Nearly every laboring person in some capacity will need to cope with contractions unmedicated at some point. Even if you are planning for an epidural, you aren't automatically hooked up to an epidural the moment you feel that first contraction! You will find useful tips in this bonus episode and free download!
Sign up for the Know Your Options Childbirth course at thebirthhour.com/course and use the code 100OFF for $100 off enrollment.
When it comes to dealing with unsupportive hospital staff or conflicting information it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or stunned, especially in the moment. Today Stephanie and I are talking about key phrases to use when you find yourself in one of these situations and other tips to keep in mind so you are prepared for all of the different potential scenarios.
Sign up for the Know Your Options Childbirth course at thebirthhour.com/course and use the code 100OFF for $100 off enrollment.
Grab your free download — How to Handle Tricky Situations with Hospital Staff at thebirthhour.com/bonus3
After two straightforward, unmedicated births (one hospital birth with an OB, the other a homebirth with a midwife), Grace planned another homebirth with a midwife. Those plans changed immediately when she noticed her baby had stopped moving at 41 weeks and her birth quickly changed to an emergent hospital induction.
When it comes to finding a hospital, there are some key things to look for to ensure you will be setting yourself up for the most mother-baby friendly care possible!
Today Stephanie and I are talking about questions you can ask prior to choosing where you will give birth. Because many doctors only have privileges at certain hospitals, you may want to look into the hospitals early on in your care when choosing a doctor. Stephanie is a doula, lactation consultant and certified childbirth educator so you will definitely want to soak in all of her amazing knowledge!
Grab your free download: Guide to Finding an Evidence Based Hospital!
You can also go straight to thebirthhour.com/course to sign up for our Know Your Options course today! Use code 100OFF for $100 off your enrollment.
After naturally conceiving twins, Alina and her husband were told by doctors that one of their twins would pass away shortly after birth.
When it comes to finding a doctor, does it ever make you feel completely stuck? How do you know if they will be right for you?
Today Stephanie and I are talking about why we recommend finding an evidence based care provider and how you can tell if the person you're interviewing (YES, you should absolutely be interviewing your providers!) is practicing evidence based care. Stephanie is a doula, lactation counselor, and certified childbirth educator so you will definitely want to soak in all of her amazing knowledge!
Grab your free download: Guide to Finding an Evidence Based Provider!
You can also go straight to thebirthhour.com/course to sign up for our Know Your Options course today! Use code 100OFF for $100 off your enrollment.
This is a preview of our new Partner Podcast series from The Birth Hour. These episodes release every Friday for our listener supporters at the $10+ level via Patreon.
Go to Patreon.com/birthhour to become a patron and receive access to these weekly partner episodes as well as other bonuses such as access to over 350 archived episodes, membership in our private Facebook group, and other bonus content.
We are so appreciative of your support!
After suffering a difficult pregnancy and miscarriage, Mimi planned for an unmedicated hospital birth with midwives. She shares the story of her rainbow baby and discusses how her husband prepared for and took on the role of doula.
Jasmine shares her birth stories and discusses experiencing the unrealized fears of her first birth during her second.
Become a listener-support at patreon.com/birthhour!
Linnaea shares her two birth stories and relates complications with breastfeeding after her second.
After an uneventful pregnancy, Deborah thought she had planned for all aspects of her labor and delivery; but, she never anticipated having an unexpectedly quick labor and unassisted delivery.
Megan's pregnancy went relatively smoothly, except for mild nausea in the first trimester, headaches in the 2nd trimester, and the COVID-19 pandemic beginning her third trimester. At 32 weeks, Megan was diagnosed with gestational hypertension, which raised concerns because her baby was in the breech position.
To listen to the full episode join our Patreon at patreon.com/birthhour!
This was such a fun episode and I loved catching up with these two Birth Hour fan favorites. We talk everything from VBACs, to healing postpartum, to raising boys vs girls, to favorite products!
Here are links to their birth stories if you haven't heard them before:
Elizabeth:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/32510683
https://www.patreon.com/posts/32510701
https://www.patreon.com/posts/32543874
Caitlin:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/32566479
https://www.patreon.com/posts/32572773
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/438-second-unmedicated-vbac-caitlin-shrum/id1041801905?i=1000463891773
Morgan shares her birth stories and discusses various aspects of breastfeeding.
Morgan shares her birth stories and discusses Hyperemesis Gravidarum and giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a surgery, an 8 week recovery, and battling an infection, Caroline Wynne felt her body was out of control and feared for her son’s life. A mother’s womb should be the safest place for her growing baby, but Caroline felt the complete opposite. Miraculously, she had a very positive induction experience and delivered a healthy baby boy despite all the health obstacles.
19 months later, Caroline found herself pregnant again with a sweet little girl. After a (blissful) uncomplicated pregnancy, Caroline decided to have another elective induction since her first experience was so positive!
Each month, we publish an expert interview for our listener supporters via Patreon! Become a member at patreon.com/birthhour for access to these episodes as well as a ton of other fun perks!
I really enjoyed talking with Erica all about which exercises are safe during pregnancy and postpartum, and the fundamentals of healing your core after baby.
Erica also has a podcast called Core Connections and here are some of the episodes that are especially relevant to our discussion today if you want to hear more from Erica!
Erica also has an online course called Knocked Up Fitness and Core Rehab for Postpartum that I have personally enjoyed as have many members of The Birth Hour community!
Teisia shares the story of her unmedicated birth with a midwife.
Aleck shares the stories of her medicated and unmedicated hospital births and postpartum recoveries.
Become a podcast supporter at patreon.com/birthhour!
When A’briel became pregnant with her first child, she was quite surprised as one OBGYN had previously assured her that she’d need fertility treatment in order to conceive. She immediately sought out doula support and started to build a birth team full of strong African American women.
To hear the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/birthhour!
Jen McLellan is a published author and founder of Plus Size Birth and the Plus Mommy blog. She helps people navigate the world of plus size pregnancy, shares tips for embracing your body, and laughs her way through the adventures of parenthood. Her work has been featured in major publications such as Yahoo Shine, Huffington Post, Everyday Feminism, and International Doula. She authored My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide and co-wrote the Amazon bestseller, The Peachie Moms Guide to Body Love for Moms. Jen is also a childbirth educator, skilled patient advocate, professional speaker, wife, and mother.
After the OB she loved left the office a month before her due date, Felicia was left having to advocate for her birth plan when the new doctor attempted to scare her into an early induction. She was finally induced at almost 42 weeks. After Cervidil didn’t change anything overnight, Felicia received a small amount of pitocin, which jumpstarted what ended up being her ideal birth without an epidural.
Liz moved to a new city just outside of NYC right before the Coronavirus outbreak really set it. It turned out that her new city of New Rochelle was a hotspot for COVID19 and quickly earned the label of "containment zone."
Gabey shares her two birth stories with the same midwife group in a hospital.