MyMaine Birth - Ashlei’s Holly No.7 Maine Birth Center Birth Story. Bangor, Maine

My Maine Birth - Ashley’s Holly No.7 Birth Center Birth Story. Bangor, Maine

Welcome to MyMaine Birth, a space where we share the real life stories of families and their unique birth experiences in the beautiful state of Maine. From our state’s biggest hospitals to birth center births, and home births, every birth story deserves to be heard and celebrated. From the first feelings of pregnancy, to the first cry of your newborn, we explore the journey of childbirth in all of its beauty intensity and emotion. Whether you are a soon to be mom, a seasoned mother, or simply interested in the world of birth, these episodes are for you.

Join me for today’s episode of My Maine Birth Podcast as Ashlei shares her story of moving from Alaska to Maine at 18 weeks pregnant. Ashlei then shares about her experience birthing at the Maine Birth Center Holly No.7 in Bangor, Maine.

This Episode is sponsored by My Maine Photo. My Maine Photo is Maine’s go to studio for Birth photography. If you or someone you know is expecting and would like to document the precious moments of meeting your baby for the first time, I highly recommend considering my Maine Birth Photography services. I am a professional Maine Birth photographer specializing in capturing the beauty and emotion of birth. I also provide all families with a treasured keepsake to cherish for years to come. I create a personalized and intimate photo album with every birth photography session! To inquire about availability or for more information, click here https://www.mymainephoto.com/birthphotography and schedule a complimentary Zoom Consultation with me.

For this weeks episode - Listen Here! Or scroll down for the full transcript.

Angela: Hi Ashlei, Welcome to My Maine Birth!

Ashlei: Hi !

Angela: So you have quite the story, you moved from Alaska to Maine at 18 weeks pregnancy. So to start, will you share about when you found out you were pregnant, and a little bit about you and your family?

Ashlei: Yes, so my husband and I, we found out we were pregnant in the beginning of July. I found out on July 4, and I didn’t tell him until the next day. I just wanted to check with another pregnancy test, I think I actually took 5 before I told him! So then I told him on July 5th, and we were very excited. During that time he was also in the process of applying for a job here in Maine. So we knew, we could be having our baby in Alaska, we could be having this baby in Maine, we weren’t really sure. And then in the end of July we found out we would be moving. So we did have an appointment, our 10 week appointment, in Alaska with the Birth Center there. But I had already started looking at options here in Maine. I ended up coming across the Holly No.7 Birth Center here in Maine, and I was really excited about that because I was not sure if I would be able to find a Maine Birth Center. I know some places they are more available, and in some places they’re not. So we ended up moving, with our dog - it was my husband, myself and my dog - and we ended up moving when I was 18 weeks pregnant.

We drove! We were going to be driving our Subaru with nice heated seats - and last minute, things changed. We ended up in a 2004 Ford Truck with a bench seat, with my husband, our 70 pound dog, and me at 18 weeks pregnant. And we stoped along the way a couple times to see family and friends, but it took us 15 days, so it was quite the trek. Our little baby was starting to kick my ribs already a little bit, and we had only had one initial appointment. We hadn’t had any other appointments. We didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl. It was kind of this grand adventure with our little baby.

We arrived in Maine in the end of October. Shortly after that we went to have our first appointment with the Birth Center, and then have our ultrasound. We wanted to have our anatomy scan at 22 weeks, so we ended up doing that.

Angela: And they are able to do that all right in the Birth Center, they have someone that comes in?

Ashlei: They do, yes. But because of our insurance, it would be covered if we went to the hospital. So we ended up having our ultrasound at the hospital at 22 weeks. And it was so fun to see our little baby. So we had that scan. Then, later that day we received a call that there was some potential complications. It was really just devastating to hear that. There was a 2 vessel cord, which can be normal, and can also be a sign of something else going on. And then there were some complications potentially with the amniotic sac, and with our baby’s heart. So we had to have some further follow-up appointments from that, we ended up having to have more ultrasounds. And the amniotic sac, the complications with that - and it wasn’t placenta prevue - there was just the two layers of the sac they thought were separated - which that ended up not being an issue as well. Then we had to have an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist in Bangor as well. That appointment really helped us to feel a lot better because he was like this isn’t going to be an issue for birth, we will just keep an eye out for what’s going on with your baby’s heart. It was still, not something we expected going into pregnancy, but we felt really good after that appointment. We just put a lot of prayer into it, a lot of people were praying for our little baby. And it was something that ended up resolving so we have just been so thankful for that, and just feel really blessed we don’t have to worry about our baby’s heart anymore. Nobody wants that!

So from 22 weeks up until 37 weeks we had a couple more ultrasounds, just along with our regular appointments we also had more ultrasounds at the hospital. Just to kind of check on things. For a little while there was some concern that baby was a little low on weight, so we were checking on that as well - he ended up being fine - but during that time that we were concerned about his weight, I was trying to get all the fats that I could.. high fat yogurt, and butter, and milk, all of the good fats, which was delicious and I was like “I’m doing this for my baby” And so it was nice to be able to have something - who knows whether it was working or not - but it gave me something practical that I could do to hopefully help my baby grow. So we had our last ultrasound at 37 weeks and baby was looking really good.

There was some concern for awhile if there was intra-uterine growth restriction that we would have to deliver early and we would not be able to deliver at the birth center. We really wanted that experience for us and for our baby to deliver at the birth center. There was so much up in the air during that time.

And through all of this we were also in the process of buying a house! We had moved here and we were staying in a temporary place for awhile, and then we bought a house. We live in Hancock county, so about an hour from Bangor. Just a lot going on! Such an adventure! But mostly just really glad we were able to get settled and most of our things unpacked and get ready for baby to come. And so we were kind of getting settled in, and then March came around! Overall, pregnancy was - except for the concerns about baby’s health - I felt really great during pregnancy which was really nice. I physically felt good, I felt beautiful just being pregnant. I felt so thankful for that, just because with everything else going on - to feel physically good was really nice. Of course, towards the end I was a little bit uncomfortable, I was feeling kind of big, and it was hard to put my shoes on! But other than that, I felt really good which I was super, super thankful for!

Angela: oh my gosh, so how long before you baby was born did you move?

Ashlei: So I ended up going into labor on March 13th and we had closed on our house January 13th. So two months to the day before he came. Which was a good amount of time, but also there was just so much - with unpacking all of our things, and getting everything ready. There is still a lot that has to be done to our house, it’s a really old house, but it will just be an adventure that we will all get to do together. My type A personality was like “we have to get everything done” but sometimes, life doesn’t allow that. So it has been stretching for me in that way, in a good way.

Angela: Alright, so when did you labor start, and when did you decide to head to the birth center? And how was your experience there?

Ashlei: So Sunday, March 12th, I had been starting to feel kind of off - I was wondering if I was maybe getting a little bit sick. My throat was slightly sore, I had some acid reflux a couple days before, so my throat was a little sore from that, which was the only time I had that my entire pregnancy. So Sunday I was feeling a little off. So I told my husband, you go to church without me, I’m going to stay home and rest. I just felt like I really needed to do that. We didn’t know when this baby was going to come and I just wanted to be as rested as I can. So I slept in which was glorious that morning, and just took the whole day just slowly and just relaxed.

This was the perfect choice, because the next morning, Monday morning March 13th - I had gotten up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, like normal. And then about an hour later, about 5:30am, I felt a “cramp” , and I had felt that previously, but normally what would happen if I had felt that - I would have this feeling and then I would shift and it would go away and I would go back to sleep. So I woke up with this cramp Monday morning and I was like huh, that’s interesting, so let me just shift to see if it goes away - I just went to the bathroom so I know that’s not it. And then 45 minutes later I woke up again with another “cramp” and so I was like, huh - ok, I’ll just shift again and go back to sleep. And then I woke up around 6:30 and then 7, and then 7:30, and then 8. And at that point I turned to my husband and I was like hmm, I think I might be having contractions, I don’t really know. So we just kind of laid there, and they just kept coming. At this point they were maybe 7-10 mintes apart. And then at around 8:45 I said hey, maybe we should put on the contraction timer on the phone, and they were already about 6-7 minutes apart and probably 30 second long, maybe as long as a minute.

So I thought, ok, well if this labor I want to get fueled. So about 9am we got up and headed downstairs to get food because I wanted to have food, I want to be nourished and ready for whatever this day may hold. So we got downstairs and I started feeling slightly nauseous, and when I have pain I throw-up - like if I have really bad period cramps, I throw-up - so I was like, ok, I could be feeling this way so I’ll make a smoothie. And in the process of that I was already having to stop and hold on to the counter and breathe through and think through these contractions. They were coming about every 5 minutes.

I was like, ok I don’t want to call the birth center too soon. So I set this goal out there that we would call at 10am. I know 10 wasn’t that far away, but I was also feeling like it was moving a little faster than what I was expecting. I know really what I was expecting could be anything from super fast to super long - but anyway, I was feeling like it was moving fast. So I was like ok I will call at 10am. I was prepping my smoothie, and 9:45 came around, I had a contraction and was like “we’re going to call now, let’s call now”. It was just a little bit much.

So we called and ended up getting ahold of one of the midwife assistants at the Birth center and we found out which one of the midwives was on call for us that day. It was actually our due date! I was 40 weeks that day, so it was really fun! So we were like, ok wow, this is our due date, this is possibly happening on our due date depending on how long labor goes. So we actually had an appointment scheduled for that afternoon at 2pm. So we called, they asked a couple questions like how I was doing, could I talk through contractions. Which I could talk through contractions, I didn’t necessarily want to talk through contractions, but I could. So they said, call back at noon. Chris is on call for you, we will talk to you then - of course, if something came up in-between, give them a call. So I was like, ok we can make it until noon. So I made my smoothie, put on something to have in the background and I tried to eat a little bit. And very shortly after I tried to have my smoothie I ended up throwing-up. And I was like ok, it’s not really surprising but it is a little bit of a bummer. And then I had some water and I threw that up. I was having to still breathe through contractions, they were about 5 minutes apart. Actually, I was talking to my husband last night and we were looking through the contraction timer - and some of those contractions were actually a lot closer together - closer to about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes apart and lasting for about a minute. So anyway, we waited until noon and right before then, I think I had to go to the bathroom a couple times in-between there too - and right before noon I went to the bathroom again and I was starting to have some bloody-show. So I was like, ok, this is continuing to ramp up, it is continuing to progress. This is good, but also exciting and I’m nervous! And all the range of emotions.

So at noon, we went ahead and called. I remember I was sitting on the floor in the living room. And the midwife assistant at the Maine Birth Center asked how I was feeling and I think I told her that I threw-up a couple times and I had some bloody show, and I had been talking to her and then all of a sudden I got quiet. And either she asked if I was going through a contraction, or my husband said I was - and she was like ok, why don’t you guys go ahead and make your way to the birth center. No rush, but she said go ahead and come up here, and make your way in, especially since we were about an hour away.

So I wanted to pack a couple more things in my bag, there were only a couple more things - I only had a limited number of things that fit me at this point. I didn’t have everything packed in the bag because I was still wearing some of the items on a regular bases - and I wanted to brush my teeth so I went upstairs - and after we got off the phone with her my contractions went from every 5 minutes to every 2 1/2 -3 minutes and lasting for about a minute long. And I was like, to my husband “I hope we make it, I don’t know if we are going to make it” . And he was like, “ok, well let’s go ahead and go now”. But I was still trying to brush my teeth, and like breathe through contractions. Everything was relatively calm, but inside I was like - what is happening, how fast is this going to continue to pick up? I think we made it out of the house in about 20-30 minutes - which now sounds like a really long time - but I think it just took a while because every few minutes I was having to stand there and breathe through contractions - and we had somebody that was coming to pick up our dog which was really nice and awesome because we we happy to have someone to take care of him.

So we made our way towards Bangor. At this point, I was like ok - I know we have mentally prepared, if we need to deliver this baby in the car, we can - but now that we are finally here, I do not want to deliver this baby in the car! We had towels and blankets in the back just in case, because we wanted to be prepared for that. My husband and I are both EMT’s so we have some knowledge of that, but I was like I would really like to deliver at the birth center, not in the car! I think it was maybe 35-40 degrees that day, so it was not terrible, but still - not great weather for delivering a baby in the car - on the side of the highway!

So once we got in the car my contractions went back to every 5-6 minutes which I was really thankful for. So I got in the car and turned on the heated seat - which felt really good, we ended up putting on my worship music playlist. I just kind of sat there, I had my sweater and I was clenching my sweater. Whenever a contraction came I would just breathe through it. By the time we got to the car I was already vocalizing through them. So I was able to find a really good rhythm for coping with the contractions at this point through, so it was nice that I was able to find something that really worked for me for the whole hour drive. I think at one point my dad called my husband and I think because we were in the car it was on speaker phone and I started going through a contraction and he definitely hung up really quick! It was just kind of funny, because I was just like well I’m just going to be vocalizing through contractions no matter who is on the phone because I can’t really help it!

Angela: Wow and that is a long car ride from Hancock county into Bangor but it sounds like you were handling it pretty well.

Ashlei: Yeah it is, but it ended up, I was really nervous about it - because listening to birth stories throughout my whole pregnancy everyone was like “the car ride is so awful”! So I had really prepared mentally for this to possibly be a really challenging car ride. And I think because I had prepared so much for it, it didn’t feel as terrible. So that was good! I just had my rhythm. I was focused on myself and got through the whole car ride, and it was actually not terrible. As we were going over the bridge, there was a bump - I had talked with my husband before hand like if we can avoid bumps in the car, lets do that - but as we were going over one of the bridges he was like, there is going to be a bump coming - and I prepared. And then there was another bump, and I prepared again. So that was really sweet of him to consider me in that.

So as we were coming around the corner of the Holly No.7 Maine Birth Center I think I told my husband I’m feeling really nervous now, or scared. Because I think in my mind, I was like if we are coming to the birth center this is real, this is happening! I didn’t really take into consideration that maybe I was only barely progressed and they could have sent me home. That was possible. But, definitely I felt like this is really happening and we are going to be delivering our baby. And I just was nervous with it being our first baby. So we came around the corner. We ended up getting to the birth center and I had to stop on the steps there to have a contraction. They were like, ok let’s get you upstairs. They checked me, and I was already at 5cm, which I was glad about - I felt like that was a good place to be and it felt like I had done some pretty good work.

They asked if I wanted to get into the birth tub and I was like ok, sure let’s do that. So I got into the tub after it was all heated up and filled and everything - which did feel really good and so nice!

Angela: Yeah, they check the temperature to make sure it is perfect for you, right?

Ashlei: Ya, it was so nice. I loved that they checked that, it was so good! So we put our music on in there, and I just got into a groove of working through the contractions there, and tried to figure out what felt comfortable, like what position - kind of leaning back didn’t feel good - and then I sat in a couple positions while I was there in the tub - I kind of liked sitting with my arms hanging out over the edge which ended up being really comfortable. And then, from there I was able to grab my husbands hand - I really wanted to hold his hand through my contractions. I didn’t really want to be touched at all - except for - I wanted to hold his hand. I think because when I was going through contractions that whole day, I just had to kind of go through it by myself - I didn’t want to be touched - but once I was in the tub and I had started going through the contractions then, I was like, ok I want to squeeze your hand. So I would stick out my hand during a contraction, like signaling that he needed to grab my hand so I could squeeze your hand, because I couldn’t verbalize that - so he ended picking up on that - like oh ok, that’s what you mean - you want me to hold your hand. I think I was in the tub for about an hour and a half probably.

