Nikki is a single mom of 5 beautiful kids. Her oldest child is 16 and has ADHD with traits of ODD and is awaiting assessment for ASD, she also has 1-year-old twins. Having given both so many times and at different stages in her life, 23 when she had her first child and 38 when she had the twins.Her birthing experiences have only improved, she has learned to trust the process and she's here to share her experiences with the hope that she can help other pregnant women to trust their ...
Aug 16, 2023•39 min
In today's solo episode, we're diving deep into the essential topic of finding the perfect doula for your birth journey. If you'd rather watch this episode, head over to my YouTube channel where I'm going to start uploading all of my podcast episodes from now on! Click here!Here's an overview of this episode:Understanding the significance of aligning values and beliefs with your support team.Envisioning your ideal birth – a crucial step in shaping your birthing experience.Tips for conducting ...
Aug 10, 2023•11 min
Lisa is a mom of two girls, she started out on her business journey in 2013 whilst she was on maternity leave with her eldest daughter Alysa, what originally started as a hobby became a passion and supported her through many difficult life lessons.Lisa is a vision board coach, qualified NLP practitioner, Reiki practitioner, and crystal healer, her mission is to help others live the life they desire! Overview of this episode:How Lisa manifested her second baby after multiple lossesHow tra...
Aug 02, 2023•30 min
Birth can seem scary and might make you feel like you can't do it. Here are 5 of my top tips plus 1 bonus tip to help you build confidence to have the birth of your dreams!Overview of this episode:5 key tips to birthing confidentlyWhy these tips are important to implement into your daily lifeHow I used these tips Connect with me, Petra ⤵️Instagram:@birthing_come_trueFacebook: Birthing Come TrueWebsite: Birthingcometrue.com Email: Petra@birthingcometrue.comDon't forget to subscribe to the...
Jul 26, 2023•15 min
I had so much fun chatting with Denise on this episode, we dove into inner work and releasing any feelings you might be internally hanging on to that might hinder your birth vision. She did a live mini-demonstration of what an EFT tapping session could look like, it was AMAZING!Denise Kleinman provides a structure for parents to do the inner work required to show up as their best selves with their families. Denise compassionately supports clients in clearing a diverse range of traumas, losses...
Jul 19, 2023•37 min
Bethany Lovern is a wife and Mom of 2 boys. She is a Lactation Consultant and Speech Therapist. After spending 6 years in the nursing home, she decided to stay at home with her firstborn son. Sixteen months after her first son, she welcomed her second son whose breastfeeding journey started out really rough and changed how she approached serving her clients.Overview of our chat:Bethany's breastfeeding journey and how it changed herHow a partner can support mom through their breastfeeding jour...
Jul 12, 2023•43 min
Shiloh Minor is a happily married woman and Mom of 2 small, wild boys. She is a love and marriage coach for women by trade and a granola-crunchy rural-living sauna enthusiast by hobby. She is an Enneagram 7, ENFJ who enjoys the inner adventure of spiritual and emotional development. She is a cycle breaker and supporter of others doing the same!Overview of our chat:2 VERY different birth storiesHow kids change your relationship with your partnerImportance of being able to pivot from your origi...
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Elizabeth Watson is a certified mindset and manifestation coach as well as an empathic intuitive. Working with moms who've let themselves get lost in everyone else's needs, and help them reclaim their power to live the life of their dreams.Through a unique blend of science-based techniques, 'whole-self healthy' life balance, and Spirit-led structure; she helps women find their belief in themselves. Feel empowered to make the changes they've longed for, and ultimately transform their lives!Thi...
Jun 28, 2023•48 min
Life Update! Well this is a mini update anyway.Life has certainly had its ups and downs lately but nonetheless, I try to stay upbeat and positive because why not?! Nobody gets ahead in life by being miserable about their circumstances, it matters what lens you view it through.Overview of this episode:Luke and Leia having whooping cough, pneumonia, and a few other things 🤦♀️ Me following my intuition and advocating for my babiesThe release of my AMAZING online birth education courseHow l...
Jun 21, 2023•34 min
Did you know it is believed in Ayurveda that the way you are cared for, for the first 40 days postpartum can influence your health for the next 40 years?!My guest Harmony Robinson- Stagg is an Ayurveda and Women's Healthpractitioner, the founder of the Ayurveda Alchemist Academy, and has over 17 years of experience as a registered nurse.Her mission is to bridge the gap between science-based Western medicine, Eastern medicine & Spirituality. Overview of our chat:Exploring the concept ...
Jun 14, 2023•41 min
Do you feel paralyzed by fear while preparing for your birth?! I get it, I've been there, so in this episode, we'll dive into the essential topic of fear clearing for achieving the birth experience you've always dreamed of. Join me as I discuss the significant role of fear in preparing for your birth and explore effective techniques to clear those fears. We'll also explore the importance of embracing your own choices, even when faced with conflicting advice from healthcare providers.&nbs...
Jun 07, 2023•28 min
I had an incredible conversation with Laurie Bedard who is a certified clinical counselor, founder and director of LJB counseling services, part-time psychology professor, and mother to 5 boys.In this episode, we chat about how we don't like to seem like we're not okay or that we can't handle it all. But the truth is that we're human and sometimes we need help, not just physically but mentally.Join us as we tread through the realities of having postpartum depression or psychosis and how our f...
May 31, 2023•59 min
In this powerful episode, we delve into the deeply personal journey of Sharna Southan, a pregnancy loss practitioner, who shares her own experience with pregnancy loss and how it became a catalyst for raising awareness and providing support to others who have experienced loss.Join us as we navigate the unspoken realities and stigma surrounding pregnancy loss, and discover the transformative impact of early education in reshaping societal perceptions. This episode serves as a heartfelt reminde...
May 24, 2023•45 min
Did you plan your birth before you even planned on becoming pregnant?I think most people don't but if you know my guest Ashton Scott, that's exactly what she's doing!Here's some topics we touch on throughout our magical conversation:🔥 How to normalize birth to our current and future generations🔥 Becoming a birth doula even though Ashton has no children... yet!🔥 What twilight sleep is🔥 How birth has changed in the past 100 years and why🔥 Being in charge of your own birth and so much more!Gra...
May 17, 2023•45 min
In this episode, I speak with Kim Hunter, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who is passionate about helping families navigate their postpartum and breastfeeding journeys successfully. Kim is a mom of two amazing kids who felt called to help families in their pregnancy, labor & postpartum journeys. She had hired a doula for the birth of her son and realized the importance of birth doulas.Kim became certified as a postpartum doula with DONA International in ...
May 10, 2023•43 min
I had a beautiful conversation with Becca Kyle who is a certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. She utilizes functional labs to help driven women overcome health obstacles so they can make a difference for their families, their communities, and the world. Becca is no stranger to health issues and hopes her own health transformation inspires others to not feel alone and helps them to understand that there a...
May 03, 2023•43 min
Closing out Cesarean Awareness month with my VBA3C story that I manifested into reality against all odds!I went from feeling scared and unsure to feeling confident in my own power to have the most blissful birth experience I could have hoped for.All along my VBA3C journey, no provider supported my decision but I had a handful of key supporters that believed in me completely, my husband being my number 1!Listen to the end so you can hear me get on my soapbox 😆 Having a VBA3C is possible even w.....
Apr 28, 2023•46 min
Birth trauma is any physical or emotional distress you may experience during or after childbirth. According to a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, up to 34% of women report experiencing some form of birth trauma.You can experience birth trauma whether you've had a vaginal or c-section birth. Birth trauma gets swept under the rug so easily and some reasons for this are:1. We feel like we did something to "create" that trauma2. We are busy with our newbo...
Apr 26, 2023•23 min
In this episode, I share my personal experience of giving birth via C-section for the third time. I discuss how I felt unheard, and disrespected by the medical staff, which created a feeling of disconnect from my baby Leia. We should be kind to others because we never know what they are going through, especially during such a vulnerable time.Empathy and understanding can go a long way in creating a positive and supportive birth experience.Relevant Links/Resources:The International Cesarean Aw...
Apr 21, 2023•20 min
Having an empowered home birth even when things don't go as planned is possible! Even when you create the best plan for your birth, it can unfold unexpectedly. Having a plan in place can help you navigate something like a hemorrhage confidently.Bekah shares her hospital and home birth story, she talks about how each birth experience helped her plan differently for her next baby. Birth can be so unpredictable but how we plan and react to it matters!Bekah is a wife and mother of two, and she's ...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min
In honor of C-section awareness month, I decided to drop another C-section episode.This episode I dive into my second daughter, Camille's C-section birth story and I also touch on our rough breastfeeding journey.I thought I would be overwhelmed with emotion when she was born but instead, I was left feeling abandoned, not seen, and emotionless.Hope you can appreciate some of the vulnerability I bring in this episode! ❤️ --------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Apr 14, 2023•18 min
Since it's cesarean awareness month, I thought I'd share my experiences with the 3 c-sections I've experienced.This episode is a super short glimpse into my first c-section.It was a struggle navigating this experience as a 16-year-old, in a future episode I'll be deep diving into my pregnancy and postpartum journey as a teen mom.If you'd like to know me, don't hesitate to reach out! I love to share with you.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Apr 12, 2023•7 min
Wife, mother of 3 boys (twin 2-year-olds), and two fur babies, Lauren Bennett is a birth photographer, videographer, & Doula.Her love of birth peaked when she was pregnant with her first son in 2017 & she started researching all things pregnancy & birth. She worked in the veterinary field prior to starting her photography business full-time. Since then she has become a doula (birth & postpartum) & she enjoys helping families expecting twins know their options for their jou...
Apr 05, 2023•59 min
VBAC is becoming more mainstream and I'm so here for it!There are so many reasons why VBAC could be right for you. For me, having a VBA3C was transformative, it changed the trajectory of my life in so many good ways.For that reason, I'd love to shout from the mountain tops, that "VBAC IS POSSIBLE!" Just because someone says no, that doesn't mean that's the end all be all. You can do this without a supportive provider.✨In this episode, I share some of the pillars I practiced to have the ...
Mar 29, 2023•26 min
Planning a hospital birth? Lisa Marie and I discuss some hospital practices you may not have realized take place while you're doing some of the hardest work of your life.Birthing your baby is such a beautiful experience but just be aware that you may be talked into doing something that doesn't align with your values.We talk about the best ways you can prepare yourself if hospital birth is your preferred birth location. Our discussion also touched on holistic practices, plant medicine, and how...
Mar 22, 2023•39 min
These tips are taken from my experiences with my own pregnancies and postpartum journeys. Some I practiced and some I wish I would've implemented to have a more peaceful experience.Setting boundaries during pregnancy and postpartum can help you build confidence, strength, and your intuition.Being a parent is hard enough without someone telling you they have a better way for you to try or forcing their beliefs or fears onto you.Every woman experiences pregnancy and postpartum differently and e...
Mar 15, 2023•17 min
Have you felt like you're carrying the weight of the world plus your family on your shoulders?You're wondering if anyone else is feeling this way or if you're the only one...Well, I'm here to tell you, you're NOT alone!In this episode, Jerry Silva and I dive into how normal it is for women to feel the pressure from society to be happy, "get their body back," cook, clean, and cater to their partners' needs on top of caring for their newborn and that doesn't even touch on their own needs.As a s...
Mar 08, 2023•52 min
Struggling with being a people pleaser plus a perfectionist on top of breaking through the "good girl' conditioning barriers?! Wooooo I'm exhausted just writing that out.In this episode, Nicole Pasveer and I chat about unlearning everything you’ve been led to believe about birth, understanding how good girl conditioning shows up in pregnancy and motherhood, and entering motherhood unapologetically. Nicole is a former nurse, current birth educator, and confidence coach.She is also ...
Mar 01, 2023•48 min
Being a people pleaser can be detrimental to your physical and mental health, there is literally no benefit to you in practicing this personality trait.In this episode, I discuss how normal people pleasing is and where it might stem from. After that, we dive into 10 steps towards breaking through those people-pleasing tendencies.If you're tired of easily saying yes to others' requests while completely ignoring your own needs, then this episode is for you!Let's Connect!✨ The Birth Junkie Websi...
Mar 01, 2023•28 min
Welcome to The Birth Junkie Podcast! Everyone is invited to this space where we dive into real, raw, and awe-inspiring conversations about all things pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and VBAC.I'm Petra Cruz and I'm obsessed with all things birth and helping you navigate through the binge-worthy and as well as the hard seasons of life. I'll teach you what I've learned along the way as well as share expert interviews to help you build confidence, self-awareness and so much more.Get excited because...
Feb 24, 2023•4 min
