EBB 375 - A Rainbow Baby and Preeclampsia Birth Story with Dr. Sara Ailshire and Dr. Siavash Samei

Dr. Sara Ailshire, an anthropologist and Evidence Based Birth® Research Team member, and her husband, Dr. Siavash Samei, an environmental archaeologist, share the story of welcoming their rainbow baby after loss. In this episode, Sara and Siavash open up about navigating miscarriage care in the wake of changing abortion laws in Ohio, the anxiety and hope of pregnancy after loss, and Sara’s experience with developing preeclampsia near the end of her pregnancy. They describe how they worked with a supportive midwifery team, hired a doula for advocacy and comfort, and ultimately experienced an induction that honored their preferences for a low-intervention birth. Their story also sheds light on the realities of discrimination in healthcare, the importance of community support, and the resilience found in becoming parents after loss.

(01:58) Facing Miscarriage in Ohio and Barriers to Care

(07:35) Pregnancy After Loss: Anxiety, Detachment, and Hope

(13:04) Finding Midwifery Care in Kentucky and Planning a Low-Intervention Birth

(20:29) Preparing for Birth: Classes, Doulas, and Advocacy Concerns

(22:37) Early Signs of Preeclampsia and Navigating Blood Pressure Monitoring

(30:33) Deciding on Induction at 38 Weeks

(36:39) Laboring with Support and Moving Through Transition

(42:43) Birth of Ferdous and Unexpected Placenta Complications

(49:34) Advocacy, Microaggressions, and the Role of the Doula

(54:23) Advice for Expecting Parents: Finding Calm, Support, and Autonomy

 

Resources

Learn more about preeclampsia: www.preeclampsia.org

Miscarriage Care Instructions from Kaiser Permanente: healthy.kaiserpermanente.org

Dobbs-Era Abortion Restrictions and Miscarriage Care: kff.org

Navigating Miscarriage Management Post-Dobbs: whijournal.com

Emotional Coping After Miscarriage: americanpregnancy.org

An Account of a Miscarriage at Home: miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Supply List for a Miscarriage at Home: miscarriagematters.org.nz

Learn about the Jada System: organonpro.com

The Birthing Spa in Stanford, Kentucky: thebirthingspa.com

 

For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.