Planned Homebirth after Two Unmedicated Hospital Births and Multiple Early Miscarriages

Kelly’s first pregnancy in 2017 sadly ended in a missed miscarriage at 8 weeks. Her second pregnancy almost 8 months later was also a missed miscarriage, ending in a blighted ovum at 7 weeks in early 2018. After a round of genetic testing that came back completely normal, her OB determined the back to back miscarriages to be a fluke, and 6 weeks later she became pregnant with their first daughter. At 26 weeks pregnant, Kelly was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, but through diet and exercise was able to stay low risk and to have the unmedicated hospital delivery she’d hoped for following a membrane sweep at 39 weeks.

kelly martin birth story

Her second baby was also born at 39 weeks, 2 and a half years later at the same hospital during the height of covid restrictions and only 56 minutes after arriving at her hospital room. For her third pregnancy, she decided to switch to a home birth hybrid model of care where she saw both her home birth midwife team and a hospital based midwife practice during her pregnancy. Besides an ER visit to treat acute urinary retention at 15 weeks, she enjoyed a textbook pregnancy. And after weeks of prodromal labor and even a full false alarm, she welcomed their third daughter earth side by way of a dreamy water birth at almost 41 weeks pregnant, 2 years and 1 week exactly after their second baby was born. 

unmedicated hospital birth

Kelly Martin Bio

Kelly and her husband Chad live outside of Atlanta, GA with their 3 daughters Charlotte (almost 5), Claire (2 and a half), and Mabel (almost 7 months old). Kelly is a full time mom to their 3 girls and also works remotely as director of business operations for a boutique marketing agency in Atlanta. She also professionally plans Disney vacations for nearly 100 families each year. In her spare time, she loves baking cookies, singing, yoga and pilates, reading, and girls nights. She and her husband are huge Atlanta Braves fans and love going out for tacos. You can find her on instagram @martinmagicmaker and can message with her on facebook as well.

Resources

SNP Therapeutics

Today’s episode is sponsored by SNP Therapeutics, makers of the Genate Test. Based on over 16 million dollars in NIH grants, and more than 30 years of nutrition and genetic research, SNP Therapeutics is leading the charge in the field of prenatal, precision-nutrition genetic testing.

SNP Therapeutics is committed to providing accurate and usable information to help mothers provide the best possible nutrition to their babies through The Genate Test: a prenatal, precision-nutrition, genetic test that offers personalized dietary adjustments and supplement recommendations based on your DNA. 

You can rest easy knowing that your prenatal nutrition has been optimized by tailoring it to your genetic code. Find peace of mind about your prenatal nutrition with the Genate Test by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more at genate.com and Use code BIRTHHOUR15 for 15% off your order.

Pelvic Floor Therapist’s 32 Hour Homebirth Birth Story

Cailyn switched from care with a midwife at a birthing center within a hospital to a homebirth midwife at 30 weeks. Cailyn had a beautifully challenging 32 hour labor and long pushing stage surrounded by her amazing husband, wonderful midwife, doula and birth photographer. Later that day her son then needed a little bit more  support so they transferred to the local hospital and spent some time in the nursery there until they were finally discharged home after 48 hours. They then had a challenging postpartum feeding journey that consisted of months of triple feeding and donor milk. 

Cailyn McDonnell Bio

Cailyn McDonnell is a wife to her lovely husband, a mother to her beautiful 1 year old boy and 3 year old pitbull. She is also a pelvic floor physical therapist with a private practice in Canton CT called Lotus Pelvic Health . She loves all things birth, hiking and live music. Connect with her on social media @lotuspelvichealth or via email Cailyn@lotuspelvichealth.com.

Resources

  • Britta Bushnell’s Transformed by birth 
  • Ina may gaskins guide to childbirth 
  • Business of being born 
  • Local (to CT) resources: 
  • Forrester Lactation in Farmington 
  • My Midwife  Christy from Magnolia Midwifery 
  • Birth photos by Viven Stembridge  @vstemb 

Cozy Earth

Today’s episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. I first learned about Cozy Earth when their sheets were named one of Oprah’s favorite things in 2018 and I was having a baby in the Fall of 2018 and treated myself to the softest sheets I’ve ever slept on! I’ve been sleeping on Cozy Earth’s best-selling bamboo sheet sets (and their pillow too) ever since. Cozy Earth sheets are temperature-regulating and incredibly soft which is so perfect for all of the life stages we talk about on The Birth Hour. Seriously, if you are a hot sleeper these are a game changer and worth the investment! They’d also make a great baby registry item. Cozy Earth provided an exclusive offer for our listener’s today. Up to 40% off site wide when you use the code “BIRTHHOUR”

cozy earth

MTHFR and using a Sperm Donor and Two Planned Homebirth Stories

Stephanie’s first birth was a planned home birth with a long labor. After exhaustion set in, she decided to transfer to the hospital, but ended up having the baby in the back of the midwife’s car.  

Stephanie’s second birth was another planned home birth that was much more manageable than the first. During delivery, the baby had double shoulder dystocia but her midwives took action and delivered the baby safely. 

Stephanie Adney Bio

Stephanie lives outside Memphis, TN with her wife and 2 kids and is a real estate agent turned postpartum doula. She’s passionate about all things birth and postpartum and enjoys serving the families in her community. Instagram name is the.kitchen.doula  

homebirth picture

Resources

SNP Therapeutics

Today’s episode is sponsored by SNP Therapeutics, makers of the Genate Test. Based on over 16 million dollars in NIH grants, and more than 30 years of nutrition and genetic research, SNP Therapeutics is leading the charge in the field of prenatal, precision-nutrition genetic testing.

SNP Therapeutics is committed to providing accurate and usable information to help mothers provide the best possible nutrition to their babies through The Genate Test: a prenatal, precision-nutrition, genetic test that offers personalized dietary adjustments and supplement recommendations based on your DNA. 

You can rest easy knowing that your prenatal nutrition has been optimized by tailoring it to your genetic code. Find peace of mind about your prenatal nutrition with the Genate Test by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more at genate.com and Use code BIRTHHOUR15 for 15% off your order.

Empowering Unintended Homebirth after Epidural Hospital Birth

Realizing how underprepared she was during her first child’s birth, Magdalena decided to take matters into her own hands and do some serious birth-prep work prior to her second delivery.  She spent nine months listening to podcasts, working with midwives, reading all the books and practicing different laboring techniques to prepare herself for a completely physiological birth.

After 12 hours of what felt like harmonious labor at home, her baby was born accidentally on the bathroom floor while her husband loaded the car for the hospital. Magdalena describes it as the most empowering experience of her life and adds, “the whole story still in some ways feels unreal when I share it.” She adds that “if my story can help just one person or inspire someone to be their own birthing advocate I would be thrilled.”

hospital epidural

Magdalena Berger

Magdalena is 35 and has two kids, Olive (2)  Sunny (4 months). She lives in south Jersey on the coast with her husband who is a pilot in the US Coast Guard. 

Magdalena has a swimwear line and business – MAGDAKINEDESIGNS.co founded in 2016 and manages an Airbnb in South Jersey while staying home with their kids. Her husband’s current position in the military requires him to be deployed 1/3 of the year and also that they relocate every four years. Both of these aspects of his work keep their family very busy…and always on the move!

accidental homebirth with sibling

Resources

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.

Three Unmedicated Births: Shoulder Dystocia, Precipitous Accidental Home Birth, and Planned Homebirth

Alicia’s first baby was born at a free-standing birth center with midwives and all was going well until, during pushing, thick meconium was present in her amniotic fluid which added to the urgency when the 11lb 1oz baby’s shoulders got stuck and needed help from her midwife to get out. After resuscitation, her daughter went straight to the NICU and stayed there for a week. Her second birth was wildly opposite when her water broke just before midnight and her baby was accidentally born in the bathroom just after 2am. That FER kicked in but she was able to keep from pushing until her midwife arrived and the baby flew out in 3 pushes. Her third birth was not quite as fast, but smooth and straightforward at home after driving herself to her midwife appointment only to have her cervix checked (she was 8cm dilated!) and told “Go home! You’re having a baby today!!” Sure enough, her third baby was born just over an hour after arriving back at home. 

Alicia’s blood shot eyes after “purple pushing” with her first baby.

Alicia Brose Bio 

Alicia is a 28 year old wife and mother of three who lives 30 minutes south of Seattle. She and her husband owned a small home inspection business for 8 years and recently sold that so her husband could pursue a firefighting career. After doing all the research she has for her pregnancies, birth and postpartum, she has become a self-proclaimed “birth nerd”. Alicia does part-time photography, loves gardening, plans to homeschool her children and enjoys baking and riding her peloton bike. Her secret dream is to own a flower farm someday. You can connect her on instagram at @aliciawithtoniechristine

Resources

  • The Birth Hour Podcast
  • Christian Hypnobirthing App
  • Spinning Babies- Parents Class and Daily Essentials
  • The Freya App for contraction tracking
  • The Miles Circuit
  • Virtual HAES Dietitian- specializing in pregnant moms with GD & a history of eating disorders
  • My favorite Gestational Diabetes instagram account: @gestational.diabetes.nutrition
  • MommaStrong- workout program that focuses on functional movements and the pelvic floor with quick but effective workouts.

Cozy Earth

Today’s episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. I first learned about Cozy Earth when their sheets were named one of Oprah’s favorite things in 2018 and I was having a baby in the Fall of 2018 and treated myself to the softest sheets I’ve ever slept on! I’ve been sleeping on Cozy Earth’s best-selling bamboo sheet sets (and their pillow too) ever since. Cozy Earth sheets are temperature-regulating and incredibly soft which is so perfect for all of the life stages we talk about on The Birth Hour. Seriously, if you are a hot sleeper these are a game changer and worth the investment! They’d also make a great baby registry item. Cozy Earth provided an exclusive offer for our listener’s today. Up to 40% off site wide when you use the code “BIRTHHOUR”

cozy earth

Long Epidural Birth followed by Surprise Homebirth + Postpartum Anxiety and Depression

Adina got pregnant with her first baby in 2017, and her daughter was born after a long hospital birth that included an epidural and other interventions to help labor move along. Shortly after birth she developed postpartum anxiety and depression, amid breastfeeding issues and challenges with insomnia. Her second baby was born in May 2020, shortly after the pandemic began. She planned another hospital birth, however her son’s labor progressed much faster than her first and he was unexpectedly born at home with assistance from her doula. She struggled again with postpartum anxiety and depression, but was able to push through breastfeeding challenges and establish a successful nursing relationship.

Adina Olsen Bio

Adina lives in the Bay Area, California with her husband of 10 years and her two children Adriana (5) and Atlin (3). She is currently pregnant with her third baby. Connect with her on Facebook at Adina Olsen.

Resources

Baby Tula

This episode is sponsored by Baby Tula. Baby Tula creates unique and expressive carriers that help parents keep doing what they love while connecting with their little ones. Baby carriers are so much more than a parenting tool! When you wear your baby, you support the emotional, social, and physical well-being of your baby as well as your own! With a variety of unique prints, small batch and handwoven fabrics, inclusive sizing, and carriers for older babies too, you can find a carrier that’s distinctly you! You can use the code BIRTHHOUR at BabyTula.com and BabyTula.Co.UK.

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