Both of Meghan’s births were, coincidentally, hospital inductions at 37 weeks.
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.
Tayla shares her three birth stories.
After a disempowering birth with her first son that nearly ended in tragedy, Erica vowed to have a different experience when she got pregnant again.
Ashley's labor started late on the evening on May 3rd 2018. She was unable to fall asleep that night after what she thought was an upset belly and turned out to be the beginning of her laboring journey.
At 30 weeks, Megan changed her birthing plan from a hospital birth to a home birth after finding out she might not have any support person (including her partner) in the room due to Covid-19.
Kemah shares her two pregnancy, birth, and postpartum stories.
Audra shares her cesarean birth stories.
Returning guest, Meg Tietz, shares her most recent birth story, a gentle cesarean.
Nijsha shares her birth story, and discusses the support of her partner, doula, and midwives who helped her get through 18 hours of labor.
Bree and her husband, Bobby, planned for a home birth in their home on the island of Oahu in Hawaii with a local midwife. Bree went into labor the day before her due date and labored all night in the tub.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
Elise shares her two cesarean birth stories.
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.