After a surprise, but wanted, pregnancy, Jessica entered the world of birth in preparation for a home birth with her first baby. Despite her best efforts, her pregnancy was marked by many difficulties including heavy bleeding, polyhydramnios, an irritable uterus and a preterm labor scare at 29 weeks. Jessica experienced an unplanned hospital birth when her son arrived a month early on Christmas Day 2021. She was able to fight for the unmedicated birth she wanted, but was disheartened by how she was treated by some hospital staff. Her daughter Poppy was born, but everyone was shocked by unexpected health complications that resulted in a 6-week NICU stay filled with uncertainty. Jessica also suffered a major obstetric hemorrhage and vaginal wall tear during childbirth.
Jessica and her husband Mark do everything they can to be with Poppy as they wait to find out what her life might look like. After the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people around the world, Poppy went from being an unresponsive, floppy baby with no sucking, swallowing or gag reflex, to being weaned at 5 weeks and sent home as a healthy baby with no tube at the age of 6 weeks ! Jessica’s postpartum involved a very difficult breastfeeding journey where they overcame weeks of tube feedings, oral ties and a low supply to nurse successfully for 13 months. She has also spent the last two years doing everything she can to heal her perception of what birth can be like and to overcome the trauma of Poppy’s birth and newborn days.
Jessica Reynolds-Corden Bio
Jessica is a wife, mom, and lover of Meg Ryan movies and oat milk lattes. Originally from Hershey, PA, she now lives just outside of London with her British husband, Mark and daughter, Poppy. Jessica loves real food and also chocolate, about full bellies and easy cooking, about endometriosis and how to thrive with an illness. As a stay-at-home, work-from-home mom, she shares it all on instagram, including life in the messy middle of motherhood. Connect with him on Instagram: @jessicaeatsrealfood or his website: www.jessicaeatsrealfood.com
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BabyPeek
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