049: HOME BIRTH STORY - The 11 Pound Home Birth Baby with Natalie Bancroft and Laura Fifield

Can birth be redemptive? We often hear on the show how different birth experiences bring the opportunity to heal and take back your power.  This is an element of our conversation with Sarah Leahy. Sarah shares the varying aspects of her two birth experiences. Her first, an unplanned cesarean with multiple interventions, left her feeling like her body was broken and it had failed. Following her birth, Sarah experienced PTSD, anxiety, guilt and depression. She knew she wanted to have another baby and wanted to create a different result the next time around. So after initially planning to birth at home with a midwife, Sarah and her husband Adrian eventually opted to “do it at home” by themselves. The second birth experience was, as Sarah puts it, “a complete 180 from the first birth.” And the best description of her HBAC that we can surmise - “NORMAL.” Yes, a completely normal event, and yet incredibly powerful. Following her second birth, Sarah’s new belief around herself and her body was that it was not her that failed the first time - it was the system she subscribed to. Her confidence returned, and she has since grown more active in the birthing community by creating outlets for others to share their stories in both her Facebook page, Autonomous Birth Project and her Instagram @birthuprising. Links: Sarah’s Facebook page for Autonomous Birth Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2232618540316867/ Sarah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthuprising/ Our website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3jKtIYv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diahpodcast/ DIAH Store: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ DIAH Merch: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe Donate to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 Juni 202147min

How do you even describe the floodgate that opens the moment you meet your baby? This is a question that comes up in today’s conversation, when Rose Schieck shares details from both of her birth experiences. Plus the fact that she was born at home herself, and had witnessed her sister’s births in both center and home settings. Her first birth was in a hospital, however it felt like a home birth, with the energy and intention that Rose brought to the space, she was determined to have it match her vision.  When it came time for her second birth, she and her husband Hugo planned for a home birth.  Not only do we get birth stories in this chat but we also talk to Rose about mindfulness and how her work as a wellness coach and yogi has intersected with her birth experiences. Things we talk about in this episode: informed consent, body autonomy, birth vision, yoni steaming, yoga for birth method, sounds during labor Links: Rose’s website: www.mamastewell.com Rose’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mamastewell/ Rose’s business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamastewell/ Rose’s personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseschieck/ Yoni Steaming: https://moonessence.life/ 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 Merch: https://bit.ly/3qhwgAe DIAH Resources: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15 Juni 20211h 4min

How could you possibly have a peaceful home birth during a turbulent time in your life?  Ask Michaela Sarver, because she did! In January of 2020, Michaela took custody of her sister’s 3 children, then found out she was pregnant with her second child on the day that schools closed because of COVID-19. So, there was a lot going on for her and her husband Kris. Michaela walks us through details of both of her home births, from the differences between them and the lessons learned.  Things we talk about in this episode: “Pregnant in America,” “Business of Being Born,” nonstress test, membrane sweep, going past due date, birth pool, birth during the time of COVID Links: 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 Merch: ttps://bit.ly/3qhwgAe DIAH Resources: https://yoursuccessfulhomebirth.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Juni 202148min

What influences your birth choices? It’s helpful to look at this, to see what matters to you when it comes to birth, and how you can create a birth environment and culture around you that supports you best. Today we’re chatting with Martina Cifiello about her birth journey. From a hospital birth with her first child to a birth center with her second to a home birth with her third, Martina walks us through the factors that inspired the changes and evolutions of her births along the way.  Martina shares how supportive and helpful her husband Simone has been over the years as well, taking a team approach to everything. And fun fact: Martina used the same midwife for her home birth that we had for our home birth, Debbie Schneider of Dawning Life Midwifery. So cool to have that connection! Things we talk about in this episode: hospital birth, birth center, water birth, Bradley Method, pelvic floor health, birth during COVID, family-centered birth Links: Martina’s Bradley Method teacher page: http://www.bradleybirth.com/martinacifiello Martina’s PT page: https://benchmark.urpt.com/locations/marietta-east-cobb/ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1 Juni 202152min

How’s our conception journey going? We answer that question in today’s episode. It’s been about 13 months since we actively began “trying” to get pregnant. There have been ups and downs. We first opened up on this topic on the podcast back in September 2020 with part 1, then followed up with a part 2 in February 2021. Now here we are in May 2021 with some new experiences and insights. From how we feel about medical interventions to changes in our bodies. Plus how you can learn from a breakdown, while in the middle of it.  Then we share how we’ll be moving forward and how our intimacy has been impacted by everything. If you haven’t listened to part 1 and 2, we definitely recommend doing so (links below! Links: Our Conception Journey Part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-vulnerable-and-transparent-conversation-on-conception/id1153134918?i=1000491733548 Our Conception Journey Part 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-conception-journey-part-2-plus-how-we-handle-breakdowns/id1153134918?i=1000508378336 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 Conversations With God: https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-God-Uncommon-Dialogue-Book/dp/0399142789 The Abundance Book: https://www.amazon.com/Abundance-Book-John-Randolph-Price/dp/1561703478/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-rsf-lq2a1_0?cv_ct_cx=the+abundance+book&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwna2FBhDPARIsACAEc_UqokG023JPiNAV-_LQ489JpHs38TTY1ncm8pvjOWySlZEtQ_3dWiYaAsFGEALw_wcB&hvadid=174235410430&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9010791&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5719979768577707133&hvtargid=kwd-131487602&hydadcr=24657_9648987&keywords=the+abundance+book&pd_rd_i=1561703478&pd_rd_r=86234ced-cf52-404a-bd56-9d941a264a4e&pd_rd_w=D0qRm&pd_rd_wg=C524B&pf_rd_p=26b0e770-de1c-4342-bf97-c57fd874dbaf&pf_rd_r=GMPNPEYDPN8HRF5ZCHZK&psc=1&qid=1621873923&sr=1-1-49946e88-733b-44df-869b-c05699555c56 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 Maj 20211h 9min

What does it mean to become a student of birth? For Lauren Leduc, that was the role she took on when she planned for her home birth. “I took on pregnancy and birth like it was my major in college!” Who else can relate to that? Lauren shares her birth story of her daughter Gemma. Unsure at first if she wanted to have children, things shifted for Lauren after she turned 35. Eventually she and her husband Arthur made plans to grow the family.  Lauren walks us through some of the challenges that popped up along the way during the pregnancy, the magical birth experience and then the unplanned transfer to the hospital after birth because of complications with the placenta.  One of the big takeaways from this episode is to use your resources and go with your intuition. Things we talk about in this episode: subchorionic haematoma, progesterone, velamentous cord insertion, postpartum hospital transfer, fetal ejection reflex, D&C Links: Lauren’s website: www.Thrivewithlauren.com Lauren’s yoga studio: www.trueloveyogakc.com Lauren’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivewithlaurenleduc/ Sacred Song Home Birth: http://sacredsonghomebirth.com/ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 Maj 20211h 10min

Who are you going to be when birthing time comes? Today is a fun episode. Not only is it a part 2, but a highly requested one. AND we get to talk to some of our favorite people. Anthony and Erica joined us back in August 2020 to talk about their pregnancy and plans for their upcoming home birth. We’ve known them since 2013 and they’re pretty much family.  So we’re honored to pick the conversation back up from where we left off, and hear the full birth story of baby Ava. If you haven’t heard part 1 (episode no. 287), we highly recommend you do so -- the link for that will be in the show notes of this episode. Things we talk about in this episode: maternity photoshoot, moving through pain aka sensations, a high tear of the waters breaking, cervical lip, the Matrona, birth partner support Links: Part 1 of Anthony and Erica’s story: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/home-birth-story-being-very-intentional-planning-your/id1153134918?i=1000489077553 Erica’s website: https://www.ejcounselingatl.com/ Erica’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejcounselingatl/ Anthony’s website: https://www.anthonystrayhorn.com/ Anthony’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strayfit.lifestyle/ Anthony’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/strayfitatl The Matrona: https://thematrona.com/ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11 Maj 20211h 10min

How do you plan for a positive hospital birth experience, when you were originally intending to have a home birth? This is such a great topic to cover. For many who start out with a home birth plan, sometimes that changes for various reasons. Sarah Schade shares her story with us. From a diagnosis of an “incompetent” cervix (definitely not a term we’re fond of around here) to another diagnosis of IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction), Sarah and her husband Jeremiah went through a lot of ups and downs.  She shares all the thoughts and emotions that came up, and ultimately the arrival of her daughter Clementine.  Things we talk about in this episode: incompetent cervix, cervical cerclage, IUGR, D&C procedure for placenta removal, home birth plan, hospital birth From Sarah: “It was really difficult being labeled as “incompetent”, or “high risk”, especially because being healthy and active is something really important to me, and I never thought I would have any problems with my pregnancy, being so young and healthy. We shifted from working only with our midwife, to the medical treatment model, which neither of us envisioned for our pregnancy… My pregnancy was filled with joy, sadness, fear, and anger. Our baby is healthy, and we are so in love with our little fighter, and her strength. But we have learned so much about the health care system, how women are treated, and why women need to be given more options in treatment. We had a lot of positive aspects to her birth, but were also threatened with an episiotomy, forceps, and vacuum. Our midwife and the hospital nursing staff was amazing, but the doctor on call severely violated some of my wishes without consent.  I want to share my birth story, because it’s not enough to believe that “doctors know best” when in actuality birth experiences matter to the mental and physical health of women and their babies.” Links: Sarah’s Schade’s website: SarahSchade.com 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Maj 20211h 19min