42 | When Home Birth Moves to Hospital - Dasia Gant

Dasia Gant was proudly serving in the military as her family was starting to grow. Dasia’s expectations of pregnancy challenged her as she was once a stellar athlete who had thought she would continue to be active and work out. But pregnancy took a toll on her body that she was not ready for, although watching herself grow was still a beautiful time for her family. Little did she know that the emotional toll of pregnancy as an active duty member of the military would weigh heavier than the physical challenges. The white male-dominated space did not garner empathy for the basic understanding of her needs during pregnancy. Dasia was a missile cleaner, which required a great deal of physical labor. She had to fight for changes in her duties and seek out the care that would best suit her and other women that could follow. When Dasia started preparing for birth she explored the options presented on her base and chose a midwife that could attend hospital births. As she explored more about birth, she decided that home birth using hypnobirthing to aid in her desire for a natural birth experience.  Dasia’s homebirth was going well when her midwife arrived she came in quietly and respected the birth space. There was a shift in her daughter’s heart rate that alarmed her midwife, and she shared her desire to have the baby monitored at the hospital. Dasia and her husband prepared to transfer to the hospital armed with her homebirth midwife and doula. Once they arrived at the hospital, her body started to mentally and physically come out of the peaceful calm of her home. She began to feel like she was disconnecting and handing over the reins of her birth to the hospital staff. She requested an epidural to help relax her body and allow the physiologic process of birth to continue. The anesthesiologist started to insert the needle in her back, and she began to feel a hot and tingly sensation going down her back. This would go on six-eight times before her epidural was placed correctly. The experience would mark the shift in her labor that would have lasting physical and mental repercussions for Dasia. Her story is one of resilience, strength, and determination that we easily connect with those who choose to serve. Unfortunately, there’s no medal for surviving obstetric violence and gaslighting. Dasia takes us with her as she rehashes how her postpartum experience unfolded immediately after her labor and delivery.  Resources:Mama Slay Life | motherhood transition coachMamas in Color | a space for mamas of color - birthing photos, travel, pregnancy, postpartum, everything mama