Hannah M: Fast Labor Turns Into Surprise Home Birth

Hannah joins us to share the story of her second birth which was wildly different from her first. Hannah had a fairly easy pregnancy again except that she was GBS positive with a suspected penicillin allergy. After advocating for herself, she finally found an allergist to help her. She was all set for another birth at the Birth Center when she went into labor early. She thought it was prodromal labor which she had with her first. She progressed very quickly, too quickly and wasn't able to leave the house in time. Surrounded by her in-laws, dogs, firefighters and paramedics, Hannah delivered her own baby in her hallway. She had a difficult postpartum term due to feeding issues. Tune in to listen to the entire roller coaster birth story.

You can listen to Hannah's first Birth story here. 

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Intro Song by Carpathians (Donny Rodgers): https://carpathians.bandcamp.com/track/lavaman

Transcript

 Welcome to the Golden Hour Birth podcast. Thank you for tuning in today. I am Liz, your co-host. And I'm Natalie, your other co-ho. . And tonight we have Hannah back on and she is telling her second birth story with her second baby boy.

Dean. Hi. Hi . Thanks for coming back, thank you. Thank you for having me again. It's fun last time. So glad to be back. Love it, . Well, since we already know a little bit about you, why don't you just, we can jump right in with you wanting to get pregnant with your second. Okay. Yeah. So let's see. Ben got to be a year, and we've always known we've wanted more than one.

Wanted more than one. And I knew I wanted them close in age, but not like Irish twins or anything like that. Mm-hmm. . So yeah, he turned a year and we decided to start trying after that. And same thing, I, again, very, very lucky that I get pregnant easily and we got pregnant pretty quickly. I think it. Just a couple months.

Yes. Scott again was kinda like , like actually after that time I was like, are you ever gonna gimme like a, you know, excited, excited response, you know, because, I mean, he is excited but it is always kinda like a, oh, holy crap. Like, alright, this is happening again, kind of thing. , and I'm over here just like, just excited.

Yeah.

I get it. It's a big change. So, and that was so, I mean, yeah, Benjamin's a July baby and you know, I've got pregnant August or September and Dean was due in June. So just one month. Shy being two years. Exactly. And yeah, so we are excited for, for the next challenge, you know, the next chapter I feel.  after one or like coming up to one it, you're like, oh, this is like a little bit easier.

Mm-hmm. , it's like, yeah, we could like add a second. Uhhuh . And so when the guys find out, like, uh, but it's kind of easy now, . Ah, yeah. I don't wanna go through the newborn. He isn't gonna Right. It's so, so true. Yeah. You, you know what to expect and which, which turtles are gonna be the hardest. . Yeah. Once they finally, why do we do that?

Like once they're sleeping through the night, we're independent. Right. Back at it. . I'm just wondering how like it'll be having like the newborn with a toddler I'll never, right. Or like how.  other people do. I, I don't, I haven't gone through it yet, but I'm just like, yeah, we're never gonna be able to enjoy pregnancy again.

it's like a different thing because you're also like experiencing it with your toddler. Mm-hmm. , like, if my belly grew, I got to be like Arthur, like there's a baby in All right. , he got really excited and especially after she was born, I mean you saw the pictures of him. Curious baby . He's like kissing the iPad screen of the picture of, of Covid.

Right. Trying to be there.  baby. Yeah. Yeah. That is true. It is. It is it. And you know, it's different for every however old Your're, firstborn is. I think it matters a lot because I don't even think we told Benjamin until. Maybe a month before , like he was so little. You, you didn't know to ask why my belly was getting bigger or, you know, I'm like, I didn't do a ton of prep work.

with him. Oh yeah. I'm not sure if Arthur got it right, but it was cute though. Yeah. I mean it of course, like I've, Ben would like kiss my belly and stuff, but like, this kid's gonna rock your world if you have no idea how it  . Kind of the same, same symptoms with Dean. I was, I mean, with Dean as I had with Ben, first trimester, couldn't do coffee, which was even worse with this one cuz I was at home with Ben

Really used to my caffeine.   and yeah, the, the smell I couldn't even deal with and I was just like, just really nauseous. But thankfully, Like with Dean's, snacking helped. Like as long as I could like snack throughout the day, I could stay on top of it. Mm-hmm.  and I seemed okay. Right. And that was my, that's my biggest issue with.

First trimester with Dean, you know, tired. Of course I had to chase after Ben, which is much different than them working. But Ben was still taking a nap then, so I got a nap then  . Amen. Which I didn't get when I was working. So that was new and nice. But it was, it was fun. I was just really trying, you know.

You know, then you have the guilt of, of introducing a second into the family. Cause you know, you see your verse born and they're still so little, and it's like, oh, I feel like I'm ripping a piece of his childhood away from him. Like having to make him share, you know, but, and you just remember that they'll be buddies, you know, and I'd see him playing alone and it was just like a good reminder of why we were continuing to grow our family.

You. So that he could have a little buddy to play with, which happens now, you know? Yeah. They, they play together. There's a lot of screaming, sharing going on, but they're both getting the hang of their relationship with each other and, mm-hmm. . Let's go on school. Mom, did you decide that you wanted to go back to the burning Sanger.

Yes. So yes, this time around knew right off the bat that that I would go back. There didn't even, I haven't even been back to my ob cause I still go to women's wellness checks there too. So that was, let's see, when do they do your GBS test? Is that second master? Third. Third. Third trim. I feel like I like that pretty big.

Yeah. But the funny thing, I got it at like first trimester, like my first appointment they tested me and they're like, yeah, you have it really from your urine? Yeah. I don't know. Because it can change throughout pregnancy. Mm-hmm. You can go from being positive, negative, negative. So it's interesting that they tested you so early and then, and then not again, I guess, but they tested.

They were just like, huh? You're positive. Fascinating. Yeah. I thought it was the third trimester thing too. I was like, I getting, I guess it now. Yeah, I mean that definitely, I mean, I definitely don't remember getting it first semester, at least second or fourth, third, but I, I do remember with Dean it being in the third, because that was probably my biggest struggle, that I was negative with Ben g b s negative, which is a, just a bacteria that is normal in your just natural flora.

For people who don't know what it is. , it can be harmful to an infant for a vaginal delivery. So that is why they test you for it. And so this is my really what stuck, like what I still remember the most from pregnancy because it really, I had to advocate for myself because I was positive and I wasn't with Ben, so I didn't know what that meant.

And what that means is you need to go in early so that you can get, um, and you, were you positive? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That's right. Okay. I remember from your story. Yeah. So you, so you've talked about this. So yeah. So you have to go in early when you start having contractions so that they give you an IV of antibiotic to kill off any of that bacteria that could harm your baby.

So I found out I was positive, but I'm also. Allergic to penicillin. And so that led to a huge just rabbit hole of information because first of all, I'm not truly allergic to penicillin. I was diagnosed as allergic to penicillin in high school when I had mono and I was given penicillin and my whole body developed a.

Like I puffed up like a balloon , and, but I came to find out that you are not supposed to give penon to someone who's mono. It could give them a full body rash, just that antibiotic with that certain virus, like it doesn't mesh well. Which if there was a nurse here, Go into more detail of that. But, so, but you know, my doctor and my parents were like, it's just best just to say you are allergic cuz there's so many other things you can use and if they do, like inject you with it and it could be really bad, you know?

So I want my whole life saying, yeah, I'm allergic to salt. So finally, you know, they're like, okay, and then we'll give you penicillin. And I'm like, well no cuz I'm allergic. And that's when. . You know, they told me they would use a different antibiotic, but I decided to research it more and it's just not as good.

And it required coming in earlier than, than you had to for penicillin. You had to come in like four hours earlier. Yeah. Then the, however early she come in with ail and I'm like, this is the second baby, first of. We've all heard that they come fast. Yeah. Yeah. . So I don't know if it's gonna happen. Right.

I'm like, I'm gonna have to wake up and just know that it's happening and then come in. So immediately I, I just started, you know, researching it and researching the different types of antibiotics like we used and what was involved with that, and like the percentage of how effective they were. And Penta is just the best.

I told my midwives and I'm like, you know, I'm, I don't think I'm alert to penicillin. And they're like, you know, but it's on your chart and like, I, I just really think you, we should just go with the, the second option or whatever. So then I, you know, they're really into peer review, unbiased, you know, science.

So I'm like over here giving them all these.  articles and I'm like, but look at what I'm finding. Like I just, I, I don't wanna go that route. Mm-hmm. , but they're giving me pushback, which is fine, and I get it. They don't to, you know, they don't want me to sue them for. Yeah. Killing me potentially or something, you know.

No, that's fine. During child birth, . Yeah. So she's allergic to Ellen, but we're still gonna get Ella. Right, right. Just cuz she says she doesn't think she is . So I get it. So, I mean, I really had to advocate for myself and I mean, I, I went to, I came to a point where I was like, well, I wanna get tested. But yeah, I remember.

Something, some kinda like, even that was hard, like finding someone that they would agree with or like that, that it could be done soon enough. First of all, cause I think I was two and like a month and it had to be someone like they trusted or was within Mercy or, I don't remember. There was some kind of closet even that was a loophole.

Like I had to jump through so many hoops. In order to get this done, but I finally found an allergist who would do this for me because I think it was because I'm, I am, I was pregnant, and they're like, we're not gonna test you for things that you're allergic to, to when you're pregnant. But she listened to, you know, my message, I sent her saying, you know, I was diagnosed as this high school when I had mono and blah, blah, blah, blah.

I don't think I am and I want what's best for my baby. And what's best for my baby is penicillin. So I want to get tested to see if I truly am allergic to penicillin. So she did. She said, okay, that's fine. Yep, we'll do it. And so I went to her office, did the test, and sure enough I was negative. So they got to take that off of my chart, which just felt like a really big win for me, cuz again, I had never really had to advocate that hard for myself.

I mean, I cried several times at certain points just feeling like I was being forced into something that I didn't believe or that wasn't even true, you know? And I just needed, I needed them to listen to me and.  and we came to an agreement, you know, and I got tested. So it all worked out, but it was really hard.

And I would say that was the biggest struggle that I had with Dean's birth, you know, other than that third trimester. Yeah. Sleeping was hard. Again, not as bad, I don't think. I think then wore me out in our . You're exhausted from a toddler. Yeah, exactly. And so, How far along was I again? So with Benjamin, I had the fake labor for weeks and I didn't have him until 41 and 3, 41 and three days.

And so I'm like 38 weeks and that's about when it started happening with Ben. Nada. Nothing, nothing so far, and I decided to go a different route this time. You know, I did hypno.  and you know, immediately was like, I'm not doing that.  didn't help me the first time. So that's when the birthing center started the Facebook page and I was like really looking off like different mantras to repeat to myself and different methods of, of relaxing and coping with pain.

And I decided to make a Spotify playlist of just relaxing yoga music.  and I listened to that like every night practice meditating, you know, trying to fall asleep with it. Probably starting, I mean, really early, like probably the beginning of third trimester is when I started doing that. And, you know, research mantras and you know, down, down, down was one.

You know, the classic. My body was meant to birth my baby. Just more natural minded ones. But one that stuck out to me was counting and counting down from Ted over and over throughout the contraction. Cause you know, contraction usually lasts about 10 seconds. And so that one like stuck in the back of my head.

I was like, I can picture myself using that one. So again, no fake labor this time, which was nice cuz that was a big pain in the butt. , but you know, here I am thinking I still have like three more weeks since Ben made me wait so long, that 38 and six days. It's funny because looking back it was obvious. I was definitely in denial.

I don't know if the pandemic had anything to do with that, cuz I totally. That it was a pandemic until just right now, . Was he born in 2020? Yes. Oh, . Yep. So Dean was 2020. June, 2020. I'm kind of backtracking here cuz I again kind of forgot about that. . Sorry. But you know, things had been shut down for a while.

By then they had implemented, thankfully they had lifted the hardcore stuff up. Not being able to bring anyone with you. Mm-hmm. , which, you know, I think I read that in like New York and I was like researching home births in St. Louis. Yeah, you said that too. Yeah. I was like, Uhuh, . Like Scott is my birthing partner.

Like, I need him. He's coming in. I remember hearing that and just being like, like, that's, that's insane. Can you imagine like those women were, I mean, I just feel so bad. For them because that had to have been so traumatizing. Especially if you, if it was your first, like I could have done it second time around.

I knew what to expect, yada, yada. But yeah, marriage still goes out to them. I was probably so many women that would do that or that had had their babies all by themselves. That's like back to the old age. A whole generation was like traumatized . But I do remember seriously looking into home birth just because, because of that.

And thankfully, I think that only lasted like a week or two when I got lifted. I was like, all, I don't think they're gonna be psycho so I can chill. Still be at the birthing center. And even, you know, we kind of like were reclusive. If one of us tested positive, that was another way that you were gonna have to go by yourself,

So, you know, we were saying no to a lot of, a lot of stuff at that time. Just really trying to stay healthy. Not to mention, I'm like, I can barely change my sheets right now. Like I don't want to get some kinda lung  issue, like when I can barely breathe as it is. Yeah. And so I don't know if that in the back of my head had had to do with maybe any denial that I had going on about the fact that I was in labor.

Cuz I, I did lose my mucus plug that morning, 38 and six June 3rd, and, but. Done my research. I'm like, eh, it can grow back. I leaving, drove back that night, you know, that day nothing happened that night I threw up my dinner. Okay, I'll probably nothing  like I should. Alarm should have been going off in my head.

You lost mucus plug and you're puking like, next up, good dresses. But Scott was really, I don't think he's gonna listen to this, but he'd be mad if I blamed him, which I'm not aiming you, but he, our dog, Luna, had like totally ripped her nail out. Yes, plain. She's a big Frisbee dog and so she was like completely wrapped.

Needed drugs, like couldn't go on walks. So she was just really needing a lot. And I think he was having a little bit of anxiety about having someone watch her. Mm-hmm. , you know, when there's so many specific things that she'd need, but still, you know, threw her up. I was like, oh, it was kinda weird. And Scott knew and he was just like, ugh.

Kinda weird, but bend down. And we went to bed. You know, I was probably in bed for an hour, half an hour, hour, and that's when I felt my first contraction and I had fake labor. . It's gonna be, it's gotta be fake labor. I had it for like two weeks with Benjamin, like three. It's gotta be time them. They were like, yeah.

