Happy Homebirth

What do Obstetricians have to say about homebirth? Well, the one we're speaking to today certainly has some opinions that may surprise you in the best way. This week, we're speaking with the incredible Dr. Stu Fischbein, a homebirth-attending Obstetrician, founder of Reteach Breech, and one of the two lovely co-hosts from the ever-inspiring podcast Birthing Instincts. In this conversational episode, Dr. Stu, as usual, holds nothing back and shares his opinions regarding the current state of the medical oligarchy and how the last two years of pandemic chaos have exposed the realities that have existed for a long time, how this encroaches on midwives, mothers and people as a whole... and we discuss the responsibility that each one of us can choose to take in regards to our own health. He shares the massive shifts in perspective that he's had over his career in terms of how maternity care should be managed, or better yet left alone, and he unabashedly shares his thoughts on the Covid, the vaccine and more. Episode Roundup: 10 or so years into his career, Dr. Stu made a choice. He decided to recognize the fact that the way he'd been caring for patients did not align with the new knowledge and perspective that he was gaining. Honestly, it could have been a lot easier, a lot more comfortable for him to have stuck his head in the sand, continued down the ol' path of typical obstetric care and never be faced with the discomfort of change. I'm so grateful that he didn't do that. It's important that we listen to medical professionals--who have seen how things work on the inside-- when they share that things are often not done for the best interest of the patient. Of course, I'm sure many of this know this, but experiential knowledge is a whole other kind of knowledge. Dr. Stu was pushed out of his hospital position and privlidge because he wouldn't cow to the mainstream model. How frustrating to hear that those who DO truly care for the patient are often the first ones to be removed. And finally, let's end on something to consider and meditate on: You, the mother, should be the one deciding the risks you are willing to take. Yes, it is incredible to have trusted advisors and providers, but the authority of how and where and with whom you give birth should remain in your hands. You have options. Resources FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide Happy Homebirth Collective Links: Birthing Instincts Atlas Shrugged Dissolving Illusions Casa Blanca The Business of Birth Control The Highwire

Raise your hand if your doula became a doula at 17 years old before having her own children and before coming an RN? No, just Ellie? And this week we're speaking to Ellie Mickle, birth doula turned RN turned homebirth mama. We'll be sharing her 3 beautiful stories, and I'm really putting an emphasis on 'beautiful.' This is a great pep talk episode and reminder that birth can go SO beautifully, and it does so often! Episode Roundup When it comes to birth, our lens is crucial to how we view the situation. Ellie recognized that the only thing standing in her way from fully enjoying or appreciating her second birth experience was an internal battle based around the idea that her experience was supposed to be something different than it was. It is crucial for us as mothers to enter each birthing experience with curiosity and a beginner's mind, knowing that the experience will bring to us whatever lessons we need most. A positive and curious lens can make all of the difference. And ultimately, birth is normal until proven otherwise. Entering this experience recognizing that physiological labor was designed to work allows us to relax and release into this process with confidence and comfort. Having trusted care providers and a trusted location can truly help mothers sink warmly into the headspace needed to submit to the birthing process. Resources: FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide Happy Homebirth Collective

This conversation is not directly homebirth, or even totally birth related, but this information is so applicable to every single one of us, whether we're struggling with chronic illness or not. There is so much we call pull from this discussion with Theresa and apply to our pregnancy, birth and motherhood. This week we're going to be speaking to Theresa Piela who is as a guest expert and leading an in-depth tapping session for our students inside Happy Homebirth Collective. Theresa, is such a gift. We are so honored to have her as a guest expert inside of the homebirth collective, and I love that my students get to learn from you in this intimate setting. Episode roundup Learning to release in one area of life often times allows us to soften and release in other areas. This is such a great reminder for motherhood. A we learn to soften and sink in and release, our experience of motherhood will be positively impacted. "No one has the answers but you" and there's freedom in that. Ultimately, you get to take full responsibility. Theresa mentioned this in relation to her search for health during chronic illness, and the very same applies for birth. Yes, it is wonderful to find others who can support us, encourage us, and teach us... but ultimately, this is your life. And it's so much more fulfilling, despite the fact that it may at first feel daunting, when we embrace the responsibility. If you have the time to think to yourself, "Oh man, I'm not thinking or feeling the way I wanted to...." THAT IS YOUR CUE! You can take that one little moment of awareness-- that's all you need is one little moment-- and remind yourself to refocus. And the more you do this, the more aware you will be come, and the quicker and easier it will be to refocus as time goes on. And finally, I love this one...Remember that we cannot control the craziness around us. We live in a world that can be dark at times, and there is undeniably trouble and struggle within the human condition. But despite this.... or even in light of this...how important is it for us to connect to our babies and let them know how well they are loved. As Theresa said, It's the biggest gift a mother can give their child. For all of you listening, I highly encourage you to follow Theresa at livingrootswellness on instagram, and I 10/10 recommend her tapping membership, Tapping with T. If you're looking for support, she's giving it out consistently. Resources: FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide Happy Homebirth Collective

How can we teach our body that it can trust us and rest, when we have previously had a difficult time allowing it to rest? This week we're going to be speaking to Jocelin North. Jocelin is a mother who has been through quite a bit of difficulty through her pregnancy and birth experiences. And I do want to share this up front because Jocelin does a really beautiful job of really sharing the details of her experience and I want you to keep that in mind. If you feel that you are at a place in your pregnancy where you are vulnerable to difficult stories, this may be one that you want to come back to at a later time though. I do believe there's so much value and in hearing how she went through these experiences and how she's come out. On the other side as a stronger mother and someone who is able to listen to her body and provide it what it needs in an easier way. Episode Roundup: I feel like Jocelyn story had so many difficult aspects to it and what I love and find so comforting and it is that through all of those things, she was able to continue on, she thought the Lord's help in the times that she needed it and she did what she needed to do for her babies. That being said, we as mothers often times will sacrifice and sacrifice and sacrifice and forget that we are people too who need help and support. So I'm so grateful that Jocelyn is now on a path to helping her body rest and allowing her body to heal, and these things do take time. So I am so grateful to Jocelyn for sharing her birth stories with us. I will remind you that Jocelyn took Happy Homebirth Academy. Happy Homebirth Academy is currently unavailable, but we have the waitlist open for the home birth Collective. And our second cohort is going to be beginning in October, you can hop on to the waitlist. This first cohort has been mind-blowing, absolutely beautiful. The relationships that are forming between these mothers and the depth that we are able to get to in terms of coaching plus education. There is absolutely nothing like this anywhere else on the market. I am so honored and blessed to be able to provide such an amazing experience. So do not miss your opportunity to be a part of this next cohort. Resources: FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide Happy Homebirth Collective

What is birth trauma, and how can we move through it? This week we're speaking to Christie Sheffer, a Certified Professional midwife who also created the Perinatal Trauma Center. Today we are going to be discussing birth trauma, what it is, how it oftentimes presents, and how it impacts us and our loved ones. Christy has recorded this interview, and she also recorded a follow up discussion for the Home birth collective. So she's one of our guest experts inside of the Home birth Collective, where she gave practical tips on how to prevent birth trauma and then how to heal from it afterwards if it were to happen. Episode Roundup: The first one being that trauma is a physical response. It's not an emotional feeling. It's something that we physically experience inside of our bodies. And it's when our body thinks that an event is happening in real time, it cannot differentiate or distinguish past from present. So when we go to heal our trauma, we are simply trying to show our body that it is safe right now. What a blessing to be able to give our bodies that. If you have experienced birth trauma, whether you deem it yourself big or small, it is worth healing. It is worth digging through and finding the truth and healing it. Your trauma impacts your day to day functioning whether you recognize it or not. It also has implications on your family, on your children, on your spouse. For us to be able to work through our own healing, we also provide healing for those around us. What a wonderful example to everyone around us. Finally, if you are finding yourself feeling uncomfortable when you talk about your birth, when the idea of birth comes out, when your friend mentions her birthing plans, that's when we want to really check-in and make sure that we are getting the support that we need. Be sure to checkout Christie's website and the amazing self-diagnostics quiz that she has so that you can see where you fall in terms of how you are processing you Birth experience. Resources: FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide Happy Homebirth Collective

How can we set ourselves up for an empowered motherhood experience? Are there any specific values or ideals that we can practice and exercise in order to ready ourselves for the great task that motherhood is? This week we're speaking with Jessica Lorion. As an auto-immune disease fighter, Jessica's motherhood journey is postponed. While she navigates her health journey, she has decided to learn all about motherhood before she becomes one. As a Mama in Training herself, she decided to take that concept and support other Mamas in Training on their journey in and through motherhood. Today we'll be taking time together to discuss how to best prepare for pregnancy, postpartum and beyond with Jessica's 3 pillars of motherhood. Episode Roundup Advocacy. Let's remember that you are yours and your baby's best advocate. Wear that title proudly, and don't allow others, even those with white coats, to bully you. This can feel like a daunting weight, but you were made for this and created for this. Spend time thinking, praying, meditating on this fact so that you can go forth confidently. Next, let's talk about planning and preparing. You know this is near and dear to my heart, as we go through a strategic planning and preparation sequence inside of Happy Homebirth Academy. From preparing the mind to preparing the relaxation techniques, to preparing your partner, heart and home, body, and for postpartum... this idea of taking the time to consider what's important to you, consider all of the options, and create a fluid plan is essential. And finally, community. I love how Jessica divided up this concept of community. We've got care providers and professionals, close friends and family, and then third party community. I love the idea of having outside input. Each group is important and can bring us something slightly different. Learning to lean into our communities for support is a lesson that can sometimes be challenging, but it is truly so rewarding for both yourself and your family. Resources: FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide Happy Homebirth Collective

How do you go through with a home birth when you start your pregnancy terrified of home birth? This week we're speaking to Kati Gannom, a mama who agreed to a home birth during her second pregnancy, even though she really wasn't sold on it in the beginning. Episode Roundup: Kati is a perfect example that your cervix is not a crystal ball, and the fact that it's out of one during one exam means absolutely nothing about when your baby will be born. This reality really presented itself in both of her labors. Before I go on a tirade about the absolute insanity of cutting an episiotomy, especially without consent from the mother first, because I'm feeling a whole lot of angry feelings about that, let me just skip to the good part. Katie toured during her second birth, which, sure, nobody wants to do, but this is a great reminder that the perineum was made to stretch, yes, but it was also made to heal. And healing from a natural chair is generally a much easier experience than healing from intentional incisions, as I am sure Kati would attest. Mindset is everything. I mean, really, your body already has everything it needs to give birth to your baby, barring very special circumstances. The really important task is assuring and reassuring your mind that that's the case. Of course, understanding physiological birth, knowing all the types of positions and pain relief and coping techniques play a part in building that mindset. But it's important that you know that you've already got everything that you need. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

Childbirth education isn’t enough. How many homebirth mothers do you know who “did everything right” and yet still felt unfulfilled after their birth? Listen, when we don’t treat birth as sacred and prepare for it as such, how can we expect to feel like it was scared afterwards? In order to reap, we must first sow. Let’s sow the seeds of preparation with intentionality. Let’s prepare our hearts and our feminine intuition and wisdom before jumping straight into “how to cope with labor” Join me for 12 weeks and let’s get to work so that when it’s time for the harvest, it’s absolutely abundant. Send me a DM saying ‘me!’ If you’re ready to prepare with intentionality inside of The Homebirth Collective. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective

4 Warning Signs that You Need to Re-Prioritize Your Homebirth Preparation So you want an empowered Homebirth. Are you preparing in a way that will provide you with empowerment? 1️⃣ If you think you’re going to just go with the flow ➡️ ✨reprioritize✨ 2️⃣ If you think that relaxation techniques alone give you empowerment ➡️ ✨reprioritize✨ 3️⃣ If you think that hiring a midwife guarantees success ➡️ ✨reprioritize ✨ 4️⃣ If you’re not preparing for this with the same dedication that you did when planning/preparing for your wedding ➡️ ✨reprioritize✨ Wanting an empowered birth experience is doable with the right tools and preparation. But let’s remember that it isn’t going to just drop in our laps. We’ve got to take radical responsibility for our preparation. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective

Here’s a belief shift for you: Knowledge about birth is key and knowledge is enough ➡️Wisdom should be our emphasis. Takeaways from today’s chat: ✨We’ve been taught that the way to prepare is to acquire information (from social media, the stories of others, birth classes) BUT this isn’t reducing anxiety because none of that is directly applied to YOU. We need to to focus on your own internal wisdom and self knowledge before adding “science”. ✨If you want to feel peace, but you’re stressing about finding peace... that’s not going to lead you to peace. ✨When you have a framework that integrates knowledge AND wisdom, then you can release the anxiety and feel JOY. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective

You don’t have to wait until your baby is in your arms physically to begin attaching and bonding. In fact... how much closer can you get than being inside of someone?! Let’s emulate that close physical proximity with mental and emotional proximity, too! This weekend we’re running a challenge! #chorionicconnection We’re going to set aside a little bit of time each day for the next 3 days to intentionally connect with our babies. Day 1: spend time thinking about what it will be like to work with your baby during labor. How will the two of you work together? What will that look like? Day 2: Focus on what the newborn connection will be like. Joyfully imagine the new baby snuggles, smelling that precious little head, nursing and changing diapers. Let your baby know that you’re a safe place and you’re going to take care of them. Day 3: let’s visualize this connection 5-10 years down the road. What will this beautiful love look like then? Imagine your baby, now a child, and imagine you helping them solve some type of problem. Let them know that this isn’t a short term relationship- you’ll be bonded and connected for life. SHARE YOUR DAILY EXPERIENCES! Post about it on your stories and tag @happyhomebirthpodcast so I can see where you are, how you’re doing, and what about this is most valuable for you! Use #chorionicconnection Is this the type of in-depth, actionable preparation you want for your Homebirth? If you’ve got 16+ weeks left in your pregnancy and you want to be fully prepared on all levels, send me a DM (chorionic connection) to learn more about The Homebirth Collective. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective

The 3 Reasons You’re Not Feeling Confident About Homebirth 1. You’re feeling isolated and misunderstood by your closest family and friends who consider what you’re doing to be dangerous 2. You’re looking in the traditionally right place for connection (family & friends), but unfortunately that’s not currently the place where you’ll find what you’re seeking 3. You’ve got to somewhat disengage or remove your energy from these toxic situations and reengage in a community where you will be built up and given both knowledge and wisdom. Sound like you? Send me a DM with the word ‘engage’ to learn how we’re healing these issues at the root inside of The Homebirth Collective! Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective

You’ve been sold the idea that if you know the states of labor and the hormonal interplay and if you practice your relaxation techniques that you’ll be all set for an empowering birth experience. BUT... We need more than science; we need wisdom. We need more than head knowledge; we need heart knowledge. We need the right container so that we can appropriately integrate our experience. We need: ✔️ COMMUNITY ✔️ CEREMONY ✔️ CONNECTION Listen in to hear how we’re cultivating this inside of The Homebirth Collective. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective

Birth serves a purpose, yes, but can it be more than just bring a baby from within to the outside? Could it actually be... intimate? This week we're speaking with Annalee Ford who is a a civil engineer/makeup artist in Denver, CO who, as she says, spends way too much time on Tiktok. Annalee and her husband actually work together (on the engineering side, not makeup!) and have been together for 10 blissful years. Together they have two beautiful daughters (Elliott and Collins), three crazy dogs, and love spending lots of time together as a family. And this family-love is what we'll be exploring inside of this episode. The way that we can take birth from being a medical event to a familial affair. Episode Roundup: I want to reiterate the fact that postpartum rage is a thing that many mothers experience. Sometimes completely alone, and other times intermingled with anxiety and depression. I experienced this quite strongly after the birth of my first daughter, and I felt totally alone and embarrassed that I was experiencing these emotions. Do not make the same mistake as me. If you're experiencing this, reach out to someone. Look into the emotional freedom technique- you can find all kinds of videos online for free, and that's amazing, but I do feel like finding someone to work with one on one can help you uncover a lot more roots a lot quicker. I'm going to put some of my favorite resources in the show notes Let's talk about interventions. Often times I speak on the down sides to interventions, but here's the truth. They can be super helpful sometimes. Annalee chose to have cervical exams and membrane sweeps, and the world didn't fall apart because of it-- in fact, they seemed to truly help her as she progressed throughout her labor experience. Here's the deal. When you have informed consent-- when you truly know the pros and cons to each practice and you confidently choose, that's beautiful and amazing! Interventions are not automatically BAD things... they can serve a purpose... but having informed consent is absolutely key. Next, one more time-- how COOL was it to hear how Annalee's subconscious really seemed to pick up on the impending transport and emergent feelings right at the end of her labor. And what did it do? It cause a STRONG physical reaction. Her baby went from high to ON the perineum in no time flat, all thanks to a well-timed pukefest. I am constantly in awe of the Divine nature in which we were created. And yes, I'm talking about vomit and our divine creation in the same breath. And finally, let's end where we began. Birth does not have to be some big medical to-do. How much more connecting and strengthening is it when we prepare with our spouse, work together as a team, and experience birth as an intimate family event. This is the glue that binds us and can build us up. It was so beautiful to hear how Annalee and Ethan did this together, fortifying and strengthening their connection through the experience. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

Do you desire to involve your children in your pregnancy, birthing and immediate postpartum experience, but feel a bit uncertain as to how to prepare them? This episode is full of wonderful, easily attainable ways to discuss birth and midwifery care with your children, no matter what age. Kelly will be giving us such wonderful examples of how to involve your children and bolster their self-confidence. Episode Roundup: One of the very best things we can do for our children is involve them in daily life- both the little and small events. From the daily routines like folding the laundry and washing the dishes to the extraordinary moments of pregnancy and childbirth, to the sweet and intimate moments like feeding our babies. Allowing our children to be a part of our lives facilitates confidence and creates young ones who feel at home in our world. When answering our young children's questions, we don't have to give them a full college essay in response, but it is important to feel out what it is that they're truly wanting to know, and to do our best to give a response that is at their level when possible. I love Kelly's example from Corrie Ten Boom about not asking children to carry more than they can hold-- but on the other end, as parents, we are their safe place to ask questions and learn. Creating a relationship and an atomosphere that lets our children know it's okay to ask questions and to know that their parents are going to do their best to involve and include them goes such a long way when it comes to security. And finally, we can make birth preparation fun and enjoyable for our children. By involving them in the actual appointments, talking openly and often with them, and reading beautiful books like The Midwife's Visit , we let our children take part in this incredible, transformative event-- giving trust to the process now, and allowing that trust to grow over a lifetime so that they too will be excited for their own birthing experiences. This is how we change the perspective of birth in our culture-- by teaching our children the truth. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

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 help regulate your baby's nervous system? Wouldn't it be incredible? Over the last year, I've heard more and more people discussing the Gillespie Approach and sharing how working with a trained practitioner truly changed their lives, as well as the lives of their little ones. I began looking into the program myself, as the though of being able to help my family release tension and feel better certainly intrigued me. Now, after learning more about the approach, we're hosting two trainings in my hometown, Greenville South Carolina March 9-14th of 2023. I can't wait for this event, and If you're excited to learn more after hearing this episode, be sure to reach out to me at [email protected] to have your information added to the interest list. HappyHomebirth Academy is going to be closing to the public for the foreseeable future as of June 14th. We have more exciting program with Homebirth Collective soon! 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. Resources: Happy Homebirth Collective FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

Is it too much to ask for a change of expectations when you’re pregnant with your seventh baby? I mean, is that even possible to shift the paradigm and take birth on from a new perspective? This week we’re speaking with Becky Zale of Approaching Home. Becky is a converted homebirther. It’s something she said she’d never do. But things have a way of changing and not only did she experience her first homebirth with her 7th baby but she also experienced her first free birth. It is now the highlight of her life. She is a stay at home, homeschooling mom of 7 children-5 boys and 2 girls. Episode Roundup: Let’s start with talking about the transformation that Becky has made as a mother over her 7 births. From walking into the hospital ready for her epidural with her first to having a homebirth…. Without her midwife with her last. What a journey. I want to remind you that just because you’ve chosen to give birth in other ways in the past, that does not mean that you can’t try something new. Becky learned and grew with each experience, and they all finally led her to a birth so inspiring and powerful. Next, boy– pitocin makes a difference, doesn’t it? All of the moms who have labored with and without it are most certainly nodding their heads in agreement. I mean, look at this. Becky was so used to the intensity of pitocin contractions that she didn’t even recognize the fact that she was DEEP into labor. Our bodies have a hormonal cocktail that just WORKS. It works with us and for us, and it’s not too much because it IS us. When medications get involved, we don’t always have that same experience because now we’ve got outside interference. This was a great reminder to me that, gosh, you just can’t outdo nature. And finally, I have to touch on Becky’s willingness to pray- and to pray specifically. Each time she did, she was given support, comfort, and peace. I know that I was deeply comforted by her story, and I hope that you were, too. Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

When you have a child with special needs, does that mean you’re automatically risked out of homebirth care for your future pregnancies? Today we’ll be speaking with Bekah, a 30 years old mom of 3 living in upstate SC. Bekah is a licensed cosmetologist turned stay at home mom, whose oldest child was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome when she was 2.5. This has played a huge part in she and her husband’s journey as parents. Bekah lives for birth stories and she’s incredibly excited to be able to share my 3 home birth experiences. Episode Roundup: You can’t judge a book, or a laboring mother, by the cover. And this goes both ways. A mother may be presenting as totally zen, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t truly having to reach down deep within herself to work through her birthing experience. And likewise, we certainly cannot assume that a loud, vocal mother is feeling out of control. Heck, it can be so cathartic to ROAR a baby out, and sometimes that’s just the noise our body chooses to make– it having nothing to do with how perfectly calm we’re feeling on the inside. Next, I want to remind you that giving birth at home is not for a small handful of mothers. Bekah knew that she wanted to give birth at home not only with her first, but continuing on. Despite Alice’s genetic condition, Bekah recognized that had no bearing on her ability to give birth at home, and it didn’t make her feel uncomfortable in the slightest. And finally, I’m just so humbled by birth and by motherhood. Just like birth, we can prepare spectacularly, yet no outcome can be guaranteed. It’s the same with motherhood, and every aspect of life. Bekah did not expect for her daughter and her family to be faced with the hurdle of Rett disease, but that is the reality that they face as a family together. This life- our expectations- we must constantly remind ourselves to hold it all with an open hand, as we realize that so much is outside of our control. And just like with labor, we can fight against it, or we can release into it and find the beauty. It’s one of the things that I love about Bekah– the way that she is finding beauty even in the midst of difficulty. I’m so grateful to know and learn from her. Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide Approaching Home

Have you heard horror stories about The Ring of Fire? So what is "the ring of fire?" More accurately, it's the sensation of crowning: when the pressure of your baby's head, or crown, is applied fully to your perineum as his head begins to actually exit your body. We will: Take a few minutes to work through concerns related to the ring of fire and Give you a few practical tips, and ready ourselves with a more open and excited mindset. Resources https://www.cochrane.org/CD005123/PREG_antenatal-perineal-massage-for-reducing-perineal-trauma https://www.cochrane.org/CD006672/PREG_perineal-techniques-during-second-stage-labour-reducing-perineal-trauma https://midwifethinking.com/2016/01/13/perineal-protectors/ https://midwifethinking.com/2015/09/09/supporting-womens-instinctive-pushing-behaviour-during-birth/ Happy Homebirth Academy FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

How do we go about decision-making in pregnancy and parenthood? Do we float along on the wave of current culture, or is there possibly another way? This week we’re speaking with Caitlyn Doerksen, a wife of almost seven years, a mom of 3 kids, who is passionate about all things surrounding the home. Home schooling, home birth, and a dream to one day soon home stead. She has such a beautiful way of looking at and interacting with her family, and I know you’re going to gain so much insight from this incredible episode. Episode Roundup: It’s okay to do things differently from other families and to focus on works in your family’s culture. Just because your aunt or mother in law or neighbor did things one way doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. It’s not disrespectful to choose your own path. I’m sure many of you resonate with that already– I mean, we’ve probably all had the experience of a little backlash to our birthing decisions, am I right? Next, I loved the way Caitlyn truly tuned into her intuition. She didn’t push the voice away, she leaned in and listened harder. She had her husband pray over her and encourage her, and together they worked on honing in on their God-given parental intuitions. We were designed to disciple our babies, and when we tune out the noise and tune into what is working for our family, I think we often times do know how to do that so beautifully well. And finally, let’s discuss the beautiful balance of Caitlyn’s births. What did we learn? Well, we learned that birth CAN be exactly what you want, pray for, ask for, envision, meditate upon… It can be. There is so much power and excitement and thrill in that! It happened for Caitlyn three times, despite difficult external circumstances with her most recent birth. And now… on to the flip side. Not everyone is going to experience this, and if your mind is SET on having a very specific experience that does not pan out that way, it can sometimes lead to disappointment or a fear that maybe you didn’t do something right, or you didn’t deserve a good birth or, or, or. And just like Caitlyn so beautifully affirmed, that is straight up false. I like to remind myself that every birth has a lesson for us. Sometimes those lessons go down easy like a spoonful of honey, and others feel a bit more abrasive. But, no matter the specific events our birth holds, please remember… we are the one who chooses how we get to integrate the experience. We can choose what our birth means to us, and we can choose to approach birth with the knowledge that however it unfolds, there is beauty in it. I hope that makes sense. Every mother, every baby, every labor are different. But whatever our labor brings us, we can take those lessons and apply them to our lives, to our motherhood, to grow and stretch us in the most beautiful ways. Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide caitlyn_doerksen

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 and 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. 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 Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

When you’re pregnant and not feeling well, what’s your first line of defense? Have you ever felt the need to turn to pharmaceutical medications quickly, feeling like there aren’t any other good options? This week, we’re speaking with Jenna Dodge. Jenna Dodge is a Mother of four children ages 3-11. She lives in Bozeman, Montana with her children, husband, and two dogs. She owns a homeopathy practice serving clients anywhere in the world via Telehealth (www.ProjectHomeopathy.com) and teaches Homeopathy online courses at www.jennadodge.com. When she's not working with clients or teaching homeopathy, you can find her spending time with her family, lifting weights in her home gym, baking sourdough bread, or playing the piano. Jenna is actually my homeopath, and I was so excited to find out that she was a homebirth mother herself. So today we’ll be taking our time going through her birth stories, as well as a thorough rundown of homeopathy and how you can use it as an empowering tool for your family. Episode Roundup: It just hit me as I was speaking to Jenna about the way that… when we tense our body up during labor by putting pressure on ourselves to look a certain way, or to not gain a certain amount of weight, or whatever the case may be… it’s just like the action of tensing and tightening during contractions. No, pregnancy isn’t an excuse to overindulge, but it’s a perfectly good reason to relax and release the preconceived notions of what your body SHOULD be like and SHOULD do. Relax into this process and be gentle and graceful with yourself. And lastly, I just want to encourage you to look into homeopathy. It’s been a huge blessing to my family over the years, but especially now that I’m actually working with a certified homeopath. Jenna’s been able to help me unwind so much disease and distress that’s been going on in my body for years, so I highly recommend checking out all of her information, which is linked below in the show notes. Alright, my friends, I hope you’re feeling excited and empowered! That’s all I’ve got for you for today. I’ll see you back here next week! Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

What's the most surprising birth location you can think of? For many, the idea of giving birth at home is totally shocking and surprising. For Vicki, the most "normal" location that she gave birth was FINALLY in her own home on her own bed. Vicki's personality and her extremely unique birth stories made this discussion absolutely riveting. I can't wait for you to hear it. Episode Roundup I find it worth noting that Vicki and her husband were very attuned to the personalities of the potential midwives they were working with-- despite the often times quick opportunities that they had to talk to them beforehand--It seems there was an understanding that for them, having a care provider who didn't fit what they needed could actually be more uncomfortable or dangerous than birthing unassisted Vicki is a testimony to the fact that the body will give birth when it's ready to give birth, but it also does sometimes seem to hold off for just enough time. In both of her first two births, she at some point recognized that it was TIME to settle down, and luckily she had JUST enough time to do just that. Was she cutting it that close, or was her body actually waiting for her to get settled, darn it? Either way, she was able to get settled just in time on both occasions! And finally, and I think you will all agree with me on this one, I hereby give Vicki the Happy Homebirth superlative of most unusual string of birth stories. What a truly impressive honor that is in this incredible group of interesting birthers, isn't it? Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy FREE Homebirth Essentials Guide

I want to give birth physiologically and at home… but what if it’s painful? Today we’re going to take a few minutes to discuss the very common, very understandable fear of pain when it comes to giving birth at home….without medication. We'll be discussing this from several perspectives today/using several guiding questions: 1. What makes you think it will be painful? 2. What can we do to mitigate the potential for pain? 3. So what? What if it is painful? And throughout we'll include a number of tips for coping with discomfort during labor. Resources Happy Homebirth Academy Essentials Homebirth Guide (free)

When you describe your labor and birth, what words come to mind? Difficult? Intense? Powerful? What about…. Euphoric? Today we’re going to be talking to my friend Rose, of Rose Uncharted– Rose is a wife and mother of 3 children born at home. She began cultivating an online presence on instagram by sharing her unconventional lifestyle choices and ideas, and by pushing back against the societal norms of how we should live and raise our babies in this modern age. Her signature message has been to encourage women to tune back into their simple innate God given intuition and to take their bodies and their health into their own hands. She’ll be sharing her 3 homebirth stories, and I can pretty much guarantee that there will be chills or tears by the time we finish this episode, specifically around that very idea of a euphoric birth. Episode Roundup We’ve got to start asking midwives the right questions from the very beginning. Every midwife deserves to operate her practice how she sees fit, just like every mother deserves to find a care provider who is comfortable with her desires. Not every mother and midwife are going to make a perfect pair, and that’s not a bad thing. Not every man and every woman make a perfect pair either– it’s all about having discernment, asking the right questions before signing any paperwork, and then working together as a team from there on out. Yes I just compared midwifery and marriage and I’m just going to keep rolling. Listen, like Rose said, we’ve got to find alignment. If at all possible, we’ve got to find that midwife who you trust and who trusts you right back. It makes a world of difference. So many mothers ask me, “what questions do I need to ask?” And before giving out any specifics, I always like to say– you’ve got to figure out what you want first. I may want very different things from my care provider than you do. What do you want, what’s non-negotiable? Figure it out for yourself before you even begin formulating a list of questions. Next, I loved Rose’s explanation of labor waves. Sometimes you may find yourself riding the crest, and other times you’ve got to go limp in the undertow for a bit. Relaxation is the way through, as Rose described having her husband Isaac hold her body weight as she went completely limp through the heavy surges. And finally, labor can be euphoric. Not just the moment that our baby enters the world, though that certainly is part of it– but the entire experience can be exactly what we’ve prayed for, just like it was for Rose. It’s one of the reasons that we talk about envisioning your birth so much throughout happy homebirth academy– it’s so wonderful to spend our time thinking of good, beautiful things, and that is absolutely what our labor can be. Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy [free] Homebirth Essentials Resource Rose's Website and Store Kori Meloy Full Monty Panel Vitamin A for Increased Hemoglobin Meta-analysis

Midwives are great, but OB’s are definitely better when it comes to diagnostics and testing, right? This week we’re speaking to Hannah White, a sweet, sentimental mama who switched to midwifery care later on in her second pregnancy. And she was shocked to find out that her midwife was more thorough in keeping up with her health than even her obstetrician. Episode Roundup: I just love the historicity of Hannah’s story. She was able to give birth on family land, in the home that she grew up in, and the same land where her Grandfather was born. What a full-circle experience. Where we are and who we’re with during labor matters. Just ask Hannah’s bag of waters— This little tidbit Hannah gave shows just how much our subconscious mind can impact labor. Her body was quite literally holding on until her midwife arrived. And as soon as her midwife got there, as soon as Hannah felt safe, she released and so did her waters. Finally, let’s end at the beginning. Midwives are great, but OB’s are definitely better when it comes to diagnostics and testing, right? It comes as a surprise to many that midwives do indeed perform the same routine testing that one would receive with an OB… though sometimes even more effectively. When her midwife put together that Hannah had PCOS, she realized that her blood sugar could be affected, so she had her check her blood sugar directly instead of relying on the GD glucola results alone. And what a wonderful difference that made for Hannah’s health and pregnancy. Resources Free Homebirth Essentials Guide Happy Homebirth Academy- Join Today!

Let’s say you’ve decided that you want a homebirth…but….you’re feeling some uncertainty. Maybe you’ve heard stories from other moms who wanted the very same, but then their births took another direction, and they didn’t end up with the intimate birth at home that they’d envisioned. How do we come to terms with this possibility, yet not expect negative outcomes? Several weeks ago, one of our community members, Danielle, shared her story of planning a homebirth, but having to make the difficult decision to transport to the hospital during labor, and eventually making the even more difficult decision to have a cesarean section. After such a moving, emotional, and deeply connecting episode – one that truly seemed to touch something in the mothers who experienced similar stories, and the ones who have not alike….I wanted to continue exploring this idea of the hospital transport. I want to take a look at another side of transporting, in a way– another angle to view it from. How can we hear a story like Danielle’s or any other mom who planned for homebirth and ended up needing or wanting to transport— how can we listen to that, but not fear our birth or fear the possibility of transport? I love that we’re able to look at birth through so many contexts and lenses. That we can take personal experiences, mindset exercises and pure old statistics and blend them into a comprehensive, comforting inspection of homebirth and the likelihood of transporting. So with that in mind, today I want to go through some practical thoughts, tips and reminders regarding homebirth and hospital transport, and the relationship between the two. As always, this is not medical advice, this show is an educational tool, so continue to make empowered decisions for yourself and your family. We will: Discuss the most common reasons for transport, and several ways to help discourage their necessity Share some internal and external pain relief techniques Discuss how we control the narrative and the perspective-- no matter where we give birth Resources: Join Happy Homebirth Academy

First births are always long and hard. Period. Right? Or…. This week we’re speaking with Kelsea, a precious mama of two, who surprised herself and her birth team with her first labor. We’ll dig into both of her beautiful experiences. Episode Roundup When Kelsea broke the news that she was having a homebirth to her OB, her OB said, “we always see unsuccessful homebirth attempts.” Well, duh, doctor. You certainly don’t see the successful ones… they’re…. Not at the hospital. I just want to use this as a reminder to you. If you’re receiving dual care, your OB likely doesn’t have any experience with successful homebirths. He or she likely has no idea how many home births are happening successfully in their very own city all the time. So be sure to take their perspective with a grain, of salt. Kelsea’s explanation of Fetal Ejection Reflex with both of her births was just so perfect. She recollects to how her body just forcefully pushed on it’s own. She couldn’t stop the pushing. Instead, she could focus on concentrating and on her breathing. Remember this. Your body knows how to push. It’ll let you know when it’s time to do that. You can focus on the breathing and let those amazingly powerful muscles do their thing. And finally, remember that you may need to ask for help postpartum. There’s absolutely zero shame in the struggle. Whether it’s your first or fifth child, the transition and addition of a new member to the family, along with the recalibration of your hormones, may lead to some feelings of stress or depression. Please reach out. Share this with your family, share it with your midwife- make sure that you’re getting the love and care that you need. Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy The Homebirth Collective- Waitlist Free Homebirth Essentials Checklist

Let’s say you’re a birth expert- you’ve been working with pregnant mothers for years, and you’re finally having the homebirth of your dreams. Is firm education enough, or will there possibly be unexpected tests in the emotional and mental aspects of birth? This week we’re speaking with the marvelous Dr. Courtney Kahla. Dr. Courtney is a nervous system centered chiropractor specializing in families. She is the owner of Our Well House: a multidisciplinary wellness center in Dallas, TX. Her mission is to encourage others to experience freedom in their physical, mental, and spiritual health. She is passionate about empowering others to take control of their health by living a lifestyle that honors their God-given innate ability to heal. We’re going to spend part of this episode discussing chiropractic care, and then the rest diving deep into Dr. Courtney’s own homebirth journey. And wow, you’re in for so much wisdom sprinkled throughout her story. One theme we discuss in Dr. Kahla’s story is the need for emotional and mental preparation when it comes to homebirth, beyond the basics of childbirth education. With that in mind, I want to invite you to join me as you prepare for your own empowering homebirth experience. Let’s use the unbelievably transformative time of pregnancy as a catalyst into the most incredible motherhood journey. How? Join me inside of Happy Homebirth Academy, where preparing for your homebirth is both thorough and joyful. Learn to comfortably step into your role as the responsible, intuitive mother that you are, and hone those lifelong skills while we educate you on all aspects of midwifery care, physiological birth, and preparing your heart and home. We cover the physical, yes, but we also go deep into the importance of emotional and mental preparation, all while inviting your spouse to be deeply involved and connected from pregnancy, through labor and on into the blissful postpartum period. You ready to transform? Head to myhappyhomebirth.com/hha to get started today. As always, please remember that the opinions of my guest may not necessarily reflect my own and vice versa, and this show is not medical advice, it’s an educational tool, so continue to take empowered responsibility for yourself and your family. Episode Roundup: I loved the way that Dr. Courtney approached the selection of her care provider. Yes, there were a number of providers in her area that she liked and trusted, but she knew that she needed someone who was going to be comfortable with the informed decisions she was planning to make during her pregnancy and labor. She knew the right questions to ask. “What would cause me to risk out of care with you? What procedures would you be uncomfortable with me declining?” Knowing what you want in a care provider before you walk in for the interview makes this so much easier. Make sure you check out episodes 157 and 159 if you’re looking for more specific help in this area. I’ll link those below. I really appreciate the discussion of how vulnerable we are to ideas in labor. Dr. Kahla knew she wanted to fully listen to her body, but when her midwife gave her the very loving tip of giving a few pushes if she wanted— Dr. Courtney did, even though outside of labor she had adamantly wanted to experience Fetal Ejection Reflex on her own. Listen, midwives are human and like Dr. Courtney said, this was totally well-intentioned. But it does go to show us that nobody outside of your body can feel what’s going on inside of your body as well as you can— This is a great lesson for all of us to learn from. If your midwife gives you advice, it can be really easy to just go along with it— of course—we trust them— but remember to trust yourself, too. Listen to the advice, but then try to take a moment before you accept it just because you think that’s what you’re supposed to do. And finally, wow. Labor can be so, so mental. Dr. Courtney, the mother that her midwife said she had ZERO worries about desiring to transfer because of her endurance and grit, got to a vulnerable place where she needed her team’s support and reminder that she could, in fact, do this thing. And do it, she did. Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy Episode: Communicating With Your Birth Team About Expectations and Desires Episode: When Your Midwife Choices are Limited Free Homebirth Essentials Clickable List Waitlist for The Homebirth Collective Dr. Courtney's Instagram Dr. Courtney's website

How do we process birth when we don’t experience the outcome we intended? How do we manage changing our plans and accepting what comes to us during the wild and uncontrollable ride that is birth? This week we’re speaking with Danielle, accompanied by her doula Tracey. Danielle was raised in a homebirth family, so naturally, she was planning her own. We’ll listen to how her story unfolded and how she’s processing through it all now on the other side. I always like to give a heads up when the content of an episode may be especially difficult. This is certainly an episode where things go awry, and if you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy and feel that this isn’t the right time to listen, please take that into consideration. However, these are, of course, real examples of birth, and gosh, birth is sacred no matter how it happens. I’m grateful that Danielle is willing to share her experience with us today. Episode Roundup Danielle’s midwife wasn’t her savior, and yours isn’t yours, either. Hopefully your midwife will support you in the way that you want to be supported, but even so, birth is still ultimately your responsibility. Danielle had to decide what she wanted in regards to her birth— did she want to stay home and continue to attempt labor there, or did she want to transport? Ultimately, she made the decision that she was most comfortable with, knowing that no one else could make it for her. The events that occurred throughout her birth experience were unfavorable to her desires, to put it lightly. But because of the way that she has chosen to perceive her experience, Danielle has been able to integrate her story into her motherhood journey in a way that brings positivity and success. Remember, it’s impossible for us to control every outcome. What’s totally possible, though, is how we perceive the experience and how we choose to integrate it. That doesn’t mean that it’s easy, and you absolutely may need help, and grief over not experiencing what you desired is a very normal reaction. But long term suffering over something that’s done— remaining in the victim state— it isn’t going to easily build joy. I love the way that Danielle has approached her story and the way that she’s choosing to heal. Because it is, in fact, an active choice. Finally, I want you to know that if your story is like Danielle’s. If you planned and prepared for a homebirth, yet your experience led you to a different outcome, this community is still for you and here for you. You are loved and you are still an integral part of the Happy Homebirth and Homebirth in general, community. Thank you for sharing with us. Resources Happy Homebirth Academy Waitlist for The Homebirth Collective

What do you do when your mainstream care provider won’t listen to what it is that you need? When you KNOW something isn’t right, but they totally blow you off? This week we’re speaking to Michelle Rodas, who had to go to battle with her care providers in order to keep her baby safe. We’ll hear how she advocated for her child in utero and what she did to avoid further disruptions later on in her pregnancy, which, believe it or not led her to to out-of hospital midwifery. Episode Roundup Did you get goosebumps? I totally did when Michelle shared how she did what she had to do to get progesterone for her baby, and seemingly just in time. As we head into this week’s episode round up, you can bet your bottom dollar that’s what we’re going to discuss. Michelle took it upon herself to do research and see what it was that she needed. She took on additional financial responsibility through testing, knowing that the safety of her baby could very well be on the line. Even when her OBs spoke down to her and acted as though her desires were silly and unnecessary, she continued. This is huge, and it leads me to the most important thing you can ever know: NOBODY knows your body and your baby like you know your body and baby. And as harsh as it sounds, nobody is going to care about your body and your baby as much as you will. So don’t bow down to people simply because they have the air quotes authority of a white coat. You’re an intelligent human being and you can advocate for what your baby needs. And if your intuition and prior experiences are telling you that something may be off, listen to that. And act- even if you think others might call you silly or think you’re wrong. Who. Cares. Michelle is snuggling her baby right now, and I doubt she gives a flying flip about what her OB thinks about progesterone. Okay, my friends. What an incredible episode. It’s all I’ve got for you for now, and I’ll see you back here next week. Resources: The Homebirth Collective Happy Homebirth Academy

What do you do when you’re sold on the idea of homebirth, but your area has either no midwives or no midwives that you like? Resources Believe In Midwifery Episode (sustainable midwifery) https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode23/ Shared Decision Making (book) https://www.amazon.com/Shared-Decision-Making-Bring-Mothers/dp/B089M59Z35/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2TAOKXFRMHUYP&keywords=shared+decision+making&qid=1644082050&sprefix=shared+decision+making%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-2 Shared Decision Making Episode https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode84/ Airbnb Homebirth https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode112/ Shayla’s Birth https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode40/ Dr. Sarah Birth Uprising https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode144/ Freebirth Resources (Curated by my amazing friend, Sophia- @sage.fertility) Yolande Norris Clark’s website: https://freebirth.ca/ Freebirth Society: https://www.freebirthsociety.com/ Fertility and Freebirth with Noelle Kowalski https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode131/ The Complete Guide to Freebirth Course (extremely thorough): https://www.freebirthsocietycourses.com/a/24099/zgzoH6FJ (btw this is my affiliate link as an RBK) Freebirth Society Podcast: https://www.freebirthsociety.com/blogs/the-free-birth-podcast Gestational Diabetes, GBS, Ultrasound Technology, and RH Negative: A New Perspective https://www.freebirthsociety.com/blogs/the-free-birth-podcast/gestational-diabetes-gbs-ultrasound-technology-and-rh-negative-a-new-perspective?_pos=2&_sid=f8289d5c1&_ss=r Unpacking Ultrasound With Yolande Clark https://www.freebirthsociety.com/blogs/the-free-birth-podcast/unpacking-ultrasound-with-yolande-clark?_pos=1&_sid=604819694&_ss=r The Ecstatic Hormonal High of Childbearing - Dr. Sarah Buckley #35 Pain in Labour: Your hormones are your helpers https://sarahbuckley.com/pain-in-labour-your-hormones-are-your-helpers/ The Anterior Cervical Lip: how to ruin a perfectly good birth Vaginal examinations: a symptom of a cervical-centric birth culture Pushing: leave it to the experts Unassisted Family HOME BIRTH | Natural + Positive Free Birth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiSpXcFUVwI Unassisted Home Water Birth | POSITIVE NATURAL BIRTH + surprise gender https://youtu.be/AEKWv4sVBdo HOME BIRTH: gentle, Natural FAMILY WATER BIRTH https://youtu.be/rOeNa0NCc44 DIY Placenta Preparation https://youtu.be/g3pi_8JhkaQ Rethinking the Pushing Stage, with Whapio https://birthful.com/podcast-pushing-stage/ (Also awesome resource list in this podcast description) Odent Fetus ejection reflex https://www.wombecology.com/home/fetus-ejection-reflex Small Magic Birth Instagram (priceless pelvic health and freebirth information) https://www.instagram.com/smallmagicbirth/ Wild Sage Womb DIY Prenatal Wellness Journal https://www.wildsagewomb.com/offerings/p/diy-prenatal-wellness-journal Wild Sage Womb Birth Vision Workbook https://www.wildsagewomb.com/offerings/p/birth-vision-workbook

Once you’ve had 6 babies, 4 of which were at home— you pretty much know everything there is to know about birth, right? This week we’re speaking with Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone to hear all about her most recent birth. Lisa shares some of the new insights she gained during this pregnancy and labor preparation, and sheds tons of wisdom throughout her explanation of how she began having home births in the first place. Lisa is a wealth of wisdom when it comes to homemaking and wholesome living, and it’s such a joy to have her on today’s podcast episode. Episode Roundup: Relaxation is the key, and it looks different for everyone. What has helped you cope during labor? For some, it’s touch, it’s your spouse holding your hand, it’s the encouraging words of a doula. For others, it’s quiet. Complete calm, and being alone to focus inward. So many stories are shared where there’s lots of interaction, I’m glad to hear Lisa share how for her, less is more. I loved the encouragement that Lisa gave regarding labor and motherhood in general: The empowering recognition that you CAN do it. You can do the research, you can advocate for yourself and your family… you don’t need a fancy degree to dig in and understand what’s going on… you CAN make informed decisions for your family. And finally, it doesn’t matter whether it’s your first or fifteenth birth, there’s always something new to learn. Lisa spent several weeks leading up to her birth listening to positive birth stories, and even gained new insight regarding transition. And during this labor, she was able to relax through the pressure- something she’d never been able to do before. Resources: Happy Homebirth Academy Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way Farmhouse on Boone

How do we make sure that we’re on the same page with our midwife? Begin with open communication before you even hire your midwife Make sure that your preferences of how your midwife will operate and interact match with what she is willing to provide Be certain that YOU know what You want in a care provider Are the two parties in agreement? Feel comfortable asking questions as you come from a place of initial agreement an understanding Be careful adding additional social checkmarks to your list of needs. Your midwife does not have to be your bestie Do not expect your midwife to bear the weight of connection. If you want connection, you must be open and vulnerable. Resources: Join the Homebirth Mom Panel Happy Homebirth Academy Perfect Supplements use the code HOMEBIRTH for 10% off

When you picture homebirth mothers, what image comes to mind? Do you imagine the totally crunchy, completely alternative health mom who’s making her own bone broth and sourdough? Although I may be "that" mother, one thing I love about the homebirth community is that, although we often have much in common, this group is diverse and brings many viewpoints. For example, today we’ll be speaking with Gabby and Daniel, a homebirth family who self-describes as “stale crunchy”. So kind of crunchy, kind of not. It’ll be so great to hear how they approached their first homebirth after two hospital births. Episode Roundup: I appreciated how Gabby and Daniel were considerate of the feelings of their two sons when it came to the involvement in the birth process. They didn’t force their involvement, but met each son where he was and allowed home to be involved to the extent he was comfortable. It’s so neat to be able to share this experience with your kids when that’s what they want, but remembering that each child is an individual and has his or her own preferences is critical. We can hold expectations for when and how our baby will arrive all we want, but just like Gabby did with her expectations of labor itself, it’s important to remember that we’ve got to hold all of these ideas of when and how with an open hand. I remember being so certain that my second daughter would arrive several days before 40 weeks that when she was 3 days after, I was almost frustrated at the wait. Every gestation is different, so if we can try to keep the expectations vague, it may make for a smoother end of pregnancy. And finally, let us remember that we were divinely made for this work of giving birth. Gabby described herself to me as a wimpy stale crunchy mom who had a homebirth— and she says that should be great encouragement that you can do it, too! And though I see nothing wimpy in Gabby’s story, I think she brings up such an important point. Your background, your preferences, your previous experiences with pain and endurance— none of those things should deter you from giving birth physiologically if that is what you desire. You were made for this, and you hold far more strength than you know. Resources The Homebirth Collective- Join the Waitlist! Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

What do we do when our previous birth experience wasn’t so happy? How do we overcome the trauma? 4 Tips to Begin Healing: 1. Reframe your birth with someone outside of the situation 2. Write down everything in stream-of-consciousness style 3. Emotional Freedom Technique - Tapping Resource Mentioned: @LivingRootsWellness 4. Fascial Work- Craniosacral, craniofascial, myofascial, etc. Body Rolling Resource 5. Recommendations from Instagram Resources The Homebirth Collective- Join the Waitlist! Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

Today I’m tackling perhaps the most elusive question about labor…. What does it actually feel like? In this episode we discuss: Some of the ways my followers and those inside of the Happy Homebirth Podcast Community on Facebook described the sensations Some of the most commonly used words: Intensity. Pressure. Power. My personal perceptions of feeling during my births How YOU can prepare for the feelings of birth, no matter how they present Resources The Homebirth Collective- Join the Waitlist! Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

In this episode we discuss how to keep your birth space sacred: Consider who you let in- take time prenatally to form deep connections Consider who you leave out- you may want your mom and mil and cousin, but is that a genuinely good idea? Consider how you set up- this might not matter to some, but may be more important to others Be on the same page with your spouse- this is sacred You’ve got to convince yourself or consistently remind yourself that it’s sacred If you treat your pregnancy journey as sacred, the birth will automatically flow from this Remember that postpartum is sacred, too. Get on the same page about how those first minutes, hours and days will go. Are you going to call your family asap? Will you wait several hours or days? When will visitors come by? Resources The Homebirth Collective- Join the Waitlist! Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

What has more of an impact- the exact details of your labor, or the way you feel you were treated throughout? This week we’re speaking with Katelynn Bolt, a mother whose births were both difficult, yet she was left feeling quite differently about herself and her experience based on her care providers and support. *I’ll be taking a little winter break from releasing episodes. This will be the last episode I release in 2021, as I plan to take some time off in December and January to focus on some other aspects of Happy Homebirth.* Reviewer of the Week- KatelonVB The BEST ever!! I started listening to this after I found you on Instagram! I have neber been pregnant but I have always been intrested in natural birth and home birth. This is SUCH a good tool for new moms, moms that want something different, or even women that aren't expecting yet but hope to start a family in the near future (that's me) lol. As my older sister said, "knowledge is power!" You can't learn enough about what your body is capable of doing and how it naturally knows what to do and when to do it! Katelyn, I love this podcast and what you're doing to try to help turn birth back to what it used to be. It is my first thing I look forward to listening to and makes Mondays awesome! I will forever be listening and hopefully someday soon can put the knowledge to use! Thank you!!! If you’ve been enjoying this podcast, would you consider taking a moment to leave a rating and review? Episode Roundup What a wonderful journey Katelynn shared with us. As we head into this week’s episode roundup, I really just want to expound upon the opening question: What has more of an impact- the exact details of your labor, or the way you feel you were treated throughout? As I’ve said many times before, we cannot control the outcomes of our birth. Though we can prepare and set the odds in our favor for a smooth, uncomplicated labor, that can never be promised. However, part of preparation is choosing a team that you trust and who knows you, understands you, and supports you at the deepest level. Katelynn’s second birth was difficult, yes, but she knew that she had options, she was the choice maker on her team, and she was surrounded by people who loved her, trusted her and respected her wishes. And that makes all the difference. Resources Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

When your job consists of helping mothers give birth at the hospital, then you’re definitely going to… give birth at the hospital when it’s your turn, right? This week we’re speaking with Georgia— a labor and delivery nurse and…. Freebirth mama? Oh, my friends. You’re going to love this story. Reviewer of the Week- herwildsunshine Such a joyful & empowering podcast: I am not into podcasts- I never have been- but these are amazing! I learn so much & get to see such a wide variety of positive births. This podcast has a way of pulling me in and I'm hooked! If you’ve been enjoying this podcast, would you consider taking a moment to leave a rating and review? Episode Roundup: I first just have to comment on Georgia’s resolve. As a pregnant mother working in labor and delivery, she certainly experienced plenty of traumatic events— perhaps events that may make others choose not to give birth at home. And yet, she had the deep understanding that the outcomes occurring at the hospital were not necessarily the same outcomes that would occur if those labors were not happening inside of the hospital. Again, thank goodness for medical care during emergent situations, but Georgia was able to separate these events from her own pregnancy experience. I love that she had zero expectations for when and how labor was going to begin—except for maybe the expectation that it would never happen! The way Georgia discussed nit-picking symptoms was such a great point, and I know that it can be so easy to fall into this trap of, “oh, is it time?!” “maybe it’s time!” “is that labor?!” “was that my mucous plug?” Which truly can throw us into an anxious state. And finally, Georgia was scared. She admits it. And that’s okay. We’re designed to give birth, and part of that design is a beautiful interplay of hormones. Sometimes those hormones might make you feel fearful, and that can be protective. I think that much of the time we end up getting a fear of our fear, which is far less helpful. But experiencing the emotions and allowing them to be there is all part of this big work that we’re doing. Like Dr. Rachel Reed has said and I’ve quoted before, “feel the fear and give birth anyway.” Resources Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE (use code THANKFUL21 for 10% through this Friday)

If you’ve already given birth before, I’d love to know- did your labor turn out the way you’d imagined it? This week we’re speaking with Steffanie Allen, mama of 5. Steffanie’s experienced a vast array of births, and some of them turned out far different from what she, or what anyone for that matter, could have predicted, especially her most recent birth. Reviewer of the Week- ThePond “so positive and encouraging! I’ve listened to a lot of birth podcasts. Like, a lot. This one is by far my favorite! The tone is so positive, encouraging and wholesome . I wish I had found this before my home birth last year, but I’m listening like crazy to start mentally preparing for whenever I have my next baby." If you’ve been enjoying this podcast, would you consider taking a moment to leave a rating and review? Episode Roundup Steffanie and her midwife were still willing to give birth to her twins at home once they realized that there were indeed two. However, after further evaluation, it was realized that a birth with healthy outcomes in this particular situation was not looking like a strong possibility. What I find so helpful about this decision was that Steffanie was informed enough to know that although under other circumstances she’d be willing to have this twin birth at home, during this time she knew that her decision to have a c section was the best choice for her. Steffanie did not feel coerced or pushed, she was still able to take responsibility for her care and accept the benefits afforded by the hospital. I’m so glad we were able to discuss the importance of nutrition. Listen, growing birthing and feeding babies is not a low-energy process. We give so much of ourselves, quite literally to these new lives, and we do become depleted. It’s incredibly important to make sure that we take this into consideration pre-conception if possible, certainly prenatally, and absolutely postpartum so that we can actively replenish our bodies. And finally, let’s tie up that loose end. You can do all of the prep work in the world, but there’s a chance your birth is going to look completely different from what you expect. I mean, who visualizes giving birth in their church bathroom? But our bodies are designed for this great work, and the rest we must learn to surrender. What a humbling lesson it is for all of us, yet how beautiful at the same time. Resources: Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

How can we prepare for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby? Is there any way to positively improve our chances of health and mitigate risk? This week we’re speaking with Loren de la Cruz, a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Root Cause Protocol Consultant, and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner that specializes in preconception nutrition. Her mission is to empower women with the tools and the knowledge they need to regulate their cycles, balance their hormones, heal their metabolism, optimize their fertility, and have a thriving pregnancy. And our discussion today is just packed full of information to help you, whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, currently pregnant, or postpartum. She’s got such an encouraging message, and…I just love her. Episode Roundup: As Loren mentioned, we aren’t always expecting pregnancy, and if that’s you- know that this information is still so relevant— wherever we are in our pregnancy or postpartum journey, nourishing ourselves is the greatest step we can take for ourselves and our families. As I mentioned in the episode, I was certainly depleted before my first pregnancy and through my second. Only recently have I truly begun to grasp how to replenish myself wholly. This information is so empowering— recognizing just how much we can improve our health with relatively simple steps forward. How frustrating is it to recognize how little women are taught regarding hormonal birth control, especially related to coming off of it and how it can impact fertility for months to come. I’m so glad women like Loren are out there sharing this information, if nothing more than to give hope to those who are struggling with fertility shortly after coming off the pill— knowing that this is very normal, and this time can be used well to replete your body before pregnancy. Finally- isn’t the body amazing? The intricacies of how it processes micronutrients and how they all work together. I’m especially fascinated at the vitamin A, iron and copper connection, and I look forward personally to increasing my retinol and copper intake, especially in regards to any future pregnancies. Mentioned: Perfect Supplements (use code HOMEBIRTH for 10% off) Resources: Follow Loren Conscious Conception Course Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

What do you do when your birth suddenly feels as though it’s swirling in chaos? How do you keep calm and remain focused? This week we’re speaking with Holly, who weathered a Category 4 Hurricane just as she was about to give birth. Talk about an unexpected turn of events. I can’t wait for you to hear the incredible mindset that Holly brought to her experience, and the twist at the end of this story Episode Roundup I wanted to bring up the safety idea. Holly decided with her fourth baby that she would feel SAFER at home than in the hospital. Isn’t it so interesting— the mainstream narrative is that hospital automatically = safety is just not ringing true for many of us anymore, and we are feeling more safety and a chance at an intervention free birth away from the hospital. Choosing midwives gives many women a stronger sense of safety, and that’s because of my second point… Midwifery and homebirth are relational. This isn’t a fast food experience. It’s a dine in, take off your coat and stay a while event. We spend our prenatal months getting to know one another on a deeper level, allowing friendship and trust to blossom. We aren’t patients, we’re clients and friends. Holly felt like she was being set up for a potentially very traumatic birth, but she knew she had to block out the fear. Fear is like a mental roadblock. “If I let the fear take over, I’m not going to be able to do this and it’s going to be traumatic for everyone.” So instead she got into the mindset of, “I’m going to do this and it’s going to be so great.” Mindset is the key to your birth, my friends. It all comes back to mindset. No, we can’t control the events- from how our labor sensations will feel all the way to the weather outside- it’s out of our hands. But what we can focus on prenatally and learn to wield with confidence, is our mindset. Just like Holly. Mentioned: Happy Homebirth Candles Resources: Free Homebirth Mythbusters JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE

What can we do to prevent the experience of trauma? This week we’re speaking with Kasey, who, despite having two homebirths, experienced quite bit of trauma from her first birth. We’ll listen in to hear how it unfolded, and what she did differently to prepare for her second experience. If you’re enjoying the show and haven’t yet left a review, would you consider taking just a few minutes to head over and leave a few positive words? It’s THE way to get this show into the ears of more mothers, and I am so deeply grateful for all of you who help support me in this mission! Episode Roundup: What a wonderful story. As we jump into this week’s episode roundup, I want to focus on the concept of trauma. I don’t want anyone to ever get the wrong impression about homebirth: Choosing to give birth at home is not a guarantee that things will go 100% perfectly, and it’s certainly not a guarantee that you won’t experience difficulty, or even trauma. There are no situations that we can control completely, like Kasey’s first baby having a large head combined with a nuchal fist. However, what we can control is how we prepare ourselves for the vast variety of experiences that we may have. This is our only certain defense against trauma. No, we can’t control outcomes, but we can do everything on our end to prepare ourselves both physically, yes, but more importantly, mentally and spiritually. Kasey learned this after her first labor which was unexpectedly long and surprisingly difficult. She brought these lessons into her next birth, and I loved when she said that she was determined not to leave this birth with trauma, no matter what. I feel so strongly that this outlook helped her through the difficult parts of her second birth, and even improved her view of postpartum, allowing her to bond more easily with this second baby. If you’re looking for a way to prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually for your homebirth, don’t forget to check out Happy Homebirth Academy, the premier childbirth education program for homebirth mothers. I cover preparation on every level, leaving you feeling confident and prepared for your homebirth, no matter how it unfolds. If you’re interested, go to myhappyhomebirth.com/happyhomebirthacademy and I’ll drop a link in the show notes. Okay, my friends. That’s all I’ve got for you today. I’ll see you back here next week. Happy Homebirth T Shirts Happy Homebirth Academy

How do you afford a homebirth? In the words of the wise women from Beautiful One Midwifery, you assign more value to it. This week we’re speaking with Amanda, who realized just how much value there was in giving birth in a private environment, and how the cost of hospital births aren’t always what they seem. Episode Roundup Amanda mentioned how in her first birth, the simple act of asking questions to her OB brought out a side of defensiveness and anger. When she was asked to sign a paper consenting to a cesarean while still pregnant, she knew things were not going the way she wanted. If this happens to you, please remember that you, like Amanda, can ditch that care provider and search for one who respects you as…. oh, I don’t know, a living breathing capable human being. I love how Amanda was able to use diet to help her body through her second and third pregnancies. I cannot stress enough just how much what we eat can influence our pregnancies, babies, births and postpartum. This shouldn’t scare you, it should empower you. As she mentioned, we have a full module inside of Happy Homebirth Academy regarding robust pregnancy foods. And the Weston A. Price foundation is an amazing place to go to start looking for more information. A quick note about the perineum, as I know so many mothers are afraid to tear. The perineum was made to stretch. It was also made to heal. Remember that when you give birth physiologically, even if you do experience a tear, your body was designed to heal, just as Amanda’s has with her most recent pregnancy. And finally, let’s end where we began. Affording your homebirth. How do we do it? We won’t go into the weeds here of specific how-to’s, though I highly recommend looking into health share plans like Samaritain if you aren’t pregnant yet but know you’d like a homebirth. But the depth of it is this— this experience is a vital one, and you need to be supported. Amanda did everything “right” in her second birth, and yet still dealt with hospital staff who pushed a NICU stay and a whole heap of trauma. Value must be determined with more than dollar signs, though of course that is a factor. This is not to say that I don’t understand the struggle—trust me, I do. I just want to encourage you to to be scrappy if you have to, ask for help on your registry, barter if you must… but remember that your experience is vitally important, and you and your baby deserve to be supported. Mentioned Products: Crucial Four Icelandic Salt Discount: HOMEBIRTH10 Happy Homebirth Academy Free Top 8 Homebirth Resources

Did you feel ready, or prepared when becoming pregnant for the first time? What about the second, or third? This week we’re speaking with Leslie and Kevin, in what’s become lovingly referred to as the mammoth episode… yeah, it’s a long one, but it’s so full of beauty. We cover so many topics— birthing abroad, prenatal depression, postpartum psychosis, and then… that deep knowing that there’s another baby you’re meant to have. She and Kevin got married, later decided Kevin would attend seminary in the Netherlands. They moved there, planning to wait to have children until finished with school. Leslie experienced culture shock depression, and surprisingly became pregnant 6 months into their move. Kevin had a feeling this was happening— He had been reading Psalms and felt the Lord conveying to him that Leslie might be pregnant. At the very least, that children were a reward, which is not how he’d been viewing the idea. The labor was exhausting, and she ended up at the hospital with an episiotomy. After such an exhausting, grueling labor, Leslie didn’t feel like she bonded with her baby for weeks. She felt maternal instinct, but didn’t feel a bond until at least 4 weeks. She thinks that’s related to the vast amount of trauma involved with the birth. Leslie broke her tailbone during the birth, which took 7-8 months to recover to where she could even sit comfortably. Looking back, Kevin realizes he wasn’t well prepared, even though he thought that he was. The sight of her being in pain was very upsetting to him, and at one point he remembers strongly telling they doctors they needed to do something about it. Leslie wanted to have a fully medical birth with her next child after the trauma of her first attempted natural birth. She had a silent miscarriage at 9 weeks during her second pregnancy, which was heartbreaking. Moved back to the US and used midwives in a hospital. They planned to have an early epidural, so when she got into the hospital, she got an epidural and a bit of pitocin. They went to sleep, and Leslie woke up and said, “Hey, I’m feeling a lot of pressure.” Grey was born quickly and was healthy, as was everyone. It was a much more comfortable birth for her. The frustrating part of the birth was simply the postpartum aspect, both in the hospital at the interventions, and then the early months. The baby had many food allergies, was unable to sleep at night and Leslie struggled with postpartum psychosis. Because the postpartum experience was so difficult, Leslie and Kevin decided they were done with babies. They got rid of all of their things. When Grey was around 3, suddenly Leslie and Kevin began feeling individually that they had another child. Leslie went into this birth knowing much more about the birth community in Greenville. She reached out to myself (Katelyn), her midwife friend, and a wonderful local doula before she was even pregnant letting them know she wanted them as her team. Once Leslie told her friend she was pregnant, her friend told her she’d be praying Psalm 65 over her. Leslie has struggled with prenatal depression during all of her pregnancies. This birth was incredibly spiritual for her. She felt completely ready to have her baby, but it kept… not happening. On the night of the blood moon, Leslie woke up with contractions. She woke up in the middle of the night and walked around her street. She decided at that point that if she had her baby tonight she’d be thankful, and if her baby waited 2 more weeks, she’d be thankful for that, too. Once she went into labor, things happened quickly. Before she knew it, she was in Captain Morgan trying to help maneuver her baby out. About 4 minutes later, his head was born, and then her midwife needed to help a little bit with his very large shoulders. He ended up being 10lbs, 13 oz. From start to finish, her labor was about 2.5 hours. Leslie has not experienced the severe ups and downs this postpartum as she did before. Did you feel ready, or prepared when becoming pregnant for the first time? What about the second, or third? Hey there Happy Homebirthers episode 145. And this week we’re speaking with Leslie and Kevin, in what’s become lovingly referred to as the mammoth episode… yeah, it’s a long one, but it’s so full of beauty. We cover so many topics— birthing abroad, prenatal depression, postpartum psychosis, and then… that deep knowing that there’s another baby you’re meant to have. Recommendations: Perfect Supplements (use code HOMEBIRTH for 10% off)

How do you know if you’re making the best decision for yourself and your family— and what does it look like to have true informed consent? This week we’re speaking with Dr. Sarah Leahy of Birth Uprising. We’ll hear about how she slipped into the medical birth model, how she was burned, and then, not to sound too cheesy because seriously it’s true… how she took matters into her own hands and rose from the metaphorical ashes. Episode Roundup I can’t tell you how thoroughly I enjoyed this conversation with Dr. Sarah. She is such a wealth of knowledge. As we head into this week’s episode, I’ve picked a couple of the amazing aspects that she discussed to revisit. Dr. Sarah’s first full term birth experience, her second pregnancy, left her feeling like a shell of herself. I wish this were uncommon, but how many times have we heard such a similar sentiment? What’s just another day at work to the care providers at the hospital is a defining, life-altering event for the mother, and to treat it as anything less than such is not justice. Which leads me to my second point. The system isn’t even set up to recognize birth as a life-altering rite of passage. It has no idea. And as Sarah mentioned, it really has no idea how poorly it’s failing anyway due to the lack of postpartum care and lack of attachment to its clients. And finally, picking just one last point even though there are a solid 10 I’d like to cover, you cannot have informed consent without understanding your options. Without asking questions. Without doing your own research. I love the fact that Dr. Sarah not only encourages mothers to do this, but that she’s one of the women out there providing resources to help them along the way. I can so deeply resonate with this idea that, heck, I don’t care what you choose for your birth, I just care that you are informed and confident when doing it. Follow Dr. Sarah: @birthuprising birthuprising.com Episode Sponsor: Kindred Bravely www.kindredbravely.com Use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH20 for 20% off your purchase! (Some exclusions apply)

Does your baby need an adjustment after experiencing the birthing process? This week we’re speaking with the Boyhans, Dr. Christopher and Heather, who are a dynamic duo as both a chiropractor and Cranialsacral therapist. They’ll be sharing their experiences with homebirth, as well as their expertise in bodywork and neural work for newborns. It’s no secret that I love these forms of care, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to share with you exactly how and why they can be of such help for your family. Episode Roundup Birth isn’t intense only for us as the mothers— it’s important to remember that there’s a second life involved in this, and he or she is doing quite a bit of maneuvering with you to meet you on the outside world. Let’s honor the fact that this sweet little soul has worked hard, and let’s remember this when considering what we can do to help their bodies recover Which leads me to my next point: Bodywork isn’t just for adults. I am constantly reminding mothers of the importance of chiropractic care and fascial release, and we discuss it thoroughly inside of Happy Homebirth Academy. But it’s important to remember that it doesn’t stop with us. We can assess our infants and use our God-given intuitions to seek support when our babies are showing signs of tension, discomfort, disregulation… It’s so wonderful to have so many options. One of my biggest recommendations is to find these care providers in your area before giving birth so that they’re at the tips of your fingers postpartum should you realize you need them. And finally before we head out, if you’re local to the Asheville North Carolina area, make sure you get connected with The Boyhans at Align Life East Asheville— they host birth- related gatherings and do their best to inform the community of their options.

Is there really any benefit in preparing for a birth when you’ve already had two previous births? This week we’re speaking with Kelsey Rose, 2x birth center and newly homebirth mother. We’ll learn all about the differences in Kelsey’s experiences, as well as how she prepared for her change of birth location. Episode Roundup What an episode. As we head into this week’s roundup, I have a few discussion points that really stood out to me. Kelsey discussed how the membrane strips performed by her midwife with her first baby caused quite a bit of confusion and discomfort, and she wasn’t expecting them. There were several events that occurred without consent, and this is an important piece of information for moms to hear, as well as midwives. Mothers, remember that you have the right to decline. Midwives, remember that in order for a mother to be able to decline, she has to know what the intentions are. It’s vitally important for midwives and mothers to be on the same page as to what’s going on and to feel comfortable with the decisions being made. When it comes to creating your birth team, listen to your intuition. Kelsey felt like she “needed” a doula because duh, everyone says doulas a great, but when it came down to it, she really didn’t feel that that’s what this labor was asking of her. She honored that, and she’s grateful that she did. Listen, I love doulas, but it’s also important to remember that every situation is different, and leaning into prayer and your own intuition are the best ways to decide. Kelsey said several times just how loved she felt throughout the entire experience with her third baby. She was surrounded by a team who truly cared for her, and was there to support her. And THAT makes all the difference. Okay, my friends. That’s all I’ve got for you today. I’ll see you back her next week

What does it look like to have true informed consent? What does it mean to be trusted by your birth team? This week we’re speaking with Zo’e Cole, a mama to two who just had her first Happy Homebirth. I’m looking forward to this episode, because Zo’e brings up some aspects of both of her births that truly paint a picture between obstetric abuse and informed consent. Let’s jump in. Episode Roundup Wasn’t that the picture of a Happy Homebirth? I’m so thrilled for Zo’e and the fact that she was able to experience such a peaceful event after having such a traumatic first birth. As we dive into this week’s episode roundup, a few discussion points come to mind. Zo’e discussed how she really felt she was on auto pilot with her first pregnancy. I feel like this happens to so many women, and I really think this is a societal issue— not recognizing birth for the totally transformative, life-altering rite of passage that it is. And what’s so sad is that when we don’t realize this, we can’t prepare for it with the honor that it deserves. So… make sure you’re shouting this message from the mountain tops, whether someone wants to give birth at home or in hospital, preparation for this event is of course paramount. Holy obstetric abuse, batman. Listening to Zo’e’s experience, although it’s common, still brings a blood boiling feeling. I know that there are some amazing OBs out there, but dang, the ones who do things like break your water and then call it discharge or fuss at you to be induced at 39 weeks…. They’re all too common. And of course, there are midwives like that, too. We’ve got to be so selective when it comes to our care providers ,for our own protection and the protection of our babies. Finally, what a difference between her first and second babies. Zo’e truly took her pregnancy and birth into her own hands with her second baby, and boy was she blessed by the experience. Zo’e took Happy Homebirth Academy, went to the chiropractor, did acupuncture, nourished herself… everything she could to honor this birth and this baby. As she said, her first birth experience taught her so much, and with her second, she was able to step into motherhood for a second time totally transformed. Okay my friends, that’s all I’ve got for you today. I’ll see you back here next week.