by thebirthhour | Sep 20, 2018 | Birth Stories, Cesarean, Hospital, Infertility, Preemie, Twins
IUI Fertility Treatment & Surprise Triplets
Although Jody and Jeremy went through fertility treatment (IUI – intrauterine insemination,) they were told their chances of the procedure’s success was less than 20% due to small follicle size. Along with their physician, they decided to proceed anyways. After positive pregnancy tests and blood tests, it was confirmed the procedure was a success!
Jody experienced a significant amount of bleeding. After about 8 weeks, she and her husband went in for an early ultrasound to see if there was a reason for the bleeding. The doctor confirmed that triplets were the reason. Jody had a fairly insignificant pregnancy by triplet standards. No official bed rest or major medical issues.
Premature Labor and Eclampsia
At 32 weeks and 6 days, Jody went into labor. Medication helped stop the contractions, and 48 hours of steroids helped develop the lungs of the babies. Jody’s high blood pressure kept her in the antenatal unit of the hospital. Once her blood pressure was under control, she was set to go home. Listening to her gut feeling, she asked for one more night to be monitored.
That evening Jody went into labor and full eclampsia. Luckily she was right where she needed to be. An emergency cesarean section was performed and Jody and Jeremy welcomed three beautiful babies to their family (33weeks 4days gestation).
NICU Stay with Triplets
The NICU stay proved to be a challenge, with emotional and physical (for the babies) tribulations. The newborns needed to have 5 days in a row without a cardiac or oxygen related ‘event’. After 22 days of ups and downs the Wilson family was together once again.
Breastfeeding Triplets and Postpartum Depression
Exclusively pumping/breast feeding for triplets would prove to be a full time job in itself for Jody. The children had to have the breast milk supplemented to a higher caloric value to help with growth. Trying to find any type of balance in their home life was a struggle. Jody struggled with postpartum depression and sought medical help after trying to deal with it alone. Jody never really had a birth plan in mind prior to finding out she was pregnant—in the end the triplets made the plan for her.
Jody Wilson Bio
Jody is 36 years old and lives in Washington state with her husband, Jeremy, their goldendoodle, Opie(5), and their triplets: Audrey(4), Oliver(4), and Everett(4). Jeremy works from home part time and travels part time. Jody stays at home with the children and also works as a substitute group fitness instructor. Now that the kids have started preschool, Jody is looking forward to finishing the baby books and a few other projects that have taken a back seat. If you have any questions or just need a fellow triplet-mom to lend a listening ear, feel free to connect with her on Facebook, email or Instagram. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram or via email at jkrunsforfun@gmail.com.
CollegeBacker
This episode is sponsored by CollegeBacker. CollegeBacker is the easiest way to save for college with help from family & friends. In just 5 minutes, you can open a tax-advantaged 529 Plan, and then invite family & friends to contribute – even before your child is born!
Sign up at CollegeBacker.com/TheBirthHour and receive a $10 match when you start saving for your child, or when you send a gift to kickoff someone else’s college fund.
by thebirthhour | Sep 18, 2018 | Adoption, Birth Stories, Hospital
Two Unmedicated Hospital Births, Adoption Story & Vasectomy that Reversed Itself
Leanne’s first child was born at 41 weeks in an unmedicated hospital birth with a nurse mid-wife group. She labored for about 7 hours before Wesley came flying into the world. Her middle child, Eloise, joined their family via open infant adoption. Leanne and her husband were present for her birth and received their daughter in the hallway just minutes after her induction and vacuum-assisted delivery. Her 3rd child, Thomas, entered their family after a surprise post-vasectomy pregnancy. He was born at 40 weeks and 3 days, after 2.5 weeks of prodromal labor, in the same hospital as his older brother and with the same mid-wife group. He was born after about 90 minutes of active labor in an unmedicated birth.
Leanne Johnston Bio
Leanne lives in a Fort Worth suburb with her husband of 9 years and their 3 children, Wesley, Eloise, and Thomas. Leanne and Jarrod met in seminary and work together at a local church. Leanne enjoys walking, baking chocolate chip cookies, and wine. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
Resources
Natural Hospital Birth Book
The Birth Hour
Bradley Method
Grove Collaborative
Today’s episode sponsor is Grove Collaborative. Grove makes it easy to discover amazing natural home and personal care products. Grove selects only the best non-toxic products, so you can shop with confidence knowing that everything on their site is good for you, your family, and the planet. Grove’s VIP membership provides our customers with: unlimited free shipping, a free full-sized gift every few months, price match guarantee, and amazing personal service.
Go to this link and when you sign-up you’ll get a free glass spray bottle two-piece concentrates pack to use in the spray bottle, and a 3 pack of microfiber cloths! Grove will add some suggested items to your cart to get you started and you can swap those out for whatever you need for your home.
by thebirthhour | Sep 13, 2018 | Adoption, Birth Stories, Hospital
Adoption through Foster Care
Kavisa and Sky talked about adoption even before they married. They set goals for building a blended family. Five years into their marriage, the timing and details aligned, and they became licensed for foster care and adoption. When Kavisa, who is normally an overthinker who spends days researching all the angles before making decisions, first saw a photo of their daughters she immediately knew. They met their two daughters for the first time in August 2015, officially adopting them in April 2016.
Five Day Wait After Water Breaking, Posterior Baby and Fetal Vacuum
Exactly 1 year and two days after Kavisa and Sky legally adopted their two daughters from foster care, their son was born. He took his sweet time arriving sunny side up with a head tilt (occiput posterior and asynclitic). He refused to follow any of Kavisa’s plans for birth. Kavisa planned for a water birth without any medical inventions or drugs. Her son decided that even though his comfortable womb home of amniotic fluid started leaking on Tuesday, he would stay inside an extra 5 days… and only after 3 days of labor. Inadequate dilation, fetal station/presentation, kidney function failure, and chorioamnionitis meant Kavisa and her son ended up needing medications, an epidural, and a fetal vacuum. However, after all the drama her son immediately latched seconds after birth. Their family 5 is a “real family” and full of love.
Kavisa Wood Bio
Kavisa and her husband Schuyler live in California with their two daughters Taloni (6) and Sharaelyn (3.5) and their son Uhuru (9 months). They intentionally grew their family through a combination of foster care adoption and biological children. Kavisa is a yoga teacher and CEO of her household. She is fueled by Baha’i prayers, running, yoga and coffee.
Resources
Jelly Bean Study for Glucose Test
Instagram accounts: @knittogetherbyadoption, @our_foster_parent_life, @fostermoms, @empoweredbirthproject, @4thtribodies and @taprootdoula
Podcasts:
Foster Parenting Podcast (T & W)
The Birth Hour (Bryn Huntpalmer)
The Birthful Podcast (Adriana Lozada)
Pregnancy Podcast (Vanessa Merten)
Evenflo
Today’s episode is sponsored by Evenflo. Evenflo recently released the EveryStage carseat with an innovative new EasyClick Latch System that provides a 3 times tighter installation and reduces the room for error. You’ll be able to use this carseat for 10 years because it not only grows with your child from 4-120 lbs with an infant, convertible and booster mode option but also allows for rear facing up to 50 lbs! Evenflo thought of everything and included multiple positions and recline options to keep your kiddo comfy while saving on leg room for other passengers. At the end of this episode I’ll be talking to Sarah who is a safety expert at Evenflo all about what makes this carseat so unique.
by thebirthhour | Sep 11, 2018 | Birth Stories, Hospital, Podcast
911 Call Roadside Delivery
Jerika planned a hospital birth with her first. She saw an OBGYN and had a very textbook pregnancy. Her water broke the evening of July 2nd, 2016 and contractions started when she was given Pitocin. Her labor and delivery were very textbook as well. She experienced a lot of pain for about two weeks after giving birth which influenced her to opt for an unmedicated birth for her second child. She had been going to a midwife and was planning to deliver at a birth center. Her second pregnancy was very textbook as well.
Unlike her first pregnancy, she did experience some Braxton hicks and cramping for about three weeks before she went into labor. The morning of May 18th, 2018, Jerika started having contractions that eventually turned into active labor. By 1:30 pm she called her husband to come home from work and things escalated quickly. He arrived at 1:45 pm and by 2:00pm contractions were only minutes apart and very intense. They quickly got in the car to make the 30 minute trip to the birthing center. 10 minutes into the drive her water broke and she quickly realized they were not going to make it. Her husband called 911 and was instructed to go to the nearest hospital. While in route to the hospital they realized they they wouldn’t make it there either. The operator instructed them to pull over and walked her husband through the delivery of their second daughter. Paramedics arrived about 5 minutes after their daughter was born and they were transported to the hospital only a mile down the road.
Jerika Crews Bio
Jerika is 24 years old and lives in Utah with her family of four. She got married in 2015 and shortly after became pregnant with her first daughter, Grace. Grace was born in a hospital in July of 2016 and is now two years old. Jerika got pregnant for the second time in 2017 and had her second daughter, Martie, in May of 2018. She has been a stay at home mom for two years but has recently started a career in bookkeeping. Connect with her on Facebook.
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 BIRTH18 at www.crane-usa.com.
by thebirthhour | Sep 6, 2018 | Birth Center, Birth Stories, Hospital, Twins
Birth Center Birth
When Lisa and her husband, Johnny found out they were expecting their first child, she knew she wanted to have an unmedicated birth in a birthing center. After a pretty uneventful pregnancy, she was overjoyed to have the labor of her dreams. Lisa was thrilled to catch their daughter and the new parents were happily sent home after a brief stay at the center.
Unmedicated Hospital Twin Birth
Just shy of a year later, Lisa and Johnny found out they were expecting again and they knew they’d have baby #2 at the birthing center. But, as fate would have it, Lisa became “high risk” when they learned that twins were in their future. Unable to deliver at a birthing center and living in a state were homebirths were illegal, Lisa had to face one of her biggest fears: giving birth in a hospital. The couple was faced with opposition from the medical staff and although there were some twists and turns along the way, she succeeded in having two more unmedicated births!
Lisa Jay Bio
Lisa lives in North Carolina with her husband, Johnny and their three littles: Jupiter, Zephyr and Capell. She works in finance at an eLearning company. Lisa is passionate about her family, birth, photography and travel. You can connect with her on Instagram @lisaluonoceanave.
Resources
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
The Birth Hour
Twin labors on YouTube
Birthing Multiples Natural (closed Facebook Group)
Birth Affirmations
Babylist
This episode is 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.
by thebirthhour | Sep 4, 2018 | Birth Stories, Hospital
Gestational Thrombocytopenia Diagnosis & Precipitous Labor 3 Days Before Due Date
Scarlet was surprised, but excited, to find she was pregnant with her second child after it took 10 months to conceive their first. Her two pregnancies and births were different in almost every way, except for another unfortunate gestational thrombocytopenia diagnosis. Still, mom and baby remained healthy throughout the pregnancy. Labor surprised them by starting 3 days before her due date (Scarlet was 9 days late with her first), and only lasted for 2.5 hours. Her OB arrived just minutes before baby Lucy was born! Scarlet was able to avoid another manual placenta extraction and blood loss, and everyone went home healthy the next day – a very happy ending to a completely different pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
Scarlet Kelly Bio
Scarlet, her husband Michael, 22 month old Jane, and 6 month old Lucy live in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Scarlet is a stay-at-home mom, Michael is a worship leader, and they also work together for their screen printing company, Monjeau Prints. You can connect with her on Instagram @scarlet_kelly
Resources
Afterease Tincture
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Expecting Better
Mama Natural Book
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.
