Complications in Pregnancy & Birth Despite a Healthy Lifestyle — 047

Today’s guest, Vanessa Evigan, was uncertain about her ability to conceive, given she was a bit older than most women who are interested in getting pregnant. As it turned out, she and her partner got pregnant on their very first try during their honeymoon. After her first gestational diabetes test resulted in a negative, she started becoming ill to the point that she feared losing her baby.  After another test confirming she did indeed have gestational diabetes, Vanessa embarked on a journey of reconciling her very health-conscious lifestyle with the unexpected outcome of facing a serious health condition.   Finding support through the community of her blog, Her Morning Coffee, she was able to manage her diabetes well and maintain a positive attitude. She and her partner decided to work with a doula to help birth go smoothly. She never anticipated that even though her healthy son was ultimately born via C-section, that the support she received from her doula both during and after birth were invaluable. We get into how facing gestational diabetes, an unexpected and unwanted c-section and postpartum depression have helped her to learn that the motherhood experience is more than our ability to control our health or our relationships.  Seeking support and being gracious and present with ourselves is the key to finding joy and fulfillment even when things don’t go like we expect them too.   *In This Episode: *  Becoming pregnant and having a child later in life How to cope with Gestational Diabetes How she dealt with her tendency toward hypochondria How reaching out to other women can relieve stress and anxiety How she embraces her natural instincts and her mother’s intuition The fear and anxiety associated with postpartum depression How having a doula gave her confidence The benefits of placenta encapsulation The culture of isolation for new moms in the US How to relax and accept your motherhood story may differ from the stories of others   *Show Notes: * Birthing Stone Baby Sleep Coaching Program — This Week’s Sponsor Her Morning Coffee Onsite Workshops “Birthing Abroad” Motherbirth Podcast