Thinking Positive

Aaaand, we're back!  After a week hiatus, we bring you Megan Melvin's birth story.  Megan labored with her son for several hours before being rushed into an emergency cesarean. This episode may scare some women, but we believe hearing a variety of stories, with positive outcomes, is the best way to prepare for the birth experience.  We hope you enjoy this weeks episode! 

Happy Friday everyone! This week we have a long-y, but a good-y. Jessie and I were able to sit down with Aly, the founder of an organization called PPD Journey.  Aly shares her own experience with postpartum depression, and walks us through the different ways this condition can manifest in people.  Approximately 1 in 7 women are affected by this, and 1 in 4 men experience this as well. Tune in this week to learn more! Trigger Warning:  In this episode we discuss postpartum depression. Please use discretion/best judgement.  Resources: https://www.ppdjourney.com/ https://www.postpartum.net/

Happy Friday Friends!  This week, following our interview with Hannah, we cover Jessie's birth story with her second daughter, Gia.  Jessie discovers her pregnancy may not have gone as smoothly as she remembers! We cover her worries of an ectopic pregnancy early on, her massage during labor, and  her frantic drive to the hospital on an empty tank of gas.  Listen along for all of the relatable details in the story of Gia's birth this week!

This week, podcast host, Hannah Randell gives us the scoop on prenatal massage!  Hannah covers the benefits of getting a massage during your pregnancy, how to ensure you book with a qualified therapist, and info you should have before going in to feel comfortable and safe. Because, as Jessie says, "knowledge is power"! Resources: https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/massage-and-pregnancy/

We're back! Listen in as we talk to Sarah Williams about the birth of her daughter Liliana.  Sarah conceived her daughter via IUI, and gave birth at the beginning of the global pandemic.  We cover some unique challenges in this episode, such as the challenges of being so involved with every single step of conception, and how postpartum can sneak up on you in unexpected ways. 

Week 7, coming at ya!  This week we sit down with Sarah Hooks to talk about her birth’s with her two children, Ellie and Emmett.  For her first birth, Sarah was induced and had an epidural in a hospital, and for her second, she labored naturally in a hospital.  Tune in to hear how relaxing your face and hands could assist in your labor, and how helpful laboring in a bathtub can be!  Resources:  Spinningbabies.com  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC14hksGNKLU5Ny8c145cuzw

It's finally here! This week we have Jess Caldwell, a certified Doula and Midwife in training, on the podcast.  Jess helps us understand what exactly a Doula does, how they assist in the birth process, and how to find one that fits your needs.  Resources:  evidencebasedbirth.com 

Happy Friday everyone!  This week we talk to Katt, a cancer survivor and business owner, about her pregnancy and birth with her daughter, Lyla.  Katt gave birth just after hitting the 41 week mark. In this episode she discusses her road to conception, the challenge of being prescribed blood thinners during pregnancy, and some of the best advice she was given during her journey.  Trigger Warning:  In this episode we discuss the subject of miscarriages. Please use discretion/best judgement.  

Week four is here, and we're back to sharing a special guest's birth story with you all!  This week we have Avery on to talk about the unmedicated hospital birth of her daughter, Hollis.  Avery gave birth just before hitting her 42 week mark, and talks about the infamous "ring of fire", methods of coping through a natural birth, and how having her mother has her doula helped guide her through the process. 

Our first interview with a professional is finally here!  Happy Friday! We couldn't be more excited to talk with Lauren Grude this week about women's health, myths you may still believe about your body, and so much more.  Resources:  ACOG.org  MayoClinic.org NationalCoalitionForSexualHealth.org