Doing It At Home: Our Home Birth Podcast

Who knew they were going to have a home birth before ever becoming pregnant? This was the case for Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, today’s guest and creator of the “Fertility Friday” podcast and author of the book “The Fifth Vital Sign.” Lisa is a holistic reproductive health practitioner specializing in fertility awareness method. She’s helped thousands in their reproductive journeys. And today, we get to hear both of her birth stories! We learn what got Lisa interested in home birth back in her 20s, plus the different details of her births and what helped her during the experiences. Things we talk about in this episode: Productive labor Fetal ejection reflex Goals and strategies around birth planning Midwife support Links: Lisa’s website: http://fertilityfriday.com/  Lisa’s book “The Fifth Vital Sign”: https://amzn.to/3KAdiOR Lisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilityfriday/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Instagram:

Can birth just be wonderful and beautiful and simple and uncomplicated? Absolutely! Every story is unique and every story matters. We love how we are able to present the variations here on the podcast. Today we get to hear Steph Greunke’s birth stories: 2 home births. Things we talk about in this episode: Links From The Episode: Steph’s website: www.stephgreunke.com Steph’s program: www.postpartumreset.com Steph’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephgreunke/ Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH 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

How often is intervention necessary? From what we’ve found and learned in the hundreds of stories on this podcast, more interventions seem to be unnecessary rather than necessary. In Stephanie King’s stories, she talks about the cesarean for her first birth being unnecessary. From there, she walks us through her journey to a VBAC in a birth center and then a home birth for her next 2 births.  Stephanie is a childbirth educator, doula, creator of the My Essential Birth Course and host of the Pregnancy and Birth Made Easy podcast. Stephanie is also an example of the many women we’ve spoken to who are inspired and called to birth work after their own birth experiences.  Things we talk about in this episode: Hospital birth Cesarean birth VBAC in birth center Prodromal labor Birth as a spiritual event En caul birth Links From The Episode: Stephanie’s website: www.myessentialbirth.com Stephanie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myessentialbirth/ Three Daily Exercise: https://www.myessentialbirth.c

Is it possible for a birth experience to empower you and leave you feeling a little defeated at the same time? That was what Dr. Brittany Zis thought about her home birth, at first. For one thing, it was 55 hours long, and a couple of unplanned factors popped up - like her cervix being completely closed after almost a day of contractions, pushing challenges and baby changing position at the last minute.  But with the support of her birth team: her midwives, her husband Andrew and her family, Brittany sees how badass she is and how humbling the experience was, welcoming her son Russell into the world.  As a physical therapist specializing in women’s health and pediatrics, she had a goal of approaching her home birth decision with both a natural mindset as well as evidence-based information (the best of both worlds). We think this is something that many in the DIAH can connect with, and we’re so excited to share Brittany’s story with you! Links From the Episode: Brittany’s website: https://www.motherandbabywe

Would you try again for a home birth if it didn’t happen the first time? Today’s guest, Britt Anderson, walks us through 3 very different birth experiences. From a hospital transfer for cesarean, to another hospital transfer with VBAC to a home birth. Britt also shares how her history as a nurse, doula and her expertise in women’s health and wellness fuels her passion for preconception care.  Things we talk about in this episode: Hospital transfer from home Cesarean birth VBAC Links From The Episode: Britt’s website: www.awombinbloom.com Britt’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britteanderson/ Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth: https://amzn.to/3TL2Zfk The Business of Being Born: https://www.thebusinessof.life/   Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH 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 Inst

Do you feel like you have control when it comes to your pregnancy and birth? In today’s birth story, we chat with Kathryn Langlois, mama of 3 from Alberta, Canada, about the details of her 3 pregnancies and births.  2 hospital births and 1 birth center birth. Her third birth felt “uncontrolled” – unlike her previous births. So because of that, in a way, she felt like a first-time mom in that birth experience. Plus we talk about different considerations she and her husband Paul took in choosing between birth center or a home birth. Things we talk about in this episode: Hospital birth Birth center birth Induction Blood pressure Care provider selection and midwifery option in Canada Birth during COVID times and a polar vortex Links From The Episode: Business of Being Born: https://www.thebusinessof.life/   Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH 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

Why do a small percentage of planned home births transfer to the hospital?  There are a number of reasons. In today’s conversation with our friend Anne Margolis, 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 h

