Doing It At Home: Our Home Birth Podcast

What’s your best home birth advice? That is the question we put out to our community. We’re sharing some of those responses in this episode. From exploring your options to looking at fears. Plans, logistics, finances. We cover a lot of the spectrum. Plus we share some of our current best advice when it comes to home birth. Special thank you to our community members Beth, Rachel, Natasha, Cassandra and Monika for their feedback and contributions. Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/diahpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1904721379788084/?ref=bookmarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we remove the word “failure” from birth, please?  K, thanks! But really though. Today’s episode is a great reminder that there are no failures in birth. Our guest, Lisa Van Der Giessen shares her birth story of her daughter Mackenzie. Lisa was interested in a holistic approach to her pregnancy and birth. She went online and found a Facebook group of moms that helped her find her midwife. It was important for Lisa that whomever she chose was grounded in their experience and worked from an evidence-based place. For her pregnancy care, Lisa utilized chiropractic, acupuncture and Hypnobabies. Labor began after a hike. After about 18 hours, she felt emotionally and physically exhausted. Baby Mackenzie’s head was stuck in the pelvis.  Lisa and her team chose to transfer to the hospital. She received laughing gas and epidural to help. After a total of 27 hours of labor and 1 hour of pushing, baby Mackenzie made her arrival. Lisa says she would plan for a home birth again in the future, despite the transfer and p

What is Hypnobirthing? We dive into this in today’s episode with our guest Kristy Rodriguez, prenatal yoga instructor and coach and the host of the Pure Nurture podcast.  We talk about some of the details of hypnobirthing and the myths and common questions that come up around it.  So if you’ve ever thought about using it, you’re going to want to listen! AND be sure you check out the Pure Nurture podcast to hear Kristy interview us! Links: Kristy’s website: https://www.purenurture.com/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://www.bonfire.com/store/diahpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/diahpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1904721379788084/?ref=bookmarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many of us feel a sense of failure after a birth experience? We’re clear that it’s far too many. In fact, one is too many. We’re grateful for stories like this who can help with the healing and rescripting. Our guest, Kara Lambert, shares her birth journey. After her cesarean birth with her son Theo, as she puts it, “I felt like I failed.” Great resources like ICAN helped Kara in her process of planning for a future VBAC. She and her husband Russ started with an OBGYN with their second pregnancy. But then a pandemic hit. Well, “what is we home birth?” they thought.  They connected with a badass midwife, and utilized parallel care (seeing both a doctor and their midwife). Kara describes her home birth as mostly “lazy.” The significance in highlighting that centers around the normalcy of the experience, and how it was able to be peaceful despite lots of opportunities to have not been that way. And then we get to hear how baby Chiara entered the world. This birth story includes: acupuncture and moxibustion,

Do you think the time of COVID-19 has brought more conversation around home birth? It sure seems like it, with many families seeking to birth out of hospital. Whether that’s because of the hospital policies or just not desiring to be in the hospital environment for birth. In today’s birth story, Kristin Humbard shares her journey with us. After a hospital birth with her first baby which left her with some traumatic memories, it took her a few years to want to become pregnant again. When she did become pregnant again, she and her husband Ben planned for another hospital birth, but with a midwifery practice. Then COVID-19 hit, and Kristen didn’t want to birth in a hospital again. A friend of hers suggested she listen to the Doing It At Home podcast (ahhh we know them!), and eventually at 28 weeks, Kristin switched to a home birth plan. So while COVID was the impetus, Kristin gained support and confidence along the way. This birth includes (but is not limited to!): going into labor at 40 weeks and 6 days, being

Can you approach birth from both a statistics and research-driven mind as well as with an intention to connect more deeply spiritually? YES! And our birth story today is an example of that. Ashton Parker shares her home birth journey with us. First with a good hospital birth for her first child, which included 5 hours of pushing. Then considered another hospital birth for her second child, but after some research and statistics, landed on home birth.  Ashton also shares how listening to DIAH was such great birth prep (which overwhelms us with joy!). She and her husband Sean felt prepared and supported, with an experienced birth team backing them.  Ashton’s home birth took place on Christmas Day, which made it feel like a big party.  This is a great episode for those who like to do a lot of research and learn a lot about the birthing process and statistics. And at the same time, for those who see birth as an opportunity to draw closer to God (whatever that practice looks like for you).  Links: Our website: ht

