Invoking Labor Before an Induction for a Redemptive Birth, with Lydia Palermo

Lydia Palermo’s first birth started with a premature induction for preeclampsia, and resulted in many interventions. When she was diagnosed again with preeclampsia during her second pregnancy, and was looking at another imminent induction, she did everything in her power to get labor going, to hopefully birth on her own terms. Did it work? Check it out.

To listen here, click the play button on the player above, or click the button below to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Play.

What we talked about:

• Getting diagnosed with preeclampsia at 36 weeks
• Choice: take magnesium or start an induction
• Prostaglandins, Pitocin, and a rising blood pressure
• An epidural to lower blood pressure… and more
• Taking a break
• Time to push!
• Breastfeeding difficulties
• Where’s the milk?
• Learning she was pregnant from her dog!
• Doing all the things to control her blood pressure
• Week 36: You’re clear! Just kidding.
• All the things and her plight to the universe to get labor to start on its own
• “You’re yelling a lot…”
• When your midwife (whose 45 min away) tells you to “get to the nearest hospital!”
• Birthing half in the bed, half in a wheelchair
• So happy about the birth
• … and still no milk

Lydia with her newborn

Resources and links to info mentioned on the show*:

• Natural Induction Series (acupuncture, red raspberry leaf, blue or black cohosh, eating dates, breast stimulation, castor oil), from Evidence Based Birth
• Real Food for Pregnancy, book by Lily Nichols
• Epidural therapy for severe pregnancy induced hypertension to reduce morbidity and mortality in the mother and infants, from the Cochrane library
• Breastfeeding With a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS), from breastfeeding.support

Related Birthful podcast episodes:

• Preeclampsia, with Eleni Tsigas
• Inductions, with Dr. Gene Declercq
• Updates in What You Should Eat during Pregnancy, with Lily Nichols
• Low Milk Supply, with Diana Cassar-Uhl
• Milksharing, with Amber Mccann

About Lydia Palermo

Lydia Palermo with her daughter

Lydia Palermo is married to Scott. They have a 7 year old named Bella and a 5 month old, Marcus. They all  live in Colorado. Lydia studied holistic nutrition in grad school, but doesn’t work in the field at the moment. She loves to study nutrition, and was a chapter leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nutrition non-profit, for several years.

Like the music on the podcast?:

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).