Doing It At Home - The Home Birth Podcast

In today's episode we're talking about all of the amazingly helpful resources we used when planning our home birth: from Ina May Gaskin books, to the Hypnobabies audio course, to The Business Of Being Born documentary, to conversations with our amazing midwives. We go through the home birth resources that we personally used, along with pregnancy and birth planning resources we intend to use for baby #2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 Aug 201735min

In today’s episode we’re chatting with Jessica Thomas, to hear about her empowered birth choice to deliver in a hospital. Her story is beautiful and it's almost like she had a home birth experience in a hospital! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Aug 201738min

Today we have the awesome honor and privilege of bringing you an empowering conversation with Ashley Woolsey - mother of 3, doula and creator of Motherhood Tabutiful (pronounced “ta-beautiful”) - a blog and online community for mothers to come together and share their stories of motherhood. To give some more context on Motherhood Tabutiful, here is it’s mission statement straight from the site: “Our mission is to create a safe and judgment free space for women and mothers to share their stories of the taboo subjects that surround motherhood.  It is with this space, that we hope to help normalize these subjects.  It is with this space, that we hope to offer comfort and solidarity among those who are hurting.  It is with this space, that we hope to encourage those struggling, to speak up and reach out.  We realize that motherhood is beautiful, and amazing, and fulfilling. But we also know that it is ugly, and dark, and difficult.  And so, it is with this space, that we hope to wrap our arms and our hearts around you, for a virtual hug, so that even in the ugliest, and darkest, and most difficult of times, you will find solace in knowing that you are not alone.” Ashley and Sarah connected a while back on Instagram. Then with the birth of Motherhood Tabutiful, we knew we wanted to have Ashley on to share her perspective and riff on some topics with us. We chat about that isolation that many women feel during motherhood. And for Ashley, she found that social media and finding a community was extremely helpful. So why not create an easy-to-access platform for moms to share, read, learn, inspire...particularly around topics that others will shy away from due to fear or discomfort. Ashley has crafted Motherhood Tabutiful to be judgment-free and a safe space to delve into these types of things and normalize them. So of course, we chat about home birth and how that ties into the categories of “taboo” and uncomfortable conversations.  Listen in to hear more, and check out Motherhood Tabutiful to learn about what Ashley’s up to! Links: Tabutiful website: http://www.motherhoodtabutiful.com/ Tabutiful Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodtabutiful/ The Peanut Gallery Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepeanutgallery/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 DIAH Shop: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Needed:  https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Birthfit Prenatal Training: https://birthfit.com/b-prenatal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 Aug 201737min

In today’s episode, we’re talking with Kayleigh Johnson, mama to 14-month-old Amelia and wife to DJ. Kayleigh and her family live in Massachusetts, where they are planning for the birth of baby number two. Amelia was born in a hospital with an epidural and pitocin experience. To Kayleigh, the pitocin contractions felt very unnatural. They way she puts it, “it felt like it was happening to me.” So after some soul searching, they decided on a home birth for this pregnancy. A big influence? Podcasts and social media! Kayleigh got to see and connect with real people, real stories that seemed attainable and allowed her to see the experience for herself. Kayleigh’s faith is integral in her life, and so it’s been a part of her birth planning as well. She was able to find a Christian midwife who aligned with her belief system (she even found her midwife on social media! Thank you, technology!). This synergy has been important for the connection she’s seeking with her birth team. Kayleigh also has visions she is praying for in her birth. She’s believing for a pain-free, no tear, en caul birth. We’re happy and honored to hold that intention for her. And we’re very excited to share her story with you! Links: Supernatural Childbirth - https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Childbirth-Jackie-Mize/dp/0892747560 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 DIAH Shop: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Needed:  https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Birthfit Prenatal Training: https://birthfit.com/b-prenatal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Aug 201730min

We have a fun and little different kind of episode for you today. Katy emailed us after her great friend and fellow DIAH mama Katie McCormick (from episode 73) shared the podcast with her. Katy thanked us for what we’re up to with the show. As a “non-mom” (though she plans to be in the future), she’s always been fascinated by pregnancy and birth. She’s been exploring the option of home birth for herself when that time comes.  So we figured...let’s get on the phone, hit record and see what happens!  We believe that what Katy’s doing is an awesome example. If women who are not yet mothers are interested in exploring their future options, educating themselves, having conversations with other women at different stages of motherhood, then that means we have a lot more women empowered, confident and supported in their decisions. We are all for that! This doesn’t mean all women need to be doing this. It’s whatever works for you. We would just like to see more positive energy around conversations of pregnancy and birth, regardless of what phase of it someone is in.  So Katy shares with us some of her thoughts on why home birth would be a good fit for her. For one, she likes to take the most natural route possible with things. She’s also a more private person, and looks at birth as a very sacred time.  We also talk about how resources like the Doing It At Home podcast have helped, supported and informed on home birth related topics.  So if you are not pregnant yet, but considering home birth as an option, this is a perfect episode for you! Links: Ann Margolis episode - https://www.diahpodcast.com/single-post/2017/01/27/Normal-Natural-and-Joyful-Childbirth-with-Anne-Margolis Ann Margolis website - http://homesweethomebirth.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098GVJ9KL?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGoKeBfEZ143sWU7V9I5Gdg DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe  Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Aug 201735min

In today’s episode, we’re talking with Becky Diaz. Becky is a personal trainer, nutritionist, and placenta encapsulator who used fitness and nutrition to help prepare for her most recent home birth.  Becky and her husband Hugo live in Los Angeles, California and have 3 children: Riley, Juilan and River. Her first was born in a hospital, where she experienced an epidural and pitocin. For babies 2 and 3, they decided to go with home birth. Becky was really interested in how she could use the experiences of pregnancy and birth to really push herself and learn about herself more. In our conversation, we talk a lot about the preparation she did for her third birth for baby River. This pregnancy involved a lot more mental work - being more mindful and not just muscling through the birth. This was more about trust and surrender to the process. Becky utilized techniques like meditation to support her. She used a visualization practice of seeing the sensations as waves crashing and washing away, rather than a painful contraction. Birth for her was incredibly spiritual, and she says it was the most meditative she’s ever felt.  Becky is a beautiful examples of knowing yourself, tapping into that and using it to help you prepare for such an incredible experience like birth is. Another key piece of advice from her that we totally agree with: “Don’t listen to someone else’s horror story.” In other words, be mindful of the material you take in during pregnancy and birth preparation. It can really make an impact.  Links:  Becky's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckydiazfit/ Becky's website: http://beckydiazfitness.blogspot.com/ Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098GVJ9KL?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGoKeBfEZ143sWU7V9I5Gdg DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe  Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Aug 201737min

In today’s episode, you get a little bit of a glimpse of our wacky world and Matthew’s and my silly banter.  Heads up on the audio for this episode: we know it’s not the most awesome thing ever. We’re kinda snobs about our audio quality (well, Matthew definitely is!), so it was quite irritating when we realized there was an issue after we recorded. Oh well, the show must go on! So if you didn’t notice anything, then forget we said anything!  Anyway, in this episode we’re just having fun. We’re keeping it pretty light and breezy, unscripted and our goofy, uncensored selves. We go over some updates and future things for Doing It At Home, also touch on some of the recent news in the birthing world. Like have you heard of this couple named Beyonce and Jay-Z? Well they’re kinda a big deal, and they just happened to welcome twins into the world - and technically in a home birth if the articles are correct.  And then things get really crazy - Matthew and I play a fun little word association game: home birth edition! Listen to find out what comes to Matthew’s mind when I throw out birth related words to him in rapid-fire fashion! Let’s just say we had a few laughs! Enjoy! Links: Beyonce article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4592136/Beyonce-prepares-home-birth-Hollywood-mansion.html Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098GVJ9KL?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGoKeBfEZ143sWU7V9I5Gdg DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe  Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Aug 201728min

In today's episode we're talking with Katie McCormick, an American ex-pat living in Ireland who is choosing home birth to welcome her baby into the world. Katie and her husband Ryan decided to leave their life in Portland, Oregon - quit their jobs and travel across Europe. About a year ago, they decided to settle in Ireland, eloped and got pregnant shortly after.  Katie knew immediately that she wanted to have a home birth. But being an expat in a new country, she had no idea where to begin as far as planning and resources. To use her words from her email to us: “When we got pregnant we were still living in a very temporary living space (think garage remodeled into a loft) on a sheep farm where we were 2 hours from the hospital, and no midwifes were willing to travel to us, so my initial search for beginning the birth plan kept coming up dry until one day through some magical universal energy I found a woman that recommended our midwife to us! However we would have to move 2 hours south to be close enough to be in her “region,” so thank  the stars we just recently have found a home on the southern coast of Ireland and got the “go ahead” from our midwife that we can birth in this house as we are close enough to her….. We are away from all our family, we are still foreigners in a new environment, yet we just know this is divine timing and this is where our child is meant to be born. The house we are living in now is a 150 year old stone cottage, and our landlady said many many babies have been born here; it feels quite kismet. Most people back in the states think we are little crazy/can’t believe we are doing this without family around etc, but truly we have never felt more supported than the community of people in our village, and little did I know we moved to an area where most women prefer home birth and have multiple stories to share. It is a small community, but because it is on the ocean, rugged, and so natural in this area, it is like a vortex of very creative and earthy people-it is an energy that makes you feel invincible.” We speak with Katie in the last few weeks of her pregnancy and get to hear how she’s feeling as the time in her pregnancy winds down and they prepare for baby’s arrival. She also shares the experience of what’s it like to have all of their family back in the States as they plan for home birth in their new home and country. Tune in and get ready for another inspiring pre-home birth story! Links: Dublin Doulas - http://www.dublinfamilydoulas.com/ Hypnobirth course - https://us.hypnobirthing.com/ Ina may  spiritual midwifery - https://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156  www.wakingupinireland.com Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098GVJ9KL?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGoKeBfEZ143sWU7V9I5Gdg DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe  Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1 Aug 201735min