Ireland's Birth Stories

EP229 Megan, Twin Pregnancy, Partial Termination (Termination For Medical Reasons) at 24 Wks, Vaginal Birth, C-section, Loss & Grief

This week, I share my chat with Megan, who talks me through her twin pregnancy and the birth of her babies. At her 21 week anatomy scan, Megan was told that while her little boy was developing just as expected but her daughter, Selki, had been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition, spina bifida. Megan shares how the weeks that followed unfolded, including further investigations into Selki’s condition and an MRI. Together with her husband, she met with a multidisciplinary team to discuss Selki’s diagnosis, what the future might look like and the options available to them.
After careful thought, consideration and a decision that took them to depths most of us could never begin to imagine, Megan and her husband travelled to the UK where they made the incredibly difficult decision to have a partial termination. At 32 weeks and 6 days, Megan went into spontaneous labour and later gave birth to her daughter, followed by her son via c-section as he has had turned footling breech. Feilan, Selki's twin brother spent some time in NICU needing minimal support and now thriving toddler.
Thank you Megan

Below I have also included supports for those who need it:
https://www.alittlelifetime.ie A little Lifetime provide emotional support and help and support the decisions that come following a stillbirth or neonatal death.

The HSE have a dedicated resource for anyone who has recieved a diagnosis of a fetal anomaly and is considering termination. It also includes information about travelling to access care: https://about.hse.ie/publications/hcp-termination-of-pregnancy-for-fetal-anomaly-booklet/

LMC provide non directive support and advice for those who have recieved a fetal anomaly diagnosis, in addition to bereavement support: https://lmcsupport.ie/

Féilicáin provide support for all parents affected by stillbirth or neonatal death, including supplying memory boxes to all Irish maternity hospitals: https://feileacain.ie/

https://pregnancyandinfantloss.ie This website is specific to the Republic of Ireland and is aimed at supporting parents bereaved through pregnancy loss and perinatal death.

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Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Lorna who shares each of her two birth stories. Lorna also brings us through trying to conceive (TTC) and seeing her first positive pregnancy test after so many investigations. We then talk through her pregnancy, care and the various interactions she had with health care professionals. At 40+ weeks Lorna did go into labour herself but the decision was made to bring her bay into the world through a c-section. Her little man greeted his parents with a huge roar giving his mam and dad the relief they needed. We then move onto her second pregnancy, a very different experience TTC from her first. This time Lorna decided she would opt for a VBAC at home with the support of PMI (Private Midwives Ireland) and her doula. There is so much in Lornas story for you to hear.

Thanks Lorna
You can find Lorna on IG here

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E: irelandsbirthstories@gmail.com
IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week I share my chat with Siofra who shares each of her two birth stories. Siofra was breech born vaginally at 33 weeks and spent some time in the NICU. She then talks me through her second pregnancy and the relief she felt as she got past the 33 week mark to full term. Siofra went into labour spontaneously and did want an epidural but her baby was very much on her way so there was no time to administer it. When Lucy, Siofra's daughter was born her husband could sense a change in the room. It was discovered that Lucy had a cleft pallet. Later after further investigation Lucy was diagnosed with Pierre Robin Sequence at only a few days old. A tough road lay ahead as Siofra felt unheard throughout the weeks that followed. Finally at four weeks old a PHN listened which finally helped provide the care and services Lucy needed. Siofra also shares her experience with PPD which is such a tough listen, thankfully she is in a much better place now.

Thanks Siofra

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E: irelandsbirthstories@gmail.com
IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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This week, I share my chat with Lucy, who talks me through her two very different birth stories. Lucy’s first baby, her son, was born at 32 weeks via emergency C-section. After three weeks in NICU, he was finally discharged, and Lucy and her husband walked out of the hospital for the first time together as a family of three.
When they decided the time was right to start trying for their second baby, this time TTC looked very different. After three pregnancy losses and IVF treatment that didn’t give them the results they had hoped for, they were left wondering what options remained. Lucy has a didelphic uterus, she has two uteruses, two cervix and two vaginas. Following further investigations, Lucy opted to undergo treatment in her left uterus, while her son had been conceived in her right uterus. Not only did Lucy see a positive pregnancy test but 9 months later she gave birth to her daughter.
This time, Lucy’s C-section experience was completely different from her first. There was no emergency and, instead, everything felt calm, controlled and positive.

Thank you so much Lucy

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Get in touch
E: irelandsbirthstories@gmail.com
IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I share my chat with Kitty, who talks me through her first pregnancy and the birth of her daughter. Kitty shares how she felt seeing a positive pregnancy test when starting a family wasn't part of her immediate plan. After taking time to process the news and sharing it with her loved ones, her mindset began to shift and started preparing for birth.
She revisits going into labour spontaneously and reflects on her experience of having an epidural that wasn't as effective as she had hoped. Shortly after welcoming her daughter into the world, Kitty experienced a postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Although she lost a lot of blood, she didn't receive a blood transfusion as her blood levels were just above the threshold required for one.
Kitty is in a great place now, but she shares how the postpartum haemorrhage and the care she received afterwards weren't what she had hoped for.

Thank you Kitty

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Get in touch
E: irelandsbirthstories@gmail.com
IG: Irelands Stories Birth Podcast IG

Produced & edited by Corah Gernon at She Talks Productions

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.