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.

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:

• 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

At 41 weeks, 3 days… and early labor!

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!)

Minutes after birth

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.

Just chillin’…

Cuteness overload!

Margo and baby, laughing

Family portrait at 3 months

Courtesy of Margo Fox

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!

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).