Hannah’s first of 3 births was a medicated induction in the hospital and what she would describe as a fantastic pregnancy and birth despite her developing preeclampsia in her 39th week and the challenges of COVID. Her postpartum was blissful and she loved being a new mom.
Her second birth was an unmedicated induction in the hospital. Her labor was fast and it was her dream unmedicated birth. Her postpartum experience was challenging as her newborn developed a fever at 5 days old and she suffered from postpartum depression.
Hannah’s third pregnancy was difficult as her baby was diagnosed with IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction). She was induced early but was able to achieve her goal of an unmedicated birth as her baby was crowning as her epidural was being placed and did not have time to take effect. She describes her postpartum experience as pure joy and is thoroughly enjoying postpartum with her third and last baby. Connect with Hannah on IG at @_hannah_fair
Talk about how you’re feeling postpartum and reach out for help
Zenith Health
Today’s episode is sponsored by Zenith Health. Zenith Health helps you navigate pregnancy with access to real evidence, bringing you peace of mind through data. Imagine if your google searches only returned answers based on real evidence from research studies, clinical guidelines, and physician-authored content. Instead of giving you more opinions, Zenith’s Pregnancy Evidence Navigator -or Penny- tool provides exactly that and it’s completely free to use! Next time you have a burning question like a new symptom, a supplement you’re unsure about, or a question as you’re planning for birth. Spare yourself the panic Google and ask Penny your question for a real-time, unbiased review of the evidence at www.zenithhealth.io. Zenith also started the Pregnancy Evidence Project which is the first large scale research project wholly focused on learning from the millions of pregnancy and postpartum experiences already happening in the real world. If you choose to opt in, your pregnancy journey becomes part of the evidence that helps future moms make informed decisions and drives research forward. You can access the Zenith app in the app store as well.
Jessica shares the empowering stories of both her births, offering insight from her unique perspective as an athlete, law enforcement professional, and passionate advocate for low-intervention childbirth. Both were planned hospital births, but each began unexpectedly with her water breaking. During her first birth, Jessica felt a loss of control and struggled to manage her contractions. Determined to have a better experience, she learned from the first journey and decided to hire a doula for her second birth. This decision, combined with the lessons learned from her initial experience, led to a more positive and enjoyable birth the second time around.
Jessica K Bio
Jessica and her wife, Janice, are proud parents to two boys, ages 2.5 and 7 months. Beyond motherhood, Jessica is an ultra-runner, CrossFit athlete, coach, and law enforcement professional. She emphasizes the vital role of health, pushing the boundaries of fitness, and self-advocacy, principles that deeply influenced both her pregnancy and birth experiences.
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?
At 31 weeks, Alix and her husband found out their baby no longer had a heartbeat. What ensued was a long induction with lots of twists and turns, false starts, and of course a lot of emotion. Working with an incredible support team, Alix and her husband were still able to find joy, connection and empowerment throughout labor and delivery.
The birth was almost nothing like they had originally hoped for in their birth plan – an induction, lots of interventions, and of course a devastating outcome – yet Alix would still describe it as a beautiful birth.
Before, she would have thought that a stillbirth could only be traumatic and torturous. While the loss of her baby may have been a trauma, the birth was far from it. Having a positive birth gave Alix and her husband the gift of beautiful memories with their baby girl Kira.
She sincerely (but naively) hopes no one has to go through the same thing. But if someone finds themselves in a similar situation, she hopes listening to her story will offer some solace.
Alix lives in California, where she was born and raised. She tries to enjoy everything the Bay Area has to offer, from beaches to redwoods to occasional $18 glasses of natural wine. She’s a journalist, which makes affording the $18 glasses of wine a bit harder. Despite writing for a living, she’s terrible at writing short summaries of her personality. Her husband Nick doesn’t always read her writing, but if he reads this, she hopes he knows he’s the best. Contact: @alixshabadoo on Instagram or by email alix88174@gmail.com
There is overwhelming evidence that higher standards of nutrition support fertility, birth outcomes, and lifelong health. Unfortunately, the prenatal vitamin industry is failing us, leaving 95% of us depleted during one of the most nutritionally demanding times in our lives. Most prenatal vitamins only provide bare minimum nutrition, while Needed goes beyond bare minimums with products that can meet the needs of our minds, bodies, and babies. I’m excited to partner with Needed and offer you a special discount. Get 20% off your first order with code BIRTHHOUR at thisisneeded.com.
I feel confident recommending Needed because their products are rigorously third-party tested and endorsed by over 15,000 women’s health experts. Needed’s prenatal multivitamin comes in two forms – capsules or a delicious vanilla powder. In addition to the prenatal multivitamin, Needed has created bundle options to meet your needs, not only during different stages of pregnancy but also while trying to conceive and postpartum. As a mom of three, I especially love their collagen, pre/probiotics and cognitive support supplement.
Head over to thisisneeded.com to find your perfect bundle and use code BIRTHHOUR for 20% off your first order and up to 40% off select plans. I’ve talked to so many Birth Hour listeners who have discovered Needed through the podcast and I love hearing the feedback that they are feeling better during their pregnancy and into postpartum since starting with Needed. That’s thisisneeded.com and use code BIRTHHOUR.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Carolyn’s first pregnancy was unplanned, and like many first-time moms, she entered it with limited knowledge about birth. However, she knew her mother had three unmedicated births and felt determined to try the same. When she shared her plan with her provider, he responded with, “You know it hurts to have a baby,” but that didn’t change her mind. Carolyn hired a doula for support and went into labor at 37 weeks and 2 days.
Because she was GBS positive, she went to the hospital around 9 p.m. to begin antibiotics. Labor progressed steadily until she stalled at 9 centimeters around noon the next day. After agreeing to have her water broken, her baby was born within a couple of hours. The experience felt like a fairly routine hospital birth — just unmedicated. About two weeks postpartum, Carolyn experienced some baby blues, but they faded, and her recovery overall was smooth.
Cesarean Birth Due to Breech Presentation
In 2019, Carolyn became pregnant with her second child. This time, she felt confident and well-prepared. Her pregnancy was uncomplicated and “boring,” as she described it, until about 30 weeks when her baby was still breech. Discussions began around possible delivery options, and during one ultrasound, the cord was noted to be around the baby’s neck.
This was during the early months of COVID-19, so Carolyn’s husband could no longer attend her appointments — a difficult change after receiving that kind of news alone. She tried everything to encourage her baby to turn: acupuncture, Spinning Babies exercises, moxibustion, chiropractic care — but nothing worked. On May 5th, they welcomed their “Cinco de Mayo baby” via cesarean section.
Twin Home Birth
Carolyn and her husband had planned to wait at least a year before expanding their family again, but life had other plans. While practicing natural family planning, she was surprised to find herself pregnant after only a few cycles. When a friend suggested she take a pregnancy test, Carolyn didn’t expect it to be positive — yet the result was a “dye stealer,” an unusually dark test line that sent her to Google. She quickly learned it could mean being further along than expected or carrying twins.
Twins ran in her family, but she never imagined it would happen to her. After multiple tests and a confirming ultrasound, she saw two sacs on the screen. It took time for her and her husband to process the news, but once they did, they embraced it fully. Carolyn always knew she wanted a home birth, and she was grateful to find a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) experienced with twins and breech deliveries.
She received co-care with a local hospital for ultrasounds and NSTs. Early on, doctors monitored her for a short cervix, but it stabilized. Twin A had a possible velamentous cord insertion and consistently measured smaller than Twin B, though both continued to grow well. Carolyn chose not to find out the babies’ sexes, while her husband learned during the anatomy scan and kept the secret.
Labor began early on July 13th around 5 a.m. Carolyn woke to cramps that felt different from the Braxton Hicks contractions she’d had for weeks. She labored quietly alone in the den, moving through positions on the birth ball, walking, and resting on all fours. By 8:30 a.m., she told her husband she might be in labor. After taking a tincture and promptly throwing up, she notified her birth team.
Her doula suggested she get in the shower, which quickly intensified her contractions. By 9:30, she knew labor was real. Her doula arrived around 10:30, followed soon after by her midwife and support team. She labored in water and on land, feeling the powerful fetal ejection reflex with each wave. At 12:06 p.m., Twin A was born — a girl — followed 18 minutes later by Twin B, a boy. Both were healthy and alert, weighing 5 lbs and 6 lbs 2 oz.
Carolyn describes her twin birth as empowering and peaceful — the culmination of trust, preparation, and faith in her body’s ability to do exactly what it was designed to do.
Carolyn Jenkins Bio
Carolyn Jenkins is a wife, mom of four, and former college athlete and coach who recently became a stay-at-home mom. She and her husband live in St. Louis, Missouri, where they’re raising two boys, ages 10 and 5, and 3-month-old twins — a boy and a girl. After years of coaching and mentoring others, Carolyn felt called to continue supporting people in a different way and recently began her journey as a birth and postpartum doula. Her background in athletics taught her discipline, teamwork, and perseverance — qualities she now brings into motherhood and her doula work. Stepping into this new season of life, she’s learning to embrace slowing down, finding peace in the chaos, and celebrating small moments of growth. Carolyn is passionate about creating balance, showing grace to herself and others, and connecting with families walking through pregnancy and early parenthood. Connect with her on IG @_carolynjenks or on Tiktok @_carolynjenks
Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BIRTHHOUR to get UP TO $400 off today! AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, plus a 3-year warranty—an $84 value, free! Get this exclusive, podcast-only offer now at AirDoctorPro.com
Cozy Earth
Cozy Earth provided an exclusive offer for our listener’s today. Up to 20% off site wide when you use the code “BIRTHHOUR”
After a straight forward and fun pregnancy Justine was transferred to a hospital from her local birth center due to a high blood pressure reading at her 38 week visit. While she had a wonderful induction and blissful birth, her postpartum was very difficult due to postpartum preeclampsia followed by severe postpartum depression. Her son is just about to turn one and Justine is finally able to feel all the blessings of motherhood. Justine credits her recovery to her MVP husband.
Justine Noble Bio
Justine lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband Eric and her soon to be one year old son Lou. Justine has a background in fine art and has taught first grade, high school and community college. She has recently picked up tennis as a hobby and has just set up her studio and looks forward to painting again. Justine, Eric and Lou love to eat good food as a family and just recently made homemade oxtail pho! Baby Lou loves trying new food too. Find her on Instagram @Justine__rivas
There is overwhelming evidence that higher standards of nutrition support fertility, birth outcomes, and lifelong health. Unfortunately, the prenatal vitamin industry is failing us, leaving 95% of us depleted during one of the most nutritionally demanding times in our lives. Most prenatal vitamins only provide bare minimum nutrition, while Needed goes beyond bare minimums with products that can meet the needs of our minds, bodies, and babies. I’m excited to partner with Needed and offer you a special discount. Get 20% off your first order with code BIRTHHOUR at thisisneeded.com.
I feel confident recommending Needed because their products are rigorously third-party tested and endorsed by over 15,000 women’s health experts. Needed’s prenatal multivitamin comes in two forms – capsules or a delicious vanilla powder. In addition to the prenatal multivitamin, Needed has created bundle options to meet your needs, not only during different stages of pregnancy but also while trying to conceive and postpartum. As a mom of three, I especially love their collagen, pre/probiotics and cognitive support supplement.
Head over to thisisneeded.com to find your perfect bundle and use code BIRTHHOUR for 20% off your first order and up to 40% off select plans. I’ve talked to so many Birth Hour listeners who have discovered Needed through the podcast and I love hearing the feedback that they are feeling better during their pregnancy and into postpartum since starting with Needed. That’s thisisneeded.com and use code BIRTHHOUR.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Lindsey had two vaginal births in Lyon, France. Both pregnancies were extremely rough, with significant nausea and vomiting.