How do you truly honor birth? Dr. Nathan Riley joins us for the second time on the podcast. First time was back in 2019, and a lot of life has changed for him. For one thing, he’s welcomed both of his daughters into the world. And today we talk about the home birth of the youngest (about 5 weeks old at the time of this interview). Nathan shares his perspective of the experience, as a father, partner and physician. Nathan also talks about the space he holds for birth and how he has evolved from an OBGYN practicing in the hospital to a more lifestyle medicine approach where he supports both parents and birth workers. The nuggets in this episode are too many to count and drop at such a rapid rate. You might need to hit pause and rewind a few times, that’s how powerful it is! Things we talk about in this episode:  hospital model of care hospital birth home birth story fast labor and delivery trusting and bearing witness to birth awesome resources around holistic birth Nathan’s journey as a doctor question

What would you do to get the birth you want? Change plans at 33 weeks, talk to different providers, get your partner on board? These are all themes of today’s story with Kseniya Gadh. Her first birth was a bad experience in the hospital. For her second birth, she switched to a home birth plan around 33 weeks, even with circumstances like gestational diabetes and previous preeclampsia. Kseniya is an example of pushing for the birth you want, despite odds being against you. Things we talk about in this episode: Gestational Diabetes Preeclampsia Switching care providers Craniosacral therapy Challenges with the birth pool Links From The Episode: Happy Belly Pregnancy program: https://happybellypregnancy.com/ Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Dr. Sarah Buckley: https://amzn.to/3sEPQIZ Business of Being Born: https://www.thebusinessof.life/   Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order or DIAH100 for $100 off a Complete Plan   More From Do

How do you feel in a hospital environment? Many choose home birth because of a bad experience (whether birth-related or not) or general dislike with the hospital. In today’s story with Sophia Pavia, an unpleasant experience in the hospital during her first pregnancy added to her reasoning for having a home birth. But that wasn’t the only reason. She herself was born at home and her sister had home births before Sophia started having children. For her, it was the best choice.  Sophia is a fertility dietitian and at the time of this recording she is pregnant with her second, just weeks away from birth! We talk about details from her first birth along with intentions and plans for her upcoming home birth.  Things we talk about in this episode: TTC journey Spinning Babies Using the birth tub Placenta delivery Postpartum insomnia and anxiety Affirmations and intentions for birth Links From The Episode: Sophia’s website: www.ttcnutritionist.com Sophia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ttc.nutritioni

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 overprepared 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 about

How do we make birth better? Today we’re chatting with one of the country’s top leaders addressing this question, and not just addressing it, but matching his conviction with his actions. They say don’t meet your heroes...but I don’t think they included “birth heroes” in there. Because you should definitely meet those people! Dr. Stu Fischbein joins us at Doing It At Home for a powerful conversation on his history in the birth world, shifting from hospital care to now working with midwives to support families in home births, specifically with the variations of normal of breech and twin births.  Dr. Stu has nearly 30 years in the game and is full of passion. Chatting with him was invigorating and certainly added fuel to our flame for the work we do here and our desire to keep flooding the birth world with empowering and educational conversations. After we talked about his years of experience and perspective on breech and twin home births, he answered some of our community members’ questions. This is a must lis

How can you take your power back after it feels like a previous birth experience took it away? Today’s story with Karine Halle features details of trauma from a hospital birth for her first child and how she was determined to have a home birth for her second.  In between her first and second birth, she felt called into doula work and became passionate about supporting families in the birth experience.  For her second pregnancy and birth, she did everything she could to put the odds on her side to have her dream birth. *Please note that this conversation contains mention of suicidal thoughts Things we talk about in this episode: Postpartum rage GBS positive Gestational Diabetes testing Body work for birth: chiropractic care, massage, yoga, exercise Links From The Episode: The Birth Hour: https://thebirthhour.com/ Birthful: https://birthful.com/ Evidence Based Birth Podcast: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-based-birth-podcast/ Babies are Not Pizzas: https://amzn.to/3UGYtPi Ina May: https:

Have you had feelings of fear, guilt and or shame around sex? If you have, you are most certainly not alone. In fact, you’re likely in the majority. We just don’t always talk about it because of the perceived taboo aspect of it.  We love tying in the conversation of intimacy and sensuality with birth - we’ve had a number of guests on the show who reference it and we’ve shared it in some of our own experiences.  Today we’re chatting with Rosie Rees, creator of Splash Blanket and Yoni Pleasure Palace.  Some of the things we talk about: Rosie’s background and what brought her into the world of sexual wellness Blockages that prevent us from experiencing deep pleasure, particularly during the times of pregnancy, birth and postpartum What is the slow self pleasure revolution? Yoni eggs How Splash Blanket is a support tool for entire fertility process And you can enjoy 15% off your purchase with either Splash Blanket (https://splashblanket.com/) or Yoni Pleasure Palace (https://yonipleasurepalace.com/) with t

