Despite the fact that EmJ has always had a self-professed low pain tolerance, she finds instinctive coping mechanisms that work for her to have the unmedicated birth that she had hoped to have in a Manhattan hospital, largely because she had uncommonly doula-like support from the nurses and an OB she loves. This is a story of ongoing, essential community and support that started in birth class.
Read moreBirth Matters Podcast, Ep 98 - Belly Birth for Breech with Bicornuate Uterus
Crystal shares her positive belly birth (cesarean) story. Due to her bicornuate, heart-shaped uterus, her baby was persistently breech and therefore needed to be born surgically since the majority of providers aren’t trained in safe vaginal breech birth.
Read moreBirth Matters Podcast, Ep 97 - Signing an AMA to Labor at Home Despite Anxiety
Cally’s hopes were high for an unmedicated birth. She gets thrown a curve ball when her membranes rupture as the first sign of labor. She bravely signs an AMA (“against medical advice”) form in order to go back home. When she is later quickly induced, she has a vaginal birth, short epidural, and an efficient pushing stage. She also discusses anxiety, breastfeeding, and "mommy wrist."
Read moreBirth Matters Podcast, Ep 96 - A Pelvic PT Delays Induction
Pelvic DPT Nidhi Sharma shares self-advocacy tips for delaying her hospital induction that was recommended partially due to a gestational diabetes diagnosis. She also details pelvic floor injuries that occurred due to the use of a vacuum when baby wasn’t descending.
Read moreBirth Matters Podcast, Ep 95 - A Jewish Doula's 2nd & 3rd Unmedicated Hospital Births
Jewish doula and mental health therapist Chana Diamond returns to share her 2nd and 3rd babies’ unmedicated hospital birth stories, attended by a Jewish midwife.
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