Healing Birth

Two births in the Finnish medical system left Anahel angry and knowing, in her words, "something is not right here." She planned to have her third baby at home. That whirlwind birth experience completely healed the pain of the past two. Anahel is a listener who reached out to me to share her beautiful story. If you have a story you'd like to share too, reach out! Send me a note at the contact page at www.healingbirth.net If you love the show, support us on patreon! www.patreon.com/healingbirth  

Welcome to Season 7 of the podcast! When today's guest, Jordan, reached out to me to explore what it looks like to move forward when birth isn't healing—when it feels unresolved or leaves lingering questions—and how to find your own healing by integrating your lived experience, I knew I had to have her on the show. Jordan shares her journey through three very different births: a long, challenging first home birth; an easy, almost freebirth during a snowstorm; and a third and final home birth that became an emergency and left her with lasting injuries. Instead of the glorious final birth she had envisioned, this last experience shook her physically and emotionally, forcing her to deeply question her beliefs around healing and recovery. It wasn't until she processed her new normal, stepped out of a "diagnosis" mindset, and viewed the birth through the eyes of her oldest daughter—her seven-year-old birth witness—that she was able to feel her third birth truly completed her as both a woman and a human being. Find Jordan on her website jordanmusser.com  and on Instagram @jordanmusscle If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphotoJordan 

Brigid is a mother of five who began her motherhood journey knowing little about birth and fully handing her experiences over to medical professionals. By the time she was pregnant with her fourth child, she knew she needed something different. She had done a great deal of internal work, finally educated herself, and was ready for change. Brigid chose a home birth with that baby, and it was a truly transformative experience. Since then, Brigid has been on a mission to help women understand the importance of physiological birth—not only for the immediate postpartum period, but for how it affects both mother and baby throughout their entire lives. Some resources mentioned in this episode include: Billie Harriagan's Course  Rachel Reed'a Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage  Find Brigid on Instagram @brigid.tebaldi Brigid's website and course: https://www.loretowellness.com/ If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

By most standards, Keelee had a straightforward first birth experience with a midwife at her birth center. But something about it troubled her enough that she wanted to debrief the birth afterward—and when she did, the midwife said something shocking. This sparked a deep dive into the world of freebirth, which she soon came to believe was the only "right" way to give birth. She even enrolled in a radical birthkeeper school, convinced she wanted to support women outside the medical system. But the first birth she attended was a humbling experience that ended in a transfer and a cesarean section. This prompted Keelee to step back and reconsider, realizing her belief in freebirth had become too dogmatic.  Find Keelee on Instagram @radicalflowhealthcare  If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

This is part two of Kristin's story. I highly recommend  listening to part one first if you haven't already! After a long and difficult preconception journey with her first child, Kristin was elated when she conceived her second with ease. This time she hired a midwife and planned the home birth she had always wanted while also receiving co-care from her medical doctor. Her doctor did not approve of home birth and often spoke to her from a place of fear, yet Kristin stayed committed to her plan. Eventually, she chose to stop seeing the doctor altogether. With the support of her husband and doula, Kristin welcomed her daughter into her arms after a labor so fast that the midwife did not arrive in time. She describes her home birth as exactly what she needed to heal the trauma of her previous experience. If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Kristin was never sure she wanted to become a mom until she attended a friend's birth, which catalyzed something deep within her. But getting pregnant didn't come easily, a struggle she partially attributes to her long-term use of birth control. She experienced several miscarriages before turning to IVF. Her fertility doctors told her she had less than a 5% chance of conceiving on her own. When IVF failed to result in a healthy pregnancy, Kristin took six months off from treatment to focus on holistic lifestyle and nutritional changes. At the end of those six months, she became pregnant with her son—naturally. Kristin's birth was a relatively straightforward hospital delivery, but she later suffered a devastating hospital-acquired MRSA infection in the postpartum period. This is only part one of Kristin's story. Tune in next week to hear part two! If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

After two home births with midwives, which were beautiful but still full of compromises she didn't want to make, such as repeated ultrasounds and intense pressure to induce, Lauren chose to birth her third baby without hiring any outside medical management. This pregnancy and birth pushed her to the brink. She confronted a profound fear of death, her baby remained breech until the very end, and the birth itself was wild, painful, and difficult, completely unlike her first two. She emerged from this underworld experience having met herself in a deeper way, fully grounded in her intuition, and more confident than ever in her choices as a mother, especially her medical ones. Find Lauren on instagram @laurenmclean_ and @iam_becomingmama If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

At the end of Jenna's pregnancy, she chose to be induced. The process lasted several days and was grueling, ultimately ending in a traumatic cesarean and a NICU stay for her baby.  Both Jenna and her husband left the hospital with PTSD, and in the early days of postpartum, Jenna wasn't even sure their marriage would survive. Healing began when Jenna reconnected with one of her passions: photography. She became a birth photographer and doula to support other families in ways that had been missing from her own experience. Jenna says that capturing images of birth helps people visually process the experience, and she brings a deep sense of empathy to the families she serves, shaped by her own traumatic birth. I often share redemptive birth stories on this podcast, but what I love so much about Jenna's story is that it beautifully illustrates that there's more than one way to heal a traumatic birth.  Connect with Jenna on Instagram @doulatognj If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto    

Before becoming pregnant herself, Alicia, a medical professional working in obstetrics, had the opportunity to witness birth working in a freestanding birth center. Seeing families welcome their babies in that calm, home-like environment opened her eyes to a different side of birth, one centered on trust, autonomy, and the natural process itself. So when it came time for her own pregnancy, Alicia drew on that experience and chose a home birth with confidence, stepping away from the conventional hospital setting she knew so well. Find Alicia on Instagram @wildflowerbirtheducation If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

For her first birth, Paige planned a natural delivery at a local birth center. But when the day came, her labor was long, and the pushing phase even longer. Eventually, the midwives decided to transfer her to the hospital. As is often the case with transfers, the birth ended in a cesarean, which left Paige heartbroken. It took some time for Paige to conceive again, but when she did, she felt confident planning a homebirth, where she felt safest even after a surgical birth. This labor turned out to be completely different from her first. Her baby arrived so quickly that Paige caught him herself on her bathroom floor. It was wild, intense, and exactly the experience she needed. Find Paige on her website gbdoulaservices.com and on Instagram @gentlebeginnings_doula  If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Jessica was a career-driven woman who never thought she wanted children, until a dream job fell through and an experience at a spiritual retreat awakened her desire to become a mother. After joyfully conceiving, she miscarried at twelve weeks, enduring not only heartbreak but also a traumatic experience with the medical care she received. Over the following year, Jessica focused on healing, and when she became pregnant again, she was amazed to discover her second baby shared the same due date as her first! With no midwives available nearby, Jessica decided to take her care into her own hands. Supported only by her husband and a close friend, she prepared for birth by immersing herself in empowering birth stories. Her baby's arrival was a beautiful, transformative experience that left her in awe of her own strength. Recorded just eight weeks postpartum, Jessica reflects on her journey through loss, healing, birth, and the early challenges of postpartum life and breastfeeding. *Please note that this episode contains a graphic description of medical trauma at around the 22 minute mark. If you're not in the space to hear that, skip ahead five minutes.  If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Hannah grew up as the daughter of a doula and, as a child, had the unique experience of attending the births her mother supported. So when she became pregnant herself, she had a deep trust in the birth process and planned a freebirth. Although there was nothing wrong with her or the baby, Hannah ultimately chose to transfer to the hospital during labor, where she had to strongly advocate for herself. She shares that, while the birth didn't unfold exactly as she had envisioned, it helped her find her voice and initiated her into the kind of mother her child needed. If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

In part two of her story, Rose returns to share the beautiful, pain-free freebirth of her second child, as well as the equally magical freebirth of her third. Between these two births, Rose had an abortion, and she shares how even through that she deeply connected with the soul of that baby, who told her she would be coming back. Throughout this second part of her story, Rose's experiences remind us how important conscious community is during life's transitions, and how powerful the rites of passage can be in birth, postpartum, and pregnancy release. Follow Rose @wildbirthkeeper  If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Growing up, homebirth was the norm for Rose. Both she and her brother were born at home, and her mother was heavily involved in the Homebirth Australia movement. At age 26, while island-hopping around the Caribbean, Rose discovered she was pregnant. She decided to return to Australia and give birth on her father's rural property. That birth turned out to be a wild and dramatic experience—nearly resulting in a hospital transfer—but her baby arrived just as she stepped out her front door! When pregnant with her second child, Rose once again found herself back in Australia. This time, she felt a clear message from her baby: this would be an unassisted birth, again on her father's land. This is only part one of Rose's story. Tune in next week to hear part two! Follow Rose in Instagram @wildbirthkeeper If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

During Hope's first pregnancy, she followed the conventional path—seeing an OB, agreeing to all the standard tests and procedures, and ultimately undergoing a Pitocin induction at 40 weeks. The birth was a traumatic initiation into motherhood, leaving lasting repercussions for both her and her daughter. Before becoming pregnant with her second child, Hope discovered the concept of freebirth, and it immediately resonated with her. She went on to embrace the wild pregnancy experience and freebirthed her son. This redemptive experience brought deep healing and taught her how to hold strong boundaries as a mother. Hope and I end our conversation by discussing the health differences we've noticed between our hospital-born and home-born babies. She also shares how she holistically supported her first child's recovery from a vaccine injury. Follow Hope @realisticallytoxinfree If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Alexandra's story begins abroad in Italy, where she goes into labor around 25 weeks while pregnant with twins and delivers via emergency C-section. Devastatingly, one twin survives the ensuing NICU stay, while the other does not. Back in the United States later, Alexandra is thrilled to become pregnant again. She knows she wants a VBAC and achieves it in a hospital setting, although the experience includes both obstetric violence and unnecessary interventions. During her third pregnancy, Alexandra becomes determined to have a positive, trauma-free birth experience. She hires homebirth midwives and comes achingly close to delivering at home. However, she transfers to the hospital at the last minute out of fear and gives birth just an hour later. Her fourth birth, which took place only four and a half months before the time of this recording, was finally the healing experience she had dreamed of for so long. Today, Alexandra is a devoted mother of four who passionately thrives on all things related to birth and motherhood. She is a strong advocate and champion for well-informed pregnancies, holding a firm belief that every woman should feel fully empowered, secure, and supported throughout their pregnancy journey and childbirth experience. You can connect with Alexandra via her website and on Instagram @birthrightwellnesscollectivenc If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Sabine shares her five birth stories, each one marked by increasing autonomy—from a hospital birth with her first child to freebirthing her fifth. No matter where she gave birth, Sabine describes each experience as profound spiritual work that taught her what kind of mother each child needed her to be. This is a story that will help dispel fears,  and leave you feeling inspired and excited about giving birth! If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Emily's first pregnancy was surprise twins! In some places, this would have severely limited her options for where and with whom she could give birth. Fortunately, Emily found a midwife who was willing to attend a twin birth at home.  After an uneventful pregnancy, she went into labor at home, but due to high blood pressure readings, the decision was made to transfer to the hospital. Once there, she was given no option other than a C-section, and the hospital staff was unsupportive and even unkind about her attempted home birth. Despite this first experience, Emily knew that home was where she felt safest giving birth. When she became pregnant again, she found a different midwife who helped her process the trauma of her first birth and supported her dream of having a home birth. If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

Ava shares the sweet and simple story of choosing to birth her first baby at home (even while living with her in-laws!). Her confidence in home birth was shaped largely by growing up with a mother who spoke positively about her own natural birth experiences. Her story is a beautiful reminder that a first birth is not just a trial run! If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto

From a young age, Sophia felt a powerful calling to support babies entering the world. By the time she became pregnant with her first child, she was already deep into her midwifery training, and ready to welcome life, both professionally and personally. She gave birth at home, surrounded by care and familiarity, with a trusted colleague by her side. But soon after her son arrived, it became clear that something wasn't right. He was quickly diagnosed with VACTERL, a rare and complex combination of birth defects. At just 36 hours old, he underwent his first surgery — the first of many. When Sophia became pregnant again, she hoped for a smoother path. But her second baby was breech, leading to a cesarean birth and more unexpected complications after delivery. Through both of these challenging journeys, Sophia learned to navigate the medical system with resilience and grace, finding her voice as a mother and an advocate, not just for her children, but for others walking a similar path. Sophia Henderson is a certified home birth midwife and host of the Born Wild Podcast. With over 16 years of experience, she blends traditional wisdom and evidence-based care to support families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Passionate about reproductive autonomy and the transformative power of birth, Sophia creates calm, connected spaces for families to welcome their babies in safety and love.  Find Sophia on Instagram @sophiabirth and @bornwildmidwifery  Born Wild Midwifery Born Wild Podcast If you love the show, I would greatly appreciate a review on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts!  Follow me on Instagram @healingbirth Do you have a birth story you'd like to share on the podcast, or would like to otherwise connect? I love to hear from you! Send me a note at contactus@healingbirth.net Check out the website for lots of other birth related offerings, and personalized support: www.healingbirth.net Intro / Outro music: Dreams by Markvard Podcast cover photo by Karina Jensen @karinajensenphoto