Birth Plans, Postpartum, and the Real Pressure to Bounce Back w/ Samantha Christine
In this episode of Pursuit of Wellness, guest Samantha Christine shares her experiences with hospital and home births, discussing the differences in approaches and outcomes. She opens up about her postpartum challenges, including anxiety after her first birth, and explains how building a stronger support system improved her second postpartum experience. The conversation includes practical insights about partner communication and support during the postpartum period.
The discussion also covers Samantha's evolution from dance enthusiast to certified nutrition coach and trainer, specializing in women's health and strength training. She details her strategies for managing a busy schedule that combines career, fitness, and family responsibilities, including her approach to time management and maintaining balance in family nutrition.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Aug 11, 2025 episode of the Pursuit of Wellness
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1-Page Summary
Pregnancy and Birth Experiences
Samantha shares her contrasting experiences with hospital and home births. Her first child was born in a hospital with medical interventions, including [restricted term] and an epidural, resulting in a 36-hour labor where she felt out of control. For her second child, she chose a home birth, preparing extensively through breathwork, meditation, and hypnobirthing classes. This experience, conducted in a birthing tub with minimal intervention, resulted in a peaceful delivery where she felt empowered and immediately bonded with her baby.
Postpartum Challenges and Self-Care
After her first birth, Samantha experienced significant postpartum anxiety, including intrusive thoughts about her baby's safety. She regrets not seeking more help during this period. Her second postpartum experience improved thanks to a stronger support system, including her partner Ian. Samantha emphasizes the importance of communication between partners during the postpartum period and suggests that new fathers receive guidance on supporting their partners during this time.
Fitness Background and Career as a Coach/Podcaster
Though raised by fitness-enthusiast parents, Samantha initially focused on dance and arts. During pregnancy, she became a certified nutrition coach and trainer, specializing in women's health and strength training. She shares her expertise through "The Empower Podcast" and includes her children in fitness routines. Samantha's personal fitness journey includes marathon running and endurance events, though she emphasizes the importance of gradual postpartum recovery.
Time Management and Balancing a Busy Lifestyle
To manage her packed schedule of career, fitness, and family responsibilities, Samantha uses time blocking and plans her days in advance. She collaborates with her partner Ian, whose Navy SEAL background contributes to their household's structure and organization. Samantha also maintains balance in family nutrition, implementing creative strategies like the "switch witch" at Halloween, where candy is exchanged for toys after initial trick-or-treating enjoyment.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personalized birth plan by researching different birthing options and outlining your preferences in a document to share with your healthcare provider. This plan could include your stance on interventions, pain management, and the environment you wish to give birth in, ensuring you feel more in control during the process.
- Develop a postpartum wellness checklist that includes signs of anxiety and stress, along with local resources for professional help, such as therapists or support groups. Keep this checklist visible in your home to remind you to monitor your well-being and seek assistance if needed.
- Introduce a family wellness challenge where each member sets a personal health goal, whether it's trying a new vegetable each week, practicing daily meditation, or completing a set number of steps. Track progress together and celebrate achievements to encourage a collective focus on health and fitness.
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Pregnancy and Birth Experiences (Hospital vs. Home Birth)
Samantha shares her contrasting experiences of hospital and home births, highlighting her journey from medical intervention with her first child to a natural and empowered home birth for her second.
Samantha's First Child: Hospital Birth With [restricted term]; Second: Home Birth
Samantha's Epidural Hospital Delivery vs. Natural Home Birth Experience
With her first pregnancy, Samantha planned a hospital birth expecting an epidural and other medical interventions. She gave birth to her first child, Grayson, in the hospital with the aid of [restricted term] due to a lack of natural dilation and experienced back labor from the baby being flipped, resulting in 36 hours of labor. Despite her desire for a natural birth with no medication, it did not go as planned and she felt out of control during the process.
Samantha Prepared For Home Birth With Breathing, Meditation, and Labor Exercises
For her second child, Samantha felt nervous about being checked for dilation due to PTSD from her first hospital birth experience. However, she decided to have a home birth during the second wave of COVID because she wanted a natural route and the birth center was requiring masks, which she felt interfered with breathwork. To prepare for her home birth, Samantha engaged in daily breathwork, participated in hypnobirthing classes, and practiced perineal massage. She also took courses called "happy home birth" and "pain free birth" where she learned techniques like breathing through discomfort and using affirmations.
Empowered by Midwife, Samantha's Peaceful Home Birth
Samantha Delivered At Home In a Birthing Tub With Minimal Intervention
Samantha delivered her second child at home in a birthing tub with minimal intervention. She set up the ...
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Pregnancy and Birth Experiences (Hospital vs. Home Birth)
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Samantha's home birth experience was positive, it's important to note that home births may not be suitable for everyone, as they can carry higher risks for complications that require immediate medical attention.
- The feeling of control during a home birth is subjective and can vary greatly from one person to another; some may feel more secure and in control in a hospital setting.
- The use of [restricted term] and epidurals in hospital births, although portrayed negatively in Samantha's experience, can be life-saving and pain-relieving for many birthing individuals, and their use should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- The preparation for a home birth, such as hypnobirthing and perineal massage, may not guarantee a pain-free or smooth birth experience for all, and the effectiveness of these techniques can vary.
- The decision to avoid a birth center due to mask requirements during COVID-19 might not align with public health recommendations, and the benefits of mask-wearing t ...
Actionables
- You can create a personalized relaxation playlist that resonates with your own peaceful experiences to use during stressful times or important tasks. For instance, if nature sounds calm you, compile a list of forest ambiances or ocean waves to play in the background while working on a project or during meditation to enhance focus and tranquility.
- Consider taking a course in basic meditation and breathing techniques to manage stress and improve overall well-being. Many community centers or online platforms offer beginner-friendly classes that teach you how to incorporate these practices into your daily routine, which can help in moments of high stress or when needing to center yourself.
- Explore the benefits of im ...
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Postpartum Challenges and Self-Care
Samantha's personal experience with postpartum anxiety highlights the importance of openness and self-care during this challenging period. With improved communication and support, her second postpartum experience showed significant improvement.
Samantha Faced Postpartum Anxiety, With Intrusive Thoughts and Trouble Seeking Help
Samantha describes dealing with postpartum anxiety, which was marked by intrusive thoughts about her newborn's safety, such as morbid ideas and the need to constantly check if her baby was breathing. She looks back with regret for not seeking more help and keeping most of her struggles to herself. Samantha wishes she had been more open about her challenges, as it could have provided her with the support she required.
After facing difficulty in decisions related to divorce and concerns about maintaining breastfeeding post-divorce, Samantha leaned on prayer and coping mechanisms to get through the anxiety. Adding to her challenges, she faced physical issues like mastitis while breastfeeding. She highlights the importance of self-care practices such as breathwork and meditation.
Samantha Learned the Importance of Postpartum Self-Care
Samantha's experience taught her the vital role of self-care, not just for physical health but also for mental well-being during the postpartum period. Her reflection indicates a shift in attitude towards actively incorporating self-care strategies, such as physical exercises aimed at helping her body recover after stopping breastfeeding.
Samantha's Second Postpartum Experience Improved With a Stronger Support System and Self-Care Focus
Samantha looks forward to a positive second postpartum experience, attributing this optimism to a stronger support system and a focus on self-care. Her current relationship with Ian involved blending their families carefully and taking steps at a measured pace, showing the value of responsible family dynamics and the growth of their children's relationships into a blended family.
Ian Supports Samantha In Blending Their Families
When Samantha and Ian decided to combine households, it was in response to their children expressing interest in growing their relationsh ...
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Postpartum Challenges and Self-Care
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a "Postpartum Wellness Journal" to track your mental and physical health, noting down daily feelings, physical symptoms, and self-care activities. This can help you identify patterns, recognize when you might need additional support, and provide a communication tool to share with your partner or healthcare provider.
- Develop a "New Parent Pact" with your partner before the baby arrives, where you both commit to specific actions that support each other postpartum, such as taking turns with night feedings, scheduling alone time for self-care, and attending appointments together.
- Organize a "Support Squad" by listing friends, family members, or profe ...
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Fitness Background and Career as a Coach/Podcaster
Samantha's Fitness Journey Started In Childhood, With Her Parents as Avid Runners and Crossfit Enthusiasts, Though She Initially Focused More On Dance and the Arts
Samantha grew up with fitness infused in her lifestyle, as her parents were enthusiastic marathon runners and devotees of CrossFit. Although Samantha was active in her youth, her interests leaned more toward dance and the arts, without a heavy emphasis on fitness tracking or athletic training.
During Pregnancy, Samantha Became a Certified Nutrition Coach and Trainer Due to Her Interest in Fitness and Nutrition
Samantha Christine, after developing a deeper interest in fitness and nutrition, became a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer specializing in women's health, strength training, and clean eating.
Samantha Specializes In Women's Health, Strength Training, and Clean Eating, Sharing Expertise On Her Podcast, "The Empower Podcast."
Samantha's passion lies in the areas of women's health and clean eating. She communicates with her community directly, through DMs and her app, and broadly, through "The Empower Podcast," where she tackles topics such as the unrealistic expectation of "bouncing back" post-pregnancy. Samantha advises the importance of allowing the body to heal and being mindful of proper nutrition during this sensitive period.
Samantha's Fitness Experience Inspires a Healthy Lifestyle
Samantha includes her children in fitness routines and challenges myths surrounding pregnancy recovery. After pregnancy, she eased back into fitness with walks, stretches, and yoga, eventually incorporating light dumbbell exercises at home and resisting the urge to rush the process. It took her a full year after childbirth to feel genuinely strong again—she waited until she was done breastfeeding her second child at 13 months to begin heavy lifting.
Samantha Includes Her Kids In Fitness, ...
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Fitness Background and Career as a Coach/Podcaster
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can integrate family-friendly fitness by creating a weekly "Family Olympics" where each member participates in fun, age-appropriate physical activities, fostering a culture of health and togetherness.
- Start by choosing simple activities like relay races, jumping jacks, or even a dance-off. Keep track of everyone's progress and celebrate improvements with non-food rewards, such as choosing the next family movie night film.
- Develop a habit of mindful eating by starting a "Nutrition Detective" game with your kids, encouraging them to ask questions about their food and its benefits.
- During meals, discuss one ingredient and its health benefits. For example, talk about how spinach is good for muscles, or how oranges help the immune system. This can make mealtime educational and interactive.
- Prepare for your own end ...
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Time Management and Balancing a Busy Lifestyle
Samantha Manages Career, Fitness, and Family With Time Blocking
Mari Llewellyn inquired about how Samantha Christine juggles a packed schedule, including exercising, self-care, child care, advancing her career, hosting a podcast, and maintaining an active social media presence. Samantha reveals she employs time blocking to structure her day from the moment she wakes up.
Samantha Prioritizes Self-Care By Making Time For Workouts and Balance Activities
To effectively manage ADHD and her busy lifestyle, Samantha plans her day the night before, enabling her to rise with a clear agenda. She strives to incorporate movement every day, whether through workouts or brief walks. She reserves time-consuming tasks like filming and editing for times when she doesn't have the kids, minimizing disruptions.
Samantha and Ian Effectively Divide Responsibilities Through Communication and Collaboration
By communicating with her team, which includes her boyfriend Ian, Samantha sustains a structured approach to her daily plans. She holds her self-care in high esteem, as prioritizing her well-being enables her to excel in all facets of her life. Ian's contributions to planning and structure, rooted in his discipline as a Navy SEAL, have significantly enhanced the organization of Samantha's day.
Samantha Sets a Nutritional Example for Her Family
Samantha advocates for setting a healthy example for her family while recognizing the joys of childhood traditions like Halloween.
Samantha's "Switch Witch" Halloween Strategy Balances Treats With a Nutrient-Dense Diet
She lets her children experience trick-or-treating, collecting popular candies such as Snickers, Twix, and Skittles. On ...
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Time Management and Balancing a Busy Lifestyle
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Counterarguments
- Time blocking may not be a one-size-fits-all solution; some individuals may find it too rigid or stressful.
- Planning the day the night before might not account for unexpected events, which could disrupt the set agenda.
- Daily movement is beneficial, but the type and intensity of workouts should be tailored to individual health needs and limitations.
- Reserving time-consuming tasks for child-free periods could lead to long work hours and potential burnout.
- While communication and collaboration are key, the text does not address how Samantha would manage if her support system, like Ian, was unavailable.
- The "Switch Witch" Halloween strategy, while creative, may not address deeper lessons about moderation and could potentially create a mindset where treats are seen as bad and toys as rewards.
- Setting a healthy example for one's family is important, but the approach should also consider children's autonomy and the potential for ...
Actionables
- Create a family wellness chart to encourage healthy habits together, where each family member can add stickers for completed activities like exercise, healthy eating, or time management successes. This visual tool can foster a sense of accountability and shared goals, making wellness a collective effort.
- Develop a personal reward system for managing indulgences, similar to the "Switch Witch" concept, but applicable to other scenarios like screen time or junk food. For instance, set a limit on these indulgences each week, and if you stay within the limit, reward yourself with something that contributes to your well-being, such as a new book or a self-care item.
- Us ...
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