Lauren, an expat living in Brazil, planned a home birth with midwives for her first baby's birth. Near the end of her birth process, the midwives decided her baby was likely too big be born at home, and transferred her to the local hospital, where the birth ended with an episiotomy. It was a violent intervention that left Lauren, and her husband, traumatized (also, spoiler alert: the baby was a perfectly normal size).

When she became pregnant with her second baby, she knew she would not allow the same thing to happen to her again. She found the right team of wise women to surround her, set very clear boundaries (including with her husband, who was still working through his fears), and mostly importantly of all, trusted herself.

That second birth experience was the "birth of her dreams." And Lauren wants every woman who hears her story to know that it's every woman's birthright to experience a birth like hers.

If you don't already follow @healingbirth on Instagram, be sure to this week to see photos of Lauren's birth. They are exceptionally beautiful!

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Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at [email protected]

Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net

Intro / outro music: Dreams by Markvard