Please note that Ashley will not be resuming the podcast just yet.  Host Ashley Brenninkmeijer candidly shares her 2020 journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum during the pandemic with her second baby in London. What began as a low risk pregnancy aiming for a homebirth water VBAC, ended in the highest risk life or death preterm birth due to severe covid. Ashley opted for private care under Dr. Karen Joash at Queen Charlotte's Hospital alongside private midwives. Emotional and difficult to talk about in parts, Ashley navigated becoming a second time mom in the midst of three natio ..read more

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Rebecca Robinson from Norfolk. After trying for 2.5 years to fall pregnant, she was about to embark on her first IVF round when she found out she was pregnant with her first. She opted for Midwife-Led care at her local NHS trust and initially choose a homebirth. After some growth concerns, she changed for MLU care at her local hospital. She began labour at 41 weeks after 2 sweeps and ended up having a very fast labour at home, resulting in a BBA. Her little boy spent 10 days in the NICU after respirating meconium and when they were d ..read more

On this week’s episode, I get the treat of chatting with Sophie Baron, founder of MamaMade and fellow expat from the states. She tells her story of having to navigate a new healthcare system here in the UK in general and the challenges that presented once she fell pregnant. She gave birth 3 years ago after falling pregnant quickly even though she had suffered PCOS previously. She opted for Midwife-led Care via the NHS in North London and found her labour very unsupported at the hospital as she waited for a room to give birth. She gave birth swiftly in a pool once a room was found for her famil ..read more

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Jessica Spry who tells us her story of birthing her baby boy in the height of COVID-19. After having a miscarriage, she fell pregnant with her son. She opted for a NHS homebirth but plans changed when she was told quite late on about a Group B positive test she had had in her first trimester. She then changed care and birth plans for Midwife-led care at the NHS Homerton Hospital Birth Centre. Tune in to hear her full story.  And please note I am gearing up for maternity leave so any submissions I get after Dec. 15, 2020 until Ap ..read more

On today’s episode, I get to chat with Amar Sanghera who shares her two NHS births in Birmingham. She shares the birth stories of her two sons, Ace and Romy. She opted for midwife-led care at the Serenity Birth Centre for Ace 18 months ago, and navigated her care with a 'surprise' anterior placenta and a posterior position for birth. With Romy, she had a BBA (birth before arrival) at home 3 months ago in the thick of COVID-19. Hosted by Ashley Brenninkmeijer Music by Jonny Woodley The Pregnancy Podcast The Adventures of Tandem Breastfeeding, Dr. Hillary Flower Freya App Hypnobirthing, Maria Mo ..read more

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Grace, the founder of Irie&I and mother to Iris. She gave birth to her 21 month-old via NHS midwife-led care at the Whittington Hospital in London. She gave birth vaginally and opted for diamorphine in labour. Iris spent 5 days in the NICU and Grace shares her extended breastfeeding story. She fell pregnant after Iris and miscarried at 7 weeks. She talks candidly about her journey through that loss and is currently pregnant again in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. To hear her full story, tune into this week’s episode! xo Ash ..read more

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Tabaka. She shares her journey through her two births, the most recent occurring in April of 2020 (aka, the height of Covid-19 lockdown.) She walks us through unexplained fertility and falling pregnant with her first son. She chose to go via NHS midwife-led care in SE London for her care in her first birth. She talks candidly about her experience with postnatal anxiety and breastfeeding journey. For her second birth, she opted for a home birth. However, COVID-19 was ramping up and during her pregnancy, homebirths were being c ..read more

On today’s episode, I chat to Mads, who is the creative behind StudioBust and mother to two girls, Winnie and Cece. She had two different London-based births at St. Mary’s Paddington Hospital, the first in 2018 and the second in 2020. Her first daughter was a misdiagnosed breech birth that ended in an empowering c-section. She chose to return to St. Mary’s for her second birth, for a water VBAC. Cece contracted group B strep and spent a week in the NICU, just two weeks shy of the first London Lockdown of 2020. C-Section Massage in Kensington (Kinga) C-Section Scar Tape Freya App Silver Nipple ..read more

In her first time sharing her birth story, Ashley recounts how she was well-educated and well-prepared for her birth. She accounted for many possibilities but she didn’t expect the systemic issues of global maternal healthcare systems to have to be planned for in her birth plan. It was a 4 day long labour that ended in a botched c-section and 30 days of sepsis. She candidly shares her postnatal struggles with PND (postnatal depression) and PTSD.  She also discusses difficulty falling pregnant with her second baby and gender disappointment. You can also read her story here. Cordelia Uys, N ..read more

Welcome to the British Birth Stories Podcast, the place where mothers from around the country share their birth stories. Hosted by Ashley Brenninkmeijer. Music by Jonny Woodley. Here is the teaser intro episode. Thanks so much for being here ..read more