Doing It At Home - The Home Birth Podcast

Latest Episodes:

376: 45 Hour Hospital Birth and 4.5 Hour Precipitous Home Birth with Jazmin and Ben Marshall (DIAH Classic) Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy this DIAH Classic today, featuring a brand new bonus segment at the beginning of the episode - a short interview with listener Malina and her mother Char.

What inspired your journey to birth empowerment?

For today’s guests, Jazmin and Ben, their journey began in 2017 in Seattle following an ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. It prompted them to do research and plan for future pregnancies in a different way. According to Jazmin, “It was my first experience realizing I had to advocate for myself with medical professionals, especially considering I'm a black woman, as many brushed off my concerns and pain as "normal."”

Fast forward to Atlanta in 2018 when they welcomed their first daughter, Elyana. It was a 45-hour vaginal birth in a hospital. Jazmin says, “That experience inspired me to dive much deeper and do additional prep for my second birth (chiropractic care, Spinning Babies, pelvic floor PT, a hypnobirthing class, and the DIAH podcast, to name a few).”

Then in 2020, Jazmin and Ben had a home birth with their second daughter Sareya. “ I experienced the fetal ejection reflex, had a retained placenta, and absolutely no tearing. Both of my births were empowering in completely different ways,” Jazmin says.

Jazmin switched care providers with both births, something we go into further in the interview. Also, COVID-19 influenced some of the plans and decisions with their second birth.

And we mentioned Atlanta, so Jazmin and Ben live close by! We’re very much looking forward to hanging out in person in future DIAH events and gatherings.

This birth story includes mention of: ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, changing providers, hospital birth, home birth, epidural

Links:

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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

375: Pregnancy Loss at 21 Weeks and the Grief Process with Katy Drew Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

Today we welcome back previous guest Katy Drew, who originally joined us in 2017 to talk about future planning for home birth and why “non-moms” are important in birth conversations.

When Katy and her husband Nick became pregnant in September 2021, they planned for a home birth with the assistance of a group of midwives they found in the area where they live in Puerto Rico. They also worked with an OBGYN to support their care.

At 21 weeks, there was no heartbeat. Katy walks us through the process: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual that ensued as they prepared for an induced hospital birth experience.

This conversation is deeply moving and powerful. We honor Katy, Nick and their son Angelito Grace. We’re so grateful to be able to share their story and celebrate Angelito’s soul journey.

Links:

Our first interview with Katy in 2017: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000390984986
First interview with Katie McCormick: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000390555396
Second Interview with Katie McCormick: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-it-at-home/id1153134918?i=1000394561583
Zoe Adelle Books: https://www.zoeadelle.co.uk/books/
Zoe Adelle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeadelle/
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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

374: Birth as a Rite of Passage: Messages for Birthers and Birth Workers with Blyss Young, LM, CPM Mar 22, 2022

Show notes

Where will you hear about home birth story details, the difference between modern and traditional midwifery, what to do when you are inspired to enter birth work and the connection of birth with sexuality and spirituality?

This episode of the podcast! We’re joined by Blyss Young, LM CPM.

Blyss is a home birth midwife, teacher, circle facilitator, energy healer, reiki practitioner, mother, yoga teacher, entrepreneur, breathwork facilitator, placenta encapsulator and natural living consultant. Through her guidance and love centered approach she has supported thousands of families to birth in the ways they feel the most empowered. She is a firm believer in intuition, the sacred and rituals. At the heart of all of her work is a deeply rooted belief in the brilliant design of the universe and our integral part in all of it.

You’ve also probably heard Blyss alongside Dr. Stu Fischbein on their podcast “Birthing Instincts.”

We get into so many powerful topics in this episode. Blyss shares her history into birth work, details of her own births, elements of midwifery and advice for current and future birth workers, plus connecting with your sexuality in the birth journey.

Links:

Blyss’s Website: https://www.birthingblyss.com/
Byss’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthingblyss/
Birthing Instincts Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birthing-instincts/id1552816683
The Innate Journey: https://www.theinnatejourney.com/
Traditional Midwifery Project: https://www.birthingblyss.com/traditionalmidwifery
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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

373: IUGR Misdiagnosis That Almost Disrupted Home Birth Plans with Rosa Clemens Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

What if a questionable diagnosis was threatening your plans to have a home birth?

In today’s home birth stories, Rosa Clemens shares about the birth of both of her children.

Her first pregnancy included a misdiagnosis of IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) which presented some interesting hurdles regarding planning for home birth and the doctor’s initial recommendations to induce.

We also get to hear about her second home birth and how helpful her midwives were to achieve her desired outcome. Also the use of oxygen during the birth.

Things we talk about in this episode:

Helpful resources for planning for home birth
PCOS
IUGR misdiagnosis
Pregnancy loss
Utilizing oxygen during home birth

Links:

Rosa’s YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/LeadmareLibertad
Rosa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadmare.libertad/
What The Health documentary: https://www.whatthehealthfilm.com/
Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/
Business of Being Born: https://amzn.to/3JblPXZ
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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

372: Postpartum Hemorrhage and a Safe, Successful Hospital Transfer with Janette Silberman (DIAH CLASSIC) Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

What if...?

Probably the biggest question that comes up around the choice to have a home birth. Whether you ask it to yourself, your birth team, or you have other people ask you - it comes up.

As today’s guest Janette puts it - “Things did not go to plan, birth never does.”

We talk about Janette’s decision to have a home birth - both she and her husband work in a hospital (her as a childbirth educator and doula and her husband as an RN), and so after feeling hesitant to give birth there, she leaned in and took the time to see what felt best. They continued with joint care between their midwives and hospital visits, but planned for a home birth.

We hear baby Liv’s birth story, plus the details of Janette’s postpartum transfer to address her blood loss, which had been managed effectively by her midwives and while she was no longer bleeding, a transfusion was the best course of action to support Janette in recovering and feeling better.

In Janette’s words: “When you say you are having a home birth people often respond with "what if there is an emergency?" My postpartum hemorrhage was definitely emergent and my midwife handled it like a bad ass! Most people don't understand the skill set of home birth midwives and the supplies that they carry for such emergencies. My husband and I always felt safe.”

Links:

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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

371: Holy Castor Oil! From a Marathon Hospital Birth to a Sprint Home Birth with Nicole Ashkar Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

How does it feel to go from a marathon of a birth for your first, to a sprint race for your second?!

In today’s home birth story, Nicole shares about why she switched to a home birth plan for her second birth, after having a hospital birth for her first.

We also talk about choosing a midwife that works best for you, even if that means driving 1 hour to see them!

Plus - castor oil. It comes up often in conversations around birth and moving labor along. Nicole shares her experience with it, plus how her birth changed her as a person.

From Nicole:

“I did everything and I mean everything I could to ensure a homebirth. But when labor stalled in the 20th hour I considered all my options and that included a castor oil induction. I’d love to share my experience and the good, bad and ugly (also hilarious) side effects. I’d also love to talk about my first birth comparisons and the differences I’ve found with a long slow birth vs the fast birth!”

Links:

Mavs Top Buns: https://mavstopbuns.com/
Mavs Top Buns Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mavstopbuns/
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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

370: A Doula Learns About Fetal Ejection Reflex The Hard Way with Kaitlin McGreyes, founder of Be Her Village Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

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 my third baby. I was expecting the birth to be EXACTLY like my vbac labor. and it was in terms of timing and how it started. Both started at 6am while I was in bed with small Braxton hicks that had a pinch at the peak. That's where the similarities ended. My 21 hour vbac was gentle and peaceful and spiritual. My home birth was moving faster than I expected. My midwife only made it because she was smart enough to come without me asking. And in under 6 hours I went from maybe being in labor to roaring my baby out in a half filled birth pool. I experienced FER and instead of pushing her out I was holding her back so I didn't tear. Unlike what you see on YouTube our home birth involved both of us screaming lol. It was fast and furious, much like my daughter.”

Things we talk about in this episode:

Cesarean birth
Hospital VBAC
Reasons for having a home birth
Doula work influencing your own birthing choices
Preparing for birth while you are pregnant
Be Her Village registry

Links:

Be Her Village Website: https://www.behervillage.com/
Be Her Village Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behervillage/
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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

369: A Peaceful Birth Followed by PPD and PTSD with Jamie Lazzeri Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Today’s home birth story features Jamie Lazzeri, an Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner, DONA Trained Birth Doula and Holistic Pregnancy Coach.

Jamie talks about her obsession with birth before becoming a mother, her doula work and how that all influenced the kind of birth she wanted to have for her and her baby.

She also shares a number of great resources that helped her in her journey - including the importance of learning from and sharing birth stories and the benefits of prenatal yoga.

Jamie’s birth was peaceful and empowering overall. Coming out of the birth, she realized a number of triggers that brought on PPD and activated hidden PTSD, related to past sexual trauma. She realizes that her birth opened up the space to look at the traumas and begin to heal. This is an incredibly courageous and important conversation to have, as many experience this but do not talk about it.

From Jamie: “I wish I had heard someone talk about this so I could have gotten the help I needed before going through that for so long and I imagine if I'm able to be on your podcast, there will be birthing people that could benefit from this information and not feel alone.”

Things we talk about in this episode:

Importance of birth stories
Why home birth
Prenatal yoga
Resources for birth and postpartum planning
PPD and PTSD
EMDR therapy

Links:

368: First-time Mom and Doula at 22 with a Positive Home Birth Story with Katherine Ward (DIAH CLASSIC) Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

What is intuitive birthing?

It can look different for each of us. But the general philosophy of allowing for the process to be what it is for you in your own unique way is a beautiful concept that comes up in our interview today.

Katherine Ward shares her home birth story of her daughter Remi with us. Katherine started her doula training at 18-years-old. Through this experience she determined that when the time came for her to give birth, she wanted something different from what she witnessed in the hospital.

By the time she met her husband Connor, she knew she wanted a home birth. This sparks a great dialogue in the interview about how “yet-to-be” mothers can approach conversations with their partners about birthing plans in a loving, open and empowered way.

Katherine also shares about some of the challenges in pregnancy in staying connected as a couple and preparing for the birth experience, as well as some unexpected postpartum challenges. And of course, we’ve got all the details of birthing time!

Links:

Katherine’s Business Instagram: @genesisbirthmassage
Katherine’s Business Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/genesisbirth.massage/
Katherine’s Email: genesisbirth.massage@gmail.com
Lacy from Central Iowa Midwife - https://centraliowamidwife.com/
Birthing from within - https://www.amazon.com/Birthing-Within-Extra-Ordinary-Childbirth-Preparation/dp/0965987302
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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

367: Planned HBAC Turned Emergency Hospital Transfer and C-Section with Andrea Sidun Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

“Home birth is not all about just the “birth” part.” - a well stated concept from today’s guest Andrea Sidun.

Andrea talks to us about her 3rd birth - her first planned home birth, and the sequence of events throughout the experience that led to a hospital transfer.

She also walks us through some of the details of her first two births and how they influenced her choice to plan for an HBAC.

Listening to DIAH helped her in her preparation. When she listened to other HBAC stories she thought, “if they can do it, I can do it!”

She also shares how she is processing the hospital transfer element of her birth and the emotions that can come with that.

Here are some of her words:

“Since he is our last baby, it was pretty devastating to me that things did not go as planned. I was more than just disappointed, and still have some grief and trauma thinking of the sequence of events. I have a lot to be grateful for too though. The “home” part of my home birth experience was hands down the best out of my three children. The care and attention the midwives provided, along with the comfort of being home, made it my easiest labor by far. I am also so thankful our midwife was so experienced, and knew when to make the call that we needed to transfer. It really validated our trust in her, and her decisiveness may have possibly saved our baby’s life. If I had to do it over again, I would hands down still choose to plan a home birth. I wish so much that I could have delivered at home, but I have comfort knowing that my c-section was likely unavoidable and not caused by any medical interventions. I think my story is important because it goes to show that a home birth is not all about just the “birth” part, and that everything you go through during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum is important too. It also highlights the importance of choosing a provider you know has your family’s best interests in mind, and who won’t take any unnecessary risks for the sake of their own pride. My home birth team took such good care of us during pregnancy and labor, and even though they weren't there for the birth, they came and visited us at home postpartum. We could just tell they really cared for us, and put their whole hearts into the entire home birth experience.”

Things we talk about in this episode:

Impact of not preparing or planning for your birth
VBAC in a hospital
Listening to birth stories for inspiration
Hiring a doula
Talking to your partner about home birth (especially if they’re not fully on board)
An interesting call to 911 for hospital transfer
Post c-section complications

Links:

The VBAC Link Podcast: https://www.thevbaclink.com/podcast/
The Positive Birth Company: https://thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk/
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 Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/
DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe
Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9

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