September 10, 2025 • 38 mins
Are you a soon to be mom, a seasoned mother, or simply interested in the world of birth? You’re in the right place!
In this episode, we discuss:
- Home birth in Maine
- The benefits of choosing your own path in pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and early parenting
- Undisturbed birth
- ….and a whole lot more!
Additional Resources you’ll LOVE…
If you are ready to prepare for an autonomous birth experience, where you’re respected as the authority over your body and your baby… regardless of where you plan on birthing -
CLICK HERE for 10% off the MyAutonomous Birth self-paced, online course!
Not sure where to start? I’ve got you covered! Check out my FREE resource, 37 Questions to Ask Your Care Provider. Whether you’re interviewing new providers or have already established care, this FREE resource offers guidance on important topics to discuss with your provider.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Brittany (00:00):
I did do OB ultrasound and I worked at maternal fetal
medicine for a while.
So I worked pretty close withjust like the birth world in the
medical field and just from myexperience with that I found I
started to question a lot ofthings and just from my personal
experience, I really felt likebirth had become extremely
(00:23):
medicalized experience.
I really felt like birth hadbecome extremely medicalized and
I just felt like we were reallytaking power away from women
and it was kind of like a onesize fits all package.
I just noticed that a big thingthat like kind of threw a
trigger off in me was withultrasound and like datings.
We would give people, you know,due dates, which I'm not a big
(00:44):
fan of due dates because baby'sgoing to come and baby wants to
come, and I would see a lot ofinductions because, oh well,
you're over 40 weeks now, andthen it would end up in like
failure to progress or the babywas in distress and I'd hear
these stories all the time.
And then I looked at like thefact that we have such high
(01:05):
cesarean rates and I reallystarted to question things then.
So then I just like I said,before I even got pregnant, I
started just like diving into,like the natural world of birth
and stuff like that.
So we knew when we got pregnantwe were going to go a different
route and neither of us reallysee a doctor I haven't seen a
doctor in probably seven yearsand I didn't feel like pregnancy
(01:31):
is a medical issue.
I think obviously the medicalsystem is really great at a lot
of things and thank God it'sthere, but I really just have
believed that God designed us tobirth and I trusted that my
body knew what needed to be done.
And yeah, there's cases where,like I said, thank God for the
medical field, but I think inmost cases, if we just let birth
(01:54):
be and just happen andpregnancy, that things can go
good.
So in the beginning I kind of Iwent back and forth.
I debated about a midwife and Ihad reached out to you, I had
been listening to your podcastand I had interviewed a few
midwives.
I had a hard time even findingone that would come to
(02:14):
Greenville for a birth and thenI did find one.
But after I interviewed I waslike I just don't think we're on
the same page.
I really just kind of wanted tobe left alone through birth.
I didn't want all kinds oftesting done.
I didn't want to be monitored,so I just don't think we're
really on the same page.
So I just kind of let that go.
And you were like one of thefirst people that I had talked
(02:36):
to and I knew after just like acouple of conversations I was
like, oh yeah, I want this girl.
I want this girl at my birth.
Angela (02:45):
I'm Angela and I'm a certified birth photographer,
experienced doula, childbirtheducator and your host here on
the my Maine Birth podcast.
This is a space where we sharethe real life stories of
families and their unique birthexperiences in the beautiful
state of Maine, from our state'sbiggest hospitals to birth
center births and home births.
(03:06):
Every birth story deserves tobe heard and celebrated.
Whether you're a soon-to-be mom, a seasoned mother or simply
interested in the world of birth, these episodes are for you.
Welcome to episode 129 of myMain Birth.
As a reminder, this space is notcensored.
(03:28):
I share hospital birth stories,birth center stories, all
different kinds of home births,positive stories, negative
stories and everything inbetween.
The only requirement forsharing a birth story on the
podcast is that at least one ofyour birth stories is a main
birth story.
(03:48):
Other than that, I share themall.
As an added bonus, all of mypodcast guests receive a gift
certificate for a familyadventure photo session on the
session day of your choice.
I host session days for mypodcast guests at iconic
locations across Mainethroughout the spring, summer
and fall.
So if you're interested injoining the community of Maine
moms sharing birth stories onthe spring, summer and fall, so
if you're interested in joiningthe community of Maine moms
sharing birth stories on thepodcast, you can fill out the
(04:09):
form over on my website,mymainbirthcom, or you can
always send me a message over onInstagram at mymainbirth.
Today's birth story guest isBrittany, and she is here to
share her undisturbed home birthstory with us that I had the
incredible honor of attending asher doula and birth
(04:29):
photographer.
Hi Brittany, welcome to myMaine Birth, hi.
So to get started, would youshare a little bit about you and
your family?
Brittany (04:42):
Yeah, so my husband and I, we were both born and
raised in Maine.
I'm actually from Greenville,maine, which we are currently
building here so this will beour home.
It's me, my husband.
We have a dog, layla, and thenwe have our new little babe, and
she is Cammie.
She's now just over threemonths old.
(05:02):
Yeah, so we have actually beenliving on the road for the last
four years, when the wholepandemic had started.
My husband and I both work inhealthcare, so we're actually
both radiographers and I'm alsoa sonographer, so we do like
x-ray cat scan and I doultrasound as well.
(05:23):
So when that whole situationtook place and they started to
mandate the shots, we were a bigno on that.
So we both got done our jobs.
We were kind of prepared forthat, or were preparing for that
, because we kind of had afeeling that was coming, and so
we bought a motor home.
(05:46):
Kind of had a feeling that wascoming, and so we bought a motor
home, we sold our house and wetook 10 months off from work and
just traveled all around thecountry for a while, and then we
decided that we would go backto work.
But we were going to do travelwork.
So we go to hospitals differenthospitals in different states
and we do three, typicallythree-month contracts, and so
(06:06):
that's what we did.
We just started applying toplaces that weren't mandating
anything and we did that for awhile, and we've done that for
the past four years and, yeah,now we are getting ourselves
settled down in Greensville.
So it's just kind of a littlebit about us.
Angela (06:23):
So one more thing that I thought was really cool when we
first met was like so when didyou guys decide to hike the AT?
Brittany (06:32):
So back when, like I said, when the whole pandemic
had started, we had kind of likea five-year plan and we knew
within that you know, duringtravel work in between contracts
, we wanted to take six monthsoff and hike the AT.
We've been together for 10years and it was kind of always
a bucket list thing for him.
(06:53):
We both loved to hike, but itwas a bucket list thing for him
and we were actually hiking theBig Los one day, probably six,
seven years ago, and we justhappened to say, hey, well,
let's, we didn't get marrieduntil eight years in.
So we were like, let's hike theAT and get married at the end.
So it just kind of happenedthat it was good timing for us.
(07:15):
While doing contract work wewere able to take six months off
and, yeah, we walked fromGeorgia to Maine and then we
summited Katahdin and came downto Chimney Pond and met our
family and one of our friendsthere and they married us there.
Angela (07:33):
I love it.
That's so beautiful it was sospecial, yeah, so special, oh my
goodness.
Yeah, when I heard that story Iwas like, okay, like I think
we're probably be best friends.
So now, jumping into your birthstory, tell me about when you
found out you were pregnant andwhat your thoughts were in
choosing your care.
Brittany (07:54):
Yeah, so.
So actually we had been kind oftalking about starting a family
and after we knew, after we gotdone hiking, I wanted to take
some time for us to just likelet our bodies recover from that
, because obviously walking forfive and a half months took a
toll on both of our bodies.
So we took a year to just, youknow, replenish everything.
(08:16):
And then we just I used to justhave a track my cycle and I
just kind of stopped and ithappened relatively quick.
Um, I was kind of surprisedthat it happened so quick and we
were actually getting ready togo for a hike one morning and I
was like, huh, I kind of feelweird, I felt different and I
(08:39):
was like, but I kind of feltlike, oh, my period's probably
going to start tomorrow and Ijust happened to have these old
tests up in the cabinet withsome ovulation strips.
I pulled one out and I took oneand found out that I was
pregnant.
So, choosing our care, so,coming from our background of
working in health care, evenbefore we decided to start
(09:04):
trying or start a family, I wasreally into just learning a lot
about birth, because I did do OBultrasound and I worked at
maternal fetal medicine for awhile.
So I worked pretty close withjust like the birth world in the
medical field and just from myexperience with that, I found I
(09:28):
started to question a lot ofthings and just from my personal
experience, I really felt likebirth had become extremely
medicalized and I just felt likewe were really taking power
away from women and it was kindof like a one size fits all
package.
And I just noticed that a bigthing that like kind of threw a
(09:49):
trigger off in me was withultrasound and like datings.
