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!
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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
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
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.”
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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).