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

Because the Lord called her and her husband to move to other countries to serve as missionaries, Jamie had her 4 home births in 3 different countries. In each one, she encountered the beauty of midwifery care and the gifts of cultural differences and honorary grandmothers supporting them. Her story shows us how wherever God places us, He is trustworthy to provide a way.

You can connect with Jamie Nunes in our private community (anointed-birth.mn.co) or on IG (https://www.instagram.com/mrsnewness/)

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.

SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

Connect:

• 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: http://sisterbirth.com/podcast-guest

• Hang out with us in our private community (off Facebook): https://anointed-birth.mn.co/

• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

From Lauren:

• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

From Brooke:

• Courses

• Newsletter

Intro and Outra Music Credit -
Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

In this short series, we're speaking with women who have been free-birthing long before it became trendy, back when it was called Unassisted Birth and there weren't very many resources devoted to it, let alone a society devoted to it.

Each of these women chose free birth for reasons that essentially come down to their faith.

In this episode, we’re joined by our friend Heather Meyers, a mama to 8 living children (5 - kind of 6? - of them born unassisted). 

Among other things, you'll hear about:

• First freebirth in 2012 - it was called unassisted then
• First were precipitous home births with hands-on midwives
• Twins were a freebirth in the hospital
• She herself was born at home and grew up around home birth culture, apprenticing with a midwife after high school
• Her husband’s roll in the decision to birth unassisted for the first time
• Off-grid camper birth
• Activist tendencies tempered by humbling experiences
• Why unattended births make sense for her personality
• Her second-trimester loss at home, unattended
• Not about performance, but presence
• The unassisted hospital birth of her twins at 26 weeks
• Freebirthing with helping friends and kids around vs. with just her and her husband
• How labor patterns aren’t predictable or “normal” after you have several babies
• avoiding adamant checklists or “shoulds” about a birth and just asking Him who’s supposed to be there and for the next steps
• When Jesus says “follow me,” and it means taking some gutsy leaps
• Her usual DIY prenatal care routines (And ways she broke from them when led to do so)
• How birth resets her bond with her husband and her confidence in him
• Times she has shown up to support other women in their births
• Why your “yes” is a responsibility and investment

Mentioned in this episode:

• Unassisted HomeBirth: An Act of Love

SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

Connect:

• 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: http://sisterbirth.com/podcast-guest
• Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our private community (off Facebook): https://anointed-birth.mn.co/
• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

From Lauren:

• Instagram
• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

From Brooke:

• Instagram
• 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 - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)

Intro and Outra Music Credit -
Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

In this short series, we're speaking with women who have been freebirthing long before it became trendy, back when it was called Unassisted Birth and there weren't very many resources devoted to it, let alone a society devoted to it.

Each of these women chose free birth for reasons that essentially come down to their faith.

In part 2, we're joined by Rosalie Buist, a mom of 8 (5 of them free birthed) with a huge heart for the Lord.

Here's some of what we cover:

• Differences in birth by region (rural vs. city)
• Her prefered term for the kind of births she has
• The foundations our ancestors had, which we’d be wise to retain
• Why everyone should know how to give birth, even if they plan to have a midwife or doctor!
• Birth is an extension of the relationship with God and an extension of normal life
• “This is God’s baby”
• Pushing through moments of doubt and disblief that it will work
• Only God knows how to bring babies out (or put them in!)
• Her perspective on the risks
• Knowing the no-brainer emergencies that need assistance and think about them ahead of time
• Familiarizing yourself with the capabilities of hospitals in your area
• The necessity of trusting God and taking responsibility no matter what birth plan you have
• How birth choices are similar to educational choices for your kids
• Why she almost hired a midwife for baby #8
• How I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant show inspired her to make the birth choices she’s made 😂
• Why she has considered hiring a midwife again, even after several successful unassisted births
• Her advice for anyone considering a DIY Birth (it’s a GREAT list)

Resources:

• Your unique birth approach freebie
• Mark 4:26-27
• Kierra Blaser on walking through fears (A Heavenly Welcome) -
• Pygmy tribe births -
• Baby Designed by God (book)
• 
  

SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

Connect:

• 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: Holy Wild Birth Podcast : Guest Application

• Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our private community (off Facebook): Rooted in Eden PMA

• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

From Lauren:

• Instagram

• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

From Brooke:

• Instagram

• 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 - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)

Intro and Outra Music Credit -
Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

In this short series, we're speaking with women who have been freebirthing long before it became trendy, back when it was called Unassisted Birth and there weren't very many resources devoted to it, let alone a society devoted to it.

Each of these women chose free birth for reasons that essentially come down to their faith.

In part 1, we're joined by Bree Moore, a mom of 7 (5 of them free birthed) and author of two books on freebirth!

Here's some of what we cover:

• Default position of just her, her husband and God
• The role of seeking assistance and using technology (and how to know when to do so)
• Inviting husband to walk the uncertain road and finding unity/partnership
• What self-directed prenatal care can look like in a wild pregnancy
• Facing the fear of death using statistics
• The role of humility,a willingness to be uncomfortable, and resourcefulness (and other things required to be a freebirther)
• a more beautiful experience or a more guttural and messy one?!
• Beware of making free birth an idol
• Social media isn’t a good place to get advice while you’re in labor
• The power of stories to shift perspective and shape decisions
• Why freebirth is not a magic wand

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Adam and Eve’s Midwife (book) - out of print 😔
• Powerfully Pregnant by Donna Young
• Bree’s books on free birth Brooke's 5th baby's birth story is featured in Seasons of Birth (the Autumn section).
• Birth Becomes Hers
• Seasons of Birth (Brooke's 5th birth story is in this one, in the Autumn section!)

• Bree's fantasy books featuring freebirths:
• The Lady's Last Song:
• Short story Mother Stone, in this collection
• Unhindered Childbirth
• Sara Wickham's review of studies about unassisted birth outcomes

Connect:

• 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: Holy Wild Birth Podcast : Guest Application

• Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our private community (off Facebook): Rooted in Eden PMA

• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

In this lighthearted and sort of all over the place episode you’ll hear us talk about herbal drinks and our lack of tea (again), what we’re watching and reading, Brooke’s growing Anglophile tendencies, Lauren’s recent fiascos, the app that’s helping us reduce our phone usage, high heels, bangs, and more. You’re getting some snippets of our silly sides here, so buckle up. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Molly & Herbs Herbal Honeys - Home of the Herbellion

• BePresent | Reduce Screen Time

• The Lunatic Farmer documentary (Joel Salatin) and The Biggest Little Farm documentary

• The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs: Respecting and Caring for All God's Creation

• The Remains of the Day: Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

• Human Garage - Home - Human Garage

• Rowe Casa Dry Shampoo - DRY SHAMPOO | 2 oz

• Wildlings (Lauren’s barefoot shoe pick) - Wilding our lives with every step

• Grounding Shuhe (Brooke’s barefoot shoe Pick) - Groudingschuhe - Etsy

  
  

  
  

  SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

  Connect:

  • 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: http://sisterbirth.com/podcast-guest

  • Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our private community (off Facebook): https://anointed-birth.mn.co/

  • Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

  From Lauren:

  • Instagram

  • Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

  From Brooke:

  • Instagram

  • 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 - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)

  Intro and Outra Music Credit -
  Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Arianna — mother, birthkeeper, HJ grad, and wise woman — joins Brooke on the podcast today to talk her journey in birthwork and motherhood, the ways she has served and learned in each season thereof, and about a subject she’s especially passionate about these days: community building. 

Here are some of the topics that came up in our conversation: 

• Honoring cycles and seasons
• Well-rounded birth work
• Motherhood and Birthwork: Can it Be Done? (a piece written by Arianna)
• Hearthmother Journey
• How we got to such a state of disconnection in our society
• Why community is as essential to wellness as good food, clean air, and hydration
• the ways that having babies — especially if you make “alternative” birth and parenting choices — can increase isolation
• Healthy boundaries around consumption on social media
• The upside of the algorithms
• The embodied craving for community
• Hunt, Gather, Parent
• It Didn’t Start with You
• Why in-person is better than virtual when it comes to building community
• How to Form a Sister Circle

Find and connect with Arianna:

• wellwomanhood.com
• IG: @well.womanhood
• Women’s Gatherings and Village Prenatals
• Virtual Community
• 
  

SHOW NOTES “FOOTER”

Connect:

• 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: Holy Wild Birth Podcast : Guest Application

• Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our private community (off Facebook): Rooted in Eden PMA

• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

From Lauren:

• Instagram

• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

From Brooke:

• Instagram

• 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 - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)

Intro and Outra Music Credit -
Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

In this episode, Lauren sits with Leah -- a mama she served as a midwife in 2023 for her vaginal home birth after 2 cesareans. You'll hear her first birth stories and then about how she moved into a stance of renewed self-responsibility which she carried with her into her next pregnancy. During that pregnancy and birth, she dealt with many rounds of discouragement but met them with resilience by getting back up again to continue on her path.