We would give people, you know,due dates, which I'm not a big
fan of due dates Cause baby'sgoing to come and baby wants to
come, and I would see a lot ofinductions because oh well,
you're over 40 weeks now, andthen it would end up in like
failure to progress or the babywas in distress, and I'd hear
(10:13):
these stories all the time.
And then I looked at like thefact that we have such high
cesarean rates and I reallystarted to question things then.
So then I, just, like I said,before I even got pregnant, I
started just like diving intolike the natural world of birth
and stuff like that.
So we knew when we got pregnant, we were going to go a
(10:33):
different route and neither ofus really see a doctor.
I haven't seen a doctor inprobably seven years and I
didn't feel like pregnancy is amedical issue.
I think obviously the medicalsystem is really great at a lot
of things and thank God it'sthere, but I really just have
believed that God designed us tobirth and I trusted that my
(10:56):
body knew what needed to be done.
And yeah, there's cases where,like I said, thank God for the
medical field.
But I think in most cases, ifwe just let birth be and just
happen and pregnancy, thatthings can go good.
So in the beginning I went backand forth.
I debated about a midwife and Ihad reached out to you.
(11:18):
I had been listening to yourpodcast and I had interviewed a
few midwives.
I had a hard time even findingone that would come to
Greenville for a birth.
And then I did find one but we,just after I interviewed, I was
like I just don't think we'reon the same page.
I really just kind of wanted tobe left alone through birth.
I didn't want all kinds oftesting done, I didn't want to
(11:41):
be monitored.
So I just don't think we'rereally on the same page.
So I just kind of let that go.
And you were like one of thefirst people that I had talked
to and I knew after just like acouple of conversations I was
like, oh yeah, I want this girl,I want this girl at my birth.
So I knew from the beginning Iwas going to have you there and
so I just kind of rolled with it.
Like, again, from being in themedical field, I kind of knew
(12:03):
all the testing and all theprocedures that most women go
through if you do walk through,you know, birth in Western
medicine.
So I knew I didn't want to.
We didn't want to do anytesting in the beginning.
No genetic testing, nothinglike that.
It wasn't going to changeanything for us, so we opted out
of that.
And then, yeah, I felt reallygood in the first trimester.
(12:24):
You know I was like kind oftired, I had some nausea and
some food aversions, but otherthan that I felt really good.
I just focused on nutrition and, you know, taking care of
myself and staying active andexercising, and so I just
continued on without any type ofbeing, you know, any type of
professional care.
(12:45):
At 20 weeks we did decide to doa 20 week ultrasound and I
actually found I think you hadpointed it out to me but Indigo
Diagnostics.
So we did a 20 week ultrasoundthrough them, which I could just
like.
I just scheduled it myself andthey sent the results to me and
that worked out really great.
(13:05):
So we did do a 20 weekultrasound, did you end?
Angela (13:08):
up going to the birth center for that, or did you go
to their office in Ellsworth?
I did.
Brittany (13:12):
No, I went to the birth center and honestly it was
a really good experience.
I really liked the sonographerwho did it and her and I had,
you know, good conversationbefore and during the scan.
I do kind of have my gripeswith ultrasound.
That's a whole nother.
That's a whole nother topic ofdiscussion.
I think it can be beneficialfor some things, but I do think
it is overused.
(13:32):
I don't think we are reallytold, like when I went to school
, we weren't taught the harmfuleffects of it.
And there are some.
There are studies out therethat show that there can be harm
from it.
There's and I just feel like wereally overuse it and it's just
sold to people as beingcompletely safe.
So I knew I really only wantedthat one scan.
So we did that and again, I justcontinued about my pregnancy,
(13:57):
kind of just tending to myself.
I would take my blood pressureevery now and again.
I would take my blood pressureevery now and again.
I would check my blood sugars,which I used to do anyway
because I had some insulinresistance years ago and so I
kind of already knew how to dothat and I was always curious
how certain foods affected mybody anyway.
(14:17):
So yeah, I did that and justwent about being pregnant.
I really enjoyed it.
Things were good and I justgained the confidence in knowing
that I was happy with howeverything was and I just wanted
to birth at home with myhusband and my dog in my own
(14:39):
home and you, and that's what wewent with.
Angela (14:45):
What were, what were your husband's thoughts like
leading up to birth?
Did he have any sort ofreservations about the path that
you were choosing?
Brittany (14:54):
So we definitely had a lot of conversations around it.
He really he knows that, likeI'm someone who does my research
and just very thorough withthings, so he really trusts my
decisions.
We knew all along that wewanted a home birth.
There was really no doubt aboutthat.
We're very kind of like naturalpeople.
We really just wanted to letthings flow and he was really
(15:17):
confident in that.
Now, when I brought up the factof not having a medical
professional there, wedefinitely had some
conversations around that.
But then after thoseconversations he was really on
board with it and he was finewith that.
You know, for us it was kind oflike we knew that the hospital
was going to be there if we everneeded it.
(15:37):
We knew that there's medicalprofessionals there if we ever
needed it, but that would be,you know, in a case of emergency
, yeah, so no, he was really onboard from day one, which was
really awesome.
I really appreciated that and Ithink he you know, coming from
again the same background ofworking in the medical field.
We are very good at some things,but there's a lot of things
(15:58):
that I think that could thatcould be better, and birth.
I really feel like he noticedthe same thing with Western
medicine how you're kind of putinto we look at different body
parts or different bodilyfunctions, but we don't look at
them as a whole, which is a bigproblem.
So like you'll see agastroenterologist or you'll see
a neurologist or seecardiologist and or an OB no one
(16:22):
really or an OB, yeah, yeah.
And like no one really looks atthe whole picture.
And we both had theseconversations around the same
thing with birth when we docertain things in birth or in
pregnancy, it's going to affectanother part and then another
part, and then you get sent todifferent people again and it
just it wasn't looked at as awhole.
So no, from day one we werereally on the same page, which
(16:46):
was really nice.
Angela (16:48):
Yeah, because that's was really like one of my biggest
things is like I am happy to bethere and support you.
We were really like aligning ona lot of the things, but like
I'm not a medical professionaland if you ever feel like you
want to go and seek you know,actual medical support, like you
should definitely do that andnot feel, you know, like bad or
like you're failing or likeanything you know.
(17:09):
So that was really importantleading up to the birth that you
know we were on the same pagewith that.
Brittany (17:14):
Yes, absolutely.
And I had listened to, you know, like the Free Birth Society,
and I had seen really medical,you know, heard stories of
really medicalized births andthen complete free births where
they have no care, no, nothing,just themselves their birthing.
So I kind of listened to thewhole realm of things but then
took what I felt was going to bethe best for us out of it and I
(17:37):
kept in the back of my mind thewhole time.
You know, I had the possibilitythat I can find a midwife, I'm
sure, if I want them to come.
But I just listened to my bodyand I felt confident that it
just wasn't going to be the casefor us and we were both fine
with that.
But definitely something Ididn't hold shame around it,
knowing that if that wassomething that I wanted, that's
something that I would do.
But yeah, I, just like I saidthe one interview that I did do
(18:01):
that was willing to come here.
Monitoring was a big thing and Ijust didn't want to be
monitored, I didn't want to bechecked, I just kind of wanted
to let things flow and that wasreally big for me, my
personality, I know how I am andthat's why I knew like you were
going to be fantastic because Ireally honestly, like with you,
it was like I was pretty muchgoing to have like a best friend
(18:22):
there, and I felt that fromlike day one when, when you and
I chatted, I just wanted someonewho believed in birth like I
did and, you know, trusted mybody as much as I did and was
just going to be there forsupport.
And that's exactly what youwere and it was fantastic.
But that's just.
You know, that's what workedfor us and that's where I think
everyone, you know, I hope Iwish for every woman to know all
(18:44):
the options out there and beable to choose what's best for
them, because there's not justone path, and I think that's a
really big thing.
Angela (18:51):
Yeah, it really is so important, like there's no right
or wrong.
There's only right or wrong foryou, absolutely.
Brittany (18:59):
Absolutely.
Angela (19:00):
Yeah, leading up to sort of right before your birth,
there was a lot of things thatwere starting to come out and
like a lot of discussion, likeabout free birth.
Was that messing with you atall or how did that affect you?
Brittany (19:14):
Yeah.
So I mean it didn't.
It didn't because, again, likeI would listen to the Free Birth
Society and I appreciate thestories and things that are
shared there, but for mesometimes I would just kind of
have to turn them off because Ifelt from day one of listening
sometimes I would feel a lot oflike judgment there and things
and I just think it's not fairto judge.
