Doing It At Home: Our Home Birth Podcast

What did you do the moment you found out you were pregnant? What was going through your mind? How were you feeling? We talk about that in today’s episode with our guest Brittney. Brittney actually reached out to us within the first few hours of discovering she was pregnant, and it opened up a beautiful dialogue. We felt inspired to bring that conversation into this space and share it with the DIAH community. We talk about Brittney’s plans to have a home birth, how she’s preparing and how her partner Spencer is getting involved.  This is a great episode for anyone who just found out they are pregnant or are in the early stages of pregnancy with a mix of emotions and swirls of excitement and questions.  Things we discuss: finding out you’re pregnant, planning for a home birth, partner involvement and home birth resources Links From The Episode: Dr. Stu Fischbein -  http://www.birthinginstincts.com/ Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Sp

What happens when the news and experience of your pregnancy isn’t all sunshine and rainbows? We’ve talked about this once or twice on the show and we know it’s more common than culture and society would have us convinced of - that sometimes there is confusion, reticence, frustration and even guilt around getting pregnant.  For returning guest and DIAH mama Thea Robnett, she’s open and honest about the mix of emotions she dealt with when she got pregnant right after her first daughter, Harley, turned 1. She and her husband Alex had debated on whether or not to have another one, and actually decided to pause any plans for future children. So she worked through the mental challenges and coped with the changes.  This process gave her time to get deep into her emotions and create a powerful birth experience for her second daughter, Laurel. She listened to her body and her needs, used lots of tools to prepare her for a home birth she wanted. In her first episode on the podcast, she shared the story of Laurel’s birt

Why home birth? This is a question we ask most guests on the podcast. Today we dive into that with Amelia Page, mama of 6. We chat about her first two births and the influence that moved her towards home birth for her remaining 4 children.  We touch on the topic of circumcision (respecting all choices), as well as the inner work that supports in the pregnancy, birth and motherhood experience. Pregnancy was a challenging experience for Amelia, so for any mamas who can relate - this is a great one to feel understood. You are not alone! Plus we get highlights from all 4 home births and hear about both similarities and differences amongst them.  Links From The Episode: Amelia’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1uRvEaPD1II6WG3RSAZ2Ng Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use code DIH20 to get 20% off your order More Fr

We welcome back Katie McCormick to the show today! She joined us back in episode 73 where we talked about her and her husband Ryan planning a home birth in their cottage in West Cork, Ireland after leaving life in Portland, Oregon. Since talking with Katie McCormick, we spoke with another Katy - Katy Drew, a friend of Katie McCormick’s and a “non-mom” who inspired episode 76. And get this - while we were speaking to Katy - Katie was in labor! So lots of cool connections and happenings since we first connected with the expat mama to be. Now she’s mama to baby River - born 13 days past his guess date! This was of course part of their story - learning to be patient, surrender and understand that babies have their own timelines and ideas of when they’d like to make their appearance.  We learn about some of the natural induction options that Katie went over with her midwife: nipple stimulation, essential oils, castor oil in orange juice...anyone else try out some of these methods? Mainly the focus was on letting g

What is it like planning a home birth as an expat in a new country? Well, Katie McCormick has some stories to share about that!  Katie and her husband Ryan decided to leave their life in Portland, Oregon - quit their jobs and travel across Europe. They decided to settle in Ireland, eloped and got pregnant shortly after.  Katie knew immediately that she wanted to have a home birth. But being an expat in a new country, she had no idea where to begin as far as planning and resources. In this Classic Doing It At Home episode, we speak with Katie in the last few weeks of her pregnancy and get to hear how she’s feeling as the time in her pregnancy winds down and they prepare for baby’s arrival. She also shares the experience of what it's like to have all of their family back in the States as they plan for home birth in their new home and country. Tune in and get ready for another inspiring pre-home birth story! Links From The Episode: Dublin Doulas: http://www.dublinfamilydoulas.com/ Hypnobirth course: https://

