When the Waters Break Before Labor Starts, with Hailey McHone

When Hailey’s water broke, and contractions didn’t follow, she felt the clock ticking. She proceeded to try all the things, including a natural induction method suggested by her midwife that did the trick. However, she also had an immense desire for chicken nuggets. Go listen.

What we talked about:

• Her first birth: textbook hospital vaginal birth, with epidural and Pitocin
• Researching and rethinking Pitocin
• Second birth: researching the midwifery model of care
• Wanting a waterbirth at a birth center
• Feeling antsy and grumpy? This may be it!
• First a trickle and then a gush!
• Go back to bed
• Getting antibiotics for GBS+ at the office
• Her “Midwife’s Brew” for natural induction
• Something’s happening!
• Still smiling, still happy. Need Chick-Fil-A.
• I’m not going until I finish these nuggets…
• Finally to the birth center, and playing around with the swing
• Into the tub as things pick back up
• The instinct to stand up
• A calm and happy baby girl
• No rush for placenta and repairs

Happy to be in the tub

Helpful resources, books, and podcasts*:

• Evidence on: Premature Rupture of Membranes, from Evidence Based Birth
• 5 Reasons You Need to OWN Your (Placenta’s) Birth, from Indie Birth
• Evidence on Group B Strep in Pregnancy, from Evidence Based Birth
• Natural Labor Induction Series: Castor Oil, from Evidence Based Birth (check out my episode with Rebecca Dekker on the evidence for castor oil (and other things) here.)

Deep focus during contractions

Related Birthful episodes:

• Informed Consent, with Cristen Pascucci
• Evidence Based Care, Castor Oil and More, with Rebecca Dekker
• All About Midwives, with Melissa Cheyney
• Choosing Your Care Provider, with Robin Elise Weiss
• The Holistic Stages of Birth, with Whapio (Part 1)
• The Holistic Stages of Birth, with Whapio (Part 2)
• Waterbirth, with Barbara Harper
• Postpartum Hemorrhages, with Maryn Green

Meeting her baby!

Taking her in.

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).