Fourth Trimester Postpartum Stories

Rachel had her first baby via a forceps delivery. A few days later, the resulting third degree tear became infected. After months of unsuccessful treatment, she finally had surgery, and was medically cleared at 6 months postpartum. That experience left her with postpartum anxiety and PTSD. She discusses how both talk therapy and EMDR helped her process and heal. She talks about breastfeeding a baby with severe lip and tongue ties, as well as how her oversupply affected her. Her second postpartum came with a lot of the same issues with ties and oversupply, but she was ready to deal with them, and was proactive about pelvic floor therapy. This time, she was diagnosed with postpartum depression at 5 months, and she discusses the treatment she chose. Resources she mentioned: Elvie Curve: https://www.elvie.com Dairy Ladder: https://dilanandme.com/milk-ladder-guide/ https://www.instagram.com/mommy.labornurse https://www.instagram.com/Karrie_locher Rachel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula.rachel.clt Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Brianna’s first baby had jaundice, and she describes her challenges feeding in the hospital while having to keep him under the lights. She and her husband were living with her parents after her first birth, and she describes her postpartum experience as blissful. Her second postpartum experience started similarly with jaundice, but she was prepared for that. However, her son failed the 24 hour cardiac test and needed to come home with an oxygen tank. Going home with a baby on oxygen, taking care of a four year old, no longer living with her parents, and her husband returning to work at 2 weeks postpartum made this postpartum period very different. She shares her experience, including taking, and then weaning, from Zoloft. Resources she mentioned: Instagram accounts she follows: https://www.instagram.com/Homesweethomebirth https://www.instagram.com/Thelittlemilkbar https://www.instagram.com/biliblanketbaby https://www.instagram.com/Takingcarababies https://www.instagram.com/ebbirth Here is Evidence Based Birth's view on the ARRIVE study: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/arrive/ Brianna’s Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/Brianna_volkinit Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Parvati was diagnosed with placenta previa 20 weeks into her pregnancy. She was put on bedrest at 26 weeks, and then had a C-section at 36 weeks. She describes how her physical recovery was affected by her weeks of bedrest. She also discusses how the judgement she experienced when she stopped pumping contributed to the anxiety she felt about all of her postpartum choices. She talks about an app she’s creating to help women find local resources to help them wherever they are in their own postpartum journey. Parvati wrote this music while she was pregnant and postpartum: https://parvatimani.hearnow.com/ Her instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/parvati_mani/ Or you can reach her via email: parumani (at) gmail (dot) com Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum (and to hear about Parvati's app when it goes live!): https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Lauren found out that she had LFS just days before finding out that she was pregnant with her daughter Josie. After a planned home birth turned hospital induction due to IUGR, she describes her early weeks postpartum, including latch issues with her tiny baby, trying to get fasting blood sugar readings, and her own hospital visits for high blood pressure and retained placenta. At 5 months postpartum, she found out that her daughter also had LFS, as well as Turner Syndrome, and already had cancer. She describes her daughter’s treatment journey through the first 17 months of her life. To follow Josie's journey, join her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/josiesbutterflies/ For more information on LFS: https://livinglfs.org/ The Living LFS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LivingLFS/ Turner Syndrome information: https://www.turnersyndrome.org/ Lauren's email address is: laurenhiddleson (at) gmail (dot) com Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

After a non-medicated birth, Elizabeth had to go to the OR and have a spinal placed to have her “3.75” degree tear repaired. She dealt with low supply, likely due to IGT, and describes her journey of triple feeding and power pumping and trying all the galactagogues before starting to supplement with formula. She also had pain while nursing that ended up being a lymph backup, which was finally diagnosed and treated by her chiropractor. She shares her very different experience with her daughter, with a much less eventful immediate postpartum and breastfeeding journey. She mentioned Nurse Zabe's YouTube channel, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjMxZzlmJVmSzpJehnFiwzA Elizabeth's YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeWithElizabeth Her Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/life_withelizabeth/ Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