During her first pregnancy and birth, Lindsey developed hip pain in her second trimester and experienced severe acid reflux. She ultimately had an epidural, despite preparing to avoid one. At the hospital, a midwife performed a membrane sweep without her consent in an attempt to induce labor at 40 weeks and 5 days, as she had begun showing signs of preeclampsia. She went into spontaneous labor at 40 weeks and 6 days (the estimated due date in France is 41 weeks). She experienced minor tearing. Immediately afterward, she felt fairly positive about the birth, but in retrospect, she wished she had been better prepared and more supported. Her postpartum period was particularly challenging, marked by postpartum anxiety, the unexpected passing of her father-in-law, and a major move.
For her second birth, Lindsey did not have an epidural and felt much more empowered to advocate for herself. Because of her previous preeclampsia diagnosis, she was closely monitored throughout the pregnancy. She chose a private midwife and began weekly non-stress tests starting at 28 weeks. Her blood pressure remained excellent, and the baby was consistently healthy. She enjoyed the time spent talking with her midwife. She also received acupuncture throughout the pregnancy to support nausea, anxiety, and labor. She took one prenatal singing class—a distinctly French practice that teaches the use of voice and sound to manage pain and connect with the baby. She intentionally prepared her husband to support her like a doula and communicated clearly about her desire for a low-intervention birth. At 32 weeks, during her GBS swab, her hospital OB checked her cervix without asking. Labor began spontaneously at 40 weeks and 4 days. Her water broke while she was squatting by her bed to relieve pressure. It never occurred to her to ask for an epidural. She felt powerful and in control, caught her own baby, and had no tearing. She took the postpartum period more slowly and experienced what she describes as “postpartum bliss” for the first six weeks.
Lindsey Robrecht Bio
Lindsey lives in Strasbourg, France with her husband, 7 year-old daughter, Freya, and 2.5 year old daughter, Margot. The family moved to Strasbourg from Lyon in the spring of 2024. She was born in Alaska (her mom’s 8th birth and first and only homebirth) and was raised in Portland, Oregon. She has (more or less) lived in France since 2012. Lindsey is currently training to be a doula. Connect with her @lumidoula on instagram, or lindseyrobrecht@gmail.com.
Prenatal singing – this is a website in French that people could take a look at if they are interested, and have it translated by Google: https://www.chantprenatal.com/chant-prenatal/.
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.
Those who knew Jasmine while she was young would tell you she has wanted two things in life: to be a nurse and to be a mom. She told all who would listen that she was going to get married and have 8-10 kids. While that number significantly dropped as she got older, the desire to become a mother did not go away. Five years after marrying the man of her dreams they found out they were going to be parents for the first time.
Jasmine’s pregnancy was pretty straightforward, aside from some minor nausea. About one week prior to her due date she had to have a BPP (biophysical profile) to check that the baby was okay, after measuring about 10 weeks behind, which was attributed to dehydration. Once they realized baby girl was okay, her pregnancy continued uneventfully until June 13th when while working on a project for school Jasmine felt what she thought was her water breaking. Turns out she was loosing her mucus plug.
As Jasmine continued to work on her powerpoint for school and rock on her birth ball she knew she’d have a baby soon. Contractions started about 7pm that night. She called her doula, Gabby and family to inform them they could start heading her way (they were all coming from Montgomery, about 1.5 hours away). Her husband was there to walk with her, sway and do hip squeezes.She labored in the tub for a few hours. Then around 12am headed into the hospital. She was happy to learn that one of the midwives was on call and would attend her birth. She was admitted and check to be 3-4cm dilated.
After about another 5 hours of labor Jasmine and her husband welcomed their baby girl, Jannai into the world. Jasmine was able to achieve her goal of an unmedicated, midwife attended birth. Since Jannai was considered small for gestational age, her blood sugars were checked and she had some issue with her bilirubin. She had to stay under the bili lights but after 2 days both mom and daughter were healthy enough to go home on Father’s Day of 2019.
Jasmine and Jannai started had a great breastfeeding journey that lasted 5 years. Jasmine is forever grateful for the blessing God gave her in the journey of birth, postpartum and motherhood.
Jasmine Vance Bio
Jasmine lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband of 12 years and their daughter, Jannai (6years old). Jasmine works as an Oncology Nurse Navigator. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and listening to birth stories (both in person and via different podcast. She hopes to continue her education and caring for women through all walks of life by becoming a WHNP. You can connect with her via Instagram @housefullofgeminis.
There is overwhelming evidence that higher standards of nutrition support fertility, birth outcomes, and lifelong health. Unfortunately, the prenatal vitamin industry is failing us, leaving 95% of us depleted during one of the most nutritionally demanding times in our lives. Most prenatal vitamins only provide bare minimum nutrition, while Needed goes beyond bare minimums with products that can meet the needs of our minds, bodies, and babies. I’m excited to partner with Needed and offer you a special discount. Get 20% off your first order with code BIRTHHOUR at thisisneeded.com.
I feel confident recommending Needed because their products are rigorously third-party tested and endorsed by over 15,000 women’s health experts. Needed’s prenatal multivitamin comes in two forms – capsules or a delicious vanilla powder. In addition to the prenatal multivitamin, Needed has created bundle options to meet your needs, not only during different stages of pregnancy but also while trying to conceive and postpartum. As a mom of three, I especially love their collagen, pre/probiotics and cognitive support supplement.
Head over to thisisneeded.com to find your perfect bundle and use code BIRTHHOUR for 20% off your first order and up to 40% off select plans. I’ve talked to so many Birth Hour listeners who have discovered Needed through the podcast and I love hearing the feedback that they are feeling better during their pregnancy and into postpartum since starting with Needed. That’s thisisneeded.com and use code BIRTHHOUR.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Aubrey shares her emotional journey through her di-di twin pregnancy, labor, and postpartum challenges, highlighting the importance of supportive care and the impact of her experiences on her mental health. She discusses the difficulties faced during labor, the NICU stay for her twins, and the emotional toll of feeling unsupported. Aubrey emphasizes the need for compassion and understanding for new mothers and the importance of seeking help and resources during the postpartum period.
Takeaways
The experience has made Aubrey more empathetic towards other mothers.
Aubrey felt a lack of control during her pregnancy and labor.
The emotional strain of twin pregnancy appointments added pressure.
Induction was agreed upon out of exhaustion, not empowerment.
Aubrey’s labor experience was marked by a lack of mobility and support.
The presence of supportive nurses made a significant difference during labor.
Postpartum challenges included a difficult NICU experience for the twins.
Aubrey’s emotional healing took time and reflection after the birth.
She emphasized the importance of finding supportive healthcare providers.
Aubrey learned to advocate for her needs and her babies’ needs.
Aubrey Cates Bio
Aubrey Cates is a wife, mom of three girls, and twin mama who shares her honest story of surrender and faith through the birth of her twins, a 27-hour induction ending in a vaginal breech delivery. Her story reminds other mothers that even when birth feels out of control, God’s presence never leaves. Connect with her at @aubreysgill on instagram or Aubrey Cates on Facebook
AirDoctor
Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BIRTHHOUR to get UP TO $300 off today! AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, plus a 3-year warranty—an $84 value, free! Get this exclusive, podcast-only offer now at AirDoctorPro.com
After a few months of trying and immediately following a chemical pregnancy Izzabella got pregnant. The only pregnancy symptoms she experienced were vivid dreams and congestion. This lack of symptoms led to isolation from other women. Two months before birth she started getting contractions and prodromal labor. After a membrane sweep at 40 and 5 she went into labor. After laboring at home for 12 hours and her water breaking she went to the hospital where they proceeded to attempt to break her already broken waters. This stalled labor and caused a stagnation of progress for 6 hours. After being in labor for 24 hours she chose to get the epidural. After the epidural she got terrible labor shakes but was able to finally progress in only 6 more hours. She gave birth after 3 contractions or 18 minutes of pushing. There were no tearing or stitches required and she was able to walk to the postpartum room less than two hours later by herself. She developed the postpartum pinks and thought that she could handle everything—little sleep, pumping, going out socially, and keeping the house clean but after 6 weeks she crashed and is currently learning to cope with postpartum depression and anxiety.
