Amanda Owen, star of the popular Channel 5 series Our Yorkshire Farm, has shared the intense and unexpected difficulties she faced during the birth of her first child, Raven. What began as a planned home birth on her remote family farm quickly turned into a medical emergency, leading to a rushed hospital admission.
Known affectionately as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda recounted how the birth coincided with the UK’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, which heavily restricted movement in rural areas. As a first-time mother determined to deliver at home despite the crisis, she was unprepared for the complications that followed.
Speaking on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time, Amanda explained, “I’ve had nine births, and everything people expect never happens the way they say. My first daughter, Raven, weighed nine pounds two, and she got completely stuck during the home birth.” She added, “Because of the foot-and-mouth crisis, I planned to stay home and avoid leaving the farm, but when Raven got stuck, I had to go to hospital.”
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Describing the ordeal, Amanda revealed, “I didn’t realize your body can go into a permanent contraction, but it does – and it’s not good. I ended up having a caesarean, which raised questions about the possibility of natural births afterward.”
Despite the difficult start, Amanda went on to have eight more children—Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clemmie, Nancy, and Reuben—each birth holding its own surprises. She recalled how predictions about birth weights often missed the mark, saying, “After a nine-pound first baby, everyone expects the next to be huge. But Reuben was just three pounds—he practically fell out after I had a Chinese takeaway!”
Amanda’s openness about her experiences has come amid public interest following her separation from husband Clive in 2022. The couple, who ran Ravenseat Farm and raised their nine children together for over two decades, continue to co-parent and manage the farm despite parting ways.
Their family life and farming journey have captivated audiences by showcasing the realities and unique experiences of rural life in the Yorkshire Dales. Amanda continues to share her story through writing, broadcasting, and agricultural pursuits, solidifying her role as a beloved figure in British countryside culture.