Every 10 minutes I put on, I decided to put on. My music and just try to fall asleep and relax and I, I couldn't, I remember them getting, you know, stronger and I decided to get up out of bed and go sit on my birthing ball, the living room, see my music, and they were. , they weren't super consistent. They were like every 10 minutes, and then sometimes they're like six, so then they go to eight and then they go back to to 10, 12, you know, yada, yada, yada.

So I wasn't even really tracking them. You know, I have that app or whatever, but I remember I decided to call the midwife and I was in the back room and I called and it were a.  and I had Claire. Claire was on call, but she was current. Yeah. Mm-hmm. . Yeah, she's great. She was currently with another mom, and she said, the nurse said she was gonna have her call me back.

I was like, okay. So this was like one maybe in the morning, so would've been like three hours. And after I hung. . I remember having a contraction. I was like, I should probably wake Scott up. He hadn't even packed his bag yet. . Oh my God. Because again, we thought we had so much time, and so I did and I was like, I think we, I think it's time to call your parents.

I was so concerned that I would get there and they would say, yeah. The second time around, like you'd think, you know, but you don't. So I was, I was so nervous about them coming up in the middle of the night, waking them up, having them come watch Ben, and then me coming home an hour later saying, sorry. I know.

It makes me think I'm father of the bride. I regret. Great. Exactly. Scout. Appreciate the Rera. . Thank you,

So finally we'll come up and I said I, okay. I think you need to call your parents. So he does, you know, says, yep. If we need to, we're going to head to the hospital here as soon as you get here. Okay. His parents are amazing. Very thankful for that. I am, I'm just, I'm, I'm the contractions are, are pretty strong by.

and I, I know that I, I'm having the baby . It's happening. You finally got there. Finally got there. Finally got there. Okay. So things really start to happen. So he called his parent to come, and I mean, like 10 minutes later, I'm saying you need to call your parents and tell them we're leaving. We're gonna leave Ben upstairs sleeping.

They're 10 minutes away. He'll be. We need to go. Need to go. We need to go. No, he does. You can tell what that second, I'm like, oh, things are happen. Yeah. I felt him drop. Oh. When I was with Ben, when I was in bed. But I didn't know. I never experienced that with Ben because I think I was so numb. There was so much pain and pressure, yada yada, that when it happened, I was just like, huh?

What was that weird . Anyway, I'm in the hallway, which it's our bedroom, and then, uh, the threshold to the stairs to upstairs, and then just a tiny little hallway, and then the bathroom, the just, uh, no shower half F and I, so he calls his parents, he says, we're leaving and it, it'll be okay, but we gotta go.

You know, she, she didn't realize how far along she.  hangs up with them next contraction, unsafe. Call midwife, call midwife. Heller was happening and probably call an ambulance. And cuz I mean the contractions were so strong, they just like, they went, I just felt like they went from like that thing to, to transition and I fell up inside me and I was like, he's caught me.

This is the head. Scott, it's so good. He just had, you know, two phones midwife , and he's like, yeah, she and she can hear me over the phone and so she knows. Yeah. You know, during that next contraction at some point again, I just wanted to have a home birth. I swear guys. Apparently I, I had put on a, depends.

Just thinking like if I did start leaking or whatever, I'm in my house, I don't wanna clean it up. And I'm on this, the little threshold, the stairs, and I'm holding on and I'm like, yeah, he's, he is coming. And so Scott's like on the phone with Claire and he's on the phone with the ambulance and he's like, you know, going back and forth,

and I was not moving, you know, I think, I don't know if he asked if I wanted for the bed or something, but I was just, you know, he was, thankfully there were a closet of towels behind him and she's like telling him, you don't get towels. And my dog, Samson, I think he stuck with me the whole time.  Luna was asleep on the couch.

But during this, like, Scott's like, seems like really interested  in what's happening down there. You know, dogs. And so he's like pushing them in the bedroom, like, get outta here, . She doesn't need you, like for vagina right now. And yeah. So during that next contraction, my water breaks. So that was transition.

What I felt was my water bulging, not his head. Wow. And after that, after my water broke, just, huh. That feels better. You know, , there's just so much pressure. It really felt like his head was coming down and, okay, so then by then,

The ambulance has made it, the firemen have made it in-laws, have made it her whole, like swarm in it. , I mean, oh, you guys think how small my hallway was? You'd be like, wow. There were like seven firemen and yeah, two EMTs, , and then my in-laws were in the living room and you know, the, the mt. He's really trying to,  to get in the ambulance.

Mm-hmm. , you know, cuz they're not fully equipped if something were to be wrong. And in my head I'm like, I just need you there to do c P R if something's wrong. Like, like in my head, I'm not even thinking about myself like hemorrhaging or something, which I bled a little bit with Benjamin. I had to get, you know, a shot Pitocin and stitches, but that's about it.

So it wasn't in my head that that was gonna happen and. So after my water broke, and they're coming in now and he's like, do you think you can move? And I'm like, yeah, yeah. I think I can like, like I say, I can move, but then I'm just not moving  and I'm still kind of like clenching and he's like kind of waiting for me to move and my next contraction comes and I'm like, Nope.

