I honestly cannot believe I’m sitting here recording this episode as a mom. In this episode, I’m sharing the full story of Cai’s birth from start to finish. The anxiety leading up to labor, the moment the hospital told me not to come because they were at capacity, the induction process, contractions, getting the epidural, and the unexpected turn that led to an emergency C-section. This experience changed my perspective on birth, control, and motherhood in ways I never could have predicted. After going through IVF and everything it took to get pregnant, I thought I had an idea of how birth would go. But labor has a way of reminding you that some things are simply out of your control. I talk about the mental side of preparing for labor, the pain and intensity of contractions, the moment I realized something wasn’t right, and the emotional second I heard Cai cry for the first time. Even though things didn’t go according to my original plan, the moment I saw him made every single part of the experience worth it. If you’re pregnant, thinking about becoming a mom, or just curious about what birth is actually like, this episode is the full, honest story. _____ Leave Me a Message -⁠ click here!⁠ For Mari’s Instagram⁠ click here!⁠ For Pursuit of Wellness Podcast’s Instagram⁠ click here!⁠ For Mari’s Newsletter⁠ click here!⁠ For Mari’s TikTok⁠ click here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.