Nicole’s High Risk Pregnancies: Pre-Eclampsia, VBAC Hopes, Tongue Ties & Mama Community

In this episode, Nicole shares her two high-risk birth stories and the challenges she faced along the way. Her first pregnancy was complicated by pre-eclampsia and restricted blood flow through one of the umbilical arteries, affecting her baby’s growth. With the additional factors of breech presentation and oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid), she delivered via cesarean section.

For her second pregnancy, she initially planned for a VBAC but was later told she would need another C-section without a clear explanation, leaving her frustrated and disappointed. She once again developed pre-eclampsia and later discovered that her placenta had shown signs of deterioration. Nicole also opens up about how instrumental it was to have girlfriends pregnant at the same time and to surround herself with mama friends and support groups during postpartum. We also dive into the challenges of tongue ties, breastfeeding struggles, and the importance of finding the right support in early motherhood.