Unschooled Homebirth

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! 🔗Click here to find the registration link & info for Yoga & More for a Functional Pelvic Floor WorkshopWatch 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

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:🎧Hear the full version of Yemaya Assessu here🔗Visit Laura Birthing Mama's website here🙏Visit the Kickstarter page here by April 25th, 2023All profits from album sales will go to support projects like these:💛Robin Lim's Birth Centre Bumi Sehat in Indonesia💚Ruth Ehrhardt's work in South Africa, with Zimbabwean Refugee Midwives🧡Angelina Miranda Martinez, Traditional Mexican Midwife🎶Listen to Welsh Folk Music from Eve Goodman, one of the musicians involved in Birth and Beyond: Sacred Songs for Mother and BabyWatch 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 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 :)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

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. 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

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 PodcastsSpotifyWatch 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

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 pregnancyWatch 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

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.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 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!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

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.sisterhood______________________________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!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'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. ______________________________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!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

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!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

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!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

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 philosoWatch 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’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!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