The wonderful Katie Ellis and Charlotte (5 months).
Katie had a very easy pregnancy with Charlotte, she never got sick and didn't feel uncomfortable. She asked a lot of questions throughout her pregnancy and made sure that she was informed going into her birth. She hired a doula and planned to deliver in hospital but labor at home as long as possible. The day she went into labor she thought she was in false labor because things were so manageable. She took a bath, chatted with her doula, and bounced on her birthing ball. She says she's a very internal personal and just turned her focus inward. As she labored she asked her doula if she should be feeling the urge to push at which point her doula's expression changed quite a bit and she said they needed to leave for the hospital right away.
Katie hoped in the car with her husband and had to "blow horsey lips" the whole way to prevent herself from pushing. When they finally arrived in hospital, as they were trying to convince everyone she was ready to have her baby, her water broke right there in the hallway. They got her into the room and in four pushes Charlotte was earth side.
Breastfeeding is very important to Katie and she tried to seek the support she needed in hospital through their lactation staff. When she finally got the support she needed she was given a nipple shield which helped hugely. She had asked them to check Charlotte for lip and tongue ties but it wasn't until she was three weeks old that they were discovered and treated. Katie recalls a couple very tough days after her revision as she tried to teach Charlotte how to nurse again without the shield that were very tearful but they were able to work through it and have a wonderful relationship today.
As a petite person, Katie often feels she has to prove her ability and strength both to herself and others who assume that she's not going to be able to get there because of her size. Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding has allowed her to prove so much of that wrong and has left her feeling more empowered than ever before.