EBB 405 - Navigating Unexpected Turns in Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum with Emily Cook, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate and Preeclampsia Survivor

Emily Cook hoped for a low-intervention birth. But after managing high blood pressure throughout her pregnancy, her plans changed when she was diagnosed with preeclampsia late in her third trimester.

 

In this episode, Emily shares how the EBB Childbirth Class helped her prepare to navigate an unexpected induction, magnesium therapy, and an epidural while still advocating for the birth experience she wanted. She talks about asking questions, requesting a lower-dose epidural so she could remain mobile, advocating for wireless fetal monitoring and hands-and-knees pushing, and finding confidence in making informed decisions even when things didn't go as planned.

 

Emily also reflects on the emotional realities of postpartum, from recovering after preeclampsia and establishing breastfeeding to navigating grief after the unexpected loss of her grandmother just weeks after giving birth. Her story is a reminder that birth is only one part of the transition to parenthood, and that caring for the birthing parent is just as important as caring for the baby.

 

(02:04) How Emily Found EBB

(04:29) Her Original Birth Plan and Adapting to Preeclampsia

(07:36) Advocating for Individualized Care During Labor

(09:22) High Blood Pressure, Triage, and Preeclampsia Diagnosis

(15:03) Induction Begins

(20:08) Magnesium Drip and Feeling "Tethered" During Labor

(25:57) Comfort Measures and Movement

(29:07) Pushing on Hands and Knees and Meeting Her Baby

(35:57) Postpartum Recovery and Continued Monitoring

(40:47) Recovering from Preeclampsia

(42:06) Grief and Postpartum

(49:06) Emily's Advice for Expecting Parents

 

Resources

Learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class: evidencebasedbirth.com/parentclasses/

EBB 391 – Electronic Fetal Monitoring Advocacy Tips with Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, OB/GYN and Author of The Birth Book

EBB 349 – An L & D Nurse's Advice for Advocating in the Birth Room with Trish Ware the Labor Nurse Mama

Evidence on: Pitocin® During the Third Stage of Labor

 

For more information about Evidence Based Birth and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.