The radiant Rebecca Thorne with her sons Jackson (3) and Banner (15 months). Rebecca says she feels so grateful to have had very text book pregnancies, births and breastfeeding experiences. She is an American, married to a Brit, living in London who feels fortunate to have given birth under the NHS. She called her private insurer when she first learned she was pregnant and was both baffled and delighted when they told her they didn't cover general maternity care because they don't view pregnancy as a medical condition.
Her care for both boys was provided by midwives but their births couldn't have been more different. Jackson came very slowly nearly 30 hours after her water had broken and Rebecca developed rare spontaneous subcutaneous emphysema (a pocket of air between her muscle and skin) during delivery. Because of this, and an elevated heart rate in Jackson which caused fear of infection, they transferred to NICU and Jackson had to be observed for three days though the family was able to stay together and she says that it was ultimately a good time for their little family to bond. All went well from there on out and Jackson nursed until he self-weaned around 15 months. Rebecca had another uncomplicated pregnancy and labored with Banner at home for a few hours and arrived at the birthing center just three contractions before he was born. She was brunching with family just a few days later and says that her recovery this time was a breeze. Banner is enjoying breastfeeding still, with no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Celebrating all births, all bodies and all breastfeeding is very important to Rebecca and she hopes to stand beside other women in working to normalizing all of these things.