Doing It At Home - The Home Birth Podcast

How awesome are doulas?! It’s a trick question - because they’re so awesome it’s almost impossible to put into words how awesome they are. We’re celebrating World Doula Week this year by sharing some powerful conversations with doulas in different parts of the country and with different journeys into doula work as well as in practice. Today we have our conversation Sharon Randolph, holistic health practitioner and doula. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who are some of your heroes in the birth world? We got to chat with one of ours in this episode. Lindsey Bliss, also known as @doulabliss on Instagram - mom of 7 (including 2 sets of consecutive twins), doula, doula trainer, co-director of Carriage House Birth and the author of “The Doula’s Guide to Empowering Your Birth: A Complete Labor and Childbirth Companion for Parents to Be,” shared some of her time with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to have an empowered birth? Bottom line - it’s up to you - you make it your experience and mean what resonates most with you. In this episode we share some of our ideas on the elements that contribute to an empowered birth, and how you can empower your birth at any stage in the process - from planning to postpartum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do we expect women in our culture to get everything back together right after she has a baby? Whether it’s her body, work or anything resembling her lifestyle before motherhood, there is a lot of misconception and skewed conversation around the postpartum period. But podcasts like the Fourth Trimester Podcast, hosted by Sarah Trott and Esther Gallegher are changing that narrative. And in today’s episode, we’re chatting with Esther about the fourth trimester. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many mamas have felt that sensitive belly and jumbled organs feeling after giving birth? It’s not a great feeling right? You’ve just had a baby and are learning to navigate that whole new journey, but your physical body is also in a very significant and intensive healing and recovery process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s new in the birth world? What’s the latest and greatest? Or to quote a classic film of our time (Mean Girls) - “What’s the 411? What has everybody been up to? What's the hot gossip? Tell me everything.” This is a very fun, goofy, chill and laid back episode. Matthew and I are just riffing on some things that we’ve recently heard about, read about, or chatted about with listeners of the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you stay in a space of trusting your body and the process when getting pregnant presents an emotional journey of challenges? This was Caitlin’s reality when she and her wife, Shona decided to start a family. We’re so honored to share their story on the podcast in our first episode with an LGBTQ family! As Caitlin says in the interview, “families are something we build out of love.” We couldn’t agree more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is a rebroadcast of episode 19 where Sarah shares her postpartum story. Enjoy! --- Hey all, Sarah here. In this episode I’m solo and talking all about my home birth postpartum experience. I’m currently almost 4 months postpartum, and it’s been quite the journey for me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you were a part of a Facebook group for breastfeeding mamas, would you be surprised to be kicked out of the group for sharing a photo of yourself breastfeeding in public? Probably...right? Well, so was Abby Theuring when that happened to her. So she turned that surprise (and a mix of other emotions - as a new mom in a group supposedly designed to support and encourage), and created something with it - her own space for sharing empowered breastfeeding content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you deal with fear, anxiety and negativity that might pop up during pregnancy and planning for a home birth? For Lizzy, it was a process of “reprogramming” those thoughts and beliefs that were holding her back from trusting and surrendering to the possibility of a peaceful and joyful birth experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your sex life have to change for the worse after kids? We know of course the answer is “No, it doesn’t”, but how do you keep it from turning stale? How do you keep the fire burning for your partner after you’ve had a kid or two? Today we’re excited to bring you another SEX-PISODE, this time pulling the covers back on what our sex life has been like after having a baby. This episode joins our growing series of sex-pisodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when you become so passionate about birth that you are essentially compelled to dive into the work and make it part of who you are? Yukie McGregor answers that question for us in today’s episode. And for her - that looked like starting Dallas Birth Guide, an online and local resource tool for mothers in maternity, labor, birth and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So what are our plans for a future baby and birth? This episode is inspired by another listener question - how we’re going to plan for future births and babies. What would we do differently? What would we keep? We break it down for you - starting with our timeline for expanding our family. And it isn’t what we originally thought it would be when we first got pregnant with Maya! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’re talking to an amazing woman, mom, entrepreneur, midwife, and all around powerhouse -- Maryn Green. Maryn is the creator of Indie Birth (yes, THAT Indie Birth!), and together with her business partner and friend Margo, has grown that brand into an amazing resource and community for moms and women everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when you’re 41 plus weeks pregnant and your doctor is pressuring to induce and you don’t want to? For Danyel, that answer was to switch to home birth! For her, she felt “like a caged bird in a hospital” in her previous births, and took this as an opportunity to experience something different. Oh, and let’s mention this here - while this would be Danyel’s first home birth, it would be her 10th birth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“But what if something goes wrong?” Does this sound familiar? It might to many home birth mamas and families. It’s a common thing that pops up, across many sources of feedback and advice and for a multitude of reasons. In this episode we are covering a listener-requested topic/question - “How do you deal with the fear and anxiety of 'if something goes wrong?'” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does having a home birth mean you’re all “hippie-dippy” and stuff? Maybe, if that’s what works for you and that’s how you would describe yourself. You could also be a former pre-med student and do lots of research and dive head first into studies and medical literature to make the determination that home birth is the safest and best option for you and your baby. Home birth, along with its mamas, is not one size fits all and cannot be put in a box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do dads balance life after baby? It’s easier to find resources and conversations around motherhood postpartum, and that makes a lot of sense. But dads are greatly impacted too in their own ways with their own set of challenges and lessons. So coming to you by listener request we have today’s episode - Matthew sharing some of his perspective on what life after baby has been like. This is a great episode to share with partners and dads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to have a “traumatic” home birth? With the kind of conversations we have on this show and the energy and education we seek to create around home birth - of course we want to reduce the number of any traumatic births. However, birth trauma and feelings of broken expectations and frustration are possible regardless of where you birth. So as long as that is the case, birth stories like that of today’s guest, Azra Gregor, are so important to the healing birth narrative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you turn the trauma from one birth experience into a trusting, healing HBAC? Diana Tayan shares with us in today’s episode how she did just that. She takes us through the journey of both of her pregnancies and births of her sons Arakel and Rama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What links the terms black minimalism, veterans, eco-conscious lifestyle and home birth? Today’s birth story! In this episode we’re chatting with Pastaveia and Sean St. John, new parents to their daughter sage and an awesome couple with a powerful story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a first-time mom, how do you navigate your birth options and then make the best decision for you and your family? Well in this episode we explore that with Brooke Nielsen, first-time mama-to-be and wife to her husband Jordan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you were limited with your birth options? At 35 weeks Jessica and Seth Burdette decided to make the switch from a hospital birth with OB care, to a home birth with the Atlanta Birth Center. Most people don’t consider switching that late into the game (the vast majority don’t realize that’s even an option), and so we found it so empowering to hear how Jessica and Seth decided to do what felt right for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a fun and different kind of episode for DIAH. We’re taking a slight curve off of the path of birth stories and empowering birth conversations to focus on us for a second. And by us, I more specifically mean our marriage - our relationship style and our communication (or sometimes lack thereof). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I chat with Brianna and Joe Larsen about their second birth, and they did it at home! This birth was the opportunity to fulfill a deep desire for a home birth self-empowerment for Brianna. And get this - Joe himself is a home birth baby! So bringing a more holistic approach and trust in the way God designed our bodies, he was in full support of the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you been wondering "What is sex going to be like when I'm pregnant?" If so, this is the episode for you! Let’s talk about SEX, BABY! Not just the kind that makes the babies, but the kind you continue doing while the bun is in the oven. This episode is inspired by an article I wrote on some of our experience with pregnant sex. You can find that article here - http://backtocomplete.com/sex-while-pregnant/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we have another mom and dad conversation. Sean and Renee Kleve share the story of their pregnancy and birth of their first baby, their son Mason. Mason is just 4 weeks old at the time of this interview, so we are very grateful to both Sean and Renee for taking the time to hang out with us on the Doing It At Home podcast. The beautiful photos that accompany this episode (over on www.diahpodcast.com) are from Strom Strandell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is inspired by recent events in the online birth community. It’s pretty commonplace to have some of your images removed from Instagram if you are an account sharing images of birth. Due to things like “guidelines and regulations” as well as other users finding certain content offensive and then reporting it, we’ve seen a number of issues pop surrounding the censorship of motherhood since we ourselves started learning more about the community and being a part of the conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’re talking with Kathryn Orr, a certified birth doula, childbirth educator and more recently the outreach coordinator for the fantastic documentary “Why Not Home?” We’re familiar with “Why Not Home?” over here at Doing It At Home - because we had the pleasure of having Jessicca Moore, the creator of the film, on the podcast back in episode 82. So we’re very excited to have this mama of 2 share her birth stories with us and talk about her obsession with all things birth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we share why we're thankful for our home birth. Might sound like a weird topic, but having experienced home birth ourselves and interviewed dozens and dozens of moms and families who have chosen it as well (some who've also had experiences giving birth in a hospital), it's easy to see why we wanted to talk about the elements of giving birth at home which we really appreciate. Happy Thanksgiving to all the Doing It At Home listeners, moms, non-moms, dads, partners and supporters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’re talking with Carissa Breen about her home birth journey and story. Carissa and her husband Ryan planned the home birth for their first baby, River, while simultaneously planning a move across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I chat with Paige LoPinto, mama of 2 and creator of BirthTube, a private Facebook group dedicated to connecting women through pregnancy and birth, specifically by live streaming births of members of the group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You guys!! Episode 100 is here! I can’t even believe it’s been 100 episodes. To all of our listeners and supporters - those of you who have just started listening, dropped in to hear an episode or two, and those who have been with us from the beginning or binge-listened to catch up….we freaking LOVE you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we’re having a bit of fun and taking a look at a few colorful birth scenes from movies and tv. This is a follow up to episode 97 where we talk about a home birth that was depicted in the hit tv show Jane The Virgin. That conversation inspired us to explore other depictions of birth….and the result is this silly episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome back Katie McCormick to the show today! She joined us back in episode 73 where we talked about her and her husband Ryan planning a home birth in their cottage in West Cork, Ireland after leaving life in Portland, Oregon. Since talking with Katie McCormick, we spoke with another Katy - Katy Drew, a friend of Katie McCormick’s and a “non-mom” who inspired episode 76. And get this - while we were speaking to Katy - Katie was in labor! So lots of cool connections and happenings since we first connected with the expat mama to be. Now she’s mama to baby River - born 13 days past his guess date! This was of course part of their story - learning to be patient, surrender and understand that babies have their own timelines and ideas of when they’d like to make their appearance. We learn about some of the natural induction options that Katie went over with her midwife: nipple stimulation, essential oils, castor oil in orange juice...anyone else try out some of these methods? Mainly the focus was on letting go. When labor finally did begin, Katie was ready. She was grateful. And she had no fear. Ryan actually gets to join us in the interview as well! And Ryan’s take on the whole experience? He says, “It was outrageous! So amazing!” He says it was one of the most extraordinary events of living. Katie also opens up a little bit on postpartum life and how she’s integrating this new role, finding support in community and finding gratitude in the little moments. Thank you to Katie, Ryan and River for being a part of the DIAH family :) Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use code DIH20 to get 20% off your order More From Doing It At Home: Send us your birth story: https://bit.ly/3jOjCKl Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH Website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Merch: www.diahpodcast.com/merch Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’re discussing the depiction of a home birth in the popular tv show Jane The Virgin. Show Notes: Jane The Virgin Chapter Sixty Seven - http://www.cwtv.com/shows/jane-the-virgin/chapter-sixty-seven/?play=6ed0699d-21b6-4d3c-95ae-cbc0b5563d00 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode airs the day after Halloween - and we think it’s quite fitting. Because as a parent, sleep can be a scary subject! So do not fear - we have Alyssa Blask on the show today to help exorcise some of those stressful sleep demons. Alyssa has quite the resume - let’s just say she wears a lot of hats. She has a masters in early childhood and childhood development. She’s a doula. And a sleep consultant for infants and toddlers - what we focus on a lot of during our conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we welcome back the amazing Anne Margolis back to the Doing It At Home podcast. We spoke with Anne back in episode 24 titled, “Normal, Natural and Joyful Childbirth.” Anne is a powerhouse in the birth community. She has over 21 years of experience as a home birth midwife, after previously working as an OB nurse in the hospital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’re sharing Cayla’s birth story of her son Jude, born at home and 2 months old at the time we speak. Cayla's first son was born naturally in a hospital, and her second in a home birth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we are chatting with Caryn Ragin, wife to Dadrick and mama to baby Deborah. Caryn shares her journey to home birth, one that was not the most straight and narrow. She and her husband are a military family and became pregnant for the first time while in Korea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’re sharing four particularly great recent listener emails we received. These emails are all about empowering birth stories, the importance of talking about sex in pregnancy and new parenthood, a beautiful example of in hospital self advocacy, and a valuable insight from a “non-mom”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we bring you Laura’s incredible birth story. Laura and her partner Mikey live in Homer, Alaska with their daughter Hannah. I honestly don’t know the best manner or order to present all of the awesome elements of this story, so I’ll do my best to share it all as it hits me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heads Up: this is an amazing episode. Full of conversation around pleasurable, joyful, ecstatic birth. It may cause you to feel empowered and excited around birth : ) But seriously, we are so honored to have Debra Pascali-Bonaro join us on the show. She’s another one of the powerhouses of the birthing community that we’ve been anxious to meet and chat with. She is the creator and director of the documentary, “Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’ve got the whole family on the phone - Meggie and Steve Andrews, along with their baby Liam - to talk about Liam's home birth story. We talk about the mental and emotional adjustments that come with a huge unexpected life change, some of the more colorful comments around choosing home birth (like "Is that witchcraft or something?"), and about finding a new midwife when you move in the middle of pregnancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get to speak with both mom and dad! We love when we get to chat with a home birth couple and hear both perspectives from the decision-making process to the experience itself. So we’re chatting with Jarmar and Jonnelle Dupas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew and I have been parents for a whole year now! This past week we celebrated Maya’s 1st birthday, the anniversary of the Doing It At Home podcast and one year of navigating parenthood together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we're talking to a Doing It At Home Alumni, Lindsay Bonnar, about the home birth of her son Linken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we're rebroadcasting Maya's home birth story, originally episode 9 "Star Wars, Kiddie Pools, and Hypnobabies: Our Home Birth Story". Today is Maya’s 1st birthday. Our baby girl is 1 year old! Please hold while we pull ourselves together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we have a special guest, Melinda Michshaw, who is talking to us about reflexology, essential oils and holistic health practices for pregnancy and birth. Melinda is a fantastic resource of information, and we think you’ll enjoy our convo! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we have Alyssa’s story. Alyssa is a mama and registered nurse who chose home birth with her daughter Zoey. And Alyssa is super knowledgeable. We were just in awe of all the information she has and can rattle off. There’s so much that we included parts of her emails and additional resources in the extra notes with the episode on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices