Doing It At Home - The Home Birth Podcast

Have you ever done some serious traveling with your kids? Are you planning on it but are terrified at how it might go? Well fear not! In today’s episode Matthew and I are giving you some tips on traveling with your little ones. We just returned from a 2 week trip to Europe where we went all over the place, did a bunch of stuff, and managed it all with a smile on our faces. Yes, you can have a great time traveling with kids and today we’re going to help you do just that. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we heal? One way is to share with others, create community and connection. In today’s episode, we chat with Ash Luna, photographer and founder of 4th Trimester Bodies Project. Ash shares part of their incredible story with us. From their interest and desire for home birth to their experience with loss, trauma and grief. Ash opens up their world and gives perspective of life with her family including her partner Flowers and their children Xavier (13), Nova (6) and Sol (8 months). We’ve followed Ash and part of their journey on social media for a while now, so we’re very grateful that they joined us for an honest and informative conversation. We learn about their experience of twin to twin transfer syndrome in their second pregnancy, which resulted in the passing of baby Aurora and the 24 week, 1 lb. birth of baby Nova. In their third birth, Ash had a magical home birth for baby Sol. We also talk about non-binary parenting and gender as a spectrum. Plus some of the story behind 4th Trimester Bodies Project and what an amazing community and following it has created. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 4th Trimester Bodies Project website: https://www.4thtrimesterbodiesproject.com/ 4th Trimester Bodies Project Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4thtribodies/ Ash’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashdluna/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you listen to (or are you currently listening)yourself when it comes to your desires around your birth? In today’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Christy Robinson, holistic doula for birth as well as transition (death). Christy is not just a powerhouse of a woman and a pillar within her communities when it comes to service, education and creative work, but she’s a close friend of ours. In this interview we hear about Christy’s journey into doula work as well as some of her experiences and insights from her 10 plus years in the birth world. We also talk about advocacy, designing your birth and honoring your internal desires. And the topic of women of color and the birth world and how we can empower ourselves and our communities to give and receive better care and education. Links: Connect with Christy: [email protected] Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you trust in the process of your birth experience? In today’s birth story, we’re chatting with Charly and Dan Swanberg about the births of both of their daughters: Luna and Kaiya. Charly’s mother had 3 home births herself, so the experience was already familiar and normalized for Charly. Both chiropractic students, Charly and Dan have cultivated a strong understanding and trust in the human body and its abilities. We get to hear about both pregnancies, which went for about 42 weeks. As well as the surprise of getting pregnant 4 months after their first birth. It’s great to hear both perspectives from the whole journey and about the lessons that each learned. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What and how should you eat during pregnancy? This is a big question that comes up often, and there are lots of thoughts around it. So where is a place where you can get all the info you need, in a clear, empowering and informative way? Enter Lily Nichols, our guest today. Lily is a real food dietitian, specialist in prenatal nutrition and gestational diabetes, and best-selling author of two books: Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. In this interview we discuss:Benefits of real food for pregnancy (both for baby’s optimal development and also to minimize pregnancy complications and ease postpartum recovery for mama)Nutritional management of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, nausea, heartburn & moreMindfulness, stress management, exercise, avoidance of toxinsFoods to emphasizeFoods that can be helpful during labor (if you are able to eat and drink during the experience) Links: Lily’s website - https://lilynicholsrdn.com/ Lily’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lilynicholsrdn Lily’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PilatesNutritionist Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does your first pregnancy and birth experience impact your second? In today’s interview, we’re chatting with Carolyn about her pregnancy and birth story of her son Solomon, while pregnant with her second child. We go over her decision to have a home birth as well as the intense first trimester sickness she experienced. Also the denial around labor starting, which we’ve heard quite a few times from mamas on the show. Carolyn shares that while the birth went very well, it was still different from what she imagined in her mind. Following her birth, she experienced postpartum anxiety that involved separation anxiety and trouble sleeping. Addressing the anxiety and getting help around it has supported and encouraged her in preparation for her next child, due this fall. 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

How do you process when things don’t go the way you planned in your birth? We deconstruct this question with mamas Amy and Mallory Caldwell in today’s episode by taking it back to the beginning of their pregnancy journey. Both Amy and Mallory knew that they’d like to carry children at some point in their marriage and growing their family. So for their first, they made the decision for Mallory to go first as the gestational parent. They share the process of insemination, selecting a donor, and how they’re aiming to use the same sperm for their future children. They made the decision to have a home birth around 16 weeks. They found a queer midwife who works largely in the LGBTQ community and fell in love with her. We also discuss the legality of home birth in their state of Ohio and what that looks like with cooperation of midwives and hospitals. And hey - creative, business savvy people out there - there’s a huge opportunity for expanding the options in maternity clothing. For Mallory, it was quite frustrating to find clothing that she liked. Wearing primarily men’s clothing when she’s not pregnant, it was challenging and disappointing. It’s a simple and yet profound example of how there are variations of normal in how pregnancy looks and how gestational parents can be represented in the pregnancy and birth world of products and services. We then get the full breakdown of the birth story, which includes an ECV (external cephalic version) procedure to flip baby from the breech position, and multiple trips back and forth from the hospital back to home. That’s all I’ll say here, and let you listen to get the rest of the story. It’s such a powerful and inspiring conversation, and we’re so grateful to Amy, Mallory and baby Sebastian for joining us on the podcast! Show Notes: Le Pooch - http://lepooch.net/ Cryo Bio - https://www.cryobio.com/ Milk and Hannah - https://www.milkandhannahphoto.com/journal/2018/2/17/welcome-sebastian-birth-story-from-mama-columbus-birth-photographer-milk-Hannah?rq=Sebastian Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 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. First there were the conversations of who would be the gestational parent - which were relatively easy given that Caitlin wanted to be pregnant and Shona wanted to be a parent but didn’t necessary want to be pregnant. Then come the logistics of how they would conceive. As Caitlin puts it, “we couldn’t just hop in bed and make a baby!” So they explored the different routes of insemination. There are options of having a known or unknown donor. Then for the procedure itself you can have an IUI - intrauterine insemination, which is performed at a clinic and is a more “medical process” or an ICI - intracervical insemination, which you can do at home yourself and Caitlin refers to as the more DIY insemination. Caitlin walks us through their journey, from cycle monitoring to increase the likelihood of insemination success, the rounds of unsuccessful IUIs, a break in the middle of the process after such an emotional rollercoaster and obsession with the process. They eventually moved into the ICI route, where after a few more attempts and switching up donors (now using a close friend’s sperm), they finally got their successful insemination! And so now Caitlin and Shona are planning for a home birth! 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. Links: Part 2 of Caitlin and Sho's story: https://parentsondemand.com/podcasts/doing-it-at-home/185-home-birth-story-two-mamas-welcome-their-baby-with-caitlin-thompson-and-sho-selby/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you had to change your birth plans on your due date? This happened for Laura Smoker, as she prepared for and planned a home birth, however had to shift plans when she risked out due to concerns around her blood pressure and possible preeclampsia. Laura and her husband Joshua wanted a home birth following 3 miscarriages and some of the hospital experiences associated with them. Laura is beautifully open about her journey with loss and how she processed being pregnant for the fourth time and finally being able to hear a heartbeat at 13 weeks. And we hear all about baby Elliot’s entrance into the world. Despite the changes to the birth plan, Laura acknowledges that she got to experience everything she wanted minus the specific location. In her words, “I know there are many people who desire a home birth that can't have it for some reason and I feel that sharing my positive hospital experience and what made it that way could be helpful to others.” Links: The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Womans-Guide-Better-Birth/dp/0399525173 Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t all moms ultimately want what’s best for their children? This is a question that Katelyn Fusco addressed in her work as a certified health coach for pregnant mothers. This question and the answers to it evolved and applied to the world of pregnancy and birth as well when Katelyn shifted to become a student midwife. As a cesarean baby herself, Katelyn and her husband Thomas decided for a home birth when they became pregnant with their first child. Katelyn is currently pregnant with her second and planning for another home birth. She has birthed another project over the past year, The Happy Homebirth Podcast - a community for stories and sharing that launched in January 2019. So we are in great company with a fellow podcaster and birth enthusiast! And Katelyn interviewed Sarah for The Happy Homebirth Podcast, which you can listen to via the link below! In our conversation on DIAH, we cover Katelyn’s background and history, the birth story of her daughter Janie, planning for baby number 2 and her future plans for her podcast and community. Links: The Happy Homebirth Podcast: https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/ Happy Homebirth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyhomebirthpodcast/ Sarah’s interview on The Happy Homebirth Podcast: https://podcast.myhappyhomebirth.com/e/ep-27-doing-it-at-home-with-sarah-bivens/ Spinning Babies: https://spinningbabies.com/about/gail-tully/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when it’s difficult to come to terms with how your birth unfolded? In today’s episode, Katie Suder shares her journey with us. From her unexpected and joyful pregnancy to currently 9 months postpartum and still processing a lot of her birth experience. While waiting the few weeks before she could see an OBGYN for her first appointment, Katie had time to reflect and research on her options. This led her and her fiance Andrew to a home birth midwife. Fast forward to birth, baby Andrew Michael was 13 days past guess date. After laboring for 30 hours at home, Katie and her team transferred to the hospital. Katie and the supportive staff did everything possible to facilitate a vaginal birth. The cesarean, though necessary, was traumatic. Katie is beautifully honest about how she’s felt over the months and we know her story will touch the community and have a ripple effect of healing. Links:Our website: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you experienced postpartum PTSD? Today we’re talking with Stephanie Aberlich, not only about her home birth of her son Arlo (which she and her husband Dustin planned for and kept a secret from friends and family), but also the traumatic ER visit and hospital stay for baby Arlo just 24 hours after he was born and was experiencing fast breathing. Doctors later diagnosed him with polycythemia and kept him in the PICU and then the NICU for a total of 5 nights and 4 days. Stephanie talks about their experience, including all the procedures that Arlo underwent as well as the treatment and care from the hospital staff (particularly around their decision to home birth) and how she’s processed since the event. Stephanie is beautifully open about the whole thing and shares with a reliability and vulnerability that we know will touch other families who have experienced something similar, as well as inform others who have not. Links: Stephanie’s website: https://inharmonylife.