Victoria suffered an early, yet stressful, miscarriage with her first pregnancy, but quickly became pregnant again. Her pregnancy was relatively uneventful. She ended up being induced for postdates at the hospital after her at-home methods for induction did not work. After a night of very painful labor and close contractions, Victoria was able to get an epidural at 0 cm dilation. Following this, labor progressed rapidly. Although she had been a postpartum nurse, Victoria had a difficult experience breastfeeding and adjusting to the exhaustion of motherhood. She also ended up requiring surgery postpartum for a cyst discovered at 41 weeks.
Kindred Bravely
Today’s episode is brought to you by Kindred Bravely. From adorable maternity wear to comfortable nursing bras, this mom-owned company has you covered. See all of their comfy clothing at kindredbravely.com! I especially love their Simply Sublime nursing tank, their high waisted leggings (for pregnancy AND postpartum), the comfy Jane pajamas, and their high waisted underwear! Listen to this episode for a special coupon code!
After two straightforward, unmedicated births (one hospital birth with an OB, the other a homebirth with a midwife), Grace planned another homebirth with a midwife. Those plans changed immediately when she noticed her baby had stopped moving at 41 weeks and her birth quickly changed to an emergent hospital induction. She was able to have a vaginal birth after a host of interventions to bring her son into the world safely. Despite the change of plans, Grace didn’t feel traumatized or even really disappointed after her son’s birth, because she was educated and understood that a hospital induction had to happen, because she was part of the decision-making process and was treated with respect throughout.
Her experience taught her a lot which in turn has helped her be a better doula and childbirth educator as she can speak with firsthand experience about undergoing interventions, and she can also sympathize with moms having to make choices they didn’t foresee after setting large portions of their birth plan aside.
Her experience of delivering her son safely after he stopped moving led her to become an ambassador for Count the Kicks in her home state of Mississippi to help educate other parents on the importance of fetal movement to monitor their baby. Read more about the important role paying attention to her baby’s movements played in the outcome here as well as how to use the Count the Kicks app.
Grace Greene Bio
Grace Greene is a wife and mom of three who lives in Jackson, MS where she is a childbirth educator, birth doula, and the Mississippi Ambassador for Count the Kicks. She became interested in birth work when she was pregnant with her first child, and has been doing birth work in some capacity since 2013. She became passionate about the work of Count the Kicks after the birth of her third baby in 2019 when she noticed decreased fetal movement and spoke up so that he was born safely. She wants all moms to have the knowledge and support she has received, which is why she loves teaching childbirth classes and working to advance the work of Count the Kicks in Mississippi as a state-wide ambassador.
When not trying to keep her children occupied during the pandemic and help her second grader finish virtual schooling, she likes to run, do CrossFit, read, participate in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), cook, and decorate her house. She really wishes she were more organized and motivated to clean. You can find her on Instagram at @graceinbirthing (her account for birth work) and @gracebgreene (her personal account). You can also check out her website or birth video here.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Ergobaby. Founded in 2003, Ergobaby has pioneered the gold standard for comfortable, ergonomic soft structured carriers. Ergobaby is dedicated to helping families bond, grow, and thrive by creating premium baby products where function and quality are not compromised. Ergobaby has created a broad range of award-winning baby carriers, strollers, swaddlers, nursing pillows, and related products that fit into families’ daily lives seamlessly, comfortably and safely. In 2020, they launched Everlove by Ergobaby, a first of its kind baby carrier buy back and resale program, a sustainability effort to support families and the planet.
This is a guest post from Grace Greene, Count the Kicks Mississippi Ambassador, who also shared her experience in episode 512 of The Birth Hour.
My son is what Count the Kicks calls a “baby save.” He was born safely after I paid attention to his movement, noticed when something was off, and spoke up to my provider. His birth, and what I have learned about fetal movement since then, have propelled me to become an ambassador for Count the Kicks in my home state of Mississippi. The information about why it’s important to use kick counting to monitor your baby’s well-being is too important not to spread widely to expectant parents!
What is Counting Kicks?
Count the Kicks is an evidence-based stillbirth prevention program that
was started in Iowa in the early 2000s by five mothers who each walked through
the heartache of losing a daughter to stillbirth or infant death. Bound
together by their collective grief, they started Count the Kicks when they learned about public health research that
showed a 30 percent reduction in stillbirth by teaching pregnant women how to
monitor fetal movement during the third trimester of pregnancy. These mothers
agreed that their work would be worth the effort if even one baby could be
saved, but they have greatly surpassed that mark with their simple and
effective campaign. Since Count the Kicks began in Iowa in 2008, their state stillbirth rate has been reduced by nearly
32% while the national stillbirth rate has remained
relatively stagnant.
Stillbirth and stillbirth prevention are not often talked
about, even though a family is 10 times more
likely to lose a baby to stillbirth than to SIDS. According to the CDC, 23,500
babies are born still in the U.S. every year. This is one in every 167
pregnancies. Racial disparities exist as well, with stillbirth occurring in one
in every 94 pregnancies for Black moms, one in
every 191 pregnancies for Hispanic moms, and one in every 204 pregnancies for
white moms. Count the Kicks is
committed to removing these racial disparities in stillbirth by working to make
sure their important information about kick counting reaches all moms across
the country.
How to Count Baby’s Kicks?
So how does the program work? At 28 weeks (26 weeks if high-risk), all moms should download the FREE Count the Kicks app (it’s available in 12 languages on Apple and Android) or use their printable
paper chart and start counting their baby’s kicks daily. Pick a time of day
when the baby is normally active and time how long it takes to get to 10
movements. After a week or so, you will see a pattern of how long it takes your
baby to get to 10 movements. By knowing what is normal for YOUR baby, you can
quickly notice when something is off and contact your care provider to check in
on your baby. I remember thinking often in previous pregnancies that I wish I
could know if all was well with my baby. Thanks to the Count the Kicks campaign, moms can
easily check in on their baby and will be able to quickly notice if something
is off.
All expectant
parents should count their baby’s kicks beginning in the third trimester. In
addition to being easy, low cost, non-invasive, and a great way to bond with
your baby, many moms report feeling less anxious, as they are reassured when
they monitor their baby. Most importantly, it can save babies. Count the Kicks has more than 60 baby
save stories on their website from moms who wrote in to share how Count the Kicks helped save their baby.
Misconceptions about Fetal Movement in Pregnancy
Some common misconceptions about fetal movement show why
it’s important to track movement daily. The first misconception is that babies
move less as they get closer to their due date. This is false! Babies might
move differently, and moms might feel less sharp kicking and more rolling, but
they will not move less as the pregnancy progresses. If you are monitoring
movement at the same time each day, it should take about the same time to get
to 10 movements. Babies will continue to move up to and during labor and birth
and won’t run out of room the bigger they get.
The second misconception is that it’s not really necessary
to count movements if a baby is always active. The truth is that even active
babies can experience distress, sometimes quickly and without other warning signs.
Tracking fetal movement daily will remove any guesswork from wondering if your
normally active baby has slowed down.
The third misconception is that if you can hear a
baby’s heartbeat on a home doppler, you don’t need to
worry about tracking movement. This is false because a change in the baby’s
heart rate is one of the last things to occur when a baby is in distress,
whereas decreased movement is an early warning sign and can alert you to a
problem much sooner.
The last misconception (and information that you will find
if you google fetal movement) is that a mom should feel at least 10 kicks in
two hours. This common misconception is based on outdated information about
fetal movement. The latest research shows that a mom should be focusing on
fetal movement in general and understanding their baby’s pattern, which you
will understand by using the Count the
Kicks app regularly. Every baby is different, and once you know what is normal for your baby, that is the metric
you should follow for determining if something is off.
Counting Baby’s Kicks & COVID-19
During this time of COVID-19
when we are all united and working towards not unnecessarily burdening our health care system, Count the Kicks is a solution to take some of the pressure off.
Through the early warning system of counting kicks, there is a community of
moms who are in tune with their bodies and their babies and can let providers
know when something feels off. Some parents are worried about going to the
hospital or contacting their care provider during COVID-19, however all expectant parents should know that it is
important to speak up and check on your baby if you feel something is off. Even
in a pandemic, don’t don’t delay if you are concerned about your baby.
Count the Kicks has the incredible goal
of saving 7,500 babies a year in the U.S. If the rest of the country could
experience a 32% decrease in stillbirths as Iowa has done in the first 10 years
of the campaign, this goal would be reached. The truth about stillbirth is that
there can be warning signs if moms know what to look for. When armed with this
information, moms can feel confident to identify when a baby is moving normally
and will be empowered to speak up for their baby if something is off. I am
eternally grateful that I knew to call my provider when I noticed a decrease in
fetal movement and that my concerns were taken seriously. My son truly was in
distress and by acting quickly on his behalf, he was born safe and healthy.
Learn More about Counting Baby’s Kicks & Download Count the Kicks App
Want to learn more? Count
the Kicks has an academy
for expectant parents on their website
that is full of additional information about fetal movement, including videos
with more information from providers and moms who have used Count the Kicks during a pregnancy. For
providers they have a continuing education course, a provider academy with the
latest research on stillbirth and fetal movement, information on how to
implement the program in your practice, and the ability to order materials for
patients.
I would encourage you to first download the app and start
counting if you are pregnant, then follow Count
the Kicks on all social media channels to learn more about their campaign,
tell your expectant friends to download the app and start counting, and let
your provider know about this important program if they have not yet
implemented it in their practice.
Knowledge is power, and I hope you feel reassured and confident about your ability to monitor your baby’s movement during pregnancy and speak up if something is off.
This was a guest post from Grace Greene, Count the Kicks Mississippi Ambassador, who also shared her experience in episode 512 of The Birth Hour.
After naturally conceiving twins, Alina and her husband were told by doctors that one of their twins would pass away shortly after birth. This terminal prenatal diagnosis led to many difficult conversations and decisions. The pregnancy came to a close when at 31 weeks pregnant, Alina developed severe preeclampsia in a matter of days. This led to the early delivery of her twins, which ended up being more complicated than they could’ve imagined.
Alina Bazyler Bio
Alina and her husband have been married for eight years and have three children. You can find Alina on Facebook.
Resources
Book: Waiting with Gabriel: A Story of Cherishing a Baby’s brief Life
Bible verse that was helpful to Alina: 1 Peter 5:10: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Crane
This episode is sponsored by Crane Humidifiers. Crane’s colorful humidifiers are a nursery necessity to help relieve your baby’s tiny congested nose, which can make feeding and sleeping a struggle for both baby and mom. A happy baby is a healthy baby. Crane is generously offering $10 OFF and free shipping on all of their full-priced, 1 gallon, adorable animal shaped humidifiers and drop humidifiers with the code BIRTH20 at www.crane-usa.com. Check out their new top fill drop humidifier here or via Wal-Mart.
Justina conceived in 2019, and saw the same midwife for all of her pregnancy care and for her baby’s birth. Justina gives credit to the midwifery model of care and a Hypnobirthing course for her positive birth experience.
She kept active as a part-time group-fitness instructor and continued teaching spin classes until 22 weeks. She enjoyed swimming and walking as exercise in her 3rd trimester.
Justina planned for an unmedicated birth. Her vision was to labor in the tub and that her baby would emerge by using relaxation techniques and in a very peaceful way. Her birth plan was to limit any intervention, no medications, and allow her baby to come when she was ready.
Justina endured 36 hours of prodromal labor at home until “real” labor began in the middle of the night. She labored in the tub at the hospital, which allowed for tub-labor but not birth.
Once the baby’s heart rate decelerated, there was a team effort to get the baby out quickly and safely. Justina was instructed to push on all-fours and that was how she ultimately birthed her baby girl.
Something about that position allowed the baby to be in better alignment and to avoid tearing. The nurses helped her flip over with the cord still attached. They did skin to skin and the baby breastfed. Justina was surprised by how much coaching she needed for pushing even during an instinctive birth.
Justine Perry Bio
Justina Perry is a Physical Therapist from New Bedford, Massachusetts who specializes in pelvic health. She lives with her husband and 1 year old daughter in their hometown. Where to find me: linknd Justina Perry southcoast.org/pelvicrehab
Peanut is an app that helps you make meaningful connections throughout all stages of motherhood. Peanut provides a safe space for mothers, expectant mothers and those trying to conceive to build friendships, ask questions and find support by introducing you to others nearby who are at a similar stage in life, Peanut provides access to a community who is there to listen, share information and offer valuable advice: Whether it’s understanding IVF, adoption, pregnancy, baby’s first years or beyond, Peanut is a place to connect with other moms in the thick of it.
Emily had a textbook pregnancy. At 39 weeks and 6 days, she asked her midwife to perform a membrane sweep and labor kicked in soon after. Within a couple hours, Emily experienced some cramping and she began losing a bit of water every 15 minutes. Five hours after her water broke, and zero contractions later, she arrived at the hospital with her husband. Eventually contractions did begin and Emily’s labor progressed naturally. She dilated one inch per hour like clockwork. Her labor was easy, calm, and quiet thanks to her attentive husband, supportive doula, and hands-off birth team. After an hour of pushing, the doctor assisted Emily using the Ritgen’s maneuver and Elijah David was born.
Moments later Emily began hemorrhaging and the labor room became a flurry of bright lights, multiple doctors, and Emily fading in and out of consciousness. With the help of a ton of medication, and a bakari balloon, Emily stabilized. Weeks later, Emily got clarification for why the Ritgen’s maneuver was performed and she has since reflected on her birth with positive thoughts. She is grateful for modern medicine, an amazing midwife for appointments, the best husband, and her kickass womb.
Emily Griffith Bio
Emily is a 27 year old mom of an 18 month old little boy named Elijah. She’s married to David, a navy Pilot, and works as a mechanical engineer for the Department of Defense. She is located in Norfolk, Virginia where her husband is stationed and where they met 12 years ago. Her Instagram is @emilieavenue.
Resources
Mama natural
The business of being born
Pregnant chicken (comedy)
Babywise (helped us sleep train)
Spotify birth playlists
Britax
Today’s episode is brought to you by Britax Child Safety, Inc. For over 50 years, Britax has been focused on safety you can trust from the very first day. They welcome new moms and dads to parenthood with award-winning car seats and strollers for every lifestyle while providing extra confidence for the journey ahead. At the end of today’s episode, I talk with Britax safety advocate, Sarah Tilton, all about traveling safely with baby during the winter months. Learn more about Britax products and safety tips at us.britax.com.
After suffering a difficult pregnancy and miscarriage, Mimi planned for an unmedicated hospital birth with midwives. She shares the story of her rainbow baby and discusses how her husband prepared for and took on the role of doula.
Mimi Maitrichith Bio
Mimi is a first time mom living just north of Seattle, WA with her husband and one year old baby boy. She works in healthcare as a data analyst. Mimi can usually be found spending quality time with her family, learning new recipes, and connecting with her network of fellow moms.
The people at Babylist believe 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.
After a successful home birth with her eldest son in 2017, Caroline and her husband Brett sought the same birth team to deliver their second son in January of 2020 at home again. When Labor started at 35 weeks they spent the night at their local birth center where the staff readied themselves to deliver a preemie but by morning labor had stopped. A few more false starts and almost a month of bedrest, they finally welcomed their son in the afternoon light on a cold late January afternoon.
Caroline Snider Bio
Caroline lives in upstate NY with her Husband Brett and their two young sons Casper and Rufus Originally from the UK Caroline has called America home for over a decade now; first on the West Coast in Los Angeles where she and Brett met working in advertising and now the East Coast in the beautiful Hudson Valley where she’s a full time Mom and aspiring writer. You can connect with her on Instagram where she loves to talk openly and honestly about her experience of motherhood.
Peanut is an app that helps you make meaningful connections throughout all stages of motherhood. Peanut provides a safe space for mothers, expectant mothers and those trying to conceive to build friendships, ask questions and find support by introducing you to others nearby who are at a similar stage in life, Peanut provides access to a community who is there to listen, share information and offer valuable advice: Whether it’s understanding IVF, adoption, pregnancy, baby’s first years or beyond, Peanut is a place to connect with other moms in the thick of it.
Jasmine gave birth to her firstborn in what she likes to call “the frozen tundra of Minnesota.” She and her husband Phillip were southern transplants with few friends and connections and entered the world of birth and parenthood as newlyweds. Wynn’s birth was a slow and steady, peaceful birth center experience. During her pregnancy with Wynn, Jasmine’s biggest fears were 1) an induction, 2) having her water broken, or 3) birthing a sunny-side-up baby. All three of those unforeseen circumstances happened two and a half years later with Langston, and he was born in a completely different but equally beautiful way in a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.
all photography by @jemmiephotography
Jasmine L. Holmes Bio
Jasmine is the author of Mother to Son: Letters To A Black Boy on Identity and Hope, as well as a contributing author for Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Our Identity in Christ and His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God. She teaches history at a classical Christian school in Jackson, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Phillip, are parenting two young sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @jasminelholmes.
Motif Medical
This episode was sponsored by Motif Medical. Motif designs insurance-eligible products for busy moms. With a focus on innovation and empowerment, Motif’s line of breast pumps and maternity compression garments are sophisticated, yet discreet, and made to support mothers as they navigate new motherhood. Discover why moms are reporting more milk in less time with the Luna breast pump, and see how you can get it covered through insurance at motifmedical.com/birthhour.
You may know that thanks to the Affordable Care Act of 2010, breast pumps are covered by most health insurance companies for free. But, you may also know that dealing with your insurance company for anything at all can sometimes be more work than it’s worth. That’s why The Birth Hour is proud to partner with Aeroflow Breastpumps to help you navigate this process.
3 Steps to Get a Breast Pump Through Insurance
Aeroflow Breastpumps has helped thousands of new and expecting moms find the perfect pump for her lifestyle. They offer all major pump brands including Medela, Spectra, Motif, Lansinoh, Ameda and more. And the best part, they take care of everything – including getting all required paperwork, dealing with your insurance company, and explaining your options in order to get your free pump shipped straight to your door.
Step 1 – Fill out a quick form with your info
Head over to Aeroflow Breastpumps website and fill out their completely FREE and easy, Qualify through Insurance form. On this form you’ll be asked for your name, email, due date, and insurance information.
Step 2 – Get Verified
Aeroflow does all of the legwork for you by determining your level of coverage through your insurance carrier and verifying your due date with your care provider. You will be assigned a breast pump specialist and they can assist you through email, text, or by phone—whatever is easiest for you.
Step 3 – Choose your Breastpump
You will be sent a link where you can view all of the breastpump options available to you for FREE. Aeroflow carries all of the major pump brands including Medela, Spectra, Motif, Lansinoh, Ameda and more. You can narrow down your choices based on brand or certain features you’re looking for (double electric, manual hospital-grade, hands free, battery operated, etc). Your breast pump specialist can help by recommending the best breast pump for your lifestyle and breastfeeding goals as well!
And, Aeroflow has free shipping on all pumps!
Just a handful of the many options available through Aeroflow, availability will depend on your insurance).
Getting a Breast Pump Through Insurance – FAQs
Getting a breast pump for free through insurance may seem too good to be true and if you still have some questions, here are some of the most frequently asked questions we see.
When will I get my breastpump?
It depends on your insurance company. Some plans require that you wait until 36 weeks to receive your pump while others allow it to be shipped right away. Aeroflow will find out this information and can let you know!
Do I need a note from my doctor?
Nope! Aeroflow will contact your care provider to verify your pregnancy and due date. They take care of everything!
Will I have to deal with contacting my insurance provider?
Nope! Aeroflow takes care of everything and you will never have to speak to your insurance company. If for some reason your insurance company isn’t serviced by Aeroflow they will give you instructions on who can help you.
What about breast pump accessories and resupply products?
When you go through Aeroflow, they will recommend supplies and accessories that will benefit your pumping experience and they will also determine whether select supplies and accessories are available for free under your insurance plan. My favorite part is that Aeroflow will contact you at regular intervals after baby arrives to send you free replacement parts!
Is it possible to upgrade my breast pump beyond what I qualify for through my insurance?
Yes! After your insurance information is verified, Aeroflow will send you a link that is personalized based on your coverage. It will show you which pumps your qualify for free and which ones you can upgrade to for an additional fee.
I’ve heard that some insurance companies also cover the cost of maternity compression garments. How does that work?
Yes, you may also qualify for free maternity compression garments like compression socks, maternity support band, and a postpartum recovery garment. Aeroflow will check your insurance information automatically to let you know! PLUS breast pump resupply products ranging from new bottles, tubing, and flanges to duck valves and pump membranes.
Elizabeth and her wife Kelli found out they were pregnant in the summer of 2019 after their second IUI. Elizabeth had a great pregnancy and continued teaching, practicing yoga, and traveling throughout. She sought all prenatal care at an international hospital in Beijing. Elizabeth and Kelli made arrangements to come home to Michigan in the spring to give birth to their baby, to avoid any legal issues that might come up in China as same-sex parents.
In January, due to the COVID19 outbreak in China, their school decided to transition to online teaching. With that decision, Elizabeth and Kelli moved their flights sooner and arrived in Michigan at the end of January. They rented a long-term AirBnB so that they would have their own space when baby came, and continued to excitedly await baby’s arrival while enjoying the extra time catching up with friends and family back home.
Their plan, and Elizabeth’s dream, was to have an all-natural, vaginal delivery at the same hospital where Kelli was born. They were feeling positive with all the preparations they had made. The due date came and went without any sign of labor and no dilation, even though baby seemed good and “ready”. A few days later, Elizabeth started experiencing contractions and decided to track them on a contraction tracker app. Twice throughout the day the app told her she was in active labor and that she should head to the hospital. Elizabeth thought it was too soon so they waited a while longer. They finally headed to the hospital later that evening and were admitted. While her contractions were strong and regular, she was not dilating at all. The next morning, after nearly 12 hours of laboring with Pitocin and no pain medication, Elizabeth requested an epidural. Contractions continued strong and steady, but Elizabeth was still not dilating as she should have and there were now concerns about the baby’s heart rate. Throughout the day, her OB and the nurses decided to try a variety of interventions such as sweeping the membranes, manually breaking her water, assisting her into a variety of different positions, but nothing seemed to help.
After a full 24 hours in hospital, Elizabeth and Kelli discussed a c-section with their OB and decided to do it. It was the furthest thing from their birth plan but it seemed nothing else was helping and there were now some growing concerns for both the baby and Elizabeth. Elizabeth had never even had surgery before, so the c-section experience wasn’t great. But their beautiful daughter, Frankie Adeline, was finally born at 9:23pm on March 23.
The postpartum period was both amazing and challenging. It’s hard to have a newborn during a pandemic; breastfeeding proved to be trying; Elizabeth was diagnosed with postpartum depression. With the help of a lactation consultant, seeing a therapist, returning to yoga, and the support of her wife, Elizabeth has been able to bond with her daughter, is enjoying being a new mom, and is on the path to healing.
Elizabeth Tucker Bio
Elizabeth and her wife Kelli are international teachers who met in Kuwait and are currently teaching in Beijing, China. They are new moms to Frankie, born in March on the first day of Michigan’s Covid-19 lockdown. Elizabeth loves yoga, reading, and all things organizing. Kelli is an avid runner who has a new-found love for triathlons and completed a full IronMan in Taiwan. Elizabeth can be found on Instagram @liztheeuro and Kelli blogs about their experiences at https://kelliacochran.wixsite.com
Resources
The Birth Hour
Taking Cara Babies
Holliday Tyson on YouTube
@drcassidy (instagram)
@expectingandempowered (instagram)
Aeroflow Breastpumps
Aeroflow Breastpumps has helped thousands of new and expecting moms find the perfect pump for her lifestyle. They offer all major pump brands including Medela, Spectra, Motif, Lansinoh, Ameda and more. And the best part, they take care of everything – including getting all required paperwork, dealing with your insurance company, and explaining your options in order to get your free pump shipped straight to your door.
Bonus — you may also qualify for free maternity compression garments like compression socks, maternity support band, and a postpartum recovery garment PLUS breast pump resupply products ranging from new bottles, tubing, and flanges to duck valves and pump membranes.
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 I sent you!
Both of Meghan’s births were, coincidentally, hospital inductions at 37 weeks. After a normal, healthy pregnancy with her first son, Gabriel, she was induced for low-fluid. She had an intervention-heavy but textbook induction that included pitocin, a foley bulb, and an epidural. Gabe was born after 45 min of pushing. They had a 6 day hospital stay due to jaundice.
After that, Meghan became a “birth nerd” and knew that she wanted a different experience for her next birth. When she got pregnant again in 2018, she switched providers and went to see midwives at a different hospital. This pregnancy was much more eventful with several hospital stays for bleeding in her third trimester. Even though she was hoping to go into labor on her own, Meghan consented to an induction after another round of bleeding at 37 weeks. This induction was so different from her first. She was supported by her friend and doula, Jes, as well as her partner. After only three hours of active labor her second son, Jasper, was born.
Meghan Pow Bio
Meghan is raising two boys with her husband, Tyler, in North Carolina. She is a birth doula and owns a handmade, modern jewelry business called imperfectly co.
Kindred Bravely
Today’s episode is brought to you by Kindred Bravely. From adorable maternity wear to comfortable nursing bras, this mom-owned company has you covered. See all of their comfy clothing at kindredbravely.com! I especially love their Simply Sublime nursing tank, their high waisted leggings (for pregnancy AND postpartum), the comfy Jane pajamas, and their high waisted underwear! Listen to this episode for a special coupon code!
