Ireland's Birth Stories

This week, I share my chat with Geri, who takes us through each of her two birth stories. Both of Geri's daughters spent time in NICU, with her first daughter spending almost 12 weeks there, followed by her younger sister, who spent 17 days.
Geri shares so much about those early days, from the constant scans and difficult conversations to what it felt like meeting her first baby before she felt ready. She articulates her experiences so beautifully, giving us an insight into the many different aspects of NICU life and the emotions that come with it.
During her second pregnancy, Geri and her medical team anticipated that baby might arrive early. Together, they made it to 34+1 weeks. Although her second daughter also needed time in NICU, this experience felt very different for Geri. This time, she was ready to meet her baby.
Another powerful story.

Thank you so much Geri

Booking Link - Podcast, My Birth Keepsake, Birth Trauma Resolution
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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In this weeks NICU episode I share my chat with Martina who talks me through her two birth stories. Her daughter was born at 34+6 days spending time in the NICU. Martina revisits feeling that primitive pull, wanting to see her baby and visiting her baby in the NICU for the first time. She mentions how this impacted her and the "emotional unraveling" that followed. She also shares the anxiety she felt as she brought her daughter home for the first time. Martina needed support with PTSD and postnatal anxiety that was linked to her daughters premature birth. A couple of years later Martina welcomed her second baby, her son via emergency c-section. Her son also spent some time in the NICU but experienced it very differently this time in comparison to her first experience. What's amazing is Martina's first postnatal experience has led her to completely change career paths. She is now a Psychotherapist supporting women not only on a 1-1 basis it also within her community.
Thank you Martina

Contact Martina Instagram / Website
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 Annmarie who talks me through her pregnancy and the birth of her son Alex. Annmarie suffered chronic sickness from 7 weeks pregnant feeling increasingly worse as the weeks passed by. It got to a point in her pregnancy that she had to go to the hospital to get things checked over. She had various scans which indicated her baby needed to be brought into the world immediately. Annmarie shares the hours and days that followed, Alex's birth and visiting the NICU for the first time to see her son. She shares how much she feared the future and wanted everything to return to just as it was. Alex underwent life saving surgery which brought about some incredibly tough conversations, conversations no parent should have to by a part of.
A hugely important part of Annmarie's story is her mental health throughout all of this. From the moment Annmarie knew there was potentially something wrong in her pregnancy she felt that shift. She describes in-depth how she felt at the prospect of the future and just how hard it was to imagine the enormity of how life would look with a micro-premie new born. She also discusses the sheer lack of support for her mental health from the hospital.
Annmarie and her family are in a great place now with Alex now a happy, healthy, strong 7 year old boy.

Thank you so much Annmarie!

Booking Link
Irelands Birth Stories - Instagram
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 part two of my conversation with Clare who talks me through her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter, Mary. Clare and her husband were told their daughter had Down Syndrome at 16 weeks following scans and a NIPT test. Clare shares her thoughts and the emotions that came with hearing that diagnosis. Later, her baby was also diagnosed with Hydrops which is extremely rare. This meant Clare underwent a number of procedures with the hope of helping her baby survive. So many tough conversations were to follow with conflicting advice but Clare and Thomas did find a team they felt aligned with their own wants and needs. Labour started spontaneously at 35 weeks, they made their way to the hospital and baby Mary was born. After 5 days in NICU, Mary passed away in her mothers arm due to Sepsis.
I'm so grateful to Clare for sharing her experiences with us.

Thank you Clare

Booking Link
Instagram
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 another episodes as part of the NICU series. My guest Sanya talks ys through her pregnancy and specifically her anxiety that she carried right up to the end. She was scheduled for induction at 39 weeks but one day prior to the induction her waters broke at home. She visited the hospital then returned home to wait for labour to start but nothing happened. Sanya went ahead with the induction but it was decided to bring her son into the world via c-section. Stay then shares her experience with NICU and in particular how scary it can be bringing your abby home for the frosty time without the safety blanket of the team from NICU.

Thank you so much Sanya
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.