Birth plans. You've probably been told you need one.

But we'd like to pick it up, shake it around, and see what comes out as we re-examine this now-common practice of writing hand-over birth plans to your birth team.

There are some shortcomings that we think you should know about.

But don't worry: we won't leave you hanging there. We'll also present a fresh take on how to get the clarity you need for your birth. We'll present some other words, like vision, intentions, goals, principles... and why they're more important to focus on.

Mentioned in this episode:

SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

Was it a Free Birth, Sovereign Birth, or Unassisted Birth...? How do you identify the birth you are planning or had? Who is defining these concepts and terminology? Do these terms have owners or authorities presiding over them?

Join Brooke and Lauren as they discuss the current hot topic of defining birth terms. Prayerfully, this can be a jumping-off point to help us all come to a place of unity and mutual respect for one another as each shares her own story of the transformative experience that was her birth, whatever that might look like. Listen with an open mind and a gentle curiosity.

Be sure to get the accompanying freebie Brooke made for you! This 11-page workbook aims to help you get free from dogmatic subscription to these terms and labels and to get in touch with what matters to you in your birth plans!

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

If you've gone most of your menstruating history seeing it as an annoying inconvenience at best or a painful torture session you'll want to tune in for this episode.

We'll explore:

It's a delicious conversation. We hope you'll never see your period the same way again!

PS: Don't forget that our first-ever cohort of our one-of-a-kind holy wild birthkeeper training Is OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT until October 25th. We start classes on November 1st. Join us in Hearthmother Journey today.

Resources for Your Deep Dive

SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

Hello, sisters! It's been a while but we're baacccckkk.

So let's catch up! Lauren has some big life changes to update us on, the story of which so perfectly illustrates what a good leader and Father YHWH is.

And then we get to give you the latest on the doula and birthkeeper training we have been working on, the reason we had this podcast on pause all summer.

It's our 40th episode, and as if at the end of a 40-week pregnancy, we're "birthing" this thing into the world. Can't wait to have some of you join us.

To learn more about Hearthmother Journey and to enroll go here: rootedineden.org/hearth-motherjourney

SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

What makes a good birth attendant? How do I become one? Where can I learn to do this holy work? These questions and variations of, are things we hear often and have lead to some great conversations. Conversations that sparked a project that we are finally ready to share with all of you! Tune in to hear our thoughts, hearts and what we've been working on to bring to the birth world.

Mention in this Show:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/holy-wild-birth/episodes/The-Way-of-the-HearthMother-e1mvm6j/a-a8i8rlj

CONNECT

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

Hey Sisters! We just wanted to drop a quick hello, to tell you where we have been. Give it a listen and drop your guesses on what you think we are working on!

This is an episode about loss, specifically first- and second-trimester loss.

They say that 1 out of 4 of women will experience miscarriage at some point in their childbearing years. This is not uncommon, but it is often hidden and unspoken.

In this episode, we hope to bring our own stories -- as well as the stories and wise reflections of our friends in the Believing Birth Keepers Circle -- into the light. We hope that hearing of them will communicate to you that you are not alone and that perhaps you will hear your own heart and experience mirrored in what is shared here, then paired with a powerful hope.

These stories include experiences of being very well supported and also very much alone. There are stories of the miscarriage process happening at home as well as in the hospital, with varying degrees of medical intervention. These are stories of grief, and also stories of meeting Jesus in places of great sorrow.

Be warned that this episode is long, and of course, the content is sad. Please take your time and take care of yourself as you listen through this at a pace and in a place that is best for you. If that means skipping this episode altogether, that's ok too.

CONNECT

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

This is our first FTM home birth story! So often we think that only moms who have already had a baby in the hospital have a home birth. NOT TRUE! Brooke's first was born at home, too, but today we have a beautiful guest mama to share her experience of having her first baby at home.

Ella's first pregnancy was a surprise, but she was pretty clear right out of the gate about her desire to have a home birth, even though some voices around her said they'd never have been brave enough to have a first baby at home. Even with some scary first trimester incidents, and even when she was thrown a couple of curve balls at the beginning of her labor, she went on to have a beautiful and pretty textbook home birth, keeping her curiosity and connection very much online through it all. Her story shows how home birth is a wonderful choice for first-time moms!

But breastfeeding turned out to be the bigger challenge. Ella had to navigate her self-judgment for "failing" to live up to some cherished ideals, connect with her underlying values, and make some compromises to give her baby what he needed in order to thrive (and herself too!). Her message for moms here is SO important.

Ellla is a jazz singer and a teacher of somatic practices (hello, nervous system regulation!). You can find her and her music/work here:

CONNECT WITH LAUREN AND BROOKE

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

How do you know when your family is complete or when you're "done" having babies? What does God's word have to say about having babies and how many? What if you and your husband have differing convictions about how many children to have?

In this episode, we're going to get personal about our own personal convictions and journies up to this point... while simultaneously giving a very NO one-size-fits-all answer to the above questions.

We know this is a topic that comes up a LOT in the FB groups we moderate, so we hope this episode will give some good fodder for discerning conversations between you, your husband, and the Lord.

CONNECT

From Lauren:

From Brooke: