Content note: This episode includes the story of a baby who dies. If you are not in a space to hear about this topic, I trust you know what to do.

From the very beginning of Natalie's second pregnancy, she felt that something was wrong. As early as the first trimester, she experienced breathing issues, swelling, and eventually severe headaches. When she brought these symptoms to her care providers, they were dismissed as simply "pregnancy."

In her second trimester, she was finally diagnosed with HELLP syndrome. To save her life, she had to deliver her baby via emergency cesarean at just 23 weeks and 6 days gestation. Her daughter, Serena Joy, survived in the NICU for five days.

In the midst of such unimaginable shock and tragedy, Natalie found peace and healing through her faith. In that hospital room, she felt the presence and peace of God, as well as deep compassion and love for others who were walking through difficult seasons.

This is only part one of Natalie's story. Tune in next week to hear part two.

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Emily's first pregnancy at twenty came in the midst of heroin addiction and an abusive relationship — and became her path to sobriety. She had an unmedicated hospital birth that, while fast, came with the usual interventions: coached pushing, an unnecessary episiotomy, and IV fluids that made breastfeeding a struggle.

Years later, after a stint as an L&D nurse left her disillusioned with the system she'd once hoped to change, Emily chose a home birth midwife for her second baby. When labor came, something quiet and deep told her she wanted to be alone. She never called the midwife. Her son was born ten minutes after she woke her husband, and the midwife later told her, "You could probably just do this on your own next time."

She took it to heart. Her third baby was a fully wild pregnancy — no scans, no appointments — and a surprise breech free birth that she navigated with calm and confidence.

Her fourth, after gaining perspective from years as a postpartum nurse, led her back to minimal prenatal care and a free birth complicated by a face presentation. That experience shifted something in her. She still advocates fiercely for women trusting their intuition, but she's let go of any dogma, and says if another baby comes, she'll likely invite a trusted midwife to be with her.

Find Emily on Substack @theworkofwomen

And on Instagram @tend.her.heart

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Lindsee's first birth was a fairly typical hospital experience—and it left her feeling there had to be a better way to bring life into the world.

When it came time to choose where her second baby would be born, she opted for a midwife-run birth center, and the difference was profound. The experience was respectful, empowering, and deeply positive. Like so many after a redeeming birth, Lindsee became fascinated by all things birth and eventually went on to become a doula herself.

Pregnant with her third, she eagerly began planning a home birth. Tragically, that pregnancy ended in a devastating second-trimester loss due to a rare genetic anomaly. Much of how the hospital handled both the birth and death was deeply disappointing, with the exception of one compassionate nurse who stood out during an otherwise excruciating experience.

Lindsee longed for another baby, but it was a long road before she finally saw a positive pregnancy test again. This time, she was able to welcome her baby at home, experiencing the birth she had always hoped for.

Find Lindsee @wildflower_birthservices

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Carly's husband, a medical doctor, shared that there were two things he didn't feel comfortable with as they approached the birth of their own children: waterbirth and homebirth.

One fateful day, while celebrating her mom's birthday at her home, Carly went into labor - thinking she had much more time than she actually did. Her husband was suddenly there to witness a birth that would force him to confront his fears.

Carly's enthusiasm for how beautiful birth can be is absolutely infectious, and you can explore her courses at birthmademindful.com.

Use coupon code "hello10" for a discount!

Find her on Instagram @made.mindful

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Gloria found out she was pregnant at just sixteen years old. Her pregnancy and hospital birth were fairly uneventful, but navigating postpartum life and caring for a newborn—all while still in high school—was extremely challenging.

Ten years later, Gloria welcomed her second baby. This time, she was married and working in the medical field herself. She was able to truly enjoy the pregnancy without the weight of being a teenager, and she intentionally planned the kind of birth she wanted rather than passively agreeing to whatever the doctor recommended, as she had at sixteen.

With a lot of advocating for herself, Gloria had an unmedicated hospital birth, which she credits with contributing to an easeful and joyful recovery.

Connect with Gloria @thehospitaldoula

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

All of Maddison's births were peaceful, easeful homebirths. Even her third birth—an early loss of twins—unfolded gently at home and left her feeling at peace.

Her postpartum experiences, however, were extremely challenging. Freshly out of an abusive relationship and pregnant for the fourth time, Maddison shares how she completely rewrote her postpartum story. With the right nourishment and support, postpartum can be pure bliss!

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Welcome to Season 7 of the podcast!

When today's guest, Jordan, reached out to me to explore what it looks like to move forward when birth isn't healing—when it feels unresolved or leaves lingering questions—and how to find your own healing by integrating your lived experience, I knew I had to have her on the show.

Jordan shares her journey through three very different births: a long, challenging first home birth; an easy, almost freebirth during a snowstorm; and a third and final home birth that became an emergency and left her with lasting injuries.

Instead of the glorious final birth she had envisioned, this last experience shook her physically and emotionally, forcing her to deeply question her beliefs around healing and recovery. It wasn't until she processed her new normal, stepped out of a "diagnosis" mindset, and viewed the birth through the eyes of her oldest daughter—her seven-year-old birth witness—that she was able to feel her third birth truly completed her as both a woman and a human being.

Find Jordan on her website jordanmusser.com and on Instagram @jordanmusscle

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphotoJordan

Brigid is a mother of five who began her motherhood journey knowing little about birth and fully handing her experiences over to medical professionals.

By the time she was pregnant with her fourth child, she knew she needed something different. She had done a great deal of internal work, finally educated herself, and was ready for change. Brigid chose a home birth with that baby, and it was a truly transformative experience.

Since then, Brigid has been on a mission to help women understand the importance of physiological birth—not only for the immediate postpartum period, but for how it affects both mother and baby throughout their entire lives.

Some resources mentioned in this episode include:

Billie Harriagan's Course

Rachel Reed'a Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage

Find Brigid on Instagram @brigid.tebaldi

Brigid's website and course: https://www.loretowellness.com/

If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth

Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net

Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard

Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto