Kieran Simkin · New single
Birth Stories
21 August 2026 · 06:00 BST
This song is about me and what I experienced during the births of my three children: trying to advocate, being treated at times like a visitor, and needing clear communication under pressure.
Behind the song
“Birth stories, war stories.”
I wrote the verses from my own experiences during the births of my three children: repeated dismissal during a three-day labour; an intervention approached without first asking for consent; inadequate support after birth; and communication overload during an unexpected home birth after I explained that I am autistic and needed one instruction at a time.
This is personal testimony, not a blanket accusation against maternity staff or the NHS. The song acknowledges that beds, staffing and funding matter while insisting that listening, clear communication and respect matter too.
“Beds matter. Staff matter. Funding matters, yes. But consent costs nothing, and listening costs less.”
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