Taleitha Selby, wife and 4x homebirth momma, tells the story of her 3rd pregnancy and birth that she attributes to breaking her out of the mold of what she thought birth was. Listen to her share her story of how stepping out from how she had always done things prepared her for an accidental unassisted precipitous birth and self-led neonatal resuscitation.

Our conversation also turned to the end caps of the physical life on this earth, as returning both to birth and death to the home holds special places in both of our hearts.

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They aren't stone statues, and we don't bow down on a literal knee, but they're idols all the same.

Certain "brands"/styles of mothering, nutritional principles/disciplines, birth choices or outcomes, birth attendant titles/positions.... we're tearing 'em down in today's episode.

That may seem strange coming from a couple of passionately opinionated gals like us, but we're striving to keep all things rightly ordered.

Mentioned in this episode:

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Arguably, one of the most important decisions you'll make about your birth is not WHERE or HOW you give birth but WHOM will be there with you. For an expectant mother, the birth team MATTERS and we have some things to offer up for consideration as you're selecting your attendants. 

The lesser-known other side of the coin is how important it is for a birth attendant to carefully select which mamas/families she will serve. If that sounds iffy to you, this episode is a must listen for you, too!

We cover:

...and more!

RESOURCES mentioned in this episode:

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You know the story of Abraham, right? Of how God told him it was time to hit the road and go to... a place he would show him later (huh?!). In other words, "Pack up everything you have and everyone in your family and get going. But you don't get to know the destination just yet." How do you plan a road trip (with thousands of livestock, nonetheless) when this is all you have to go on? FAITH is what carried that man forward.

As Marina shared her story with me for this episode, that biblical story kept coming to mind because the similarities are many. Walking in faith, Marina and her (big!) family ended up in places they didn't expect to be -- metaphorically and literally -- for the birth of their 8th baby. It wasn't always easy, but in the end, it was just right.

May you be encouraged also, dear listener, to walk by faith. Like Abraham. And Marina. 

You can connect with Marina (and her incredible wisdom as a big family mama and mission to share Jesus) on IG at LewandowskiAdventures or email her at [email protected].

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Grace took a long, meandering path to home-birthing her 4th baby, and that path was inexorably intertwined with her conversion to eastern orthodoxy. You'll love hearing how the practices, perspectives, and prayers of her faith informed her journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

We touch on facing the fear of death, the church's discomfort with the feminine, offering up our suffering to Christ... and much more.

If you'd like to reach out to Grace, you're welcome to email her.

Birth Story Disclaimer

The choices, beliefs and opinions of the mamas sharing their stories are as individual as the storyteller herself and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or recommended choices of Lauren and/or Brooke.

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If you missed it, there was recently a court case in Nebraska that made the mainstream media and was even televised on Court TV. The state of Nebraska brought charges against traditional midwife Angela Hock (aka Angee). Angee is a friend of ours and for the three years leading up to her trial, we've been prayerfully holding vigil. We wept when the verdict was declared: NOT GUILTY.

In this episode, Lauren recorded a conversation with Angee with the intention fo really just giving her the floor to share about this experience as much as she wanted to, without censorship or agenda. Her story touches on so many of the issues facing midwives today and the rights of birthing women.

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By baby #4, Tori and her husband were united on the plan to have a home birth, but they had to find a midwife. Using a local FB group to gather recommendations, they ended up finding a wonderful Mennonite midwife to work with, and what resulted was a simple, beautiful birth and a new friendship. 

Find tori on Instagram or Facebook to connect.

The choices, beliefs, and opinions of the mamas sharing their stories are as individual as the storyteller herself and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or recommended choices of Lauren and/or Brooke.

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It's a new year and with that come new year resolutions which often include various forms of SELF-CARE.

As moms and women we're so often told not to forget to take care of ourselves, to fill our own cup so that we can pour out on others. And while none of that is entirely WRONG, it often seems shallow or laughably unattainable. 

That is until you redefine self-care and bring it into alignment with what your soul is really thirsty for. 

In this episode, Lauren and Brooke dig into what self-care is and isn't. We cover:

And more!

Grab your mug of hot beverage and listen in. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

An Invitation to Self-Care: Why Learning to Nurture Yourself Is the Key to the Life You've Always Wanted, 7 Principles for Abundant Living 

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