Meghan is a Catholic mom of 3 and doula. She's had 3 different pregnancy and birth experiences and 1 miscarriage.

1st- HG, fell at 35 weeks and went in for contractions followed by prodromal labor, had a 39 week induction, planned unmedicated- got an epidural. Given choice of c-section or episiotomy ( which the doctor botched). Hemorrhage with surgery to repair. Sought counseling following

*miscarriage at 9 mo postpartum

next pregnancy- very sick, chose midwife care at a birth center, 2020 lockdowns happening half way into pregnancy. She was sent to hospital for fever and baby's high heart rate but was sent home. For the birth she ended up transferring care in labor to the hospital.

last pregnancy- was dealing with lyme disease symptoms (unknown at the time what it was), covid+pneumonia, cholestasis ( was dropped from birth center care), induction secondary to cholestasis diagnosis (though her level were controlled with medication). For this last pregnancy she had a doula (Maggie of Visitation Birth Doula, who has been on in a previous episode)

To purchase THE CATHOLIC FAITH PREGNANCY AND BIRTH GUIDE for the special offer of $5 send "birth guide" to [email protected]

⁠Guadalupe Birth Co Website⁠⁠

Follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠

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Maggie's site>> ⁠Birth Doula | Visitationbirthdoula.com

I had the pleasure of talking with Mary Grace of True Leather Girl. She and I worked together last year and has lovely lightweight Catholic inspired leather earrings and other items. Mary has 2 young children and resides in Texas with her husband. To prepare for her first birth she got educated in the Bradley Method and her husband took a dad specific birth class from a male doula. During labor with her first she experienced an asymmetrical cervix/cervical lip and after her son was born they discovered he had a cleft palate (she shares some of that journey). For her second they decided to again use the hospital. During her pregnancy she experienced a bladder prolapse and received physical therapy. She decided to be induced due to small baby size and was successful with having an unmedicated birth. at about a week old her daughter got RSV and was transferred to the hospital by ambulance after they had started driving to the ER.

To purchase THE CATHOLIC FAITH PREGNANCY AND BIRTH GUIDE for the special offer of $5 send "birth guide" to [email protected]

Guadalupe Birth Co Website⁠

Follow along on ⁠Instagram

Cheryl is from New Mexico, is a former school counselor, and is now a stay at home mom to two young boys. Cheryl had an uncomplicated pregnancy and was active and danced all through pregnancy. She was planning for an unmedicated birth at the hospital after checking out a birth center and getting the feeling it was not the right place for this birth. Cheryl's last week of her first pregnancy was during Holy Week with her water breaking on Good Friday after praying with her husband. Nitrous Oxide and Pitocin were used during labor. At the time of her son's birth thick meconium was present and her son was one of the few unfortunate ones that ended up with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and spent time in the NICU. Following the birth of her first son Cheryl suffered from PPD, and sought out support from her midwife. This midwife sent her to the psychiatric ER (threatening to send her involuntarily if she didn't check herself in). Cheryl reports the birth of her second son to have been a positive and healing experience.

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Sammy tells the story of her first born daughter in the hospital without medication. Sammy is a nurse turned Catholic birth coach, she has a passion for helping women achieve unmedicated births while using a faith centered approach. You can visit her ⁠site⁠ for more info. Her instagram is @unshaken_rnbirthcoach.

Briana shares the birth of her son at a birth center with a midwife, she had good postpartum support and a positive experience.

Recommended resources:  Ina may and lily nichols 

Shop The Catholic Pregnancy and Birth Faith Guide here

Guadalupe Birth Co Website

Follow along on Instagram

Caroline shares with us 3 hospital vaginal births attended by midwife and 1 miscarriage. She is from New Zealand and has 2 boys and 1 girl.

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My website is currently in progress but you're free to check it out! https://wombsmadeworthy.wixsite.com/birth

Resources

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Made for This: The Catholic Mom's Guide to Birth

On today’s episode we will continue my conversation with Crystal and hear her hospital VBAC story, if you missed her first story you can go back and listen to episode 2.11 crystal pt 1.

Please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple podcasts - it really helps to get our message out! Share with your friends and tag us if you're sharing on Instagram (@wombsmadeworthy).

Care provider options and Birth Affirmation FREEBIES on my website!>>  WombMadeWorthy

Links:

Made for This: The Catholic Mom's Guide to Birth

Litany of Trust - Sisters of Life

Order for the Blessing of Parents Before Childbirth | USCCB

Crystal tells us the stories of her first birth which was a c-section and then in part 2 she will go on to tell us about her next birth which was a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). 

Please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple podcasts - it really helps to get our message out! Share with your friends and tag us if you're sharing on Instagram (@wombsmadeworthy).

Care provider options and Birth Affirmation FREEBIES on my website!>>  WombMadeWorthy

Carolyn tells the stories of her 3 births, her first was a stillbirth which was followed by 2 home births. She has a beautiful story to tell and if you are in the right place to listen wonderful! and if not now I hope you come back to it at a later time. Just a note, Carolyn is from South Africa, they have  a public and private healthcare system, with over 70% of the population attending public hospitals which are underfunded and understaffed. The South African CS rates are around 26.2% in the public sector, 76.8% in the private sector. So Carolyn’s home births were definitely out of the norm.

Please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple podcasts - it really helps to get our message out! Share with your friends and tag us if you're sharing on Instagram (@wombsmadeworthy).

Care provider options and Birth Affirmation FREEBIES on my website!>>  WombMadeWorthy

Links:

How to Recite the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy

Origins Birth Center Videos 

Made for This: The Catholic Mom's Guide to Birth

Spinning Babies - Comfort in Pregnancy and Easier Birth

Emily shares 2 birth stories with us.  Both were vaginal births in the hospital. Her second son had a short NICU stay. We discuss the NICU,  using a family practice doctor for obstetric care, and lack of option in a rural area. 

Emily mentions bed-sharing during the episode, for information on safe bed-sharing and co-sleeping visit KellyMom.com

Please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple podcasts - it really helps to get our message out! Share with your friends and tag us if you're sharing on Instagram (@wombsmadeworthy).

Care provider options and Birth Affirmation FREEBIES on my website!>>  WombMadeWorthy 

Links:

Made for This: The Catholic Mom's Guide to Birth

Spinning Babies - Comfort in Pregnancy and Easier Birth