Today you get a 2-for-1 -- 2 birth stories from one mama. Melissa has an almost 3-year-old, Segovia, and a 6-week old, Adelina. She shares her first 1st birth story, which was an unusually quick, 6-hour induction with no pain meds and with doula support. Then she shares her rationale for switching care providers from an OB over to working with a hospital midwife for her 2nd baby’s birth, which was an even faster, 4-hour, unmedicated labor.

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

In today's birth story, Amy's labor begins with a spontaneous rupture of the membranes, laboring at home for a number of hours, eventually transferring to the hospital where the labor continues with induction and epidural. As Amy and her husband are both actors, she describes the ways in which their acting training, specifically breath work & bodywork, helped her find her groove in her 3-hour pushing stage with a fairly large baby. She shares about some postpartum struggles with pelvic floor health. Finally, she details some compelling things to consider in partner communication and establishing healthy boundaries entering parenthood, particularly in light of the hormonal roller coaster we experience after birth.

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

Today’s birth story, which is the 2nd part of two consecutive episodes, will be especially helpful for expectant parents whose baby gets a clubfoot diagnosis. Joe & Beckie share their journey of their son, Elliot, getting this diagnosis early in pregnancy. They also detail their birth story of a long, 30-hour induction several weeks before their due date due to low amniotic fluid. Beckie shares lots of details about the ways that her OB helped her feel involved and informed in the decision-making process every step of the way. Because she was not even quite 37 weeks when the induction took place, there are particular challenges to the induction, as well as early breastfeeding, that Beckie shares.

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

Today’s birth story, which will be broken up into two consecutive episodes, will be especially helpful for expectant parents whose baby gets a clubfoot diagnosis. Joe & Beckie share their journey of their son, Elliot, getting this diagnosis early in pregnancy. They also detail their birth story of a long, 30-hour induction several weeks before their due date due to low amniotic fluid. Beckie shares lots of details about the ways that her OB helped her feel involved and informed in the decision-making process every step of the way. Because she was not even quite 37 weeks when the induction took place, there are particular challenges to the induction, as well as early breastfeeding, that Beckie shares.

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

Jennifer shares her story of an IVF-conceived pregnancy in which more than one doctor suggested scheduling a cesarean due to the size of her baby. She shares about her journey toward the decision to at least have what we call a “trial of labor” toward the vaginal birth that she desired. You'll hear how she impresses everyone by giving birth vaginally to an almost 9-pound baby. Listen to hear the smart ways she advocates for herself and makes the choices that were preferred and ideal for her & her baby along the way of her induced labor with an epidural at Long Island’s LIJ Katz Hospital. Jenn will also share a bit about how easy initial breastfeeding was, but then how things got a little trickier after that.

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

This episode will be the shortest interview we’ve shared thus far. In this birth story, Dara describes her experience of giving birth as “magical & frustrating”. This is the story of a first-time labor and vaginal birth working with a midwifery practice at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Hospital. She shares about using nitrous oxide (or laughing gas) for pain relief, very briefly, and then getting an epidural. Listen to hear the magical way mama Dara instinctively helps her baby come closer to being born. Here’s a hint: If you like music, you’ll enjoy this one! We had a musician dad featured a couple of episodes ago, and now we have a professional singer mom and massage therapist sharing her perspectives. You’ll also hear how a fever Dara developed led to baby having to go to the NICU (or neonatal intensive care unit), and how having a baby in the NICU can be challenging for new parents and baby.

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

Today you’ll hear Mariko’s & Rick’s story of hiring a doula very well-suited to them for Mariko’s labor and who served them in very practical and holistic ways throughout pregnancy, labor, and into postpartum. Right around 40 weeks, Mariko’s OB decides there’s a bit of concern about baby’s well-being due to lack of movement, so they check into their Long Island hospital, Winthrop, for an induction. She shares the ways in which she was able to find coping strategies that rendered an epidural or other pain meds unnecessary. They also talk a bit about how they believe their meditation practice translated into labor. They’re also going to share a few parenting strategies they’ve found useful that could be really helpful for parenting your newborn.

Show notes at birthmattersshow.com

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

Today you’ll hear a birth story told by Leah & Trevor, first-time parents. Leah is a hospitalist physician, and she’ll detail how her professional background informed the way she approached assembling her birth & pediatrician team. Her partner, Trevor, will share his insights about the experience of supporting her through labor. Leah & Trevor will talk about their uncomplicated birth with an epidural and a bit of pitocin when things weren’t progressing as readily as it seemed they should. She’ll also discuss how she couldn’t bear to be on her back for pushing and was encouraged to push in whatever way felt instinctive to her. You’ll also hear about some of her frustrations with the lack of anticipatory guidance in the breastfeeding support at her hospital as well as a few tips for expectant or new parents.

Show notes at birthmattersshow.com

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

In this episode, Kat & Tom share their positive, empowering story of their 2nd son’s rather efficient birth at home with midwife Cara Muhlhahn (who just happens to both have been host Lisa's midwife for my 2nd baby in Ep. 3 and also is the main midwife featured in the documentary THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN). Other birth support team members were their doula and a friend, who just happens to also be a doula. This birth followed their much more challenging first birth in a hospital environment, which largely informed their decision to give birth at home the second time around. Do keep in mind that this is a 2nd birth, and 2nd births tend to go more quickly and unpredictably than the vast majority of 1st births.

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]

Ariel’s birth story includes laboring at home for a good, long time until active labor (6cm), then moving on to epidural once at the hospital, and an efficient pushing stage. She also details the importance of doula support and taking birth classes. Finally, Ariel describes her experience with breastfeeding, highlighting the importance of reaching out for lactation consultant support, shares her struggles with low milk supply, and explains her daughter’s diagnosis and correction of tongue-tie. // Birth Matters Complete Online Course: birthmattersonline.com // Show notes with pictures, transcript & resources: birthmattersshow.com

• Subscribe for email updates
• Show notes (transcript, resources, photos)
• Connect: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | [email protected]