Journey to Birth

I have a guest wisdom holder who is bringing a unique view of the pelvic floor and how the practice of grounding can be a powerful tool for pelvic floor function. My guest here is Jenn Lormand of the duo that is Tighten Your Tinkler, two women who are authors, researchers, and moms on a mission to help people live with functional pelvic floor health whether that's after having children or any other reason a person is living with an under-functioning pelvic floor. This conversation, as you will hear me say a few times in the recording, really sparked some interesting connections for me about the pelvic floor and the earth and our feet as she brings together the pelvis and grounding. And as I'm recording this intro, I'm realizing even more how timely this was as Jenn and I actually recorded this back in September, and a busy schedule has sadly, but necessarily put the podcast on hold for a time. Part of what has kept me busy is a month long course I've been doing that is all about assessing and activating the chain of our body that connects the foot to the pelvic floor and core with Dr. Courtney Conley of Gait Happens and Lauren Ohayen of Restore Your Core. So as I listened back to this recording with Jenn in getting it ready to publish I heard even more great wisdom in what she shares here. Connect with Jenn & Christina:Website: TightenYourTinkler.com (use coupon code UNSCHOOLED)IG: @tighten.your.tinklerPrevious episode from Tighten Your Tinkler with Christina Walsh, PT - #75: Reclaiming Functional Pelvic Floor HealthWatch now at NaturalBirthCompass.com/FreeClassAfter watching this 15 minute video, you will know:What physiologic birth really is and why stages of labor, lists of hormones, and cervical dilation rates are not enoughThe most common points in labor where tissue damage occurs and how to prevent the causes of tears or episiotomiesThe difference between being 10 cm and being ready to push_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

Welcome to the last, but far from least, of the wisdom holder episodes I have for you so far this year. I have been eager for this episode to come out for you because it is so relevant and packed with insightful information from a courage coach named Brittany Wittig. Brittany and I met in a business program we both attended and after meeting her, I was so intrigued by her work I started listening to her podcast, called Coming Out of the Spiritual Closet. Then in October 2022, she released an amazing episode that I will link to here titled, How I Faced my Biggest Fear (again…), and there was so much there that resonated with what many women face in pregnancy and birth, and what I see as the root of a lot of dissatisfaction with birth outcomes, and a path to a birth that feels out of your control. So I wanted to invite Brittany on to talk about this revelation she had, on her own medical journey.We also spent a lot of time talking about fear and courage and the nervous system, because it's an important topic for birth. Brittany also shares some nervous system regulation tools and we talk about getting comfortable with the unknown and the ideas of control and surrender when it comes to unknowns in life and birth. This was such a fun and enlightening conversation and I know you are going to hear some valuable gems from Brittany on how to go to your birth or postpartum with more courage in your life. After you listen here, you can connect with Brittany on her instagram @Brittany.Wittig, listen to her podcast, Coming Out of the Spiritual Closet, or take her free class, Discover Your Inner Super Hero.Useful Links:Coming Out of the Spiritual Closet: How I Faced my Biggest Fear (again....) to hear her amazing insight about being in the medical system on her podcastDiscover Your Inner Super Hero - Free Masterclass with Brittany@Brittany.Wittig to connect on IGWatch now at NaturalBirthCompass.com/FreeClassAfter watching this 15 minute video, you will know:What physiologic birth really is and why stages of labor, lists of hormones, and cervical dilation rates are not enoughThe most common points in labor where tissue damage occurs and how to prevent the causes of tears or episiotomiesThe difference between being 10 cm and being ready to push_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

In this episode, my guest, Kristen Stevens of Discover Yoga and I talk about why the pelvic floor is so important, how it's so much more than just thinking about the cervix, and we'll share a bit about a workshop we will be hosting in June of 2023. If pelvic floor health is of interest to you, find the link to register below before June 4th, 2023. This is a live workshop with real feedback and time for Q&A from Kristen and myself, and because of that, space is limited, so reserve your spot soon if you would like to attend on June 4th, 2023 at 12 noon PDT, 3 pm EDT either at Discover Yoga in Redmond, WA or virtually. I hope to see you there!

Take a tour of the pelvic floor, learn why a reflexive pelvic floor is more important than a tight pelvic floor, and learn the first steps to increase the suppleness of scar tissue in this interview with wisdom holder Pauli Hannan, PT of @beyondthev.bypauli.This episode of the Unschooled Homebirth podcast will have you looking at your pelvic floor from a whole new perspective and Pauli has great explanations of the anatomy and physiology of our bodies. Plus, she covers a topic that few people are talking about in regard to postpartum healing, and that is scar formation. Pauli will walk you through what to do to support supple scar tissue for anything from the smallest tear to a c-section.If you have ever had a question about your pelvic floor or about healing from tissue trauma, this episode is for you!Connect with Pauli:Beyond the V by Pauli Website@beyondthev.bypauli on IGClick here for free access to the No Leakage Starter Kit for Unschooled Homebirth listeners!Watch now at NaturalBirthCompass.com/FreeClassAfter watching this 15 minute video, you will know:What physiologic birth really is and why stages of labor, lists of hormones, and cervical dilation rates are not enoughThe most common points in labor where tissue damage occurs and how to prevent the causes of tears or episiotomiesThe difference between being 10 cm and being ready to push_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

My dear friend Laura Otter of Birthing Mamas will be sharing stories of her forthcoming album, Birth and Beyond: Sacred Songs for Mother and Baby, she will share how this album came to be, how the songs came to her, how they are impacting the families she works with, her own birth stories and how they were the portal to the music, and how music is such an important tool for birth.If you are listening to this episode before April 25th, 2023, Laura and her team have a Kickstarter to help fund the costs of producing the album. After costs are covered, all additional profits will be donated to special causes that raise money to improve access to midwifery care and family health in low resourced areas. If you believe in midwifery care and the magic of rhythms, rituals, and keeping traditions alive in birth, this is a project you won't regret supporting. Reach out to Laura on instagram @laurabirthingmamas or facebook @Laura Birthing Mamas Doula.All the Links:

My guest for this episode, Courtney, had two very different out-of-hospital births to share and each one brings so many lessons. Courtney's first birth is a beautiful story, that also taught her a lot about who she was, who she wanted to become, and what she needed to do to become that woman for herself, for her family, her new little daughter, and for her next birth when that time came. And between her first and second birth, she did the work and exploration and growth she needed to transform into that version of herself she knew she was, but hadn't embodied fully prior. She learned what it meant to trust her intuition to advocate for the care she needed, to find a birth team that would respect and support her just as she was.  If you want to connect with Courtney, you can find her on Instagram @southwestbirthworker and on her own podcast The Intuitive Mothering podcast.Watch now at NaturalBirthCompass.com/FreeClassAfter watching this 15 minute video, you will know:What physiologic birth really is and why stages of labor, lists of hormones, and cervical dilation rates are not enoughThe most common points in labor where tissue damage occurs and how to prevent the causes of tears or episiotomiesThe difference between being 10 cm and being ready to push_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

Today I have an episode to share about a topic that I know is on the minds of just about every expecting mom, and that is the pelvic floor and postpartum recovery. Christina Walsh of Tighten Your Tinkler, will share her wisdom of functional pelvic floor health.This episode is definitely for you if you want to hear about why and how to use functional movement and non-invasive techniques to experience a holistic, restorative approach to postpartum pelvic floor health.Christina will share about how she and Jenn developed their approach after a multiyear research study that was published in the Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy in 2020, and she will talk about why Kegel's are not the best approach for birth or postpartum recovery, why you don't have to settle for peeing at night or too many times, and much more. Find Christina at TightenYourTinkler.com, use Coupon Code: UNSCHOOLED for $50 off the signature program. IG: @tighten.your.tinkler.Watch now at NaturalBirthCompass.com/FreeClassAfter watching this 15 minute video, you will know:What physiologic birth really is and why stages of labor, lists of hormones, and cervical dilation rates are not enoughThe most common points in labor where tissue damage occurs and how to prevent the causes of tears or episiotomiesThe difference between being 10 cm and being ready to push_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

I am honored to share the birth story of one of my past students who had an extraordinary amount of growth and revelations of her own power and agency in her pregnancy and birth. This is one of those stories that really gets to the heart of the change I would love to see in our birth culture. In this story, you'll hear my guest share:How she navigated a system where she wasn't feeling that her choices were being respectedHow she came to find the strength in herself to become fully aware and responsible for all the choices she made for her birth to have the birth of her dreams Why she chose to not only transfer from a hospital to home birth, but to even opt out of her midwifery care to hire traditional birth keepersI know if you have been leaving your prenatal visits questioning your choices, feeling like your choices aren't being heard or respected, if you are questioning whether your birth team is there for what's best for you rather than simply there to follow the standard routine, then I know you're going to find inspiration in this episode as we glean insight into how to make autonomous choices in birth from an inspiring mother.Find info about Rh blood type & Rhogam (Anti-D) from Sara Wickam Watch now at NaturalBirthCompass.com/FreeClassAfter watching this 15 minute video, you will know:What physiologic birth really is and why stages of labor, lists of hormones, and cervical dilation rates are not enoughThe most common points in labor where tissue damage occurs and how to prevent the causes of tears or episiotomiesThe difference between being 10 cm and being ready to push_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

I am so excited to bring you  a guest expert episode today with on of my mentors in birth work, Rachael Jean of Elemental Birth Rites. This conversation was so much fun to record and I know if you've been a listener of this podcast, you are going to love what Rachael shares here. Rachael Jean is a midwife and wise woman birth keeper who offers birth teachings and awareness programs that take you inward, rather than outward.Within that context, she offers programs for families on their pregnancy journey and holds a beautiful 9-month container for birth workers to go through her program with a very unique framework.In this conversation, we discuss the unspoken and unknown aspects of birth, how Rachael came to an expanded view of prenatal care and birth preparation that involves deep spiritual work, inner development practices, and rituals, and how the elements are within all of us and influence our birth.If you are listening in January, 2023 and you would like to learn more about the Elemental Birth Rites Practitioner Program, you can find out more by clicking here, and use code GROW500 if you would like to join and save $500.* If you are pregnant and would like to learn about Elemental Birth Rites for birth preparation, visit ElementalBirthRites.comConnect with Elemental Birth Rites on Instagram @elementalbirthrites*This is NOT an affiliate link, your investment goes toward your wonderful facilitators :)_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

What happens when birth doesn't go as you planned, when things are more challenging than you expect? As a birth worker, one of the comments I hear frequently is about a birth experience that didn't unfold smoothly, maybe there was a stall in dilation or the baby had decelerations, or maybe mom and baby experience dystocia and hard decisions have to be made, and families always want to know what they could have done differently. As the parents in that situation during labor, it's difficult to know what the next best step is when you're depending on your birth team knowing all the choices that could be available, but here's the thing, that is an unrealistic expectation for any care giver. I wish I could say otherwise, but we all have blind spots, we all have things to continue learning on our journey, so answering the question what you could have differently is always difficult, but that's what we're going to explore together today. _______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

When it comes to homebirth, safety is always the number one question on everyone's mind.  Today, I have a wisdom holder who is no stranger to the question of safety in birth, homebirth in particular. Dr. Stuart Fischbein is an obstetrician who left the conventional medical system decades ago after being exposed to the nature of the midwifery model of care. He went on to assist families and their midwives in homebirth to create a model for families with various presentation of birth to still enjoy a safe homebirth whenever possible, including breech babies and twins. Dr. Stu will share insights into what safety really means in birth and the question of whether research and evidence based medicine have answers to safety in physiologic birth. Find more from Dr. StuOnline at birthinginstincts.comInstagram @birthinginstinctsListen on the Birthing Instincts podcastApple PodcastsSpotify_______________________Further info & opportunities: Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree. Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

There are probably few things, if any, that could be more of a blessing than a new baby being welcomed into the world. While we spend a lot of time focusing on what a blessing a baby is, I think it's important to remember that the experience of pregnancy and birth is seeped in blessing. I wanted to spend my time on today's episode talking about the blessing of birth, which might take, us into some interesting and unexpected places. In this episode, you will hear about:Why it's important to honor the role of blood in birthWhat it means to sacrifice in pregnancy and birthThe importance of nurturing and ritual in pregnancy and birth & how you can incorporate this into your pregnancy_______________________Further info & opportunities:Open your breath, connect to your pelvic floor, and prepare to relax with the Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree.Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Prenatal Wellness Program Here

TLDR: Get the full Stillpoint Prenatal Breathwork Worshop Recording for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree.As I've probably mentioned before, one of the most common things I'm asked about is how to breathe for labor and it's always a difficult question for me to answer because, when you're in labor you should breath in the way that feels most natural to you rather than be directed by someone. The problem I've come to realize is, most people aren't breathing properly before pregnancy, and then it's further compromised during pregnancy by the changes that come with growing a baby, so by the time birth arrives, many women have a breathing pattern that leans toward a sympathetic nervous system pattern, also known as fight or flight, which has a place in life, but is not an optimal state for birth, as you will hear in this episode. The other concern I've noticed is that many women are being given inaccurate information about what functional breathing looks like and this can lead to an increase in pregnancy related conditions like diastasis recti, pelvic floor dysfunction, even things like sciatica and hemorrhoids can be compromised by less optimal breath practice technique. So I also covered a bit about that in this episode.Rather than just talk about it here, today I have something a little more for you. I'm excited to share an excerpt of a prenatal breathwork workshop where I had the opportunity to dive in deep to the importance of Air and Breath through the lens of the Triple Spiral of Birth Wisdom, the three spirals being Nature-based Wisdom, where I talk about the nature of air and breath and how it creates our connection with the greater world we are within, then the second spiral of Ancestral Wisdom where I shared about how we breathe and how to optimize breath, and the third pillar, Alchemical Wisdom where we did some Qi Gong movement to open the respiratory passageways followed by two of my favorite breathwork practices, Three Dantian Breathing and Stillpoint Breathing to Unlock the Subconscious.  Here on the podcast, I will be sharing the first half of the recording, which focuses on and how we can consciously use our breath to regulate our nervous system and to access our subconscious mind in preparation for birth as well as the first spiral of Nature-based wisdom and the second spiral, Ancestral Wisdom until the workshop  reaches a point where you will probably want the video to follow along with the experiential aspect. So if you would like the full video recording, I am happy to share that it's available for free at NaturalBirthCompass.com/BreatheFree.

I think it's time we asked the question, how can we continue improve the state of birth and prenatal care for families? I'll start by asking you the question, who are your prenatal visits for? When you set up your visit schedule with your midwife, who was that ultimately for? You, your baby, your midwife? I know this might sound like an odd question and you may not even be sure how to answer it and that's because we need to talk about your prenatal visit schedule. After this episode, I hope you will have the confidence to be the one in charge of making your prenatal schedule for yourself and your baby, and no one else, because that's what we do here, question the routine and get back to what matters for your unique journey. So the essence of prenatal care and a new paradigm for prenatal care is our topic today.______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!

Welcome to a birth story episode on the Unschooled Homebirth podcast. It's been awhile since we've had a birth story, but one of my students, Sarah, who is also a birth wisdom keeper herself, was so gracious to share her birth story with us and I was thrilled to bring this story on the podcast because Sarah had such a simple and straightforward birth. We don't hear a lot of simple birth stories out there today, so often there's big decisions and critical moments, and drama in birth, even in homebirth stories, so much so that women who have simple, peaceful births don't feel sharing their story has a purpose or, worse, they feel guilty about their simple, uncomplicated birth. Like some of the other birth keepers I know who want to change this narrative, I want to promote all birth stories, whether they had unexpected situations or just unfolded simply and quietly like Sarah's. It was truly an honor serving Sarah and her growing family during this pregnancy and birth, I am in awe of all the work she and her husband did for this birth, the trust they put into themselves and their baby and the Natural Birth Compass program to help them blossom into intuitively guided parents, and I hope you learn as much from her story as I did. Please enjoy Sarah's homebirth story!You can find Sarah on IG @telesis.sisterhoodRegister for your free introductory class to learn 3 simple techniques you can use during pregnancy to train your mind and body to be relaxed in birth.Thursday, August 25th, 11 am PDT/2 pm EDT.Learn more & register here!

Today's episode is all about cervical dilation as we explore the energetics of expansion and openness, some of the most important aspects to understand for birth and a natural progression to last month's episode on transition. Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

Transitions are abundant in birth in so many ways. The most obvious is the stage of the physical labor process referred to as transition, which is a stage that preoccupies many mothers in their preparation for birth. But what isn't talked about, what women aren't taught is why this is normal, why she feels this way, the significance of the intensity of what is happening here, and therefore how to be better prepared for this experience of the cycles of life. So instead many women fear transition and the focus of birth today is on how we get women through the portal of transition, as if they can't do it on their own merit. So today we are going to give some attention to the truth of transitions in birth and life on the Unschooled Homebirth podcast. ______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

As May comes to an end, we are deep into spring energy, and I thought it might be time to talk the energetics of spring, of the East guiding direction, which is all about breath and all that uplifts us in life and for birth. Whether you have explored birth from the energetics of the cycle of nature or not, there is still a good chance you have at least explored the energetics of breath in regard to birth as breath and breathing patterns are one of the most commonly studied comfort techniques in birth preparation since around the 1950's when breath and breathing patterns for use in birth became popular in the US based on techniques Dr. Fernand Lamaze used with women giving birth in his care in France, although Dr. Lamaze picked up his ideas from observing birth in other countries outside of the West, and certainly women were using breath instinctively and intuitively all along before it became "formalized" into a method, but my point here is nearly every woman preparing for birth explores breathing techniques in some capacity. And beyond breath, the larger scope of practicing in the realm of air also involves inspiration on all the levels - emotional and spiritual too, and this includes popular birth coping techniques like affirmations, the words you speak and hear, and the music and sounds you listen, these all have the power to elevate us on this journey of transformation. So today on the journey to homebirth podcast, we are going to talk about breath and other aspects of the spring energy for homebirth and we just might hit on some inspiration about breath and air and elevation you haven't heard quite this way before. ______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

Welcome to this quick update about the podcast. It's been a couple years since I started this podcast to create a space for sharing ideas about birth that were a little unconventional. While it has been a journey so far, I have recently been feeling called to rebrand this podcast to something that resonates more specifically with the range of concepts I talk about here, and I was struck with some inspiration for that, so what was the Journey to Homebirth podcast is now the Unschooled Homebirth podcast. Why unschooled? Well, I am anything but untrained in birth at this point, having completed a birth educator certification, holistic doula certification, a year long intensive birthkeeper and family advocate training with the amazing Whapio of the Matrona, and countless prenatal acupuncture courses and working with families for nearly 15 years, so unschooled isn't in regard to the information provided here. The spirit I'm trying to capture is that birth isn't about following textbooks, it's not about following science or evidence, those are all good things, but there's something so much deeper, fundamental truths that science can't yet explain, but are even more valid than science when it comes to the natural facts of birth.I'm hoping this change will reflect that this podcast isn't about the regular birth stuff, there's already great podcasts for that, so you won't hear an entire episode here dedicated to natural methods of induction, because instead I talk about how we need to harmonize with nature's cycle to understand timing of labor and how to take cues from nature about induction if it's needed. You won't hear an entire episode dedicated to best postpartum practices, because instead I talk about the heart connection and the importance of the West guiding energetic of Earth energy you are developing with your baby during this time and the sacredness of that time. This podcast isn't about quick tips that only work for half the moms, instead it's a way to unschool yourself from the mainstream information so you can be open to exploring your own unique experience through the lens of nature, nature that is true for all of us, not just some of us. My sources are philosophy, spirituality, life and cultural studies, which comes across as unconventional methods, but in the years I've been doing this, it's these methods that have provided my clients the opportunity to experience the most profound births and develop deep bonds in their families as they expand into greater versions of themselves by doing the deep work that comes with the transformation of each pregnancy and birth. This doesn't come from learning the same old birth information.Initially, I taught the same old stuff as I was taught in my educator courses, the same stuff everyone is teaching, and it was mostly luck whether a family had a good outcome or not, but that wasn't good enough for me. So I stopped teaching until I uncovered the deep truths that I found through ancient philosophy, things I found in Chinese medicine using the Yi Jing and the Dao De Jing, and the Huai Nan Zi, and then adding in more Earth and Universe based philosophies through ancient Druid and Celtic philosophies, the Cycles of the Year and the connections of human beings with nature. And when I finally understood this, and entire philosophy of birth and the birth cycle emerged, and this is what I knew I was here to teach. Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

Today's episode is all about the cycles of birth and pregnancy, and life and parenting, because living and birthing naturally, the way Nature intended, is all about bringing these cycles into your awareness on a deep level so the magic of life comes alive and can be the center of your birth. This episode will explain how the magic of circles and cycles shows up in birth and the result of forgetting this ancestral knowledge and the impact it has had on birth, even homebirth. ______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

Time is a complex phenomenon and may not be what you thought it was, especially when it comes to prenatal care during your pregnancy and how time relates to birth. In this episode, we will dive deep into the two types of time, linear time and elemental time, and how to understand the flow of time to support optimal prenatal care and birth as you prepare for homebirth.______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

After over a decade of supporting families in homebirth, I can clearly say three of the most common mistakes I see made are: Thinking that gathering information is the first stepForegoing discernment when gathering informationDeferring to experts or authoritiesAnd in the current birth culture we are used to, you may not even realize how much you might be doing these three things! But there are signs to recognize if or when you are making these mistakes (things like reading too many books, looking to social media for answers, binging birth stories, and more).   And once you start down that path, trying to get all the information, then trying to process it and integrate it, and then trying to embody it before your birth arrives, well, let's just say, if you have missed the foundational steps, then you risk driving yourself into overwhelm in the final weeks of  your pregnancy, just hoping everything will go ok. But there's still time and it begins by listening to this week's episode where you will learn the key signs and phrases homebirth families say that are a tip off to these mistakes.______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

In this episode with special guest author of Functional Maternity and practitioner Sarah Thompson, we talk about what functional nutrition and functional medicine are, why nutrition matters for pregnancy and for mothers and pregnancy and birth outcomes, she touches on some cultural dietary wisdom that supports maternal physiology, and we hear how Sarah breaks down nutrition into easy to follow steps for her clients, and along the way, she shares many pearls and facts and insights. It's a really packed episode!You can find Sarah and her book Functional Maternity: Using Functional Medicine and Nutrition to Improve Pregnancy and Childbirth Outcomes through the links or social media accounts below or on Amazon*. FunctionalMaternity.com - Website for the book, also available on AmazonSacredVesselAcupuncture.com - Sarah's practice, Colorado or telemedicine@functional.maternity.com@sacredvessel.acu.fm*Note: I am NOT an affiliate for this or any other book or product at this time, just sharing things I think will help you along your journey to homebirth :)______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

What happens during prenatal care doesn't stay in prenatal care, it actually follows you right into your birth and even predicts outcomes for birth. So today in the first week of 2022, let's talk about making a resolution to manage 3 aspects of your prenatal care as part your birth preparation for a better birth outcome.______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn how to awaken the magic of homebirth with Circle Magic for Homebirth: A Mini-Birth Preparation Course Beyond the Ordinary. Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Don't Miss Circle Magic for Homebirth, a mini birth course

Can you have a natural birth without really understanding nature or your connection to nature? One of the core pillars of my approach to teaching about homebirth is to help the families I work with become aware of nature's cycle and attuning to nature's rhythms and when this is done, you can start to connect your inner world with the external nature around you, and this is how holistic homebirthers are intuitively and instinctually guided through birth, physically, mentally, and spiritually.  This episode will share my insights about bringing nature into your natural birth and how to start doing that now!______________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.

What you hear and what you see in pregnancy and regarding birth is as important as what you eat and drink. I talk about the implications of this in the natural birth compass approach because it's so important to be aware of, and I was inspired to bring this up on today's podcast because of a story I heard by journalists who were exploring the placenta, a very noble undertaking for sure and something that deserves more praise, so I was excited to see this story, but it didn't take long before I knew we needed to correct this narrative ASAP! Tune in to learn the positive side of pregnancy, placentas, and more!Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.

Wishing you a wonderful harvest season this November 2021 and a little offering for your soul!With love,~TristinFurther info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download A Guide & Checklist to Prepare For a Nature-led Birth For Holistic Homebirthers atNaturalBirthCompass.com/Checklist

Midwifery is changing, and homebirth families are the first to be noticing these changes, probably because many homebirth families are looking for an unmanaged, hands off birth, but in today's midwifery culture, this is less and less common, in part because regulations, in part because we live in a fear based society when it comes to birth and death, and so we are seeing the shifts of these aspects in homebirth quite regularly now. But is there another way? That's what we're exploring today on the journey to birth podcast!Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download A Guide & Checklist to Prepare For a Nature-led Birth For Holistic Homebirthers atNaturalBirthCompass.com/Checklist

What are anxiety and fear about, why do we have them? Do anxiety and fear play a role in our everyday life and more specifically, in natural birth? In today's episode, I want to take a deeper look into the big picture of fears and anxieties, take a look at it from a few angles, and then, I will share with you one important shift you can make  to lessen your anxiety about your upcoming homebirth. ___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download A Guide & Checklist to Prepare For a Nature-led Birth For Holistic Homebirthers atNaturalBirthCompass.com/Checklist

This is the birth story of a family who was shocked to discover the realities of modern day midwifery in the US, a family who gradually realized their midwife feared birth, and how they overcame so many hurdles and so much stress by hiring a family advocate and getting educated. So often, first time homebirthers go into prenatal care with an expectation, maybe a bit of a romanticized idea of what homebirth midwifery with be like, what it will feel like, and when those expectations are shattered so rapidly by the medicalized approach introduced into current midwifery by state or board regulations, it can be devastating to a family who truly cares about the experience of pregnancy and birth, of growing and nurturing their baby in the womb while feeling heard and respected and then bringing that child into the world peacefully and in their own power. This interview will shine the light on one extreme we are seeing on the spectrum of care offered by contemporary midwives today, one that we're seeing more and more often, as was also the experience of Marie-Eve in one of the recent birth story episodes I published here on the podcast.___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download A Guide & Checklist to Prepare For a Nature-led Birth For Holistic Homebirthers atNaturalBirthCompass.com/Checklist

Most families have a supply list for homebirth, but what isn't often discussed are non-tangible elements to create a calm environment, which I would argue are even more important than supplies because if your birth environment gets stressful, it creates a difficult situation for homebirth far beyond running out of towels.So in today's episode, I'm sharing 4 Keys you must know to create calm homebirth environment.___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download A Guide & Checklist to Prepare For a Nature-led Birth For Holistic Homebirthers atNaturalBirthCompass.com/Checklist

Welcome to a Journey to Birth coaching call. In this episode, I am thrilled to share with you Marie-Eve's birth story. If you have been following this podcast for awhile, you may remember Marie-Eve from her birth prep coaching series, four episodes we recorded together while she and her husband went through the Natural Birth Compass Program online childbirth course with me. So here we get to finally hear the birth story. As you will hear in Marie-Eve's story, much about her experience led to the new updates I just released in the Natural Birth Compass Program to make it an even more robust program that helps families identify challenges with birth team dynamics and understand some of the nuanced physiology that shouldn't be a part of homebirth, but is becoming so as homebirth midwives become more and more regulated and medicalized and create a medical focused experience for families who are choosing homebirth specifically because they know that birth isn't a medical event.Most importantly, what you will hear in this story is how much Marie-Eve was able to be guided by her inner knowing that we honed during our time working together, and she was able to combine that with the information she received from her well informed doula so she could make the decisions that were best for her and her birth. ___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here. 

Even though more people know about homebirth today, when your not from a family or circle of friends who have traveled that path, talking about your choice to homebirth can come with a lot of dread and frustration and leave you feeling unsupported and even judged for your choice. So what do you do when the important people in your life just don't understand why you would choose to homebirth? In this episode, I'm going to share my thoughts on how you can have better conversations with those in your life who just don't see eye to eye with your choices so you can help the important people in your life support your birth.  ___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.

