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
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.
No Comments yet!