MyMaine Birth

104. MyMaine Birth: Leigh's EMMC Bangor, Maine Birth Story

• Angela Laferriere • Season 3 • Episode 104

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In this episode, we discuss:

  • EMMC Bangor, Maine Birth Story
  • The predictable path of birth in the system 
  • Postpartum support 
  • ….and a whole lot more!



Additional Resources you’ll LOVE…

If you are ready to prepare for an autonomous birth experience, where you’re respected as the authority over your body and your baby…  regardless of where you plan on birthing -
CLICK HERE for 10% off  the MyAutonomous Birth self-paced, online course! 


Not sure where to start?  I’ve got you covered!  Check out my FREE resource, 37 Questions to Ask Your Care Provider.   Whether you’re interviewing new providers or have already established care, this FREE resource offers guidance on important topics to discuss with your provider.

Leigh:

She's like low but she's not coming out. And I was pushing and pushing but I was just I remember I was so tired and I just I said I can't push anymore. I just I'm not going to kind of pass out, honestly, if I keep pushing. And I remember exactly what they said. It was 11.48 pm on the 3rd and they said if you're exhausted, we could always do an emergency C-section.

Angela:

If you're exhausted, we could always do an emergency C-section. I'm Angela, and I'm a certified birth photographer, experienced doula, childbirth educator and your host here on the my Maine Birth podcast. This is 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. Whether you're a soon to be mom, a seasoned mother or simply interested in the world of birth, these episodes are for you. Welcome to episode 104 of the my Maine Birth podcast. Today's birth story guest is Leigh, and she is here to share all about her birth story at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Hi, leigh, welcome to my Maine Birth. Hello, so, to get started, would you share a little bit about you and your family?

Leigh:

Yeah, so my husband's originally from Maine. He grew up in the Orono area. I actually am from Maryland. I met him in Maryland because he lived in Maryland for work for a bit after college. We met in 2015 and got married in 19 and then moved. We live in Lincoln and then we moved to Maine in 2020.

Angela:

Oh my gosh. So Lincoln Maine is quite a bit different than Maryland.

Leigh:

Yeah, it is, it's, it's nice. I, um, you know, I I don't miss the traffic, I don't miss rush hour. I came here and I people are like, what do you like most about Maine? And I'm like you guys don't have rush hour and if you do, it's like it's not rush hour. To like the ramp to go to the interstate, which was maybe a mile away, would take me 20 minutes at like five in the morning, so I don't miss that oh my gosh, just so much.

Angela:

Quieter, right and peaceful yes a lot, a lot quieter.

Leigh:

You know everyone's really nice too. Everyone's really nice and I like that. It's a small town so people kind of recognize you. You know where you go to like the grocery store and stuff like that. So I really like it. And I have family actually in New England, kind of spread around to Massachusetts and New Hampshire, so I get to see them when I want to, which is nice too.

Angela:

Awesome, get that little bit of city, sometimes still.

Leigh:

Yes, yes, yes, I'm actually, I'm excited. My, my daughter, addie, she is getting baptized in May, on Mother's Day weekend, and we're actually going to take her to Maryland. So you know my old stomping grounds. That'll be fun, and we're gonna have her baptized at the church. My mom's a reverend where she works. That's actually the same place we got married to. So it'll be, it'll be fun and we're gonna have her baptized at the church. My mom's a reverend where she works. That's actually the same place we got married too. So it'll be, it'll be nice. That's so sweet, yeah, and it'll be her first trip to maryland. We actually her first official trip was a few weeks ago to cancun and that was a. That was something. Oh, my goodness, how fun. Yes, but no, that's our little family that I just have one daughter.

Angela:

Oh, that's a sweetie. Yeah, so to jump into your birth story, will you share about how you found out you were pregnant and what your thoughts were in choosing your care?

Leigh:

So my husband, my daughter, was born on July 4th of 2023. And my husband and I were trying all year from making it January, literally January to the end of 22. And what's interesting is I thought I was pregnant in August of that year 22, because my menstru, my, my menstrual cycle, was due in early August and it never showed up. So I was kind of just like, okay, I'm excited. But then I took several at-home pregnancy tests and they all said not pregnant. I went to the doctors in the lab work after a few weeks to just confirm with them and, you know, still not pregnant. But then September went by, no period. And then October went by and it was still nothing. And then everything I ate came up and that was like my. That was right on Halloween of, uh, of October 22. And then, you know, we took tests and, boom, I was pregnant.

Leigh:

But it was odd that it almost seemed like my symptoms started in August, so you know, two months prior to that. So I, like my body almost felt like you're pregnant, you're pregnant, and I'm like, yeah, I think I am pregnant. But everyone was like you're not pregnant, that's what's saying I am pregnant. But everyone was like you're not pregnant. That's what's saying I'm pregnant. A lot of people say that I was like, yeah, but yeah, but I think I am pregnant, you know, and my daughter is actually very, very tall and she was in the 95th percentile when she was born, and still for height and weight. So I'm just like I bet I was pregnant. So that was, uh, that was how I found out, just like. So I thought I found out in August, but then it kind of like came to a conclusion October when I couldn't hold any food down but I didn't have a fever or any like you know, sick flu symptoms or like that. And then, you know, took one home test and it was like, boom, pregnant, okay, All right, so that was fun.

Angela:

Yeah, that's how you found out. Found out, wow, yeah, so now, what were your?

Leigh:

thoughts in choosing your care. So when it came to my pregnancy, we at the time my um, my husband and I had and have our family doctor, dr Randy, if I can say that, um, he works at St Joseph's on Broadway. He's he, awesome, we love him. He actually takes care of Addie, our daughter, out of line to her appointments and he recommended, when we found out we were pregnant, northern Light and he actually used to work there. So that's how we connected with that and it worked out really well and they were amazing. They were amazing there, awesome. Now, how are you feeling throughout your pregnancy? I know you said you weren't and it worked out really well and they were amazing.

Angela:

They were amazing there, Awesome Now. How are you feeling throughout your pregnancy? I know you said you weren't feeling so great in the beginning. How long did that last for?

Leigh:

Luckily just the first trimester. And when it comes to that it was just, you know, it felt like I had COVID, even though I knew it wasn't COVID, but it was pretty bad. And I was still working in the first trimester but I was doing like at-home care for senior citizens so I was doing a lot of bending over and cleaning and stuff and you know I think it's normal where a lot of smells made me nauseous, that didn't make you nauseous. So Windex, you know nauseous and just things like that. But then into like my second trimester, so early springtime, those things started fading. But yeah, it was.

Leigh:

The pregnancy itself wasn't bad I I do remember at the end of the the pregnancy, just because she was born, you know, pretty much right in the middle of the summertime, you know you get hot and you get hot so easily with the hormones and you kind of feels like your body, even though it's only April, it feels like July when it comes to like the temperature. So I was hot and you know, props to my husband, cause I need to just sleep like in a igloo basically in the room to be comfortable, you know, and I have all the body pillows just surrounding me and just like you know the full, the full pillows just surrounding me, and just like you know the full, the full comfort he's putting on the winter gear to go stand next to you basically I have like all the fans on and like 50 blankets would be like, oh, yes, yes, where we are happy, she's happy, we're happy.

Leigh:

But but yeah, I do remember especially, you know, may and June and July. It was just like you know, she's got to get out, she has to get out, and she was due early and originally she was due at the end of June, which is what they had predicted in early pregnancy, but then it changed a little bit to July 1st, which was the due date, and then, like I mentioned, she didn't come out to the 4th and that's actually kind of a small funny story. My best friend got proposed to in 22 and she her wedding date which we didn't know yet, obviously, that I was like pregnant and all these things. Her wedding date ended up being the same weekend that I had Well, the same, you know, the weekend that I was supposed to have my daughter and I was going to be the maid of honor and I couldn't make it because I thought I was going to be in labor. I wasn't in labor.

Leigh:

I could have honestly made it, but I'm kind of glad I didn't because it was outdoors and it was hot and I was very, very pregnant, but that was uh, but that was funny. The pregnancy itself was was pretty well after the first trimester passed. But yeah, and then she, uh, she didn't want to come out. Though I'll tell you that much, she did not want to come out.

Angela:

When they determined your due date. How did that work? Because you didn't have, like your last period for a few months before that right. So did they try to do a dating at first on October, which would have been roughly nine months until July.

Leigh:

So that's why I think like I might've been pregnant, because she was. She was a pretty big bean when they saw her, you know, and when she was born she was a little under nine pounds and 23 inches tall 23 inches tall. And now she's only 19 months old and she's rocking the 3T already and 28 pounds and almost shy of three feet. So that's why I'm like people say I wasn't pregnant, but like I'm pretty sure she's closer to two than you actually think she is. If I had to guess just because you know it was the two months and that was just. You know that doesn't happen I've missed my period almost three months really, and then just my body just felt off, it felt weird, and for those, the entirety of those three months. So I don't know if I had to say I thought I was pregnant in August. You know, in my mind Wow, oh, my gosh gosh.

Angela:

That would be a long pregnancy, right, I know. And so how did that all unfold? What was the final weeks and then days leading up to when your labor started like?

Leigh:

um, so the final weeks my cervix wasn't even close to being dilated what they needed and they said they kind of wanted to just wait and wait a little longer, which is why they pushed the date from like mid end of June to first week of July.

Leigh:

Oh, so they changed your due date. Yep, they changed it. When did they change it? I think around like the end of May. They changed it. I'm just checking on everything at the hospital.

Leigh:

And so what was it that we went on? They said it would be safe to go in on a Saturday, which was the first on a Saturday night to the hospital. And then we got there. So my husband and I got there Saturday night ready to get induced, ready to start everything. And then the process. Well, well, you know you, when you go there, you get there late at night to get prepared for everything, but then you can't really sleep and you're not supposed to eat. So it's rough. And they say you know they were amazing, nurses were amazing with everything I loved. I love them all. I know they have to do their job. But when you're just wanting to like, you know you obviously want to have the baby, but you want to get the process over, with that being woken up every one hour, it's just pretty brutal on the body. And I remember that was my Saturday Sunday night. And then. So Saturday night we went into the hospital and Sunday was a very long day of pushing and nothing. When you start, pushing or did?

Angela:

how did they break your waters?

Leigh:

or um, so they had to break my water like on their own. I, she, mine wasn't, my body wasn't doing naturally. And then what happened? So they, I was pushing all day on Sunday. She wouldn't come out. They said she was stubborn and it's funny, but it's also not funny.

Angela:

Can we back up just a second? What was your sort of thoughts when you had been like considering? Did they like recommend the induction, or were they just like this is what we're going to do next, or was it kind of like, had you chosen that Like just because it was so hot?

Leigh:

and they really recommended it and I went with that just because, um, I didn't know how far along the due date was going to be and they didn't want to push it too far, you know. So I got that it was in a more of like a safety thing, but then I remember, on Monday morning so that would have been the third they finally gave me the epidural that I had been asking for and, oh, that's painful. That's probably the most painful shot I've ever gotten in my life, and I don't know if it's a mix of viewing the needle and being like, oh my God, the size of that bad boy or the location they put it. Oh man, and I have three tattoos. And this was like no comparison. Oh my gosh, I it's almost like if I got pregnant again, I might say no to the epidural because it was just so painful. And funny. Not funny is when they had it done a few hours later, I still felt like the same pain that I had earlier and my husband was complaining and saying you know she's not feeling anything.

Leigh:

Did they do it wrong? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, cause you know we were stressed out it's been two and a half days really and they said, hmm, let me try to do it again. Let me try to do it again. Please don't, but you know what can you do. So so that happened. And then, gosh it was, did it work? It did work the second time. But, um, I wish I'd worked the first time. You know, I won't. I wish I'd worked the first time because it's so painful. Oh my gosh, just like I, I honestly I probably faint. I don't think I could do that job of like doing the needle. Oh, oh man, that's the whole other thing.

Angela:

So and then you had already had. How did your induction start? Did they use the Foley balloon? Did they just start with?

Leigh:

they did they did use the. I remember that, yeah, that was, that was a weird feeling. That was a very weird feeling, like it feels like you're peeing yourself but you're not peeing yourself. You know, just be prepared for that. Yeah, that was a lot, and I remember just struggling, honestly, it was kind of phasy, to be honest, because I was so tired there, like I mentioned, saturday night around 8 pm ish, but then I, you know, with everything going on, I might have slept that first night like three hours and then the second night, probably less than that. So I just remember a lot of doctors coming in and saying we're doing this, we're gonna do this, and I was just like whatever, whatever, whatever you need to do, and then I'll tell you what the epidural though that woke me up, that I got shocked to the body, um, and you haven't been having contractions with the pitocin, like induced contractions for that whole day prior.

Angela:

Like, yeah, over a whole day, like before you got the epidural.

Leigh:

So it's yeah it was a lot. It was definitely a lot of wear, I guess, on my body. I felt so that, along with like not being able to sleep, and then I was just like God, we'll have the energy to push this little girl out, you know, physically. But so what happened? It's funny, it was a Monday night, it was like around 11 pm Well, it was really close to 9 pm, but I remember really close to 11 pm the main surgeon, the head surgeon, came in and she goes I really need you to push, like, push, like more than you can. So I, you know I pushed. Did she give a reason why? She just said, like you know, I was so tired. I wish I really remember the answer, but it was just she needs to come out and she's like low but she's not coming out and we just need to. And I was pushing and pushing and I remember I was so tired and I just I said I can't push anymore. I just I'm not going to pass out, honestly, if I keep pushing. And I remember exactly what they said.

Leigh:

It was 1148 PM on the 3rd and they said if you're exhausted, we could always do an emergency C-section. And my husband he told me this afterwards that he was surprised by my answer. I just said, yes, get her out. I was like, yes, yes, okay, whatever that's, that's fine. If that means she'll be out within an hour, that that works for me. And she was born at 12, 24 AM on the table. And afterwards my husband was surprised that I jumped on the surgery and I was just like I was pooped. I was. I was so done that I just needed to be done. And yeah, it was honest. It was a relief and everything went well with the surgery. There were no, no issues, no complications.

Leigh:

And what's funny is the next day well, actually it was that day, because she was born at 12, 24 I woke up at, or I woke up at, um, you know, quote, unquote 8 am ish and the nurses said you're gonna have trouble walking, so take it easy. And I didn't have trouble walking. I just went up and I went to the bathroom and I went back down and I was fine. But what was weird and I I wasn't sure how common this was is like the. So I was in the hospital till Friday that week and that whole week I was fine. I could like do things on my own, I can go to the bathroom, I could shower on my own, all those things. I can get up up, walk around.

Leigh:

But then when I got home my body changed completely. I couldn't get off the couch I, even if someone pulled my arms up and turned my body off the couch. It was so painful, which was weird because my body was fine and it must have been probably mixed with the drugs that they had put in my body. But it was fine those four days. And then I, it was hard because when I got home my body was so well A, I was very my body was tired and B, it was in so much pain that I felt, I guess, not sad. But I'm sad that I had trouble taking care of my daughter for the first few days, cause I, like physically, couldn't do anything except breastfeed. I was just so tired and my body hurt so much. So I remember that the most about my pregnancy.

Leigh:

For sure, my mom, my mom is great, she actually she's. She lives in Maryland, but she was. She was here when my daughter was born and all that stuff. She lives in Maryland, but she was. She was here when my daughter was born and all that stuff. And she stayed with us for two weeks, which was perfect because I literally was just a bed rest. I couldn't do anything, so, but it was. It was hard, though, because I wanted to, like you know, hold her and cuddle with her, but I could, I could barely, I could barely do that, and now she's, you know, running around like a wild child and I am so yeah, so did they sedate you fully for the cesarean, or did, because you said when you woke up, did, were you awake for it, for the surgery, or I know I was asleep for it.

Leigh:

I was asleep for it, yes, and like everything healed fine and quickly, so that was good. It's still. You know, I I'm kind of surprised, even though I researched it and it said it's normal, how uncomfortable it still feels almost two years later. It could be the smallest thing like fabric against my, against my skin, a shirt or pants or whatever, and I'll just get really itchy or uncomfortable and I've had that less a while. So I'm hoping, I'm hoping opening doesn't, but it's a little reminder of my body, you know oh yeah, so how was your postpartum time after that?

