as a result feels she might not have prepared for the birth as much as she would have liked.

When her labour began a few days after her due date, Rochelle noticed meconium in her waters so was advised to attend the hospital. Whilst her labour had been progressing nicely at home, things slowed down after a long wait in triage so she had her remaining waters released to help things along. After some concerns around her blood pressure and the baby showing signs of distress, Rochelle accepted an epidural and Jude was born not long after.

Rochelle shares how positively she feels about the experience despite things deviating so far from what she hoped for, plus a little about Jude's feeding complications in the early days. And as she was 38 weeks pregnant at the time we recorded, she tells us a bit about her plans for the upcoming birth of her second child.

Rochelle's IG: https://www.instagram.com/roshiimcinscottii/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Katie about the first of her two births. She conceived just before the pandemic hit so her pregnancy and birth were both heavily affected by the restrictions; from the antenatal classes she could attend to how much her partner could be with her during labour. Due to her Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Katie experienced a lot of leg and hip pain, as well as some joint dislocations  during her pregnancy so was put on crutches.

As she neared the end of her pregnancy, after several days of mild period cramps and multiple trips to and from the hospital for monitoring, Rory was born swiftly at 37 weeks. Katie shares how useful she found the information she had learned through hypnobirthing, how living with chronic pain positively impacted the way she viewed the intensity of childbirth and how having an attentive, supportive birth partner was the most amazing thing for boosting her own self-belief throughout the process.

Katie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/___luscious_lavender___/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Lottie about the birth of her little boy. She was lucky enough to feel physically well during her pregnancy, but emotionally found it quite overwhelming. Her and her husband took an antenatal course in preparation for the birth which they found really useful for learning about all their options, so when she was offered an induction at 41 weeks Lottie felt confident and well informed in accepting. Her induction was on the whole a very positive experience and her son with born with ventouse assistance.

Lottie goes on to share a little about her breastfeeding journey as she suffered with dysmorphic milk ejection reflex which really affected her experience as she felt there were limited resources and sources of support available to her.

Lottie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/slow_fashion_lottie/

Mama to Mama Charity: https://www.mama-to-mama.co.uk/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm speaking to Lottie about her daughter Scarlet's birth. Her and her husband were living in Mexico City when they conceived and her pregnancy came with plenty of anxiety - from a subchorionic haematoma in the first trimester to her daughter's diagnosis of hydronephrosis at the anomaly scan - and she shares how difficult it was dealing with all these extra worries without the support of friends and family nearby. At 34 weeks a scan showed her daughter's foramen ovale valve was closing prematurely and it was advised she be born early via c-section.

In the months that followed Scarlet faced numerous ongoing health challenges; severe jaundice which required treatment in the NICU, kidney surgery at 10 weeks old, several occurrences of urosepsis and many long stays in the hospital. Lottie shares honestly how this all took a massive toll on her own mental health and her ability to connect with her baby.

This is a very special episode as Lottie so generously shares her experience of dealing with her daughter's health conditions and her own struggles with postnatal depression and anxiety, but I want to let you know we do cover some very sensitive topics so it might be an episode to save for a later date if you're not feeling in the right headspace to hear it.

Lottie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/lottielboulton/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Rachel about her third birth. Her 2 eldest children were born via emergency c-section and a forceps assisted delivery - experiences which Rachel found traumatic - and she knew she wanted to feel more present and involved in any subsequent births. Before conceiving her third baby, Rachel was diagnosed with congenital hepatic fibrosis;  a rare condition affecting the liver which can have problematic implications for birth, so she knew before becoming pregnant that her baby would need to be born via c-section and she shares all the aspects that make her planned surgery such a positive experience. She worked alongside a nutritionist, her medical team and an amazing doula to manage both her physical symptoms and her anxieties, and through learning to surrender to the circumstances outside of her control, she went on to have a beautiful caesarean birth.

Rachel's IG: https://www.instagram.com/lifewith.rp/ 

Rachel's doula: https://www.instagram.com/marbedbirthing/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm speaking to Annie who conceived her little boy via IVF. After a clinical start to her pregnancy she had to work hard to rebuild trust in her body and found her yoga practice to be invaluable in helping her to reconnect to herself and her intuition.

Towards the end of her pregnancy concerns were raised around her baby's size and after multiple scans to check growth and placental function she agreed to an induction at nearly 42 weeks pregnant. Following a lengthy induction process with days spent waiting on the ward Annie experienced uterine hyperstimulation and it was advised her baby should be born via c-section.

Annie shares how she now feels a sense of positivity and acceptance looking back at the birth, despite it being so far from the  experience she had hoped for and we discuss how memorable a kind doctor or midwife can be when things take a turn for the unexpected.

I just wanted to say that throughout the episode we mention her sister Ellie a few times, who's birth story is very much intertwined with Annie's own, so if you'd like to give that a listen to weave the two stories together it is episode 23 of the podcast.

Annie's website: https://annieclarke.com/ 
Annie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/annieclarke_/

Annie's postpartum experience: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/annie-clempner-clarke-mother-ivf-emergency-c-section/id1724824946?i=1000644309714

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Nina about the birth of her daughter Isla. Nina conceived a little sooner than planned and admits she knew very little about birth when she first got pregnant. She took an antenatal course and decided to go with the flow rather than overloading herself with birth prep. Around 41 weeks Nina chose to have a sweep and her labour began shortly afterwards. During a long wait in triage she was monitored via CTG due to some fluctuations in the baby's heart rate and after a few more hours on the labour ward her baby was born via C-section. She shares about how she found the surgery, plus a little about her breastfeeding journey as she was really surprised by the huge hormonal crash that she experienced when she stopped after 6 months.

Nina's IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.grounded.mama/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm chatting to Leone about her positive homebirth experience. She loved being pregnant and really immersed herself in preparing for her baby's birth. Her labour began a few days before her estimated due date and she was surprised to feel all her contractions solely in her lower back. She laboured at home with the support of her husband and doula, using the TENS machine and the birth pool to help her manage the sensations and baby Hugo was born back to back in the water.

Leone shares her experience of advocating for herself during her pregnancy, how she found all the birth prep she did to be invaluable and the struggles she faced in the early days of breastfeeding.

Leone's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leone_hunter_

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode Nicole shares her experience of consciously conceiving and birthing her son Oakley. She loved being pregnant and spent her time preparing for the transition from maiden to mother by hiring a doula, listening to positive birth stories and nourishing herself with good food, movement, yoga and massage. Having planned for a homebirth, Nicole and her husband spend the majority of her labour at home but eventually transferred to hospital to birth her baby with ventouse assistance.

She shares how she found pregnancy, birth and the early months of motherhood to be the ultimate lesson in trust and surrender and how she found peace with her birthing experience despite things not turning out exactly as she had envisaged.

Nicole's IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.grounded.mama/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm chatting to Laura about the birth of her daughter Winnie. Laura loved being pregnant; she enjoyed staying active and immersing herself in birth preparation.
When her labour began and her contractions got going Laura found all the tools and techniques she had learned through hypnobirthing to be invaluable, but after a while progess slowed due to the baby's positioning and her care providers wanted to intervene.  Laura ended up trying some coached pushing which she found particularly tough. She went on to have her waters broken, after which something shifted and she was able to birth her baby by herself.
Laura tells us all about the overwhelming feeling of relief once she had Winnie in her arms and shares a little about the struggles she faced in the early days of breastfeeding.

Laura's website: https://www.lauranolan.co.uk/ 
Laura's IG: https://www.instagram.com/lauracnolan/

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Georgie about the birth of her son Phaedra. During her first trimester she struggled with feeling unwell but put her symptoms down to her pregnancy. When things didn't improve over time her care providers investigated and Georgie was eventually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and placed under consultant lead care. Conversations about induction started early as the baby was suspected to be large for gestational age due to Georgie's diabetes going untreated for so long, but Phaedra had other plans and surprised everyone by arriving at 35 weeks! Labour started spontaneously and Georgie gave birth in the hospital with her mum as her birth partner.

Georgie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/root__down?igsh=ajM2aGt4dHcxYzFz 

Freya's IG: https://www.instagram.com/freyarosebirch?igsh=MXN0em9ka3Awc3NvbA%3D%3D

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Lily about the birth of her second daughter, Nancy. Lily loved being pregnant but definitely found it harder to create time to relax this time around. She planned for a homebirth and really enjoyed having all her midwife appointments at home, but admits she felt much more nervous about giving birth than she had during her first pregnancy.

When her labour began, Lily called her midwife only to find she was busy at another birth. Things ramped up quickly and when she realised there wasn't going to be time to transfer in to the hospital, an ambulance was sent out to her. Lily gave birth to her baby girl in the water with her husband, doula and the paramedic present and her midwives arrived shortly after. She shares how the birth was a totally different experience to her first and how special it was introducing Winnie to her little sister.

Lily's IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.better.sleep.coach/ 

Lily's Doula, Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/doula_sarah/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode Chantal reflects on the birth of her little girl just 3 weeks postpartum.  In her third trimester it was suspected that her baby was measuring large for gestational age, so Chantal's care providers were keen to monitor baby's growth and potentially induce her before her due date. An elective C-section was booked and having accepted a few sweeps to try and get things moving, Chantal's labour began as she was nearing 39 weeks. After a few days of irregular contractions, she opted for an induction but was quickly rushed into a C-section when her baby's heart rate dropped. 

Chantal shares how whilst it wasn't her dream birth, it was an incredible experience and she reflects on the highs and lows of the last few weeks.

Chantal's IG: https://www.instagram.com/chantal_bar/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm chatting to Zoe as she shares her insights on loss, pregnancy and the postpartum period both as a mother and as a psychotherapist. Zoe shares her two heartbreaking experiences of miscarriage and the emotional challenges of pregnancy after loss. Aside from the understandable anxiety, her third pregnancy went smoothly. Her waters broke nearly 2 weeks after her due date but when contractions hadn't started after 24 hours, she accepted an induction to help her baby be born. Zoe talks about the anxiety and intrusive thoughts she faced postpartum and how your instincts are your greatest guide in those early weeks after your baby is born.

Zoe's website: https://zoeaston.com/ 
Zoe's IG: https://www.instagram.com/zoeastondotcom/ 

Tommy's: https://www.tommys.org/ 
Petals Baby Loss Counselling: https://www.petalscharity.org/
Saying Goodbye: https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/ 
The Worst Girl Gang Ever: https://theworstgirlgangever.co.uk/ 
Supporting friends through baby loss: https://serenalouth.com/2023/10/12/how-to-support-someone-through-pregnancy-loss/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode Emma shares her stories of birthing her two daughters. Her first pregnancy went smoothly on the whole; she fell pregnant easily, was lucky enough to experience the sought after second trimester glow and married her husband a few weeks before the baby arrived. She talks us through the emotional challenge of becoming a mother having sadly lost her own mother as a teenager and how art psychotherapy helped her to process the grief that arose. When her due date arrived, Emma and her husband celebrated by cooking a recipe that supposedly helps to get labour started… and her contractions started shortly after! Emma laboured in the MLU and her baby was born gently in the water.

During her second pregnancy Emma opted for a homebirth and talks us through the things she did differently to prepare for her next birth, from the books she read to regular reflexology treatments which all helped her to feel positive and confident in the lead up to the birth. When the time came, Emma loved labouring at home but eventually transferred into the hospital when her labour stopped progressing. She shares her experience of co-sleeping and how surrounding herself with a strong support network positively shaped her postpartum experience.

Emma's website: https://hungryromantic.co.uk/

Emma's IG: https://www.instagram.com/hungryromantic/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Georgie about the births of her two sons. Despite struggling with anaemia and being in lockdown for much of it, her first pregnancy was overall very positive, but in the final few weeks after a loss in the family and talk of potentially having to birth without her husband present, Georgie's confidence began to waver. She went into hospital for a check up have had some bleeding and after a discussion with her care providers ended up opting for an induction which turned out to be a lengthy process resulting in a traumatic emergency c-section and a few days in NICU for baby Alexander.

When she fell pregnant a second time, Georgie knew she wanted something different from the birth. She prepared physically by exercising well, having acupuncture and reflexology and whilst she was hoping for a VBAC Georgie was also open to the option of a planned c-section. Her contractions began a few days after her estimated due date and she found her birth to be a far more positive experience this time round. She was even left feeling it had provided some closure and emotional healing from her first birth.

Georgie's website: https://www.piccolopilates.com/

Georgie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/piccolopilates_

Georgie's acupuncturist: https://brittawoermann.co.uk/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm chatting to Natalie about her 2 experiences of birth. Natalie conceived sooner than she had planned and found herself feeling disengaged from her pregnancy. Having prepared for a homebirth, her plans were derailed when the country went into national lockdown during the final few weeks of her pregnancy, so when her waters broke she transferred in to the MLU. After a long, uncomfortable pushing stage her son's birth was assisted with forceps. As Jude needed some extra monitoring in the NICU and her partner couldn't stay due to covid restrictions, Natalie found herself alone on the postnatal ward for her first night postpartum which she found really difficult.

This whole experience really shaped her plans for her subsequent birth, which again she intended to be at home for, but when she found out she was carrying twins Natalie was immediately marked high risk and put under consultant lead care. She hired a doula to help optimise her chances of a more positive experience, immersed herself in preparing for a twin birth and advocated for herself to get the midwife lead care she wanted. Despite ending up birthing in the hospital once again, Natalie had a very calm, positive and unmedicalised birth with a really supportive team around her which she hopes will pave the way for future midwife lead twin births.

Natalie's doula, Tortie: https://www.bristolbirthsupport.co.uk/meet-our-doulas

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm speaking to Grace about the birth of her son Jude. Grace knew she was going to need IVF to conceive having had both fallopian tubes removed at the age of 22. As a nutritional therapist specialising in fertility she knew exactly what to do to help her and her husband prepare themselves so she talks us through the conception preparation they both undertook before their successful first round of IVF.

Midway through her pregnancy Grace found out she had grade 4 placenta praevia and had no choice but to birth her baby via c-section. Her surgery was booked for 38 weeks but had to be brought forward after a scary antepartum haemorrhage. This was far from the birth she had hoped for and Grace shares how she found both the experience and  her recovery really tough; from the pain following the surgery to a challenging start with breastfeeding.

Grace's website: https://www.gracekingswell.com/

Grace's IG: https://www.instagram.com/gracekingswell

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Jess. As a midwife and one of 10 siblings she was no stranger to the world of birth when she found out she was pregnant. Jess was lucky enough to have continuity of care from an amazing friend and colleague of hers which had such a positive impact on her experience. She chose to give have her baby in the birth centre where she worked. After a long latent phase, she opted for a pethidine injection to allow her to rest for an hour or so. During that time things progressed very quickly and her daughter was born shortly after!

Following her first birth which she describes as the most empowering experience of her whole life, Jess knew she wanted to birth her second baby at home. She admits she became a bit impatient in the final days of her pregnancy, to the point that when her labour began she was in denial it was the real thing, but once her waters broke things moved quickly and it wasn't long until her son arrived.

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

Online Hypnobirthing Course: https://www.serenalouth.com/hypnobirthing 

In today's episode we're hearing from Anna about her two vastly different births. She admits she did zero preparation during her first pregnancy, seeing birth as something that simply had to be endured. As a result, when she went in for her induction she had no coping techniques to rely on and ended up having an epidural and forceps delivery. It wasn't until she took a hypnobirthing course whilst pregnant with her daughter that she realised perhaps things could have gone differently…

During her second pregnancy, Anna threw herself into preparing holistically, exercising, informing herself on her options and managed to totally change her outlook on birth. Her second labour was short, uncomplicated and in her own words; euphoric and transformative. It was so good she went on to train as a hypnobirthing teacher so she could help hundreds of others have positive and empowering experiences like hers.

Anna's website: https://www.hackneyhypnobirthing.com/
Anna's IG: https://www.instagram.com/hackneyhypnobirthing

Pregnancy Relaxation info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2w3JKkqwgc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Pregnancy Relaxation booking: https://serenalouthbookings.as.me/schedule.php 

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Ellie who conceived both her little boys via IVF due to primary amenorrhea. She shares how she struggled with anxiety during her first pregnancy, not trusting in her body's ability to carry a child. Her and her husband moved out of London just weeks before Bowie was born and despite a short hospital stay at 38 weeks due to a hemiplegic migraine, Ellie went on to birth her baby at home.

Her second pregnancy was a very different experience as she dealt with fatigue, PGP and some difficult emotional challenges all whilst mothering a young toddler. Unfortunately hospital restrictions meant that Ellie had to give birth in the labour ward, which was far from her first choice and whilst again she had the unmedicated vaginal birth she wanted, the care she received in the hospital negatively shaped her experience of her second birth

Ellie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/elliemaeclarke/
Studio Amphora: https://studioamphora.com/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm speaking to Phoebe who birthed her daughter at home in Bali. Phoebe and her husband were advised they would probably need to conceive via IVF, but gave themselves a month to relax and have fun before starting treatment. Miraculously their daughter came through that month!

When Phoebe started experiencing contractions on her due date she had no idea that her baby wouldn't be born for another 80 hours. Whilst labouring with the support of her husband and midwife an old injury resurfaced, leaving Phoebe unable to walk which resulted in a long, tough recovery on crutches after her daughter was born.

Phoebe's website: https://phoebegreenacre.com/
Phoebe's IG: https://www.instagram.com/phoebegreenacre/

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

Pregnancy Relaxation Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2w3JKkqwgc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

In today's episode we're hearing from Ellie who had her baby whilst living out in LA. Ellie fell pregnant quickly and went on to struggle with anxiety during her first trimester. She shares her fascinating account of navigating the US maternity system where she had difficulty finding midwifery lead care to support the physiological birth she was hoping for. She hired a doula to help her advocate for herself and finally managed at 37 weeks to find a likeminded OB-GYN who supported her choices. Ellie laboured at home for 30 hours before transferring in to the hospital where, after another exhausting 12 hours, she opted for an epidural. When her daughter was born she was rushed off to the NICU and Ellie reflects how with hindsight perhaps this course of action wasn't entirely necessary.

Ellie's website: https://www.coupld.co/ 
Ellie's parenting course: https://www.coupld.co/prebaby-bootcamp 
Ellie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/coupldco/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In this episode I'm chatting to Chloe about her son's water birth. As a hypnotherapist, Chloe was well aware of the mind-body connection and the importance of a good mindset when preparing for birth, so she did lots of reading, took various classes, learned hypnobirthing, hired a doula and practised visualisation and affirmations. Having always assumed she was very sensitive to pain she was convinced she would need an epidural, but her confidence grew the more she learned and her mind was opened to the possibility that her birth experience could be different from how she imagined.

Chloe birthed her baby in the water in the MLU with the support of her doula and her partner Aiden - despite finding the birth hard she remembers having a strong sense that she could do it and now feels very grateful for the experience. And she shares how doing something you're scared of can really shift your self-perception which is a very powerful thing.

Chloe's IG: https://www.instagram.com/chloebrotheridge/?hl=en-gb 

Chloe's Website:  https://www.calmer-you.com 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Kat as she shares about the births of her two daughters. She used letrozole to help her conceive her first baby due to amenorrhea and her second was conceived after her first period in 13 years! Despite both babies being born at home, her two births were wildly different experiences; one ended with an episiotomy in an ambulance outside the house and the other in the birth pool with the midwives calmly watching over. We discuss the importance of sharing positive homebirth stories, the power of mother's intuition and the logistics of homebirthing with an older sibling present.

Kat's website: https://katarinarayburnyoga.com/
Kat's IG: https://www.instagram.com/katarinarayburnyoga 

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

Upcoming hypnobirthing course dates: https://serenalouth.com/hypnobirthing

In today's episode we're hearing from Minnie about the birth of her son Miles. Minnie fell pregnancy quickly and as an active person found the first trimester fatigue difficult. Despite feeling pretty good during the rest of her pregnancy she came up   against some challenges; from her 12 week bloods showing the baby had a high chance of having Down Syndrome to low PAPP-A levels and concerns around the baby's size in the third trimester. As a result she had frequent monitoring and scans during the final weeks.

Due to the baby measuring small and her increasing blood pressure Minnie was advised to have an induction and she shares her decision making process that ultimately led her to choose a planned c-section for the birth of her son.

Minnie's website: https://www.minniesamengoyoga.com/

Minnie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/minniesamengoyoga/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode we're hearing from Lucy as she shares her experience of birthing her daughter Freya. Her labour began when her waters broke dramatically at home one night. Her surges were irregular and remained so for the next 24 hours so eventually she was advised to have her labour augmented with a syntocin drip which she found intense but manageable. Despite accepting some interventions that Lucy hadn't planned or hoped for she feels she had a really positive birth experience using only gas and air and the bath for pain relief. She found the water to provide huge amounts of relief and she went on to birth her baby in the pool with the support of her partner and lots of cheerleading from the midwives.

Lucy's website: https://www.lucyrowland.co.uk/ 
Lucy's IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucyrowland.yoga/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/
Apply to be a guest on Birth Tales: https://serenalouth.com/bt-application 

In today's episode I'm chatting to Kim about her amazing homebirth. Kim fell pregnant a little faster than she expected and quickly decided homebirth was the best option for her and her baby. She threw herself into birth prep - reading books, listening to podcasts and seeing a women's health physio - which she found to all be very empowering.

When her labour started at 4am her contractions came on thick and fast from the beginning. She used active birthing positions, gas and air and the birth pool to help her through her surges and Indie was born after an intense 9 hours of labour. Kim opted for a physiological third stage and delayed cord clamping before snuggling up for some lovely skin to skin with her newborn at home.

Kim's website: https://kimhartwell.com/ 
Kim's IG: https://www.instagram.com/kimhartwell/ 
Humum: https://www.instagram.com/iamhumum/

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ 

In today's episode I'm sharing my own story of birthing my son Max. I touch on the experience of losing my first pregnancy at 12 weeks, how that loss affected my second pregnancy and the amazing support I received from my doula, acupuncturist and therapist. I talk about how finding out I was GBS positive influenced my choice of birth place and how much I enjoyed learning about pregnancy and birth through hypnobirthing, podcasts and lots of reading.

I laboured in the MLU with the support of my husband and doula and whilst the birth was long and intense I came away feeling really happy about my experience. I talk at length about the preparation I did and coping techniques I used that I believe attributed to my positive birth.

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

Britta the acupuncturist: https://brittawoermann.co.uk/ 
Petals counselling charity: https://www.petalscharity.org/ 
My doula Michele: https://www.michelemyoga.com/ 
Lactation consultant Sharon: https://www.londonlactationconsultants.co.uk/who-we-are/

In today's episode I'm speaking to CJ as she shares the story of her daughter Evie's birth. After being diagnosed with PCOS, CJ had been told she might struggle to get pregnant, so she embarked on an 18 month journey of changing her diet and lifestyle to prepare her body and optimise her chances of conceiving. Luckily she fell pregnant quickly, but she struggled with intense pelvic girdle pain during her second trimester which was a real challenge.

CJ prepared for birth by really focussing on her nutrition and immersing herself in hypnobirthing which she found to be an amazing support during her long labour in the midwife lead unit. CJ and her husband went back home shortly after the birth but were back in hospital a few days later for monitoring due to a ragged placenta and Evie being jaundiced.

CJ's website: https://www.charlottejamesholistic.co.uk/
CJ's IG: https://www.instagram.com/cj_health_coach/

My website: www.serenalouth.com
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm speaking to Georgia who gave birth to her daughter Skye in the water in the MLU. She shares about finding out she was GBS positive during pregnancy, how she managed her diagnosis of gestational diabetes and why she loved having the support of a doula. When her labour began at 39 weeks Georgia stayed at home for as long as possible, so by the time she arrived at the hospital she was fully dilated. She jumped straight in the pool and birthed her baby very soon after, using gas and air, massage and aromatherapy to help her through her surges. After a really positive birth Georgia did experience some breastfeeding challenges and explains why she ended up breastfeeding from one breast only.

Georgia's website: https://www.back-to-you.com/ 
Georgia's IG: https://www.instagram.com/backtoyouyoga/
Georgia's doula Lauren: https://www.thebarnesdoula.com/
Georgia's sister's studio: https://www.broodfamilystudio.com/

My website: https://serenalouth.com/ 
My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ 

In today's episode I'm speaking to Louise as she shares her amazing physiological twin birth story. From the moment the hospital confirmed she was pregnant with identical twins Louise found herself under pressure to have a c-section. She spent her pregnancy researching, advocating for herself and visualising her pain-free birth. When her waters broke prematurely her hospital were unable to accept her due to the NICU being full so she was transferred in labour to an unfamiliar hospital 45 minutes from her home. Despite all the last minute changes she managed to stay calm and birth her babies and her very large placenta vaginally without any medication or intervention. Her boys were both admitted to the NICU where they spent 10 days being treated for respiratory distress syndrome which Louise admits was a traumatic start to motherhood; luckily Felix and Leo both went on to make a full recovery.

Find out more about Louise here: https://www.loupyoga.com/ 
Or on her IG: https://www.instagram.com/loupyoga_studio/ 

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth
https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

More info on my upcoming hypnobirthing course:  https://serenalouth.com/hypnobirthing

In today's episode I'm chatting to Jaime who fell pregnant a few weeks after sister, so they experienced parallel pregnancies on either side of the Atlantic. On the whole she enjoyed her pregnancy and spent lots of time educating herself about birth, her choices and the postpartum period. After her labour began with her waters breaking she spent the day at home trying to bring on contractions before transferring in to hospital when things got going. Her labour was long and intense due to the baby being back to back. She tried pethidine, gas and air and the birth pool before eventually moving to the labour ward for an epidural so she could get some rest. Jaime found the pushing phase really empowering but baby Milo had shoulder dystocia so needed some assistance at the last minute to be born safely.

Find out more about Jaime here: https://www.jaimehepburn.com/ 
Or on her IG: https://www.instagram.com/jaimehepburn

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth
https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/ 

In today's episode we're hearing from Natalie who gave birth to her son Jackson in Germany. She found out she was pregnant after nearly 2 years of trying to conceive and on the whole loved being pregnant despite some nausea and tiredness in the early weeks. Natalie spent the first half of her labour in the MLU using the birth pool for relief, but transferred to hospital for an epidural when she became too tired to continue. Towards the end of her labour the baby showed signs of distress and the decision was made for Natalie to have an emergency c-section. She shares how she truly believes her son's birth was the experience she was supposed to have and we discuss the importance of having a plan B when it comes to birth preferences.

Find out more about Natalie on her IG.
https://www.instagram.com/natalie.kmartin/

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth
https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm speaking to Helena who birthed her daughter Bonnie 9 months ago. Having worked as a TV producer on a birth show Helena was lucky enough to have witnessed a variety of births first hand which helped her to feel prepared in the lead up to her own. She planned to birth her baby at home, but on the day her contractions began she received a message from the homebirth team saying they were taking a few days off due to illness. So she laboured at home for as long as possible and by the time she arrived at the birth centre she was fully dilated and went straight into the birth pool. After birthing her baby in the water, Helena experienced a postpartum haemorrhage and she shares how vulnerable she felt receiving treatment for this when all she wanted was to cuddle up with Bonnie. Luckily things were resolved relatively quickly and it wasn't long before she had her baby in her arms having her first feed.

Helena's story is such a joy to hear, I think its so important we share positive accounts of pregnancy and birth so that pregnant people are made aware of how magical it can be, so I'm sure you're going to love this episode.

Helena's IG: https://www.instagram.com/helenabrandon/

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In today's episode I'm speaking to India as she reflects on her pregnancy and birth exactly a year later. After going through two heartbreaking miscarriages India was surprised when she found out she was pregnant. She shares how her experience of loss affected her trust in her body and left her feeling very vulnerable during pregnancy. When she found out that her baby was breech she set to trying to turn the baby using moxibustion and Spinning Babies positions, but when Eva remained breech India opted for a c-section. She went on to have a challenging  time breastfeeding due to a tongue tie, mastitis, conflicting advice from her care providers and lots of pressure from herself and she generously shares the very mixed emotions that came with choosing to discontinue breastfeeding.

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm speaking to Holly whose first birth experience ended in an emergency c-section under general anaesthetic when the midwives were unable to find her baby's heartbeat during her labour. Luckily Jasper was born safely and stayed with her husband until she came round from surgery. When she fell pregnant with her daughter she deliberated long and hard over whether to try for a VBAC. Holly talks us through her decision making process, explains why she eventually opted for an elective c-section and shares her experience of birthing Sylvie.

Find out more about Holly here or on her IG.

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

You can find more information on my online hypnobirthing course beginning 8th November 2023 here.

In today's episode I'm chatting to Suzie. She settled in the Welsh countryside during her pregnancy and began planning for her homebirth with the help of her very holistic local midwives. She loved listening to podcasts and learning lots about birth in the lead up to her due date which meant that she was well prepared when things finally kicked off. After a powerful labour Suzie birthed her baby in the birth pool surrounded by nature but had to transfer in a few hours later when her baby became unwell. Her and her partner spent the next 5 days in hospital whilst baby Fred was treated for congenital pneumonia.

Find out more about Suzie and her beautiful tattoos here or on her IG.

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm chatting to Sophie as she shares her experience of miscarriage and the anxiety that comes with a subsequent pregnancy. When she found out she was pregnant with her daughter Evella, Sophie hired a doula for extra support. She required regular growth scans towards the end of her pregnancy as her baby was measuring on the 8th centile and they were keen to induce her labour. Sophie advocated for herself and ended up having the water birth she hoped for after going into labour spontaneously on her due date.

You can find out more about Sophie here and on her IG.

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm chatting to Tania as she shares the story of Lyla's birth. Tania planned to birth at home and opted for an independent midwife incase the hospital's homebirth team were unavailable due to covid. She laboured at home in the water with the support of her partner but required a transfer to hospital towards the end of her labour to get some assistance with delivering the baby. Tania spiked a temperature in the hours after the birth so she and Lyla had to stay in hospital a few days for antibiotics and monitoring   . She shares her incredibly positive breastfeeding and co-sleeping journey which continues to this day.

You can find out more about Tania here and on her IG.

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm chatting to Lily as she shares the story of Winnie's birth. Lily loved being pregnant and used that time to learn as much as possible about birth. With the support of her amazing doula and husband, Lily laboured in the midwife lead unit where she enjoyed spending time in the birth pool. She required an in-out catheter due to urinary retention but other than that things progressed smoothly and she birthed her baby with just a small tear and a physiological third stage.

You can find out more about Lily and the work she does here.

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm chatting to Sam as she shares the story of Freddie's birth. Sam enjoyed her pregnancy on the whole but did have some moments of anxiety due to some bleeding in the early weeks. Having hoped for a physiological birth she was advised to have a C-section as the baby was measuring big. She shares her experience of the surgery, the difficulties of recovering from a caesarean and the importance of a strong support network when she struggled with her mental health postpartum.

You can see a photo of Sam and Freddie here.

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm chatting to Monika as she shares the story of Sunny's birth. Monika struggled with awful nausea and vomiting for the entirety of her pregnancy. As the sickness worsened around her due date she opted to be induced and after labouring through the night things ended with an episiotomy and a forceps-assisted birth as her baby's heart rate was dipping due to a nuchal cord. Monika went on to breastfeed her baby and continues to do so 19 months later.

You can find out more about Monika and her beautiful photography here or on her IG: @Monika_Chatterton

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm chatting to Lily Canetty-Clarke as she shares the story of Wren's birth. Lily planned for a homebirth with the support of her wonderful doula but after 2 long days of labouring at home and discovering her baby was positioned back to back, she transferred to hospital for pain relief so she could get some rest. After a difficult start to her time in hospital, things improved when Lily met a kind midwife who really listened to her preferences and she went on to birth her baby with an intact perineum.

Find out more about Lily here or on her IG @LilyCanettyClarke

www.serenalouth.com
@SerenaLouth

In today's episode I'm chatting to Sarah Malcolm as she shares the story of Oscar's birth. Having been diagnosed with PCOS and told she may struggle to conceive naturally, Sarah was surprised when she found out she was pregnant. She was cared for across two different hospitals due to a heart condition that needed extra monitoring and found she didn't have as much time as she'd like to relax into her pregnancy as she had a crazy busy year getting married and renovating her new home. Whilst her birth didn't pan out how she had hoped or imagined Sarah feels grateful for the lessons she learned from the experience and honestly shares her struggles over the first few days postpartum.

Find out more about Sarah here or on IG - @SarahMalcs

@SerenaLouth
www.serenalouth.com 

Today we're hearing from Arron Suzzette who was told at 21 she would be unlikely to have children due to having endometriosis and PCOS; amazingly she fell pregnant naturally just as her and her partner were about to start looking into their options. After an early diagnosis of gestational diabetes at 9 weeks pregnant, Arron Suzzette suddenly found both her diet and birth options restricted, so she threw herself into researching both how to manage her blood sugar and her rights regarding her birth choices.

As part of her preparation she took an online hypnobirthing course which she found to be invaluable when so much of her pregnancy and birth felt out of her control; it helped her to manage her mindset, prioritise her non-negotiable birth preferences and to stay calm whilst making tough decisions when her labour took an unexpected turn. Despite her birth not going as she had hoped, Arron Suzzxette said she wouldn't change it and she shares all about the amazing support she received from family and a very special health care visitor in the early days after her c-section.

Gestation Diabetes Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gestationaldiabetesuk/ 

Arron Suzette's IG: https://www.instagram.com/arronsuzzette/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

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.

Today I'm chatting to Anna about her daughter's birth in the midwife lead unit. Anna grew up hearing her mum speak positively about her own birth experiences so she was excited to throw herself into preparing for her own and she shares about the different courses, books and exercises that helped her through her pregnancy. 

Anna's contractions started a few days before her estimated due date and she laboured in the birth centre with the support of her husband, using gas and air and the birth pool to help her manage the sensations. After baby Bella was born, Anna needed some stitches, but when her bleeding continued longer than her midwives were happy with,  she transferred in to the hospital to have the stitching redone in theatre.

Anna's IG: https://www.instagram.com/annabee_x/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In this week's episode we're hearing from Leonora just 8 weeks after the birth of her daughter. She shares about her conception journey including the difficulty of her 4 early losses and the anxiety that came with her subsequent pregnancy; midway through which Leonora was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix. She underwent a cervical cerclage to prevent her going into preterm labour and was put on bed rest, and then house rest, which she understandably found very isolating.

Leonora chose to birth her baby via c-section which she describes as the best experience of her life! She shares a little about recovering from the surgery, the early days of motherhood and  how she is finding breastfeeding so far with the help of nipple shields.

Leonora's IG: https://www.instagram.com/leo.downes/ 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/

In this episode Clementine shares her experience of birthing her son Wilf. Having always known she wanted to be a mother and growing up hearing her own mum talk very positively about birth, she was super excited to find out she was pregnant. During her pregnancy she did lots of birth prep; reading books, taking antenatal classes, joining a hypnobirthing course and seeing a local physiotherapist.

Clementine laboured at home for a while before going in to the hospital where she was disappointed to find the midwife lead unit was closed. Luckily there was one available room in the labour ward that had a birth pool and the midwives were really supportive of her preferences, so despite the unexpected change in location she was able to have the waterbirth she had hoped for. Clementine talks a little about her breastfeeding journey so far, including the relief she felt when her lactation consultant suggested pumping and bottle feeding to give her a rest in the early days.

Clementine's IG: https://www.instagram.com/goodnessclementinenutrition/ 

Clementine's website: https://www.goodnessclementinenutrition.com/?r_done=1 

My website: www.serenalouth.com

My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/