(19:35):
You know, everybody's story isgoing to be different and
everyone deserves to birthexactly how they feel
comfortable and want to.
So some of the things I wouldjust kind of take and let go,
and some of them, you know, Iwould take and run with.
But it definitely did make methink a little bit more because
they kind of sometimes you wouldlisten to some of the podcasts
(19:56):
and you would almost feelshameful for the fact of, like I
remember the 20 week scan, Ikind of went back and forth in
my head and I'm like, am I doingthe wrong thing?
Should I not?
But then I, you know, I justkind of stopped listening and I
just, you know, went with what Ifelt and so, yeah, I did kind
of notice like kind of makes youfeel a little shameful about
(20:16):
things and I didn't really lovethat feeling.
So towards the end of birtheven positive birth stories I
just stopped listening toeverything.
Probably like the last month, Ijust stopped listening to any
outside source and just kind ofwent within and listened to what
I felt was going to be best forus.
Angela (20:35):
Yeah, that unplugging right before you give birth is
huge.
Brittany (20:40):
Oh, absolutely.
You know it's nice to consumeand hear these things and
stories because it can make youfeel better and give you some
insight.
But I just knew towards the endI was like I don't want to, I
just want to block everythingelse out.
And yeah, just kind of gowithin and and I just prayed
over my birth and what I hopethat it would look like, and
yeah, yeah, amazing.
Angela (21:09):
So it was springtime.
What were like those last finalweeks and then days leading up
to when your labor?
Brittany (21:13):
started like for you, yeah.
So I worked up until I think itwas like 34 weeks.
I worked till and again I feltgood.
So I worked up until then.
And then I took those lastweeks oh, that's right, it was
the day of the women's circlethat you have.
I felt good.
Angela (21:25):
So I worked up until then, and then I took those last
weeks.
Brittany (21:27):
Well, that's right, it was the day of the women's
circle that you have.
Oh, yes, yes, that was my lastday, yes, so, yeah, that felt
great to just you know, hang out, I slept.
My biggest thing was I alwaysjust wanted to be rested before
I went into labor, so I reallyjust rested when I felt like I
needed it.
I needed a nap during the day,I would nap.
I stayed active, just restedwhen I felt like I needed it.
If I needed a nap during theday, I would nap.
I stayed active.
I lifted weights up until, Ithink, about 35 or 36 weeks and
(21:48):
then after that I just stayedactive, walking.
I just uh.
Well, actually the week beforeyou and I had gone for a hike,
so I was like 38 weeks we wentout for a hike and, yeah, that's
just kind of what I did.
I just kind of hung out,prepared things.
We were getting ready to startour house build, so I just kind
of dealt with things there andwe were currently working in New
(22:09):
Hampshire then.
So we got moved back to Maine,here to Greenville, and just
kind of got ourselves situatedand just waited until it all was
about to happen.
Angela (22:20):
Yeah, so how did things start to unfold for you as your
labor started?
Brittany (22:25):
So it was on a Saturday, it was May 17th.
Of course, this is my firstpregnancy, so everything new to
me.
So I think it was between like10 and 11.
I was folding laundry.
I kind of felt like I had peedmyself, but I wasn't sure,
because through pregnancy likepretty common, you can pee
yourself.
So I was like huh, but then itkind of kept coming.
(22:46):
So I was like okay, I justthink this is my water breaking
and it was just kind of a slowleak.
So I had texted you and justkind of gave you a heads up and
my husband was down the roadfrom where we live my parents
live just down the road from usand he was down helping my dad
do some stuff.
So I went down there and I justkind of mentioned to him and I
(23:07):
was like, hey, I'm pretty suremy water just broke.
And he's like well, do you wantme to come back up to the house
with you?
And I was like no, no, I'm fine, I'm just going to go about my
day.
So went about my day.
I remember just like kind oftending to our little garden.
I made some bread, just kind ofprep some things around the
house, and then he came up tothe house around I think like
(23:29):
four and that was when I startedhaving like I had sensations
all day, but then I startedhaving like contractions where I
really kind of had to focusthrough.
So I remember just kind of likesquatting down, breathing
through them, and that startedaround like four.
And then I remember around sixo'clock I had texted you he had
(23:51):
just made me a big juicy ribeye,so I ate that and I had texted
you and I said, you know, if youwant to head up, I think that
was around like six and then Ithink you showed up close to
eight and I was pretty much init at that point.
I really just kind of rememberyou, you know, coming in and
that was kind of it.
(24:12):
I was already in it.
I was in the bedroom just kindof hanging out at the foot of
the bed, and then I don't knowwhat time do you think they
probably picked up closer.
They kept getting closer andcloser together and then they
were coming on pretty strongclose to midnight and I could
feel my body.
(24:32):
I just wanted to wait until mybody was, you know, can start to
push on its own and I felt thatand that went on for a little
while and I remember you sayingyou know, can you feel her?
So I had reached up and I couldfeel the top of her head, and
then every so often I would justsee if I could feel her again,
and I felt like she wasn'tmoving and so that was kind of
discouraging and so I was likeyou know, is there something you
(24:54):
suggest?
So you know, I tried to changepositions.
I was, it was pretty intense, soit was kind of hard for me to
like grasp the idea of likegetting up and walking or moving
.
But I did a little bit.
You know, I'd move from thefoot of the bed.
I got in the shower a coupletimes.
I was using the birth sling Iget on the ball.
So then, yeah, they kind ofpetered out until I don't know,
(25:18):
maybe like four o'clock or so,and then they started to ramp
back up o'clock or so, and thenthey started to ramp back up and
then that's when I started tofeel I could feel her head
starting to, you know, her bodystarting to move down some, and
then at that point we had movedinto the bathroom.
I did a lot of it, from what Iremember.
(25:39):
It's so hard to like remember alot of times you're so in it,
but I spent a lot of timestanding up and like leaning
over the sink and that isactually how she came out.
But what to me?
It felt like her head wouldkind of start to come out and go
back in and go out, and back in, and go out and back in and
then finally I just could tellmy body was pushing on its own.
(26:03):
But I could tell that like Ineeded to push with it.
So, yeah, I had that.
After so many, I had that onebig push.
I felt that ring of fire, felther head come out, and then I
had a little bit of a break andthen I had one more contraction
and the rest of her was out itwas incredible.
(26:28):
I remember it was.
I just remember feeling on topof the world.
I just couldn't stop looking ather.
She cried right away.
You guys helped me get her upon my chest.
It was just amazing.
You guys got me sat down withsome pillows behind me and I was
just able to snuggle and lookat her.
And yeah, it was just amazing.
(26:50):
I was on definitely on top ofthe world at that moment.
Angela (26:54):
Oh my gosh, it really is the best moment like in the
world, like if you could go backto the one moment.
I feel like the moment rightafter, like we have our kids, is
like the best.
Brittany (27:03):
Yes, yes, I was just writing about that in her baby
book.
It was like what's your first?
You know some of your firstthoughts, and I was just writing
about that in her baby book.
It was like what's your first,you know some of your first
thoughts.
And I was like, oh, those firstfew moments right after you get
birth, I just like, I was likeI just did that.
I think I swore in the video,but I was like I just did that,
you know, and you feel it wasjust really cool, yeah.
And then we kind of figured outthat, you know, her arm, or her
(27:25):
arm, was up by her head.
So I think that was kind of slowin the progression there around
midnight, but I think it justthe way she emerged, kind of
coming out, going back in, gavemy body time to, you know,
stretch and allow her to comeout in the position that she was
in, because you know, she didcome, you know, with that head
(27:45):
and coming out by her head,definitely feel like I probably
had to stretch more.
And, yeah, the next day I wasable to go to the bathroom, just
fine.
I really didn't have anyburning, I felt good.
So I think you know whathappened was exactly what was
supposed to happen in order for,like I said, her to come out in
the position that she was in.
She was in and I, you know Ihad I had read so many books
(28:12):
leading up to birth and justknowing you know what to look
for after you know, feeling sothat I would know that if I
needed some type of medicalattention then I would go and
find that.
But I felt really good.
Angela (28:21):
Yeah, so how was your like immediate postpartum?
How did your placenta come out?
Brittany (28:25):
So, yeah, I remember I was sitting in the bathroom and
it kind of felt heavy.
So I felt like it had alreadydetached.
So I remember just like Kyletaking Cammie and holding her
right there in front of me shehad a pretty long umbilical cord
, so he just kind of held her infront of me and I got up on my
knees and I barely pulled justto give like a little tug and I
(28:47):
was like, okay, maybe not quiteyet.
So we hung out there for a fewminutes and then you guys are
going to help me get into bedand just see, you know, wait for
it to come out.
And I remember you guys walkingme over to the bed.
I got like one leg up on the bedand ready to lay down.
I started having a contraction.
I was like absolutely not.
So then I just kind of kneeleddown beside the bed and, yeah,
(29:13):
birth of placenta came outpretty easily.
I think I did have like alittle bit of traction on it but
, like I said, at that point Ithink it had pretty much already
detached anyway.
So I birthed that, kept thecord attached until it was kind
of white and cold and sticky.
So, yeah, I got in bed with theplacenta and her and we just
(29:34):
tried to get her to latch andrest.
Angela (29:37):
Amazing.
How have your last three monthsbeen of being a new mama?
Brittany (29:44):
So, honestly, it has really been amazing.
I feel really blessed with justthe support that I've had.
I think it has given me areally amazing postpartum.
I felt rested.
Like I said, my parents livejust down the road, which is
really helpful.
My husband was actually able totake over a month off before he
went back to work, so that wasso nice to have.
(30:06):
If you can ever do that, Ihighly highly recommend it.
But yeah, I just felt like Iwas really supported by you and
just everyone around me.
That it was so good.
I will say in the beginning Iwas a little not like.
I guess I was a little worriedor it was tough.
Breastfeeding in the beginning,not breastfeeding, beginning
her to latch was definitelytough and I had it in my head.
(30:28):
That was like throughout mywhole pregnancy.
My biggest thing was I reallywanted to be able to breastfeed
and for me, I had implants yearsago and then I had them removed
and it was quite a surgery tohave them removed.
You know, pec muscle comes offthe chest wall.
They have to take all thattissue out, the capsule that is
around the implants, and so I'venever really felt the same
(30:51):
since I've had that and I kindof had it in the back of my head
that I was just going to bereally upset with myself if I
couldn't breastfeed, because Idid that to myself and it's like
why did I ever do that?
So, yeah, I think I kind of gotdown on myself that it wasn't
going to work and she did kindof have a hard time latching in
(31:12):
the beginning.
But then, I would say, afterlike a week we really kind of
got the hang of it.
Yeah, but it was definitely alittle tough in the beginning.
Other than that, I would saythat postpartum has just been
really good.
Like I said, I was able to justrest.
I didn't do a lot for weeks andthen, when I did, I just kind
of started walking, do littlewalks around the house, but I
(31:33):
really just rested.
I know myself and I'm reallyone that's like, oh, if I feel
good, I'm going to jump rightback into it, and I was like I
do not want to do that.
I really want to take the timeyou know it's like nine months
that we go through of our bodieschanging that.
One week of doing nothing isnot enough, you know.
So I really wanted to rest andtake that time and so, yeah,
(31:54):
that's just what I did and Ifelt like I healed up really
well and, yeah, I mean I've hadsome.
I've definitely felt like thehormones kind of starting to
bottom out after birth andwhatnot.
So you know, you kind of havelike your ups and downs some
days, but overall it has, yeah,it's just been really good.
And I contribute that to hernatural birth and just allowing
(32:17):
things to unfold, because thenall those hormones get triggered
how they should and, yeah, justeverything unfolding naturally,
I really think leads to areally good postpartum,
naturally, I really think, leadsto a really good postpartum.
I don't have anything else tocompare it to, but just my
experience and just being homein my own space it was just so
nice.
I just felt comfortable at alltimes and, yeah, it was, it was
(32:40):
really great.
Angela (32:42):
Awesome.
And your dog was there with youtoo, right For your birth and
for postpartum, right.
She's so attached to you, right.
Brittany (32:51):
Oh, yeah, she is definitely.
She's always been attached tome.
But, yeah, we rescued her whenwe were working in North
Carolina.
So we've had her for like ayear and a half now and she's
always kind of been attached tome.
But then when I came pregnant,she really she's actually right
here next to me, walking outside.
She has just never left my side, and that was the case even
(33:11):
through birth.
She was right there at the footof the bed watching me.
Any of the pictures that youtook after, during and after,
she was right there justwatching it all.
Angela (33:22):
So yeah, speaking of the pictures, what were your
thoughts when you got yourgallery back of the photos of
your birth?
Brittany (33:35):
So at first, really, when I hired, when I wanted you
to be at my birth, it was justbecause I wanted.
I wanted another woman therethat had been through birth
before, like I said, felt thesame way about birth as I did,
and so that's really why I choseyou.
And then, with the wholepicture thing, at first I'm not
going to lie I was kind of likeI don't know that I really want
to be photographed.
I'm not really that type ofperson and I was like I don't
want to feel like someone istaking pictures of me.
(33:56):
But after the whole situation,I never even I would have never
even known that you were there.
I don't even know like thepictures that you got.
I was like I don't, it was likea ghost on the wall.
You know, it's like a ghostthere that took these pictures.
(34:16):
And when I saw that album, likeI just cried and it is so
amazing.
I'm so glad that I did it now,because to have that album to
look back on, oh, it just likemelts my heart, definitely one
of the best decisions.
And you actually even caughther coming out.
So like the last five minutesof the birth you got on video
and I didn't know that either,and you sent that to me and I
was just a mess, I was justcrying and I was like, just like
(34:39):
, I have that memory forever and, like we said earlier, that is
like one core memory in my lifeI will never forget.
It's probably like the bestmoment of my life and I have
that on video to go back andwatch and it's just yeah, it's
just amazing.
Angela (34:53):
It is.
It's so, so special, and I lovebeing able to give those
memories to people and capturethem.
Brittany (35:01):
Yes, I again.
I highly recommend that toanybody because it is just, yeah
, it's amazing to have to lookback on because it is just yeah,
it's amazing to have to lookback on Aw, so okay.
Angela (35:15):
Now, as a final question , if you were to give advice to
someone who's expecting, or evennew parents, what's one of the
biggest things that you'd wantto share after, like, you're
where you're at right now inyour journey?
Brittany (35:23):
Yeah, I've thought about this and I really think.
I really think it's just trustin your body, trusting that God
designed us to birth.
And listening, you know, goingin and listening to what is
going to work best for you.
Don't have shame around thedecisions that you make.
Do what feels right and good toyou.
(35:45):
I think that's just like such abig thing, especially right now
, with just.
I just feel like it's alwaysit's either one extreme or the
other, and it doesn't have to bethat way you can make the
decisions that are best for you.
You don't have to follow whatsomebody else says.
Yeah, you know, take what youwant and leave what you don't
need.
And and, yeah, make thosedecisions based on what's best
for you and and and trust thatyour body knows what you need.
Angela (36:14):
Yeah, it's not black and white.
It's never black and white.
There's a lot of gray andnuance in all of these decisions
, Every decision that you makethroughout pregnancy and birth
and even like early mothering.
You know, as you have your,raise your children.
Brittany (36:23):
Oh, absolutely, there's so many things out there
, especially.
Oh yeah, I think Absolutelythere's so many things out there
(36:47):
especially.
Oh yeah, I think I think now,as a new mom, like all the, I
think there's more there than itis than with birth, like making
decisions on, you know, feedingand sleeping and all these
things, and there's so, there'sso many recommendations and
opinions out there that it'slike you really just need to do
what's best for you.
Angela (36:54):
Yeah, couldn not agree more.
It can be actually overwhelming.
Just do what's best for you, dowhat feels right.
Yeah, learn as much as you canand then just center yourself
and be like, yeah, what's rightfor you?
Absolutely.
Brittany (37:00):
Yes, absolutely, and that's how I've always been with
anything really in life is Ilike hearing all sides, all
opinions, all options, and thenI want to go in and I want to
just take what's going to bebest and resonates with me and I
think everybody yeah, I thinkthat's good advice for everybody
.
Angela (37:19):
Yeah, that's the true autonomy.
Just having an autonomous birthdoesn't necessarily mean, like
you, birth alone in the woods.
It means you make your owndecisions, absolutely.
Brittany (37:30):
Absolutely.
Angela (37:31):
Awesome.
Well, thank you so much,Brittany, for taking the time to
chat with me and share yourstory today.
Brittany (37:37):
Thank you so much for having me on and just creating
the space for women to share,because it really helped me a
lot.
You are one of the podcaststhat I listened to even before I
got pregnant and, yeah, Ireally just appreciate what you
do.
Angela (37:51):
Before you go, I just want to remind you I have a ton
of resources for pregnancy andbirth.
If you're pregnant, whetheryou're a first time mom or if
this is your fifth baby, I wantyou to check out the show notes,
because I have some freetrainings and free downloads
that you can sign up for, aswell as the link to access my
labor of love, a comprehensive,self-paced online childbirth
(38:14):
education course.
I created this coursespecifically for moms who don't
want to be told what to do,regardless of where you're
birthing or who you're birthingwith, and I'd honestly love to
teach you everything that I knowso that you can prepare for an
autonomous birth experience andprepare to step into your role
as the leader of your birthjourney.
(38:34):
So click to the show notes,check out all of those links and
, if you ever have any questions, feel free to DM me at my main
birth over on Instagram.
I did do OB ultrasound and I worked at maternal fetal
medicine for a while.
So I worked pretty close withjust like the birth world in the
medical field and just from myexperience with that I found I
started to question a lot ofthings and just from my personal
experience, I really felt likebirth had become extremely
(00:23):
medicalized experience.
I really felt like birth hadbecome extremely medicalized and
I just felt like we were reallytaking power away from women
and it was kind of like a onesize fits all package.
I just noticed that a big thingthat like kind of threw a
trigger off in me was withultrasound and like datings.
We would give people, you know,due dates, which I'm not a big
(00:44):
fan of due dates because baby'sgoing to come and baby wants to
come, and I would see a lot ofinductions because, oh well,
you're over 40 weeks now, andthen it would end up in like
failure to progress or the babywas in distress and I'd hear
these stories all the time.
And then I looked at like thefact that we have such high
(01:05):
cesarean rates and I reallystarted to question things then.
So then I just like I said,before I even got pregnant, I
started just like diving into,like the natural world of birth
and stuff like that.
So we knew when we got pregnantwe were going to go a different
route and neither of us reallysee a doctor I haven't seen a
doctor in probably seven yearsand I didn't feel like pregnancy
(01:31):
is a medical issue.
I think obviously the medicalsystem is really great at a lot
of things and thank God it'sthere, but I really just have
believed that God designed us tobirth and I trusted that my
body knew what needed to be done.
And yeah, there's cases where,like I said, thank God for the
medical field, but I think inmost cases, if we just let birth
(01:54):
be and just happen andpregnancy, that things can go
good.
So in the beginning I kind of Iwent back and forth.
I debated about a midwife and Ihad reached out to you, I had
been listening to your podcastand I had interviewed a few
midwives.
I had a hard time even findingone that would come to
(02:14):
Greenville for a birth and thenI did find one.
But after I interviewed I waslike I just don't think we're on
the same page.
I really just kind of wanted tobe left alone through birth.
I didn't want all kinds oftesting done.
I didn't want to be monitored,so I just don't think we're
really on the same page.
So I just kind of let that go.
And you were like one of thefirst people that I had talked
(02:36):
to and I knew after just like acouple of conversations I was
like, oh yeah, I want this girl.
I want this girl at my birth.
Angela (02:45):
I'm Angela and I'm a certified birth photographer,
experienced doula, childbirtheducator and your host here on
the my Maine Birth podcast.
This is a space where we sharethe real life stories of
families and their unique birthexperiences in the beautiful
state of Maine, from our state'sbiggest hospitals to birth
center births and home births.
(03:06):
Every birth story deserves tobe heard and celebrated.
Whether you're a soon-to-be mom, a seasoned mother or simply
interested in the world of birth, these episodes are for you.
Welcome to episode 129 of myMain Birth.
As a reminder, this space is notcensored.
(03:28):
I share hospital birth stories,birth center stories, all
different kinds of home births,positive stories, negative
stories and everything inbetween.
The only requirement forsharing a birth story on the
podcast is that at least one ofyour birth stories is a main
birth story.
(03:48):
Other than that, I share themall.
As an added bonus, all of mypodcast guests receive a gift
certificate for a familyadventure photo session on the
session day of your choice.
I host session days for mypodcast guests at iconic
locations across Mainethroughout the spring, summer
and fall.
So if you're interested injoining the community of Maine
moms sharing birth stories onthe spring, summer and fall, so
if you're interested in joiningthe community of Maine moms
sharing birth stories on thepodcast, you can fill out the
(04:09):
form over on my website,mymainbirthcom, or you can
always send me a message over onInstagram at mymainbirth.
Today's birth story guest isBrittany, and she is here to
share her undisturbed home birthstory with us that I had the
incredible honor of attending asher doula and birth
(04:29):
photographer.
Hi Brittany, welcome to myMaine Birth, hi.
So to get started, would youshare a little bit about you and
your family?
Brittany (04:42):
Yeah, so my husband and I, we were both born and
raised in Maine.
I'm actually from Greenville,maine, which we are currently
building here so this will beour home.
It's me, my husband.
We have a dog, layla, and thenwe have our new little babe, and
she is Cammie.
She's now just over threemonths old.
(05:02):
Yeah, so we have actually beenliving on the road for the last
four years, when the wholepandemic had started.
My husband and I both work inhealthcare, so we're actually
both radiographers and I'm alsoa sonographer, so we do like
x-ray cat scan and I doultrasound as well.
(05:23):
So when that whole situationtook place and they started to
mandate the shots, we were a bigno on that.
So we both got done our jobs.
We were kind of prepared forthat, or were preparing for that
, because we kind of had afeeling that was coming, and so
we bought a motor home.
(05:46):
Kind of had a feeling that wascoming, and so we bought a motor
home, we sold our house and wetook 10 months off from work and
just traveled all around thecountry for a while, and then we
decided that we would go backto work.
But we were going to do travelwork.
So we go to hospitals differenthospitals in different states
and we do three, typicallythree-month contracts, and so
(06:06):
that's what we did.
We just started applying toplaces that weren't mandating
anything and we did that for awhile, and we've done that for
the past four years and, yeah,now we are getting ourselves
settled down in Greensville.
So it's just kind of a littlebit about us.
Angela (06:23):
So one more thing that I thought was really cool when we
first met was like so when didyou guys decide to hike the AT?
Brittany (06:32):
So back when, like I said, when the whole pandemic
had started, we had kind of likea five-year plan and we knew
within that you know, duringtravel work in between contracts
, we wanted to take six monthsoff and hike the AT.
We've been together for 10years and it was kind of always
a bucket list thing for him.
(06:53):
We both loved to hike, but itwas a bucket list thing for him
and we were actually hiking theBig Los one day, probably six,
seven years ago, and we justhappened to say, hey, well,
let's, we didn't get marrieduntil eight years in.
So we were like, let's hike theAT and get married at the end.
So it just kind of happenedthat it was good timing for us.
(07:15):
While doing contract work wewere able to take six months off
and, yeah, we walked fromGeorgia to Maine and then we
summited Katahdin and came downto Chimney Pond and met our
family and one of our friendsthere and they married us there.
Angela (07:33):
I love it.
That's so beautiful it was sospecial, yeah, so special, oh my
goodness.
Yeah, when I heard that story Iwas like, okay, like I think
we're probably be best friends.
So now, jumping into your birthstory, tell me about when you
found out you were pregnant andwhat your thoughts were in
choosing your care.
Brittany (07:54):
Yeah, so.
So actually we had been kind oftalking about starting a family
and after we knew, after we gotdone hiking, I wanted to take
some time for us to just likelet our bodies recover from that
, because obviously walking forfive and a half months took a
toll on both of our bodies.
So we took a year to just, youknow, replenish everything.
(08:16):
And then we just I used to justhave a track my cycle and I
just kind of stopped and ithappened relatively quick.
Um, I was kind of surprisedthat it happened so quick and we
were actually getting ready togo for a hike one morning and I
was like, huh, I kind of feelweird, I felt different and I
(08:39):
was like, but I kind of feltlike, oh, my period's probably
going to start tomorrow and Ijust happened to have these old
tests up in the cabinet withsome ovulation strips.
I pulled one out and I took oneand found out that I was
pregnant.
So, choosing our care, so,coming from our background of
working in health care, evenbefore we decided to start
(09:04):
trying or start a family, I wasreally into just learning a lot
about birth, because I did do OBultrasound and I worked at
maternal fetal medicine for awhile.
So I worked pretty close withjust like the birth world in the
medical field and just from myexperience with that, I found I
(09:28):
started to question a lot ofthings and just from my personal
experience, I really felt likebirth had become extremely
medicalized and I just felt likewe were really taking power
away from women and it was kindof like a one size fits all
package.
And I just noticed that a bigthing that like kind of threw a
(09:49):
trigger off in me was withultrasound and like datings.
We would give people, you know,due dates, which I'm not a big
fan of due dates Cause baby'sgoing to come and baby wants to
come, and I would see a lot ofinductions because oh well,
you're over 40 weeks now, andthen it would end up in like
failure to progress or the babywas in distress, and I'd hear
(10:13):
these stories all the time.
And then I looked at like thefact that we have such high
cesarean rates and I reallystarted to question things then.
