Hope-Filled Birth

What would you do if your water broke but you knew it wasn't time for labor yet? The phrase "waiting on the Lord" becomes unbelievably weighty and tangible during childbirth. To wait on the body while it—sometimes slowly—transitions from pregnancy to delivery can be an overwhelming challenge. Ann's story is one that balances intuition and listening to your body with waiting patiently on God's perfect timing!

Ann's Birth Story Blog Post

Feeding our kids involves becoming educated, making many challenging decisions, and learning to adapt when things don't go the way we planned. The last thing moms need is to be fed misinformation about those decisions that makes the stakes even higher and the choices even harder. On today's episode, Becca shares the struggles she's experienced with feeding each of her children. Some of her obstacles were normal ones that any mom might face—others were fabricated by influencers posting misinformation online. We hope that no matter where you are in your feeding journey with your babies, this episode encourages you to think for yourself and trust your gut!

Show Notes

Instagram: The Formula Mom

Instagram: Dr. Jessica Knurick

What would be racing through your mind if, at 37 weeks pregnant, your midwife told you that your baby was breech and a c-section was your ONLY option? When Savanna received this news, she wasn't sure what to expect, but she knew that the Lord would guide her steps toward the birth that was meant for her and her first baby. From hospital plans to a vaginal breech birth at home, God's providence and faithfulness is written all over her testimony!

Show Notes:

Birthing Instincts with Dr. Stu (Website)

Birthing Instincts Podcast (Apple Podcasts)

Birthing Instincts Podcast (Spotify)

Ann Morris, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, joins us again in this episode to discuss all-things-breastfeeding! Her experience and expertise provide incredible insight that will both encourage and educate any women who is currently breastfeeding or hopes to in the future! Ann reminds us that it's so important to push past the challenges, awkwardness, and overwhelm of learning to nurse our babies—it's worth it!

Notes:

Nastia Liukin's Mom Says Not to Quit on a Bad Day

Five Universal Baby Cries

What happens when your dreams of a peaceful homebirth are suddenly dashed by the news that your placenta is covering your cervix? That's the reality Casey was faced with during her second pregnancy. She trusted the Lord throughout her prenatal journey, and He brought both her and her baby safely through the delivery—amidst layers of trauma. Casey's dependence on the Lord and steadfast faith remind us that every obstacle has purpose: to glorify Him and sanctify us!

Casey's Instagram (contains additional info about Placenta Previa)

Dr. Green Mom's Medical Freedom Healthcare Provider List

It's not Becca's first rodeo—it's her second!! Things were different this time, which Becca talks about in today's episode, but one thing stayed the same: God's faithfulness to show up in every situation and carry us through the most challenging circumstances.

Entering birth with knowledge and experience gave Becca confidence to approach this birth with open hands. She shares with the similarities and differences between her two births, walks through exactly how everything went down, and gives us a glimpse into how she's feeling postpartum.

Becca's second birth story reminds us that every birth looks different and is beautiful in its own way!

Sometimes, the only stories we hear about OB experiences are negative ones! Makayla shares with us her journey from a Midwifery to traditional OB care. Her story is a good reminder that we must choose our providers based on who they are, not just by the title they hold. Makayla's story also serves as a great reminder that your provider works for YOU, not the other way around! Through prenatal moments of fear, desperation, confusion, and frustration, Makayla grew in her faith immensely by learning to trust God's faithfulness to provide!

What if we shifted our focus from making birth pain-free to making it fear-free? After experiencing a traumatic delivery amidst the pandemic, Katie's second delivery is a story about releasing fear and surrendering to the beauty of birth the way God designed it. Her story reminds us that He is able to give us supernatural peace through all circumstances!

Show Notes:

Alex Clark's Interview w/ Doula Karen Welton

What rights do women have when they birth in hospital settings? What does informed consent look like practically? How can women be prepared to have an empowering cesarean if their birth goes that route? Ann Morris, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, answers all of these questions and more on today's episode. Her experience and knowledge in these areas will help you approach birth with confidence!

Ann Morris, DONA Certified Doula

Website

Instagram

Book a 1-on-1 Birth Planning Session

We've talked a lot about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences in our episodes so far—but what happens when you're struggling to even get pregnant in the first place? How can we reconcile God giving us a desire for parenthood with the often painful reality of infertility?

Sarah's story is truly a testimony of the Lord showing His strengths in our weaknesses. Through infertility, conception, and a traumatic birth experience, she has chosen to glorify Christ in every season, no matter how hard her current circumstances feel.