Welcome to our final pregnancy update episode! We’re at 37 weeks when we record this. It’s our last time recording before the baby arrives. Stay tuned for the birth story to drop in the beginning of 2023! We talk about: Our family babymoon Tests and test results like blood work, Gestational Diabetes and GBS Our midwife appointments Bodywork in pregnancy Halloween costume during pregnancy Baby showers Having kiddo(s) present at birth Links from the Episode: Episode 400: Updates From Second Trimester: Body Changes and Birth Intentions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000577856796 Episode 390: Baby Bivens 2 - Weeks 11-14 of the Pregnancy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000568948597 Episode 386: Weeks 7-10 of the Pregnancy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000565578941 Episode 381: Weeks 0-6 of the Pregnancy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/381-baby-bivens-2-weeks-0-6-of-the-p

Today we’re chatting with Kaitlin McGreyes about the birth of her 3rd child, which was her first home birth. After a cesarean and then a hospital VBAC for her first two births, she decided to have a different experience for her third. Kaitlin was a doula for 2 years before her home birth. And interesting fact: in the beginning of her doula work, she was against home birth. We talk about the shifts in her thoughts about home birth and the reasons for having one for herself.  Plus really awesome conversations around the landscape of the birth world in general, and what she and her company Be Her Village are doing to help parents and families in getting the real support they need (like funding for their care provider, postpartum practitioners, mental health resources, etc.) as opposed to a bunch of extra toys and gear that they might not necessarily need.  From Kaitlin: “I had been a doula for 2 years. I had a cesarean for my first, vbac in hospital with my second (unmedicated) and I opted for a home birth for m

Is it possible to have good collaborative care with a team of different practitioners when planning for home birth? Absolutely! Do you hear about it all the time? Unfortunately, not. But today’s story with guest Ryan Woodbury is a great example of what it can look like to plan for and have a home birth that is supported by multiple care providers and a team approach. Ryan shares her preconception journey with us, along with her husband Dave’s perspective on home birth when they were pregnant along with tools and resources she used to have an easy, comfortable pregnancy and have the home birth she wanted. Things we talk about in this episode: Preconception planning Choosing your provider team Acupuncture and chiropractic for prenatal care Utilizing collaborate care Links From The Episode: Our first interview with Ryan on DIAH: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000540894926 DIAH episode with Ryan’s co-founder Julie Sawaya: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing

How do we take disabilities into consideration when it comes to birth? Lo Nigrosh of The Milk Making Minutes podcast joins us to share details of her 2 birth experiences. Her first was in the hospital and her second was at home.  Her decision to home birth was largely influenced by the policies and care she encountered in the hospital.  When asked, “Why home birth?” Lo responded with: “I needed to be treated as an individual with individual needs. I had a hospital birth with my first child and was deeply impacted by blanket policy that made me MORE disabled than I already am.” Things we talk about in this episode: Gestational diabetes Bradley Method Hemorrhaging Collaborative care amongst providers Links From The Episode: Lo’s website: https://www.quabbinbirthservices.com/ The Milk Making Minutes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-milk-making-minutes/id1614255223 Lo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonigrosh/ Bradley Method: https://www.bradleybirth.com/   Offers From Our

What happens when birth doesn’t turn out the way you planned? Today’s story is an example of what it can look like to move through a hospital transfer situation, when it’s the last thing you desired or intended for. Brittni Mitchell shares her birth story of her son Cole. She and her husband Elliot planned for a home birth preconception. They utilized resources like DIAH podcast and “Business of Being Born” documentary to prepare. And guess what - they live close to us and even used the same midwife that we did! Brittni talks about moving through the emotions that came with not getting the birth she originally wanted. From Brittni: “A big take away I had was that it’s ok to grieve the birth I wanted so bad but was impossible.” Things we talk about in this episode: Vegan pregnancy and supporting optimal vitamin and nutrient levels TENS unit Back labor Hospital transfer Epidural and pitocin Attempted vacuum removal Placenta encapsulation Links From The Episode: Hypnobirthing: https://hypnobirthing.com/

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 if 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,