If you're pregnant, or when you were pregnant or breastfeeding, did you have questions that you felt were inappropriate to be asking? Or sensations in your body, or deep fears that you didn't feel comfortable discussing with anyone, so you just kept them inside?If you're human, the chances are 100% yes, you have had an experience like this going through pregnancy or birth or mothering your children. On episode #49 of the Journey to Birth podcase, we are going to peer inside why that is with birth expert and author Baily Gaddis, as I talk with her about her new book, Asking for a Pregnant Friend, 101 Answers to Questions Women Are Too Embarrassed to Ask about Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood that was just released June 1, of 2021. "I really wanted this to be a one stop shop resource for women to get that really accurate, really compassionate information and hopefully it will stimulate more conversation from there, with your medical care provider, with your girlfriends…" Bailey Gaddis, author of Asking for a Pregnant Friend: 101 Answer to Question Women Are Too Embarrassed to Ask About Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood.Find Bailey at BaileyGaddis.com and order Asking For a Pregnant Friend or Feng Shui Mommy wherever books are sold!___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

Birth plans, have you made one, not sure if you need one, have a lot questions about what the birth plan is really all about, especially when preparing for a homebirth? If you're like most inquisitive homebirthers I talk to, you have probably been looking all over for information about birth plans for homebirth and seen all the templates, and maybe even asked other expecting homebirthers whether they had one and if so, what they included or didn't include. And when it comes to birth plans all that inquiring about them is exhausting, and in the end, making the right birth plan for your homebirth isn't about acquiring more external information and making a big list, it comes from being illuminated by your own inner knowing and having some traditional knowledge of birth that will help you understand the purpose and use of a birth plan that is supportive of your birth. So in this episode, I am going to share the 3 common mistakes inquisitive homebirthers are making in their birth plans by looking all over google and through all the templates and apps and how you can light up your birth plan through your inner knowing.Find more information about Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth at NaturalBirthCompass.com/homebirthplan.___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:See our unique birth plan course Beyond the Birth Plan for Homebirth to write a birth plan that goes beyond ordinary templated plans that don't work for homebirth!Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

Holistically-minded homebirth parents know that birth is about more than healthy mom healthy baby, but how often are you told that it's ok to expect more for your birth than having a "healthy" outcome, and what does that even mean anyway, who is defining healthy birth? Today's episode will discuss the many layers of birth that should go into the definition of healthy birth, but often don't and why the phrase "at least everyone is healthy" is the last thing a family who is disappointed in their birth experience wants to hear and what to do to make sure you don't fall into focusing on the wrong identifiers of healthy birth for you. ___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about  The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here. 

Welcome to the journey to birth podcast. I have an incredible episode for you today, with my dear friend and birth professional, Becky Purpur. Becky has been surrounded by natural, normal, undisturbed birth for 30 years growing up with a mom who was a homebirth midwife. Today Becky is still very active in the realms of birth as a birth photographer, a doula, and a very wise holsitic birth constultant.I brought Becky on today to share a really interesting perspective she shared with me about how placentas tell the stories of the pattern of labor and when I first heard her talk about this, it was one of those moments when you realize you've been thinking about it all wrong, at least that's what occurred to me. So in this episode, Becky and I have a conversation about what this means that placentas tell us the story, how the uterus and the baby are communicating between this wise organ through the thread of the umbilical cord, and how this really is one complete system that is wise and intelligent, and how knowing this means we really have a responsibility to change our approach to being at a birth, how we have to carefully consider that anything we do or bring into a birth can change the outcome of that experience and even the outcome of the birth itself. And this is true whether we are invited in as a doula, as a photographer, even as a midwife.And if you're listening as someone who is preparing to give birth, this is a very relevant conversation to be holding with your caregivers should you have them in attendance. And if you open this discussion and they're still unclear, you are welcome and invited to send them here to the podcast to listen to this information and then together have a discussion about the physiology, about the innate wisdom of your uterus, your baby's placenta, and your baby themselves. And discuss how to facilitate this kind of environment for your birth. ___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

At the turn of the year and the beginning of a new astrological age, I find myself once again thinking about the future of life, humanity and of course, the future of birth. So today, picking up where we left off near the end of 2020, I thought I would share my thoughts out loud here on the Journey to Birth Podcast. So here we go to contemplate about the future and the choices that will take us there.___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

Birth led by nature is more than just having a natural birth, whatever that really means today - I have heard so many definitions the last few months, I doesn't even sound like a word any more! Birth lead by nature is more than avoiding interventions, in fact it has very little to do with these things, but it has everything to do with the intentionality of life.I am going to share some thoughts that might go against what is commonly accepted today, in the hopes that we will continue to break through the status quo, go beyond the regular definitions, see through routine procedure, and see birth and life through new lenses and fresh perspectives. Today I will share some ideas and probably ramble a bit about some ideas of natural pregnancy, natural birth and the impact of technology in prenatal care and birth on this episode of the Journey to Birth podcast. Also I shared an announcement - as we enter into the final months of 2020, I may have to put new episodes on hold for the rest of the year, or nearly so, which means there may be some gaps or rebroadcasts in the coming weeks, so I if I don't catch you in the meantime, wishing you a wonderful holiday season with your family, I know it will be here fast!___________________________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

How much should you use research and evidence based information to inform your birth?Is research in the realms of pregnancy and birth useful or practical?If so, how does it inform your pregnancy and birth?If not, what can you use to inform your birth?Questions of research and evidence based medicine are what's on the Journey to Birth podcast today!Further info & opportunities:Link for the 2019 research article about induction of laborLearn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

Welcome to a Journey to Birth podcast coaching session. We're back with our fourth coaching call with Marie Eve, a first time mom preparing for her first birth, which she is arranging to have at home with a midwife. This is my fourth call with Marie-Eve and likely the last call before we hear her birth story as by the time this episode airs, it will be in the window of time that Marie-Eve is expecting her little girl to make her way into the world. So in this fourth call we discuss any final questions Marie-Eve has about getting ready for birth, including strategies for timing contractions and how to avoid letting timing contractions disrupt the flow of labor, we talk about the infamous ring of fire, and Marie-Eve shares some updates about her little one's position and we go into some different perspectives about baby's position for birth and conversations that not everyone is having about laboring with a less than optimally positioned baby.And on that subject, just a quick reminder that everything on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not meant to replace the care of your provider. Why I bring this up is that especially when it comes to birth, when you are inviting a care provider or birth provider of any sort into your birth space, there will be a line of comfort somewhere, so for instance in this case with Marie-Eve's baby, I suggest she open a conversation with her midwife about what it could look like to approach this situation differently, but if a midwife responds with fears and concerns and does not feel confident that you can have your baby this way, then her fears can be the very thing that interferes with your birth process and causes a level of danger that may not have existed until then. It's very easy for us to partition aspects of birth into black and white, yes and no, safe and unsafe, but birth is full of gray areas, and there are so many ways babies can find their way out if we look up and peer over the edge of the box we put birth into. As a society, most people aren't here yet, most birth providers wouldn't dream of assisting a malpositioned baby, but the more we consider these kinds of things here on this podcast and in larger birth communities , the more we break down the walls and talk about it, the more possibility there is to help more babies come into the world in the way they are supposed to get here. And before I go further on this tangent that will become a whole episode of it's own before this year is out I'm sure, let's get back with Marie-Eve and her Journey to Birth. _______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about the childbirth preparation method our guest used to prepare for her birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.Are you an expectant parent who would like to experience a coaching session on the Journey to Birth podcast? Visit NaturalBirthCompass.com/podcast to fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you.

Expectations is one of those charged words, especially when it comes to birth. So often women feel they don't want to have expectations for birth because they don't want to be disappointed if their expectations aren't met. Are you one of them?This episode will explore some other perspectives of expectations, how we develop our feelings about them and how to view them in your birth preparation, should you find they are a helpful piece of your overall birth approach...hint: I think they are super important!! But, you'll have to hear why!_______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

Welcome to a Journey to Birth Coaching Session. On this series, I am joined by Marie-Eve, a first time mom preparing for her first birth, which she is arranging to have at home with a midwife. In the third call, Marie-Eve and I discuss a lot including: How many people she is comfortable having at her birthThe difference between those annoying pregnancy calf cramps and labor crampsWe review timing contractions after she watched the training video in her courseHow her birth partner can use emotions to identify the progress of contractions and labor overallThe kind of support that Marie-Eve finds beneficial in other aspects of her life and how she can use that in her birthBeing flexible vs inflexible and setting healthy vs inflexible expectationsWhen it's safe to practice acupressure for laborAnd a couple of book recommendationsAs you may know, these coaching calls are all real, nothing here is scripted. I know very little about these mommas before we start these calls other than the one page intake form they fill out so I know what they are hoping achieve from their birth preparation because my goal is to keep these coaching sessions real and authentic, the actual experience my students go through as they prepare for birth so you can learn right along with them. _______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about the childbirth preparation method our guest used to prepare for her birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.Are you an expectant parent who would like to experience a coaching session on the Journey to Birth podcast? Visit NaturalBirthCompass.com/podcast to fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you.

Nocebo, placebo all these interesting terms we have to tell people you what your experiences are. Amongst academics, the nocebo effect is described as experiencing a negative response to a drug or treatment based on the belief that you will respond negatively. The nocebo effect in regard to pregnancy and birth is intertwined with the expectation that has been created that pregnancy and birth are medical events waiting to happen, that the normal stress of pregnancy and the physiologic adaptations that a woman’s body has to support her growing baby are somehow a problem to be managed, always a risk, and that risk comes with fear, and that fear comes with side effects, which may present as the very thing everyone around a pregnant mom is scared of.So today we are going to look at the concept of the nocebo effect and I hope that this help you to recognize if this is happening to you or the pregnant mamas in your care, or your loved ones, or anyone else you might notice who is affected by this influence. So let's begin to explore the nocebo effect on this episode of the journey to birth podcast._______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

Welcome to a Journey to Birth Coaching Session. On this series, I am joined by Marie-Eve, a first time mom preparing for her first birth, which she is arranging to have at home with a midwife. In our second call together, Marie eve and I work through various aspects of her birth vision and how she can best prepare her birth team for how to offer the type of support that helps her the most during times of stress and we have an overview of some newborn topics like vitamin k and antibiotic ointment. As you may know, these coaching calls are all real, nothing here is scripted. I know very little about these mommas before we start these calls other than the one page intake form they fill out so I know what they are hoping achieve from their birth preparation because my goal is to keep these coaching sessions real and authentic, the actual experience my students go through as they prepare for birth so you can learn right along with them. _______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about the childbirth preparation method our guest used to prepare for her birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.Are you an expectant parent who would like to experience a coaching session on the Journey to Birth podcast? Visit NaturalBirthCompass.com/podcast to fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you.

Welcome to a Journey to Birth Coaching Session. On this series, I am joined by Marie-Eve, a first time mom preparing for her first birth, which she is arranging to have at home with a midwife. In this first episode of her coaching series, Marie-Eve will share why she desires a homebirth, we discuss a couple questions she has about doulas and waterbirth, and then we talk about to expect as she get ready to begin her childbirth course in the coming days. As you may know, these coaching calls are all real, nothing here is scripted. I know very little about these mommas before we start these calls other than the one page intake form they fill out so I know what they are hoping achieve from their birth preparation because my goal is to keep these coaching sessions real and authentic, the actual experience my students go through as they prepare for birth so you can learn right along with them. _______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about the childbirth preparation method our guest used to prepare for her birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.Are you an expectant parent who would like to experience a coaching session on the Journey to Birth podcast? Visit NaturalBirthCompass.com/podcast to fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you.

