The Operation M.I.S.T. Podcast: Tackling the Maternal Health Crisis Operation M.I.S.T.

At 17 weeks of pregnancy, Marsheila Tillman's water broke.

She was advised to end the pregnancy because, "historically, when a woman's water breaks this early, the baby dies within 24-48 hours."

She was told that if she continued with the pregnancy, her baby had a 1% chance of survival and she had a 5% chance.

She and her husband took that chance believing that, with God, all things are possible, and her baby was delivered vaginally and was born healthy and strong a little after 30 weeks of pregnancy.

Listen to her story to hear how she recruited a team of people who provided her with the resources and support she needed, leaned on her faith believing that her baby would have everything she needed to thrive, and made adjustments to her lifestyle to create the ideal internal and external environments to align with her determination to beat the odds.

Thanks to Patricia Prime (postpartum doula, lactation consultant, and founder of the nonprofit organization, It Takes a Village-Maternal Health Expo, Inc), we had the privilege of helping Marsheila use her smart device to guide her recovery following delivery and got to experience this miraculous deviation from what science deemed possible.

NICU stays are not easy, but navigating them in your best health is necessary.


*If you are interested in learning more about Operation
M.I.S.T. and how we are monitoring mothers remotely between doctor's visits to detect complications faster to promote healthier pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum journeys, please head to our website https://www.operationmist.org/
and follow us on instagram @operationmist.

"Your placenta is dead. It's calcified. Your body is trying to tell you this pregnancy needs to be over."


"You didn't bring your bag in to this appointment? Aren't you optimistic? Now you're going to leave and come back-don't you know that you could sit on your cord and since your waters are all dried up, you could lose your baby and not know it?"


"Dry births are extremely painful. I don't recommend it."


"We know your baby is big and you're going to deal with dystocia...it's best to just let us get the baby out."


"Your baby is not responding well to the epidural (within 30 minutes of administering it) so you need to make the decision that is best for the both of you and just let us take the baby."


"You are only three centimeters dilated even though your contractions are five minutes apart. Your body is telling you that it doesn't want to have a vaginal delivery."

Over the course of four days, this mom had to try to labor while being told the statements above by the residents in the hospital.

Luckily, she had all the information she needed to make informed decisions, a team of people to support her outside of her OB, angels within her hospital system who encouraged her along the way and the resilience to do what she knew was best despite her immediate environment.


She went on to deliver a healthy average-sized baby vaginally with no complications.

I am grateful to the moms who entrust us with their motherhood journeys and ultimately, with their lives. Although medical intervention has become more commonplace during pregnancy and delivery over the years, agreeing to intervention can sometimes be the difference between life and death; between recovering well and having complications; between living a healthy life and running into health and quality of life issues years down the line.

For example, since more blood is lost following a cesarean delivery than during a vaginal one, and one of the top reasons women die following delivery is from bleeding too much, it is important to us that moms only undergo c-sections when it’s absolutely necessary to do so.


Monitoring is one thing, but having the education, resources, relationships and ability to advocate for yourself combined with the data is another thing altogether.

For any mom who read this post who was triggered by it, please forgive me; these stories and your stories need to be told. In that way, women can know that when they choose to trust their design, they should not be made to feel bad about doing so. They can also know what they may encounter when trying to deliver their baby. Not all experiences are like this, but you'd be surprised by how many there are.

If you are pregnant and would like someone to walk your motherhood journey with you, please visit www.operationmist.org to learn how we can support you. If you are not pregnant, but are supporting someone who is, please advocate for them when you can. It is hard to labor and fight at the same time.

Gwen’s birth story is one of the most empowering ones I’ve
ever heard and her journey to and through it started years before she got the delivery room.

We have had the privilege of walking alongside Gwen as
she, with the discipline of a marathon runner and the unmatched support of her family and husband/best friend, Nick,

-recovered from the effects of preeclampsia following her first delivery

-lost 30 pounds

-got off of her blood pressure medicine

-changed her diet

-swapped providers until she found one who was equally
passionate about her having the VBAC they desired

-moved to be closer to their OB and other supportive
family members when her due date neared

Listen in as she explains how the support of her village and the use of her smart watch helped her have the birthing experience of her dreams.

