[Birth Stories] Creating A Beautiful Birth Experience Despite Five Days Of Interventions

Can a chaotic labor with a myriad of interventions for preeclampsia and several failed epidurals be a positive experience? Olivia Styons shares with Adriana the hard pivots she and her team had to make and how crucial it was for her to speak up for her needs – from getting a shower to holding her premature baby for a few minutes – to resiliently turn a five-day induction into a beautiful experience.

Related resources*:

• The Fifth Vital Sign, by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
• Taking Charge of Your Fertility, by Toni Weschler
• Former Chesapeake OB/GYN Sentenced to 59 Years in Prison, United States Attorney’s Office
• Preeclampsia, Medscape
  • Clonus, Cleveland Clinic
• Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby, by Kristin Revere
• Meal Train website
• PT Locator, APTA Pelvic Health
• My OBGYN was a Monster in a White Coat: My Experience with the Sociopath and Convicted Felon Dr. Javaid Perwaiz, from Olivia’s podcast, Birth with Liv Podcast
• Escaping a Doctor Just Before His Arrest: Olivia’s Story (on the Down to Birth podcast)

Related Birthful episodes:

• Reducing Anxiety Around Pregnancy Weight Gain And Nutrition
• Have An Easier Pregnancy (And Birth!) With Chiropractic Care
• What’s HypnoBirthing Anyway?
• Preeclampsia Essentials
• The Induction Process
• Postpartum Fertility: What You Need To Know

Image description: Olivia, a white-presenting person with long dark hair, smiles and poses with her hand underneath her chin

About Olivia Styons

Olivia Styons is a wife, mom, and host of the Birth with Liv podcast. Olivia had her daughter unexpectedly at 34 weeks due to sudden and severe preeclampsia. Despite watching her seemingly perfect birth plan go out the window, she was able to remain calm, tap into her intuition, and advocate for a birth she was proud of. Her experience inspired her to pursue her Childbirth Educator certification so she can help women better prepare for birth and postpartum. Her mission is to provide parents with easy-to-understand, evidence-based information so they can have the confidence to make decisions that are right for them.

You can find her on her on Instagram @birthwithliv