The Unmedicated Minded Momma

Taylor joins me to share the story of her three very different births—from a C-section, to a VBAC, to her third baby: a second VBAC and her first unmedicated birth.

We talk about what she learned through each experience and how those lessons shaped the way she prepared for and approached birth the third time around.

Taylor shares what it looked like to advocate for herself as she went post-dates, the decision to use castor oil, and the practical tools and mindset shifts that helped her pursue the unmedicated birth she wanted.

But this conversation goes so much deeper than birth plans and coping techniques. We talk about how God used her experiences to deepen her faith, strengthen relationships, and teach her about surrender, advocacy, and trusting herself along the way.

Whether you’re preparing for a VBAC, hoping for an unmedicated birth, or simply learning how to become a more informed and confident participant in your own care, Taylor’s story is full of practical wisdom and encouragement.

Chapters

• 00:00 Preparation and Birth of First Child
• 03:04 Birth of Second Child and Decision for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
• 12:02 Preparation and Birth of Second Child
• 17:00 Preparation and Birth of Third Child
• 28:57 Use of Midwife's Brew and Labor Progression
• 31:16 Preparing for Labor
• 32:04 Transitioning to the Hospital
• 33:20 Arrival at the Hospital
• 34:47 Labor Progression and Pushing
• 36:33 Post-Delivery Experience
• 57:13 Reflections on the Birthing Experience

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy-be sure to list me as your birthworker for one on one support!
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings. When you enroll with me, you get comprehensive birth education with virtual doula services to walk you through every step!

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out as soon as I can!

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

Meg is an artist, and former dancer whose deep connection to her body gave her a unique perspective and preparedness for birth.

In this episode, she shares how she prepared for her home birth, learned to trust her body, and surrendered the experience to God. Meg offers so many practical and spiritual gems about preparation, embodied trust, trauma, and healing.

Although this podcast primarily focuses on unmedicated hospital birth, I occasionally share a home-birth story because there is so much wisdom we can glean from the preparation, trust, and lessons within these experiences.

Meg believes the Gospel is the remedy for trauma—and that unmedicated birth can serve as a powerful metaphor for the way God heals us. Her faith and creativity shine throughout this beautifully unique conversation about body wisdom, surrender, and moving from trauma into trust.

Chapters

• 00:00 Preparation for Birth
• 02:57 The Power of Birth and Recovery from Trauma
• 19:51 Mental and Spiritual Preparation for Birth
• 33:36 Preparation and Anticipation
• 35:39 The Start of Labor
• 36:22 Early Labor and Coping Strategies
• 41:47 Transition to Active Labor
• 42:06 The Birth Experience
• 58:41 Postpartum Experience
• 01:02:49 Motherhood and Empowerment

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out soon!

CONNECT WITH MEG

Meg's Dance Films (inversedream.com/dance)

Meg's Health Story (inversedream.com/health)

Meg's Artwork (inversedream.com)

Meg's Instagram (@MegLivingInsideOut)

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

In this episode, I sit down with Kelsey, a physician assistant whose medical training gave her knowledge—but whose faith gave her the confidence to trust God’s design for birth.

We talk about why she chose to pursue an unmedicated birth, how surrendering control deepened her trust in the Lord, and the incredible transformation that motherhood has brought to her life.

Kelsey also shares practical wisdom for preparing for labor, including what helped her mentally and physically, her favorite pushing tips, and why the right support team can make all the difference.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is the story of her friend who acted as her doula—who also happened to be a pregnant. Watching Kelsey’s birth became a turning point for her friend, who went on to have her own unmedicated redemptive birth.

It’s a beautiful reminder that birth stories ripple outward. When women witness what’s possible, they begin to believe it’s possible for them too.

Chapters

• 03:19 Discussing Birth Stories and Podcast Introductions
• 08:02 Deciding on an Unmedicated Birth
• 11:13 The Importance of Education and Preparation
• 18:41 The Last Few Weeks of Pregnancy
• 20:05 Onset of Labor and Hospital Arrival
• 26:03 Monitoring and Decision-Making in Labor
• 29:17 Preparing for Labor
• 30:33 The Onset of Labor
• 32:20 Active Labor and Pushing
• 33:47 The Birth Experience
• 37:37 Postpartum Experience
• 41:08 Motherhood Transformation
• 47:01 Advice for Unmedicated Birth

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out soon!

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

Brittnee joins me to share the story of her two very different birth experiences.

