Handprints and baby loss with Michelle Tolfrey

Nadiya was just 21 when she gave birth to her first child, Musa, in 2006. Although she was hoping for a quick and stress-free birth, her labour ended up taking 5 days from the first contractions to her baby finally being born. She and Clemmie discuss how her anxiety stopped her from attending antenatal classes, how sustaining a 3rd/4th degree tear during birth impacted her relationship with her son in the first few weeks of his life, and how ice lollies were an important part of her post-birth recovery. They also take a listener question about having a second child after an episiotomy.Nadiya's books Finding My Voice and My Monster and Me are out now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1472259963/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1, https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1444946439/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4This is the last episode in series 1, stay subscribed to be the first to hear about series 2, which will be coming soon.Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michelle chose to give birth privately after researching all the options available to her, but didn't look into c-sections as she was convinced she would have a vaginal birth. Clemmie and Michelle discuss Kate Middleton, calcified placentas, and how it felt when Michelle had to have an elective section after going past her due date. They also take a listener question about feeling negatively towards your body during pregnancy.Find out more about Michelle's app Peanut here: https://www.peanut-app.io/Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DJ and broadcaster Annie Mac joins Clemmie this week to discuss the birth of her first son in 2013. With a history of speedy births running in the family, Annie was expecting her baby to arrive at a similar pace and decided not to make a birth plan in order to not create too many expectations. Annie and Clemmie discuss the noises women make during labour, how knitting was used to help midwives and why placentas are so fascinating. They also take a listener question about antenatal classes and making 'Mum mates'.The book discussed in the podcast is Ina May Gaskin's book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0091924154You can listen to Annie's podcast Finding Annie here: http://smarturl.it/FindingAnnieFollow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mother of two Cathy Kamara talks to Clemmie this week about the birth of her first daughter, who arrived two months early by emergency section following a fall. Her baby was kept in neonatal care for two months to help her temperature and breathing, which led to Cathy losing confidence in herself as a mother. She also tells Clemmie about being a mum with achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism, and how that impacted the way she and her baby were cared for during pregnancy and birth.Follow Cathy on Instagram: instagram.com/thatsinglemum/Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to grow a baby and push it out is available now: amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scummy Mummy Helen Thorn gave birth to her first daughter in a birthing pool at home with no pain relief. She and Clemmie talk about having an ‘annoyingly perfect’ birth, using a TENS machine, and why birth sometimes involves sieves. They also take a question about pooing during labour, and Clemmie explains why midwives often get excited about it.You can find Helen on Instagram: instagram.com/helenwearsasize18Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Candice was told at 38 weeks that her baby was likely to be born by section, but she was induced and went through a long labour when her baby became overdue. She tells Clemmie how the doctors took her to the very edge of labour before performing an emergency section, and then how, catastrophically, her post-surgery pain was ignored, leading to life-threatening sepsis. Candice and Clemmie discuss the black birthing experience and the results of the MBRRACE report, which showed that in the UK, black mothers are five times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. They also take a question about post-birth debriefs.Candice’s book I’m Not Your Baby Mother is available to pre-order now. Her campaign Make Motherhood Diverse can be found on Instagram: instagram.com/makemotherhooddiverse/Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Birth Stories with Clemmie Hooper is supporting the global climate strike on Friday 20th September, organised by Greta Thunberg and the UK Student Climate Network.Young people have woken up much of the world with their powerful Fridays for Future school strikes for the climate. As we deal with devastating climate breakdown and hurtle towards dangerous tipping points, young people are calling on millions of us across the planet to disrupt business as usual by joining the global climate strikes on September 20, just ahead of a UN emergency climate summit, and again on September 27.Together, we will sound the alarm and show our politicians that business as usual is no longer an option. The climate crisis won’t wait, so neither will we. Find out more at globalclimatestrike.net  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Jackson joins Clemmie this week to talk about the birth of her daughter Sidney. Laura discusses why she decided not to have a birth plan, how having an epidural helped her regain control after pain caused her to panic and worry during labour, and how she felt both overwhelmed and underwhelmed when the baby finally arrived. They also take a listener question about different methods of induction.Find out more about Laura’s new project Hoste here: https://hostelondon.co.uk/Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to grow a baby and push it out is available now: amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: This episode features discussion of baby loss.Michelle was told at 37 weeks pregnant that, devastatingly, her baby no longer had a heartbeat. She talks Clemmie through how, with the help of her midwife, she was able to birth her baby vaginally and spend time with her before she and her husband left the hospital. Clemmie and Michelle discuss how she felt when the unthinkable happened, how they managed to find moments of light and hope alongside their grief, and how Michelle and her husband keep Orla’s memory alive. They also take a question about how to approach giving birth again after a traumatic birth.For information and help on the subject of baby loss, visit:sands.org.uktommys.org/baby-loss-information-and-supportIf you have any concerns about your baby’s movements at any stage in your pregnancy always call your hospital and speak to a midwife. For more information please visit: kickscount.org.ukMichelle's blog From The Other Chair explores baby loss, pregnancy and parenting after loss as well as mental health: fromtheotherchair.co.ukMichelle is a Clinical Psychologist and her professional website has lots of information about mental health and wellbeing and the evidence based therapies that can help: talkingheads.org.ukFollow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to grow a baby and push it out is available now: amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and author Bryony Gordon joins Clemmie this week to share the story of her daughter's birth six years ago. Bryony struggled through the pregnancy, which was unplanned, and was terrified of giving birth. She tells Clemmie how the pregnancy impacted her mental health and addictions, and how she ended up with an emergency c-section. They discuss wanting to be naked in labour, Bryony's theory that pregnancy was like the film Alien, and how women's bodies are incredible during childbirth. They also take a listener question about anxiety and fearing a lack of control during birth.  Bryony's book You Got This is out now. Follow Clemmie's Mother of Daughters account: instagram.com/mother_of_daughters/Follow Clemmie's Gas and Air account: instagram.com/gasandair/Clemmie's book How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out is available now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Baby-Push-Out/dp/1785040383Birth Stories is produced by Hannah Varrall and created by Off Script*This podcast is not to replace medical advice. Always speak to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.