1.8M
Downloads
268
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
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Listen in to this bonus episode to hear how my (Katelyn's) pregnancy is progressing. Somehow I'm already halfway to the finish line, and I don't know where the weeks went!
Monday Jan 21, 2019
Monday Jan 21, 2019
Samantha's Surprise Breech Homebirth
- Samantha has had two hospital births (one medicated induction, one natural), one homebirth, and one birth center birth.
- At the beginning of her third pregnancy, she researched midwives and decided giving birth in her own space was right up her alley. Her husband was completely supportive.
- She interviewed with one midwife and knew in her gut that this was the right fit. She felt complete trust.
- Experienced “White Coat Syndrome” previously, but her blood pressure was always perfect with her midwife. She feels that that shows just how comfortable she was with her care provider.
- When Sam went into labor, things progressed very quickly. When her midwife heard her have a contraction over the phone, she got in the car and headed her way immediately.The midwife stayed on the phone with Sam for the entire car ride, as Sam was nervous that she’d have the baby without her.
- The midwife got into the room, and after Sam had one contraction, the midwife thought something was strange, so she checked Sam.
- “I don’t want you to freak out, but the baby is breech.”
- In South Carolina, breech births are not within the guidelines of having a homebirth, so the midwife did call EMS.
- The baby was safely born at home. Samantha’s husband told EMS they were not going to transfer to the hospital, as the baby was fine.
- The fact that her midwife stayed for hours after the birth meant the world to Samantha
- Samantha shares how a sheriff showed up saying, “I don’t really need to be here, but I heard a baby was being born and I wanted to come!”
- Katelyn recalls how two men were trying to put a stretcher in Sam’s room, and she remembered wondering to herself, “What are they even trying to do that?”
- With her last child, Sam gave birth at a hospital birth center.
- The prenatal experience was more similar to her experience with the OB, though she still liked the experience.
- She was worried that she would not make it to the birth center during labor, as it takes about an hour to get to the birth center from her home.
- Sam ended up using the birth center because of the complications of insurance.
- When she reached the birth center, her blood pressure was high, and the midwife wanted to transfer her to the hospital. However, she was progressing so quickly, she did not know whether or not they’d actually make it, so she was able to stay at the birth center.
- Katelyn mentions how the opening of the hospital-based birth center has been really great for the community, as it’s a great in-between zone for those who are not quite comfortable giving birth at home, but do not necessarily want a hospital birth, either.
- Sam recommends finding a midwife that takes the time to get to know you and is willing to build a relationship.
Thank you to our sponsor, Mama Moon Birth Photography! www.mamamoonbirthstories.com
Here is a sample of Ashlie's beautiful work: https://vimeo.com/302639176
Monday Jan 14, 2019
Monday Jan 14, 2019
I could have titled this birth story 1,000 different ways, but Harry Potter Homebirth? I know that had to catch your attention!
Show Notes
- For their first child, Ryan wanted to be in/near a hospital. They were living in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Christina went past her due date, but was not induced. She had a 45 hour labor with baby #1, Eowyn.
- Ryan fell asleep in the triage bed!
- Christina became a doula after having an incredibly supportive team and lovely birth.
- They had their second child, William, in a free-standing birth center.
- Liam was born at 41 weeks, 3 days
- Her out-of-hospital midwife advised an herbal induction.
- She later realized her first baby was posterior, causing the long labor.
- Christina went under the care of a chiropractor for baby #2, and she used spinning babies techniques to help position her baby better.
- Labor #2 was 6 hours, compared to 45hours with the first, and the baby was 10 lbs, 6 oz!
- Remembers thinking, "This was even better than the hospital!"
- Ryan and Christina took Hypnobabies with baby #3.
- Ryan says, "I was literally eating barbeque and drinking beer while Christina was laboring in the tub"... much more comfortable than the triage bed!
- Their 3rd baby, Patrick, was 41 weeks, 3 days.
- Prodromal labor started 6 weeks before, so Christina was very tired when she went into labor
- Pursued an herbal induction again, which was gentle and effective
- She used acupuncture to help with the prodromal labor
- Christina got the urge to push after 2-3 hours of labor, but was confused because she didn't feel like she'd been through transition/transformation.
- Something felt off, so she asked her midwife to check her.
- The midwife said that she still had a bit of a cervical lip, and recommended that Christina try to avoid pushing for a bit. What she tactfully did not mention, was that Christina was actually only 4 cm dilated.
- Christina flipped to her back, and for 30 minutes she had to breathe through her pushing contractions. She says it was the most difficult part of her labor.
- Music and singing helped her cope during the no-pushing phase.
- They had theological discussions during labor about whether or not Mary had a midwife!
- Christina remembers thinking, "I can't do this anymore."
- She started singing "Jesus Loves Me," with her husband and midwife, and feels that that intimate moment truly depicts the beauty of homebirth.
- She then needed to change positions. She got out of the pool, stood up, and suddenly had to pee. She didn't want her daughter to see her peeing on the floor!
- She got on the bed, and her pushing contractions doubled. She HAD to push.
- Her water broke forcefully, and baby's head was immediately crowning.
- Patrick was the largest baby her midwife had caught, at 10 lbs, 9 ounces and 23 inches long.
- It was only 45 minutes total between Christina being 4 cm and holding her baby.
- They had opened the window in the bathroom earlier, and it turns out the neighbors heard the baby being born.
- Christina had a 5 lb placenta
- After her shower, the midwives came in her room wearing Hogwarts robes and witch hats.
- She did not tear with her 10+ lb babies, which she attributes to self-directed pushing.
- Ryan guarded the 6-week postpartum experience, and it changed her postpartum so much for the better.
Monday Jan 07, 2019
Monday Jan 07, 2019
Hailey Mugica Show Notes:
Website: myhappyhomebirth.com
Contact Katelyn: katelyn@myhappyhomebirth.com
Follow: instagram.com/happyhomebirthpodcast
Donate: https://www.patreon.com/happyhomebirth
- Hailey's first two births were traditional hospital medicated births
- Her sister planned to have a homebirth for her first baby, which Hailey thought was crazy, but then she watched The Business of Being Born, read some of Ina May's Books and decided she wanted a homebirth, too!
- She says that the prenatal experience between her OB and Midwife were not even comparable.
- Her midwife came to her for home visits, discussed nutrition and exercise, and diagnosed anemia, which Hailey feels confident she had during her first two pregnancies and was missed.
- She feels she received far more detail and attention from her midwife.
- She remembered Ina May's words of "you're going to get huge" during her labor, and it was very helpful.
- Hailey was 41+ weeks and worried she would not be able to have her homebirth because she wasn't seeming like she would be going into labor soon.
- She decided to pump, and after 20 minutes, she was having contractions that were 45 seconds long and less than 2 minutes apart.
- Hailey saw a chiropractor the day before labor began, and she attributes her fast birth to that. Before the adjustment, she could feel that her baby was ill-positioned in her right hip, and then labor began the next day.
- Her birth went so smoothly, and she felt incredible about her decision to have a homebirth.
- Hailey felt incredibly supported by her midwife postpartum: On day 5 her midwife came back and set up an herbal bath for Hailey and her baby and even took photos for them.
- With her medicated births, she felt like something that had happened to her. With her homebirth, she felt like she was covering from something that she did.
- Hailey's mom took her other two sons out for dinner, and when they returned, the baby was already born.
- Katelyn and Hailey discuss the benefits of not finding out the gender before the birth: You get double the presents, and people buy you good gifts from your registry because "nobody wants to buy a gray onesie."
- Hailey's recommendation for a mom considering homebirth: It's not a flippant decision. Do your research, and as long as you have a solid 'why' behind your decision, you can do anything.
- She and her husband opted not to tell anyone who they thought might not support a homebirth.
- Instagram: @theintentionalessentials or @haileymugica
Monday Dec 31, 2018
Monday Dec 31, 2018
Anne Margolis, CNM, LM, MSN, BSN, RN (Biography)
Anne Margolis is a Licensed Certified Nurse Midwife, Licensed Femme! Teacher, Certified Clarity Breathwork Practitioner, Yoga Teacher and practitioner. She is a 3rd generation guide to mommas birthing babies in her family. Anne has helped thousands of families in her 20+ year midwifery practice and has personally ushered the births of over 1000 healthy babies into the world. She has also guided countless human beings to heal from emotional pain, inner stress and trauma, tap into their strength and power, live fully and vibrantly, and reclaim their radiance, joyfulness, calm and overall sense of well-being.
Through her online childbirth course 'Love Your Birth', her online and in-person midwifery for pregnancy and postpartum support consultations, her birth professional mentoring, her holistic gynecology, Clairty Breathwork and Femme! experience offerings she infuses wisdom, compassion, inspiration, and joy into the entire process of women’s health care from teen aged years to menopause, as well as into facilitating incredible healing and wellness for both men and women of all ages. She also provides consulting to help you publish and launch your book!
Anne is a two times number one national and international best selling author of 'Natural Birth Secrets: An Insiders Guide How To Give Birth Holistically, Healthfully and Safely, and Love the Experience', and also 'Trauma Release Formula: The Revolutionary Step by Step Program for Eliminating Effects of Childhood Abuse, Trauma, Emotional Pain and Crippling Inner Stress, to Living in Joy without Drugs or Therapy.' Anne’s work, insights and advice have been seen on TV shows and movies including 4 episodes of 'A Baby Story' on TLC Discovery Channel, and the award winning feature documentary, 'Orgasmic Birth' and 'The Human Longevity Project.' She has been interviewed for multiple local, national and international radio programs, shows and podcasts. Anne has also been a featured speaker and expert panelist at distinguished events for Weil-Cornell School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, RCC State University of New York School of Nursing, and Birthnet Association of Childbirth Professionals and Hudson Valley Birth Network to name a few. Anne's Clarity Breathwork and Femme! healing movement workshops have been hosted at several yoga studios and wellness centers, including the conscious, high vibration and transformational community at The Assemblage in NYC. Anne is a proud founding member of The Health and Wellness Business Association, which was created to promote initiatives that support better collaboration, interaction and ethical business practices within the health and wellness business community.
She has midwifed mommas and babies for over two decades, and guides individuals to birth themselves as healthy and whole human beings capable of immense joy and inner peace. Her clients describe her as “passionate, sensitive, big hearted, and a playful ball of light.” When she’s not helping mommas around the world you can find her doing yoga (anywhere and everywhere), dancing, taking or facilitating powerful growth and healing workshops, traveling, enjoying family time and watching comedy.
Show Notes:
-Developed fear of birth while working as a labor and delivery nurse
-Birth was treated as a potential lawsuit- she witnessed many cesarean births
-Had a traumatic birth of her own
-Later learned about midwifery, and began schooling to become a midwife.
-Had another baby at home, which was incredibly healing
-In midwifery, relationships are built with the mother throughout the prenatal care, with longer appointments to gain trust and understanding
-Many times when a partner is uncomfortable with homebirth or midwifery, it is often because of misconceptions. Midwives are trained medical professionals who can administer life-saving drugs, and know life saving techniques like neonatal resuscitation and CPR.
-The postpartum period is incredibly important, and Anne explains her recommendations for creating a community of help and support during pregnancy.
-Anne’s Website: www.homesweethomebirth.com
Instagram: @homesweethomebirth
Facebook: facebook.com/homesweethomebirth
Contact Katelyn!
Interview: katelyn@myhappyhomebirth.com
Instagram: @happyhomebirthpodcast
Support the show: patreon.com/happyhomebirth
Monday Dec 31, 2018
Monday Dec 31, 2018
-Neely and her husband Garrett have 2 sons, Howie and Cole
-Decided to have homebirths after watching the film “The Business of Being Born”
-She selected her midwife after a friend had a wonderful experience with her
-Neely did not use a doula for her first birth, but decided to take Hypnobabies for her childbirth education, then used a Hypnobabies certified doula during her second homebirth.
- For her first birth, she took a Bradley-based childbirth education class.
-She attributes her successful labors to the fact that she practiced yoga throughout her pregnancies, saw the chiropractor, ate dates at the end, and generally did all she could to prepare.
-With her first birth, she had early-labor type contractions from 36 weeks on, but felt she would likely give birth a week or two after her due date.
-She went into labor several days before her due date, with contractions that seemed similar to what she’d been experiencing before. She got in the shower to relax, but suddenly felt she needed to poop.
-After about 30 minutes of being awake, she wakes up her husband, still feeling sure she has a long way to go, but just wants him to let the midwife know what’s going on.
-The midwife asks how far apart the contractions are: 1-2 minutes apart, lasting a minute each time!
-Once the midwife hears her have a contraction, she lets Garrett know that she might not make it based on how far along Neely seems to be. She tells him what to do if she doesn’t make it.
-She became overwhelmed with the urge to take her clothes off, but at the same time was saying to herself, “This can’t be right. Why do I want to take my clothes off so early in the process? I thought that happened towards transition!”
-Immediately after having her baby, she stood to her feet and said, “Hey Baby,” which her husband says was incredible to watch.
-Because the labor was so quick, Neely did experience symptoms of shock.
-She felt that she had failed what her vision for her birth was—It was so different from what she was expecting, she felt she never had time to get on top of the contractions.
-With her second labor, Neely felt confident that she would go past her due date. She had no prodromal labor with this baby like she did with her first.
-In the middle of the night (39 weeks, 5 days), she begins having contractions. She calls her husband, who is in the other room, on his phone. He responds back via a text message with a ‘?’ …..He then comes into the room!
-He calls the midwife, she asks how far apart contractions are. They were a minute apart and a minute long… practically no break!
-She felt far more in control with her contractions during this birth. She was riding the waves instead of being pulled under.
-She did not feel pushing as being nearly intense with this birth; rather, she felt she was breathing her baby down.
-With the head partially out, she began to feel the fear that she would tear. Suddenly, her contractions paused. It was the longest break she’d had since labor had begun.
-Her body gave her a break, allowing her baby’s head to stretch the perineum naturally.
-Neely’s water broke, followed by the baby’s full head, and then the whoosh of the rest of his body.
-She was able to feel that she was a part of her labor and in more control, not as helpless feeling as her first labor.
-Garrett was able to catch the baby, and immediately exclaimed that it was a boy.
-Neely’s biggest recommendation for labor is to prepare. Take a childbirth class and truly learn to relax and release.
Want to interview? Katelyn@myhappyhomebirth.com
Instagram: @happyhomebirthpodcast
Support the show: patreon.com/happyhomebirth
Monday Dec 31, 2018
Monday Dec 31, 2018
In this episode, I share my personal birth story. It's a solo-sode, so if you'd like to hear an interview, head on to the next show featuring Neely's story.
-I had attended a Spinning Babies workshop days before going into labor that discussed shoulder dystocia... and became somewhat convinced that my baby would have a dystocia
-I wanted my birth to be a party, so I had my midwives arrive in their pajamas and robes.
-My uterus decided it wanted no audience, and my contractions were very unproductive
-I finally got into the birth pool, which basically stopped my contractions
-The next morning I went to my chiropractor, who tried to get my baby (Janie) in a better position.... I experienced "cartractions" the entire 40 minute ride to and fro
-I took a nap with my husband from 3pm-6pm
-At 6 I decided to go crazy on the birth ball to get the baby out (finally entered active labor)
-Went through transition in my garden tub full of cold water, that I kept accidentally draining
-Finally moved to the birth pool, where I went from 8 1/2 cm to crowning in a few short minutes
-I had a "short term lotus birth," where we kept the placenta attached until it was born
-We had a cord burning ceremony
-We then got in bed, ate eggs and toast, drank mimosas and celebrated our new little one!
Follow me on instagram:
@happyhomebirthpodcast
e-mail me to be interviewed:
Support the show and make my life:
patreon.com/happyhomebirth
Friday Dec 14, 2018
Friday Dec 14, 2018
Finally, finally, finally!
Several months in the making, the pilot episode (don't get too excited, it's just an introduction) is up and running!
Happy Homebirth launches on January 1, 2019 with several episodes in the arsenal waiting to be released.
Today's episode will let you, the listeners, know exactly who I am and what my vision is for this podcast.
Support. Encouragement. Education.
This is a community dedicated to homebirth mothers (or others who are naturally-minded) to come together, celebrate their victories and encourage one another in the process.