Layla: First Birth, Positive NHS Home Birth, Doula Support, Meconium in Waters, No Pain Relief, Postnatal Depression

Everything was going perfectly. Six hours of labour, no pain relief, at home exactly where she wanted to be. And then her waters broke and there was meconium in them. Layla is a doula now based in Devon, but when she had her son 8 years ago she was simply a first time mum who knew she wanted to birth at home, surrounded by fairy lights, affirmations she had painted herself, and the song she would one day know her boy was born to. Six hours of labour, no pain relief, meconium in the waters, an ambulance on standby outside, and a baby who arrived in a squat with her husband holding her up. And then, four days later, postnatal depression hit like a bolt out of the blue. In this episode we talk about: How Layla found her doula and why she knew from early on she wanted that support What it felt like to be 4cm dilated without knowing she was in labour How meconium in the waters changed the energy of her home birth and what the midwives did Managing a first labour with no pain relief using only breath and movement What postnatal depression actually felt like in those first few days and why she nearly didn't recognise it What she now tells her own clients about trusting their bodies and finding their birth team This episode is for anyone who wants to believe that a positive home birth is possible, and for anyone who has found that the birth going well did not protect them from what came after. The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Follow us on social: Instagram · TikTok · YouTube Want to come on the podcast? Get in touch and share your story here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.