Pregnancy Archives • Motherlift - educational resources to support motherhood.

Jul

Push Play(list)!

Music can be a very influential medium when it comes to birthing baby. Whether vaginal, or caesarian, there’s always that one song that makes you smile, brings a tear to your eye, or brings you back to a moment in time.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I spent hours collecting songs that brought both humor, and nostalgia. However, at 37 weeks we found out my he was breech, and after trying ALL the things, ended with a caesarean at 39 weeks. My surgeon didn’t feel comfortable blaring music, so I doubled down on having it with my second son.

Music can pull you in many different directions. In labor, this can be a very powerful force. One of my greatest contractions came with the song, “Steal Your Heart” by Augustana. This is the song I remember being an anthem while falling in love with my husband.

Biologically, labor is classified as a positive feedback loop in the body. This means that in order for your body to maintain homeostasis, it must repeat the loop until peace is resumed in your body. Here’s what that looks like:

You’ll notice that at the bottom your brain releases oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract, which pushes baby against the cervix, which sends nerve impulses to the brain, etc..

The reason music can be so effective, and was in my labor (prior to my beloved uterine rupture) is because oxytocin! Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone,” because it is released when people snuggle up or bond socially. Listening to music stimulates oxytocin, and thus reinforces what’s already at work during labor. So cool, right!?

This weekend I asked for everyone’s favorite songs from labor and compiled the write in’s here.

Here is the playlist I provide to my own clients to get them through labor.

And here is my personal playlist I used for labor. Mainly Augustana, and pump-up-make-you-laugh jams involving the work “baby.”

With Warmth,

Macy, the doula

c/o MotherLift—A sister trio: Designer, Doula, and Therapist.

Jul

Birth Positions

“The down and dirty.”

“The humpty dumpty.”

“The drop it low.”

Whatever nicknames you give them, you’ll likely try ALLLL the birth positions if you’re going through an unmedicated birth.

Changing up your birth position helps move baby down. For example, an upright birth position widens the pelvis and provides ample oxygen to the baby. This is because the body’s main blood vessel, the aorta, gets some relief by taking the pressure off of it!

Getting an epidural? No problem! Even with an epidural, a peanut ball can be utilized with great effectiveness to keep your hips nice + open while you get some much-needed rest.

Some assume they’ll wing it in birth, or learn all they need to in a birthing class, but there’s two things to note here:

Practice with your partner (if applicable) DEFINITELY makes perfect, and
Covid likely cancelled your birthing class! Even if they didn’t, self-research can only benefit you in familiarizing birth positions.

Doulas are amazing for providing support during a labor, and for suggesting positional changes. (We’re a wealth of knowledge!) If, however, Covid has cancelled your plans for a doula or a birthing class, let me link you some position practice slides!

As the resident full-spectrum doula here @MotherLift, I’m happy to offer coaching sessions that range from pre-conception through postpartum. (Including birth-prep in the era of Covid!) Feel free to shoot me an email here!

How about you? Did you weirdly nickname any of your birth positions?

We’re happy to have you here, friends.

Sincerest warmth,
Macy Morrow, CD (DTI)
c/o
MotherLift—A sister trio: Designer, Doula, and Therapist

PS- Are you pregnant and having trouble clearing the bowels? Below you will find a graphic (from Baby Centre) with the optimal position for getting relief. (The stool pictured is relatively cheap, and can be found on Amazon.) You’re welcome?

May

Pushing Through Postpartum

By Morgan Messick

This is not a piece about postpartum in the time of covid, difficult as it is, with less human contact and access to resources. No, unfortunately the postpartum period at any time, under any circumstances is woefully under-supported in our society and it’s a big problem. We read about the magical policies of other countries, where families are supported and granted parental leave for sometimes up to a year (or more!). Fathers are encouraged to be at home with their new children, sometimes even required to be! In these foreign lands, mothers walk away from their delivery with baby boxes full of all the postpartum and baby supplies they could possibly need. Magic money appears in their bank account allowing them to transition more easily during this fresh new phase of life.

Not in America. In America, it feels like a dystopia where decisions are being made on behalf of our mothers. Oftentimes, by individuals who are not mothers themselves. In this, my homeland, mothers are being deprived of basic needs and support for things like breastfeeding and lactation. Not only that, but we’re being given mountains of paperwork to fill out after traumatic births, being shuffled out the door with a bill that will break the bank, and then being asked “hey, when are you going back to work?”.

You’ve probably heard that birth is a business, and sometimes it feels that way. And when the contractual business of having a baby is done, our society stops caring about the mothers. Instead, new mama’s are thrown out to fend for themselves physically, mentally and emotionally.

The amount of appointments you attend while your baby is in utero can feel clunky and excessive at times. Some moms are constantly going in for check ups, trying to juggle life, kids and so much more while attending back-to-back appointments. We check on our unborn babies a whole lot — and that’s a good thing! But, once that baby emerges, the appointments slow down, and the focus shifts.

The mother is no longer looked after. Her body and mental state is no longer regarded as a priority. When we go into the postpartum period (#fourthtrimester), we may have 1-2 check ups from providers, but often the most we get in those appointments is a series of paper surveys gauging whether we are experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety (the Edinburgh PostNatal Depression Scale). Even with proper evaluations, the onus is on the mom to reach out and circle the number that screams for help. There is an immense mental and emotional burden that mothers are bearing on their own, and it’s a big problem.

So, we don’t have support in America. But not only do we not have support, we’re often exploited for work so quickly after birth, it’s staggering. This might be upsetting for many people to think about, but if you’ve actually birthed a baby and experienced postpartum first hand, it’s mind-numbing to think of women getting back out there (some on their feet all day) weeks, or even days after giving birth.

We are being asked to work like we don’t have children, and mother like we don’t have jobs. Being a parent is a full time job, having a job is a full time job, and keeping a home in order is at least a part-time job. Add in those who have pets, or other family to care for, and – in this pandemic – possibly homeschooling and MORE. Many new moms are being thrown into some combination of these circumstances the moment they give birth. It’s overwhelming. It’s unmanageable. It’s horrible, and it’s sad that it’s not at all shocking in our country.

I’m a first time mom, and I am 11 weeks postpartum while I write this. Here are the resources I was able to tap into for my journey:

I had the best prenatal care available in Austin (shout out to the Austin Area Birthing Center)
I had adequate postpartum care through six weeks
I had a doula to support me before and after birth
I have an amazing partner, committed 100% to co-parenting with me and sharing the load
I had an astounding amount of maternity leave by US standards (took 12 weeks, partially paid)
My partner was able to take 12 weeks of paternity leave (PAID) and has been by my side the whole time
I left my birth center with an enormous support group (thanks to the Centering Pregnancy program) that I am able to reach out to 24 hours a day through a group text
I am able to buy the best baby products available to help my baby eat, sleep and live her best life
I have had access to free lactation consultants through my insurance to help me wade through breastfeeding difficulties

I have some really great support right now, and I STILL find myself drowning in the day-to-day new parenting moments. Even with all of this help laid at my feet…it hasn’t been enough. From this mountain of privilege that I am lucky enough to be on, it’s not enough for me and the vast majority of new moms get much less than what I have to work with.

I am just about to return to work, and I am devastated inside with how difficult this is going to be for me. I am so anxious about what it all will look like, and how I will be able to cope, and how in the world I’ll get it all done. It’s not a contest for who has the most problems to contend with, but rather a bleak outlook for all mothers. No matter how big or small our troubles or successes: we are all in this boat together, and the boat has been sinking for years. We could all use more support.

