Birthkeeper Banter

The term “evidence based” is really hyped up in the birth world and honestly, now that the mainstream has taken grasp of it, it’s obnoxious. Tune into this short little episode where we talk about how being “evidence based” can actually do harm! Autonomy > everything, always.

Kristen, now a birth photographer and doula from Ohio, comes to share with us her four birth stories, starting with her first two in the hospital, the second being a traumatic cesarean. For her third and fourth births she took her power back into her own hands and had two very different freebirth experiences! Come listen in to her insightful perspectives, and stay tuned for announcement of her ver...

A controversial discussion between Desirae and Taylor discussing the types of births and situations that licensed and/or regulated midwives are actually able to sit at vs. a traditional/unregulated midwife. It’s so often that regulated/licensed providers are seen as the most competent, highly trained and skilled providers. When you really sit with it and look at how limiting their schooling and re...

Do you have a birth worker in your community that is traditional, unlicensed and yet actively attending births? What is our obligation as fellow birth workers when there is someone in our community that practices differently than us? Join Desirae and Taylor as we discuss this important subject of dangerous attendants, why traditional midwifery is viewed as reckless and what we can do to better ser...

Aleyda joins Desirae to discuss the use of intuition in the childbearing years; as the birthing woman and as the birth attendant. From preconception through parenthood, they share on what they have seen and experienced themselves, as well tips for anyone desiring to better connect intuitively. They express that it’s not just the birthing woman and attendant that experience intuitions in these time...

There are so many situations we have personally witnessed, and stories we have heard that validate this concept. Textbooks simply don’t account for INTUITION. Whether that intuition is in mom, the birth attendant, or both, it is important to listen to it and do as they see fit, not as an onlooker or a textbook would say. This applies to both a sense of peace, and a sense of urgency in the birth sp...

Desirae & Taylor hop on to define the term “traditional midwife”. Unfortunately, many non-traditional midwives claim to be traditional. Families will hire them based on this claim and they go on to learn that they aren’t in fact traditional in practice. Those who are licensed and certified often claim to be “serving women outside of the system”, when really, they are simply serving outside of a ho...

Sierra comes on to share with us her variety of different experiences! She had a wonderful first time home birth with an English midwife, then a very med-wife experience in America. After her seconds birth, she was inspired to have a freebirth, and then did the darn thing!! She shares her tips, advice, details, and the big differences she noticed. The important things she wants to share with peopl...

Language, tone, and how we communicate something, even in urgent situations, in periods of vulnerability such as pregnancy, birth and postpartum, will sit with a woman for the rest of her life. Many providers, including some midwives, speak in a coercive, condescending, and cold manner to their clients. This can result in a lack of trust in birth and trust in their birth provider, which can lead t...

Desirae taps into the passions of her heart and reaches out to our viewers to share more about her 💕 Take a listen to know her more intimately!

This episode is rich with emotions! Sam shares her journey of becoming a mother, experiencing a hospital birth and an epidural that resulted in long term side effects and how she began researching the natural side of motherhood from there. Then walks us through her stillbirth experience and how she found peace and autonomy within it. She later had her rainbow baby pregnancy, a home birth with midw...

Have you ever heard somebody say they HAD to get induced for “X” reason and it just didn’t sound right? Let’s talk about some of the BS reasons Desirae and Taylor have heard for induction and why it’s BS! We would love to know if you’ve ever been coerced into an unnecessary induction or know of another reason we didn’t cover!

What can you expect by obtaining a mainstream professional versus a traditional attendant? How do we do our prenatal care differently than an OB or licensed midwife might? What about your birth and postpartum support? All important subjects to consider before it’s baby time.

Made primarily for those considering enrolling in our Traditional Midwifery Cohort, but also for everyone else’s enjoyment too (haha) Taylor brings out her big passions and what makes her heart set on fire! We want you to know us deeply and transparently at HERBAL so you can make a confident decision to take us on as your mentors on this incredibly important life path.

Desirae and Taylor discuss what makes birth work challenging! Birth work is so beautiful and we can’t see us doing anything else, however we want others to know it’s not just sunshine and rainbows!

Desirae and Taylor dive into the subject of EUPHORIA. That birth high that is oh so addicting and that you wait ten moons for. We discuss when and how we experienced our own personal birth highs and why we think they differed among our births, and what we see in attending women that get sky high from their home births.

Abusive, toxic and unsupportive partners ARE an intervention, sometimes an even worse intervention than the hospital. Des and Taylor talk about their experiences witnessing and attending women that live in homes where they just aren’t loved well, if at all, and how that impacts their childbearing years.

On this episode Desirae’s husband joins her to discuss their journey to home birth, how he felt about it when Desirae first mentioned it, how each birth experience played out, and how each differed and went on to impact them as a family. Brad shares open and honestly about his emotions and thoughts throughout each experience and why he prefers home birth over their first two birth experiences. The...

Des and Taylor discuss their own birth preferences, how those came to be, and what their ideal birth attendant is. Great listen for any expectant mom trying to pick a birth attendant, or a birth attendant thinking of ways to be the best servant to women and gain additional perspectives from two freebirthers.

Des and Taylor gets back to their roots, how they were inspired to start sitting at births, what they wish they knew when they first started, how their births have changed them as attendants, and tips to share for women newly inspired to be birth workers.

Desirae and Taylor go back and forth on this episode about the different ways to become a doula or how to become a midwife with all the various routes and pathways that there are! If you’ve ever considered or are actively considering a doula training, midwifery school and/or apprenticeship, or just straight up feel confused in how to choose the path for your birth work journey, take a listen and t...

Taylor jumps on to present to you life changing information: you are NOT required to file and pay federal income tax! For real! Though this is a deep subject, Taylor hits the major initial concerns that people have and provides resources to learn more! Please let us know if you have any questions or need help understanding! Livefreenow.org is the place to go to learn more!

Des and Taylor discuss how every person in the birth space makes an impact, and how the wrong people can be detrimental. We also jump into why depending on someone to hold your hand through births as a new birth worker can impact your journey!

Hallie joins us to share on her 5 home birth experiences. With her first, she utilized OB care the first few visits and quickly realized that their form of care was not her cup of tea. She went on to find a midwife who trusted in her ability to birth her first baby at home and would respect her autonomy and choices. She goes on to share about her other birth stories, including her fourth, which ha...

Taylor and Desirae discuss various situations where families wrongfully request refunds from their hired birth professionals; something all birth attendants experience at one point or another. How clients can place blame where it doesn’t belong is another topic discussed. They share various situations they have seen and experienced and how those situations typically work out. Both relay that birth...