• Galleries
    • 4th Tri Bodies Gallery
    • my body. my choice. my voice. Gallery
    • I'M Visible Gallery
  • Events / Participate
    • Tour Schedule
    • Event Schedule
    • Participate
    • FAQ
    • Previous Cities
  • About
    • Mission
    • Ashlee Dean Wells
    • Laura Weetzie Wilson
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Conferences
    • body. breast. baby.
    • Portland, OR
    • Chicago, IL
  • Book a Session
  • Buy Merch
  • Contact
  • Mailing List
  • Media
  • Sponsors
  • Menu

4th Trimester Bodies Project

  • Galleries
    • 4th Tri Bodies Gallery
    • my body. my choice. my voice. Gallery
    • I'M Visible Gallery
  • Events / Participate
    • Tour Schedule
    • Event Schedule
    • Participate
    • FAQ
    • Previous Cities
  • About
    • Mission
    • Ashlee Dean Wells
    • Laura Weetzie Wilson
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Conferences
    • body. breast. baby.
    • Portland, OR
    • Chicago, IL
  • Book a Session
  • Buy Merch
  • Contact
  • Mailing List
  • Media
  • Sponsors

Monica Amman

June 21, 2016 in 4th Trimester Bodies

The amazing Monica Amman and Phoenix Ronald John (22 months)

Monica and her husband tried for about a year to get pregnant before finally conceiving Phoenix. They were three days out from their first appointment with a fertility specialist when Monica learned she was pregnant. Pregnancy was good for Monica until the very end when she went into the midwife with very high blood pressure. Her provider mentioned additional testing but just sent Monica home and when Monica got there she fell up her stairs right on her stomach. 

At the hospital, Monica was monitored and everything looked good but Phoenix wasn't moving. She had to get up to go to the bathroom at one point, and felt a lot of fluid and blood. Once again, they had recommended additional testing but sent her home again with a plan to deliver in two days. Phoenix was breech and Monica was given the option to turn him or deliver via cesarean. Feeling uncertain with Phoenix's lack of movement and her other concerns, Monica chose to deliver via cesarean. 

While delivery was seemingly uncomplicated, Monica found herself in recovery without her baby or any word as to what was going on. At one point he was brought in and she was told to feed him but he was whisked away again. Six hours later she was finally taken to NICU to see him but everything was unclear. She visited with him for a bit and returned every few hours only to find him growing sicker each time. She was told that he had an infection and needed to stay for three days, and then seven, and finally 11 days later he was able to come home. It wasn't until Monica read through his records that she learned he had pneumonia, pneumothorax, and sepsis.  

Thankfully, Phoenix has been in great health since and Monica and he have maintained a wonderful breastfeeding relationship. Monica says that following her birth she had a hard time feeling like her story fit in with those around her. Her family members have larger families, simple pregnancies and births and it wasn't until she found this movement and stories all over the spectrum that she felt like she could own and celebrate her own. Monica feels empowered in sharing her journey and hopes that other mother's feel empowered to do the same. 

Tags: Des Moines, Cesarean Birth, NICU, Breastfeeding
Prev / Next
  • March 2018 20
  • February 2018 8
  • January 2018 6
  • December 2017 22
  • October 2017 13
  • September 2017 26
  • August 2017 19
  • July 2017 17
  • June 2017 7
  • May 2017 10
  • April 2017 2
  • February 2017 1
  • January 2017 25
  • December 2016 2
  • November 2016 17
  • October 2016 17
  • September 2016 38
  • August 2016 14
  • July 2016 26
  • June 2016 33
  • May 2016 16
  • April 2016 33
  • March 2016 28
  • February 2016 20
  • January 2016 26
  • December 2015 30
  • November 2015 30
  • October 2015 49
  • September 2015 23
  • August 2015 34
  • July 2015 25
  • June 2015 51
  • May 2015 29
  • April 2015 40
  • March 2015 35
  • February 2015 75
  • January 2015 53
  • December 2014 32
  • November 2014 47
  • October 2014 46
  • September 2014 54
  • August 2014 45
  • July 2014 65
  • June 2014 50
  • May 2014 22
  • April 2014 43
  • March 2014 74
  • February 2014 46
  • January 2014 34
  • December 2013 9
  • November 2013 20
  • October 2013 39
  • September 2013 22
  • August 2013 31
  • July 2013 3
  • June 2013 6