Ireland's Birth Stories

This week, I share my chat with Sarah, who talks me through each of her three birth experiences. We explore all the “firsts” her first pregnancy, her first birth, and her first steps into motherhood including attending additional appointments for her baby. We then move on to her second birth story, which was an induction just like her first. This time, she felt more prepared for postpartum recovery, having made sure she received the right care to support her pelvic health after experiencing a prolapse following her first birth. Sarah then talks through making the decision to have her third baby. Together with he husband they decided to continue growing their family and her third baby arrived quick and fast. A very different experience to each of her previous births.

Thanks so much Sarah

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Ciara, who talks me through each of her three pregnancies and births. Ciara welcomed all three of her boys via C-section, and she speaks very honestly about the guilt she felt for not giving birth “the natural way,” as she describes it. After her first son was born, Ciara experienced a post-dural headache, which was eventually treated with a blood patch. We then discuss the birth of her second son, who was also born via C-section. During her third pregnancy, Ciara suffered from severe sickness and vomited daily. We talk through that challenging period, the birth of her third son, her experience of motherhood, and lots of bits and pieces in between.

Thanks so much Ciara

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Anna, who talks me through each of her four pregnancies and two births. Anna revisits her first pregnancy, where a routine scan revealed a blighted ovum. She speaks openly about the physical and emotional impact of that miscarriage.

We then move through her two birth stories the first, an unplanned emergency C-section after progressing to 8cm, and the second, a planned C-section that offered a very different experience. Anna also shares the heartbreak of her fourth pregnancy, during which she experienced another miscarriage and underwent a D&C. Throughout all four pregnancies, she was supported by her consultant, whose care she recalls with deep gratitude.

We also talk about the moment you recognise your family is complete and how complex and emotionally challenging it can be to reach that place.

Thanks Anna

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Michele, who talks me through her two birth stories from the 1990s. Michele takes us on the journey from meeting her husband and buying their first home together, right through to welcoming their two children.

She chose private care under the same consultant for each pregnancy, and she reflects on how different maternity care looked at the time with little to no birth preparation, no conversations around birth preferences, and very few postnatal supports.

Michele also shares the next stage of her life: welcoming her much-loved dad into their family home. It was a beautiful chapter for everyone under their roof a united family in every sense.

Thanks Michele x

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Lisa, who talks me through the past nine years of her life. Together with her husband, she faced years of fertility struggles enduring IVF, tests, appointments, surgery and the heartbreak of negative tests, month after month, year after year.

Eventually, they received the long-awaited positive result, which thankfully led to a healthy, full-term pregnancy. However, when Lisa was 27 weeks pregnant, her family received devastating news her mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

We talk about grief, navigating motherhood through loss, continuing on the path of growing her family. Lisa went on to conceive again but sadly experienced a missed miscarriage. In her third and most recent pregnancy, she welcomed her baby just shy of 35 weeks via emergency c-section due to placenta abruption.

I’m so grateful to Lisa for sharing so openly and honestly about her journey.

Thank you, Lisa.

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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