So, every few weeks on the fitness mama podcast, we have a birth story from one of the lovely FitNest Mama members and we do here a range of everyday moms who have experienced a range of different types of birth. And I trust you’re going to enjoy this episode today and stick around because Colleen does have some great advice for pregnant or new mums listening today.

So, before we do dive into this episode, I would love to invite you to join FitNest Mama with a free trial. So, if you’ve found you’re not exercising as much as you’d like to during pregnancy or after having a baby, perhaps you’re busy or you’ve lost the motivation to exercise or you’re not sure how to best be looking after your body. Perhaps you’ve got pelvic girdle pain, abdominal muscle separation and you’re not sure about the best exercises for you. Or you’d like to get back into running after birth and you want to really help to boost your after-birth recovery, then FitNest Mama is for you. Join us for these convenient short, easy quality workouts that you can do from home. Just head to fitnestmama.com for a free trial and the link is in the show notes. Right all let’s get into this episode.

Colleen, thank you so much for joining me today on the FitNest Mama Podcast all the way from America from Massachusetts. Is that right?

COLLEEN

No. Minnesota.

KATH BAQUIE

Oh Minnesota. Good start to the podcast episode. Welcome. Thank you so much for joining me today. So, you’re a lovely member inside FitNest Mama. I’ve seen you for one of the live workouts, haven’t we? Is that right?

COLLEEN

Yeah, yeah.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. Otherwise…

COLLEEN

The recordings. Yeah.

KATH BAQUIE

You’ve been attending, just checking out memberhub because I know time difference. Time difference do make it a challenge. So, it is exciting to chat. You’re a mum of four young children and you’ve got a new little baby. So, could you before I keep talking? Can you give us a really little brief overview of who you are, you know, as a mother, like who are you?

COLLEEN

Yeah, um, I come from a kind of big family, I guess. So, I mean, youngest of three like biological sisters, but the youngest of five are a mixed family. So, I’m kind of used to a lot of chaos, I guess. But I’m, I work outside the home too. I’m a professor of economics. And so that’s a dimension of my life that’s affects a lot of different things. I have a husband and we’ve been married just to celebrate our 15-year anniversary. So that’s exciting. And yeah, I, my husband, and I was like, oh, he wanted two kids. I wanted three and then we had gone for three and then I decided when my daughter was three that I wasn’t done having. That’s when I tried to convince my husband to go for the number four and it worked out.

KATH BAQUIE

Amazing. So, give us a brief rundown of the ages of your children.

COLLEEN

Yeah, so my oldest is 11, almost 12, a boy and then eight-and-a-half-year-old boy and then a six-year-old girl and now a seven month baby boy.

KATH BAQUIE

Amazing. So, do you mind if I ask how old you are, Colleen?

COLLEEN

Yeah, I’m 42.

KATH BAQUIE

Amazing. Okay, well, that’s, I’m sure there’s a lot of mums super interested to hear about your story because you Would you agree it’s not the usual story, and it’s so great to hear. And I totally see where you’re coming from my youngest is four, but she’s just turned five. And I could totally go for a fourth, that I think, you know, just turned 40. So, I’m interested to hear your story. And as will always with these birth stories, I don’t know what the story is. So, for anyone listening today, it’s not like I pick and choose, depending on the story, because I want to hear a whole range of stories. So, I actually have no idea what we’re in for today, which is totally exciting.

COLLEEN

If you think you’re I mean, do you talk at all about as getting pregnant or just wondering about pregnant and birth? And afterwards?

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, that’s exactly what I wanted to ask. So, considering you’d had a break, and you you’ve got so a five-year gap. I’m guessing before you got pregnant again. How was it different fourth time around, but also being that little bit older and having all the children how can the set? How was it falling pregnant? It’s a big question I’m asking. So how was the process falling pregnant? And then the pregnancy in itself?

COLLEEN

Yeah. So, I mean, it definitely was uncertain about whether I’d actually be able to give because of my age, and everything, and the time, and it just something I’d wanted, but didn’t exactly know. Yeah, so I wasn’t even sure if I’d be able to become pregnant, I guess, is the term here, but really wanted it to happen and spent a long time hoping it would happen. And then finally, when it became time to actually try to go for number four. I was, you know, doing the temperature things. And that type of reading to understand about my cycle and didn’t happen, didn’t happen and didn’t happen. And so, I decided, my husband and I kind of said, Okay, we’re going to try for this amount of time. And if it happens, that’s what’s meant to be if it doesn’t, then we’ll just move on with our lives because of, you know, the age gap. And so, after a certain month of trying, I have decided to go, I hadn’t really gone into the doctor. So, I decided to go to the doctor and then did some diagnosis and found I had low thyroid, like, hypo thyroid condition, and also had some like polyps in my uterus. So got those two things taken care of. And then the next month of trying, it happened. Yeah, it was kind of crazy.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, amazing. And did you do anything different in yourself or with what you ate or anything? Did you do anything differently this time around trying to get pregnant?

COLLEEN

No. Didn’t do anything different. I just, I mean, I guess I was, in the last two pregnancies, I’ve been more into that basal body temperature approach. So that was kind of what I did again, so. But in terms of in the pregnancy, they’ve been, I’m fortunate that my pregnancies have typically been really easy. So that’s been I’ve been really lucky about that. So, I don’t really have usually much morning sickness, or I don’t like the extra conditions, usually.

KATH BAQUIE

That’s pretty amazing. You went to the doctor, you got your polyps and a thyroid disorder. And then the next month you were pregnant.

COLLEEN

Yeah. And it was a little bit stressful, because I knew I was kind of reaching the end of our window of trying and so yeah, when I was, you know, measuring my temperature after and hopeful that it would stay elevated. And then it did, we didn’t really, it actually took a pregnancy test. And it was negative. But then a couple days later, it was positive. So, and actually waited a couple days to tell my husband like what to do another does.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. And how, how did he respond what his what was his thought, going through his head about being a dad of four?

COLLEEN

He was reluctant, but I think once it and happened, he within a few days was fine. But he just had a little a bit of an adjustment.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, amazing. So how was how was your pregnancy? Fourth time round compared to the others?

COLLEEN

Yeah, I mean, I’d say overall, similar. And that good thing, I had been doing a lot of strength training ahead of time. So, I, actually after my second, I had some back issues. And so, I started doing a lot of core strength. And that was, I think, really helpful for this time. So, I have had, you know, five years of exercise really leading up to getting pregnant and I could definitely see that that helped. I’d continue to exercise for probably seven months, eight months into my pregnancy or beyond. I think we had a conversation when I was around that time. You give me some tips, so maybe it went longer than that. I don’t know. It was I felt lucky that I had mobility in the past I’ve had some like, pubic pain like was my second I had that and that was really painful. And so, I have gone to the chiropractor, more especially my third pregnancy and did it often. This time. I didn’t feel like I needed it as much, but I did it some. Yeah, so I think I didn’t do as much yoga as I had in my previous pregnancy is more strength training, I guess.

KATH BAQUIE

Hmm. Interesting. And do you think it helps the fact that you had three children? Were they all at school?

COLLEEN

They were all at school? Yeah. So, I didn’t have to do any that much lifting. So that was good.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, I wonder if that helped too. Okay, so fourth time round, did preparing for… preparing for birth, did that change at all compared to the previous experiences? Did you do anything different fourth time round?

COLLEEN

Well, I was actually listening to podcasts. More this time around, I listened to use that as a more of an education refresher, I felt like I didn’t, it didn’t take like another birthing class. I thought about it like a hip number thing that I didn’t. But I think the most important, most significant thing about getting ready for birth is I felt like I was reflected a lot on my last prior birth. So my first two births, I used epidural, and then the third I did not, but overall, that birth was a little I was a little bit unhinged, I would say in that birth, I was a little bit more, I was very fatigued going into that birth, I think my thought she’d my daughter was going to be early because my second child was early and she wasn’t. So, I was doing a lot of walking a ton of walking in the week, 10 days leading up to her due date, and she end up being two days late. And so, when my birth came, I was literally just exhausted. And I think that affected how I was able to manage. So, I did a lot of reflecting on that. And I knew I wanted to be able to feel in control. And I knew I tried done I don’t know what you guys have in Australia, but like nitrous oxide, I tried that with her that was not a huge fan of that feeling in like terms of having the mask on my face during labour. But I thought to myself, no, I don’t, I don’t I also didn’t like being contained in the bed. So, kind of made those mental notes to myself, I guess.

But I pretty much expected my other all my other kids were almost the exact same weight that they’re all like seven and a half pounds. And so, I’ve kind of expected my fourth to be the same it turns out it was a bit different. That’s kind of a surprise for me, he ended up being over a pound heavier. So, in much is a much bigger baby so that some people say maybe it’s because it’s your fourth or something, but I think it’s just the his genetic makeup, specifically kid. Yeah. But I think what was different also is an older, so you know, extra ultrasounds, extra monitoring, although I did have that was my third as well, because I was also 37 at that time, so.

KATH BAQUIE

Okay, so in the lead up, you did a lot of reflecting you listened to a lot of podcast episodes. And were you feeling calm in the lead up in the you know, prior few days?

COLLEEN

Yeah, I was. I was I mean, I think I was curious about when, when it would happen and what it would be like, but yeah, I think you’re right, and that I was probably less physically preparing in terms of not sure what I would exactly do, but it was really more mentally preparing. And I also knew it was kind of my husband had been through birth before and he felt pretty confident that he could do whatever I needed to do. And so, he didn’t I’m not sure how much reflecting he did. But I knew that then I would have to kind of be in charge and like, say what I wanted type thing.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, so yeah. And what happened on…

COLLEEN

The birth was much different. So that was a big surprise for me. So, like my first three births I think in cotton looking back were more similar in terms of the process like, Cameron, he came four days early, which was typical. My first was one day late. My second was 11 days early and then my third was two days late and so he was four days early. My water broke first so that had never happened before I’d always my water broke my water breaking and always happen during labour, late labour to try to continue like to either the first to kind of continue to speed things up after the epidural. For my third I think maybe it happened when I pushed her out.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, okay. So, on the morning that you was it the morning like on the day that your waters broke? What time of day was that? What were you doing at the time?

COLLEEN

Yeah, so we have it was American Thanksgiving. So, it’s like family holiday, and went to my brother’s house dinner. And you know, I felt a little bit a little bit different that day a little bit. Like I know, I remember having a period where I was just like, lean on the calendar just kind of feeling like interesting pressures in my body. It wasn’t like a normal sensation I’d have and so I was thinking but at the same time I was like maybe it’s just because I’m you know, I’m getting close. I didn’t know how eminent it was, I guess. And so, we went had a holiday and hung out with my family. And then came back I went to bed at normal time, let’s say 10:30 10:45. And then I woke up suddenly. And at that point, I had been sleeping in the basement on my own because I was just feeling pretty uncomfortable sleeping and moving around a lot. And so, my husband bedroom was on the top floor. And we were I was in the basement by myself. And so, I was like, woke up really suddenly, like I had to go to the bathroom. And so, I kind of rushed to the bathroom. And then I was so confused when I got there. Like, I thought I peed my pants because I was so wet everywhere. I was like, what is going on? And it was just a thought I was in a fog, you know, having just fallen asleep and then waking up again. So, it took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on. And so, I had my phone, so I called my doctor I called the doctor line, and my doctor actually was on call. So, I talked to her and told her what was happening. I felt like I think my water broke, but I’m not sure I think so. And then she agreed, and I had tested positive for Group B strep. I don’t know if you have that tests that you do that in Australia. So, she wanted me to come in pretty soon because she wanted to make sure I would get on the antibiotics. And she was given my fourth didn’t know how fast I would go. So, I called my husband from the basement. And upstairs and no answer. No answer. It’s barely my call the first time the phone was on vibrate; it fell behind the couch. And so, he didn’t hear it continuing the call. So, I had to wrap a towel around me like a diaper and go up the stairs because every time I moved, it was like leaking out. So, it was quite the experience. So yeah, and then headed into the hospital after what seemed like forever delay for his parents to come over and, you know, watch our other kids who are sleeping.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, okay, so you had to wait while parents arrived to look after the kids.

COLLEEN

Exactly. Yeah. And then I started starting to feel contractions a little bit but like, in a huge contrast in my other verse like the drive to the hospital was actually fine. Like in my other birth though they were it was bad because I was like in pretty intense contractions and the first one throwing up and things like that. But for this I was like a leisurely drive to the hospital. I felt totally like nothing was really happening. I felt some cramping I would say more, but it wasn’t strong. So got to the hospital. And right away, they didn’t even need to check me because I was walking, waddling in with my like diaper situation and said, Okay, we know we know what’s happening here. And so got checked in. And my contractions still they were happening, but they just weren’t very strong. So, we weren’t sure what to do. I decided I wanted to try to get them going on my own. So, by doing squatting and walking around, so this is probably like two in the morning. Now by the time we’re all in there and checked in and had that assessment. And so, I just walked in did squats for about six hours. Wow. And so that was exhausting. And nothing really, I mean, they were happening, I would say regularly my contractions every six, seven minutes or so. But they just weren’t changing my cervix at all. I was like three and a half, three and a half. And it wasn’t changing. So, then we decided to do Pitocin. So, I had augmented with that. And they just wanted to be sure. I was a little bit nervous about that because I hadn’t, I had it before when I hadn’t had an epidural for my second. But I you know; I had a plan to not have an epidural and I wanted to get the baby out on my own. And so I was just a little bit uncertain about that and how it would feel. And so, they started me they’d start really low, which they did. And then after an hour I was it seemed like it was working sound, but it could, I was still handling the contractions pretty easily. And so, then they upped it a little bit more and then things really started going. And so that was probably around 10am and then…

KATH BAQUIE

And you slept at all during the night?

COLLEEN

I think I closed my eyes for like a half an hour my husband tried to like sleep for like an hour but that was really challenging because we really didn’t sleep at all. And then having worked at like squatted for like six hours basically walking around.

KATH BAQUIE

Oh, did you try the fit ball like bouncing on the fit ball which is a bit more energy conserving rather than the squatting.

COLLEEN

Tried that although you know what was interesting whenever I sat down, and things would slow down. Even in my labour like I did take some rests on the ball for some contractions, but I felt that my contractions are less intense then and so then it kind of motivated me to try to skip back standing up and squat like squatting on my own legs. And so it was, the labour was probably the most I was actually done marathons and I ran And when I was younger and did crossword Us chi, and like a lot of intense sports, and this labour was like my most athletic event ever, like after like, all that squatting, and then the labour itself, I couldn’t sit down really, because every time I sat down, I felt like things were slowing down. And so, I was kind of, they had this apparatus thing that my husband could stand on, and I could hold it, and kind of squat or work through a contraction that way. And then for a while, I was putting my arms on the bed, like lowered the bed down arms on the bed. And I was he does a lot of counter pressure. Like on my hips, my hips, were just, probably from all those squats on fire, like I just was a lot of intense referrals in my hips.

KATH BAQUIE

What was the sensations like during the contractions? And during the surges? Like, were you feeling, okay? Or like, or were you struggling at this point? Or how are you managing mentally?

COLLEEN

Yeah, so as I started getting, I think, beyond six pi into seven centimetres, I definitely was getting much more intense. And I felt like I was doing pretty well. One thing I was happy about how it all went is I would every contraction, I think I would start with like, like a small shrill and my vocal movement, and then I would, but I would immediately try to bring it down to a really low tone. And that exercise of just bringing it down and like lowering my jaw and just really, really like using my jaw to kind of visualize like opening up, I think in that lower tone really helped me gain control. Because I think every time that contraction would start, I would kind of be in this little bit tense, I would tense up a little bit, and then I would, then that would cue myself to relax. So that’s really, really important, I think, for me to get through. And I also was extremely hot, like I could have, if there would have been like a bucket of water, I would have drowned myself. That was the hottest I’ve ever been in my life. I don’t know, I’ve never had that sensation before. And so, I was having like, my husband, I was just like, doubting myself with water. And I was I couldn’t get enough cold water on me. And I would go to the bathroom. And then I don’t know the bathroom often. And so, and I would run my whole arm underwater during the contraction. That’s really cold water that really helps just get through that period.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, right. Interesting. And when your body’s running, you know, at that sort of heat, it’s also working extra hard to so you’re probably becoming dehydrated, were you keeping the fluids up as much as you could.

COLLEEN

Yeah, yeah, I think so. And I had, I remember having pops a popsicle. Like I just wanted something cool. Like I just was like, I could not get enough of cold up cold. I think going to shower at one point, but I don’t know, that was earlier in the labour. But this was more what is intense, just kind of getting as much sloppy cold-water rags over my face, you know, just kind of douse myself. Yeah. And as I got closer to getting ready to push, I mean, I kept on, I remember the sensation from my third. And I remember feeling what I would call like, I feel a baby in my butt situation like that. So, I was kind of kind of looking for that feeling. And it wasn’t really coming as fast. And I think it was because he’s a bigger baby. And so, I was you know, late kind of working my work in the contraction strip, I pretty much laying on the bed, my torso, and then my husband would be pushing on my hips and just massaging them as hard as he could. And then I was the last like, I was at nine and a half I think and like my last little bit of cervix or whatever it’s called, was not didn’t quite go but the doctor said, well, let’s just push and she like, moved to the side during one of my contractions. I don’t know if that makes sense to you. And I think I started pushing on, went into the bed and on my side and a pushing that for a little bit. But that wasn’t super. I feel like I couldn’t really get as much leverage. And I could feel like my son, it felt like a bowling ball going through my body. So that was intense. And I actually felt a pop too, which I’ll talk about later on that recovery. That was another really large pop when I was pushing one time, so I probably didn’t push for too long. Maybe eight or nine contractions maybe 10 And then I asked for a squat bar and that’s when I was able to push him out but I think I was literally yelling when I was pushing like I’ve never tried something so hard in my life like I was pushing with every he answered me to get them out. And I think he has really broad shoulders. And so, his head was average, but it was really his shoulders. I think that were causing problems because you my daughter, who came third, she just shot out like, Cannon like it was no problem. And so, this is kind of surprising to me. I think I’m glad I didn’t know he was a big baby. I had the assumption in my head that you’d be the exact same size my other kids, when he did come out, I guess his head came out first. And then then it stopped like so he his shoulders were kind of stuck, but not in a baton and like kind of move positions ahead. And my doctor wanted me to lay down back quickly lay down. And then she was able to finagle his shoulders to get him out. And then he came up.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, right. So was it more time spent pushing for this birth?

COLLEEN

My first year I spent more time pushing, because I think first one is was a first but the second was only on like pushed a little bit. Not very long at all. And he came out really easily. And that the other third I pushed maybe two or three contractions like that pretty much. This one maybe I can’t exactly remember how long it was definitely longer. I really had to work to get him out. And I was surprised given you know, fourth baby at that you become slide right up.

KATH BAQUIE

And how did you feel when he came out?

COLLEEN

I was exhausted. Like, I looked at a video of it, which I was just like breathing. I just was like it looked like I just like run a marathon like my face was kind of like white. And like, you could tell I was just totally fatigued.

KATH BAQUIE

You remember it?

COLLEEN

I do remember it. I just remember being like, Oh, wow. Like just so happy that it was done in terms of just so exhausted, I guess because I hadn’t. Like I said, I haven’t slept. I’ve been moving all night. And the effort of pushing them out was exhausting.

KATH BAQUIE

And you knew he was a boy?

COLLEEN

That’s they came up. That was a surprise.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. Lovely. So you’ve got two girls, two boys. Is that right?

COLLEEN

No, it’s three boys and one girl. It’s boy, boy, girl boy.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. Amazing. So, I want to find out about those moments afterwards. But just going back quickly to all the times when your husband was helping, I’ve been asking this question more. What was one of the most helpful things on the best things that your husband was doing to help you? What really stood out?

COLLEEN

Great. What really has helped is cold pop can or soda can be caught pop in Minnesota. But rubbing that on like the right above my tailbone area, like right low, low back, rubbing that and then that and then having to so you can rotate in and out. Like put one back in the fridge Take One I go. That’s really helpful, I think are like in active labour, but not to the very end the very end it was just really providing like a really strong counter pressure. And like, digging into my, for me like into my hip flexors, you know, side and my waist area and those muscles and just really intense massage to try to like to dissipate the contraction feeling.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, right. And is that something you learned in hypnobirthing? Was it?

COLLEEN

No, I didn’t take hypnobirthing class, but we took a birth class for my first and that’s kind of something I just remember, we remember, we did like an exercise where you have someone hold an ice cube in your hand and you try to distract them kind of thing. So, we are just and then we had learned with Mike first about just this for me that’s a really having that counterpressure the Meet the intensity of the contraction with another sensation helps.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, amazing. Okay, so your little baby boy was born, you’re spent you’re happy and relieved. It’s all over. What happened in those first few hours?

COLLEEN

Trying to get him breastfeeding was a priority for me trying to get some skin the skin. Eating like a huge meal. I was so hungry. So, we’re both starving. But yeah, just real, in the US, I don’t know how it is there, but you have an option to do like a bath, delay the bath and I was released. I tried to delay it as much as I could. Although he definitely needed the cleaning. And just yeah, just getting him on me and trying to establish the breastfeeding I guess is what was most important thing and then it was different this time was the COVID situation in terms of the nurseries closed and so couldn’t have that time to recover so that was really hard, but like it was much harder to recover after the birth and I really needed at this time with not sleeping so that was a hard situation.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. Okay. And how did you find the breastfeeding fourth time around?

COLLEEN

We struggled a little bit in that he had a Strider and not they know that term, you know that terminus, but he had a kind of a squeaky breathing and eating. And it’s kind of was like, like that situation like a soft, a soft, a soft palate, I would say. And so that didn’t really present itself until after you’re home for a week or two. And then I kind of noticed it. And he also has kind of a tight mouth, I would say he didn’t, doesn’t open his mouth very large. He’s tongue tied for one as well. And then I did go to a lactation person. So, I did a couple I get it was COVID We did some online consults, and finally got it in person. And she had mentioned that he just has some tightness in his mouth. Just the way it mouth is. And so, we he was gaining enough weight, though, and I wasn’t really having too much problems in terms of my you know, my nipples were probably very had been through it before. So there but yeah, we were managing he was gaining weight. So, I wasn’t overly concerned by it. I mean, at one point, I thought I took him to a dentist or to see if he should be you know, that dentists but a, like an oral I get your nose and throat type doctor and to see if he should be changed at all. But just I just decided not to because he was gaining weight and my other, I have another son who was tongue tied, and I felt like that was just part of who he is. And he didn’t need to so maybe it sounds silly, but the tightest was like, oh, let’s just keep doing what we’re doing. Yeah, I mean, I think the recovery the hardest part for me was the my, like that popping sensation, like I mentioned, did a big number on my tailbone area took me it was just so hard. All the muscles like to stand and sit like that pressure to stand up was really, really painful. And so,

KATH BAQUIE

So it was that pop around the tailbone area.

COLLEEN

Yeah, I mean, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly where it was. But that’s what it felt like.

KATH BAQUIE

Because I thought initially when you’re talking about the pub, I thought you’re referring to Levada avulsion. But it sounds like it wasn’t that. So, has, how long did that? Were you in really bad pain? For quite a while?

COLLEEN

Yeah, I would say yeah, I mean, the most said, but the other two, I had pain, but it felt in that situation, more bruising, this felt more like muscle, like guide misaligned and then my muscles were all trying to compensate for it felt like and with the heart. And that was going into Christmas. And so, I mean, I talked to my doctor on the phone, but it didn’t go to my chiropractor, I probably should have gone in earlier. I finally did go in and he was like, you know, you’re basically uninterested yourself during delivery. And you’ve been that way the whole time since. And so he helped me adjust back and then I started going to a physical therapist for pelvic floor, actually, based on what the recommendations I’ve heard from you. And then also other podcasts for kick, so and then I went for that for over several weeks and months doing exercises and things like that. So, I did that was it did resolve itself, probably four months after I finally felt better. Okay, but even when I haven’t been back then I could feel it. It doesn’t have that anymore. But for a long time.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, right. And how’s the pelvic floor recovery been?

COLLEEN

Pretty good, I think. But I’ve had to work on it. Like I didn’t really know there was a pelvic floor specialist until I was connecting with FitNest and so I do, I felt like I didn’t know, like all the sensate like, going to the pelvic floor specialist has helped me better understand all the range of muscles in the pelvic floor. So, and then I need to I can tell I need to keep practicing so I can tell if I don’t.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. Okay, that’s good to know. I think after any vaginal birth, and then especially after four it’s good that you are focusing on like with the tailbone, that core and pelvic floor all that area. So, you’re doing an amazing job with your recovery. How old is Cameron now?

COLLEEN

He’s seven months.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. And how, how did you have older siblings? How did the older siblings adjust to having a new little baby in the house?

COLLEEN

Yeah, they were. There, you know, excited, but then it’s challenging, right especially initially because they don’t they mostly just eat and sleep and you know, they require a lot of mom’s attention. So, the older to handle that very well. My six-year-old had some challenges especially at in the evening when she was tired from School and that’s also when Cameron was fussy. He definitely had a kind of a typical fussy time period now six, seven weeks, he was really fussy in the evenings. And that lasted for a while. But then now it’s got, you know, once he started being more interactive, and that was much, after about two and a half months, you know, then he’s doing a lot more and interacting a lot more. And so, every week and month, it’s, he’s more interactive. So they’re really having fun with them.

KATH BAQUIE

And especially at this age of seven months as you starting to, like trying to crawl and wriggling around the mat.

COLLEEN

Yeah, exactly. He’s still sitting. And he’ll reach for things, you know, like he’s trying to get him so. And yes, he’s very, very, has a lot of movement. He loves a little jumper right now. He likes to jump.

KATH BAQUIE

Are you feeling like your family’s complete?

COLLEEN

Yeah, yeah, I do, right. I often just amazed at the that we are a family of four because I felt like it for a while that it wasn’t going to happen.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah. Amazing

COLLEEN

Then yeah, it was really, he’s a definitely a gift. And he’s a very smiley baby. And he loves his dad. So that worked out.

KATH BAQUIE

And too, I just love to know as well. What made you join FitNest Mama? And how did you find the program helped you during your pregnancy and birth?

COLLEEN

And I just love how it’s just, I just love the focus of it. I just love how it’s something that I hadn’t really seen before, in terms of really focusing so explicitly on the pelvic floor and kind of preparation and recovery. I felt like I had been in prenatal yoga classes and things. And they would mentioned pelvic exercises. But I felt like I didn’t fully really understand the importance enough, and what it was really like. And so, I just loved the dedicated focus on that as like a just a core part of preparing for childbirth and recovery, and just being female as well. So, I think that’s the part and I think it’s been fun to get to know you and to see your work.

KATH BAQUIE

Yeah, amazing. So, for any pregnant women listening today are new mums. I don’t think I’d told asked you, I don’t think I mentioned that I’d asked you this question. So, I’m sort of putting you on the spot. But what final words of wisdom or any piece of advice do you have for pregnant or new mums listening today?

COLLEEN

I would say just trust yourself. And trust yourself in terms of what you what you want, what you need. Be your own advocate, you and be your own champion. Because, yeah, if no one you can make things happen more than anyone else for yourself. So, I think that’s what I would say I think this whole Cameron is all about me kind of advocating for myself and when I really want it. I think that’s I remember.

KATH BAQUIE

Amazing. Well, thank you so much, Colleen, I feel honoured to have been able to chat to you today about your story. totally unique and wonderful in every way. And well done.

COLLEEN

Thank you.

KATH BAQUIE

We’ll catch you soon.

So, before I sign off, I just wanted to talk you through my main takeaway from that episode with Colleen today. Colleen, during labour, she tried lots of different positions. She tried lots of different, lots of different strategies. So, she found for example, when she was lying on the bed, she found that wasn’t comfortable and she tried something different. And that was my biggest take home message was she didn’t just accept or get into one position and stick with it. She was really fluid and was happy to try different things during the birth of her baby.

So that’s it ladies, my team and I will be putting together the show notes for this episode with all the links including how to access a free five day trial, head to fitnestmama.com/podcast. I hope you enjoyed that beautiful episode with Colleen today. That’s it. Have a fabulous day everyone and I look forward to you joining me next week for another episode of the FitNest Mama Podcast.

KATH BAQUIE

Thanks for listening to the FitNest Mama Podcast brought to you by the FitNest Mama Freebies found at www.fitnestmama.com/free. So please take a few seconds to leave a review, subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. And be sure to take a screenshot of this podcast, upload it to your social media and tag me, @fitnestmama so I can give you a shout out too. Until next time. Remember, an active pregnancy, confident childbirth, and strong postnatal recovery is something that you deserve. Remember our disclaimer, materials and contents in this podcast are intended as general information only and shouldn’t substitute any medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I’ll see you soon!