The Gift of Giving Life

In todays episode we talk about very early pregnancy loss and how sometimes it is hard to feel supported in your feelings. Sometimes people don't validate what you are experiencing. But the loss is very real! Listen to Heather and Lani's experience and get some reassurance. 

When I went through a miscarriage years ago, I finally took time to really read the stories of loss in The Gift of Giving Life. They brought me comfort and peace. This is my story of getting pregnant at 41 and then my miscarriage and how I handled the emotions that came with that loss.

Did you know that Dr. Ellis Shipp , one of Utah’s first female doctors (who trained many women to become nurses and midwives), wrote a hymn in the hymn book? I had forgotten until yesterday when my friend (who is mourning her second miscarriage) posted this on facebook… As I sung/listened to this hymn today, I realized that the woman who wrote the words understands me. Some of her own babies did n...

In my interview with Lani, the birth story she chose to share was a miscarriage that felt so spiritual. She didn’t expect that it could be spiritual, but it was. “Everything relating to preparing to have children, getting pregnant, giving birth have been a few of the ways I have had the most spiritual experiences of my life…”

We delve deep into how to help your friend in todays episode. But here are the steps simplified. 1 – Let her talk as much or as little as she wants.   2 – Share your experience, but be careful not to project your own (or others’) experiences onto hers.   3 – Similarly, be careful about making assumptions about the status of this miscarriage as it relates to the mother’s family.   4...

This is part 2 of Jenifer’s interview. Someone said to her after a miscarriage – “Just don’t worry about it. It was a nothing baby.” She could not accept that. It wasn’t until years later that she had an experience that helped her have the courage to face that and heal from it… all because of a piece of art. I love how she found healing, years later in an unexpected place.   I hope that this...

In interviewing women for The Gift of Giving Life podcast, so many shared their miscarriage stories. I realized we really needed a series to support women through this part of struggling while trying to be Giving Life. So for October, in honor of Pregnancy Loss month – we are having a whole series of podcasts focusing on miscarriages. Please reach out to us on Instagram if you want to share your s...

It was so fun to interview Jenifer, Heather's co-author of God Comes to Women. In this first part of the interview she reflects on how God knew her timetable for having babies. How when she first was married she didn't even want to have babies, but after 5 years she shifted. Then a surprise revelation that sped up the arrival of a baby!  Find the show notes at thegiftofgivinglife.com And sign...

Robyn shares her insights she had as she learned about buffers in her biology class. Birth:  While I was attending a birth two weeks ago,  I thought about buffers in the sense of being a doula.   My job is to be a buffer from outside forces or be someone who helps maintain calm waters.   I am supposed to lessen the strain on the mother (and father) so that the shock of the expe...

Something I used to frequently say regarding childbirth was that I was born in the last days because Heavenly Father knew I couldn’t handle a natural childbirth and knew I needed epidurals.  It was something I would always joke about, but also really believed.  I might be mentally strong, spiritually strong, but physically strong?  No way.  That was not for me.  I wasn’t a...

Have you had to shift the way you create?   Most of the authors have moved out of the baby creation stage.   In this interview with Lani , she shares how she is shifting from creating life from having babies, to becoming a plant mom.  How the security of her garden helped her survive 2020 and bring her peace during a tumultuous time.  I love how she was able to find peace in su...

It was so fun interviewing Melissa from @joyfulandspiritualbirth for this podcast episode. "For my third birth I really wanted a spiritual experience.   I created a formula for myself - reading only certain things, using affirmations, focusing on what I really wanted to this birth.    My 4th birth stripped me down and humbled me.    It also gave me more power than I ever e...

In an interview with Melissa she shared,  "As I sat in the celestial room,   I heard revelation for how my next birth would be.    It would just be me and my husband and NOT a midwife!    I was shocked,    I asked God,   "Wait, are you sure???? This revelation is for me and not someone else?"  (She wasn't even pregnant when she got this r...

When Robyn went back to school, she learned a lot more than biology.   She learned to move into a new phase of life and the skills she is gathering are helping her to delve deeper into finding the history of pioneer midwives.   Why is that important?   Listen to find out! Find the show notes at thegiftofgivinglife.com  And sign up for our newsletter to get access to our online...

This is one of the most powerful spiritual experiences I ever had at a birth as a doula.  I am so excited to share this birth story and the important part hymns played in it. Listen, enjoy and be inspired! Find the show notes at thegiftofgivinglife.com And sign up for our newsletter to get access to our online class! You can buy your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon .

A couple of months ago, I was listening to the song “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” and I thought: this would be a great song for childbirth . Especially this line… Come, come, ye saints, no toil or labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear Grace shall be as your day. Then I got thinking about some of the other hymns and realized that so many of them could be seen...

Heather shares her birth stories and how focusing on charity helped her shift one of her births into a more spiritual event. And of course we talk about all of the joy and challenges of helping to birth The Gift of Giving Life Heather Farrell:  The Gift of Giving Life helped me articulate all of those thoughts and feelings and take it deeper. Viewing Birth as a spiritual event versus a physic...

To celebrate Pioneer Day this week Robyn compiled a history about a special midwife.  A special thanks to Shani Allen Dutton, one of our readers and a descendant of Jane Johnston Black, for introducing me to the story of this courageous woman. Here is a little snippet - " When she got to Montrose, Iowa, on the other side of the Mississippi River, she buried her gun under her wagon wheel. She...

I am so excited to share the second half of our interview with Stephanie from @lightuntolighthomeschool on Instagram. Powerful Feeling of Love In this episode, she shares that while she didn’t have any specific manifestations of her ancestors at the birth, except for a powerful feeling of love, which she felt was their presence, that the support they gave her through her pregnancy was invaluable....

It was so fun to interview Stephanie and hear how she harnessed the power of her ancestors stories to encourage her through her pregnancies and births. She messaged me on Instagram I encourage women to latch on to any tidbit of info about their female ancestors in Childbirth. Even knowing the historical birthing practices of their time helps me visualize them. Knowing they have empathy for me help...

Take some time to enjoy listening to this beautiful birth story of a VBAC mom. I came to know Janice when she took childbirth classes from me while she was pregnant with her first baby.   We have become friends since and work together in our local ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) chapter.   I also had the privilege of being present at the birth of her third baby which...

Robyn shares how she got involved in The Gift of Giving Life. Her favorite parts and the most challenging parts. She also shares what she has been up to the past few years, working towards her nursing degree. It may not lead exactly where she thought it would at first, but she knows God will lead her where she needs to go. And yes, she thinks birth will be a part of it. Find the show notes at theg...

You are helping to host a “normal” baby shower, but you want to make it a little bit more spiritual and meaningful for the mom.  A party with gifts and food is fun, but it is easy to add a few simple things to make this celebration more about the Mom and her journey to mothering this baby and therefore make it a bit more special. 1. Write and Share Wishes 2. Add some Beads 3. Connected by Rib...

It was Dieter F. Uchtdorf that said, “Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter”  As women we do not move from one period of creation to the next in the same way or order.  We each have different experiences, talents, gifts, and challenges that pull us toward a particular form of creati...

On todays episode I interview Felice Austin. She is the one who was inspired to create the book and we talk about how the idea first came to her and then all the steps she had to take to actually get the book published and all the joy and excitement in between. It was so fun to chat with Felice and get all of her insights. Our conversation will help inspire you to follow through on your inspiratio...