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does the experience of one birth influence the plans for births that follow? Today we chat with Emilee Petrill, and we pack a lot into a sub-hour conversation. Emilee has experienced a hospital birth with her first son Corbyn, a birthing center for her son Penn and finally a home birth for her son Moxy. She walks us through the processes and decisions around each of those experiences. Then we get into the details of her home birth, and why she’s thinking about a free/unassisted birth for a future baby. Bonus topics in this conversation include Emilee’s experience with consuming her placenta and why she’s a big advocate for it, the 10,000+ oz of breast milk she has donated and how the Doing It At Home podcast and community has impacted her body image and sex life! Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you felt like no one believed in your body’s ability to birth your baby? What if a care provider told you that just by being pregnant you were making an unsafe choice? Today we talk to Dedra Straka, mama of 4. Dedra had a home birth for her fourth, after 3 cesarean births. She had always dreamed of a home birth, but due to multiple circumstances and methods of care after her first cesarean, she would try for a VBAC for the next two but felt cornered and pressured. Following her third birth, doctors noticed a thin left lower uterine segment (essentially the thinning of the uterine lining, which could potentially cause future complications). After waiting the recommended 2-3 years before becoming pregnant again, Dedra and her husband Joshua thought it would be another cesarean for their fourth birth. But unpleasant encounters with a doctor who claimed she was putting her child’s life in danger by even being pregnant, she no longer wanted to be in his care. Utilizing resources like the local ICAN community and finding a midwife who could support her process, Dedra eventually moved into a plan for a home birth. This is an inspiring story of coming full circle in the process of informed, empowered choice and healing when it comes to birth. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Kelly McDermott from Sage Femme - http://sage-femmemidwifery.com/about/meet-us/ ICAN - http://www.ican-online.org/ Dedra’s video - https://youtu.be/3QPfQM8i_GM ICAN Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ICANonline/ ICAN Capital District - https://www.facebook.com/ICANoftheCapitalDistrict Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we’re talking with Laura Fifield and Natalie Bancroft, two amazing women who are linked with a quite famous recent birth story. You see Natalie, a birth photographer and doula as well as a mama of 3, gave birth to her third baby earlier this year at home. And baby Simon weighed 11 lbs. 2 oz!!! And Laura, Natalie’s friend, birth photographer and mama of 2, was there to document the experience. Some of the amazing photos from the birth, namely one that features Natalie holding her newly birthed bundle of adorable squish with this elated, shocked, goddess-like expression of “wow!” has been featured far and wide. Publications like Today Show, Hello Giggles and even People have featured the image on their sites. We were so grateful and excited to speak with these awesome women. They share insights from the birth photography community, which is small in their city of Spokane, WA. We get to hear about some of the memorable births they’ve been able to document. Natalie talks about her journey to home birth, having her first in a hospital, and deciding that she wanted a different experience for future births. Her second was a beautiful home birth, and she knew she’d have another one for her third. It wasn’t long into the pregnancy that she realized baby number 3 was going to be larger than the others. Natalie’s belly was so much larger, in fact, that they went for an ultrasound towards the end of the pregnancy to find out if she was having twins! Turns out, she wasn’t. This baby was just that big. When birthing time came around, everyone was prepared and peaceful. And the whole experience was only about 4 hours! Both these women are total rockstars and inspiration for the birthing community. We’re honored to have them join the DIAH podcast and share a story that has reached so many. Enjoy! Links: Spokane River Midwifes - http://spokanerivermidwives.com/ Childbirth without fear - https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Without-Fear-Principles-Practice/dp/1780660553 Ina mays guide to childbirth - https://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156 Today - http://www.today.com/parents/mom-gives-birth-11-pound-baby-home-without-epidural-t110221 Hello Giggles - http://hellogiggles.com/shows-womens-bodies-incredible-meet-mom-gave-birth-11-lb-baby-home-without-epidural/ People - http://people.com/bodies/mom-11-lb-baby-without-epidural-at-home/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How long was your birth? We tend to made assumptions about the birth experience based on how long it was. Especially if it was very fast. Some might think, “Oh, wow that’s awesome! You’re so lucky!” But it’s not always that simple. In today’s episode, we talk to both mom and dad! Caitlin and Drew Hutcheon join us to talk about their pregnancy and birth of their son Harbor. Both Caitlin and Drew are in the birth world! They served on the board of the Birth Network of Monterey while living there. And Caitlin is also an Evidence Based Birth instructor, Birth Chemistry educator, Doula and birth activist. Their birth lasted a total of 5 hours. Despite things moving very quickly, there were some challenges and things to move through, like not being totally prepared for birth and communication around how fast things were actually progressing. This is great support in the conversation of processing parts of your birth that don’t exactly go to plan. Your feelings are valid and everyone has their own experience and way to cope. Links:Our website: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you think it would be like to grow from a family of 2 to a family of 5 in just under a year? Well, you’ll hear a little bit about that today in our interview with Lynnea Krall. Lynnea is an RN turned doula who believes in the power of supporting women and families in birth. She and her husband Daniel struggled themselves when it came time to plan their family. After 2.5 years of infertility challenges, they were told that it would be medical impossible for them to have biological children. Already planning to foster at some point, they moved up that timeline when they brought two beautiful little girls into their lives, Winne and Lissa. A month and a half later, they found out they were pregnant! So listen in to hear the rest of this magical and wild ride - from the plan to have a home birth, to surprises during labor and now what life is like as a family of 5. Links:Our website: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you heard the term geriatric pregnancy? (Matthew hadn’t before this interview). Any pregnancy after the age of 35 is actually technically considered a geriatric pregnancy. But in our conversation today with Stephanie Dunne, we’re shifting that narrative and dropping age as a defining factor in pregnancy and birth. Stephanie shares her birth story of her son Sebastian with us and makes a very powerful point in her sharing: “We create our own reality.” This is a great episode for mamas of all ages and birthing philosophies to listen to. We talk about the factors that led to choosing home birth for Stephanie and her husband Jerry, why they waited after 16 years of marriage and Stephanie turning 40 to have a baby, and how they processed the whole experience. Stephanie trusted her body (being a very active person, a registered dietician and Ironman athlete), prepared her mind and utilized her team and the strong partner that she had in her husband. Links:Our website: Stephanie’s Website - www.nutritionqed.com Birthing From Within - https://birthingfromwithin.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you train for the experience of birth? We’ve often heard birth compared to a marathon. Most people have a lot of intense and focused training when it comes to their marathons. So how can a woman prepare for the marathon of birth? In today’s birth story we’re chatting with Brooke Cates, the founder and CEO of The Bloom Method, a pre and postnatal fitness method and training for the modern mama. Brooke shares her home birth story of her son Leven and how she applied all of her knowledge and breath work to the experience. She talks about the strength and the ability to soften and surrender as important parts of birth. Plus she shares part of her postpartum journey and what it’s been like running TBM as a new mama, as well as talks about the viral video of some TBM breathing techniques. This is an empowering conversation for mamas interested in stepping into motherhood with more awareness of your body after giving birth. Links:Our website: The Bloom Method: https://thebloommethod.com/ The Bloom Method Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebloommethod/ The Bloom Method video featured on Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/the-pregnant-belly-pump-what-is-the-bloom-method-958060099916?v=raila Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Tammy could, she would shout from every rooftop about how awesome her home birth experience was and how every woman can give birth without fear. Since finding every rooftop would take some time, having her on our “podcast rooftop” will suffice for now. Unsure of whether or not she’d be able to get pregnant, Tammy had a surprise first pregnancy at 38. In a circumstance where many women might find themselves fearful and worried about the risks, Tammy powered up and she and her partner David decided on home birth after a close friend who was also pregnant at the same time shared her intentions of having a home birth. Overwhelmed with emotion in an amazing way, Tammy sought out empowering information and resources with the support of her midwives that she selected from a nearby birthing center. Tammy is a powerful example of knowing her body and trusting the inner voice. To her, home birth is such an important opportunity to strengthen all aspect of your life from your relationship to your partner to how you raise your children. And through the course of her journey, she has actually inspired, influenced and encouraged other women and families in their home birth experiences as a resource and friend. “I truly believe that by sharing these stories we can educate women about the importance of birthing without fear and helping to change the stigma around home birth,” says Tammy. Links:Our website: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What inspires birth workers to do what they do? In today’s episode, we’re chatting with Sarah DiMarco, a birth and bereavement doula and a mama of a blended family of 7. She shares both her experience as a doula as well as her birth stories. Following her first birth, which was in a hospital, and then experiencing 2 miscarriages after that, Sarah was led to working in the birth world herself. Her work and studies influenced her decision to have a home birth for her next two children. We talk about Sarah’s healing experience with her first home birth and the connection that she felt with God during it. Also the fetal ejection reflex. From her second home birth, we talk about trusting your intuition and an empowering decision that involved a NICU transfer. Links: Still Birthday - https://stillbirthday.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did anyone create their birth plans before becoming pregnant? In today’s episode, we chat with Bailey Calvin about her birth story with her daughter Riley Jo. Bailey planned to have a home birth before becoming pregnant. She had just always envisioned a home birth for when she had babies. It did take a little while for her husband Taylor to get on board once they were pregnant. But after watching “Business of Being Born,” and listening to the “Doing It At Home” podcast, they were on the same page. Bailey and her team decided to transfer to the hospital during labor due to her high blood pressure. The hospital they chose had an awesome midwife program that her midwife highly recommend. The midwife that was on call at the hospital actually did her fellowship under Bailey’s midwife, and was familiar with the out of hospital birth which made the situation a more peaceful transition. Listen in to hear the rest of Bailey’s story. And as always, you can listen to the podcast through Parents on Demand, Apple Podcasts, Google Play or whatever podcast player you prefer! Links:Our website: Healing Passages Birth Center - https://healingpassages.org/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did any naysayers try to convince you that you couldn’t have the birth you wanted? It can be very challenging to process and deal with the feedback we get from people around us, especially care providers. In today’s episode we’re chatting with Ruth Sufrin about her HBAC journey. After an unplanned c-birth with her son Zev, she grieved the natural birth she had desired, felt less than and like no one understood her. She found herself up against the argument that often comes up around reconciling birth trauma: “You’re healthy, baby is healthy...everything is fine.” But sometimes it’s not as simple as that. Ruth describes the journey for her second birth beginning the day after her first birth, after being told that she would not be able to have a vaginal birth in the future. She began educating herself, became a doula, joined support groups like ICAN. Ruth’s birth of her Sara was glorious, victorious and a tremendous experience with a beaming oxytocin high! She proved the doctors wrong, and ultimately proved to herself that the power was all inside of her. Links: Our website: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Any mamas out there who have birthed in multiple countries? Today’s guest, Lindsay Wolff shares her two home birth experiences with us. Her first with her daughter Isla was in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and her second daughter Marin was in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Both times Lindsay and her husband Jeremy had to navigate entirely new birthing communities, laws and care systems. Some of the highlights of our conversation include her water breaking 5 days before labor starting in her first birth, along with 7.5 hours of pushing! And now 3 years as a doula, Lindsay has attended over 200 births and works to support women like herself. Links: Our website: Lindsay’s website - https://www.birthingmattersdoula.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Birth workers: what inspired you to start? Today’s birth story is packed full of awesome conversation. We chatted with Cayla Adkins about her 3 different birth stories: hospital with an epidural to a precipitous hospital birth to a home birth. Cayla walks us through the differences in these experiences as well as her evolution into choosing a home birth for her third. We talk about the support from her husband Joshua, finding a midwife that aligned with her and even her own evolution into birth work, inspired by her connection with her midwife. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you consider having dual care providers for your prenatal and birth prep? In today’s episode we’re chatting with Ruby Pontbriand, who shares with us her birth history and decision to have dual care for her second pregnancy. She attended appointments with her OBGYN as well as visits with her midwife. All while planning to birth at home. This decision came after some trauma with her first birth in the hospital. This is a great episode for anyone who’s thinking about keeping a tie with an OBGYN and hospital, while planning a home birth. Ruby also shares the pressures and stressors of going past your “guess date,” and the main differences she experienced in home and hospital. Plus how birth impacts your postpartum experience. Links: Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth: https://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156 Business of Being Born: https://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has anyone ever felt like a failure because their birth didn’t go exactly the way they planned? We think this happens far too often. That’s why we’re happy we have conversations like the one we have today on the podcast. Allison Rich joins us to share her birth story. After a false diagnosis of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) medically mismanaged miscarriage, Allison and her husband Rafe wanted a different experience the next time they got pregnant. Allison actually met with a group of midwives after her miscarriage (before becoming pregnant again) to talk about her experience, process and discuss what it could look like in the future for her. Finally when she was pregnant again, she felt both excited and terrified at the same time. We go into her birth planning process and then the “incredible blur” of the birth. Allison talks about extending grace to yourself and realizing how hard we can be on ourselves when it comes to our births. This is a must listen for anyone nervous about hospital transfer or who experienced one and could use some extra support and affirmation. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can birth actually feel like you’re high and running through the jungle? Well, listen in because it can and it did for today’s guest, Becca Coren. Becca shares her journey to home birth - from a miracle pregnancy that brought with it physical and emotional challenges, a job change and move, tantric healing, and the result of an ecstatic home birth experience. Becca lives in Hawaii with her husband Sanoon and their son, Liev Ruh. She walks us through her process of healing her body, preparing for birth and now sharing her story to bring awareness to other women and let them know that they have choices can trust their primal femininity. Links: Becca’s website - http://www.bexwellness.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How often do we carry fears from other people’s births into our own? In today’s story, you’ll hear about how you can make birth and motherhood your own unique journey. We’re chatting with our friend Olivia Miller about her 3 births (hospital, home and planned home birth moved to a hospital, in that order). Links: Mama Z - Natural Living Family - https://naturallivingfamily.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why would a labor and delivery nurse choose home birth? There are quite a few reasons, at least for today’s guest Corrie Oyinloye. Corrie has been a labor and delivery nurse for 10 years. And two years ago, she chose home birth for the birth of her daughter, Rachel. Corrie’s story also includes creating the space for her husband Gabe to feel confident in the decision, a move to a different state, prodromal labor, a cervical lip, occipito posterior position of baby and a double nuchal cord. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever heard any of these approaches to birth: couples birth, daddy delivery, husband and wife birth? Well today our guest Lynn Griesemer, who is a mother of 6, marriage coach, podcaster and author (among many other things) joins us for a conversation about including your partner in the birth experience. Giving them an active role and making birth a family-led experience. We chat about some of Lynn’s own experience with 4 hospital births, followed by 2 unassisted births (or free births), as well as her insight into creating a safe and trusting environment for birth that can influence and empower later parenting experiences and decisions. This is a great resource for those families who want their husband or partner to be very involved in the birth experience. Links: Lynn’s website: https://www.marriagecoachlynn.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What did birth teach you? In today’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with personal branding and online business strategist Kimra Luna. We’ve actually been fans of Kimra for a while and have used some of her products and methodology for enhancing our own businesses. She’s built an empire and essentially turned her life around from once living on welfare with two small children. And if that’s not amazing and inspiring enough, we’re talking babies and birth with her! Matthew and Kimra connected via a Facebook thread on podcasting, and somehow the conversation turned to home birth! So naturally, we wanted Kimra to join us for a chat. She shares a little bit from each of her 3 births, a mix of circumstances and lessons. When she first learned she was going to be a mother, Kimra immersed herself in resources like “Business of Being Born,” Ina May Gaskin, Hypnobabies and searched for midwives and doulas to work with. We talk about how birth reminds us how resilient we are and how we can manifest a magical birth experience. Links: Kimra’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kimralu Kimra’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/kimraluna Kimra’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kimraluna/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you believe it’s been 200 episodes of the Doing It At Home podcast?! Today we’re celebrating 200 episodes with our first episode of 2019. And it’s a fun one. We share some really cool things that are going on, things to look forward to in 2019. And we also take a trip down memory lane for some of our highlights. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What did you do when people give you unnecessary and negative comments about your birth plan? Today we’re addressing a couple of listener emails, ranging from topics of dealing with comments about the pain of birth, incorporating your spirituality or religious faith into your birth planning and the discussion of costs of home birth. Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/diahpodcast Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you say that you eat with awareness? In today’s episode, we’re chatting with registered dietician and creator of Eat With Awareness, Laura Jean. Laura works with women and assists them in becoming the experts in their personal relationships with food. This covers the preconception, pregnancy and postpartum experiences. We talk with Laura about how to approach your nutrition with a holistic and loving mindset. This looks like learning what your body is saying and then figuring out how to honor that. Also letting go of rules, negativity and pressure that comes with the experience of having a baby and being a mother. Links: Laura’s website - http://eatwithawareness.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you learn to trust your body after some difficult experiences and a high-risk label? In today’s episode, we’re talking with Erin Zekis about her journey to home birth. From premature labor with her first pregnancy and a hospital transfer, to exploring different methods of care for her second pregnancy, Erin and her husband Kevin were very intentional about what they wanted to experience for the birth of both their sons, Tobin and Aldrin. Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When asked a question by a care provider, do you have to respond right away? Most of us don’t know or realize that we have choice. And especially when it’s not an emergency, we can take time to process and decide what we want to do and even refuse what doesn’t work for us. This is a powerful message from our guests in today’s episode, who experienced this firsthand during the birth of their son while in the hospital after transferring from their home birth plan. And it’s a special treat because we got to speak with both mom and dad, Bekah and Jesse Carroll. Bekah’s journey to home birth actually started when she was back in high school and did a speech on birth interventions. That, plus her mom is a doula. And Jesse comes from a family where his 3 siblings were born at home. So it made sense to them to plan for a home birth for their son Benji. After 36 hours of labor and being only 5 cm dilated, the team made the decision to transfer. This was a smooth transition thanks to a bridge program, a way to make home birth transfers easier for families and care providers, with her hospital. So listen in to hear the beautiful story, and why Jesse thinks his wife is such a badass! Links: Bekah’s Resources: https://www.gatewayperinatalresources.com/ and https://www.choicemattersmidwifecollective.com/ The Womb Room in Milwaukee - https://www.wombroommke.com/ Aurora Sinai Medical Center - https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/locations/hospital/aurora-sinai-medical-center Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is infant acid reflux and why does it go so untreated in babies? You’ll hear these answers in today’s episode in our interview with Kira Volpi of Infant Acid Reflux Solutions. Together with the two physicians, Dr. P and Dr. Prince, Kira works tirelessly to provide information and resources for the treatment of acid reflux in infants. We go over the main symptoms and specifics of the condition. Plus, how the team has an approach through telemedicine to offer care for families around the world. Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would you do if you really trusted yourself? Mellisa Reeves of Motherbirth is sharing her journey with us. From some of the traumatic elements of her first hospital birth with her first son Aiden, a stillbirth in hospital at 41 weeks pregnant with her second son Rowan and two subsequent miscarriages, she brings us to the healing process and experience of her home birth with her daughter, Etney. And along the way she started the Motherbirth podcast and has been providing resources for women. Links: Mellisa's website: https://www.motherbirth.co/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can make a birth traumatic? There are a multitude of answers, because everyone has their own experience and ways of processing and healing. For Bridgette Piatt, she believes the trauma associated with her first birth in the hospital was the result of poor relationships with care providers. This inspired her to look into other options for her second pregnancy, however she wasn’t sure of home birth just yet. She and her husband Daniel, who was actually born at home, explored midwives and landed on a birthing center. Bridgette considers herself to have a planner’s personality and didn’t really think home birth was for her. She preferred the added safety that she felt the birth center provided. But then, the birth center closed unexpectedly when Bridgette was 34 weeks pregnant! The other birth center option didn’t resonate. So it came back to that care provider connection. She trusted her midwife and had developed such a close relationship with her that it ultimately influenced her to have a home birth. So we get into all of the details of that as well as the blood sugar challenges that Bridgette experienced in both pregnancies and what she learned as far as nutrition during pregnancy and releasing any guilt around gestational diabetes or anything close to it. Oh and another twist - the midwife who delivered Daniel all of those years ago attended Bridgette’s home birth! Listen in to hear the incredible story. Links: Real Food for Pregnancy - https://realfoodforpregnancy.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How could lessons from surviving cancer empower you in your birth? For Eva Whipple, going through cancer at age 19 shifted up her perspective on things. It taught her about priorities and her ability to push through. She recognizes that it also taught her to be present. And this carried into both of her births, both on the same day two years apart. For her first birth of her daughter Lois, Eva was in a birthing center (birthing at home was illegal). Then for surprise pregnancy number two, she decided on a home birth for son Sonny. We chat about the road to home birth and the comparison of her two births, nursing a toddler while pregnant and how her practice of yoga has been a part of her life as a mother. Links: First Descents - https://firstdescents.org/ Ina May Gaskin’s “Spiritual Midwifery” - https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Midwifery-Ina-May-Gaskin/dp/1570671044 Eva’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soulyogamama/ Eva’s yoga studio - http://www.soulyogastudiosalisbury.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s it like for a midwife to experience her own birth? In today’s birth story, we’re chatting with Sophia Williams, a midwife, doula and published photographer. Sophia walks us through her entrance into birth work, and then how becoming a doula and eventually studying to become a midwife influenced her own birth choices. There are certainly some twists throughout Sophia’s stories. From a home birth with her son Benjamin to her post birth hospital transfer to remove her placenta and then back to the hospital for baby Benjamin after his breathing was off. This took Sophia and her husband Spencer down a challenging road with Benjamin and his VACTERL Association, a disorder affecting multiple body systems. And when Benjamin was 8 months old, Sophia became pregnant with their second child, their daughter Gracie, who was born premature via cesarean. Sophia is an incredibly inspiring and strong mama. There are many many times that you hear us say “WOW,” in this episode. Because it’s that moving. Links: Sophia’s website - http://sophiabirth.com/ Sophia’s Postpartum Covergirl Project - https://www.postpartumcovergirl.com Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do birth work and the art of acting have in common? The connection might not seem so obvious. But trust us, after you listen to this episode, you’ll get it. You’ll also feel empowered and energized around the magic of birth and self-care in all stages of fertility. We had the honor of chatting with Carson Meyer. Carson wears many hats, among which are actor, doula, birth photographer and natural skin care entrepreneur. We talk about Carson’s induction into birth work and what fueled this intense passion. Also how her studies and training as an actor helped her in showing up fully for her doula clients. Plus reasons to have a doula at your birth. Links: Carson’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ccmeyer/ Carson’s skincare company C & The Moon - https://www.candthemoon.com/ Carson’s doula website - https://www.carson-meyer.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you set yourself up for success when it comes to your birth? For one thing, that requires looking at what you want to create and experience. In today’s episode we get to hear Lauren Thomas’s journey to home birth and the research, education and preparation that brought her there. After a birthing center to hospital transfer with her first son Finn, Lauren had to take time to come to terms with some of the trauma around it. We talk about her special connection with her midwife and the gut decisions she trusted throughout her process. Also the risk of placenta previa and how she doula-ed herself during her labor of her son Rory in the middle of a snowstorm! Links: Lauren’s website - http://www.laurenjollyphotography.com/ Lauren’s Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/laurenjollyphoto/ Lauren’s Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/laurenjollyphotography Lauren’s birth story of her son Finn - http://laurenjollyphotography.com/finns-birth-story/ Lauren’s episode on The Birth Hour podcast - https://thebirthhour.com/birth-center-hospital-transfer-birth-story/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Is my body able to give birth?” This is one of the questions that Christina Winsnes asked herself as she prepared for the home birth of her second child, after an unplanned cesarean birth with her first child Emma. With the support of her husband Yeti and the rest of her team, Christina took time during her second pregnancy to deal with fears and concerns. Also to come to a place of peace and acceptance that a non-vaginal birth was not a failure. She walks us through this process and then the birth of her son Daniel, and how it differed from her time in the hospital. This is a beautiful story for any mama who is planning an HBAC or is working on building the trust with your body. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want an orgasmic experience of your pregnancy and birth? Who wouldn’t?! In today’s episode, Kim Anami, holistic sex and relationship coach, joins us for a powerful conversation about mamas reclaiming their sexual energy, intuitive power and true knowingness in order to clear away any blockages that prevent them from having a pleasurable birth experience. We chat with Kim about her journey into her work of helping others heal through the power of sex and intimacy. We also talk about the state of maternity care and birth in our culture, and what women can do rewrite the scripts that birth is painful, difficult and traumatic. Plus she shares some of the details of her latest online course, the Sexy Mama Salon, an 8-week experience for holistic pregnancy and ecstatic birth. Links: Sexy Mama Salon - http://kimanami.ontraport.com/t?orid=130437&opid=15 Kim’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kimanami/ Kim’s website - https://kimanami.com Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you address the fears related to home birth when you work in a hospital? For Elise Kuehner, a self-proclaimed planner and researcher, she went down the rabbit hole of content to explore for herself and work through any disempowering thoughts. I could explain the rest, but honestly, she says it best in her email to us when we discussed sharing her birth story. So I’ll let her tell you: “I have felt for awhile that I should share my birth story not only for its outcome but also the process of choosing homebirth. I am a Pediatric Intensive Care nurse of 8 years and have felt comfortable in hospitals my entire life. When I graduated nursing school I was 22 and had seen multiple deaths within the first year of my career. There is something to be said about parents/families choosing natural death for their child and women choosing natural birth for their baby. I never realized how similar they are. I thought of the traumatic deaths I’ve experienced and all of them involved lots of medical intervention prolonging inevitable death. These are the ones that haunt me. Of all the deaths I’ve experienced, the ones that were gentle or natural were the most healing and peaceful. How amazing would it be to start life in the same manner? I wanted this for my future children. Of course there were several fears to address... the biggest was safety of homebirth. How would I turn off my “nurse brain” during labor? or even during pregnancy! What would I tell my coworkers? Or my mom who is also a nurse. I dug deep into books, I took myself on a solo date to see the premier of “Why Not Home”, I meditated, took a hypnobirthing-ish type class which was profoundly helpful. I found a midwife (Paula, in your latest episode) that was a straight shooter, no B.S. type. Lastly, I threw all my fears and experiences about life and death out the window and it was the best thing I could have done for me and my baby. My labor was 8.5 hours and I delivered a posterior baby with minimal pain. It was amazing.” Links: Sarah Buckley’s Hormonal Blueprint of Labor - https://sarahbuckley.com/articles/ Sarah Buckley’s Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering - https://sarahbuckley.com/gentle-birth-gentle-mothering/ Why Not Home - https://www.whynothome.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Were you surprised when your labor started? For mama Caitlin Thompson, she shares that even though she felt somewhat ready, there was still a part of her that didn’t expect it. Today’s home birth story is a followup to our interview with Caitlin back in episode 126 when we spoke to her about the emotional journey to conception for her and her wife Sho (definitely listen to that episode if you haven’t yet - it’s amazing). Now today we have Sho joining us (and even a little cameo from baby Florence!) to talk birthing day. From the moment they realized labor was starting to Caitlin taking a work call during contractions (Say what?! Go mama!) to baby Flo’s arrival. Plus their dogs hung out and provided emotional support. And they had a sweet friend offer to photograph the birth. Basically, it’s a magical story that you need to listen to right now. The whole crew agrees that home birth was “the most amazing thing we’ve ever done!” Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode Sarah reads listener emails and talks about creating a home birth plan. How should you approach your home birth plan? Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why home birth? That’s typically a question we ask every guest in some form or another. For today’s guest, the response circled around family and culture. Because when you were born at home and your father helped deliver you and all your siblings, as was custom in his home in Nigeria, it will probably influence you to explore home birth for yourself when the time comes. Our latest DIAH mama is actually a close friend (a first for the show!). Mimi Adeogba, yoga instructor and yoga teacher trainer and all around amazing human being, joins us to retell the home birth story of her son Adeyemi from 23 years ago. And it’s amazing how decades can pass, and yet the memory of a birth can stick so strongly. The way Mimi tells the story, you would think it was yesterday. Beyond getting to have a powerful conversation with someone whom we love dearly, we greatly appreciate the perspective that Mimi brings to the DIAH community. Mimi was a 21-year-old PhD student at Baylor University when she found out she was pregnant. Her baby’s father chose not to be a part of the picture. So in the midst of fearing being alone, Mimi gained strength in the team she gathered around her to support her - namely her mother and a trusted licensed nurse-midwife. Her storytelling and heart behind it are compelling and endearing. Trust us, this is an episode you do not want to miss. Thank you, Mimi. We love you! Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices