Ep 339: Cholestasis, Raw Spleen, and a Dream Homebirth: Angelica's Full Journey

Have you ever decided — fully, completely, no-turning-back decided — that you were done doing something a certain way? And then done everything in your power to make the changes necessary? In this episode, Angelica walks us through the full arc — from a surprise first pregnancy that ended in an emergency C-section and a baby born blue, to a rogue homebirth with her third child that she knew, in that very moment, she would never be able to go back from. And then to her fifth pregnancy, which became the most intentional season of her life — researching her liver health, rebuilding her iron through raw organ meats, and navigating cholestasis, low ferritin, and a medical system that didn't always have answers — all so she could bring her sweet baby earthside in her own home, with her husband by her side. We also talk about what happened when her baby came down asynclitic and her body instinctively moved into a position her midwife had never seen before. That moment alone is worth the listen. This podcast is sponsored by Samaritan Ministries. As a paid Samaritan member content creator, I receive compensation for sharing about the ministry.   Samaritan Ministries International is not an insurance company and does not guarantee that medical bills will be paid by SMI or other individuals. Participation in health care sharing is voluntary. Members remain personally responsible for their own medical expenses.    Required legal notices for residents of certain states are available at: https://samaritanministries.org/about/transparency-legal.   Episode Roundup:   First, The image that keeps coming back to me is Angelica on that half lunge off the side of her bed — one leg up, one hanging, holding on to the headboard — her baby asynclitic, her body moving into something she had never planned, had never read about, had never been told to do. And her midwife standing there saying, "I've never seen that before." That is body literacy in its most primal form. That is what it looks like when a woman has truly learned to lean into the intuitive urges. Next, there’s something very meaningful about this storyline: it wasn't linear. Angelica had her third baby at home, had to go back to the hospital with her fourth because of cholestasis, and then….Angelica did everything in her power to prepare for that fifth birth — the diet, the supplements, the research, the sacrifices through Thanksgiving and Christmas and her sister's wedding. She stayed the course when it was hard, and it led to an absolutely amazing experience for her. That wasn’t the end, as we heard.  10 days postpartum she did have to go to the hospital due to retained placenta…. And yet — she didn't hemorrhage. Her body had the reserves. Her husband could look at her and say, "You were prepared for this. Even for the part you didn't plan." That is what preparation actually does. It’s not a guarantee. Instead, it builds capacity in you. It gives your body what it needs to meet the unexpected with something left. I also want to hold onto what Angelica said about women and body literacy — that we are probably the ones who should be most aware of our bodies, and yet we're going into everything blind because that knowledge isn't being passed down. That landed for me. It might have landed for you too.  I’m so excited to change that for the next generation, aren’t you? So let this episode be part of that reclamation. Share it with someone who needs it. Leave a review if it moved you. And come find me on Instagram — I'd love to keep this conversation going.     Links:   FREE Peaceful Birth Reset: https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/birthreset   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/HskwrYUDmLo?si=RBreBoM5_y9dC7_k   Learn more about Samaritan Ministries: https://samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth