Big Babies + ZTTK Diagnosis | Becca's Birth Stories

Big Babies + ZTTK Diagnosis | Becca's Birth Stories

Author: Emily Lau July 15, 2025 Duration: 1:09:49

This week on The Labor Line, I’m joined by my sister-friend Becca, the kind of mom who brings light, laughter, and a roll-with-the-punches attitude to everything life (and birth) throws at her.

She walks us through her 10-year journey into motherhood, which BEGAN with a 10+ pound baby (yes, really) and has since included:

  • Gestational diabetes
  • Jaundice
  • A rare genetic diagnosis
  • Three C-sections
  • Four cross-country moves
  • Oh yeah– and three graduate degrees between her and her husband in their "spare" time!

Today, she shares her insights into juggling the raw emotions of motherhood, including life after pregnancy loss, staying optimistic amidst the chaos, and relishing in the little everyday joys. Her story is an example of the adaptability required to be a modern mom that gives hope to anyone wondering, “How can I do this?” 

Fair warning, today’s episode comes with a lot of laughter and stories from the OR that will leave your jaw on the floor!

In this episode:

  • Long labor that led to 3 planned C-sections
  • Managing gestational diabetes like a champ
  • Navigating pregnancy loss while raising toddlers
  • What not to say to someone while tying their tubes
  • A rare ZTTK syndrome diagnosis that transformed their family.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday

📱 Follow along on Instagram @thelaborline

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Becca

07:11 - Were We Truly Ready to be Parents?

08:40 - 1st Pregnancy: Intense Nausea in the Texas Heat

13:49 - 1st Delivery: 29 Hours & An Epidural Into a C-Section

27:26 - 1st Postpartum: A Positive Transition Into Parenthood

31:05 - 2nd Pregnancy: Learning to Manage Gestational Diabetes

38:00 - 2nd Delivery: Positive Planned C-Section + Skin-to-Skin

40:57 - 2nd Postpartum: Jaundice, Sleep Struggles, &Community Support with 2 Under 2

46:30 - Processing Pregnancy Loss

48:22 - 3rd Pregnancy: Minor Gestational Diabetes & Enlarged Brain Ventricles

52:32 - 3rd Delivery: Planned C-Section + NICU Stay

57:34 - 3rd Postpartum: Unique Developmental Struggles + COVID 

1:01:41 - Journey to a ZTTK Diagnosis


Hosted by Emily Lau, The Labor Line offers a space where the profound, messy, and surprisingly funny realities of bringing a child into the world are shared without polish. Emily, who has long been fascinated by birth stories, began this podcast as an expectant mother seeking genuine conversations beyond the textbooks. Each episode is built from candid talks with her community of mom friends, where they unpack everything from the first signs of labor to the unpredictable weeks that follow. You’ll hear the full spectrum of experiences-the anxiety of unexpected complications, the raw emotion of feeding challenges, the triumph of a swift delivery, and those bizarre, laugh-out-loud moments that happen only in a hospital room. This isn't a how-to guide but a collection of human voices reminding you that you're not alone on this journey. By focusing on personal narratives, the podcast connects listeners to the cultural and relational shifts that define parenthood, all through the lens of honest storytelling. Tune in for weekly episodes that normalize the complexities of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum life, offering both solidarity and a much-needed dose of humor.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 32

The Labor Line
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