Premie Hospital Birth with NICU Stay vs. Birth Center Birth, with Vanessa Young

What happens when you plan for a birth center waterbirth and you end up with a 34 week preemie, and an onslaught of breastfeeding obstacles? How does this help you prepare differently for your next birth and postpartum? Vanessa Young shares her perspective. 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:

• The plan: waterbirth at birth center
• The reality: water broke at 354 weeks
• A good birth followed by a very challenging postpartum with a premie
• Baby is whisked away
• Conquering a myriad of breastfeeding challenges
• Going from NICU to home: what do we do without the machines?
• Building a solid team with your pediatrician
• When protection becomes isolating
• The difference a tongue tie release makes!
• Her brewing postpartum depression … and pneumonia … and shingles …
• New pregnancy goals: go beyond 34 weeks, birth at birth center
• Feeling annoyed or starting labor?
• Prodromal turns into a gallop
• When no one will answer their phone
• A showing water release
• Feeling great in the water
• Dealing with an early urge to push
• Getting to hold her baby for hours!
• Her imagery for going deep into labor
• Two very different postpartums
• Paying attention to what your body is saying
• Helpful tips for dealing with anxiety
• Helpful kits for getting home ready (see my favorite things below 🙂 )
• Transitioning from 1 to 2
• Taking care of herself

Holding son for 20 short minutes, about 15 minutes after he was born, before he headed to the NICU.

Resources and links to info mentioned on the show*:

• A new era of home birth research, from Science & Sensibility
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
• The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality,  by Kimberly Ann Johnson
• Down Came the Rain, by Brooke Shields
• Birthing from Within, by Pam England
• Birth Partner 5th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions, by Penny Simkin
• Breastfeedingusa.org
• 4thtrimesterbodiesproject.com
• Kellymom.com
• Insight Timer meditation app
• The Benefits of Kangaroo Care, from Hand to Hold

Ideas to create your own breastfeeding/diapering/postpartum kits:

• My list of Postpartum Essentials
• My list of Breastfeeding Essentials
• My list of Diapering Essentials

Son in the NICU, under lights

Related Birthful episodes:

• Navigating the NICU, with Sue Hall
• Tongue and Lip Ties, with Dianne Cassidy
• Baby’s Position and Labor Flow, with Gail Tully
• Waterbirth, with Barbara Harper
• Restoring Your Vitality After Birth, with Kimberly Johnson

“Sleep deprived emotional me only a few weeks postpartum, convinced I needed to squeeze into my pre-pregnancy jeans already and do yoga with a preemie in-arms.”

Her son’s first latch!

Heading into transition during labor with her daughter.

Happy mama, snuggles her daughter moments after birth

First week postpartum with 2 little ones

About Vanessa Young

Vanessa is a mama to two high energy happy little toddlers who she enjoys parenting with her wonderful husband who spends a good portion of the year touring with the Army Field Band. She is also a yoga instructor, professional musician (harpist) and doula in-training. As a self-proclaimed birth junkie, she enjoys all things birth and her favorite thing to teach is her yoga birth class series.

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).