Happy Homebirth

Episodi

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  Ep 335: A Homebirth Story of Faith, Fear, and Trusting Harder 20.07.2026 42min

  What happens when you're preparing for birth while carrying far more than the weight of pregnancy? When your family is spread across the country, your husband's health is in crisis, and every plan you've made seems to unravel?    This week, we're speaking with by Tricia Prado, a mother of seven whose journey into her seventh birth came during one of the most challenging seasons her family has ever faced. As her husband's health declined and their family became separated across multiple states, Tricia found herself learning a lesson that would carry her through both life and birth: trust harder.   Episode Roundup:   Fear often creates more suffering than the thing we're afraid of. Tricia shared the wisdom that pain itself won't destroy us, but fear of pain can become its own burden. Birth and life ask for the same thing: trust. Whether she was facing labor, separation from her husband, uncertainty about the future, or the challenges of postpartum, the invitation remained the same—trust harder.  That doesn’t mean do more.  It doesn’t mean try harder.  It means take a look at where your faith lies. We aren't meant to walk difficult seasons alone. The women, family members, friends, and caregivers who surrounded Tricia remind us how powerful community can be during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. And finally–God's provision doesn't always arrive on our timeline, but it often arrives exactly when it's needed. Only every story in the Bible confirms this, right?  Imagine the terrifying feeling of being an Israelite feeling Egypt with the whole Egyptian army behind you only to meet the shoreline.  We know the sea will part for them, but can you imagine in that moment how uncertain that would have felt?  And how does this feel in our own lives?  Sometimes, oftentimes in my experience, we have to come to the shoreline.  The beauty is when we learn to meet the waters with expectation of what will happen next as opposed to sheer terror.  Again and again,Tricia's story showed that reality.  Wow, what an inspiration. Fear often creates more suffering than the thing we're afraid of. Tricia shared the wisdom that pain itself won't destroy us, but fear of pain can become its own burden. Birth and life ask for the same thing: trust. Whether she was facing labor, separation from her husband, uncertainty about the future, or the challenges of postpartum, the invitation remained the same—trust harder.  That doesn’t mean do more.  It doesn’t mean try harder.  It means take a look at where your faith lies. We aren't meant to walk difficult seasons alone. The women, family members, friends, and caregivers who surrounded Tricia remind us how powerful community can be during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. And finally–God's provision doesn't always arrive on our timeline, but it often arrives exactly when it's needed. Only every story in the Bible confirms this, right?  Imagine the terrifying feeling of being an Israelite feeling Egypt with the whole Egyptian army behind you only to meet the shoreline.  We know the sea will part for them, but can you imagine in that moment how uncertain that would have felt?  And how does this feel in our own lives?  Sometimes, oftentimes in my experience, we have to come to the shoreline.  The beauty is when we learn to meet the waters with expectation of what will happen next as opposed to sheer terror.  Again and again,Tricia's story showed that reality.  Wow, what an inspiration. Link:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEYbjJsfsfs    
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  Ep 334: "I Did It Scared": An 11-Pound Unmedicated Home Birth 13.07.2026 55min

  Have you ever felt called toward something… but been completely terrified to do it? This week, we're joined by Ally Roberson, a wife, mother of two, homesteader, and creator documenting her family's journey toward a more intentional life in rural Georgia. When Ally became pregnant with her second baby, she found herself pulled toward homebirth. But there was one major obstacle standing in the way: Fear. My friends, today's episode is for the woman who wonders if she's strong enough. The woman who loves the idea of physiological birth but in the back of her mind thinks, "That might work for other women, but not for me."   Episode Roundup:    First...  Fear does not always have to disappear completely before you move forward. I think so many women are waiting for confidence to arrive before they commit to homebirth, before they trust their bodies, before they step into labor. But Ally's story is an example of leading with courage, not confidence.  She didn’t feel confident, but boy did she prove to be courageous. Ally admitted that she remained afraid throughout her pregnancy. She didn't suddenly wake up at 39 weeks feeling fearless. She simply continued taking the next step. That fear is actually one of the reasons  I created Whole Mother Homebirth. Because fear is one of the most common concerns I hear from women preparing for birth. Not necessarily fear of homebirth itself—but fear that they won't be able to cope. That labor will be too intense. Fear that they don't have what it takes. Inside the course, we spend a significant amount of time addressing fear, nervous system regulation, mindset, relaxation techniques, and practical tools to help women prepare mentally and emotionally for labor.  Podcast listeners get a 10% discount when they use the code PODCAST at checkout- the link is in the show notes or go to myhappyhomebirth.com and click homebirth course   next… I loved hearing the contrast between intervention-heavy care and family-centered care. One of the most striking parts of Ally's story wasn't even labor itself—it was the difference in how she felt: The difference between being on the clock and being supported…feeling managed vs. feeling cared for…being a patient vs being a mother. Birth is physiological, but good golly is it also deeply emotional. The environment, the people surrounding us, the sense of safety and support…. It all very much matters. And Ally's experience highlights that beautifully.   Finally… Can we talk about that 11-pound baby? Woof, I think that's going to be the headline everyone remembers. But I hope you’ll take away even more than the fact that Ally birthed an 11-pound baby at home. Through the process, she realized she was designed to do more than she believed she could.   For so long she had been telling  herself, "Other women can do this, but not me." But then she did it.  She kept moving forward despite her own fears, and she reached the other side with a whole new perspective of herself and her body. Is that you?  Are you on the before side wondering if you can actually pull it off?  You don’t have to be completely fearless– you can still be courageous and keep moving forward.   Link:   Ally’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@allylothman   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/O2IXrQ66VGQ?si=XrSAjlRsymV2izED  
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  Ep 333: The Midwife Who Told Her She Didn't Need a Midwife 06.07.2026 1h 2min

  Have you ever been so certain about a decision that, even when everyone around you questioned it, you knew deep down it was the right path for you?   My friends, today’s conversation is a fascinating look at conviction, trust, and what it means to take full responsibility for your birth experience. This week, we're speaking with Gabrielle Lacey, a wife, mother, welder-turned-farmer, and soon-to-be mother of three living in the mountains of North Carolina. Gabrielle shares the stories of her first two free births, both of which unfolded in unique and memorable ways.     Episode Roundup:   1. I keep coming back to the power of preparation. Whether or not you’d give birth unattended, one thing is undeniable about Gabby’s choices: she spent years thinking about birth before she ever became pregnant. She listened to stories, studied, asked questions, and spent time considering what she believed about birth and motherhood.   2. I loved hearing the difference between Gabby’s first and second births. Her first birth felt very independent. It was just Gabby and her mother-in-law, taking the situation as it came.  In the end, they were the only ones who witnessed her daughter’s entrance, with Gabby’s husband Hayden arriving 15 minutes later. But by her second pregnancy, she had built a community– one that she wanted to witness her birth. She talked about hosting women's circles, finding friendships with other mothers, and inviting support into the experience. How special that she’s experienced the birthing process in two very different ways.    3. The theme that stayed with me most was trust. Trusting her body. Trusting her baby. Trusting the process. There was that incredible moment during her first birth when her baby's head was born and then everything paused. Instead of panic, Gabby prayed. She spoke to her baby. She stayed present. And eventually labor resumed exactly as it needed to. What a reminder: Fear is not the only option when something unexpected happens. And one more thing before we close. I loved Gabby's reflection at the very end of our conversation when she talked about trusting babies. Not rushing them. Not forcing timelines or assuming we know better than they do. How beautifully does this translate to motherhood: Trusting that our children are participating in this journey with us.  We’re working together as we grow.     Link:   Gabby's Instagram | www.instagram.com/humble.hill.homestead Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/nTGVW4bIHH4              
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  Ep 332: 42 Weeks and Learning to Wait 29.06.2026 1h 5min

  Have you ever looked back on a past birth experience and realized…“Wow, I didn’t actually know how powerful my body was”?   This week, we're speaking with Melissa Gurd, wife to her husband Jason and mother of six children living on a family homestead in Florida. Melissa shares the progression of her birth experiences over the last decade—from medically managed hospital births, to a frustrating cesarean in 2020, to finally discovering the peace and redemption of homebirth.   Episode Roundup:   First…For some mothers, the deepest birth education happens through experience. Melissa described entering her early births with very little understanding of physiological birth, or at least without a sense of deeper purpose or desire around experiencing it for herself. So many of us in our childbearing years grew up hearing that birth is something to manage– that it’s risky, and it’s something best left to the professionals. But over time, Melissa began learning more about how the body works, how positioning matters, how nourishment matters, how patience matters… and it transformed  the way she approached birth. Second… I loved hearing the redemption woven into her homebirth after cesarean. Especially the moment when she realized that her fourth baby weighed exactly the same as the baby she had previously been told was “too big” to birth naturally. How powerful is that?  Melissa was able to see what her body was capable of when she was supported, unrushed, and allowed to labor physiologically.  She knew now for certain that she could do this. Another thing that stood out to me was Melissa’s honesty about waiting. Forty-two week pregnancies. Prodromal labor. The emotional ups and downs of wondering – is today the day? I think prolonged pregnancy and prodromal labor can be one of the most refining parts of pregnancy, and extremely applicable to motherhood: You can’t force it. You can't control it. You can only sit in the reality that this is outside of you. I loved when Melissa said that birth taught her patience because it’s one of the few things in life that so tangibly shows us we do not have control. And finally… I just loved the family-centered beauty expressed through Melissa’s journey. Children waiting excitedly for their siblings. A daughter hearing the baby cry and bursting into tears of joy. Generations living together on the same property. Babies entering the world surrounded by love and loved ones.  Wow.  In this way, birth is not separated from family life— it’s integrated directly into it.  Which is one reason so many women are drawn to homebirth in the first place.  It honors the entire family ecosystem.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/LuRSr2-0sZk?si=4vwBJNQ4MjBXZPgp  
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  Ep 331: From Cesarean Grief to a Healing Homebirth 22.06.2026 56min

  What happens when the birth you prayed for…doesn’t happen? And how do you move forward when the thing you prepared for so carefullyends in grief, disappointment, and questions you never expected to ask?   This week, we're speaking with Raylee, a homeschool mother of two from Texas who is passionate about Montessori education, physiological birth, and intentional motherhood. Raylee grew up in a large homeschooling family and witnessed homebirth from a young age, which shaped the way she viewed birth long before becoming a mother herself.   Episode roundup:   First… I think this episode speaks so deeply to the grief that can come when birth doesn’t unfold the way we hoped. Raylee prepared intensely for her first birth. She studied. She visualized. She cared for herself well. And yet—her birth ended in a way she never expected. I know that many mothers understand that kind of heartbreak. When your expectations and your reality feel worlds apart. But what moved me most was hearing how her perspective was renewed over time—not minimizing the pain, not pretending it was easy—but Raylee found profound meaning and growth within her experience and decided to take responsibility for her journey.  This intentional step out of victimhood catalyzed a huge spiritual change in her life.  One she wouldn’t take back even if she could. Next… I kept thinking about the difference between control and prepared surrender. With her first birth, Raylee described feeling very certain about how things would go. And after that experience, she entered her second pregnancy differently. She still prepared, she was still intentional, but her edges truly softened in a noticeable way.   Raylee was less attached to perfection and far more open-handed. Surrender does not guarantee a certain outcome—but it changes the way we move through the experience itself, however it unfolds.   And finally…Raylee’s second birth was such a beautiful picture of trust– and it was revealed slowly. Over days of early labor, Over intentional healing work, prayer.And through choosing to believe her body was capable again. I loved hearing her describe labor as intense… but not frightening. Powerful… but not pathological. Which is a huge distinction: Physiological birth is not necessarily painless. But it also does not have to feel traumatic. And when women are supported, uninterrupted, nourished, and safe… the body often knows exactly what to do.     Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/FSypyheqzoY  
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  Ep 330: Why This Labor Nurse Chose Homebirth 15.06.2026 49min

  What happens when the person working inside the hospital system…still chooses homebirth for herself? And… what does it look like when years of witnessing birth—the beauty of it, the interventions, the emergencies, the physiology—leads someone not further from instinctive birth…but deeper into trust? This week, we're joined by Alehson Treadwell, a labor and delivery nurse, IBCLC, and mother of three, whose personal birth experiences evolved alongside her years caring for women inside of the hospital system.   Episode Roundup:    First… I think her story is such a powerful reminder that knowledge does not have to create fear. Alehson has spent over sixteen years working as a labor and delivery nurse. She has seen complications. She has seen intervention. She knows the hospital system deeply. And yet—rather than moving further away from physiological birth, she moved into it. Sometimes understanding physiology more deeply actually increases trust in the body—not decreases it.   Next, I love the progression we hear across her births. Her first birth held anxiety, timelines, and the pressure of approaching forty-two weeks. Her second birth was fast and overwhelming in a completely different way– But by her third birth, we hear a mother who has settled into pregnancy, labor and trusting herself more thoroughly.  I especially loved hearing how specific she became in prayer during that final pregnancy. She prayed for the right people to be there, to be present, and to have peace. And finally… This conversation around postpartum nourishment is so important. Alehson spoke candidly about postpartum anxiety, depletion, low ferritin, and the connection between nourishment and mental health.  The truth is we cannot separate the physical from the emotional. What happens in the body can impact the emotional, and vice versa.  Which means that rest matters.Minerals.  Water.  Warm nourishing food.  It’s foundational.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/TXEaxJEg1-I  
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  Ep 329: This Story Does Not Belong to Fear: Lydia's Homebirth Story 08.06.2026 1h 22min

  Can hope return after something painful changes the way you experience motherhood?   This week, we're speaking with Lydia Ashford, a flower farmer, worship leader, wife, and mother of two daughters born at home on the Northern California coast. Lydia and her family live and work together on a flower farm with her parents and sisters, raising babies alongside one another in a deeply connected community. In this conversation, Lydia shares the beautiful homebirth of her first daughter—but also the traumatic postpartum complications that followed– and the transformational healing that slowly took place after.   Episode Roundup:   1. “Postpartum is porous.” Lydia described postpartum as “spongy”—that everything spoken over a mother during that season goes straight to the heart. YES. The postpartum period is incredibly vulnerable. The voices around a mother matter. The support, the encouragement, it is all so critical. And hearing how her midwife, her mother, her husband, and her community continually spoke hope over her while she struggled with breastfeeding… it’s such a powerful reminder that support can completely shape a postpartum experience. 2. I was deeply moved by Lydia’s honesty about fear after trauma, because it’s such a common experience.   Sure, not everyone has experienced sepsis or emergency surgery postpartum, but many mothers have walked through complicated births or postpartum seasons that left them afraid to do it again. And I loved hearing how Lydia described God slowly transforming fear into hope—not all at once… over time.   Through prayer walks, community, stories, scripture, and through intimate moments of healing.   3. This line Lydia shared just got me at my core: “I will not nurse fear. I will nurse hope.” What a powerful renewing of her mind.  She intentionally refused to let fear become the center of the story. Wow, doesn’t  that apply so far beyond birth? What are we feeding? What are we nurturing? What are we allowing to shape the atmosphere of our homes, our motherhood, our hearts? Lydia’s story is such a beautiful reminder that healing does not always mean the absence of difficulty.  Healing is allowing hope to return.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/_zhc9aKXtME  
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  Ep 328: One Contraction at a Time: Faith's 47 Hour Homebirth 01.06.2026 53min

  Have you ever reached the point in labor—or honestly, in life—where you truly didn’t think you could keep going?   This week, we're speaking with Faith Robinson, a stay-at-home mom from Kansas City, wife to her husband of three years, and mother to baby Ezekiel. Faith grew up around birth through her mother’s work as a doula, but despite always wanting an unmedicated birth, she initially viewed birth primarily as a medical event. That slowly began to change after witnessing a peaceful birth as a teenager—and eventually led her and her husband to prayerfully pursue homebirth for their own family. In this episode, Faith shares her pregnancy journey, navigating back pain from previous spinal injuries, concerns about preeclampsia symptoms late in pregnancy, and the emotional challenge of going well past her due date. And then came the loooong labor.  You’re going to love hearing her perseverance.   Episode Roundup:  1. I keep thinking about the importance of support.Not just during birth itself—but throughout pregnancy too.Faith described so many moments where she felt deeply cared for by her midwives. They listened to her concerns, helped her navigate anxiety, supported her through physical discomfort, and treated her as a whole person rather than just managing symptoms.That kind of care changes the way women experience pregnancy and birth.   2. This story is such a reminder that labor does not always unfold quickly or neatly.Forty-seven hours is a long time.And I appreciated Faith’s honesty about how difficult that became mentally. The discouragement after learning she was still only two centimeters after hours of strong contractions… the exhaustion… the moments of saying, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”I think many women need to hear stories like this because sometimes physiological birth is portrayed as effortless if you just “trust enough” or if you do the precise right things to prepare. But birth is intense, so trusting birth doesn’t mean pretending it’s always easy.Sometimes trust looks like continuing one contraction at a time.   3. I was so moved by the way Faith described the Lord meeting her during labor.The difficulty was not removed.  The pain was not instantly ended.But He gave her exactly what she needed for the next step.A moment of encouragement. A reminder that she was safe. The strength to continue.Truth be told, I think that mirrors motherhood so often too, at least for me.We’re not always given the full picture ahead of time. But grace does meet us where we are. Ps. Shout out to Faith’s mom Kim. You’re the best, love you girl.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/PFkl9gpM_k8  
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  Ep 327: Rebuilding a Family Legacy Through Birth and Parenthood 25.05.2026 1h

  What does it look like to re-build a family legacy?  And how do birth, motherhood, healing, and even hardship become part of that restoration? Gabrielle Manier is a wife, homeschool mother of four, homemaker, gardener, and passionate homebirth mother living in Michigan with her husband Dustin and their children. Since her first appearance on the podcast, their family has welcomed two more babies while continuing to walk through healing from a difficult past marked by addiction, homelessness, and generational brokenness.   Episode Roundup: 1. The idea of rebuilding. Gabrielle and her husband came from incredibly difficult backgrounds, and yet the way they are intentionally building their family now—with faith, purpose, nourishment, connection, and presence—it’s such a reminder that generational patterns do not have to continue forever. Healing, change, renewal really is possible.   2. I loved hearing how intentionally Gabrielle prepared for postpartum this time. So many mothers focus all of their energy on birth preparation, but postpartum can feel deeply vulnerable if we don’t also prepare to be cared for afterward. And hearing how her mother came to help… how they restored their relationship… how she hired postpartum support… how her husband stepped in so fully… It’s such a picture of what women were always meant to experience after birth: Care and space to heal.   3. Another part of Gabrielle’s story that really stayed with me was the way she navigated her son’s clubfoot diagnosis. An unexpected diagnosis in pregnancy can bring so many emotions. Fear, confusion, and a sense of pressure to make quick decisions and “do something”. What I appreciated so much was hearing Gabrielle approach the experience in sugh a grounded, thoughtful,  prayerful way. She didn’t ignore reality, but she refused to allow fear to overtake the beauty of her experience of pregnancy and motherhood. I think many women need to hear that it is possible to walk through unexpected circumstances while still remaining connected and even joyful. And Gabrielle’s experience is such a reminder that a diagnosis does not change the value, beauty, or purpose of a child. Sometimes it’s these very moments that invite families deeper into trust, advocacy, and dependence on God in ways they never expected.   4. I was so moved by Gabrielle’s description of birth as exhilarating. Not that it was painless or easy, but because she experienced birth as something full of purpose, connection, and joy. There can be intensity and peace at the same time. Difficulty and beauty in the same breath.  That’s exhilarating.   5. I so appreciated Gabrielle’s honesty about fear and anxiety. I think that sometimes women may hear peaceful birth stories and assume those mothers never struggle with fear, confusion or anxiety. But that’s not what Gabrielle described–  She described continually bringing those fears before the Lord… and continuing to move forward in faith.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode | https://youtu.be/0upk9wjTHz0  
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  Ep 326: Trusting God with Her Baby's Life: Sarah's Micro Preemie Birth 18.05.2026 1h 18min

  We all know that life is unpredictable in many ways, but when you’re experiencing extreme unpredictability in the midst of your pregnancy, how do you imagine you’d feel?  Would ‘peaceful’ be the first word that comes to mind?   This week, we’re speaking with Sarah, mother to two babies– Timothy and Lydia.  We’ll hear Sarah’s extremely difficult experience during her most recent pregnancy and birth of a micro preemie, but take heart– you will leave this story feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and beauty for having heard it.     Sarah does an incredible job of summing up the amazing points of her story at the end, so we won’t have a typical episode roundup.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)      
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  Ep 325: From Infertility to Birth in her Own Home 11.05.2026 1h

  Coincidences– How many of them can you experience before you stop thinking they’re coincidences and start realizing that they are a beautiful divine gift?   This week, we're speaking with Kaylee, a mother of 3 living in Athens, Georgia.  Kaylee and her husband experienced struggles with infertility before becoming pregnant, and they are now in the process of raising the large family they always dreamed of.  We’ll hear how a “high risk” hospital-birthing mother found herself at home with her most recent baby.   Episode Roundup:   After IVF treatment, Will and Kaylee found out that they had 5 embryos.  They felt strongly in their hearts that it was their responsibility to do their part to bring all 5 of those beautiful babies into the world.  I love their heart on this, and it was so sweet to hear Kaylee’s forethought about these precious little souls, even as she prepared for her first hospital birth.  She wanted to take care of herself and learn as much about birth as she could so that she could have vaginal births– knowing that she would be planning to become pregnant at least 4 more times.  I love their tender forethought and the way this family has made their babies such a priority.   Next, as her third pregnancy progressed, Kaylee noticed her heart being drawn toward homebirth.  She was pulled to listen to mostly homebirth stories, even though she was planning a hospital birth at the time– she felt a sense of curiosity and even desire, despite the fact that she thought homebirth was just out of reach for her.  I love hearing this intuitive nudge that pushed her to begin preparing for the type of birth that she would eventually have, before she even agreed to go that route! And this leads to my final thought, which was just so potent throughout Kaylee’s story.  Coincidences.  Or are they?  Kaylee would certainly not call them mere coincidences.  No, she sees them as gifts from a loving Father who was holding her and caring for her from the very beginning.  My goodness, the beauty of this and all of the answered prayers.  Her midwife having been the nurse that made the difference in her first son’s birth, her requests for a short labor, her desire to give birth at midnight— and then her trust that it would happen.  Kaylee’s story is full of examples of childlike faith being met with Fatherly love and compassion.  She is held– and so are you.  If you ever want to talk more about relationship with this incredible Unconditional Love, please send me an email at katelyn@myhappyhomebirth.com.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)  
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  Ep 324: From Monitoring to Trusting: A Nurse’s Birth Transformation 04.05.2026 56min

  What happens when you know too much about birth… and you’re experiencing pregnancy and birth for yourself?   This week's episode, I’m joined by Emily—a labor and delivery nurse who found herself navigating pregnancy and birth as both a provider and a patient.   We talk about how working inside the hospital shaped her first birth… what shifted in her mindset the second time around… and how she ultimately chose a homebirth rooted in surrender.   Episode Roundup:   First—this idea of knowing too much: how too much information can sometimes lead us to questioning ourselves, our bodies and our instincts– information overload can create fear instead of clarity.  I love how Emily was so aware of this– how what she’d seen and experienced at work actually needed to be balanced with nervous system regulation, surrender, and leaning into her own intuition.  During postpartum with her first baby, Emily felt like she missed much of the experience because it seemed impossible to turn her brain off and simply trust.  But that first experience transformed how she would interact with pregnancy, birth and motherhood from then on. Second—the shift from control into surrender… not just in birth, but in motherhood as a whole.  What a learning curve it is to go from taking care of only your own needs to the needs of others.  As Emily said, she had to reorient herself to life now that she was a care provider– no longer could she simply bop off and workout on a whim or head to the grocery store alone.  Even her ability to regulate her nervous system after her second child had to shift– It wouldn’t be 30 minutes on the couch with her warm cup of tea, but instead breathing exercises while she rocked and nursed her baby.  Our willingness to be flexible and do things differently– to be creative– is a gift to both ourselves and our babies. And finally—birth can shape the way we step into motherhood… Emily went from anxiety and overthinking in her first pregnancy and birth… into presence, peace, and confidence during her homebirth, and the impact has continued far beyond.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)  
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  Ep 323: How One Mother Reclaimed Trust in Birth 27.04.2026 1h 24min

  What happens when your first experience of birth leaves you shaken… and the providers you’re supposed to trust tell you not to try again?  Where do you go from there?   Sarah Marie is the owner of Entering Motherhood, a wife and a mom of three who spends her days soaking up life with her little ones, whether that’s through slow mornings at home, time in the garden, or exploring a new coffee shop.   As a certified birth and postpartum doula, Sarah is passionate about walking alongside women as they step into motherhood. She also hosts the Entering Motherhood podcast, where she shares encouragement, education, and real conversations about pregnancy, birth and beyond.   Sarah believes that birth is more than just an experience, it’s a beautiful moment to reflect on and embrace. She loves helping moms feel confident, informed, and supported so they can truly own their journey as they are entering motherhood.   Episode Roundup:   First—how much our early experiences can shape us. Sarah’s first birth didn’t go the way she expected. It left her questioning herself, her body, and what was possible for future births. And I think many women can relate to that… carrying questions after birth, wondering, “What does this all mean?” But what stands out to me is this: She didn’t stay there, stuck and unchanged.  She intentionally began to dig for more– to ask questions, and to physically place herself in spaces where she could see birth differently. And because of this, over time, her perspective changed– her ideas about what she was capable of changed. Next—the power of exposure and understanding. As Sarah stepped into doula work, she witnessed birth again and again. And with each experience, she gathered a new understanding of what the body can do– the vast array of what birth can be like. And this is such a key point: What we see, what we hear, what we surround ourselves with—it shapes what we believe is possible. Sarah went from being told not to pursue a vaginal birth… to confidently planning and experiencing a homebirth. And finally—can you guess it? Surrender. Even in conception, Sarah described letting go of trying to control the outcome… and that was the moment things shifted. And isn’t that often the rhythm? We prepare.  We work.  We do what we can. And then… we’re left with nothing to do but release.  And so often, that’s the final step. Sarah’s story is such a clear picture that confidence in yourself and your ability to birth can be rebuilt.  And that your previous story does not have to hold your current experience captive.   Links: Entering Motherhood LLC www.enteringmotherhood.com   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)    
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  Ep 322: Scars Redeemed--Surrendering Fear and Embracing Trust through a Home Birth 20.04.2026 1h 26min

  When your body has experienced legitimate physical trauma during two back to back births, what do you do for your next experience?  What would it look like to play it safe– would that be a planned cesarean?  Or… What if you swing the other way and bring it home?   This week we’re speaking to Janie Hobbs,  a stay-at-home wife and mom of three littles. She is happily married to her husband Sam, and they recently moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario from Missouri where Sam serves as one of the pastors at a local church. Janie has been a birth enthusiast for years and has experienced so much personal and spiritual growth through the births of each of her children. When she is not chasing her energetic toddlers or nursing a baby, she enjoys baking, photography, coffee, and exploring the beautiful Canadian countryside.   Episode Roundup:    The trauma that Janie experienced was legitimate physical trauma.  When she asked a medical professional their opinion on her next baby, a planned cesarean was considered a good idea.  I can absolutely see how this option would have made sense.  And yet, the Lord had something so redemptive in mind for Janie.  Instead of going fully medical, a door was opened in the opposite direction.  Home?! Really?!  I love the thoughtfulness of the midwife who recommended this as a strong option for Janie to consider.  And goodness, we know how amazingly it turned out. Janie’s honesty with her struggles with God after her second birth are refreshing to hear.  The hardness of life.  The questions of why and for what purpose– and then Janie realized… he had been with her all along.  Suffering alongside her.  What a picture of compassion.   And finally– scars redeemed.  Janie shared how her scars are no longer seen as something negative to her.  Jesus kept his scars as a sign– a mark of what had happened.  And now Janie’s scars tell a story of redemption as well.  Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)      
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  Ep 321: Rethinking Pelvic Floor Health for Pregnancy and Postpartum with Whitney Sippl 13.04.2026 44min

  What if the discomforts we’ve been told are “just part of pregnancy”  are actually signals  that something needs support?   This week, we're speaking with Whitney Sippl, a pelvic physical therapist who works closely with women in pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.     In this episode, Whitney walks us through what pelvic physical therapy really is, why it matters in all stages of life, even before birth, and how simple techniques can make a meaningful difference in both birth and recovery.   Episode Roundup: First… this idea that symptoms are not something to ignore. So many women experience things like leaking, heaviness, or discomfort and are told it’s normal. And while it may be common… that doesn’t mean it’s something we have to live with. Our bodies are communicating. And when we listen early— during pregnancy— we often have the opportunity to support healing before we ever reach postpartum. Second…  I love the shift from thinking about the pelvic floor as something to “strengthen”… to something to balance. Because labor itself is not just about being strong — it’s also very much about release.   And finally… this reminder that preparation can be gentle. It doesn’t have to be complicated or feel overwhelming. Small, consistent awareness of your body— your breath, your posture, your movement— can create significant change.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)    
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  Ep 320: A Mobile Birth: Twins Born Precipitously! 06.04.2026 46min

  You’ve done it- you’ve decided to give birth at home, and NOTHING is going to stop you, right?    This week we’re speaking to Heather Whitehead, a mother to 5 living in East Tennessee.  We’ll hear how Heather and her husband settled on homebirth for their most recent pregnancy, and how they navigated certain obstacles that arose after their decision.  You know, like the realization that they were pregnant with twins, to start.    Episode Roundup:   First, I love that Heather chose to continue care with her midwife, even knowing that there could be a larger number of reasons for a transfer of care as her pregnancy went along.  When she considered the whole situation thoroughly, she decided that BECAUSE she was pregnant with twins, she actually needed a midwife more: The individualized care, the preventative approach, and the loving support. Even if it meant paying for two providers, she and her husband decided midwifery care was worth the cost. Next, Heather really has experienced the gamut when it comes to pregnancy and birthing experiences.  From different types of inductions to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, she’s seen some things– and I love that she allowed those experiences to inform her decisions in the future.  Especially when combined with midwifery care, she was able to take hold of potential “high risk” issues preventatively this time around.  The 2 mile post-dinner walk?  I would LOVE to hear if you give that a try and what it does to your fasting blood sugar numbers! And finally- this was so ordained, wasn’t it?  As Heather said, there were so many potential issues that could have occurred as she gave birth to her preemie twins, but… her husband made it home.  Heather took her time with a few last minute tasks that allowed her midwife to be there– quite divinely.  Heather was able to avoid further intervention with her birth by having her babies before arriving to the hospital, and her midwife most assuredly impacted Baby B’s life by staying with Heather in the ambulance and providing the care that she and baby needed.  What an amazing series of events. Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)  
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  Ep 319: What Are You Creating? A Birth and Motherhood Story 30.03.2026 1h 9min

  Pregnancy is the height of creativity– you are literally creating a brand new human… from scratch?  But have you noticed that sometimes the creativity of pregnancy moves into other aspects of your life?     This week, we’e speaking with Khylir Patton, a mother of two and a homebirth mom based in Tampa Bay, Florida. After navigating an unexpected late-pregnancy loss of care and ultimately experiencing a deeply empowering homebirth, she became passionate about helping mothers feel supported, informed, and less alone in their journeys. Khylir is the founder of IYA, a maternal care platform inspired by her own experiences navigating pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. At her core, she believes birth is intuitive, sacred, and a powerful initiation into motherhood.    Episode Roundup:   Moving into motherhood is not always a perfectly smooth transition.  You are growing, regenerating, renewing as a human.  Your responsibilities shift completely, and the entire focus of your life, both long term and day to day, must yield to this new experience.  Khylir mentioned the struggle of her time no longer feeling like her own– She couldn’t sleep when she wanted to, work when she wanted to.  She had to relinquish the grip she previously easily held on her schedule.  But– while it’s not all easy, it is all an invitation to transform.  How can you hold onto your identity, grow in your identity, and care for your baby, too?  Sometimes the balance takes time to establish, but I love how Khylir was able to move through the experience and eventually come out on the other side capable of caring for her two little ones while also creating something she felt called to create.   Which leads me to my second point- isn’t it amazing how pregnancy truly is an incubator?  For new life, of course, but also an incubator for ideas and creativity.  I’ve had some of my very best ideas and revelations during the pregnancy and postpartum phases of my life.   And finally, I love hearing Khylir’s experience of– awakening to invitation.  One day in postpartum, she heard “get up.”  Such a small phase, but it changed everything about how she was interacting with her life.  She accepted the invitation.  She took small steps– taking a bit of time to wash her face and brush her teeth, then going on walks… suddenly, as she listened and responded, she was given more direction– take this dream you’ve had and turn into something new.  Something that will impact others for years to come.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)
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  Ep 318: Pregnancy After Loss and Learning to Trust Again 16.03.2026 58min

  Have you ever found yourself wanting something to happen so desperately, and at the same time realizing you have absolutely no control over its happening?   This week, we’re speaking with Erica: a wife, mother of two, one of nine siblings, and a woman who entered marriage already having seen family members give birth beautifully at home.   Episode Roundup: 1. Generational Trust in birth is a GIFT  Erica didn’t stumble into homebirth hoping it might work. She had seen it. She watched her mother birth. She watched her sister birth. She grew up witnessing women trust their bodies. When birth isn’t something foreign and medicalized — when it’s something you’ve seen unfold in your actual living room —where you LIVE– it builds a different kind of confidence. What are we modeling for our daughters? What are our sons witnessing about women’s strength? Erica is now continuing that legacy.  Absolutely amazing.   2. Surrender Is Not Passive — It’s Active and continual Two weeks of prodromal labor. Contractions that start… and stop. Hopes rising… and falling. Over and over again. And that shower moment — head against the tile, sobbing, praying, “I trust You… but please let it be now.” That is such an honest prayer. That’s a prayer of confession. Surrender doesn’t mean we don’t have desires. It doesn’t mean we don’t long for relief. It means we bring those desires into God’s presence instead of trying to control the outcome. And eventually… her body opened. Not through force or fear, but because it. Was. time.  3. And finally, there is such power in undisturbed birth.   Erica pushed without cervical checks. She followed her body’s cues. She reached down and felt her baby descend. That image — a mother with her own finger on her baby’s head, feeling him move down and through her body — is one of the most instinctive, embodied images I can imagine. She didn’t need someone to tell her where she was, because she felt it. And then… she caught him herself. Born fully en caul. Waters intact. Her hands the first to lift him from the water. What a picture of partnership between body, baby, and Creator.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)    
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  Ep 317: Choosing the Unmarked Path: Navigating Limited Options in Care 09.03.2026 50min

  When you want to give birth at home, but the local midwives are overbooked and not taking new clients, what are your options?    This week we’re speaking to Regan, a mother to two kiddos in the Manitoba area of Canada who knew that she wanted to give birth at home, but had to think outside the box to make it happen for her.     Regan is a wife of 7 years and a stay at home mom to her two beautiful young children. A small part of her life includes helping manage a midwifery advocacy group, whose main desire is that all women in her Province can have the birth experience they desire! She loves her quiet country home life raising kids, running her two small businesses and discussing birth with anyone who wants to talk!   Episode Roundup:     It can feel so frustrating to hear how difficult it is in so many places to find a quality care provider at home.  Whether it's because of a lack of midwives or because of an over-taxed system, it leads to the same issue– Mothers have to think outside the box to find the care they need.  But what’s beautiful is the fact that for some mothers, like Regan, their desire to have a certain kind of experience leads them to explore other options and find a solution that works for them.  This doesn’t always look the same for every family.  For some, maybe it’s a hotel or airbnb birth.  For others, maybe it’s finding midwives to travel to you from a distance.  Whatever it looks like, the sense of creativity that you can bring into a difficult situation can truly flip it on its head. There’s something to be said for having to keep information confidential when you deeply want to share.  Regan spoke of how the sense of secrecy she needed to maintain in order to protect her labor support felt very heavy to hear.  While it’s such a good reminder that your private medical information is yours to keep close and it’s really nobody else’s right to know, that doesn’t change the experience that comes with WANTING to share and feeling unable. Regan thinks this may have impacted her ability to connect to the idea that she was really growing a baby prenatally – which, as I mentioned, I believe makes quite a bit of sense that she needed to truly feel all of her labor to make the connection that, yes, this is happening! I’m becoming a mother again! And finally, one of the beautiful counter balances to the struggle Regan had with not being able to share about her labor support– was her labor support itself.  She had a team of two women who loved her, cared for her, encouraged her and walked with her as she went through one of the most pivotal days of her entire life.  What a delight that these women cared so deeply for her, and were also so deeply impacted by Regan’s birth.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)    
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  Ep 316: Holding the Plan Loosely: Pamela’s Birth Story of Trust and Change 02.03.2026 49min

  How do you feel about the specifics of your upcoming birth? Are you clinging to particular desires and feeling like things MUST happen a certain way for you to feel successful? Or do you feel the peace of flexibility? This week, we're speaking with Pamela, a homeschooling mother of 3 precious kiddos, who decided to give birth at home with her third child. Throughout the end of her pregnancy and labor, Pamela went on a journey of learning that she wasn’t in control of every event that happened, but she was able to surrender— and through the process of surrender she found something even better than certainty- she found freedom.   Episode Roundup: First, I love the fact that Pamela was being encouraged by the young mothers around her– in her community group, and then within her family.  The women in Pamela’s circle gave her a new perspective of what birth could be like– and what she could be capable of!  When you share your experiences with others, who knows who you will influence and how that could change their trajectory.  How beautiful to simply share your story. Next, I cannot–not comment on Pamela’s perspective.  While she did have ideas of what she wanted her birth to be like– in the water, untouched– She allowed herself the freedom to change her mind as her birth unfolded. She was not a victim of birth, even with its changes.  Instead she acknowledges the part that she played: She chose to change her mind.  We cannot control numerous aspects of our births, but we can control our perspective.  And when you pair a healthy perspective with the lesson of surrender, oh my, that’s how mothers transform. And finally–Beauty and Tragedy exist simultaneously. At the same time that Pam was approaching birth, there was tremendous flooding and loss in her region of Texas. And then her grandfather broke his hip the day before labor. Life is being lost, pain is being experienced, and at the very same time beauty is being created. New life is being freshly breathed. The clear truth is that there is beauty, even in the hardest of times. Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)