When it comes to postpartum care, we are looking at a systemic problem in our country. The system is broken; mothers are treated very clinically during their postpartum time and we don’t proactively prepare women for what this period can be like. Instead, women are given statistics like “1 in 10 women will experience postpartum depression.” “According to some experts as many as 70-80% of women will experience the baby blues,” and “Many will go on to experience more severe conditions such as postpartum depression or anxiety, and it can hit at any time during the first year of your baby’s life.”

We are given this information to carry — on top of carrying the emotional weight of a new child, being sleep deprived, having a body that feels wrecked and generally tired in so many ways. We are asked to contend with the possibility that we may end up being a part of these statistics, and we may or may not be able to get the help we need — either way, it feels like it’s up to us to navigate on our own.

So, we become our own teachers, and through this we get lost in our roles from day-to-day and the moments fly by, self care is thrown out the window and before you know it you’re back at work, or it’s laundry day again, or you forgot to feed the dogs. Time is a thief, and sometimes it’s hard to catch your breath.

New as I am to motherhood, what I know is this: There’s so much trial and error, and sometimes it can feel like a stack of failures have piled up around you. And Mama, there will be moments that feel like failures. Wear them like a badge, because failing so much, so often, is not a sign of not succeeding, it’s a sign of love, effort, and a path to victories. It means you care enough to persist, to be resilient, and for that you’re the greatest mom in the world. And Mama, know that you’re not measured by the amount of ounces you can pump or whether you feed your baby formula (fed is best) or the hours of sleep your baby gets or how many dishes are in the sink or how many pounds you lost after the baby was born or or how many milestones your baby is hitting a month or how much work you are able to get done outside of mothering. You are measured in the love in your baby’s eyes — and they do love you so much!

We are thrown into a new world, given (less than) the bare minimum of support and we are coming out the otherside. Postpartum is hard, motherhood is hard, but we can do hard things.

They say it takes a village, but we don’t get one. (America, let’s do better M’kay?) In the meantime, find your supports where you can get them, Mama. Reach out. Ask for help. Join local groups online (in person, when it’s safe again!).

You’re strong as a mother, and I believe in you!

_____________

Morgan Messick is a first time mom to baby girl Marlo Jean, just coming out of the fourth trimester in Austin, TX. She’s a marketing professional with a passion for her dogs, fantasy, pop-culture content and crushing the patriarchy and systemic inequities. You can follow her blog MorganizedMess.com for all the things.

May

15 Uncommon Breastfeeding Essentials from a Doula

For me, breastfeeding was a BEAST. I dealt with lingering open wounds, Reynaud’s Syndrome, thrush, engorgement, inverted/flat nipples, mastitis and a tongue-tied baby. When clients ask about breastfeeding support, I’m always so happy to say, “I’ve been there, and survived! If breastfeeding is important to you, we’ll find a way to make it work!”

How did I keep going? I made short term goals that were as attainable as possible. “Can I make it to tomorrow? Can I make it to next week?”

…AND I checked in with myself at the end of those goals to see if it was something I still felt passionate about.

Why did I keep going? The biggest motivator for me what the lack of control I felt in my birth story. I had two unexpected caesarians, and I’d be damned if I couldn’t breastfeed too!

When preparing for my second baby, I swore things would be different. AND THEY WERE!

I loved breastfeeding the second time through, and more than half of that was due to the fact that I made breastfeeding stations around the house.

Breastfeeding is a labor of love, emphasis on LABOR. It’s work. And to make work feel more fun, I had some incentives for success!

Without further ado, I present:

15 Uncommon Breastfeeding Essentials:

Wireless headphones. Breastfeeding occupies ALOT of time. Like, alot, alot. The best way to pass the time is by listening to music, books, podcasts, or by watching shows. Without the cords present, you can do something for you, while doing something for baby. We love these affordable and cute headphones from JBL, but also recommend Beats or Airpods.

2. Extra-Long Phone Cable. Keeping with the electronics theme, there is nothing more frustrating than being nap trapped and dead on the line. These are relatively cheap for how much joy they spark. This one will fit iPhones, and comes in a two pack. This one will fit Androids and comes in a three pack!

3. A great lil’ notebook. When sitting in solitary, it might insight a time of self-reflection. If you find yourself coming up with poop tracking, to-do lists, lyrics, poems, or wordy frustrations (sayyyy, for the lack of changing tables in public places), then having an outlet close-by comes in real handy. You want it somewhat small, since most your scrawling will be one-handed. Anything from Rhodia has our hearts, but this one is pictured above!

4. Pen, duh! If you give a mouse a cookies…. but really, these pens are THE TITS. Some pun intended. Le Pen makes a variety of fine-tip markers that rarely bleed through. They’re a writers delight. Here’s the link the these ones.

5. Night Light. Sleep experts all agree that when it’s night time, you want to treat it as such, meaning, NO OVERHEAD LIGHT WHATSOEVER. This little light is rechargeable, so you can take it from your breastfeeding station to your changing table and back. It’s touch to turn on and has different features like dimming, and a self-timer for turn off. It’s also not stark white, so you and baby can stay in the dream-like, nighttime state.

6. A little Foot Stool. Do you know the most important physical recovery area of postpartum? The pelvic floor. You know what’s the most damaging to its recovery? Being ill-positioned while breastfeeding. We need many gidgets to breastfeed, but this is bare non-the one that will serve your pelvic floor best in the long run. This foot stool is a registry essential in my opinion.

7. A Water Bottle. Ok, in all honesty, a water bottle with a straw is better, but it’s hard to find cute water bottles with straws, amiright? Here’s the deal, breastfeeding sucks the every-living daylights out of you. To keep that milk supply up, you need some H20, bb. Hydrate, and if you’re hydrating, MAKE IT FASHION. Anything from Swell is well… swell.

8. Lip Balm. Again, breastfeeding is dehydrating, soooo your lips might start looking like a bitten croissant. Dionis makes goat milk lip balm that is to die for. It’s creamy, long-lasting, and this flavor is even peppermint to mask the fact that you still haven’t had time to brush your teeth!

9. Nipple Butter. Y’all, it works. If you’re a first time, or even second time breastfeeding parent, the first two weeks are a test of endurance. You’re both fish out of water trying to learn the gig you signed up for. This can help ease some of the discomforts of breastfeeding. Is it 100% necessary for everyone? No. But is it nice to have on hand? Absolutely. Everyone has the one that works for them. Having a couple of different brands couldn’t hurt, but off the top of my head, Earth Mama’s Nipple Butter seems to be the most universally loved.

10. Breast Pads. Ok, so this is a common breastfeeding item, but it’s also essential, y’all. Everyone loves to have the bamboo reusable breast pads, but until your supply stabilizes, you might be doing more harm than good. When using reusable breast pads, it’s imperative to wash them quickly, and frequently in order to reduce the risk of thrush. In the first six weeks, I’d recommend going the disposable route. For that, Lansinoh does a great one!

11. The Haaka is a new guy on the block, but let me tell you, it’s worth its weight in gold. While breastfeeding one one breast, this little guy attaches with suction to the other side collecting the let down that would’ve otherwise gone to waste in a breast pad. It’s one piece, so it’s easy to clean, and it’s cheap enough that you can get a few to use throughout the day.

12. Burp Clothes. Ok, so again this is another common item to have lying around, but seriously, how many of y’all have the cloths right there at your station? These versatile burp clothes can be used for burping/spit ups, but can also wipe a nose, dry a tear, and wipe up that mustard you dropped on the baby’s head. BOOM, ESSENTIAL.

13. SNACKS! SNACKS! SNACKS! These Bobo’s bars are gluten free, and vegan. They’re made from oatmeal and are a powerhouse for filling and boosting supply. (My fav is the maple, but to each their own!) Best of all, they qualify as being a “one-handed” snack.

14. Wishgarden Tinctures. Let me assure you, you don’t want to be in a place of desperation without these tinctures. Milk Rich boosts your supply by using herbs such as Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus), Goat’s Rue aerials (Galega officinalis), Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Fennel seed (Foeniculum Vulgare), Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), Blessed Thistle aerials (Cnicus benedictus).

Happy Ducts helps promote healthy, non-clogged ducts. If you have a lump appearing, or are prone to clogged ducts, this is your girl!

NOTE: Always speak with your doctor before adding in new supplements.

15. A Place to Put it all. Now that you have all this stuff, where you gonna put it? Marie Kondo says that everything needs a home, and your breastfeeding essentials are no exception to that rule. Target, and Amazon have no shortage on cute storage. This is the one pictured above.

Whether you breast feed for a month, a year, or five years, we see you. We see all that you do to keep baby fed. We see the sacrifice of your time, your emotions, and sometimes, your sanity.

Those who have breastfed/chest-fed before, did you find anything helpful that’s a bit out of the ordinary? Let us know.

Jan

LoriAnn’s Story

“Had I not naturally miscarried, I would have held on to some hope that my appointment would have gone differently…”

At Motherlift we want to tell stories that inspire, educate, and remind you: you aren’t the only one. We want to allow women to share honestly about their experiences without all the fear and anxiety we usually find on the internet. We will be posting stories of joy, anticipation, surprise, grief, endurance, and most of all, strength. Consider this blog a place to listen to a friend’s experience of motherhood.

Today we’re going to hear from LoriAnn about her experience with a miscarriage. It’s a topic that not a lot of people discuss openly. You might find this difficult to read. You might remember your own experience with miscarriage. You might find fear seeping in even as you read that word: miscarriage.

We believe there is freedom in hearing stories and having our stories heard.

We also believe that in the end we all have the ability to find hope and strength we didn’t know we had.

Wherever you find yourself today, we encourage you to quiet yourself to read this story with an open heart, leaving fear at the door.

LoriAnn’s thoughtful story is one of endurance, hope and growth.

Many people don’t know about the miscarriage process. Would you mind sharing a little about what happens when you miscarry?I found out I was pregnant with my angel baby at the end of June 2017. I would have been due on March 4th, 2018. I felt so different than I did with Rosalie. I felt pregnant right away with her, and this time I just felt tired. We had a successful dating ultrasound, in which a heartbeat was detected, but the baby was measuring small, so we had to go back about two weeks later to confirm due date. I felt like this was a bad sign because I knew the exact date I got pregnant, and there was no way this happened an entire week or 8 days later. I woke up on July 20th and felt funny — not sick, but I just didn’t feel right. Rosalie and I stayed home that day and relaxed. It was about 5pm when I saw blood in my underwear. I panicked. I called my husband, Dave, who was on his way home anyway. I called the on call doctor, who said whether it’s a miscarriage or break through bleeding, she wanted me to come in the next day for a Rhogam shot because I am Rh negative. She also said that they would be able to confirm whether or not I had actually miscarried.

The next day, my husband was so sure that nothing was wrong, even though I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’d get awful news. He went to work, but I didn’t want to go to the doctor alone. My very close friend, Laurel, came with me. While she was in the waiting room with Rosalie, my regular doctor (the one that took care of me when I was pregnant with Rosalie) did an ultrasound and said that she didn’t see a heartbeat. I was so devastated. I called my husband and told him the news. He refused to believe it. He said we had seen the heartbeat just the week before. My doctor said the chances of anything changing were slim, but she agreed to keep my original appointment that would have been for the dating scan on the next Wednesday to confirm whether or not this was indeed a miscarriage.

Over the weekend, the bleeding got heavier and heavier. On Sunday, I passed a large clot, about the size of my fist, that was my baby. The bleeding continued for another 10 days. I was actually very relieved to miscarry naturally. It was like my body gave me the answer, that this pregnancy was over. Had I not naturally miscarried, I would have held on to some hope that my appointment would have gone differently on Wednesday. Instead, I told my doctor that I was almost sure that I had expelled the pregnancy, which she confirmed. She said we could begin trying for another child as soon as I stopped bleeding and as soon as we felt emotionally ready.

What is one meaningful thing someone said during your experience with a miscarriage?

The most meaningful thing that stands out to me still is when I called the on-call doctor when I was miscarrying. I had just passed the large clot that was baby, and I called to make sure this was normal.

She did everything a doctor should — basically take care of me medically, even if it was over the phone. However, before we got off the phone, she said “I’m sorry for your loss.” I know many people call a miscarriage a loss, as in they will say “I lost a pregnancy” but, we also say “I’m sorry for your loss” when a person that has walked this earth passes away. The way she phrased it made me realize (in a good way) that I didn’t just lose a pregnancy. I lost a life. And I was allowed to mourn for that too. It was only 5 words, but it really meant so much to me at the time.

Whatever happened in your pregnancy is not a reflection of you as a woman or a mother.

Do you feel like you were able to, or needed to, grieve the loss of your angel baby?

I was able to grieve the loss of my angel baby. I did get a tattoo, and I bought several pieces of jewelry to commemorate my angel. I also honor my angel every year on October 15th, which is the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.

What is one thing you think women should remember as they’re grieving in miscarriage?

I think they should remember that nothing is their fault. Whatever happened in your pregnancy is not a reflection of you as a woman or a mother. If you want a rainbow baby, it will happen in its own time.

What is one thing you want women to remember as they then try for more kids following a miscarriage?

I think anyone that is trying for more children following a miscarriage needs to have faith in something. I trusted in God that my rainbow baby would come, and would be delivered safe and sound in my arms.

What parts of your experience with miscarriage do you carry with you now?

I think I’m stronger than I thought I was, both physically and emotionally. My miscarriage makes me appreciate the two children that I do have. I absolutely cherish every hug and kiss from them.

Jan

Morgan’s Story

At Motherlift we want to tell stories that inspire, educate, and remind you: you aren’t the only one. We want to allow women to share honestly about their experiences without all the fear and anxiety we usually find on the internet. We will be posting stories of joy, anticipation, surprise, grief, endurance, and most of all, strength. Consider this blog a place to listen to a friend’s experience of motherhood.

This is Morgan’s story. She has 2 girls and when she gave birth to her second she discovered her daughter had 3 congenital heart diseases and would need open heart surgery at 5 days old. Her story is one of joy, grief, and perseverance. Kid’s Names & Ages: Eowyn – 7 & Lyanna 1.5 Type of Birth: Scheduled Cesarean What does “motherhood” mean to you? Motherhood means loving another person more than you thought possible. It means caring about somebody else’s well being above your own.

Was there anything unexpected, traumatic or significant for you in the process of becoming a mother? When my second daughter was born she swallowed fluid and her oxygen saturation levels were being monitored. After about 5 hours, her nurse discovered a huge gradient in the saturation levels in her foot versus her hand and they took her away to check her out some more. The pediatrician who assisted in my C-section came in to tell me she thought my daughter had a heart defect and they would be airlifting her to a children’s hospital. I had to stay behind and recover and wasn’t released until the following day. It turned out she had 3 congenital heart diseases (CHD’s) and would need open heart surgery at 5 days old. How did you cope with these changes (i.e. tools, support system, resources, professionals, medication)? I relied heavily on my support system. My husband was there with me whenever he could be and our families were there as much as they could be. I asked as many questions and made sure I understood what would be happening and why. Later I joined CHD (congenital heart disease) organizations and spoke with others who had similar experiences.

