Natural Induction Attempt, Frustrating Vaginal Checks, and a Not-So Helpful Epidural, with Margo Fox

Margo Fox shares her challenging vaginal birth, that included trying all the natural things to avoid a medical induction, navigating disappointing vaginal checks, reluctantly getting an epidural. And yet, she persisted. Check it out.

 

 

What we talked about:

• Great feelings of having birth mentors
• Wanting an unmedicated hospital birth
• Staying super active during pregnancy and feeling great
• Doing all the “natural induction” things!
• The effects of shift change
• Feeling not well heard in the hospital
• Laboring on the toilet is not for everyone
• The dreaded words: “You are the same.”
• “Why are you against having an epidural?”
• Not getting a break during pushing
• Shoulder dystocia = baby is stuck
• The amazing weirdness of looking at your baby for the first time
• Importance of good communication with OB, and advocating for yourself
• It’s great to have a “dudela”!
• Preparing for postpartum is just as important
• “Don’t give up on your worst day.”
• Creating a stash with oversupply

 

 

Related resources*:

• Business of Being Born (movie)
• Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–and What You Really Need to Know, by Emily Oster
• Laboring Well, A labor nurse shares insights from 10,000 births, by Elizabeth Allen
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
• I Tried 7 Ways to Induce Labor… And I’m Still Pregnant, from ScaryMommy.com ( even if laughter doesn’t get things going, you’ll get a laugh!)
• Natural Labor Induction Series, by Rebecca Dekker at Evidence Based Birth
• All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO)
• Nipple blanching and vasospasm, by Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC
• La Leche League USA
• naturalbreastfeeding.com
• How to bottle feed the breastfed baby, by Eva Lyford
• The Boob Group, podcast
• The Birth Hour, podcast
• Breastfeeding Café (at Beautiful Birth Choices, in Rochester, NY!)

 

 

Related Birthful episodes:

• Choosing Your Care Provider, with Robin Elise Weiss
• The Induction Mind Game, with Candice Hodges (induction birth story)

 

All photos Courtesy of Margo Fox. At home newborn session photos by Alexandra Meseke Photography.

 

 

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About Margo Fox

Margo Fox is a full-time mama to son James, and part-time nanny to two little boys. She has always gravitated towards children; likely related to being one of 6 siblings and 20+ first cousins! This drove her to pursue a masters in social work. However, upon graduating, she couldn’t bring herself to leave nanny-life and was engaged to her soon- to-be husband Jeff.  She always knew she wanted to be a mom and was thrilled to find out she was expecting her first baby just 3 months after getting married. After experiencing pregnancy and childbirth firsthand, Margo’s affinity for all things pregnancy, birth, and babies has grown into a borderline obsession. She’s excited to share her story with all the other birth story obsessed mamas and mamas-to-be!

 

 

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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).