In this episode we chat with Lindsey Drury: photographer, activist and mama extraordinaire who is very involved in her community in Chattanooga, TN (check the links in our show notes for more details). When I was connected with Lindsey through a mutual friend, I was so excited to talk to her. Mainly because Lindsey livestreamed her third and most recent home birth of her son Staxon on YouTube. I mean...what?!?! How incredibly awesome.  Lindsey shares with us her journey into birth work and her passion for all things that empower and educate. We also get into her own process of choosing home birth for herself and for her family.  And then of course, we hear all about the decision to livestream her home birth, responses and reactions to it and where she’s going from here with her desire to create a new narrative around birth and how we view it.  Links From The Episode: https://improvingbirth.org/ http://lindseydruryphotography.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ldruryphotography/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Today’s episode takes its root in episode 36: So What Happens After Your Home Birth? - where we chatted about an article from Romper.com by the lovely Angela Johnson, who now joins us for this episode number 65! The article, titled 7 Things That Happen After You Give Birth At Home breaks down some of the “what to expect” as you might guess, after a home birth! Angela is speaking from experience, having birthed her second child, son Aden, at home in New York City.  Angela really dove into her craft of writing while pregnant with her first child, daughter Hannah, and she was on 5 months of bed rest! Due to being labeled with an “incompetent cervix,” Angela had an unpleasant first birthing experience. So she determined that she would have something different the next time around. She and her husband Dean planned for home birth and had a much different journey. For one, she was induced with her first birth at 36 weeks. Second time around, she went until 42 weeks! And they opted for more natural induction like usi

In today's super special episode of the Doing It At Home podcast, we are interviewing our own moms about our birth stories! In this show we interview tons of moms and families on their home birth stories, and so we thought we'd switch things up a bit for Mother's Day and hear about how each of us came into the world from the women who ushered us earth side. Derry Bivens is mother to Matthew, and Kathryn Russell is mother to Sarah. Both moms have beautiful birth stories filled with courage, strength, determination and joy.  Enjoy this super special Mother's Day episode of the Doing It At Home Podcast! Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use code DIH20 to get 20% off your order More From Doing It At Home: Send us your birth story: https://bit.ly/3jOjCKl Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH Website

How do you learn to trust your body after some difficult experiences and a high-risk label? In today’s episode, we’re talking with Erin Zekis about her journey to home birth.  From premature labor with her first pregnancy and a hospital transfer, to exploring different methods of care for her second pregnancy, Erin and her husband Kevin were very intentional about what they wanted to experience for the birth of both their sons, Tobin and Aldrin.  Erin walks us through her process of coping with elements of her first birth, fears around premature labor and waters breaking early, to working with a traditional midwife for her second birth. AND, Erin has kinda been on the show before! Back in episode 163, we read an email that she sent to show and she shared that she has an oxytocin tattoo! How cool is that?! Links From The Episode: DIAH Store - www.diahpodcast.com/merch Episode 163 - https://www.diahpodcast.com/single-post/Inspiration-from-the-DIAH-Community-and-the-Famous-Oxytocin-Tattoo Community Roots Mi

In today’s episode we speak with Dr. Elliot Berlin, an award-winning prenatal chiropractor, childbirth educator, labor support bodyworker, and co-founder of Berlin Wellness Group in Los Angeles, California. Things we talk about in this episode: Informed choice Empowered pregnancy and birth Breech births VBAC Links From The Episode: Dr. Berlin’s website: https://www.doctorberlin.com/ Informed PregnancyⓇ Podcast: https://www.informedpregnancy.com/listen Informed Pregnancy Plus: https://www.informedpregnancy.tv/ Chrissy Teigen clip chatting about Dr. Berlin: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqa8e_npO8q/ Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use code DIH20 to get 20% off your order More From Doing It At Home: Send us your birth story: https://bit.ly/3jOjCKl Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU D

Why home birth for Teresa? After an empowering birth center experience with my first child, I absolutely knew home birth was my path for my second child. I felt confident in my body and my choice. My home is also a sacred place for me and part of my healing journey, so the idea of having such a life changing and memorable experience in our sanctuary brought me great joy. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. Some backstory from Teresa: I had my son on November 13th, 2022, almost 9 years after the birth of my daughter. A dream come true in so many ways after many years of thinking I would never have another child. I am so grateful to have two powerful birth stories, one in a birth center and one at home, despite wildly different circumstances such as my personal life, different countries, a textbook first labor that was 23 hours and then an unexpected 3 hour labor 12 days before my guess date. Some themes that arise are switching providers at 30 weeks even though the care we were receiving before was "fine",

How has postpartum been? Are you going to have more babies? We’re answering these questions, plus breaking down many of the elements of our early days of postpartum. Links From The Episode: Our second home birth story: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000601018385 Follow up to our birth story: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000606397362 Silverette: https://silveretteusa.com/ Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/ Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use code DIH20 to get 20% off your order YourDay Balance Game app: https://theydbg.com/ More From Doing It At Home: Send us your birth story: https://bit.ly/3jOjCKl Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH Website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Instagram: https:

What helped you when you were preparing for home birth? For Paige, “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” and Doing It At Home podcast were two of the biggest resources in her journey. In Paige’s submitted audio story, she walks us through her preconception journey as well as the planning for home birth and the birth of her son, Cole. Themes and topics from Paige’s story: Unexplained infertility and struggling to conceive IUI process Exploring a birthing center option Finding a midwife Support from husband Different positions during birth Postpartum hemorrhage Healing and recovery Addressing questions and comments around home birth Links From The Episode: Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth: https://amzn.to/41gwx8F Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use code DIH20 to get 20% off your order More From Doing It At Home: Send

What sort of stuff do I need to prepare for a baby? Great question. And what if it’s not about the “stuff?” What if we focus less on the “stuff” and look more at the support and resources that mothers and parents need after they have a baby? Enter Be Her Village, an online cash gift registry where parents can select services and support for friends and family to contribute to. You can customize your registry to include things like your midwifery care, a doula (birth and/or postpartum), lactation consultant, physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic care, nutritionist, etc.  Kaitlin talks about her journey that inspired the idea for Be Her Village, plus how it works for parents to use it (ps - it’s ALWAYS free for parents to use), as well as how birthworkers can use it to list their services and be a part of the $12 billion industry for baby gifts (spoiler: majority of them are not necessary!).  For parents: go to www.behervillage.com and start your registry (and let them know DIAH sent you when you sign

But what about the bag of waters?! We answer this and other questions that we received as follow ups to our second home birth story for baby Naomi. There were also some things from the birth story that we forgot to mention and wanted to expand upon further. This includes but is not limited to: crying during labor, the cord snap, birthing the placenta and the moment when we discovered that baby was a girl. Links From The Episode: Naomi’s Birth Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000601018385 Erica and Anthony on the podcast part 1:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000489077553 Erica and Anthony on the podcast part 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000521255751 Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use co

When did you first learn about home birth? For today’s mama, Celia Donaldson, she herself was born at home. So for her growing up, it was just “normal.” So there didn’t have to be this explanation and deep dive into what it was or why people might choose it. It’s this normalcy that carries through how Celia shares her story, from research she did while pregnant, the conversations with her partner Ali and assembling a birth team that would support her in what she wanted to create (while also receiving prenatal care at a hospital).  With about a month of “practice labor” prior to birth, Celia was ready to meet her baby, her son Nadir. We hear the birth story as well as some of Celia’s favorite resources, as a birth and postpartum doula and childbirth educator herself. Check the links for more on her and the resources she shared. Links From The Episode: Celia’s website: https://www.intuitivebirth.org/ Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ Birthful podcast: https://www.birthful.com/ The Bir

Enjoy another listener story submission! This one is from Lauren Carney about the birth of her son Jasper. Things mentioned in this story: Advocating for yourself Looking into a birth center Care providers that make you feel safe and care about you properly Falling in love with midwifery Switching plans at 24 weeks from OB to midwifery Baby flipping positions Humming through contractions Water easing sensations Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order More From Doing It At Home: Share your story with us: https://diahpodcast.com/mystory/ 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 Merch: www.diahpodcast.com/merch Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you know when labor is starting? This is a question we put out there into the community, and received some really great answers and examples. So we’re sharing them with you! Plus our experience of what it was like when we realized it was “game time” -- what it felt like, what was going on, and what we did once it was clearly active labor. There’s a wide range of possibilities and experiences when it comes to discovering you’re in labor. Our goal in sharing this conversation with you is to help you should you find yourself experiencing anything similar to these situations. And for those who have already been through the birthing experience, something to reflect back on and connect with. We also share some bonus tips on what you can do when you do discover you’re in labor, to avoid any unnecessary stressors and create a smooth and peaceful environment. Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH23 to get 20% off your order or DIAH100 for $100 off a Complete Plan Mor

FINALLY! Our second home birth story. At 12 weeks postpartum, we are sharing the details of the birth of our second daughter, Naomi.  Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH23 to get 20% off your order or DIAH100 for $100 off a Complete Plan More From Doing It At Home: 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 Merch: www.diahpodcast.com/merch Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why home birth? For today’s DIAH Mama Holly Leever, her answer was: “I knew I would be more comfortable at home and would avoid a lot of unnecessary interventions.” This episode is part of a new format and style we will be featuring on the podcast every so often - a non-interview audio submission from listeners sharing their birth stories with us. We’re excited to have this as another way to bring you more birth stories, for when we’re at capacity with our interview schedule. And it’s great for those who would prefer to share in this way.  Some of the topics mentioned in Holly’s story: Practicing FAM Finding out she was pregnant Struggling with eating disorder before becoming pregnant Helpful resources during pregnancy A sweet and simple birth Links From The Episode: Holly’s Website: Rosebudwellness.com Love Your Labor: https://brownrootslove.com/ Ina May’s Spiritual Midwifery: https://amzn.to/3jVLfkI Steamy Chick: www.steamychick.com Womb Wisdom Podcast episode with Sarah: https://www.rosebud