In part two of her episodes, Miranda shares her fourth postpartum experience. She talks about going through the grieving process of knowing she just had her last baby, only to get pregnant with number 5 around 7 months postpartum (just a month after gallstone surgery). You can find her on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/randipaige_peace/ Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Miranda has four kids (and is 14 weeks pregnant with her fifth). Having kids close together meant that her early postpartum experiences happened alongside her subsequent pregnancies. She needed surgery 5 months postpartum after her first baby to repair the damage from her 3rd degree episiotomy. After having her second baby, she went to counseling for postpartum anxiety, but the group she saw was not equipped to help her. She got pregnant with her third about 8 months postpartum, before she even realized she was fertile. Her milk quickly dried up and she had to switch to formula for her second baby, which caused her feelings of guilt. She had a brief NICU stay with her third baby. She had a much better therapist after that baby and was able to deal with her anxiety. She shares so many tips for thriving with having babies so close together in age. Tune in next week for the story of her fourth postpartum experience! The resource she mentioned in part 1: Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/postpartumstress/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Moms-Have-Scary-Thoughts/dp/1641701307 Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Despite feeling a wave of exhaustion when she got home from the hospital, Alaina was unable to sleep. Once she got over the initial hormone crash, she started splitting nights with her husband to care for their baby, who didn’t sleep more than a few minutes if he wasn’t held. She used a lactation consultant to help with the unexpected challenges of breastfeeding, until it became easier a few months in. The physical recovery of (an uncomplicated vaginal) birth surprised her. She talks about sleep being better with her second and all of the changes she made for that to happen, including hiring a postpartum doula. She shares what was similar and different that second time around. Resources she mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/babysleep.answers/ https://www.instagram.com/kids.eat.in.color/ Books: No drama discipline by Daniel J. Siegel https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/034554806X No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame by Janet Lansbury: https://www.amazon.com/No-Bad-Kids-Toddler-Discipline/dp/1499351119 Podcasts: Unruffled by Janet Lansbury The Birth Hour Evidence Based Birth Her instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/alainas/ Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Amy struggled to produce enough milk for her daughter and ultimately stopped breastfeeding, which she says really helped her to be present in her postpartum experience. She describes some postpartum anxiety, and how she went about finding herself again. Resources and links she mentioned: Bekah Martinez: https://www.instagram.com/bekah/ Expecting Better by Emily Oster : https://emilyoster.net/ Her own Insta pages: https://www.instagram.com/sweatyesthi/ https://www.instagram.com/kindredstudioatl/ https://www.instagram.com/carelessdemaris/ Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Morgan had some initial breastfeeding issues with the baby not transferring enough milk, as well as developing mastitis only days after the birth, and went on to have long term supply issues. She was also surprised that her baby only wanted to sleep on her chest for the first 11 weeks. She discusses the evolution of her daughter’s sleep, her return to work, and her dad’s cancer diagnosis just six weeks after her daughter was born. Some resources she mentioned: The Birth Hour Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/thebirthhour/ The subreddit r/NewParents: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewParents/ Karrie Locher's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karrie_locher/ Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Aelwen began her postpartum experience on the operating table after an unexpected c-section. She was surprised at what she felt was a “vacuum of postpartum care” after leaving the hospital, especially regarding regaining her core strength. She loved having a doula every step of the way, including for processing her birth and for assistance during her first few weeks postpartum. Here are links to some of the resources she mentions: Nikki Bergan, a Pilates instructor with a focus on pelvic floor strength: https://www.instagram.com/TheBelleMethod/ Janette Yi, who has lots of online resources for recovering from a c-section: https://www.instagram.com/askjanette/ Aelwen’s insta is: https://www.instagram.com/aelwenista/ Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Mindy shares her two postpartum experiences. Going into her first birth, she was hoping for a natural labor, but ended up being induced and getting an epidural. She felt present and in control, but still had to overcome feeling like this wasn’t a “real” birth experience. Her postpartum bliss was interrupted when doctors heard a murmur in the baby’s heart, and he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, specifically VSD (ventricular septal defect), PFO (patent foramen ovale), and mitral valve malformation. He went on to have open heart surgery at 13 months old. She became pregnant with her second baby in February 2020, a month before the pandemic lockdown began. She describes her postpartum experience, and that baby, as so easy. She said the biggest challenge was parenting her first, who of course was used to having all the attention on him. Here are a few of the resources mentioned in the episode: The Children's Heart Foundation: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/ Their "It's My Heart" book is available here: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about-chds/resources.html The support group that gave her a gift bag in the waiting room is Mended Little Hearts: https://mendedhearts.org/ The Facebook group she found very early in her journey: Babies and children with VSD (ventricular septal defect) and CHD support https://www.facebook.com/groups/268526583311618 Mindy's email is: mindyseamail (at) gmail (dot) com Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Madison felt prepared for postpartum, but had a few unexpected challenges to overcome along the way. After a precipitous birth, her baby wasn’t getting the milk he needed, and she soon realized that she had low milk supply. The sleep deprivation she experienced for the first six months was detrimental to her mental health, and she developed postpartum rage. Once she was able to get some sleep, she felt like she was back to herself. She also shares the sweet moments of the first 8 months with her baby. Here are some of the support groups Madison found helpful for low milk supply: IGT and Low milk supply support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IGTmamas/ Support for mothers on Domperidone: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DomperidoneSupport/ And the accounts she follows on Instagram are: https://www.instagram.com/Lowsupplymom https://www.instagram.com/Theformulamom She also mentioned Emily Oster’s book Cribsheet. Madison's Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/missmaddi9 Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/

Kayla was planning an unmedicated hospital birth and ended up having a c-section when her baby was breech. She describes the physical recovery from the surgery as intense. She had difficulty with breastfeeding and began triple feeding and supplementing in the hospital. She chose to exclusively pump during the day starting at 3 weeks postpartum and started weaning from the pump around 4 months. She was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression 10 days after the birth, and was prescribed Zoloft. Her son was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 12 weeks and she shares their experience with him in the Pavlic harness. For more information on hip dysplasia, go to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute: https://hipdysplasia.org or follow https://www.instagram.com/starfish_babes/ Kayla's Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/k4yl4g30rg3/ Join us on the Facebook group to talk more about this episode and all things postpartum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fourthtrimesterpostpartumstories/