Resources
1.9M
Downloads
271
Episodes
The Happy Homebirth podcast is your source for positive natural childbirth stories, and your community of support, education and encouragement in all things homebirth and motherhood.
Episodes
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
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:
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
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)
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-workbookMonday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
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:
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Monday Jan 17, 2022
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:
Perfect Supplements use the code HOMEBIRTH for 10% off
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
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.
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Monday Jan 03, 2022
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.
5. Recommendations from Instagram
Resources
Monday Dec 27, 2021
Monday Dec 27, 2021
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!
JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
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
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Monday Dec 06, 2021
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
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Monday Nov 22, 2021
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
JOIN HAPPY HOMEBIRTH ACADEMY HERE
(use code THANKFUL21 for 10% through this Friday)