Author name: Diane

In the journey of pregnancy and childbirth, every woman’s story is unique, often filled with unexpected twists and turns. Jessica, a long-term patient at Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, shared her remarkable experience of delivering her second child with us. Her journey is not just a tale of overcoming physical challenges but also a testament to faith, dedication, and the power of trusting one’s body. Jessica’s Health Challenge Jessica’s journey to get pregnant again was faced with uncertainty due to her health condition. She had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, specifically Graves’ disease. This condition led to numerous complications, making conceiving seem like an impossible challenge. Reflecting on her journey, Jessica shared, “I give all the credit to the Lord because I was told that this was going to be with me for the rest of my life… But then, what my primary doctor called a spontaneous healing, my body just decided that it wasn’t sick anymore.” A Miracle Conception Despite initial setbacks, Jessica and her husband welcomed the unexpected news of their second child with joy and apprehension. She recalled the moment of revelation, “I got the pregnancy test, and I taped it to the refrigerator to surprise my husband and it took him way too long to realize it was there. I was obviously thrilled and a little nervous too. God has let me conceive, and I’m just going to go into this faithfully and not fearfully.” This belief provided Jessica with a sense of peace and confidence as she embarked on the journey of pregnancy and childbirth. Navigating Pregnancy Throughout her pregnancy, Jessica encountered familiar discomforts like heartburn and pelvic pain, yet she remained steadfast in her determination for a natural birth experience. Drawing upon her trust in her body’s ability to heal and give birth to her son, she was determined to advocate for herself and her baby. At 39 weeks and 5 days, Jessica started to feel leakage. She didn’t believe it was her water breaking, but her husband encouraged her to go to the hospital and get checked. Turns out, it was amniotic fluid! They were checked in and the journey of welcoming their son into the world began. As labor commenced, Jessica found herself facing intense contractions, navigating the delicate balance between surrender and resilience. Recounting the pivotal moment when she felt the urge to push, Jessica shared, “My body is just doing its thing… And I am in so much pain at this point. Definitely hitting the max.” Midwife’s Support Susan Fischels, Jessica’s attending midwife, played a pivotal role in her birth experience. “Susan was just an angel… She did great with the stitching up and was full of joy. It was just awesome to have her there.” Susan’s supportive presence and skilled care provided Jessica with the confidence and reassurance she needed to navigate the challenges of childbirth. -Jessica says of Midwife Susan Fischels Jessica experimented with various labor positions, listening to her body’s cues with each change. After only dilating one more centimeter after an hour and a half of contractions, Jessica was starting to feel discouraged. She was six centimeters dilated and hitting the max on her pain level. The pain became unbearable, and Jessica asked for the epidural. Susan Fischels told her the anesthesia team would be there in 15 minutes and encouraged her to hang in there until they arrived. To Jessica’s surprise, just moments later, Susan Fischels tells her the baby is on his way! “Between those six centimeters and me asking for an epidural and then finding out that baby’s on his way, that was 10 to 15 minutes. I had no idea that I could dilate that fast. I thought it was going to be hours to reach that point, that’s why I was giving up.” – Jessica recalls her amazement at how quickly she dilated In a whirlwind of events, Jessica transitioned from moments of doubt to a profound sense of empowerment, realizing her body’s remarkable strength. With the guidance of her care team, including the supportive presence of her husband and the skilled assistance of Susan Fischels, Jessica embraced the intensity of childbirth with grace and determination. Empowerment in Childbirth In the final moments of labor, as baby Brayden made his entrance into the world, Jessica experienced a rush of emotions—a culmination of exhaustion, relief, and unbridled joy. Holding her newborn son close, Jessica reflected on the transformative journey she had undertaken. Brayden Henry was welcomed into the world healthy and weighing eight pounds and one ounce. Through Jessica’s story, we witness the transformative power of resilience, faith, and unwavering determination in the face of adversity. Her journey serves as a beacon of hope for expectant mothers navigating their own paths through pregnancy and childbirth. As Jessica puts it, “Just be dedicated… And stay dedicated to what you chose to do… because it is worth it.” Jessica’s Advice for Expectant Mothers Jessica offers invaluable advice based on her own empowering birth experience: A Journey of Inspiration Jessica’s journey highlights the importance of trust, support, and empowerment in the birthing process. Her story serves as an inspiration to all mothers, reminding them of their inherent strength and resilience as they embark on the miraculous journey of childbirth.

  At Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, we have the privilege of witnessing remarkable stories of perseverance, love, and triumph every day. Today, we are excited to share with you the heartwarming journey of baby Lavender’s arrival into this world. Facing Challenges and IVF Journey Lavender’s story begins with her parents, who, after the birth of their first child Dane, embarked on a new chapter of hope and determination to expand their family. (Click here to read Dane’s story.) When challenges arose post-breastfeeding for mom, Mary, they turned to our dedicated team for guidance and support. After running tests and finding her numbers were low, Mary was referred to a specialist where it was decided that IVF (in vitro fertilization) was the best route to grow her family. “Mentally, physically, it’s draining, and it has been a journey. Hundreds and hundreds of injections, constant blood being taken. It’s a lot on the mom, of course, but the dad too. We had one failed transfer, so Lavender was our second transfer. We were incredibly grateful to find out that we were pregnant with her. A lot of happy tears.” – Mom Mary on her emotional IVF journey Prenatal Care and Birth Experience As the pregnancy progressed, our team worked closely with the family, ensuring that every step was met with compassion and understanding. All of Mary’s prenatal appointments went smoothly and she remembers feeling heard and cared for at every appointment. “With this being my first IVF baby, everyone understood and made me comfortable. It seemed like I was paying extra attention to almost everything because I felt like I had to work so hard to get pregnant again. But everyone was amazing at each appointment.” A scheduled c-section was the best route for Mary for this pregnancy, as her first pregnancy was an emergency c-section due to cord prolapse. “Birth is wild no matter how we welcome our sweet babies into the world, but no matter how they come, it doesn’t matter as long as they’re here safely. I knew this c-section would be a different experience because the one with Dane was chaotic and stressful. Having it planned and knowing what to expect and being able to prepare for it, made the whole experience much more calming. It felt like this was my first c-section since I was put to sleep for my first one with Dane,” shares Mary. From the epidural to the delivery of her baby girl, Mary remembers the encouraging words from Dr. Lisa McLeod throughout her entire delivery. Mary says, “Dr. McLeod could tell I was nervous. She assured me that this was going to be such a different experience than my first one and that I could handle this. She would ask me, “how much do you want to know while it’s going on? What kind of music do you want to listen to?”  She really took all those things in and was able to implement them. Of course, it’s a major surgery, but for that situation I was informed as I wanted to be and felt confident in Dr. McLeod’s care the whole time.” The Joyous Arrival On December 26th, Lavender made her grand entrance into the world, weighing a healthy eight pounds and eleven ounces. “Hearing her first cry was the best part. I didn’t realize how incredibly emotional that moment would be because I never had it with Dane. That was my favorite moment. I’m so grateful for Dr. McLeod bringing Lavender into the world safely. I love her. She was wonderful at making me feel so comfortable before and after the c-section.” – Hearing Baby Lavender cry for the first time Today, Lavender is thriving, and Mary’s family is overjoyed. Big brother, Dane, has taken his new role with strides and they’re loving every moment as a family of four. Mary’s Advice For those navigating their own IVF journey, Mary offers words of advice: “Be easy on yourself, no matter the route you have to take to grow your family. IVF is quite a journey but it’s so worth it. Having a supportive partner, family, and doctors to ask any questions is huge. Just give yourself grace. Anyone going through IVF should know that it’s still a beautiful way to grow your family. You’re a super woman no matter how you do it.” – Mary’s advice to women navigating IVF We Are Honored to Witness These Miracles As OB/GYNs, we are deeply honored to have played a part in Lavender’s journey and extend our heartfelt congratulations to her family. As we continue to witness miracles like Lavender’s, we reaffirm our commitment to providing exceptional care and support to every family we serve. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your remarkable journey, Mary!