How did you change in the process of your experience? What do you know about yourself now that you didn’t know before? My faith grew stronger. While I felt worried, I also felt a sense of peace and knew God was in control. I know now that I am strong enough to handle something I could never have fathomed before it became reality. I will give my all for my children. What was the first thing you felt when they gave you the news? Broken. I stared at the pediatrician in shock. She saw I was holding back my emotions and told me it was okay to cry and she cried with me. Lyanna was still in the nursery and I asked if I could see her again before they took her away. I had an overwhelming fear that the next time I saw her she wouldn’t be alive.

What was something meaningful someone said or did for you during this time? There were so many things. The pediatrician’s empathy when she told us meant a lot. We had people we were barely connected to reach out to us. A friend of my brother in law’s sister sent us a note about her son who had been born with a heart defect and a lion lovey for Lyanna. An old friend’s step mom found us in the CICU waiting room after surgery and delivered a care package from a foundation called Wyatt’s Warriors which was founded in memory of a baby who passed away because of TGA, Lyanna’s main defect. Our pastor and parents all sat with us during the surgery. So many people reached out to check in on her and offered financial help. It was really amazing to see all the support and it felt like God was telling us we weren’t going through it alone. Tell us about the support group for CHD you joined. There were several support groups I became a part of. The Pediatric Congenital Heart Association, The Children’s Heart Foundation, Mended Little Hearts, a facebook group for patients and parents of TGA babies. I mainly followed all of them on Facebook. They share statistics, resources, and discussion about CHD. It was really helpful for me to see others who had been through it and to see some of the kids grown up and doing well. Did you have any specific words, thoughts, or phrases that you used as a mantra to pull you through? I prayed a lot. I learned the term Heart Warrior which is what people with CHD are referred to and that was comforting. Nothing seemed more fragile than my 6lb newborn baby and thinking of her as a warrior made the thought of her battling for her life seem a little more manageable. There was one point when we had a 6-8 hour critical period and the surgeon told me “If she makes it through that she’s going to be alright.” I changed the phrase to WHEN she makes it through and repeated that to myself.

What does life look like for you now? Life looks normal to me now. A few more appointments than what others may think of as normal. I know a lot more cardiovascular terms than I ever thought I would. My child sees cardiologist and is followed by a neurological team because CHD kids are at greater risk for developmental delays. I’m aware that just because she was ‘repaired’ in no way does that mean she is fixed and her battle will be a lifelong battle. All of that has become normal and I couldn’t be more thankful for where we are now. How is Lyanna now? What is she like? Lyanna is doing great! Medically, she has a couple of things the cardiologist is keeping an eye on but nothing that needs intervention now. Her pediatrician is really happy with her development. She’s walking and talking and doing all the normal toddler things. She is such a joy with an easy going personality, I like to say she got the drama out of the way early. She repeats almost any word she’s asked to say. She likes sitting in a lap and reading. She has reached the toddler independence stage and wants to do everything herself. She likes running around after her big sister and helping in the kitchen. She’s basically perfect, I wouldn’t change a thing about her. Any closing thoughts, words of advice, or resources you want to share? “Treat her like a normal baby and let us worry about the not so normal baby stuff.” Those were the words Lyanna’s cardiologist said to me the first day I met him. She was 1 day old and I had just finished asking him an onslaught of questions about her future, many of them probably just different variations of the same question. Those words changed my outlook. I can’t control the not so normal stuff so there’s no reason for me to dwell on it. Lyanna is just like any other child and I plan to treat her that way.

Push Play(list)!

Birth Positions

Pushing Through Postpartum

15 Uncommon Breastfeeding Essentials from a Doula

15 Uncommon Breastfeeding Essentials:

LoriAnn’s Story

“Had I not naturally miscarried, I would have held on to some hope that my appointment would have gone differently…”

Whatever happened in your pregnancy is not a reflection of you as a woman or a mother.

Morgan’s Story

If you have a story you’d like to tell about your experience with conception, pregnancy, childbirth or motherhood, submit it here.

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