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21 episodes with Precipitous
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2 episodes with Precipitous
Precipitous labour and birth can be a real surprise if you were mentally preparing for a longer labour. Around 15% of women will have a labour that is less than 3 hours and these quick ones require a little bit of understanding and preparation to help you not become overwhelmed by it. There is often no time for pain management, you are on the ride! In this episode, Mel gives some strategies to help you plan and manage a fast labour and birth and also what to do if your baby comes before you get to hospital or before your midwife arrives. This episode comes with 2 helpful check lists with quick tips for you and your support people: Preparing for a fast labour AND Born Before arrival These are in the podcast resource folder. Get access to them here This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code Melanie at the check out to claim your discount. Get my guide to Working through birth without pain medication here with a bonus section for your partner or support people so they know how to support you through labour and birth without pain medication. You may also love to join us LIVE! The convergence of rebellious midwives conference, tickets are available NOW. Get your ticket here - it's not just for Midwives! Link to youtube https://youtu.be/MndPC8eH1KA Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion PodcastJoin the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.comJoin the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.comFollow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwifeIf this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.DisclaimerThe information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it's application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors
In today's episode, Jazz a midwife, maternal and child health nurse, and sleep consultant, takes us through her remarkable journey to motherhood. From her first precipitous birth during the height of COVID-19 to navigating severe hyperemesis gravidarum whilst living in Far North Queensland, Jazz's story is one of resilience, professional insight, and the reality that being a healthcare professional doesn't make your own birth and parenting journey any easier. Jazz shares candidly about her postpartum anxiety, the pressure she placed on herself as a professional in the field, and how she learned to be kinder to herself the second time around. Her story beautifully illustrates how each pregnancy and birth is unique, even for the same woman, and offers valuable insights for both parents and birth professionals alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What is precipitous birth, and how do you know if it's happening to you?In this birth story episode, I'm joined by Unmedicated Academy birth worker Marissa Bergman to break down what precipitous birth actually is (and why it can feel so shocking when it starts at full speed).Marissa shares her unforgettable “drive-by” hospital birth, from first contraction to baby in her arms in just over two hours, including Marissa's go-to coping tools for intense, rapid labor. What helped her stay calm, grounded, and in control when there was no time to ease into it.___Join our birth program:unmedicatedgirlies.comFollow Marissa on IG:@momtomomwithmarissaSubscribe to Mom to Mom on YouTube
In today's episode we're hearing from Lara about her precipitous birth. When she found out she was pregnant she threw herself into reading, researching and preparing for labour. She hoped to give birth in the midwife lead unit, but when her contractions started it became clear her baby was coming very quickly. Lara and her partner called the paramedics who managed to get her to the hospital and her baby was born after just 95 minutes of labour. Lara talks about the mental challenge of convincing herself the baby was coming early, the intensity of such a short labour and her plans for her imminent second birth. My website: www.serenalouth.com My IG: https://www.instagram.com/serenalouth/
Celeste's three births showcase dramatically different experiences within the same hospital system. Her first birth involved an induction that led to forceps delivery and NICU admission, her second was a precipitous labour where she dilated from 3cm to fully dilated in just 30 minutes, and her third was a planned induction that resulted in her dream water birth. Throughout all three experiences, managing her multiple sclerosis added an extra layer of complexity to her care. Are you preparing for birth and looking for a natural way to manage labour pain? Discover the difference with a TENS machine from The Birth Store. The Birth Store is a trusted name in obstetric TENS machine hire, helping thousands of women across Australia feel more confident and in control during labour. Our award-winning Elle TENS machines are designed specifically for use in labour and can be hired from anywhere in Australia for 4, 6 or 8 weeks.They’re simple to use, completely drug-free, and give you the power to manage pain from those first early contractions through to active labour. But we’re more than just TENS hire. At The Birth Store, we also stock a carefully curated range of pregnancy, birth and postpartum essentials – including perineal ice packs, breastfeeding support, recovery wear, and more. You’ll also find trusted brands like Hydramama, Silverettes, SRC Health and many other much-loved brands. Join the thousands of Aussie mums who say their TENS machine from The Birth Store made all the difference in their birth. Book yours today at The Birth StoreUse the code ABS25 to save 10% off your next hire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're launching a special series of episodes, each centered on one powerful theme in the home birth journey. This first set — Water Birth Stories — gathers real experiences and insights to support, inspire, and immerse you in the magic of water birth! How can you take your power back after it feels like a previous birth experience took it away? Today's story with Karine Halle features details of trauma from a hospital birth for her first child and how she was determined to have a home birth for her second. In between her first and second birth, she felt called into doula work and became passionate about supporting families in the birth experience. For her second pregnancy and birth, she did everything she could to put the odds on her side to have her dream birth. *Please note that this conversation contains mention of suicidal thoughts Things we talk about in this episode: Postpartum rage GBS positive Gestational Diabetes testing Body work for birth: chiropractic care, massage, yoga, exercise Links From The Episode: The Birth Hour: https://thebirthhour.com/ Birthful: https://birthful.com/ Evidence Based Birth Podcast: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-based-birth-podcast/ Babies are Not Pizzas: https://amzn.to/3UGYtPi Ina May: https://amzn.to/3tfHuI2 Hypnobirthing: https://hypnobirthing.com/ The First Forty Days: https://amzn.to/3WMDtbK Birthing from Within: https://amzn.to/3tfHOqe The Fourth Trimester: https://amzn.to/3NOSUvE Business of Being Born: https://www.thebusinessof.life/ Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order or DIAH100 for $100 off a Complete Plan More From Doing It At Home: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is episode 72 and is shared by Rhiannon living on the land of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Rhiannon shares how her homebirth transfer with her first baby influenced her decision to freebirth her second baby. We talk about the opportunity for inner growth that pregnancy and birth can offer, how she decided on freebirth and her engagement with private midwifery for her antennal and postnatal care, and of course her two birth experiences that were extremely different! Resources: Prelabour Rupture of Membranes Precipitous LabourThe First Forty Days Meal Train Support the showConnect with me, Elsie, the host :) www.birthingathome.com.au @birthingathome_apodcast@homebirth.doula_birthingathome birthingathome.apodcast@gmail.com
Links: Today's episode is sponsored by Motif Medical. See how you can get Motif's Luna or Aura Glow breast pumps covered through insurance at motifmedical.com/birthhour. Know Your Options Online Childbirth Course (use code 100OFF for $100 off) Beyond the First Latch Course (comes free with KYO course) Support The Birth Hour via Patreon!
Send us a textWelcome to the May Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. If you have been wondering what you should plan to eat after giving birth, we've got the answers in today's episode, and we think they'll surprise you! For today's regular episode, we answer the following:Can you remove an epidural for pushing?Can the cervix swell shut if you push before it is fully dilated?Can you prevent a tear in a precipitous birth when the baby comes flying out?Can I still have a VBAC if I had a big baby and didn't dilate in my first birth? Is it possible that my body doesn't go into labor?Does delayed cord clamping cause jaundice?Is there anything that can be done to prevent tearing in a precipitous birthIn the extended version, available on Apple subscriptions and Patreon, we further discuss:Anxiety around the anticipation of your second birth;current evidence on stillbirth rates after age 35 (all the data!); andbreastfeeding through pregnancy and into tandem nursing.Finally, in quickies, we touch on sushi in pregnancy, bleeding too much and cord clamping, when a baby can first have water, how to lower fasting blood sugars, and so much more plus...how Cynthia and Trisha met.Oh, and one more thing: Are you a folder or a squisher with your TP habits?**********Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.comInstagram @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don't provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
Pastor Ken Boone visits King's with a powerful word for The Church.
Send us a textCynthia and Trisha are back with the March Q&A episode! This one kicks off with a fun discussion on things that our Instagram followers think people should know but don't—like how, when you say you're eating a kiwi, you're actually referring to either a kiwi bird or, worse, a person from New Zealand!In today's Q&A episode, we answer these questions:Do I need to schedule a cesarean at 40 weeks if I'm planning a VBAC? My OB says I do.How do I know when it's time to wean from breastfeeding, and how can I do it without feeling guilty?What are my options if my state says it's illegal to give birth at home after a previous cesarean?In the extended, ad-free version, available on Patreon and Apple subscriptions, we cover:My second birth was only 45 minutes long, and my baby was born in the car on the way to the hospital. How can I prevent or better prepare for a rapid birth with my third baby?Will dropping a pumping session with my eleven-week-old baby affect my milk supply?How long is too long to wait to deliver the placenta, and how can I help it come out more quickly?Finally, in the "quickies" segment, we touch on a variety of topics, including alternatives to Pitocin, botox while breastfeeding, swimming in public pools during the third trimester, finances & family planning, and dealing with the awkward situation of being told your baby can't attend a baby shower—and much more!Remember you can watch all our episodes now in full video format on the Down to Birth YouTube channel! Thank you, as always, for your fantastic questions! Keep them coming to our hotline at 802-438-3696. We promise we won't answer! :)**********Our sponsors:Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample packNot a Sponsor but HIGHLY recommended: ENERGYbitsRemember to watch our full episodes on YouTube! Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.comInstagram @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don't provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
2 Samuel 11
Returning guest Tiffany shares her powerful third birth story—a precipitous freebirth. Alone with just her partner, Tiffany navigated this intense and transformative experience following a wild pregnancy. Tiffany's story also includes one of the coolest placenta births I've ever heard! You can hear her first two birth stories, on her first appearance on the podcast, here. If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth 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 contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto
Send Kiona a Text Message!In this episode, Aly talks about how she emotionally handled caring for and losing her father during her first pregnancy with her son Cristian. She also gives all the details about how her second labor with her daughter Sara did not go as planned because it was extremely fast as well as touching on how her two postpartum experiences differed from each other. birthasweknowitpiodcast.com/74 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only with no intention of giving or replacing any medical advice. I, Kiona Nessenbaum, am not a licensed medical professional. All advice that is given on the podcast is from the personal experience of the storytellers. All medical or health-related questions should be directed to your licensed provider. For another episode related to precipitous birth, tune into episode 63-Tessa & Jeff Sanders-IVF-2 Vaginal Births-Marcela & Rosie-5AM MiracleResources:Ally Patrie-Jurado YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@allypatrie-jurado1859 Perinatal Support of Washington: https://perinatalsupport.org/ Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net Definitions:Trying to Conceive (TTC) Shingles Membrane /Cervical SweepTongue-TieMastitis Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)Precipitous BirthFerguson / Fetal Ejection Reflex (FER)Support the showThank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you like this podcast, don't hesitate to share it and leave a review so it can bring the podcast to the attention of others. If you want to share your own birth story or experience on the Birth As We Know It™️ Podcast, head over to https://birthasweknowitpodcast.com/ or fill out this Guest Request Form. Support the podcast and become a part of the BAWKI™️ Community by becoming a Patron on the Birth As We Know It Patreon Page! And don't forget to join in on the fun in the Private Facebook Group!
Links: Today's episode is sponsored by Motif Medical. See how you can get Motif's Luna or Aura breast pumps covered through insurance at motifmedical.com/birthhour. Know Your Options Online Childbirth Course (use code THANKFUL for 50% off) Beyond the First Latch Course (comes free with KYO course) Support The Birth Hour via Patreon!
Alma's first birth was an emergency Cesarean after an induction at 40 weeks due to gestational diabetes. Due to COVID-19 policies, Alma's husband was not allowed into the OR. She did not expect the induction process to end the way that it did, and felt robbed of the positive birth experience she hoped to have. Alma made sure to educate herself on all of her options for her second birth. She was very proactive about her health and did not have gestational diabetes the second time. She went into labor earlier than she expected at 38 weeks. She woke up in the middle of the night to her water breaking, and intense contractions began. Within minutes, Alma knew she had to go to the hospital immediately. Alma felt pushy as they made the 45-minute drive. She was admitted to a room, and her beautiful baby was born just two pushes later!Evidence Based BirthⓇ: Induction for Gestational DiabetesThe VBAC Link Blog: VBAC with Gestational DiabetesBirth Ball Amazon LinkNeeded WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello, hello. It is almost the end of November. It is crazy to think that the year is coming to an end. But guess what, you guys? We still have so many amazing stories coming your way. Today's story is from our friend, Alma. I'm already messing it up. It looks like Alma, but you say it. Tell me how to say it correctly.Alma: Alma, but any way you say it is fine. Meagan: Perfect. I want to say it correctly though. She is sharing her stories today. Now, you are in New Jersey now, but you weren't in New Jersey when you had your VBAC. Is that correct? Alma: When I had the C-section, I was in New Jersey, so we just zigzagged a little bit. Meagan: So she's in New Jersey, but the VBAC wasn't in New Jersey. I know a lot of people when they are listening are like, “Where was this VBAC?” We will talk a little bit more about that when we get into the story, but let's give them a little teaser of what your episode is going to be. Your first C-section, I feel like was the steps. It was the steps or the cascade, and then a little bit of what you went through. Tell us a little bit of a teaser before we get into the episode. Alma: I had a lot of interventions in my first pregnancy and did end in an emergency C-section, then for my son, my second pregnancy, it was exactly the opposite. There wasn't time for any intervention. He just flew out. My whole labor was 2 hours from the first contraction to when he was born. I almost delivered in the car. He was too fast, but it was exactly the experience that I wanted to have. Meagan: Yes. Oh my gosh, so a precipitous labor after a lot of interventions, an induction, and all of these things. I'm so excited to get to this episode today, but we do have a Review of the Week. As usual, if you haven't done so yet, please leave us a review. We absolutely love them. Okay, this episode reviewer is Desiree Jacobsen. She actually just left this review this year in August of 2024. It says, “Thank you”. It says, “This podcast and parent's course is amazing. I'm not a VBAC mom, but I have been listening since 2020. I binge-listen toward the end of pregnancy to remember everything I need to remember in the birth process through my previous births. This time around, I felt more prepared than ever before having plans in place just in case. We were able to have a quick birth for my fifth baby. I love the education, passion, love, and support this podcast gives. I recommend it to everyone I know, and I have learned so much from it. I am so grateful for this podcast. Thank you”. Oh, I love that. I love that, love that, love that. That was actually sent to us via email. If you didn't know, you can email your reviews at info@thevbaclink.com. Your reviews on the podcast and on Google are what truly help other Women of Strength find this platform and find the courage and the information that they need to choose the birth that they desire. Okay, girl. Let's get into this story. So first birth, lots of interventions. Let's talk about it. One, what types of interventions, and two, why? What led up to needing those interventions or I don't know if it's “needing” or really medically needed? Tell us more. Alma: Well, my first pregnancy was very normal and healthy up until I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. That's where things started to change a little bit. I just failed the test by just a point, so my blood sugar was elevated, but it wasn't as bad as it could be. I wasn't even on insulin. I was just on diet control. Everything was going fine so I thought, but I would say a week before my due date, I was told that I needed to be induced because of the gestational diabetes. That was the first red flag of things going out of my control because I didn't expect to be induced. Although I had gestational diabetes for a while already, I wasn't told that this would probably be the case that I would be induced. I agreed to the induction of course. I understand why it's done, so I went along with it. I think my daughter just did not want to be born. On that day at least, we went in on my 40th week, and I was on Pitocin for hours, and it did nothing. I tried some exercises. I tried a bunch of things. Nothing worked.Eventually, the doctor suggested to manually break my water. That's where I wish I had asked to do other things first. I wish I had rejected that choice, but I went along with it. From that point, the labor went from 0 to 1000. I was in so much pain in a matter of minutes. Everything happened so fast, and I wasn't ready for that. I asked for an epidural really fast. I got the epidural, and that's also when things got worse because my blood pressure started to decrease. I didn't know that could happen actually. Later on, I scoured through every detail of what happened, and I tried to figure out exactly what went wrong. I realized that could happen with an epidural. When your blood pressure is affected, of course, the baby's blood pressure is affected so my daughter started to have some fetal decelerations. It was very concerning. They put me on my back to deliver to push her out. I wasn't even 10 centimeters yet. They were going to stretch me, but her blood pressure just declined in a way that was really concerning. I was rushed to the OR and the C-section was done. Everything happened so fast. I hesitate in using the word traumatic just because in the end, everybody was fine. I was fine. My daughter was fine. She was healthy, but it was very traumatic because nothing was in my control in that moment. I felt almost robbed of the experience that I expected to have. That was my first birth. Meagan: Well, and when things are rushed like that and you are left in a sense of– you said panic, but in a sense of urgent need to save something or save someone, it does. It sets all of your alarms off. Alma: That's exactly what happened. Meagan: Everyone has trauma differently. They view trauma differently. Someone may see one things as traumatic, and someone would be like, “How is that traumatic?” It's okay, I think, that you're using that word because that is how you are perceiving this. Your feelings and your alarms that were going off in your body as everything was being rushed and all of these things left that traumatic feeling. Alma: Yeah, definitely. In that moment, I felt like I couldn't breathe. At this time too, there were a lot of COVID restrictions, so my husband wasn't let into the OR. It was like, “What happpened to her?” He was more concerned than me probably. He thought both of us were going to die, my daughter and myself. It all just happened so quickly. Thankfully, we were okay in the end, but I had no idea I would be coming back with a C-section scar. That requires more recovery. As a new parent, we were already new to everything. It was a lot to deal with, I think. Meagan: Yeah, what you were saying, I'm sure your husband had a lot of trauma through that experience too. We know that COVID especially– I mean, birth in general comes with a lot of things especially the unexpected, but when you through COVID in with that, it's a lot of ick. It's a lot of icky feelings. It's a lot of ick. Alma: Yes. Meagan: So everything was good. Baby was good. You were good. Overall, it was a less-ideal situation, but where did that leave you after you had the baby and you were starting to recover? Where was your mind? Alma: I think I had to process a lot of what happened. I think I went into the first pregnancy very naive. It's important to be educated, and I really appreciate this podcast for that reason to encourage us to be educated. It's not that we are doctors. At least, many of us are not medical professionals, but we need to be aware of our bodies and just what the process looks like, and even some terminology. I was totally clueless on everything. I think that what I tried to do in between both pregnancies was just learn. What's going on in my body? What can I say no to in terms of interventions?You don't have to agree to everything. I never want to argue with a doctor of course, but if I really feel like that's not the best choice, I can always ask for another choice. I can consider other options. Meagan: Yes. Alma: I just didn't know I could do that the first time. I definitely tried to educate myself as much as possible, and I think that contributed a lot to how the second delivery went. Meagan: Yeah. I just wanted to thank you so much for pointing that out and seeing that because if I were to guess, we all didn't know that. We may have heard that you can always say no, but I don't if we realized how much we really could say no to or ask for another opinion. Maybe we knew it, but didn't really feel like we could. It can be hard. It can be hard to say no, but I love that you are like, “I want a different option. I'm going to say no to this right now. Give me another option.” It's always okay. Alma: Definitely, definitely. Wanting to wait if the time allows, “Can we try this later?” There's a conversation that needs to happen. It doesn't have to be one thing that is suggested. Meagan: This way or no. Alma: For sure. Meagan: Where did your education start stemming from? Where did you start when you were like, “Okay, I want to do something different next time”? Alma: The podcast. The VBAC Link. I listened to a bunch of podcasts. There is All Things Pregnancy with Dr. Nicole Renkins, and of course, The VBAC Link Podcast. Meagan: We've had her. We love her. Alma: That's just what I did all the time before I went to bed. I'd listen to an episode driving. I'd listen to an episode. It was very helpful. I felt like I could digest information better that way as opposed to reading, so that was a very helpful tool. I also tried to find professionals around me who could speak to my specific situations. I had a doula, and of course, I had my providers as well. They were all so helpful with helping me navigate some of the things that might have gone wrong the first time, and how I could prevent them going forward. Meagan: When they talked about some of the things that maybe went wrong the first time– I don't want to say wrong. They went south. Alma: Yes. Meagan: I don't know why people say that. I love south. I love the south. What were the kinds of things that stood out to them?Alma: Well, I think the first thing was the induction in the first place. I completely understand the risk with gestational diabetes, but I think there could have been more conversations with that in my specific case. Seeing as I did not have diabetes that was really out of control, it was very well controlled with my diet, and there could have been room to say, “Maybe we can go a couple days past my due date.” I wouldn't recommend that for everyone. I think it depends on your case, but I could have tried to have that dialogue, and maybe we didn't need to have an induction. I also could have considered different methods of induction, and I think that was the first thing because I felt like that was the first domino piece. If I didn't have the induction, it might not have led to a C-section in the first place. Another point was also the breaking of the water. Those things, I could have just said, “Let's wait.” I was already there for the induction, so I could have just asked for a little more time. But the big point for me too was the epidural. That was, I think, the immediate reason for the fetal distress. Meagan: The response. Alma: The response, yeah. Understanding how I could avoid that. I was told that now with the second epidural, I may not have the same reactions because I've had it before. Also, if you get flushed with some IV fluids– Meagan: Yeah, I was going to say if you hydrate and not even just intravenously, but literally drinking water before. If you know that you're going to want to get an epidural, or it's heading that direction, start hydrating. The more you can hydrate, the better. Alma: So I learned those things, then also, I tried to prepare myself for not even having an epidural, although that wasn't my goal, because I experienced the pains before. Even though I had the C-section, I went through some labor pains. I was accepting the fact that I might just need the epidural, but I considered that as well. How can I overcome this pain without any kind of medication? Those were things I was trying to consider about how we could do it differently so it doesn't result in the same thing. Meagan: Okay, I love those tips. So now, you're pregnant, and we have baby number two. Tell us this journey. Alma: Yes. I guess from the time of conception, it was about 18 months apart from the C-section. My pregnancy went perfectly fine. There were no issues. The difference being I had a toddler, so I was more active, of course. I was on my feet. I took at least 10,000 steps a day. I didn't sit much just because of my daughter. I think that definitely helped in preparing my body. I was really focused on how I can work on my pelvic floor and was just preparing for what it would take to push a baby out. I also did a lot of exercises that I found online. I never did a class or anything, but these were just Instagram videos where you could see the top three videos for strengthening your pelvic floor and things like that that were just free and available. I had an exercise ball that was a lifesaver. I highly recommend that exercise ball for anybody who is pregnant, especially in the third trimester. You can sit on it. You can lean on it. You can squeeze it between your knees. All of those things provide relief, but they also strengthen your muscles down there. I did the Miles Circuit. All of those things were super helpful, and I did it daily to prepare my body. I guess going into the actual labor, I'll start by saying that first of all, I didn't have very supportive providers. I learned from this podcast that that's very important. I do 100% agree that it's half the battle if you have someone who is on your side and wants to help you make intelligent decisions. I would say my providers were not completely unsupportive, but there were a lot of policies from the hospital side that I think restricted them from encouraging a VBAC. There were a lot of if's, and's, and but's. There were so many stipulations for when or if I could have a VBAC. Meagan: Can I ask which ones stood out where you were like, “These for sure are alarms”?Alma: The biggest one was that I would have to deliver before 40 weeks. I felt statistically that doesn't happen. People usually birth after their due dates, so I felt like I was already set up for, this is not going to happen probably. I felt really discouraged by that. Also, I guess the due date was a big thing, but also if I were to have gestational diabetes again, then the whole conversation on the doctor's side was just completely mute. I would just need to go for the induction if I had gestational diabetes. Statistically, you do have it with each subsequent pregnancy according to what I have known. I was also expecting, okay. I'm most likely going to have gestational diabetes. I'm most likely not going to give birth before 40 weeks. It seemed like I was most likely going to have to agree to a C-section. Those things were not encouraging, but I did feel like the doctors were trying to help me find some safe loopholes. One of them being that they had to– I don't know if this is law, but they had to schedule me for the C-section even though I didn't want one. But they explained to me that I could go in and say to them that I didn't want a C-section. I could ask for more time. I could ask to be induced, and hopefully, the induction wouldn't lead to a C-section although it could. I guess they were trying to explain to me that there are some routes you could take, but given the fact that you had a previous C-section, we do have to just assume that you're going to have another one. I felt really alone on that journey of trying to do something that I felt like I could do, especially given that the reason for the first C-section was an emergency. I was dilated. It wasn't a failure to progress. I felt like my body was perfectly primed to do it, but because of time, we had to go for the C-section. I also had to have some conversations with myself accepting that if I do need to have another C-section, it's not the end of the world. I guess what frustrated me about the first time was that I felt like I didn't need to have it. C-sections save lives. They're great tools when they're needed, but I felt like I didn't. Aside from the distress and all of that, I felt like I didn't need it, so I wanted to really try for this vaginal birth. I was just in between trying to accept what might happen, but still trying to hold on to what I believed I could do. So, I guess fast forward to my 37th week, I had an appointment and I had to sign off that I would come in for a C-section, but my plan was to go in that day. This was on the 39th week. I would have the C-section. I could go in and say that I didn't want to have it. On the night of my 38th week, my husband just finished putting together the crib, and it was midnight. He put together the crib. We went to sleep, and at around 2:45, I wake up because I thought I peed on myself. Now, I think I realize that it was my water leaking. I got up, and at that point, I had maybe cramping, but it wasn't really painful. To make a long story short, 10 minutes later, I was having full-on contractions. They were super painful. I got out my phone to time it, and within two taps, the app was telling me to go to the hospital now. It was two taps. Everything was happening so fast. Meagan: They were coming so close. Alma: Yes. They were so close. I don't remember how to count them. All I did was tap, and it was telling me to go. This was at 38 weeks, so I honestly didn't have anything ready. I didn't have my bags ready or nothing. Within a matter of minutes, I was just on the floor trying to remember the HypnoBirthing and everything, but it was all slipping because it happened so fast.We get in the car, and I'm still in a whole lot of pain. At a certain point though, I got a grip. I was doing this Christian HypnoBirthing which really helped me. I finally grasped myself and was able to calm down, but the pain accelerated very, very fast. At a certain point, though, I started to feel a lot of pressure. I was still driving, by the way. We had about a 45-minute journey to the hospital. I started to feel a pressure to push. I just couldn't resist it, so I pushed. I hammered down really hard. It sounded like a fire hydrant was cracked open. My water busted open in the car. I'm sitting behind the driver's seat on my knees, and my water just gushed open. At that point, I really felt like he was coming out. I couldn't hold back the desire to push because it also relieved the pain a little bit. It was more like a pressure as opposed to a pain. I just gave into that feeling, but I did feel like he was between my knees and was about to come out. My husband made a few wrong turns, but eventually, we got to the hospital. I couldn't even sit, actually. They put me in a wheelchair to go to the place where you would give birth. I couldn't sit down. He was just about to come out, and when I got there, I was already beyond 10 centimeters at that point. Later, the doctor told me when she came down to see me that she could already see the hair of my son's head. He was already so close. Remember, the talk about the epidural? I wanted the epidural. I was asking the security guard, the person at the front desk– everybody I saw, I was asking for the epidural. I noticed that they didn't respond to me on that. I overheard them telling my husband that it was way too late for the epidural. My son was already halfway out, and they couldn't give me the epidural. Once the doctor came, she told me to give a good push. I pushed one time. His head came out. The second time I pushed, he flew out. I had five nurses dive in to grab him. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Alma: He was born, and that was the whole thing. It was super duper fast, unmedicated, and yeah. The most touching part to me was that he came out, and they put him on my chest. That was all I wanted. When my daughter was born in the C-section, I had to beg them to let me see her. I didn't see her until minutes later. I didn't hold her until the next day, but this time, they put her right on my chest, and it was just so redemptive. It was everything that I really wanted to experience. Meagan: Absolutely. It was probably a lot all at the same time, very shocking, but then to have that baby be placed on your chest, oh, what an amazing moment for you. Alma: Yes, yes. It was. Meagan: Oh my goodness. Super fast. I was just going to say that was super fast. Alma: It was. It was so fast. I think this is a thing with my kids. For my daughter, too, when they broke my water, everything went very fast. I don't know. They are just really urgent, but my son was definitely in a rush. He came very, very fast. Meagan: Did your doula even make it?Alma: No, she didn't. She did not. She couldn't. It just happened too fast. She didn't make it on time, but she was happy to hear everything went fine. Meagan: Yes, of course. Of course. Oh my goodness. So after you had the baby, and you had him on your chest and everything, did all of the rest of everything go okay and smoothly?Alma: Yeah. I was bleeding a lot, and that was a concern, but I thankfully recovered fine from that. I had a second-degree tear which I hear is not terrible for the first time doing that. So yeah. I recovered pretty quickly afterward. In my experience, it really didn't compare at all to the C-section recovery. I was in a lot of pain after my C-section, but this time, it was just maybe a week or two of taking some pain medication for the stitches and stuff, but overall, I was fine. Yeah. I was able to go home the next day actually, so that was also very good. Meagan: The next day? That is awesome. Alma: Yeah. Meagan: How did your medical team feel about it? Did they say anything? Did they have any worries?Alma: Everyone was just so shocked at how quickly everything took place. I think that was the main theme was just the speed, and also how determined my son was. With just two pushes, he just came out really fast. The concern of obviously dropping him because they all dove in to get him. I think that was the talk. This happened in the morning, so the whole rest of the day, they were just chatting about how quickly everything happened. Meagan: Oh my goodness. I bet. I think sometimes those births are kind of a lot for medical staff where you come in and your baby is crowning, but I feel like those births are the type that they really do talk about for a really long time, and they were like, “Look at this.” A lot of the times, here in Utah, anyway, they call them stop and drops where you show up at 10 centimeters. You just stopped in and dropped your baby. I feel like in a lot of ways, it shows people that labor can happen at home, and then you come and it can so beautifully happen without getting an IV, getting a heart trace, setting up fluids, doing this, having a cervical exam. There is just so much that doesn't need to happen, and I love when medical staff can see that birth can just happen like that. It really, really can if we just leave it be. Alma: Yeah. That's exactly another point of how I felt before because I had gestational diabetes, and because I had a previous C-section, they did make it sound like I needed to be hooked up to every machine, and I could never give birth at home. I just felt almost like a robot connected to everything. That's how it had to be, but yeah. This time, I wasn't even in a hospital gown. It was just so organic how it happened. That was exactly what I wanted to experience, but I think it was a good experience for the nurses as well to see that it was okay. I was fine without the IV and the other stuff. Meagan: Yeah, I love that. You had listed some tips. One of them was doing pelvic floor exercises on the ball which we kind of talked about. I love the ball so much. If you guys are interested in a ball, I'm going to link a ball in the show notes because they are actually really inexpensive and can do a lot of really good things. What other tips do you have for someone preparing for a VBAC?Alma: The number one tip which I've heard constantly here is about being educated and understanding what your options are. Unfortunately, I think that most providers are not going to make it easy to have a VBAC just because of the risks that are associated with it. Of course, they may have your well-being in mind, but there are also a lot of hospital policies and protocols that they need to follow. They may not make it easy, but if you understand what your options are and what the research says, it opens the door for dialogue. When you open that conversation, I think you will find that doctors will probably give you more options than what they may have initially suggested. I always spent time talking with the doctors about, “So what if this happens? How about this? How about that?” I feel like that did wiggle in some room for me to not do things just following the protocol. Meagan: Yeah. Alma: That's really important. Meagan: It's so interesting how if you show up showing that you're educated, there's this different sense of– I don't want to say respect, but I do want to say respect because I feel like these providers are like, “Oh. They get it. They understand. I can't just say whatever. This needs to be an educated discussion.” It should always be like that, but I also think a lot of the times, providers don't have time to really sit down and talk about the evidence, or their evidence is flawed because of personal experience. When you come in and you're like, “Hey, what about this?” and they're like, “Oh, she knows stuff,” it just really gives you some wiggle room. It gives the providers respect just a little bit more because they realize how important this is that we are educating ourselves. We are learning. We know the options, and we're not just going to be like, “Okay, cool.” I love that tip. That, and finding the supportive provider. In the beginning, you had said that the hospital policies may have trumped these providers' stance. I think not only just finding your supportive provider, but really understanding the hospital policy. You can call, and you can talk to the head nurse. You can talk to the board and the directors of the hospital. You can say, “Hey, I need to know the hospital policies surrounding VBAC.” Alma: Yeah. You know, I believe it was on this podcast where someone mentioned that the best way to know how a provider feels about a VBAC is just to ask them very straight, “What do you think about VBACs?” Their expression will say it all. You don't have to have a preamble about it. Just ask directly, and I think that helps. I definitely did that. It wasn't favorable in my case, but I definitely think looking into the hospital C-section rates is really important too. How often do they have C-sections? How often do they have VBACs? If they have that information available, that's also really helpful. In my case, I found out too late that it wasn't the highest, but it was pretty high. Also, from this podcast, I learned that it's never too late to switch providers if you want to. I didn't take that route. I stuck with who I was with, but I guess I was just trying to be adamant with what I wanted to do as much as possible. Meagan: Absolutely. Do you have any tips on how to possibly find the hospital's Cesarean rate? It used to be out there on cesareanrates.org. It used to be out there, and you could look up your hospital. You could look up your state. You could look up your provider, even. That's gone down a little bit and changed a little bit, but do you have any advice if someone is wanting to know their hospital's Cesarean rate? Alma: In my case, I just searched the hospital name and the Cesarean rate. This was a pretty big hospital. This was in Florida. It was a hospital with a very big network, so that information was readily available on their website. You do need to dig around, but it was on their website. If you are dealing with a big hospital with many departments and so on, they may have that information on their website easily with a Google search. You could also talk to people who work at the hospital as well. If it's not online, I think that information is quantified normally. They might not quantify how many VBACs they have, but definitely the C-section rate is information that they are following and tracking. Meagan: Yeah. I feel like it's always fair to ask your provider, “What's your Cesarean rate?” A lot of the time, they will say, “I don't know.” They know. They know. That's something that they need to be able to give you. It's okay to ask that. “What percentage of your deliveries end in a Cesarean?” Alma: Yeah. Being direct is really the easiest way to know clearly where they stand. Meagan: Yeah, absolutely. I wanted to really quickly talk just slightly about gestational diabetes. There's a lot when it comes to gestational diabetes. We know, just like you had experienced, that most providers suggest an induction. They just do. According to the American Pregnancy Association, gestational diabetes occurs in 2-5% of pregnancies which is decent. For those who are at a higher risk in their pregnancy, it may be even higher up to 9%, but a lot of them are controlled like yours were through diet or even through insulin and things like exercise. A lot of people are controlling them. Evidence Based BirthⓇ, which I want to make sure that this is linked in our show notes and our blog so if you want to go read more about gestational diabetes or you had gestational diabetes with your last pregnancy and you may have it again, definitely go check it out. They talked about how there is actually very little data in how often people are actually induced because of the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. But in one of the retrospective studies, they found that out of 330,000 births from 2001-2007, they saw– okay, let's see. It says, “The people in the study came from six health insurance plans, many different hospitals and regions, and represented a large and diverse population. Health insurance plans datas were linked to birth certificate data in order to improve accuracy compared to using birth certificates alone.” Going down a little bit further, they said, “Overall, 30% of labors were induced. When they looked at the reasons for induction, 59% of labors were induced for an accepted medical reason and 41% were considered to be elective.” Those are pretty big numbers to me. Alma: Yeah. Yes. Yeah, those are big. Meagan: Yeah, those are really big numbers. It goes on. It talks about, does gestational diabetes always mean induction? What's the evidence for randomized controlled trials? They go way into it because Rebecca Dekker is amazing, and their team is incredible. We will also have our blog linked because I believe this is a really important topic to know more about especially if you've had it so you can make the right decision. And how you said, you were like, “I was in a controlled state. Everything was controlled through my diet, and I could have likely gone further,” but you didn't. You weren't really encouraged to go further. It was like, “Let's induce.” Alma: Yeah, it literally was just like that. There was no conversation about it. Meagan: Yeah. No conversation about it. I think that's where we're going wrong a lot in the medical system. A lot of the time, there is no conversation. Even though we have the power to start that conversation, sometimes it's really difficult when we're being told, “Your provider thinks this. Your baby is in danger. You're in danger if you don't do these things.” It's like, “Okay. Okay. I'll do those things,” but we need to have those conversations. I think that again, having the education and knowing the evidence behind it, and the risks and the benefits and all of those things, it will help you have that conversation if and when the time is needed. So, thank you so much for chatting with us today and sharing your stories and giving us advice, and leaning into more conversations for gestational diabetes. I think it's something that is happening. A lot of people are getting it. There are things we can do even before pregnancy like really increasing our protein and things. But sometimes, it just happens. It just happens. Alma: I will say just to be clear, the second pregnancy, I did not have gestational diabetes. Meagan: Okay. Alma: That was also something. That was my biggest concern. The two points I mentioned were that the conditions were that I couldn't have gestational diabetes, and I needed to deliver before 40 weeks. But this goes along with education. I did my best to improve my diet even pre-pregnancy to avoid that diagnosis. It was actually a miracle that my blood test came back really well. I almost thought this was the wrong test because it wasn't elevated at all. I was really, really thankful that through some dietary changes and lifestyle changes, I didn't have gestational diabetes at all. Then the second point about giving birth before 40 weeks, it was a spontaneous labor at 38 weeks which also was so supernatural. I really thank God. Everything happened really perfectly. Yeah. That was really a blessing.Meagan: Yes. Oh, thank you so much for everything. You are amazing.Alma: Oh, thank you. Meagan: We just love you.Alma: Thank you so much. I had a great time sharing the story, and I hope it encourages other women as well. Meagan: It will, for sure. Alma: Great. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Nicole is a military spouse who had her VBAC in England. She shares what it was like to unexpectedly move overseas during pregnancy, how she navigated not receiving her household goods in time, and how she made the choice to deliver on base versus off. Nicole's first birth was a Cesarean during the height of COVID. During pushing, she was required to pause, take a COVID test, and wait an hour for the results or risk being separated from her baby after birth. Labor had gone smoothly up until that point, and Nicole knew something had changed after the pause. Things felt different, progress stalled, and ultimately Nicole consented to the Cesarean. Her VBAC was a surprisingly wild precipitous birth with only 2 hours between her first contraction and pushing the baby out! Meagan and Nicole discuss the unique challenges of precipitous births and how important it is to hold space for every birth experience. Needed WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello. Welcome to The VBAC Link. Today is Veteran's Day. If you are just joining us this month for the very first time, then welcome to your first specialized episode week. I don't even know what to call it. What would you call this, Nicole? I don't even know. Nicole: A one-of-a-kind situation. Meagan: Last month in October, we had Midwifery Week and now we have Veterans. Nicole is the wife of a Servicemember and she definitely and experience that I think a lot of military members and moms experience and people don't think about it. I don't think about that. When I was having my baby, it was like, Which hospital should I go to? There are 10-15 right around me. Then you're like, “Oh, hey. I'm pregnant and now I'm moving overseas.” You know? I think it's something that we just don't think about. It's fun to have it be Veteran's Day and to have a Servicemember's wife sharing your story today. We might even talk a little bit about navigating the military healthcare system and what choices you made. We learned a little bit about that before we started recording. We've got her amazing story today. Where are you right now?Nicole: I'm in England right now. Meagan: You are in England, okay. And that's where you had your baby. Nicole: Yes. Meagan: Awesome. So England mamas, definitely listen up for sure. All mamas, really. We do have a Review of the Week so I'm going to get into that then we'll start with your first story. This is from Roxyrutt and it says, “Inspiring”. It says, “Listening to these podcasts has been truly inspiring and I have been on my own hopeful VBAC journey. Listening to other stories has been incredibly helpful in my mental preparation.” We were just talking about that before we started recording as well just how impactful these stories can be for anyone but especially during your VBAC journey. It says, “My due date is April 17th this month–” so this is obviously a little while ago. It says, “I'm hoping to have my own VBAC story to share. Thank you all for what you do.” Thank you so much, Roxyrutt, for sharing your review. As always, we love your reviews. You can email them to us at info@thevbaclink.com or you can comment “Review” on your podcast. I think it's on Apple Podcasts, Spotify– I don't know if Google allows reviews. You might just have to do a rating. But wherever you listen to your podcasts, if you can leave a review, please do so. Okay, Nicole. Let's get going on your stories. I seriously thank you so much for joining me today. Nicole: Oh, thank you so much for having me. Like we mentioned before we started recording, this podcast has been extremely inspirational to me and it really led me to having the VBAC of my dreams. Meagan: And you had a precipitous VBAC, right? Did you have a pretty precipitous VBAC if I'm remembering right? It was 2 hours or something?Nicole: Yeah. It was so quick. Meagan: Okay. We are going to talk about that. Don't let me forget about that in the end. It is something that we don't talk about a lot. Most people think about birth being a long time. Nicole: Yeah. Meagan: Yeah. Precipitous birth can come out of left field and I want to talk about that. But first of course, every VBAC starts with a C-section so let's hear about your first.Nicole: Okay, yeah. So I had my first in June 2020 so literally right as the world was shutting down. Everybody was terrified with reason, right? I go in. I remember I had my baby shower planned and everything was planning and everything was canceled. I just felt depleted and I was scared. I remember watching videos on how to have a birth and what to do and all of the birthing videos and there was like, “Here's a segment on if you have a C-section.” I was like, That will never be me. I don't have to watch this because that will never happen. That is not in my cards. That is not in my birthing plan I typed up and had signed. That is not in my cards. So I decided with my doctor that I wanted to be induced and I said at 40 weeks I had done my time. Get this baby out of me. I had committed to 40 weeks because she kept saying, “Well, we can do it at 38 weeks if you're comfortable or 39 weeks.” I was like, “Nope. I will do it until 40 weeks. I've done my time. At this point, this baby is evicted.” On June 20th, I went in for my induction. Everything went smoothly. I was progressing but not as fast as they would like so we started Pitocin. That went well. I was doing really well and all of a sudden they were like, “I think we need to break your water.” I had heard horror stories about your water breaking and it's super painful and you're miserable after it. So I was like, “Well, let's get the epidural because why would I put myself through that if they have the option to make this smooth and comfortable? Why would I sit there and not be comfortable during this?” So I got the epidural and I just laid there. I laid in bed for a really long time then at about 3:00 in the morning, I got the urge to push. I let the nurses know. They checked. They said I was at 10 centimeters. Everything was good to go. They came in at about 3:10 and I started pushing. I pushed until about 6:00 AM. At that point, at about 5:00 AM, I started getting really hot. I noticed that they had turned the temperature in the room up obviously for baby. I started getting really overwhelmed and really hot. I started to throw up. My doctor turned down the temperature. She was like, “Let's turn down the temperature. I feel like you're just getting hot.” I was like, “I'm just hot. I just don't feel so good. I'm just hot.” They turned the temperature down then a new NICU nurse came in and she turned it up. I was watching her turn it up and I was just so uncomfortable. I started throwing up again and they were like, “Well, we need to pause because everything you're doing is an epidural symptom but it's also a symptom of COVID so we're going to stop you because we have to test you. You can either continue to push–”Meagan: We have to test you.Nicole: Yeah. I had gotten tested before I went in and then during my labor 3 hours in of pushing, they literally stopped me and said, “We need to do a COVID test.” I did a COVID test and it was crazy. You see all of these doctors in scrubs and masks and then all of a sudden they come in in these inflatable suits and everybody has these– which is more terrifying. I'm already scared. Meagan: Yeah, talk about invading your space. Nicole: Yeah, then you're telling me that I have an hour until this test comes back. I can either continue to push but if I push and have my baby, you're immediately going to take her away until my results come back or I can pause, not push for the hour and just let my body do it naturally and then resume pushing if my test comes back negative and I can continue to have skin on skin and the one-on-one time with my baby. Meagan: Hashtag, eye roll. Nicole: Yeah. So during that time, I was pushing well up until the COVID test. My baby was descending correctly. I stopped. I waited an hour and something shifted to where she then twisted a little bit and she– once my test came back negative and I was able to push again– was getting stuck on my pelvic bone and I could not get her out. They were tying blankets together and my husband would hold one end of the blanket and I would push and pull the end of the blanket as hard as I could to try and get her down. I was doing everything to push this baby out. Nothing was working. I started to develop preeclampsia so that was red flag number one. Then my baby's heart rate started to drop in between each contraction which I guess means that it could be around the neck and it's more concerning if it's between contractions versus during the contraction. So after her heart rate started dropping and continuously dropped, they decided to call it an emergency C-section. I just remember feeling devastated. I remember shouting– not shouting, but crying to my husband, “I don't want this. I don't want a C-section.” My doctor was like, “I have to hear it from you that you are okay to have the C-section.” I was like, “I mean, I guess if that's the only way to get this baby out but I don't want it.” I remember feeling the pain from my C-section and feeling so depleted. I pushed from 3:00 to 6:00 then I stopped for an hour. We resumed at 7:00. We pushed from 7:00 to 9:00 and then they called the emergency C-section and I had her at 9:36. It was a lot and I was pushing hard. I just remember getting back to the room, because my mother-in-law was there, and saying, “I haven't held her yet.” I didn't want anybody to hold the baby without me holding her first. I had heard stories of people who were like, “Everybody in my family got to hold the baby before I held my baby.” I just remember crying and I cried for weeks. I just felt like my body gave up on me. My recovery was terrible and that's what my doctor kept saying. She was like, “You have both recoveries. You pushed for so long that you're recovering from pushing and then you're also recovering from your C-section.” Then because I pushed so hard and I was trying so hard, I had tore all of the right side abs so I couldn't even move my legs to get in and out of bed for 4 weeks because my whole ab muscles were just torn. I had to go see therapy for that and I remember trying to drive me and this infant to therapy sessions and I was just in pain and then the drive home– it was so hard. I just felt like I was really bonding with my baby, but I felt like I was so disconnected with myself. I just couldn't do it. I had to have therapy because I went into postpartum depression. It was the hardest moment of my life because I really just felt like everybody was like, “Oh, it's so beautiful though. Your body did its job and it birthed this healthy baby.” I just wanted to scream every time somebody said that because I was like, “But it didn't. I pushed for hours, literally hours, and it didn't do its job. I had to have my baby taken out of me.” Meagan: You didn't feel that way.Nicole: Uh-huh. Yeah. People would be like, “Well, aren't you glad that you didn't have vaginal tearing?” I was like, “No, but I had hip to hip tearing and not just through the skin. It was muscles and layers.” I felt like everybody was trying to comfort me and it just felt like I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs because I didn't feel like anybody was understanding what mentally I was going through. Meagan: Yeah. I think that happens so often in the provider world but also just in our family and friends' world. We get thrown the, “Aren't you just happy you have a healthy baby?” It's like, “Yeah, duh.” But then also that thing, “Well, aren't you glad that didn't happen to your vagina? Aren't you glad you don't have to deal with incontinence?” Or similar things where in people's minds, I don't think they realize that it's causing harm or that there are ill feelings at all. They are just saying these things, but it's like, “I don't feel like I birthed my baby and I don't feel good about it and I'm dealing with a lot of trauma physically to my body, not just even emotionally but physically to my body. No, I'm not feeling great right now and it's okay that I don't feel great. I understand that you're just trying to help and validate me maybe, I don't know.” Maybe that's what people are doing but it doesn't always feel good. Nicole: Yeah, people kept telling me to be mad at my provider. I was like, “I hear you. But at the end of the day, she's new to COVID just like we are. She's going into this trying to navigate it.” I think she did and I think she made the best calls, but everybody was like, “Why are you mad at yourself? Be mad at this person.” I was like, it wasn't her fault necessarily. She didn't know what was happening. COVID was so new and it was just blowing up in Utah. It was just this big thing and it seemed like nobody was listening to the fact that I was upset with my body and how my body handled this. Everybody was just like, “Well, it's a healthy baby. Blame this person or that person. It's COVID.” I was like, “But what about me? You're not listening to me.” That was so tough. I felt like I was screaming it and people were trying to silence it without purposely trying to silence it. Meagan: Right. Okay, so I have some questions for you. So when they were offering you sheets and it sounds like you were maybe playing some tug-of-war. What I call it in my doula mind is tug-of-war where you are pulling and tugging and all of those things. Obviously, they were really trying to help this baby get out vaginally and things like that. Did they offer you changing of positions even though you had that epidural? Were they like, “Hey, let's try to get you on your side or get you on your hands and knees?” You said you kind of felt your C-section a little bit, right? Is that what you said? So it maybe wasn't as deep of an epidural so maybe you could have done hands and knees or something? Did they ever offer anything like that?Nicole: They didn't. They did try the vacuum three times but it immediately would just pop right off of her head because she was shifted. Meagan: Asynclitic a little bit, maybe?Nicole: Yeah, so they said that after three times it was unsafe at that point and it was going to have the same results. Nothing was going to happen. I didn't want to do the vacuum, but once we were at that position, I was like, “Let's just try it.” I agreed to three times and then we were done. Keep it safe. That's when we started doing the tug-of-war and we did that for a long time. My husband was holding it and he was like, “The first time, you almost knocked me down because I wasn't expecting you.” I was pulling so hard. I just wanted this baby out. Yeah, they didn't move me in any positions. I was just on my back. Now that I know better, I wish I would have tried. Meagan: But again, you didn't know what you didn't know. For listeners, if you are in a situation where your baby might be tilted to the side asynclitic or transverse and maybe you have done tug-of-war and things like this, and even then, sometimes it doesn't work. For some reason, the baby is where they are, but a little bit of a tilt to the side especially if there is one side where they feel the baby's head or try to get on hands and knees to change that pelvic dynamic can help. But I love that they were like, “Let's do tug-of-war. Let's do these things.” I love that providers are still encouraging other things in other ways. It sounds like they really did try and avoid a Cesarean by doing a vacuum and doing the tug-of-war. That is super awesome. I was also wondering if you have any tips for moms who have maybe pushed for a really long time like you did and had essentially have vaginal pelvic floor trauma and also gone down the Cesarean route. Is there anything you would suggest to moms? Or even for moms who maybe had a C-section and had this possibly happen. Yeah, do you have any tips that you would suggest to help with healing both physically and mentally?Nicole: Yeah. One of the biggest things that we did which was incredibly helpful– I'll give you a funny story after– but one of the biggest things that we did was my husband would get out of bed. We breastfed. He would hand me baby. I would breastfeed her and burp her and then he would get out of bed, change her, and put her back down. That was incredibly helpful because all I had to do was go from laying to sitting. I couldn't pick my legs up to move them out of the bed without it being excruciating, so having him just help me sit up and hold baby made a huge difference. Having that support person there to help do the heavy lifting technically to get in and out of bed was next-level game changer. It helped me. I got to sleep more because he changed the diaper. We took turns then he would sleep during feedings. We were really changing. I do remember going to the pediatrician and my husband talking to the pediatrician and I was like, “Wrong person to ask.” He was like, “She keeps waking in the middle of the night and rocking holding this invisible baby and bouncing it.” It was because I would forget that I gave the baby back to my husband. Meagan: Yeah, because you're so tired. Nicole: I'm so tired and he would be like, “It's freaking me out.” I picked up my little Yorkie and I was rocking her. My husband was like, “That's the dog.” I thought I had fell asleep and the baby was next to me so I picked up the dog. I remember the husband talking to the pediatrician and I was like, “That is the wrong doctor. He knows nothing about my mental state,” and him being like, “It's terrifying,” but it really did help me. It might have scared him, but it just was so helpful and I just felt like I didn't have to worry about dropping the baby walking in and out of bed. It helped speed up my recovery because I wasn't constantly getting in and out at all hours of the night. Meagan: Yeah, that is so impactful. I love that you pointed that out. I know that some postpartum doulas do that too but if your partner is able to help you in that way, I also think it's really great because that helps them bond with the baby too. I mean, they might not be feeding the baby but they are changing and carrying and soothing the baby back to sleep as well. I love that. I love that you did that. How long did you do that until you were feeling better and getting in and out of bed was feasible?Nicole: It took me about 3 weeks until I felt comfortable and confident. That was another thing. I could feel comfortable but wasn't confident to get in and out of bed without worrying about a sharp pain or something glitching or stumbling. Meagan: Mhmm. I'm so proud of you guys for being a team and making sure that you took care of that. Nicole: We'll keep him. Meagan: You needed to take care of yourself and I love that you were like, “This is what we need. This is what we need to do.”Awesome. Well, before we get into your next story which is amazing, we're going to take a quick moment and listen to me, I guess, about our sponsor. Okay, and we're back. Let's get onto this VBAC story. Nicole: So being military, we had decided my daughter was so great and so fun at about 8 months or 9 months and we were like, “Let's do this again. Let's have another one. We want them close in age. Let's try again.” So she turned 1 in June. In May, we decided to go on a long weekend because my husband had just graduated college. He's military and was going to school which is a whole other added pressure. Meagan: That's a lot. Nicole: Yeah. We flew our mother-in-law out. She stayed with our baby for Memorial Day Weekend and him and I went to Tahoe for the weekend. We decided starting in May that we were going to start trying again. We were like, on May 1st, we're going to start trying for a baby. We get back from Tahoe on June 1st. I think it was June 1st. It was right at the end of May and the beginning of June. His coworkers were like, “Guess what? You have orders to RAF Lakenheath in England.” My husband was like, “No, I don't. You're kidding. I don't. That's a joke.”He called me and he was like, “I have bad news.” We had just dropped my car off at the dealership that morning so I was like, “Oh no, what we thought was a minor issue was huge.” He was like, “We have orders to England.” I was like, “That's not terrible news. That's the best news I've heard all month.” He was like, “No, that's terrible,” because he was planning on getting out of the military. Meagan: Oh no. Nicole: We had 2 weeks to decide if he was going to stay in and take these orders or if he was going to get out. We spent 2 weeks going back and forth if this was the best option for our family and if this what we wanted. What could we do over there? We decided that we would go overseas if we decided to wait on having a baby. We cut it off. No more babies at the beginning of June. We were like, “We're done. We're going to have our one. Towards the end of our 4 years is when we are going to start trying for our second. That way, we can get back here and have our baby back in the States.” We were like, “We'll travel with our one child because it's easier to travel with one than two. We'll travel with one kid. We'll do our 4 years there and when we come back, we'll have our next baby.” It wasn't ideal because we wanted them close in age, but at least we were traveling and eventually, we would have our second. He took the orders on June 2nd. I was prepping for my daughter's first birthday. We were having a pool party. I was like, okay. Her birthday's on June 20th. It is June 16th. I wonder when I'm going to get my period because I don't want to be on my period and swimming. Meagan: During the pool party, yeah. Nicole: I looked at my app and I was 7 days late. I was like, What? I don't think that's right, but let's just take a test. I took a test and I was pregnant. So, the joke was on us. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Nicole: Yes. We found out in June that we were having our second and we were due to be in England in November. So at the end of the month in November was our DEROS date or the day that we were supposed to be in England and he was supposed to be signed onto the base. We decided that we would just pack up and do this all while I was pregnant. We moved over there on November 15th. Once I got here, I was like, Well, what do I do now? I am halfway through my pregnancy. I have nothing because COVID again, had stopped all of our furniture stuff because the ports were closed and that whole issue of everything being shut down. The world was still closed so we were like, “What do we do?” We had sent our stuff at the beginning of October to arrive in England and they were like, “Well, you're not expecting anything.” We had bought all of our baby stuff before because we were like, “Well, we'll just buy it here and ship it over there, and then we won't have to worry about trying to buy it over there.” There are different sizes of cribs there, and the bedding size is different. I don't want people to buy us sheets then all of a sudden it's UK sizes and it doesn't fit and it's unsafe for baby. It was a big thing. We bought all of our stuff. I was ready to have it. Then we got here and they were like, “It looks like you're not going to get any of your household goods until April.”Meagan: November to April?Nicole: October to April because we shipped in October. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Nicole: Uh-huh. Yeah. We were living in temporary furniture that was terrible. We had to go out and buy blow-up mattresses because those were more comfortable than the beds that they gave us. It was wild. Then I'm trying to find a doctor. I'm trying to find a provider. I don't know what I'm doing. I've called all of the birthing doulas because of the podcast that I had been religiously listening to. I was like, “I know what a doula is. That's what I need.” They were all booked up because by the time we got here in November and I got the chance to interview them, they were all booked up for the month of February when my baby was due.So now I'm sitting here, “Well, what do I do? Do I have the baby on base? Do I have the baby off base?” I don't know. I don't know anything about where we're living. I don't know anything about the hospitals. I don't know anything. I'm just guessing off of people's posts on Facebook, but they are so hit-and-miss. Somebody is going to post a really great story, then all of a sudden, somebody makes a post of a traumatizing story which scares you. It's like, was the good story one in a million, or was the traumatizing story one in a million? I was just navigating this. I started going to my doctor's appointments on base because I knew that Tricare covered the OB/GYN. I was trying to navigate how it would cover overseas. I had to make a lot of phone calls and all of that fun stuff. I was like, “Well, I'll just start on base and see if I need to transfer off base.” On base was okay. It's way different seeing a military doctor than it is seeing a provider who chooses this field and who wants this field. All of my prenatal care was okay. There were a few things that I wasn't a fan of and if we weren't talking about it, I could tell you what is the strep B test, right? Meagan: Group B strep?Nicole: Mhmm. They test you. They swab you to see if you have a skin infection to see if you need to be on antibiotics. In the states, my doctor performed that on me. Here, they gave me a test tube and told me I had 5 minutes to complete it. I was like, “What? I can't even see down there let alone swab myself.” I just remember crying in the thing and begging people to do it and they were like, “We don't do it. You have to perform it on yourself.” My husband was home watching our toddler, so I had no support with me. It was definitely different. I looked at the hospitals off base and I was really unsure with the way that I had them. You would give birth in a birthing suite with your husband, then they would send him home and move you to this big room with other moms who had their babies. I was really navigating, what is the best fit for me and how am I going to have this baby and my VBAC? I want this VBAC. Who is going to advocate for me? I don't have a doula. I'm doing this by myself. My husband only knows so much. He doesn't understand it all, so he is only retaining half of what I'm saying. I made it to 40 weeks. I was like, “Get this baby out of here.” My mother-in-law was here to watch my daughter. That's another thing. You have to find childcare for your toddler because you don't have family around to watch your baby. We were so new here. We didn't have friends here to watch our baby. My mother-in-law luckily came out and made it for the birth. She watched my daughter. I decided that since she was here, and I needed to get this baby out before she left so I had childcare, I would do a membrane sweep because I was 40 weeks and I think I was 2 days at that point. I did a membrane sweep. That was unsuccessful at 40 weeks and 2 days. I did a second one. That was very successful. We had my membrane sweep in the morning. I remember just doing lunges and squats all day long. We took my daughter to a forest. She just ran, and I did lunges behind her. There are videos of my husband following my daughter around, and I'm in the background just doing lunges and doing anything to keep active, to keep this baby going. I went to bed that night on February 23rd. I went to bed at about 9:00 PM. I woke up at 2:00 AM. It was about 2:30 when I woke up. I felt this really sharp pain in my stomach. I thought he had kicked my bladder, so I stood up on the bed. It was like a movie. You heard the gush, and then all of a sudden, water was just trickling down my legs. I was like, “Well, I still feel like I have to pee, so that was definitely my water breaking not me having to go to the bathroom and him kicking my bladder,” which signaled me having to go to the bathroom. My husband had just come to bed at about 2:00 AM. He had only been asleep for about 30 minutes. I was like, “Hey, no rush. This is going to take hours.” Again, nobody thinks that labor happens fast. I woke him up. I was like, “No rush. I just need you to go downstairs and get my military ID,” because at this point, I decided to have him on base. I was like, “I just need you to get my military ID because they are going to ask for that information in labor and delivery. Let them know that my water broke and that we would be in in a few hours. No rush. I'm going to take a shower. I'm going to go back to sleep. I'm just going to sleep this off. We will wake up in the morning, say goodbye to Naomi, and then go to the hospital.” Again, I had told my daughter that I would see her in the morning, and then I left the room that night saying, “Why did I say that? There's no guarantee.” I had been saying for weeks, “I hope you sleep good,” and that's it. Then of course, the one time that I accidentally said, “I'll see you in the morning,” I wasn't seeing her in the morning. He calls Labor and Delivery and they were like, “Well, because of her past, we want her in now.” I was like, “No. No. I don't want to labor in a hospital. I want to labor as long as I can at home. I want to do this by myself. I want to be comfortable. I don't want people to tell me what I should be doing then it going against what I want to do. I really want to do this by myself.” He's arguing with Labor and Delivery. He was like, “Well, let me talk to my wife, and I will call you back.” I was like, “I'm going to get in the shower real quick and wash myself off because my water just broke.” Meagan: Had you started contracting at this point or just trickling? Nicole: Very minimal. It was every 5 minutes. It was very minimal, nothing crazy. I could totally go clean my car at this point. I was walking on water. My water broke. I'm great. I feel good. I feel nothing. I'm in the shower. All I did was put shampoo in my hair. I didn't even get it rinsed out, and all of a sudden, my contractions went from 0 to 100. I could not breathe. I could not talk through them. I could not even do anything. I felt like my mind was so focused on the pain. My husband was trying to ask me questions, and I couldn't even register what he was saying through each contraction. I told him, “Call them back because we are on our way now. I need to get out of the shower. I need you to throw conditioner in my hair while I have this next contraction. I need to rinse it out, then we need to go.” He's trying to talk to them and put conditioner in my hair. I'm having a contraction. I put my pants on, and as I'm pulling them up, another contraction hit. Then they started going from having a contraction for a minute and a half to a break for 30 seconds, and then immediately back into another contraction for a minute and a half. I was like, “What is happening?” I never felt this with my daughter. I had the epidural. Things went so smoothly and so slowly that it was cake. This was the next level. I waddled into the car. I remember sitting in the front seat and saying, “I can't do this.” I climbed into my toddler's car seat because I had the infant car seat up, and I couldn't fit in between the two car seats, so I had to sit with my knees in my toddler's car seat. I was holding onto the back headrest for support and just standing there. I was on my knees, chest against the back of her car seat, and I'm just holding onto this headrest with every contraction. I'd have three in a row. I'd have one for a minute and thirty, a break for 30 seconds, a minute and thirty, a break for 30 seconds, a minute and thirty, then I'd have a two-minute break, and then they would kick back up again. My husband was just flying. The roads were closed on our normal fastway to base. We lived 30 minutes away, so it was an extra 15 minutes to get to base. He was flying at 2:50 in the morning at this point. I'm sorry, it was 3:50 in the morning at this point. We get to the hospital at 4:05. I am hugging a tree outside because my husband couldn't figure out how to open the wheelchair. Poor guy, he was trying so hard to help me. Meagan: I'm sure. It was a frantic moment. Yeah. Nicole: Yeah. He couldn't figure out how to open it. He had to go to the ER and get somebody in the ER to help him. They were wheeling me up, and I remember yelling at them because they kept saying, “We'll have to do triage and see if you're in active labor before we can bring your husband back.” I remember telling this poor ER nurse, “You'd better not split my husband and I up. I am not doing triage. We are going into a room. We are having this baby.” She was like, “Ma'am, I think we're just going to put you in a room. I don't think we are going to need triage.” I get into the room. I am continuously having contractions. They tried to stop me to do a COVID test. I death-glared this guy because he wanted to do a COVID test on me. I was like, “Been there, done that. Not doing that again.” I remember them trying to put an IV in my hand. I was like, “I don't need an IV. This kid is coming out of me. I know I tested positive for the strep test, but I don't need an IV. He's already out. There's nothing that this is going to help.”I get up on the bed. They tried to get me to lay on my back to push and I couldn't. I remember my husband was like, “No, that's not how she wanted to push. She wants to push with her knees on the bed and her chest against the back holding on. That's how she wants to deliver him.”He was advocating for me which I was so grateful for because I felt the entire time that he didn't know what I wanted because he didn't understand my terms, he didn't understand why, he didn't understand the VBAC world, so I felt like I was talking to thin air. So for him to sit there and be like, “No, that is not how she is going to deliver this baby. She wants to be on her knees hunkering down.” I did. I got up there. I pushed two pushes, and he was out. His hand was stuck to his face. Meagan: Nuchal hand, wow. Nicole: He was holding onto his face. He got a little stuck because of his elbow, so after I got his head out, they made me flip over and deliver him on my back which I was totally okay with because we had done the hard part. I remember my husband saying that was the weirdest thing watching me turn around with this baby hanging out. He was like, “You just flipped around like it was nothing.” I was like, “I knew he was fine.” I tore because his hand was up and it was added pressure. But yeah, he came out in two pushes. He was born by 4:36, so 2 hours and I had my baby. It was absolutely wild. I just remember that I had him. I was just in the chaos of it, and about two minutes later, my husband was like, “Nicole, you had a VBAC.” I just started shouting it. I was like, “I had a VBAC.” It didn't even dawn on me in the craziness of it all that I pushed this baby out of me. I was just like, “Is he okay? Is he healthy? Does everything look good? Are you sure he has 10 toes and 10 fingers? Is everything good?” My husband was like, “Nicole, you had a VBAC. You really did it.” Yeah. It was crazy. He came so fast which was unexpected and nobody tells you about that. It was just wild, but I had a VBAC. Meagan: You had a VBAC with a nuchal hand too. That can be a little tricky sometimes, right? That is amazing, but I love just how intuitively from the very beginning, your body too was like, hands and knees. Forward-leaning position. That's what your body intuitively was telling you to do to get this baby here. I love that you just went with that. I love that he advocated for you despite not really understanding. I can relate to that. My husband did not understand why I wanted to do what I wanted to do, but it's so nice to have them be there for you in that ending moment when it really matters so much. Nicole: Absolutely, yeah. I was shocked. When he started saying it and he was like, “No. She wants to push like this,” I was like, “What? You listened?” Meagan: You listened. I love that. Oh, well thank you so much for sharing that story. Huge congrats and man, precipitous labor like you said, people don't talk about it. It does happen. It's funny because I had a long, 42-hour labor. Someone asked me, “Would you rather have a long labor that took forever like that or would you rather have a precipitous labor?” I had said that I really wanted a fourth and I just hoped it went faster. I don't know. I don't know which one I would prefer because long is exhausting and hard, but man, precipitous– and I have seen them. I have supported them as a doula and seen 2-3 hour-long labors. It's a lot of change in a body to happen in such a short period of time, and it's so intense. I mean, it is the next level. So, I don't know. Nicole: It's crazy. It's crazy that they are so fast, but your body just knows what it's doing. That blew my mind. With my daughter, I felt like I was trying. I was listening to everybody, and they were telling me what to do. I was just following suit, but with this one, there were no decisions being made. My body was like, “This is how it's going to happen and that's it.” I remember shouting for the epidural when I got in the hospital room. I was like, “I want that epidural. Call the anesthesiologist now.” They were like, “Honey, I think he's already here. I don't think we have time for that.” My body was like, “No, you're not sitting down. You're not going to do this. This is how–” I didn't even have time to focus on my breathing. My body was just doing it itself which is crazy thinking back on it. My body just knew. I was so down on myself thinking my body had failed me, but then having a super fast labor, my body was just like, “Nope, this is how we're going to get it done and that's it.” Meagan: Okay, so with precipitous labor too, like you said, it went from 0 to 100 like that. Do you have any tips for moms with that experience of that type of intensity? Obviously, listening to your body and getting to your birthing location on time. I'm assuming that's continuing. Sometimes, I feel like it can be really intense when it feels like they are ramping up and then they piddle out. But it does, it seems to ramp up, like you said, from 0 to 100 and it hangs on. It holds on tight and it is not stopping.Nicole: Yeah. Definitely listen to your body. I felt like I spoke up a lot with what was happening at one point. I've always been this way where there are certain sounds that make me nauseous if I'm under a lot of stress or if I'm feeling sick, so my husband talking– it's funny because he was like, “Say your affirmations. You are brave. You can do this.” His talking was making me nauseous. I was like, “Stop. Stop talking. Although it is what I want to hear, it is not helping.” Being super open about what was happening like when he went to get the wheelchair, I was like, “I can't sit in this car. I have to get out.” He was like, “Just sit in the car. Let me help you.” Being super aware and open about what I was feeling and what my body was telling me to do because going up and holding onto this tree, and every time I walk past this tree at medical, I'm like, “I almost gave birth right there had we not gotten that wheelchair open.” Hunkering down on that tree gave so much more relief that it was sitting in the car waiting for him. Although, I know that the car probably would have been the safest option for me rather than the tree with dirt and bushes–Meagan: Hey, that's actually pretty cool if that happened. Nicole: Right? But knowing what it was and being communicative. Even through all the chaos, every second that I could, I was saying, “This is what I need right now. This is what I'm feeling.” That was helpful not only for myself mentally because I didn't have the option. Things were just happening, but mentally being aware, and also allowing my husband to help me and support me where I needed was also really helpful. Meagan: I love that. Speak up. Follow your body. Have an awesome partner to help guide you through. I think too like what you said earlier, he listened. That goes with speaking up, talking about our feelings, and talking about our desires. Even if you don't think it's being understood or really heard, it probably is. Nicole: Yeah. It was just so crazy to me with him being like, “I'm so confused why somebody would want to push like that,” then him being like, “No, she's going to push like that.” I was like, “What? You remembered.” Even in all the craziness, and he thought for sure when I told him to stop when we were driving, he thought I meant to stop the car because he thought I was going to have the baby before I could finish after my contraction, “Stop talking.” Yeah, so even through all of the craziness and his mind going rampant, because he's going through it too thinking, “Am I going to deliver this baby on the side of the road?” Now that we're in a different country, who do we call? Do we call 9-9-9 or do we call 9-1-1? Do we call base or do we call locals? We're in the middle of the country. His mindset is going, so having him say that in the craziness was even more powerful. Meagan: Mhmm. Oh my gosh. Well, huge congrats again. Thank you so much for coming on and sharing your story. I do know that it's going to impact someone out there, probably hundreds and thousands of people to be honest, so yeah. Thank you so much. Do you have any other tips or any advice that you'd like to give to any moms in regards to VBAC, in regards to birth, in regards to preparation, or in regards to navigating military changes? Delivering on base or off base? Are there any other suggestions that you'd like to give? Nicole: I would say to really trust your instinct. I was obsessed with my first doctor with my daughter and she was my second daughter going into this. Obviously, I couldn't keep her. I tried to get her to come over here, but she wouldn't. Trust in your instinct in what you think is right for you and your baby. It's so interesting to where you believe that this is one thing and this is how it should be, but then when your instincts are kicking in and they are telling you, “This is what's best for you and your baby,” it's a whole other path. I just recommend to listen. Listen to your body. Listen to what your gut is telling you. It will fall into place. Things are scary and sometimes things are wild, especially with the military and moving in the middle of a pregnancy. It is terrifying. I've known spouses who stay after and they bring their baby over when their baby is 8 weeks old and can finally get a passport. But knowing that you can do it overseas, I definitely think it's special because your partner is there. It's just a crazy ride, but if you trust yourself, your self will always guide you in the right way. Meagan: Yeah. We've been saying it since this podcast started in 2018. Your intuition is so impactful. Trust it all the way. Go with it. I love that advice. Thank you. Nicole: Thank you. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Chelsey shares her precipitous homebirth stories with us. Along with her journey from doula work to becoming a student midwife. Chelsey's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supportingmamaswithbabies/ The Empowered Homebirth Course: https://birthsathome.com/pages/empowered-homebirth-course Follow Esmeralda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthsathome/ My website: https://birthsathome.com/ More links: https://msha.ke/birthsathome
In this episode, we explore two questions. First, we break down the role of choline in pregnancy, including its benefits for fetal brain development. We review the current evidence and provide practical tips on how to ensure you're getting enough choline from your diet or supplements. Next, we dive into precipitous labor, when labor progresses rapidly—and discuss what you can do to prepare for a fast labor. Thank you to our sponsor 20% off Mommy Steps or Form insoles with the promo code FEET. Studies show pregnancy can make your feet grow. In one study, 61% of participants had a measurable increase in foot length, and 22% reported going up a shoe size. The thought of going up a shoe size and having to replace every pair of shoes you own might freak you out. The good news is that wearing insoles can protect your feet from going up in size. Read the full article and resources that accompany this episode. Join Pregnancy Podcast Premium to access the entire back catalog, listen to all episodes ad-free, get a copy of the Your Birth Plan Book, and more. Check out the 40 Weeks podcast to learn how your baby grows each week and what is happening in your body. Plus, get a heads up on what to expect at your prenatal appointments and a tip for dads and partners. For more evidence-based information, visit the Pregnancy Podcast website.
Alyssa Frain is a licensed acupuncturist turned full-time stay-at-home mom. She had her first daughter in September 2020, a missed miscarriage in 2022, and a successful HBAC in January 2024. She enjoys helping women take their health back into their own hands by showing them how to tune into their bodies and support it with Chinese Herbal Medicine. Her goal is to empower women to reconnect with their bodies so they can live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Some highlights from the episode:
Jessie thought she was prepared to have a smooth, natural, and pain free birth until... The hospital kept interrupting the labor room, asking for continuous monitoring, and made the birth experience something Jessie never wanted to relive again. When she got pregnant with her second child, Ava, she knew things would be different. She and her husband weren't 100% sold on having a home birth, but that's why we have peace that God's plan is greater. Tune in to hear all about Jessie's redemptive and unplanned home birth. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: What a majority of "natural births" look like in a hospital Shifting the mindset of "women have to be strong" What created an entirely different experience for Jessie in her second pregnancy The power of visualization in pregnancy and through birth How children's temperaments can differ from hospital versus home births The woman's body: letting go of trauma & knowing we aren't cursed to have painful births MORE ABOUT JESSIE RITTER: Mom of two, wife, and musician living in the Florida Panhandle. Jessie had a difficult first birth in the hospital, and an absolutely blissful second time unplanned home birth. Instagram: @jessie.l.ritter TikTok: @jessieritter Facebook Twitter YouTube CONNECT WITH KAREN: Stay in the loop with Pain Free Birth and become an Insider HERE! Thanks for listening! Get 10% off the Pain Free Birth E-Course HERE! Grab Karen's Healing Birth Trauma Course HERE. This course is for any woman experiencing trauma in the body. If you're ready to release it, this course is for you. Instagram Facebook YouTube
In this episode, Emma shares her amazingly unexpected, yet so magical precipitous twin birth. Fascinated by birth by baby number two, Emma had done a lot of research and precipitous births had never stood out to her... that was until the twins came along. Her instincts were on fire. From the midwife being minutes away, husband nearly passing out, and babies coming quick enough she almost forgot to undress?! This birth story is one to remember. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Previous hospital births versus a twin home birth Feeling contractions! Time for some hot tea? Nope! Husband's hilarious reaction to a precipitous 34-minute labor & birth The overwhelm that can come with a birth of this nature MORE ABOUT EMMA BRAKE: Emma is a young wife and mother of five. She grew up a missionary kid, marrying her high school sweetheart, a handsome Marine, at 18, and in the following seven years, five sweet little wildlings joined their family! Their youngest three were born at home, including most recently her twins, a precipitous, accidentally unassisted homebirth. It was all rather exciting and very, very messy! These days she's blessed to spend her days at home wrestling what feels like 764 toddlers, telling her husband not to buy it at the store because she can make it at home, and fumbling her way through homesteading, endless home projects, and raising five free range kiddos to love Jesus. Instagram: @thisredeemedmama Facebook Website CONNECT WITH KAREN: Stay in the loop with Pain Free Birth and become an Insider HERE! Thanks for listening! Get 10% off the Pain Free Birth E-Course HERE! Instagram Facebook YouTube
Hannah is a VBAC mom and doula with Ebb and Flow Birth Co. located in Indiana. Hannah's first labor began very intensely. Her platelet levels were high enough for her to be able to get an epidural which she requested right away. She dilated to complete quickly, but after about 4 hours of pushing, baby just kept coming down and going back up with no progress. Hannah was exhausted and consented to a Cesarean. Unfortunately, her very effective epidural was not as effective during her surgery. It was painful. She required higher doses of medicine, hemorrhaged, and was so out of it that she remembers very little about her baby's actual birth.After the birth of her son, Hannah researched birth options and did all she could do ensure she'd never have another Cesarean. Her VBAC pregnancy included thrombocytopenia again, partial placenta previa (which completely resolved!), marginal cord insertion, and she was GBS+. With a great team and supportive provider, Hannah was able to stay focused on her VBAC goal even with the curveballs thrown at her. She went into labor spontaneously, progressed quickly, and though her pushing stage mimicked the same patterns, with the help of her doula's tips and freedom to move without an epidural, baby was able to descend and come right out!Hannah's Doula WebsiteWhat is Thrombocytopenia? ACH PublicationsPlatelet Transfusions ArticleNeeded WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Welcome, welcome. I hope you guys are having an incredible day. We have a guest today who has a VBAC story with a whole bunch of different things added to her journey. She has thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia, I always say that wrong, which means low platelet count. That is definitely something that is more unique. It's a little bit more rare, but if you've ever been told that you have low platelet counts or thrombocytopenia, this is definitely going to be an episode for you to listen to. She also had partial placenta previa and even marginal cord insertion. I am so excited for her to be sharing her story today. We do have a Review of the Week so I'm going to dive right into that and then we are going to get into her beautiful story. This review was just left on Apple Podcasts recently and it said, “I recently discovered this amazing VBAC podcast and I'm absolutely hooked. The host is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about all things related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Each episode is packed with insightful information, personal stories, and practical tips for expectant mothers and families. I love how they bring on guests and experts to cover a wide range of topics making each episode engaging and informative. Whether you're a first-time mom or a seasoned parent, this podcast is a valuable resource and empowers and educates. I highly recommend tuning in and soaking up all the wisdom shared on The VBAC Link Podcast.” I love this review and as always, I love them all. I love every single review, you guys. It is so amazing to get a notification in our inbox that a review has been left, so if you haven't had a chance yet, please do so. Please leave us a review. Tell us what you think about The VBAC Link Podcast. You can do it on Apple Podcasts. You can rate us on Spotify or really wherever you listen to your podcasts. Or even Google– you can Google “The VBAC Link” and leave us a review there. As I always say, these reviews truly warm my heart but they actually really help your community and these other Women of Strength find this podcast and these stories. I encourage you to leave a review and tell us what you think so someone else can find this episode as well. Meagan: Well, welcome Hannah. Thank you so much for joining us. Seriously, you guys, I can't tell you guys enough. Every time I have someone recording, I'm like, “Thank you for being here with me” because it takes a village and without all of your guys' stories, this podcast wouldn't be a thing. So thank you for being here, Hannah, and yeah. Feel free to share your stories. Tell the world what you feel like they need to know. Hannah: Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate the opportunity to share my story because both stories, I could talk about all day but also, I listened to your podcast consistently, constantly throughout the postpartum after I had my C-section and also during my VBAC pregnancy. With our first, I didn't really have a different plan other than what my friends and family had done. I had planned to go to the highly recommended hospital in my area with a random OB that I just chose. The only real decision I knew I wanted specifically was that I knew I wanted to go unmedicated for my birth but I didn't do anything other than general childbirth classes to actually prepare to birth unmedicated. I just assumed, “I'm going to go in and have a baby unmedicated and everything will be fine.” I didn't do anything to prepare for that and my pregnancy was pretty uneventful. I was sick the entire time. I had borderline hyperemesis– not officially diagnosed, but I was very, very sick. The only other weird thing I guess that I wasn't aware of before pregnancy was I had gestational thrombocytopenia where your blood platelet count gets lower. Meagan: Yes. We just heard about this on a recent story and I had never even heard of that before. Hannah: Yeah, I've had it with both of my pregnancies so I think my body just does that when I'm pregnant. The only thing that they had mentioned about that was there was a potential that you won't be able to get an epidural if your platelets fall too low. I had wanted to go without an epidural anyway so I wasn't really concerned about that, but again, I didn't do much to prepare. At the end of my third trimester, around that 36-week mark, they had brought up, “Well, your baby is measuring potentially big.” They estimated him weighing 11 pounds. They were like, “If you want to schedule an induction at 39 weeks, you can. If not, that's fine. It's up to you.” My OB was really great about just presenting options and not forcing things to happen. She did say, “You can schedule one of you want to but you don't have to.” I did schedule an induction for 39+5 or something like that. At 38 weeks and 39 weeks, I decided to get membrane sweeps. I got one at 38 weeks exactly and 39 weeks exactly. The day after I got my membrane sweep at 39 weeks, at 39+1, I went into labor. This was before my induction. I didn't have to end up being induced, but my contractions that morning had started so fast and so hard that I was really thrown off. I was shocked because when I had talked to people, they said, “They'll gradually build and they'll gradually get closer together and stronger in intensity over a few days or whatever it may be.”Mine started. It just hit me like a train. It was really bad so I called my husband. He was already at work that morning and I said, “We need to go to the hospital now. I need to get an epidural right away.” Because they were so intense, I just thought, I'm really far into labor, clearly. We got to the hospital and we got into triage. They checked me and they were like, “Well, you're about 3 centimeters.” I was just so annoyed. I was like, Okay. I'm only 3 centimeters. Whatever. We can stay because I'm obviously not coping well. I got an epidural right away as soon as we got back to be admitted. Thankfully my platelets were within range to get the epidural. Meagan: That's awesome. Did you get platelet transfusions at all during pregnancy? Hannah: Nope. They just monitored them. They continued to decrease, but they didn't drop below that epidural safety level but they were continually decreasing throughout my whole pregnancy. Meagan: Got it. I was curious. I'm always wondering what people with low platelets do if they do transfusions or not. Do you remember what the low number was, like the safety number?Hannah: Yeah, it kind of depends on the anesthesiologist, but for epidural specifically, they said anything below 100. I don't remember the units. It's like 100 something per milliliter or something like that. Anything below 100 would be considered not okay to have an epidural. Anything below 70 or 80 would risk people out of home birth which is another thing to consider. But yeah. Mine didn't drop below that level. It was 105 when I checked into the hospital. Meagan: Awesome. What's crazy is that less than 1% of people even have this condition. Hannah: Yeah, it's very rare. Meagan: Yeah. Yeah. Well, good. So you're 105. You're getting good. You're clear to get an epidural. Hannah: Yep. I get my epidural right away when we get back there and essentially, I just nap. My husband was really confused. He was like, “Well, I thought I was going to be doing more. I'm just sitting here,” because I just napped with a peanut ball between my legs. I progressed very, very quickly especially for a first-time mom and around 9 centimeters, I had been stuck at 9 centimeters basically not really long, but longer than I was for how fast I was progressing. When my OB came in, she said, “If you want, we can break your water just to get you to that complete state so we can start pushing.” I was like, “Yeah, fine.” I didn't really know a difference so she broke my water and then I got to 10 really, really quickly but I labored down for quite a while just because my OB was back and forth between seeing patients in clinic and then coming to see me because she comes to your birth whether she's on call or not which is nice. I labored down for a while and then started doing practice pushes or whatever with the nurse. My epidural was so strong. I felt absolutely nothing. I didn't feel a sensation to push, an urge to push. I didn't feel pressure– absolutely nothing. Me trying to push was not effective whatsoever. I pushed for about 4 hours before we ended up opting for a C-section because my son was just coming down and then going back up, coming down and going back up and of course, I was in that semi-reclined, pretty much on my back position so gravity wasn't really helping me at all. He just was not coming out. The nurse and my doctor had mentioned, “We think he's asynclitic,” where his head was tilted to the side and he just wasn't coming out. I was just exhausted and annoyed so we opted to have the C-section. That was really shocking to me. I was a little thrown off because C-section was never on my radar. It's not something I really prepared for or thought about. I just thought, C-sections happen in emergencies. I was fine. My baby was fine. We were both stable and had no problems. It was just that I had been pushing for a long time so I felt really confused on why it was happening. But the hard part for me was once the C-section started is when things really took a bad turn for me emotionally and physically. My epidural like I mentioned was super, super strong, but when the C-section started, I could feel a lot. I felt a lot of pain, not just the pressure they had mentioned. I was really, really in pain. I had told my husband, “There's something wrong. I can feel way more than I believe I should be feeling.” He told the anesthesiologist and they gave me some additional medication. I don't know exactly what it was, but whatever they gave me, I fell asleep for a little bit. I wasn't under general but I dozed off. Meagan: Yeah, it made you sleepy. Hannah: Yeah. I don't remember when my son was born or meeting him or hearing him cry because I was just so out of it. When I woke up however long that was, time was just not in my mind at that moment, but I remember my husband saying, “Babe, it's a boy,” because we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl. That's all I really remember from the OR itself. Then in recovery, in the recovery room, my blood pressure dropped. I was going hypotensive. I apparently had hemorrhaged more than they would have liked for a C-section which is understandable with low platelet counts so they were trying to get me stable because I was essentially on the verge of passing out. Everything was blurry and my main concern while all of this was happening was having my son breastfeed. I told my husband, “They're going to work on me. Just get him to nurse,” so he was holding my son to my chest so he could nurse while they were trying to stabilize me. It took them quite a while to get my blood pressure back up and to get everything fine, but thankfully, I didn't need any transfusions or anything like that. The whole postpartum experience, everything from C-section on was just really difficult to deal with and process at that point but that's kind of how everything ended up with that one. Then I knew from then on if I had any other kids, this can't happen again. I have to do something different. Meagan: Did they talk to you about anything like, “Okay, for your next birth, if you choose to have one, you can have a VBAC”? Did they counsel you at all after that? I'm always curious if providers do. Hannah: Yeah, so my OB specifically– I told her, I was like, “If I have more kids–”, because I had never heard the term VBAC. I didn't know that was a thing. I just thought, Oh, you can have a C-section but you can go on to have kids vaginally later. I didn't realize it was such a big deal until I started looking into it and asking around about it. At my postpartum appointment, I talked to my OB about it and she was like, “Well, yeah. That's fine. There are no issues with that. You would be a great candidate for it.” It was like, okay. That's what's going to happen if I have more kids. From postpartum on, I started researching. Meagan: Awesome. So what did you find in your research? Hannah: The first thing I did was look up obviously what VBAC was. I didn't really know then I started listening to podcasts and reading and reading book and listening to stories. I came across your guys' podcast which I honestly don't know how I found it. It was 5 weeks postpartum and I had never really listened to podcasts before. I found it and I found several others and started listening. Then one of the big things I looked at was, okay. What happened in my birth that potentially contributed to this? How can I avoid this in the future or make it a better experience? One of the big things was that I got my hospital notes and my op report and everything from when we were in the hospital just to understand fully what happened because they don't explain every single detail of what's happening to you unfortunately in most circumstances. So I wanted to see all of the notes and everything that happened down to the minute that was in my chart which really helped me understand what happened, process it, and heal that. Then for me, when I was looking at why I had my C-section and all of that, when I was looking at things about VBAC, it was like if these things happen to you like a failure to progress or the baby wouldn't come out like CPD, the cephalic pelvis disproportion, then the chance of you having a VBAC are not great. I was like, Well, that's discouraging. Then the more I got to the research, the more I realized that my birth specifically was likely a cascade of interventions starting with my epidural for me. That's how I personally feel. Some people would say that's not the case but that's how I personally feel. I knew going into my next pregnancy that I would do things drastically differently to set myself up for the best possible chances of having that VBAC. Meagan: Yeah. I love that. It sounds like you were starting in all of the right places. Hannah: Yep. Meagan: So baby number two– Hannah: Yeah. We decided. 8 months postpartum, I was like, “Let's have another baby.” I feel like with both my pregnancies and both my postpartum, around that time, I just get baby fever and then I am thankful that I don't get pregnant at that time. We got pregnant with my daughter about 20ish months after I had my son. That wasn't specifically chosen for VBAC intervals or anything like that. We just weren't ready to have another kid yet. So I got pregnant with her and I had interviewed doulas before we even conceived because in my area, they book up really, really fast, especially the more experienced ones. I specifically looked for a doula who had a lot of experience supporting VBAC. Then I also looked into different birth location options. I had first looked into a birth center and out-of-hospital birth center, but where I am in Indiana, it's illegal and against the law to have a VBAC in a free-standing birth center. I was upset about that at first, but then I looked into some home birth midwives as well as hospital providers. Home birth midwives– the only one I could find in my general close area was about two hours away and the ones who were closer to me wouldn't support a primary VBAC so if you had never had a vaginal birth either before your C-section or had a VBAC before, they wouldn't support you which was really discouraging. With how fast my labor progressed the first time around, I just didn't want to travel that far for appointments or having my midwife have to travel that far for the birth because you just never know how fast it's going to be. The thing about my first birth, my OB was amazing. She was not the type of OB who would try to coerce you to do anything. She was always very supportive of whatever I decided to do. She was very supportive of VBAC but I did also interview some hospital providers, some midwives, some other OBs and ultimately, I decided to stay with my OB because I felt really comfortable with her. I felt confident in her. She had no stipulations surrounding VBAC at all. The only other OB I did interview was an OB who would do vaginal breech birth because that's one thing my OB would not do and I was like, If I have a breech baby, I'm not having a C-section so I'll go to this other OB if that ends up being the case. Meagan: Okay, you're in Indiana.Hannah: The Indianapolis area. Meagan: Did you find it hard to find that provider? Hannah: Yes and no. Yes because he's the only one in our area who supports vaginal breech and no because my doula and a network of doulas who I converse with now all recommended him because they know that he's the only one in the area who would do it. Meagan: Do you care to share his name just in case we have someone breech listening? Hannah: Yes, so his name is Dr. James Webb and he's on the verge of retiring. Meagan: No! That's the problem. Hannah: Yeah. He is very particular about what hospitals he'll deliver at and all of that, but he is the only one currently in our area who will do it so if he doesn't happen to be retired at the time of this episode coming out, you can look into him as an option. Meagan: Yeah, awesome. That is the hardest part is we are seeing so many people who do supportive breech VBAC or just breech in general are retiring. They are closing doors and that's the hardest part. Okay, sorry. So you did an interview with him. Hannah: Yes. I had him as a backup just in case baby did end up being breech. Then my pregnancy again in general was fine. I had gestational thrombocytopenia again. I was not as sick the second time around which I was very, very thankful for. The only other weird things that came up were I was GBS+. I was negative for my first pregnancy and then I had a partial placenta previa at one point which at first concerned me but then once I realized that they usually resolve as your uterus grows, then I wasn't too concerned about ending up with another C-section because of that. I also, my baby was breech at one point. Meagan: Oh my goodness. Hannah: I know. I was like, All of the things that could happen did happen. But I didn't let it discourage me. I just kept going on and doing what I needed to do. The big difference in my preparation that I did the second time around because I knew for my VBAC I wanted to be as low intervention as possible. I knew I wanted to go unmedicated. I had my doula so I took a program called HypnoBabies which is a type of hypnobirth for those who may not know. It's a medical-grade hypnosis so I consistently practiced with that throughout my whole pregnancy. I did some breathwork and progressive relaxation videos and stuff like that to make sure I was really mentally prepared to go unmedicated because I feel like that aspect of birth is so much more mental than it is physical. That's where I really wanted to be prepared for that part. Meagan: Mhmm, nice job. Hypnobirthing is really common here in Utah. I wouldn't even say common but a favorite education course and we actually have a blog about it because so many people love it. It really can put you in such a great head space. Hannah: Yeah. I know it doesn't work for everyone, but what was more beneficial for me was that I didn't just go through the course in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy or something like that. I consistently practiced throughout my entire pregnancy to make sure it became a habit or something that I was normally used to doing. I did that primarily to prepare for birthing unmedicated and then I also did pelvic floor therapy to help with my C-section scar and my ability to push because pushing was such a difficult time for me the first time around. I really wanted to know what muscles to use and how to actively engage and push if I needed to. Meagan: Awesome. Hannah: I did a lot of different things to prepare the second time around. But then at the end of pregnancy, I did not get any cervical checks. I didn't get any sweeps because I knew it would just mess with my head space. It would discourage me if I was dilated or wasn't dilated and I knew that my dilation wouldn't determine when I was going into labor. I didn't schedule an induction either. I was just going to wait for my baby to come when they wanted to come and my OB was fine with that which was great. The only thing I did do was– I didn't have to end up doing this, but if I went past 41 weeks, I was going to get non-stress tests. But we were find waiting for things to happen. I went into labor spontaneously at 40+2 and– oh, I forgot to mention. Sorry, I'll back up. I did have a marginal cord insertion with this baby too so all of the things where the cord was on the side of the placenta instead of the center. The issue there could potentially be a lack of blood and nutrient flow to the baby which could cause growth issues. Meagan: IUGR, yeah. Hannah: We did monitor that a little bit more, but there were no issues with her growth or her percentile or anything like that so that was never a concern of her being too small or too big or anything like that. But I went into labor the morning of 40+2 and it didn't start how I expected or anything like my first labor. I had excessive bleeding and no contractions. I was really confused. I was like, Why am I bleeding so much? It was more blood than I felt comfortable with. A lot of times you have a bloody show or something like that with your mucus plug, but this was filling pads. I called my doula. I called my doctor and they were both like, “Yes, just go in.” My plan was to labor at home as long as possible, but because it started that way, I was like, Okay, I'm going to the hospital. Meagan: Mhmm, and the previa had completely resolved? Hannah: Yes. Yes. It was still low-lying, but it wasn't covering the cervix at all. With the amount of blood, I was like, Well, this is a little concerning. I did go into the hospital right away and went to triage because their main concern was a placental abruption with how much I was bleeding. Meagan: That's one of the things I was thinking too. Could it be a placenta thing? Hannah: They put the monitors on us. They checked everything and we were both fine. There were no issues. The bleeding ended up resolving and they couldn't exactly tell where it was coming from. At the time, I was about 4 centimeters dilated when we got to triage and I had planned because we were both fine, I was like, Well, I'm going to go back home then, but we had to stay to be monitored for about an hour just to make sure nothing else came up or things didn't take a turn or something like that. Within that hour, I had already began to dilate more. I was already 5 centimeters and at that time, I started feeling contractions so I decided, Okay, we'll just stay. We're already here. With the bleeding, I felt a little bit more concerned so we just stayed. I told my doula I would just text her and keep her updated. We got back to be admitted and because I was GBS+, I did choose to get the antibiotics. I got that round of antibiotics and then had them unhook the IV because I wanted to be as mobile and as free as possible. Thankfully, my hospital had wireless monitors so I was able to move around. I didn't have to tote around a monitor or be stuck to the bed or anything like that. After the antibiotics went through, I was going to lay down and listen to my Hypnobabies tracks and just rest because my contractions weren't intense or anything like that. I was super, super uncomfortable laying down. I needed to be up and moving. I tried and I was just annoyed with my headphones and annoyed with the tracks and everything. I was like, I need to be up and moving. At that point, I was getting ready to get up and my water broke on its own which was different for me because it did not break on its own with my previous birth. My water broke and again, I was around 5 or 6 centimeters at this time. It was definitely my water and they made sure. It was gushing out so it was definitely my water. After that point, I just felt like I needed to be on the toilet. I went to the bathroom and sat on the toilet and my husband got me cool washcloths and was wrapping my shoulders. I was just swaying back and forth on the toilet. Quickly, within 30 minutes, I was getting hot and sweaty. I was shaking. I was doing the horse-lip breathing and my doula wasn't there yet. I had texted her right before I went to the bathroom to tell her, “Things are getting more intense. You should probably head this way.” I hadn't been there more than 2 hours so she was like, “Okay, yes. Okay, things are picking up. I'll be on my way.” When I was on the toilet and I was starting to sweat and shake, I was clearly in transition. I knew that in my mind. My nurse knew that. My husband realized that. At that time, I was like, “I need an epidural.” I told my husband that and he was like, “But you're doing so well. Let's wait for Julie (my doula) to get there and see what she suggests.” I just felt like I couldn't do it. Then my nurse was really great about just leaving us alone and letting us do our thing. She came into the bathroom to check on us like I said about 30 minutes later. I told her, “I think I need an epidural.” At this time, I did not have an IV hooked up. She had mentioned, “Well, it's at least going to take 20 minutes to get the fluids in you to even be able to do an epidural.” She knew and she was clearly trying to stall me. Meagan: Yeah, I was going to say, I think that nurse knew something you didn't know. Hannah: Yes. Looking back in my mind, I knew but I was just in denial. I didn't really want the epidural but at that moment when you are in transition, you're just like, I can't do this. Two minutes later, my doula walks in and I told her the same thing, “I think I need the epidural.” She was like, “How long have you been on the toilet? Have you switched positions lately?” I said, “Well, now I've been here about 30-45 minutes.” She said, “Let's try getting in the shower and see if that just helps things ease up or change or whatever.” I was so reluctant to get off the toilet because I was so comfortable and in my zone but I did. I got in the shower and as soon as I stood up and got in the shower, I was bearing down and pushing. I was hanging onto my husband's neck and my doula was putting water on my back and the nurse heard me grunting and bearing down and she came in and was like, “Are you complete? We need to make sure you're complete just to make sure you're not pushing against a not complete cervix.” That was one of my concerns too. I was unmedicated so I felt the urge to push obviously, but I didn't want to be in that case where my cervix would swell or something like that. But I was complete and I had just a slight lip or whatever. My doula just suggested maybe we get on hands and knees to help relieve that lip or get in a different position to even everything out. I got on the bed and got on hands and knees. At this point, I'm just pushing. My body is pushing. I have no control over it. It's happening regardless of whether my cervix is complete or not. I was on hands and knees sitting on the back of the bed. My husband was cooling me down with washcloths and rubbing my back. My doula was doing the same and taking pictures and watching me push to see how baby's movement was. I pushed on hands and knees for about 10 minutes and again, my baby was coming down and coming back up and coming down and coming back up which was discouraging because that's what happened the last time. Then my doula said, “How about we try a squat to see if that helps with gravity working in getting your baby out?” I was so tired at this time. I was like, “There's no way I can hold myself up in a squat. This is not going to happen.” But we got the squat bar. I got in the squat. My doula and my husband were both supporting me. Within 5 minutes, probably two or three pushes, my baby was out. We didn't know again if it was a girl or a boy. She came out so fast and my doula was trying to get me to do the blow breathing to control and slow the pushing but I was not. I was like, “Get this baby out,” because I knew pushing was going to be the hard part for me to get past because it was four hours with my C-section baby. My doula knew that as well so she was trying to give me that extra support to make pushing a good experience. I let it fly and I was like, “Nope. This baby is coming out now. I don't care how fast she comes out. I don't care if I tear or whatever. I just need to get her out.” So she did. She came out and it was so funny because I had the squat bar and I was trying to pull her to my chest. My doula had even mentioned this in our prenatal prep. If you use the squat bar, the umbilical cord is still going to be attached so go under the bar and not over the bar. I tried to go over the bar of course. They were trying to get me all untangled and stuff but I was so happy she had come out that I didn't even look to see if she was a boy or a girl. I just forgot to check. She was a girl and we were so, so happy and so excited. I was just in disbelief that I had done it. It happened so fast that I didn't really have time to process what was happening. It was 4.5 hours total. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Hannah: Yeah. From the first contraction I felt– so not when the bleeding started, but from the first contractions I felt to when she was born was 4.5 hours. Meagan: Holy smokes. Hannah: Yeah, that's almost a precipitous birth and I don't know what just happened. It was just a rollercoaster and intense with no breaks whatsoever. But we were so excited. So excited. Meagan: I bet. Oh my gosh. When you said almost precipitous labor, to me, that is still very precipitous. 4 hours really from the start to the end, that is so fast. I have had a couple of clients like that. Sometimes I'm just like, “How does your cervix just do that?” Because from a mom who had a 42-hour long labor, it's like, what? We envy a lot of you precipitous birthers, however, I will point out that when precipitous birth happens, it's typically super intense. Hannah: Yes and you don't have a break. It's just constant intensity. Meagan: Yes. It's so hard because people have said, “Oh, I'd rather have a fast labor than a long labor.” It goes both ways. They want a fast labor, but I'm like, you have to know that it is very, very, very intense. It usually starts right out of the gate. When I say right out of the gate, I can picture a rodeo with a cowboy on a bull and the second the gate opens, the bull is just bucking, right? Hannah: Yes, because as soon as–Meagan: That is what reminds me of precipitous labor. Hannah: As soon as I felt contractions, I went from feeling nothing that morning to feeling like my whole body was contracting. It was just very intense so I don't know. I think both have their pros and cons, long labors and short labors. Meagan: Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. I'm glad. Precipitous labor for a first baby is common from what I have seen in the doula world of supporting hundreds of babies and lots of moms with precipitous labor. It is common to happen the next time. So even if you didn't have bleeding, you probably would have gone in sooner rather than later too. Hannah: Or I would have ended up with a car baby because if I hadn't been bleeding, I would not have gone to the hospital. I would have been fine. My plan was to labor at home as long as possible. Meagan: So you could have had a car baby or a front door baby. Hannah: Yeah, or just somewhere that is not in the hospital baby because it was too fast. Meagan: Yes. Oh my gosh. You are amazing and it is interesting. I'm so curious. Did the doctors say why they think that you developed low platelets? Do you have that normally? Hannah: No, I don't. Meagan: You said gestational so I'm like, She must be meaning just during pregnancy. Hannah: Yes. Some people have it in general without being pregnant. Other people develop it just when they are pregnant. They don't really know exactly why. I think there are things you can do to help that and help increase those platelet levels other than getting transfusions or whatever, but they didn't really know why. I mean, I'll be interested to see if I have a third to see if I have it again, but I think it's just what my body chooses to do. Meagan: Yeah. Interesting. Well, I'm so happy for you. Huge congratulations. Hannah: Thank you. Meagan: I don't know if you're going to have a third, but I assume you'll probably have a wild ride as well and you'll have to let us know how it goes if you decide in the future to have one. Hannah: Yeah. It will probably be the wildcard. Meagan: I know. You know, that does happen. I swear baby number three– in fact actually, it was my very first doula client that I attended. I was shadowing a birth doula because I was brand new and this mom had precipitous labors and baby number three took 15 hours. She was like, “No. No. No. Why is this happening? What is going on here? No.” The whole labor, she was like, “I don't like this. This keeps going.” So you never know. Baby number three also could be a labor wildcard. You never know. Well, thank you so much for sharing your story today. Hannah: Yes. Thank you so much for having me. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Today I finish my conversation with Charlotte. We talk about her next two births, one which involved an issue with the placenta, the second of which was a precipitous labor--contractions and birth within an hour--and how those experiences taught her to accept the help on offer from her community.
Cassi's first four birth stories can be heard here. Links: Get your breast pump, lactation support, and maternity compression garments for free at aeroflowbreastpumps.com/birthhour and use promo code BIRTHHOUR15 at for 15% off supplies and accessories. Know Your Options Online Childbirth Course - use code 100OFF for $100 off Beyond the First Latch Course (comes free with KYO course) Support The Birth Hour via Patreon!
No returns allowed on this package...Let's talk about every EM physician's worst nightmare: vaginal delivery in the ED. It's rare, not fun, and definitely messy. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here. Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 228. Precipitous delivery: free shipping included July 8th, 2024. Accessed [date].
In this Birth Story Friday episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Monica shares her exhilarating experience of a precipitous VBAC that culminated in an unexpected car birth. Monica discusses her preparation for birth, the challenges she faced with unsupportive doctors, and the techniques she used to remain calm and confident. Despite a chaotic night marked by a storm, a stopped train, and a mad dash to the hospital, Monica's story ends with the safe and quick arrival of her baby in the parking lot of a Walmart. The hosts, Gina and Roxanne, also offer practical tips for handling fast labors and unexpected birth locations, emphasizing the importance of preparation. 00:00 Introduction to the MamasteFit Podcast 01:53 Monica's Birth Preparation Journey 03:59 Navigating the Final Weeks of Pregnancy 05:44 The Onset of Labor 06:14 The Unexpected Car Birth 18:27 Postpartum Reflections and Advice 25:42 Tips for Handling Fast Labors 32:55 Conclusion and Resources Pre-Order Training for Two on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VOTdwH —— This podcast is sponsored by Needed, a nutrition company focused on optimal nourishment for your perinatal journey. Use code MAMASTEPOD for 20% off your first order or three months of subscription.
Midwife Charli sits down with former clients, Julia and Grant, as they tell the story of their experience with midwifery care and homebirth! Hear them talk about their first two births in hospital based care, the meaningful parts of transitioning to midwifery care for their third baby, and how their homebirth experience, while surprising, was ultimately empowering and just as it was supposed to be. --- https://hearthandhomemidwifery.com
You've probably heard a story or two of someone giving birth in 2-3 hours start to finish, but are they ACTUALLY telling the truth? Listen to Liz and Shaina discuss precipitous birth in this episode. Did this happen to you?? We invite you to email us, DM us on instagram, or find some other way to contact us and tell us your thoughts. For more information about us, our birth education businesses, and the classes we teach, visit our websites and instagram profiles: Shaina--virtual or in person birth and breastfeeding classes, lactation consults in LA Email: shaina@preparented.com instagram.com/preparented www.preparented.com Liz--virtual and in person birth and c-section classes in LA/Santa Monica Email: Liz@birthandbeyond.net instagram.com/birthnurseliz www.birthandbeyond.net --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebirthnurses/support
Join your host Sophia as she interviews Jen Santos for her third time on the podcast! This time she shares about her three home birth experiences. They discuss topics including ultrasounds, breech, unknown due date, back labor, torticollis, ECV, postpartum anxiety, PTSD, geriatric pregnancy, and precipitous birth. Dr. Jen Santos, DC, CACCP, is a second generation chiropractor. She received her first adjustment at 45 minutes old by her dad. Dr. Jen graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in 2013, with honors (Cum Laude) and received the prestigious “Clinical Excellence Award.” She is a full time chiropractor and owner of Acorn Chiropractic Club with 3 locations. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at Life Chiropractic College West where she teaches obstetrics, gynecology, pediatric and prenatal adjusting, and pediatric pathology. Dr. Jen also periodically teaches pediatric and perinatal chiropractic seminars to students and chiropractors in her offices. And also teaches for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Contact: Email: DrJen@AcornChiropracticClub FB Jen Santos IG @JenSantosDC Dr. Jen Santos Ultrasounds Dopplers EFM Concerns: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bornwild/episodes/85--Dr--Jen-Santos---Ultrasounds--Dopplers--EFM-Concerns-e20btg7 Jen Santos - Tongue and Lip Ties: https://anchor.fm/bornwild/episodes/62-Jen-Santos---Tongue-and-Lip-Ties-e1ne243 Jen Santos - Chiropractic and Dynamic Body Balancing: https://anchor.fm/bornwild/episodes/Chiropractic-and-Dynamic-Body-Balancing-with-Jen-Santos---S1E28-e19fk2u Listen here: IG: linktree in bio FB: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bornwild/episodes/109--Jen-Santos---Breech-Home-Birth--OP-Home-Birth--Precipitous-Home-Birth-e2khrr1 @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild
In this episode Madeleine shares the 24+ hour unmedicated labor and birth of her first baby, follow by her second baby where she had a rather fast labor on Christmas Day. ____________________ If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and share with your mama friends! wanna be on the podcast? https://www.whatthebumpclt.com/podcast connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthebumpclt our website / blog: www.whatthebumpclt.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/what-the-bump/support
Welcome to the April Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha. Today, we invite you to guess the two things that Cynthia and Trisha will never talk about on the podcast. Hint: They are not scandalous or controversial. Shoot us a DM with your guesses! Next, hear the most annoying habits from our podcast community regarding their partners. As for our questions this month, here we go:I had a pain-free breech vaginal birth. Why do some women experience pain at birth and others don't?My second baby was born precipitously at home. Should I plan for my third to be the same and when should I call the midwife?Does learning hypnobirthing techniques lead to a more peaceful birth experience?I have white-coat hypertension. Will this risk me out of a birth center birth and do I need to take aspirin in pregnancy?What percentage of women whose water breaks before labor begins will start labor within an hour or two?Are prenatal vitamins really necessary and if so, which ones?In our extended version of today's episode, we answer questions regarding breaking your tailbone in labor, whether you should tell your neighbors if you are planning a home birth, whether it's expected or appropriate to plan on feeding your home-birth midwives, and if it is necessary to be catheterized in labor if you can't void while in labor.In our quickie segment, we discuss the necessity or not of ovulation tracking apps, male versus female sperm, the midwives' brew, and how loud the music is in our cars while driving. Thank you as always for your wonderful questions! Please call in your question to 802-GET-DOWN or 802-438-3696. To get the extended version of today's episode (and all episodes 100% ad-free) just click the subscribe button on Apple podcasts or download the Patreon App and join any tier. **********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond. Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combinedSilverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.comInstagram @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don't provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
Being the Authority in Your Birth ~ Audrey's Three Birth Stories ~ 1 Breech in Hospital, 1 Precipitous Homebirth w/ a Midwife, & 1 Freebirth Hi friends! Today we are graced by Audrey Ross from @ajoyfulbirth and her three incredible birth stories. I absolutely loved hearing her tell these stories because even though her first two birth were technically "in the system", Audrey embodied her power and trust in birth throughout these experiences. Her first, born breech in a hospital, then choosing a midwife assisted homebirth for her second, and with her third pregnancy realizing that she can do this all on her own without a provider. Audrey is a birthkeeper and Queen of birth memes. She is full of wisdom and trust in birth. So many gold nuggets to pick up from this conversation! I hope you all enjoy
America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Peter & Ginger Breggin – We delve into America's abrupt decline, drawing parallels with personal bankruptcy: slow at first, then suddenly. As a confirmed Constitutionalist, we explore the orchestrated takedown of America, shedding light on global predation and its impacts. My insights aim to enlighten, offering a unique perspective on the crises we face, encouraging discourse and understanding in these turbulent times.
America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Peter & Ginger Breggin – We delve into America's abrupt decline, drawing parallels with personal bankruptcy: slow at first, then suddenly. As a confirmed Constitutionalist, we explore the orchestrated takedown of America, shedding light on global predation and its impacts. My insights aim to enlighten, offering a unique perspective on the crises we face, encouraging discourse and understanding in these turbulent times.
In this episode Anna shares the (quick) birth story of her second baby girl! ____________________ If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and share with your mama friends! wanna be on the podcast? https://www.whatthebumpclt.com/podcast connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthebumpclt our website / blog: www.whatthebumpclt.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/what-the-bump/support
Listen to the co-host of Natural Birth Talk Podcast, Rachel Mans, share her 3 amazing stories of planning for a natural birth in the hospital and then her precipitous homebirth. Shoulder Dystocia is seen as one of the worst childbirth complications and often times it is blamed on a big baby or mother's pelvis. Rachel shares in today's episode how instinct helped her navigate this potentially life threatening complication. Connect with Rachel: https://www.facebook.com/TheNaturalBirthSite https://www.instagram.com/thenaturalbirthsite/ https://www.thenaturalbirthsite.com/ Contact@thenaturalbirthsite.com RSVP to March's Woman's Circle ---> https://birth-bliss-beyond.ck.page/f3d39cab99 Click here to get your ticket for the Peaceful Homebirth Retreat Grab your free 30 minute Birth Strategy Call Save 10% off Araza Beauty when you use code "empoweredbirth" Save 10% off The Wellness Company Products with code "PHB"
Sponsor: Sleepybelly: Use the code THEBIRTHHOUR10 for 10% off your order at sleepybelly.co Enjoy free shipping and a 30-night money back guarantee! The Birth Hour Links: Know Your Options Online Childbirth Course (code 100OFF for $100 off) Beyond the First Latch Course (comes free with KYO course) Support The Birth Hour via Patreon!
Sponsors: Find peace of mind about your prenatal nutrition with the Genate Test by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more at genate.com and Use code BIRTHHOUR15 for 15% off your order. The Birth Hour Links: Know Your Options Online Childbirth Course (code 100OFF for $100 off) Beyond the First Latch Course (comes free with KYO course) Support The Birth Hour via Patreon!
When God Writes the Birth Plan ~ Mari's Sovereign Birth Stories Hi friends, welcome to The Birth & Rebirth Podcast. I'm your host Tiffany Holmes. In this week's episode, I invite Mari on to the podcast to share her incredible birth stories with us. I stumbled upon a clip of her most recent birth and was just in awe. I was moved by how raw and undisturbed the birth was... how embodied she was in her God-given power. And when I read in the comments that she had birth witnesses surrounding her ~ I was even more impressed that no one stepped in to disturb the sacred moments immediately post-birth. Time stood still for Mari, after she birthed her third baby - it took her 30 seconds to come back to reality and pick up her baby. Most people would have freaked out and disturbed this sacred moment, but Mari so carefully selected who she invited into her birth space - an OB turned Traditional Midwife who genuinely trusts birth. Mari's birth stories are proof that when you surrender to God's design of birth, incredible things happen. And also, that God writes the best birth plans. Mari says she never would've imagine giving birth outside of a hospital, yet she didn't have one baby in the hospital. She tells us about her first birth which was precipitous and happened in the car and her two beautiful homebirth stories. Enjoy! Connect with Mari on IG @humblymarij Hey mama - are you pregnant and dreaming of a natural birth but fear is taking over? Or maybe you had a traumatic birth that you haven't yet resolved? I got you! Let's work together so you can be more aligned with your dream birth. ~Fearless Mama Birth Coaching: https://sacred-womb-doula.com/doulaservices/p/fearless-mama-birth-coaching-package ~Birth Trauma Debriefing Session: https://sacred-womb-doula.com/doulaservices/p/birth-trauma-debriefing-session ~Healing Birth Wounds Journal: https://a.co/d/bPlnojh Let's be birth besties! Connect with me on IG: @sacredwomb.doula
Kristi shares with us how her planned homebirth turned very quickly into an unexpected freebirth! Follow Esmeralda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthsathome/ My website: https://birthsathome.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/birthsathome?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link More links: https://linktr.ee/birthsathome
Welcome to the December Q&A episode with Cynthia and Trisha! Today, we begin with revealing your holiday traditions and difficult family challenges of the season. Additionally, we share our long-standing holiday traditions. Next, we dive into your questions beginning with:What are the signs of postpartum hemorrhage?Is failure to progress dangerous and what can you do to prevent it?Is it safe to use breastmilk to treat pink eye in a baby?Considering the danger of RSV, should I ask family members not to kiss the baby and if so, what should I say?In the extended version of today's episode, we discuss whether or not vaginal birth is possible when a woman has osteoporosis; whether or not a mother who has a history of precipitous birth should plan to be induced to avoid giving birth en route to the hospital; and is intentionally rupturing the bag of water a good idea to prevent having a precipitous birth at home?As always, we close with a round of quickies on topics such as weight gain in pregnancy, cervical lips, prenatal vitamins, must-have baby items, and more!Thank you as always for your fabulous questions and keep them coming by calling into our hotline at 802-438-3696.**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancyModern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gearDrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.comInstagram @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don't provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
Shawn and Shawn and Troy struggle with the jokes, review the web, hear voices (and create voices), and more. Dave has the concepts and practices of science.
The chances of having vasa previa in a spontaneous pregnancy is about 1 in 2500. Our friend, Jessica, shares her experience with vasa previa during her first pregnancy which led to a scheduled Cesarean. While Jessica's Cesarean experience was difficult and traumatic, she knows it is what her intuition was telling her to do. Meagan gives important advice about listening to that intuition with every pregnancy.When the anatomy scan results showed that Jessica's second pregnancy was completely normal, she went all in to achieve the HBAC she deeply desired. Jessica didn't expect her birth to be so painfully intense and wildly fast as it was, but now she says that she “would love to do it again!” Additional LinksThe Lactation NetworkHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello, hello you guys. This is Meagan and today I am recording in a very different spot. Normally, I am in my office at my home, but today, I am recording from my car. We have our friend, Jessica, and she is from California. She is going to be sharing her HBAC story with you guys today. If you don't know what HBAC is, if you're new to all of the terms, it's a home birth after a Cesarean. She has a unique situation with her first C-section so I am excited to talk a little bit about that and have her share more information and then with her home birth, it was precipitous. Jessica, was it a planned home birth? Remind me, or was it so precipitous that it ended up being a home birth? Jessica: It was definitely planned. Meagan: Definitely planned. Review of the Week Meagan: She will be sharing that story but of course, we have a Review of the Week. This review is by Ashley and it's actually on our doula course. So birth workers, if you're listening, if you didn't know, we have a birth worker course to become certified in VBAC. It says, “TOLAC/VBAC should be treated just like any other birthing person, but there is a certain preparation and information that needs to be offered to them. Your course covered that. The value is held in your careful recognition of how best to support our client who is doing a TOLAC. I cannot praise you two enough for the fear-release activity. Honestly, it is something I can apply to even myself before and after birth and even in life in general. Thank you for that. It has already helped me with three of my VBAC clients.” That is so awesome. That is one of the biggest things we do in our course. We do a fear release. If you didn't know, listeners, a fear release is so impactful really processing your past births and working through any trauma. Even if you don't recognize it as trauma, it may resonate as trauma so working through those fear-release activities is super amazing. Jessica's Stories Meagan: Cute Jessica, thanks for joining me from my car today. I kind of had a crazy day where my husband got thrown into coaching another team and we had soccer tryouts. As we are recording right now, it's actually May so we are in the thick of soccer tryouts and all of the chaos of the last week of school. I ended up being at the soccer field so that's why I am coming from my car. So yeah, Jessica, I'd love to turn the time over to you to share your beautiful story. Jessica: Yes. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited. I'll just get to it. Basically, I got pregnant with my first son and he was due in July of 2020, well actually, the beginning of August. He was a COVID baby. My husband didn't get to go to any appointments with me. But that was supposed to be at a birth center. I watched The Business of Being Born. I got down that rabbit hole. We decided we wanted to be at a birth center. Everything was fine, then I had my anatomy scan and they found vasa previa. I had never heard of it. I never really even considered something being– you know, you worry about something being wrong with your baby. You never think about you having something wrong. So we were very shocked and all I remember was the sonographer saying, “It's detrimental to your baby.” That was very devastating because I had no idea what that meant. I had to wait to get a referral to see a specialist. It was, I think, 4-6 weeks away. In that timeframe, I had to basically just sit and wait and not know what was going to happen. I joined a Facebook group, did research in the meantime, and I realized, “Holy crap. This is a big deal.” I went to the specialist and they said, “Yeah. You have vasa previa but it could still move.” I left with no answers. It didn't feel any better hearing that. So basically vasa previa is you know, you have your placenta and your umbilical cord. It was explained to me that typically with a placenta and an umbilical cord, the umbilical cord is like a tree trunk. But when you have vasa previa, it's like tree roots. So basically it's an unprotected umbilical cord and vessels that could potentially be ruptured with a vaginal birth. Meagan: Yeah. They're very exposed. Jessica: Yes. Very exposed. I did also learn that I had a velamentous cord insertion which goes hand-in-hand I think. So yeah. Basically, the moral of the story was that it was a big deal on how I was going to birth this baby even more so because his life was at risk. I eventually saw three doctors at the same practice just for follow-ups. They eventually cleared me for vaginal birth. You think that you would be super excited about that, but everything that I was reading was saying that it has to move a big amount for it to be safe. The vessels could still rupture and all of that stuff. So then I got two second opinions at different practices. They also cleared me. I don't know. Everything that I was reading, I was reading different stories on this Facebook group. I just felt in my gut that I needed to still have a C-section. That is not what I wanted. I still stayed with the specialist because I was still considered a high-risk pregnancy. She said that I could deliver vaginally, but I told her, “I feel like I would feel safer doing a C-section.” She said, “Okay, but we are going to wait until 39 weeks.” With vasa previa, you deliver much earlier than that just because they don't want your body to go into labor at all. Basically, that whole pregnancy was full of anxiety and fear. I was worried every single time I went to the bathroom. I was worried there was going to be all of this blood. I felt invalidated and like I was silly for still wanting a C-section by this doctor. Yeah. It was really hard and then my husband couldn't even be at the appointments to hear what was being said. So yeah, it was really hard. Meagan: Yeah. That is a really hard thing to hear. Especially when you are not even planning on giving birth in a hospital. It's like, “So wait, wait, wait. I have to completely shift all gears.” But what I love was that your intuition was like, “I need a C-section. This is what I feel is best for me and my baby.” You followed that. That is so important. One of the messages here at The VBAC Link is that we strive to say that we don't shame anyone for having a C-section. We know that they are happening a lot, but especially when your gut is saying, “This is what I should do,” we have to follow that. Women of Strength, we have to follow that. Jessica: Yep. Yep. So ultimately, yeah. I followed my gut and I'm really glad that I did. The nurse who was by my side in the C-section said that she had never seen a placenta like mine. The doctor, of course, said that it looked normal, but every person that I've shown, and some of them are birth workers, are just like, “Wow, yeah. I've never seen a placenta like that.” I had a ton of exposed, very fragile-looking vessels. I don't know where they were in my belly, but still, they were very fragile-looking. I feel like I made the right decision. My doctor said that it was normal, but I don't think that it was. Meagan: Was your baby IUGR at all with the velamentous cord on top of it? Jessica: No. Meagan: Okay, sounds good. Let me just– there are lots of abbreviations in this episode. IUGR is intrauterine growth restriction and that can be a baby that is being restricted of growth. Sometimes with a velamentous cord, a baby can be on the smaller side or have growth restrictions so it's awesome that your baby didn't. Jessica: Yeah, he was 7 pounds, 3 ounces at 39 weeks. Yeah. I mean, it was a fine C-section. Nothing eventful happened, but it was still traumatic being strapped. I wasn't even strapped down. My arms weren't, but still, the experience was. I didn't get to hold my baby for an hour and when I did, I was super shaky. I was nervous to hold him.I looked up at the monitors and I feel like my blood pressure was super low at one point. I thought I was dying. It did not feel great. It was traumatic for us. I know that trauma looks different for everybody, so for us, the whole experience was traumatic. My doctor did say, “You know, I'm giving you this incision so that if you do have another baby, you can have a VBAC.” It was always in my head that when we did have another baby, it would be a VBAC. Jessica: So yeah. Fast forward to April 2022, my husband and I were trying and I got pregnant. It was kind of a surprise but kind of not. I toyed with the idea of possibly giving birth in a hospital, but it was for a very short while like maybe five minutes, then I was like, “No. I think I need to do a home birth this time.” Just because of our experience at the hospital, I don't know. I didn't want to have to fight to have a vaginal birth. I didn't want to be held to the hospital policies and whatnot. I follow a lot of birthworkers and see physiological birth and whatnot so we just decided to have a home birth. We found our midwife and she was a midwife. She's been a midwife for 46 years so had lots of experience. She's had lots of VBAC babies and it was just really exciting. It felt right to book her as our midwife. I had her, I think, from 9 weeks on and nothing exciting happened in my pregnancy. I was nervous about the anatomy scan, but they did a very thorough check and I could have cried hearing the news. I was just very confident knowing that the placenta was good, the umbilical cord looked good, and all of that. We went on to have an uneventful pregnancy. I would say from 37 weeks on, I would have cramping and whatnot. I always had Braxton Hicks from 15 weeks on, but around 37 weeks, it changed to that more period-like cramping. I tried not to read into it. I was just like, “This is my body preparing.” There were a couple of times where I was like, “Oh my gosh. Is this happening?” I was listening to lots of podcasts and birth stories and stuff to just kind of prepare myself for every scenario. I think I went to my midwife at an appointment the day before I turned 40 weeks. I was toying with the idea of getting checked or not because I didn't want to be disappointed or get my hopes up. Ultimately, we– I keep saying we. My husband was a big part of this. I decided to get checked and I think I was a 2 and 70% effaced or something. I was in the right direction but I also knew, “Okay, that doesn't really mean anything. It could be a week.” But they did want to schedule me for a membrane sweep the following week just in case because you can't give birth at home past 42 weeks. I really did not want to do that, but I also really wanted to have the baby at home. I was just really anxious. Now I felt like I was on a timeline. My due date came and went. I was disappointed. I knew that it's totally normal for your baby to not come at or before 40 weeks, but you have that hope that maybe they will. Your body is starting to have all of these symptoms so you're hoping that this is it. My midwife had said, “Make plans because babies like to come when you have plans. They don't like it when you're waiting around for them.” Meagan: I love that. Jessica: Yeah. I tried to get out of the house and then one day, I was like, “Okay, do you know what? We have to go do something.” I planned for me and my toddler to go to the aquarium. We had to buy tickets. The day after my due date, I lost some of my mucus plug so I was very excited about that. Two days after my due date, I listened to Bridget Teyler. She has an induction meditation on YouTube. I just did it because when my husband was putting my toddler to bed, that was my time to get in the zone, drink my red raspberry tea, and prepare for birth. I just did it because it was something to do. I didn't expect it to work. I thought, “You know, if nothing else, I'm bonding with my baby.” It was really great. The next day, I woke up and I was pregnant still. My mucus plug still kept coming out. It was pink and I was like, “Oh, is this my bloody show?” but my midwives were like, “No, that's still your mucus plug.” I was kind of disappointed about that. I talked to my husband about all of the anxiety and how people were wondering where the baby was and all of that stuff. We had a steak dinner that night. That was the meal that I envisioned that I would have before I went into labor. That was 40 weeks and 3 days. The next day, at 40 weeks and 4 days, I woke up still pregnant with no signs. I was emotional about it but that was the day I was supposed to take my son to the aquarium. We get ready and we're driving. On the way there, I'm starting to get cramps every four to every 30 minutes. They were 30 seconds long. I was like, “Oh my gosh. What the heck?” We get to the aquarium and my son wants me to hold him. Meanwhile, I'm having these contractions. I'm just like, “Oh my gosh. I wasn't timing them because obviously, I had my hands full.” We ate at the aquarium and I remember feeling dizzy and nauseous at one point. But then we went home and my toddler fell asleep in the car which is pretty rare. That means it's going to be a short nap, so I was like, “Oh if he takes a short nap, he's going to go to bed earlier. Maybe this is meant to be. Maybe if I go into labor tonight, this is meant to be.” I had always envisioned that I would give birth at home while my toddler was sleeping just because he's a very sensitive little guy. I figured that my being in labor would scare him. So I was just like, “Oh my gosh. He's going to go to bed earlier than normal.” I got home and my husband got home from work. I was like, “I'm going to go rest and lay down to try and take a nap in case.” I couldn't sleep, but I did lay in bed for an hour and a half. I went downstairs. I tried to make dinner and I kept having to stop and lean on the counter. My husband was like, “Do I need to turn the lights down? You're going inward.” I'm like, “No, I'm not.” I was in total denial. He eventually took over because I was just like, “Yeah, I'm trying to cut raw chicken here and I'm not feeling too hot.” They still were pretty inconsistent. I still hadn't really been timing them. They were probably every 4-20 minutes for 30 seconds. So then we ate. I think I ate on my birth ball and then I texted my doula who was also a student-midwife with my midwife. I saw her at every appointment which was pretty convenient. She was just like, “You know, don't really worry about timing them. Just try and rest. Eat some snacks and let me know when they pick up in intensity.” It was 6:00 PM and I was just waiting for bedtime because I knew that once my toddler went to bed, I could really focus and not have to hide that I was in labor. But I still don't think I realized how far along I was. So we did the bedtime routine. I do want to note that I was leaning over on a pillow and my toddler was rubbing my back and saying, “Baby brother, I help you.” It was the sweetest thing. Meagan: Aw, that's adorable. Jessica: Yeah. So finally put him in bed and I told my husband, “Maybe you should just go to sleep with him just in case. Well, I don't know. I'll text you.” I didn't know if he should go to bed or if he should come downstairs and act as my doula. So he was putting my toddler to sleep. I tried to get in the bath. I could not get comfortable. Our bathtub is so tiny and they were definitely picking up in intensity. I just could not get comfortable. That didn't last long. I texted my doula and told her, “I feel like they're on top of each other, my contractions, but they're not quite a minute long.” I think I texted her, “I've had four in a matter of five minutes, but they're short.” She was just like, “Try different positions. Maybe try a shower.” At that point, I had already gone downstairs to try something else. I could not find a comfortable position. So my husband texted me, “What's the situation?” I don't know. All I said was, “Come.” Yeah. I was just like, “Come,” because it was just so uncomfortable. I could not find a comfortable position. I could see him on the monitor because we already had the monitor set up but he was just lying in bed taking his time. I'm like, “What is this man doing?” He did not realize how intense things had gotten. He came downstairs and we tried different positions– laying down on my side and on all fours on the couch, on the ball, and I just couldn't get comfortable. So after 15 or 20 minutes of him trying to help me, I had him text the doula. She got over there around 8:30 and she was helpful with having me take sips of water and giving us ideas for different positions. She tried doing the Spinning Babies side-lying release and that was unbearable, but we did it. Then she had me move to the ball. Actually, I think while we were on the couch and I was lying down doing the side-lying release, I felt something come out. I had a diaper on at this point because I just kept having bloody show. I was like, “Something just came out. What was that? What was that?” It kind of felt like I pooped but it was out of my vagina, so I was just like, “Was that the baby? What just happened?” She looked and it was my bag of water, but it was still intact. It looked like a boob implant to me. Meagan: Yeah, like it was bulging out of you. Jessica: Yeah, but it came out in a bulge, so that was wild. So that was cool. I knew that because she was the student midwife, she would be the one to tell the midwives to come. We weren't even worried about that. She was timing contractions, but I had no idea how fast they were coming. I said at one point, “Why are they coming so frequently?” She was like, “Well, you're in active labor.”Then we moved to the ball and that was unbearable. I felt him move down which was so wild and then I had a birth pool. It was already blown up, but we hadn't even added water or anything. I was like, “Should we start setting that up?” My husband went and got the pool and tried to start putting water in it and whatnot. I was like, “I feel like I need to move to the couch,” so I did. I got on all fours and I had pillows up by my face. It was just so intense. I just remember thinking, “I'm never doing this again.” I asked my husband, “Whose idea was this?” meaning to have another baby and to do it vaginally because I was like, “This is awful.” It was so painful. Then you know, I just stayed in that position. I knew that once I was in that position, there was no way that I was going to be able to move. My husband was setting the pool up for no reason because I was like, “I don't know how I'm going to make it in that pool.”I think one of the midwives showed up around 9:30ish. At that point, I was having the fetal ejection reflex. I was making these guttural noises. You hear about what that feels like and how you just can't control it and it's so true. I felt like when you feel like you have to puke and you puke uncontrollably. It felt like that in my vagina. The noise I was making was totally uncontrollable. There were some intense sounds. The midwife showed up and before I knew it, she was saying, “You're going to feel the ring of fire.” My husband, in hindsight, was like, “I thought she was just saying that. Of course, she's going to feel the ring of fire.” He didn't realize she was saying it because the baby was crowning. He was up by my head holding my hand and stuff. Finally, he realized that the baby's head was coming out. My baby's head popped out and then you heard a tiny little cry, but then it went back in. She had me get in the runner's lunge to try and help him out. I think I pushed maybe three times. She had to remind me to breathe because the fetal ejection reflex was taking over. I just couldn't stop having that feeling to push, so she reminded me to breathe. He came out. He was born at 9:58 so I had, I guess, 12 hours of labor, but I think active labor probably started around 4:00 or 6:00. Again, I'm not really sure because we weren't really timing contractions. He was 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Yeah. It was insane but in the best way. It was so empowering. I couldn't believe that I had done that. One of my affirmation cards was like, “You're a badass for having an HBAC.” My husband was just like, “Yeah. You're a badass. I can't believe you just did that.” Yeah. It was just wild. So amazing. Meagan: Absolutely. I'm sure it was very different for him, too just with the whole situation. “Okay, I'm going to set up the birth pool. She's telling me to come but I'm going to take my time.” It's just a very different experience. Then he's like, “Okay, wow. We're in labor. Let's go.” Then it's like, “Yeah, of course she's going to feel that. Oh, you mean that now she's going to feel that.” Jessica: Yeah, I think neither of us knew how far along I was and how quickly things were progressing. It just happened so fast. Meagan: Yeah. I want to talk about this too because sometimes we get diagnosed with failure to progress. We get to 3 or 4 centimeters and we're told that we'll likely never progress and whatever, then we go to have a C-section. Then we fear having a VBAC sometimes because we are like, “Well, maybe we won't progress past what we've progressed.” But a cool factor about your story is that you never even went into labor, right? You had never even dilated or gone through that whole process. This whole birth, this whole HBAC was essentially like you're a first-time mom. Your cervix was doing this the first time.When we've already progressed in maybe previous labor, that's an even greater chance of a VBAC. You went in and your body did exactly what it needed to do to get this baby out even though you hadn't had any labor previously. Jessica: Yep. Meagan: Pretty cool. Jessica: Yeah. I was very excited to see how it was all going to unfold. Meagan: Mhmm. Well, it sounds like it unfolded beautifully. Now you've got two cute babes and a beautiful home birth under your belt. So now– you were explaining that you were like, “Wow. Why did we do this? Why did we choose to get pregnant? Why did we choose to give birth vaginally?” After it is all said and done, are you like, “Yeah. I would do it again. I'm super happy we did it”?Jessica: Yeah. I actually want to do it again just because it was amazing. At the moment, yeah, it felt like the most painful thing of my life, but after that baby's out and you do it, it's like, “Wow. I did that. I am capable. My body isn't broken. Just because this happened one time doesn't mean it's going to happen again.” It was very empowering. Yeah. It was just amazing. I would love to do it again. Meagan: I love that. Well, huge congrats. Huge, huge congrats. I want to talk a little bit more about vasa previa because I don't think we've had anyone on the podcast who have actually had that before. Usually reasons for a Cesarean– we talked about this before we started recording– are “big baby”, small pelvis, failure to progress, or breech. We don't see these because it is really, really rare. It actually only occurs in 1 in every 2500 deliveries. I don't know if you said anything about IVF but it's more common in IVF which is about 1 in 200 but even then, it's a pretty rare chance. It can happen randomly or if IVF was going on, there is definitely a chance that it could increase your chances. Did you do any IVF at all or was it a spontaneous pregnancy? Jessica: It was spontaneous. I didn't have any of the risk factors for vasa previa so it was totally random. Meagan: Totally random. You were just one of the really rare cases, but it worked out really well. Jessica: Mhmm, it did. Meagan: Well, thank you so much for sharing your stories with us today. Jessica: Thank you for having me. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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After finding wonderfully supportive midwives who were willing to deliver a breech baby at home, Jaime was sure that her first delivery would be peaceful and empowering. Things quickly turned traumatic, however, when she developed a fever and was rushed to the hospital where she was treated poorly and sent straight to the OR.It took seven years for Jaime to finally get to a peaceful place where she felt ready to birth again. Jaime shares her different approaches to this birth and how she found the courage to prepare for another home birth. Jaime was able to stay grounded, present, and in control during her labor and delivery, allowing her to achieve the beautiful HBAC she desired!Additional LinksBirthing From Within by Pam England and Rob HorowitzReclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel ReedHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsThe VBAC Link Facebook CommunityFull Transcript under Episode DetailsMeagan: Hello, Women of Strength. It is another day for another amazing story. We have our friend, Jaime, here and she is from Nashville, Tennessee so if you are from Nashville, Tennessee, you're going to want to listen up. I know that people have been wanting to know where some of our listeners are coming from because they are looking for providers and hospitals and all of the things like that in their area. So today is coming from Tennessee. She had kind of a traumatic birth which a lot of us do and then was able to set a good path and redeem her story with a VBAC. We are so excited to be sharing this story with you guys today from Jaime but of course, we have a Review of the Week. We could never go without sharing one of these amazing reviews, you guys. Review of the WeekThis is from Apple Podcasts and it's from erind39. The subject is, “Planning Second VBAC with Confidence.” It says, “I am planning my second VBAC in July and I'm so happy that this podcast is back.” This was actually left in 2022 so last year when we came back. That was awesome. It says, “The VBAC Link is a great resource for anyone considering a VBAC. The stories are empowering and the data presented is affirming. I feel like I am so well-prepared for my second VBAC and have this podcast to thank.”Erin, thank you. We have you to thank for leaving this amazing review and if you guys haven't had a chance, drop a review for us. We love them. We absolutely love them. We read them on the podcast. We have our amazing crew that drops them into this amazing spreadsheet. I see them and seriously with some of these reviews, I bawl. They are so long and so detailed and so amazing. I get chills and I bawl. So thank you, all for leaving your reviews. Jaime's StoriesMeagan: Okay, Jaime. Welcome to the show. Jaime: Thank you for having me. Meagan: Thank you. I am excited for you to share your stories and talk more about– well, we're going to talk more about your story but not get discouraged along the way. So let's talk about it. Tell us where it all began. Jaime: Yeah, so Eloise is my first daughter who is now 7. We have a very large gap between kids but Eloise's birth was like you said, pretty traumatic for me in a lot of different ways. We wanted to do a home birth with her which off the bat, I'm just a crazy person for wanting to do a home birth. We were in Michigan at the time. I was pretty gung-ho about it. I felt very prepared. Maybe midway through my pregnancy, she ended up being breech. There were a lot of things that we tried to do to get her to flip. I spent a lot of time and energy worrying that she was a breech baby and what I was going to do. My midwives were like, “If you're comfortable doing a breech, we're comfortable doing a breech.” Meagan: Oh wow. That's amazing. This is in Michigan. Jaime: Yeah, it was. It was in Michigan. So they literally handed me their midwifery books which are three inches thick, two of them. They were like, “Read this section.” So they had me read everything about breech birth in their midwifery books. I feel like I'm still overeducated on breech birth just from doing that. Meagan: Yeah, that's amazing actually, though that you had that opportunity. Jaime: Yeah, so they were like, “After you read this if you're comfortable doing a breech birth, we're comfortable doing it too.” I read through everything and I was like, “Yeah, okay. This feels good.” It was. She was born in 2016 and it's crazy to say this, but the information we have available today was not like what it was back in 2016. Just having those books, I didn't have any other resources to really go to for breech birth or home birth or anything like that. But yeah. So I was comfortable doing it. I knew from reading if one single thing went wrong, that I was going to be going to the hospital. That was the midwifery thing. Typically, you've got multiple chances in a regular, normal pregnancy but with breech, it was one thing. So I go into labor. We had thought she flipped, but then I had my waters break and then it was all meconium. I was like, “Umm, I think she is still breech.” From there, I was kind of freaking out. I ended up getting a fever and one of the assistants walked in and she was like, “How are you feeling?” I'm like, “I feel awful. I just feel sick. I have chills. I don't feel normal. This doesn't feel good.” Her jaw hit the floor. I'm like, “Oh no. What did I say?” She took my temperature immediately and she was like, “You've got a fever.” They tried to get it down. They gave me one hour to get it reduced to a normal temperature and it wouldn't. I knew right away that we were going to the hospital. We ended up in the hospital. Michigan isn't very friendly when it comes to home births and midwives. I know everyone's been working on that relationship between hospitals and midwives, but Michigan at the time had no cooperation. So we just had a really bad experience. We are there. The doctor at one point is like, “You're going to be put under,” when the whole time, everyone else was telling me I was going to be awake. Then he comes in– I basically said, “I would like to hold my baby. I would like skin-to-skin as soon as possible.” Then he's like, “Well, that's not possible.” I'm like, “What do you mean?” He goes, “Well, you're going to be put under.” I was just like, “What? What are you talking about?” My husband looks at me and he's like, “Are you okay with that?” I was not trying to be any sort of way when I said this, but I just was like, “I don't really think I have a choice.” I was just saying, “I have to be okay with it because I don't have a choice.” I wasn't being snarky. The doctor was like, “You have a choice.” I was like, “Oh my gosh, I do? Tell me more about my choice.” He basically looked me dead in the eyes and he goes, “You can leave.” I was like, “What?” So it was just a really traumatic experience. I had the C-section. I got to be awake which was great, but Eloise ended up being in the NICU for 10 days. It just felt like we were trapped. We had CPS called on us. Meagan: Stop it. Are you serious?Jaime: There was a lot. There was a lot happening. It's like the horror story that you think of when you hear someone trying to have a home birth and then they end up in the hospital and anything that could go wrong went wrong. Eloise is perfectly healthy. It was just the dynamic of it all that went wrong, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. But yeah. I had a lot to work through. We didn't get pregnant for the longest time. I had no desire, really, because I just was terrified. I'm like, “I don't want to experience this again. I don't know what's going to happen.” It wasn't necessarily a bodily thing where I was feeling like my body failed me, it was more so just true traumatic, mental PTSD I guess. I'm not really sure how to put it. We got pregnant in 2020. I had a miscarriage with that baby, but when I found out I was pregnant, I was immediately not ready. I was terrified. There were so many things running through my brain. I just didn't know how to handle it. I started the course, that pregnancy course, going to an actual doctor. Off the bat, I was like, “I'm just going to go to a doctor because I don't want anything like what happened last time to happen again. I just want to avoid all of the hoop jumping. If I'm going to end up there, I'm just going to go there from the start,” basically, was kind of my mindset.We lost that baby and then with Delaney, the new baby, we got pregnant in 2022 with her. It was just different from the get-go. I think my husband was actually more nervous this time about everything than I was but I felt just very grounded. I felt confident about it. I was like, “I want to do a home birth. I definitely don't want to be in the hospital.” Things were still very weird with COVID so that was another big thing because I'm like, “I don't want to be in the last hour telling me that my husband can't be in the room,” or just weird rules like that happening around everything. So yeah, I'm like, “I'm going to do a home birth. I'm going to find a midwife.” It took me forever to find a midwife. I think I called everyone in the Nashville area and they were either busy, they were all booked up, or they wouldn't take a VBAC, or just not a good fit. I had one lady. I get on the phone with her and she's like, “Well, you know uterine rupture is not something to be just pushed under the rug.” I literally hung up the phone and I go to my husband Matt. I'm like, “I don't know. I'm a crazy person. What am I doing?” Meagan: You're not. Jaime: It just freaked me out. Yeah. So I found my midwife around 11 weeks which I felt was pretty late in the game. From that point, it was just a rollercoaster of ups and downs battling doubts within my headspace. My pregnancy from a physical standpoint was a little bit rough. I don't know. I just felt like my body was old and not functioning well. I was the person that couldn't tie their shoes towards the end. I couldn't wear any rings because all of my fingers were so swollen and everything. It was just a rough pregnancy physically compared to my first, but also, just dealing with the mental aspect of everything, I would be super confident one day that I'm going to do this and I'm going to have this home birth– not even a home birth, but just have a VBAC. Like, “I can do this. We were made to do this,” and then the next day, I'm like, “What am I doing? Who wants to do this? Maybe I should just sign up for a C-section again.” Meagan: Just all over the place emotionally. That's so real though. So many of us doing that. One day, we're like, “Yes.” The next day, we're like, “What am I doing? Is this right?” and questioning ourselves. Jaime: Yep. Yeah. 100%. So I really went into this birth. I tried to protect my energy as much as I could. I didn't tell a lot of people I was trying to have a home birth because it was already enough trying to do a VBAC. It was already weird enough. I'm like, “I don't want to tell everyone what I'm doing. No one needs to know what my birth plan is besides the people that really matter.” I read a couple of books that I felt were really pivotal for me. One was Birthing From Within by Pam England. I didn't even finish the whole book. I got through one chapter but it changed my life because, in the beginning, she says that every woman has a question that needs to be answered before they can birth their child. You might find your answer to your question during pregnancy or you might find it in transition or you might find it when you're about to push the baby out. She basically was like, “What is your question? When you think you have your question, you have to dig a little bit deeper because that's probably not your question. Your question is underneath that question.” So I spent 7 months trying to find my question and at the end of it, it felt like it wasn't so much a question, but I felt that I was punished anytime I tried to go outside of the norm of what society deemed normal. That was my big, pivotal thing where I was like, “Wow. I can do this. That is a lie believing that I am going to be punished for trying to do something abnormal.” There was another birth, Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed. The whole beginning of the book was talking about “herstories”, so history but for women, “herstory”. Rachel is a medical doctor. She is an MD and I felt like this book wasn't super crunchy and it wasn't super medicalized. It was very much right in the middle which I felt was what I needed to hear. I didn't feel like she was biased in one way or another but she laid the facts out of where we started to how we got to where we are now within the birthing industry. It helped me to realize. I knew this already going into it, but it helped me to realize that I actually had really deep-rooted, preconceived ideas about what birth was just from how I've grown up in the society that I've grown up in watching movies, listening to stories, and all of the stuff that we just see on TV. Birth is this crazy thing that happens. The woman is always out of control. The doctor is always there to save the day, all that kind of stuff. I was like, “Wow. I have these opinions of things that aren't even my opinions. They've just been given to me from movies and society and culture.” It really helped to weed through some fear that I was having realizing that I don't have to have this anymore. I don't have to believe this because it's not my story. It's not even real, actually. It's just culture. So those were the two big things. And then obviously, I found your podcast. I also started listening to a free birth podcast. I had no desire in my life to ever free birth ever, but I had read something on Instagram that was like, “If you're preparing for birth, prepare to do a free birth so that way, you are aware of everything that could happen and what you can do to go through obstacles or you know the steps and the phases that you'll go through when you're in labor.” So basically, be overprepared even though you're going to have people there to help you. That helped a lot. I just listened to everything I could about any positive experience of someone having a VBAC. I hired a doula not for any other reason other than it would increase my odds of having a successful VBAC. I still joke to this day that I have no idea what a doula actually does, but I hired one. It helped me have a VBAC, I just think, by doing that. I was just doing all of the things that I could come up with to try and get my head in the right spot and to set myself up for success. I did The Bradley Method with my first daughter and Bradley Method is like a 12-week course if you're not familiar. It is hours long so it is very in-depth. But I found this lady on TikTok and I took her virtual train-for-birth class. Her name is Crisha Crosley. It was, I kid you not. I think it was an hour and a half and it was the most informative thing I've ever done. It helped me. The whole premise is “Train for Birth” so movements and different things that you can do to become ready to birth your child, to get the baby in the right position, pushing, how to push, and different things to do while you're in labor so when I actually went into labor, she was in the forefront of my mind of, “Okay, I can't stay in this position for too long. Let me go to the bathroom every 5 seconds. Make sure I'm drinking my water,” lots of movements when I was actually in labor. It was all because I took that class. It was amazing. That was around 38 weeks when I took that class. My brother and his wife, so my brother, Michael, and Ashley came when I was around 40 weeks because Ashley was going to help with Eloise during the birth. All in between that, I'm curb walking. I'm on the ball doing figure 8's. Just to backtrack a little bit, when I hit 37 weeks just to give you an idea of where I was at, I went to Costco and ran into one of my midwives. She's like, “How are you doing?” Because I'm like, “I'm so depressed. It's 37 weeks and I haven't had this baby.” I just was in my brain, I'm like, “Okay, it's 37 weeks so it means I can have the baby when I haven't had the baby yet. I need this baby out of me. It's time to go.” She's like, “What? You're depressed?” I'm like, “I'm kidding, sort of. But yeah, I want to have this baby.”Meagan: You're like, “I really just wish I could have this baby right now.” Jaime: Yeah. Yes. So yeah. We're nearing the end. My brother and sister-in-law come around 40 weeks to help with Eloise. Delaney, the new baby, was LOA if that's right. She was on the left side. Meagan: Left occiput anterior. Jaime: Yeah. I think the optimal is ROA. Is that correct? Meagan: Well, it really depends but LOA– so it moves the uterus usually clockwise. LOA is really good actually because then they just kind of go forward and down. But it all depends on the shape of our pelvis too. Some babies need to enter a ROA position. Some of them need to actually enter posterior which is frustrating that we have posterior in any sort of labor, but sometimes that is how. So yeah, LOA is a really great position. Jaime: Okay, then she must have been the other way. She must have been ROA and I was trying to get her to go to the left, LOA. Yeah. I was trying to do movements to give her some space so she could turn. The midwife told me that the right side is okay, but the optimal would be LOA because it's just easiest. When you said posterior, that reminded me that I was actually very nervous about back labor because I had felt like every podcast I listened to where someone was having a VBAC, all they ever talked about was back labor so I was just terrified of it. On top of doing a VBAC, if that's not hard enough, I'm going to deal with back labor and all of this stuff. That didn't happen to me at all. I had no back labor so it was perfect. In Tennessee, my midwives were licensed by the state. They cannot help me past 42 weeks due to their licensure. We were nearing the end. I had a clock ticking. My brother and Ashley were here which was stressing me out, not in a bad way, but I was kind of under a clock if that makes sense. I'm like, “I need to have this baby because they are here and then I need to have this baby because I'm nearing 42 weeks and at that point, I'm either going to be a crazy person and do unassisted which doesn't make you crazy, or I'm going to have to go to a hospital. Those are my two options because I can't do it with them.” Then she wanted me to do that test where they test for movement, heart rate, and practice breaths or something like that. I needed to do that in my 41st week just to show if something happened early 42 weeks, that it was okay for me to birth at home with them still. I scheduled that for Friday, so September 2nd. I reluctantly scheduled it. I was like, “Fine. I'm just going to put it on the books and see what happens.” Then my brother actually had to leave on Sunday to go. My brother leaves on Sunday to go do an interview. Delaney is born on Thursday. I scheduled that test for the next day on Friday. The next Sunday was my 42nd, so that was my hard out if that timeline makes sense.Meagan: Yeah, yeah. Jaime: Michael, my brother, left to do an interview that they scheduled for him that Monday then he was going to come immediately back. He's like, “If I miss this birth, I'm going to be so mad.” Then Sunday, Ashley and my husband and my daughter, and I went to the splash pad. That was the first day I had a contraction where I was like, “Oh, okay. Something is happening.” I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to be put under a clock or to feel pressure to have this baby when I wasn't ready or anything like that. I just kept to myself. I had a couple of contractions Sunday and then that just led to me having contractions every single night. It was all night, every night and then it would die off in the early, early morning. Meagan: Prodromal labor. Jaime: Yeah. I'd get a few hours of sleep so I'm just getting exhausted. I told Ashley actually maybe Monday or something. She woke up Tuesday and was like, “So, did Jaime have any more contractions?” She was asking my husband. I didn't even tell my husband this. My husband was like, “She was having contractions? What are you talking about?” I literally kept everything. My lips were sealed. I kept everything to myself. I texted my midwife on Tuesday. So Sunday I had no sleep. Monday, I had no sleep. I texted her Tuesday and I'm like, “Hey. I've been having contractions. Nothing is sticking around. Everything stops. I have nothing all day and then it starts again at night.” She's like, “Cool. Nothing to worry about. Everything is normal. Sounds good. No big deal.” My brother did make it back because he came back Monday evening so he was here for everything. Then Wednesday was my absolute breaking point. Wednesday comes. Michael and my husband go shooting and then the girls, all of us, go to this park just to hang out. I had a massive contraction as we were leaving that stopped me in my tracks. I literally just hung back and I'm like, “Yeah, you guys just keep walking. Go ahead and I'll just meet you there in a second.” I'm just stopped in the middle of everything. Ashley, my sister-in-law is like, “Okay.” They just keep walking to the car and then I catch up later. She's like, “So I think we want to go to the grocery store to get some stuff for dinner.” In my head, I'm like, “I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it.” I'm emotionally at the end of my limits and then physically also, the contractions were intense, but it was more an emotional thing where I'm like, “I can't do this again. I'm going to have another sleepless night. It's already starting. It's 5:00. This is awful.” We go to the grocery store and it was my full focus just to not have a mental breakdown and start hysterically sobbing in the middle of the grocery store. We go. I make it through and we get home. I immediately go upstairs just to be alone. I put a movie on to start watching and have these random contractions that happen. Looking back, it's funny because in the first stage of labor, they always say that the woman goes into a cave and wants to be alone. In my brain, I was ready. I'm like, “I'm going to pay attention so I can see the signs and make sure that I know I'm going into labor.” It never once crossed my mind that I was entering a cave to be by myself. It never crossed my mind. I just was thinking, “I'm going to have another sleepless night and I'm drained emotionally.” I think I cried, then dinner was ready. It's 6:00 so I go downstairs. I shovel dinner into my mouth and then have another massive contraction at the table. I sit there silently then I'm like, “I'm going upstairs.” I run back upstairs and literally, I put this movie back on and I'm in hysterics. I'm sobbing uncontrollably. I just don't know that I can do this again. I get very crazy when I don't have any sleep. I just was future thinking about how this night was going to go where I'm going to have these crazy contractions and then I'm not going to sleep on top of it. I was just a mess. I go back upstairs. I have a couple of breakdowns. I'm extremely exhausted. I started timing my first contractions around 7:06. Not my first contraction, but my first timed one where I was like, “Maybe I should see what's happening here.” Delaney was born at 1:20 AM so it was six hours from start to finish basically. Meagan: Wow. Jaime: Nothing was consistent whatsoever. I'm upstairs with the peanut ball doing all of the moves trying to go through the Miles Circuit to make sure she's in the right position and all of that stuff. I texted the night midwife. They have a 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and then a 7P to 7A so depending on when I went into labor is who I'd be talking to. So I texted the night midwife around 8:30 with a picture of my contractions, my timed-out stuff. I wanted to take Benadryl so I could go to sleep. I'm like, “Is it okay if I take Benadryl? Will I be okay? I just don't know if it picks up, am I going to be exhausted and trying to push a baby out?” She's like, “No. If you take a Benadryl and you actually go into labor, you're going to be fine. Trust me.” I was like, “Okay.” She's like, “Take a bath then if things slow down, go to sleep. Try to get some rest. If they don't slow down, call me and let me know.”So I took a bath. Nothing really happened. I kicked my husband out of the room multiple times because I just wanted to be by myself. I don't think I let him stay until 9:30-10:00 at night. I was waiting for these clues. I lost my mucus plug. I don't even know if this is accurate but in my brain, that meant I was around 3 centimeters. My husband was like, “Do you want me to call someone?” I'm like, “No. I'm 3 centimeters if anything so I've got 24 hours of labor to go. I'm in trouble, basically,” is what I was thinking. I was waiting for my bloody show which meant I'd be 5 centimeters. Again, I don't know if that's accurate but that is just what was in my brain. Almost immediately after I lost my mucus plug, within an hour– it felt way more immediate than that– but within an hour, I had bloody show happening all over the place. My doula was an hour away. I'm like, “Okay. Fine. Call the doula.” This is me caving to my husband. I'm like, “Call the doula. She's an hour away so just have her come, I guess.” He calls the doula and in my brain, I'm like, “I hope I'm still in labor when she comes here.” I just was very nervous that everyone was going to get to the house and then I was either going to stall out or this wasn't really it and then they're all going to leave and I had wasted everyone's time or they're all just sitting around twiddling their thumbs watching me go through labor. I did not want that to happen at all. But he calls the doula and talks with her. She says, “Okay.” Then he calls her again. She hears me in the background and she's like, “Okay, I'm coming. I'm coming. I'm on my way.” So that happened. I'm telling Matt. I'm like, “Can you go fill up the tub, please? Not so I can have a baby in the tub but just so I can get some relief,” because again, I'm thinking I'm going to be here for many, many more hours. He calls the midwife and tells her that the doula is on the way just to give her an update. That's probably around 11:30. She was like, “Okay, great. Let me know when you need me to come.” He goes down, fills the tub up, and then comes back upstairs. Again, time is lost in this space. He comes back upstairs, calls the midwife again, and the midwife hears me in the background and she is like, “I'm on my way,” and then just hangs up. She was only 30 minutes from us, so she hears me and she's like, “Oh my gosh. I'm coming.” At that point, I'm trying to go down the stairs. It takes me three full contractions to get down the stairs. Matt's talking to the doula. She's like, “Does she feel pushy?” I'm like, “I don't know what pushy feels like because I've never done this before.” At some point on the stairs, I felt Delaney change position. I don't really know how else to say it, but it just felt like she dropped down and was right there. I'm still not thinking I'm about to have a baby. Even that, I'm just like, “Okay. I'm in it for the long haul here.” Meagan: Right. Jaime: I finally get down the stairs. I get in the tub again, just to find relief. I'm not trying to have a baby here. Matt's trying to make a smoothie. I'm chaotic. I was not a calm laboring person. I was very loud. At this point, when the bloody show happened, I stopped timing the contractions at 11:32 PM. At that point, I was just like, “Forget it. I don't care.” But then when the bloody show happened, it was one on top of another on top of another on top of another and I had no relief, nothing whatsoever. It was wild. I get into the tub. I'm yelling every time a contraction comes. Matt's trying to make a smoothie and I'm yelling, “I need you here right now.” My daughter is crying because I'm being so loud. I get into the tub and I had three contractions in the tub. On the second contraction, I push her head out. I'm just like, “I'm having a baby.” The coolest part about it was that there was no fear. It was very natural, very primal. I never for once thought, “Oh my gosh. No one is here yet and I'm pushing this baby out.” I get her head out and my brother is right there. He sees the head and he's like, “Jaime, the head is out. You've got to push the rest of the baby out now,” because he's thinking that the head is out and she's drowning underwater. I'm just like, “No. It's okay. It's okay.” I have all of these things in my brain from what the midwives had told me. I'm like, “Okay. So I birthed her underwater so I have to stay underwater. I can't get out and go back in.” I have all of these things going through my head. The next contraction comes and she's out and on my chest. No one was there except my brother, Ashley, my husband, and my daughter. The midwife walked in literally one minute after she was born, then the doula ran in, and then the assistant ran in. Meagan: The whole team, boom. Jaime: Yeah, so it was one after another and everyone walks in with their jaws on the ground like, “What just happened?” I'm like, “I don't know. We just had a baby and here we are.” So that's my VBAC story. I did it and it was great. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. It would have been nice to have a team of people there, but that wasn't how it was supposed to happen. It worked out perfectly. Meagan: That's okay. Yeah. I'm so glad. I love how your brother is like, “Uhh.” Jaime: It's time to go. You've got to get the rest out. Meagan: Yeah, but you would see that and that would make sense. Jaime: Yeah. Yep. Meagan: Oh my gosh. I love that. So first of all, huge congratulations. Jaime: Thank you. Meagan: So awesome. So, so awesome. And yeah, let's talk about overcoming your fears. Talking about your first birth, CPS, all of the things. Yeah, you have options. Oh yeah, let me tell you my options. Go. Leave. You have no options other than to leave. Jaime: Yeah. Yeah. Meagan: So much surrounded it that could have carried forward in this next birth. What are some tips for the listeners that you would give? You were reading. You were taking this course. What other types of things would you say are some key components to overcoming your fears and getting to the point where you were literally birthing– not alone– but you were here birthing alone? You were like, “I've got this. I'm strong.” So yeah. Any tips that you have?Jaime: Yeah. I mean, for me, I would suggest really, really, really protecting your energy and what that looks like– not even watching a movie with a crazy birth scene in it, not talking to people who have opinions on how you're going to birth your baby, just trying to stay within the scope of healthy, positive stuff. Even some of the Instagram accounts will give you statistics and they are trying to be helpful, but sometimes reading those statistics send you on a spiral so it was just really trying to hone in and stay close to what you know to be true, focusing on the fact that you want to have this VBAC, that it is safe to have a VBAC, and everything else just kind of block it out. Unless it is a positive experience, don't listen to it. Don't talk about it. Just focus on yourself and what you're trying to do. Meagan: Yeah. Hold onto what's important to you because yeah. There is a lot of outside static. Like you said, right here at The VBAC Link, we are guilty of posting statistics, right? Statistics can be very helpful for some and it can be something that creates fear or angst as well. If you know that that is not something that can keep your space safe and will cause angst, then yeah. Like you said, don't read it. Don't look at it. Jaime: For sure. For sure. Meagan: Put it away. If you're wanting to know those numbers to make you feel better, okay then there you go. If you're wanting to not hear any– we've had listeners who are like, “We couldn't listen to any repeat Cesarean stories because they were not what we could have in our space.” That is okay too. You can filter through. Some people are like, “I wanted to know all of the possible outcomes.” You've got to find what is best for you and like you said, protect your space because your space is what matters. Jaime: For sure. Meagan: Oh, well thank you so, so, so much for being with us today and sharing with us this amazing story. Totally unexpected. I bet your team was just freaking out driving. Jaime: Thank you for having me. Yeah. Meagan: I wish we could have had a dash cam looking at them or even just there to see their pattern of driving. I bet they were weaving in and out and really, really, really rushing to you.Jaime: That's funny. Meagan: But like you said, it all worked out how it was supposed to be. All was well and here you are sharing your story and inspiring others. Jaime: Thank you. Well, thank you again so much for having me. I hope it helps. Meagan: Oh, it will. It will. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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