The wonderful Katalin Emese with her boys Winston (almost 4) and Hewitt (9 months). Katalin had healthy pregnancies with each of her boys. She threw out her back during her her first trimester of Winston's pregnancy and was on medical leave for the remainder. While it was a transition, she enjoyed being able to take the time to focus on her pregnancy. While she doesn't recall which portions were active and inactive, she labored for 69.5 hours before Winston was born. There came a point where her midwife called in the OB and she came in with a her forceps. Katalin asked if she could try one more big push and was able to get him out without assistance. Soon after he was out she realized she couldn't walk and was quite concerned. Nurses said that was just what happens but when her midwife evaluated her she realized she'd separated her pelvis. She was grateful to have a lot of help in her postpartum period but still struggled with not being able to do things for herself and her baby. She also felt that people said things to her that seemed to suggest that her body had been incapable of doing what it needed to do and she should just have a cesarean with future babies. When newly pregnant with Hewitt she was referred to a specialist who reframed things for her and pointed out that her body had done exactly what it needed to do in order to get her baby out safely. He also said he'd never seen it happen more than once so she'd be safe with another vaginal delivery. She had back labor with Hewitt for the better part of a week before he arrived but when he did he was put to chest and began nursing right away without complication. She'd dealt with latching issues and oversupply with Winston so it was a relief to have an easier go this time.
Katalin was a dancer growing up and felt that the message sent to her was always that all eyes were on her. That her body was being watched and wasn't fully comfortable in her skin until she was pregnant. She wants to embrace her body and all that it's been able to accomplish through her journey as a mother in creating, birthing and sustaining her beautiful boys.