Ooooh, this was a good question that one of my clients asked me. It's something that I've always been open about because it was his birth that led me to birth work. Which I know I've briefly talked about it before

His birth was a very run-of-the-mill, medicalized, augmented hospital birth:

1. I wasn't as educated as I thought I was

2. I went to the hospital (4 pm) in early labor (3 cm), but had planned on going home because I knew I was in early labor.

3. They admitted me because of his heart rate (?? I couldn't get straight answers here but said ok anyways) and they immediately began Pitocin at 11 pm.

4. At 11 am I was 4 cm and allowed them to break my waters (well I was more coerced than anything) without knowing where my son was in my pelvis (the higher baby's station, the higher the risk of cord prolapse which is a VERY serious issue) but thankfully that didn't happen. There wasn't a medical reason for breaking my waters other than to speed my labor up *insert eye roll* which isn’t evidence based practice FYI!

5. 12 pm or so an epidural was placed which wasn't very effective. I was given another bolus and was then numb from the chest down, and I mean like NUMB. It ended up wearing off (I'm not sure that's the right definition of it) right before he was born (so I felt EVERYTHING, especially the needle and thread as the OB was putting in a few stitches).

6. I started pushing at about 8:45 pm.

7. Little one was vomited out at 9:33 pm with a nuchal cord (most of my pushing phase was just me vomiting which is actually very effective pushing during labor if you're wondering).

But, no. I would not change his birth if I could.

His birth is what led me to my passion. To what lights a fire in my soul. 

It is his birth that has allowed me to educate myself and my clients regarding what their options are. His is used as an example along with other births I've attended. And his will be the reason that I do things completely different for baby #2 when that time comes.

Because when you know better, you do better.

There are SO MANY options out there when it comes to childbirth. It's crazy. And not only that, but you have to figure out where you want to give birth first before narrowing down your options; what a midwife would do/not do at a home birth is different than what an OB may/may not do in a hospital.

As for education? I always recommend an out of hospital childbirth class if you can afford it. There is SO much information that is presented and there isn't any restriction placed on the childbirth educator about what curriculum can be gone over. Most hospital childbirth education classes are geared towards that hospital and their specific birth guidelines. It's really a class on how to be a good patient unfortunately.

I have a ton of childbirth classes/educators that I can refer you to if you need recommendations!

BUT if hospital childbirth classes are all you can afford, then please take them (it's what I took). I would rather you have hospital childbirth education than no education at all. But it's at that point that a doula would be extremely beneficial for you and your birth preferences especially if you're wanting a natural and unmedicated birth (this is what I should have done, get a doula, don't be like me).

Childbirth classes and the different types will be a blog for another day! 😘

There are things however that I would've done differently prenatally and during my postpartum period.

Prenatally: I would've gone in sooner to urgent care to receive fluids for my HG and fought more for myself because it wasn't "just morning sickness." But no one believed me because I was a first time mom. I would've found a different OB again (I fired my first one at 28 weeks) to someone who was supportive of my birth preferences instead of just telling me "oh honey you have no clue what it's like. You'll want the epidural." Umm no bitch, I don't want the epidural. But it's fine, she wasn't there for the birth anyways. 

Postpartum: I would've hired a Postpartum Doula and set up a meal train (which thankfully I had a super close friend make Sam and I some bomb ass meals that we lived off for like two weeks). I also would've spoken up sooner about the three separate stitches (that really weren't needed) and their healing process (or lack there of). They took forrrr-ehhhh-verrrrr healing and were a painful fucking bitch.

But everything happens for a reason. Babies know how to be born. They know what they need in labor. My son knew what birth he was going to have and that's how he chose to enter the world. He chose me and that's the journey we took together. And for that I am forever grateful because it led me to my life's work.

My maternity photos were done by the talented Ashleigh Mitchell Photography. She's phenomenal and such a beautiful person inside and out. 

You wanna know a secret?? The house my husband and I purchased in August of 2018, I specifically looked for a house that was conducive to having a home birth and would also allow for pretty pictures of everything (natural light if the birth was during the day) 😍 The house is nice and everything, but the layout is super legit for a home birth 😂 #noshameinmyprepgame #babynumbertwoprep #husbandhadnosay