Podcasts about Pregnancy

In this episode of the Milk Minute, Maureen shares a fascinating study published in June that digs into the longterm benefits of breastfeeding—a question we hear often from our patients. We'll break down the findings and chat about how science backs up all those reasons breastfeeding is so good for both you and your baby. As we wrap up the year, it's the perfect time to reflect on what we've learned and how it connects to our breastfeeding goals. Tune in for some helpful insights and a little end-of-year reflection!Work With Us!Book a Lactation Consult with Heather! Click HERE for the deets.Book a Lactation Consult with Maureen! Click HERE to get started.THANKS TO OUR NEW PATRONS, Ali Hamlin and Sonya S!THANK YOU TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR:Brownie House: Experience pure joy with Brownie House—where every gourmet brownie is “happiness baked from scratch”!Listener question: I need help preventing an oversupply. My son is only a few days old, but my milk came in with full force. I'm so engorged and try to pump a little for relief. I do want a stash, but I know this early pumping can be an issue. How do I keep from getting mastitis without causing oversupply?Mentioned in this Episode:Pediatric Research Study  mentionedChildren's Hospital Los Angeles Blog ResearchEp. 39 - Child Custody and Lactation: interview with family court judge James Jeffrey CulpepperPrefer to read the transcript? Click Here to readSupport the showCheck out Milk Minute Podcast's website here!Become a VIP Click here to get exclusive access and more!Send us an e-mail! MilkMinutePodcast@gmail.comFacebook | Instagram | TikTok

This week, Jenna and Sam swap stories about their latest adventures in motherhood. Jenna's been battling anxiety and bronchitis while pregnant, Sam's juggling the love-hate relationship with pumping and breastfeeding, and they both dive into the emotional whirlwind of parenting. They chat about the importance of listening to your body, the struggle of finding 'me time,' and why it's okay to lean into your intuition. From cold and flu season tips to hilarious mom moments, it's a raw and real mom-to-mom catch-up.Listen to more podcasts like this: https://wavepodcastnetwork.com/Go to boncharge.com/FORK and use coupon code FORK to save 15%.What The Actual Fork https://www.instagram.com/whattheactualforkpod/Sammy Previte https://www.instagram.com/find.food.freedom/Jenna Werner https://www.instagram.com/happystronghealthy.rd/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we discuss the comprehensive guide 'The Expert Guide to Fertility: Boost Your Chances for Pregnancy' by Dr. Artie Kumar and Dr. Sanfilippo. The book provides crucial information on navigating the challenging journey to fertility. Dr. Kumar shares the background and vision behind the book, recounting how it was shaped by her and Dr. Sanfilippo's experiences and conversations with patients. The discussion covers diagnostic tests for fertility, treatment for endometriosis, and the importance of understanding medical, emotional, and financial aspects of fertility. Additionally, Dr. Kumar offers insights into how the book aims to educate and empower readers by giving them the vocabulary to better communicate their experiences and needs. Read the full show notes on my website. Get The Expert Guide to Fertility: https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Guide-Fertility-Chances-Pregnancy/dp/1421447061/ Would you like to learn more about IVF?Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, December 16th, 2024 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.   Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips! Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

Send us a textThis week, the girls are discussing embarrassing moments while pregnant! Along with the Dancing with the Stars Finale, Black Friday Shopping-- and whether or not Karli was able to snag one of the coveted Taylor Swift Anthology Vinyls from Target this year! Don't wake the baby!Unwind to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy craftingListen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyFOLLOW ALONG:Our Instagram: @cribcommutepodcastKarli: @everyday_ellisCheck out the Show Notes for past episodes at cribcommutepodcast.com!Get $200 off your purchase of a Madsen Cycles Bucket Bike with the code cribcommutepodcast!

Relationship Reddit Stories, OP tells us how she's now dealing with her husband who's attitude completely changed for the worse when she revealed she's pregnant.

Cora H. is a C-Section Emotional Resilience Coach and mindfulness practitioner who helps moms reclaim their identity and emotional strength after a C-section. Through her Write to Heal process, Cora guides women to overcome feelings of loss, rebuild courage, and embrace personal growth. Her C-Section Healing Circle and one-on-one coaching empower women to move from feeling fragmented to fully connected in their motherhood journey. FREE OFFER from CORA: A powerful, 30-minute exercise designed to spark tremendous breakthroughs in emotional resilience and self-awareness—an exercise that has transformed lives and empowered many clients to reclaim their strength. https://docs.google.com/document/d/11VgHTZvhBv33kLU59HlIDH9bGSMT5jP2NHkBmtY7T-I/edit?usp=sharing Linked in: www.linkedin/in/corahoward   **Morning Sickness Mini Course for Mental Health (Formerly the Positive Pregnancy Program)**: This self-led video program, made to help foster positivity durning pregnancy. It is for women who have or do struggle with pregnancy and who want to have strong mental health during and specifically the first trimester of pregnancy during the nausea! This Mini Course will help you mentally navigate the hardships of the physical changes of pregnancy, especially that morning sickness phase. Direct link to Morning Sickness Mini Course for Mental Health Positivity in Pregnancy and Motherhood website: Positiveinpregnancy.com Library of Pregnancy Podcasts that go through pregnancy: (you will have to scroll down, just a little :) ) https://positiveinpregnancy.com/pregnancyishard Here is the Facebook Page for Pregnancy is hard: I have documented my journey of my fourth baby on this page and have other juicy and good tips for enjoying pregnancy better. https://www.facebook.com/pregnancyishard Here is the Pregnancy is Hard Support Group on Facebook: Let's offer support, help and fun for those in the trenches of pregnancy! https://www.facebook.com/groups/165102315544693 Email me at: positivityinpregnancy@gmail.com

Pregnancy Care Center and the hope it provides to young families.

Fertility is not just the ability to conceive, but is an indicator of overall health and the capacity to nurture life; it is how we extend genetic strength across time and space into generations we will never know. Pregnancy and menopause are transformative states that reveal underlying metabolic and hormonal imbalances, emphasizing the complex interplay between biochemistry, psychology, and lifestyle. In an age of rampant metabolic dysfunction, let us together find our way to renewed vitality, for ourselves and for those yet to come. Eat To Go Deep course membership HTMA packages Medicine Stories Patreon (extended convo w/ Niecia) Nourishing Motherlines Substack Niecia on Instagram Take our fun Which Healing Herb is Your Spirit Medicine? quiz My website MythicMedicine.love  Mythic Medicine on Instagram Medicine Stories Facebook group Music by Mariee Siou (from her beautiful song Wild Eyes) Get the transcript here Mentioned in this episode: Wise Women Diaries podcast interview w/ Niecia telling the story of her first birth, instagram of podcast host is Trusting Life Casey Means Niecia has learned about biomechanics in pregnancy and birth from Adelaide Meadow Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed Mary Lou Singleton on early motherhood  

On the twenty second episode of the second season of Unexpecting, Tara and Todd discuss beginning a third season of the podcast as they get into the thick of their 2nd surrogacy journey, Christmas tree shopping in Los Angeles, and a newly released fertility related film.  This episode is brought to you by FERRING. If you're looking for a reliable resource to provide you with a sense of empowerment as you navigate your fertility journey, check out FerringFertility.com for helpful tools and information, including personal stories and financial assistance programs.

We pass the microphone to Jenice Fountain, executive director of the Yellowhammer Fund, and midwife Tanya Smith-Johnnson, executive director of Birth Future Foundation. From mutual aid to midwifery, they discuss their organizing work, the power of relationship building, and why the Deep South is forever their North Star.For transcripts and more, visit natalstories.com. Follow @natalstories on Twitter and InstagramLearn more about Jenice FountainLearn more about Tanya Smith-JohnsonLearn more about WHOLESpecial thanks to Marz Lovejoy at the Black Homebirth InitiativeLearn more about Tatyana Ali, and use code NATAL15 for 15% off at baby-yams.com

I'm thrilled to have Dr. Sanfilippo and Dr. Kumar join me on this episode of The Egg Whisperer Show to discuss their easy to read, and patient friendly new book, The Expert Guide to Fertility: Boost Your Chances for Pregnancy. This comprehensive guide is designed to support individuals and couples on their fertility journeys, offering an in-depth look at the human reproductive system, identifying common barriers to conception, and exploring medical, surgical, and lifestyle interventions to improve the chances of pregnancy. In this episode, we cover: An introduction to Dr. Sanfilippo and Dr. Kumar and their motivation for writing this essential fertility guide.  The personal experiences that shaped their approach to fertility care and inspired their book. - Practical recommendations, from lifestyle changes to medical and surgical interventions, to enhance fertility. Fertility preservation strategies for cancer patients and tailored solutions for LGBTQ+ individuals, single parents, and military families. How to navigate the financial side of fertility treatments, including working with insurance and accessing affordable care options. Read the full show notes on my website. Get The Expert Guide to Fertility: https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Guide-Fertility-Chances-Pregnancy/dp/1421447061/ Would you like to learn more about IVF?Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, December 16th, 2024 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.   Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips! Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

On this week's listener series episode, we welcome Brittney. Brittney shares her 2 birth trauma experiences with us. Due to Covid procedures, she was forced to deliver her first baby without her husband and her baby went to the NICU before she had a chance to see him. Her subsequent birth experience was also traumatic due to loss and a potential diagnosis in pregnancy, as well as postpartum complications. Brittney shares about the importance of healing and how trauma-informed care supported her healing journey..On this episode, you will hear:- Pregnancy challenges during COVID-19- Induction and hospital policies- Isolating birth experience- C-section and advocacy in the birth room- NICU experience and emotional turmoil- Postpartum trauma and mental health- Miscarriage - Navigating a subsequent pregnancy and birth trauma experience- Postpartum complications, anxiety, and recovery- D&C due to retained placentaIf you have a birth trauma story you would like to share with us, click this link and fill out the form. For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

Secondhand Anxiety: Navigating Others' Pregnancies After Loss In this heartfelt podcast episode, Amy delves into the complexities of caring deeply for someone who is pregnant, especially when one has experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or losses themselves. Through personal anecdotes about her daughter's pregnancy and professional insights, she explores the emotions of worry, fear, and hope, offering practical advice on how to manage these feelings. Listeners are encouraged to normalize their anxiety, practice self-care, and find ways to support their loved ones without being consumed by fear. Tune in for a meaningful discussion on secondhand pregnancy after loss and how to embrace both the joy and challenges it brings.   00:00 Introduction and Construction Woes 00:24 Discussing Pregnancy and Personal Experiences 01:31 Exciting News: My Daughter's Pregnancy 02:11 Navigating Worries and Support 03:38 Normalizing Concerns and Offering Tips 05:11 Managing Fear and Anxiety 06:35 Balancing Advice and Support 09:39 Reflecting on Personal Experiences 16:14 Trusting Yourself and Letting Go 23:25 Embracing Joy and Miracles 24:24 Conclusion and Support Resources Get support from Amy! Click HERE Follow me on Instagram! @amy.smoothstonescoaching Visit my website. https://www.pushpregnancy.org/ Stillbirth prevention advocacy https://countthekicks.org/ app for third trimester Photo by Canva Music by ZingDog on Pond5  

If you like this show, consider making a donation this holiday season. 100% of your donation will go towards helping us create more podcasts (like this one!). Click here to make a gift today.ADHD can impact pregnancy in a number of ways: Higher rate of postpartum depression, hormone surges that affect the brain's functioning, increased demands on our executive function, and so much more. Our guest this week, Dusty Chipura, is an ADHD and pregnancy expert, ADHD coach, and doula in training. Dusty takes us through pregnancy with ADHD, what you might expect, and what conversations are important to have with your support network ahead of welcoming a baby. Related resourcesA guide to hormones and ADHDADHD and pregnancy workbook by Alix Bacon and Dusty ChipuraDusty's website, vancouveradhdcoaching.comTimestamps(01:27) Some ways ADHD affects pregnancy(02:25) How did Dusty become an expert in ADHD and pregnancy?(04:21) First trimester/early pregnancy and ADHD(05:57) Sensory sensitivities and pregnancy(08:44) Second trimester(13:23) What conversations should we be having with our support system during this time?(17:20) Third trimester(20:04) What happens after the baby is born?(22:33) ADHD and the postpartum period(25:55) Best practices and tools(28:41) Dusty's top tips(30:35) Dealing with parental guilt(31:59) Where you can find DustyFor a transcript and more resources visit the Sorry, I Missed This page on Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

ESC TV Today brings you concise analysis from the world's leading experts, so you can stay on top of what's happening in your field quickly. This episode covers: Cardiology This Week: A concise summary of recent studies Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy Depression and heart disease Mythbusters: "The French Paradox" Host: Perry Elliott Guests: Carlos Aguiar, Martha Gulati, Hector Bueno Want to watch that episode? Go to: https://esc365.escardio.org/event/1796 Disclaimer: ESC TV Today is supported by Bristol Myers Squibb. This scientific content and opinions expressed in the programme have not been influenced in any way by its sponsor. This programme is intended for health care professionals only and is to be used for educational purposes. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) does not aim to promote medicinal products nor devices. Any views or opinions expressed are the presenters' own and do not reflect the views of the ESC. Declarations of interests: Stephan Achenbach, Martha Gulati, Nicolle Kraenkel have declared to have no potential conflicts of interest to report. Carlos Aguiar has declared to have potential conflicts of interest to report: personal fees for consultancy and/or speaker fees from Abbott, AbbVie, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BiAL, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Ferrer, Gilead, GSK, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Servier, Takeda, Tecnimede. Hector Bueno has declared to have potential conflicts of interest to report: research funding from the European Union (EU4H-2022-JA-03), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (FORTALECE program, PI21/01572), Sociedad Española de Cardiología, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, and Novartis; and has received in the past consulting/speaking fees from Astra-Zeneca, Novartis, Novo Nordisk and Organon. Davide Capodanno has declared to have potential conflicts of interest to report: Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Sanofi Aventis, Novo Nordisk, Terumo. Perry Elliott has declared to have potential conflicts of interest to report: consultancies for Pfizer, BMS, Cytokinetics, AstraZeneca, Forbion. Steffen Petersen has declared to have potential conflicts of interest to report: consultancy for Circle Cardiovascular Imaging Inc. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Emma Svennberg has declared to have potential conflicts of interest to report: Abbott, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers, Squibb-Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson.

Send a message to the pod!This week we swap stories about our fashion quirks and the hilariously mismatched outfits that make us who we are. From Jo's playful grilling of Matt's love for cozy oversized clothes to tales of "Gumby syndrome" in the family, our conversation offers a humorous take on body image and self-perception. Laugh along as we navigate the complexities of dressing for comfort versus style and attempting pull-ups at 37 weeks pregnant!Whether we're discussing the art of fitting an access point system in the house or recounting the frenzy of Black Friday shopping, our anecdotes offer a lighthearted glimpse into the joys and challenges of everyday living. Plus, we debate the anxiety-inducing headlines that flood our news feeds and how they shape our perceptions of the world. And we answer questions from the listeners this week, ranging from how to handle different religious and political perspectives in parenting, to how to build community away from home.Don't forget to check out our Patreon for more laughs and insights, and keep those questions coming for our future episodes!Support the showIf you've got a voicemail or want our (likely unqualified) advice on something, hit us up at the Speakpipe link below!http://www.speakpipe.com/oversharingwiththeoverbysIf you'd like to email us you can reach the pod at oversharing@jojohnsonoverby.com!And if you want to support the podcast and gain access to all episodes, check out https://www.patreon.com/oversharing!CONNECT:TikTok: @jojohnsonoverby / @matt.overbyInstagram: @jojohnsonoverby / @matt.overbyWebsite: https://jojohnsonoverby.com/Watch the Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL29Si0ylWz2qj5t6hYHSCxYkvZCDGejGq

We're dishin' it with #AaronPierre, the voice of #Mufasa

Lexi Yoo is the Founder and Director of Yoo Direct Health in Indiana and is a double-board-certified nurse practitioner in the areas of family and pediatric medicine. She has a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Purdue University and a Master's from IUPUI as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Lexi has a particular interest in anti-aging medicine, integrative health, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and a focus on peptide therapy. She is certified through BioTE Medical, where she is a mentor as well as a proctor. Lexi has completed all her functional medicine coursework through The Institute for Functional Medicine and has completed an Aesthetic Fellowship through the American Academy of Antiaging. She is a national speaker as well as a trainer in her areas of specialty. Lexi is also a GAIN trainer for Galderma Aesthetics. In 2022, she developed the Integrative Residency Program, where she created a virtual learning opportunity for other providers to learn about Thyroid Health, Hormone Optimization in Men and Women, Gut Health management, Peptide Therapy, and Aesthetic Medicine. In 2023 she developed the Yoo Direct Training Academy, a virtual-based platform for the like-minded provider. Lexi and I have a candid conversation about marketing longevity and achieving business growth in lasting ways. She shares key lessons she has learned about staffing, vision, creating a culture of growth and the importance of maintaining integrity in the face of success. She offers insights into her holistic approach to weight loss and longevity, details about GLP-1 receptor antagonists and other high demand treatment options that Lexi's patients regularly ask about, and steps practitioners need to take to keep their patients healthy and happy as they navigate the journey toward longevity.  I'm your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.   Episode Resources: Lexi Yoo - https://www.yoodirecthealth.com/ Design for Health Resources: Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/ Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/ Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog. https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:45 Lexi's latest focus on neurotherapy offers valuable integrative therapies to her patients.  03:20 The journey of Lexi's business growth was both unexpected and incredibly rewarding – and included Crossfit.  7:48 The why behind the Yoo Academy has benefitted Lexi as well as her like minded practitioner community.  09:39 Key lessons Lexi has learned about staffing, vision, creating a culture of growth and maintaining integrity in the face of success.  12:30 Longevity refers to both long life as well as high quality of life. Lexi works to help patients meet both of these goals.  15:25 Key biomarkers of longevity that Lexi looks to in the total health panel.  16:15 An overview of the standard intake visit at Yoo Direct Health.  20:55 GLP-1 receptor antagonists and other high demand treatment options that Lexi's patients regularly ask about.  28:00 Considerations for patients regarding tirzepatide, semaglutide, fatty liver disease, and optimized hormones for longevity. 29:04 Pregnancy and increased fertility warnings and options for patients.  30:32 Cycling GLP-1, refills, insulin resistance, menstrual cycles, and musical loss are all taken into consideration when optimizing patient health for longevity.  35:24 Recommendations for carb, fat, and protein dietary intake starts with meeting the patient where they are.  36:40 Appetite control and healthy weight loss is a matter of dosing semaglutide responsibility.  38:27 Details about injectable growth hormones and peptides.  40:23 A holistic approach to managing the side effects of commercially available GLP-1s.  44:15 The future of GLP-1 includes stacked peptides and improved maintenance dosing.  46:30 A supplemental approach to maintaining weight loss.  47:49 Aesthetic offerings that can be added on in addition to GLP-1s, including stimulating collagen, hair restoration and acne recommendations.  53:27 Top nutrients for healthy skin, hair and nails.  53:53 Top personal supplements, top health practices, the idea that Lexi has changed her mind about over her years of practice, and her 5-year vision for the future of her practice.

In this week's episode we're talking parents, in-laws and pregnancy. How have my parents/in-laws been there for me, or not been there for me, throughout my pregnancy? Do I wish they were more or less involved? And what can I do to improve any red flags before they turn into grandparents pushing boundaries? Listen in as I thank the community, talk about my experiences so far, and rant probably a little too long about my mom and MIL (I love them, I swear!). Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea?⁠ Leave your feedback in this form:⁠ https://forms.gle/XyBgaf9JwgvcfH5p8 Disclosure: I'm in no way, shape or form an expert on anything. None of this is advice. Take it all with a grain of salt and consult your own healthcare provider or topic expert!

Pregnancy! This episode of the Women's Health series covers it all! We discuss preparing for pregnancy and what your hormonal health is doing during pregnancy, how your weight plays into fertility, what supplements women can take to help support becoming pregnant and sustaining a pregnancy, and how food plays a role in pregnancy. If you have had or are considering having children, this episode is packed with information for you! If you have any questions related to the episode please email contact@mlrx.com for more info. Health Solutions Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/HealthSolutionsPodcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/health_solutions_shawn_needham/ Moses Lake Professional Pharmacy Website | http://mlrx.com.com/ Shawn Needham X | https://x.com/ShawnNeedham2 Shawn's Book | http://mybook.to/Sickened_The_Book

“For me, motherhood feels life-giving” - Meg shares the raw truths about the sacred transition from maiden to mother in this intimate postpartum conversation.Join Meg and Jacob as they talk about their first 8 weeks of parenthood, sharing how they've created a deeply nourishing postpartum experience through community, sacred partnership, and the art of receiving. From body changes to sleep solutions, they answer your burning questions about the reality of early parenthood.This is a raw, unfiltered look at how intentional preparation and community support can transform those early weeks into a time of expansion rather than depletion. Whether you're preparing for parenthood, supporting new parents, or simply curious about conscious parenting, this conversation will change how you think about the postpartum period forever.They also riff off on:• How to create and receive community support• The truth about postpartum body changes• Co-sleeping and nighttime parenting• The transition from maiden to mother• Creating sacred postpartum rituals• The power of meal trains and community care• Navigating relationship changes• Physical healing and recovery• Finding rhythm instead of routineand so much more…

Introducing our new, longer form podcast, Physio Discussed, where 2 expert guests and our host explore everything you need to know about your favourite topics!In this episode, we discuss exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. We explore: Pelvic floor screening and assessmentsReturn to sport after pregnancyPelvic floor rehabilitationCreating training programs for pelvic floor dysfunctionCompression garments in pelvic healthSilvia Giagio is a PhD physiotherapist and researcher at the University of Bologna. Her research primarily focuses on pelvic floor health within the field of sports medicine. She has applied her personal and clinical experiences in sports, along with her passion for pelvic floor rehabilitation, to this research area. Currently, she collaborates with World Athletics as research consultant, promoting worldwide initiatives for élite athletes' pelvic health.Gráinne Donnelly is an Advanced Physiotherapist in pelvic health, doctoral research student at Cardiff Metropolitan University and the current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy. Her research focuses include i) postpartum return to sport and pelvic floor dysfunction and ii) diastasis rectus abdominis.Link to the screening tool discussed in this episode (open access) - https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/14/899 If you like the podcast, it would mean the world if you're happy to leave us a rating or a review. It really helps!Our host is @James_Armstrong_Physio

Groundbreaking research has come out of Professor Emily Jacobs' lab at UC Santa Barbara, revealing never-before-seen data on how the brain changes during pregnancy. Alice Dehghanzadeh with KCSB News has more, with postdoctoral fellow Magdalena Martinez Garcia.

This episode is PACKED with evidence-based information about real food for fertility with Lily Nichols, RDN! We dive right into some of the most confusing and controversial nutrition topics, including protein for fertility, vegetable oils, and iron supplements! We also talk about how to support your body postpartum so that you can get back to feeling your best after baby. Timestamps:[4:34] Welcome Lily Nichols[7:18] Does protein intake alone have a beneficial impact on fertility?[9:50] Is it that important that we focus on high quality bioavailable protein or is it that if we just up protein intake overall it will benefit fertility?[26:06] What does the research say when it comes to vegetable oil consumption, specifically how it relates to fertility and/or inflammation?[30:49] How do you know if a vegetable oil is damaged or not?[35:10] What foods or types of food should you focus on when going through fertility treatments?[39:43] Can you talk about using adaptogens and mushrooms while pregnant?[41:50] Can you give some suggestions for anemia during pregnancy?[51:10] Do protein goals go up during pregnancy and/or postpartum?[53:47] Curious about nutritional needs while breastfeeding. I've heard that breastfeeding mama's need 800 additional calories a day, but what about under producers? [58:39] How do you support your body and hormones to decrease postpartum hair loss?[1:02:47] How long should nutrition be a priority postpartum realistically for a new mom?Episode Links:Visit Lily's WebsiteBook Website: Real Food for FertilityBuy "Real Food for Fertility"Buy "Real Food for Pregnancy"Buy "Real Food for Gestational Diabetes"Episode #235: Preconception and Prenatal Nutrition with Lily Nichols, RDN (Part 1) Episode #237: Nutrition for Pregnancy, Postpartum Recovery, and Breastfeeding with Lily Nichols, RDN (Part 2)Article: How much iron do you actually absorb from food?Article: The Truth about Postpartum Hair LossArticle: Protein Requirements in Pregnancy are higher than previously thoughtArticle: 5 Fertility Diet MythsBotanical Medicine for Women's Health 2nd Edition by Aviva Romm Sponsors:Go to drinklmnt.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED to get a free 8-pack with any drink mix purchase!Go to https://thisisneeded.com/  and use coupon code WELLFED for 20% off your first order.Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/chocolate and use coupon code WELLFED for 10% off and you always get free shipping on orders of $59 or more.Go to wellminerals.us/adrenal-stress-less/ and use code WELLFED to get 10% off your order.

In today's episode, we'll answer: "What if I don't make it to my birthplace?" While this situation will not affect most moms, it's always important to be prepared mentally and literally. When you come from a place of knowledge then you don't have to be in a place of fear should these things happen. Links Mentioned:My Essential Birth CourseMy Essential Birth Postpartum CourseMy Essential Birth Instagram GET IN TOUCH!

Season 14 of the 'Doctor Mom' podcast launches with heartfelt stories, expert tips, and big life updates from Steph and Dr. Elana.  They also delve into handling stress, nourishing routines, and making significant life changes. Additionally, they introduce expert guests for the season, covering topics like fertility, thyroid health, and children's nutrition. Topics Covered In This Episode: Overcoming Victim Mentality Mindset Hormone Health During Perimenopause Thyroid Health and Treatment Options Holistic Approaches to Breast Cancer Building Resilient Parenting Strategies Exploring Alternative Schooling Options Coping with Mold Toxicity Pregnancy Preparation After 40 Show Notes: Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate! Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD's Substack Mindset + Metabolism where women can learn how to nourish their bodies, hit their health and body composition goals, and become the most vibrant version of themselves.  Listen to today's episode on our website This Episode's Sponsors  Enjoy the health benefits of PaleoValley's products such as their supplements, superfood bars and meat sticks.  Receive 15% off your purchase by heading to paleovalley.com/doctormom  Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by women's health practitioners and mamas alike to support optimal pregnancy outcomes. Try their 4 Part Complete Nutrition plan which includes a Prenatal Multi, Omega-3, Collagen Protein, and Pre/Probiotic. To get started, head to thisisneeded.com, and use code DOCTORMOM20 for 20% off Needed's Complete Plan! Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean.  Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you.  Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $35 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order. INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can't wait to meet you! @stephgreunke @drelanaroumell Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only.  All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.

Today i'm thinking out loud with you as I talk about my thoughts regarding gestational diabetes.  Is it really "gestational diabetes" or is it underlying, undiagnosed, metabolic dysfunction?  Here's some of what you will learn today: What is metabolic dysfunction How is gestational diabetes, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes diagnosed What are the shortcomings of the way we diagnose and treat gestational diabetes in our maternity system What do I think is really going on  Sign up for updates about the new program - https://go.yourbirthgodsway.com/yourhealth   Good Energy by Casey Means, MD - https://a.co/d/bBiHddp   A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth by Enkin, et al. - https://a.co/d/9OVGWYZ     Helpful Links:   3 WAYS TO WORK WITH LORI:   --> Sign up HERE for the Your Birth, God's Way Online Christian Childbirth Course! This is a COMPLETE childbirth education course with a God-led foundation taught by a certified nurse-midwife with over 20 years of experience in all sides of the maternity world! Learn more or sign up HERE!   —> Having a home birth and need help getting prepared?  Sign up HERE for the Home Birth Prep Course.   --> Sign up for your PERSONALIZED Pregnancy Coaching Midwife & Me Power Hour HERE These consults can include: birth plan consultation, past birth processing, second opinions, breastfeeding consultation, and so much more!  Think of it as a special, one-hour appointment with a midwife to discuss whatever your concerns may be without any bias of practice policy or insurance policy influencing recommendations.   Get Christian pregnancy and birth merch HERE   Lori's Recommended Resources HERE   Sign up for email updates Here   Be heard! Take My Quick SURVEY to give input on future episodes you want to hear --> https://bit.ly/yourbirthsurvey   Got questions?  Email lori@yourbirthgodsway.com     Socials: Follow Your Birth, God's Way on Instagram! Follow the Your Birth, God's Way Facebook Page! Join Our Exclusive Online Birth Community -- facebook.com/groups/yourbirthgodsway   Learn more about Lori and the podcast at yourbirthgodsway.com!   FREE Bible Study Course - How To Be Sure Of Your Salvation       DISCLAIMER:  Remember that though I am a midwife, I am not YOUR midwife.  Nothing in this podcast shall; be construed as medical advice.  Listening to this podcast does not mean that we have entered into a patient-care provider relationship. While I strive to provide the most accurate information I can, content is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate.  You must do your research and consult other reputable sources, including your provider, to make the best decision for your own care.  Talk with your own care provider before putting any information here into practice.  Weigh all risks and benefits for yourself knowing that no outcome can be guaranteed.  I do not know the specific details about your situation and thus I am not responsible for the outcomes of your choices.    Some links may be affiliate links which provide me a small commission when you purchase through them.  This does not cost you anything at all and it allows me to continue providing you with the content you love.

Sarah & Charli talk about management of the placenta, called the third stage, and cutting the cord in a home birth. They get a little more into the nuance of what's happening naturally with the placenta after the birth of the baby and how clients and midwives can work together to help birth the placenta and, when the time is right, cut the umbilical cord.  --- The Homebirth Midwife Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of midwifery, medicine, or other professional health care services. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast are at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. https://hearthandhomemidwifery.com 

What happens when “just eat” isn't the solution, and the stakes are literally life or death? Picture this: you're at the dinner table. Your teenager is glaring at you like you've personally served up their worst nightmare—maybe broccoli, maybe a slice of pizza, who knows? They shout, “You're ruining my life!” Meanwhile, you're just trying to figure out if this counts as “parenting” or if you're starring in some twisted reality show. In this episode, I'm joined by Susannah Neufeld—a licensed psychotherapist, certified eating disorder specialist and consultant, author, and all-around badass about how FBT turns the chaos of food fights into moments of healing. Spoiler alert: it's as heartwarming as it is messy. Tweetable Quotes "You know your kid the best, and I know a lot about eating disorders, and we're going to work together to figure this out." - Suzannah Neufeld "When your kid yells at you, you're getting a gift because you're getting to see what's happening inside their head... if you can respond to it with strength and love, they're going to internalize that." - Suzannah Neufeld "FBT really supports the idea that the kid is not alone in it. They're part of a team working on this." - Suzannah Neufeld "The kid is not the one who's lying. The kid is not the one who might hide the food. That's the illness. That's the eating disorder that's doing that." - Suzannah Neufeld "I'm not going to be the person who saves you or your family. You're saving your own life, and I'm on the journey with you." - Rachelle Heinemann  Resources A network that supports the Bay Area ED care community. Suzannah's book - Awake at 3 a.m.: Yoga Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy and Early Motherhood (Parallax Press, 2018).  Suzannah is a contributing author in the anthology, Yoga Rising: 30 Empowering Stories from Yoga Renegades for Every Body.  Suzannah Neufeld's website.  Grab my Journal Prompts Here! Looking for a speaker for an upcoming event? Let's chat! Now accepting new clients! Find out if we're a good fit!    LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who may need this podcast by sharing this episode. Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter here! You can connect with me on Instagram @rachelleheinemann, through my website www.rachelleheinemann.com, or email me directly at rachelle@rachelleheinemann.com

This is Part 2 in a 2-part seriesIn this episode of Birth, Baby! Podcast, hosts Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly engage with Dr. Newman to discuss the critical aspects of vaccine safety, the approval process, and the importance of herd immunity. They address common concerns and misinformation surrounding vaccines, emphasizing the rigorous testing and monitoring systems in place to ensure safety. The conversation highlights the role of pediatricians in educating families about vaccinations and the community's responsibility in maintaining herd immunity to protect vulnerable populations.Genuine and dedicated, Dr. Ross Newman aims to make his patients' appointments as comfortable as possible, taking extra time to get to know his families and build their trust. He works alongside parents to incorporate their beliefs, concerns and values with evidence-based medicine, creating treatment plans that enhance the well-being of kids and their families. His special interests include combating childhood obesity through activity—from sports to playing outdoors—and supporting literacy by encouraging families to read early and often with their kids, stimulating their children's minds and expanding their vocabulary. Dr. Ross Newman is a father of four children has been practicing pediatrician for ten years. He has a popular TikTok and Instagram presence where he presents information to parents in easily digestible ways. You can check him out here:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr_rossomeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_rossome Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcastEmail: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.comWebsite: www.BirthBabyPodcast.com Intro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify! (00:00) - Understanding Vaccine Safety and Approval Process (05:41) - The Role of Monitoring Systems in Vaccine Safety (10:54) - Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Misinformation (15:32) - The Importance of Herd Immunity

Healing isn't a quick fix. It's a journey, and it can feel so isolating and overwhelming - especially when you're trying to help your child heal. I know because I've been there, working through the endless nights of searching and hoping, visiting and investing in every kind of healthcare professional only to be faced with more questions than answers. When my son was struggling, I found myself in a place of such deep need, not only for practical guidance but for validation and reassurance - reassurance that he could heal, that his body was capable of restoring balance and that every twist and turn along the way was normal. But I didn't have that. I didn't have anyone to hold me, to help me believe that healing was possible, and to guide me with wisdom I could trust. That's why I created my course and why I now gift you free access with every Rebalance Kit. To ensure you have everything you need in order to truly heal. Tune in to learn how this course and healing will create deep, lasting health for yourself and your family, both today and for generations to come.Links from the episode:Explore The Children's Gut Rebalance KitExplore The Women's Gut Rebalance KitThe Essentials of Gut Health CourseThanks for listening! I would love to connect with you ♡ Subscribe to the Nourished Newsletter Apply for a Breakthrough Session! Send me a DM on Instagram Take the free Gut Health Quiz Email me at customercare@onleorganics.com Sending love and wellness from my family yours,xx - Juniper BennettFounder of ōNLē ORGANICS

Pregnancy is often celebrated as a magical time, but for some, being labeled “high-risk” can bring uncertainty and fear. In this episode, I'm joined by Amber Matteson (she/they), a highly experienced doula specializing in supporting high-risk birthing people. Whether you've just received a high-risk diagnosis or want to better understand your options, Amber shares practical strategies to reclaim your power and prepare for birth with confidence.We'll Cover:What a high-risk pregnancy really means and why the term can be misleadingTips for unpacking the emotional weight of a high-risk diagnosisAdvocacy strategies to communicate effectively with healthcare providersHow to create a flexible birth plan that aligns with your valuesWhy doula support is invaluable, especially for high-risk pregnanciesAmber shares insights to help you turn the label “high-risk” into an empowering journey toward the birth you deserve.Don't forget to check out the blog postYou can learn more about Amber Matteson and her work at:Website: www.intimateconnectionsdoula.com/ Instagram: @intimateconnectionsdoulaResources mentioned:>> A Path to A Powerful Birth Class - Learn about preparing for birth with confidence (and add it to your registry!)>> https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ ************************Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

Worried about what's safe and not safe to use in your skincare routine? Have you found your normally-clear skin is suddenly breaking out every 3 seconds? Are you experiencing the joy of a ‘melasma moustache'? Trying to manage your skin and skincare routine when you're pregnant can feel confusing and overwhelming, so we asked Dr Yalda Jamali to join us to help simplify the dos, don'ts and helpful tips of pregnancy skincare. Also in this ep - what to use now that Avene's gentle A-Oxitive Serum has been (rudely) discontinued, there's a new beauty store to look out for and our MVPs. Links below - and if you have a minute, we'd love you forever if you could subscribe/review/share this ep with your pals Vit C alternatives MECCA COSMETICA Replenishing Niacinamide Serum  Ultraceuticals Ultra B² Hydrating Serum Skinstitut 10% Niacinamide Power Serum asap super B complex  tbh Skincare rebound serum  Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Texture Renewal Serum Listen: Why is Vitamin C Upsetting My Skin? Check out Atomica: @atomicaau MVPs ⁠Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Matte Primer⁠ Chloe Atelier des Fleurs Tubereuse Lazuli Chloé Atelier des Fleurs Nuit d'Oranger Eau de Parfum Chloé Atelier des Fleurs Orchidée de Minuit Eau de Parfum Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom Cologne Pregnancy Skincare with Dr Yalda Jamali MotherSafe Skin Care, Hair Care and Cosmetic Treatments in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Caudalie Vinoperfect range Follow Dr Yalda: @dr.yalda *We use some affiliate links here and we may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase. Thanks for your support! Credits: Thanks to our guest, Dr Yalda Jamali Your hosts & producers: Carli Alman & Bettina Tyrrell. Follow us on Instagram: @thatbeautypodcast Follow us on Tiktok: @thatbeautypodcast Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/260952718436828/

What happens if you're religious and your partner isn't? Or they're secular and you're spiritual? Or you're both religious, but they're Pagan while you're Protestant? In today's episode, I'm tackling the big issue of how to combine religious (and non-religious) beliefs into one wedding day that truly represents you both. Listen in as I give you some big things to consider and lots of options for expressing your values throughout your ceremony and reception. Have a wedding planning question or episode idea? Let me know what you want to hear! Fill out this quick form with your feedback and/or episode suggestions: https://forms.gle/ANxD6B9M4xzoReZ77You can also check out my second podcast, "Any Questions? A Podcast About Conception, Pregnancy & Realistic Motherhood" if you're on your own fertility/TTC journey! https://open.spotify.com/show/7uxPpQZgfnzMxJcYhjvtqa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we hear about the rest of Atara's experience. She talks about managing GBS and its consequences with her newborns, and the importance of nutrition before pregnancy.We pick up today where we left off last week. Atara is pregnant with her second child and is experiencing a numbness on the left side of her body. She has figured out that she should be in the emergency room and what follows is what she encountered there...

If you like this show, consider making a donation this holiday season. 100% of your donation will go towards helping us create more podcasts (like this one!). Click here to make a gift today.ADHD can impact pregnancy in a number of ways: Higher rate of postpartum depression, hormone surges that affect the brain's functioning, increased demands on our executive function, and so much more. Our guest this week, Dusty Chipura, is an ADHD and pregnancy expert, ADHD coach, and doula in training. Dusty takes us through pregnancy with ADHD, what you might expect, and what conversations are important to have with your support network ahead of welcoming a baby. Related resourcesA guide to hormones and ADHDADHD and pregnancy workbook by Alix Bacon and Dusty ChipuraDusty's website, vancouveradhdcoaching.comTimestamps(01:27) Some ways ADHD affects pregnancy(02:25) How did Dusty become an expert in ADHD and pregnancy?(04:21) First trimester/early pregnancy and ADHD(05:57) Sensory sensitivities and pregnancy(08:44) Second trimester(13:23) What conversations should we be having with our support system during this time?(17:20) Third trimester(20:04) What happens after the baby is born?(22:33) ADHD and the postpartum period(25:55) Best practices and tools(28:41) Dusty's top tips(30:35) Dealing with parental guilt(31:59) Where you can find DustyFor a transcript and more resources visit the Sorry, I Missed This page on Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

In this episode the girls catch up after being on break for a couple of weeks but are coming back to one hell of an announcement! The ladies talk about working through the next few weeks of holiday chaos, expectations and the traditions they hope to keep - and the ones they hope to ditch. Join us this week as we crack down on what is considered to be the most wonderful time of the year and reflect on how the best is yet to come. #HolidayMotherhood#PregnantDuringTheHolidays#PostpartumPressure#MotherhoodJourney#HolidayStressRelief#MomLifeUnfiltered#HolidayTraditions#MomSelfCare#JoyfulMotherhood#NavigatingMotherhood#NewMomChallenges#HolidayMomma#RealTalkMotherhood#ModernMotherhood#MotherhoodAndTheHolidays Instagram |  @whatsupmompod @modernmotherhoodnet @pattybomm X | @whatsupmompod

  The dental practice must take an active part in making a dental professional's pregnancy as pleasant as possible. Good communication is key. Alyshia Hanks, MHA, RDH, CDA Lorinda L. Coan, MS, RDH Read by Jackie Sanders, RDH  https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/hr/article/55138109/navigating-pregnancy-as-a-dental-practitioner-part-2 

Having one baby is hard. Imagine four! This is the incredible story of Taylah Tudehope-Glachan's pregnancy and birth with her quadruplets from Mamamia's new podcast Diary Of A Birth.In this first part of Taylah's tale, she details a roller-coaster fertility struggle; think PCOS, endometriosis and IVF. Plus what it was like discovering her successful transfer had resulted in four babies.You'll hear about high-risk pregnancy, exactly HOW she fell pregnant with quads, and how she handled her hospitalisation at 24 weeks.Can't wait for part two? You don't need to! Listen to part two of Taylah's story here.If you're a soon-to-be mum of multiples, the Australian Multiple Birth Association is a wonderful resource.Diary Of A Birth features mums telling their miraculous stories of bringing life into the world, and we have all medical questions and concerns cleared up by one of Australia's favourite paediatricians, Dr Golly. If you'd like to share your birth story, we'd love to hear from you at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note here.THE END BITS:Support independent women's mediaFollow Diary Of A Birth on InstagramIf you're looking for something else to listen to, check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood.Our parenting podcast is This Glorious Mess.If you're pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.And if you're trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.CREDITS:Host: Ksenija LukichExpert: Dr GollyExecutive Producer: Georgie PageAudio Producer: Scott Stronach  Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.  Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infertility is on the rise. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and postpartum depression is, too. Can diet help address these issues? And what's the best diet to enhance fertility? Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and the author of Real Food for Fertility, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Today, Lily offers practical advice for tackling the issues mentioned above and more. Lily covers how to maximize micronutrients for mothers and mothers-to-be, even when on a budget. She gets specific about foods to include in the diet that enhance fertility and combat insulin resistance (a central factor in PCOS). She also goes over why a protein-rich diet is critical for nourishment pre- and post-partum for better energy, satiety and to combat nutritional deficiencies. Finally, she offers insights on breastfeeding and how to deal with overwhelm in the first few months following giving birth. Visit Lily's website: lilynicholsrdn.com Go to Nourishing Our Children Check out our sponsors: Gray Toad Tallow and New Biology Clinic

One of our team members, Paige, joins us today to share our first maternal assisted Cesarean story on the podcast! Our favorite Julie joins too sharing her perspective as Paige's birth photographer. Paige tried three times to have the vaginal birth of her dreams. Each time ended in emergency Cesareans due to nonreassuring fetal heart tones. Each time, she missed the golden hour that she so desperately craved. Each time, she learned more and more about birth.With her fourth baby, she exchanged her VBAC dream for a new one. After hearing about maternal assisted Cesareans, she decided to do all she could to pursue one fully knowing it may not happen. But when it did, it was everything she hoped it would be and more. Paige's Full Birth VideoHoum ClinicDayana Harrison Birth ServicesJulie Francom Birth PhotographyYouTube Video: Maternal Assisted Caesarean Section - The Birth of Betty MaeThe VBAC Link Podcast Episode 220: Dr. Natalie Elphinstone & MACsThe Birth Hour Episode 875: Nicole's Maternal Assisted Cesarean in MichiganBaby Baking & Kid Raising Podcast Episode 6: MACs with Lauren BrentonAustralian Birth Stories Podcast: All Maternal Assisted Cesarean EpisodesYouTube Video: Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Gentle C-sectionCBAC Support Facebook Community How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Oh my gosh, you guys. Today is a very special day. It's a very, very special day. We have our own team member, Paige. If you guys haven't already seen the video floating around, go to Instagram today and watch what we've got posted. We have Paige, and we have Julie, and they are actually in Korea. Now, Paige lives in Korea. Julie flew to Korea to be the photographer for Paige. I was over here in Utah having FOMO as they were Marco Poloing me when she was in labor. You guys, I am so excited. I can't explain to you the love that I have for Paige. She has been on our team for so many years. I'm getting emotional. I have seen this woman transform into the most amazing, strong individual. She has created something so special for her family, and I think, for Korea. This is our first official Maternal Assisted Cesarean story on the podcast. Seriously, my eyes are all watery. I just cannot wait to hear this story. Julie was just saying how she's been dying wanting to call me this week while she has been in Korea, but she didn't want to share her story because it is Paige's story, but I love that I get to have both of them on the show. So hello, you guys. I'm sorry. I just am rambling. Paige: Hi. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Okay. We have Paige. We have Julie. You guys know who they are. Julie, obviously, has been with The VBAC Link for a long time, and so has Paige.Julie: Been with The VBAC Link for a long time? Yeah.Meagan: Yeah, sorry. You created it. Julie: We created it. Meagan: Yeah, sorry. I'm thinking of Paige. Paige has been with The VBAC Link for a long time. If you didn't know, she actually heads the CBAC group, the CBAC Link Community on Facebook, and she transcribes all of these incredible episodes. So thank you, Paige, and welcome everybody.Paige: Thank you. So yeah, I'm just sitting here in my little corner of The VBAC Link team doing my transcribing which I feel like maybe is just a little drop in the birth world bucket until something more happens for me. I've been with The VBAC Link for the last 4 years, and I feel like it's my way of preserving these stories. Spending time with the women on the podcast is such an honor, and it's just one of my favorite things to do. I've learned so much, and truly, we'll get into it, but I wouldn't have had this birth experience in the same way if it were not for The VBAC Link and for being on the team. So truly, thank you to both of you. You've changed my life. All right, what's that?Meagan: I was going to say that you've made our life better. Paige: Aw, thank you.Julie: Yes, absolutely. It is so cool to see this. Me and Paige were just talking last night about this and how it's kind of a full-circle moment. We were going over her other births and how we got here and how she got here. It's just so cool. I am so thrilled about how everything played out. There were so many little miracles. I think miracles is not the right word. There were so many special blessings and things that led her to this point. I cannot wait to hear all of it from her perspective. It's so fun to be here and share on the podcast and really, this story is going to change lives. It's going to change lives. It's going to change birth. It is going to be something that people talk about and use as inspiration and hope as they prepare for their own births, no matter how they birth because there's a lot of advocacy involved. I think that's the biggest thing. There's a lot of advocacy. Paige did a lot of advocating for herself and what she wanted. It doesn't have to be literally the same way that she birthed for anybody to take inspiration from it, so I would just encourage everybody to listen because she is such a good example of fighting for what she wants, and shifting and rolling with the punches. I am just so inspired by Paige. You mentioned it too, Meagan. I am just so inspired by how she has approached all of this. Yeah, there are lots of life lessons. Lots of life lessons in this birth. Meagan: Yes.Julie: Stay tuned, everybody. It's a good one.Meagan: All right, Ms. Paige. We're turning the time over to you. Let's hear it because I cannot wait. Paige: Okay, so I'm going to start with a brief overview of my first three births. I'm a mom to four boys. I never thought that would be my story, with four C-sections. I never thought that would be my story, but it is, and it's beautiful. For my first birth, I got pregnant in September 2015. We were living in Hawaii at the time, but moved to Lawton, Oklahoma. I received prenatal care there at the Army hospital. It was pretty straightforward, just the What to Expect When You're Expecting type prep. They have this program called the New Parent Support Program which is really great for new families.  A nurse comes to your home, educates you, and gives you resources. I did that. That was really nice. I had a friend who was a doula. We took a hospital childbirth class and watched things like The Business of Being Born, but other than that, I was mostly just really afraid of childbirth in general. I was afraid of dying. I just wanted to survive. I didn't really have any specific birth preferences. I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks throughout my life, so I thought that if I could just survive, that would be a big win. My OB was a family friend, and I felt very safe with him. He had a great bedside manner. I didn't really push any questions. I just trusted him fully and completely. At 34 and 6, I noticed that I started leaking fluids. My New Parent Support Program nurse had advised me that if I had noticed any kind of new discharge or anything like that– colorless, odorless fluid to go and get it checked out immediately. So I did. My husband drove me. I remember I had not eaten lunch, but it was lunchtime. I was like, “Oh, just drop me off. This will be fast, then we will go get lunch.” The midwife there tested the fluids and confirmed it was amniotic fluid. I remember my OB walked in. He said, “You are leaking amniotic fluid. We need to have this baby today. The baby will be fine at 35 weeks, and it's better for the baby to come than for you to stay pregnant basically and risk an infection.” So I was like, “Oh, okay. Yeah. I trust you.” I got a steroid shot for lung development at 35 weeks. Then they started me on an IV with antibiotics because I didn't have my GBS test back yet. Then he also told me that the Army hospital there did not have a NICU to support a 35-weeker and that I would need to be transferred to the civilian hospital in town. So I would have to be transferred. Since I was already on an IV, they were just going to do it via ambulance. It was my first time ever riding in an ambulance. He also said that he legally wouldn't be able to deliver me, but he would go with me and help me make decisions. That was really nice of him to go, but still just the sheer fact that I was going to be riding in an amublance for the first time, I was going to be having the baby that day, and then I was going to have a completely new doctor, was just sheer overload going into a birth that I was already afraid of. Yeah, it was not the best circumstances for a successful induction. I arrived at the hospital. I met the doctor very briefly. I called my doula friend. She came and helped me. We did what we could, but ultimately, my body was just not showing any signs of being ready. I had no contractions at all. I was completely closed and not even soft. No dilation. My cervix was just not showing any signs of progress. After about 14 hours on Pit, they came in. I remember I had the dull cramping from the Pit, but nothing really intense. I also just remember being so painfully hungry, and they wouldn't let me each. But since I hadn't had lunch, I was just so hungry where you get the body chills and stuff. Anyway, the doctor came in, said he was having decels. He recommended having a C-section because my water had been broken for over 12 hours. I consented. I was so afraid. I remember when they were putting in the spinal, I was just heaving sobs into this poor nurse. You go in and prep. The C-section itself was fine. My arms were strapped down. I didn't feel pain, but I remember it was like an elephant was sitting on my chest. It was like, “Oh, it just feels like somebody's sitting on my chest.” It wasn't horrible, and I was pleasantly surprised by that. But then, he was whisked away to the NICU. I briefly saw him swaddled with a hat on, then he was whisked away. No skin-to-skin for my husband or me, obviously. He was 4 pounds, 14 ounces at birth. They wouldn't let me go see him until I felt ready to go. I was just so swollen from all of the fluids. I was so nauseous anytime I would sit up. I just was not ready in any state to try to go walk or be wheeled to the NICU. Finally, 36 hours after delivery, I was able to meet him. We named him before that over FaceTime, but he was in the NICU for 7 days. I wasn't traumatized because I survived and that was my goal. I met my goal, and I was really proud of myself for facing the fear, but hoped for something different the next time. With the second birth, I got pregnant in July of 2017. I had a subchorionic hemorrhage early on that resolved. We were in Texas at the time. It was Fort Hood back then, but I met with many different OB providers at the Army hospital on base there. I felt okay with it because I had a neighbor who was going for a VBAC after two C-sections. She was really supported, and then she had a successful experience there. Because of my 35-week PPROM, they suggested that I go on the Makena progesterone shots once a week from 16 to 36 weeks. I did that. They worked very, very well. I switched to the midwife track because everything was going fine. The midwives were really great. They were really holistic. They supported inducing a VBAC if needed, but they also supported me going into spontaneous labor past 41 weeks. I made it to 41 and 5. The VBAC Link was not a thing back then yet, so I did not have that resource, but I did read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and the Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. I read The Birth Partner. I kind of started dipping my toes into real birth education. I was learning about the physiological process of birth, learning how to do it without being afraid, and learning to trust my body. It was really empowering. It was the prep that I needed at that time. I didn't know about bodywork. I ended up having prodromal labor for about a week. It was pretty intense, but I didn't know anything about positioning, posterior, or Spinning Babies. I did find that out right at the end as I was going through it, but I didn't do chiro or any of that. I finally went in for an induction at 41+5 in April 2018. I ended up having to go with an OB on call because the midwife didn't feel comfortable with the NSTs that she saw, so she didn't want to take me on. I was like, “Oh, dangit.” The OB who was there was one who I wasn't really super comfortable with. But he was like, “Oh, well I know you really want a VBAC. We'll try to get that for you.” I was like, “Okay.”I got a Foley. I was barely a 1, but they got a Foley in and I progressed very quickly. I got to a 5 within a couple of hours. Things were going really great. They were very normal labor patterns. I felt like I was managing the contractions really well. I did consent to artificial rupture of membranes, then labored a little while longer. I got an epidural at 7 centimeters. I was told, “Oh, we just had a mom who got an epidural. She relaxed, and the baby came right away.” You hear that and you're like, “Oh, I want that. Yes.” So I did that. I got the epidural at about 6:30ish, and then between that half hour, his heart just wasn't doing well. They were flipping me. I got an amnioinfusion. I got a fetal scalp electrode. I got an IUPC, all the things. Then they gave me oxygen. It was probably about 7:00. He had a prolonged decel. I was lying flat and there were people all around me. The nurse was just like, “We need him now. Do you consent to a C-section?” I was like, “Yes.” Then I surrendered and let it go. I was like, “There goes the VBAC. This is just what needs to happen.” He was born at 7:09, and I was born under general anesthesia for that one. His APGARS were 8/9. My husband was left alone during that surgery. We do have pictures of him holding my son and doing skin-to-skin at 7:27, so about 20 minutes after he was born. I woke up and got to hold him at about 8:45, so about an hour and a half after he was born. I remember it was just really hard to talk after being intubated, but they let me breastfeed right away. I was disappointed, but I don't feel like I had a lot of trauma from that just because I was so empowered. I ended up ultimately making it to an 8. It was so fun for me to see what my body could do. I was like, “Oh, this just means that I was meant for a VBAC after two C-sections. That's what it meant.” Right then in the OR, or I guess it was the recovery room. I committed that that was going to be my story. I was like, “Oh yeah. That's just what it's meant to be. That's why it didn't work out.” I was so empowered. Then when I got pregnant for the third time in September 2019, we were in Germany. We had just moved there. I hit the ground running. I hired a doula right away and a backup doula. The prenatal care was at this small, tiny clinic in a town called Parsberg. I chose not to get progesterone shots. I was like, “I was 41+5. I think I'll be okay without them.” Yep, that's when I discovered The VBAC Link and all of the birth podcasts. I just became obsessed listening all the time, taking notes. I did the bodywork. I watched tons of birth videos. I did cranioscral therapy, chiropractic, and Spinning Babies. I took The VBAC Link Parents Course. I read lots of books. I switched my insurance. I took vitamins. I consumed it all, and I loved it. Every time I did something, I felt like my intuition was confirming that I was on the right path. I specifically would manifest, visualize, and pray, and I just was on this high every time. I feel like that's your intuition confirming to you that you're on the right path. If you feel those things, that's a good sign. You do want to follow that. Meagan: 100%. Paige: I did. Then, COVID. It was September 2019 when I got pregnant. Things were fine, fine, fine, and then COVID started happening. In March, I flew home to Denver to stay with my in-laws. We were supposed to move to Colorado in the spring anyway. My husband was not allowed to come with me. There was a travel ban for 90 days. I just did not want to get stuck in that, so I flew out very quickly with my boys– my two boys. I was 27 weeks pregnant and was living in my in-laws basement. That's a whole thing. COVID was a whole thing for everybody. But it was a scary time and stressful. I didn't know if my husband would be able to make it to the birth, but he was granted an exception to policy leave where he was able to come home. He would have to go back. That was the contingency. But I had rebuilt my team. I had found new bodyworkers. I found a new doula and a new backup doula. I found a team of midwives who were really VBA2C supportive. They were saying things like, “When you get your VBAC,” not if. They really supported all the things, so I felt really comfortable with them. I lost my mucus plug and had bloody show on June 8th. I was 40 weeks. That was my due date. My water broke that night at 11:00 PM. I had a small pop, so it was just a litte bit. I was laboring at home. Nothing really was picking up, but on June 9th, at 40+1, I went into the hospital around 3:00 PM. Labor started picking up pretty quickly after that. About an hour and a half later, my waters gushed everywhere which was really thrilling for me to experience the big gush. I was not very far along, though. My progress is just very slow, but they were not rushing me at all. They were like, “We'll stay patient. We will stay very patient. There is no rush. As long as baby is doing well, we'll just let you do your thing.” My doula was there. After my waters broke, my contractions started coupling on top of each other and getting very intense. They were quite long. I started feeling really lightheaded and dizzy. I tried to sit on the toilet and just felt like I was going to pass out. I threw up a few times. I knew it was time to get some pain relief. They offered the walking epidural option which I took at about 8:00 PM. Baby was doing great. I was really worried about getting the epidural again because I felt like that's what had caused the craziness before, but he was doing great. At 2:00 AM, he started not doing great. He wasn't tolerating the contractions well. I was like, “Oh, not again. What?” I was only 4 centimeters. I just knew that we needed to go in again. I didn't know why, but I was so sad. I didn't want another crash, so I did want to prevent another crash. I knew that if it was going to be a heart thing, I didn't want to mess with that. Especially knowing the signs of pain and coupling contractions and things like that, it just seemed like he was telling me that he needed to come. I consented to the OR and to the C-section. I was wheeled to the OR. I remember as I was being wheeled in, I was just thinking, “This is not what I want. This is not what I want. This is not what I want.” I was so sad. He was born about an hour later. I was so drowsy. I was so tired. I was not present at all. I did not feel strong enough to hold him. My husband held him. I briefly brushed his face. He was wearing his little hat and was swaddled, then they took him to the recovery room. The doula was not allowed in the OR. It was actually a miracle she was allowed at all because they had just lifted the doula ban the week before for COVID. I was like, “Okay, the baby will be in there with her.” I'm not sure why they wouldn't let the baby just stay with Sam, but it's okay. I needed his support. I was really happy that he was there. Closure took longer than usual. They said I had pretty thick adhesions, so I was just laying there trying everything to stay awake. I was fighting so hard. I remember reading words on the light and looking at the letters and just going over the letters in my mind and trying to stay awake. I was fighting so hard to stay awake. I finally got to hold him at 4:00 AM in the recovery room. It was still about an hour after he was born. I missed the golden hour again. I was so sad. I was so sad for a third time to miss it. That recovery was really hard. In the hospital, I was so heartbroken. The trauma this time really hit me emotionally and spiritually. It was physically a lot more traumatic on my body for whatever reason. I mean, just the sheer labor was so intense. My incision was black and blue and puffy. I couldn't walk normally and I didn't feel normal for 5 or 6 weeks, but I also feel like it's because I was so sad. I think how sad you are really does affect how you feel physically. Meagan: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Paige: I do remember specifically too, my first shower there. My husband had to really help me walk over. I was so sticky from all of the sensors and monitors. He was so tenderly trying to help me wash them off. I was just sobbing. I was so sad. I felt so broken and so vulnerable. It was a beautiful time for my husband to be there and carry me because he knew how badly I wanted the VBAC that time and for him to just carry me through that. But going home, I went home to my in-laws' basement. It was dark. I didn't have a support village because it was COVID. COVID moms know what that was like. Anyway, ultimately, I did reach out to Meagan and Julie. That's when the CBAC group was started. I was like, “Is there any way we could start a CBAC support group where CBAC moms can connect?” You guys were so warm and welcoming. Immediately you were like, “Yes! Why hadn't we thought of that?” Julie, you were so gung-ho about that. I was able to connect to other moms through there which was so healing. Anyway, that was the third story. Then the time between three and four was really, really pivotal for me. The healing that I felt I needed before even thinking about trying to get pregnant was where I feel like this all really starts. When you don't get the birth that you hoped for or when you don't get a VBAC, you just feel embarrassed. You feel ashamed. You feel broken. You feel like your intuition doubted you. You feel dumb. I've seen many women comment how family members would be like, “Oh, I knew it wasn't going to happen for you.” It's hard. It's really hard. You feel very, very broken.I knew that I had to show up for myself and still give myself grace. For this birth, it was good for me because I was able to face not failure, but being wrong. I was able to face being wrong and show myself that I could still be there. Anyway, I started physically diving into healing through pelvic PT and doing a lot of scar adhesion work. The dolphin neurostimulation tools if you haven't heard about those are fantastic. I feel like they worked much better for me than scar massage. I wish I had a provider here now who would do it. I think maybe that would have helped this pregnancy and birth, but it helped my recovery so much.I started having really bad panic attacks and postpartum anxiety, so I went to talk therapy. I got on medication. I went to a chiropractor again. The thing that really, really helped my healing was joining a gym and falling in love with exercise again. I got into all of the things, the yoga, running, learning how to lift, and started really pushing my body again and trusting my body again. I didn't expect exercise to heal that relationship with my body, but I feel like it really did. I learned again that I am physically strong which was really, really nice. I started signing up for some races. I ran my first half marathon. I had a lot of emotional releases during yoga. There was one song that came on one time during a yoga practice. It said, “You can't rush your healing. Darkness has its teaching.” I loved that so much. I just started crying. I was just like, “Let it out.”Part of healing is welcoming the grief when it comes, processing it, and taking it a little bit of a time. It's such a process. You get little glimmers of understanding, but as you keep committing yourself to looking for that and looking for the understanding, it does come. I truly believe that. Anyway, life went on. There is a four-year gap in between my third and my fourth which I really needed. We moved to Korea in that time. We moved to Korea last June, and it's just been lovely. We knew that we wanted one more. I knew I was so happy with the prep and how vigorously I did it. I was proud of myself for that and I knew that I wanted to do it the same way.I knew that after everything I learned, even if it was going to be a C-section, I couldn't just show up to the hospital and have them take my baby. I knew too much. I was like, “I know that there are better ways. I know that providers practice differently from place to place. I know it's not all equal. I know every provider does things differently, even with C-sections.” I started watching videos, and I saw that even the way they performed their C-sections was not the same. I wanted to be really actively involved in how they practiced, and how I was going to be a part of it. My goals for this time were not necessarily VBAC or C-section. I never closed the door completely. I was like, “You never know. Maybe VBA3C, maybe that's my story. Who knows?” However, I did find the episode by Dr. Natalie Elphinstone. As I was transcribing that one, my fire for birth that I held felt for VBAC was coming to life again. That intuition was speaking to me, and I had not felt that fire in a long time. That was the first whisperings of, “You should try this. You should go for this.” The goals that I had for this baby were to be very intentional. I wanted the golden hour. I had to have the golden hour. I had to hold my baby first or within an hour. Please, oh my gosh. I carried so much guilt for not having that three times over. I also wanted to be treated like I mattered. I did not want to be part of a rotation. I wanted continuity of care. I did not want to feel like I was just being shuffled through a system. Whether it was a hospital or not, I knew that I wanted to feel special. Lo and behold, did I know how special I would feel at my sweet birth center. Okay, so with the intention thing, just the pieces of this birth story with number four started falling into place so specifically. I can't deny that spirituality was a big part of this because with number three, my prayers had been very, very specific. I knew that God knew what I wanted. I knew it. I knew that because I didn't get it, there was a specific reason why. That's the only thing I could cling to. As things specifically started falling into place, it started to confirm to me that this was my path and these were the reasons why the other things happened the way they did. But anyway, I got pregnant very quickly with this baby. It was the first time that it wasn't a total surprise which was really fun. I had been taking tests since I knew the day that I ovulated, and then I was just taking tests watching, watching, and watching. I was able to see the first faint line which was so fun. I had always wanted that. I had wanted that moment of, “Oh my gosh, I'm pregnant,” where before it was like, “What? I'm not quite ready,” but I was still excited. That was really fun for that. The Korea birth culture here is very intense. The C-section rate is 50-60%. There are constantly stories being shared on these local pregnancy pages of women just having the most traumatic experiences and my heart aches for them. It's very routine for doctors to suggest first-time moms to, “Go have a C-section. Your baby is big,” and not even trying to labor. Most of it is because there is a doctor's strike going on here. There is a limited number of providers. They are stressed. They don't allow husbands typically in the OR, and very routinely, they are under anesthesia. Then after birth, babies are typically taken away to nurseries, and then postpartum recovery is in an open bay type thing. Meagan: Like, combined? Paige: Exactly, yeah. Your C-section stays are typically about 8 days. I wanted to explore options. We have an Army hospital here that is pretty big and does provide labor and delivery services, but they're often maxed out so you're referred off post. I did not feel comfortable going to any of the places that they typically referred to just from stories I had heard. That's all it takes for me now. I just hear one story and I'm like, “Nope, no thank you.” I know my red flags very quickly now. I went to a tour at this birth center called Houm. It's spelled H-O-U-M. At 8 weeks, I went to go tour it. I noticed a lot of green flags, not red ones where I was just like, “Oh, I'm just going to take a note of that.” Some of the green flags from my tour as I walked in were how I felt right when you stepped off the elevator. It's this calm energy. The lighting is so beautiful. It's such a lovely set up right when you walk in. You take off your shoes because you are in Korea. You take off your shoes, then multiple staff members greeted me with a hug. That's when I met Dayana Harrison who I later ended up hiring as my doula, but she also served as my midwife. She is a student midwife working there right now. She took me on the tour. They have queen-sized beds in their labor rooms. The whole floor was dim and so quiet. It did not have a hospital vibe at all, but they do have an OR on site. I was like, “Oh, this is lovely.” They offer epidural. They have huge birthing tubs with the rope attached from the ceiling. They are so beautiful. Yeah, it's in each room. Then the OR on site does not feel like a hospital OR. It's smaller. They keep it warmer. It feels like– I don't know. It just had such a homey feeling. That's the best way I can describe it. Then some of the things I asked about, in their routine gentle Cesareans, moms routinely get skin-to-skin immediately. They have a little cut open in the curtain where baby is slid through right on your chest. They routinely would keep the placenta attached to the baby in the OR which is–Meagan: Almost not heard of. Paige: Since posting that video, I can't believe how many messages of, “How did you do that?” That's revolutionary in itself. That was a huge green flag where I was like, “Oh my gosh, what?” Typically, what is it? Why do they say you can't do that? Is it because the incision is open too long?Meagan: Yeah. They don't even allow delayed cord clamping most of the time. They just milk it because it's a major surgery. The more time the mom is exposed and open, the higher chance they have of things like infection. Once baby is out, they really want to wrap it up and finish it to be complete. Yeah. To actually leave a placenta attached to a baby is unheard of. It really is unheard of in a Cesarean. Paige: Yeah. So that was super awesome. Then they let you keep the baby. He encourages C-sections past 39 weeks. That's not a routine hard and stop final date. He encourages going into labor before saying that it's good for the baby. He encourages breastfeeding in the OR. The head OB, his name is Dr. Chung. He is also an IBCLC which I thought was so awesome. So he supports breastfeeding.Julie: Wait, wait, wait. Time out. The more I learn about this man, the more I love him. Paige: Did you not know that?!Julie: Oh my gosh. Meagan: I want to meet him. Julie: I want to put him in my pocket and take him with me to deliver every birth I ever go to ever. I love him. Paige: I've literally said the exact same thing, Julie. I wish I could just keep him with me forever. That's the thing. Throughout this whole process, I kept taking note of these green flags. I'm thankful for my other experiences because I don't think a lot of people recognize how green these flags really are. I was like, “Okay, the shoe's going to drop. The shoe's going to drop. There's something.” I'll keep going.Meagan: Can I mention too? You had Marco Polo'd me, “I'm on my way,” then you would leave, and you were like, “This is amazing.” You were just like, “This is right,” every single time. The more you went, the more it verified that you were in the right place. Paige: Yep, yeah. You just know. When you know, you know. During that appointment, he came specifically and talked to me three times. Three times. He shook my hand. I'm like, “Are you not busy? What? Three times, you have time to see someone who is just touring?” He only sees 15 patients. He is very VBAMC supportive and experienced with it. He supports vaginal breech birth. They do ECVs on-site. I didn't even bring up VBAC after three. I just mentioned that I had three C-sections, and he said something like, “Oh, do you want a VBAC? Do you want to try again?” I was like, “Oh, I mean, I don't know. I'm thinking about it.” Then, he made me cry. This was at the tour. He made me cry because he said, “I'm a different doctor because I listen to moms. I listen. They tell me how they want to birth. If you want a VBAC after three C-sections, I will support you. You can do it. You choose how you want your birth to go and I will worry about the bad.” He was like, “You don't need to worry.” I was like, “Oh my gosh,” and I started crying. I was like, “Okay, I'm going to go now.” I was not composed, and then he hugged me. I was like, “What? Who is this guy?” I didn't just jump over there. I did give the Army hospital a chance. I went to a couple of appointments there, and that was kind of all I needed to know for what I wanted. I'm so thankful they are a resource there. I'm thankful that they are here. But I did ask about their routine Cesarean practices and their VBAC practices. It was important to me to find a doctor who supported VBAC even if that wasn't what I was planning to go for. I still love VBAC so much. I think it's so beautiful and such an important option for women to have. I'm so passionate about it. I always will be. They didn't even humor the idea at all of VBAC after three. They were like, “Oh, no. You're going to have a C-section. Of course.” The idea was laughable. The C-sections only allowed one support person, no breastfeeding in the OR, no photographers. Arms are strapped down. I just was like, “Okay.” I was very gently asking questions, but then was like, “Uh-uh. Red, red, red flags.” My biggest piece of advice, and we say this over and over again, is to find a provider whose natural practices align with the things that you want. Julie: That is it. That is it so much. Sorry, I don't want to interrupt again, but let's put bold, italics, emphasis, and exclamation points on what you just said. Say it again. Say it again for the people in the back. Paige: Find that provider whose routine practices align as closely as possible with what you want. Julie: Preach, girl. Preach, girl. I love it. Paige: Because we're not meant to fight. You do not want your birth experience to be a place of fighting or stress. Julie is learning that I am a people pleaser. I'm not anything special. I did not stand my ground. I'm going to do this. I did not come blazing in. I found a provider who I felt very, very safe with, who I felt safe asking for this from, and he said yes. I knew that because his practices were so close to the MAC, he would be the most receptive. But there's a chance that he wouldn't have been, and he was. That's why ultimately it worked out because he was receptive. I couldn't have forced him to do it, but because he practices closely to it already, it wasn't as much of a push. If I tried to go to that Army hospital and introduce this idea, they'd just shut it down. Meagan: You know, that's what is so heartbreaking to me. Providers all over the world really just shut that down if it doesn't match their normal routine and their everyday thing. It's like, well, hold on. Let's listen. Why are people requesting this? Just like Dr. Natalie, she saw this and was like, “This is something that means something to people. Why don't we change the norm and create something different?” Providers, if you are listening, please try and make change in your area because it matters, and it doesn't have to be exactly how it's been. Paige is living proof of this. It just doesn't have to be that. But we can't make change if no one puts forth the effort or allows it. Paige: Dr. Natalie said that exactly. She said, “Let's make every birth the best possible version of that birth that it can be.” Meagan: Yes. Yes. Paige: She said, “If there's a way to make it better, why not? Why not?”Meagan: Why not? Because like it or not, birth impacts us. It sticks with us. You're now explaining four different stories. It's not something we just forget. We don't just walk away from these experiences. They stay with us. Now, we might process and are able to move forward in a different direction, but it's not like we forget, so why can't we make this change? It actually baffles me. Julie: Well, and the mode of delivery is the same. I really want to emphasize that. She has had four C-sections, and they were all very different. But the only one where she left walking out of it really feeling empowered is the last one where she chose a provider who aligned with what she desired for her birth, she had a say in her care, and she felt loved and supported the whole way. She felt like the staff cared about her needs.But also, time out. She didn't just feel like the staff cared about her needs. They did. They did actually, genuinely care about her needs and her experience. I feel like that's such a big difference. Meagan: Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. Sorry, Paige. You can continue. We got on a little soapbox. Paige: You're good.Julie: I feel like we're starting to tell the story before the story is told. Paige: No, it's great. We're getting close. I switched to them officially at 20 weeks. My first appointment was the anatomy scan. That's when I also proposed the idea of the MAC officially. After every ultrasound, he comes in, talks to you, looks at it, then you go into his office area where you just chat and ask any questions. That's just the routine setup of the appointments. I had this video prepared, and I was really nervous. It's scary. It is scary to ask your provider for something new and different. I had this video. It's on YouTube. It's by Olive Juice Photography. Everybody should go look at it. It's the birth of Betty Mae. It's the video that I watched over and over and over again because it's the only video I could find of the process from the beginning to the end including all of the prep and including how it was done. I was like, “I saw this online. I was wondering if you could watch it and tell me what you think.” That's how I presented it. It's a long video. It was like, 5 minutes. He just sat there patiently and watched. Then after, actually one thing he did say was, “I don't like how he's using forceps.” I was like, “Oh, green flag.” Then, he asked, “Is this what you want?” I said, “Yeah. I think it would be really special if it could happen.” Then, he said, “Then, we can do that.” Then, he thanked me for giving him the opportunity to grow and try something different. He said, “Will you email that video to me and any other resources?” I emailed Dr. Natalie, and she sent over a MAC PowerPoint that she had prepared of the procedures because from the episode, she was like, “Anybody interested doing this, reach out to me.” She is true to her word. She will do that. If you are interested and you want to contact her, she is very responsive. She sent me also her MAC hospital policy which I forwarded to him. I have to share what he said. He's so cute. In the email response, he said, “I watched the video you sent again. If necessary, we will contact Dr. Natalie to prepare for your perfect Cesarean delivery. Thank you so much for this great opportunity to serve you. I am excited to help your birth and confident it will be a great opportunity for further growth for us.” I was like, oh my gosh. Meagan: That literally just gave me the chills. Paige: I could not believe it. Dayana, who is also a student midwife there at home, told me that she had been planting seeds for maternal assist for a while. They had just been waiting for a mom to ask for it. That was also the time that I hired Julie. I was like, “Julie, that would be so fun if you could come out.” Then Julie was like, “Okay, let's do it.” Then I'm like, “Okay.” Then it happened, and Julie was just so brave to have the gumption to come out. Fun fact, she was previously stationed out here with the Army. It does seem like it all kind of worked out that Korea wasn't so out of touch for her, maybe. Julie: Yeah, no. It was really cool. You had mentioned it briefly, then I was like, “Oh, I wish I could make that work.” Then, I remember I was in the CBAC group. I was like, “Oh, I'm so excited for you,” or something, then you said something like, “I really wish you could come and document it. We would cover your travel out here and everything.” Then I was like, “Oh my gosh, really?” So then I talked to my husband about it. I was going to be gone for a while. He would have to hold down the fort and everything. I talked to him and he was like, “Yeah, I think that would be okay.” I was like, “Oh my gosh, Paige. My husband is fine with it. Let's do this.” I remember the day that you booked my flights and officially signed my contract and locked in and everything, then I told my husband and he was like, “Oh, this is really happening then?” I was like, “Nick, I gave you the change. I gave you the chance to eject. It's too late now.” He's been doing really great. He's a really great dad. The on-call life means he has to just take over the house at random moments. We are set up to where we can do that. It was just really funny. I'm so excited that we could make it work. Paige: This is my public thanks to Nick and all of Julie's children for allowing her to be here because it did require sacrifice on their part, truly. I'm just so thankful. I also found out, Dayana told me that she had been asked to prepare a whole presentation for the staff on MAC which she did. She prepared it for nurses, midwives, and anesthesia walking them through. The fact that she had that connection to Houm and that experience, she served as my doula but so much more. She was so much more as my advocate having that inside access to the staff. We scheduled a surgical rehearsal for 35 weeks. At 35 weeks, this was one of my favorite things. He personally was there to walk me through every step of what it would look like for my security, but I don't feel like I really needed it because I was very, very familiar, but for the comfort of the staff and everybody else too. I got to the appointment. My husband was able to be there with me on that one. The way it's set up– we'll post our video then you can visualize more of what the layout looks like. There's the prep room, then literally 10 steps across is the OR right there. In the prep room, they had a gown ready for me. They had the washing bins ready. So the way that it works, you go in. You put the gown on. You have the IV. They showed me where they would place the IV. Then you scrub up your hands. You wash with the sterile solution, and then they put gloves on top. This was the way that they did it. Then they walked me into the OR. They showed me how I would go sit up on the table, how I would receive my spinal through anesthesia, then they practiced laying me back down. They did everything step by step. It wasn't new to me. I've had C-sections before, so I knew, but it was just so sweet that they were so thorough. They showed me how they would insert the catheter. He showed me exactly how he would lay the drapes over my body. He showed me when the curtain would go up. The way they do it, you're not just watching the whole thing the whole time. You could, I guess, opt for that if you wanted to. You have the drape up, they do the initial incision, get the baby out up to his head, and then they drop the curtain. That's when they pull your arms down. The other thing too, the reason why they do strap your arms down is in case you impulsively reach down and touch your incision and breach the sterile field. That's the reason why arms being strapped down is even a thing. But for MAC, your arms are not strapped down obviously. They have somebody holding their hand on your hands which I don't think I even had. Looking back, I don't remember anybody touching my hands or my arms. But that wasn't an issue. It wasn't something that I impulsively wanted to do, to reach down there. Anyway, then the drape goes down. They guide your hands up and over to put your hands under his armpits. Come up. Bring your baby to your chest. The curtain goes back up during closure, and then they talked about how I'd be transferred back to the recovery room– not the recovery room. No recovery room. You go to the postpartum room immediately. I felt on such a high after that. It was just so beautiful how he did that. At 38 weeks, I had an ultrasound. They do ultrasounds at every appointment. I don't know that there is a perfect practice out there that aligns with absolutely everything you want. But they do routine ultrasounds. I wasn't really concerned about that, but they did flag something called kidney hydronephrosis. It's basically the swelling of the kidney. They had been monitoring that. It had presented late in the third trimester, but it was severe enough that they were starting to get really concerned about it. Basically, it can mean that there is an obstruction, and if it's really severe, it can mean that the baby needs to be evaluated within 48 hours of birth by a pediatric urologist which clearly they don't have on site. It was a whole thing. If it really is severe and there is an obstruction, then they need to do surgery really promptly to prevent kidney damage early on. That was the thing. He did suggest that I could deliver somewhere else, and then the baby would be able to be there and we would be together in the same facility. That's when I felt like the shoe dropped. I was like, “Why would he suggest that? He knows that I would not want to deliver anywhere else. Why would he even bring that up?” I was all a mess. I was alone at that appointment. I felt a little bombarded and ambushed. I was like, “This isn't going to happen. I'm not going to get it.” That night, Dayana called me. I was getting ready to reach out to her, but she called me. She was like, “I just wanted to check in.” I had emailed Dr. Chung a clarification email. I think that's really important too. If something doesn't sit well with you in your appointment, it's okay to follow up in an email just to clarify what happened. Can you lay out these options? Can you lay out what we went through? Can I have a record of the ultrasound and what you saw? Because then you're not just swirling these things in your mind. You're actually looking, then you can do your own research. I dove into research. I dove into studies. I compared the numbers that he gave me versus what I saw, and it all did align. She called me and she was like, “No, don't worry. He is comfortable moving forward. He thought that you would be concerned, so he wanted to present you with more options to deliver somewhere else, but he is very happy to deliver you here still and sticking with our plan. He does want to see you at a follow-up ultrasound at 39 weeks,” which I was comfortable with. I was like, “Sam, you've got to come with me. I can't go alone.” She promised that she would be there. That's another thing. When you have a team that you trust, make sure that you are supported, and it's not just you and your doctor. If there's something that doesn't sit well, it really helps to field it with other people not just in labor, even in your prenatal appointments or anything like that. If you feel like you need some extra support, it does really help to bring some people with you who you trust. So at 39 weeks, we all met as a team and asked lots of questions. We felt comfortable with a care plan moving forward. We ultimately decided that we would move forward with the C-section at 39+5 which would be Monday. I'm trying to think what day that was. Meagan: The 7th. Paige: Monday, the 7th. Meagan: That's what I had in my calendar. Paige: Monday, the 7th was the day. We talked about moving it up. All his colleagues were like, “No, you should deliver this baby now. What are you doing? You're crazy keeping her pregnant.” I was like, “I am comfortable waiting, and I have to wait for Julie, so it can't be until Friday. It can't be until Friday.” She gets in on Thursday. That was Wednesday, at 39 weeks. Thursday was 39 and 1.Julie was on the plane, and then that morning on Thursday, I lost my mucus plug at about 8:00 AM. I was like, “Oh, no.” I wasn't really having contractions or anything, so I was like, “Okay. We'll still make it until Monday. It's fine.” Then, Julie got in at about 7:00 PM. I started having some baby contractions. We were sitting around my kitchen table, and Julie was like, “Are you contracting right now?” I was like, “A little.” She was like, “Go take a bath.” Then, we went to bed. I took a bath, and then I went to bed. I was for sure just contracting. I was like, “But what about these logistics? What is going to happen?” Anyway, my childcare plan was going to be turned upside down and all of the things. I was stressed about the logistics. But then, I was woken up at about 10:00 PM by contractions. They were about 6-7 minutes apart, but they were definitely real. I thought they were prodromal, so I was just waiting for them to just go away. They started getting closer. They were close enough to about 4 minutes and sometimes 3. I was having more bloody show, so I was like, “These are kind of doing something.” The intensity increased. It got to the point where I couldn't lie down. I was on my hands and knees. I was standing up, bracing myself against the wall. I was trying to do different positions. Maybe it was just a positional thing. “Let me try to do flying cowgirl. Let me try to do Walcher's”. I was trying to do different positions to try to stop them. I tried to take a bath at 3:00 AM, and they weren't going away. I was like, “Okay, I can't do this. I can't risk it. We've got to go.” I woke up my husband. I was like, “Today's the day. He's just telling me that it's the day. It's time. I don't know why, but it's Friday. It's supposed to be.” At 4:00 AM, he packed his bags. At 5:00 AM, I felt so bad because Julie had just gotten in from this huge international flight. It was a 12-hour flight plus some because you had a connection. I was like, “Julie, we're going to go,” she was like, “Okay!” She was so excited. “Okay, let's go!”Julie: I wake up to a knock on the door, and they're all dressed and ready to go. I'm like, “Why did she not wake me up sooner? I could have supported you.” Paige: I felt so bad. Julie: Yeah. It was wild. It was so wild. I was ready. It was awesome. Paige: So at 5:00 AM, we left for the birth center. At 6:00 AM, we got there. I messaged my team. Dayana said she was on her way. They led me to my room which is just a beautiful suite. It's right next to the OR. They led me to my room. They said that the anesthesiologist would be ready at about 10:00 AM, so between then, I would be laboring. Dr. Chung came in, and he said, “You need to be prepared for a VBAC to happen. You might have this baby just right here.” It was so funny that he was supportive of that idea even. It was so cute. I labored. It was getting intense, but they weren't super close together. Dayana came. She jumped in, and she immediately just respected the space which was so beautiful. She started doing all of her– she's a Body Ready Method practitioner. She's done some training with Lynn Schulte and the Institute for Birth Healing, so she's very familiar with the specific way to give you comfort measures. She was so great. I felt so safe. We labored, and my husband gave me a beautiful blessing. She said the more beautiful prayer that really invited heaven into the space and made it so spiritual and special. We were playing music, then at 9:00 AM, the head midwife, her name is Joy, came in. She started the IV.Dr. Chung came in and walked me to the prep room. In our rehearsal, I was going to be scrubbing myself, but he just picked up my hands, and he started washing my hands and scrubbing my hands for me. It felt like such a selfless act getting ready to go into this procedure. It felt like he was so respectful, and then I even had a contraction during the washing. He stopped what he was doing and was so respectful of the space. It just felt so Christlike having him wash my hands going into it. Then we walked into the OR, and they got me ready for anesthesia. They put in the spinal, and then they laid me down. They did the pinprick test. They gave me a new gown that was sterile. I'm trying to think of what else. They inserted the catheter. I could kind of feel a little bit with the pinprick test, but the catheter insertion was just pressure, so I felt comfortable moving forward. They got started. We played music. They had ice ready for me on my face because I told them when I get nauseous or anxious, I tend to get a little lightheaded. They had ice ready for me. That was something I had requested, and that was so nice. They started the surgery, and it was very, very intense. I do want to be candid that it was probably my most painful surgery. I had to work through it with labor-coping stuff. I was vocal. I did mention that I was feeling pain. It got pretty intense. I don't know if in Korea in general– I know that they are a little bit more stingy about anesthesia, but it was okay. I don't feel like I was traumatized from that. The baby came out at about 10:24. That's when they say he was born. We were listening to music. I was vocalizing, then Dr. Chung says– what did he say? “Let's meet your baby,” or “Come grab your baby”, or something like that. They lowered the drape, and it was so fast. I bring the baby up onto my chest, and everything just melted away, and this instinctual, primal– all of these emotions I didn't know I had just poured out of me. I lost any sense of composure that I had. I was shrieking. In any other situation, I would have been so mortified, but that moment of not having it three times over, it was this release and this justification or this validation of finally having it. I just got to hold my baby. I was a little nervous about seeing a new baby for the first time without being swaddled and how they would be wet and slippery, and if that would freak me out a little bit, but I wasn't worried about that at all. I was just so happy that I had him and so relieved. During closure, that was also intense too. They put the curtain up. They pulled out the placenta. They put it in a bowl, and then they put it in a bag, and they rest it right there next to you. The cord was so lovely and so beautiful. There is something about a fresh, new cord. It is so awesome to see. I thought it was the coolest. I had my husband. I was squeezing his hand. Honestly, I felt like having my baby in my arms and holding my husband's hand was the best pain relief. In that moment, it was keeping me calm, keeping me steady, and getting me through the closure and the rest of the surgery.Then they transferred me to my postpartum room, and they just let us be there. They didn't push cutting the cord. Dayana gave me a placenta tour. I was like, “When do we cut the cord?” She was like, “Whenever you want.” It ended up being about 2 hours of us just enjoying it and talking about how cool it was. Yeah. She gave us a tour. I was able to wear gloves and touch it and go through it, then Sam was able to cut the cord for the first time which was so awesome. That's the gist of it. Meagan: Oh my goodness. I started crying. I've gotten chills. I have so many emotions for you just watching your video. I've literally watched it 10, maybe 15 times, and I can't wait to see Julie's entire thing that she caught. But I am just so– there are no words. I'm so happy for you. I'm so proud of you, and I've talked to you about this. I've Marco Polo'd you crying before where I can't explain it. I am so insanely proud of you and happy for you that you got this experience. Thinking about, “I've never seen a gooey baby. I've never had that opportunity. My husband has never been able to cut the cord,” and you were able to have this beautiful experience where you got to have all of those things. It took four babies to get there, but you got there. You got there because you put forth the work. You learned. You grew, and you were determined. I think as listeners, as you're listening, sometimes that's what it takes. It's really diving in, putting forth that effort, and finding what's true for you. I know it's hard, and I know not every provider out there is like Dr. Chung. He is a diamond in the rough from what it sounds like on so many levels. But they do exist. Again, going back to what you were saying, sometimes it just talks about Paige going in and saying, “Try to have an open mind. Look at this video. I would like for you to view this. Just take a look at it,” and left it in his hands. Sometimes, it just takes something so simple. But, oh my gosh. I can't believe it. We were Marco Poloing about episodes, you guys, before she was in labor. We were also Marco Poloing about social media posts. She was like, “I just don't want to say anything until it happens.” I think sometimes even then, I wonder if that's where that ultrasound had come in and maybe there was doubt. I don't know. It seems like maybe that aligns pretty well with the time that we were messaging and that. Maybe we were Marco Poloing or texting. I don't know. It's like, could this happen? Is it really going to happen? You want it to happen so bad, and then to see it unfold and to have it unfold in such raw beauty, oh my goodness. I cannot believe it.So in the OR, they let Julie in there, right?Paige: Oh, yeah. Dr. Chung is a photographer himself. Julie had asked me to ask him if she could move around or if she had to be stationary. He was so open to her walking anywhere and having free range of movement and having multiple sources of video and photo. Julie: Yeah, it was really cool. I want to speak a little bit to that side of things if that's okay for a minute. Being a birth photographer is kind of complicated and sometimes logistically crazy especially as the baby is being born because everybody has a job to do. Not every provider and nurse is supportive– maybe not supportive. Not every provider and nurse is respectful of the fact that I also have a job to do and that these parents are paying me not a small amount of money to come in and do this job. That is very important to them to have this birth documented in a special way.It can be tricky navigating that especially times ten when it comes to being in the operating room. I have about a 50% success rate of getting in the OR back home. Some hospitals are easier than others. It's always an honor and a privilege, I feel, when providers create a way for me to go in the OR because Cesarean birth is just as important, maybe even more important to have documented because it comes as a healing tool and a way to process the birth especially when most Cesareans are not planned. It was really cool to hear ahead of time about how supportive Dr. Chung was and how amazing he was going to be to let this happen. When we were in there, I don't think I've ever moved around an OR as much as I have in that OR. Providers will tell you, “Oh, you're not allowed in because the operating room is so small. Oh, the sterile field, we want to make sure you don't pass out when you're in there.” I think all of these excuses that people give are just regurgitating things. They don't want another person in the OR. It's just kind of dumb because that was the smallest OR that I have ever been in. I still was able to document it beautifully. I respected the sterile field. I wasn't in anybody's way. People were in my way which is fine because they had a way more important job to do to make sure Paige didn't bleed out and that the baby was born and that Paige's needs were met and things like that. I'm okay. I'm used to navigating around people in the space. I'm perfectly comfortable with that. It was so beautiful. I was down at her feet. Paige, I've actually been going through your images and choosing ones to include in your final gallery while you've been talking. I cannot wait to show you this. I have images of Dr. Chung pulling his head out, still images, of the head being born through the incision. It's like crowning shots. It is this beautiful image of this baby's head being born. Obviously, you've seen the one of his head all the way out. I just think it's so beautiful. I consider it such a privilege and such and honor to have as much freedom in that room. I was literally at her feet, Meagan, documenting while he was cutting her open the adhesions and all of those things. There is video. There were images. I have chills right now. And then as baby was born, I was able to move up by her shoulders and document that and her reaching down for baby. I have all of that. I think that is such one more reason why Dr. Chung is amazing. It is such a rare gem, a diamond in the rough, because Paige now has the documentation for this beautiful story, and it's just one more thing where we have work to do. We have lots of work to do, lots of work to do, and lots of advocacy with people asking for this. I just think it's so important and so cool. It's such a rare thing. I don't even think I would have been able to do all of this back in the States. Meagan: No. Julie: I just think it was so cool. I'm determined to get these images to you before I leave so we can look at them together. I cannot wait for you to see them. I can't. I'm just so excited. Paige: Well, it just makes me think of how often you've said, “If you don't know your options, you don't have any.” The purpose behind this, and why I felt I really did want to go for this option, and what was pulling me to it, is because I want to create options for women and to show them what's possible. That's why I wanted Julie to come. I wanted her. I told her specifically, “Document every step of the process so that women have more resources to see the ways we do it.” I didn't do it exactly like the Olive Juice photography video. There are little variances between it, and that's okay. But it was still so beautiful, so wonderful, and then also, I asked her to document the surgery itself because so much of it is going back and trying to process it in your mind while you're going through it. I'm so glad she did. We walked through it last night, just the moment when I was in the most pain. It was actually really wonderful to see what he was doing which I wasn't in the space to see at that time, but to go back and see, “Okay, that makes sense because he was maneuvering so much,” and to connect it. The connection piece was so valuable. For every Cesarean, I'm so passionate now that you need a doula. You need a midwife in there. You need a birth photographer. You need everybody in there. I knew it, but now, I'm so passionate that we need to advocate for ourselves just as much for planned Cesareans. Meagan: Absolutely. I still can't believe it. I'm so happy. I love this story so much. I believe everyone should hear it because like you said, we need to be educated so we can apply what we need. We don't know what we don't know. This is what we've heard for so many years, but we can know. We can know our options, and it does take us doing it most of the time. The medical world out there is trying sometimes. Sometimes, they are not trying as well. But they are trying. They are also capped in a lot of ways with resources and with time. There's just a lot that goes into it. So, dive in, you guys. Learn. Follow what you need. Follow what your heart is saying. If your heart is saying, “I want a different experience, it's okay to push for that different experience.” Paige: Yeah, definitely. I'll attach a lot of the resources that I used to help me in my prep. But I did just want to cap off by saying that I don't feel like I'm anything special. I am not a birth worker. I am not a nurse. I don't have a history of medical stuff. Dr. Chung was so cute. He was joking that I was a surgeon and getting ready to go do the surgery, but I've always been squeamish at blood and things like that. Don't feel like you don't want to go for it because you're afraid that it will be a scary thing. It is such a natural, beautiful thing. It doesn't feel as medical as it might seem. And even if you are scared, I was scared. It's okay to do it scared if you think that it might be something beautiful and if your heart is, like Meagan said, calling you to it. We're just moms, and moms are powerful, and that's enough. Meagan: I love that. Julie: I love that. I think it's really important. Paige, first of all, you are special, and this is why. Not everybo