We're not going anywhere.  like, this baby is coming like now . And they again, you know, I think I had another contraction and he's like, Kenny, I, we should go. And I'm like, we're not going . Like, just prepare yourself like this is happening . And yeah, I think from there, you know, I was, Squatting. I think my, my mother-in-law took a video, a nice little, nice little vagina shot there, but  of his head like is coming out and I moved to be on all fours.

I don't know why. It was just like, that's just what I wanted to happen. So obviously I've totally blacked everyone out. I'm just focusing on me. He could still be asking if I want to go. I don't know.  and I am on all fours and I feel Dean starting to come out the ring of fire, which if you guys remember, it's pretty traumatizing for me.

Benjamin, I swear as soon as I felt that I could feel my body tense up with fear and I felt his head go back up.  and I said, Uhuh, , you're coming out like right now. And I don't even know if I had a contraction, but I just like push as hard as I could. And sure enough, like he came out like in just one push.

I mean, before that my body was doing the natural pushing nothing, you know, the ejection reflex, which I also had not felt with Benjamin and. But when I felt that ring of fire and I got scared and he went back up, I was just like, we're not, this isn't happening. Like it's time you're coming out. So yeah, I, I mean I pushed him out and I was on all fours, so I just made sure I was like, my pelvis was really low to the ground.

Yeah. And I just literally just assisted him onto the floor and that literally hopped over him to get out of the way. , you caught your own baby. Oh my God. But not even really, I just like slid him out onto the floor, which I was still kinda like, why did I do that? But I was just so afraid that he was gonna come out and something's gonna be wrong.

Yeah. So I just wanted to be out of the EMTs way. Uhhuh , like let them do their thing, make sure he's okay, and he's breathing, and then I'll take him. But I like probably look like an Amazonian woman. Like hopping over to the other side, leaping over my infant child. Like umbilical cords still tapped. Yeah.

in-law's. Got a shit. Look. Is this still on video by the way? It's Scott's like, where's Scott? Like Scott's chat chatting with his mom and dad over the living room with my baby by myself. But I, I feel like Scott, like finally LA's dad was like, I think you need to go over that. He was like, oh, okay. Squeeze him, pass all the firemen.

And yeah, I just remember him like grabbing under my shoulder like, like he was there all of a sudden. I don't know what part, I don't know if it was, I think I had already delivered him. It's kind of fun, I get to say that, but did bed Benjamin wake up through any times? No. , no. Don't you like love how that happened?

I You're just fast asleep. I know. Yeah. There's like two firetrucks, an ambulance and I just love that old part. Men like just literally hung out, watched ya, watched a world give Bird, but . So I jumped outta the way and they checked him and he was okay and they. Started handing him to me. I was just like, oh my God, you're so cute.

I just like remember him just looking so little and like he had a perfect head. Benjamin's head was obviously. Little cone, little less shapen from being stuck in my canal for so long. He had like, I think my pediatricians that Ben had the biggest hematoma she'd ever seen on his ette. Oh, but Dean did me so good.

He did me so bone, and I was just like, you were so cute. I just kept saying it over and over's just like, oh crap, that just happened. Like, you're okay. I'm okay. And I'm just like immediately wanna do skin to skin. So I'm like ripping. My sweatshirt off, like pulling my shirt up, you know, no bra. Or again, these men are probably like, what in the world is happening?

And I'm like, I wanna do skin to skin, of course. You know, putting 'em on me and oh yeah, I was just like in shock that that happened. Shouldn't have been again, from all the signs. And from there so fast it's, it was 10 to 10 to two basically. Four hour. Yes. Yeah, that's my second breath. That's four hour too.

Yes. I would take that over Ben's though. Any day. Any day. But yeah, they don't, they're not kidding when they say they do come, they do come fast. I really didn't believe them that it would be that fast. Wow. But you know, they then they were like ready to cut the umbilical cord and I'm like, I wanna wait.

You know, it's dumb pulsing and I understand that they were, you know, kind of rushing because not a go lady, right. I have no idea what my bleeding was or anything like that. Yeah, they didn't seem like it was an emergency, but they also probably didn't know what they were doing. I know they didn't know what they were doing cuz they asked him, but you know, maybe he let 30 seconds pass and he asked again, even the fireman.

Man, chill. It's okay. Like Butz woman just gave birth like . Give her a break. Give her a moment. . Finally, he asked a third time and I was like, all right, that's fine. Go ahead. And he didn't, he didn't wait until it stopped pulsing enough blood literally splattered, like there was so much pressure in the bill cord.

It flattered It looked like. Sprinkler like it sweater all over, my sweater all over the wall.  like probably on a fireman standing close by. Oh my. And I was just kinda like, it's great, thanks for that. Like I told you I was a crying. I know. Exactly. And you know, it was fun for my in-laws cuz they had never like got to hold one of their grandchildren.

