Can hope return after something painful changes the way you experience motherhood?   This week, we're speaking with Lydia Ashford, a flower farmer, worship leader, wife, and mother of two daughters born at home on the Northern California coast. Lydia and her family live and work together on a flower farm with her parents and sisters, raising babies alongside one another in a deeply connected community. In this conversation, Lydia shares the beautiful homebirth of her first daughter—but also the traumatic postpartum complications that followed– and the transformational healing that slowly took place after.   Episode Roundup:   1. “Postpartum is porous.” Lydia described postpartum as “spongy”—that everything spoken over a mother during that season goes straight to the heart. YES. The postpartum period is incredibly vulnerable. The voices around a mother matter. The support, the encouragement, it is all so critical. And hearing how her midwife, her mother, her husband, and her community continually spoke hope over her while she struggled with breastfeeding… it’s such a powerful reminder that support can completely shape a postpartum experience. 2. I was deeply moved by Lydia’s honesty about fear after trauma, because it’s such a common experience.   Sure, not everyone has experienced sepsis or emergency surgery postpartum, but many mothers have walked through complicated births or postpartum seasons that left them afraid to do it again. And I loved hearing how Lydia described God slowly transforming fear into hope—not all at once… over time.   Through prayer walks, community, stories, scripture, and through intimate moments of healing.   3. This line Lydia shared just got me at my core: “I will not nurse fear. I will nurse hope.” What a powerful renewing of her mind.  She intentionally refused to let fear become the center of the story. Wow, doesn’t  that apply so far beyond birth? What are we feeding? What are we nurturing? What are we allowing to shape the atmosphere of our homes, our motherhood, our hearts? Lydia’s story is such a beautiful reminder that healing does not always mean the absence of difficulty.  Healing is allowing hope to return.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/_zhc9aKXtME

Have you ever reached the point in labor—or honestly, in life—where you truly didn’t think you could keep going?   This week, we're speaking with Faith Robinson, a stay-at-home mom from Kansas City, wife to her husband of three years, and mother to baby Ezekiel. Faith grew up around birth through her mother’s work as a doula, but despite always wanting an unmedicated birth, she initially viewed birth primarily as a medical event. That slowly began to change after witnessing a peaceful birth as a teenager—and eventually led her and her husband to prayerfully pursue homebirth for their own family. In this episode, Faith shares her pregnancy journey, navigating back pain from previous spinal injuries, concerns about preeclampsia symptoms late in pregnancy, and the emotional challenge of going well past her due date. And then came the loooong labor.  You’re going to love hearing her perseverance.   Episode Roundup:  1. I keep thinking about the importance of support.Not just during birth itself—but throughout pregnancy too.Faith described so many moments where she felt deeply cared for by her midwives. They listened to her concerns, helped her navigate anxiety, supported her through physical discomfort, and treated her as a whole person rather than just managing symptoms.That kind of care changes the way women experience pregnancy and birth.   2. This story is such a reminder that labor does not always unfold quickly or neatly.Forty-seven hours is a long time.And I appreciated Faith’s honesty about how difficult that became mentally. The discouragement after learning she was still only two centimeters after hours of strong contractions… the exhaustion… the moments of saying, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”I think many women need to hear stories like this because sometimes physiological birth is portrayed as effortless if you just “trust enough” or if you do the precise right things to prepare. But birth is intense, so trusting birth doesn’t mean pretending it’s always easy.Sometimes trust looks like continuing one contraction at a time.   3. I was so moved by the way Faith described the Lord meeting her during labor.The difficulty was not removed.  The pain was not instantly ended.But He gave her exactly what she needed for the next step.A moment of encouragement. A reminder that she was safe. The strength to continue.Truth be told, I think that mirrors motherhood so often too, at least for me.We’re not always given the full picture ahead of time. But grace does meet us where we are. Ps. Shout out to Faith’s mom Kim. You’re the best, love you girl.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/PFkl9gpM_k8

