Rachael’s first birth was a 9 hr unmedicated labor and delivery, but then two months later she had two craniotomies to remove a subdural hematoma. Despite that jarring postpartum experience, she was eager to have another baby, so right around her daughter’s first birthday Rachael and Zane were excited to find out they were pregnant again. Once again, Rachael had a very straightforward, easy (as easy as possible) pregnancy. She was excited to give birth in the same hospital with an OB/midwife practice, but this time she wanted to use a doula to have more experienced support. At 39+2, Rachael started to have cramps and pretty quickly they left for the hospital. When they arrived she was already 6cm dilated, and they quickly set up the labor and delivery room with twinkle lights and started playing the hypno birthing tracks. After an intense labor, Willow was born at 10:18pm after just 7 hrs. The first night in the hospital was difficult but the rest of postpartum was very restful and sweet.
Rachael DeGraffenried Bio
Rachael is 32 years old and lives in Western Colorado with her husband Zane and two daughters, Juniper (3) and Willow (1). Rachael stays home with her crazy girls and Zane is a software engineer. She also teaches a mom fitness class at the local rec center and line-dancing at a local watering hole.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Needed. Needed is the leading women’s health supplement brand recommended by nutritionally-trained practitioners. While most perinatal supplements include the bare minimum of the nutrients needed during pregnancy, Needed’s products are based on the latest clinical research and in-practice experience of nearly 4000 practitioners. Needed has all your needs covered, from your prenatal vitamin to pregnancy-specific Pre/ and Probiotics, to egg quality support, sleep, stress, immune and hydration support, as well as your protein needs for blood sugar balance and postpartum healing. Needed’s Complete Plan delivers unparalleled nourishment for every phase — whether you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, or postpartum! Instead of having to pair 6 different products together to meet your needs, I love that Needed has simplified things by bundling together four core products you need, in an easy and flexible monthly plan. Save 20% off your first order of Needed’s Complete Plan or any of their other perinatal nutrition products at thisisneeded.com with code BIRTHHOUR.
Enya Kroon first had a homebirth when she gave birth to her son in 2017 at her mother’s home. In 2018, Enya became a surrogate and developed Intrahepatic Cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) in her third trimester, she was then induced and ultimately had a hospital birth with an epidural. Finally, in 2022 Enya found out mid pregnancy with her second son that she had placenta previa, and though she wanted another homebirth, she delivered her son in the hospital with an urgent C-section when the previa did not resolve.
Enya Kroon Bio
Enya is a mother of 2 boys who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is both a stay at home mom and a potter who shows her love of birth and the feminine body through her pottery. Her art can be found through social media at @fruitofthewomb.
Aeroflow Breastpumps
Today’s episode is sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps. Aeroflow has helped millions of new and expecting parents discover the breastfeeding and postpartum essentials covered by their insurance including breast pumps, maternity compression, and lactation education & support.
They take care of everything – including all paperwork, working with your insurance company, and explaining your options to get these free essentials shipped straight to your door. Aeroflow offers all major breast pump brands including Medela, Spectra, Motif, Lansinoh, Ameda, Elvie, Willow and more.
All you have to do is go to the Aeroflow Breastpumps website and fill out their free and easy Qualify Through Insurance form. Be sure to go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/birthhour so they will know we sent you! Bonus — use the promo code “BIRTHHOUR15” in their online shop for 15% off all supplies and accessories.
To listen to this episode, and more than 300 other birth stories in The Birth Hour archives, join our listener supporter group here!
Surrogate for her best friend birth story
For Dana, this birth was as much about the process to become pregnant, and the relationship with the father, as the birth itself. Dana and Chad met their freshman year of high school, when Chad asked Dana to go to the Fall Formal dance. They quickly became best friends, and have remained so ever since. And 20 years after they met in high school, Dana gave birth to a girl for Chad and his husband Jim.
Being a surrogate came with different legal, psychological, and emotional ramifications for Dana than her other births. And the birth itself ended up having some complications.
Going from a perfect check up on a Wednesday to developing severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome by Saturday, Dana had to be induced at 35 weeks. But she still thinks of it all as one of the most magical experiences she has gone through, and has an even more special bond with the father that she could have ever imagined.
Dana Hawkins Bio
Dana is married to Ken, and a mother of three- Tanner 23, Kianna 7, and Joey 4. She is from central Minnesota, but now lives in Seattle. She works in Marketing at the T-Mobile headquarters in Bellevue, WA (which she loves!). She is an avid camper, LGBTQ activist, and pop culture fanatic. Connect with her via her website grummiesgoodies.wixsite.com/website
Earth Mama Organics
Today’s episode is brought to you by Earth Mama Organics. From the positive test to the big push, from the first latch to the thousandth diaper, Earth Mama makes effective organic and natural herbal products for the whole journey of motherhood: pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and baby care. They’ve been safely nurturing mamas this way since 2002 — and they wouldn’t do it any other way.
Nicole’s first birth was a positive, peaceful experience. She gave birth in a hospital with an OB she trusted, and felt that having an epidural helped her to relax and be present as she brought her daughter into the world.
Nicole’s second birth was only 16 months after the first. Her plan going into the birth was to do things about the same as the first time… which ended up with a-less-than-magical birth experience. Nicole was in love with her son, but also knew that she hoped she could get a chance to have a different kind of birth experience.
Nicole decided to be a gestational surrogate, and carried twins for two international dads. She was able advocate for herself and to have the unmedicated twin birth she hoped for at the hospital where she works, and had a great birth and surrogacy experience.
Nicole Gricius Bio
Nicole is a happy working mom who lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband, two children ages 3 and 4, two dogs, a cat, and three chickens. She works in Inpatient Behavioral Health and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She loves running, skiing, hiking, and spending time with her family. Connect with her on instagram: @nikkigricius.
To listen to this episode, and more than 300 other birth stories in The Birth Hour archives, join our listener supporter group here!
A Surrogate’s Pregnancy and Birth Story
Having had a very unsupported home to hospital transfer birth in Louisiana (a not very midwifery friendly state) Whitney knew one end of the spectrum of hospital birth, something she would happily never opt to experience again. 4 years later, having a swift, cozy, super-supported home birth in Austin, TX with a 10lb, 4oz boy—she experienced the rosey, ideal, other side of the spectrum.
After two very different births of her own children, Whitney was eager to support another family’s desire for children and experience the excitement and awe of birth again. Through consistent ‘flukes’ her gestational carrier journey resulted in the birth of life-long friends and identical twin boys, born naturally (one footling breech). Whitney knew her gestational carrier journey would automatically fall somewhere in the middle—something, as the birthing goddess title she allowed herself to own, she knew she could face either way.
With the twins, she asked her providers for what she wanted and to know all the possible options throughout the entire pregnancy. As with every birth there are some unpredictable turns (literally in this case) and knowing all the options, allowed for the best experience and smoothest recovery she and the twin’s parents could have hoped for.
Whitney LeBlanc Bio
Whitney LeBlanc is the mother to her little lady, Hazel, age 6 and her big boy, Cypress, age 2. Their birth stories are huge contributors to her decisions and experiences along her journey with the twins, and a balancing reminder of the gift it is to be involved in such an experience. She also owns a retail storefront and online specialty store called Enlightened Baby; the atmosphere of expecting women and small children was the perfect nurturing environment for her journey through another pregnancy. She and her husband trust the process, and welcome what the future holds.
This episode was sponsored by Babylist. Babylist believes that you should be able to get exactly what you need for your unique and growing family. That’s why their baby registry lets you add any item from any store. Even add cool services and favors like prenatal yoga, doula support, home-cooked meals or dog walking. Start your registry today to be eligible for a free Hello Baby Box of goodies for baby worth up to $190 while boxes last.
To listen to this episode, and more than 300 other birth stories in The Birth Hour archives, join our listener supporter group here!
The Journey of A Gestational Carrier Birth with Sarah Tuttle & Kara Ford
Today’s birth story podcast episode features Sarah Tuttle and her gestational carrier, turned great friend, Kara Ford. I had the chance to interview both of them and hear the story of how they found one another, how they made the decision to have Kara carry Sarah’s babies and the birth of Sarah and her husband, Chris’ sweet twin girls.
Sarah Tuttle Bio
After multiple methods and attempts at getting pregnant the best diagnosis doctors could give Sarah was “unexplained infertility.” While her infertility journey has been incredibly frustrating, especially being unexplained, Sarah never gave up her dream of becoming a mom. And after almost 9 years of infertility, a miracle happened; her and her husband were blessed with two beautiful twin baby girls through the amazing gift of a gestational carrier. Because of Kara (Sarah’s gestational carrier), Sarah’s dream of becoming a mom finally came true, and she will forever be grateful for this incredible gift.
The girls are now almost 8 months old and are so much fun! They keep Sarah very busy, not to mention her part time job. Sarah has worked for Dressing Your Truth for almost 10 years where she is a wardrobe stylist, and passionate teacher, helping women rediscover and embrace their true beauty. You can read more about Sarah’s journey to and through motherhood on her blog or on Instagram.
Kara Ford’s Bio
Kara Ford decided to become a gestational carrier because she was so blessed to be able to have children of her own and the love she has for her own children is so immense. She wanted that for everyone! She knew that there were women who were not able to carry a child for whatever reason and had so much compassion for them and wanted to be able to help them in any way she could. Kara felt that carrying a baby for someone was a way that she could show her love for those who have struggled. She met Sarah and knew immediately that she was somebody that was so deserving of being a mother and knew that she was to be the vessel that helped get her little twin girls here. She knows that she and Sarah will forever have a sacred bond.
