What surprised you most about your homebirth? Was it… the way you vocalized during your surges? Or maybe it was how incredibly accomplished you felt afterward? Or… was it the number of babies that you gave birth to? This week we’re speaking to Elizabeth Parsons, who really brought the surprise factor to her fourth birth and first homebirth. Episode Roundup: Can you imagine that experience? The shock of thinking you’re pushing out a placenta, but then being handed a second baby? Absolutely incred...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 133
How much influence do we really have on our hormones? And… how much do our hormones really influence our experience of labor, anyway? And this week we’re speaking with Heather, a mother of two who decided to experiment on herself regarding her ability to influence her hormonal responses. It’s… fascinating and honestly so exciting. I can’t wait to jump into her two birth stories. Before we do— I’d love to thank this week’s reviewer of the week, militarybigfamily. If you’re finding value in this s...
Jul 05, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 132
Who do you picture surrounding you when you give birth? Or….do you picture anyone else besides your spouse? Today we’re speaking with Noelle Kowalski, whom you may know as Noelle Kovary on instagram. She’s a functional therapy nutritional practitioner, Ayurvedic practitioner holistic health coach, business owner, and… she gave birth to her first baby with her husband and no one else. This episode is so amazing and covers some incredible topics like healing from medical injuries, working on your ...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 131
What does it look like to have full confidence in yourself, your body and your baby? How does this look in the birth setting? This week we’re speaking with Talise Homebirth Queen, who lives up to her name in every way. She gave birth to all 6 of her babies at home, without pain or fear. She’s given birth to twins, she’s gone unassisted, and she’s written a book about it: Home is Where the Birth is Talise brings so much insight and wisdom to today’s conversation, I can’t wait to get started. This...
Jun 21, 2021•33 min•Ep. 130
Trauma— how does trauma of all types impact or influence your pregnancy, labor and postpartum? Today’s episode is beautiful, but very serious. We’re speaking with Midon, who has experienced a long journey of learning about early childhood traumas, and how they greatly impacted her most recent birth. We’re going to share about the importance of talking about these traumas, not leaving them unattended to fester, which can feel like the easier path. Now, I always do my best to be up front regarding...
Jun 14, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 129
Do words really matter? I mean, you’ve got to give birth one way or another— so is the language that’s used around your experience actually important? This week we’ll be speaking to Frankie Sena, a mama of two and graduate of Happy Homebirth Academy. She had two very different perceptions of feeling during her experiences of giving birth, and we’re going to hear what influenced that. This episode was is sponsored by Baby Trend andThe Cover Me 4-in-1 Convertible car seat I opted to skip the newbo...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 128
] What happens when you’ve desired and planned for a homebirth for a decade… but then you’re faced with a long, intense exhausting labor? How do you cope with what you’ve wanted, yet what you’re experiencing? This week we’re speaking with Caitlin Ackermann, who met her midwife in her high school health class. She’s experienced two vastly different births, and she’s going to share them both with us today. Caitlin’s stories show the two extremes of labor, so you know there will be so much to glean...
May 31, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 127
When I say metabolism you say….what? Really, what comes to mind? Skinny teenagers and being able to gorge on whatever you want with no consequences to your pant size? Or… that thing that just totally quits on you once you have a baby? Hey there, episode 126 Today we are speaking with two women who I stumbled across recently (shout out to my bff Emily), and who in the span of just a few months have absolutely changed my health for the better. Kori Meloy and Fallon Lee are the two metabolism-lovin...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 126
Which leads to better outcomes do you think, high amounts of unpersonalized intervention… or… space? Space to allow a mother’s body to do what it was designed to do? This week we’re speaking with Miss Brittany Pride , a mother of 4 daughters and new member of the homebirth community. Through Brittany’s stories, we’ll learn what style of care worked best for her and her family. Before we jump in, let me take a moment to welcome all of the new students who took advantage of the Mother’s Day sale a...
May 17, 2021•58 min•Ep. 125
When your birth plans change, what do you do? Do you jump to a place of self-loathing and frustration, or do you take it in stride and choose to love your experience? Hey there… And although my first question is easier said than done, Jasmine and her husband Julian have some lessons to share with us today all about this subject and many more. From a hospital birth that turned out differently than expected to a homebirth abroad in Tokyo, get ready. This story is incredible. And… Happy Mother’s Da...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 124
What do you do when your doctors don’t believe in your body, but you do? What happens when hospital policy is so counter to your own beliefs that you have to be constantly on guard and fighting for your rights? Where do you turn? This week we’re speaking with Julie, who was faced with a number of situations and circumstances that required intense decision-making for herself and her family. I know there are so many mothers out there who are hoping and planning to have successful homebirths after ...
May 03, 2021•59 min•Ep. 123
What the heck is a rite of passage… and why does this matter in regards to birth? This week we are speaking with Rachael Jean, a homebirth midwife and birth rite enthusiast. In this episode we delve into the meaning of rites of passage, why they’re important, how to reclaim birth as a rite of passage, and… how to prepare for birth through healing. Immediately I can tell you this will be an episode you’re going to want to save and listen to a couple of times. I’m so excited for the wisdom that Ra...
Apr 26, 2021•47 min•Ep. 122
Midwives… have you ever experienced that moment in labor with a client where you know it’s a fork in the road? What do you do and say? What… if that client is also your daughter?. And this week’s interview is special indeed. We’re speaking with Tori Justesen and her mama and midwife Stacey Bufkin all about what it was like to hold both a mother and daughter and midwife/client relationship. This interview is phenomenal, and Stacey and Tori bring up aspects of birth that are going to be so valuabl...
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 121
Have you always known that you wanted to have biological children, or is that something that came with time? Nikki’s decision to have biological children wasn’t one that she and her husband had in mind for the majority of their 13 years of marriage. Her decision took time and much consideration, as you’ll soon hear. Before we get started, can I ask you a favor? If this podcast has been of help to you, could you hop over to apple podcasts and leave a 5 star rating, and hopefully even a review? It...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 120
If you had your baby at your due date or after… how did you feel? Tired? Ready? Frustrated that it was taking so long? Taylor? Well, she was thrilled to carry her baby as long as she did. After experiencing several preterm births, she loved every moment of her longer, seventh pregnancy. This birth story is so lovely, I can’t wait to share it! Before we jump in, may I ask you a favor? If you’re on facebook, can you run check and see if you’re following Happy Homebirth Podcast ? We’re growing and ...
Apr 05, 2021•35 min•Ep. 119
When did you decide to have a homebirth? Was it at 6 weeks pregnant? 12? 29? ….Were you in labor and 9.5 centimeters? Not to give it all away, but Ren’s decision to give birth at home wasn’t an early one by any stretch of the imagination. I know you’re going to love how it all unfolded. Now, before we dive in, I always want to be very careful and upfront about particularly difficult content. You have the right to know if an upcoming topic could be traumatic for you for any reason. In between Ren...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 118
Alright ladies, let’s talk about your period. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, think back to before you were pregnant or breastfeeding and let’s be honest: How was your period? Hey there Happy Homebirthers, and welcome to episode 117 of the Happy Homebirth Podcast. And today we’re delving into the wild wild world of our hormones and how they relate to our cycle and overall health. I know that many of you are currently not having a period as you’re pregnant or early postpartum, but isn’t this...
Mar 22, 2021•32 min•Ep. 117
What do you do when you become pregnant unexpectedly…and your husband is scheduled to deploy…and you have two littles at home to take care of? For Holly, this was her reality. You’ll hear how Holly managed her last pregnancy and birth, along with her learning process related to hormone health. It’s a fascinating episode! And before we jump in, I want to take just a moment to thank our reviewer of the week, mama bookworm. Mama book worm, thank you SO much for taking the time. It means so much to ...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 116
So many people have chosen to forgo the hospital for childbirth because of Covid… but what happens when you’re planning an out of hospital birth and test positive for covid…at 37 weeks? That’s what happened to Kate, and it was quite a difficult time for her, as you’ll see. But you’ll also see that Kate’s quite resourceful, and her experience certainly makes for an action-packed episode. In fact, topics covered in this episode include: teen pregnancy, a forced induction, unexpected pregnancy, tes...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 115
How do we prepare for the unknowns of birth and postpartum in a holistic, positive way, even when we know that we can’t control every aspect of our experience? This week we’re speaking with Jenny and Wendy, sisters and owners of Pure Motherhood Co. Jenny and Wendy have experienced their fair share of birth plan pivots, and they’re teamed up to provide resources for mothers from pregnancy through postpartum regarding the process. I know you’ll enjoy this conversation. Stick around until the end—s...
Mar 01, 2021•40 min•Ep. 114
For those of you who have given birth before—when did you KNOW you were in labor? Was it a slow, gradual realization, or did you only know for sure when you started feeling your body pushing?! For Megan, who dealt with prodromal labor for weeks…. well, it wasn’t until she felt herself pushing that she finally realized “Okay yep, this is definitely happening”. Her second homebirth was vastly different from her first, as we’ll soon hear. But before we jump into the episode, I’d love to thank our r...
Feb 22, 2021•45 min•Ep. 113
When you imagine your homebirth, what do you picture? Where are you? Maybe you’re laboring in your bedroom, your kitchen or living room…. But… do you picture yourself giving birth in a home other than your own? Sometimes it happens, my friends, and we’ll learn today with Kadie’s birth story. Kadie and Sarah, two sisters and two of my favorite gals, are going to share the very interesting, sometimes very difficult journey Kadie had to face throughout her pregnancy, and even labor. But… as you’ll ...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 112
When your first homebirth turns into a transport, what do you do with baby #2? Do you plan for the hospital, or attempt another homebirth? Today we’ll be speaking with Nicole, who had to decide just that— should I try again at home? Now before we jump into the episode, I want to remind you of some super exciting news. This week I’m hosting a free learning event— Homebirth Mythbusters: The 5 myths you need to bust to have a happy homebirth. This masterclass is perfect for you, whether you’ve alre...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 111
Let’s say you struggle with anxiety. Does that automatically count you out as a candidate for homebirth? Welcome to BONUS Episode 100! Because of all of the exciting things going on around Happy Homebirth, I felt a bonus episode was warranted for this week. What exciting things? Well if you haven’t heard, I’m hosting a totally free, totally awesome masterclass next week. It’s calle d Homebirth Mythbusters: The 5 Myths You Need to Bust to Have a Happy Homebirth. So…. Are you pregnant and consider...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 110
Did your spouse have any quality resources to help him prepare for homebirth? Today, we have the privilege of speaking to the man behind the coolest YouTube find ever, The Paternal Partner. Sam Evans, a homebirth dad of two has taken the guesswork out of the dad birth prep. This episode is full of insight when it comes to partner preparation, and Sam gives us some incredible tips and resources along the way. This episode is so perfectly aligned with some crazy exciting news I have for you all. T...
Feb 01, 2021•41 min•Ep. 109
Does homebirth affect your partner’s involvement? I’m excited to share Julia’s stories, as we see quite a difference in how she and her family were able to work together in the hospital versus the home. This isn’t an aspect we’ve covered much on the podcast, and Julia’s story brings up some amazing points. Let’s dive in! Show Notes Julia and her husband became pregnant earlier in their marriage than they had expected, though they immediately became very excited. When they lost their first pregna...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 108
What unpopular child birthing or childrearing practice do you partake in? Homebirth? Cloth diapering? Bed sharing? I find myself checking many of these boxes… and truth be told, these “unpopular” choices are actually gaining popularity! I’m so excited for today’s interview with Tori, who is a homebirth mother to two, and author of the new book Ready to Unpop. She dives into the “unpopular” practices in her book, and sheds light on the benefits and why mothers may choose to make those decisions. ...
Jan 18, 2021•42 min•Ep. 107
Prenatal appointments? Check. Childbirth education program? Check. And I’m sure it’s Happy Homebirth Academy. You’re feeling prepared for your birth… but have you considered your relationship in the postpartum phase and how you can prepare it for the certain shifts that will take place? Hey there….. Today we’ll be speaking with my friend Laura Spencer, a postpartum coach who has been in the trenches, experienced the difficult postpartum season with her relationship, and now so generously comes t...
Jan 04, 2021•55 min•Ep. 106
You're listening to episode 105 of the Happy Homebirth Podcast. How long did you wait to tell your friends and family about your pregnancy? No time? 8 weeks? 12 weeks? What about 6 months? Today’s episode with Alissa covers an incredible array of stories, and she bears her soul with her experience. I feel so honored that she shared her stories, and I know you’ll feel the same when you hear them. I do of course like to mention when stories contain especially difficult situations, and I will aware...
Dec 28, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 105
You're listening to the Happy Homebirth Podcast, Episode 104 Today's guest: Dr Rachel Reed is a midwife, academic, author, and international speaker who focuses on childbirth physiology, midwifery practice, and women's rights (and rites). She has provided midwifery care for many women and has attended births in a wide range of settings and circumstances. Rachel is the author of the award-winning blog MidwifeThinking and the co-host of The Midwives' Cauldron podcast. She has published widely in j...
Dec 21, 2020•49 min•Ep. 104
