Gina (perinatal fitness trainer and birth doula) and Roxanne (certified nurse midwife) share the story of Roxanne’s fourth “bonus baby,” Harvey, and the end of her pregnancy leading into a planned home birth. Roxanne describes weeks of waiting, prodromal labor, and trying to start labor on her due date (January 7) before Gina left for a pre-planned Disney Marathon trip; a cervical check showed she was 1 cm and “super thick,” and labor stalled. After midnight while Gina is away, Roxanne has a gush of fluid, then contractions quickly become consistent and stronger. She calls her midwife, her mom, and backup support, and uses comfort tools like a TENS unit, shower, a Pixie heating pad, and acupressure balls. She labors in the birth tub using different positions; the midwife tries calling Gina, but she doesn’t answer. Roxanne’s water breaks and Harvey is born quickly in the tub, with brief pushing and no long second stage.Postpartum, Roxanne reports no tearing, no hemorrhage, less bleeding than prior births, and an easier recovery; Harvey weighs 7 lb 13 oz. Check out our favorite products mentioned here: https://www.hopeandplum.co/MamasteFit20 https://www.amazon.com/shop/mamastefit/list/3RPPT8UNHV3O7?ref_=aipsflist https://amzn.to/3OLZcRg Www.drinklmnt.com/mamaste https://pixiecup.shop?aff=12: MAMASTEFIT (15% off plus free shipping) Baby TENS: http://babycaretens.com?afmc=10MAMASTEFIT TENS (use 10MAMASTEFIT): https://tensforlabor.com/?ref=2 Lovesteady code: mamastefit for 10% off https://rstr.co/lovesteady/3500 Acupressure balls: https://amzn.to/4apZIgk 00:00 Welcome to MamasteFit + Harvey’s Birth Story Teaser 00:26 Meet the Hosts & What This Podcast Covers 01:23 ‘Bonus Baby’ Harvey: Mindset in the Final Weeks 02:58 Social Media Updates, Opinions, and Staying Sane at 40 Weeks 04:44 Babywearing Break: Ring Sling Favorites (Hope & Plum, Sakura Bloom) 05:28 Physical Symptoms, Home Birth Prep & The Leaky Birth Pool Saga 07:33 Prodromal Labor Starts: TENS Unit, Birth Prep Circuit, and Waiting Game 09:16 Gina’s Disney Trip Pressure: Trying to Kickstart Labor on Due Date 16:09 Contractions Fizzle + Membrane Sweep Reality Check (1 cm, Thick Cervix) 22:13 Disney Marathon Weekend Updates + ChatGPT Due-Date Predictions 26:25 The Night It Turns Real: ‘Did I Pee or Did My Water Break?’ 29:58 Early Labor Escalates: Missed Texts, Calling the Midwife, Waking the House 36:02 Support Arrives: Mom’s Massage, Vocalizing, and Calling the Birth Team 39:14 Early Labor Comfort Measures: Food, Shower & TENS 39:48 Heating Pad Fiasco: Figuring Out the Pixie Cup Heater 41:50 Joan Wakes Up: Sweet Toddler Support During Contractions 42:47 Midwife Arrives & Birth Space Setup (Tub, Candles, Bracelet) 45:33 Into the Birth Tub: Mermaid Pose & Finding the Rhythm 48:44 Things Get Real: Pressure, Calling Gina & Water Breaks 54:35 Pushing in the Pool: Fast Crowning and Harvey Is Born 58:41 First Moments: Kids Meet Baby + Placenta & Post-Birth Care 01:02:45 Gina Missed It: Disney Detour, Postpartum Support & Family Reactions 01:09:09 Wrap-Up + Favorite Pregnancy & Labor Products (Affiliate Links) ———— Get Your Copy of Training for Two on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VOTdwH 📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/ Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit: Explore our prep for birth courses: https://mamastefit.com/prenatal-support 3rd Trimester Specific Prep Courses: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/third-trimester/ ------- Freebies to Support Your Postpartum: 📩 Join our free early postpartum recovery course: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/early-postpartum-recovery/ —- Recover after birth and return to fitness with MamasteFit: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/postpartum/ —— Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit
