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15. MyMaine Birth, Megan's Peaceful Accidental Unassisted Maine home birth · MyMaine Birth

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: I'm Angela and I'm a certified birth photographer, experienced doula, childbirth educator and your host here on the my Maine Birth podcast.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: This is a space where we share the real-life stories of families and their unique birth experiences in the beautiful state of Maine, From our state's biggest hospitals to birth center births and home births.
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: Every birth story deserves to be heard and celebrated.
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: Whether you're a soon-to-be mom, a seasoned mother or simply interested in the world of birth, these episodes are for you.
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: Welcome to episode 15 of the my Maine Birth podcast.
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: Today's birth story guest is Megan, and we're going to be hearing her share about her accidental, unassisted home birth in Maine last year.
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: Megan also shares about her first birth experience, which was at a midwife practice that worked in a hospital in Pennsylvania.
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: It was this experience that inspired her to do things differently the second time around.
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: Hi, Megan, Welcome to my Maine Birth.
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: Hello, so to get started, can you share a little bit about you and your family?
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: Yes, so I have two boys.
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: My oldest son, forrest, is turning three in about a week, and I have an baby that just turned one, named Orion, who just turned one on April 20th, and we moved to Maine in 2021, my husband and I and my oldest son.
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: All right.
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: Can you share about when you found out you were pregnant with your oldest son?
• 1:35
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so we were living in Pennsylvania at the time and I'd actually had a miscarriage first before I got pregnant with him and it was very early but still a little disappointing, and I ended up getting pregnant with him I think, like not too long after, thankfully, like I think it was maybe like six months after that I got pregnant with him and, yeah, I really didn't have the education that I felt like I had with my second in terms of birth and you know, being my first child, it was, yeah, so like like I didn't really know much.
• 2:10
  Speaker 2: So I got an OB but I had a midwife through an OB office.
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: So you know, I was very clear with my natural birth plans from the start and I'm really thankful that, like at least I had a midwife who did understand natural birth and somebody who wanted those desires.
• 2:25
  Speaker 2: Like I didn't get much pushback at all.
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: You know, anytime I came with all my questions but my visits did feel like very rushed and always felt like I left like either like I had to argue through something or like I just felt like I had questions not answered.
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: But the pregnancy was pretty uncomplicated.
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: I did get diagnosed with gestational diabetes following the glucose test.
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: I was like one point off of the test for the three-hour test.
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: It was very, very borderline, but clinically they diagnosed me with it.
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: So I had to prick my finger four times a day the rest of my pregnancy and go through a whole bunch of other testing that I really just didn't feel I need needed and my test results also said I didn't need it.
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: But anyway, that was my biggest complaint with the pregnancy is this kind of feeling like intuitively, like that didn't feel like what I needed to be doing but I had to do it because that's how you know.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: My provider kind of directed me so, um, yeah, so coming up to he was due may 21st and, um, that was the year that covid was happening.
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: So I think I was like 34 weeks pregnant when everything shut down and I remember feeling like oh no, like I don't want to go to the hospital and I looked into home birth at that point and the only midwife that did home births in my area in Pennsylvania was like fully booked because it was last minute.
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: So I ended up just continuing at the hospital plan and yeah.
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: So you know, my pregnancy, other than that gestational diabetes, was pretty uncomplicated, like I didn't have nausea, I didn't really have many symptoms other than like I felt like I was growing and I got bigger.
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: You know, like I always feel like I felt pretty good Until towards the end, I started getting a little bit of like swelling in my ankles and you know, I just felt like pretty swollen at the end and I remember I went in, I got to my due date and I was my due date plus one.
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: I had a midwife appointment and you know they checked me and I was already four centimeters dilated but not feeling anything.
• 4:31
  Speaker 2: And you know the other there were two midwives one that I like worked with a lot and one that I didn't.
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: So the one that I didn't like working with as much was there and she really kept pressuring me just get induced, like, and I was just like, no, I don't believe in that and I don't think I need that.
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: So she was kind of looking for a reason to push me into it and I decided not to do that and I went back home and then they wanted me to go in for some other testing, I think like a non-stress test.
• 5:02
  Speaker 2: I can't remember the actual testing, but I went to the hospital to have that and my blood pressure was high, I think because I was stressed with the situation, but so they kept me from monitoring and I felt like they kept me there all day.
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: It was like we're going to take blood for this and, like you know, I wasn't feeling contractions and I was kind of like I just wanted to go home.
• 5:22
  Speaker 2: And you know, then I remember the midwife that I did prefer working with ended up coming to the hospital and she checked me and I was like five and a half, almost six centimeters dilated, but like still not feeling anything.
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: But like when they put the monitors on me, I was having contractions.
• 5:39
  Speaker 2: I just wasn't feeling them and what I've learned now is like that's just how my body is during labor.
• 5:45
  Speaker 2: It's really strange, not the whole time, but like in early labor.
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: So I remember like they were concerned about my blood pressure.
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: She really told me like you can go home, but I knew it was like a Friday night and the next two days that only the OBs were on call.
• 6:02
  Speaker 2: There were no midwives available and it was like if I went home and came back the next day, like I probably really wouldn't have my birth plan and so, honestly, that scared me more than kind of just like staying at the hospital, even though I wanted to go home, since she felt like I seemed favorable to that, she thought my body would go right away and I was uncertain about it, whether or not to do it.
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: But I decided, okay, fine, because again I didn't want to be there with those OBs that one of them there were two in the practice and one couldn't even take the time to meet me during pregnancy because they were too busy.
• 6:41
  Speaker 2: I was like I'd like to at least meet everyone, in case they're there for my birth and they just didn't even have time for that.
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: So, um, so, anyway, yeah.
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: So she broke my water and that was like nine 15.
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: This was like the day after no, yes, the day after my due date, when I was in the hospital, and, um, so she broke my water around like nine 15.
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: And then, immediately, like I went into these intense contractions and I was like I remember like immediately asking for the epidural to the nurse that was there, like because I felt like this is my first, this is going to be a long time.
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: If this is what it's like, I can't do this.
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: And I just remember my husband, you know, got the nurse.
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: The nurse went and got the midwife.
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: The midwife came back Luckily it was the one I was working with and she reminded me Because I've been doing hypnobirthing since 30 weeks, so she knew what I was working with mentally and just reminded me just go back to your breath and you can do this.
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: And that was the encouragement I needed.
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: And then she checked me and she's like that was the encouragement I needed.
• 7:45
  Speaker 2: And then she checked me and she's like, yeah, you're, you're in transition, like you're like my body went right into that and you know, I didn't know.
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: So I was just like, oh, I can't do this, you know.
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: And like I was at the point where we all not everybody, but you know, we get to a point where we're like we can't do this.
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: And I remember, yeah, I was just like still in disbelief that it was going to be over soon.
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: And so I remember like it was just like really intense contractions.
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: I remember being in in the bathroom but they kept wanting to monitoring me continuously.
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: And I think at one point I just stripped the gown off and like pulled everything off of me and just like, fully naked, I was just like I can't, I just, yeah, I laid on the bed and um, I I forget like where it was, where like I think they you know they kept checking me cause I was in hospital and that's what they they did there and you know they were like, oh, you're 10 centimeters dilated, you can push now.
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: And um, I didn't feel anything, feeling like I was ready, um, and so I ended up being on my back and like doing like the coach purple, pushing, like where everybody felt like there were like 500 people in the room and they're all screaming at me and of course it wasn't going well, because that's not how people are meant to be in my mind.
• 8:57
  Speaker 2: But I remember, you know, she had me go on the hands and knees to see if that would help, a different position.
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: And apparently at that point my son's heart decelerated and I guess he didn't like that position.
• 9:10
  Speaker 2: So they got nervous and, um, they decided to.
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: You know they did ask me and at that point I was like, okay, yeah, sure, whatever they were, they called the OB on call to come in and help with a vacuum delivery and they felt like that was just what we needed.
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: And so this doctor that I never met was the one who showed up and you know he helped with the vacuum while I was pushing and you know my son was delivered and it was yeah, it was.
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: It was like I feel like in the moment I was just in shock because it happened so fast.
• 9:44
  Speaker 2: So I had my water broken at 915 and he was born at 1130 PM, so like two hours and 15 minutes or whatever that is.
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: So I was just like in shock that he was here and um.
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: But he came out, he was doing well, um, and I was shaking.
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: I just remember trembling and being like is this normal?
• 10:04
  Speaker 2: This is, this is intense and um, you know he did have low blood sugar, um, and you know they immediately like took him away and kept giving him like blue blood glucose tests, like every pricking his foot every like three hours or something.
• 10:19
  Speaker 2: But like I don't know breastfeeding, like I feel like it was such a whirlwind in the hospital postpartum with him because it was, it was.
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: It was just like I don't know breastfeeding, like I feel like it was such a whirlwind in the hospital postpartum with him because it was, it was, it was just like I don't know, like I just felt like everybody was coming in and out.
• 10:32
  Speaker 2: It was a different nurse.
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: It felt like every five minutes giving different advice on how to breastfeed and um, and then their glucose monitors.
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: We didn't trust the results we were getting with them because, like we felt like he was doing better and then the pediatrician staff shifted over to a different doctor who was like very cautious about everything and like.
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: So we ended up being there for like four days and it was just like we ended up.
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: He ended up having to have an IV with like glucose water, and nursing was really hard because, like I didn't know what I was doing and my baby had an IV, so it was kind of like I didn't want to hurt his little arm, so it was like even more awkward than it normally should be.
• 11:15
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, I was just so grateful once we finally got to go home and then he had some jaundice, which he almost got readmitted for I remember that being another big, big deal because his pediatrician outside the hospital was saying that like the levels were getting too high, so let's just wait over the weekend and see how they are on Monday and I was like, is there some kind of treatment we could do at home now?
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: Like because they were like if it's bad, bad, we're gonna have to admit him on Monday.
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: So this doctor didn't even give us the option because he's like well, most people, since the insurance doesn't cover it, they wouldn't want to do it.
• 11:52
  Speaker 2: So I didn't offer that and so we ended up getting the billy light, like that day at home because I wanted to to help with his you know, his jaundice, and luckily, like that did the job, like that got him back to a good level and um.
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: But unfortunately, looking back like that is why our breastfeeding journey kind of didn't end up how I envisioned.
• 12:14
  Speaker 2: Um, I ended up exclusively pumping for him for a year, um, because I was dead set on like wanting to provide breast milk, but I, I think like the little bits of like trauma of his birth, like not the birth itself, but like the postpartum in the hospital with him.
• 12:31
  Speaker 2: It was like it was just so overwhelming that for me it was just easier to just pump and give him bottles and I just stuck with that for a year, like I said.
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, it was just, you know, like I'm so grateful he's here.
• 12:45
  Speaker 2: I can't believe he's going to be three, but but yeah, it's just like looking back on that birth experience, it's like there are definitely things I would have changed and I'm grateful, of course, that he's okay.
• 12:56
  Speaker 2: But yeah, it was just kind of like shocking to me the kind of care that we got to me the kind of care that we got.
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: So now shifting gears to now talk about your main home birth experience.
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: Can you tell me about when you got pregnant with your second son?
• 13:13
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so.
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: So this is, yeah, where I get like less like like tension in my body to talk about things.
• 13:19
  Speaker 2: Like I feel like just sharing all that, even, like I feel like a little like oh, like just sharing all that, even like I feel like a little like oh, um.
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: But yeah, so when we moved to maine in um april of 2021 and like I don't know how it was like really soon after getting here that I started looking into like midwives and home births midwives like I wasn't even pregnant yet um, so it was like yeah, it was april and I started just like looking into it.
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: Like I think we didn't like officially start trying until like June of that year, but like I just kind of wanted to know like who was in the area and I had like a preconception visit with Soft Corner Midwifery.
• 13:56
  Speaker 2: I live in Woolwich, so I'm pretty close to Bath and that's where I found Soft Corner and yeah, so I went for a preconception visit and I just love them so much and I was kind of just like, all right, well, I don't, I don't need to interview anybody else.
• 14:11
  Speaker 2: Like I just was like I found my people, so yeah, so it was like interesting because I remember going to this preconception meeting and just kind of like, oh, yeah, well, you know, trying to learn more about like fertility and everything, and like the very next month I got pregnant and I was like, well, I'm glad I learned all that, but, like I guess you know, my body was ready, so, so, yeah.
