How I’m Preparing for My Second Natural Birth with Baby #3 | Ep. 144

0:00Learning To Mom:Welcome to the Learning To Mom podcast, the best motherhood podcast for first-time parents. You want real practical guidance without the overwhelm. I'm so glad you found it. I'm Layla, the host, your official mom friend. This podcast is all about informing you on pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood while keeping it simple and approachable. We tend to lean a bit more towards screen-free play, barefoot outside adventures, intentional family time and questioning the status quo. We are always asking ourselves if that's really the right parenting choice or just today's cultural norm. So if that sounds like your vibe, you're gonna love it here.

0:38Learning To Mom:Each expert guest, including myself, brings their own perspective and experience. So please note that the content presented in this podcast is designed for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Today's episode is a requested topic, so I'm excited to dive deep into all of the ways that I'm preparing for baby number three this time around. So today's episode will be diving into how I'm physically preparing, how I'm mentally preparing, how I'm spiritually preparing, and how I'm preparing for postpartum. And then my mom club members on Patreon will also get to hear the goals that I have for my postpartum experience this time around, hear about my upcoming nesting party that I'm so excited for, and kind of the tasks and just the vibe that I, that will be happening then.

1:33And here's some pretty vulnerable stuff when it comes to just how I'm doing right now in this pregnancy and in life. So I'm really excited to dive in and kind of to spill the tea as a third time mom who's trying for her second natural birth. Now I know that this agenda has a lot of preparing in it. Do not let this overwhelm you. You do not have to do anything on this list. This is just what I'm doing. And for the sake of like structuring the episode, I have it broken down into those different categories, but I don't want you to like hear those categories and be like, Oh my gosh, I need to be preparing for all of that.

2:19Now, obviously every pregnancy, every delivery that I have, I have learned from it and I've

2:26Learning To Mom:learned what I want to do differently next time around. So if you're a first time mom who's listening and you were really overwhelmed with all of this preparing. I do not want you to be overwhelmed, but I do want you to be encouraged or kind of have some fire under your butt to really prepare because you're going to have a much better experience. Even if you prepare one thing from this list, then just ignoring it all and not doing anything. But again, this episode is not to convince you or like, you need to do everything that I'm doing because this is exactly how to prepare the correct way. That is not it.

3:06This is just what I am doing. So first, let's talk about what I'm doing differently and what I'm doing the same before we get into each of these categories. If this is the first time that you're even finding out that I'm pregnant, if you want the whole deep dive, go back and listen to episode 131. It's titled A New Chapter, What This Season Looks Like for Our Family and the Podcast. and in it I talk about what I focused on while I was trying to conceive from a health and mindset

3:37Learning To Mom:standpoint. I answer common questions that I've already been getting and then I talk about what this new season means for our family rhythm and what it means for the future of this podcast. But for the sake of this episode so that I'm not repeating myself twice, you really just need to know the bullet points from that. You don't need the whole tea that I spill in detail in that episode. We will be having another hospital birth with a midwife. We're not having a home birth. Again, listen to episode 131 for more details there if that really surprises you. I will also again be doing hypnobirthing for this birth.

4:14I do want a disclaimer and say it is not being hypnotized. It has a very bad misconception about that, obviously because of the hypno part of the word. But essentially, how I found hypnobirthing was in season one when the podcast was covering pregnancy and birth. I interviewed a hypnobirthing instructor, and I just really aligned well or closest to that birthing technique, if you will, or birthing mindset, rather than like Lamaze or Bradley method or the Alexander method.

4:50Learning To Mom:or there's so many out there. And so that was kind of when I decided that like, okay, I'm going to do hypnobirthing the next time around. So if you want to go and listen to that episode, it is episode 27 in season one. And it is titled, What is Hypnobirthing and Should You Try It? with Brianna from Heart and Womb Indie, episode 27. And I'll have all of these linked. And then lastly, my goal for this birth is to have another naturally unmedicated birth with very, very low medical interventions. In a perfect world, it would be my last birth again. But obviously, we all know that birth doesn't work that way.

5:32I'm not going to get the same birth that I got last time. That doesn't mean that it's guaranteed to be horrible because the last time was great. It could be even greater than the last birth was. I just know that no two births are the same. But in a perfect world, it would be that birth. So again, I will have everything linked for you in the show notes, but that's kind of the bullet points that you need to know going into this episode. So talking about physically preparing first, if you didn't know, birth is a very physically demanding event. People compare it to like running a marathon. You're going to, you need to be nourished well, you need to be rested well, and you need to be fit.

6:16You can't just like show up the day of the marathon and expect to have a great experience if you weren't doing any of the prep work. So how I am physically preparing for this birth is I feel like I'm not focusing so much on working out, but I am doing that and I'll get to that as I have in past births. I think it's just like, I already have two kids at home. We moved into this home that is now two stories. I'm going up and down the stairs all the time. Like I'm just more active this pregnancy, keeping up with these other two. And of course that has led me to being a lot more exhausted this time around.

7:00But, um, in general, I think I'm just being a lot more active

7:04Learning To Mom:and something that I really loved about this new house is that we are within walking distance of my oldest preschool so I've been walking her for pick up and drop off when I can so that's been amazing because that's four miles in a day of walking and so I just like that's great great exercise there another thing that I'm doing is I'm continuing my fit mama in 30 workouts I will have this linked. I have talked about this like so much in season one and in season two. So I've been doing them for a long time. But Fitmama in 30 is a virtual at home workout program. They have prenatal and they have postpartum workouts.

7:47Learning To Mom:I really like that it's virtual. So like I can have the kids there and I don't have to actually get childcare or anything, but I love that it's actually like pregnancy focused so that it is preparing the right muscles for birth, which is great. And then I also love that the videos are the instructors actually doing the workouts with you. And while they're doing it with you, they'll talk about things like make sure your breathing is like this and make sure you're holding in your pelvic floor muscles here. And it's just really, really helpful as they kind of coach you through the exercises to make sure you're doing things safely as well.

8:26Like, you know, this is the exact form that you want to be in. Make sure your butt's not back or whatever it is. So I've really, really liked that. And I can get you $20 off their annual plan with learning to mom. That's all caps, all one word. That's just what I'm doing. But if you're looking for a pregnancy workout plan, I would recommend them. Another thing that I'm doing this time around is I am stretching, which is very interesting because I'm like not a yoga person. I'm not really naturally flexible even. I get bored stretching, but I have started to prioritize that a bit more. And honestly, you can think, or I can think,

9:07Learning To Mom:my Instagram algorithm for this because I'm starting to see so many that's like, here's some stretches that I'm doing to prepare for labor. And I'm like, oh, okay, this looks kind of good. So I've just started doing like doing that, which is really the first time that I've prioritized or done any stretching by pregnancies. And then the last piece, pelvic floor therapy. If you have not listened to Tighten Your Tinklers episode, you need to listen to Tighten Your Tinklers episode, episode 82, Your Pelvic Floor and Postpartum, myths, misconceptions, and what to do about it with Tighten Your Tinkler.

9:45I would recommend going back and listening to them. Although that episode primarily focuses on like postpartum, you can hear just how amazing the founder is of Tighten Your Tinkler. So I've been taking their course. I don't have time to get into pelvic floor therapy 24 seven or once a week or whatever.

10:09Learning To Mom:So it's another virtual at-home program. It's really great because it's like, do it at your own pace, whatever. I will say a caveat that it is safe and you can do it in pregnancy, but it is not aimed for pregnancy. It's really more for postpartum, but once you join, you have lifetime access. So I'm just doing it now and I'll probably do it again postpartum. But it, I mean, like it works, whatever. I'm having a great time with it. It's just that it's not like a specifically pregnancy pelvic floor program. However, I was just kind of at a point with my pelvic floor that I was just having some issues that this pregnancy is making a lot worse.

11:06Don't need to share TMI stuff, but just some, you know, things that are common, but not normal. And I was finally like, I'm scared to go through postpartum. If I don't support my pelvic floor now and make it a little bit better now, postpartum is going to be horrible and so hard. So I've just started with doing tighten in your tinkler and not to just like list off all of these links. Cause that's super annoying. But in case you are curious, I'll have this linked for you and you get$50 off their signature plan

11:42Learning To Mom:with the code learning to mom, all caps, all one word, but I'm definitely going to be redoing it in postpartum for when it's like actually more applicable, um, and can help even more. Okay. that's the physically preparing by like exercising the last two things that I want to talk about that I've been doing to physically repair is focusing on nutrition two things that I want to talk about on this is one my blood sugar and my blood sugar regulation and then the second thing I'll talk about is my supplement probiotic that I'm taking but as far as blood sugar goes I have this hypothesis that I give birth to big babies because I have a out of tune.

12:34That's not the right word. Like my blood sugar levels are not great, but I'm passing the gestational diabetes test because that test is kind of, it's just a one snapshot. I don't believe in that test at all. And I'll get more into that. That's not obviously like medical advice. It's just my opinion. but I just had this hypothesis that was like okay if I can get my blood sugar in check then hopefully I can push out like an eight pound baby rather than a 10 pound baby so early like

13:03Learning To Mom:second trimester I talked to one of the midwives at the hospital about it and we got me like the finger prick and the blood sugar readings and everything and fortunately unfortunately my levels were amazing, like great. So then I was like, ah, okay. I was really kind of hoping that I could just like get my blood sugar in check. And then I could push out an eight pound baby instead of a 10 pound baby. So it was kind of unfortunate, but also fortunate because I'm very thankful that I don't have a blood sugar problem. And then instead of opting for the gestational diabetes, traditional like glucola drink.

13:45Learning To Mom:This time around, I did a continuous monitor on my arm just so that I could have more insight. So I did that instead of taking the, yeah, the traditional gestational diabetes test. Now to just give you some insight into why I don't love the gestational, the current traditional gestational diabetes, glucola drink. It is not because of the drink in of itself. Like, sure, that's not great. But here I am still eating Sour Patch Watermelon Candy because that's like my favorite candy on earth. And as natural and as holistic as I try to be, that thing still has a grip on me, okay? So I'm not one to be like, I would never have that drink because I really truly don't care.

14:38If you are someone who doesn't want that drink, you might want to look into the fresh test alternative. It's basically just like a healthier version of that. My issue with that test is that it is a one day snapshot of your levels. I think that it does not give you a comprehensive result or data into your specific health.

15:05Learning To Mom:So I really did want something a lot more comprehensive to give me a much better idea as to how my body was regulating or how my blood sugar was doing this time around. And so then for the, at 28 weeks, I did continuous blood sugar monitoring. Basically they put this like patch thing on my arm and it read my blood sugars for, I think it was eight days, 10 days or 14 days. I don't remember what it was. And the only thing I had to do was every time I ate, I had to go into the app and say that I was eating a meal so that they could track it. There is pros and cons to this. Um, one huge con to this continuous monitoring is that it was continuous Bluetooth to my phone.

16:01Learning To Mom:And I was not a fan of that, but for me that risk outweighed because I wanted a deeper understanding in comprehensive data because I just wanted more insight into my blood sugar levels. Um, but I did not love that continuous monitoring. So that's something to keep in mind, like the Bluetooth and just like the EMF exposure from that really not great, but I will say there's other things in my life that I do to lower my EMF exposure like I don't wear an Apple watch or like a Fitbit or anything like that I don't do Bluetooth unless it's absolutely necessary like even in my car I like plug it into CarPlay so it's not doing Bluetooth turning Wi-Fi off at night blah blah blah but I limit my exposure to EMF throughout the day but But yeah, just like really didn't love that continuous monitoring, but it did give the midwives and myself a much deeper understanding of my blood sugar levels.

17:01Learning To Mom:Some days it feels like no matter how many articles you read or podcasts you listen to, you're still just guessing about what's best for your family, which is why inside the Mom Club for the Learning to Mom podcast, you get the full episodes. There's no edits. There's no time limits so that you get the full story. You get all the details. the examples that actually help you make decisions at home. We talk about the questions that matter and we dig into real life challenges. One mom said it best. I'm so glad I joined the Patreon. Seriously, I've learned so much more. I've gone back and listened to all the old episodes too, to listen to every episode.

17:40Learning To Mom:And I've learned so much. So if you want that kind of information, clarity, and support, come join us at learningtomompodcast.com slash join. as always the links in the show notes below for you if you forget but I cannot wait to meet you inside show you around and become real mom friends again that's learning to mom podcast.com slash join I'll see you there and the last thing I'm just gonna share the supplement and probiotic that I'm using they're both from thorn I will link them below in the show notes you can get 10 % off with the link that I share. I did a lot of research into both probiotics and supplements.

18:22And so I'm, yeah, I'm using Thorne for both. And I think for the ingredients and the cost, it was the best one that I found to meet my needs this pregnancy.

18:36Learning To Mom:I do really like it and I would recommend them, but I do think it's important that you get lab work done and then you can kind of find out if there's specific supplement that will help or if maybe you can piece together some supplements with your care providers to give you like the prenatal that works best for you. Um, I don't like, you're not going to find a prenatal that fits everything that your body needs. So no matter what you do, like even if you do the top of the line, most expensive, you're still going to have to take other supplements because everybody's body is unique and individual.

19:20Learning To Mom:So that's why I really like Thorne because I was going to still have to be buying supplements for my body otherwise. And it wasn't as expensive as some of its competitors, not wanting to say names, but okay. That's what I'm doing to physically prepare. Moving on to mentally preparing. Again, like I mentioned at the beginning of the episode, I am doing hypnobirthing this time around. Basically, if you are not familiar with hypnobirthing, it's just practice. It's all about relaxation in childbirth. And instead of like working through the pain or like gritting your teeth and finding more favorable positions for your birth partner or something to like do with you or something, it's kind of about like relaxing and giving into the pain is the best way I can say.

20:20Learning To Mom:Like kind of surrendering it and making, trying to get your body as like limp as possible. so last time I took a hypnobirthing course and in that course you're given a book to read and I mean that's part of like the homework but it's well worth it because you're preparing for birth and in that course we were given the book hypnobirthing the mongen method so this time around although I'm not taking the course again I did reread that book and yeah I really like it I will say I don't think I'm going to reread it a third time like for child number four lord willing we have a child number four but I don't think I'm going to reread it again I just found it like kind of redundant from when I read this 20 months ago but I did like underline and I think I will always go back and refer to the notes and the information that I learned in that course and in this book is really invaluable.

21:21Learning To Mom:So I would really recommend the book. And again, I'll have that linked in the show notes for you as well. It's just on Amazon. And the book does at times mention like your hypnobirthing instructor and course. So don't let that confuse you if you're reading. That's just why, because it really, it did go with the course, but you can also read the book as a standalone and in the book and the course, of course, it talks a lot about breath work. So I have been working on my breath work. I've been listening to my meditation tracks. If you're unfamiliar, part of hypnobirthing is listening to these meditation tracks.

21:56Learning To Mom:And I know this sounds so woo woo and like so weird. And I just believe it's one of those things that you just kind of have to like commit to and get over feeling weird and uncomfortable and cheesy with it and just do it. But a lot of what hypnobirthing works to do is rewire your brain, if you will, and take you from a place where we have been coached. We've been told ever since our very first memory of birth is just like how painful it is and how horrible it is. So the tracks that you listen to really help rewire your brain because you listen to the tracks every day. And it's like, My body was made for this.

22:40I can do this. My baby's body was made for this. I'm deep breathing the baby down through the birth canal. Like, I don't know.

22:50Learning To Mom:I actually really enjoy the meditation tracks. I think that they're very nice. They have music that goes along with it. And I think it's very relaxing. And it helps remind me of those truths that I'm not going to find in culture or in media or in talking to a woman at the grocery store who's sharing her horrible birth story with me. I am also reading this time around for the first time, the book Childbirth Without Fear, The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth. I am still reading it, so I can't give a final review yet. I'm really only in like chapter three or four because I'm recording this like a month before this episode even goes live.

23:31Learning To Mom:so I'm sure by the time this episode goes live I will have finished this book but right now I'm fairly early it is the book that my hypnobirthing book quoted she quotes a few different books but she quoted this one in particular and it was written in like the 1930s and so far I actually really really like it so that's another way that I'm mentally preparing and then the last and the most important way that I am mentally this kind of covers mentally and physically preparing as I am practicing contractions. So every day, every night, rather, we put the kids to bed and then Matthew and I practice contractions.

24:15Learning To Mom:And I know that sounds silly if you've never done it, but I really like, I credit this with how I was able to have a natural birth the second time around. So this may be what allows me to have a natural birth this third time around. I don't know what is going to be my credit or hopefully I'll be able to achieve that again. But basically how I practiced contractions is I download a HIIT workout app, HIIT as in like H-I-I-T, high intensity interval training workout app. I hold ice cubes and I smell essential oils and And then I do other things like I wear a sleep mask to help get into the kind of like a more relaxing state.

25:01Learning To Mom:But essentially I set on the app like a workout. And for the workout, I set it to be 60 seconds. So the length of like as long as your longest contraction will be 60 seconds. And then I have a break time of 60 seconds. So then how it works on the app is the app is like start workout and then it counts down for 60 seconds and then it'll say stop workout and then it'll have a break for 60 seconds and then start workout 60 seconds. Now I set that for 60 seconds for the workout time, as I said, because that's like as long as your contraction is ever going to be. And I set the break for 60 seconds, which in labor, even at the most intense, you'll get like a two to three minute break in between contractions.

25:53But just for the practice sake and trying to get in as many reps, quote unquote, as possible, I do one minute off, one minute on, one minute off on repeat.