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The Happy Homebirth podcast is your source for positive natural childbirth stories, and your community of support, education and encouragement in all things homebirth and motherhood.
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4 days ago
4 days ago
You’re either for something or you’re against it, right? Like, you either love ultrasounds or you don’t. Or you want testing done or you don’t….. Or… gasp, could there be more to it than right or wrong?
This week we’re speaking to Taylor Shaffer: a wife, mother of two beautiful girls, holistic doula and online educator. She is passionate about nourishment, holistic living and taking radical responsibility for your health and birth choices. She serves women locally in Upstate SC through her doula agency, Nested & Nourished, as well as online through her Holistic Mama Pregnancy & Birth Course, virtual doula support offerings, podcast titled Holistic Pregnancy, and more.
Episode Roundup:
If there’s one word that demands your attention in this episode, I hope it’s “intuition”. Taylor’s decisions were not informed by sheer logic or dogma. No, the seat of her decisionmaking came from a deeper source. From what I believe to be Holy Spirit guided intuition.
Intuition. That inner knowing that often times goes against your expectations. Taylor isn’t a huge fan of ultrasounds for herself, but she sensed that an ultrasound is what she needed. This ended up providing her with the information she used to support her body and baby through gestational diabetes. And again, we see this intuition work in the complete OPPOSITE direction at the end of pregnancy, where Taylor felt that she shouldn’t have a scan. Looking back, she knows that this prevented her from unnecessary fear regarding her baby’s weight. I love how this example unfolded. We take the same topic: Ultrasounds and apply intuition to them in two different directions. That, my friends, is what it looks like to listen to your intuition.
Next, I want to remind you of just how deeply our emotions are connected to labor and birth. Taylor needed to take her baby into her arms, hold her, and grieve the change that was coming. Yes, of course, adding a new baby is a massive blessing to a family! But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a sense of pain at the leaving behind of the old ways. Honoring this feeling is exactly what led Taylor deeper into labor. Feel those feelings and don’t be afraid of them.
And finally, Taylor’s love for birthwork came from her own experiences. She realized that she had something to offer other mothers, other families after having her first daughter. She decided to seek out a way to be both the mother that she desired to be, and to also build a thriving business at the same time. Sounds impossible, right? But Taylor is doing it, very successfully I might add! Her online business, her doula agency… It's incredible! Taylor sought education from someone who values family, business AND birthwork. She found a coach who wouldn’t tell her to push aside family for money, but who would encourage her to and teach her to make a way for both.
Links:
Kyleigh’s Workshop Sign Up
Dr. Rachel Reed- Gestational Diabetes Review Article
Dr Sara Wickham- Gestational Diabetes Article
Tags: gestational diabetes, big baby
Monday May 26, 2025
Monday May 26, 2025
A shocking medical diagnosis is never easy to grapple with– but what happens when it comes in the middle of your pregnancy?
This week we’re speaking to Chloe, a wife and mother to two precious little boys. Chloe’s story will have you on the edge of your seat, but it will also instill a level of beauty beyond my ability to express in this little intro, so let’s not waste any time and jump right in.
Episode Roundup:
- If something is going on in your pregnancy that you feel unsure of, even if your care provider thinks it’s a variation of normal, follow your intuition. Chloe’s scenario was so hard because her friend had experienced a very difficult pregnancy and her midwife thought that this was simply a tough pregnancy– so even though Chloe felt that she was dying each day, she didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t until someone else with medical background laid eyes on her and said, “Hey, this doesn’t seem right” that she and Brandon sought more medical attention. I am just so grateful that they were able to receive the care that they needed.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Late in her pregnancy when Chloe felt that homebirth was the right option for her, she could have just given up after the first midwife said “no.” She recalls thinking, “Oh,great I’m going to be known as that crazy girl who had brain surgery” but honestly, who cares? She had the sense that homebirth was the right call, and she went after it. And wow, didn’t that pay off?
- Finally, let’s end here: This event that Chloe experienced– it wasn’t good. It’s not good that it happened, and there’s no delight in the suffering that she experienced. But what’s amazing is the ability for something so un-good to be used for such extraordinary good. For Chloe to come to the other side and say, “Through this, I learned just how good God is…” You can’t make that up. Chloe’s story is a story of hope, and a blessing to all who hear it.
Links:
Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
Dads- how does the idea of your wife giving birth make you feel? Does the idea immediately excite you, or does it put a level of fear on you– do you wonder how you can protect her and your baby? Do you feel out of control?
This week, all the way to episode 276, we are doing something new. We are hearing a homebirth story completely from the perspective of the father. Today we’re speaking to Dustin Garrett, a husband, father to two, and new to the club- homebirth dad!
Episode roundup:
- Dustin’s story is so vulnerable, and I feel so certain that with a listenership this large, there are a number of you who can relate to his experience with abortion and the potential pain that has stayed with you for years. Dustin realized at some point that he was not truly accepting all of the Grace and forgiveness available to him– that he felt like he needed to experience continual punishment, and that maybe he and his wife would never be able to have kids– maybe that was his punishment. But at some point it became clear, when Jesus died on the cross, he died for every single one of Dustin’s sins, and every single one of yours. He came to give us freedom, and our job? Our job is to receive it.
- Next, I love how honestly Dustin shared what I know many fathers to feel- the sense that they want to take care of their wife, their baby. The reason that birth often makes men feel uncomfortable is the glaring reality that, “Wow, actually I don’t have control here.” And boy, that uncomfortable feeling, if you’re honest with yourself, might turn to the realization that, “Oh, wow. I guess I don’t actually have control over a lot of events and situations around me.” To release control, while it can be so difficult, is one of the most beautiful things we can do as humans.
- And finally, I just love the joy that Dustin expressed as he caught his daughter in his own arms. As he saw her look at him while between worlds, really. Both in, and out. To imagine this happening, all while his son is singing “Jesus loves me” in the next room… it’s just beautiful. And healing for the entire family.
Links:
Monday May 12, 2025
Monday May 12, 2025
When a midwife gives birth to her first baby, she’ll know exactly what to expect, right?
This week we’re speaking with Leigha Fairchild, a midwife who serves mamas and families in the Kansas City area. She became a midwife while living in the Philippines and serving at a low resource birth center for two and half years. Yet her even greater role is that of wife to her husband Cody, and mother to her 3 beautiful children, with another one on the way.
Episode Roundup:
- Ask questions of your care provider up front. Don’t get taken off guard when you realize there are issues at 40 weeks. If you feel like you don’t know what questions are important to ask, I believe that spending time listening to the stories of others can help you articulate what’s important to you. Figure out what is important to you– this is critical. That way, when you are interviewing your midwife, you can assess whether or not the two of you are a good fit for one another. I do have a questionnaire inside of my birth courses to help with this.
- Every birth is different. Isn’t it incredible to realize just how individual each experience is? Here’s Leigha, a midwife who has attended numerous births, and she is not immune to the fact that each labor is unknown before it happens. To enter our birthing experience with open hands and an open mind is a beautiful approach, especially if we’ve prepared ourselves well beforehand.
- And finally, I loved how Leigha shared this: God gives you the strength you need when you need it. At one point, Leigha wished she could just KNOW how things were going to unfold. To know how much longer it would be before giving birth. And while she didn’t get that, she did learn that The Lord is faithful to provide the strength you need when you need it. Is that message for you this week? I feel so strongly that there’s someone out there who needs to hear this. I don’t know what season you’re in, it’s probably not birth related at all. But something is going on in your life that feels insurmountable and you just want to know when it’s going to be done. My friend, He loves you. I pray you feel the Lord wrapping you up in the warmest, most comforting hug right now. I pray you feel him imbuing His strength upon you right now. You are not alone.
Links:
Monday May 05, 2025
Monday May 05, 2025
Is it really safe to have hopes and desires for your birth? What if you plan but things don’t unfold the way you’d wanted?
This week we’re speaking to Lindsey Fuller, a homemaker and former registered nurse living in Tampa, Florida. She is married to her husband John and they have 3 wonderful kids. She loves spending her days devoted to raising her children and supporting her husband in his medical practice.
Episode Roundup
- Reject the naysayers. Prepare fully for the birth you desire. Don’t fall into the trap of fearing “failure” so much that you don’t commit to preparation. Of course birth can go a million different ways, but when you do what you can on your end to prepare, you’ll be served and more ready for however it all unfolds.
