Welcome to Born on the Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories podcast, with host and producer Lucinda Snape.
This weekly podcast is a collection of fascinating stories about what it's like to have a baby in Gibraltar - a small British Overseas Territory, with an average of one birth per day.
These are ordinary women telling extraordinary events in their own words, capturing the emotional highs and lows involved in starting a family. There's a huge range of topics covered including stories of twins, triplets, fast arrivals, and premature babies requiring care from outside Gibraltar... plus powerful taboos discussed, like postnatal depression, infertility and loss. Even 'textbook' experiences make for a fascinating listen, because becoming a mother is life-changing. We believe there's no such thing as a boring birth story!
Stories are welcomed from across all decades, allowing GBC as the National Broadcaster to present a rich social and cultural resource for our community. The podcast is unique to Gibraltar, but relatable to anyone with an interest in parenting. If you've had a baby on the Rock, we want to hear from you! To share your story or find out more, email: bornontherock@gbc.gi
Find 'Born on the Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories' on Facebook and Instagram for more.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in episodes are those of guests and do not reflect the views of GBC.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Born on the Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories podcast, with host and producer Lucinda Snape.
This weekly podcast is a collection of fascinating stories about what it's like to have a baby in Gibraltar - a small British Overseas Territory, with an average of one birth per day.
These are ordinary women telling extraordinary events in their own words, capturing the emotional highs and lows involved in starting a family. There's a huge range of topics covered including stories of twins, triplets, fast arrivals, and premature babies requiring care from outside Gibraltar... plus powerful taboos discussed, like postnatal depression, infertility and loss. Even 'textbook' experiences make for a fascinating listen, because becoming a mother is life-changing. We believe there's no such thing as a boring birth story!
Stories are welcomed from across all decades, allowing GBC as the National Broadcaster to present a rich social and cultural resource for our community. The podcast is unique to Gibraltar, but relatable to anyone with an interest in parenting. If you've had a baby on the Rock, we want to hear from you! To share your story or find out more, email: bornontherock@gbc.gi
Find 'Born on the Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories' on Facebook and Instagram for more.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in episodes are those of guests and do not reflect the views of GBC.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
KEY TOPICS: 2 births, early miscarriages, subchorionic hematoma, hyperemesis, placental abruption, prematurity, emergency caesarean, pandemic, short age-gap, elective caesarean, blood transfusion, autism
We're squeezing a huge range of topics into this fascinating episode, with Lesley Anne Viñales and her husband. This couple married young and took a relaxed approach to starting their family, but as the years passed with two sad early miscarriages, they began to think parenthood could be out of reach. Happily, they became pregnant... but as the pandemic hit! Lesley speaks about the challenges of being an expectant mother when the whole world locked down.
At 33 weeks while in Spain, she felt increasing pain... followed by a sudden, heavy bleed. A frightening rush followed to get to Gibraltar, and thanks to the actions of a quick-thinking border officer, the couple reached St Bernard's quickly. It's an emotional listen as Lesley describes the blur of an emergency caesarean - her doctor detected life-threatening placental abruption, and safely delivered their daughter. Unusually for a premature baby, she didn't have to leave the Rock for specialist care. Lesley reflects on how different the outcome could have been. She healed well and they settled into family life in the summer of 2020.
Then along came a second, unexpected pregnancy! Lesley explains the irony of the new baby's due date, and speaks about navigating gallbladder issues, another haematoma and more hyperemesis. She was monitored closely, and an elective caesarean was deemed the safest option. Their second daughter arrived healthy at full-term, and Lesley reflects on the two contrasting birth experiences, describing them as like 'night and day.'
There's an interesting discussion about autism towards the end of this episode, and the parenting challenges that presents. She has been supported by family and Early Bird's nursery, and speaks so fondly about both her girls - their personalities really shine through! It's clear she and her husband are an incredibly strong team together, and I'm so grateful to Lesley for sharing her - remarkably different - birth stories (Recorded July 2025).
Early Bird's Nursery information: https://www.stmartinsschoolgibraltar.com/our-school/early-birds-nursery
Find 'Born on the Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories' on Facebook and Instagram for more
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.