Janna VanderBand is an art therapist who helps individuals work through trauma. She is especially passionate about helping those who are pregnant or in the postpartum period. Janna has her Masters in Art Therapy with a concentration in counseling and she has experience in a residential treatment facility working with children and teens who have experienced trauma.

We touch on topics such as creating your own emotional and mental health birth philosophy so that you can communicate your needs to your providers. We also talk about how the body stores trauma and how certain stimuli can trigger feelings as though those experiences are currently happening. We discuss what you can do in those situations to reorient yourself.

Aly was one of our very first guests on the podcast. We are re-airing her birth story as part of our series on birth after trauma.

Join us as Aly shares the story of her son's birth, which she describes as a healing experience following a traumatic first labor and a loss at 18 weeks.

Dr. Maureen O'Keefe is a physical therapist with 24 years of experience focusing on pelvic health. Dr. O'keefe has taught classes at the international pelvic pain society, and she has partnered with top medical centers to advance the knowledge and accessibility of pelvic floor PT.

We had a great conversation with Dr. O'keefe about pelvic health in the child bearing years.
We touched on numerous topics including common issues in pregnancy and postpartum, trauma informed care, self care, and why “kegals” may actually be causing more harm.

Tune in to get answers to your pelvic health questions!

Notes:
To contact Maureen
616-516-4334
instagram @purplemountainpt
www.purplemountainpt.com

TW: Sexual Assault, NICU stay

Marta was 8 months pregnant when she stood up in court and gave her testimony against Larry Nassar, the man who sexually assaulted her for 8 years. She began having contractions at the trial and was off of work for 6 weeks leading up to the birth of her daughter. Marta was induced and after several cervical checks, she began feeling panicked. Marta was able to advocate for herself and got a new provider while in labor who was much more respectful and sensitive to her needs. Once her baby was born, she was taken to the NICU for breathing trouble. Marta was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression and experienced a lot of anxiety around breastfeeding. Listen as Marta tells us her birth story and how she found new strength through these difficult experiences.

Series: Birth after Trauma

CW: Sexual Assault, NICU stay

Join us as Anna tells us her birth story.

Anna has a history of sexual assault as a teenager. This played a big part in preparing for the birth of her baby. Anna worked with a midwife who was sensitive to her needs, but when she went into labor early, she had to transfer to the hospital. While in the hospital, Anna advocated for herself to wear her own clothing, have no men in the room, and she even caught her own baby.

To connect with Anna, Please visit AnnasArtAvenue.com

Join us as we wrap up our series on VBAC (Vaginal birth after cesarean. We will also discuss our upcoming series on birth after trauma.

Carrie Stephens is a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, and placenta encapsulator. she has advanced VBAC certifications from VBAC Academy and VBAC link and she is the owner of Ginger Blossom Doula Services. We sat down with Carrie to discuss all things VBAC. Join us as we dive into some of the ways you can prepare for a VBAC, including choosing a provider, and educating yourself beforehand.

Resources:
CesareanRates.org
ICAN
West Michigan VBAC support group on facebook
VBAC Link
VBAC academy
VBAC facts
The VBAC Babes podcast
VBAC Birth Stories podcast
Birthing normally after a cesarean or 2 by Helene Vadeboncoeur
The VBAC Companion by Diana Korte
Birthing From Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz
Cut, Stapled and Mended by Roanna Rosewood
Baby Got VBAC

Join us for week 3 of our VBAC series.

Brittany had worked with her OBGYN to plan a VBAC, but her OB wasn't on call when she went into labor. The on call OBGYN was not supportive of her decision to try for a vaginal birth. Brittany worked hard to advocate for herself and her baby and she got her VBAC!

Listen as Brittany shares how she leaned on her husband and her faith to get her through both birth experiences. She also shares her experience with a rare pregnancy related auto-immune disease called pemphigoid gestationis, which causes itching and blistering all over the body.

Brooke was diagnosed with endometriosis and when an ovarian cyst ruptured, she discovered she had a bicornuate (Heart-shaped) uterus. She was told she would never bear children. ⁠
⁠
Listen as Brooke shares her two birth stories. She gave birth to her son via cesarean birth when they discovered he was breech. She planned and worked towards a VBAC (Vaginal birth after cesarean), but ended up giving birth to her second child via repeat cesarean. ⁠

Listen as Brooke shares her experiences and the knowledge she has gained through these births.
⁠
⁠

Emily was scheduled for an induction after being told she was going to have a 10lb baby. After laboring on Pitocin, she wound up having a cesarean birth, but not without its own complications. Emily was able to feel the surgery and was put under general anesthesia. Listen as Emily shares her full birth story.