Lauren had a super easy pregnancy, where she continued to do a mix of CrossFit, swimming, yoga, and tons of dog walking! Even so, the birth was pretty much the most challenging thing she’s ever done. Check out why she now concludes that “everyone is a badass”. Check it out!
What we talked about:
- “Don’t look up things online!”
- Capturing moments using Instagram
- Stripping membranes was excruciating!
- Threw up 7 times in 2 hours
- “At that point I kind of just lost myself and completely turned on the primal instinct… My teeth were showing and my tongue was out.”
- How working out through her entire pregnancy helped
- “Jeff, what is it?!”
- “You can’t ask Siri everything.”
- Feeling trust and respect from your doula
- How are perineal tears measured?
- Meeting the placenta!
- “It’s amazing that my body and this baby know what to do.”
- “Anybody is a badass.”
- Continuous transformation
- How the “superwoman” idea is a trap!
Showing hunger cues (aka ‘where’s that boob?’).
Related resources*:
- How Effective Is Membrane Stripping for Inducing Labor?, by Chaunie Brusie
- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
- 5 Reasons You Need to OWN Your (Placenta’s) Birth, by Maryn Green
- Recovering from a perineal tear (and the different degrees), from Mater Mothers
The happy family!
Related Birthful episodes:
- Choosing Your Care Provider, with Robin Elise Weiss
- What’s the big deal with skin-to-skin?, with Sylvia Houston
- Baby’s birth experience, with Karen Strange
- Can Exercise During Pregnancy Make Labor Harder?, with Deb Flashenberg
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All photos used with permission, courtesy of Lauren Horton.
Look at those flanged lips!
Sleep when baby sleeps!
Such a deep gaze!
Courtesy of Lauren Horton
About Lauren Horton
Lauren was 26 years old when she gave birth to her daughter Zeta Roze.
She has always been a gym rat: played 4 sports in high school, two in college, and now she has a full time career coaching collegiate women’s volleyball. As an athlete, she was a 3-time All-American and held a national record. As a coach, she has turned around a losing program and recruited athletes who have broken records. She is married to her absolute best friend who stood the test of time and distance. Miss Zeta was definitely a honeymoon baby! Soon after they got home from their honeymoon, they found out they were pregnant. The road ahead was a path unknown. So she resorted to social media, YouTube, podcasts, and stories. Her pregnancy was the easy part! The birth….woah!
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).
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