From hiding the fact that her foley bulb fell out so
she could get some much needed rest to waiting until her team was distracted to breathe her baby girl down, she felt and was in control and empowered every step of the way.


And the icing on the cake was that her OB celebrated alongside her with equal enthusiasm as she vaginally delivered her second child.

Gwen is a blessing to Operation M.I.S.T.

She is a blessing to everyone she encounters.

She is a testament of what is possible when faith, support, and self-discipline coexist.

More than a MIST Mom-she is a dear friend and lifelong sister. Having this conversation with her yielded many laughs and many tears. It was deeply fulfilling on so many levels.

If you are considering having a vaginal birth after having preeclampsia followed by a cesarean birth, her story is a must listen.

If you're not, but just want to hear a love story within a birth story, you are invited to listen as her story will, without a doubt, give you chills and fill you with inexplicable joy.

*If you are interested in learning more about Operation M.I.S.T. and how we are monitoring mothers remotely between doctor's visits to detect complications faster to promote healthier pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum journeys, please head to our website https://www.operationmist.org/ and follow us on instagram @operationmist.

If you are having issues with fertility or with your cycle in general or know someone who is, please listen to and share this episode.

In it, Alexis Brooks, Registered Dietician gets specific
about:

 -the foods you should eat and avoid and why

-how sleep and day-to-day choices impact our cycles and
ability to get pregnant

-the DUTCH test and how it can be used to get insight into
hormonal balance

-how intermittent fasting, plant-based diets, alcohol, and
intense exercise may be negatively impacting fertility

-how a sugar budget can work wonders for health and
fertility

On a personal note, Alexis Brooks has helped countless
women within and outside of Operation M.I.S.T. both directly and indirectly.

In addition to her extensive knowledge, she delivers the information in a way that is individualized, but not overwhelming; direct and, at the same time, loving.

She believes the best way to see improvement is by helping women figure out what they can add to their lifestyles instead of focusing on what needs to be eliminated.

Her approach is magical and her results are undeniable.

To connect with the best dietician in the industry and get
free guides for navigating endometriosis and improving fertility, visit her at connectwithalexisbrooks.com or find her on IG, Facebook, and TicToc at alexisbrooksnutrition.

 *If you are interested in learning more about Operation
M.I.S.T. and how we are helping women show up to pregnancy planned and prepared through our More Than A Period Parties, and monitoring mother's vital signs remotely between doctor's visits for healthier pregnancies, please head to our website https://www.operationmist.org/ and follow us on instagram @operationmist.

On at least three different occasions, this precious mom was given the option to abort her baby after he was diagnosed with Trisomy 18/Edward's syndrome. She was told that he would likely die during delivery or shortly afterwards.

She decided not to abort and does not regret her decision.

Listen to this podcast to hear a story of strength, resolve, dedication, genuineness, sacrifice, generosity, and the love of a mother.

Listen to how she navigated her pregnancy and delivery and learn how you can support someone who has experienced loss.

Recovery and healing needs to take place following the loss of a child no matter when it takes place. We were and still are truly humbled to support this sweet mom as she navigates life moving forward.


*If you are interested in learning more about Operation
M.I.S.T. and how we are monitoring mothers remotely between doctor's visits to detect complications faster to promote healthier pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum journeys, please head to our website https://www.operationmist.org/ and follow us on Instagram @operationmist.

After having her first baby via cesarean delivery, Pamela Barner was told she had a 4% chance of a uterine rupture with her second. What she heard was that she had a 96% chance of uterus not rupturing.



Her uterus did rupture, however and so did her bladder; and contrary to what one would expect, she did not feel pain at all while it was happening.



After her second child, she was told she shouldn’t have another baby. She decided to get a second opinion and she birthed her third child six years later without complications.



In her story, you hear her indecision about the role Pitocin played in her uterus rupturing, how team work between the nurse and surgeon prevented her baby from being injured during delivery, and how she was able to take a calculated risk because her healthcare provider gave her all the information she needed to make an informed decision.



Although she birthed three children, she is a mother to many and her advice to everyone listening is to know your body!



*If you are interested in learning more about your body or about Operation M.I.S.T. and how we are monitoring mothers remotely between doctor's visits to detect complications faster to promote healthier pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum journeys, please head to our website: https://www.operationmist.org/ and follow us on instagram @operationmist