You Mean That Wasn’t My Water Breaking?, with Heather Lauf

Heather started preparing for birth and life with a newborn, even before she was pregnant. However, once labor started, she found that the hardest thing was to quiet her thinking brain. She was also immensely grateful for having switched care providers twice, until connecting with the right one for her. 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:

• Loss of confidence in medical system after an early miscarriage
• Switching care providers
• Learning about birth options through local Birth Circle group… before being pregnant
• There’s a free-standing birth center?!
• Switching again
• What the heck is a “weighted feeding?”
• The due date that came and went
• “Are you fixating on a number?”
• That time you thought your water broke…
• Acupuncture, chiropractic, floor remodel
• “Go to sleep”
• Setting up the “labor cave”
• Disappointing vaginal check
• Getting internal, getting annoyed
• Do you want to stop it, or make it stronger?
• Come to me, Laborland!
• That danged anterior lip
• Everyone out!
• A nap? Why, yes I will
• Fresh midwife, fresh energy
• Meeting her baby!
• A well prepared and nourishing postpartum
• Still nursing!

Relaxing skin to skin just minutes after birth

Resources and links to info mentioned on the show:

• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
• TheBusinessOfBeingBorn.com
• Find a Lactation Consultant directory, from ILCA
• Walcher’s: Open The Brim, from Spinning Babies

Heather’s local resources:

• The Birth Center of Bloomington-Normal
• Her awesome doula, Marcia Mattern
• Her IBCLC, Total Lactation Care

Lovely deep tub being filled for Heather (photo by Short Little Blessings)

Related podcast episodes:

• Choosing Your Care Provider, with Robin Elise Weiss
• Birth Doulas, with Sharon Muza
• The Problem with Due Dates, with Gail Hart
• Rethinking the Pushing Stage, with Whapio
• Postpartum Hemorrhages, with Maryn Green

Heather Lauf enjoying her newborn (photo by Short Little Blessings)

 

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).