In this incredible birth story, My Essential Birth parents Christa and Morgan take us through one of the most incredible journeys I have ever had the honor of sharing on this podcast. 

From a heartbreaking miscarriage to living on the road during pregnancy, to refusing a life flight and driving eight hours home, to an unmedicated delivery nobody saw coming (and a 32-week baby who left every nurse in the NICU completely speechless) this story will stay with you long after you finish listening.

This episode is PROOF that when you prepare, advocate, and work together as a couple — you can have an amazing experience no matter which twist and turns pregnancy and birth take. I promise, this is one you do not want to miss!

Here's some highlights from the episode:

🚐 How Christa and Morgan navigated their pregnancy while living on the road across Montana 

🥩 The unconventional nutrition approach that kept Christa thriving 

🔍 Why Christa switched midwives mid-pregnancy and why trusting your gut about your provider matters so much 

🚗 The moment her water broke seven weeks early, the life flight they refused, and the seven hour drive home 

💪 How Morgan showed up as a birth partner in the most critical moments and what every dad needs to hear 

🏥 Their NICU experience and the baby who shocked every single person on staff 

💛 Their honest, real advice for moms and birth partners 

If you are pregnant, have a birth partner by your side, or just need a reminder of what faith and preparation can do, this episode is for you.

Grab your partner, put your earbuds in, and let Christa and Morgan's story remind you that you are so much more capable than you realize. 🥹

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
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Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

What if the birth plan you worked so hard on… actually set you up for disappointment?

Most moms spend hours researching, Googling templates, and checking every box, and still walk away from birth feeling blindsided, unprepared, or like the whole experience just happened to them.

And it's not their fault. It's because nobody ever showed them what a birth plan is actually supposed to do, or the mistakes that quietly sabotage even the most prepared moms in the birth room.

In this episode, I'm talking about the most common birth plan mistakes I see all the time, and more importantly, exactly what to do instead.

Whether you're just starting to think about your birth plan or you already have one and something feels off, this episode is going to change the way you think about it completely.

Here are some highlights from the episode:

• Why the birth plan templates you find online might be working against you
• The real reason birth plans fall flat when labor actually begins
• Mistake #1: The mindset shift that changes how you approach your birth plan
• Mistake #2: The powerful (and totally underused) way to use your birth plan before you ever step foot in a delivery room
• Mistake #3: Why planning only for your ideal birth can leave you feeling lost when things shift
• How to use your birth plan to learn something really important about your provider ahead of time
• The free Birth Map download that makes the whole process feel so much easier: https://www.myessentialbirth.com/birthplan

Birth doesn't have to go perfectly for you to walk away feeling incredible about your experience.

What matters most is that you felt informed, understood your options, and had a voice every step of the way. I know you're going to love it, mama.

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

What would you do if your doctor mentioned induction at what felt like a totally routine appointment, and suddenly you were nodding along to something you weren't even sure you agreed to?

In this week's episode, I'm walking you through what's really happening when induction comes up, why it feels so hard to push back in the moment, and the three questions that can completely change the conversation with your provider. 

Whether you're 37 weeks and caught off guard or just want to feel prepared before that moment comes, this episode is for you!

I am so passionate about this topic, and I know it's one that so many mamas need to hear. 

A recommendation is NOT a requirement, and you deserve to feel confident and informed about every decision you make for yourself and your baby. This is an episode I wish every pregnant mom could hear before she walks into that appointment!

Here are some highlights from the episode:

• Why so many moms leave provider appointments confused about what just happened
• The real difference between a recommendation and a requirement
• Why it feels almost impossible to say no in the moment — and why that's not your fault
• The timeline pressure behind induction and what may actually be driving it
• The 3 questions every pregnant mom needs before agreeing to an induction
• What your options really are if you choose to wait
• How to ask for more time without feeling difficult or disrespectful
• What informed consent actually looks like — and what it means to feel truly in control of your birth

You do not have to walk into that appointment unprepared. Tune in, take notes, and remember — being informed is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and your baby. I can't wait for you to hear this one!

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

Some moms swear placenta pills changed their postpartum recovery…others say they did nothing. So what’s actually true?

Today I'm sitting down with Dr. Sophia Johnson. She's a physician, researcher, and author who spent a decade studying the placenta inside a university lab in Germany.

(Fun fact: in Germany, the placenta is literally called Mutterkuchen: "mother's cake." 🎂 After this episode, you'll understand why. )

We're diving into the actual science of consuming it: which preparation methods preserve the most hormones, the GBS case every encapsulating mom needs to know about, what hormone withdrawal really does to your body postpartum, and so much more.

I've been watching this topic explode since my oldest was born (17 years ago!!), and this episode is everything I wish I had been able to hear all those years ago.

I know you're going to LOVE this episode — and I'm so curious about what you'll plan to do after you listen!! 

Here are some highlights from the episode:

• What the placenta actually is and why it's so much more powerful than most people realize
• The science behind consuming your placenta
• Freezing vs. steaming vs. dehydrating & what the lab research actually found is best
• Placing placenta inside the cheek for postpartum hemorrhage, and why it works
• The hormone crash after birth and its connection to postpartum depression
• Who should think twice before consuming their placenta
• Why Dr. Sophia wrote Placenta Power and how to get your copy

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

What would you do if your baby came so fast… your husband hadn't even had his morning coffee yet?

Veronica planned a home birth... she just didn't plan for it to look like this: her husband catching their daughter in their bedroom, the midwife and doula still an hour away, and a baby who had absolutely no interest in waiting for anyone.

And she definitely didn't plan for her placenta to be so rare that a midwife with YEARS of experience had never seen anything like it...

... Or for that same placenta to be the very reason her intuition had been telling her the entire birth: do not let anyone touch me.

This episode is one of the most complete birth stories I've ever had on the podcast.

We are talking about the full journey:

✅ The mindset work leading up to her birth
✅ The daily prep (including how her toddler held her accountable to her exercises!) 
✅ The birth itself (minute by minute, because you need every detail), and what happened after
✅ The post-birth matrescence that I think every single person who loves a pregnant woman needs to hear

Veronica came into her second pregnancy knowing she wanted something different. She just didn't know how different it would actually get.

Here are some highlights from the episode:

• What happened at Veronica's 20-week appointment that changed her entire birth path
• How she navigated switching providers and ultimately choosing home birth
• The daily prep routine she followed throughout her pregnancy
• The reframing that took her from fear to fully trusting her body
• What happened when labor went from 0 to 100 in the middle of the night
• How her husband stepped up and caught their baby completely unexpectedly
• The rare placenta that left even the most experienced midwives speechless
• Her most powerful advice for both moms and birth partners

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

What if the most powerful voice in your birth room isn't the doctor's — it's your husband's?

In this episode, I sit down with Catalina Clark, a licensed home birth midwife in Sonoma, California, who has spent 11 years at the crossroads of spiritual midwifery, birth sovereignty, and the sacred side of birth that nobody in the hospital is talking about. From the father's role in the birth room to why Pitocin may be affecting us on a cultural level, we talk about it all — and I think you're going to want to listen to it more than once.

I loved every minute of this conversation with Catalina. She has this incredible way of meeting you exactly where you are — whether you're planning a hospital birth, a home birth, or you're not even sure yet — and reminding you that you have far more power than you've been told. This is the kind of episode that makes you think differently, breathe a little deeper, and trust yourself a whole lot more.

Here's some highlights from the episode:

• What spiritual midwifery actually means and why it matters for every birth, in every setting
• The 3 pillars of authentic midwifery: authenticity, transparency, and integrity
• Why the father's voice may be the most powerful one in the birth room — and exactly what to say
• What birth sovereignty really means (hint: it has nothing to do with where you give birth)
• How to balance your intuition with medical advice when both are pulling at you
• The surprising history of midwifery and why most of us have never heard of it
• What Pitocin is doing to the brain — and possibly to our culture at large
• How to bring intention, ritual, and sacredness into your birth space
• Why birth is not designed to be as painful as we've been told
• The one thing Catalina wants every single mama to know: "What if this is not a problem?"

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

Over the years, birth has slowly shifted from a natural, woman-centered experience to something much more medicalized — and most pregnant moms have no idea why.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how modern maternity care evolved, why so many women are left feeling like their bodies are broken (or are told something along those lines), and what you can do right now to walk into birth feeling confident, informed, and supported.

Because the truth is… your body isn’t broken.

When you understand how birth actually works — and how the system around birth operates — everything begins to look different. You can start to trust your body again, ask better questions, and make decisions that truly support the birth experience you want.

I absolutely loved recording this episode because it gives moms the bigger picture that most of us were never taught. Understanding the history and structure of maternity care can completely change the way you prepare for birth — and help you walk into labor feeling calm, confident, and empowered.

This is an episode every I hope every pregnant mom has a chance to hear before she gives birth.

Here are some highlights from the episode:

• How birth slowly shifted from a normal life event to a highly medicalized experience
 • The rise of interventions like inductions, Cesarean birth, and routine procedures in modern birth
 • Why helpful medical tools sometimes become routine practices — even when they aren’t always necessary
 • What research actually says about home birth vs hospital birth for low-risk pregnancies
 • Why your birth environment plays a huge role in how your body labors
 • What the pandemic revealed about birth choices and maternity care systems
 • The hidden limitations of many hospital birth classes
 • The epidural conversation many moms aren’t prepared for before labor begins
 • Why informed consent matters and the options many women don’t realize they have during birth
 • The foundational pieces that help women feel confident and empowered heading into labor
 • Postpartum decisions most moms never realize they’ll be making before birth

Tune in to learn how understanding the system around birth can help you take back ownership of your experience, trust your body, and prepare for the empowered birth you deserve.

