Meghan went into her first pregnancy knowing nothing about birth or postpartum. After doing her own research she was excited and prepared to have an unmedicated birth. When she and her husband relocated to upstate NY in her third trimester, Meghan switched to care providers who were more in alignment with her birth preferences. She went on to have an empowering hospital birth but felt that it could have been better. When she found out she was pregnant again, Meghan knew that she wanted a homebirth. Despite some early challenges and a resistant husband, she advocated for her desire to birth at home and assembled a dream team of birthworkers to support her. Though the course of her pregnancy and labor was similar to her first birth, the way in which Meghan felt she was treated was vastly different from her hospital experience. She felt honored and respected by her team and the result was a beautiful and peaceful birth at home.
Meghan Cheek Bio
Meghan lives in upstate NY with her husband Dan and their two daughters Emily (5) and Olivia (2). She is a registered dietitian but felt called to birth work following her own transformative birth and postpartum experiences. Meghan is now a birth and postpartum doula, happily serving families throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond. She enjoys incorporating her knowledge of nutrition to facilitate a nourishing pregnancy and postpartum recovery. When she’s not attending births and chasing her kids around, Meghan enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and long walks in the woods with her rescue pup Stanley. You can learn more about Meghan at her website thedouladietitian.com or follow her on Instagram @thedouladietitian.
Resources
Nurture by Naps
This episode is sponsored by NAPS, which stands for Newborn and Parenting Support. Founded by two labor and delivery nurses, NAPS offers evidence based support from actual nurses. It’s like having an expert best friend who’s seen it all and has the answers to all your questions (yes, even the 3 a.m. ones). NAPS’ lactation consultants are experienced nurses ready to help you figure out feeding, whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, combo feeding, or just needing some general guidance. From pregnancy prep to navigating life with a newborn and even through the toddler years, NAPS offers personalized support, workshops, and community to help you handle every “wait, is this normal?” moment with confidence. Head to nurturebynaps.com to learn more and start getting the guidance you deserve, exactly when you need it.
