Episode Description
Gina (perinatal fitness trainer and birth doula) and Roxanne (certified nurse midwife) share the story of Roxanne’s fourth “bonus baby,” Harvey, and the end of her pregnancy leading into a planned home birth. Roxanne describes weeks of waiting, prodromal labor, and trying to start labor on her due date (January 7) before Gina left for a pre-planned Disney Marathon trip; a cervical check showed she was 1 cm and “super thick,” and labor stalled.
After midnight while Gina is away, Roxanne has a gush of fluid, then contractions quickly become consistent and stronger. She calls her midwife, her mom, and backup support, and uses comfort tools like a TENS unit, shower, a Pixie heating pad, and acupressure balls. She labors in the birth tub using different positions; the midwife tries calling Gina, but she doesn’t answer. Roxanne’s water breaks and Harvey is born quickly in the tub, with brief pushing and no long second stage.Postpartum, Roxanne reports no tearing, no hemorrhage, less bleeding than prior births, and an easier recovery; Harvey weighs 7 lb 13 oz.
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00:00 Welcome to MamasteFit + Harvey’s Birth Story Teaser
00:26 Meet the Hosts & What This Podcast Covers
01:23 ‘Bonus Baby’ Harvey: Mindset in the Final Weeks
02:58 Social Media Updates, Opinions, and Staying Sane at 40 Weeks
04:44 Babywearing Break: Ring Sling Favorites (Hope & Plum, Sakura Bloom)
05:28 Physical Symptoms, Home Birth Prep & The Leaky Birth Pool Saga
07:33 Prodromal Labor Starts: TENS Unit, Birth Prep Circuit, and Waiting Game
09:16 Gina’s Disney Trip Pressure: Trying to Kickstart Labor on Due Date
16:09 Contractions Fizzle + Membrane Sweep Reality Check (1 cm, Thick Cervix)
22:13 Disney Marathon Weekend Updates + ChatGPT Due-Date Predictions
26:25 The Night It Turns Real: ‘Did I Pee or Did My Water Break?’
29:58 Early Labor Escalates: Missed Texts, Calling the Midwife, Waking the House
36:02 Support Arrives: Mom’s Massage, Vocalizing, and Calling the Birth Team
39:14 Early Labor Comfort Measures: Food, Shower & TENS
39:48 Heating Pad Fiasco: Figuring Out the Pixie Cup Heater
41:50 Joan Wakes Up: Sweet Toddler Support During Contractions
42:47 Midwife Arrives & Birth Space Setup (Tub, Candles, Bracelet)
45:33 Into the Birth Tub: Mermaid Pose & Finding the Rhythm
48:44 Things Get Real: Pressure, Calling Gina & Water Breaks
54:35 Pushing in the Pool: Fast Crowning and Harvey Is Born
58:41 First Moments: Kids Meet Baby + Placenta & Post-Birth Care
01:02:45 Gina Missed It: Disney Detour, Postpartum Support & Family Reactions
01:09:09 Wrap-Up + Favorite Pregnancy & Labor Products (Affiliate Links)
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Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:
Explore our prep for birth courses: https://mamastefit.com/prenatal-support
3rd Trimester Specific Prep Courses: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/third-trimester/
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Recover after birth and return to fitness with MamasteFit: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/postpartum/
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