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

What does it look like when a pelvic floor physical therapist uses everything she knows — plus the My Essential Birth course — to prepare for her own unmedicated birth? It looks like THIS episode.

Haley Sampson is a labor of love kind of mama. She stayed active, did her prep work, went to 41 weeks and 3 days, had her water break, and pushed her baby out using tools, visualization, and a birth partner who truly showed up. Whether you're curious about pelvic floor prep, what unmedicated contractions actually feel like, or how to push effectively — Haley gives us every amazing detail.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What a pelvic floor PT actually did every day to prepare her body for birth — including perineal stretching, meditation, strength training, wall sits with affirmations, and more
• When to see a pelvic floor therapist during pregnancy and what "push prep" sessions actually look like
• How her husband prepared as her birth partner — studying the course, practicing techniques, and becoming her advocate in the room
• What unmedicated contractions feel like, where she felt them, and exactly how she breathed and worked through each one
• The pushing positions, open glottis vocalizing, mirror use, and visualization that helped her bring her daughter earthside
• How the My Essential Birth course tools showed up not just in prep — but in the thick of active labor and pushing
• Her best advice for mamas and birth partners on advocating for yourself and building a birth plan that actually serves you

Birth is hard work — but you were made for this. Tune in and let Haley remind you just how capable you really are.

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

Is everything we’ve been told about fat… wrong?

In this episode, I sit down with Reproductive Endocrinologist & Fertility Specialist, Dr. Robert Kiltz, founder of CNY Fertility, to talk about infertility, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, and the controversial idea that eating more fat — not less — may be the key to healing.

Dr. Kiltz shares his personal health journey, how he began questioning conventional nutrition advice, and what he started noticing in his fertility practice when patients shifted toward paleo, keto, and even carnivore-style eating. We discuss rising infertility rates, pregnancy nutrition myths, blood sugar balance, liver health, inflammation, and why so many women today are being diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

This episode will absolutely challenge the standard pregnancy nutrition narrative you've been receiving — and invite you to think more critically about what truly supports fertility and metabolic health.

Here are some highlights from the episode:
 • Dr. Kiltz’s unexpected journey from troubled teen to fertility specialist
 • Why infertility rates continue to rise — and what might actually be driving it
 • The connection between insulin, liver health, and gestational diabetes
 • How quickly hormones and blood sugar can begin to shift with dietary changes
 • Protein vs. fat — are we emphasizing the wrong one?
 • Whether you can really “eat too much” fat
 • The role inflammation may play in reproductive struggles
 • Why reproductive health reflects overall metabolic health
 • How mindset, faith, and stress impact healing and fertility

Whether you agree with everything shared or not, this conversation will help you ask better questions about what you’re eating before and during pregnancy — and what truly nourishes your body while growing a baby.

If you’re trying to conceive, navigating gestational diabetes, or simply wanting to optimize your health for pregnancy, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Tune in, decide for yourself, and let me know what you think!!

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM! 

 If you're aiming for a VBAC this pregnancy, this one is for you mama!

I had a wonderful conversation with My Essential Birth Mama, Sarah. She shares how she navigated pregnancy, labor, and birth with confidence — even when things didn’t go exactly as planned. We discuss everything from preparing her mindset during pregnancy to advocating during labor and embracing the beauty of her baby’s arrival. This episode is full of encouragement for any mama preparing for birth...and especially for my VBAC mamas!

Here are some highlights from the episode:

• How Sarah prepared mentally and physically for birth during pregnancy
 • The mindset shifts that helped her release fear and build confidence
 • What early labor felt like and how she knew things were progressing
 • The tools she used to manage contractions naturally
 • How preparation helped her advocate for herself in the hospital
 • What it looked like to pivot peacefully when birth didn’t unfold exactly as expected
 • The emotional moment she met her baby
 • Her honest postpartum reflections and what she wants every pregnant mom to know

Birth may not always go exactly according to plan — but it can still be powerful, peaceful, and empowering. I hope this story reminds you that your body was designed for this, and with the right preparation, you can walk into your birth feeling strong and ready. 💛

Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast!

Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >> 

On Apple Podcasts

1. Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcast
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews”
3. Click the stars!
4. Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! 

On Spotify

1. Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcast
2. Click the 3 dots "..."
3. Select "Rate podcast"
4. Click the stars and write a quick review!

FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier!

Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds:

• On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.
• On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titles

Let's Connect!

Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Email: [email protected]. 
Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!