- Surrender your birth. Once you’ve prepared, it’s time to surrender. The beautiful gift of birth is that no matter what, it can be a teacher. It can provide you with the most valuable lessons. It’s so much less about the specific events that happen to you and so much more about how you are able to process and integrate those events into your motherhood experience.
- And finally, I just want to emphasize something that happened to Lindsey. In her most recent birth, she experienced a pivotal moment. She realized that she was holding onto control in areas that she’d never noticed before. Not only in birth, but in life. This birth– this very moment in birth, gave her an opportunity to break down an entire stronghold in her life– it allowed her to rewire a part of her brain. This, my friends is the beauty that is held in the birthing process. This is what I mean when I say that yes, homebirth is great, but it’s not the whole story. Homebirth is the car that can drive you to a destination of new revelation, just like it did with Lindsey.
Links:
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Have you ever found yourself clinging so tightly to something- only to realize that it wasn’t serving you the way you once thought it would?
Today we’re speaking with Carey Glenn, a Certified Professional Midwife who is keenly aware of the traps of dogma in all areas of the birthing world. Often times we’re so able to see what’s “wrong” in the hospital system, but do we ever stop and look at our own choices and question why we’re making the decisions that we’re making?
This episode is such a delightful conversation for both mothers and midwives, and I know that you’re going to gain beautiful insight on what it’s like to walk a balanced path– whatever that looks like for you.
Episode Roundup:
- I love Carey’s well-rounded approach. In the years that I’ve been involved in birth, I’ve certainly seen strong, dogmatic camps. You HAVE to give birth in the hospital- it’s the only way! You HAVE to have a nurse midwife, it’s the only way! You HAVE to have a freebirth– it’s the only way! My friends, let’s make space for nuance. When we cling to ideology instead of intuition, it’s easy to become confused and honestly, manipulated.
- Next, the importance of care providers choosing to heal. This is huge. Midwives, are you processing your trauma? Do you feel that you have the resources to do so? Seek support. Seek community. Please do not isolate yourself– this work is heavy, but beautiful. Finding healing can help you prevent burnout and allow you to care for your clients as fresh individuals without carrying in the baggage of previous experiences along with your midwifery bag into the birthing space.
- Finally, you’ve got to check out Carey’s drumming tracks. They are so beautiful, so enjoyable, and so likely what I’ll be listening to the next time I give birth.
Rooted Birth Rhythms by Sacred Heart Beats:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1K898fhwDdVUj2oEqSouME?si=XJZSdO32T0iB2S0zCfaCFw
Links:
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Monday Apr 21, 2025
How would you feel if everyone around you, including the medical staff you’ve met with, says you shouldn’t have another baby– but you and your spouse suddenly feel very strongly that you’re being called to…. Have another baby? What would you do?
This week we’re speaking to Jess, a mother who had to make this difficult sounding decision. Should we grow our family in the face of adversity? You’re going to love this story, I just know it.
Episode Roundup:
- So if you listened to my re-introduction story, you’ll notice that the exact same themes that I spoke about– About hearing God’s voice and leaning into what he’s saying even when it sounds, frankly, illogical– were present here in Jess’s story. She and her husband Grant both felt and overwhelming peace and need to have their third child, despite their well-meaning community’s pleas for them to reconsider. I find so much comfort in this ability to hear something clearly coming from somewhere outside of yourself, and to put your faith in what you are sensing. This is so deeply connected to intuition. Mothers KNOW what to do– whether that’s the intuitive knowledge that everything is okay and they’re doing exactly what they need to be doing even when the situation looks questionable, OR when things seem fine, but a mother knows something is not fine and needs more attention. What a beautiful gift.
- Next, let’s talk about the healing power of birth– Birth can bring healing beyond just yourself or your spouse. In this story, we hear how Jess’s third birth acted as a soothing balm to their oldest daughter, Willow, who had experienced such pain during the traumatic hospital stay and birth of her baby brother.
- And that point brings me to my last point. We were designed to heal. We were designed to heal both physically, and emotionally. How beautiful is it to hear this story– were Jess’s body, which was spoken over so negatively– that it wouldn’t be able to have a healthy pregnancy and birth again, that it was incapable of the pregnancy and labor processes— it healed and it experienced new life. Along with physical healing, Jess and her entire family experienced emotional and spiritual healing. How amazing that we have been designed with so many opportunities to grow, to rewire, to renew our thoughts. This family did just that, and what a joy it was to listen to how it unfolded.
Links:
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Let’s say you want a midwife. You’re desperate to give birth at home, and you’re ready to throw your money at the woman willing to attend your birth. What happens when you can’t find anyone to come?
This week we’re speaking with Caroline and Alex, who are the parents of a beautiful family of 4 little ones (now growing #5). This episode was recorded in November or December of 2023, I believe, but it never got a chance to air because of my sense that it was immediately time to close the podcast. BUT… this story is just so good, you have to hear it. With the updates we’ve made to the podcast and our desire to focus more on one story per interview, this episode has been edited to focus on their most recent pregnancy and birth.
Episode Roundup:
- I want to take a moment to emphasize just how difficult it must have felt for Caroline and Alex to so desperately want a midwife and a homebirth, and yet to not be able to find anyone to provide care. The reality is that there are large pockets of area throughout the country and, gosh, certainly globally, where there is lack of maternal care. You don’t have 1,000 options. You’ve barely got any options. I love the way that this couple chose to face this situation with a sense of openness and trust. Caroline sensed that the Lord was calling them into giving birth unattended, and she trusted. And what’s more, the Lord worked it out to where Alex was able to be comfortable and confident, too. This
- I also appreciate how this was not taken lightly. There was preparation, mentally, spiritually, and in Alex’s case, even physically. He was able to receive hands on training from their former midwife! What a gift.
- I want to touch on pain and the desire to have a pain-free birth. Listen, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that desire! I love it, and I know that it’s so possible!! But I also think there is so much beauty and strength that comes from having a birth that’s challenging. That’s not pain-free. That’s intense and animalistic. Motherhood is intense. Motherhood is challenging. Motherhood causes you to be in it for the long haul, even when you’re exhausted. Which brings me to my final little point–
- Caroline mentioned how Alex saying “it’s so cute” was like her little cup of water in the marathon- the bit of hydration she needed to make it to the finish line. How special are those moments– those moments we make with our spouse or our birth team– those intimate little sayings, touches, glances, that give us the strength we need when we needed it. What a blessing. And what a blessing this story was.
Links
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
We love talking about homebirth here, right? I mean, it’s kind of our thing. But what about the other end of the life spectrum. What about death?
This week, we are speaking with Mariah Lassiter, a a Hospice Registered Nurse who had her first baby at home.. As she has supported patients in her career, Mariah has begun to recognize how many similarities there are in the birthing and dying processes, and how both do not have to be viewed as scary, and in fact can be beautiful. We’ll hear her incredible birth story with her first child, and then dive into what she’s learned in her time as a hospice nurse.
Episode roundup
- Let’s start by connecting with our educational tidbit: Not all first births are long! If you’re experiencing the intensity that Mariah described, do not be afraid to reach out to your midwife. Part of her job is checking on you, so don’t worry about “calling her too early.” If you’re worried, her support can be extremely helpful.
- Intuition is everything. Mariah felt that she needed to give birth at home throughout her pregnancy, and with the quickness of her birth, the reality of that truth became very clear. Listen to your intuition. If you feel like you don’t have intuition or don’t know how to tap into it, pregnancy is the most perfect time to tap in. Turn off your phone, turn off your screens, heck, turn off this podcast and focus inward. You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn and feel.
- Finally, our bodies know how to be born, they know how to give birth, and they know how to die. It’s really quite freeing to see the similarities in these experiences, and to trust that they were created this way with purpose. If you’re looking for an amazing, grounding, life-altering perspective on dying, I cannot recommend the book Imagine Heaven enough. Wow. I read this book on Near Death Experiences last year, and the amount of peace and beauty that it brought to my life was just incredible and unexpected. You are beautifully designed and deeply loved.
Links
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
In this episode we'll discuss
- My origin story
- How Happy Homebirth was created
- Why I stepped back from the podcast and business in Jan 24
- Why we're back, and most importantly, where we are going!
Links