Wonderful Waterbirth with Strong Fetal Ejection Reflex, with Michelle Onaka

In this Birthful Story I talk with Michelle Onaka about the many twist and turns of her path towards becoming a mom, starting with a her fertility journey, completely gutting their house during her pregnancy, and a fabulous waterbirth. Having overcome all those obstacles, she’d figured life with a newborn would be par for the course. However, that was not quite so. Check it out!

 

What we talked about:

• The importance of fertility tracking
• How a self-proclaimed “over preparer” and “over planner” gets ready for birth
• Dealing with sciatic nerve pain
• Tearing out the walls – literally!
• Returning curtains and other early labor errands
• Something must be up if you suddenly are able to take a nap
• Dealing with back pressure
• Confusion and denial
• A super strong Fetal Ejection Reflex!
• The feeling of crowning
• You don’t need internal cervical checks to have a baby
• “That’s a baby!”
• Difficulties in latching (or when others latch your baby for you)
• Getting over the initial breastfeeding roadblocks with helpful support
• How to encourage more feedings and better breastfeeding

 

 

 

Related resources for birth and postpartum preparation shared by Michelle*:

• The Business of Being Born (documentary)
• Taking Charge of Your Fertility, by Toni Weschler (book) (website)
• Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–and What You Really Need to Know, by Emily Oster
• Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank, by Randi Hutter Epstein M.D.
• The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, Henci Goer (book) (website)
• The Happy Sleeper, by Heather Turgeon MFT and Julie Wright MFT
• 4 hypnotic tricks to get your baby to sleep (YouTube video)

Websites:

• Evidence Based Birth
• Kelly Mom

Podcasts:

• The Birthful Podcast (yay!)
• The Birth Hour
• Informed Pregnancy Podcast
• Longest Shortest Time

Postpartum Preparation Course:

• Thrive With Your Newborn postpartum preparation class

 

 

Related Birthful episodes:

• Rethinking the Pushing Stage, with Whapio
• Fertility Before & After Pregnancy, with Emily Varnam & Kelsey Knight
• The Fertility Rollercoaster, with Heidi Brockmyre
• Fertility and Age, with Lisa Doran
• Safer Bedsharing, with Teresa Pitman

 

All photos used with permission, courtesy of Michelle Onaka

 

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Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).