With her first baby, she hoped for an unmedicated birth but felt pressured into a Christmas time induction, leading to the intervention cascade, an epidural, and a difficult recovery.

Pregnant with her second, she knew she wanted something different. She hired a doula, prepared her mind and body, and learned to trust physiological birth. After surrendering and scheduling an induction for 41 weeks, she went into spontaneous labor the morning of her induction.

Although her birth included an unexpected shoulder dystocia and her baby required neonatal resuscitation, it was still the redemptive experience she had hoped for. Even more surprising was how different her postpartum recovery felt—more peaceful, empowering, and healing than her first.

Chapters

• 00:00 First Pregnancy and Unmedicated Birth Decision
• 06:55 Induction and Epidural Experience
• 14:25 Desire for Unmedicated Birth in Second Pregnancy
• 16:01 Hiring a Doula and Pregnancy Preparation
• 18:08 Choosing a Provider and Late Pregnancy Anxiety
• 22:26 Natural Labor Onset and Home Labor Experience
• 25:38 Rapid Arrival at the Hospital
• 26:28 Arrival at Triage
• 27:43 Miscommunication about Dilation
• 28:39 Challenges with Laboring Positions
• 30:14 Decision to Break Water
• 33:25 Complications during Pushing
• 34:46 Immediate Postpartum and Resuscitation
• 39:37 Postpartum Recovery and Impact on Motherhood
• 42:50 Encouragement for Unmedicated Birth
• 44:46 Transition from Teaching to Virtual Work

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Connect with Brittnee:

Instagram-Brittnee

TikTok-boughtitfrombritt         

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out soon!

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

In this episode, I'm joined by one of my favorite voices in the birth word,  Lizzie Bolliger, founder of Unmedicated Academy (@fiercelizzie), for a conversation about what it really means to prepare for birth.

Lizzie walks us through each of her three hospital births, sharing how she went from relying on grit and determination to experiencing true confidence and ownership in birth. We talk about why education changes everything, how to advocate within the hospital system, and why birth has the potential to become a powerful initiation into motherhood.

• Lizzie's three variations of unmedicated hospital birth stories
• The difference between white-knuckling birth and feeling truly empowered
• Why knowledge is one of your greatest birth tools
• Hospital advocacy without fear or conflict
• Practical ways to prepare for a physiological birth in a medical setting
• How preparation creates freedom—not rigidity
• The portal of motherhood and how birth can shape the way we enter it
• Encouragement for moms planning an unmedicated hospital birth

Whether you're expecting your first baby or preparing for another birth, this episode will leave you feeling more equipped to trust your body, understand your options, and walk into birth with confidence.

Chapters

• 00:00 Pregnancy and Birth Experience
• 35:04 Advocacy and Autonomy in Birth
• 44:02 Preparation and Mindset for Birth
• 52:43 Unmedicated Birth and Autonomy
• 59:40 Transformative Power of Birth

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Connect with Lizzie:

Instagram-Lizzie

Instagram-Unmedicated Girlies                

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out soon!

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

What happens when a pelvic floor physical therapist, passionate about physiological birth, finds herself navigating both an induction and an unexpected NICU stay?

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Catherine to discuss her journey from an endometriosis diagnosis and fears around fertility to an empowering birth experience that beautifully balanced preparation, mindset, and medical intervention when needed.

As a pelvic floor PT, Sarah Catherine shares the holistic approaches she used throughout pregnancy, how she prepared both physically and mentally for birth, and why she believes there is a time and place for intervention within a physiology-centered approach.

We also dive into the unexpected challenges that followed her baby’s birth, including a NICU stay, and how the work she had done during pregnancy helped her navigate those difficult moments with confidence, resilience, and peace.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that birth preparation isn’t just about labor—it equips you for the unexpected turns that motherhood can bring.

In This Episode:

• Sarah Catherine’s journey to conception after an endometriosis diagnosis
• The role of holistic preparation during pregnancy
• Why mindset matters more than most women realize
• What an unmedicated induction actually looks like
• Pelvic floor physical therapy and preparing the body for birth
• Navigating an unexpected NICU stay
• How birth preparation helped her through postpartum challenges

Chapters

• 00:00 The Intensity of Labor and Pushing Process
• 28:49 Navigating Labor Challenges
• 36:19 Postpartum and Breastfeeding Challenges
• 47:38 Preparation and Empowerment

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Connect with Sarah Catherine:

Instagram

• Empowered Wellness                              

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out soon!

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

Dr. Stephanie joins the podcast to share each of her three unmedicated births. From an unmedicated induction to navigating birth in a new healthcare system, she reflects on how education, advocacy, and support shaped her experiences.

As a pelvic floor therapist, Dr. Stephanie also shares practical advice for preparing your body for birth and postpartum, common signs women may be struggling, and why pregnancy isn’t something you can approach passively.

We also talk about the role of doulas, Spinning Babies, pelvic floor health, and how sometimes the greatest gift of support is helping a mother let go of control and fully experience her birth.

Chapters

• 00:00 Preparation for First Two Births
• 09:43 Emotions and Preparation for Third Pregnancy
• 15:07 Golden Hour and Postpartum
• 20:37 Advocacy and Support in Pregnancy and Birth
• 27:26 Pelvic Floor Therapy and Preparation
• 33:10 Empowered Wellness Center

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Connect with Dr.Stephanie:

• Instagram
• Empowered Wellness      

                             

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out soon!

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

Episode 2 with Erika

Today’s guest is Erika, a military wife + first time mom whose pregnancy and postpartum journey required more flexibility, resilience, and surrender than she ever expected.

As her due date approached, her family found themselves living in a hotel while preparing for a major military relocation. Erica shares how she navigated the uncertainty of an induction while still pursuing an unmedicated birth, leaning into both preparation and trust when circumstances felt anything but predictable.

Just three days after welcoming her baby, she packed up and moved from Florida to North Carolina with a newborn in tow.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that strength isn’t always found in controlling every detail. Sometimes it’s found in surrendering to what you can’t control. Whether you’re preparing for an induction, navigating military life, or simply learning to hold plans loosely, Erica’s story will encourage you to trust yourself and find confidence even when the path looks different than expected.

Chapters

• 00:00 Preparing for Birth
• 07:17 Research and Preparation
• 19:03 Postpartum Experience
• 25:45 Post-Birth Challenges

Resources & Links:

• Unmedicated Academy
• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

Connect with Erika:

Instagram

• Kingdom Arrows-pregnancy prep cards                                   

Ways to Work With Toni

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma

Want YOUR unmedicated minded birth story featured on the podcast?

please fill out this inquiry form and I will reach out soon!

AFFLILATE LINKS + DISCOUNT CODES

Save 10% on premium pro-life diapers from EveryLife with my code: 10TONI.

Episode 1 with Callie

A first-time mom who walked into her hospital birth trusting God, trusting her body, and deeply preparing for the experience she hoped for.

In this episode, Callie shares the story of her unmedicated hospital birth that unfolded almost exactly how she prayed and planned. We talk about mindset, preparation, advocacy, and what it looked like to find peace throughout labor.

This conversation is such a beautiful reminder that physiological hospital birth is possible the first time around— and that preparation can shape the way a woman experiences birth and enters motherhood.

If you’re a first-time mom preparing for an unmedicated hospital birth, this episode will leave you feeling encouraged, equipped, and less afraid.

00:00 - Introduction to unmedicated birth as a mindset shift
00:26 - Supporting women through the Unmedicated Academy and virtual doula services
01:02 - Preparing for an unmedicated hospital birth: resources and research
01:25 - Pregnancy overview and early signs of labor confidence
02:38 - The significance of preparation, faith, and trusting the body
05:33 - Last weeks of pregnancy and mental resilience exercises
08:40 - Birth day: from hot dogs to early labor signs
11:25 - Transition from early to active labor: techniques and mindset shifts
14:10 - Recognizing labor in real-time and self-advocacy
16:16 - Hospital arrival and early dilation progress
17:31 - Challenges like fetal positioning and managing intensity
19:22 - Pushing gracefully and listening to the body
21:00 - The emotional and physical culmination of pushing
22:11 - The moment of delivery and post-birth bonding
27:16 - Postpartum and initial days with baby Henry
30:34 - Reflections on rest, recovery, and golden hour moments
33:24 - The impact of birth preparation on postpartum confidence
36:22 - Final advice for expecting moms: Dare to dream and trust God’s plan

• Unmedicated Academy

• Joy in the Morning Doula Services

• Instagram

Ways to Work With Me

✨ Unmedicated Academy

A physiology-first birth education course designed to help women prepare intentionally for unmedicated birth — especially within hospital settings.

✨ Joy in the Morning Doula Services

In-person and virtual support focused on education, advocacy, preparation, and physiological birth support.

✨ Connect With Me

Instagram: @joyinthemorningdoula / @unmedicatedmindedmomma