Doing It At Home - The Home Birth Podcast

Do you have questions regarding your home birth planning process? Like where and how to find midwives and how to choose your birth team? Why not email us with some of your questions?! We are NOT medical professionals and will not even attempt to give you formal medical advice of any kind. However we do love answering your general questions about our process, our birth, parenthood and sharing any part of our experience that might help you. In today’s episode we’re answering a listener email from our friend Ellie. We get into some of the preconception birth talk conversations and things you can do to prepare for a powerful birth experience. 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

Did anyone else forget about preparing for postpartum? Sometimes we get so focused on pregnancy and birth (which makes a lot of sense!) that we neglect the transition and experience that comes after baby arrives. In today’s interview, we’re chatting with Maranda Bower, a postpartum wellness practitioner and mama of 3 (soon to be 4!). Maranda shares how she was introduced to the idea of home birth (it’s not what you usually hear). We talk about some of her own experience and then how women can address the postpartum period equipped with resources and support. 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

What’s your childcare and work schedule like? This is a question we received from a beloved listener as she navigates her own journey of entrepreneurship and raising a child. So we took to the mic and did what we do! We break down the facts for you on how we make our weekly schedules work and how it helps our family and businesses function. Then we get into some of the realness of when it feels super challenging. Plus what we have to say to people that want to question and judge your method of childcare. 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

How do you build the confidence and support to prepare for an HBAC after 2 cesarean births? Our guest in our latest birth story, Erin Holohan, is an example of this. After moving through 2 disappointing birth experiences with a lot of recovery and healing to do, she was determined to have her home birth for her third baby. With the love and support of her husband Mike and her awesome midwife Kelly, Erin created the vision and mindset for owning her birth. She shares some of her prep, research and resources along the way. And then we get into the birth itself. Here’s a fun twist - it happened during a storm. Tornado warnings, power outage and all! Links: Kelly McDermott’s midwifery practice - http://sage-femmemidwifery.com/ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth - https://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156 Hypnobabies - https://www.hypnobabies.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

Would you consider using an enema during the labor process? In today’s birth story, we’re chatting with Alyssa Reeves, wife to Kirk and mama to twin boys Sam and Niko and daughter Zooey. And while there’s a lot more and totally magical elements to Alyssa’s story, she’s the first mama on the show to share her experience of using an enema during her transition phase of labor. We’re so grateful for her open and informative sharing on how helpful it was for her in preparation for pushing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is a special day, so we have a special episode :) It's September 11, 2018, and that means it's Maya's 2nd birthday! Not only is Maya turning 2 today, but the Doing It At Home podcast itself is turning 2! So in today's special episode we recap what the past two years have been like, and reply our original retelling of Maya's birth (which original aired days after her birth in 2016). Thank you all for being a part of the DIAH community the past two years! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we do more for women and mothers as they prepare for and transition into the experience of motherhood? Well, powerful conversations are a great start. And this episode is a prime example of that. Sarah got to sit down with licensed professional counselor and creator of the afterbirth kit company Push Thru, Keisha Reaves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when you were born at home yourself, over 30 of your cousins have been born at home and you have over 40 chiropractors in your extended family? It’s a safe assumption that you’d have your babies at home too! For our guest Jani Barnes, having babies at home was all she knew. So having both of her children at home, unassisted, was a no brainer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do birth and sexuality have in common? A lot. There. The end. Just kidding! In today’s episode we have international midwife, speaker and author Jutta Wohlrab joining us. Jutta has been a practicing midwife for over 30 years and has traveled all over the world, serving women and spreading the message of empowered birth. She’s also the author of “Happy Birthing Days” and the creator of ElementsofBirth.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the news and experience of your pregnancy isn’t all sunshine and rainbows? For returning guest and DIAH mama Thea Robnett, she’s open and honest about the mix of emotions she dealt with when she got pregnant right after her first daughter, Harley, turned 1. She and her husband Alex had debated on whether or not to have another one, and actually decided to pause any plans for future children. So she worked through the mental challenges and coped with the changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How long was it before you spent the first night away from your kid(s) as parents? This magical time came for us a few weeks ago, and we’re sharing all about it. We talk about how the opportunity presented itself and how our tribe rallied behind us to help make it happen. We get into all the details of what we did, how we processed leaving Maya for 24 hours, and some of the biggest takeaways from the experience. And some things we learned for next time around (because it WILL be happening again!). Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 DIAH Shop: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Birthfit Prenatal Training: https://birthfit.com/b-prenatal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when you want a home birth, but life circumstances make it a bit challenging to create? Cami Harper is sharing her story with us and how she embraced her situation to make it beautiful, even though it wasn’t exactly what she wanted. Cami herself was born with the help of midwives, so she knew she eventually wanted a holistic and natural approach to birth. She shares her process of both of her pregnancies with her sons James and Howie, along with the support of her husband Dustin. Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 DIAH Shop: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Birthfit Prenatal Training: https://birthfit.com/b-prenatal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What type of self-care are you doing during your pregnancy? How about self-massage to help you connect with your body and support it through all the changes it’s experiencing? Today we have a very special guest joining us on the podcast. Jill Miller, founder of Roll Model Mama, a program that takes pregnant women through self-guided techniques for alleviating pre- and postnatal discomfort. The 21st century pregnancy can put a lot of stress and strain on the body. Jill wanted to create an experience that helped women focus on posture, breathing exercises, whole body movements and restorative self-massage. We chat with Jill about some of her own journey of creating a healthy relationship with her body, from years of yoga to experiencing eating disorders and feeling disconnected from her body. She says, “I was living in a body that I didn’t like. Through her study of anatomy, fitness and self-awareness, she’s now inspiring and supporting other women and mamas through her work. Links: Roll Model Mama - https://www.rollmodelmama.com/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=266943913143&wtm_term=roll%20model%20mama&wdevice=c&wtm_campaign=1052568159&wtm_content=60568145971&gclid=CjwKCAjwkrrbBRB9EiwAhlN8_C6ywr4hMIUWjmSyScEiwjxYvBRIfBTF2IaCbL7f41h3j0CZHQDulRoCs4sQAvD_BwE Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 DIAH Shop: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Birthfit Prenatal Training: https://birthfit.com/b-prenatal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For those mamas who experienced their waters breaking - how long did it take for labor to begin after that? Well in the case of today’s guest, Jenna Lehr, her water broke on a Tuesday, and her baby was born that Saturday. What we love about this detail is the opportunity it provides to normalize all the unique aspects of every woman’s body, baby and birth itself. Sometimes waters break and it takes a while (or days) for active labor to begin). Sometimes the waters break in the middle of labor. Sometimes during delivery. Sometimes they break multiple times. And sometimes they don’t break! In this birth story we get to hear how Jenna and her husband Jason planned for their home birth. It evolved from knowing nothing about birth to watching “The Business of Being Born” and seeking more information to having preconception appointments to talk about what birth could be and look like. We also talk about dealing with the doubt that can creep in - the pressure, stress and emotion that pops up and tests your conviction. And how her husband Jason was super involved and supportive in the whole process. Links: 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 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 deal with things in parenthood that don’t exactly go the way you planned them? In today’s episode we’re talking about the elements that contribute to your plans and the disappointment surrounding them. Whether it has to do with sleep, breastfeeding, potty training, food, child care or any of the endless possibilities and decisions that come with the parenting gig. You can apply the basic essence of this conversation to any of them. And then we share some of our recent personal example of approaching potty training - our expectations and plans, how we moved through it and where we’re at now. Links: 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 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

Hola querida familia "Doing It at Home" y bienvenidos a un episodio especial del podcast! Hoy tenemos nuestra primera historia de parto en español. Arianna Taboada, la mamá de episodio 166 está compartiendo su historia de nuevo, esta vez en su lengua materna. Pensabamos que sería increíble tener una historia para nuestra comunidad hispanoparlante, así como para los amigos/as y familiares de las mujeres quien eligen el parto en casa. Esperemos que esto sea un ejemplo poderoso y una oportunidad de representar a la comunidad Latina. Arianna nos cuento sobre el día que nació su hijo, León, en Playa del Carmen, México, con el apoyo de un equipo de parteras y su esposo Mauricio. Es una historia hermosa y agradecemos a Arianna por unirse con nosotros y ayudarnos hacer algo diferente para que disfrute nuestros oyentes hispanoparlantes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does a self-employed mama prepare for maternity leave? Today’s home birth story mama, Arianna Taboada, helps tackle that question with the women she serves in her private consultant practice. In this episode, we hear Arianna’s amazing birth story of her son Leon in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We get to hear about her process of choosing home birth, selecting care providers and how the experience unfolded. Then we get into some tips and tools for mamas in finding the right mix of information and intuition when it comes to everything from your birth choices to how you integrate into working postpartum. Links: 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 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 approach the topic of spending, bills and saving money? This is a question we got from one of our listeners, so we figured why not tackle it? Not 100% birth related we’ll grant you, however it’s a very real topic for parents as we navigate the world of our marriage and partnership, running a business and a household together. We go through our previous beliefs around money, the tools/practices we use to help us have healthy conversations around money and how we work as a team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wanna hear a story about a sassy doula having a healing HBAC? Today we’re chatting with Rachel Cunningham, a small business owner, doula, wife to her husband Bernard and mama to her three girls: Greta, Beatrice and Agnes. Rachel shares with us, in such funny, vulnerable and real fashion, her journey in the birth world. From an emergency c-birth with her first daughter, to a successful yet interesting VBAC in a hospital, and finally to her most recent birth at home. Links: Our new "Doing It At Home" book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098GVJ9KL?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGoKeBfEZ143sWU7V9I5Gdg 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

Today we’re sharing a few listener emails, talking about their birth planning and experiences. It’s such a testament to this community and the space of the DIAH platform. So many mothers that we interview on the show share how excited they are to tell their stories, mostly because they feel this beautiful opportunity to “pay it forward” to other mamas. They’ve been so inspired by the stories they’ve heard and want to be a part of the collective energy of empowered birth. Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order C & The Moon Malibu Made Glow Oil with code DIAH15 for 15% off your order: https://bit.ly/3KWeGL1 Expectful - use the code DIAH25OFF for 25% off an annual membership: https://expectful.com/ More From Doing It At Home: The Home Birth Hub: www.diahpodcast.com/hub 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: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you have any stressful circumstances pop up during your pregnancy? Today’s episode is Lindsay Robinson’s birth story. In it we talk about some of the challenging and hectic situations that she and her husband Chris experienced while preparing for the birth of their son Elric. This is such an inspiring story and one that we know you’ll enjoy! Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order C & The Moon Malibu Made Glow Oil with code DIAH15 for 15% off your order: https://bit.ly/3KWeGL1 Expectful - use the code DIAH25OFF for 25% off an annual membership: https://expectful.com/ More From Doing It At Home: The Home Birth Hub: www.diahpodcast.com/hub 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: 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 process being pregnant and planning for a birth that you thought you could never have? Our DIAH mama in today’s episode, Raimee Botner, shares her experience of finding out she was pregnant after believing she couldn’t have children. Then healing through an intense miscarriage. Finally to find out she was pregnant again, this time with a pregnancy that would come full term and give her her son Otis. We talk about Raimee’s process of doing a lot of self-work and self-love practice. For her, birth was easy in comparison to everything that led up to it. We also touch on the legality of home birth in her state of Kentucky, the details of her doula and midwife traveling over an hour to get to her birth, and her realization of what love truly is. Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order C & The Moon Malibu Made Glow Oil with code DIAH15 for 15% off your order: https://bit.ly/3KWeGL1 Expectful - use the code DIAH25OFF for 25% off an annual membership: https://expectful.com/ More From Doing It At Home: The Home Birth Hub: www.diahpodcast.com/hub 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: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you the type to research and look for evidence and information to support your decisions when it comes to your birth? In today’s episode, we’re chatting with Isis Rose, a PhD student, doula and mama to baby Xena. Isis shares her journey to home birth, which first entered her awareness during a doula training. She’s a PhD student studying birth and reproductive justice. Her husband Chris, a fellow academic, is a visiting professor at UIUC. So it makes sense that Isis took a very analytical approach to planning her birth. She searched for truth and wanted to make sure she was as informed as possible when it came to her options. We hear about her transition into home birth planning, finding midwives and working through the legality and costs associated with direct-entry midwifery being illegal in her state of Illinois. An African-American woman and survivor of emotional abuse, it was important for Isis to have the support she needed and to do things her way - like by keeping their plans to home birth private from friends and family. And there’s a twist in the immediate postpartum hours that gave Isis the opportunity to feel in control and release any unnecessary fear. Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order C & The Moon Malibu Made Glow Oil with code DIAH15 for 15% off your order: https://bit.ly/3KWeGL1 Expectful - use the code DIAH25OFF for 25% off an annual membership: https://expectful.com/ More From Doing It At Home: The Home Birth Hub: www.diahpodcast.com/hub 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: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're bringing you a rebroadcast of the second ever episode we published on the podcast! Hope you all enjoy this throwback : ) --- When we began our pregnancy adventure, home birth was pretty far from our mind. We kicked things off the traditional way: going to see an OBGYN at a great hospital. But three months later we parted ways with our OBGYN, partnered up with a midwife group working out of their home, and began our home birth journey. Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order C & The Moon Malibu Made Glow Oil with code DIAH15 for 15% off your order: https://bit.ly/3KWeGL1 Expectful - use the code DIAH25OFF for 25% off an annual membership: https://expectful.com/ More From Doing It At Home: The Home Birth Hub: www.diahpodcast.com/hub 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: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where did your journey to birth begin? For today’s guest Jenn Irizarry, her story links back to a life-threatening accident she had when she was 17 that tore her cervix. She had emergency surgery as a result of the internal bleeding and shock. 44 staples in her abdomen down to her pelvis later, Jenn was just happy to be alive. She wasn’t too caught up in the conversation that doctors brought up of the likelihood of her ability to have children. But fast forward to when she and her husband Mike were trying to conceive, fertility became a popular topic. They went through rounds of unsuccessful IUIs and began the discussion of saving for IVF. In the process, she started seeing a Chinese Medicine doctor for acupuncture and a variety of herbs. Spoiler alert - Jenn gets pregnant naturally and she made the switch from an OB to a midwife and home birth plan around 20 weeks. We get to hear the whole birth story and what this meant to Jenn after such an emotional journey. Links From This Episode: Pure Natural Pregnancy Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pure-natural-pregnancy/id1102030053?mt=2 DFW fertility http://www.dallasfertility.com/about-dallas-fertility/mika-r-thomas-md/ Acupuncture resource - http://www.acupuncture4women.net/ Jenn’s midwife - https://barefootmidwifery.com Dallas Doulas - Becky Hines - https://www.dallasbirthdoulas.com Jenn’s episode on Dallas Birth Guide Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dallas-birth-guide/id1344643887?mt=2&i=1000410800251 Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order C & The Moon Malibu Made Glow Oil with code DIAH15 for 15% off your order: https://bit.ly/3KWeGL1 Expectful - use the code DIAH25OFF for 25% off an annual membership: https://expectful.com/ More From Doing It At Home: The Home Birth Hub: www.diahpodcast.com/hub 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: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you seen “These Are My Hours” yet? Well if you haven’t, this is your official suggestion and reminder. If you caught our last episode (number 156) - you’ll remember Matthew’s conversation with Scott Kirschenbaum, the creator of the documentary film that shows the process of birth completely through one woman’s perspective. And in today’s episode, I get to speak with this powerful woman and mother, Emily Graham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if men were just as excited about birth as mothers were? Today is a very special episode. Matthew gets to chat with Scott Kirschenbaum, the director and producer of the new birth documentary film “These Are My Hours,” an intimate immersion into one woman’s experience of giving birth. The film is told and viewed completely through the perspective of the birthing mother Emily (whom we are interviewing in our next episode so stay tuned!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When is the best time to wean? And how do you know when to begin? And if I do it too early will it mess up my baby forever? And why am I feeling so conflicted about it?? Chances are if you’ve weaned your kid, most or all of these questions went through your head. After 21 months of breastfeeding we’re beginning the weaning process with baby Maya, and it’s been an interesting journey to say the least. In today’s episode we talk all about our weaning journey and what it’s been like for both Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who has experienced their ups and downs throughout pregnancy? Our DIAH for today’s birth story is not shy about sharing the fact that pregnancy can be an emotional time. For Chanté and her husband Patrick, they were finishing school, starting their chiropractic practice and moving. And oh hey, yeah - preparing for a baby! Chanté shares with us when she first learned about home birth and a number of great resources she used during her journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are your thoughts on cannabis usage during pregnancy, birth or postpartum? Maybe you haven’t even thought about it before, or known it was a thing (Sarah and Matthew raise both hands lol). A listener reached out recently and asked us to cover this topic. She was curious about other mamas who have used cannabis and can speak to their experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your baby is in a breech position, can you still give birth at home? That answer varies from woman to woman and state to state. But breech alone does not need to be a factor that removes all of your options. It’s a variation of normal. And we’re chatting about that today with our guest Paula Schnebelt, Licensed Midwife and the midwife who cared for DIAH mama Brooke Nielsen in the birth story from episode 142. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When is the best time to get pregnant? Are you ready? How do you know when you’re ready? Are you ever really ready? We tackle this topic - with the full intention of simply sharing some of our experience and lessons. Remember - we’re never gonna tell you how to live your lives or what’s best for your family planning! But we do have some reflections on our own journeys, and if some of them resonate with you and you’re able to take them and apply them in your world - awesome! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you set intentions for your birth(s)? The last time we spoke with Kayleigh Johnson, DIAH mama from episode 77, she was setting some powerful intentions and visions for her upcoming birth. Today, we get to hear the full birth story! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do Ali Wong, uncensored birth photos and one of our listeners have in common? They’re all getting talked about in today’s episode! We couldn’t record another episode without mentioning the latest hit Netflix comedy special featuring Ali Wong, titled “Hard Knock Wife.” We talk about how much we appreciate pregnancy, birth and motherhood “real talk” in the mainstream comedy world. Because it’s important for us to talk about, and even laugh about, the realities of these experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have a successful home birth, does that mean the next one is completely free of fear and anxiety? Simple answer: no! Extension to the simple answer: every woman, baby and birth is different and it all depends on a number of things. In today’s episode we’re chatting with Sam Peters, a DIAH vet mama who joined us back in episode 70 to share the home birth story of her son Brooks and how she was preparing for the birth of her second baby, also at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alright birth junkies, who is ready for 4 birth stories in one single episode?! Cuz that’s what we have for you today. We’re chatting with student nurse-midwife Shoshanah Blaiss about her journeys in birth. From c-birth to vbac to hbac, Shoshanah walks us through the different elements and situations around each pregnancy and birth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When did you first learn what Hyperemesis Gravidarum was? For us, it was when Kate Middleton was suffering from it during her pregnancy. But even then we didn’t know much about it or the extent to which it can impact a pregnant mama. Fast forward to one of our recent episodes, number 136, where we interviewed Jennifer Griffin about her experiences with HG, and our eyes were really opened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does one go from being unsure about being pregnant to planning a home birth and then on the path to becoming a midwife? Well our DIAH mama in today’s birth story can and does answer that question for us by sharing her incredible story of bringing her daughter Selah earthside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we move the conversation and care of birth forward? In this episode, we chat with Afua Hassan, Afua is the founder, owner and licensed midwife of The Birthing Place in Houston, Texas. Her philosophy in her practice is that the mother is the captain, the partner is the co-captain and she is the advisor. In this conversation we talk about what is normal in birth and its variations, the fear women have around birth and racism in birth healthcare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s more important - your children or your marriage? Well, sorry to disappoint, but we’re not going to answer that question. Because that’s not our business and we’re not here to tell you how to live your life. We respect and honor the variations of normal and the family dynamics that work best for each of you. So we’ll leave how you feel about that question and how you answer it up to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you cope with the potential frustrations of things not going according to plan? Today we’re jumping back into conversation with Brooke Nielsen, a DIAH mama from episode 111 where we talked about her preparation for a home birth with her first baby. We get to hear about the weeks leading up to birth and some changes that shifted some things around a bit. Like baby being in a breech position and not flipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you need to do to prepare for a home birth? In this episode, we’re taking a “WHOLE-istic” approach to a home birth checklist. So yes, we cover the supplies and gear and equipment (which we have the full list of on our website with the episode). We talk about setting the scene and prepping the space for you birth. And then we a take a turn and talk about some of the deep, gritty stuff like emotional, mental, spiritual preparation with your birth partner and then with yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can too much exercise during pregnancy become a detriment to your birth experience? We wouldn’t presume to give you a definitive answer to this question because frankly it’s not our place and we’re not the experts of your physical body, pregnancy, preferences or life experience. This is a question we explored with today’s guest Deb Flashenberg, founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know how they say babies have their own timelines and agendas when it comes to their births? Well in this episode, we’re digging into some past news stories of babies who have arrived in some unique locales. And they’re not hospitals, birthing centers or planned home births! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we answer listener email and discuss having the birth that you want, no matter where it takes place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we view our challenges around pregnancy, birth and parenthood as gifts? Take trying situations and circumstances and turn them into lessons of empowerment and gratitude? This is part of the discussion on the podcast today with our guest Jennifer Griffin. Jennifer has a background in counseling psychology that she has brought into her current work of running her website Spiritual Gift Institute, writing multiple books and being a mother to 4 children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did you choose home birth? Or any of your birth plans? There are usually a collection of motivating factors that go into creating the birth vision you have in mind. So after talking to a lot of amazing mamas on the show and reflecting on some of our own intentions for our birth, we decided to dedicate an episode to the reasons why some might choose home birth. This is based on the most common feedback and experiences we’ve heard and talked about on the show. But first, we start with a twist: why you shouldn’t choose home birth! When it might not be the most powerful decision to support you in feeling your best and most prepared for a magical birth experience. So we share the 5 most common reasons we’ve learned around choosing home birth, share our perspective on them, and then Matthew throws a big curveball and shares one of his disempowering motivations for getting pregnant. So stuff gets real! You don’t wanna miss this one! Show Notes:Dr. Berlin's Informed Pregnancy PodcastThe Parents On Demand NetworkBloom Event in AtlantaMatthew’s podcast "Having It A.L.L." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever thought about pregnancy being a time to pamper yourself? It’s not something I would typically think about. I mean, you plan for birth, buy all the baby gear, take the classes, etc. But what about a time to give yourself that self-love and care, and even make it a luxurious process? Well that’s what HeHe Stewart creates for her clients in her maternity concierge and doula services. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was anyone blindsided by the postpartum experience? This is a home birth story with conversation on what can happen after baby arrives and how you can use your empowering birth experience to support you in challenging postpartum times. In this episode we’re chatting with Kristina and Chris Porter, parents to baby Madeline. Fun fact: Madeline and Maya have the same birthday - just one year apart! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices