Soft birth, prenatal depression, and revolutionizing maternal health care

Vaginal twin delivery, four under three, an unexpected C-section, and an OBGYN mom

Join Merelise as she interviews her friend Jessica O'Connor, an OB specializing in fertility, to explore her journey through a twin pregnancy, two subsequent singleton births, and balancing a medical career with motherhood.  Jessica’s motherhood journey started out with a bang when she found out she was pregnant with twins during her reproductive endocrinology fellowship. She decided early on she wanted to attempt a vaginal twin delivery if possible. After a wonderful pregnancy where she carried her twin boys for 37+2 weeks, she went into labor spontaneously. During labor she experienced some scary complications due to baby B’s heart rate decelerating for an extended period, but she ultimately welcomed two boys into the world vaginally.  Throughout her first birth story, Jessica and Merelise discuss the different types of multiple pregnancies possible, what boxes she wanted to check in order to attempt a twin vaginal delivery, and the realities of breastfeeding and sleep training twins, while also completing her oral board exams. When her twins were a little less than a year old, Jessica and her husband decided they wanted to conceive again, in order to time a second maternity leave with her fellowship. That meant they would have three kids under three but they felt prepared and excited for the possibility! Despite having gestational diabetes and being pregnant during COVID, her second pregnancy, her only girl, was relatively uneventful and her second birth was a beautiful, successful induction at 38 weeks. The only surprise was an almost 9 pound baby!  During her third pregnancy, she had gestational diabetes again and her baby was measuring very large. Her care team wanted her to opt for a scheduled C-section, but Jessica wanted to try for a vaginal birth, knowing she’d already had three, successfully. She went into labor naturally and despite pretty quickly getting to 10 cm, her baby wouldn’t descend into the birth canal and every time she pushed, her baby’s heart rate would decelerate. Knowing that he was likely very large, wasn’t descending into the birth canal, and was having heart decelerations, they decided to deliver via C-section given the high likelihood of shoulder dystocia. Her almost 10 pound baby boy was born shortly thereafter!  Merelise & Jessica discuss that, after two vaginal deliveries, recovering from a C-section was challenging for Jessica, and made worse by the fact that she had a small bowel obstruction one week postpartum, a complication from her abdominal surgery. Ultimately, Jessica acknowledged that, no matter how many babies you have, every one is unique and every birth is unpredictable, as evidenced by her four children’s stories. Resource Links: * This episode is brought to you by Mère. Learn more at Mere-foreverychapter.com [http://Mere-foreverychapter.com] Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScymB49s88Er4Vd64kSXSB1xpA4rhcuJdgAvcAQQRVPlYGYXQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111999123566416237466]! Follow Arrivals on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arrivals_podcast/] Follow Merelise on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mereliseharte/] Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Replay: An ideal vaginal birth with a singleton, followed by a C-section birth with twins

Join Merelise and her guest, Karen Robbins, who shares the birth stories of her three girls, one singleton and one set of twins. They discuss Karen’s first birth, a vaginal delivery and what she described as an ideal birth, and then her second birth, which was a planned C-section with her twins, and the difficult recovery that followed. They also chat about what it’s like having a spouse in the medical field, Karen’s theory on how she got pregnant with twins, the beauty of the multiple-mom community, and so much more.  Resource Links: * Follow Karen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/karensharin_/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet] Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScymB49s88Er4Vd64kSXSB1xpA4rhcuJdgAvcAQQRVPlYGYXQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111999123566416237466]! Follow Arrivals on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arrivals_podcast/] Follow Merelise on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mereliseharte/] Trigger warning: This episode contains mention of a stillbirth.  Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Positive birth, a fourth degree tear, epidural limbo, surprise genders, and advocating for your body

This week, Merelise is joined by her friend, Whitney Byerly, who shares her three beautiful birth stories. They also chat about drive through pregnancy appointments during COVID, placenta encapsulation, epidural limbo, and savoring those few, truly life changing moments we’re given.  Whitney’s first birth was a vaginal delivery in a hospital with no epidural. And while she felt at the time that it was perfect, she found out shortly after her baby girl was born that she had suffered a fourth degree tear during delivery and would require surgery to repair the damage.  When she became pregnant again, her doctors urged her to plan for a C section, but Whitney felt in her heart that she could deliver her baby vaginally again. So, she found a new OB practice that supported her vision, started pelvic floor therapy, and did everything she could to optimize her chances of delivery vaginally without tearing again. After careful preparation and consideration, she decided to get an epidural during delivery with her second and third baby. This gave her more control over pushing, and allowed her to slowly bring her second and third babies into the world, without a single tear to her perineum.  Resource Links: * This episode is brought to you by Mère. Learn more at Mere-foreverychapter.com [http://Mere-foreverychapter.com] Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScymB49s88Er4Vd64kSXSB1xpA4rhcuJdgAvcAQQRVPlYGYXQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111999123566416237466]! Follow Arrivals on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arrivals_podcast/] Follow Merelise on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mereliseharte/] Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

The dance of labor, separation trauma, hypnobirthing and the beauty of a postpartum doula

This week, Merelise is joined by mom, actress and postpartum doula, Sarah Morris Brower. Sarah opens up about postpartum healing, the vital role of postpartum doulas, and how birth trauma can linger even in seemingly healthy deliveries. Sarah’s first birth was unmedicated, in hospital, but her son ended up spending time in the NICU due to meconium aspiration. From the shock of an unexpected NICU stay to the emotional rollercoaster of separation and reunion, she unpacks the internal turmoil and healing process when birth doesn’t go as expected.  With her second child, she was induced due to low amniotic fluid. After more than 24 hours of labor, she decided to get an epidural and shortly thereafter, safely welcomed her daughter into the world. Most importantly, she was able to go home with her in her arms.  They also discuss the pivotal role of a postpartum doula and why supporting postpartum care is just as vital as the birth itself, why second births can be so different from firsts, the power of informed choices, releasing expectations, and so much more.  Resource Links: * Follow Sarah on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sarahjanemorristheactress/] Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScymB49s88Er4Vd64kSXSB1xpA4rhcuJdgAvcAQQRVPlYGYXQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111999123566416237466]! Follow Arrivals on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arrivals_podcast/] Follow Merelise on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mereliseharte/] Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Soft birth, prenatal depression, and revolutionizing maternal health care

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses pregnancy loss. In this week’s episode, Nicole Connell, mama and founder of Mère, shares her raw journey through challenging pregnancies, prenatal depression, pregnancy loss and unplanned pregnancy, all while building a revolutionary healthcare platform designed specifically for moms at every chapter of their motherhood story. They also discuss the intense toll of sleep deprivation, intrusive thoughts and how hard it is to recognize your own depression and anxiety symptoms.  Nicole breaks down how Mère is transforming maternal healthcare by providing holistic, collaborative support from preconception through menopause. We learn about the gaps in traditional care, the power of integrated team models, and how a dedicated, accessible space can reduce the overwhelming mental load moms carry. Nicole reveals the practical ways she’s making healthcare more compassionate and continuous—and why this matters more than ever in today’s system. Resource Links: * Learn more about Mere [https://www.mere-foreverychapter.com/] * Follow Mere on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mere_foreverychapter/] * Follow Nicole on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/vnconnell/] Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScymB49s88Er4Vd64kSXSB1xpA4rhcuJdgAvcAQQRVPlYGYXQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111999123566416237466]! Follow Arrivals on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/arrivals_podcast/] Follow Merelise on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mereliseharte/] Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.