A Child is Born

Meghan is a Catholic mom of 3 and doula. She's had 3 different pregnancy and birth experiences and 1 miscarriage.

1st- HG, fell at 35 weeks and went in for contractions followed by prodromal labor, had a 39 week induction, planned unmedicated- got an epidural. Given choice of c-section or episiotomy ( which the doctor botched). Hemorrhage with surgery to repair. Sought counseling following

*miscarriage at 9 mo postpartum

next pregnancy- very sick, chose midwife care at a birth center, 2020 lockdowns happening half way into pregnancy. She was sent to hospital for fever and baby's high heart rate but was sent home. For the birth she ended up transferring care in labor to the hospital.

last pregnancy- was dealing with lyme disease symptoms (unknown at the time what it was), covid+pneumonia, cholestasis ( was dropped from birth center care), induction secondary to cholestasis diagnosis (though her level were controlled with medication). For this last pregnancy she had a doula (Maggie of Visitation Birth Doula, who has been on in a previous episode)

To purchase THE CATHOLIC FAITH PREGNANCY AND BIRTH GUIDE for the special offer of $5 send "birth guide" to wombsmadeworthy@gmail.com

I had the pleasure of talking with Mary Grace of True Leather Girl. She and I worked together last year and has lovely lightweight Catholic inspired leather earrings and other items. Mary has 2 young children and resides in Texas with her husband. To prepare for her first birth she got educated in the Bradley Method and her husband took a dad specific birth class from a male doula. During labor with her first she experienced an asymmetrical cervix/cervical lip and after her son was born they discovered he had a cleft palate (she shares some of that journey). For her second they decided to again use the hospital. During her pregnancy she experienced a bladder prolapse and received physical therapy. She decided to be induced due to small baby size and was successful with having an unmedicated birth. at about a week old her daughter got RSV and was transferred to the hospital by ambulance after they had started driving to the ER.

To purchase THE CATHOLIC FAITH PREGNANCY AND BIRTH GUIDE for the special offer of $5 send "birth guide" to wombsmadeworthy@gmail.com

Briana shares the birth of her son at a birth center with a midwife, she had good postpartum support and a positive experience.

Recommended resources:  Ina may and lily nichols 

Caroline shares with us 3 hospital vaginal births attended by midwife and 1 miscarriage. She is from New Zealand and has 2 boys and 1 girl.

On today’s episode we will continue my conversation with Crystal and hear her hospital VBAC story, if you missed her first story you can go back and listen to episode 2.11 crystal pt 1.

Crystal tells us the stories of her first birth which was a c-section and then in part 2 she will go on to tell us about her next birth which was a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). 

Carolyn tells the stories of her 3 births, her first was a stillbirth which was followed by 2 home births. She has a beautiful story to tell and if you are in the right place to listen wonderful! and if not now I hope you come back to it at a later time. Just a note, Carolyn is from South Africa, they have  a public and private healthcare system, with over 70% of the population attending public hospitals which are underfunded and understaffed. The South African CS rates are around 26.2% in the public sector, 76.8% in the private sector. So Carolyn’s home births were definitely out of the norm.

Emily shares 2 birth stories with us.  Both were vaginal births in the hospital. Her second son had a short NICU stay. We discuss the NICU,  using a family practice doctor for obstetric care, and lack of option in a rural area. 

Sydney tells 2 positive birth stories of her 2 babies, both born at home. 

Mindset is everything! Deanna shares two empowering birth stories one birth center with midwife care and another emergency c-section. It was a joy talking with her and I'm glad she had such a great 'dudela' (her husband, take notes men). 

Paige tells us of her 2 hospital births with planned epidurals and OB care. When Paige emailed me about being a guest she wanted to share her story because she’s talked with many women about how they felt they weren't holy enough because they got an epidural or because they want one. I wanted to note that using pain medications or interventions in labor doesn't dictate whether you or your birth is “holy” or not, and whether you’ve had an c-section does not impact you or your birth’s holiness either. Our faith doesn't disallow medical interventions or use of pain meds.  I would personally invite you to explore your reasoning behind the “why” of wanting or not wanting medication, and I suggest no matter what you are planning you have some labor coping strategies up your sleeve as you will see later.(Sorry there are some audio connection issues here and there, the downside of recording via the internet.) Links listed below

Time to dust off the cobwebs! In this week's episode Maggie shares about the births of her 3 children- 2 hospital and 1 birth center birth which despite covid test protocol complications she calls redemptive. After her first 2 births Maggie became a birth doula and has recently began offering postpartum doula support!

Today on the pod, Leonora shares the story of her first birth with her son, Israel. Hospital restrictions were being rearranged and Leonora was unexpectedly granted an additional support person during her birth! While she is a Protestant sister in Christ, she acknowledges the truths that the Church holds on a number of topics. Leonora is currently pregnant with identical twin girls, so we will be excited to have her on again to share the story of their birth as well.

What a treat it was to sit down with Kyleigh and get to pick her brain! She has so much to offer and we are so thankful to be able to share her wisdom with you. One of the key elements of this episode was regarding questions or conversations to bring to your provider when preparing for your birth, as well as highlighting the mental work that makes the intensity of birth manageable. But before we are able to gather questions that might be applicable to our situation, this is really the most important question - what do you want from your birth experience? And is this provider and location able to facilitate that kind of birth?