Megan: Second Birth, NHS Home Water Birth & Physiological Birth

Megan's waters broke with an audible pop just before ten at night. Four hours later, her son was born at home, in the pool, in her own lounge. Megan Rossiter, founder of BirthEd, shares her second birth story, a planned home birth that came after years of waiting, two early pregnancy losses, and a second, brutal round of hyperemesis gravidarum during the pandemic. After everything her body had already been through, Megan went into this pregnancy determined to birth at home again, with the same trusted midwife team who had supported her family from the very first appointment. The turning point came at her 20 week scan, when a raised Doppler reading and small measuring legs led doctors to recommend a routine induction at 39 weeks. Megan researched the evidence herself, decided it wasn't a strong enough reason to intervene, and declined further growth scans and consultant appointments. When labour finally arrived at 39 weeks, it was fast, calm, and almost entirely uneventful, exactly the birth she had spent years imagining. In this episode we talk about: Living through hyperemesis gravidarum for a second time, isolated in hospital during the pandemic and unable to see her eldest child for weeks Two early pregnancy losses, an ectopic pregnancy and a miscarriage, and how Megan has made peace with that chapter of her story Being told your baby needs an early induction because of a scan measurement, and how she pushed back with research and instinct A four hour labour at home, a water birth in the lounge, and a birth so calm her husband barely noticed anything had happened Declining stitches after a small tear and what a fully physiological third stage actually looks like This episode is for anyone who has had a hard pregnancy and is wondering whether their birth can still be calm and completely their own. 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.