Four Birth Stories and a Secondary Fertility Rollercoaster

Jada had fairly uneventful births with her first two sons aside from suffering from hyperemesis for the entirety of those pregnancies. She then had a surprise third pregnancy which ended in a missed miscarriage. Shortly after, she had another surprise pregnancy which resulted in her third son. Jada and her husband thought they were done having kids, but soon realized that their family didn’t feel quite complete. 

The path to four children was not easy. Despite becoming pregnant fairly easily, Jada suffered 3 miscarriages in a row. After going through a bout of secondary infertility, they finally became pregnant with their fourth boy. At this point, she was considered advanced maternal age and was later diagnosed with gestational diabetes for the first time, all of which required additional monitoring. She eventually gave birth to a 9lb, 3 oz boy to complete their family.

jada walker birth story

Jada Walker Bio

Jada Walker is a wife to Brandon, and mom to 4 boys aged 15, 6, 4 and 5 months. She is an attorney in the greater Seattle area. Her instagram handle is JaLeCa.

Resources

Redd Remedies

Today’s episode is sponsored by Redd Remedies. Redd Remedies has strong roots in the natural product industry and crafts Master Herbalist formulated supplements from premium ingredients, ensuring natural and effective solutions for life’s physical and emotional challenges. Peaceful Mama, one of their star products, provides stress support to all moms, including pregnant and nursing women!

To learn more about Peaceful Mama, Rhythm and Flo, and Redd Remedies and to view testimonials, head to www.reddremedies.com and use code BIRTHHOUR at checkout to get 20% off any 2 or
more items.
 And be sure to head over th @thebirthhour on Instagram to enter a giveaway!

Two Mom Family Tackles IUI & IVF + 3 Epidural Hospital Birth Stories

Kelsey loves nothing more than sharing her birth stories with anyone who wants to listen. In this episode, she shares the birth stories of each of her three children. Using an anonymous sperm donor, her and her wife completed 8 IUI cycles before becoming pregnant with their son. A fairly normal pregnancy followed by a medicated, hospital birth at 39 weeks. 

When they decided to try again, they were faced with secondary infertility. For two years, they endured unsuccessful IUIs, three IVF retrievals, a miscarriage and many failed transfers. After changing fertility clinics, they were thrilled to learn they would have another baby boy. An unexpected gestational diabetes diagnosis threw her for a bit of a loop, but a pretty standard second pregnancy. At 38 weeks, baby boy was born after a medicated birth, in the hospital, 2 days before Christmas. 

They knew they wanted one more and with 3 healthy embryos waiting in the freezer, they tried again for number 3. After one failed transfer, they were again over the moon to find out that they were expecting a little girl. Another gestational diabetes diagnosis and lots of pelvic pain and pressure made for her roughest pregnancy. At 3 days shy of 40 weeks, her biggest baby arrived at the hospital after another medicated birth. 

Quite the rollercoaster and infertility journey, but now her family is complete, and all is as it should be. 

two mom family birth stories

Kelsey Whitham Bio

Kelsey has been married to her wife Mel for 9 years. She is the mother of three amazing kids, August (7.5), Dawson (3.5) and Marlow (15 months). She is a fourth-grade teacher in Western, MA where she also resides. She enjoys boating, swimming & floating on her lake in the summer. She can’t pass up a diet coke and loves to visit Barnes and Noble to sit on the floor and read children’s books. She loves her busy but fulfilling life as a full-time working mom. Connect with her on Instagram @kelseywhitham or via Email at kelseywhitham@gmail.com.

Resources

  • Birth Hour podcast 
  • Mom Groups, in person, and online: Patreon Birth Hour Group
  • Expectful app- meditations 
  • I AM app- affirmations

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

Finally Pregnant! Endometriosis, Infertility and Unmedicated Hospital Birth

Endometriosis is a silent epidemic – affecting more than 1 in 10 women in their child bearing years. This incurable, painful disease takes an average of 10 years to diagnose. Endometriosis happens when uterine-like lining grows outside of the uterus and can only be confirmed through surgery. Main symptoms include severe cramps, heavy periods, pelvic or abdominal pain during your period, lower back or leg pain, pain with sex, stomach problems like bloating or nausea, painful urination or bowel movements, infertility, fatigue or depression. Less common symptoms include breathing or shoulder pain. Red flags include having to go to the ER for pain, if you have to get up in the middle of the night to change your pad or tampon or if you consistently have to miss work or school on your period, you should talk to your doctor about possible endometriosis. There is a genetic link – if your mother has endometriosis, you are 7 times more likely to have it. 

Emily Sutton shares her personal story of pain and triumph on her journey with endometriosis. Emily and her husband Michael battled infertility through multiple procedures and treatments. Following years of failures and heartbreak, the couple successfully conceived through their second embryo transfer (IVF).  After months of preparing for a natural birth through Hypnobirthing and meditation, Emily was able to have a beautiful, unmedicated hospital birth, delivering a healthy baby girl!

emily sutton infertility

Emily Sutton Bio

Emily Sutton is an Emmy-award winning meteorologist in Oklahoma City.  Her storm chasing gained national recognition through CNNMSNBCThe New Yorker and Popular Mechanics. She’s passionate about raising awareness about endometriosis and Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Math (STEAM). Emily and her firefighter husband, Michael, have been married for 7 years and are proud parents to their baby girl, Ginny, and their bulldog, Winnie. 

You can find Emily on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads and Tiktok: @ emilyrsutton 
YouTube: @ emilyrsuttonweather 

Resources

Most helpful for Endometriosis:

Most helpful During Pregnancy: 

  • “Babies” on Netflix
  • Baby Center and What to Expect Apps 
  • Gentlebirth and MotherBoard Apps 
  • Spinning Babies website 
  • Birth Hour Podcast 
  • Evidence Based Birth Podcast 
  • Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast and Instagram 
  • Taking Cara Babies Instagram 
  • Serenity Life Doula Instagram 
  • Books: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Hypnobirthing 
  • Happiest Baby on the Block Video 
  • The Science Baby on TikTok – leilaincredible  

Redd Remedies

Today’s episode is sponsored by Redd Remedies. Redd Remedies has strong roots in the natural product industry and crafts Master Herbalist formulated supplements from premium ingredients, ensuring natural and effective solutions for life’s physical and emotional challenges. Peaceful Mama, one of their star products, provides stress support to all moms, including pregnant and nursing women!

To learn more about Peaceful Mama, Rhythm and Flo, and Redd Remedies and to view testimonials, head to www.reddremedies.com and use code BIRTHHOUR at checkout to get 20% off any 2 or
more items.
And be sure to head over th @thebirthhour on Instagram to enter a giveaway!

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.

Positive Induction After Infertility with Difficult Postpartum Dealing With Loss of Parent

Despite a beautiful, complication free pregnancy, Megan’s path to motherhood was not easy. After years of struggling to conceive, several fibroid removal surgeries, a difficult new role at work and the loss of her father during her first trimester, it felt as if she was stuck in knee-deep mud not knowing whether to grieve or allow herself to be happy.

Before long, at 41 weeks, she arrived at the hospital for her scheduled induction. After a great response to the Foley balloon, labor was in full swing. Despite the immense pain over the course of 15 hours, Megan felt like she was finally able to release the anguish that had accumulated over the past 9 months and finally, her son Sterling Dagger was born in a dimly lit room surrounded by his father and grandmother.

Megan’s postpartum wasn’t without stress and unfortunately, because of incorrect information regarding her LOA benefits, her maternity leave was cut from 16 weeks to 12 weeks. Returning to work was difficult for her and her husband, and ultimately, it was decided that she would leave her full-time job and pursue part-time work to once again be the primary caregiver of their son. Watching her son grow and explore the world around him felt like the best decision for her emotionally and her family.

megan spar birth story

Megan Spar Bio

Megan is a 38 yr old creative millennial who, after graduating college, landed in the world of visual merchandising. She enjoys making things with her hands, listening to birth and tech podcasts and spending time with family. She met the love of her life, Brian, right after high school and after 10 years together they got married in Newport, RI on a cliff overlooking the water surrounded by a small group of friends and family. Now almost 20 years later they are raising their first child, Sterling Dagger and looking forward to this new adventure they’re on called parenthood. Connect with her on IG @everythingafteryou.

Resources

Ergobaby

This episode is sponsored by Ergobaby. Founded in 2003, Ergobaby has pioneered the gold standard for comfortable, ergonomic soft structured carriers. Their commitment to providing parents with the foundation to thrive has launched the company into creating a broad range of award-winning products that fit into families’ daily lives seamlessly, comfortably, and safely – where function and quality are not compromised. 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. Check out Ergobaby’s Embrace in Soft Air Mesh and new Evolve 3-in-1 Bouncer that we discussed on the podcast!

IVF with Sperm Donor and Two Birth Stories after PCOS & Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis

Kat tried to conceive for a year using IUIs from a known sperm donor (her wife Emily’s brother). When that didn’t work, Kat sought fertility treatment and she was diagnosed with PCOS; because her PCOS had gone undiagnosed her whole life and she had never been on birth control, the unopposed estrogen from anovulatory cycles had caused endometrial cancer (stage 1, grade 1). Using fertility sparing treatment (a Mirena IUD and oral progesterone), Kat was free of cancer within 6 months and able to try IVF, which they were able to access because they had moved to MA. After two miscarriages and four years of trying, Kat was pregnant with her daughter Alice. That pregnancy, Kat experienced a long-lasting subchorionic hematoma and her daughter had a marginal cord insertion, and she was induced at 41 weeks. Kat got chorioamnionitis during the long birth, and the antibiotic treatment led to both her and her daughter having thrush. With her second pregnancy with her son Sam, Kat had another subchorionic hematoma. That birth led to an induction due to what ended up being a gallstone attack, a postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusion, and a postpartum period affected by Covid. Her partner Emily is currently pregnant with their third and final baby, via reciprocal IVF.

Kat Fabel Bio

Kat and Emily live in Florence MA with their 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son, and they are due with their third child in August 2023. Connect with Kat via email: katfabel@gmail.com

kat fabel birth story

Resources

  • Facebook groups for queer couples trying to conceive, as well as facebook groups for trying to conceive after endometrial cancer
  • If you have PCOS or irregular cycles, and especially if you have never been on birth control, please consider getting screened for endometrial cancer
  • If you’re having trouble conceiving, very much recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist sooner rather than later, it would have saved us a lot of time, money, and pain
  • If you’re doing IVF or fertility treatments after cancer, Boston IVF was amazing and has reproductive endocrinologists specifically trained in fertility treatments after cancer 
  • RESOLVE is a national organization that keeps a really helpful list of IVF insurance coverage by state, including how they define infertility (especially relevant for same sex couples). If you’re calling your insurance company to ask questions about the kind of fertility coverage they offer, ask to speak to the fertility nurse or fertility specialist rather than whoever answers the phone because it can be complicated
  • Joining a postpartum group (our hospital runs one for new parents) was a wonderful way to meet other new parents and talk through sleep/eating/other issues 
  • TushBaby carriers 
  • Lactation consultants saved my breastfeeding journey – our pediatrician had one on site, check if yours does too!
  • Hearing alllll the birth stories (Obsessed with The Birth Hour; I also liked Australian Birth Stories)

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 4000 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. Save 20% off your first order of Needed’s Complete Plan or any of their other perinatal nutrition products at thisisneeded.com with code BIRTHHOUR.

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