Trauma— how does trauma of all types impact or influence your pregnancy, labor and postpartum?
 
Today’s episode is beautiful, but very serious.  We’re speaking with Midon, who has experienced a long journey of learning about early childhood traumas, and how they greatly impacted her most recent birth.  We’re going to share about the importance of talking about these traumas, not leaving them unattended to fester, which can feel like the easier path.  Now, I always do my best to be up front regarding difficult content so that you can make the choice to listen now, or perhaps save it for later when you feel more prepared or in a safer mental place.  This is very likely an episode that you’ll want to listen to with ear buds if you’ve got young ears around. Starting now, because I’m going to tell you what’s coming.  We will bring up some very triggering topics including growing up in a cult, sexual assault and mention of rape, birth assault and trauma, and alienation from family members.  I know it sounds heavy, and it is, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, and Midon is an absolute joy to speak with.  You’re going to gain so much from what she shares about herself and several clients who agreed to let her share bits of their stories, and even if you don’t relate directly to her experiences, this story has given me a whole new compassionate lens for the experiences of others. 
 
Let’s thank our reviewer of the week, Blessed Momma 0525
 
And finally, before we head in, here’s something really exciting: This episode was is sponsored by Baby Trend andThe Cover Me 4-in-1 Convertible car seat
 
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Show Notes
Midon was born into a cult in 1983 in Missour- her great grandfather was the Patriarch
Had barely any memories before the age of 10
She lived in 2 cults, lived there until 18- met her husband and was married 4 months later
Midon became pregnant 1.5 years later
She’d been told her whole life she’d never have children- because of a bicycle accident (that she had no memory of)
She wanted a midwife, but ended up with an OB in the hospital- it was an incredibly traumatic birth- forceps, couldn’t stand up for 9 weeks, broke her tailbone
The nurse forced her to keep her eyes open
6 months later she became pregnant and husband ok’d homebirth
When she left the cult, she was shunned by her family
Her family left the cult, her mom contacted her and wanted to be there- her body held baby in until her mother left
It was a quick, 6 hour birth- her midwife was very compassionate
She had a great third birth
4th- longer labor- it was a stressful time of life- she wonders how much that impacted her
In her 4th pregnancy she began having pelvic issues
Her husband then had a vasectomy
Midon was legally adopted as an adult
They had the vasectomy reversed- Midon became pregnant immediately after
She had to find a new midwife- it was the fastest birth yet, 4 hours
She became pregnant again- lost the baby @ 1