What does it look like to re-build a family legacy?  And how do birth, motherhood, healing, and even hardship become part of that restoration? Gabrielle Manier is a wife, homeschool mother of four, homemaker, gardener, and passionate homebirth mother living in Michigan with her husband Dustin and their children. Since her first appearance on the podcast, their family has welcomed two more babies while continuing to walk through healing from a difficult past marked by addiction, homelessness, and generational brokenness.   Episode Roundup: 1. The idea of rebuilding. Gabrielle and her husband came from incredibly difficult backgrounds, and yet the way they are intentionally building their family now—with faith, purpose, nourishment, connection, and presence—it’s such a reminder that generational patterns do not have to continue forever. Healing, change, renewal really is possible.   2. I loved hearing how intentionally Gabrielle prepared for postpartum this time. So many mothers focus all of their energy on birth preparation, but postpartum can feel deeply vulnerable if we don’t also prepare to be cared for afterward. And hearing how her mother came to help… how they restored their relationship… how she hired postpartum support… how her husband stepped in so fully… It’s such a picture of what women were always meant to experience after birth: Care and space to heal.   3. Another part of Gabrielle’s story that really stayed with me was the way she navigated her son’s clubfoot diagnosis. An unexpected diagnosis in pregnancy can bring so many emotions. Fear, confusion, and a sense of pressure to make quick decisions and “do something”. What I appreciated so much was hearing Gabrielle approach the experience in sugh a grounded, thoughtful,  prayerful way. She didn’t ignore reality, but she refused to allow fear to overtake the beauty of her experience of pregnancy and motherhood. I think many women need to hear that it is possible to walk through unexpected circumstances while still remaining connected and even joyful. And Gabrielle’s experience is such a reminder that a diagnosis does not change the value, beauty, or purpose of a child. Sometimes it’s these very moments that invite families deeper into trust, advocacy, and dependence on God in ways they never expected.   4. I was so moved by Gabrielle’s description of birth as exhilarating. Not that it was painless or easy, but because she experienced birth as something full of purpose, connection, and joy. There can be intensity and peace at the same time. Difficulty and beauty in the same breath.  That’s exhilarating.   5. I so appreciated Gabrielle’s honesty about fear and anxiety. I think that sometimes women may hear peaceful birth stories and assume those mothers never struggle with fear, confusion or anxiety. But that’s not what Gabrielle described–  She described continually bringing those fears before the Lord… and continuing to move forward in faith.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)   Youtube Episode

We all know that life is unpredictable in many ways, but when you’re experiencing extreme unpredictability in the midst of your pregnancy, how do you imagine you’d feel?  Would ‘peaceful’ be the first word that comes to mind?   This week, we’re speaking with Sarah, mother to two babies– Timothy and Lydia.  We’ll hear Sarah’s extremely difficult experience during her most recent pregnancy and birth of a micro preemie, but take heart– you will leave this story feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and beauty for having heard it.     Sarah does an incredible job of summing up the amazing points of her story at the end, so we won’t have a typical episode roundup.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Coincidences– How many of them can you experience before you stop thinking they’re coincidences and start realizing that they are a beautiful divine gift?   This week, we're speaking with Kaylee, a mother of 3 living in Athens, Georgia.  Kaylee and her husband experienced struggles with infertility before becoming pregnant, and they are now in the process of raising the large family they always dreamed of.  We’ll hear how a “high risk” hospital-birthing mother found herself at home with her most recent baby.   Episode Roundup:   After IVF treatment, Will and Kaylee found out that they had 5 embryos.  They felt strongly in their hearts that it was their responsibility to do their part to bring all 5 of those beautiful babies into the world.  I love their heart on this, and it was so sweet to hear Kaylee’s forethought about these precious little souls, even as she prepared for her first hospital birth.  She wanted to take care of herself and learn as much about birth as she could so that she could have vaginal births– knowing that she would be planning to become pregnant at least 4 more times.  I love their tender forethought and the way this family has made their babies such a priority.   Next, as her third pregnancy progressed, Kaylee noticed her heart being drawn toward homebirth.  She was pulled to listen to mostly homebirth stories, even though she was planning a hospital birth at the time– she felt a sense of curiosity and even desire, despite the fact that she thought homebirth was just out of reach for her.  I love hearing this intuitive nudge that pushed her to begin preparing for the type of birth that she would eventually have, before she even agreed to go that route! And this leads to my final thought, which was just so potent throughout Kaylee’s story.  Coincidences.  Or are they?  Kaylee would certainly not call them mere coincidences.  No, she sees them as gifts from a loving Father who was holding her and caring for her from the very beginning.  My goodness, the beauty of this and all of the answered prayers.  Her midwife having been the nurse that made the difference in her first son’s birth, her requests for a short labor, her desire to give birth at midnight— and then her trust that it would happen.  Kaylee’s story is full of examples of childlike faith being met with Fatherly love and compassion.  She is held– and so are you.  If you ever want to talk more about relationship with this incredible Unconditional Love, please send me an email at [email protected].   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What happens when you know too much about birth… and you’re experiencing pregnancy and birth for yourself?   This week's episode, I’m joined by Emily—a labor and delivery nurse who found herself navigating pregnancy and birth as both a provider and a patient.   We talk about how working inside the hospital shaped her first birth… what shifted in her mindset the second time around… and how she ultimately chose a homebirth rooted in surrender.   Episode Roundup:   First—this idea of knowing too much: how too much information can sometimes lead us to questioning ourselves, our bodies and our instincts– information overload can create fear instead of clarity.  I love how Emily was so aware of this– how what she’d seen and experienced at work actually needed to be balanced with nervous system regulation, surrender, and leaning into her own intuition.  During postpartum with her first baby, Emily felt like she missed much of the experience because it seemed impossible to turn her brain off and simply trust.  But that first experience transformed how she would interact with pregnancy, birth and motherhood from then on. Second—the shift from control into surrender… not just in birth, but in motherhood as a whole.  What a learning curve it is to go from taking care of only your own needs to the needs of others.  As Emily said, she had to reorient herself to life now that she was a care provider– no longer could she simply bop off and workout on a whim or head to the grocery store alone.  Even her ability to regulate her nervous system after her second child had to shift– It wouldn’t be 30 minutes on the couch with her warm cup of tea, but instead breathing exercises while she rocked and nursed her baby.  Our willingness to be flexible and do things differently– to be creative– is a gift to both ourselves and our babies. And finally—birth can shape the way we step into motherhood… Emily went from anxiety and overthinking in her first pregnancy and birth… into presence, peace, and confidence during her homebirth, and the impact has continued far beyond.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What happens when your first experience of birth leaves you shaken… and the providers you’re supposed to trust tell you not to try again?  Where do you go from there?   Sarah Marie is the owner of Entering Motherhood, a wife and a mom of three who spends her days soaking up life with her little ones, whether that’s through slow mornings at home, time in the garden, or exploring a new coffee shop.   As a certified birth and postpartum doula, Sarah is passionate about walking alongside women as they step into motherhood. She also hosts the Entering Motherhood podcast, where she shares encouragement, education, and real conversations about pregnancy, birth and beyond.   Sarah believes that birth is more than just an experience, it’s a beautiful moment to reflect on and embrace. She loves helping moms feel confident, informed, and supported so they can truly own their journey as they are entering motherhood.   Episode Roundup:   First—how much our early experiences can shape us. Sarah’s first birth didn’t go the way she expected. It left her questioning herself, her body, and what was possible for future births. And I think many women can relate to that… carrying questions after birth, wondering, “What does this all mean?” But what stands out to me is this: She didn’t stay there, stuck and unchanged.  She intentionally began to dig for more– to ask questions, and to physically place herself in spaces where she could see birth differently. And because of this, over time, her perspective changed– her ideas about what she was capable of changed. Next—the power of exposure and understanding. As Sarah stepped into doula work, she witnessed birth again and again. And with each experience, she gathered a new understanding of what the body can do– the vast array of what birth can be like. And this is such a key point: What we see, what we hear, what we surround ourselves with—it shapes what we believe is possible. Sarah went from being told not to pursue a vaginal birth… to confidently planning and experiencing a homebirth. And finally—can you guess it? Surrender. Even in conception, Sarah described letting go of trying to control the outcome… and that was the moment things shifted. And isn’t that often the rhythm? We prepare.  We work.  We do what we can. And then… we’re left with nothing to do but release.  And so often, that’s the final step. Sarah’s story is such a clear picture that confidence in yourself and your ability to birth can be rebuilt.  And that your previous story does not have to hold your current experience captive.   Links: Entering Motherhood LLC www.enteringmotherhood.com   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

When your body has experienced legitimate physical trauma during two back to back births, what do you do for your next experience?  What would it look like to play it safe– would that be a planned cesarean?  Or… What if you swing the other way and bring it home?   This week we’re speaking to Janie Hobbs,  a stay-at-home wife and mom of three littles. She is happily married to her husband Sam, and they recently moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario from Missouri where Sam serves as one of the pastors at a local church. Janie has been a birth enthusiast for years and has experienced so much personal and spiritual growth through the births of each of her children. When she is not chasing her energetic toddlers or nursing a baby, she enjoys baking, photography, coffee, and exploring the beautiful Canadian countryside.   Episode Roundup:    The trauma that Janie experienced was legitimate physical trauma.  When she asked a medical professional their opinion on her next baby, a planned cesarean was considered a good idea.  I can absolutely see how this option would have made sense.  And yet, the Lord had something so redemptive in mind for Janie.  Instead of going fully medical, a door was opened in the opposite direction.  Home?! Really?!  I love the thoughtfulness of the midwife who recommended this as a strong option for Janie to consider.  And goodness, we know how amazingly it turned out. Janie’s honesty with her struggles with God after her second birth are refreshing to hear.  The hardness of life.  The questions of why and for what purpose– and then Janie realized… he had been with her all along.  Suffering alongside her.  What a picture of compassion.   And finally– scars redeemed.  Janie shared how her scars are no longer seen as something negative to her.  Jesus kept his scars as a sign– a mark of what had happened.  And now Janie’s scars tell a story of redemption as well.  Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What if the discomforts we’ve been told are “just part of pregnancy”  are actually signals  that something needs support?   This week, we're speaking with Whitney Sippl, a pelvic physical therapist who works closely with women in pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.     In this episode, Whitney walks us through what pelvic physical therapy really is, why it matters in all stages of life, even before birth, and how simple techniques can make a meaningful difference in both birth and recovery.   Episode Roundup: First… this idea that symptoms are not something to ignore. So many women experience things like leaking, heaviness, or discomfort and are told it’s normal. And while it may be common… that doesn’t mean it’s something we have to live with. Our bodies are communicating. And when we listen early— during pregnancy— we often have the opportunity to support healing before we ever reach postpartum. Second…  I love the shift from thinking about the pelvic floor as something to “strengthen”… to something to balance. Because labor itself is not just about being strong — it’s also very much about release.   And finally… this reminder that preparation can be gentle. It doesn’t have to be complicated or feel overwhelming. Small, consistent awareness of your body— your breath, your posture, your movement— can create significant change.   Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

You’ve done it- you’ve decided to give birth at home, and NOTHING is going to stop you, right?    This week we’re speaking to Heather Whitehead, a mother to 5 living in East Tennessee.  We’ll hear how Heather and her husband settled on homebirth for their most recent pregnancy, and how they navigated certain obstacles that arose after their decision.  You know, like the realization that they were pregnant with twins, to start.    Episode Roundup:   First, I love that Heather chose to continue care with her midwife, even knowing that there could be a larger number of reasons for a transfer of care as her pregnancy went along.  When she considered the whole situation thoroughly, she decided that BECAUSE she was pregnant with twins, she actually needed a midwife more: The individualized care, the preventative approach, and the loving support. Even if it meant paying for two providers, she and her husband decided midwifery care was worth the cost. Next, Heather really has experienced the gamut when it comes to pregnancy and birthing experiences.  From different types of inductions to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, she’s seen some things– and I love that she allowed those experiences to inform her decisions in the future.  Especially when combined with midwifery care, she was able to take hold of potential “high risk” issues preventatively this time around.  The 2 mile post-dinner walk?  I would LOVE to hear if you give that a try and what it does to your fasting blood sugar numbers! And finally- this was so ordained, wasn’t it?  As Heather said, there were so many potential issues that could have occurred as she gave birth to her preemie twins, but… her husband made it home.  Heather took her time with a few last minute tasks that allowed her midwife to be there– quite divinely.  Heather was able to avoid further intervention with her birth by having her babies before arriving to the hospital, and her midwife most assuredly impacted Baby B’s life by staying with Heather in the ambulance and providing the care that she and baby needed.  What an amazing series of events. Links:   Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”   Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)   Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)