Doing It At Home: Our Home Birth Podcast

How do you trust in the process of your birth experience? In today’s birth story, we’re chatting with Charly and Dan Swanberg about the births of both of their daughters: Luna and Kaiya. Charly’s mother had 3 home births herself, so the experience was already familiar and normalized for Charly. Both chiropractic students, Charly and Dan have cultivated a strong understanding and trust in the human body and its abilities. We get to hear about both pregnancies, which went for about 42 weeks. As well as the surprise of getting pregnant 4 months after their first birth. It’s great to hear both perspectives from the whole journey and about the lessons that each learned. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe  Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn

Can you train for the experience of birth? We’ve often heard birth compared to a marathon. Most people have a lot of intense and focused training when it comes to their marathons. So how can a woman prepare for the marathon of birth?  In today’s birth story we’re chatting with Brooke Cates, the founder and CEO of The Bloom Method, a pre and postnatal fitness method and training for the modern mama.  Brooke shares her home birth story of her son Leven and how she applied all of her knowledge and breath work to the experience. She talks about the strength and the ability to soften and surrender as important parts of birth. Plus she shares part of her postpartum journey and what it’s been like running TBM as a new mama, as well as talks about the viral video of some TBM breathing techniques.  This is an empowering conversation for mamas interested in stepping into motherhood with more awareness of your body after giving birth.  Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: http

What are you focusing on the most when it comes to your birth? As you prepare for your home birth, there are obviously many factors and considerations. Are you truly allowing yourself to envision the success of the experience, whatever that looks like for you? Today’s guest, Angela Potts-Mang’andah, walks us through her home birth journey from first starting with hospital care, then shifting care providers two more times (with some twists and turns in there as well in terms of how financial costs would be covered and where the birth would actually take place). Also dealing with the label of “geratric pregnancy” while pregnant expecting your first child at 38.  We also discuss healing the expectation of how your partner shows up in the birth process and how to lean into your vision of your ideal birth. Links: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC D

What do you do when your care providers drop you and tell you to change your birth plan, at 35 weeks? This is the exact circumstance that Adina Rivers found herself in during her second pregnancy.  Originally planning for a home birth with a midwife, Adina was now facing not only her midwife releasing her from her care, but no other midwife in her area in Bali would take her. Virtually everyone was telling her that she had to have a hospital birth.  “F*** that,” was her basic response. She told her partner Oliver, “we’re going to do it at home.” Adina walks us through her journey into birth, going back 10 years ago to the birth of her son, to how she makes her choices from her intuition and feeling. Adina’s story is one that emphasizes the opportunity we have to TRUST our bodies and birth. And how sometimes challenges and unforeseen circumstances are exactly the catalysts we need to get out of the way and let divine plans unfold.  Things we talk about in this episode: birth center birth in Berlin, Germany, fr

What happens if you go past your due date? That depends on a number of factors. One thing that we’ve found helpful when it comes to due date or “guess date,” as we’ve seen it referred to (and tend to prefer), is that this is an area of variation of normal. That a very small percentage of babies are born on the projected due date, and that it’s not an exact certainty.  Today’s guest Jessica shares her journey of her second pregnancy and birth and what influenced her to shift from a hospital plan like she had with her first birth.  In this episode we talk about: going past “due date,” induction methods, resuscitation after birth, pitocin after birth, occult cord, large birth team, hiring a doula, hospital birth, dual care From Jessica: I chose home birth for my second baby at 18 weeks pregnant when COVID hit and additional support personnel were no longer allowed to join laboring mothers in the hospital setting. My husband started off very reluctant and anxious about it, but after doing research together got on

How do you train for motherhood? This is the question that Jessica Lorion found herself asking. And from her own personal inquiry, that question sprouted a podcast and community dedicated to preparing for motherhood.  We’re huge fans of this idea. Having a number of “non-moms” or “soon-to-be” or in Jessica’s community, “mama in training,” we understand and recognize the value in taking time to reflect on the experience and journey of parenthood -- before the physical experience. Jessica shares the top 3 things she has learned in her own journey and how all moms from preconception to postpartum can take something from these lessons and apply them to their own lives. Things we talk about in this episode: training to be a mom, advocacy in parenthood, preparation and planning, letting go of expectations, importance of community, importance of studying motherhood Links: Jessica’s Website: https://mamasintraining.com/ Jessica’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/mamasintrainingpod/ Jessica’s Facebook Community: htt

How can you be very intentional and faith-driven in your birthing plans? This is a big theme of our conversation with Amy Jo and JJ Mann, veterans of the Doing It At Home podcast. In our second interview with the couple, they share the details of their second home birth experience.  From Amy Jo: “We were living in Germany and "past due" (41+ weeks) with our second baby. The German law is pretty strict with going past your due date and so we were back on the same train as we were with our first daughter with trying all of the natural methods to help get labor started! After a night of Indian food, face masks, Rummikub, clary sage and a small amount of castor oil (we may have went overboard with trying all the things in one evening). I woke up at 6am to go use the restroom and hoped that labor would begin sometime that day. Little did I know our baby girl (we didn't know the gender at the time) would be coming to join us in less than an hour and a half and I wasn't even sure up until she was crowning that I was

Today’s birth story features Briahnna Roy and Jeremy Scott, a couple sharing their journey to home birth.  For their first baby, Briahnna and Roy chose to deliver in a birth center. The experience wasn’t everything they wanted, and when it came time to decide on the location for baby number two, they opted for home birth.  From Briahnna: “The second birth was incredible. It was the most unreal, beautiful experience. Everything was so calm. I was very quiet and so in control. I was surprised by myself. I can honestly say that it was not painful. It was everything I ever wanted.” Links: Briahnna and Roy’s Youtube Channel “ReadyScottsGo”: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtvyYJ7xRVehO5UydyHZAw Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://b

What can you do to ease pain (or sensation) during labor and birth? Today’s interview with Sara Lyon, birthing expert, doula, founder of Glow Birth & Body, author of “The Birth Deck” and “You’ve Got This: Your Guide to Getting Comfortable with Labor” and mother of 2 (both home births), breaks down techniques for creating comfort during the labor and birth experience.  We also talk about how partners can get involved and help.  Sara shares the 4 categories of support: general, movement, massage and mind. Plus we discuss the experience of “crisis of confidence.” And how key birth affirmations can be. Things we talk about in this episode: massage therapy, effects of adrenaline on the body, types of support and techniques for pain management, fear during birth, affirmations, mindfulness techniques, how birth is like a marathon Links: Sara’s website: www.thebirthdeck.com Sara’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthdeck/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098GVJ9KL?ref_=pe_3052

Can you over prepare intellectually for birth? This is a topic that comes up in our interview with Shira Page, NP and CLC. According to Shira, when it came to her first birth: “I had been planning to deliver at home my entire life because my mom gave birth to my brother at home. We did Bradley, I read all the books, watched all the documentaries, and listened to DIAH non-stop. My labor at home was over 40 hours of nonstop stabbing back pain and non-progressive labor. We went to the hospital to get morphine and sleep and returned home to continue to try to labor. After another day at home doing all the things, we transferred to get an epidural. The hospital experience was okay but still had a lot of moments where I felt decisions were taken from me. I felt that I over-prepared intellectually and didn't focus on letting go, accepting pain, and being patient.”  We talk about the details of her first birth, then details of her second, including some of her postpartum and breastfeeding journey. Things we talk abou

How do you know if your prenatal vitamin measures up? When should you start taking a prenatal vitamin? When should you stop? Can a man take a prenatal vitamin? These are all such great questions when it comes to optimizing your health and nutritional needs during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum.  In today’s sponsored episode, we’re speaking with Ryan Woodbury, co-founder of Needed, a nutrition company working to optimally nourish families before, during and after pregnancy. Things we talk about in this episode: the quality of majority of prenatal vitamins out on the market and how they measure up when it comes to providing necessary nutrients, the standards for prenatal vitamins, Needed’s prenatal options and what they offer, other essential nutrients like omega-3, protein, and microbiome support, perinatal nutrition for men, sperm health - just to name a few topics! Links: Visit Needed and use the code DIAH to get 20% off your order: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP Needed Instagram: https://www.instagram.c

Why choose home birth? This is a question we almost always ask in our interviews. Everyone has their own unique story and reasoning.  In our conversation with Abby Marks, she shares the journey of what felt like “giving power away” and not questioning any of the process in preparation for her first birth. Then changing plans and looking at things differently when it came to her second birth. We also talk about how her work as a doula, childbirth educator and midwife assistant has influenced her own experiences. And she’s pregnant with her third baby at the time of this interview, planning for her upcoming birth! Things we talk about in this episode: hospital birth, switching to home birth, when your husband was born at home and your mother-in-law is a midwife, fears around safety of home birth, education and building confidence for birth, the experience of pain in birth, the labor denial Links: Abby’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyemarks/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/d

How can care providers and patients work together to create greater understanding and better outcomes for mothers and babies? This is a question we found ourselves asking throughout our conversation with Dr. Nathan Riley, OBGYN. We’ve been in contact with Dr. Nathan for a bit and it was an incredible honor to have him on the show. This is the first kind of conversation like this on the show. It’s a deep and powerful discussion around the current culture around birth and where the opportunities lie to have “whole person care.” As a physician and a male, Dr. Nathan brings a perspective and approach that you’re not used to seeing or hearing about. For example, he shares how midwifery has influenced his practice and how he interacts with patients. Plus the experience of physicians in their years of schooling and training - how the burnout, expectations and highly monetized business world of medicine affects them and how they treat patients.  Dr. Nathan also shares some tips for those birthing in the hospital or t

When it comes to birth, what does it mean to “do your homework?” This is a big theme of our conversation with Emily Stanwyck, birth doula, Birthfit trainer and home birth mom of 2. According to Emily, “you can have 2 perfect home births when you do your homework!” We talk about what this means for her not only as a doula but as a mother. Plus details of both of her home births, addressing the fear of the unknown and talking about the really uncomfortable things that can come up around birth and having a “why” around your birth. Things we talk about in this episode: birth partner asking questions and feeling confident in their role, doing your homework in prep for home birth, connection of birth and death, letting go during labor, feeling confident in your body and birth, fetal ejection reflex, having a postpartum plan Links: Emily’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilystanwyck/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098GVJ9KL?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Our website: https://www.d

How can you utilize the power and intention of prayer for your birth? Regardless of your faith, setting intentions for your birth experience can be a big part of preparation for the experience. Today’s guest, Josephine Breen, weaves her faith into her birth story of her daughter Myriam. Josephine was born at home, and always remembers her mother being positive and open around the topic of birth. Then at 12 years old, Josephine got to witness the birth of her sister.  Josephine walks us through her pregnancy and birth, including a lot of the curve balls thrown in along the way.  Things we talk about in this episode: military family, being born at home yourself and then choosing home birth to have your children, education for your birth partner, preeclampsia, membrane sweeps, power of prayer, long labor without a lot of sleep, cervical lip, fetal ejection reflex, having community to support you, letting go when labor gets hard Links: Josephine’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magdalenarobes/ Taking Cha

How can fathers be prepared and support mothers during the pregnancy and birth experiences? This is the crux of David Arrell’s work as he helps partners to be helpful, supportive, involved and all the other great adjectives that benefit both parents. So this episode is absolutely one to have your partner listen to - either on their own or listen together as a couple. We break down how fathers can be prepared for what lies ahead and some tips for creating a team approach. Remember the manta: attentive, calm and competent! Things we talk about in this episode: support for dads and partners for pregnancy and birth, different roles for a birth partner, how to educate birth partners Links: David’s website: https://www.welcometofatherhood.com/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ DIAH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGoKeBfEZ143sWU7V9I5Gdg DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch:

In today’s episode we speak with Dr. Sarah Buckley on the science of natural and undisturbed birth. Dr. Buckley is the author of the best selling book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, the author the report Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing, and all around natural childbirth expert. We are honored and grateful to have Dr. Sarah Buckley join us on the Doing It At Home Podcast for many reasons. To start, her book "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor's Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices" was a huge influence on us during our pregnancy. Sarah (our Sarah...Sarah Bivens that is) started reading Dr. Buckley's book while we were still planning for a birth with an OBGYN in a hospital. We learned about Dr. Buckley from her appearances in a DVD series called "Happy Healthy Child" (another resource we highly recommend and link to in the show notes.) Dr. Buckley's extensive research and evidence based information on pregnancy and birth, along with her own accounts of her 4 home births left

How do we deal with “expectations vs. reality” when it comes to birth? This is a great theme and pattern that shows up in today’s interview, and one that many of us can relate to. You think something will go one way OR you don’t think something will pop up and then what happens….you can guess! Miranda Cottrell, chiropractor and home birth mama shares her story. She always knew she wanted a home birth, planned and prepared accordingly.  One of the nuggets of wisdom from this conversation is that no amount of preparation can really, well...PREPARE you for the experiential aspect of going through birth. So there’s a balance between the education and studying and then the preparation of your mind and emotions.  Things we talk about in this episode: Braxton-Hicks, The Bradley Method, preparing your birth partner, birth tub ambivalence, denial of transition, shoulder dystocia, Hypnobabies Links: Miranda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.mirandacottrell/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebo

Why do a small percentage of planned home births transfer to the hospital?  There are a number of reasons. Today’s conversation is with our friend Anne Margolis, a certified nurse midwife and a powerhouse in the birth world. She has personally helped usher in over 1000 babies into the world. We’ve had her on the show a few times now and it’s always magical to speak with her, because she ends up blowing our minds in some way when it comes to birth. We also discuss the importance of preparation for your home birth, particularly when it comes to preparing your mindset. The typical Western culture and approach to birth is very counterproductive to the experience of laboring and birthing a baby. So we talk about how we can minimize the “googling” and the overanalyzing that keeps us stuck in our heads, out of our bodies and in a fearful place. We also highly recommend that you follow Anne and check out all of her amazing resources for birthing people and parents.  Things we talk about in this episode: home birth to

How do you build trust for the birth experience? This entire episode encapsulates and embodies this question. Heather and Chris join us to share their birth journey of their daughter Eliana. Heather was born at home, so having a home birth herself was something she always wanted. We walk through the process of Chris preparing and supporting the experience. Also how they assembled their team and how important it was for them to have a team they could trust and count on. Then the details of the birth itself, with an unexpected postpartum transfer that went much smoother than anticipated.  Things we talk about in this episode: Business of Being Born, birth plan, birth team pain management or comfort measures, intimacy in labor and birth, Spinning Babies, meconium in waters, postpartum transfer Resources that were helpful for Heather and Chris: Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth “Pushed” by Jennifer Block “Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering” by Sarah Buckley Baby’s experience of birth and tools for healing by Karen St