Birth Story: Preparing and Knowing Her Options for Her Unmedicated Birth with Katelynn Monty
Show Notes:
[2:04] Our Reviewer of the Week, ERees307, said: "This podcast was my best resource during pregnancy! I just had my first baby and before the birth I listened to every episode of this podcast! My birth preferences went out the door when my babe was diagnosed with fetal growth restriction, and I was scheduled to be induced early. This podcast gave me the strength and knowledge to stay positive and continue forward to have the most amazing natural(ish) hospital birth. Now I have a beautiful baby girl who is as healthy as can be at 1 week old. Thank you!"
[3:01] We have a birth story fromKatelynn Monty, who lives in Michigan with her husband and son, who was born October 2022.
[3:26] Katelynn shares her overall pregnancy experience and how she knew she was pregnant before she had missed her period.
[8:41] She went to a Midwife group and tried to meet as many midwives as possible. Once she found a midwife she loved, she tried to schedule all her appointments with her. She had asked some friends and posted on FB about finding a midwife. She didn't really get a choice of who got to be there when she went into labor.
[12:34] Katelynn's husband would attend the appointments with her when he could. He asked questions, and she liked bringing him because he asked questions that like she didn't think of.
[13:47] Katelyn's preparations for birth included: stretching, squatting, leaning inversion, massage, red raspberry leaf tea, primrose oil, and dates.
[15:30] Katelynn found a few things helpful things from the birth course: "Knowing that what I had in my head of what I wanted my labor and birth to be like . . . things like no interventions. I didn't want an IV. Just things that you think are maybe little and maybe you'll just like let it happen. But hearing on the podcast that you can speak up for yourself and you can say no to those things, I think was really helpful. I think also it helped my husband because I do a lot more research on stuff like that."
[16:38] Katelynn walks us through her experience from the first contraction to birth. Her son came at 38 weeks and 5 days. Her water broke and she started trying to track her contractions. She labored for a while at home and then had intense contractions while in the shower. They decided to head to the hospital at that point. When she got there, she was three centimeters dilated, 80% effaced, and a negative one station. She had her birth plan taped up in the room. She ended up not liking the combs at all, counter pressure, and didn't have any music or mantras playing. She had it quiet with her husband close to her, holding her hand, and occasionally rubbing her back. She was glad she brought a stroller fan!
She got into the tub and felt like she needed to push. Her midwives got her out of the tub to check her, and she was 8 centimeters. She changed positions for about an hour. She had a mirror and was able to see her baby's head. She took Shepherd's Purse drops as soon as her baby was born and had minimal bleeding. She had some stitches from where she tore.
[30:29] What did Katelynn's first contractions feel like? She said they felt like normal period cramps in the front lower section of her stomach.
[33:58] She kept telling herself "I can do anything for a minute!" to work through labor. She also said that knowing God had his hand in this and that regardless of if something has to happen as long as he (which she didn't know he was a he at the time), but as long as the baby is safe and she's safe, whatever needs to happen to get him out and just trusting in that.
[34:29] What did Katelynn's birth partner do during the labor? He was right by her side, would hold the fan, knew exactly what she wanted on her birth plan.
[36:20] What helped Katelyn the most through her contractions? She did a lot of low moaning and being confident in her decisions about what she wanted her experience to be like.
[37:14] Best advice for moms: "Make sure if you want to breastfeed that you get somebody to help you."
Best advice for dads: "Just try to be supportive in any way. You know your wife probably better than anybody. So knowing the ways that she prefers to be supported and also knowing, if she says she doesn't want something (and she's very abrupt or rude) just remember that it's not personal.
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