How my final pregnancy on a low vitamin A lifestyle healed a decade of damage—and changed everything.
Before I tell you how my most recent pregnancy, labor, and recovery unfolded (and why it was my best yet), I want to give you some perspective by walking through my previous pregnancies. It’s a journey of transformation—and faith—and I hope it encourages those on a similar path.
Pregnancy #1: Young and Unaware
I was 19 when I got pregnant with my first. She was born four days before my 20th birthday—about 2½ weeks early. Everything went smoothly. My water broke around 2 a.m., and I calmly confirmed it with the hospital before waking anyone. Once there, they started Pitocin to regulate my contractions. I got to 6 cm before I asked for an epidural—mostly out of fear, not pain. I probably didn’t need it.
The doctor performed an episiotomy without even telling me. (If I knew then what I know now…) Labor was easy, delivery was smooth, and a few pushes later, she was out.
Pregnancy #2: A Blood Clot and a Close Call
This pregnancy started off with sinus issues so bad it felt like mucus Niagara Falls. I stopped prenatals, but nothing changed—until my husband researched dairy and suggested switching to goat’s milk. It worked. But shortly after, I threw out a rib and shoulder. I was stuck in bed on my left side for a week, and that’s when I developed a blood clot in my groin.
Because of the clot, I was labeled “high risk” and put on Lovenox for the remainder of pregnancy (and 6 weeks postpartum). Everything else went fine. But being induced again? Never. Again. The contractions were brutal, and I needed an epidural at only 3 cm.
I progressed from 3 to 9 cm in 15 minutes—fast and scary. Her heart rate dropped, and they prepped for a C-section. I prayed and spoke life over her. Moments later, her heart rate normalized. A few pushes later, she arrived safely. Praise God.
Pregnancy #3: Midwife Peace and a One-Glove Delivery
This time, I started with an OB. But every visit was filled with fear-mongering about taking daily baby aspirin. I refused—opted for Garlinase instead, even though I now know better.
At my ultrasound, the same doctor from baby #2 repeated the fear script. That was the last time I saw them.
We switched to a midwife—and it was the best pregnancy yet. No issues. I went into labor on his due date at 7:30 a.m., arrived at the birth center, and got things going with a breast pump since contractions weren’t regular.
Ten minutes in, they were back-to-back. I felt the urge to push, but the midwife didn’t believe me. I went to the bathroom and heard a huge splash—thought I’d delivered in the toilet! I said yes to the birthing pool.
When she came in to set up, I told her to hurry—it was happening. She got the stool ready and ran to get gloves. By the time she returned, his head was already out. She delivered him with one glove on.
Three pushes. No meds. Smooth, natural, powerful.
Pregnancy #4: Dieting Damage and a 2-Hour Push
By this point, we’d tried every diet you could name—Gerson, Paleo, elimination… all in pursuit of health. But I was underweight. I’d lost bone mass, shrunk in frame, and by the end, my body was screaming for fat and carbs. The last two weeks of pregnancy, I craved everything.
Labor started at 2:30 a.m. and lasted 24 hours. I pushed for 2 of those. Once my water broke, he came with one push. Stronger contractions this time, and the recovery was rough: mastitis, severe gas pain, then pneumonia and multiple lung clots by week three.
I was put on Coumadin after a brief stint on Lovenox. The Coumadin wrecked me—fatigue, hair loss, itching. So I stopped it cold. My doctor had no alternatives, so I fired him.
I gained weight rapidly afterward, and nothing seemed to help. Matt Stone’s work helped me understand more, but I still wasn’t healing yet.
Pregnancy #5: The One That Nearly Broke Me
In the beginning, I felt okay—until I stopped taking high-dose vitamin C after reading it might be harmful during pregnancy. That triggered a downward spiral. At 3 months, I had pulmonary embolisms again. I was bedridden most days with no energy.
Gestational diabetes hit hard. I needed insulin, but had an allergic reaction to it. I was physically exhausted and mentally drained. The depression was deep. But I never acted on it—my kids kept me going.
I didn’t crave vitamin A foods and avoided them naturally. I'd heard of the low-vitamin A concept through Matt Stone but couldn’t dive in until after delivery.
Labor was long—another 24-hour ordeal. I had sharp groin pain every time I walked. They induced me at the hospital. Delivery was quick—no epidural—but the baby was jaundiced with fluid in his lungs and a hidden tongue tie.
Six weeks postpartum, I was back in the ER with pain in my liver area. They diagnosed gallstones and scheduled surgery. Instead, I tried CleanseDrops and joined a detox network. Best decision I could’ve made.
Pregnancy #6: Redeemed and Restored
By this time, I’d been following Dr. Garrett Smith’s detox protocol for over three years. I was jogging, lifting weights, and walking several times a week. My body was finally healing.
When I became pregnant, I knew I didn’t need Lovenox again—and I was right. No clot issues. But by the second trimester, pelvic pain returned. Deep down, I knew it was iron overload.
My OB dismissed the idea, saying they only worry about low iron. She blamed weak pelvic floor muscles. But I knew better—and prayed for a solution.
Then came the miracle: nicotinic acid.
Thanks to Kelsey Kenney introducing it to Dr. Smith, and him sharing it with us, I started taking it—and the pelvic pain disappeared. If it was pelvic floor weakness, niacin wouldn’t have touched it.
At my appointment the day before delivery, I was already 4.5 cm dilated. We walked, contractions came on, and I went home to bounce on my exercise ball until baby engaged. Around 1:30 a.m., I laid down in the most comfortable position I’d found in months and fell asleep.
I woke at 3:30 a.m.—my water had broken. We prepped for a home birth just in case, but after a couple hours with no progress, we headed to the hospital.
They gave me one hour to progress before giving Pitocin. I asked to walk around first. After an hour, contractions intensified, though I was still only at 5 cm. Not ten minutes later, I told the nurse the baby was coming. I asked to deliver on all fours—she agreed.
Two pushes. Born at 10:17 a.m.
Recovery: Fast, Powerful, and Peaceful
I was up and moving soon after birth. I declined all medications—even Pitocin for hemorrhage prevention. The staff was surprised at my energy and strength. I even impressed myself.
This was the only birth where I did not tear. Every previous labor reopened the same old episiotomy scar—except this one. I had prayed for healing in that area for years. And it finally came.
Not even a month postpartum, I was walking again, doing light workouts, and craving movement. Cramps? Not bad at all. I did have some kidney pain from bile dumping, which mimicked passing a stone. That was intense—but it passed after a BM. I took serrapeptase three times, and that was it, due to the kidney pain.
I’m already back to my pre-pregnancy size. Just working on toning now. I feel good.
None of this would have happened without the work of Garrett Smith and Kelsey Kenney.
They’ve followed God’s guidance and brought life-saving insight to people like me. I wouldn’t have had a pregnancy, labor, delivery, or recovery like this without their obedience to God’s calling. I’m so grateful.
I know it wasn’t the shortest labor, but the hard part? It only lasted 10–15 minutes. The healing, the strength, the clarity—it’s real. This works.
Stay tuned for how postpartum life unfolded—and how I stayed on course with this healing path.
Thank you
Amazing to hear, Hope. You have so much to share. I am also very grateful for the Niacin. It is giving me so much more energy. I don't take that much but I can see a difference in energy levels and I feel more optimistic. Like my body was missing this for YEARS, shame I didn't know this before. Thanks for writing all this and sharing about LYL, it's a great program.