In this episode, Matthew and I talk about 8 specific things I did before and during my pregnancy, which helped me remain strong, focused, powerful and centered during our home birth.

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In this episode we're talking with Charlotte Knee -- a brand spanking new mom, hailing all the way from Ireland, who welcomed her little bundle of joy in a home birth.

In this episode we get to hear some perspective on home birth in Ireland! Charlotte was kind enough to chat with us while her 6-week old baby daughter Iza hung out in the background. We understand the life of fresh parenthood, and we know time is one of the most precious things at this state. So we consider it an honor that she spent some of it with us to share her awesome story.

Charlotte’s story is an example of how we continue to stay fascinated with birth in general, especially home birth. Because it’s so different everywhere you go. Living in the states, you just tend to hear about the variations in laws and practices from state to state. But there’s a whole big world out there!

Charlotte has never been a big fan of hospitals. And get this - she was born at home! So continuing the tradition, she hired a private midwife and she and her husband Max planned for their home birth.

Another cool part of Charlotte’s life - she and her husband live in a shared house. So community is very important to her, and has played a big part in her journey of pregnancy and motherhood.

We learned all kinds of new stuff from her - like using a tens unit and laughing gas during labor.

We’re totally inspired by Charlotte’s style. And you need to check the show notes on the website because she and her family are pretty adorable!

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In today's episode we're answering a listener email. This one comes to us from Hannah who is looking for feedback on how she can amicably part ways with her OBGYN. 

Matthew and I LOVE our listener emails. Seriously, they energize us and inspire us to keep bringing you all awesome content. On the days when we’re feeling under the weather (like Matthew is in this episode - notice the deep, raspy voice) and sleep deprived, we remember your questions and beautiful words of affirmation. They remind us of our mission - to create empowering conversation around home birth and to inspire other moms and families to choose the birth plan that resonates most with them after understanding their options.

Enter a great listener email from Hannah. Hannah and her husband were going the hospital birth route, until the details and stipulations around the birthing plan didn’t jive with them. On top of that, they’re exploring how to have the conversation with their general doctor on moving forward with care for baby after birth. You see, their doctor doesn’t support home birth.

So how should they move forward? Should they continue to work with the doctor in hopes she’ll be comfortable with treating baby, despite not being on board with home birth? Or do they even worry about it, given all the other things going on?

Matthew and I read our response to them and share our feedback. We also give some clear action items for how Hannah and her husband can proceed with their plan from a space of love and understanding.

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In this episode we chat with mom-to-be Katie about her journey to home birth, and the days ahead. At 39 weeks pregnant, she’s prepped and ready for birth day!

And this episode has a surprise special guest - Katie’s husband Chris! He joins us for the call, a first for the show. We were super excited to hear from him and get his perspective on the whole process.

Both were heavily influenced by The Business of Being Born, and knew they wanted to have labor and birth be on their own terms.

A self-described “birth nerd,” Katie loves to dive into researcher mode. Their pregnancy was no exception. They searched their options for a local midwife and never looked back.

Katie and Chris feel like old friends to us. The conversation was effortless, fun, light and empowering. They set a great example for doing what feels best to them and creating a loving, welcoming space for baby to enter into. We can’t wait to chat with them once baby is earthside!

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In this episode we're talking with Megan Kibling as she shares her empowering home birth story with us.

Megan is mom to 6-year-old Aurelia and 19-month-old Leonardo Iztali from Denver, Colorado. We connected with Megan via another DIAH mom, Marissa (whom we interviewed a few weeks before). Megan had sent a banner to Marissa to decorate her home in preparation for home birth. The same banner has made its way to other mamas since then, and Megan plans to continue to send it to friends as they want it.

Besides supporting other women in their home birth journeys, Megan has an amazing story of her own. After having a great experience with her first birth in a birthing center, she felt inspired to move into home birth for the next time around. She says she felt empowered and knew a home birth was the next step.

In between Aurelia and Leonardo, Megan experienced a miscarriage at 10 weeks. Megan shares openly on the fear and guilt that crept in during that time, and how she embarked on a journey of forgiveness, back to grace, comfort and love.

By the time she was pregnant with Leonardo, Megan felt in full trust of her body, her baby and herself. She listened to the flow and went the whole pregnancy and birth almost completely unassisted. She did yoga, meditated, read, watched home births, created affirmations and playlists -- all to create the sacred space for her birth.

Megan is a total inspiration. This episode has a lot of great quotes and mantras to pull from. My favorite? “PURE MAGIC!”

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In this episode we're talking with Christina Benton - birth photographer, birth and postpartum doula, mom and wife. Christina shares her beautiful home birth and hospital birth stories, from behind the lens, and she shares why moms and families should highly consider hiring a photographer for their homebirth. 

This is a first for the Doing It At Home Podcast: an interview with a birth photographer! We were very excited to chat with Christina Benton, a doula and birth photographer. For starters, we didn’t have a formal birth photographer. If you’ve listened to our birth story you know that most of our birth team came equipped with their camera phones, which we are extremely grateful for, however it meant a bunch of lights and phones up in my business at different points in time, and the pictures themselves are scattered in their composition and quality. We weren’t really aware of birth photography and its value until after the experience.

So chatting with Christina was as much for us and it is for our listeners, quite frankly. Because we were taking our own notes for the future!

Christina is a birth and postpartum doula and over the last 8 months she has extended her birth work into the realm of photography.

The first thing that struck us about Christina’s images is just how real and raw they are. They capture the sacredness and beauty of the births in such an authentic way.

Christina shares with us her journey into birth work, some stories of some memorable births that she has photographed and advice for how to research and select your birth photographer.

We asked Christina why someone should hire a birth photographer, what’s the value in it?

Her response, “Because every woman deserves to see herself like that - the moment you meet your baby for the first time.”

If you’re unsure or considering hiring a birth photographer, this is an episode to bookmark.

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In this episode we're commenting on a blog article that Matthew found in Romper, called ”7 Things That Happen After You Give Birth At Home.” The article covers everything from what happens with the mess, to baby's first checkup, to bonding with your new baby.

This was such a great article, simple and informative, that it inspired us to do this episode! So Angela Johnson, if you’re out there and see this, thank you for writing the article and spreading the awareness. (We’d love to have you on the show by the way!)

A lot of times when we’re planning for a big event, like say...birth, we’re not always focused on what happens afterwards. And it makes sense because birth can have a lot of moving parts to it. Especially with home birth, there’s a lot of planning and preparation that comes into play.

So this episode goes through a lot of the likely scenarios and traits of home birth that you can expect to experience once the main festivities (launching a baby out of your body and into the world) have concluded.

Some things you might be wondering: What about clean up? Can I eat? What happens to baby? What about the birth certificate?

Well wonder no more, because we cover it!

This is a great episode to help you get on the same page with your partner, midwife and/or doula and any birth team members. All of this information is designed to help you feel more relaxed once baby comes, so that all you have to do is soak up all the delicious new baby smells and snuggles!

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In this episode we're talking with Tammy Williams. Tammy is a 38 year old first time mom who chose to have her baby at home. She is an amazing momma who approached her home birth without fear, and had a magic experience.

If Tammy could, she would shout from every rooftop about how awesome her home birth experience was and how every woman can give birth without fear. Since finding every rooftop would take some time, having her on our “podcast rooftop” will suffice for now.

Unsure of whether or not she’d be able to get pregnant, Tammy had a surprise first pregnancy at 38. In a circumstance where many women might find themselves fearful and worried about the risks, Tammy powered up and she and her partner David decided on home birth after a close friend who was also pregnant at the same time shared her intentions of having a home birth.

Overwhelmed with emotion in an amazing way, Tammy sought out empowering information and resources with the support of her midwives that she selected from a nearby birthing center.

Tammy is a powerful example of knowing her body and trusting the inner voice. To her, home birth is such an important opportunity to strengthen all aspect of your life from your relationship to your partner to how you raise your children.

And through the course of her journey, she has actually inspired, influenced and encouraged other women and families in their home birth experiences as a resource and friend.

“I truly believe that by sharing these stories we can educate women about the importance of birthing without fear and helping to change the stigma around home birth,” says Tammy.

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In today's episode we're talking with Danielle Turk-Bly, two time mom with a third on the way.

Danielle is a self described "crunchy mom" (#represent) and we have an amazing conversation on this episode. We talk about all kinds of things from the birth planning to cloth diapering and homeschooling, running while pregnant, facing your fear demons around birth, placenta previa and how that has been impacting her current pregnancy, having a community of like-minded people to support you, cultivating your voice for what you want, and intimacy with your partner during pregnancy.

Danielle's first birth was in a birthing center. When it came time to plan for the second pregnancy, she and her husband Ryan made the shift to home birth. Despite Ryan being a little bit more conservative than Danielle, he was fully on board and in support of the decision.

Danielle doesn’t revel in “going against the grain” or defying anyone else’s way of going about things. She just simply does what resonates most with her. I really appreciate that perspective, because often times you think that home birth is the choice as a result of a defiance or rebellion against something. Danielle’s example is a powerful one in just being proactive and true to yourself.

And heads up - Danielle has thought about doing a podcast of her own. This is something we totally support and will definitely update you on when she decides to jump into that venture!

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In this bite-sized episode, I share some realness with you. This week has been tough for me. At any point, I’ve felt frustrated, tired, stressed, over-extended, low, and a bunch of other adjectives you use when everything feels difficult.

I didn’t take time for myself and had myself convinced that I wasn’t doing enough - that I wasn’t feeling productive enough.

Bottom line: this was my ego playing some huge mind tricks.

So for any mama out there, future and present, who has felt this way. This is for you.

I talk about how I got into the dark place and what I did to get out of it.

Take advantage of the opportunities to remind yourself how awesome you are - especially for pregnancy and birth planning. Experience your joy!

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