Birth Stories

There is wisdom to be gained from every birth story, and every birth story deserves to be shared and heard.

The minute we fall pregnant, we become a magnet for birth story sharing.

People spot a bump and they want to tell you absolutely everything they’ve experienced in pregnancy & birth.

The birth stories you’re hearing are likely to be a real mix of utterly empowering and joyful, potentially quite complicated or difficult, and quite possibly a real combination of all the above. There is wisdom to be gained from every birth story, and every birth story deserves to be shared and heard.

Here you will find a whole range of birth stories from the Birth-ed Community, from home births to caesareans, inductions to water births. All providing you with insight, wisdom and inspiration that you can take on to influence your own decisions, plans and choices for birth. If you’re looking for a story that applies to your personal circumstances, enter some keywords into the search bar above! If you just want to dive deep and learn more, then get reading, there’s LOADS!

Featured

Jan 29, 2024

Second Baby Birth Centre Birth

Jan 29, 2024

Second baby born in the water in a birth centre

Jan 29, 2024

Oct 12, 2023

3rd Baby born unexpectedly at 35 weeks using hypnobirthing techniques

Oct 12, 2023

A positive birth experience using the birth-ed tools, when labour started unexpectedly at 35 weeks

Oct 12, 2023

Sep 8, 2023

Hospital VBAC following previous Placental Abruption

Sep 8, 2023

Hospital VBAC following premature birth & placental abruption

Sep 8, 2023

Aug 29, 2023

Third Baby Water birth Story

Aug 29, 2023

Third Baby Hypnobirthing Waterbirth

Aug 29, 2023

Jul 28, 2023

Empowered Hospital Water Birth of Second Baby

Jul 28, 2023

Second baby waterbirth in hospital following a difficult first birth experience

Jul 28, 2023

May 30, 2023

Homebirth Story with 'brow presentation' baby

May 30, 2023

Racehl describes her birth as an “Overwhelmingly positive experience with a ‘bit in the middle’”

May 30, 2023

Unplanned Homebirth (BBA) using hypnobirthing

May 30, 2023

Using hypnobirthing techniques for a positive (unexpected) homebirth.

May 30, 2023

Vaginal Breech Birth of First Baby

May 30, 2023

With support from the ‘optibreech’ team, this mum found support (and got!) the vaginal breech birth that she wanted.

May 30, 2023

Supported VBAC after premature birth & NICU stay

May 30, 2023

Choosing no monitoring or cannula and a birth centre environment (and how she got support for that!)

May 30, 2023

First time mum, quick birth in hospital

May 30, 2023

First baby born in hospital after a quick and straightforward birth.

May 30, 2023

May 2, 2023

Hospital Water Birth for second baby (after premature ICP birth first time).

May 2, 2023

Second baby hospital water birth, following premature birth and ICP pregnancy first time.

May 2, 2023

First Time Mum ICP (Obstetric Cholestasis), Premature Birth and NICU stay

May 2, 2023

Elisa for shares her candid experience of developing Obstetric Cholestasis in pregnancy, going into premature labour at 35 weeks & spending some time in NICU with her baby.

May 2, 2023

Apr 11, 2023

Home Waterbirth First Time Mum

Apr 11, 2023

First time mum gives birth at home in the pool at 41+6

Apr 11, 2023

Apr 3, 2023

First Baby Home Water Birth

Apr 3, 2023

First Baby born at home in the water

Apr 3, 2023

Mar 28, 2023

Straightforward birth after declining induction for 'a big baby' (First time mum)

Mar 28, 2023

After induction recommendations for a suspected ‘big baby’, first time mum Rachel chose to wait for labour and had a straightforward spontaneous birth in hospital.

Mar 28, 2023

Mar 21, 2023

Second HBAC Waterbirth for Third Baby

Mar 21, 2023

A third time mum shares her second VBAC experience of her baby born at home in the water.

Mar 21, 2023

Second Time Mum Homebirth (BBA)

Mar 21, 2023

Second time mum plans a home birth despite induction conversations, a very long first labour and cardiology concerns. Here she shares her experience of a QUICK, straightforward and positive homebirth (BBA).

Mar 21, 2023

First Time Mum Birth Centre Birth after declining induction

Mar 21, 2023

First time mum declines immediate induction after her waters break and has a waterbirth on a midwife led birth centre

Mar 21, 2023

Homebirth for a First Time Mum

Mar 21, 2023

Laura shares her experience of giving birth to her first baby in the water at home

Mar 21, 2023

Mar 20, 2023

HBAC Second Baby Waterbirth Story

Mar 20, 2023

Second time mum has a VBAC at home in her bath tub

Mar 20, 2023

Apr 9, 2020

Positive Birth Story: First Time Mum's Home Waterbirth

Apr 9, 2020

Rose (@rosielondoner) and her husband attended a birth-ed course in preparation for the birth of their daughter Lily Valentine, one of the most beautiful home water birth stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

Apr 9, 2020

Apr 1, 2020

Positive Birth Story: Labour Ward Water Birth

Apr 1, 2020

“I felt like a superwoman throughout and afterwards!”. Positive water birth on a labour ward for this mum’s second baby.

