HOLY WILD BIRTH : Training Christian Birthkeepers, Traditional Midwives in Faith-Based Birth Work

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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From Lauren:

From Brooke:

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.

Connect:

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

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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CONNECT

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

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 

Connect:

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

Today's episode is for those of you who deeply desire a home birth or unassisted birth but whose husbands are not sold on the idea.⁠

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We'll cover things like: ⁠

❤️ Why dads might be opposed or resistant⁠

❤️ What our response as Christian wives should be⁠

❤️ Tools for having a conversation that might bring you onto the same page⁠

And more!⁠

Oh, and this episode also has a special secret guest appearance that I'll think you'll really appreciate. ⁠

We're on a season break after this episode, so we'll see you back here in January. 

In the meantime, Put in a request for future topics and/or submit a question for future Q&A episodes here: Fill out the form

Other Links:

• Email us to say hi: [email protected]
• Put in a request for future topics and/or submit a question for future Q&A episodes: Fill out the form
• Apply to tell your birth story on the podcast: sisterbirth.com/podcast-guest

Connect with Lauren:

• Instagram
• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

Connect with Brooke:

• Instagram
• YouTube
• Trust God, Trust Birth Workshop - a 5-part high-level roadmap to a confident home birth (pay what you can)
• Faith-Filled Home Birth Workshop - a free, 3-part video series delivered to your inbox
• Embrace Birth Journey Membership - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)
• Natural Christian Home Birth (Assisted and Unassisted) - a FB community

Preparing for birth without preparing for postpartum is like preparing for a wedding without preparing for a marriage. 

Though we obviously think preparing for birth is vital, the truth is that it's only 2-48 hours of your life, and if what follows isn't also carefully set up, the negative implications can be vast.

Listen in on this conversation between two multiparas (moms of many!) who have learned a bit more each time about how to prepare well for this season and ensure we get every last benefit possible out of it. 

We'll cover things like receiving visitors, the 5-5-5 "rule", herbs, homeopathy, pelvic floor rehabilitation, the "winter" nature of this time, nourishing food, mothering the mother, doing the emotional work.... and MORE. 

This episode was recorded when Brooke was 1.5 weeks into her lying-in period, so she's speaking about this topic while living right in the middle of it. This also means you'll hear baby Gilbert in the background. 

Show notes:

From Lauren:

From Brooke:

Our very own Brooke gave birth to her 6th baby, Gilbert Ignatius, on October 29, and today she's telling her story in conversation with Lauren.

No two births are ever alike, and Brooke had to learn to flow with some things that she didn't see coming. It wasn't without agitation, but it was all purposeful and ultimately beautiful as she practiced flowing with it.

If you prefer to READ a birth story rather than listen, go here.

You can listen to Brooke's previous 5 birth stories on Birthing Outside the Box episode 25 or the Birth Journeys Podcast

Connect with us! [email protected]

From Lauren:

• Instagram
• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

From Brooke:

• Instagram
• YouTube
• Trust God, Trust Birth Workshop - a 5-part high-level roadmap to a confident home birth (pay what you can)
• Faith-Filled Home Birth Workshop - a free, 3-part video series delivered to your inbox
• Embrace Birth Journey Membership - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)
• Natural Christian Home Birth (Assisted and Unassisted) - a FB community

"To rediscover midwifery is the same as giving back childbirth to women." - Michel Odent

From Brooke:

If you found out you were pregnant with twins -- both breech -- at 32 weeks and your midwife wasn't able to keep you on as her client, what would you do? Forced to choose between a scheduled c-section or a last-ditch effort to secure a different midwife and keep her home birth plan, Jessica opted for the latter. 

This is her amazing story of overcoming the voices of fear and doubt around and within her, tuning into the Good Shepherd's still, small voice... and then using her own voice with strength and clarity to give her babies the birth she knew was meant to be.

Tune in for this juicy and moving story which is also sure to boost your faith!

From Lauren:

From Brooke: