Author Archives: bryn

Sylvia is a first time mom who had an unexpectedly quick labor after PROM and delivered a healthy baby boy without pain medication in the hospital. She attributes her quick and peaceful birth to her spiritual, mental, and physical preparation during pregnancy. She had to endure many long MFM appointments for a false kidney disease diagnosis, but in the end it all contributed to a memorable experience that prepared her and her husband for parenthood. To connect with Sylvia leave a comment on this page!

Resources

• Know Your Options Online Childbirth Course
• Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel
• Made for This: The Catholic Mom’s Guide to Birth by Mary Haseltine
• The Birth Hour Birth Stories
• Nourish Move Love – free workouts for pregnancy and postpartum
• Evidence Birth Podcast
• Christian Hypnobirthing app

Aeroflow Breastpumps

Did you know breast pumps and milk storage bags, maternity compression garments, even lactation education & support can all be covered by your insurance? Aeroflow helps millions of parents unlock these breastfeeding and postpartum essentials by working directly with your insurance company 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. Visit AeroflowBreastpumps.com/birthhour to fill out their free and easy Qualify Through Insurance form. Don’t forget to use the promo code “BIRTHHOUR15” in their online shop for 15% off all supplies and accessories. You’ve got enough on your plate. Why not let Aeroflow Breastpumps help support you on your breastfeeding journey?

Rebecca had a relatively uneventful and healthy pregnancy, and spent a lot of time preparing physically and mentally for birth. She was in prodromal labor for 4 days prior to starting active labor, but once active labor began, it went quickly. Rebecca labored for about 10 hours at home, using various coping strategies and locations, including side-lying release and spending time in the bath, before heading in to the hospital. She was 6cm dilated at triage, and was admitted. She used the bath again at the hospital, as well as the birthing ball with counter pressure from her midwife and doula, and nitrous oxide. After about 3 hours in labor at the hospital, she was fully dilated. She pushed for an hour and was able to meet her daughter after the relatively low-intervention birth she hoped for. About 2 hours postpartum, when the nurses asked her to get up to use the bathroom, Rebecca started feeling dizzy, and the midwife returned as it became clear she was having a delayed postpartum hemorrhage. She ultimately received transfusions of 4 units of blood and went under general anesthesia to have a Bakri balloon placed, which successfully stopped the bleeding. She was able to recover relatively quickly postpartum, while navigating some postpartum anxiety, using a nipple shield for nursing for several months, slow weight gain for her daughter, getting feeding-related OT, and struggling to maintain her own weight postpartum while breastfeeding. She went on to have a successful and beautiful breastfeeding journey – her daughter is still nursing a couple times a day at nearly 2.75 years old.

Rebecca Eppall Bio

Rebecca lives in Malden, MA with her husband Steve, daughter Emery, and cat Oliver. She works part-time leading and supporting a team of instructional coaches who work with schools and nonprofits to improve instructional practices and work towards educational equity. She loves spending time outside, especially in the woods, reading a good fantasy novel, and playing board games, though these days she’s more likely to be on a playground or playing with Magnatiles with her toddler (which also brings her lots of joy!). As an educator, she loves watching her daughter grow and develop and become her own person. You can reach Rebecca at @Rebecca.Eppall on Instagram or Rebecca Eppall on Facebook (both of which are private but you can send a message).

Resources

• Know Your Options Childbirth Course
• The Birth Partner
• Expecting Better
• Mindful Hypnobirthing audiobook
• Expecting and Empowered (they also have a helpful Instagram and app)
• Serola band
• Kira Kim IBCLC (Boston North Shore area)
• kellymom.com
• Infant Risk Call Center (The call center number is 1(806) 352-2519)

Needed

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 6000 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. Use code BIRTHHOUR for up to 40% off including on monthly plans at thisisneeded.com.

Claire shares the story of her second birth story with a short labor lasting only about 3 hours. Her baby had a shoulder dystocia and the midwife team pushed on her abdomen to get her baby out. Following the birth, Claire’s baby spent about 36 hours in the NICU for additional help with her breathing after being born so quickly. Postpartum, she was told her baby had tongue and lip ties despite having no issues with nursing. She chose not the have them revised and they continued to have a successful nursing experience.

Claire Smith Bio

Claire is a mom of two and Child Passenger Safety Advocate for Joie Baby. She fell into car seat safety after doing absolutely everything wrong with her first child. Claire got certified as a Child Passenger Safety Advocate in 2017, started a local nonprofit that same year when she realized everyone else got it wrong with car seats as well, and then became an Instructor of the CPST curriculum in 2019. She spent many a year in the corporate consulting world before going to work for Joie and now, very happily, gets to do all things car seat every day. You can find her online on Facebook and Instagram as @Joie_baby_us_cpst or claire.smith@joiebaby.com.

Resources

• Hospital classes for newborn care and breastfeeding
• Going to a free carseat check event hosted by a CPST
• Claire’s non-profit: Saving Northern Virginia’s Littles @savingnovaslittles
• Babylist for baby registries and pregnancy tracking

Joie Baby

Today’s episode is in partnership with Joie. A safety-forward, affordable, and globally recognized baby gear brand that specializes in stylish car seats, strollers, and in-home products rooted in European design and made for all parents… in all life stages. Not only is Joie the #1 car seat brand in the UK, but they’re making waves in the US with their innovative car seats like the mint latch infant car seat that doesn’t need a base, and their Chili Spin 360 which rotates toward you to make it so easy to put your children in their car seat and take them out – I have this seat and it’s a game changer (or whatever statement resonates with your experience.) Later in this episode, I’m going to tell you how you can get a major discount on this carseat during the current carseat trade-in event at Target, so keep listening. Plus, today’s birth story guest features Claire Smith, who happens to be Joie’s dedicated Child Passenger Safety Technician (or CPST for short) and is responsible for helping Joie’s engineers stay ahead of the newest car seat safety standards and supporting parents and caregivers with accurately choosing the right car seat for their child and using it properly.