This week I’m joined by my friend Sydney, whose C-section incision site reopened a few days after birth. Her journey to motherhood also includes IUI fertility treatments, advocating for herself when signs of preeclampsia appeared in the third trimester, and an emergency, traumatic C-section that led to a blood transfusion. We also talk about the grief of unmet expectations, body image struggles, and how motherhood can be the ultimate invitation to slow down and be present.

Sydney’s episode is a beautiful example that sometimes our biggest battles can teach us the most about our own strength. 

Full episode transcript available at thelaborline.com/episodes

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Meet Sydney

00:07:32 - Pregnancy: IUI Success, Twins, & Preeclampsia Signs

00:35:19 - Labor: Magnesium Loopiness + Emergency C-Section

00:38:06 - Postpartum: Processing Grief & Disconnect, An Unhealed C-Section Incision, & Finding Purpose in Motherhood

01:11:56 - To My Pre-Mom Self…