Justina conceived in 2019, and saw the same midwife for all of her pregnancy care and for her baby’s birth. Justina gives credit to the midwifery model of care and a Hypnobirthing course for her positive birth experience.
Emily's labor was easy, calm, and quiet thanks to her attentive husband, supportive doula, and hands-off birth team. After an hour of pushing, the doctor assisted Emily using the Ritgen’s maneuver and Elijah David was born. Emily began hemorrhaging moments later and was stabilized with the use of medication and a bakari balloon.
Both of Meghan’s births were, coincidentally, hospital inductions at 37 weeks.
Kemah shares her two pregnancy, birth, and postpartum stories.
Bree shares her stories of loss and birth.
After developing a robust unmedicated birth plan for her March 6th due date, Amy learned at about 32 weeks that her blood pressure was such that an induction a few weeks early would be very likely.
Meriankh was planning an unmedicated birth at a birth center. However, due to a very last minute gestational hypertension diagnosis, she ended up delivering in a hospital, with an epidural, and having a very positive experience.
Melody shares her hospital birth using a midwifery practice in Toronto, Canada, as well as experience with postpartum anxiety.
Grace had an unmedicated hospital birth with an OB. She prepared for her unmedicated birth by hiring a doula and taking Bradley classes during her pregnancy. She also had the added bonus of having her sister as her L&D nurse throughout her entire birth!
After 2.5 years of trying as well as a miscarriage in 2018, Susanna and Will found out they were pregnant with their rainbow baby in February 2019. They learned halfway through the pregnancy that Susanna would be induced due to high blood pressure. She went in at 39 weeks to be induced, hoping to avoid pain medications.
Angela planned for a birth with hospital midwives. Her birth plan included an epidural and support from her partner who was a hospital employee.
Britt shares her birth story and discusses breastfeeding and postpartum depression.
During a very healthy, normal pregnancy, Karissa was unexpectedly sent to the hospital at 29 weeks with preterm contractions. They determined that she was not in labor and sent her home after a night of observation and medication to bedrest for the next five weeks.
Emily shares her birth story and also discusses breastfeeding.
Lauren's episode first aired in Mach 2016.
I was 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant when I went into labor. Just one day prior, My daughter's father and I went to my mother's house to go to the state fair. I was so over being pregnant, I decided to walk the baby out. I went into labor early that morning around 2 AM. Thankfully, I slept through most of my labor and the next morning we took the two hour drive back to Atlanta. I stayed home until 7 PM then labored unmedicated at the hospital before giving birth.
Kayla shares her the story of her unmedicated hospital birth.
Joanna shares her experience with gestational diabetes and an epidural hospital birth.
Julia transferred to a midwife group at 30 weeks. She went into labour at almost 38 weeks, had a 30 hour labor at home with mostly back labor, and after a quick drive to the hospital, Frankie was born two hours later.
On this episode, Cassi shares her four hospital birth stories and some great resources.
Julia planned for an unmedicated, hospital water birth. After having to have her water artificially ruptured and finding meconium, the water birth was no longer an option. After laboring for nearly 26 hours, pushing for 4.5 hours and narrowly avoiding a c-section, Julia was able to have an unmedicated vaginal birth.
On this episode, Claire shares her two very different birth stories.
On this episode, Amy shares her very different hospital birth stories.
Megan became pregnant with her first child unexpectedly after 4 years with an IUD. Fortunately, the pregnancy was healthy and viable and continued uneventfully until her son decided to enter the world earlier than she anticipated (37 weeks and 3 days). After being in labor almost a full day without realizing it, Megan made it to the hospital at 10 cm and delivered a healthy baby via waterbirth almost 3 hours later.
Meg gave birth to her first child at 40w5d on May 15th. After her water broke and labor progressed she experienced over 3 hours of pushing culminating with assistance of a vacuum to help deliver him. Going in without a birth plan and not knowing what to expect, this labor was quite traumatic and postpartum recovery was difficult.