KEY TOPICS: 1 birth, type-1 diabetes, blood thinning injections, induction, natural delivery, jaundice, athlete

This is a great episode about what it's like for a world class athlete to undergo dramatic physical changes to become a mother, as well as manage type one diabetes through pregnancy. Olivia and her husband Mark are parents to a one year old little girl and are both elite cyclists, having represented Gibraltar at the Commonwealth and Island Games.

The couple had to find time period between competitive events to try for a family, and quickly became pregnant in 2023. The physical change for Olivia was stark - from 100km cycles and personal bests, to a 25kg weight gain and being breathless climbing the stairs. She describes becoming hyper-vigilant in monitoring her daily sugar levels to ensure the baby's healthy development. She also experienced an erratic heart rate and nausea through pregnancy, alongside working full-time and moving house!

This is a great example of a successful induction and straightforward labour without complications - aside from the smell of her husband's lunch! It was emotional meeting their daughter for the first time, and after a short stay in hospital due to jaundice, they settled into life as a family of three.

Olivia's postpartum journey saw her restart gentle exercise with her husband's support a few weeks later. Remarkably within just three months, she regained much of her fitness and qualified for the Orkney Island Games! Olivia went on to win gold and bronze medals at the event in 2025 - when her daughter was just over a year old. She describes juggling training and parenting in such a down-to-earth way - I loved recording this fun and inspirational episode! Thanks Olivia for sharing your Gibraltar Birth Story (Recorded September 2025).

https://www.gbc.gi/news/orkney-island-games-two-gold-a-bronze-for-gibraltars-womens-cycling-team

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KEY TOPICS: 2 births, natural deliveries, unmedicated birth, jaundice, pelvic girdle pain (PGP), Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD), sacroiliitis, hypermobility, autism, pandemic

We meet Maggie Henshaw in this episode, a mum to two boys born either side of the pandemic. The way she discovered both pregnancies was unusual!

Maggie and her husband had been trying to start their family for over three years, when they found they were expecting their son. She had a positive pregnancy journey, natural delivery and good recovery in early 2019, with her son experiencing temporary 'conehead' after delivery. As a toddler, he began speech and language therapy due to glue ear and later received a diagnosis of autism… while Maggie was pregnant with the couple’s second son.

Her second pregnancy was difficult due to worsening pelvic pain - by her second trimester, Maggie was using crutches. Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) meant she experienced increasing discomfort around her hips, sacroiliac joints and lower spine… especially as the baby grew. This affects 1 in 5 pregnant women, and Maggie’s story really highlights its’ impact before and after birth. She went into spontaneous labour in the summer of 2023 and had another natural delivery – without any pain relief!

Maggie speaks warmly of her supportive husband, her mum and mother-in-law – as well as Early Birds nursery. We discuss her mixed feeding journey, parenting a child with autism, and what it’s like to have children that look so similar! Thank you Maggie for sharing your two Gibraltar Birth Stories (Recorded September 2025).

Early Birds Nursery: https://www.stmartinsschoolgibraltar.com/our-school/early-birds-nursery

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KEY TOPICS: 2 births, pre-eclampsia, induction, natural delivery, jaundice, breech, epidural, elective caesarean, big babies

Kick-starting Season 4 of the podcast is local nurse Kelly Bingham! In this episode we meet her family - her ex-military husband and two boys... born six years apart at the same weight of 9lbs 2oz!

The couple learned they were expecting their first baby in the summer of 2013, and Kelly experienced a good pregnancy - aside from nausea and working a physically demanding job. She describes a good labour and natural delivery, although with fluctuating blood pressure (pre-eclampsia) and an issue with uterus contraction afterwards. At six weeks old, her baby’s jaundice levels required an urgent referral to a London hospital – a period Kelly describes as very difficult. Thankfully he had no serious complications and returned to the Rock soon after.

For her second pregnancy Kelly was not as nauseous… but from 14 weeks her baby remained in breech position. She talks about the higher-risk situation making her nervous for a different kind of birth, an elective caesarean. Thankfully it went well, and after being treated for an infection she had a good recovery too. Although her second son also had jaundice investigations, he was deemed healthy.

Throughout our chat, Kelly references gratitude for her strong family support. She describes adjusting to becoming a family of four - there's a funny story about how her sons first met! - and she speaks fondly about the bond between her two sons. This was a fun one to record! (August 2025) Thank you Kelly for sharing your two Gibraltar Birth Stories.

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