Takeaways
Isabella had a chemical pregnancy before conceiving her child.
She experienced a very easy pregnancy with no morning sickness.
Isabella felt disconnected from the idea of being pregnant.
She wanted an unmedicated birth but was open to an epidural if needed.
Her midwife experience was challenging due to a lack of confidence.
Labor began with signs she initially dismissed as false.
She faced difficulties with IV placement during labor.
Isabella experienced a postpartum high followed by a significant low.
She emphasized the importance of mental health support postpartum.
Isabella found that researching her feelings helped her navigate postpartum challenges.
Izzabella Moum Bio
Izzabella Moum is a stay at home mom. She is currently attending college full time online and enjoys baking, painting and photography. You can connect with her @izzabella_moum on Instagram.
There is overwhelming evidence that higher standards of nutrition support fertility, birth outcomes, and lifelong health. Unfortunately, the prenatal vitamin industry is failing us, leaving 95% of us depleted during one of the most nutritionally demanding times in our lives. Most prenatal vitamins only provide bare minimum nutrition, while Needed goes beyond bare minimums with products that can meet the needs of our minds, bodies, and babies. I’m excited to partner with Needed and offer you a special discount. Get 20% off your first order with code BIRTHHOUR at thisisneeded.com.
I feel confident recommending Needed because their products are rigorously third-party tested and endorsed by over 10,000 women’s health experts. Needed’s prenatal multivitamin comes in two forms – capsules or a delicious vanilla powder. In addition to the prenatal multivitamin, Needed has created bundle options to meet your needs, not only during different stages of pregnancy but also while trying to conceive and postpartum. As a mom of three, I especially love their collagen, pre/probiotics and cognitive support supplement.
Head over to thisisneeded.com to find your perfect bundle and use code BIRTHHOUR for 20% off your first order and up to 40% off select plans. I’ve talked to so many Birth Hour listeners who have discovered Needed through the podcast and I love hearing the feedback that they are feeling better during their pregnancy and into postpartum since starting with Needed. That’s thisisneeded.com and use code BIRTHHOUR.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Carlyncia Grice went into her second birth determined to experience it differently than her first. During her first pregnancy, she had hoped for a natural birth but hadn’t done the research or preparation she truly needed. This time, she was ready—committed to her birth plan, inspired by her ancestors, and determined to trust her body.
When labor began, Carlyncia clung to her vision of using the birthing tub for relief, only to be told it wasn’t available. Refusing to back down, she advocated for herself until she was finally able to slip into the water. The shift was transformative, allowing her to breathe, center herself, and ride the intensity of her contractions.
Her son was born unmedicated, a nine-pound baby boy, without tearing, stitches, or an epidural. The experience left her feeling powerful, grounded, and proud of the persistence and advocacy that carried her through. Her story is a testament to trusting yourself, speaking up, and finding strength even when the path feels overwhelming.
Carlyncia Grice Bio
Carlyncia Grice is a mother of two, a full-spectrum doula, and the founder of Zenith Beauty LLC, where she creates herbal products and resources to support families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. After navigating her own birth experiences, Carlyncia felt called to birth work and now empowers mothers with knowledge, community, and holistic care. She is also developing creative tools like a sibling-prep coloring book to help children welcome new babies with confidence and love. Connect with Carlyncia for doula support and holistic wellness resources: Instagram: @_zenithbeauty and LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carlyncia-grice-6a407830a
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.
At 41, Connie Rutherford became a single mother by choice, giving birth to twins via a scheduled C-section at 38 weeks. The delivery resulted in significant blood loss, requiring two transfusions. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the hospital nursery was closed, forcing Connie and her mother to care for the newborns alone in their hospital room—they couldn’t even leave for water. One of the twins frequently choked, adding to the stress. On the fourth day, a nurse tried to discharge them, but Connie advocated to stay an additional night. The next morning, a doctor discovered jaundice in one of the babies, who then underwent six hours of phototherapy.
Once home, Connie faced the exhausting demands of caring for two infants while breastfeeding and pumping around the clock. Two weeks later, she passed large blood clots and went to the ER, where she experienced a postpartum hemorrhage. It was a physically and emotionally grueling start to motherhood.
Connie Rutherford Bio
Connie Rutherford, a proud alumna of The University of Oklahoma and a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is a multicultural woman of Black and Taiwanese heritage. She spent her formative years in Okinawa, Japan, where her father served in the U.S. Air Force. In 2019, while working on Wall Street in New York City, Connie made the life-changing decision to become a single mother by choice. She pursued motherhood using donor sperm and, at the age of 40, became pregnant. She gave birth to twins at age 41 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. During her pregnancy, she began writing a memoir to document her journey, capturing the emotional, physical, and mental challenges she faced. After nearly six years of dedication and perseverance, she has self-published her book, Searching for Tadpoles: The Journey to Motherhood of a Single Mother by Choice.Her story aims to inspire and empower others considering or navigating similar paths to parenthood. The book is available at store.bookbaby.com/book/searching-for-tadpoles. Learn more at connierutherford.com and follow her journey on Instagram and TikTok @searchingfortadpoles
Today’s episode is sponsored by Zenith Health. Zenith Health helps you navigate pregnancy with access to real evidence, bringing you peace of mind through data. Imagine if your google searches only returned answers based on real evidence from research studies, clinical guidelines, and physician-authored content. Instead of giving you more opinions, Zenith’s Pregnancy Evidence Navigator -or Penny- tool provides exactly that and it’s completely free to use! Next time you have a burning question like a new symptom, a supplement you’re unsure about, or a question as you’re planning for birth. Spare yourself the panic Google and ask Penny your question for a real-time, unbiased review of the evidence at www.zenithhealth.io. Zenith also started the Pregnancy Evidence Project which is the first large scale research project wholly focused on learning from the millions of pregnancy and postpartum experiences already happening in the real world. If you choose to opt in, your pregnancy journey becomes part of the evidence that helps future moms make informed decisions and drives research forward. You can access the Zenith app in the app store as well.
Isaiah (first child, boy) was born in Bourg-en-Bresse, France during the pandemic in April 2021. Catherine’s husband was playing professional basketball there at the time. During Covid, France had very strict policies and that meant Catherine was unable to travel to see family and friends, and no one could enter France unless they were a citizen. Catherine went the entire year only seeing her brother once and not being able to see her parents. Catherine had a great experience delivering at a public hospital in France with the help of midwives. She had an epidural and labored almost 24 hours total.
Sienna (second child, girl) was born in Santiago-de-Compostela, Spain in April 2023. Catherine’s husband was playing professional basketball there at the time. Catherine had an unmedicated precipitous, en-caul birth with her daughter at a private hospital after days of prodromal labour. A very different experience from her son’s birth.
Catherine Traer Bio
Catherine is a 31 year old mother of two originally from Canada and now living in Tenerife, Spain. Catherine’s husband is a professional basketball player and is currently in his 11th season playing basketball abroad. Together, they’ve lived in Italy, France and are in their 5th year living in Spain. Catherine is also a professional basketball player, doula, and childbirth educator. She started her doula business to help support expats giving birth abroad after experiencing the births of her children in France and Spain. Connect with her on Instagram @catherinetraerdoula
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?
