Ep 283: Alexa’s Birth Story - A Routine Checkup With a Surprise Ending

I’ve said it many times: the only predictable thing about birth is that it’s unpredictable. But you can absolutely navigate that unpredictability by being prepared - which is exactly what Alexa did. After what she calls a “smooth pregnancy,” things took some surprising twists and turns which ended in a cesarean birth.At 35 weeks, her husband noticed she was unusually swollen and urged her to visit the doctor. What was supposed to be a checkup turned into delivery day! It was determined that she actually did have preeclampsia and, though at first she hoped she would be able to spend a couple more weeks on bed rest waiting, her baby had different plans.In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:Why being pregnant alongside friends made a difference for AlexaWhen she decided to start looking for a doula and how she made her decisionHow Alexa and her family initially reacted to her swelling /// What signs of swelling Alexa experienced before her diagnosisWhat steps her husband took after noticing her swellingWhy Alexa was hospitalized after her checkupWhen Alexa learned her baby was breech and how it changed the birth planWhat factors led to Alexa’s C-sectionWhat it was like giving birth where her husband worksWhat challenges Alexa faced during recoveryWhich support systems helped Alexa through postpartum depression--Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode283Check out The Birth Preparation CourseRegister for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right WayOur Sponsors:* Check out Ritual and get 25% off your first month at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!* Eat smart with Factor! Get started at factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. * Head to AvocadoMattress.com today and save up to ten percent on certified organic mattresses. Dream of Better – for you and the planet. - https://www.avocadogreenmattress.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy