In today's episode, we're joined by Priscilla and Micah, who share their deeply personal journey from miscarriage to a blissful home birth experience. They open up about the challenges of navigating their birthing location and provider and how they had their choice to plan a homebirth affirmed in several ways throughout pregnancy, including through their own research, doula, and birth class. They detail the spiritual, emotional and physical rollercoaster of pregnancy after loss as well as the importance of trusting one's body and instincts. Their story is a testament to resilience and the support of a loving community of women. Quick content warning: there is not only mention of 1st trimester pregnancy loss, but also a bit of a scary mention of blood loss after birth when they decide to transfer to the hospital after birth to be sure that the whole placenta was delivered due to its unusual shape (spoiler alert: it ends up being a false alarm, as you might have seen in this episode’s title).
Resources:
Birth Story (documentary)
Supernatural Midwifery (Chloe Campbell, homebirth midwife)
Chana Diamond (Doula)
Sponsor links:
Free “Pack for Your Best Birth” Packing List (with free mini-course option)
East River Doula Collective (find a doula, attend our free “Meet the Doulas” event)
Birth Matters NYC Childbirth Education Classes (Astoria, Queens and virtual)
*Disclosure: Links on this page to products are affiliate links; I will receive a small commission on any products you purchase at no additional cost to you.
Episode Topics:
1st pregnancy, a surprise, resulted in loss around 1 month in, which was transformative
Decided they wanted to try again, took 6 months to get period again
Started working with an acupuncturist and made nutritional changes to try to conceive
Working with OB wasn’t helpful, so decided to switch
During ht fertility journey - Spiritual rituals - Jewish Moroccan mystic & honoring her deceased father
At a wedding April 2023, she realized her breasts felt weird and next day she learned she was pregnant
Felt really sick early on, didn’t tell family early on
2nd trimester felt so much better and loved being pregnant
Journey toward choosing home birth
Water broke 3 weeks before due date while having Thanksgiving leftovers at their dining room table
Micah goes to get coconut water and miso soup, they call their doula and midwife (Chloe was supposed to be back from a trip abroad, but got delayed)
Reflecting back on the Story of the Journey of Inanna and losing things (such as her midwife)
Went to farmer’s market, did curb walking, made breakfast
In afternoon, acupuncturist Stephanie Propper comes over
Watch romcom, went to sleep, contractions still haven’t started
Mom and sister fly from California and thought they wouldn’t make it but they had plenty of time
36 hours has gone by and still no contractions
She was GBS positive
Chloe got home Monday and came over
Getting discouraged and wondering if they might have to go to the hospital
Chloe recommended castor oil smoothie, vomited
Took nap, when she woke up contractions had started, nearly 48 hrs later
Contractions were really intense from the start
Monday evening – family (all females) and doula Chana come over and it’s wonderful
Coping tools that were effective - massage, words of encouragement, square breathing, humming, low moaning, singing, snuggling with Micah, circling hips
Starts feeling pushy
Inflated the tub, pushing ends up taking around 4 hrs, contractions slow down
Use a birthing stool
Tried tug-o-war technique
Chana brought compact mirror they used for Priscilla to see Sandy’s head
Goes to toilet and then it starts feeling more instinctive
Everyone comes into bathroom to catch baby
They move to bed and feel blissed out
Placenta doesn’t come out; after an hour they decide to go in manually to try to remove it, really painful
Baby is still on her chest
Chloe decided they needed to go to the hospital because it seemed not all of the placenta was out
EMS comes and takes her to the hospital. False alarm, they checked everything out and no placenta left behind
Interview Transcript
Transcript and Pictures Coming Soon!