Apr 1, 2020

Mar 9, 2020

Positive Birth Story: Hypnobirthing Induction for Dates

Mar 9, 2020

Induction at 41+6 weeks. This couple prepared for their birth with the birth-ed online hypnobirthing course. They didn’t start ‘til 40 weeks and it still made the world of difference!

Mar 9, 2020

Jan 28, 2020

Positive Birth Story: Declining Induction for IUGR

Jan 28, 2020

After planning a home birth, things changed for this couple when they discovered their baby wasn’t growing properly in the womb. But they still got a wonderful birth experience on the labour ward!

Jan 28, 2020

Featured

May 21, 2020

Positive Birth Story: First Baby Home Water Birth #birthedonlockdown

May 21, 2020

Positive Birth Story of 1st baby born at home in the water on lockdown!

May 21, 2020

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown Natural Birth with Epidural

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story of 2nd baby, labour induced after waters breaking at 37 weeks which led to a natural birth with an epidural.

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown First baby on the labour ward

Apr 19, 2020

First baby born on the labour ward, a positive instrumental birth.

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown Induction for 1st Baby

Apr 19, 2020

A positive induction birth story for this first time mummy.

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown 2nd Baby Birth Centre

Apr 19, 2020

After practicing hypnobirthing with birth-ed, this mummy went on to have a an amazing birth on the birth centre for her 2nd baby.

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown An Unexpected Early Arrival

Apr 19, 2020

When labour started unexpected early, this mum felt super prepared and positive about her experience, even though it happened so quickly that she was on her own!

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown Positive instrumental birth

Apr 19, 2020

Instrumental birth might not be top of your birth preferences, but when truly needed you can still have such a positive birth experience. “I have never felt such joy and euphoria in that moment, it was perfect.”

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown Homebirth of First Baby

Apr 19, 2020

A last minute switch to home birth due to COVID-19 led to a truly wonderful birth experience for this first time mummy.

Apr 19, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown VBAC

Apr 19, 2020

A positive VBAC birth story, during Lockdown. The tools from the hypnobirthing course helped me focus on ‘control what I can, let go of what I can’t’.

Apr 19, 2020

Apr 18, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown Birth Centre 2nd Baby

Apr 18, 2020

A positive natural birth story of a 2nd baby born on a birth centre during Lockdown. ‘He was born at 6.30am and we were home by lunchtime’.

Apr 18, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown Induction for 2nd Baby

Apr 18, 2020

After facing the decision of whether or not to have a c-section with her 2nd baby (following a severe tear 1st time), Natalie ended up having a really positive induction birth for unstable lie.

Apr 18, 2020

Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown

Apr 18, 2020

Positive Unplanned Caesarean Birth of a second baby for High BP/Pre Eclampsia, who made the news as the FIRST baby born on Lockdown in the UK!

Apr 18, 2020

Featured

Second Baby Birth Centre Birth

Second baby born in the water in a birth centre

3rd Baby born unexpectedly at 35 weeks using hypnobirthing techniques

A positive birth experience using the birth-ed tools, when labour started unexpectedly at 35 weeks

Hospital VBAC following previous Placental Abruption

Hospital VBAC following premature birth & placental abruption

Third Baby Water birth Story

Third Baby Hypnobirthing Waterbirth

Empowered Hospital Water Birth of Second Baby

Second baby waterbirth in hospital following a difficult first birth experience

Homebirth Story with 'brow presentation' baby

Racehl describes her birth as an “Overwhelmingly positive experience with a ‘bit in the middle’”

Unplanned Homebirth (BBA) using hypnobirthing

Using hypnobirthing techniques for a positive (unexpected) homebirth.

Vaginal Breech Birth of First Baby

With support from the ‘optibreech’ team, this mum found support (and got!) the vaginal breech birth that she wanted.

Supported VBAC after premature birth & NICU stay

Choosing no monitoring or cannula and a birth centre environment (and how she got support for that!)

First time mum, quick birth in hospital

First baby born in hospital after a quick and straightforward birth.

Hospital Water Birth for second baby (after premature ICP birth first time).

Second baby hospital water birth, following premature birth and ICP pregnancy first time.

First Time Mum ICP (Obstetric Cholestasis), Premature Birth and NICU stay

Elisa for shares her candid experience of developing Obstetric Cholestasis in pregnancy, going into premature labour at 35 weeks & spending some time in NICU with her baby.

Home Waterbirth First Time Mum

First time mum gives birth at home in the pool at 41+6

First Baby Home Water Birth

First Baby born at home in the water

Straightforward birth after declining induction for 'a big baby' (First time mum)

After induction recommendations for a suspected ‘big baby’, first time mum Rachel chose to wait for labour and had a straightforward spontaneous birth in hospital.

Second HBAC Waterbirth for Third Baby

A third time mum shares her second VBAC experience of her baby born at home in the water.

Second Time Mum Homebirth (BBA)

First Time Mum Birth Centre Birth after declining induction

First time mum declines immediate induction after her waters break and has a waterbirth on a midwife led birth centre

Homebirth for a First Time Mum

Laura shares her experience of giving birth to her first baby in the water at home

HBAC Second Baby Waterbirth Story

Second time mum has a VBAC at home in her bath tub

Positive Birth Story: First Time Mum's Home Waterbirth

Positive Birth Story: Labour Ward Water Birth

“I felt like a superwoman throughout and afterwards!”. Positive water birth on a labour ward for this mum’s second baby.

Positive Birth Story: Hypnobirthing Induction for Dates

Induction at 41+6 weeks. This couple prepared for their birth with the birth-ed online hypnobirthing course. They didn’t start ‘til 40 weeks and it still made the world of difference!

Positive Birth Story: Declining Induction for IUGR

After planning a home birth, things changed for this couple when they discovered their baby wasn’t growing properly in the womb. But they still got a wonderful birth experience on the labour ward!

Featured

Positive Birth Story: Induction for Gestational Diabetes

A positive birth story following induction for Gestational Diabetes on a Labour Ward for a first time mum.

Positive Birth Story: Home Birth turned Hospital Birth

Having planned a prepared for a home birth, but finding her waters breaking at 36+1, it seemed this baby had other plans! A lovely positive hospital birth story for a first time mum.

Positive Birth Story: Quick Second Birth (in the corridor!)

Second time mum has her ‘perfect birth’ (in the hospital corridor!) yes really!

Positive Birth Story: Natural Hospital Birth for a First Time Mum

A natural birth on a hospital labour ward for a first time mother

Positive Birth Story- Planned caesarean for second baby

A positive, gentle c-section birth of a second baby.

Positive Birth Story: First Time Mum on a Labour Ward in Ireland

After moving to Ireland in pregnancy and facing a more medicalised birth, this first time mum used the Positively Birthing hypnobirthing techniques for a really positive experience.

Positive Birth Story: second baby born on a Midwife Led Unit

After an induction with her first baby, this second time mum had a positive quick birth on the birth Centre using hypnobirthing tools.

Positive Birth Story: a First Time Mum's induction following transverse lie

Following a 5 day hospital stay for transverse lie, this went on to be a quick positive induction birth.

Positive Birth Story: A first time mum's waterbirth on a Birth Centre

This mum shares some great tips for managing her surges in her story too!

Positive Birth Story: Home Birth for a first time mum

A first time mum’s waterbirth at home.

Positive Birth Story: Induction after Waters had broken

Taking control of your choices can make your induction so much more positive.

Positive Birth Story: Home birth following a difficult first experience

A second baby born at home, following a difficult forceps first birth in hospital.

Positive Birth Story: First time homebirth

Following a week of stop/start surges, baby was born at home for this first time mum.

Positive Birth Story: Almost in Burger King!

A first time mum’s birth story that’s the perfect example of following your instinct and not worrying about the ‘numbers’ when it comes to vaginal examinations!

Positive Birth Story: Birth Centre Birth of First Baby

A first time mum’s experience on a birth centre at 41 weeks.

Positive Birth Story: A quick second induction

A positive induction after a period of reduced movements.

Positive Birth Story: Induction for a first time mum

An induction for IUGR (or a slow in baby’s growth)- just goes to show that even in the face of difficult decision making, birth can still be amazing!

Positive Birth Story: A Home Birthed Baby and a post-birth Hospital Transfet

If you’re wondering what things might ‘look like’ if you have to transfer to hospital during a home birth, read this one!

Positive Birth Story: When Home Birth Plans Change

After discovering meconium in baby’s waters, hypnobirthing helps this mum remain calm and have a positive experience

Positive Birth Story: Vaginal Breech of First Baby

An utterly incredibly vaginal breech birth story from a first time mum.

Positive Birth Stories: A Calm Ventouse Birth

Yep, a positive birth doesnt mean you’ve got to be at home in the bath infront of the Christmas Tree!

Positive Birth Story: A Positive Hypnobirthing C-Section

I absolutely love this story, because it really shows exactly what hypnobirthing is FOR.. not necessarily that vaginal water birth in your living room, but a birth that YOU are in control of, unafraid of and looking forward to.

Positive Birth Story: Going Overdue

Positive Birth Story from an 'overdue' mum who gave birth after 42 weeks. (TWICE!)

Positive Birth Story: A Wonderful Hypnobirthing Induction

Induction at 38+6 for a first time mum.

Featured

Positive Birth Story: Natural homebirth with transfer for first time mum

After running out of gas and air at home (!!) this mummy went on to have a natural birth of her first baby 10 minutes after reaching the hospital.

Positive Birth Story: Induction Birth after Complications

After some bleeding in pregnancy and suspected placental abruption, this couple used their Positively Birthing tools and techniques to have a positive birth experience in what could have been a difficult situation.