Roxanne welcomes Erica, who shares her hospital water birth story and postpartum experience. Erica discusses her intentional preconception health changes, commitment to prenatal fitness, and the time she took to get educated on what to expect and how to prepare for birth. She recounts her labor journey, starting at home, transitioning to the hospital, and finding relief in a birthing pool. Erica then shares the intense emotional and physical challenges of the postpartum period, emphasizing the importance of taking time to prepare for this much longer phase of life in advance. The episode highlights the needs for better postpartum awareness and preparation! Check out our entire course dedicated to that topic here: https://mamastefit.com/education-courses/postpartum-and-newborn-care/

00:00 Introduction to Birth Story Fridays

00:02 Meet Erica: Hospital Water Birth Experience

00:12 Hosts Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:12 Erica's Pregnancy Journey and Birth Preparation

03:09 Challenges and Adjustments During Pregnancy

04:36 Choosing a Midwife and Water Birth

06:18 Early Signs of Labor and Preparation

07:44 Labor Begins: From Home to Hospital

13:17 Arrival at the Hospital and Progress

14:57 Arrival at the Labor and Delivery Room

15:27 Labor Land: The Intensity Begins

15:37 Water Birth Experience

16:28 The Final Push and Baby's Arrival

18:45 Post-Birth Challenges

21:42 Navigating Early Postpartum

22:13 Breastfeeding Struggles

24:14 Adjusting Expectations and Finding Solutions

25:02 Reflecting on the Postpartum Journey

26:54 Advice for Expecting Parents

29:41 Postpartum Preparation and Resources

31:39 Conclusion and Resources

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