Thinking-Brain Birth, with Julia Cooper

Julia Cooper’s birth story is a testament to how hard it can be to shut off your thinking brain while in labor, and how in spite of that, you can still support your physiology to make things flow. It just may require a lot more regrouping and take more time.

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:

• Getting the right provider
• Learning all the things
• Dealing with pubic symphysis pain
• “Don’t have the baby before I come back.”
• At dad’s with her four siblings
• Sister cheers, she feels weird
• “These are not gas pains”
• Brother becomes the “dude-la”
• First trip to the hospital…
• Second trip to the hospital…
• Feeling defeated
• Off to the airport to get the husband
• Trying to give baby space to move
• Finally! Connecting with husband in the shower
• Letting go of the need for her mom
• Third and last trip to the hospital!
• Lots of tears
• Regrouping with mantras
• Epidural brings relief and rest
• Holding off until shift change
• Listening to Whapio while in the quietude (at around hour 35 of labor!)
• Fully and ready
• Fabulous pushing, delayed clamping, and immediate skin-to-skin
• Advocating for herself to do laid back breastfeeding
• A glamorous start to postpartum
• Placenta encapsulation and postpartum doula

Eating Chinese food before heading to hospital (for third time)

Resources and links to info mentioned on the show*:

• NaturalBreastfeeding.com, with Nancy Mohrbacher and Theresa Nesbitt
• The Boob Group podcast, with Robin Kaplan
• Informed Pregnancy podcast, with Dr. Elliot Berlin
• SpinningBabies.com
• Easy DIY Padsicles: How to Make Your Own Postpartum Cold Packs
• Natural Labor Induction Series: Eating Dates, from Evidence Based Birth
• The Truth About Red Raspberry Leaf Tea During Pregnancy, from Mama Natural
• Evidence on: Group B Strep in Pregnancy, from Evidence Based Birth
• Pregnancy-related symphysis pubis dysfunction management and postpartum rehabilitation: two case reports, research paper
• Finding a pelvic PT specialist directory here, and more resources here
• TENS: The ‘Natural Labor’ Tool No One Talks About, from Fit Pregnancy UK
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for pain relief during labor, from Evidence Based Birth
• Babycare TENS Machine
• Listening in the Rubble, blog post by Megan Othling (from Risking Wisdom)
• The Business of Being Born
• inamay.com Ina May Gaskin’s website, and Guide to Childbirth book

He’s here!

Related podcast episodes:

• A Dad’s Perspective, with Jeremy Buczek (Part 1) and (Part 2)
• Birth Principles: Better than a Birth Plan, with Jessie Harrold
• The Holistic Stages of Birth, with Whapio (Part 1) and (Part 2)
• Herbs in Pregnancy and Postpartum, With Kathleen Mugnolo
• Chiropractic Care, with Dr. Elliot Berlin

With her brother (who was her support person throughout early labor) and her husband

Newborn photoshoot photos by Jennifer Pope Photography, courtesy of Julia Cooper

Julia and her newborn

Little Yoda

The new family

Little Jedi

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).