Episode 003: Kelli McKittrick

Hopeful Birth Podcast

Kelli started out pregnancy care with an OB, but after feeling unsettled with that choice, she made the switch to hospital based midwives in her area. Her labor with her first baby began with 18 hours of back labor. Following her chiropractic adjustment, she and her husband stopped in at the midwifery office, where she was now 8.5cm, and her waters broke in the room. They went over to the hospital and got stuck in triage and the business office. Once in a room, she got into the birthing tub, and when the midwife realized the nurse wasn’t going to make it back in time, she asked Kyle to catch the baby.

Postpartum with Keegan was cut short after finding out they were unexpectedly pregnant with Kate. This time, they were hoping to have Kate at the birth center with the same midwives, but Kate came too quickly for them to make it there. She was born at home, healthy and safe, with Kelli’s mom stepping in to act as the midwife, and required a short hospital stay to get checked out and allow for her to work out some of her fluids.

With her third pregnancy, Kelli planned a home birth and practically explained the differences in OB, CNM (hospital-based Certified Nurse Midwives) and CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) care. Her friend Rebecca was her doula, and Kelli experienced her most peaceful birth.

She encourages new and expectant mamas to talk through their desires for birth and to change providers, if their hearts are unsettled with the care they’re receiving, and to also learn to advocate for themselves.

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In this segment of Meet the Birth Worker, we’re meeting with Leah Kilmer of Loving Birth Doula Services. She serves women in the Upstate of South Carolina. You can find her at facebook.com/doulaleahdawn or email her at [e-mail].
Links Mentioned:
Dr. Cara Davis at Healthyfor Life Chiropractic
Carrie LaChapelle Craft of Hatched
Hypnobabies
Bradley Method‍
Leah Kilmer, Loving Birth Doula Services