• 14:34
  Speaker 2: So then I called them up right away and yeah, so I started my prenatal care with Soft Corner and, yeah, so that pregnancy, I feel like things were like so different because I think as soon as I found out I was pregnant you know, it was weird to find out because, like I struggle with like skin issues so like I remember I had like a breakout, like really bad, and it was right before my period was supposed to start and I was like, oh, I'm getting my period.
• 15:04
  Speaker 2: Like I remember being like really bitchy towards my husband, which I'm not usually that way and I was like, oh, but I just had this inkling like, oh, maybe I'll just take a test, like I think it was maybe a day later, like it was really close, so it's like could have, couldn't have been, and then I was just shocked to see that it was pregnant, because I just figured, oh, this is just like pregnant or you know period hormones.
• 15:24
  Speaker 2: But no, no, it was, it was pregnancy.
• 15:26
  Speaker 2: Um, so, yeah, I, I look back to that because I just thought it was interesting, like I just had an inkling to check and it was positive, so yeah, so once I knew I was pregnant, I started researching things like crazy.
• 15:38
  Speaker 2: Like I started listening to tons of home birth podcasts and just like different podcasts which I can mention at the end, just that like talked about natural birthing and like you know, like I really felt like a call towards like instinctual, like, just like natural, like not just natural like I'm in a hospital and not taking an epidural, but like really like how people do it, do it all the time in like other countries, and you know, so I started getting like really obsessed with birth.
• 16:09
  Speaker 2: So, with all that information that I was getting from all the podcasts, like I got a chiropractor that I started seeing that was like a Webster certified chiropractor.
• 16:18
  Speaker 2: I started going to pelvic floor PT.
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: I started prenatal yoga because around that time it was 2021.
• 16:26
  Speaker 2: So like things were starting to be in person again, kind of.
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: So the yoga studio I went to in Brunswick they were starting to do prenatal again just like distanced in person.
• 16:37
  Speaker 2: So that was really nice, like because I didn't really have that in Pennsylvania as an option, like I maybe I didn't, I didn't know about it, but that was really great, like I think from really I forget how, what time in pregnancy I started going, but it was pretty early on and that was like my you know my thing that every Sunday was like my ritual, like I would go to prenatal yoga, my husband would watch the toddler, and it was just so nice to like have that connection every every week.
• 17:07
  Speaker 2: And it was also really nice to be like around other women that were also pregnant and there was one, one girl who was like do like a week ahead of me, so like every week we'd check in, like I'm this, you know.
• 17:19
  Speaker 2: So it was like really really nice to have that community and I felt like you know that that's like what I was missing with COVID and everything, and like it's hard moving to a new state and you know just that's hard enough, but yeah, it's.
• 17:40
  Speaker 2: It's also hard to be pregnant and in another state trying to, you know, make friends and meet people.
• 17:42
  Speaker 2: So so, yeah, so that was a really awesome thing that I'm glad that I did and you know, my prenatal care was just like night and day from.
• 17:49
  Speaker 2: You know, like I said the OB appointments through that midwife, it was like I felt like every time I said the OB appointments through that midwife, it was like I felt like every time I go I'd have questions and it just felt like we were having a conversation Like.
• 18:00
  Speaker 2: I never once felt that, like that tension that I would feel in the OB appointments of like all right, what are they going to try to get me to test today and what am I going to have to say no to and explain why and hope they don't push me.
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: Um, like it was never like that, like I could make any decision and maybe not any decision, but like my midwives, we'd talk about it, you know, like, but ultimately it was that informed choice, like it's my decision on what I choose to do for my pregnancy, and so you know, every visit I just felt so supported, um, and so, so grateful for that.
• 18:33
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, with that, with that pregnancy, I ended up.
• 18:37
  Speaker 2: I was a vegetarian from when I was like 13 years old up until I got pregnant this last time, so I started learning a lot more about nutrition and pregnancy nutrition and so I started eating animal products again just to like up my protein.
• 18:52
  Speaker 2: Uh, so that was something new to me that I'm still on this journey of, like you know, my whole life I've never really cooked meat and I'm still trying to figure it out.
• 19:00
  Speaker 2: But yeah, it was like that, I think, helped me feel even better in pregnancy, like I still had like very little, like very few symptoms, um, with this one and um, yeah, I just remember those visits with the midwives were always just like I look forward to them, because it was like I felt like I was talking to a friend and it was like again like I felt like I didn't have that community.
• 19:23
  Speaker 2: So it was like something to look forward to and, you know, excited to, you know, welcome, learn about welcoming my baby, so yeah, so I had the 20 week ultrasound with this last pregnancy and you know, with my first, I think I had way too many ultrasounds.
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: Looking back on it, but I was kind of like put in this like high risk gestational diabetes category so, like they, they made me have all these ultrasounds.
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, I just had the 20 week and everything was fine, trying to think of what else I had done during pregnancy.
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: Oh, the big thing was the coming up on the glucose test for the gestational diabetes because of my first pregnancy and my like my feelings about the thought that I really don't think I had this thing but I was treated like it.
• 20:06
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, I taught you know, obviously told my midwives all about that and you know they had an option where you know you can take that glucose, that sug.
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: You know they had an option where you know you can take that glucose, that sugary, you know artificial drink, or you can have a pancake breakfast or a smoothie with like certain ingredients.
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: So I went the smoothie route and it was like extremely sweet and kind of gross but so much better than that artificial thing Like this is you know sugar from actual food in my body.
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: Like I felt like I could trust it more to say what my body is reacting to.
• 20:39
  Speaker 2: And it came.
• 20:40
  Speaker 2: I remember I was really nervous about it but like, even if I did test positive, like I remember my midwives were like it's still okay to have a home birth, like unless you become like someone who needs insulin, like it's still okay to have a home birth.
• 20:52
  Speaker 2: So I just remember like feeling supported through like everything I was like anxious about, like you know what I mean, like just like being anxious about having a test, and then it came back fine.
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, it came back negative.
• 21:04
  Speaker 2: I didn't have it and it just kind of reaffirmed, like I I always remember my husband in my first pregnancy.
• 21:09
  Speaker 2: He's like you don't have this, you should just stop poking your finger.
• 21:18
  Speaker 2: Like you just this is stupid.
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: And I was just like no, the doctor said I have to do it.
• 21:20
  Speaker 2: So I have to do it, you know so.
• 21:21
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, so that was like a weight off my shoulders of like okay, well, you know, and I actually ended up eating so much healthier in my second pregnancy, even though I didn't have the gestational diabetes Cause I think I just shifted, you know, my mindset shifted when I started, you know, getting healthier and making healthier choices, which again was more support from my midwives, because they had a nutritionist on their staff that I met with as well during pregnancy and yeah, it was just all around.
• 21:47
  Speaker 2: I felt super, super supported and this time I I did hire a doula to be there for me.
• 21:55
  Speaker 2: I didn't have a doula with my first and I had planned for her to be there for the labor and postpartum.
• 22:01
  Speaker 2: Um, we'll get to that when we get to the birth uh story of what actually happened.
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: But but, yeah, she was great.
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: She came for prenatal.
• 22:09
  Speaker 2: I forget how many times we met, but it was so nice to like get to know her and you know, she really wanted to get to know me and, like you know what my comfort measures were and like learn more about you know how I birth and what I need.
• 22:23
  Speaker 2: And, um, yeah, it was just another supporting uh, which I forgot to mention this my husband joked a lot this pregnancy about how I had a staff and you know cause I had all these people working for me and I was like, yeah, I guess it is kind of true, like you know, I hired a staff of people, but like I think, like this is the modern version of like having a village to help you through pregnancy and something that, like you know, I feel like should be just you know we shouldn't have to pay for it, but you know I'm happy to because it was an amazing experience.
• 22:55
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so that was that was really cool.
• 22:57
  Speaker 2: And then the other thing as well that I really wanted to be successful with was was breastfeeding, so I did reach out to their lactation consultant that they had on staff at soft corner ahead of time, like while I was pregnant, to kind of share my, my experience with my first and like kind of feel prepared in that realm.
• 23:15
  Speaker 2: And you know, we made sure to set up a plan of, like you know, the lactation consultant will usually come on day three but like, if you want her sooner, like we can have her there right away, you know.
• 23:26
  Speaker 2: So, so, yeah, so that was that was pretty cool to feel that support as well, like you know, in all of the aspects of my pregnancy.
• 23:33
  Speaker 2: So yeah, so I feel like that was pretty much the pregnancy.
• 23:38
  Speaker 2: I'm trying to think of anything else that came up.
• 23:41
  Speaker 1: So during your pregnancy, your midwife set you up with a nutritionist and a lactation consultant.
• 23:47
  Speaker 2: Yeah, they're, they're really amazing.
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: I mean they're not on their official staff but like they're, they work with them.
• 23:52
  Speaker 2: So, like you have, like you know they, they help set you up with a zoom call with them and you know they help facilitate all of it and part of it is included in the, in the birth package.
• 24:02
  Speaker 2: So, like it's, it's amazing because you get, you know you get that included and then if you need additional visits, you can just pay.
• 24:09
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, that was really really amazing, cause I didn't, I didn't know there was all that either until I started working with them.
• 24:15
  Speaker 2: And they also had another visit with a postpartum doula.
• 24:20
  Speaker 2: That was just like a free, like postpartum prep video call and that was really cool.
• 24:26
  Speaker 2: Now that I said that, I remember that the girl that I met with that did the postpartum education also was taking a training for a spinning babies class and she offered to come teach me for free because she was trying to get.
• 24:38
  Speaker 2: She had to teach so many people.
• 24:40
  Speaker 2: So she actually came over and I did a spinning babies class this time and that was really cool.
• 24:45
  Speaker 2: Um, to kind of learn the different positions and, you know, learn more about the baby and the body, which you know I was obsessed with, so that was really cool too, and I did practice hypnobirthing again with this pregnancy.
• 24:58
  Speaker 2: I did try a different hypnobirthing class, but I ended up going back to the one that I liked better, because I liked it better.
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: Yeah, the hypnobirthing can be really helpful.
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: So how was your labor and birth?
• 25:13
  Speaker 2: yeah, the final conclusion.
• 25:15
  Speaker 2: So, um, so I remember I was nervous because my first son came so fast um, you know, he was two hours and I had a lot of anxiety of like, well, what if this one comes even faster?
• 25:27
  Speaker 2: Um, in terms of like having support and um, you know, I was just worried.
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: My husband worked an hour, while he still works an hour away.
• 25:36
  Speaker 2: So for the last two weeks until my due date, I ended up coordinating with my job to work remotely a hundred percent until I delivered and I was able to, you know, my husband was able to do the same with his job, just to kind of make sure that you know, we're both here instead of somewhere else.
• 25:56
  Speaker 2: And yeah, it's just so crazy, like I, I think it's such a spiritual thing too, because my last day of work, I remember like I just had this inkling like I feel like I need to just check in with the people who are going to take care of my work when I'm gone, like, and it was the very end of the day.
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: So, like I I didn't realize it at the time, but like a few days before that, I started like emptying my bowels consistently, like I thought I was like getting a stomach bug and I was just like this is weird, but like, ah, it's nothing, you know.
• 26:32
  Speaker 2: So then, this day that I'm you know, I'm getting ready I just have this inkling like I just need to touch base with these people, and so it was like the last meeting of my day and I felt like I wrapped everything up and I closed my computer.
• 26:48
  Speaker 2: And later I didn't remember notice it at the time but like, of course, looking back, like my mom, I called her because my husband was going to pick up our son from daycare and because at that point he didn't want me driving.
• 27:02
  Speaker 2: So, um, he went to pick him up and I was on the phone with my mom and she was telling me, like you kept saying, like I feel different, I don't know, I just feel different.
• 27:15
  Speaker 2: But I said that, but I didn't think I wasn't saying that to myself.
• 27:17
  Speaker 2: It was just another day.
• 27:19
  Speaker 2: So my toddler got home, we had dinner it was just a regular day and we gave him a bath.
• 27:28
  Speaker 2: I gave him a bath and you know it's just so interesting because my husband was putting him to bed, because I was having trouble reaching over the crib with my belly, so he started doing the nighttime routine with him, and that night he was on the phone call with somebody because we were having so much work done on our house and so he couldn't put him to bed.
• 27:45
  Speaker 2: That night I put him to bed and it was.
• 27:49
  Speaker 2: It was just sweet because, like, looking back, like I never did that and that one night I put him to bed and yeah, so I put him to bed.
• 27:59
  Speaker 2: And so this is where things started getting weird, because I was like I sat down with my husband on, we were watching some crappy reality tv you know some trash and we were always drinking like seltzer water, like that was our tradition.
• 28:13
  Speaker 2: Like you know, a toddler is asleep, let's watch some stupid show and decompress.
• 28:17
  Speaker 2: And like I I just remember like I was sitting down on the couch and I stood up and I felt something shift physically, but I wasn't sure what it was and I was like that felt different, but like wasn't a contraction, it was just something like maybe the baby dropped a little, I don't know, but I just remember I was like it triggered anxiety in me and I was like I don't know why, I was feeling anxious, but like I think this was the start of my labor, but like in the moment, I was like in denial.
• 28:48
  Speaker 2: I was like, um, I remember just being I called my doula because I was like I need to talk to somebody about this.
• 28:55
  Speaker 2: I think I actually posted on one of, like the home birth uh podcast Facebook groups like is anybody feeling like anxiety?
• 29:02
  Speaker 2: That where they just can't stop, like just I don't.
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: I don't even know what I wrote, but I just wrote a crazy post.
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: I called my doula and I remember talking to her and you know we were just talking about like I remember the next day I was 38 plus three, so my first I went a day past my due date so I figured it wasn't time.
• 29:21
  Speaker 2: I think that's why I was having anxiety, cause I was like it can't be time.
• 29:25
  Speaker 2: You know, like I, I wouldn't be having a baby so soon.
• 29:28
  Speaker 2: Um and I, I had just had my home home visit from my midwife and my, my doula.
• 29:33
  Speaker 2: It was like a few days or no, a week before, at 37 weeks.
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: So I just remember talking to her and you know I was like I feel like you know, when I go to the appointment tomorrow I might have them check me, because I just feel like I don't know, like I think I had anxiety because with my first, like things were progressing and I didn't know.
• 29:54
  Speaker 2: So I had this anxiety of like things are going to progress and I'm not going to know.
• 29:58
  Speaker 2: So I think I want to be checked tomorrow, even though I don't want checks.
• 30:02
  Speaker 2: But, like, for me, I think I really want it and so you know, but we, we both, weren't thinking anything was happening.
• 30:09
  Speaker 2: So, you know, we had a conversation.
• 30:11
  Speaker 2: She helped me relax and you know, stop being anxious, or you know, she did what she needed to do to get me off the phone and for me to feel comfortable.
• 30:19
  Speaker 2: And then, you know, I had a plan.
• 30:21
  Speaker 2: I was like, okay, I'm just going to go relax, like listen to my hypnobirthing meditation and just like go try to go to bed and just stay calm, and tomorrow I'm going to go see the midwife.
• 30:32
  Speaker 2: So like I had a plan.
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: Um and.
• 30:37
  Speaker 2: And then I remember getting off the phone and I was in my kitchen listening to my hypnobirthing and I remember I was kind of rhythmically swaying, but not feeling contractions, but like looking back, you know, and I was kind of rhythmically swaying but not feeling contractions, but like looking back, you know, and I was just like.
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: I remember I ate a bowl of broccoli soup that I had made because I made a whole bunch of postpartum meals and I was just sitting there eating the broccoli soup, like listening to this thing, and, yeah, it's like things were progressing, but I didn't know, you know, like I didn't know that that's what was happening, so, so I didn't feel anything.
• 31:09
  Speaker 2: So then I went in the other room with my husband and that stupid show was on.
• 31:13
  Speaker 2: I don't know what it was, but I was so not interested in it Like my mood shifted at that point and I like I tried to take a sip of my seltzer and I was like no, I can't, but still I didn't think anything was happening, but like things were starting to change in my body, you know.
• 31:32
  Speaker 2: So I remember like I went in the room and I sat next to him and I was crying and I was just like I don't know if this is just like an anxiety attack or if something's happening.
• 31:40
  Speaker 2: I don't feel well, like I kept saying I feel like I'm on drugs, like I just don't.
• 31:47
  Speaker 2: Like I, like you know, I feel like I'm on drugs and like there was no other way I could put it and like that's how I felt that it was the hormones, but like I didn't know, you know.
• 31:56
  Speaker 2: So I was just like something's not right and I was feeling all wacky.
• 32:00
  Speaker 2: And then, um, I remember just telling him, like you know, like this is the midwife's phone number.
• 32:07
  Speaker 2: But like I don't think anything's happening, but like here's the phone number, this is who midwife's phone number.
• 32:10
  Speaker 2: But like I don't think anything's happening, but like here's the phone number this is who you need to call If I can't talk, like here, like I'd given it to him already, but like, just like making sure he had it.
• 32:18
  Speaker 2: And so I remember I went upstairs and I think it was something about going up the stairs, because I got into my bathroom and I was sitting there and I called the midwife on call number.
• 32:29
  Speaker 2: I was like, let me just check in with them, and just like, and again my conversation started with like I'm just feeling really anxious, like I feel like I don't know what's going on.
• 32:40
  Speaker 2: I probably sounded, you know, like, just like I don't know, like I didn't even think I was in labor, so I didn't talk about that at all and I was just like I.
• 32:52
  Speaker 2: I just feel like something feels like I.
• 32:53
  Speaker 2: I just feel anxious and I know I have an appointment tomorrow and I don't think anything's happening and like, as I was saying that, I felt my first contraction and it was like from the first one it was like I could.
• 33:03
  Speaker 2: I had to stop talking and breathe through it, like it.
• 33:07
  Speaker 2: It was just like it just stopped me in my tracks.
• 33:10
  Speaker 2: And I had two more contractions on the phone with the midwife assistant and you know both, all three of them.
• 33:18
  Speaker 2: I had to just stop and breathe and then I could keep talking, and so she recommended that I just get in the shower and, um, just try to relax and get in the shower and then call her back if anything changes.