If you have been listening to this podcast, you have probably heard Starre's birth coaching series and ever since we did her postpartum call to process her birth story, I have wanted to distill a few things that came up during that call from her birth story, and some perspectives related to it that I would like to explore about our birth culture. So I thought I would take you on that exploration with me. So today I will dive into the yin and yang of birth you could say, how we approach birth and what this says about our preparation for birth, our management of birth and the system of birth, and my thoughts on what we could be doing differently, maybe better, but at least differently._______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

Journey to Birth podcast coaching sessions are special episodes where you get to sit in with me and one of my Natural Birth Compass Program students while I help coach them in their pregnancy to prepare for their upcoming birth. These episodes give you the opportunity for an intimate and up close look at the experience of preparing for childbirth using a very unique method that we call the Natural Birth Compass Program. This is the fourth episode of Sarah's birth prep coaching series, and time is flying by! In today's episode, Sarah and I will explore her experiences with pain throughout her life to help her prepare techniques for her upcoming birth. Then we will explore the expectations she is setting for everyone on her birth team and her birth partner so she has the support she needs in labor. We will deep dive into some remaining questions she will bring up with her birth team at her next visit, which opens up our conversation about routine care, the differences between routine and mandatory procedures in your birth environment, your right of refusal in labor, we look at the range of concerns for cervical exams in labor because I find so many women don’t realize the layers of invasiveness of a cervical exam beyond the physical impact of the intervention itself. Finally, we talk about a physiologic vs managed third stage, which is all about birthing your placenta, we talk about options for using your placenta and what you need to know if you want to use it, and we talk a bit about common newborn procedures, like eye ointment and vitamin k. _______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about the childbirth preparation method Sarah used to prepare for her birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.Are you an expectant parent who would like to experience a coaching session on the Journey to Birth podcast? Visit NaturalBirthCompass.com/podcast to fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you.

Have you ever noticed that when you are pregnant, you are automatically put into a category, you are never just considered a healthy person going through a normal life experience, you are not looked at as a strong woman venturing on the journey of pregnancy and birth, instead when you are pregnant, you are labeled as either high risk or low risk, but always a risk. On this episode, I want to remind you that pregnancy & birth are not medical events and share why your prenatal visits shouldn't be focused on medical aspects of care or checking off the appropriate risk assessment test for each stage of your pregnancy and what to do if you can't find a care provider to support the prenatal care you need. So let's take a look at new perspectives of prenatal care on the journey to birth podcast._______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about The Natural Birth Compass Online Childbirth Preparation Program to prepare for your birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.

This is the third episode of Sarah's coaching series, and in this episode, Sarah shares her struggles with trying to memorize all the information she is learning, wherein the approach I encourage is to observe the ways birth presents all around us in the natural world and within us in different ways until it feels second nature and comes naturally during birth rather than having to recall it in the moment. This is important because for some people, it is more difficult to learn in this circular, spiraled way vs the linear and memorizing facts approach most of us are exposed to in our education. So we will work through that in the first half of this episode. Then we will cover how she is preparing for the birth cycle, being ready for breastfeeding, what she and her husband are learning about communicating together, and we discuss some aspects of nutrition and core and pelvic floor exercises to help her feel more comfortable during the third trimester of her pregnancy. Also, you will hear Sarah bring up a live stream birth we both watched, which was the birth of one of my colleagues, a fellow childbirth educator and birth doula in Canada names Alexis Christine Wild, and you can actually hear an interview I did with her about her preparation for this birth in episode #24._______________________________Further info & opportunities:Learn about the childbirth preparation method Sarah used to prepare for her birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.Are you an expectant parent who would like to experience a coaching session on the Journey to Birth podcast? Visit NaturalBirthCompass.com/podcast to fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you.

Welcome to this Journey to Birth Coaching Call!This is the second half of a long follow-up call we had to process Starre's birth experience, so if you haven't listened to part 1, I recommend you do that first so you can hear her birth story to understand the context of the conversation we are having. In this half we are getting more into depth about why Starre is feeling the emotions she feels about her birth experience as well as how her expectations showed up in her birth and how she is adjusting to life as a mom of a 2-year old and a newborn. Before we hear her story, I just want to share the amount of admiration I hold for Starre and her husband as they prepared for this birth. Starre did exactly what I hope all of my students do as they go through this style of education, she really went on a journey of self-exploration and self-understanding that is changing the way she lives and interacts with her world. This is not easy work, and not everyone takes the material that is available here to this level, which means not everyone will have the result Starre had, but for those who are ready, who want to experience the power of giving birth, who want to experience the transformation of becoming a mother, of becoming powerful, and experience that is so profound that it might take months to process everything that happened, it is here, waiting for you, I am here waiting for you, and our community is here to welcome you. I start with all of this because Starre's birth is truly incredible, so much so that she has a lot to process, a lot of emotions and perspectives that she didn’t expect, and this is something that can happen when a birth is so undramatic, as Starre says, so ordinary, when there are no heroics, only the birthing heroine. We ended up talking for nearly 3 hours in processing her birth, and I struggled with how to break this up for the podcast, or whether to break it up for the podcast. So ultimately, what I decided was to give you choice. Everything about reproduction, birth and life is about making choices, and I wanted to leave the choice in your hands. So, I broke this episode into 2 parts, but I am releasing them both on the same day, so if you prefer to break it into two separate listening experiences, it will be easy for you, but if you prefer to binge the whole 2 hours at once, you have that option available to you as well. ___________Further info & opportunities:Learn about the childbirth preparation method Starre used to prepare for her birth by clicking here.Download your copy of the assessment our students and podcast guests use by clicking here.Are you an expectant parent who would like to experience a coaching session on the Journey to Birth podcast? Visit NaturalBirthCompass.com/podcast to fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you.