In this episode I wanted to give you the inside scoop of my personal breastfeeding journeys with each of my babies. Discussing what I thought nursing would be like with my first and how I navigated breast milk after a loss. Thank you for joining me in celebrating my breastfeeding journeys for World Breastfeeding Week! 

Links mentioned in show 

Breastfeeding Q&A with Breastfeeding educator, doula and RN, JaTem Christennsen

Tubby Todd lotion Discount Link 

La Leche League Support 

IG: @tristabirdzell

( if pregnant, please listen to intro to decide if you should skip this episode until your no longer pregnant) 

In this episode I interview Laicy, an incredible mom of 2 babies that has had quite the journey into motherhood. Starting with her first baby, born with a Vacuum assist and ending with a C-section that resulted in an emergency hysterectomy and almost loosing her leg in the process. These birth stories are heavy and so important to share because this is how we are able to educate others on why it is crucial to know the options that you have. After attending many births I've seen such a sad difference between hospital and home and I've found that it has to do with being in the hospital you are in someone else's house. We've been taught to say yes please, and be a gracious guest when we are in the home of others. And sadly we fall into this trap when we give birth in the hospital. That is why I created the Birth Options guide. Because I have heard the statement countless times of " I didn't even know that was an option" or " If I'd only known that I could have said no, or asked what my options were". I don't want you to ever have to say that. I don't want you to ever have to wonder " what if I would have known differently" Click here to purchase the Birth Options Guide. And Postpartum guide goes over how to set yourself up for a smoother and more healing postpartum journey. Click here to purchase. 

If you are struggling to heal from a trauma please do not hesitate to reach out to a specialist to talk about it and discuss treatment options. You are worth it, your happiness, your life and family are worth it. Sending you love and light in your healing journey. You are never alone. 

To follow Laicy

The healing Group 

Classes start Aug 7th in Provo. Donation based - link to sign up: 

 Sign up for class

follow me here: @tristabirdzell

contact here: [email protected]

The difference between my previous birth experiences and my last was night and day and I know that it has SO MUCH to do with the way my husband and I prepared for labor and the postpartum period during pregnancy.

In the previous experiences it wasn't that he didn’t want to help more but it was that he didn’t know what to do, how to do it or that he really even needed to do more than hold my hand. I honestly didn’t realize it either until after I became a doula how important the role the partner can play. How important it was to really take the time to educate not just myself but him on the ways he can really influence our experience together.

I want to bring these tools and techniques to more birthing couples so they can have a transformative experience together. That’s where the Transformed Maternity and birth course was created from. A desire to use this opportunity of birth to take advantage of this transformative experience to bring partners closer, to bond and to go through this journey together.

The magic we were able to create together has trickled into our roles as parents and lifetime partners. My postpartum experience was 1000x better because of the work we did prenatally.

It can be this for you too, it all starts with the desire to create it.

Today I felt inspired to record a solo cast. I talk a little about Human Design how discovering this modality of self awareness has changed my life. and Body Image. 

I didn’t plan on talking about human design at all but it just needed to come out. I have fallen in love with learning about all of these different avenues on how to learn more about yourself and how to use it to create your dream life.

You can find out what your human design is here for free

I also dive deep into body image. I get vulnerable on how this plays a part in how I show up in the world, on how I was teased so badly in school and how I was able to become aware of these things and what has helped me heal and that I have to continue to notice when the negative self talk shows up. It is more than your weight or body fat, it is so much deeper. Body image is the way you view yourself and the way you think others view you.

So how do we break free of this veil from thinking that the whole world sees our flaws? It comes with becoming aware, getting uncomfortable  and doing deep shadow work. When you start to do this you start to be grateful for your body and falling in love with it. Think about your child , what would you say to them if they walked up to you and said “ I'm ugly” “I'm not worthy”. You have to learn to treat yourself with compassion and love, kindness and nurturing. You will start to change the way you see yourself in the mirror.

Come home to you, there is no right way to look, its only about how you feel

“ The first step of healing: You want to care for the things you love”

Get the book Cassandra Speaks here

I want to create a community of powerful women who want to break free from the stigmas and from being a prisoner of themselves. People who feel trapped in motherhood and crave deeper healing.  Who want to have juicy conversations , who are willing to get uncomfortable and create these rich relationships.

If you are local, I am starting to do women's circles to get a community of like minded goddesses together to have deep conversations, breakthroughs and good food.

If this calls to you , let's do it!

Follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/trista.birdzell to stay up to date on all my offerings, for upcoming dates for Women's circles.

If you’re pregnant and are curious about having a mothers blessing email me at birdzelltrista@yahoo.com or message me on Instagram @trista.birdzell

Today I am chatting with April Davis, creator of The Vagina Blog. We get to hear all 3 of her completely different birth stories that range from hospital to home birth. We hear about her Hyperemesis Gravidarum and how that was first noticed and diagnosed by organ failure!! We also hear what she did to help prepare herself for her births and why she says its so important to plan like you are having an unmedicated labor even when you are set on having an epidural. At the end we discuss her newest creation Capitalizing On Your Menstrual Cycle For Your Personal and Professional Success. I cant wait for you to dive in to this episode! 

In this episode I interview Ashlea on the unplanned, unassisted birth on her bathroom floor! We dive into SPD ( symphysis pubis dysfunction) and what she was able to do to help her, how she was able to advocate for herself when she didn't want to have cervical exams and why she transferred care from hospital midwife to homebirth midwife at 27 weeks. We discuss those last days leading up to labor and how she struggled with surrendering with the unknown of when labor will begin and how she felt "like a queen" in those early hours and days after giving birth! 

If you enjoyed this podcast please I would love it so much if you could leave a review so that we can educate and help empower more people! You can also screenshot this episode and tag me on your social media so i can give you a shout out! 

for more information on my services, and access to my free content go to 

www.instagram.com/trista.birdzell or facebook www.facebook.com/tristabdoula

Recommended books 

The First 40 Days 

The Fourth Trimester

Expecting and Empowered fitness guide

This weeks episode we are listening to two birth stories from my guest Rachael. She had a cesarean birth with her first due to circumstances that were out of her control, having to have her baby at 36 weeks and how healing from this birth was not an easy one.   Then we get to hear how her second birth was a complete 360 degree difference in all aspects in the best ways. 

You can find Rachael and check out her beautiful birth at here

Miles Circuit 

This week's episode is all about postpartum healing. I interviewed Jazmin Turley who I like to call the period guru all about how we can improve the healing of our uterus and vaginal health in the postpartum period. We go into vaginal steaming, the how to's the whens and whys. I learned so much and seriously can't wait to steam when Im postpartum.  

As of July her instagram account @wombxnco will be under renovation so if you would like to contact her reach out to her at @thepostpartumrevolution and she can get back to you that way! Also in July she will hosting and teaching an amazing even all about postpartum healing traditions from around the world with The Postpartum Revolution so make sure you follow them to get the details! 

If you would like to schedule a postpartum steam but are not able to wait for September when Jazmin will be back then head to www.thesteamychick.com to find a practitioner to help you out. 

Books

The first 40 days 

Sitting Moon 

The 4th Trimester 

Also 10% of each purchase of my course to empower your birth experience by learning your options for labor birth and postpartum will be donated to @mamababyhaiti indefinitely to support Haitian midwives support pregnant and birthing  Haitian mommas.