That fresh. Literally like a minute probably. So they got to see him before we go and they're amazing because obviously we left big old mess  for them in the hallway. , I'm still like, we texted 'em the next, they're like, however many hours later. We're like, sorry. Although they've had, you know, four children, so Yeah.

They've been through it in your own house too, right? In my house, yeah. We had, we had towels, at least , but they loaded me up on the, you know, on, what is it called? Structure. Structure. Thank you. I was gonna say,  and I kept calling you. I know, I know. That's not, not the right, I don't know. That sounds like a dead like test, right?

Right. Okay. Thing stretcher, stretch. Stretcher. Stretcher. Yeah. And they, you know, Scott's holding Dean and, and they get me in and so like immediately when I'm sitting on the stretcher, I am so uncomfortable. Like the come out. Yeah. So I'm like sitting, I don't know. And I don't know why I'm so uncomfortable, but it like, I'm still having contractions and they hurt so bad and you know, they put me in the ambulance and then he is saying he's gonna give me an iv.

And I'm like, why? I don't need an iv. And he is like, you just had a baby.  and I roll my eyes and I don't feel like fighting and arguing with this guy, but in my head I'm like, just cuz you have a baby doesn't mean you need an Ivy. No way. I didn't need an Ivy with number one, but I gave a number two. Yeah.

But just in case there was something really wrong, I was like, go ahead, go. Come to find out. I was like an extra $200 charge later. I'm like, I was kidding.  put a right. So, I mean, I felt every single bump on the way, and I, I probably sounded like so mean to them, and I don't mean to, but I was just like in so much pain, I was just like, are we there yet?

Because I mean, it was like riding a horse bareback, like I was just, you know, really bumping on top of my placenta. Mm.  and you know, they don't know what they're doing. They don't, you know, I even ask, I'm like, oh, have you ever delivered a baby? Nope.  . And as soon as we get there and they're like, unloading me, I just have a natural contraction and it just like, I like kind of go on my side and it like plops out of me.

And I just immediately. Oh, thank God, . That is what that was. And that needed to come out. Claire was there immediately. She's like, so sorry. I'm like buying them. Where did they bring you? Did they bring you to the They, they brought me to the, the drive for the er, and then we went straight to the burning center.

So they still took you to Yeah. Oh, nice. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Claire met us there and then we all. To the birthing center and you know. Yeah. I thought you delivered in the hospital. No. You delivered at home. At home. My hallway. I know. I I can never sell my house . No, I can't. Never special. No. I like, that's gonna be a really cool story one day.

Yeah. I have Friends are like, I told my hairdresser that story and  Well, I know. I. . It is wild. Again, I don't know why I was in so much denial and yeah, I guess I didn't expect it to go so fast and it was just, I, I'm just very glad that he was okay and that I was okay. You know, I still had some bleeding.

She was concerned. She didn't know how much bleeding I had, you know, earlier. And then of course, G B s positive. What about that? Didn't have time to go get that penicillin, but I worked so hard.  work. So we ended up getting put upstairs for two days so they could monitor, and we were okay with that. I, I did wanna be home.

I was like, I just, I just left home.  stayed there. I thought the earth is loved. Perry, your story upset. It was great because they were like, Oh, you just gave birth naturally at home. I'm gonna leave you alone, . Thanks, . I'm good. That time I really didn't need any medication. Like I, I felt fantastic. You how the body remembered.

Yeah, I feel like . Yes. Thanks. The body. Here's the score. That's a book . Yeah. Yeah. I feel like with the second, everything just happens quicker, right? It's stronger, yes, but it's. I just love that I felt, the things I didn't feel about the, you know, dropping into the canal, all the natural reflex of pushing.

Being able to actually use my pelvic floor to push and knowing which muscles that was, that was just so wildly different. I was so unprepared with Benjamin for that, that I, I think that all really helped. Yeah, definitely. You know, work on your pelvic floor. See a pelvic floor therapist. Yes. Pelvic floor therapist, pt.

I did that knowing that I had such a hard time with Ben. Mm-hmm. , I did that with Dean. I.  during the second trimester at some point, you know, went to a month's worth or just like four weeks worth of appointments and then just kept working on that at home. Mm-hmm.  And I do think that helped a lot. So our chiropractor, we joked, actually my chiropractor, cuz she was going to the birthing center too.

We both joked how we, we just sneeze these babies out, . And she actually had her baby.  and the roundabout in her car.  also didn't make it too. Oh my gosh. Hospital, second of your, yes. Second. Oh my God. That's insane. Yeah, I know. I like, can't even fathom that. I felt like I was at the hospital forever, right?

Yeah. And we were actually, so I was, so, I just don't sleep well. I don't sleep well unless I'm at home. So we, you know, got to the hospital. He was born at two 16. You know, got there maybe two 30, but I didn't get like admitted upstairs, I think until like three 16 or something. That's when they count it. We got discharged at three, whatever time it was.

AM two days later. ? Yes, because I wanted to, oh, I was like, get how, what is the earlie earliest I can leave? No. I was like, how early can I leave? And they're like, well, technically like 3:00 AM I'm like, We wanna leave at 3:00 AM Like I wasn't sleeping anyway. Dean had had like, started cluster feeding immediately to boost my supply, I guess.

And so yeah, we, we left as soon as we could and I don't regret that at all. I was like, they were like, I don't think this has ever happen. And I was like, bye . Peace out. I need to go home. It's hard to sleep there. Yeah, it is. They're always coming to check on you. Yeah, and even, even when they like. Backed off, you know, as much as they could still.

Then beds suck, man.  upstairs. . Yeah. I think they started checking me every three hour. Yeah, it's still like three hours still. Ugh. Which I know they just like, they're doing their jab, they're doing what's best for you, but it's like sleep, right? Yeah. That's what is most important right now, don't you think?

So how did you like process all this? Like, man, I still am, I feel like . Yeah. I just remember being like, wow, okay, this, this happened. It again, I, I think it would've been harder to process if something were wrong, you know? But it did happen so smoothly and everything came out okay that it was, you know, easier for me.

I mean, I still, for whatever reason, I'm like still a little embarrassed. I don't know why though. I haven't tapped into why I'm embarrassed. I don't know if it's the, like you should've known better. Like yeah, you had the signs or you know, I'm, thankfully everyone's just like, no, that's badass. Like, you know.

That's what I was gonna say.

I think I would've done like the abandoning my. Jumping over them seems a little like prehistoric,  like crazy. Like they should have like brought 'em up to me or something. But, so I would redo that. You wanted the I really wanted him to be Okay. You wanted the Yeah. Trusted medical professionals to look at it.

I know Bill. I'm like, sorry, left you . I think I'm just. Wowed by how fast you moved after, because for me, I was like, right, like there's no moving, because there's definitely adrenaline. Yeah. You know, there's definitely adrenaline in there. But yeah, it's, it's a fun story. I don't wanna do it again. I don't think , , although I'm not against Homebirth, I'm like, I already did it technically, and it would be nice to have it bit, be more calm, you know, a little less chaotic.

People, I don't know. Maybe prepare for it. Yes, prepare. Maybe be in my bed, , you know, tons of sheets and whatever. Don't have seven firemen. EMT there. Be like, can we put your cord? Yet they go home, talk to their wives. I've logically give birth. You're like, what? But midwife present, right? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And we'll, I'll try and make it.

Try to make it there next time, but you know. Amazing. Thanks. Yeah, that's indeed. I had no idea this was my first time. I don't even think you told me. No, I was just story because I literally thought you gave birth in there. The hospital, like in the hallway. Oh, no. I, I did not know I was at home. Yeah. Had normal.

Yeah, it was fun to talk to the neighbors. Oh, you didn't see the fire? Yeah, we had her baby. Like what? , but you know, went home, postpartum was easy, thankfully, much easier than first. Less traumatic. Mm-hmm. . But Dean was harder. Dean, oh man. Dean did not breastfeed. You know, with Ben, like I said, it was pretty easy.

Seemed to come naturally. Dean ended up having a tongue tie and a lip tie, and he just like, He was eating every hour I was triple feeding, which is, you know, pumping and then bottle and then rest, and then bottle and then pumping or whatever. Whatever it is. I'm thankful God had. Yeah, Scott had three months off.

Amazing. Which is amazing. Huge. Yeah. Oh my God. For that, I wouldn't have survived because he literally helped me so much because I was doing all of that. , you know, Dean Suck was just so, so poor that he would, you know, drink for 10 minutes and then wear himself out. So he was literally eating every hour, like an ounce, an hour.

Hmm. And he wouldn't take a bottle easily. And then, yeah, breastfeeding was much harder. Just didn't have a good latch because of the tone.  and I ended up seeing a I B C L C, Jen York. Oh, I saw her too. Oh, did you? She was amazing. Yeah. Yeah, she was. She was amazing. We ended up going to like Kentucky or something to see a dentist that like used a certain laser, which I still question though, you know, whether that was needed.

I trust her so much, but I also thought I was very vulnerable.  and I wasn't really thinking completely straight and I put too much trust into her versus, you know, my pediatrician, you know, was like, yeah, he is come, I have someone you can sit him too. But you know, Jen's like, oh, I've seen so many relapses with everyone else need to go to this person.

So like I did and we drove, you know, however many hours to go to the sky and it did go well. But you know, then the stretches are traumatic and. And it still didn't, like I got mastitis three times left, right, left, which obviously totally depleted my supply. Just seemed. I cried a lot, thankfully. Yeah, Scott was there helping Ben, like he was mostly in charge with Ben and it just seemed like Dean getting older helped the most.

because, you know, I feel like if it was truly a tongue and lip tie, it would've been like cure, like his issues should have cleared up immediately. Mm-hmm.  that they didn't. So there's definitely some other stuff going on, and I just feel like, yeah, it's hard to get that support. You know, even like, I, I like my p pediatrician a lot, but I, I feel like it's like you go in and yeah, they're, they like, haven't gained enough weight or whatever.

I was like, well, keep trying. Mm. Like I, yeah, we are, we're doing everything we can. And I knew we were, but I think it was just hard and I wish there was more of a explanation or that I knew the, like real reasonings and real answer, but I just, I feel like the tongue tie and the tie is such a, I mean, I'm sure they.

Or whatever, but is that really the issue? And like, it's just such like a easy diagnosis, right? These days. And we had it with Arthur and it was like, I felt the same, very vulnerable. Like, okay, whatever you say, I'm just gonna do it right. I remember talking to my dad and him being like, let's, like before you go and do this procedure, like let's think about.

I was just like, well, he needs it. Right. They thought he needs it. Right. I'd have to do this. And we paid out of pocket for it. Yeah. I mean it was, it was tough. Mm-hmm. , and then I recently found out like the whole triple feeding, it's not, you're not supposed to do that. Like long term it's not Right. It's not a solution.

Yeah. It's supposed to be like, I.  are doing that with a goal in mind, right? Like you are supposed to have like an end date, right? Like once this happened, then you stop doing that. Yeah. And if it's not working, then you try something else. Right? I remember just doing that. Oh, so long. Yeah. That was like, yeah, it was like a month.

Yeah. I mean, like, I, I mean, I feel like we didn't stop. Two months, two and a half months of doing that. And I, and I wasn't even like against formula. I mean, I would've been so glad if he would've taken formula in a bottle, but he was so, he just wasn't taking like anything. So I was like, I mean, I, I felt like I had to do that.

And then even with Ben, then I stopped breastfeeding at like four months, but then I pumped until a year and pumping. A circle of hell just saying, woo flu. So then having to do it like once an hour with Dean really did put me like in a bad place cuz I just, I hated it so much and for some reason I, I told myself I had to do it with Ben and I do think like first time moms kind of are a little stubborn with that for whatever reason.

And then, you know, thankfully we come to our senses with a second time and. , you know, if it's too, if it's making your life too hard, formula's great, like babies thrive on it, you know, give it to your baby rather than totally deplete yourself. And I'm, I'm glad I'm at that point now. And yeah, I, I was even with Dean then and he ended up being a formula bottle baby, but it was a long road getting.

Yeah, not looking forward. I'm like, number three, don't do me. Don't do me bad. Don't do me wrong. Come on. It's like I had such a perfect delivery, like in a sense. I'm like, and then postpartum our like nursing infant stage was like so rough. Yeah, it was opposite bed. So we'll see that number two always throws you for a loop.

Thank. Go. You do. Lemme pick up

Yeah. So it got better and yeah, that is, yeah, I was, yeah, I think I'm still sorry. Working through Dean's first few months. Yeah. Just because it was just kinda like a W T F, like what was that like in the moment and after, even now, you know, he just turned two and I'm still like, dang. Whew. But because that was your first experience with having is issue Yeah.

With breastfeeding. Right. Even though it was your second child. A little, yeah. And, and even then it was like, cuz you know, then I, I saw a lactation consultant for, for a little stuff and, you know, stopped breastfeeding at four months cuz he hit the, you know, strike zone or whatever. And then that's when I got into the deep of spending a million dollars on pumping stuff and.

Of adding in a remote start for my car so my boobs wouldn't fall off in the winter. . God, my boobs need that. , you didn't question it, thankfully. But breastfeeding's not free, guys. No. Dang. It's not. Not not. I mean, maybe if you're very lucky. Unicorn, boobs and uni unicorn, baby . That's not common.

Yeah, that was Geminis. . Because he is June 4th, right? Yeah, June 4th. I'm the fifth. Yeah. So, yes, I just get it. We just, you just do what we need to do. , . Even to this day. Yeah. . Yeah. That's an accurate descriptor. . Yeah. So June 4th and July. Oh, that's cute. Yeah, they made it easy for me. You to remember her. I know.

Yeah, definitely. And see it. This one's December for it. Right? That'll be for me in this world record, or I think I'd sign up for that. Yeah. Trifecta. Yeah. Or like maybe I'll just do plan a C-section just for my memory's sake. I'm just kidding. That's amazing. Hannah, thank you so much for sharing your thing with Thank you.

You, thanks for having me with the Wild ride eye . Yeah, I know. It is. It is a lot of fun to re relive, you know? Mm-hmm. , bring up the good and the traumas get to go through . Yeah. And it's nice to talk to, you know, other moms and I think. , it takes a village to raise a kid. It also takes a village for, you know, moms and mental health and all that.

Absolutely. So, yeah. Yeah. Being open to, it's good. Yeah. Perfect. For photos and more information on Hannah, check out our website, the Golden Hour birth podcast.com. You can also find links in the show notes to follow Hannah, Natalie, and Liz on Instagram and Facebook. There are also links for great resources there as well.

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