My First Birth Story

The Birth Journeys Podcast®️

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When life handed me the label "elderly primigravida," I didn't just recoil at the term—I redefined it. Embark on a profoundly candid chronicle where I lay bare the trials and triumphs of my journey into motherhood later in life. Coupling professional expertise as a labor and delivery nurse with my visceral personal experience, this episode is an intricate tapestry of the fears, the stigma, and the sheer joy that comes with pregnancy after 35. Recounts of battling persistent nausea and a petite frame's resistance to the rigors of childbirth paint a vivid picture of resilience.
Through the lens of my story, we traverse the peaks and valleys of natural childbirth preparation, the value of a trusted doula, and the stark reality of less-than-ideal hospital conditions. The narrative swells as I share the unexpected twists of labor, revealing how home strategies clashed with the hospital's austere environment, and how a traumatic delivery threatened to overshadow the birth of my child. This episode isn't just a playback of events; it's a rich exploration of emotional fortitude and the unanticipated paths labor can take.
The tapestry continues post-delivery as I navigate the postpartum world, with its potent mix of gratitude for nursing support and the struggle with breastfeeding challenges. I open up about the search for community and the advocacy for parents in the birth space following a move to a new city. This episode isn't just for expectant mothers; it's a testament to the collective wisdom and shared experiences that empower and guide all parents along their extraordinary journey into the transformative world of birth and parenting. Join me as we share, learn, and connect in the universal adventure that begins with the very first heartbeat.

Want me as your birth coach? You got it!
I will help you:

☑️identify the source of anxiety you have surrounding birth.

☑️fill in knowledge gaps to make sure that you are fully informed and confident.

☑️learn key phrases so you can better communicate with your medical team.

☑️emotionally process your fears so that they don’t hold power over you

Go to kellyhof.com to book a free 30 minute birth vision call.

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Connect with Kelly Hof at kellyhof.com
Medical Disclaimer:
This podcast is intended as a safe space for women to share their birth experiences. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Each woman’s medical course of action is individual and may not appropriately transfer to another similar situation. Please speak to your medical provider before making any medical decisions. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that evidence based practice evolves as our knowledge of science improves. To the best of my ability I will attempt to present the most current ACOG and AWHONN recommendations at the time the podcast is recorded, but that may not necessarily reflect the best practices at the time the podcast is heard. Additionally, guests sharing their stories have the right to autonomy in their medical decisions, and may share their choice to go against current practice recommendations. I intend to hold space for people to share their decisions. I will attempt to share the current recommendations so that my audience is informed, but it is up to each individual to choose what is best for them.

Chapters

1. Journey of Sharing Birth Stories (00:00:01)

2. Preparing for Natural Childbirth With Doula (00:11:26)

3. Challenging Labor Experience Without Adequate Facilities (00:23:01)

4. Traumatic Labor Experience and Unexpected Turn (00:33:20)

5. Traumatic Birth Experience and Recovery (00:39:00)

6. Challenges and Joys of Postpartum (00:48:39)

7. Navigating New Beginnings (00:51:40)

8. Education in Pregnancy and Birth (00:54:38)