Christina was 25 and living abroad in France when she fell in love, and unexpectedly became pregnant.

She had spent years before this pregnancy immersing herself in homebirth and freebirth stories, always dreaming of giving birth at home.

But those dreams were abruptly upended at her 12-week ultrasound, when her baby was diagnosed with gastroschisis—a rare birth defect in which the intestines develop outside the abdomen through a hole in the abdominal wall. The diagnosis meant her baby would need surgery immediately after birth and that Christina's pregnancy would be closely monitored by medical professionals.

Despite all of this, Christina manages to hold on to the spiritual sanctity of the experience of pregnancy, and skillfully advocate for herself and her son.

This is only part one of her story. Tune in next week for part two!

Find Christina on Instagram @natureofbirth

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Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at [email protected]

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Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto