Happy Homebirth

Pregnancy is the height of creativity– you are literally creating a brand new human… from scratch? But have you noticed that sometimes the creativity of pregnancy moves into other aspects of your life? This week, we’e speaking with Khylir Patton, a mother of two and a homebirth mom based in Tampa Bay, Florida. After navigating an unexpected late-pregnancy loss of care and ultimately experiencing a deeply empowering homebirth, she became passionate about helping mothers feel supported, informed, and less alone in their journeys. Khylir is the founder of IYA, a maternal care platform inspired by her own experiences navigating pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. At her core, she believes birth is intuitive, sacred, and a powerful initiation into motherhood. Episode Roundup: Moving into motherhood is not always a perfectly smooth transition. You are growing, regenerating, renewing as a human. Your responsibilities shift completely, and the entire focus of your life, both long term and day to day, must yield to this new experience. Khylir mentioned the struggle of her time no longer feeling like her own– She couldn’t sleep when she wanted to, work when she wanted to. She had to relinquish the grip she previously easily held on her schedule. But– while it’s not all easy, it is all an invitation to transform. How can you hold onto your identity, grow in your identity, and care for your baby, too? Sometimes the balance takes time to establish, but I love how Khylir was able to move through the experience and eventually come out on the other side capable of caring for her two little ones while also creating something she felt called to create. Which leads me to my second point- isn’t it amazing how pregnancy truly is an incubator? For new life, of course, but also an incubator for ideas and creativity. I’ve had some of my very best ideas and revelations during the pregnancy and postpartum phases of my life. And finally, I love hearing Khylir’s experience of– awakening to invitation. One day in postpartum, she heard “get up.” Such a small phase, but it changed everything about how she was interacting with her life. She accepted the invitation. She took small steps– taking a bit of time to wash her face and brush her teeth, then going on walks… suddenly, as she listened and responded, she was given more direction– take this dream you’ve had and turn into something new. Something that will impact others for years to come. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Have you ever found yourself wanting something to happen so desperately, and at the same time realizing you have absolutely no control over its happening? This week, we’re speaking with Erica: a wife, mother of two, one of nine siblings, and a woman who entered marriage already having seen family members give birth beautifully at home. Episode Roundup: 1. Generational Trust in birth is a GIFT Erica didn’t stumble into homebirth hoping it might work. She had seen it. She watched her mother birth. She watched her sister birth. She grew up witnessing women trust their bodies. When birth isn’t something foreign and medicalized — when it’s something you’ve seen unfold in your actual living room —where you LIVE– it builds a different kind of confidence. What are we modeling for our daughters? What are our sons witnessing about women’s strength? Erica is now continuing that legacy. Absolutely amazing. 2. Surrender Is Not Passive — It’s Active and continual Two weeks of prodromal labor. Contractions that start… and stop. Hopes rising… and falling. Over and over again. And that shower moment — head against the tile, sobbing, praying, “I trust You… but please let it be now.” That is such an honest prayer. That’s a prayer of confession. Surrender doesn’t mean we don’t have desires. It doesn’t mean we don’t long for relief. It means we bring those desires into God’s presence instead of trying to control the outcome. And eventually… her body opened. Not through force or fear, but because it. Was. time. 3. And finally, there is such power in undisturbed birth. Erica pushed without cervical checks. She followed her body’s cues. She reached down and felt her baby descend. That image — a mother with her own finger on her baby’s head, feeling him move down and through her body — is one of the most instinctive, embodied images I can imagine. She didn’t need someone to tell her where she was, because she felt it. And then… she caught him herself. Born fully en caul. Waters intact. Her hands the first to lift him from the water. What a picture of partnership between body, baby, and Creator. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

When you want to give birth at home, but the local midwives are overbooked and not taking new clients, what are your options? This week we’re speaking to Regan, a mother to two kiddos in the Manitoba area of Canada who knew that she wanted to give birth at home, but had to think outside the box to make it happen for her. Regan is a wife of 7 years and a stay at home mom to her two beautiful young children. A small part of her life includes helping manage a midwifery advocacy group, whose main desire is that all women in her Province can have the birth experience they desire! She loves her quiet country home life raising kids, running her two small businesses and discussing birth with anyone who wants to talk! Episode Roundup: It can feel so frustrating to hear how difficult it is in so many places to find a quality care provider at home. Whether it's because of a lack of midwives or because of an over-taxed system, it leads to the same issue– Mothers have to think outside the box to find the care they need. But what’s beautiful is the fact that for some mothers, like Regan, their desire to have a certain kind of experience leads them to explore other options and find a solution that works for them. This doesn’t always look the same for every family. For some, maybe it’s a hotel or airbnb birth. For others, maybe it’s finding midwives to travel to you from a distance. Whatever it looks like, the sense of creativity that you can bring into a difficult situation can truly flip it on its head. There’s something to be said for having to keep information confidential when you deeply want to share. Regan spoke of how the sense of secrecy she needed to maintain in order to protect her labor support felt very heavy to hear. While it’s such a good reminder that your private medical information is yours to keep close and it’s really nobody else’s right to know, that doesn’t change the experience that comes with WANTING to share and feeling unable. Regan thinks this may have impacted her ability to connect to the idea that she was really growing a baby prenatally – which, as I mentioned, I believe makes quite a bit of sense that she needed to truly feel all of her labor to make the connection that, yes, this is happening! I’m becoming a mother again! And finally, one of the beautiful counter balances to the struggle Regan had with not being able to share about her labor support– was her labor support itself. She had a team of two women who loved her, cared for her, encouraged her and walked with her as she went through one of the most pivotal days of her entire life. What a delight that these women cared so deeply for her, and were also so deeply impacted by Regan’s birth. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

How do you feel about the specifics of your upcoming birth? Are you clinging to particular desires and feeling like things MUST happen a certain way for you to feel successful? Or do you feel the peace of flexibility? This week, we're speaking with Pamela, a homeschooling mother of 3 precious kiddos, who decided to give birth at home with her third child. Throughout the end of her pregnancy and labor, Pamela went on a journey of learning that she wasn’t in control of every event that happened, but she was able to surrender— and through the process of surrender she found something even better than certainty- she found freedom. Episode Roundup: First, I love the fact that Pamela was being encouraged by the young mothers around her– in her community group, and then within her family. The women in Pamela’s circle gave her a new perspective of what birth could be like– and what she could be capable of! When you share your experiences with others, who knows who you will influence and how that could change their trajectory. How beautiful to simply share your story. Next, I cannot–not comment on Pamela’s perspective. While she did have ideas of what she wanted her birth to be like– in the water, untouched– She allowed herself the freedom to change her mind as her birth unfolded. She was not a victim of birth, even with its changes. Instead she acknowledges the part that she played: She chose to change her mind. We cannot control numerous aspects of our births, but we can control our perspective. And when you pair a healthy perspective with the lesson of surrender, oh my, that’s how mothers transform. And finally–Beauty and Tragedy exist simultaneously. At the same time that Pam was approaching birth, there was tremendous flooding and loss in her region of Texas. And then her grandfather broke his hip the day before labor. Life is being lost, pain is being experienced, and at the very same time beauty is being created. New life is being freshly breathed. The clear truth is that there is beauty, even in the hardest of times. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Have you ever done everything right…and still watched things unfold in a way you never expected? This week I’m joined by Daryl Hogan — a nurse, nursing professor, wife, and new mama — who navigated a laundry list of unexpected aspects of pregnancy that she certainly wouldn’t have excitedly chosen…. And yet her story doesn’t end in suffering, but in a powerful, physiologic homebirth that left her standing in awe of what her body had carried her through. Episode Roundup: First — preparation does not guarantee ease. Daryl did the research. She changed her products. She tracked her cycles. She took the supplements. She prepared her body thoughtfully. And still she experienced hyperemesis. Still she lost weight. And still she battled prenatal depression. But she endured. She continued, and while her preparation did not prevent suffering — It did equip her to endure it. Second — the humility of needing help. As a nurse, Daryl understood the medical system. She works in the hospital. She knows the language. But during her pregnancy, she found herself needing the IV fluids, the medication. Needing support beyond what she had hoped for. And I love the way she processed that. She asked herself: “Would I shame another woman for this?” Of course not. And so she chose to release the shame. My friends, sometimes trusting God also looks like accepting the help He places in front of you. Third — the power of relational care. Did you hear the contrast between her midwife and her OB? Long appointments. Text messages. Honesty. Consultation. Home visits. Versus… Cold. Rushed. Directive. Care changes experience. Not just outcomes — experience. And finally — redemption through birth. After months of vomiting. Crying. Exhaustion and Fear. Her labor came. She drove home from the birth center on all fours in the back seat — because her body told her to. And she birthed her baby at home. Oh my goodness, the triumph in that! Not because it was pain-free or especially easy, but because she endured. She trusted. She surrendered. And what strikes me most is this — she didn’t just get a baby at the end. She got awe: Awe of her body. Awe of the design. Awe of the way suffering can shape strength. So if you are in a season where you are doing your best just to make it through Whether that’s in pregnancy, motherhood, or another aspect of your life — Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Have you ever wondered how much the environment and the people around you shape the way birth unfolds? Hey there Happy Homebirthers, and welcome to episode 314 of the Happy Homebirth Podcast. I’m your host Katelyn Fusco and today, we’re speaking with Caroline Hendel, a mother from France whose story beautifully illustrates the difference between being managed through birth vs. being trusted in it. Caroline shares two very different experiences: her first birth in a hospital after being transferred due to concerns about her baby’s size, and her second—an intentional home birth of an eleven-pound baby, surrounded by a team who provided a sense of belief, calm, and support. This conversation touches on big babies, cultural differences in birth care, choosing your team wisely, and what it truly means to feel safe in birth. First, I’m struck by how clearly her experiences show that big babies are not the problem—fear is. Over and over again, we see that when providers don’t trust mothers, size becomes a liability. But when belief is present, the body often does exactly what it was designed to do. Second, Caroline’s story highlights how important it is to choose your team carefully—and to change course when something doesn’t feel right. Trusting your intuition doesn’t mean rejecting care; it means seeking the right care. And finally, I love her reflection on how birth intensity can be a bridge into motherhood. For Caroline, her second birth gave her something her first did not— she was able to experience the fullness and intensity of the act of bringing forth her baby, which was exactly what she wanted as she re-entered the fullness and intensity of motherhood. If you’re preparing for birth, I pray this story reminds you that you deserve belief, support, and peace—no matter the size of your baby. Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5yY5p5Wm6Y Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Have you ever noticed how each birth teaches us something different—no matter how many times we’ve done this before? Today, I’m welcoming back a dear friend of the show, Madeline Murray—midwife, mother of four, and someone whose story has unfolded alongside this podcast over the years. Madeline has been here before to share her first and second homebirths, and today she’s bringing us into her third and fourth. Two births that took place in very different seasons of life, and yet both marked by growth, presence, and a deepening sense of trust. Episode Roundup: First, I’m struck by how much presence mattered in these later births. Madeline talks about the difference between surviving a birth and actually participating in it—and that distinction feels so important. Sometimes peace doesn’t come from changing the circumstances, but from being able to stay with yourself through them. Second, I love her honesty about how seasons of life affect birth. Giving birth while navigating business ownership, older children, and a body that’s changed with time looks different than it did before—and that doesn’t make it lesser. In many ways, it makes it richer. There’s wisdom there. There’s perspective. And finally, Madeline’s story reminds us that even when we’re experienced—even when we’ve attended births or lived inside this world for years—birth still has something to teach us. It continues to shape us, humble us, and invite us into deeper trust. So wherever you are on your own journey—first baby or fourth—may this story remind you that growth doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like calm. Sometimes it looks like confidence. Sometimes it looks like finally feeling at home in your body. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Which is more important when it comes to birth: preparation or intuition? In this week’s episode, we’re hearing from Kaylee Matthews, a first-time mom from the mountains of Southern California whose story is a reminder that intuition and preparation can coexist beautifully with surrender. Before she even met her husband, Kaylee was learning the fertility-awareness method, studying midwifery podcasts, and building an understanding of her body. So when she and her husband conceived—on their very first try—she felt both prepared and grounded. Her pregnancy unfolded with ease until an unexpected “high-risk” label and pressure from hospital providers tested her confidence. Leaning on research, prayer, and intuition, Kaylee chose to continue midwifery care, learning firsthand the value of informed decision-making and peace over fear. When labor finally began at 40 weeks + 6 days, it moved from calm to intense quickly—so quickly that her earlier intuition proved true: her midwife nearly missed the birth. What followed was a long, determined labor that called for patience, movement, and deep trust. Kaylee’s story highlights the balance between preparation and surrender—the way knowledge can empower us, but peace is what carries us through. First, knowledge really is power—but trust and peace are even greater powers. Kaylee studied, planned, and prepared for this birth. But when things went off-script, she leaned not on fear or outside pressure, but on the peace and confidence she had in her body as it did exactly what it was designed to do. Second, I love how her preparation allowed her husband to step confidently into birth, too. From the packet of questions at their first appointment to the way he supported her through every phase, their teamwork is a picture of partnership in birth, and the way that birth can truly bring couples together as they enter or re-enter parenthood. And finally, Kaylee’s intuition was spot-on. Even when it didn’t make logical sense—like feeling her midwife might miss the birth—she honored that God-given intuitive thought and made space for it. What a reminder that we are so connected to our Creator, and when it’s intuition, that knowing you feel isn’t scary, it’s simply confident. Here’s to quiet confidence, to listening inward, and to letting birth be the teacher it’s meant to be. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What if understanding midwifery care didn’t require convincing—but simply seeing? This week on The Happy Homebirth Podcast, I’m joined by Caleb Phipps, filmmaker and father of four, and Midon Wingo, licensed midwife and passionate advocate for family-centered birth care. Together, they’re creating a documentary called Birthing Revolution—a film designed to show what midwifery care actually looks like. Prenatal visits. Birth spaces. Families. Trust. One of the most powerful ideas from this conversation is the way they frame birth as a story: the mother as the hero, the midwife as the guide. Episode Roundup: First, I’m struck by the power of seeing. Caleb shared how witnessing midwifery care firsthand changed his understanding in a way facts and statistics never could. That’s exactly why Birthing Revolution matters—because when people can actually see birth unfolding with trust and respect, fear begins to loosen its grip. Second, I love the way both Caleb and Midon frame birth as a journey where the mother is the hero and the midwife is the guide. That story deserves to be told well—and protected—so families everywhere can understand what’s possible. And finally, I want to invite you into this work. If this episode resonated with you—if you’ve ever wished your partner, your parents, or your friends could see what midwifery care really looks like—this film could be that bridge. If you’re able, consider supporting the Birthing Revolution project. Even a small contribution helps move this vision forward and makes these stories accessible to families who need them. Links: Donate to Birthing Revolution: https://phippsphilms.com/birthing-revolution-movie/ Birthing Joy: A Home Birth Experience | https://youtu.be/iyhCAG2CQE8?si=YzgT2NRb3J_rd87E Midon Wingo Beautiful Blessings | https://www.beautifulblessingsbirthservices.com/ Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Do you have any highly specific desires in regards to your upcoming birth? Maybe that it will be at a certain time of day, or that you’ll labor for a specific amount of time…? What happens when those desires are unfulfilled and you’re given a very different experience instead? This week we’re speaking with Jamie, a first-time mom from Chicago who had some very beautiful ideas of what she wanted her birth to look like. After a very long pregnancy, she hoped for a very short labor… and today we will hear how she learned to surrender both her plans and her fears. Episode Roundup: First, I love how Jamie’s story began before pregnancy — with a season of deep healing. When she leaned into holistic restoration, she wasn’t just preparing her gut or her body; she was preparing her spirit for motherhood. That alignment and surrender created the foundation for the birth that would later test her faith in such profound ways. Second, her honesty about fear is so relatable. Even with all the preparation, the reading, and the prayer, fear can creep in. And yet, in those moments when she felt she couldn’t go on, God’s Word met her — “My grace is sufficient for you.” What a testimony to the truth that sometimes the victory in birth doesn’t come through ease, but through endurance. And finally, the image of her midwife stepping in, calm and capable, to help her baby take his first breath — that moment captured the essence of womanly strength and care. It’s such a powerful reminder that when birth is held in reverence, even the most intense moments can become sacred. Jamie’s story reminds us that birth is both holy and humbling. It’s where heaven meets earth, and where a woman’s body, soul, and spirit are refined in love. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What does it look like to walk through birth with deep peace — even when things don’t go exactly as planned? This week we’re speaking to Paige Schwickerath, a young mom from central Iowa whose life has been beautifully transformed through marriage, motherhood, and her first home birth. Paige and her husband welcomed their son, Boaz, at home in an experience that tested their faith, strengthened their trust, and revealed the calm presence of God in every moment. In this episode, Paige shares how her husband’s encouragement first led her to explore home birth, the ways she prepared physically, mentally, and spiritually for labor, and how her peaceful birth at home unfolded — even when her baby needed a little extra help transitioning earthside. Her story is one of surrender, support, and steady faith — a powerful reminder that birth can be both holy and human, unpredictable and yet perfectly held by God’s design. Episode Roundup: First of all, I love the role that Paige’s husband played in leading their family toward a more holistic way of living—before they were even pregnant. It’s not often that we hear about the husband introducing the idea of homebirth, but what a beautiful example of partnership and trust. His faith in God’s design and confidence in Paige’s ability to birth set such a peaceful tone for their entire experience. What a gift it is when husband and wife move forward in unity like that. Next, I was struck by how Paige prepared—physically, mentally, and spiritually—while still holding her plans with open hands. She stayed active, saw a pelvic floor therapist and chiropractor, and filled her mind with encouraging homebirth stories, all while surrendering her timeline and experience to the Lord. That blend of readiness and release—that’s such a powerful lesson for all of us. And finally, what a testimony of peace under pressure. When her son needed help transitioning after birth, Paige didn’t spiral into fear. She began quietly saying the name of Jesus over and over, trusting that He was present and that her birth team was equipped to care for her baby. Within minutes, her son was breathing in her arms. From the outside, someone might see this as a scary story, but for Paige, it was a story of God’s sovereignty and the calm assurance that she was exactly where she was meant to be. Wow—what an incredible reminder that even when our stories don’t unfold perfectly, they can still be perfectly the Lord’s. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Change can be tough. How do we integrate the arrival of our new baby? Moreover, how do we integrate the arrival of our new baby mere weeks after the arrival of our foster child and a move into a new home? This week, we're speaking to Alexis. A foster-turning adoptive mother to a 7-year-old daughter, and homebirth bio mom to a 1 year old baby boy at the time of this recording. Alexis and her family experienced so. much. change. during her pregnancy, and leading up to her birth, and yet you will love the attitude and perspective with which she holds all of this as we hear her journey. Episode Roundup: Alexis found confidence in herself as she navigate pregnancy and motherhood, and so much of this was because she was in control of her care. She wasn't being told what to do or forced or coerced. Alexis was surrounded by midwives who truly cared for her and wanted her to be in charge of her experience. What a massive difference this makes in terms of how we feel about ourselves as mothers. What a beautiful gift of an experience to know that we've got the stuff we need to be who we were designed to be. Alexis said that, overarching, she sees how God's timing was so perfect in her story, despite the fact that she certainly couldn't see that or even fully feel that during the process at times. Isn't it so humbling to realize that our perspective just isn't as big as that of our Creator's? What feels like pain, a struggle, something incredibly difficult or even wrong from where we're standing.... that can be used, too. Alexis celebrates the fact that in His timing, she gained two beautiful children-- two children she wouldn't trade for the world. How amazing. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

When you found out you were pregnant, what emotions ran through your brain? Excitement? Thrill? Joy? Or did you experience fear, shame, or a resurgence of old traumas? This week, we're speaking to Amanda Lopez. A mama to 3 children, two of whom were born to her while Amanda was still a teenager. We'll be discussing Amanda's experiences as a teen mother, and how her most recent homebirth (at the time of this recording) brought incredible healing to her previous perceptions of pregnancy and birth. Episode Roundup: I am so blown away by how Amanda used her experience of becoming pregnant at 14, having a baby at 15 to propel her forward in her aspirations. At a time when she felt so alone and was struggling so deeply, she still saw the worth of her child and knew that she was worth the struggle and toil. She turned something so difficult into something so triumphant, even graduating from high school with a 4.0 GPA. When Amanda became pregnant for the second time as a teen, she felt so much pain and confusion, and yet... she looked at her other daughter and knew that this baby was going to be a blessing. I am so overwhelmed at the beauty of Amanda's choices to celebrate life. And what seemed so tragic at the time, having two daughters as a teen herself, turned into the beautiful blessings of her daughters. As Amanda and her mother discussed, sometimes the things that seem so difficult at the time are, in retrospect, the things that save us. Praise God for his provision for Amanda in terms of her ability to raise her babies, and in the loving support, yet firm boundaries that her parents set out for her in the process. And finally, when Amanda became pregnant with her third child... DESPITE the fact that she is a fully grown adult woman and certainly capable of taking care of another baby, one of the first things that happened when she sat looking at the pregnancy test was a rush of old traumas... of feeling down on herself because this pregnancy was "unexpected". But what I loved about this story was the fact that Amanda now so clearly sees... this pregnancy, along with her two other pregnancies... they weren't unexpected. They were known, they were seen, and they were expected by the Creator. Amanda was able to triumphantly and confidently give birth to her third baby, safely in her own home. She was able to reclaim motherhood with a new sense of power and confidence, and I am so thrilled that Amanda's children are able to see what a strong, loving, beautiful mother they have-- one who will lay it all down for them. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What was life like for you before you became pregnant? Were you pretty much the same person then as you are now, or have you changed drastically? Today we'll be speaking with Gabrielle, and precious mother who has truly been pulled from death to life. From addiction to heavy narcotics and homelessness to being pulled out and called into life through Jesus. This story is unbelievably powerful, and I'm so thrilled that Gabrielle's heart desires to share how she has been forever reborn. Episode Roundup: God makes messy things beautiful. I've seen it time and time again in my own life and in the lives of others, and how clearly was this put on display in Gabrielle's story. Gabrielle shares how she overdosed and flatlined 3 times-- died- and yet now is a whole new, reborn creation who is pointing others to her Savior. What a beautiful testimony. And next, I think it's so incredible to see how the life experiences that she's had, of dysfunction, of such severe struggle-- she's used those to change the paradigm for her own family. Gabrielle and her husband are taking their children down an entirely new path-- one that's functional and full of love and grace. And lastly, I just want to share about the beauty in Gabrielle's decision making. Despite the fact that she's off of social media and thus not being bombarded with pretty homebirth images, she prayed for discernment and knew that what she wanted for her babies was different from the conventional path. I just find it so powerful that Gabrielle trusted and obeyed and had two beautiful girls in a way that empowered her and granted her confidence in motherhood. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

First births: You don't know what's going on with your body, they're long, and mothers enter them feeling uncertain and needing reassurance.... right? This week we're speaking to Sara, who lives in Travelers Rest, South Carolina with her husband Rob, their first child and son, Charlie, and their two big all american mutts, Captain and Bucky. Sara and her husband Rob strive to live a gospel-centered and holistic/ancestral lifestyle to create the best and safest environment for their children to learn and thrive. Homebirth was their Plan A and Charlie’s birth Story wasn’t exactly what Sara envisioned, it was BETTER and one of the best and most intimate memories she and Rob will ever share together. Sara is a former student of mine, and she’s gone on to have a second beautiful experience. I love hearing the power and confidence in her story, and that’s my desire for every single mother that I work with inside of Whole Mother Homebirth. Episode Roundup: Just because it's your first birth does not mean that it's going to be long, that you're going to feel uncertain and need reassurance and that you don't know what to do. Sara walked into birth with confidence. Did she expect to give birth to her baby in the closet? No. But did her body know exactly what it was doing? Absolutely. Sara had admitted that she felt totally confident in her ability to birth her baby, and Rob's ability to support her. With their lifestyle and their deep trust in the birthing process and the Lord, this experience was so... them. And postpartum- there is just so much going on during this time. Physically, mentally and emotionally. I love hearing Sara gush about how Rob has been such an incredible support throughout. This is such a special time for your spouse to step up. To shower you with care, to be your hero, and to leave the two of you feeling more drawn together than ever before. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off) Your Brilliant Body Course: https://www.intelligentmovementlab.com/your-brilliant-body-1fde4c68-3b5d-4a67-aa51-3541ad2262b $50 discount code: HAPPYHOMEBIRTH50 expires: 1/4/26 Previous episodes with Paris: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-homebirth/id1446934537?i=1000614823851 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-homebirth/id1446934537?i=1000715087698 Paris on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParisLatka

When you’re unable to have a homebirth in your area, what happens? Are you totally out of luck…. Or are there other ways to get creative? This week we’re speaking with my friend Shanies Pearcey- a stay at home mother to 8 children at the time of this recording, but she’s since had a few more sweet babies, and a minister's wife in Northwest NJ. Shanise enjoys cooking, sewing, and spending time with her precious kids, and I can tell you right now you are going to gain SO MUCH from this interview, as we unpack her journey to a homebirth… across the country from her own home. Get ready for a beautiful, uplifting story. One thing I love about Shanise is the confidence she’s gained throughout her experiences of birth and motherhood, and that is my goal for all of the mothers I get to work more closely with inside of Whole Mother Homebirth. You were gloriously designed to give birth. With this as my driving truth, it is my greatest pleasure and privilege to come alongside mothers seeking to give birth not only at home, but more importantly, with a deep sense of connection to their instincts and intuition. This birth course is for the woman who is ready to be transformed into the new, powerful iteration of herself as Mother. Episode Roundup: Question everything, unfortunately. Shanise was told with her twins that her hips were “too small” for a 5 pound baby– and yet, she was able to give birth to an 8 pound baby just fine later on. Another example of this could be seen when her OB told her that if she wanted to give birth without an epidural, they should totally break her water. It’s so unfortunate when we hear these examples of care providers looking out for themselves and not for their patients. If you find yourself in a situation that seems unfavorable, like Shanise did with her 8th pregnancy and upcoming labor, keep your mind open to other ideas. It could have been so easy for Shanise and her husband to dismiss the idea of traveling to Texas for a homebirth, but look at what they would have missed if they’d ignored the idea– and consider the hostility that so many women were facing in hospitals in that area at the time. What a beautiful experience Shanise’s family had– all because they were open to ideas outside of the norm. And finally, how incredible are our bodies. The way that Shanise’s body gave her an opportunity to process her fears and anxieties by stopping labor– that was so beautiful to me. She was able to reach out to a friend, who, by the way owns a beautiful merino wool shop called Truly Charis, for all of the cloth diapering mamas out there, be sure to look her up– and process the feelings and emotions that were welling up inside of her. And once she did that– her body knew that it was now safe to give birth. What a blessing that entire experience was. As we wrap up this amazing episode, I can’t help but share Philippians 4: 4-9 “4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What if you had the know-how to help your newborn baby relax and release all of the tension accumulated from growing in utero, and from his or her birth experience? What if you were able to regulate your baby’s nervous system? Wouldn’t that be incredible? Today I’m sharing a conversation I had with Kim Sherlock and Holly Steflik several years back, in 2022– Holly and Kim are the two trainers for the Gillespie Approach, otherwise known as Craniosacral Fascial Therapy. This conversation was had in anticipation of the first CFT training event I hosted in Greenville South Carolina, and I’m sharing this episode again in preparation for the THIRD event that we will be hosting in Greenville from March 19th- 21st for the foundations training, and March 22nd- 24th for the Infant training. My friends, I cannot say enough about CFT and how it has changed my life as a mother. Being able to help my children unwind and heal has been such a blessing. I love that I have the confidence to put my hands on their bodies and support them as opposed to always having to outsource to some other “expert”. While I am completely willing to do that if I think they need something complementary, it’s a gift to be able to support my children, my husband, and even myself through this modality. The investment has been wildly worth it to me. I took this training 2 months before my son was born, and it blows me away the difference that being able to help a baby release from birth makes on their experience as a newborn, baby and toddler. Bubs, as we call my son, is the most flexible, strong and bodily-aware child that I know. It’s amazing all of the ways that his body and brain are connected. His fine and gross motor skills have knocked us off our feet from the very beginning, and I know it’s the CFT that made such an incredible impact on him. I love having this skill, and I would LOVE to see you at the Greenville training. Episode Roundup: You're the expert on your family. We talk about this in relation to birth, but it certainly doesn't stop there. You are allowed to take radical responsibility, and you are allowed to acquire the skills it takes to help your family heal. Motherhood is powerful, and you are not "just" a mom. You are the expert. And speaking of being the expert, I want you to know that that’s what I encourage you in inside of Whole Mother Homebirth. You were gloriously designed to give birth. With this as my driving truth, it is my greatest pleasure and privilege to come alongside mothers seeking to give birth not only at home, but more importantly, with a deep sense of connection to their instincts and intuition. This birth course is for the woman who is ready to be transformed into the new, powerful iteration of herself as Mother. Birth is safest when the mother is the leader, and inside of Whole Mother Homebirth, we provide both knowledge and wisdom that will lead you to a sense of confidence and excitement when it comes to your birthing experience. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

How long did you wait to tell your friends and family about your pregnancy? No time? 8 weeks? 12 weeks? What about 6 months? Today’s episode with Alissa covers an incredible array of stories, and she bears her soul with her experience. I feel so honored that she shared her stories, and I know you’ll feel the same when you hear them. I do of course like to mention when stories contain especially difficult situations, and I will inform you that she did have some very traumatic events occur at the hospital, and we will discuss a miscarriage. These topics are so important to discuss, but of course I want to be sensitive to those who are approaching birth or who are in a place where they would prefer to wait until a later time to listen. Otherwise, enjoy this amazing woman’s stories. Episode Roundup: Birth trauma is real, and it can impact our postpartum, our bond, and our mental and physical health. This is a reminder that if you experience trauma or abuse with your care provider or nurses, you can report it. There can be serious consequences for these types of situations for mother and baby, and those responsible should be held responsible. Miscarriages are labor and miscarriages are birth. I’m so grateful for Alissa sharing how her natural miscarriage happened, how she experienced it, and how it impacted her. I know so many of you have been in her shoes, and my heart goes out to you. Your baby matters, and your experience matters. And finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel. After several incredibly difficult experiences, Alissa went on to have a glorious, triumphant homebirth. A birth that was a huge step in the direction of healing, and that is what I wish for us all. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What does it mean to fully embrace motherhood? To fully embrace the God-given responsibility of caring for your children? This week, we're speaking to Courtney Valdez, a 26-year old mom of two beautiful girls + a business owner/hairstylist, with a love of homemaking and holistic wellness. Courtney's experience of pregnancy and birth has changed the way her family lives in every way for the better, as we are going to hear in this powerful journey of growth and strength. And not to give a huge spoiler alert, but I do want to say this. The mother that Courtney becomes during this experience-- powerful, confident, radically responsible-- that is who I want you to meet and become inside of Whole Mother Homebirth. You were gloriously designed to give birth. With this as my driving truth, it is my greatest pleasure and privilege to come alongside mothers seeking to give birth not only at home, but more importantly, with a deep sense of connection to their instincts and intuition. This birth course is for the woman who is ready to be transformed into the new, powerful iteration of herself as Mother. Birth is safest when the mother is the leader, and inside of Whole Mother Homebirth, we provide both knowledge and wisdom that will lead you to a sense of confidence and excitement when it comes to your birthing experience. Inside of Whole Mother Homebirth, I provide you with COMPREHENSIVE education. Not just silly little coping techniques… No, this is revolutionary information, and I am confident that you will finish this course feeling equipped and excited to give birth, and that your spouse will be on the exact same page. And hey, when you purchase this course, you are supporting the continuation of this podcast as a free resource. I am so grateful to be able to provide deep transformation for you, and for your support in return. Click the link in the show notes and get a 10% discount when you use the code PODCAST at checkout. Episode Roundup: I want to begin with how Courtney views her first birth experience. While there is plenty for her to be upset and frustrated about in regards to her care, I love the way that Courtney chooses to frame her experience. She isn't sitting in victimhood, but accepting responsibility-- accepting the experience for what it was, and choosing to see and appreciate the beautiful moments. Sometimes we've got to tease through the event to find the beauty, and that can feel frustrating, but how much more powerful than to allow the event to pull you down into despair? We don't always have a choice in regards to outcomes, but we can ALWAYS choose our perspective. Sovereign motherhood. Courtney felt that she shed her old skin-- the questioning, uncertain skin of the past-- in the birth pool when she met her second daughter. She was reborn as the sovereign mother to her two daughters that she was designed to be. No more questioning herself, no more outsourcing... she understands that her intuition was given by God, and she will us it. And lastly, I want to take a moment to touch on care providers. Courtney's experience were both at the hands of midwives. We've got to remember that a title alone means absolutely nothing. One manipulated and pushed for her own way, while the other sat on her hands, peacefully watching Courtney enter back into motherhood. We've got to remember that who we select as our care provider does carry a massive amount of weight. I understand that some of us have more options than others, but this is something to be considered deeply. Does your midwife see herself as a hero or a servant? The answer will dictate much. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What happens when God uses birth — and even loss — to refine your faith in ways you never imagined? Welcome to Episode 300 of the Happy Homebirth. Wow, 300 episodes of real, raw homebirth stories, and you’re about to meet your match with this week’s guest. This week, we’re speaking to Rachael Nalley, a home birth doula, micro-baker, and mother of four living in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. Rachael’s story is one of beauty, resilience, and radical trust. From her first birth in a hospital, to the redemptive peace of her home birth years later, her journey reveals the Lord’s hand through every high and low. In this conversation, Rachael shares not only her powerful home birth story, but the incredible season of testing and provision that surrounded it — including how her family faced financial hardship, miraculous provision, and even the total loss of their home… only to witness God’s faithfulness unfold again and again. I cannot warn you enough… please grab a tissue in the best way. Rachael’s testimony is raw, redemptive, and overflowing with grace — a reminder that even in our most broken moments, God is near, and His plans are good. Episode Roundup: First, I love how Rachael’s faith journey and birth journey mirror one another — both required surrender, both demanded trust, and both revealed God’s sustaining grace. Through every contraction, every hardship, every loss, He was preparing her for deeper intimacy with Him. Next, I’m struck by the theme of refinement through fire. When Rachael’s family lost everything — their finances, their stability, even their home — God met them with unmistakable provision and peace. From a hundred-dollar miracle to an unexpected home that met their every prayer, the Lord showed Himself as Provider in the most tangible ways. And finally, I’m moved by Rachael’s courage to share the fullness of her story. She reminds us that our worth is not in our circumstances or our success, but in Christ alone. When everything else is stripped away, He remains — faithful, kind, and near to the brokenhearted. Friends, Rachael’s story is a testimony to what happens when we choose to trust God moment by moment, even when we can’t see the way forward. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What do you do when an OB refuses to support your VBAC, and then no other local OBs will take you on as a patient because they don’t accept transfers from other OBs? Where do you go? This week we’re speaking to Alicia Downey, a military spouse who has lived in 4 states over the last 5 years, is a mother to two wonderful daughters, and a registered nurse. Alicia is currently staying at home with her babies. She is a c-section mom, and a home birth mom, and she is passionate about sharing her birth story and the empowerment that came with choosing to VBAC at home, as we will get to hear today. Episode Roundup: I know that some of the mothers listening to this podcast plan to give birth in the hospital. For any number of reasons, that may feel like the best and safest place for you to give birth. I don’t want stories of what happens in the hospital to scare you as you ready yourself for birth, but I do hope that it serves to prepare you for what you need to do to advocate for yourself. The unfortunate reality is that labor in the hospital does require a level of toughness and willingness to fight for your rights and desires that is not always present at home, though of course it can be. Being prepared for this and understanding how to navigate the system is critical. Next, can we just take a moment to talk about how crazy it was that Alicia’s OB not only refused to support her in a VBAC, but essentially threatened her with zero care unless she submitted to the OB’s wishes? You won’t be able to receive care anywhere else… and…. I won’t schedule another appointment with you unless you agree to have a c section now. Absolutely wild. Thank goodness this pushed Alicia right into the arms of a homebirth midwife. Another little point– prodromal labor stinks. It really can be such a mind game, but I do want you all to remember that it does have a purpose. Whether it’s actually causing dilation like it did for Alicia, or it’s helping your baby reposition, prodromal labor is doing SOMETHING. I think it can be so helpful to keep that in mind when you’re in the throes of it! And lastly, birth can be healing. It doesn’t have to be the thing that heals you from previous traumas. Let’s be clear about that. I think that nervous system-based therapy like emotional freedom technique, havening, and ART or sldkfjsldk therapy are wildly helpful for birth trauma healing, specifically. But– there is something so healing about having a new experience. If you’ve had a traumatic birth before and you want more babies, know that your next birth can be different. It can be beautiful, and it can be deeply healing. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Hey there Happy Homebirthers, I’ve got a fun little treat for you for this week. Instead of our usual interview setup, I wanted to share a podcast that I was on recently. My friend Sarah at Entering Motherhood recently had me on her show to discuss homebirth and storytelling–particularly healing through storytelling. These are two of my favorite topics, so I wanted to give you a chance to listen in. I’ll link Sarah’s podcast and instagram, so you can follow along for more of her incredible content. Enjoy! Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Episode 260: Homebirth Stories, Safety & Self-Advocacy with Katelyn Fusco Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Listen on Podbean Entering Motherhood Website

If you choose to have a freebirth, you must be some kind of fearless superwoman, right? This week we’re speaking to Charissa Blair. Charissa is wife to Adam and mother to her freebirthed first baby, Leviticus, with a second baby on the way. In this week’s episode, we’ll hear why Charissa decided to give birth unassisted with her first baby, how the birth unfolded, and how it has impacted Charissa as a mother. Episode Roundup: I love the reasoning behind why Charissa decided to fully commit to freebirth. It wasn’t because she felt she had something to prove to others, but because she sensed that it was right for her. She felt the Lord calling her into a specific experience– and one that made sense based on her own preferences of being alone, and especially not being at the hospital. She felt peace over the decision to give birth unassisted. And that leads me to my second point– Just because she felt peace about giving birth unassisted, that did not mean that 1. She wouldn’t be prepared and willing to change her location if she needed to. She even had a bag packed for such a scenario. It also did not mean that she would have an easy birth. Charissa experienced a sense of coming to the bottom of herself… she felt a sense of darkness and struggle that she had no choice but to move through. But what awaited her on the other side? A beautiful sunrise with her brand new baby, born safely in her arms at home. Birth is a transformative process. It is not always easy, in fact, it’s rarely free of big challenges. That’s what MAKES it transformative. Wherever you give birth, however you give birth, this experience is designed to change you if you’ll let it. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Homebirth is great, but if you do happen to have an emergency at home, you’ll always wish you were at the hospital, right? This week we’re speaking with Kennedy Voetberg. At 18, Kennedy became fascinated by the birthing process and underwent training to become a certified birth doula. Almost a decade later, Kennedy is married to her husband, Deter, and together they have 3 children with their fourth on the way. She is grateful to say that she birthed all three of their children at home, and today we will hear specifically how her first birth unfolded. Epsiode Roundup: First of all, I wish that every teenager felt the excitement to give birth that Kennedy did at 18. What a blessing to have such a positive outlook well before she even met her husband and decided to begin having children. So many girls grow up with minimal understanding of birth, and often the stories they have heard are not examples of the brilliance of how the female body was created to bring forth life. I pray that we as mothers are able to provide to our children a new outlook on pregnancy and birth– that we can use our own stories, however they unfold, to encourage our girls and excite them about what they have to look forward to. What a gift it is to be able to grow, birth, nourish and care for our babies. Next, what a special connection. Kennedy had become fascinated with physiological birth and knew that whenever she gave birth, she wanted it to be at home– and she married a man who himself was born at home. That, my friends, is what they call a match made in heaven. And finally, let’s tie this up with the beginning of our episode. Homebirth sounds great unless there’s an emergency… But for Kennedy, homebirth was great, even with an emergent situation, and in fact, the way that her emergent situation was handled brought Kennedy even more confidence in the process of giving birth at home. When her baby needed support breathing, Kennedy and her midwife worked together to begin stimulating her baby, and her midwife was able to provide a full resuscitation when it became necessary. Remember. There are no guarantees in life– not in the hospital, not at home, but we can do our part by surrounding ourselves with a supportive team, by preparing our hearts and our bodies, and by leaning on The Lord and his goodness in all situations. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

How would it feel to be supported in your pregnancy and birth by the women of your family? This week we are speaking to Miriam McCuiston, a stay at home mom to her daughter Zoe. She is married to her husband and best friend, Kyle. Miriam is learning all new things about being a homemaker and mama, and as we’ll hear in her story, she has women around her who are deeply encouraging her and cheering her on. Episode Roundup: First of all, it was so clear to me from the very beginning this them of feminine care in Miriam’s story. From her group of women praying over her on Thanksgiving, to her mother and sister in law supporting her and sharing with her their own birthing experiences….. Her sisters coming over to clean hear home for her… my goodness. That alone was beautiful to hear. But, wow. The way that Miriam’s sister played such an integral part in the birthing process just blew me away. How she came over and talked with her, told her stories and shared about her day, provided counter pressure, and then moaned with her through contractions to keep her grounded. I just felt chills the whole time. I pray this relationship over my own daughters, my goodness. And it didn’t stop there. Her mother came over to help during the first few days, and her mother in law brought them warm meals… this is what it looks like to be surrounded by women. This is what compassionate care looks like. This is the goal. And next, I want to take a moment to focus on the point of Miriam’s labor that stood out so strongly to me. She’s in the birth pool, likely going through transition, where she begins to feel like she just can’t do it. What does Miriam do? She calls out to her creator. She knows that He hears her. She asks for his strength. She reaches out to Jesus– physically reaches out to Him, and she feels the love of the father wrapping around her and providing her with the strength she needs to complete her task. Jesus is in the room, my friends. He’s Emmanuel, God with Us. Call to him. Expect him to answer. He is there. He can strengthen you, whatever your birth is looking like. He can strengthen you NOW, in whatever situation you are in. He’s right here, just as Miriam sensed and experienced. There’s nothing greater. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Pelvic Floor Freedom | https://www.intelligentmovementlab.com/pelvic-floor-freedom Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Youtube | https://youtu.be/Nb4moaQP-uA

Raise your hand if you’ve experienced a symptom or two in pregnancy that you wish you could get to the root of and heal. Food aversions? Morning sickness? Full on Hyperemisis Gravidarum? This week we are speaking to Jes Reynolds, a holistic health practitioner and founder of The Wellness Element, where she guides mothers to protect the health and wellbeing of children by reclaiming their intuition and sovereignty in pregnancy and motherhood. After healing herself from autoimmune illness and reversing her own hyperemesis gravidarum, Jes now supports women worldwide through her signature course, Healing HG Blueprint. Her work weaves together biology, nutrition, detox and ancestral wisdom to address the root causes of pregnancy complications. She is passionate about transforming the cultural narrative of pregnancy—from one marked by fear and medical control to one of initiation, power, and remembrance. Through education, advocacy, and community, Jes equips women to fiercely safeguard their children’s health from preconception through postpartum. Episode Roundup: Jes mentioned the importance of listening to your intuition, especially during pregnancy. Pregnancy is THE time to interact with our intuition and gain an understanding of what it feels like to be in tune, especially if we haven’t had many opportunities to exercise this kind of practice before. At the same time, Jes’ story also shares the reality that even when we are listening to our intuition and following its guidance, there can be other factors at play that can deeply influence our experience, particularly our care provider. Jes knew what she wanted for her pregnancy and birth, but her midwife was not on the same page, which led to Jes trying to advocate for herself while also trying to recover immediately postpartum. As Jes attested, this is NOT the situation you want to find yourself in postpartum, or any time in your care. Not only do you need to know what you stand for, but finding a care provider who will support you in that, is key. And finally, I love how Jes approaches health by looking at the “issue” or “symptoms” with different lenses, seeing where those lenses intersect, and beginning there. Trauma, illness, nutritional depletion, trapped emotions– they can all be factors. When we can remove some of the biggest pieces, oftentimes the rest begins to fall into place. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/the_wellness_element/ Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

The word Midwife means ‘with woman’-- what does it mean to be ‘with woman’? What does it look like, and how does it feel? This week we are speaking with the incredible midwife, published author and poet, Janelle Alier, who in my opinion is the embodiment of genuine midwifery care. We’re going to hear how she became a midwife, or how midwifery happened to her, we’ll hear her journey through her own births, and you will get to hear about the beautiful project that she recently completed: The Shortest Stories, a book of birth haiku that odes to the births she has attended. This episode is going to be a favorite for mothers and midwives alike, and a beautiful reminder of what it means to be– with woman. Episode Roundup: Your true identity is your gift to the world. Whatever it is. Janelle, acting as the midwife that she is, is her gift and contribution, and what a gift it is. What is that for you? Maybe it’s not your career– that’s okay, your career itself is not your identity. You bring your identity into whatever it is that you do. Whether you’re raising the next generation by homeschooling your children, or you’re in the marketplace sharing who you are with those around you– what you’re doing in your true identity is such a gift. Next, not everything that happens is good or “for a reason”. Bad things happen. Things we don’t want to have happen— sometimes happen. What’s incredible is to see those very things be used and woven into something beautiful– durable. No, Janelle didn’t need to have the births that she had to be a good midwife. She was already an amazing midwife with a thorough philosophy. Yet, over time, she has allowed these experiences to integrate into her life. That does not take away from the “not good” aspects. But to see these events bolster what was already true of Janelle is inspiring. It’s something that we can all do with our births, whether they went seemingly perfectly or far off course. There are so many pieces of wisdom that we can recover, and over time, even find appreciation for. And finally, here’s to midwives like Janelle. Who listen to their clients, surrender their own egos, recognize both the beauty and heaviness of birth, and are willing to be with women as they emerge from the chrysalis and transform into mothers. Links: The Shortest Stories | https://goodprintedthings.com/products/the-shortest-stories?srsltid=AfmBOoqG8GZ--HlrIJKsr-Jy9unqL2cRv1p1rUmiEDrJGvp7EE6jCz6q Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Husbands, what can you tangibly do to support your wife during postpartum, especially those first few critical weeks? And today we’re having a GUEST interviewer! My very own hero of a husband, Thomas Fusco. Thomas will be taking over the interview reins as he sits down with a father-to-father chat with Eric Stein, CEO of Restorative Roots, and husband to Holly Stein, last week’s podcast guest. If you didn’t hear my interview with Holly, make sure to click the link in the show notes and give it a listen next. Moms, this week’s dad chat episode is going to be one that you’ll want to go ahead and send to your spouse so that he can feel ready and prepared for the postpartum phase. On an unrelated but exciting note, do you have birth photos and videos that you feel deserve to be shared with the world? I want you to send them to me! I’m collecting birth photos and videos to share on social media platforms, my website that’s in the process of being rebuilt, AND… I want to feature your photos and videos inside of the new weekly newsletter that I will be sending out. Both mothers and birth photographers, you’re welcome to submit! Episode roundup: Preparation can make or break your postpartum experience — Eric and Holly’s shift from a stressful first postpartum to a deeply supported experience for their second and third children shows how meal prep and intentional planning can deeply impact recovery and bonding. Next, isn’t the story behind Restorative Roots so inspiring? — A personal need was transformed into a national impact. What started as preparing meals for themselves grew into Restorative Roots, a regenerative postpartum meal company now shipping 900 meals weekly and offering resources to educate and empower other families. Finally, and I believe most importantly: The partner’s role matters — Dads, you truly can become the hero of the postpartum experience, AND you can take the lead on making this happen for your wife. Eric highlighted the importance of the masculine role in birth and postpartum. He shared about presence, support, and setting aside his own ego to truly care for his wife and family. This is your time to shine, fathers. If this becomes important to you, it will make your wife feel so loved and cherished. If you can help her achieve a restful, healing postpartum, you are investing in your family for weeks, months and years to come. It blows my mind just how much YOU can steer the ship towards deep connection. What a gift. Links: Ep 291: Postpartum Healing & Nutrition with Holly Stein of Restorative Roots | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-291-postpartum-healing-nutrition-with-holly-stein/id1446934537?i=1000724335999 Submit your Birth Photos and Videos: https://happyhomebirth.myflodesk.com/birthphotos Youtube | https://youtu.be/S_LLorCMlEs Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

What do you think you’ll want your first meal to be after having your baby? And does it really matter how we’re fueling our bodies after the baby is born? Holly, her husband Eric, and their 3 children live in Southern California, where they love homeschool, skateboard, and cook. They have built an incredible company, Restorative Roots, that delivers nutrient-dense postpartum meals to mothers across the country. From a tiny kitchen venture to a nationwide business, Holly and Eric are proud to offer support during such a transformative time- the postpartum experience. This week, we’ll be speaking to Holly about her 3 birthing experiences, how postpartum has changed for her over time, and ways in which we can be set up for success and healing in the critical first few days and weeks after birth. Episode Roundup: Isn’t there so much beauty in the concept of taking radical responsibility for what we can control, and then allowing grace and faith to fill in that which we cannot? I can see this both in birth, along with postpartum. Holly mentioned how she did what she could to prepare for a healthy labor and birth, but she knew that there was ultimately a level that she could not control. Let’s apply this to postpartum. There are things that we CAN do: We can plan. We can make or purchase nutrient-dense meals and ready our space for rest. We can seek to have support as much as possible. However, some things may truly be out of YOUR control. Maybe you don’t live near family, or you don’t have income to spare to hiring help… Let’s take charge where we can, do the best that we can with what we have, and give grace where we are not in complete control. I loved all of the creativity that Holly shared about preparing for a nutrient-dense postpartum: Having cooking days with your friends, sharing a list of approved recipes or instructions on your meal train, asking for friends and family to pitch in for a box from Restorative Roots as a pregnancy gift instead of some random contraption that your baby will probably outgrow in a week anyway… nourishment and healing after birth are the gifts that keep on giving and impact you for months to come. And finally, Holly ended so beautifully with this: Let’s all practice asking for and accepting help. Let people help you. Let them bring you food. Let them refill your water. Let them put your groceries in the car for you. What a beautiful thing it can be both for you as the receiver, but also for the other person– allowing them to truly be helpful and a blessing. Links: Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale Youtube | Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

We talk about trusting your instincts a decent amount around here– but what does it look like to LEARN how to lean into those instincts? This week we’re speaking with Lisa, who found the confidence to trust her instincts during pregnancy, which has changed her trajectory both as a mother as well as an entrepreneur and coach. Lisa Villani is a rebellious doula, sassy sales coach, hip-hop dancer, and mama to her spunky son in Buffalo, NY. She's married to her ride-or-die and believes fiercely in building a life where both parents get to thrive. After an unmedicated, out-of-hospital birth cracked her wide open, Lisa made it her mission to help women rewrite the narrative of motherhood, money, and identity. A survivor in every sense—of divorce, disordered eating, and a medical system that tried to silence her—she now stands as the loudest voice in the room for women ready to own their power, whether they're giving birth or selling their offers. She's also the host of the Loudmouth Lisa podcast—because playing small was never an option. Episode Roundup: Connection. We see the theme of connection flowing through Lisa’s story, and I think that we also see connection in the way that Lisa tells her story. Lisa is so clearly a connector. One of my favorite parts of this interview was hearing the beauty in Lisa’s connection with her son, Enzo, from the very beginning. She spent time dancing with him en utero, and she felt this pull their physical connection together. During the first part of the day as she went into labor, she spent time connecting with him as she labored alone, during her pushing phase, we see her turn inward to reconnect with her baby and to tell him that they were going to work together to push him out now— and they did! And then immediately postpartum, Lisa spent those six hours that her husband needed to sleep connecting individually with this beautiful little soul that was now on the outside. As I think of Lisa stepping into this new area of motherhood, where she allows Enzo to go spread his wings through beginning his new co-op, I think of how that connection is what is allowing that little boy the confidence to try new things. Lisa cut the cord after her birth and traded one connection for another, and she like all of us as mothers, will experience those cord cutting moments again and again. The connection didn’t end when she cut the cord, but it transformed. And here she is again with a transforming connection as her little one starts something new. My goodness, the depth and beauty of growing and changing while maintaining tethered to one another. And next, I want to emphasize the power of what Lisa is sharing with other mothers, women and mompreneurs through her deep understanding of sales. She sees that her ability to trust herself and to know and accept the value that she brings to others is what makes herself and the women that she works with successful. These very same lessons that she has learned through motherhood: To listen to her instincts, to be the vibrant, bold mother and woman that she was designed to be. That is her gift to her family, and that is her gift to the world and those whom her work touches. Links: Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | https://youtu.be/vOX6ZwIKrB0?si=89yOWGXndtEa5yVe Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

If you had an arduous labor due to your baby’s positioning once, it’s sure to happen similarly if your next baby takes the same position, right? Ashley Atwood and her husband Sam have 3 active and lively boys. They are a homeschooling family and love adventure and being outdoors. Ashley is a self described birth nerd and loves educating herself about all things birth and pregnancy and discussing all they entail. She feels that education about birth and pregnancy is so important to the birthing experience. Her hope is for all women to take the initiative to learn because birth matters! If it’s in the cards, she would love to become a midwife or doula one day when her children are grown. Episode Roundup: Ashley’s second birth unfolded in a way that seemed completely different from her first baby’s birth, despite the two being born posterior. I think this is such a helpful reminder to those of you who have had a birth experience that was difficult- and you’re worried about it happening exactly the same way the next time. Remember, this birth is not your last birth. This is a different birth and can be a different experience. For those of us who may fall into the labor denier category, it’s important to remember that someone on the outside may be able to see what’s happening more clearly than we can, and I’ll add this is especially true with second, third and beyond births when both spouses have been through the experience before. When Ashley was doing laundry and dropping to the floor for contractions, it clued Sam in that she was a good bit further along in labor than she realized. Thankfully he was able to reach out to the team and loop them in on what was happening! And now, I want to end with a section of Ashley’s own words from her application. This was so touching, and I feel like it needs to be heard by so many: “And with my third, it was like he was lavishing on his grace- giving me what I absolutely don’t deserve, but did it anyway! It was like he one upped Himself to show me His goodness. He knows me intimately and knows how much birth means to me and how I deeply value it and am in awe of it, and he gave me all my births as a gift, and I am so thankful. He could have made babies come any way He wanted, but He chose to use us, women to bring forth life in a truly miraculous way. I struggle to understand His love and grace and also struggle to believe it about myself and my births have helped me to experience more of His love and to just be in awe of Him that He loves us because He loves us- he chooses to and that’s it. It has nothing to do with what I have done, but all of what He’s done for me. And what a reminder that is of His ultimate love poured out for me on the cross.” Links: Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | https://youtu.be/aeSddUAUrEA Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Vaginal births after cesarean- are they really safe? And what about vbacs at home, or outside of the hospital? This week we’re speaking with Meagan Heaton, Host and founder of The VBAC Link. Meagan co-founded the VBAC Link in 2018. Although she always felt called to the baby world, she really found her love for birth in 2014 after her second C-Section. Through these two birth experiences, her love and passion grew around VBAC. She wanted to help people feel supported and loved. She had two C-sections and then went on to have a VBA2C, and has now supported over 300 families through their birthing journeys as a doula. Her drive is to help women like herself feel educated, supported, and empowered during their birthing time. Meagan is so incredible- we’re going to hear her birth stories along with all of the wisdom she has to share for mothers who are seeking to have a vaginal birth after cesarean. Episode Roundup: As we head into this week’s episode roundup, here are a few little thoughts I’m having: Partner support is so crucial. Meagan shares about this on her own platform, and she’s got the story to prove just how important this piece is. While Meagan had gained a good amount of education between her first and second birth, her husband was still of the mindset that the doctors truly were the experts, and he trusted what they said. However, when she was able to work with him more on the subjects in their third pregnancy, he was willing to support Meagan in her desire to give birth outside of the hospital- even if he didn’t fully understand it himself. Now, he’s a believer, just like so many other homebirth dads! Next, I love how Meagan mentioned the importance of vetting your care provider, both inside and outside of the hospital. Sometimes we fall into the mental trap that “homebirth midwife equals perfect care provider for me” and honestly, that’s just not the case. There are lots of midwives in my area, and many of them practice quite differently from one another. In fact, many of them are unwilling to take on VBAC clients. Seeking a care provider who knows your story and feels confident working with you- and gives you peace– wow, that’s critical in terms of having a successful VBAC. And finally- I want to leave you with this reminder: It can be different this time. It can be different than before. Maybe you’ve had one, two, three other experiences that all ended in a cesarean– or that whatever happened, ended in a way that felt disempowering to you. I want you to remember that this birth is different, the outcome can be different, and no matter what, your perspective can always be different. Change is possible! Links: Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | https://youtu.be/mSvLScNwm2E Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Is it possible to hold space for both joy and grief simultaneously? This week we’re speaking with Ivana Burbage. Ivana is a mom, wife and photographer from San Diego but now lives in Hawaii with her husband Justin. She loves being creative, surfing, spending time in the ocean and since having her babies is passionate about birth and motherhood. And as Ivana’s story unfolds, you will certainly notice the mingling of both joy and pain throughout and between her two pregnancy and birthing experiences. And isn’t this such a picture of the reality of our lives? We don’t always have perfectly separated, segmented experiences of extreme elation or depthy grief– often times our lives unfold in a way where both must share space and coexist. I am so grateful to Ivana and her family for sharing this reality, both the pain and the beauty. Episode Roundup: Ivana’s first pregnancy began by greeting new life while also saying goodbye to one of the most important figures of her life. This tension is overwhelming, and the grief of this was so heavy. What I am so happy to hear is the way that Ivana’s community surrounded her. Her husband, Justin, who is familiar with loss himself along with Ivana’s midwife, who stepped in as a support figure both made sure that she was processing her grief in a meaningful way, not allowing the pain to take her as a fearful captive. It is so clear that this made a massive impact in how Ivana was able to experience the rest of her pregnancy, along with her beautiful first birth. When grief struck her family again during her sister’s birth, the same support system came alongside to offer the care that was so desperately needed. What a picture of what it means to live in community and to receive the comfort and love that is so desperately needed in times of such deep pain. Next, keep in mind that each birthing experience is its own– it’s easy to assume that our births will follow a specific pattern or that they will look and feel similarly to a previous experience, but as Ivana mentioned in this episode. Her first birth and her second birth began quite differently, which did add to the experience of labor denial! Ivana thought that her second birth would involve losing her mucous plug over the course of several days and having her water break just like it did with her first, but this second birth followed its own pattern and blueprint! The beauty is that Ivana was able to very comfortably flow with the birth that presented itself, which allowed her to absorb every little moment of her rather short labor. Finally, I want to end with a name. Te’a. God’s promise. We aren’t promised that everything in life will go exactly how we want it to, and this is so clear throughout the stories that Ivana shared today, but there’s one thing that Ivana stands firm on– we are promised that God will be there. That He will show up with and for us, and we will not walk any of it alone. Sweet baby Te’a, a rainbow baby after a tumultuous storm. What a gift. Links: Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | https://youtu.be/4TR1W5_VM2o Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Does an empowering birth change you all at once? Or does it do so incrementally? Pulling back layers as time goes on, exposing truths– behaving more like a well-cultivated seed than an instant shift? Abigail Pyle is wife to her husband Jeff, and a stay-at-home mom of five very energetic and delightful children ages 10-2 years. She is navigating homeschool and parenting on the Central Coast of California with lots of prayers for wisdom, grace and humility! Through her five unique homebirths, she has become very passionate about sharing with women about what a gift birth was meant to me! Today we’ll get to hear how Abigail’s experiences have unfolded over time, and the beautiful growth that she has undergone. Episode Roundup: And really harkening back to the question I asked at the beginning of this episode– Abigail shares how her birth experience did not overhaul who she was in one instant. I’m sure that it did, actually in many ways, but in connection with her perspective, her spiritual life, and beliefs about herself— Abigail’s first birth was a seed planted. Over time and through very different births, that seed was watered, cultivated, and grown to fruit. We see this fruition in her most recent birth where, one week after her due date, she is so ready to meet her baby that she has completely relinquished all fear of how her baby will be born. Back labor again? Who cares. She was fearless and ready to surrender to the process of birth. And that leads me to this second point– surrender and submission. Abigail said something so beautiful that had me thinking about this idea. The more we are able to surrender to our Creator, the more HE will work and do. Here we are circling around the concept she brought up about laboring to rest. We labor, yes, but we MUST rest. We must submit. We must surrender so that he can bring about the bounty that he desires to bring about. If we continually labor whether physically or metaphorically in our own strength, there will be so much less of a harvest. But the more we submit, the more we trust, the more we open our hands to the experience that HE has for us… the more we get to enjoy his great abundance. And finally, Abigail touched on something that I think is such a tangible reminder: You don’t have to experience the negative birth before you plan for the positive homebirth. This is your permission slip. Give it a try, let the Lord bless you however your birth unfolds. Let the seeds be planted. Links: Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Notify for WMHB Pre Sale! | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/notifypresalelink Youtube | https://youtu.be/ahv7--6Yfms Blueshield | blushield.com/homebirth (use code HOMEBIRTH for 18% off of your order today!) Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

What’s the best way to enter birth? Is it with a completely blank slate- not allowing the stories of others to influence your own experience, or…. Is there benefit to listening to the raw stories of others: the gamut of experiences to know what’s possible? This week we’re speaking with Dr. Elliot Berlin, who we last spoke to on episode 229 titled Have an Informed Pregnancy with Dr. Elliot Berlin. For those of you who have not yet heard of this champion of birth education, let me introduce him. Dr. Berlin is an award-winning prenatal chiropractor, childbirth educator, labor support bodyworker, filmmaker, co-founder of Berlin Wellness Group in Los Angeles, California and the host of the Informed Pregnancy Podcast. Dr. Berlin graduated Summa Cum Laude from Life University of Chiropractic in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Atlanta School of Massage. Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy® Project aims to utilize multiple forms of media (podcasts, YouTube series, documentaries, and online workshops) to compile and deliver unbiased information about pregnancy and childbirth to empower new and expectant parents to make informed choices regarding their pregnancy and parenting journey. Dr. Berlin lives in Los Angeles with his wife, perinatal psychologist Dr. Alyssa Berlin, and their four fantastic kids. Episode Roundup: The mainstream birth narrative is so outdated, and the fact that so many people are making fear-based decisions BECAUSE of what they’ve seen in the media is heartbreaking. To have resources like those that Dr. Berlin has created is such a blessing to so many. It’s restoring the truth of what birth is, for those who are curious and want to make informed decisions. I love the rawness aspect of the content that Dr. Berlin is creating. He’s not trying to paint a false picture of birth, not trying to make it scarier than it is, and also not trying to make it more idyllic than it is. His goal is to give an honest view of how this process unfolds, and the many different ways that that can look and feel. Finally, I want to share with you a very special opportunity that Dr. Berlin has provided. He’s giving a free month of “informed pregnancy plus”, his streaming platform, to our listeners. There’s a link below in the show notes. This will expire on October 1st of 2025, so be sure to hop on this opportunity while you have it! Links: Notify for WMHB Pre Sale! | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/notifypresalelink Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | https://youtu.be/uSDL1pxrvhw Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order) Previous Interview: https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode-229 Link to Informed Pregnancy Plus: informedpregnancy.tv Discount Code: HHB725 for 1 month free on a monthly membership (new users only)

How do you discern the difference between fear mongering and true concern? Scarlen is a home birth mom from Chattanooga, TN. She is a wife to Manny and together they have 5 boys. After a rough hospital birth with her first, she knew there had to be a different way to birth. When she became pregnant with her second boy, she decided she would birth at home and has not looked back since. Her love for birth and postpartum has led her to create a thriving home birth group in Chattanooga, TN called Chattanooga Home Birth Community. The group includes over 400 home birth advocates who are mothers and birth workers local to Chattanooga. This group has successfully connected mothers (in all stages of pregnancy) to doulas, midwives, and other home birth moms. Episode Roundup: The way we are treated in birth MATTERS when it comes to bonding. Scarlen shared how different she felt after giving birth to her first baby compared to her subsequent homebirths. She felt angry and disconnected because of the way that she had been treated– this interfered with the cascade of hormones of birth, and took away from the euphoric experience that is common after childbirth, especially with an unmedicated birth. With her homebirths, Scarlen was able to experience the fullness of labor and birth, and to feel present as her babies entered her arms. She felt the joy and love well up, just as she had always wanted to. This matters. Wherever you give birth, it matters how you are treated. Being in a hospital does not excuse providers for being inhuman. If you were mistreated during your birth, if you feel capable of doing it now, please complain. Please let these people know that what they are doing is wrong. This system has to change, and it’s going to take our voices to change it. Next, the BOLDNESS. WOW! Scarlen and Manny were not going to be coerced– you can see this with Scarlen in her work situation when she had to fight for her right to avoid an experimental shot, and again when she and Manny asked questions of their care providers that made them uncomfortable during their twin birth. They were so clearly walking in their faith and were unafraid. There’s nothing more powerful than living fearlessly, and that’s what I see in Scarlen’s story. And finally, when you are changed, you can’t help but share. Scarlen’s life was transformed on multiple levels, but her birth experience, especially after her twin birth, gave her a desire to help others. She is providing fellowship, information, and choices to her local community within the facebook group she’s created, and her desire to create a system where she can help support families who need financial assistance have the birth of their dreams– it truly shows her beautiful heart to serve. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/meiKqqu_OPE Blueshield | blushield.com/homebirth (use code HOMEBIRTH for 18% off of your order today!) Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

The pelvic floor: it can be wounded during childbirth– but– could it be healed during the process instead? Victoria Hedrick is a wife to her wonderful husband Jonathan, and the mother of their almost three year old daughter, Josie. They live on a small piece of land in Virginia that they are slowly turning into a homestead. Victoria enjoys fishing, canoeing, baking sourdough, and all things babies and homebirth. They are expecting their second baby later this year. Victoria and Jonathan have walked through quite an amazing journey throughout their marriage, particularly in relationship to birth and the physical and emotional healing it provided. You are going to be in awe with this episode! Episode Roundup: The loving way this couple worked together and their positive outlook. The entrance that Victoria and Jonathan had into marriage was unexpected and highly challenging. These are the types of situations that can so easily cause discord and animosity between couples. How easy would it be for either one to take their hurt and pain and twist it into a weapon instead of allowing it to pull each other closer? Despite the feelings of “why”, despite the darkness, the hurt, the challenge, Victoria and Jonathan continued on as partners working together. And now, they are reaping the benefits of that choice. They now get to experience intimacy on so many levels, and they know that they can trust one another to be steadfast love even in hard times. Confession and repentance. When Victoria told God the truth, it changed everything. “I want to trust you. Help me trust you.” The truth was she didn’t trust Him, and that’s what she was telling him. God can work with that. HE led her to repentance– He changed her mind with HIS truth and was able to finally help her open her hands and surrender. Sometimes we think of confession and repentance as, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” and maybe a few more “I’m sorry’s”. But that’s not really what confession is. When a detective is asking a criminal to confess, is he asking for an apology, or is he asking for the truth? When we confess, we are telling the truth. And repentance, or the Greek word for repentance, is metanoia. It also doesn’t simply mean “I’m sorry.” It’s the way you think differently after having had your mind changed. And who can change your mind best? In my personal experience, confessing to God and sharing the truth of my heart- even the deepest, deepest darkest corners where my real thoughts hide sometimes even from myself– the ones I wouldn’t want anyone to know– when I can search that out and tell Him the truth, he brings about the repentance. He shows me the REAL truth of the situation. He provides me with new perspective, with HIS heart… and boy, when that happens, my mind is truly changed. Truly healed. Now I’m not striving to be better, I’m made new with new revelation and understanding, usually about just how deep the Father’s love for us really is. Now back to Victoria- isn’t it beautiful how we see this play out? She tells God how she’s feeling, and then wow, low and behold, this new ability to release and surrender comes from… where? From nowhere? No, from her good Father who loves her. I’m linking two of my favorite books that dive into these topics in the show notes if you’d like to dive deeper with this. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/facebook-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/GmPnhTCJx0I Blueshield | blushield.com/homebirth (use code HOMEBIRTH for 18% off of your order today!) Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

The pelvic floor- can you truly heal it and restore function? Or is there a point where you’re beyond help? This week we are speaking with Paris Latka. Paris has been involved in the practice of Bowspring since 2016, and this transformative movement system has deeply reshaped both her body and her life. Teaching for the past six years, she shares this work from a place of embodied passion and reverence for its healing power. Bowspring continually amazes Paris with its ability to restore balance, uplift the spirit, and invite joy into our everyday lives. It supports healing from the inside out and opens the door to a more optimistic, radiant way of being in life. Paris will be sharing more with us about this practice and specifically it’s amazing relationship with the pelvic floor. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/fs4u9GsJBM4 Paris’s Course | intelligentmovementlab.com/pelvic-floor-freedom (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH10) Free Bowspring on Youtube | youtube.com/@ParisLatka Click here for my previous interview with Paris | podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-homebirth/id1446934537?i=1000614823851 Blueshield | blushield.com/homebirth (use code HOMEBIRTH for 18% off of your order today!)

Breech birth is supposed to be rare, right? How would you feel if you had more breech babies than head down babies?! This week we’re speaking to Stephanie Kase, who has had twice as many breech babies as she’s had cephalic presentations! Stephanie is mama to 3 under 3, wife, and online business coach from Greenville, SC. She's married to her husband, Michael, of 7 years with 3 girls - twin toddlers and a baby girl. She's a huge believer in trusting your God-given intuition in birth. Episode Roundup: 1. I can’t help but start with Stephanie’s mindset. Wow. As soon as she heard that she was pregnant with twins, her reaction was delight. Her first thought wasn’t, “oh my goodness, how are we going to do this?” but instead, “oh my goodness, what a blessing.” This could be seen throughout her story– Even when she shared about her experience with the NICU and the obvious difficulty that had to have come from having her plans change and giving birth in the hospital, and then spending weeks at that hospital….. It’s very clear to me that Stephanie has taken these experiences and learned to look at them with positive eyes– quickly pulling out the goodness in how things unfolded, even while acknowledging the areas that she wouldn’t have chosen for herself by any means. I feel this is so worth highlighting. Truly, it can be the easier route to see all of the things that didn’t happen the way we expected and then find ourselves hanging in that upset place for days, months, years, even decades. There is something so powerful in being able to take our story, see it for what it truly is: The good parts, the hard parts– acknowledge them all! And then choose the way we are going to interact with that event. Sometimes this requires help and support. But when we are able to genuinely process our births– and many other intense situations– we are able to accept them, see the good parts, perhaps even focus on those, and move on in our lives even more empowered, more confident, and filled with more gratitude. Stephanie really embodies this, and I hope you were as encouraged by that as I was. 2. And next, I love the way Stephanie thoughtfully interacted with her birthing choices. For example, she could have been convinced by the first doctor she spoke with at the hospital who told her she would need a cesarean. Instead, she and her midwife sought another provider. Another example could be seen in her second birthing experience, where she knew that she didn’t want to be checked. She knew that there was no information at that time that she would gain from a vaginal exam that would change anything about her plans of how she would give birth. This resulted in a beautiful breech birth with no need to transport into the hospital. Education combined with intuition– wow, it’s a powerful thing, my friends, and it serves us so well not only during birth, but throughout the whole of motherhood. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/rRJzYokLTGY?si=jggrV5d9yt8Vrv4F

If you had a pretty good experience in the hospital with your first baby, what’s the point of changing things up with subsequent births? Today we’re speaking with Kylie, who is living the dream as a stay at home mom of 3. She is married to her husband of 10.5 years, Tim and they live in Franklin, TN. They are passionate about embracing the adventure of life wherever it takes them and celebrating both the little things and big things in life! Kylie is a self-proclaimed birth junkie and could talk all things birth with you all day if you'd let her, which we did in this episode, and you are going to love the conversation that came from this. Episode Roundup: I loved the flexibility Kylie and Tim allowed to have their minds changed. Before becoming pregnant, Kylie believed that she would most certainly give birth in the hospital with an epidural. But as the reality of pregnancy hit, Kylie was open to the experiences of the friends around her that had positive things to say about giving birth unmedicated. Instead of shutting down, Kylie listened and was open to reconsidering her desires. This is half the battle, my friends- allowing our minds to think, “But what if things could be different…” It was so special to hear the beautiful way that prayers were answered throughout Kylie’s births, but the moment that stands out to me the most happened in her second birth. When Kylie and Tim didn’t know what to pray, they just asked the Lord to do what was best in terms of timing. The fact that their oldest daughter was asleep for the birth but woke up directly after was so beyond what could be considered a coincidence, right?! That’s not something she did! And yet here she was, awake and able to immediately meet her new little sister in the height of the experience. And finally, I want to touch on something so beautiful that Kylie shared. She mentioned the importance of intuition– listening to your intuition, hearing the Holy Spirit guiding you and acting in that faith… I just wanted to share how special it is that Kylie journals so much, because she has the evidence of this relationship. She has the evidence of her intuition being correct again and again. I cannot tell you how much I have loved keeping a journal this last year to be able to look back on situations and see exactly what I was processing in the moment, and then to see how those events unfolded or resolved or were transformed. To have all of these special, specific accounts… It’s beautiful. That’s where the Lord meets me- in my journaling. That’s where I hear Him guiding me, and I have these beautiful records to reflect on and even share with others. I feel like this message is for someone specific listening to this episode. Get the journal! Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/wTQMlqb5RLE

What is the balance when it comes to preparing for our birth, but also holding it all with an open hand, knowing that outside factors can contribute to our experience? Sara West and her husband Andrew live on Florida's sunny Space Coast with their four children. Her passions include writing, singing, drawing, and crocheting, though she has a little less time for those things while starting her homeschooling journey and bringing up toddlers! She hopes to one day finish a novel... or at least get a Substack up and running. Episode Roundup: I love how Sara chose to grow with new information. She didn’t hold onto her past ways of doing things, and she also didn’t punish herself for not knowing what she didn’t know. She simply gained the new information and put it into action for herself and her family. No blaming, no shaming, just growth. I also appreciate Sara’s perspective how she wanted to enter her birthing experience. She didn’t feel like she had to control everything, and in fact, she was very aware that she could not. She simply took control of the areas that she could, and then held the rest with an open hand and mind. She was comfortable with the idea that she couldn’t predict every little detail, and that she would be willing to make the decisions that made sense in the moment. And finally, just– how beautiful is it to hear a mother experience their first unmedicated birth and think at the end, “That was easy!” What a joy to see just how wonderfully we are made, and how beautifully birth was designed. Whether you come to the end of labor thinking, “that was easy” or “that was intense,” my prayer is that you feel a sense of deep strength at what you’ve been designed to do. You were made with intention and love, as is your baby. I want you to feel flooded with that knowing as you bring your baby into your arms. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/aHZ87iPxgH8?si=d9yi4q6XPGlQFV1Z

You’re either for something or you’re against it, right? Like, you either love ultrasounds or you don’t. Or you want testing done or you don’t….. Or… gasp, could there be more to it than right or wrong? This week we’re speaking to Taylor Shaffer: a wife, mother of two beautiful girls, holistic doula and online educator. She is passionate about nourishment, holistic living and taking radical responsibility for your health and birth choices. She serves women locally in Upstate SC through her doula agency, Nested & Nourished, as well as online through her Holistic Mama Pregnancy & Birth Course, virtual doula support offerings, podcast titled Holistic Pregnancy, and more. Episode Roundup: If there’s one word that demands your attention in this episode, I hope it’s “intuition”. Taylor’s decisions were not informed by sheer logic or dogma. No, the seat of her decisionmaking came from a deeper source. From what I believe to be Holy Spirit guided intuition. Intuition. That inner knowing that often times goes against your expectations. Taylor isn’t a huge fan of ultrasounds for herself, but she sensed that an ultrasound is what she needed. This ended up providing her with the information she used to support her body and baby through gestational diabetes. And again, we see this intuition work in the complete OPPOSITE direction at the end of pregnancy, where Taylor felt that she shouldn’t have a scan. Looking back, she knows that this prevented her from unnecessary fear regarding her baby’s weight. I love how this example unfolded. We take the same topic: Ultrasounds and apply intuition to them in two different directions. That, my friends, is what it looks like to listen to your intuition. Next, I want to remind you of just how deeply our emotions are connected to labor and birth. Taylor needed to take her baby into her arms, hold her, and grieve the change that was coming. Yes, of course, adding a new baby is a massive blessing to a family! But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a sense of pain at the leaving behind of the old ways. Honoring this feeling is exactly what led Taylor deeper into labor. Feel those feelings and don’t be afraid of them. And finally, Taylor’s love for birthwork came from her own experiences. She realized that she had something to offer other mothers, other families after having her first daughter. She decided to seek out a way to be both the mother that she desired to be, and to also build a thriving business at the same time. Sounds impossible, right? But Taylor is doing it, very successfully I might add! Her online business, her doula agency… It's incredible! Taylor sought education from someone who values family, business AND birthwork. She found a coach who wouldn’t tell her to push aside family for money, but who would encourage her to and teach her to make a way for both. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/0yWrppdhZNs Kyleigh’s Workshop Sign Up Lily Nichols Episode Taylor’s Instagram Taylor’s Podcast The Glucose Revolution The Glucose Goddess IG Dr. Rachel Reed- Gestational Diabetes Review Article Dr Sara Wickham- Gestational Diabetes Article

A shocking medical diagnosis is never easy to grapple with– but what happens when it comes in the middle of your pregnancy? This week we’re speaking to Chloe, a wife and mother to two precious little boys. Chloe’s story will have you on the edge of your seat, but it will also instill a level of beauty beyond my ability to express in this little intro, so let’s not waste any time and jump right in. Episode Roundup: If something is going on in your pregnancy that you feel unsure of, even if your care provider thinks it’s a variation of normal, follow your intuition. Chloe’s scenario was so hard because her friend had experienced a very difficult pregnancy and her midwife thought that this was simply a tough pregnancy– so even though Chloe felt that she was dying each day, she didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t until someone else with medical background laid eyes on her and said, “Hey, this doesn’t seem right” that she and Brandon sought more medical attention. I am just so grateful that they were able to receive the care that they needed. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Late in her pregnancy when Chloe felt that homebirth was the right option for her, she could have just given up after the first midwife said “no.” She recalls thinking, “Oh,great I’m going to be known as that crazy girl who had brain surgery” but honestly, who cares? She had the sense that homebirth was the right call, and she went after it. And wow, didn’t that pay off? Finally, let’s end here: This event that Chloe experienced– it wasn’t good. It’s not good that it happened, and there’s no delight in the suffering that she experienced. But what’s amazing is the ability for something so un-good to be used for such extraordinary good. For Chloe to come to the other side and say, “Through this, I learned just how good God is…” You can’t make that up. Chloe’s story is a story of hope, and a blessing to all who hear it. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/leVR9scxDQ8

Dads- how does the idea of your wife giving birth make you feel? Does the idea immediately excite you, or does it put a level of fear on you– do you wonder how you can protect her and your baby? Do you feel out of control? This week, all the way to episode 276, we are doing something new. We are hearing a homebirth story completely from the perspective of the father. Today we’re speaking to Dustin Garrett, a husband, father to two, and new to the club- homebirth dad! Episode roundup: Dustin’s story is so vulnerable, and I feel so certain that with a listenership this large, there are a number of you who can relate to his experience with abortion and the potential pain that has stayed with you for years. Dustin realized at some point that he was not truly accepting all of the Grace and forgiveness available to him– that he felt like he needed to experience continual punishment, and that maybe he and his wife would never be able to have kids– maybe that was his punishment. But at some point it became clear, when Jesus died on the cross, he died for every single one of Dustin’s sins, and every single one of yours. He came to give us freedom, and our job? Our job is to receive it. Next, I love how honestly Dustin shared what I know many fathers to feel- the sense that they want to take care of their wife, their baby. The reason that birth often makes men feel uncomfortable is the glaring reality that, “Wow, actually I don’t have control here.” And boy, that uncomfortable feeling, if you’re honest with yourself, might turn to the realization that, “Oh, wow. I guess I don’t actually have control over a lot of events and situations around me.” To release control, while it can be so difficult, is one of the most beautiful things we can do as humans. And finally, I just love the joy that Dustin expressed as he caught his daughter in his own arms. As he saw her look at him while between worlds, really. Both in, and out. To imagine this happening, all while his son is singing “Jesus loves me” in the next room… it’s just beautiful. And healing for the entire family. Links: Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/ Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page Youtube | youtu.be/5xVqa-SB22s