Today’s birth story comes from Maggie W. in Texas, who started her pregnancy here in Minnesota, then moved home to be closer to family.

We’re thrilled she kept the Blooma vibe going by practicing to the Blooma Prenatal Yoga DVD — even while in early labor.

As Maggie writes, she lost all her inhibitions once she was deep into labor. (Mamas, that’s one reason why we practice all those Ahhhhhhs in class — so you’re comfortable with letting go in labor.)

Thanks for sharing your fabulous story, Maggie. We miss you in Minnesota!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

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Maggie, practicing prenatal yoga at home in Texas to the Blooma Prenatal Yoga DVD!

{by Maggie W.}

I started prenatal yoga at Blooma when I was only 8 weeks pregnant.  I remember being nervous as I heard the other mama’s share their guess date and realized I was the only one in my first trimester.

I went up to Sarah after class and asked her if she thought it was okay and safe to being doing yoga so early in my pregnancy and she quickly put my mind at ease.

I started going pretty regularly after that, I loved that I had a safe and peaceful place to relax and send positive energy to my baby.  I really enjoyed being around other moms-to-be and sharing before each class — I felt apart of a special community of women.

I also loved that when I’d leave class I had a choice of either going to the co-op for something healthy or going to the Convention Grill for something fried.

Around the end of my second trimester we found out we were moving back to Texas, our home state and closer to family.  While I was super excited and happy to get back, I was sad that I’d be leaving this wonderful studio and amazing women.

I purchased a Blooma Prenatal Yoga DVD and some other apparel to remind me of this great experience and place.  After the hustle of moving and getting settled and nesting – which was not an easy task in the heat of Texas and third trimester – I started using the DVD and getting back into a yoga routine.

The DVD was great and really helped me through my last few months.  During the course of my pregnancy I had been told that my placenta was low and they couldn’t determine if it was previa – they had scheduled a C-section (which was not part of my birth plan but I had accepted that if I got a healthy baby out of it then it would be worth it).

When I was 35 weeks I started having contractions and went to the hospital, I was discharged after a couple hours of fluids and then put on bed rest.

At my next OB appointment it was discovered that my placenta moved 2mm and I was given the green light to have a vaginal birth. At that time I was also 3cm dilated and 75% effaced!

I went home and did a yoga video since I wasn’t on bed rest anymore.  I was scheduled for an induction on August 10 – that night I was like a kid before Christmas, I couldn’t sleep and was just so excited to meet our son.

I woke up around 2 am with a mild contraction and thought I would take a bath to relax.

I was still too excited to go back to sleep so I decided around 4 am I’d do some yoga, well about halfway during the video I started having more intense contractions so I decided to wake up my husband and tell him I think we should probably head on to the hospital.

On the way there I started going into full on OH MY GOD THIS HURTS! contractions!  While we were checking in my water broke and I was quickly rushed back to the delivery room.

I tried to focus on breathing and just facing the pain and channeling strength, I have to say the contractions were so intense and close together that I just lost all my inhibitions – definitely a side of me that my husband has never seen before!

The nurse came and checked me and I was already 8cm and everything after that was surreal.  My husband was great and an amazing coach.  The room was dark and quiet with only one nurse – they followed my birth plan!

After 45 minutes of pushing our precious and amazing son, Royce Bailey came into this world (9:12 am, 8lbs even, 20 ¾ in).

So I started having major contractions around 5:30 and had the baby at 9:12 – I attribute the swiftness of delivery to all the yoga I did and cannot thank Blooma, the staff and Sarah Longacre enough for their guidance and energy!

Sending all our love from Texas and positive thoughts to all the mamas out there about to experience the most amazing journey of labor and delivery.

Namaste,

Maggie W.

*{A little note from Blooma: We joyfully share birth stories sent to us by Blooma families, however, Blooma does not claim responsibility for and does not endorse individual choices made by families or their care providers. We seek to share an array of birth stories to showcase a wide range of experiences.}