By the time we got to the birth center it was 1:30, so about half an hour before our scheduled appointment which is just a little bit humorous! So I was in the tub for probably about an hour and a half and I think it was time, at one point Ora, a midwife assistant at the Maine birth center Holly No.7 in Bangor, Maine asked how is this water feeling - I think she checked the temperature of it and I just didn’t want anything to change because I was in the zone, and when I shift things I have to adjust to that, but I think it was time to get out so I moved to the bed. I was lying on my side with the peanut ball in-between my legs. I was just laying there, and I there was a little blanket there and I just remember squeezing on to that, it really helped me cope. I had a few contractions there, and then I got up and went to the bathroom and came back and was again on my side with the peanut ball, vocalizing through contractions. And then around 5pm, I think everybody in the room could tell things had shifted because I went from vocalizing in a certain way to a much more lower deeper vocalizing and pushing sounds. I wasn’t aware of the sound difference, but my husband said that he was and certainly the Maine midwives were. And I think that is just kind of cool, how your body shifts into that second mode. It was really crazy too, to feel my body pushing and shift into that. That was at 5pm. I was still on the bed for awhile with the peanut ball. I went to the bathroom, and had a couple contractions on there. For some reason, it was mostly comfortable, I felt like I had to go to the bathroom, probably because I was in that pushing phase. I guess I didn’t want to stay there even though it was “comfortable” there, so they asked if I wanted to sit on the birthing stool - and I was like ok, lets try that out - so we moved to the birthing stool, but I was just so uncomfortable, and just because I felt like I had to go to the bathroom and I couldn’t. The birthing stool, when I got on there, it was so awful for me at least! I know everybody has what works for them - but it did not work for me, at least for this pregnancy. I was so uncomfortable, and maybe it was because it was helping my body progress, I’m not really sure. I stayed on there for a couple contractions, but I was just too uncomfortable and didn’t want to sit there - so I ended up going back to the bed on my side with the peanut ball and pushed for awhile there, but I think possibly - I’m not sure how long again I was sitting there again on my side. They had asked me earlier if I wanted to go onto my back, and I just had it set in my mind, I don’t want to deliver on my back - so I had said no before, and they asked me again and I reluctantly moved to my back. I was like, I could try it. I had been so against doing that, but the baby was going to come either way whether I’m on my side or standing up or on my back. So I was on my back with my legs kind of up. My husband was on one side holding my legs up and one of the midwives was on the other side, and I ended up pushing there. And at that point it was probably 6:30/6:45 by the time I moved to my back with my legs up. Also by this time, I was able to eat which was nice, because I hadn’t been able to eat or drink -water even - before, but I think when I shifted from that dilating to the pushing phase - something changed and I was able to drink and eat. Although all I ate was, a little bit of honey and I was able to drink plenty of water - because especially during pushing I was very thirsty. And then there was a Popsicle, which I Highly recommend, just those little natural fruit popsicles - definitely going to be getting those for any future pregnancies and labors - because it was great. Just so refreshing and cold and gives you that sugar! Ya, highly recommend that!

Angela: ya, that’s a great labor snack

Ashlei: So I was really thankful at that point that I could drink and have a little bit of substance, because I was thirsty! Especially as I was pushing, vocalizing through that. I was trying for the whole time to keep my jaw really loose - even though I’m sure there were some times that I tensed up - but I had just tried to keep everything really loose. But still, when your pushing there is this sort of bearing down, so I was definitely thirsty. So about 6:30/6:45 was when I had moved to my back. So in-between contractions I would get a little water or have a little bite of my Popsicle which was really nice to be able to have that break in-between the contractions. And I don’t remember the exact thought, but it was kind of like, ok so this is labor? This is pushing? I can do this! And it is not as hard or scary as I thought. I felt like really, it was hard work, and it hurt too, but it was doable, which I think made me feel really confident and made me feel really good! So definitely those breaks between the contractions were really nice. And I feel like when I did have the contractions, I was really able to push with my body which was really nice. But, during this pushing time - on my back - the baby’s head was there, they could see it - and it was actually still in the amniotic sac! So my water hadn’t broken yet, and his head was just there with the sac, which was just kind of ironic because there had been some concern previously which ended up being nothing, that the amniotic was unstable - but it was obviously very strong since it was still in-tact at this point! I was pushing him, but we weren’t getting very far and I was really tight, the perineum was very tight. So I would push a couple times with each contraction and he would kind of come out but them scoot back up a little bit. Which I think is really good for stretching it out, but it was just that process. And throughout that time they had been keeping an eye on his heart rate - he had been doing really well for the whole labor. Then close to 7pm his heart rate dropped a little bit. It all just happened so quickly. They was talk of possible resuscitation after birth, which sounded a little scary to me. They went ahead and put me on oxygen just to make sure he was extra oxygenated. I had been trying really hard as I was going through contractions to try to breathe deeply and try to get enough oxygen myself, so that he could have it. So they put me on oxygen, they said ok we may have to do resuscitation. I even heard something about an episiotomy. It got a little bit hectic for a second there, I was like ok we need to get this baby out. It probably all happened in just a couple minutes. They ended up having to manually “stretch me out” they said they wouldn’t normally do that, but because his heart rate had dropped, we just were like he needs to get out. I definitely had not wanted to have an episiotomy, but at that point I was like, whatever needs to happen - we just need him to be safe. That didn’t end up needing to happen, they just stretched me out, which was not comfortable - but at that point it was just like - we needed him out. It was really just a neat experience to see at that point - I was able to kind of dig down deep and this strength that I didn’t know where it came from, but it came from somewhere and I was able to push him out! That was just such a neat experience because, I was like, I don’t know where it came from but to take care of my baby I was able to muster up this strength. I felt his head come out, and I think as his head came out was when the water broke. I wasn’t aware of when that happened - but sometime around the time his head was coming out - the water broke. And then with the next push, I felt his body come out which was just the most amazing feeling - it was so cool! And his body came out, and then they brought him up to my chest pretty quickly. He started crying right away! So there was no need for resuscitation, obviously he was fine, he was breathing. And at that point, I asked my husband - what is it? I kind of gave it away already because I have been saying he - but we found out we had a little boy - so that was fun to see - are we having a boy or a girl? And he checked real quick and then put him back on my chest and he was laying there and I was comforting him while I was crying. At the same time, I was pretty sore still from being stretched out manually, so it was just kind of a little still really feeling it, but also holding him which was really sweet. I birthed the placenta fairly quickly after that, and then we left the placenta there with the cord in-tact for awhile until it was white. It was just really sweet. My husband laid down on the bed next to me, and we just sat there with our little baby. And then I eventually sat up more and tried to nurse him. We had that time, maybe an hour and a half to two hours where everything just quieted down and it was just us. The Maine midwives were there but they were just kind of on the outskirts, taking care of things - but this was our world, right there - just the three of us.

