This podcast episode delves deep into the art of tuning into our bodies and trusting the messages we hear in response. Zarna’s story is a profound example of this. Her first birth was planned to be at home, but at 42 weeks of pregnancy her midwife was no longer willing to support her in a home birth. Zarna reluctantly agreed to a Misoprostol induction at the hospital. On entering her room, the obstetrician proclaimed, “What are you doing, your baby is not coming out this way!”, believing that Zarna’s uterine fibroids would be in the way of birthing her baby vaginally. A c section under GA ensued, along with the added threat of a potential hysterectomy should the fibroids cause extensive bleeding.

The OB advised Zarna against attempting a VBAC for any future pregnancies. But when pregnant with her next baby, her body told her otherwise. Zarna chose not to have any medical or midwifery care throughout her pregnancy, and despite her fibroids clearly taking up a good portion of space in her lower womb, she planned a home birth with just her man present, and a birth keeper in the wings.

Zarna’s is a remarkable story of tuning in, trust, and healing. She is eager to share her story of birthing with fibroids because she found there was such a lack of such stories for her to lean on in her own pregnancies. Just after our interview she sent me a message to say:

“... part of why I had wanted to share my story about having fibroids is because drs had told me that so many women have them but just don’t know they do, but many women have all of the symptoms of having them and will often be told that’s ’normal.’ I think the stats are even 1/4, and with me having them I haven't yet found a lot of support for holistically supporting the female body, and the options from the medical world I have been offered are for chemical menopause, surgery or womb removal! A huuuge part of my journey leading up to Taeo’s accidental conception was supporting my body to get ‘rid’ of the fibroids as I thought that if I did, that would be one less ‘obstacle’ for me to overcome in birth, and when we conceived him I had come to this point where I had no more symptoms of having the fibroids aside from being able to feel them with my hands. So I had wanted it to be known for any women who were listening and had fibroids and who wanted to speak or connect as well, I would love that, also because I’d love to hear what other women are doing and their wisdom and learning around them. It is cool that now after this birth the fibroids no longer feel like obstacles - I have such acceptance and love for them and all they have brought me for calling me deeper into trust in my body.”

Also discussed in this podcast episode:

* Microbiome seeding

* Managing fears that came up in pregnancy

* Women’s Circle support in Far North

* Empathy Angels service

* Meconium in the waters

* Partner’s ecstasy

* Vaginal tear - healed naturally with Manuka honey

* Wonderful postpartum

Connect with Zarna via her Instagram page @alignedwithzarna

Find out more about the far North Women’s Circle via Zarna or Hannah @embody_ensoul

Learn about Empathy Angels support (NZ only): empathyangels.co.nz