[Birth Stories] Why a Birth Team Was Key in Overcoming Her Fears

Birth Choices, Birth Partners, Birth Plan, Birth Stories, Labor & Birth, Podcast, Pregnancy, Stories

Kristina Colangelo visualized a flowing birth, but the reality caught her by surprise. Fortunately, her dad, mom, doula, and midwife supported her through a long labor due to a posterior baby, prolonged hyperemesis gravidarum, and the fear of tearing. She tells...

[Birth Stories] Why This Surrogate Lobbied for an Unmedicated Birth

Birth Choices, Birth Partners, Birth Plan, Birth Stories, Fertility, Hospital, Interventions, Labor & Birth, Podcast, Pregnancy, Stories

When she became a gestational surrogate, Danellia Arechiga felt strongly about having an unmedicated birth at a birth center. Even as her labor plan derailed into an induction, she pushed for few interventions. She tells Adriana Lozada why doing so was important for...

[Birth Stories] 5-Day Induction Makes for a Very Confusing and Grueling Birth

Birth Choices, Birth Stories, Hospital, Interventions, Labor & Birth, Podcast, Pregnancy, Stories

Myra Flynn set out to have as few interventions as possible during the birth of her daughter. She tells Adriana Lozada what it was like to stand up for herself— and adapt to the circumstances— during her five days in labor. What things have you had to do (with care...

[Birth Stories] Why She Pushed for the Unmedicated Birth of Her Breech Twins

Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Birth Stories, Labor & Birth, Podcast, Pregnancy, Stories

Emma Parnell was adamant about planning a vaginal birth for her second pregnancy, even though she was having twins—and they were both breech. She tells Adriana Lozada about the strength she gained from her own body’s intuition. What position was your baby in before...

[Postpartum Stories] Lessons from a Life Coach Who Faced Postpartum Depression Three Times

Perinatal mental health, Podcast, Postpartum, Postpartum Stories

Author, life coach, and plus-size model Rosie Mercado experienced postpartum depression with three of her four children, in addition to other personal and physical challenges. She tells Adriana Lozada how she learned to listen to her body, to ask for help, and to...

[Birth Stories] How He Prepared to Give Birth

Activism, Birth Stories, Labor & Birth, Podcast

In honor of the upcoming Transgender Awareness Week (from 11/13 – 11/19) this week’s episode is a wonderful birth story with Trystan Reese. Trystan Reese assembled a birth team that included his partner, dad, mother-in-law, and the head nurse at the...