💫 In this episode, host MaryNissi talks with Anna, a Russian immigrant about her first birth experience. Her birth story is one of preparation, intuition, and trusting your body and desires for birth no matter what the preconceived standards might look like.

After spending months reading, researching, and immersing herself in everything birth-related (over 20 books and countless podcasts!), Annie entered the final weeks of pregnancy ready to meet her baby — but also determined to avoid unnecessary interventions. When her blood pressure began to rise and her provider recommended induction, Anna chose instead to trust her instincts, give her body space, and keep walking, resting, and praying.

Her patience paid off. Labor began naturally and from the first contraction to the final push, Anna leaned into the process she had prepared so deeply for. This conversation captures the beauty of informed choice, the power of calm preparation, and the grace in trusting your body and the process when birth unfolds in its own timing.

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🌸 In this heartfelt and empowering episode of The Positive Birth Corner, we sit down with Natashja James, a licensed counselor, yoga teacher, and first-time mom who welcomed her daughter just two weeks before her 37th birthday.

Natashja shares how she turned her early fears about pregnancy and “advanced maternal age” into a story of faith, preparation, and strength. From building a holistic birth team to creating a peaceful, empowering atmosphere in the hospital, Natashja’s story reminds us that birth can be calm, informed, and deeply personal—no matter your age or circumstances.

With a birth dream team that included:

• A doula (shoutout to Alicia!)
• A mental health counselor specializing in perinatal wellness
• A herbal medicine dietitian This holistic approach helped Natasha support both her mind and body throughout pregnancy.

Natasha emphasizes the importance of prenatal mental health—not just postpartum. She shares practical ways she protected her peace, including therapy, yoga, and mindful preparation. Though she was eventually induced at 41 weeks, Natasha describes how her preparation paid off & her birth was filled with intention and calm.

🌸 Natashja James is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified School Counselor, Social Worker, and Yoga Teacher based in Philadelphia, PA. She is the founder of Peace Be Still Holistic Health, an inclusive practice that centers the wellness of students and young professionals from diverse communities and identities.

Her work also embraces new mamas; especially those navigating the layered realities of education, career, and family life. As a toddler mom with lived experience of postpartum anxiety, Natashja shows up in session with authenticity, compassion, and a whole-person approach that honors culture, identity, and lived experience.

Website: peacebestillhealth.com

Instagram: @pbsholistichealth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/namaste.natashja/

Postpartum Support International Directory: https://psidirectory.com/listing/peace-be-still-holistic-health.html

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

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Prenatal Foundations Guide

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Third Trimester Prep Guide

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Postpartum Wellness Guide + Template

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AD: The National Nurse-Led Care Consortium, an affiliate of PHMC. is a nonprofit public health organization working to strengthen community health. They host programs like Nurse-Family Partnership, which focuses on serving first-time pregnant people in Philadelphia through biweekly visits with a nurse home visitor. If you’re pregnant and interested in learning more about this program, visit the website at nurseledcare.phmc.org

💚 In this heartfelt conversation, MaryNissi sits down with her former nurse and now dear friend Rachel, to talk about the real impact of nurse-led care on new parents.

Rachel shares how her calling into nursing began unexpectedly, tracing it back to a trip to Belfast, Ireland, where she first witnessed the power of community-based health. What started as a seed of curiosity grew into a life of service, helping first-time moms navigate pregnancy, birth, and everything that comes after.

Together, MaryNissi and Rachel unpack what it really means to feel supported, not just medically, but emotionally and spiritually. They talk about the sacredness of early motherhood, the confidence that comes from being seen and educated, and how positive birth experiences can ripple out into every area of a woman’s life.

There’s laughter, reflection, and a few honest moments about what postpartum really feels like the mix of joy, vulnerability, and discovery that comes with learning who you are as both a mother and a person.

💭 What You’ll Hear

• The moment MaryNissi realized birth could be both powerful and peaceful.
• How nurse-led programs help parents trust their instincts and their bodies.
• Why education and compassion make such a difference in birth outcomes.
• The power of sharing positive birth stories — and how they can shift entire narratives.

💬 Favorite Moments

“If I can do that, if I can give birth and advocate for myself, I can do anything.” — MaryNissi

“Trust yourself. Your body and instincts will lead you in the right direction.” — Rachel

💚 Closing Thought

Empowerment in birth doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from being informed, supported, and seen. And when that happens, new parents don’t just survive the journey… they thrive through it.

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

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Prenatal Foundations Guide

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Third Trimester Prep Guide

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In this powerful continuation of Nada’s story, we enter the heart of her labor the moment where strength, surrender, advocacy, and faith all converge. What began as a routine progression became a sacred experience of grounding, prayer, and perseverance.

Nada & Marynissi walk through the intimate, raw, and holy moments that defined Nada’s delivery from calling for a quiet room to pray, to navigating exhaustion, to finally holding her daughter for the first time.

What unfolds is a story about trust in her body, her birth team, her faith, and the process itself.

✨You'll Hear About:

1. The Power of Pause As labor intensified, Neda asked for the room to clear, TWICE, so she, her husband James, and MaryNissi could pray and ground themselves. What happened next was described as a “holy moment,” a sacred stillness before life entered the room.

💪 2. Advocacy in Action When fatigue hit and the possibility of a C-section was raised, her birth team advocated fiercely for her right to try a little longer. A patient doctor met her at eye level literally reminding everyone that compassion and respect can coexist with clinical care.

👩🏽‍⚕️ 3. Overwhelmed Yet Supported At one point, twelve clinicians filled the delivery room — overwhelming, but also a sign of full support. For Nada, a Palestinian and Black woman, having every resource present was both humbling and affirming in a healthcare system where too often, women of color are left unseen.

🌿 4. The Golden Hour Despite exhaustion, baby latched right away, a tender, instinctive moment that grounded Nada in her new role as a mother.

❤️ 5. Healing, Intimacy, and Self-Advocacy Nada speaks vulnerably about postpartum healing the physical recovery, the emotions around intimacy, and the need for persistence when something doesn’t feel right. Her advice: keep speaking up.

🧠 6. Mental Health and Postpartum Care With honesty and humor, Nada opens up about baby blues, anxiety, and the importance of having a therapist before birth building that relationship early so you’re supported when the hormones shift.

🌸 7. Redefining a “Positive Birth” For Nada, a positive birth isn’t about perfection it’s about having resources, being seen, and being able to advocate for yourself. It’s about knowing your voice matters in every decision, big or small.

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

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Prenatal Foundations Guide

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Third Trimester Prep Guide

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In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of The Positive Birth Corner, host MaryNissi sits down with Nada, a Black and Palestinian registered dietitian, wife, and mom who shares her deeply personal journey through pregnancy, preparation, and birth.

Nada opens up about walking into motherhood with both professional insight and personal fear shaped by her public health background and awareness of maternal health disparities. What unfolds is a story of transformation: from anxiety about becoming a statistic to empowerment through knowledge, advocacy, and an incredible support team.

Together, we reflect on the importance of preparation, partnership, and presence in creating a birth experience that honors both body and spirit. From late-night phone calls and peanut butter sandwiches in early labor to navigating hospital systems and embracing the power of the doula–OB partnership, this conversation captures the real, raw, and redemptive beauty of birth.

This episode reminds us that a positive birth isn’t about perfection it’s about being seen, supported, and secure in your choices.

✨You'll Hear about:

• What it’s like to prepare for birth while working in public health
• How Nada’s husband became an anchor through fear and uncertainty
• The emotional “gray area” after giving birth
• Why having a doula changed everything
• Laboring at home, hospital transitions, and learning to advocate for yourself
• Finding peace, humor, and strength in unexpected moments

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

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Prenatal Foundations Guide

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Third Trimester Prep Guide

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Postpartum Wellness Guide + Template

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In this episode of Positive Birth Corner, MaryNissi sits down with Amanda to share her powerful journey of bringing her daughter, Aria, into the world. From navigating fears around induction and low fluid levels to finding strength through affirmations, prayer, and the support of her doula, Amanda’s story is a reminder that birth can be both unpredictable and beautiful.

Amanda opens up about her pregnancy journey, the impact of a previous miscarriage, how she and her husband prepared mentally and physically, and the pivotal role her mom, husband, doula, and even her dogs, played in her experience. You’ll hear how she balanced planning with “going with the flow,” her decision around the epidural, and the surprising moment a leaking bathtub ceiling pushed her toward the hospital!

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to combine faith, flexibility, and intentional preparation in birth, this conversation is for you.

✨ You’ll hear about:

• Amanda’s experience navigating pressure for induction and trusting her instincts
• The mental and emotional preparation she used (affirmations, prayer, mindset)
• How movement, walks, and even her dogs became part of labor prep
• Balancing birth preferences with the reality of the moment
• The importance of support systems both personal and professional in shaping a positive birth

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

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Prenatal Foundations Guide

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025

Third Trimester Prep Guide

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Postpartum Wellness Guide + Template

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Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Store

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In this solo episode of Positive Birth Corner, MaryNissi dives into one of the most powerful tools you can bring into your pregnancy and birth: advocacy.

Advocacy is more than just speaking up, it’s about knowing what you need, understanding your options, and being confident enough to make decisions that align with your values. Using personal stories, practical tools, and real-life examples from her work as a doula and childbirth educator, I break advocacy down into three simple steps you can start using today.

✨ You’ll hear about:

• What advocacy really means (and why it’s as simple as ordering your own meal at a restaurant 🍲)
• Why tuning into your needs is the essential first step toward a positive birth
• The role of childbirth education in preparing you — and your support team — to make informed decisions
• How to speak up, ask the right questions, and pivot when your plan no longer fits your vision
• Real client stories that show how advocacy can transform birth experiences
• Why it’s okay — and often necessary — to switch providers or settings if they don’t align with your needs

This episode is short, practical, and packed with tools to help you prepare for a birth that feels safe, supportive, and fully yours.

👉 Subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that their voice matters in birth.

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108

Prenatal Foundations Guide

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025

Third Trimester Prep Guide

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Postpartum Wellness Guide + Template

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This week on Positive Birth Corner, we’re shaking things up with our first dad! 💪 In this episode, we sit down with Kahlef to hear his honest, funny, and deeply thoughtful perspective on becoming a father. From cultural lessons growing up, to meticulous birth prep, to navigating the unexpected moments (yes, even stopping for snacks mid-labor 🚗🥤), He brings his whole self to this journey.

You’ll hear about:

✨ How his upbringing shaped his views on responsibility, culture, and fatherhood.

✨ Why he packed birth bags two months early and how preparation gave him confidence.

✨ The realities of birth from a partner’s perspective — the waiting, the humor, and the awe of seeing new life come into the world.

✨ Postpartum shifts: stepping up at home, protecting his space, and embracing the daily responsibilities of fatherhood.

✨ What “positive birth” means to him — and the advice he has for dads everywhere.

Kahlef’s story reminds us that fathers are not just “supporting roles” — they are powerful participants in birth and parenting. His intentionality, humor, and authenticity shine a light on what it means to show up fully in this journey.

👉 Tune in, subscribe, and share this episode with the dads and partners in your life who need to hear that they matter too.

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108

Prenatal Foundations Guide

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025

Third Trimester Prep Guide

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Postpartum Wellness Guide + Template

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076

Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Store

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In this episode of Positive Birth Corner, we hear from Natalie, a first-time mom whose journey to motherhood was filled with preparation, prayer, and unexpected twists. Natalie takes us inside her birth center experience — from the early hours of labor to a dramatic delivery when her baby was born with the cord around his neck.

Through it all, Natalie shows us the power of mindset, support, and staying grounded. Her story is both real and inspiring, reminding us that even when things don’t go exactly as planned, a positive birth is still possible.

You’ll hear about:

✨ Why Natalie chose a birth center for her first baby

✨ The prep that gave her confidence — from affirmations to freezer meals

✨ Navigating early labor and finding rest with support from her team

✨ Laboring in water, moving through positions, and pushing with purpose

✨ The dramatic moment of her baby’s birth — and how calm, skilled midwives helped her through it

✨ Life after birth: recovery, breastfeeding, and setting boundaries in postpartum

✨ Why filling your heart with positive birth stories matters before you step into your own

Natalie’s story is a beautiful reminder that preparation and perspective can transform even the hardest moments into ones filled with hope.

👉 Subscribe now and share this episode with someone who needs to hear that birth can be both powerful and positive.

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108

Prenatal Foundations Guide

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025

Third Trimester Prep Guide

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536053

Postpartum Wellness Guide + Template

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076

Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Store

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In this episode of Positive Birth Corner, we sit down with Moraa, a Kenyan-born mama living in Philadelphia, who shares her powerful story of pregnancy, preparation, and giving birth in the middle of Hurricane Ida. 🌧️👶🏾

From navigating cultural expectations, to building a supportive care team, to driving through flooded streets while in labor — Moraa's story is as inspiring as it is unforgettable.

You’ll hear about: ✨ Growing up in Nairobi and adjusting to care in the U.S. ✨ Why she took a birth class that completely changed her confidence and advocacy skills. ✨ The process of finding the right doula and switching providers mid-pregnancy. ✨ Laboring through chaos — from flooded roads to triage surprises. ✨ The beauty of trusting her body when it came time to push. ✨ How her postpartum plan gave her the space to heal and bond with her baby.

Maura’s story is a reminder that preparation, advocacy, and support make all the difference. Even in the middle of a storm, a positive birth is possible.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with a mama or birth partner who needs encouragement today.

The Full Doula Guide Bundle Series

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108

Prenatal Foundations Guide

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025

Third Trimester Prep Guide

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536053

Postpartum Wellness Guide + Template

https://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076

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