Navigating a Vaginal Birth with HBP and Preeclampsia, with Tara Langsdorf

Today’s birth story, is with Tara Langsdorf, who is a self-described Type A. While pregnant, she finished her second master’s degree and took a promotion managing a team of 25. She tends to have a plan for everything. So what did she do when her birth didn’t quite go according to plan, and she found herself in labor with developing preeclampsia? 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:

• Lots of pre pregnancy planning
• Listening to all the things
• First surprise: as arcuate uterus!
• The value of a CenteringPregnancy group
• Creating a birth plan AND birth goals/wishes
• Second surprise: blood pressure creeping up
• Third surprise: When you cough, and your water breaks…
• A delicate balance between letting labor progress and hurrying it up to lessen risks
• Fourth surprise: Preeclampsia diagnosis
• Magnesium sulfate, epidural, Pitocin, IUPC… all the things!
• To Cesarean or not to Cesarean
• The need to eat!
• Pushing with affirmations
• “You can feel his head!”
• A rough start to breastfeeding
• Conquering the obstacles with support

Tara, glowing and flowing, just before labor (©Lilian Rose Photos)

Resources and links to info mentioned on the show*:

• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
• Low-Lying Placenta (Placenta Previa), from Healthline
• Centeringhealthcare.org – for CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care
• Supplemental Nursing System, from Breastfeeding-Problems.com
• Hand Expression of Breastmilk, video from Stanford School of Medicine
• Medela Tender Care Hydrogel Pads
• Intrauterine Pressure Catheter (IUPC), by Robin Elise Weiss for VeryWellFamily
• Evidence on: Eating and Drinking During Labor, from Evidence Based Birth®

Working until the last minute

Related Birthful episodes:

• Birth Principles: Better than a Birth Plan, with Jessie Harrold
• Preeclampsia, Eleni Tsigas
• The Induction Process, with Toni Golen
• Updated: Evidence & Eating During Labor, with Rebecca Dekker
• Epidurals & Breastfeeding, with Dianne Cassidy
• HELLP Syndrome, with Melissa Krawecki
• Milksharing, with Amber Mccann

Brand new family portrait

All pictures courtesy of Tara Langsdorf (this one is ©Lilian Rose Photos)

About Tara Langsdorf

Tara Langsdorf is mother to 1 year-old Leo. She and her husband have know each other for over 16 years and have been married for over 3. They have a big black dog name Oliver. Tara enjoys playing kickball, camping, and morning snuggles with Leo on the weekends. She’s a licensed marriage and family therapist. While pregnant, Tara finished her second master’s degree and took a promotion managing a team of 25 staff. She’s a self-defined Type ‘A’ and tends to research and have a plan for everything. Her son’s birth didn’t go quite according to plan.

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).