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4th Trimester Bodies Project

  • 4th Tri Bodies Gallery
  • Events / Participate
    • Tour Schedule
    • Event Schedule
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  • About
    • Mission
    • Ashlee Dean Wells
    • Laura Weetzie Wilson
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    • body. breast. baby.
    • Portland, OR
    • Chicago, IL
  • Book a Session
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Maaike de Vos

August 09, 2015 in 4th Trimester Bodies

The marvelous Maaike de Vos with her daughter Puck (23 months and 2 weeks). Maaike is also bonus mom to Ela (10 years). When she met her partner, she immediately became a bonus mother which is a role that she quickly grew to love. Still, she desired a biological child as well.

Maaike has some chronic illness including issues with nerve pain and dystrophy and wasn't certain how that would play into her ability to conceive. She had a miscarriage in a previous relationship as well and just didn't know if it would happen, though she was determined to try. Maaike's conception actually came quite a bit easier than she had anticipated and her pregnancy went well also. Due to her illness she was worried that her health would get worse while pregnant and they even prepared for her to be wheel chair bound. Amazingly her health improved and she was able to enjoy her pregnancy.

Maaike knew she wanted to have a natural birth but learned that Puck was breech about midway through her pregnancy. At about 35 weeks they tried to flip her via an external version and were unable to get her to turn. The decision was made to deliver via cesarean and she was quite upset. She knew this would be her only baby and wanted to be able to experience pregnancy and birth fully, however, she eventually reconciled that if it was best for her health and best for her baby then it was what she would do. They scheduled her delivery but days before her water broke independently, something she hadn't been anticipating. Contractions began and she was progressing well as they arrived at hospital. The doctor who had tried to perform her external version was on and asked if she'd like to continue naturally and she was thrilled to have the opportunity. Maaike continued to labor and was able to have the vaginal birth she had so desired.

Breastfeeding, or at least attempting to breastfeed, was also very important to Maaike. She knew she had to go off of her medication while nursing so she hoped to make it to 6 months and then stop. She then found herself at 9 months, then 12, then entertained making it until two. She was even able to feed exclusively on one breast due to vasospasm in her nipple.

After Puck's first birthday, Maaike developed kidney stones and had to have surgery and a long stay in hospital. She pumped and dumped during that time and was able to keep up her supply and her daughter was still willing to nurse. After another stay in hospital however, Puck had lost interested and said goodbye to their nursing relationship, quite literally waving at Maaike's breast. While it was unexpected she is so grateful to know that their relationship ended on her daughters own terms.

Maaike still continues to struggle with her health and says that her body was always something she felt was working against her. After years battling it she feels that it finally worked with her to create the most beautiful thing, a new human, who gets to call her mom.

Tags: Amsterdam, Breech, Breastfeeding, vasospasm
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