Three Hospital Births (Epidural and Unmedicated) with Shoulder Dystocia, Induction, and Gestational Diabetes with Mackenzie DeClark | Episode 08

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%I’m so excited to share this heartfelt episode with you, where I sit down with Mackenzie DeClark, a labor and delivery nurse, future midwife, and mama of three behind the Mackenzie on Motherhood platform. Mackenzie opens up about her three unique birth stories, each one a beautiful mix of raw emotion, unexpected twists, and empowering choices.What’s inside this episode:Her first birth: A medicated hospital birth with an epidural, a vaginal delivery shared with her mom, a 8 pound 6 oz baby, and a smooth postpartum experience.Her second birth: An unmedicated water birth with a dramatic shoulder dystocia, a 10-pound baby, and a challenging postpartum period, experiencing postpartum depression.Her third birth: A high-risk pregnancy with gestational diabetes, a nitrous oxide-supported unmedicated birth, and a joyful postpartum with her smallest baby at 8 pounds, 5 ounces.Mackenzie’s stories are filled with honesty, humor, and wisdom from her years at the bedside and her own motherhood journey. We talk about trusting your intuition, navigating interventions like Pitocin and Foley balloons, and the messy, magical reality of birth and postpartum. Whether you’re curious about epidurals, water births, or managing gestational diabetes, this episode is packed with insights and encouragement for wherever you are in your pregnancy or parenting journey.Tune in for a cozy, real conversation that celebrates the many ways we bring our babies into the world. Helpful Timestamps:02:54 Mackenzie's First Birth Story22:50 Postpartum Reflections25:39 Mackenzie's Second Birth Story38:52 Emergency Delivery: Shoulder Dystocia40:29 Post-Birth Complications and NICU Experience46:05 Postpartum Depression and Seeking Help49:00 Transitioning from One to Two Children51:16 Third Pregnancy Challenges and Gestational Diabetes58:46 Induction and Labor with Third Child01:11:45 Reflecting on Birth Experiences and Postpartum Joy01:15:00 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsMore from Mackenzie DeClark:Find her sharing birth tips and motherhood moments on Instagram and TikTok at: @mackenzie.on.motherhoodMore from this episode:Visit www.thelabormama.com/birth and use code MAMA25 at checkout for 25% off!About your host:🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK DisclaimerOpinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services