*Trigger Warning* This episode discusses upsetting themes such as maternal death, please do decide if this is the right time for you to listen. However, we do hope that the discussion is not only useful but also reassuring.

In this episode of The Birth Uprising Podcast, we unpack a conversation that many people are understandably scared to touch. Maternal mortality rates are increasing, yet the information being shared with pregnant people is often partial, simplified, or framed in a way that limits genuine informed consent.

We talk openly about the reality that caesarean birth is associated with a significantly higher risk of maternal death, including research showing up to a six-fold increase compared to vaginal birth. Crucially, we explore how this information is rarely shared when caesarean birth is positioned as the “safer” or “more controlled” option, particularly in non-emergency situations.

We also discuss the rapid rise in caesarean rates across the UK, with some areas reporting figures as high as 70 percent in certain months and many trusts now sitting at around 50 percent as standard. We question how these rates have become normalised, what systemic pressures are influencing decision-making, and how fear-based narratives around birth safety shape the choices parents feel able to make.

This episode is not about judging individual decisions or blaming parents or clinicians. It is about context, transparency, and autonomy, and the growing gap between what is known in the evidence and what is routinely communicated in maternity care.

This conversation was sparked by an Instagram reel shared by Tracy, whose content opened the door to discussing why nuance matters so much when we talk about maternal safety and birth outcomes. You can find Tracy on Instagram here:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/tracypma

If you are pregnant, supporting someone who is, or working in birth care and feeling uneasy about the direction maternity services are heading, this episode is an invitation to think critically, ask better questions, and reclaim informed choice.

🎧 Listen now

If you’re pregnant and you want to know more about TBU and what we do, join us for one of our free sessions-

https://thebirthuprising.com/free-hypnobirthing-sessions/

Ready to come and prepare for your birth with us? Check out our amazing No Nonsense Hypnobirthing Course and use code PODCAST for 15% off-

www.thebirthuprising.com/the-digital-hypnobirthing-pack

Want some free downloadables straight to your inbox? Get yours here-

https://thebirthuprising.com/free-downloadables/

Watch us on TikTok-

https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirthuprising?_t=8pIctTBbsVV&_r=1

Join us on the gram-

www.instagram.com/thebirthuprising

This week on The Birth Uprising Podcast, Jade and Alix are back after a little break — and they’re diving straight into one of the biggest sources of fear and confusion in pregnancy: what happens when your “low risk” label suddenly turns “high risk.”

If you’ve ever sat in an appointment and heard the words “we’ll need to induce you” or “your baby’s measuring big” and felt your heart drop — this one’s for you.

We talk about:

• ​Why “low risk” and “high risk” are pretty meaningless labels in the real world.
• ​How policies (and panic) vary wildly depending on your hospital, your postcode, and sometimes even your midwife.
• ​How to spot when you’re being managed by policy versus genuine medical need.
• ​Why big babies get such a bad rep — and the truth about “shoulder dystocia” and scan accuracy.
• ​The importance of listening to your gut and remembering that you are the expert on your own body.
• ​How to handle conversations with healthcare professionals (and what to say when they throw scary stats or “policy” at you).
• ​Why it’s okay to ask for time, a second opinion, or to say no altogether.
• ​How your mindset can be the most powerful birth prep tool you’ve got.

This episode is funny, fiery, and absolutely packed with the straight-talking reassurance every pregnant person needs. Whether you’re currently being told your risk status has changed, or you just want to go into birth knowing your rights — listen to this before your next appointment.

You’ve got this.

————————————-

If you’re pregnant and you want to know more about TBU and what we do, join us for one of our free sessions-

https://thebirthuprising.com/free-hypnobirthing-sessions/

Ready to come and prepare for your birth with us? Check out our amazing No Nonsense Hypnobirthing Course and use code PODCAST for 15% off-

www.thebirthuprising.com/the-digital-hypnobirthing-pack

Want some free downloadables straight to your inbox? Get yours here-

https://thebirthuprising.com/free-downloadables/

Watch us on TikTok-

https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirthuprising?_t=8pIctTBbsVV&_r=1

Join us on the gram-

www.instagram.com/thebirthuprising

In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Anna from @HackneyHypnobirthing, and we’re digging deep into the realities of giving birth in today’s NHS.

We talk about the systemic challenges in maternity care, the rise in trauma and inequality, and how you can advocate for yourself in a system that often isn’t set up to support individualised care.

We also explore the impact of media, institutional pressure, and why understanding birth physiology and your rights is more crucial than ever.

We discuss:

👉 The worsening state of maternity services and rising birth trauma

👉 Why personalised care is essential and often missing

👉 What your rights are as an NHS service user

👉 How media and hospital culture shape our expectations

👉 Why preparation, confidence, and the right support can change your experience

👉 The importance of understanding risk and what it actually means

This is the episode to listen to if you want to feel empowered, informed, and ready to take control of your birth experience in 2025.

You can follow Anna on Instagram at: @hackneyhypnobirthing

Or check out her website here:

https://www.hackneyhypnobirthing.com

Resources recommended by Anna:

Book: In Your Own Time by Sara Wickham

Book: Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed

Kirsten Small at @birthsmalltalk

And check out Anna's brilliant post on risk here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHnW1e2oOL4/?hl=en

💡 If you’re pregnant and want to know more about The Birth Uprising and what we do, join us for one of our free sessions:
https://thebirthuprising.com/free-hypnobirthing-sessions

🎓 Ready to prepare for your birth with us? Check out our No Nonsense Hypnobirthing Course and use code PODCAST for 15% off:
www.thebirthuprising.com/the-digital-hypnobirthing-pack

📩 Want some free downloadables straight to your inbox? Get yours here:
https://thebirthuprising.com/free-downloadables

📱 Watch us on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirthuprising

📷 Join us on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/thebirthuprising

Are you a birth worker wanting more freedom in your work? Join our amazing gang as a hypnobirthing instructor or doula at Riot Birth Network:
www.riotbirthnetwork.com

Find RBN on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/riotbirthnetwork