Leigh:

so I didn't feel fully back to myself when it came to, you know, walking around holding your, you know semi-heavy, heavy lifting things. Probably until like for three months I just couldn't do any of that stuff. But then when I did, it was fine. But yeah, that was. That was a rough first three months, for sure, but she was a really good baby she was. She was a great baby. She started sipping through the night when she was four months old and that was tough, man, if I can say.

Leigh:

The nested bean sleep sack oh man, that thing was a game changer, game changer. It's nice and cozy, it has a very light little like weighted thing on the chest and it looks like a little chicken egg, which is why they call it a bean nested bean and it's a sleep sack. But we put her in that one night and she went from waking up every hour and a half to like waking up every six hours and I was like, oh my gosh, this thing is like. Oh, you know the uh, the mom's group that we connected on on Facebook. This is back when she was teeny, teeny, so late, 23,.

Leigh:

After we stopped using them, I posted them on the moms group. I said I want to give these away for free. If you have a little one that has trouble sleeping, these will change your life. This will change their life, and I gave them away to three moms like two each, because I had a bunch of them and all the little ones slept through the night within like three days. It was the best thing and I'm like, if I could like advertise for them, I would, and I would be so honest about how great they are.

Angela:

Oh, that is so nice that you gave them away. Were they all like texting you like? We got a night's sleep.

Leigh:

Yes, I can't believe it and I'm like I told you this thing. It's like there we tried different other sleep sacks but she would bust out of them, just like you know, like the Hulk like this is nothing, just rip it off. And that guy had little snaps on them and she'd be like and I'm like, ha ha ha. No, that guy was awesome. I definitely recommend that. But no, she's a good girl, she's a good baby.

Angela:

Yeah, that is awesome. Babies are so fun. So yeah, as a final question, if you were to give advice to someone who's expecting, or even new parents, what's the biggest thing you'd want to share?

Leigh:

So I mean as cliche as it sounds, because I know it's a very it's a very cliche answer Time flies so fast, it flies so fast. And there are days I mean, I, I love my little one, but she's she's not two months old, she's a toddler. Toddler. So she's a tornado with, you know, a little bit of sunshine, but a tornado. So she's a tornado with, you know, a little bit of sunshine but a tornado. And so there's going to be awesome days. There's going to be hard days and days that drag on and days that fly by, but it's still every day.

Leigh:

Well feel, if you think about it, I can't believe it's been almost two years. And I felt the same way when she turned one years old. I can't believe it's been one year. It goes by so quickly. I felt the same way when she turned one years old. I can't believe it's been one year, it goes by so quickly. So you really, even when it gets really hard and you know, I've had days where I'm like this is hard, this is so hard, I don't know if I can do this, I have to do this, but it's so hard, just keep pushing through it, cause every day means so much. Cause, before you know it, they're going to be, you know, five and 10 and 15, and then married and all that. So it's good to cherish every day, even when they're really hard days, because they're going to fly by, they're going to fly by. So I just recommend you know taking every day slowly if you can.

Angela:

I could not agree with that more. The days are long, but the years are short. Yes, for sure.

Leigh:

Thank you again, though, for everything. It's been really nice. I've I was just telling my husband before this that I'm looking forward to this podcast a lot, because I've you know, I've seen my husband was by my side during my pregnancy, and then my mom and family afterwards, but I I've never talked about it. I've just experienced it but never talked about it. So it's kind of nice to kind of get it off off my chest too. Yeah.

Angela:

Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing. I really appreciate it and I know it is so helpful for other moms to hear other mom's birth stories. And yeah, thank you for sharing.

Leigh:

No, thank you, Angela, I appreciate it.

Angela:

Before you go, I just want to remind you I have a ton of resources for pregnancy and birth. If you're pregnant, whether you're a first time mom or if this is your fifth baby, I want you to check out the show notes, because I have some free trainings and free downloads that you can sign up for, as well as the link to access my Labor of Love, a comprehensive, self-paced online childbirth education course. I created this course specifically for moms who don't want to be told what to do, regardless of where you're birthing or who you're birthing with, and I'd honestly love to teach you everything that I know so that you can prepare for an autonomous birth experience and prepare to step into your role as the leader of your birth journey. So click to the show notes, check out all of those links and, if you ever have any questions, feel free to DM me at my main birth over on Instagram.