For her first pregnancy, she initially worried about irregular ovulation, but she conceived quickly. Despite some early spotting, the pregnancy progressed without complications, except for significant anxiety, which she attributed to her extensive research. She transferred care to a midwife-owned birth center, appreciating how her pregnancy was treated as a natural process. Although her husband was initially skeptical about out-of-hospital births, his full-time PhD schedule allowed him to attend all appointments, easing his concerns. Her labor started at 39+1 weeks with water breaking, followed by a day of walking and frustration. Contractions began late in the evening, intensifying quickly, and they made their way to the birth center, where labor continued in a tub. After 45 minutes of pushing, her son, a 9 lb 2 oz baby, was born after only 5 hours of active labor. The postpartum period was challenging with breastfeeding difficulties due to tongue and lip ties, but she persevered, eventually breastfeeding until he was 2 1⁄2 years old. She also dealt with hives and urinary pain, but these issues gradually resolved. Going back to work at 15 weeks postpartum was tough.
For her second pregnancy, Chelsea planned for a three-year age gap between her children and conceived quickly after her son’s second birthday. This pregnancy was less anxiety-inducing, and she felt great, despite caring for a toddler. At 39+4, after some denial, she realized labor had begun. They headed to the birth center in the early morning, where labor progressed calmly and intentionally. The birth was quick,about 7 hours from start to finish, and her daughter, born at 3:35 a.m. on the summer solstice, had her cord wrapped around her neck but was otherwise healthy. Postpartum recovery was smoother than with her son, thanks in part to lessons learned and better management of physical discomforts like pelvic floor spasms. Massachusetts’ paid leave policy allowed her to adjust to life with two children. Reflecting on both experiences, Chelsea feels that her preparation and strong support system—especially her husband and doula—allowed her to feel empowered and confident in her decisions.
Chelsea Mascari Bio
Chelsea is a behavior analyst, avid birth hour listener, and mom to two children ages 3 1⁄2 and 7 months. She shared her journey through two pregnancies, highlighting how each experience was unique and shaped by her preparation and support system. Leave a comment here to connect with Chelsea.
Resources
- Know Your Options Online Childbirth Course
- The birth hour podcast Birth Stories hundreds of archives available via Patreon
- Real food for pregnancy by Lily Nichols
- The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
- Pregnancy childbirth and the newborn Penny Simkin
- Orgasmic birth by Elizabeth Davis
- Ina may’s guide to childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
- First Time Moms Pregnancy Handbook by Bryn Huntpalmer
- Safe Infant Sleep by James McKenna
- To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma by Molly Millwood
- Breastfeeding course/met with ibclc before having baby
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