• 33:31
  Speaker 2: And for some reason I just felt like I am not getting in that shower.
• 33:36
  Speaker 2: It just didn't sound like I had it in me because I just yeah, I was just not.
• 33:44
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I was not, I couldn't get in the shower, no-transcript.
• 34:22
  Speaker 2: And so I feel like this.
• 34:25
  Speaker 2: And then I called my doula and I told her please come, I think you need to come.
• 34:29
  Speaker 2: And she trusted me and got in the car.
• 34:33
  Speaker 2: But in hindsight she told me she told her husband that she only had three contractions but she needs me there.
• 34:40
  Speaker 2: And he was like, what are you talking about?
• 34:42
  Speaker 2: But she knew to trust me, um, so she was on her way and um, yeah, and then so after the call with the midwife or the doula to get, tell her to come is kind of when things just like I, you know, I couldn't talk to anybody anymore.
• 34:57
  Speaker 2: So at that point, um, trying to remember how things happened.
• 35:02
  Speaker 2: So that was like.
• 35:05
  Speaker 2: So I think at that point, like I, I was having consistent contractions and I was kind of just like I'm trying to remember I was, I was in, I kept wanting to go to the toilet.
• 35:16
  Speaker 2: So I remember like I was having contractions and like I was tolerating them, ok, and my husband left to put my toddler in my in-laws car and so I had a few by myself and but, but it was okay, cause, like I, I was okay, um, but I remember, as soon as he came back, I went into the bathroom because I felt like I had to go to the bathroom and my water broke on the toilet.
• 35:38
  Speaker 2: Um, and after that, um, I don't remember if midwives called back or my husband called them, but they were on the phone and you know they confirm okay, yeah, that's, that's her water.
• 35:50
  Speaker 2: You know we're on our way.
• 36:02
  Speaker 2: And immediately after that I had my first pushing contraction where, like I was not doing anything, like I'd heard on these stories, like your body just does it.
• 36:06
  Speaker 2: And I was like it was like I think I was, like I was shocked by it.
• 36:09
  Speaker 2: So I was screaming and and I remember them being on the phone, like I think I was, like I was shocked by it, so I was screaming and, um, and I remember them being on the phone, like is she okay?
• 36:13
  Speaker 2: And I just remember like I'm okay, like hearing them say that.
• 36:18
  Speaker 2: And then I was it just reminded me like I'm okay.
• 36:21
  Speaker 2: And I remember just like kind of breathing into it and like, instinctually, I was like I do not want to have this baby on the toilet.
• 36:33
  Speaker 2: So, like I remember just like sitting up on my own and walking over to my bed, which, like looking back, I'm like this superhero stuff, like just like the feeling of that contraction and just being able to just get up and walk was crazy.
• 36:41
  Speaker 2: So then I got onto my bed and I remember, just kind of like holding on to my husband, I was laying on my left side, which is how I was pushing with my first before they put me on my back.
• 36:52
  Speaker 2: So I feel like that's my spot, like laying on my left side.
• 36:55
  Speaker 2: Oh, and I had planned to have a water birth and we didn't even talk about getting this pool set up because things were happening.
• 37:01
  Speaker 2: It never got set up.
• 37:03
  Speaker 2: So so, yeah, I think I had like one or two contractions on the toilet.
• 37:08
  Speaker 2: Then I went back to the bed and I and from then on it was like pushing contractions, like something is changing the ring of fire, like there's something.
• 37:17
  Speaker 2: And I remember asking my husband, like is there, is there a head?
• 37:21
  Speaker 2: Like can you see something?
• 37:22
  Speaker 2: And then he looks, and then I pushed out his head and his body followed.
• 37:29
  Speaker 2: Shortly after my husband caught him and, yeah, like it was weird because like his head was starting to come out and I was on my side and for some reason my husband said get on your hands and knees.
• 37:40
  Speaker 2: And then, and I did, I, just I, I I was able to move and um, yeah, and he caught him and he was screaming right away and he put him on my chest and I just remember like I was like go get blankets.
• 37:55
  Speaker 2: Cause I remember I had asked the midwives like what do I do if he comes before you get here?
• 38:00
  Speaker 2: Cause that was something I feel like you know, we kind of know, I don't know.
• 38:04
  Speaker 2: I feel like it's a spiritual thing, like I knew that was going to happen.
• 38:07
  Speaker 2: So I made sure I was prepared, like I wanted to be prepared for every scenario and so, like we were super calm, and I remember the midwives calling back and you know my husband answers like oh yeah, the baby's here, and like he was super calm and we're just like they're like what, the baby's there?
• 38:24
  Speaker 2: They came in like I think five or 10 minutes later I forget the timing Um, but yeah, he was screaming, he was, you know, he was well and I knew he was well.
• 38:34
  Speaker 2: I was just like in shock, um, and I was shaking again, which is just my, my body's way of dealing with hormones.
• 38:41
  Speaker 2: Um, so I've it was like a familiar feeling of like okay, I'm okay, I'm just shaking and, um, yeah, it was just, it was amazing, like just to have that experience of like an undisturbed natural birth, like, like just trusting my instincts and like I did a lot of like positive affirmations all over my house like the last like week before that, so like, but it was so much like trust in my body and my baby and knowing what to do and he did.
• 39:12
  Speaker 2: He knew he wanted to come early and that was his time and he, yeah, he's a rock star, so yeah, and it was just, it was just so crazy to like, just like know that I went through that whole labor and like, no, nobody checked me, nobody took any heart tones, you know, not to say that that stuff's not needed, like sometimes it is, but it was just like that was not my, my plan for my birth and how it went, but like it was actually really cool.
• 39:40
  Speaker 2: So so, yeah, so that was, that was his birth story and my midwives, like I said, they got there.
• 39:46
  Speaker 2: So I started feeling like the anxiety around 9 pm and he was born at 1043.
• 39:54
  Speaker 2: So it was like I feel like my conversations and stuff, like I don't remember what time, like the active labor.
• 40:01
  Speaker 2: I think it started like 1015.
• 40:02
  Speaker 2: , so like from feeling anything, it was like I think 37 minutes of from like first contraction to when he was born.
• 40:10
  Speaker 2: So it was like a freight train and like that was the one thing that, like I hadn't really heard enough on birth story podcasts about precipitous labors, because it's not that common I have heard like a few.
• 40:23
  Speaker 2: So it was like just like having it happen again, like learning, like okay, that is just my body's way of giving birth and if I have a third, we're going to need like a plan, but like we've got it, we've done it before, so but yeah, so, so, yeah, so that was the birth.
• 40:41
  Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, wow, so how was your initial postpartum period this time around, yeah?
• 40:48
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so postpartum was like night and day again, from the first time, you know.
• 40:53
  Speaker 2: When the midwives got there, you know they they checked my to see if my placenta was like just sitting there and it was so like I delivered that naturally and I didn't tear.
• 41:02
  Speaker 2: I had like a minor scrape but I didn't need any stitches.
• 41:05
  Speaker 2: I had a second degree tear with my first.
• 41:06
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, so postpartum, like immediately it was, it was actually really like a lot easier than I thought.
• 41:16
  Speaker 2: I don't know if it's just because I had done it before and like I and is he getting enough?
• 41:21
  Speaker 2: Because of the trauma I had with my first and him not getting like enough nutrition through me right away and like having health issues, I was like on it.
• 41:42
  Speaker 2: I was like I think I was kind of overfeeding him because I was like paranoid, like he was constantly on.
• 41:48
  Speaker 2: So I think I had the lactation consultant come out like on day two and she helped me, you know, confirm, the latch seemed good.
• 41:55
  Speaker 2: We didn't even do, we didn't do a weight feed because I don't know we just I don't remember why, but yeah, things were going fine and she kind of gave me like confirmation of like he's doing great, like you know, and that kind of like helped me relax.
• 42:10
  Speaker 2: But I think, like those few days of getting enough poopy diapers and peepy diapers getting past, that was kind of like, oh, is he okay, is he okay.
• 42:21
  Speaker 2: But then when the midwives came and kept weighing him I think that's the difference of home birth care with postpartum support, versus hospital.
• 42:29
  Speaker 2: Like, I had one visit at six weeks whereas, like these midwives were there checking me and weighing babies.
• 42:35
  Speaker 2: So I think that's the confirmation I had, like he is gaining, you know, cause I had, like, however many day visits, you know, and so that was great.
• 42:44
  Speaker 2: My doula also missed the birth, um, so she ended up arriving, I think, like right after the midwives and she had an hour commute, so, um, so yeah, she came a little bit after them and she ended up arriving, I think, like right after the midwives and she had an hour commute, so so, yeah, she came a little bit after them and she ended up just kind of caring for me immediately postpartum, like she made me tea and yeah, and yeah, the midwives are great.
• 43:04
  Speaker 2: You know, we did the.
• 43:05
  Speaker 2: I was RH negative, so I did get the RhoGAM shot and I had it with my first as well.
• 43:10
  Speaker 2: I forgot to mention that, but yeah, it was like they were really not.
• 43:14
  Speaker 2: It was very uneventful.
• 43:15
  Speaker 2: It was like my bleeding was okay, I was doing okay.
• 43:19
  Speaker 2: I think I was feeling a little too good.
• 43:21
  Speaker 2: At one point, like I remember, one of the midwives was like you should walk a little bit slower because I like got up to go to the bathroom like just my normal speed, I guess.
• 43:30
  Speaker 2: But yeah, it was like I guess.
• 43:31
  Speaker 2: But yeah, it was like, honestly, like I felt great, like it was like truly, like I feel like how a birth is supposed to feel in terms of like that, that hormone rush, and just I wish more people knew that that was a possibility, because I feel like our culture is kind of stigmatized to you know, thinking that birth is this painful thing that we need drugs to save us from, and I truly just don't believe it is.
• 43:57
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, so postpartum, like I said, like I do work full time, so I only had a three and a half month maternity leave.
• 44:06
  Speaker 2: Luckily it was paid.
• 44:08
  Speaker 2: I have a great employer, so yeah, I just remember like soaking in my maternity leave and nursing was going well.
• 44:15
  Speaker 2: He was gaining really fast and doing well, so it was very different from my first, where I was pumping all the time and now it was like I had freedom, because, like, if I wanted to go somewhere with the baby, I just took him with me and I didn't have to pack bottles or you know cooler bags or anything.
• 44:30
  Speaker 2: It was like I just took him with me and I didn't have to pack bottles or you know cooler bags or anything.
• 44:32
  Speaker 2: It was like I just bring him and if he's hungry, I feed him, and so that was new and amazing, because I felt like I got to enjoy postpartum a little bit more, because I didn't feel so chained to the pump at the house or um, you know, even if I had, um, you know, a wearable one, you know, you know, even if I had a you know, a wearable one, you know.
• 44:51
  Speaker 2: So that was really great and I ended up I have like a little bit of an oversupply.
• 45:00
  Speaker 2: So I was able to, you know, pump like an extra bottle every morning and put it in the freezer.
• 45:03
  Speaker 2: So that gave me a little bit of like assurance, that like I've got back up and yeah, I didn't really struggle with supply at all.
• 45:10
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so, yeah.
• 45:12
  Speaker 2: So he just turned a year on April 20th and I'm still nursing him and it's just, it's been like so amazing to kind of get to this point of like I made it past where I stopped with my first, so that's been feeling really cool.
• 45:28
  Speaker 2: Um, one other thing was, uh, la Leche League is amazing.
• 45:33
  Speaker 2: I don't know if you know that there's La Leche League of Maine and New Hampshire.
• 45:37
  Speaker 2: They're merged together and they host a virtual Zoom call meeting and it's like two days a week, tuesday and Friday.
• 45:44
  Speaker 2: And I went during pregnancy as well and just to kind of like learn about breastfeeding and like try to set myself up for success.
• 45:52
  Speaker 2: And I've actually made a few friends and I was just over there for brunch yesterday at one of their houses and it's just so amazing to have like community and support and, like you know, now it's really nice because I'm able to go and like share advice to moms who just had babies and it's like, how is that?
• 46:09
  Speaker 2: Like me now, you know, like I'm the one with the one year old and like I feel like I was just there with a one week old, like am I doing this right, you know?
• 46:20
  Speaker 2: Um, but I really believe in that like peer to peer support and feel like that's the best way to like learn and, you know, feel supported with others in the same boat.
• 46:27
  Speaker 2: So, yeah, so that's been pretty cool.
• 46:29
  Speaker 2: And I remember when I went back to work I did have a little bit of like postpartum depression, which kind of hit me later and I think it was just around.
• 46:38
  Speaker 2: You know the the struggles of being a full time working parent and having to leave your children and you know if that, if it were possible, I would stay home with them.
• 46:48
  Speaker 2: But I I need to work right now kind of coming to terms with that.
• 46:53
  Speaker 2: But I remember reaching out to I forget who it was that recommended a really great therapist that specializes in postpartum perinatal issues.
• 47:01
  Speaker 2: So I've been in therapy since and you know that has been really, really helpful to kind of just have that person to to check in with and you know, make sure that I'm okay.
• 47:11
  Speaker 2: Um, because I feel like you know it's it's not easy going back to work and I think it just kind of caught me by surprise because my postpartum was, like I said, like it was amazing, like and I think it was just that that period was coming to an end and it's like, okay, now back to work.
• 47:27
  Speaker 2: Yeah, but I feel like since I started therapy I've been dealing with you know my thoughts about that a lot better and healthy in a more healthy way yeah, would you like to share the resources that were helpful to you?
• 47:42
  Speaker 2: yeah, yeah.
• 47:43
  Speaker 2: So I'm trying to think of everything because, like I said, I got really into it this last pregnancy.
• 47:48
  Speaker 2: Like I could probably list a really long list, but the biggest ones that stand out would be the birthing instincts podcast from dr stew, who specializes in twins and breach.
• 47:59
  Speaker 2: I just find his podcast so educational and just amazing.
• 48:05
  Speaker 2: And the down to birth podcast.
• 48:08
  Speaker 2: I really love that one.
• 48:09
  Speaker 2: You know, just just really good information.
• 48:11
  Speaker 2: Great women I think the doing it at home podcast was one home birth specific one, and then happy home births, my happy home birth, I think it was called.
• 48:21
  Speaker 2: That was another one that I really loved.
• 48:23
  Speaker 2: So podcasts, those are my podcasts.
• 48:25
  Speaker 2: And then my biggest plug for breastfeeding is just La Leche League.
• 48:30
  Speaker 2: Like I'm just always amazed that like this group is just for Maine and New Hampshire and there's only ever maybe 10 women at the most, and I think it's a resource that maybe women just don't know is there because it's not, you know, broadcast out to communities enough.
• 48:48
  Speaker 2: So I would say, like, really, if you're interested in breastfeeding, like try to attend a La Leche League meeting.
• 48:52
  Speaker 2: They really, if you're interested in breastfeeding, like try to attend a La Leche League meeting.
• 48:54
  Speaker 2: They're virtual if you're in Maine or New Hampshire while you're pregnant and kind of like, get that foundation of support so that when you need help you don't feel awkward to start making a relationship with people, because I feel like I'm very outgoing.
• 49:09
  Speaker 2: So it was easy for me to just join a virtual call and say, hey, this is what's going on, but for some people that might be harder.
• 49:15
  Speaker 2: So I think maybe that's why there's not as much attendance, because people you know it takes a lot to be able to speak up when you're having a struggle.
• 49:23
  Speaker 2: I'm an open book, so anyway, so yeah, la Leche League and Ina May's what's that Natural Child?
• 49:35
  Speaker 2: What's a natural childbirth?
• 49:35
  Speaker 2: I didn't make asking book, I read that, trying to think I feel like those are the biggest things.
• 49:37
  Speaker 2: And a hypnobirthing I can't remember the name of the course I took, but hypnobirthing was really really helpful for me as a practice of like.
• 49:45
  Speaker 2: Every night I would just like lay down to go to bed and put on my meditation and sometimes I'd fall asleep to it.
• 49:52
  Speaker 2: But like I found like it was really like spiritually, like helping me a lot, like to learn to trust my body and, like I said, positive affirmations.
• 50:02
  Speaker 2: I did a lot of that at the end of pregnancy, like just YouTube searching positive affirmation video for pregnancy, and you know, just like listening to positivity and then staying away from negativity.
• 50:13
  Speaker 2: I think that's something I did with my first, which was really helpful.
• 50:17
  Speaker 2: So any new parents I would say, like you know, just just stay away from people who want to give you negative birth information.
• 50:25
  Speaker 2: You know like, you can really have an amazing experience if that's what you want, and you know it's always okay to just tell somebody like thank you, but I appreciate it if you don't share any more about that, because I feel like people love to just jump into the negative bandwagon or of like, if I had a home birth, I would be dead, or you know, like stuff like that.
• 50:45
  Speaker 2: Like, just stay with your tribe of people who are trying to do the same thing as you Like.
• 50:50
  Speaker 2: That's my advice.
• 50:52
  Speaker 2: Yeah, who are trying to do the same thing as you Like.
• 50:53
  Speaker 2: That's my advice.
• 50:54
  Speaker 1: Yeah, that's good advice.
• 50:54
  Speaker 1: Thank you so much, megan for sharing your story today.
• 50:58
  Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
• 51:00
  Speaker 2: It's just, it's been such a blessing and just excitement tonight knowing that like I get to just have a cup of tea and talk about birth and you know, it's been nice.
• 51:09
  Speaker 2: My baby stayed asleep, so I'm glad that it worked out.
• 51:15
  Speaker 1: Before you go, I just want to remind you I have a ton of resources for pregnancy and birth.
• 51:20
  Speaker 1: If you're pregnant, whether you're a first time mom or if this is your fifth baby, I want you to check out the show notes, because I have some free trainings and free downloads that you can sign up for, as well as the link to access my Labor of Love, a comprehensive, self-paced online childbirth education course.
• 51:38
  Speaker 1: I created this course specifically for moms who don't want to be told what to do, regardless of where you're birthing or who you're birthing with, and I'd honestly love to teach you everything that I know so that you can prepare for an autonomous birth experience and prepare to step into your role as the leader of your birth journey.
• 51:57
  Speaker 1: So click to the show notes, check out all of those links and, if you ever have any questions, feel free to DM me at my main birth over on Instagram.