Episode 47: Elizabeth Wolfrey
What do you do when you realize you’re unhappy with the care you’re receiving prenatally?
Elizabeth found herself in this position, for the second time, during her second pregnancy. Fortunately, she had learned much since her first experience, and she was unwilling to stand by as the positive birth she desired slipped away.
Elizabeth, like so many other courageous moms, made a change later in the game—but certainly in time.
Before we dive into this episode, I ...
Episode 47: Elizabeth Wolfrey
What do you do when you realize you’re unhappy with the care you’re receiving prenatally?
Elizabeth found herself in this position, for the second time, during her second pregnancy. Fortunately, she had learned much since her first experience, and she was unwilling to stand by as the positive birth she desired slipped away.
Elizabeth, like so many other courageous moms, made a change later in the game—but certainly in time.
Before we dive into this episode, I have to give a big thank you to the founding members of Happy Homebirth Academy. Our group begins Tuesday, October 22nd, and I am so excited for the feedback they’ll be providing me as I refine this childbirth education program specifically with you, the homebirth mother, in mind. I can’t wait to share the tools to a mindful, peaceful homebirth with you in January. If you’re interested in a small taste of what’s to come, be sure to check out the Happy Homebirth Essentials Mini-Course, which includes 5 tips to having a successful homebirth. You can pick that up at myhappyhomebirth.com/essentials.
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Short and sweet. That’s all I have for you right now, so as we enter into this interview, please remember that the opinions of my guest might not reflect my own and vice versa, and neither my guest or myself are acting as medical providers, so please continue to see your doctor, midwife, or if you’re like me, you’re chiropractor.
Show Notes:
- Elizabeth Has PCOS, so did have a bit of a difficult time becoming pregnant in the first place
- Had a hospital birth with her son (first birth).
- Induced at 39 weeks- not a reason that they induced her. She wanted to be induced, so they did.
- Short labor, only 12 hours
- Showed her Dr a picture of mucous, to which the Dr. said, “Ugh, I don’t want to see that!”
- Didn’t switch to a midwife with her second birth until 25 weeks. At first, her husband was uncertain that Elizabeth would be able to cope at home.
- Discussed the fact the appointments were always 1hour +
- Husband’s big question: “Well, what if something happens?”
-It’s birth. Things do happen sometimes and you deal with it as it comes. But typically everything goes okay
- -Once they had a successful experience, he was so happy
- -Got to a point where she decided they weren’t going to tell anyone unless they knew they’d be supportive because they weren’t interested in negativity during such an important time as pregnancy
- Stopped at WENDY’S ON THE WAY
- Felt like she needed to poop…. Actually did need to poop.
- Labored in the water, then really enjoyed laboring on hands and knees, then was laboring facing the back of the toilet, which helped open things up. Her water broke.
- Contractions were very strong
- Mentions that one of her midwives reminded her of a mom figure, and she really loved that.
- Felt the fetal ejection reflex—enjoyed pushing
- Discusses the calmness of her baby—the way that you’re brought into the world can make such a difference
Episode Roundup:
There’s so much we can glean from this episode.
- One of my favorite parts is the work that both Elizabeth and her husband did to prepare for their second birth. She read Ina May books, they watched The Business of Being Born, and they even took a childbirth education class together to understand what her body would be doing during labor… this was all after having given birth before! There’s always so much to learn.
- I love how Elizabeth compares the way her baby was born to the calmness of her personality now. Perhaps this isn’t always the case, but I do feel that the overwhelming, undisturbed love her daughter must have felt during those first moments on Earth certainly cause healthy, positive hormones that can ground us all beautifully.
- Finally, I want to tie things up the way we began. Elizabeth didn’t switch to the care of out-of-hospital midwives until 25 weeks pregnant with her second. But you know what? It wasn’t too late in the game. In fact, as long as there’s time left on the clock, even if it’s down to the very end, there’s still time for a change. Please remember that you’re the one in charge- I beg that you don’t let anyone take that power away from you.
Okay, my friends. I hope you loved this interview like I did, and I look forward to seeing you back here, next week.
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