The courageous Cleoanne Estrera with her sons George (6) and Louie (2). Cleoanne had a healthy pregnancy with George until the very end when she started swelling badly. She didn't think anything of it but went to the doctor to learn that her blood pressure was through the roof and she had developed preeclampsia. She had to deliver right away and after two long days of labor she was taken for a cesarean. During her cesarean the anesthesia wore off, she could feel everything. She kicked the doctor and was put under with a heavy dose of Ketamin. She hallucinated that she died on the table and when she woke up threw up on everyone and asked her husband if she had just died. She couldn't talk about her birth afterward without shaking and ultimately realized that she had PTSD and sought treatment. Louie's pregnancy was without complication and she was told she was not a good candidate for a VBAC so she scheduled a cesarean. She had started spotting about a week prior to his scheduled birth date and she went to the doctor to learn she had already begun to dilate and needed to go deliver right away. She was upset due to her previous experience but everything went very well this time. Cleoanne was able to breastfeed both of her boys for a bit over a year and says it was a wonderful experience. She says that she didn't have any body love or appreciation prior to becoming a mother but now that she does, wants to celebrate it.
Charlotte North Carolina
Rachael Dowdy
The radiant Rachael Dowdy with her son Leo (15 months). Rachael and her husband weren't planning on conceiving so Leo was a bit of a surprise. She had a very healthy pregnancy and delivered at home with midwife and doula assistance after 21 hours of labor. Rachel breastfed Leo for 5 months when she weaned to return to work and transitioned him to donor milk and formula. Rachael says that she prepared a lot for her birth but now so much raising a child and it's the hardest thing she has ever done. She struggled with postpartum anxiety for quite awhile and says that just about 6 months ago she decided to acknowledge but stop focusing on it and things have gotten much better. Still, she has found motherhood to be her greatest challenge. Rachael does Crossfit and is currently training for a strong woman competition and she says focusing on strength - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual is of the utmost importance to her.
Virginia Lee McLean
The marvelous Virginia Lee McLean with her youngest son Miles August (19 mo) her older son is Carl Alden (4 - not pictured). Virginia's first pregnancy ended in miscarraige which was understandably difficult for her. Her mother gave her a rosemary bush to mark her loss and she made a beautiful rosemary crown to mark her loss for her shoot. She conceived Carl soon after and things went very well. She studied Bradley Method and had a natural hospital birth with midwife assistance. She and Carl had a great breastfeeding relationship. She had to use a shield a in the beginning but was able to wean off and continue nursing without. Her pregnancy with Miles was enjoyable as well. She developed high blood pressure at the end and they wanted to break her water to start labor but she requested she be allowed to go home, get a good nights rest and come back the next day. She got a chiropractic adjustment on the way home and her water started leaking naturally. She was able to get some rest and the next day her water broke fully. They rushed to the hospital and as her husband pulled into the parking lot she felt the urge to push. She was able to hold off and Miles was born 15 minutes after they arrived at the hospital. Breastfeeding was difficult for his first 10 days due to a tongue tie but after having it corrected they are still going strong.
Virginia considers herself a feminist and when she came across this work knew she wanted to participate. Motherhood comes in all shapes and sizes and she feels it's so important to show that.
Emily Werkheiser
The wonderful Emily Werkheiser with her daughter Alyana (12 weeks). Emily had a very healthy pregnancy and carried to 42 weeks. She had a scheduled induction at 42 weeks but went into labor naturally the evening before. Emily had planned to have a water birth at a birthing center and labored there for about 24 hours before she began to spike a fever and her midwives became concerned. They decided to transfer her to the hospital so they could be sure and it was confirmed that she had amnionitis and both she and Alyana would need antibiotics. They recommended she go ahead and get an epidural so she could rest and she was able to have an epidural with a button so she could self administer as opposed to a drip. She took a nap and woke almost ready to push. After 30+ hours of labor and 2 hours of pushing she was able to have her vaginal birth. Emily says she hadn't pushed the button for her epidural in about 4 hours so feels like, even though it was different circumstances she was able to have her natural birth. The hospital was very respectful of her birth plan and wishes as well. Alyana had to be monitored for a couple hours after Emily got to hold her due to the infection and meconium but was able to stay with Emily the rest of the time. She latched right away without issue and they have a great breastfeeding relationship today.
Emily's husband encouraged her to participate in the project and she was excited to celebrate her new body. He loves her body that made their baby and while she says it's sometimes a struggle she has strong moments she sees that beauty as well. Emily has been inspired by the women who have been brave enough to share their stories before her and she is excited at the thought of inspiring others by sharing hers.
Tammie Thomas
The tremendous Tammie Thomas with her daughter's Autumne (16) and Tarasoulfia (almost 12). Tammie is mom to 7 in total, 5 of which she has given birth to - Ashley (30) and Jerr (27) {her bonus children} and August (19), Aaron (would be 17), and Jazper (9). Tammie is a childhood sexual abuse survivor and struggled with finding strength and power in her body for a long time. She has gotten there now and on her bucket list was doing something such as this to celebrate. She is driven to create a space in which other women can heal from sharing her story.
Tammie didn't become a mother until a bit later in life than many, she gave birth to her first at 34 and her last just before turning 47. Her first pregnancy and birth were easy and uncomplicated. Tammie struggled to connect with her second son until about two weeks, she enjoyed those two weeks feeling connected to him before he was born. Sadly, Aaron was stillborn due to small c incompatibility and Tammie was warned against having any more children. She feels his presecnce around her always and says that she knew her two daughters were coming because of him. Her first daughter's birth was an emergency cesarean at 36 weeks under general anesthesia due to Placenta Previa and Tammie traumatically lost 3/4 of her blood volume. Once she got over the hurdle of her blood transfusion her recovery was surprisingly easy. Four years later Tara was conceived and Tammie knew that she was going to be an unassited homebirth. Her birth went well and while she had hoped to have a lotus birth, three hours after Tara arrived her placenta had still not come out. She was loosing blood and had to call and ambulance which was a horrible expereince for her. Her son Jaz was a surpise and with him she had an easy pregnancy very much like her first. He was born at home with midwife assistance.
Tammie has breastfed all of her children. August nursed until about a year, she pumped and donated Aaron's milk to babies with AIDS and/or born with drug addictions after his death, Autumn and Tara nursed for about 2.5 years and Jazper weaned shortly before his third birthday.
We are honored to have captured this time of triumph, beauty and celebration in Tammie's life.
Mandy Allender
The amazing Mandy Allender with her sons Ronan (6) and Ryder (2) and her daughter Ruby (4). She is also 22 weeks pregnant with baby 4, arriving late June 2015. Mandy has changed so much from the mother who she became with Ronan's arrival to the mother she has come into today. Each of her children have taught her something new and she says that when she thinks about raising children it is she that who has grown with their teaching. When she was pregnant with Ronan she was working as a High Risk OB Ultrasound Tech and was therefore worried about everything. She had all of the tests from screens to amniocentesis and very much wanted a typical hospital birth as she thought people who planned to have their babies at home were crazy and putting their lives at risk. Ronan was born after an induction at 39 weeks because she was told by her OB that first time moms could birth big babies. Once earthside, she struggled with feeling like he was actually hers and after researching realized that it likely had a lot to do without experiencing the hormonal shifts that come with the natural progression of labor and birth. Breastfeeding saved them, she says, and allowed her to build the bond she was missing. She knew she wanted something different with Ruby and chose to give birth to her at a free standing birth centre. It was a much better experience and while she had the birth she'd wanted, she was sent home after being allowed to rest for just 4 hours after birth. There was something in having to get in a car and drive an hour home with an hours old baby that led her to know homebirth was for her next time. Mandy's breastfeeding journey with Ruby was surprising. She couldn't get her to latch and nurse properly and when she introduced the bottle at 6 weeks to return to work, Ruby preferred the bottle to breast all together. Ruby was finally diagnosed with a lip and tongue tie at 4 months old, but by then she was done with the breast all together. Mandy pumped exclusively for her but struggled emotionally. Two years later, Ryder was born at home with a team of providers Mandy adored. He arrived in her bathtub just where she felt he should and has breastfed beautifully and is still nursing today. Her current pregnancy has been wonderful as well and she plans to deliver at home with the same midwife and support.
Mandy struggled with disordered eating until her first pregnancy and has always tried to provide an environment for her children where bodies are not talked about with any judgment. They are not good or bad they just are. It has taken her a long time to get rid of the negative self talk and she hopes that her children can avoid ever getting there.
Chrystal Cavanagh
The amazing Chrystal Cavanagh with her son Owen (5) and daughters Katie (3) and Hailey (11 months). Chrystal had very healthy pregnancies with all of her children and very much enjoyed it. She had planned to give birth to Owen at home but after 30+ hours of laboring at home and another 10+ at the hospital after transfer she delivered via cesarean. She went on to have a great breastfeeding relationship and conceived Katie just as he weaned. She felt like she had failed with her first and was concerned about attempting another homebirth but knew she didn't want a hospital experience. After some soul searching she decided to give it another go at home and though she was scared she was able to have her vaginal birth at home after another long labor. Katie breastfed until she was about 14 months and Hailey was conceived. She knew she wanted to birth at home again and Hailey gave her the most freeing and healing experience. She arrived in about 4 hours with no fear and no complications and Chrystal says it was exactly the experience she needed. Breastfeeding has gone beautifully well this time also and Hailey is still still nursing today. Chrystal wants women to feel empowered in their beauty, strength, and experience.
Amelia Beonde
The amazing Amelia Beonde with her daughter Olivia (5) and son Ellis (2). Amelia says that both of her pregnancies have been different but they've been very healthy. She gave birth to both of her children in hospital naturally after quick labors but had a much better experience with her second birth. She hired a doula for Ellis' birth and was able to use the hospitals natural birthing suite. She spent a lot of time in the water and was able to birth in bed with her husband behind her as support. Breastfeeding has been a wonderful bond with both of her children as well. Olivia self weaned around 2 and Ellis is still nursing today. Amelia feels that mother's are more alike than different even with our varied experiences and she wants to see herself as both a mother and a beautiful woman.
Cara Berlin
The beautiful Cara Berlin with her daughters Adelaide (5) and Willa (almost 5 weeks). Cara has had healthy pregnancies with both of her girls. Her pregnancy with Adelaide was a surprise but her sister had just had a baby using the Bradley method and had a natural childbirth so she decided to follow suit. Breastfeeding was difficult for the first few weeks and it wasn't until she saw a latch video on Dr. Jack Newman's site that she realized things that wasn't quite what Adelaide was doing. They were able to work and get the hang of it soon after. Cara struggle with postpartum depression after her first book and though she felt isolated also felt that she needed to do things herself. Her second daughter was born at home and Cara is doing great. She encapsulated her placenta this time and says she doesn't know if it's effective or placebo but so far so good. Cara has realized that particularly as the mother of daughters she needed to deal with some of her own issues so that she doesn't pass them along. She's been a seeing a therapist for the past year and a half to address image concerns and disordered eating and things are going very well. Cara feels that heavier women are often stereotyped as having more difficult births, and often they do but she very much feels this has to do with the way they are treated and the care they are provided rather than true representations of their health or ability. She is healthy and has had wonderful birth experiences and wants people to see that as attainable.
Rachel Rimar
The radiant Rachel Rimar with her daughter Brynlee (10.5 months). Rachel was always told that it takes some time to conceive so that's what she was expecting only to find that for she and her husband it took no time at all! She had a healthy pregnancy and though she was pulled towards homebirth she chose to deliver in hospital because she felt that's just what you do. She chose a midwifery based practice but didn't enjoy seeing someone new every time. She took Bradley classes and through them learned to advocate for herself and ask for what she needed. Rachel's water broke but she didn't tell her doctor because she knew what the recommendations would be. Labor didn't pick up all day but was intense overnight only to slow down to a stop. This continued for three days, amping up in the evening and all but stopping during the day. She was able to keep in touch with her Bradley instructor through it all and on the third day ended up going to her house to meet with and be checked by midwives. That evening things really kicked into gear and she labored at home until she hit all the markers she'd hoped to before heading to hospital. Rachel felt very empowered laboring at home but things changed once she arrived at the hospital. She had hoped to have a natural delivery but ended up having an epidural and pitocin. While it wasn't exactly the birth she wanted she says her daughter is here and she will likely advocate for a homebirth next time. Rachel gained 70 pounds while pregnant and felt beautiful. She experienced the changes in her body and felt that society celebrated along with her. After giving birth, however, she feels that societal shift has changed yet still she feels it's important to enjoy the experience. She wants other women to feel allowed to simply experience and enjoy the changes they go through as well.