THIS is an important episode, y'all. It's easy to spend most of our time prepping for the labor process itself... but what about everything that comes after? Postpartum can be such a different experience for every mom, and dealing with the harder moments well can be tricky without the right support. Luckily, our good friend and postpartum doula Ciara Gunter from Minted Birth and Counseling is here to discuss her own expertise in postpartum work for families. She has some amazing insights about how to make sure every one is well supported through the process, and honestly... we also just had a blast chatting with her! We hope this episode brings you joy, comfort and insight that better helps you understand the labor AFTER labor. Enjoy the podcast, and check out the links below to find out more about Ciara's services:

Website: Mintedwell.com

Facebook: Minted Birth and Counseling

Instagram: @mintedwell

Her story... is so many of yours. Carrie Centarri is a client of ours who has had quite a few different experiences with each of her births, and finally found the way to deliver the way that was best for HER body. We not only loved getting to be a part of her most recent birth. But loved even more getting to sit down and hear her share her experience. If you’re a mom who’s had trouble expressing what your ideal birth is, listen to Carrie’s story: we think it’ll resonate with you as much as it does us!

We've wanted to do this episode so bad! Today, Bethany and her birth student Kim Farr are walking you through the entire home birth experience: telling you what you should know ahead of time and answering all of the questions moms pose to them on a frequent basis. It's an honest, encouraging and educational discussion, and we think every mom or mom-to-be will find it enlightening- and enjoyable! Let's listen in...

Meet the woman who changed the world of birth forever with her practice of "dynamic body balancing." Dr. Carol Phillips DC, CST has been a leading chiropractor for women and families for three decades now, and her work in "body balancing" as well as her contribution to techniques such as "Spinning Babies" has caused her methods to be some of the most sought-after in the study of labor and delivery. Bethany had the opportunity to sit down with her and discuss how she entered the field, how her methods were developed and what areas of birth practice she thinks are headed for growth and change in the years to come. It's a conversation any seasoned midwife or birth worker will nerd out about, and we hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!

Find out more about Dr. Phillips work and workshop opportunities at Dynamicbodybalancing.com

Lots of moms start off their birth journey on the traditional route: going to a hospital and getting interventions. But why do so many decide to switch to home births for baby number two? Bethany's friend and former client Jessica Lopez has some thoughts on her own experiences having five different babies- and it's definitely a perspective that needs to be shared! Listen in on the conversation, and tell us what you have experienced in your own deliveries, whether in a hospital or at home.

You've probably asked yourself at some point, "what is the point of having both a doula AND a midwife? Aren't they the same thing?" It's a good question that we hear all the time, and who better to talk about it than a longtime doula now becoming a midwife? Without further ado B&B fans, please welcome... Gail Wooster!

Find out more about Gail's practice at:

Instagram: @allinthenestbirth

Website: Allinthenestdoulas.com

Phone: 817-223-9620

Both moms and midwives alike have a common problem they share: their ability to just take good care of themselves! With so many responsibilities and people to care for, it's hard to always know how much time to spend on your own physical and mental health. To talk through this topic in detail, Bethany sat down with her fellow midwife and founder of Wild Folks Organic Kayce Pestrue. It's time we all got to the bottom of why "self-care" has become such a popular trend, and why we seem to have such an issue correctly putting it into practice.

You can follow Kayce on social at:

Personal: kayce_danielle

Health: @wildfolkorganics

Midwifery: @nationsmidwiferydfw

Movies will tell you labor is always and forever an unbearable experience. And yet, we midwives time and time again see women with control of their bodies- and most of all their mind- who handle the hardship of delivery better than you could ever imagine. Dezeree' Stewart is a client of ours who learned this after having several less-than-ideal births, and finally came to a place where she allowed her faith and newfound knowledge of the birth to change her entire pregnancy! She was a beautiful and enjoy conversation partner to be sure, and we can't wait for you to hear what she and Bethany had to say...

You'd be truly amazed at how many midwives start their careers working in hospital settings. But somewhere along the way, many of them realize that there must be a better way to make sure women have the right advocates for the entire birth journey. To get a great perspective on that trend, Bethany sat down with student and birth assistant Kim Farr to discuss her own transition from hospitals to home births, and what women need to know when comparing the two. It was a great chat not just between a student and a teacher, but two great friends as well. We hope you continue to enjoy these discussion as we explore the art of birth and the importance of women's health. Let us know what topics we should cover next!

You can follow Kim Farr on her midwife journey at @kimbfarr on Instagram and Facebook!

You probably think a seasoned midwife would have all the answers on how their own child's birth- and they do! However, having all the answers doesn't mean labor and delivery becomes easy. That's why we're honored that fellow midwife and former client Becky Thorp came by to share the story of her own pregnancy, and what it was like to go from long-time midwife to being a new mom herself. It was insightful, uplifting and made for a wonderful conversation for any new mom to enjoy. We hope you all get as much out of it as Bethany did!

You can follow Becky and see her in action as a midwife at @beckyjthorp