Motherbirth

Today’s guest, Marlene Ehrler, is a doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and comes from a long line of holistic healers. She founded Motherhood Medicine, a health and wellness resource designed to assist women on their journey to motherhood. And, she hopes to reawaken a woman’s inherent, natural healing abilities by providing lifestyle information without the bias of traditional marketing tactics through her Land and Spirit Project. Marlene’s first pregnancy was labeled as high-risk due to her Type 1 diabetes. Her insurance insisted she see a traditional OB/GYN and required her to give birth in the high-risk ward of the hospital, not at home with a midwife like she wanted. Bucking the system, she and her husband prepared for a home birth in spite of what they were told. Marlene learned the hard way that birth is the ultimate initiation into the lack of control that typifies motherhood - and when things didn’t go according to plan, she had to learn to integrate and heal from the trauma she experienced during a

Today’s guest, Summer Edwards, home-birthed her two sons and is the oldest of five home-birthed siblings. For her, the choice to home-birth was clear. She wasn’t aware of the philosophical reasons other women had for home-birthing, it was just something her family did. When she returned to work after her first child, she realized she wasn’t returning to her previously satisfying career but a segmented ‘Mommy track’ within the organization. She then morphed her creative side project into Lead Women Lead, a community working to revolutionize the workplace for women at a systemic level. During our conversation, she describes the physically empowering, 20-hour intense first labor experience and how she believes it has impacted her first born child. She attributes her ability to move past the pain and trauma of the malpositioned birth to her midwife who reminded her of the beauty of surrender. Her second birth experience was completely different, and Summer shares her birth stories with so much joy and confidence

Today’s guest, Arianna Taboada, is a Maternal Health Professional, a mother, and an advocate for women’s issues including maternity leave and postpartum planning. Her private consulting practice assists self-employed, working mothers to plan for and navigate through the personal and professional support they will need before, during and after childbirth. Her clients learn to actively develop their new identities in a non-isolated way. Arianna’s firstborn child was delivered in her home just south of Cancun in Mexico. She knew if she delivered her baby in the local hospital there was a high chance they would perform a cesarean. She desired a low intervention birth and a level of care only a midwife could provide. During our conversation, she shares the details of her transition into motherhood and how she draws from her experience to create support plans for other women on their journey to motherhood. We get into how little emotional preparation women do before birth and how important it is to think about

In today’s show, we discuss the importance of support, community, and togetherness for women. Our mission for this podcast and community is to create a safe space for women to share their stories and to experience healing and connection through the power of storytelling. We believe that when women are isolated, they don’t have the communal structures in place to deal with the emotional work that comes with motherhood. Research shows the positive effects of group therapy and sharing experiences on PTSD, and Laura’s research in her doctoral program has led her to focus her doctoral project on creating an important space in our community — giving women who have had traumatic birth stories a chance to find growth and healing through processing and integrating the birth experiences they have already had. Even though every woman’s motherhood journey is different, there are mental, emotional, and physical aspects of our stories that connect us all. We’ll be updating you all on the group we’ll be launching to facil

Today’s guest, Sibyl Almonte de Cannella, has been a mother for a long time even though she has only held her baby in her arms for a little more than a month. She has had many miscarriages including several which came during the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. After years of having doctors tell her she should be able to have a healthy pregnancy, a rare blood disorder was discovered in her system. This diagnosis led to her decision to investigate surrogacy. During this extremely candid conversation, Sibyl shares the emotional, physical, and mental toll she experienced during her challenging motherhood journey. She also shares the details of finding a surrogate when surrogacy is illegal in most of the world and what it is like to have your baby born over 5,000 miles away from home. You can feel Sibyl’s joy and anticipation in this honest exploration of what this controversial alternative path to motherhood looks like — and also how her experience, while seemingly rare on the surface, shares so much with

Today’s guest, Sara Rosser, is an apprentice at the Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee. She believes a woman should be able to choose where they deliver their baby. Her diverse family consists of a biological child, an adopted child and an international exchange student. She is currently pregnant as a gestational carrier for a single father. After her first birth left her feeling cheated out of the delivery she desired, Sara wrestled for years with what to do about it. Sara’s story is truly unique and amazing. In our conversation, she shares the trials she faced while searching for a midwife to assist her with the home birth she desperately desired, her family’s reaction to their adopted Ethiopian son, and how finally coming to terms with her daughter’s birth took her first away from surrogacy and then in the end, back to it. Our conversation about birth trauma and the oh-so-common desire for a “birth re-do” is so incredibly important - and will resonate with so many women. Sara’s beautiful story paints a

In this exciting episode, Jessica Gray describes her four births, three of which were vaginal breech births! Her bicornuate uterus, which is in the shape of a heart, is a hereditary trait that makes it less likely a baby will be able to change position later in pregnancy. By trusting herself and her body, she has given birth in hospitals, a birthing center and at home. Her story highlights the importance of a positive mindset during the birth experience and how a doctor/midwife can empower a birthing mother by allowing her to trust her body and intuition. Her goal is to educate and inform others by spreading the word about breech birth and other normal variations of birth that have become somewhat taboo in the world of birth providers. Jessica is passionate about making sure that people know there are still doctors and midwives who are experienced and comfortable with breech birth… you just may have to search! She also tries to help people find local breech-friendly providers when able through social media

During today’s episode, self-proclaimed birth junkie Yukie McGregor shares the inspiration behind her Dallas Birth Guide and the Birth Community that it created, her primal first birth experience at home and the relief she felt after talking with a therapist after bouts of postpartum depression started to creep in during the first few months after having her baby. In this engaging conversation, Yukie details the comical aspects of her homebirth and how motherhood gave her the opportunity, skills, and the light to work on herself and heal herself. We decided that her birth should inspire a new genre of birth films… comedy! Yukie’s Birth Guide is designed to empower women during their motherhood journey and to provide all the resources they need to make birth planning decisions based on what will make them feel the most comfortable and supported. We love her mission and the services she offers; nothing is more important than women feeling empowered in this season of life. Expectful is a guided meditation a

During today’s episode, Natalie Brenner shares the joy, sadness, and grief she has experienced during her biological, adoptive and foster care motherhood journeys. She describes how her love of all things motherhood helped her navigate through postpartum depression, the intense emotional responsibility of foster parenting and her passion to dispel common myths and assumptions about the connection between adoption and infertility. The foundation of her book, This Undeserved Life: Uncovering the Gifts of Grief and Fullness of Life draws from her wide spectrum of the motherhood experiences and emotions. In this extremely vulnerable conversation, Natalie shares from her heart about her homebirth-turned-emergency-cesarean, how it’s possible to experience and make space for both grief and joy, and what her crazy life is like day to day. Her heart for both mothers and children will inspire you to embrace the moment you are in and give everything you have. Expectful is a guided meditation app for each stage of th

Today’s guest, Rebecca Fraser, openly shares about the heartbreaking loss she felt when she was denied the initial bonding period with her first son, after being moved to the OR to repair a severe vaginal laceration. She recounts the physical and emotional agony of her PTSD and her difficult quest to find support and healing. She also shares the contrasting pure joy and connectedness she felt when holding her second born immediately after having a planned Cesarean birth. Struggling with the length and complexity of her recovery, both physically and emotionally, Rebecca found talking about her unique experience and attending a perinatal mental health class integral to her recovery. As she considered her options for birth when she became pregnant again, she decided it didn’t make any sense to relive the experience that had caused her so much pain. Opting for a planned cesarean, she immediately felt relief and empowerment - bolstered by the support she received from her caring birth team and community both du

Today’s guest, Amy Griffith uses the calming power of yoga and relaxed breathing to slow her life down and to enjoy the present moment. She utilizes these techniques daily as a mother, and found them to be invaluable during each of her four births - including her recent twins’ birth that didn’t go according to plan at all. Amy gets personal on her first two empowering homebirths and the dramatic tale of her twins’ birth, including being threatened with a court order if she didn’t agree to a cesarean. A force to be reckoned with, Amy didn’t back down and secretly pushed her first baby out. We have been so excited to share this story since we first heard about it! We get into how yoga and breathwork affect our pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences, and the joy she feels in helping other women through their motherhood journeys. As a professional dancer in New York City, Amy used yoga to counter the hustle and bustle of city life. She has always been fascinated with pregnancy and after her first baby,

Today’s guest, Echo Zielinski, is a private doula and mother to three children who couldn’t wait to get out of the womb. Echo helps run the non-profit MamaBaby center in Haiti - a birthing center created with the mission of empowering local support to save the lives of mothers and babies who have little-to-no access to prenatal care, education and ongoing support. In 2006, when Echo started assisting birthing mothers, the word ‘doula’ was practically unknown to most people and becoming certified in the practice of midwifery was limited. She offered her time and help to anyone in need and often found herself assisting immigrant women, many of whom had no one else to support them through their births. During our conversation, she shares the intimate details of her own three homebirths, what it’s like to work in a developing country and the difference between pain and suffering.  Echo’s love for women and the birth space is palpable and contagious - we loved this conversation! Expectful is a guided meditation

Heather always desired to be a mom. When she was unable to have children biologically, she and her husband decided to embark on the emotional process of adoption after deeply considering IVF. The couple now have three adopted children, two who have Down Syndrome. Heather shares her emotional motherhood journey, how she raises children with different abilities and what it feels like to receive three miracles. Heather was so completely vulnerable in this conversation and will make you think deeply about your own experience of motherhood, how to step outside of your comfort zone, and how to support families around you that look different than your own. Expectful is a guided meditation app for each stage of the motherhood journey — you can sign up for an exclusive one-month free trial here! In This Episode: ● Why she decided to adopt over the IVF process ● The checklist of what prospective adoptive parents are willing to accept ● The decision to adopt a baby with multiple health concerns, as well as Down Synd

Today’s guest, Lauren Smith Brody is the Founder of The Fifth Trimester Movement and author of The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After a Baby. She worked in the publicity industry for many years as an Editor for Glamour Magazine. During her first pregnancy, she found there to be a lack of resources for women who are transitioning back into their careers after having children. Determined to make a difference, she began to research ways to help companies better support women during their childbearing years. “The Fifth Trimester” was born - focusing on the transitional and critical stage of going back to work. Culturally, the United States falls short of what she considers to be the gold standard in maternity/paternity leave for a mother's emotional health and a baby’s physical needs. Her foundation works to promote deep cultural shifts in corporations on the financial viability of retaining women in the workplace after childbirth. As a woman who has experienc

After her oldest was conceived during her honeymoon, Ashley struggled with long-term postpartum depression that lasted through her second pregnancy. Despite being caught up in the typical throes of motherhood with 2 kids under 2, they began to notice that their older son wasn’t developing verbal skills, leading to a series of evaluations that resulted in an unexpected autism diagnosis. Through a local Early Start program that offers in-home Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy, she and her partner have been able to create and maintain a family environment where both their boys can flourish. Yet, Ashley doesn’t hide the fact that their journey has been incredibly difficult at times. She shares her struggles, her joys, and the contradictions of accepting and synthesizing both so other mothers who may be on a similar journey feel supported and know that they are not alone. She also offers advice on coping strategies, how she takes care of herself and how she and her partner make time for both children.

Dez and her same-sex partner chose their own path to getting pregnant — after carefully selecting a sperm donor through a personal connection, they successfully performed at-home insemination with sterile tools purchased on Amazon. The couple has been able to use the same donor for both of their children and maintain a relationship with him that feels just right. Dez had two distinctively different births — during her first birth, it was decided to induce labor at 39 weeks. Her blood pressure plummeted after her first epidural and the staff gave her a second. When her contractions started, the staff prepped her for it to take awhile, but her labor from there was unbelievably fast! Throughout her next pregnancy, she combated gestational diabetes and a complication during birth which led to a NICU stay for her son and the possibility of losing her own life. Dez’s story may be unique but its themes are so common — reminding us that every journey into motherhood takes us to the edge of ourselves and also awake

From a very young age, Stephanie Tillman was called to care for people. After a short time of studying to become a physician, she discovered the model of midwifery was more aligned with her personal goals of providing humanistic care to people. She is a passionate and vocal advocate for women’s rights, queer and trans health care, reproductive rights and for breaking down power dynamics in health care relationships. On her Feminist Midwife blog, she writes about her experiences in serving people’s sexual and reproductive health needs and provides educational resources for providers looking to adopt an empathetic approach. Her compassionate method of care includes talking through the intimate experience of gynecological care, the importance of asking for consent, and empowering the people she provides care to. During this inspirational and informative conversation, she shares why it’s important that caregivers prioritze the transfer of power and knowledge to the patient and details the process she uses when

When Jannie and Carrie decided to have children they both hoped for the experience of being pregnant. After multiple IUI and IVF fertility treatments for both of them, Carrie was finally the one to get pregnant. The story of her pregnancy and how they both transitioned to motherhood together is raw and beautiful. The playful couple is trying to get pregnant again. They have had several unsuccessful insemination attempts and choose to stay positive and supportive despite the challenges. They are well aware of the physical, emotional and mental drains that go along with the fertility process but the love and fun a baby brings into their lives make it all worth it. We talk about career, going back to work after baby and how they make it all work while running a booming business together - hint, hint… it takes lots of communication! Jannie and Carrie’s spunky outlook on life, motherhood and work will have you laughing and also thinking about how similar our stories are even when they might look different o

Today’s guest, Anna Gannon, is a Mother, Writer, Yoga Teacher and Co-Founder and Community Guide at Expectful.com. At 7 ½ months pregnant she was let go from her position as a yoga instructor and uncertain of her next steps. Anna had always struggled with depression and while she had never previously used meditation as a tool, a timely connection opened her up to the world of mindfulness - and had a life-saving impact on her postpartum experience. Anna hadn’t done a lot of preparation for her daughter’s birth, reflecting the experience of her mother who never complained and had seven children. But, when she experienced breastfeeding issues so severe her nipples were cracked and bleeding and she had difficulty sleeping, the meditation she’d been experimenting with would become a non-negotiable daily practice. Anna is passionate about the benefits of meditation for mothers. Facing postpartum depression and at one point questioning whether her daughter would be better off without her, she describes meditatio

Today’s guest, Vanessa Evigan, was uncertain about her ability to conceive, given she was a bit older than most women who are interested in getting pregnant. As it turned out, she and her partner got pregnant on their very first try during their honeymoon. After her first gestational diabetes test resulted in a negative, she started becoming ill to the point that she feared losing her baby.  After another test confirming she did indeed have gestational diabetes, Vanessa embarked on a journey of reconciling her very health-conscious lifestyle with the unexpected outcome of facing a serious health condition.   Finding support through the community of her blog, Her Morning Coffee, she was able to manage her diabetes well and maintain a positive attitude. She and her partner decided to work with a doula to help birth go smoothly. She never anticipated that even though her healthy son was ultimately born via C-section, that the support she received from her doula both during and after birth were invaluable. We