We tried nursing him and he was having a little bit of difficulty with that, but Chris said “lets give it a couple hours and see”. Usually they will latch on within the first hour or two. He still had some difficulty though. Because he was stuck for a little while, his whole left side was kind of tight - so his neck - and I think he just felt really uncomfortable. He had his hands up by his face and I think it was hard for him to get them stretched out and away from his body. Later on, we ended up doing some chiropractic work and he is doing really great now. That night was a little bit challenging though.

So he was born at 7:15pm that night. My first contraction was at about 5:30am that morning, and he was born at 7:15pm so just under 14 hours. I felt like it was a really good amount of time, it wasn’t too fast or too slow. I was able to mentally move with everything. It wasn’t too fast, but also didn’t go on for days - which I was also thankful for. Because it was already later at night, we ended up staying there that night which worked out really well. We just slept in there and the next morning they made coffee and eggs, and that was lovely as well which was really nice. It was just sweet to have our time with our little baby. His name is Laughton which is the name of a glacier in Alaska. We were actually able to hike that back in August, so he was there when he was in my tummy - so kind of a fun memory with name too! We just love him, and he is 5 1/2 weeks now, so getting so big!

So he was born on a Monday, so Tuesday after we got everything settled - we came back home. We had our 24 hour appointment Wednesday. So on Wednesday my Maine midwives came out to my house and did all the 24 hour things, like the heel prick and different things. He was at that point still struggling with nursing. I was trying to do it, but I don’t even remember how long it was taking at this point, it was taking at least an hour to get him to latch. When he would latch, he wold latch well - but it would just take him so long to get him to latch - like at least an hour, which was a really long time! So I was talking with Chris about it and she was working with us to help him to latch and help him to position properly. So Wednesday Chris was like, you might want to think about seeing a chiropractor because he seems to be really tight on his right side. So she gave us a recommendation, and we ended up getting an appointment for that Saturday. So we were able to get in pretty quickly, although that week - between Wednesday and Saturday felt like SO long. Looking back now, it was only like 4 days - but it felt like an eternity - only because we were really struggling with nursing. But we still kept going through it. I think it was Thursday I ended up talking to my Maine midwives and they suggested thinking about pumping - so I did end up pumping some and trying to bottle feed. I think by that time he had already gotten behind with getting some nourishment - because he was nursing a little bit but it was such a struggle. We ended up getting donor milk on Friday from the birth center. My husband went and picked up milk and brought it back, just to get him a larger volume. Because he was having trouble nursing on me I think maybe my milk wasn’t coming in as quickly, but he was needing more - but I didn’t have enough. So it was just this struggle of he needed more but I didn’t have it - so we ended up getting the donor milk which was just really awesome. We saw an improvement quickly, it took a couple days to be looking much better, but we definitely saw an improvement really quickly - so that was on Friday. Then Saturday we had the chiropractic appointment and that was helpful as well. We actually ended up having a total of 4-5 chiropractic appointments and overall I think that was helpful, plus the amount of time as he got older and just learned his new skill of nursing. It was just a combination of those things. He is nursing really well now! It went from - it would take him an hour to latch - then it would take him 20 minutes to latch, and I remember thinking wow 20 minutes is so fast! But now he latches right away, which is really awesome.

But postpartum has been pretty good. Definitely sore for the first couple days, but felt really pretty good. My parents came in about 5 days after he was born and they were here for a week. So it was nice to have them here to help and of course it’s their first grand-baby so they wanted to come see him! But ya, I have been feeling good and he has been doing well, and getting big. So he had lost weight, which of course is normal, and then he gained pretty quickly - he was back to his birth weight before he was 2 weeks old. And ya, we are almost to 6 weeks - Monday will be 6 weeks. I’m doing well, getting into a groove. I know it will continue to change and I will continue to learn more about him and what he loves. I am just really thankful for how the birth experience went and how postpartum has been going.

Angela: So reflecting back, 5 weeks postpartum now, is there anything you would like to add?

Ashlei: Yeah, well I would say definitely just give yourself a lot of grace - through pregnancy and then also through postpartum. I’m sure so many people suggest that - but I think women in general are just hard on ourselves - and we just need grace for sure. I had a couple things that were really helpful for me - during pregnancy I ready parts of Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Child birth https://a.co/d/hUzhmC3 I didn’t end up getting through the whole book just because we had so much going on, but that was really helpful. I read all of the Mama Natural stuff, the book https://a.co/d/hdgJ3MD and the videos she has on YouTube was really helpful.

We ended up taking a birth class at the Holly No.7 Birth Center with LeAnne Dunham with Adventure Awaits Birth Services and that was really fun! It was SO nice to be able to do something in person, because where we came from from Alaska too, we lived in a rural town - so anything that you did had to be online. So I was like, this is great, we can take something in person and interact with people which I think is so important. And we got connected with another couple there which has been fun, we have been messaging back and forth on Facebook, and they ended up having their baby the same night that we had ours - so that was kind of fun to have that same connection. And it’s been nice to be able to talk with another mom that has been going through the same thing on the same timeline - like oh we are trying out the strollers at the same time and things like that.

So ya, I think listening to birth stories was one of my favorite things and one of the things that was so helpful for me during pregnancy to prepare me for labor because I just got exposure to different ways that people birth, or different things that happen during brith or different options. So I really loved listening to The Birth Hour Podcast during pregnancy, and then when you came out with your podcast - I was just like “this is so cool, birth stories all in Maine”. I have loved listening, and that would be my number one suggestion to any pregnant mamas would be to listen to other peoples birth stories because it is just awesome. One of the things that was really surprising to me, even through pregnancies I enjoyed listening to the stories but then after having experienced giving birth - it’s just such a transformative experience - like now, I’m just like this is so cool and I want to continue to be connected to birth work in some sort of way. Right now, my time is pretty full with a little baby, but eventually down the road I would like to see how I can continue to invest in or be a part of birth work - whether that is through doula work, or nutritional work, or something. Because I think giving birth - at least for me - it was something that changed me, and it is so cool, and so amazing. I had seen that in people before when the give birth and I was like ok - that’s them and that’s not me - but it just changes you - giving birth really is transformative.

Angela: Alright, I will also link it in the show notes so people can find you. Thank you SO much Ashlei for sharing your birth story today.

This episode was sponsored by MyMane Photo. Maine’s go-to studio for Birth Photography! If you or someone you know is expecting and would like to document the precious moments of meeting your baby for the first time, I highly recommend considering my Maine Birth Photography services. I am a professional Maine Birth Photographer specializing in capturing the beauty and emotion of birth. I also provide all families with a treasured keepsake to cherish for years to come. I create a personalized and intimate photo album with every birth photography session! Find more information here https://www.mymainephoto.com/birthphotography And schedule a complimentary Zoom Consultation with me.

You can find the Holly No.7 Maine Birth Center online at https://www.hollyno7.com