What is home birth? Depending on who you are, that might be a simple or really complex question.  In today’s episode - a special one as it is our 300th episode (we are really excited about it!), and we recorded it live in our Facebook group - Doing It At Home Birth Group. So make sure you’re in there to catch future recordings like this. We give a little home birth 101 session here. Going over some basic questions and thoughts when it comes to choosing home birth.  Links: Episode 14: Is Home Birth Messy?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000378034173 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://www.bonfire.com/store/diahpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/diahpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1904721379788084/?ref=bookmarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do babies always show up on their due date (we prefer calling it a "guess date")? We know, in fact, that it’s actually less likely for a baby to arrive on their due date. However, it can happen! For today’s guest, Maranda Bower, a mama and postpartum bliss coach, her fourth baby, Sophie, arrived on her original due date. This is our second time chatting with Maranda. In our first conversation back in episode 181, she shared details of her first 3 home births and the very recent discovery that she was pregnant with her fourth. So now we get to hear that birth story. And with Halloween coming up, you’ll love this - Maranda’s birth involves a black cat and a full moon!  The total time from the moment of realizing labor was beginning to baby’s arrival was 55 minutes. The midwife didn’t even arrive on time. So we get to join in on the emotional roller coaster that it was. Plus, Maranda shares her expertise and tips for the postpartum period and the intense transformation that occurs. How its possible to release ov

How can shoulder dystocia be addressed in a home birth? This was a very relevant question for our guest Amber Reed as she prepared for her second birth. Given that her first daughter, born in the hospital, had shoulder dystocia, this was something that Amber considered and discussed with her midwife.  Her first birth in the hospital had traumatic elements to it, including her first daughter having a broken clavicle. This history, paired with a diagnosis of a platypelloid pelvis (this is where the pelvic inlet is narrow and shaped more like a kidney), led Amber and her husband Austin to research and prepare for a different experience that left Amber feeling more empowered. Amber experienced close to a month of prodromal labor. She shares how chiropractic care helped her, her mantra of “I can!” during the birth process, as well her tips and favorite resources.  Links: Spinning Babies: https://www.spinningbabies.com/ Roots and Wings Midwifery: https://www.rootsandwingsmidwifery.com/ Our website: https://www

What’s the recipe for a magical birth experience? It likely looks different for all of us. However, we might incorporate similar mindsets, approaches, preparation and resources. Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Genevieve and Michael Howland of Mama Natural, the #1 parenting brand online and a source of education and empowerment for natural pregnancy and birth. Genevieve and Michael share the home birth story of their daughter Faith. After 2 birthing center births with their first two children, they explored whether or not they’d be good candidates for home birth. There were a few factors that went into this consideration: their second birth was very fast (they barely made it to the birthing center in time for baby’s arrival!), Genevieve was healthy and low-risk and would have likely had more intervention with a hospital route given that she was 42-years-old at the time, plus the convenience and sacred space of being at home. We’ll save the rest of the birth details for you to listen to in the episo

Original description from Having It A.L.L.: How is the state of your relationship? How about your partnership? I never used to look at the two as separate. The "relationship" included everything -- the romance, the intimacy, the day-to-day life dynamics, the household management. But for me, as my primary relationship has matured and as new things like marriage and kids have entered the picture, I now see that there's a distinction between the relationship (influenced more by the heart) and the partnership (influenced more by the mind). In today's special episode I invite my amazing wife Sarah in on this conversation, and together we talk about the difference between relationship and partnership, how ours has evolved over the years, and how we navigate breakdowns in each area. Links: Having It A.L.L. Podcast: https://www.matthewbivens.com/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://www.bonfire.com/store/diahpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: ht

Can birth be euphoric? Answer: yes. Absolutely yes. Welcome our guest Luca S to the podcast. Luca had some birth work experience as a doula before becoming pregnant herself. When she and her husband Neil were expecting their first child, Luca stayed open to the birth experience and what it might look like - meaning, she wasn’t 100% set on a home birth from the beginning.  Her story involves true love with her midwife pair, attending a birth while pregnant, having the support of her natural home birthing mama, gaining the support of her GP doctor parent-in-laws, a joyful birth that mostly involved slow dancing with her husband and jogging up and down an embankment, baby arriving intact in the caul, and the midwife arriving in the nick of time (20 mins before the baby!). Overall, she described the birth as pain free and often pleasurable. Listen in to hear more! Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://www.bonfire.com/store/diahpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpo

What do you look for in a doula? How do you know what doula is right for you? Our guest Samantha McClellan is a birth doula and a mom. In addition to sharing some great tips and questions for families to ask when it comes to finding a doula and that gaps that a doula helps fill in terms of care, Samantha shares the details of her home birth story. After an uncomplicated hospital birth with her first child, Leah, the immediate postpartum time in the hospital is what inspired Samantha and her husband Marcus to go with the home birth for their second birth with their son Micah. Her second pregnancy was unexpected and with an IUD in place. The rest of the pregnancy and birth was uncomplicated and healthy. She also continued nursing her daughter Leah through her second pregnancy.  And while we might think a home birth will include twinkle lights, candles and soft music, sometimes it’s right in the middle of the kitchen, on an air mattress! Links: Samantha’s Website: https://www.carolinadoulacollective.com/ Sama

How long was your conception journey(s)?  Asking for a friend. But no, not really though. I’m asking for me. For us. We’re sharing in the spirit of vulnerability and transparency - we’ve been “open to conceive” for 6 months now. And it has had its ups and downs. Breakdowns and breakthroughs.  There we sat in our rockers one day, sipping coffee, talking about how we’ve been feeling and where we go from here when it occurred to both of us - “let’s get on the mics and just talk about it now while it’s raw.” So that’s exactly what we did. And we’re sharing this with you. Because it’s what we did 4.5 years ago when we were planning for our first (home) birth. We processed in real time over our fears, doubts and the range of emotions. It was healing - for us and those who resonated with it. It’s with similar intentions that we’re creating the space for this conversation now in our lives. Trusting in divine timing and surrendering what we can’t control.  Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop:

What does it mean when baby is breech? It depends. There are different kinds, and it can unfold in various ways. However, any breech position is a variation of normal. This is important to note for today’s episode. We’re chatting with Vanessa Young as she shares the birth story of her son Leo.  Vanessa aimed for a home birth for her 3rd, but went to a birth center in order to work with her friend and midwife who was on call at the center at the time Vanessa went into labor.  Vanessa walks us through the birth experience, including feeling the fetal ejection reflex for the first time (she did not experience it in her first two birth). And then there’s the big moment that they realized baby Leo was in a complete breech position.  Plus we talk about cord burning and the awesome opportunity it gave Vanessa’s family to bond together in the birth experience. Links: Vanessa’s website: www.doulamamaness.com Vanessa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harpiness/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH

Did we ever imagine ourselves hosting a home birth podcast for 4 years? Answer: no. We didn’t even know what home birth really was when we first got pregnant. And yet now here we find ourselves: almost 300 episodes in. The podcast and our daughter Maya are 4 years old! So join us while we celebrate and reflect on our birth experience, some of our favorite things about doing the show, and we thank you for being along for the ride! Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://www.bonfire.com/store/diahpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/diahpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1904721379788084/?ref=bookmarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s your priority when it comes to your birth plan? The answer to that will help guide you in circumstances when there are big changes going on. Like COVID-19 for example. We’ve heard a number of situations where families shifted their birth plan from a hospital to home in light of the hospital conditions and policies. Our guest today is Julie Sawaya, mother to her 7-week-old daughter Leni. She and her husband Joe were planning for a hospital birth, but COVID-19 gave them an opportunity to reevaluate their options and decide what mattered most. Julie desired Joe and her doula to be present. This wouldn’t be possible in the hospital.  So she did a lot of research, looked at the numbers, and made the choice that worked best for her and her family. Spoiler: her birth was “the most incredible experience and feeling of empowerment.” Julie is the co-founder of Needed, a nutrition company serving women when it comes to nourishing their bodies during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum. To hear another intervi

Do you believe pleasure is your birthright? If you don’t - what if you did? And if you do - how can you magnify that? Today’s episode is a conversation with our friend Debra Pascali-Bonaro, creator of the famous documentary “Orgasmic Birth.”  This interview, which is really like a masterclass, walks us through Debra’s 9-step process of PLEASURES, ways to create better sex and intimacy.  We talk about sexual energy as life energy that fuels us and feeds our creativity. We also discuss our partners’ roles in all of this as well as how trauma can be addressed while working on cultivating deeper sexual intimacy within ourselves and our partners.  And click the link below to check out Debra’s class “Sex After Baby.” Links: Sign up for Debra’s “Sex After Baby” class: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/sexafterbaby/?oprid=5519&ref=56552 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://www.bonfire.com/store/diahpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: https://www.faceb

What is the difference between sex and intimacy? How does this play out in your relationship and how you feel about your own sex and intimacy both before and after kids? Back by popular demand: a sexpisode! We’ve talked about sex quite a few times on the podcast. But it’s been a while. So here we are.  And this conversation took a lot of turns that we didn’t expect, and we share a lot of our own personal experiences in healing our relationship to ourselves as individuals and then as a couple. Our desire is that someone listening can take something from our examples and use it to create magical and pleasurable experiences that they are so worthy of! Links: Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Shop: https://www.bonfire.com/store/diahpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/diahpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1904721379788084/?ref=bookmarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you create the pregnancy and birth experience you desire? First thing - let’s acknowledge that YOU ARE a powerful creator who is capable of doing this. Looking at your “whys,” reflecting on what matters to you and getting intentional about the process makes a huge impact as well. Our guests today are Erica James-Strayhorn and Anthony Strayhorn. We’ve known Erica and Anthony for over 7 years now and in that time they’ve become family. Well folks...they’re pregnant! And they’re planning a home birth. Needless to say we’re beyond thrilled for them. It was a no-brainer to have them on the show.   So they came over and the four of us chatted in our office/recording studio to talk about their journey. From moving through a miscarriage earlier in the year to advocating how Erica would like to be communicated with regarding her care (asking to not be referred to ask “geriatric” or “high-risk” because she’s 36) to finding the midwife that resonated with them to envisioning birthing time, we cover a lot of groun