So then I, just, like I said,before I even got pregnant, I
started just like diving intolike the natural world of birth
and stuff like that.
So we knew when we got pregnant, we were going to go a
(10:33):
different route and neither ofus really see a doctor.
I haven't seen a doctor inprobably seven years and I
didn't feel like pregnancy is amedical issue.
I think obviously the medicalsystem is really great at a lot
of things and thank God it'sthere, but I really just have
believed that God designed us tobirth and I trusted that my
(10:56):
body knew what needed to be done.
And yeah, there's cases where,like I said, thank God for the
medical field.
But I think in most cases, ifwe just let birth be and just
happen and pregnancy, thatthings can go good.
So in the beginning I went backand forth.
I debated about a midwife and Ihad reached out to you.
(11:18):
I had been listening to yourpodcast and I had interviewed a
few midwives.
I had a hard time even findingone that would come to
Greenville for a birth.
And then I did find one but we,just after I interviewed, I was
like I just don't think we'reon the same page.
I really just kind of wanted tobe left alone through birth.
I didn't want all kinds oftesting done, I didn't want to
(11:41):
be monitored.
So I just don't think we'rereally on the same page.
So I just kind of let that go.
And you were like one of thefirst people that I had talked
to and I knew after just like acouple of conversations I was
like, oh yeah, I want this girl,I want this girl at my birth.
So I knew from the beginning Iwas going to have you there and
so I just kind of rolled with it.
Like, again, from being in themedical field, I kind of knew
(12:03):
all the testing and all theprocedures that most women go
through if you do walk through,you know, birth in Western
medicine.
So I knew I didn't want to.
We didn't want to do anytesting in the beginning.
No genetic testing, nothinglike that.
It wasn't going to changeanything for us, so we opted out
of that.
And then, yeah, I felt reallygood in the first trimester.
(12:24):
You know I was like kind oftired, I had some nausea and
some food aversions, but otherthan that I felt really good.
I just focused on nutrition and, you know, taking care of
myself and staying active andexercising, and so I just
continued on without any type ofbeing, you know, any type of
professional care.
(12:45):
At 20 weeks we did decide to doa 20 week ultrasound and I
actually found I think you hadpointed it out to me but Indigo
Diagnostics.
So we did a 20 week ultrasoundthrough them, which I could just
like.
I just scheduled it myself andthey sent the results to me and
that worked out really great.
(13:05):
So we did do a 20 weekultrasound, did you end?
Angela (13:08):
up going to the birth center for that, or did you go
to their office in Ellsworth?
I did.
Brittany (13:12):
No, I went to the birth center and honestly it was
a really good experience.
I really liked the sonographerwho did it and her and I had,
you know, good conversationbefore and during the scan.
I do kind of have my gripeswith ultrasound.
That's a whole nother.
That's a whole nother topic ofdiscussion.
I think it can be beneficialfor some things, but I do think
it is overused.
(13:32):
I don't think we are reallytold, like when I went to school
, we weren't taught the harmfuleffects of it.
And there are some.
There are studies out therethat show that there can be harm
from it.
There's and I just feel like wereally overuse it and it's just
sold to people as beingcompletely safe.
So I knew I really only wantedthat one scan.
So we did that and again, I justcontinued about my pregnancy,
(13:57):
kind of just tending to myself.
I would take my blood pressureevery now and again.
I would take my blood pressureevery now and again.
I would check my blood sugars,which I used to do anyway
because I had some insulinresistance years ago and so I
kind of already knew how to dothat and I was always curious
how certain foods affected mybody anyway.
(14:17):
So yeah, I did that and justwent about being pregnant.
I really enjoyed it.
Things were good and I justgained the confidence in knowing
that I was happy with howeverything was and I just wanted
to birth at home with myhusband and my dog in my own
(14:39):
home and you, and that's what wewent with.
Angela (14:45):
What were, what were your husband's thoughts like
leading up to birth?
Did he have any sort ofreservations about the path that
you were choosing?
Brittany (14:54):
So we definitely had a lot of conversations around it.
He really he knows that, likeI'm someone who does my research
and just very thorough withthings, so he really trusts my
decisions.
We knew all along that wewanted a home birth.
There was really no doubt aboutthat.
We're very kind of like naturalpeople.
We really just wanted to letthings flow and he was really
(15:17):
confident in that.
Now, when I brought up the factof not having a medical
professional there, wedefinitely had some
conversations around that.
But then after thoseconversations he was really on
board with it and he was finewith that.
You know, for us it was kind oflike we knew that the hospital
was going to be there if we everneeded it.
(15:37):
We knew that there's medicalprofessionals there if we ever
needed it, but that would be,you know, in a case of emergency
, yeah, so no, he was really onboard from day one, which was
really awesome.
I really appreciated that and Ithink he you know, coming from
again the same background ofworking in the medical field.
We are very good at some things,but there's a lot of things
(15:58):
that I think that could thatcould be better, and birth.
I really feel like he noticedthe same thing with Western
medicine how you're kind of putinto we look at different body
parts or different bodilyfunctions, but we don't look at
them as a whole, which is a bigproblem.
So like you'll see agastroenterologist or you'll see
a neurologist or seecardiologist and or an OB no one
(16:22):
really or an OB, yeah, yeah.
And like no one really looks atthe whole picture.
And we both had theseconversations around the same
thing with birth when we docertain things in birth or in
pregnancy, it's going to affectanother part and then another
part, and then you get sent todifferent people again and it
just it wasn't looked at as awhole.
So no, from day one we werereally on the same page, which
(16:46):
was really nice.
Angela (16:48):
Yeah, because that's was really like one of my biggest
things is like I am happy to bethere and support you.
We were really like aligning ona lot of the things, but like
I'm not a medical professionaland if you ever feel like you
want to go and seek you know,actual medical support, like you
should definitely do that andnot feel, you know, like bad or
like you're failing or likeanything you know.
(17:09):
So that was really importantleading up to the birth that you
know we were on the same pagewith that.
Brittany (17:14):
Yes, absolutely.
And I had listened to, you know, like the Free Birth Society,
and I had seen really medical,you know, heard stories of
really medicalized births andthen complete free births where
they have no care, no, nothing,just themselves their birthing.
So I kind of listened to thewhole realm of things but then
took what I felt was going to bethe best for us out of it and I
(17:37):
kept in the back of my mind thewhole time.
You know, I had the possibilitythat I can find a midwife, I'm
sure, if I want them to come.
But I just listened to my bodyand I felt confident that it
just wasn't going to be the casefor us and we were both fine
with that.
But definitely something Ididn't hold shame around it,
knowing that if that wassomething that I wanted, that's
something that I would do.
But yeah, I, just like I saidthe one interview that I did do
(18:01):
that was willing to come here.
Monitoring was a big thing and Ijust didn't want to be
monitored, I didn't want to bechecked, I just kind of wanted
to let things flow and that wasreally big for me, my
personality, I know how I am andthat's why I knew like you were
going to be fantastic because Ireally honestly, like with you,
it was like I was pretty muchgoing to have like a best friend
(18:22):
there, and I felt that fromlike day one when, when you and
I chatted, I just wanted someonewho believed in birth like I
did and, you know, trusted mybody as much as I did and was
just going to be there forsupport.
And that's exactly what youwere and it was fantastic.
But that's just.
You know, that's what workedfor us and that's where I think
everyone, you know, I hope Iwish for every woman to know all
(18:44):
the options out there and beable to choose what's best for
them, because there's not justone path, and I think that's a
really big thing.
Angela (18:51):
Yeah, it really is so important, like there's no right
or wrong.
There's only right or wrong foryou, absolutely.
Brittany (18:59):
Absolutely.
Angela (19:00):
Yeah, leading up to sort of right before your birth,
there was a lot of things thatwere starting to come out and
like a lot of discussion, likeabout free birth.
Was that messing with you atall or how did that affect you?
Brittany (19:14):
Yeah.
So I mean it didn't.
It didn't because, again, likeI would listen to the Free Birth
Society and I appreciate thestories and things that are
shared there, but for mesometimes I would just kind of
have to turn them off because Ifelt from day one of listening
sometimes I would feel a lot oflike judgment there and things
and I just think it's not fairto judge.
(19:35):
You know, everybody's story isgoing to be different and
everyone deserves to birthexactly how they feel
comfortable and want to.
So some of the things I wouldjust kind of take and let go,
and some of them, you know, Iwould take and run with.
But it definitely did make methink a little bit more because
they kind of sometimes you wouldlisten to some of the podcasts
(19:56):
and you would almost feelshameful for the fact of, like I
remember the 20 week scan, Ikind of went back and forth in
my head and I'm like, am I doingthe wrong thing?
Should I not?
But then I, you know, I justkind of stopped listening and I
just, you know, went with what Ifelt and so, yeah, I did kind
of notice like kind of makes youfeel a little shameful about
(20:16):
things and I didn't really lovethat feeling.
So towards the end of birtheven positive birth stories I
just stopped listening toeverything.
Probably like the last month, Ijust stopped listening to any
outside source and just kind ofwent within and listened to what
I felt was going to be best forus.
Angela (20:35):
Yeah, that unplugging right before you give birth is
huge.
Brittany (20:40):
Oh, absolutely.
You know it's nice to consumeand hear these things and
stories because it can make youfeel better and give you some
insight.
But I just knew towards the endI was like I don't want to, I
just want to block everythingelse out.
And yeah, just kind of gowithin and and I just prayed
over my birth and what I hopethat it would look like, and
yeah, yeah, amazing.
Angela (21:09):
So it was springtime.
What were like those last finalweeks and then days leading up
to when your labor?
Brittany (21:13):
started like for you, yeah.
So I worked up until I think itwas like 34 weeks.
I worked till and again I feltgood.
So I worked up until then.
And then I took those lastweeks oh, that's right, it was
the day of the women's circlethat you have.
I felt good.
Angela (21:25):
So I worked up until then, and then I took those last
weeks.
Brittany (21:27):
Well, that's right, it was the day of the women's
circle that you have.
Oh, yes, yes, that was my lastday, yes, so, yeah, that felt
great to just you know, hang out, I slept.
My biggest thing was I alwaysjust wanted to be rested before
I went into labor, so I reallyjust rested when I felt like I
needed it.
I needed a nap during the day,I would nap.
I stayed active, just restedwhen I felt like I needed it.
If I needed a nap during theday, I would nap.
I stayed active.
I lifted weights up until, Ithink, about 35 or 36 weeks and
(21:48):
then after that I just stayedactive, walking.
I just uh.
Well, actually the week beforeyou and I had gone for a hike,
so I was like 38 weeks we wentout for a hike and, yeah, that's
just kind of what I did.
I just kind of hung out,prepared things.
We were getting ready to startour house build, so I just kind
of dealt with things there andwe were currently working in New
(22:09):
Hampshire then.
So we got moved back to Maine,here to Greenville, and just
kind of got ourselves situatedand just waited until it all was
about to happen.
Angela (22:20):
Yeah, so how did things start to unfold for you as your
labor started?
Brittany (22:25):
So it was on a Saturday, it was May 17th.
Of course, this is my firstpregnancy, so everything new to
me.
So I think it was between like10 and 11.
I was folding laundry.
I kind of felt like I had peedmyself, but I wasn't sure,
because through pregnancy likepretty common, you can pee
yourself.
So I was like huh, but then itkind of kept coming.
(22:46):
So I was like okay, I justthink this is my water breaking
and it was just kind of a slowleak.
So I had texted you and justkind of gave you a heads up and
my husband was down the roadfrom where we live my parents
live just down the road from usand he was down helping my dad
do some stuff.
So I went down there and I justkind of mentioned to him and I
(23:07):
was like, hey, I'm pretty suremy water just broke.
And he's like well, do you wantme to come back up to the house
with you?
And I was like no, no, I'm fine, I'm just going to go about my
day.
So went about my day.
I remember just like kind oftending to our little garden.
I made some bread, just kind ofprep some things around the
house, and then he came up tothe house around I think like
(23:29):
four and that was when I startedhaving like I had sensations
all day, but then I startedhaving like contractions where I
really kind of had to focusthrough.
So I remember just kind of likesquatting down, breathing
through them, and that startedaround like four.
And then I remember around sixo'clock I had texted you he had
(23:51):
just made me a big juicy ribeye,so I ate that and I had texted
you and I said, you know, if youwant to head up, I think that
was around like six and then Ithink you showed up close to
eight and I was pretty much init at that point.
I really just kind of rememberyou, you know, coming in and
that was kind of it.
(24:12):
I was already in it.
I was in the bedroom just kindof hanging out at the foot of
the bed, and then I don't knowwhat time do you think they
probably picked up closer.
They kept getting closer andcloser together and then they
were coming on pretty strongclose to midnight and I could
feel my body.
(24:32):
I just wanted to wait until mybody was, you know, can start to
push on its own and I felt thatand that went on for a little
while and I remember you sayingyou know, can you feel her?
So I had reached up and I couldfeel the top of her head, and
then every so often I would justsee if I could feel her again,
and I felt like she wasn'tmoving and so that was kind of
discouraging and so I was likeyou know, is there something you
(24:54):
suggest?
So you know, I tried to changepositions.
I was, it was pretty intense, soit was kind of hard for me to
like grasp the idea of likegetting up and walking or moving
.
But I did a little bit.
You know, I'd move from thefoot of the bed.
I got in the shower a coupletimes.
I was using the birth sling Iget on the ball.
So then, yeah, they kind ofpetered out until I don't know,
(25:18):
maybe like four o'clock or so,and then they started to ramp
back up o'clock or so, and thenthey started to ramp back up and
then that's when I started tofeel I could feel her head
starting to, you know, her bodystarting to move down some, and
then at that point we had movedinto the bathroom.
I did a lot of it, from what Iremember.
(25:39):
It's so hard to like remember alot of times you're so in it,
but I spent a lot of timestanding up and like leaning
over the sink and that isactually how she came out.
But what to me?
It felt like her head wouldkind of start to come out and go
back in and go out, and back in, and go out and back in and
then finally I just could tellmy body was pushing on its own.
(26:03):
But I could tell that like Ineeded to push with it.
So, yeah, I had that.
After so many, I had that onebig push.
I felt that ring of fire, felther head come out, and then I
had a little bit of a break andthen I had one more contraction
and the rest of her was out itwas incredible.
(26:28):
I remember it was.
I just remember feeling on topof the world.
I just couldn't stop looking ather.
She cried right away.
You guys helped me get her upon my chest.
It was just amazing.
You guys got me sat down withsome pillows behind me and I was
just able to snuggle and lookat her.
And yeah, it was just amazing.
(26:50):
I was on definitely on top ofthe world at that moment.
Angela (26:54):
Oh my gosh, it really is the best moment like in the
world, like if you could go backto the one moment.
I feel like the moment rightafter, like we have our kids, is
like the best.
Brittany (27:03):
Yes, yes, I was just writing about that in her baby
book.
It was like what's your first?
You know some of your firstthoughts, and I was just writing
about that in her baby book.
It was like what's your first,you know some of your first
thoughts.
And I was like, oh, those firstfew moments right after you get
birth, I just like, I was likeI just did that.
I think I swore in the video,but I was like I just did that,
you know, and you feel it wasjust really cool, yeah.
And then we kind of figured outthat, you know, her arm, or her
(27:25):
arm, was up by her head.
So I think that was kind of slowin the progression there around
midnight, but I think it justthe way she emerged, kind of
coming out, going back in, gavemy body time to, you know,
stretch and allow her to comeout in the position that she was
in, because you know, she didcome, you know, with that head
(27:45):
and coming out by her head,definitely feel like I probably
had to stretch more.
And, yeah, the next day I wasable to go to the bathroom, just
fine.
I really didn't have anyburning, I felt good.
So I think you know whathappened was exactly what was
supposed to happen in order for,like I said, her to come out in
the position that she was in.
She was in and I, you know Ihad I had read so many books
(28:12):
leading up to birth and justknowing you know what to look
for after you know, feeling sothat I would know that if I
needed some type of medicalattention then I would go and
find that.
But I felt really good.
Angela (28:21):
Yeah, so how was your like immediate postpartum?
How did your placenta come out?
Brittany (28:25):
So, yeah, I remember I was sitting in the bathroom and
it kind of felt heavy.
So I felt like it had alreadydetached.
So I remember just like Kyletaking Cammie and holding her
right there in front of me shehad a pretty long umbilical cord
, so he just kind of held her infront of me and I got up on my
knees and I barely pulled justto give like a little tug and I
(28:47):
was like, okay, maybe not quiteyet.
So we hung out there for a fewminutes and then you guys are
going to help me get into bedand just see, you know, wait for
it to come out.
And I remember you guys walkingme over to the bed.
I got like one leg up on the bedand ready to lay down.
I started having a contraction.
I was like absolutely not.
So then I just kind of kneeleddown beside the bed and, yeah,
(29:13):
birth of placenta came outpretty easily.
I think I did have like alittle bit of traction on it but
, like I said, at that point Ithink it had pretty much already
detached anyway.
So I birthed that, kept thecord attached until it was kind
of white and cold and sticky.
So, yeah, I got in bed with theplacenta and her and we just
(29:34):
tried to get her to latch andrest.
Angela (29:37):
Amazing.
How have your last three monthsbeen of being a new mama?
Brittany (29:44):
So, honestly, it has really been amazing.
I feel really blessed with justthe support that I've had.
I think it has given me areally amazing postpartum.
I felt rested.
Like I said, my parents livejust down the road, which is
really helpful.
My husband was actually able totake over a month off before he
went back to work, so that wasso nice to have.
(30:06):
If you can ever do that, Ihighly highly recommend it.
But yeah, I just felt like Iwas really supported by you and
just everyone around me.
That it was so good.
I will say in the beginning Iwas a little not like.
I guess I was a little worriedor it was tough.
Breastfeeding in the beginning,not breastfeeding, beginning
her to latch was definitelytough and I had it in my head.
(30:28):
That was like throughout mywhole pregnancy.
My biggest thing was I reallywanted to be able to breastfeed
and for me, I had implants yearsago and then I had them removed
and it was quite a surgery tohave them removed.
You know, pec muscle comes offthe chest wall.
They have to take all thattissue out, the capsule that is
around the implants, and so I'venever really felt the same
(30:51):
since I've had that and I kindof had it in the back of my head
that I was just going to bereally upset with myself if I
couldn't breastfeed, because Idid that to myself and it's like
why did I ever do that?
So, yeah, I think I kind of gotdown on myself that it wasn't
going to work and she did kindof have a hard time latching in
(31:12):
the beginning.
But then, I would say, afterlike a week we really kind of
got the hang of it.
Yeah, but it was definitely alittle tough in the beginning.
Other than that, I would saythat postpartum has just been
really good.
Like I said, I was able to justrest.
I didn't do a lot for weeks andthen, when I did, I just kind
of started walking, do littlewalks around the house, but I
(31:33):
really just rested.
I know myself and I'm reallyone that's like, oh, if I feel
good, I'm going to jump rightback into it, and I was like I
do not want to do that.
I really want to take the timeyou know it's like nine months
that we go through of our bodieschanging that.
One week of doing nothing isnot enough, you know.
So I really wanted to rest andtake that time and so, yeah,
(31:54):
that's just what I did and Ifelt like I healed up really
well and, yeah, I mean I've hadsome.
I've definitely felt like thehormones kind of starting to
bottom out after birth andwhatnot.
So you know, you kind of havelike your ups and downs some
days, but overall it has, yeah,it's just been really good.
And I contribute that to hernatural birth and just allowing
(32:17):
things to unfold, because thenall those hormones get triggered
how they should and, yeah, justeverything unfolding naturally,
I really think leads to areally good postpartum,
naturally, I really think, leadsto a really good postpartum.
I don't have anything else tocompare it to, but just my
experience and just being homein my own space it was just so
nice.
I just felt comfortable at alltimes and, yeah, it was, it was
(32:40):
really great.
Angela (32:42):
Awesome.
And your dog was there with youtoo, right For your birth and
for postpartum, right.
She's so attached to you, right.
Brittany (32:51):
Oh, yeah, she is definitely.
She's always been attached tome.
But, yeah, we rescued her whenwe were working in North
Carolina.
So we've had her for like ayear and a half now and she's
always kind of been attached tome.
But then when I came pregnant,she really she's actually right
here next to me, walking outside.
She has just never left my side, and that was the case even
(33:11):
through birth.
She was right there at the footof the bed watching me.
Any of the pictures that youtook after, during and after,
she was right there justwatching it all.
Angela (33:22):
So yeah, speaking of the pictures, what were your
thoughts when you got yourgallery back of the photos of
your birth?
Brittany (33:35):
So at first, really, when I hired, when I wanted you
to be at my birth, it was justbecause I wanted.
I wanted another woman therethat had been through birth
before, like I said, felt thesame way about birth as I did,
and so that's really why I choseyou.
And then, with the wholepicture thing, at first I'm not
going to lie I was kind of likeI don't know that I really want
to be photographed.
I'm not really that type ofperson and I was like I don't
want to feel like someone istaking pictures of me.
(33:56):
But after the whole situation,I never even I would have never
even known that you were there.
I don't even know like thepictures that you got.
I was like I don't, it was likea ghost on the wall.
You know, it's like a ghostthere that took these pictures.
(34:16):
And when I saw that album, likeI just cried and it is so
amazing.
I'm so glad that I did it now,because to have that album to
look back on, oh, it just likemelts my heart, definitely one
of the best decisions.
And you actually even caughther coming out.
So like the last five minutesof the birth you got on video
and I didn't know that either,and you sent that to me and I
was just a mess, I was justcrying and I was like, just like
(34:39):
, I have that memory forever and, like we said earlier, that is
like one core memory in my lifeI will never forget.
It's probably like the bestmoment of my life and I have
that on video to go back andwatch and it's just yeah, it's
just amazing.
Angela (34:53):
It is.
It's so, so special, and I lovebeing able to give those
memories to people and capturethem.
Brittany (35:01):
Yes, I again.
I highly recommend that toanybody because it is just, yeah
, it's amazing to have to lookback on because it is just yeah,
it's amazing to have to lookback on Aw, so okay.
Angela (35:15):
Now, as a final question , if you were to give advice to
someone who's expecting, or evennew parents, what's one of the
biggest things that you'd wantto share after, like, you're
where you're at right now inyour journey?
Brittany (35:23):
Yeah, I've thought about this and I really think.
I really think it's just trustin your body, trusting that God
designed us to birth.
And listening, you know, goingin and listening to what is
going to work best for you.
Don't have shame around thedecisions that you make.
Do what feels right and good toyou.
(35:45):
I think that's just like such abig thing, especially right now
, with just.
I just feel like it's alwaysit's either one extreme or the
other, and it doesn't have to bethat way you can make the
decisions that are best for you.
You don't have to follow whatsomebody else says.
Yeah, you know, take what youwant and leave what you don't
need.
And and, yeah, make thosedecisions based on what's best
for you and and and trust thatyour body knows what you need.
Angela (36:14):
Yeah, it's not black and white.
It's never black and white.
There's a lot of gray andnuance in all of these decisions
, Every decision that you makethroughout pregnancy and birth
and even like early mothering.
You know, as you have your,raise your children.
Brittany (36:23):
Oh, absolutely, there's so many things out there
, especially.
Oh yeah, I think Absolutelythere's so many things out there
(36:47):
especially.
Oh yeah, I think I think now,as a new mom, like all the, I
think there's more there than itis than with birth, like making
decisions on, you know, feedingand sleeping and all these
things, and there's so, there'sso many recommendations and
opinions out there that it'slike you really just need to do
what's best for you.
Angela (36:54):
Yeah, couldn not agree more.
It can be actually overwhelming.
Just do what's best for you, dowhat feels right.
Yeah, learn as much as you canand then just center yourself
and be like, yeah, what's rightfor you?
Absolutely.
Brittany (37:00):
Yes, absolutely, and that's how I've always been with
anything really in life is Ilike hearing all sides, all
opinions, all options, and thenI want to go in and I want to
just take what's going to bebest and resonates with me and I
think everybody yeah, I thinkthat's good advice for everybody
.
Angela (37:19):
Yeah, that's the true autonomy.
Just having an autonomous birthdoesn't necessarily mean, like
you, birth alone in the woods.
It means you make your owndecisions, absolutely.
Brittany (37:30):
Absolutely.
Angela (37:31):
Awesome.
Well, thank you so much,Brittany, for taking the time to
chat with me and share yourstory today.
Brittany (37:37):
Thank you so much for having me on and just creating
the space for women to share,because it really helped me a
lot.
You are one of the podcaststhat I listened to even before I
got pregnant and, yeah, Ireally just appreciate what you
do.
Angela (37:51):
Before you go, I just want to remind you I have a ton
of resources for pregnancy andbirth.
If you're pregnant, whetheryou're a first time mom or if
this is your fifth baby, I wantyou to check out the show notes,
because I have some freetrainings and free downloads
that you can sign up for, aswell as the link to access my
labor of love, a comprehensive,self-paced online childbirth
(38:14):
education course.
I created this coursespecifically for moms who don't
want to be told what to do,regardless of where you're
birthing or who you're birthingwith, and I'd honestly love to
teach you everything that I knowso that you can prepare for an
autonomous birth experience andprepare to step into your role
as the leader of your birthjourney.
(38:34):
So click to the show notes,check out all of those links and
, if you ever have any questions, feel free to DM me at my main
birth over on Instagram.
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