High school sweethearts Elizabeth and Jose Luis started to build their family shortly after marriage. There was no family history of infertility, but after many conversations within their circle, they felt it was worth starting a family as soon as possible. After learning more about ovulation tracking, they were expecting their first child without any challenges. Thankfully the internet didn’t let them down the way her provider did by telling her to try to conceive and come to her in a year if it didn’t work.

Elizabeth recalls having some fatigue early in the pregnancy. And overall felt like she had a happy, energized pregnancy. Exercising during pregnancy felt good, simply moving her body. Recognizing limitations on her body helped her stay in tune with herself.

Fear of birth was built up by not knowing enough about the process - education helped release this fear. They took childbirth education and prenatal yoga together, which also helped them bond in the experience.

When they arrived at the hospital for labor, Elizabeth started to feel the cascade of interventions taking away her voice. She felt disconnected from her body after receiving an epidural. The pushing stage was long, three hours long. The feelings of joy she expected when her daughter arrived earthside were replaced with relief. It was over. Their nursing journey started as painful as the baby had a lip tie. Elizabeth didn’t feel equipped with proper knowledge of breastfeeding and pumping. Their discharge felt overwhelming, and they would go home with a crying baby with minimal support. They hired three different lactation counselors and endured two lip tie procedures. Elizabeth was determined to have a nursing relationship with her daughter, and she did.

Elizabeth wanted something different for their second birth as she recalled her first pregnancy. This time she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which pushed her to make some health and nutrition changes as she worked through the initial shame she felt from the diagnosis. Sharing her diagnosis with friends and other birthing people helped her work through the emotions as others shared that they had endured the same. They hired a doula to provide additional support for managing the pregnancy and labor.

Labor was spontaneous, and she managed the contractions at home in a way that felt good and empowering. She isolated herself as labor progressed. Jose Luis was more engaged during labor as he found his role this time. They would arrive at the hospital already 9.5 cm dilated with a cervical lip. She had created an environment to stay connected to her body with music and utilizing an eye mask during contractions. Elizabeth maintained her voice throughout her hospital experience. She asked questions and spoke up when she needed help. They welcomed their second daughter less than an hour after arriving at the hospital feeling joyful and empowered.

Youtube & Instagram Recommendations from Elizabeth:

Robyn Compton - gestational diabetes dietitian

Your Badass Natural Birth - childbirth education

The Pelvic Docs - pelvic health support

Nurse Zabe

BodyFit by Amy

Nourish Move Love

Sara Beth Yoga

Resources:

Kellymom | provides evidence-based breastfeeding and parenting information to both professionals and parents

AZ Breastfed Babies | international board certified lactation consultants providing in person and virtual consults located in Arizona

Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols | book providing effective alternatives to the conventional nutrition approach

The Birth Partner | a complete guide to childbirth for dads, partners, doulas, and all other labor companions

Natural Hospital Birth |a guide for navigating the hospital setting with minimal birth interventions

The Birth Hour Podcast | birth stories and pregnancy resources

Birthful Podcast | podcast talking to perinatal pros and new parents to inform your intuition

Built to Birth | online childbirth education