The radiant Carmel Riley with her boys Angus (5), Archie (3) and daughter Matilda (1). Thankfully, Carmel hasn't had any issues with conception. Her first pregnancy was a bit full on, her hormones were ravaged, she had all day sickness and towards the end of her pregnancy, she began to suffer from migraines for the first time in her life. When she went into labor, they drove to the hospital about 40 minutes away. She had a migraine and couldn't stop vomiting. They were sent home and then went back because she couldn't keep fluids down. She had labored over a couple of days before they broke her waters and about 9-10 hours later, Angus was born. In retrospect, Carmel wishes things had gone a lot differently and feels she's learned a lot about informed refusal. In following protocol, she felt that she was given medication and interventions she didn't necessary want or need. Having been so focused on her labor Carmel doesn’t feel that they were prepared for actually being parents and taking care of a baby, especially living so far from family and friends. Carmel suffered a period of postnatal depression during this time. When Angus was a few months old, Carmel's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through a very rough battle. Carmel had an early miscarriage and then conceived Archie a few months later. Carmel was a week overdue with Archie and was induced on compassionate grounds as her mother was in her final days. Thankfully, she was able to meet him before she passed. After Archie, Carmel had to convince people that she didn't have postnatal depression, she was going through a normal period of grief having just lost her parent. Carmel lost another pregnancy to miscarriage before Matilda. She had a lot of fatigue with her last pregnancy and had to go through a lot of iron treatments. She had issues in the pregnancy with a hematoma that was growing alongside Matilda, but it resolved. Carmel was able to labor for a long time at home and was able to have a beautiful, natural, quick delivery, much different from her first two. She says she felt alert and was able to participate more in the birth and detail afterward from the delayed cord clamping and placenta delivery. Carmel has dealt with a quickness to anger as well as some anxiety and panic attacks following her last postpartum period but feels that she's getting a better grasp on things. Breastfeeding went really well with Angus, but Carmel has struggled with supply with Archie and Matilda. She's been able to work through it though and continues to breastfeed Matilda today.