Leah's deep connection with her Orthodox faith paired with courageous determination, saw her through a birth that was not particularly easy but was very redemptive.

As a fun aside: Leah also used Embrace Birth Journey for her childbirth education and labor preparation, which means both Brooke AND Lauren got to work and walk with her during this pregnancy and birth!

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.

Connect:

• 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: http://sisterbirth.com/podcast-guest

• Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our private community (off Facebook): https://anointed-birth.mn.co/

• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

From Lauren:

• Instagram

• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

From Brooke:

• Instagram

• 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 - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)

Intro and Outra Music Credit -
Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Distortions and lies that detract from the application of the gospel can slip in even to our birth choices.

This episode explores the similarities between purity culture and freebirth perfectionism, prosperity gospel and home birth ideals, and the ways that the same temptations presented to the first humans in the Garden of Eden and to Jesus in the wilderness reverberate into even our birth choices.

This one is part Bible study, part our usual reflections and discussions.

Mentioned in this episode:

-What is the Prospersity Gospel? - Phylicia Masonheimer

• Phylicia Masonheimer IG post -

• Margo’s email

• Alisha Meyer’s podcast episode ep 9 - "the problem isn't midwives..."

Connect:

• 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: Holy Wild Birth Podcast : Guest Application

• Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our private community (off Facebook): Rooted in Eden PMA

• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey

From Lauren:

• Instagram

• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected]

From Brooke:

• Instagram

• 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 - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)

Intro and Outra Music Credit -
Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Welcome to a new season of Holy Wild Birth, which also represents a revitalization and recommitment to this podcasting project.

In this casual conversation with Brooke and Lauren, you'll hear all about what we have in store for you! One of those things is this new "genre" of episode where we offer you our "Cup of Tea" and simply jabber about things going on for us or of interest to us.

In this inaugural "cup of tea" episode, we chat about:

• That we aren't actually drinking tea
• Our branding photo fails
• How cool it is to have teenagers
• Relationship to light
• Brooke's milestone birthing and Lauren's anticipated milestone birthday
• Dark Parks
• Remodeling the prenatal room
• Growing community around the podcast
• Quitting social media
• A way of organizing information
• and more!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Lore Wilbert social media challenge — Let's Opt Out of Social Media Together

• Zettlekasten - What's a Zettelkasten?

• Lauren’s Prenatal Room Pinterest Collage - My prenatal room | Room, Save, Prenatal

• Stolen Focus - Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again

• Lauren’s glasses - VivaRays - Eco-friendly Blue light blocking glasses.

• Brooke’s newsletter - All The Birthy Things

• Podcast about relationship to light The Lie of 9 to 5: Fixing Your Circadian Rhythm | Thaddeus Owen

• Mighty Networks Community Rooted in Eden PMA

  
  

  ______________

  
  

  Connect:

  • Email us to say hi: [email protected]

  • Apply to share your birth story on the podcast:

  Holy Wild Birth Podcast Guest Application

  • Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us in the Hearthmother Journey

  
  

  From Lauren:

  • Midwifery consultations: Email [email protected]

  
  

  From Brooke:

  • Courses for homebirth/freebirth mamas

  • Newsletter

  
  

  Intro and Outra Music Credit -
  Betty Dear By Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Elizabeth’s free birth story includes surprises and grief so entwined with one another that they are inseparable. Be ready to smile with delight and cry with each twist and turn in her story. As Elizabeth wrote when she applied to be a guest, “It is honestly a wild story that is heartbreaking but also beautiful and full of God’s handiwork. A story of how God can use the worst circumstances for good.”

I Thessalonians 4:13

We ran out of time while we were recording, but Elizabeth wanted to add this detail as a finishing thought:

“We didn't get into everything with Lilli which is fine but I wanted to share that she did get to go be with Hugh. We had them lying together in his NICU bassinet as much as possible. And they were baptized together in the hospital, and it was a beautiful mini service, we sang a hymn and everything which I wasn’t expecting at all, but the pastor who came was great.”

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.

Connect:

• 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: http://sisterbirth.com/podcast-guest
• Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us inside Hearthmother Journey
• Hang out with us in our private community (off Facebook): https://anointed-birth.mn.co/

From Lauren:

• Instagram
• Midwifery consults: Email  [email protected] 

From Brooke:

• 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 - comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)