Stories in Motherhood

Staci Knox became a Certified Child Birth Educator, as well as a Certified Lactation Educator before she became a mother. Even though she had a lot of education and knowledge around breastfeeding, she still had struggles in the beginning. After seeking help, she was able to continue nursing her daughter, even farther than the first year. Staci shares her breastfeeding story starting when her daughter was born at home, all the way up to where they are at now in their breastfeeding journey together. Your host, Eliza True, also shares some of her breastfeeding journey, and struggles along the way. If you would like to reach out to Staci Knox, follow her on Facebook at Bright Birth Options, or email her at [email protected]

Your host, Eliza True, shares the birth story of her second child, Shepherd. After a very painful first labor, Eliza was not certain she wanted another natural birth. But after a lot of thought, she decided to have a homebirth. SPD and high blood pressure challenged her plans, but ultimately Eliza was able to give birth at home, in a peaceful and gentle way. Eliza shares her struggles with breastfeeding, and her love for birth and motherhood in general.

Abby Green has a type A personality, and likes to have control. Her first lesson in letting go of control was when she was trying to conceive, and things were not going the way she had planned. Then, after she was finally pregnant, she felt like she had control over how her birth would go. When that didn’t go as planned, she was disappointed and discouraged. Pregnancy, birth, and motherhood has helped Abby realize it is okay to not always have control. Abby is driven and successful, and her story is going to really hit home with women who have a similar personality and lifestyle.

Sarabeth’s first birth did not go as planned. She had originally wanted a homebirth, but her baby was very “overdue”. Even after trying to induce labor naturally, the baby just did not want to come out. Finally after transferring to the hospital for some Pitocin, the baby was born vaginally. Sarabeth knew she wanted something different for the second baby, so she found a homebirth midwife, but ended up transferring to a different midwife in her third trimester when she started to feel over-managed. She went on to have a beautiful birth at home, in the water, which is what she had always dreamed of. Sarabeth shares the importance of advocating for yourself during pregnancy, and making sure you research before making any decisions.

Jessica is a mother of three, living in Nevada with her cowboy husband. She used Hypnobirthing to help with pain management during her very fast labors. Jessica was very prepared for her labors, and spent a lot of time exercising during pregnancy to feel her best. She wanted something different for her second birth, after she had her first baby in a hospital. She found a midwife that would travel to her, even though she lives in a very rural area. The midwife was able to make it to Jessica’s first homebirth, but was not able to get there on time for the second homebirth!

Jamie tells her stories with grace and power. She had her first two babies at a birth center with a midwife in attendance, and then had her last two babies at home with just her husband and children. Jamie birthed her fourth baby, a girl, all on her own, without even her husband there to witness it. Her oldest daughter was the first one to greet her new baby sister, as she woke up in the middle of the night to go to her mamas bed. On her way there, she found her mama and baby sister warming up by the fire.

Elizabeth got pregnant when she was 16, but knew all along that she wanted a natural birth. After birthing her first baby in the hospital, Elizabeth chose to do things differently with her second baby, and birthed him all by herself in her bath tub at home.

Jenna opens her heart to share her full birth story starting with her very normal first pregnancy, three miscarriages, and then finally her rainbow baby. She talks honestly about her feelings with loss, mental health challenges, and the joys that come along with being a mom.