Birth As We Know It ™️-Birth Stories and Experiences

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, Jen goes into detail about how what is going on around you in the world can impact your labor, birth, and postpartum times. She also touches on how her LEEP procedure prior to pregnancy impacted her labor and birth in a way she did not expect.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/21   Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only with no inte...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, Monae talks about how her labor and birth went for her son Soren. She talks about the unexpected explosion from her waters rupturing all the way to the unexpected intensity of pushing out her juicy baby into her husband's hands.   birthasweknowitpodcast.com/20 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only with no intention of gi...

Send Kiona a Text Message! Faisa Farole, a local midwife in the Greater Seattle Area, has been mentioned in previous episodes by those who adore her. In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing her as she talks about her journey of becoming a midwife, an impactful birth, and what her plans are for the future of our community, with our community.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/19 Disclaimer: Thi...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, I speak with Jadrienne, a student midwife who is nearing the end of her 2nd year of the Midwifery program at Bastyr University. She talks about a few births that impacted her most out of the 30+ births she’s attended so far and how her studies impact her daily life.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/18 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purpo...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, I had the opportunity to interview my sister Monaé at 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant about symptoms she’s experiencing throughout her pregnancy and how she has been preparing for labor and birth. She also dives into her hopes and expectations for what labor and birth will be like, as it is right around the corner.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/17   Disclaime...

Send Kiona a Text Message! Sarah dives deep into her three very different birth experiences and how a last-minute switch in providers and taking advantage of her doula and chiropractor made her VBAC possible.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/16 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only with no intention of giving or replacing any medical advice. I, Kiona Nessenbaum, am not a li...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, Jazmin dives deep into how her two traumatic birth and postpartum experiences as a Black woman, shined a light on how Black families need better support within our healthcare system. But specifically from people that look like them, leading to her creation of BLKBRY.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/15   Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational pu...

Send Kiona a Text Message! I was over the moon to interview my sister Aushanaé about the birth of my beautiful niece Nikoma for this week's episode. We dive into some of her pregnancy complications, struggles with self-confidence during pregnancy, why she chose the epidural even though that was not her plan and her family’s traumatic experience with a tongue-tie revision.  birthasweknowitpodc...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, I reconnect with a previous doula client named Erin. Erin talks about her struggle of getting pregnant in her mid-thirties and how the opportunity to try IVF fell into her lap. She also dives into the details of what made her most comfortable and what made her proud during her labor and birth. birthasweknowitpodcast.com/13 Disclaimer: This podcast is int...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing a good friend of mine named Jess. They are a birth doula, a postpartum doula, and an artist. We dive into why they became a birth professional in addition to discussing a recent birth experience that stuck out to them from a birth doula's perspective.   birthasweknowitpodcast.com/12 Disclaimer: This podcast is intende...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, Lauren shares her three different birth experiences. She also dives into how she and her husband Kim were unsure about whether or not they would try for a third child and briefly mentions her experience with miscarriage and how that impacted their decision.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/11 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, we dive deep into the details of Kendra’s personal experience of miscarriage, getting a double rainbow baby surprise, and how she advocated really hard for herself during her pregnancy and had a strong support team on her side, which led to an amazing vaginal twin birth experience in the hospital operating room.    birthasweknowitpodcast.com/10   Disclai...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, Rita shares her personal experience with a hospital birth that didn’t go as she had anticipated. She goes into detail about being pregnant while living in a different state from her family, what it was like to birth at a hospital that was far away from her home, and how she felt her support during labor could have been better.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com...

Send Kiona a Text Message! Siena is a birth and postpartum doula who has been practicing in the birth field for 6+ years and is the owner of Conscious Nurturer. In this episode, Siena dives into some complications she had in her first pregnancy that led to her needing a C-section and how she followed that experience with a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC), and a home birth after a cesarean (H...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, I am honored to share the 6 birth stories from my good friend, chosen sister, and midwife Mercedes. Mercedes speaks of her personal experience with stillbirth, hospital transfers, birth center births, and home births. She also touches on the differences she felt while under the care of a midwife versus the providers in the hospital.  birthasweknowitpodca...

Send Kiona a Text Message! Kristin has been working as a birth doula for 6 years and has attended over 155 births. In this episode, Kristin dives into detail about her personal journey of how she chose to be a single mother with Intrauterine Insemination, how the pregnancy wasn't as she expected it to be, and how her birth felt empowering.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/6   Disclaimer: This podc...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, Blaine talks about her experiences with hospital birth, unassisted/free birth, and home birth. We dive into how being a family of color impacted how she was treated while giving birth in a hospital setting and discuss how tricky delivering a placenta can sometimes be.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/5  Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational pur...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing my oldest and 9-year-old daughter Kavina about her being present at her sibling's births. She was an active part of the team during both of the births. Once at just 4 years old and once and 8 years old. She mentions the good, the bad, and the ugly!  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/4 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended fo...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this episode, I talk about how my third pregnancy and birth truly took me by surprise. I dive into my birth experience at a private birth center with an amazing birth support team and how it differed from my previous birth experiences. The universe really showed me how unique each pregnancy and birth can truly be. birthasweknowitpodcast.com/3  Disclaimer: This podcast...

Send Kiona a Text Message! Home birth can be amazing but sometimes there are challenges as well. In this episode, I talk about how I ended up working with my desired birth support team. I also dive deep into my birth experience with Kairo and how my perfect home birth did not end as expected.  birthasweknowitpodcast.com/2  Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only with no...

Send Kiona a Text Message! As the very first episode of this podcast, I thought it would only make sense to start out with my own personal birth experience. In this episode, I discuss the ins and outs of what my very first pregnancy and birth were like for me at just 19 years old. I go in-depth about my support system of family and friends and I talk about one of the scariest moments I experienced...

Send Kiona a Text Message! In this introduction episode, you will learn that the Birth As We Know It™️ podcast is different than all other birth story podcasts. That is because I focus on collecting birth stories and experiences that take us on a journey through the lens of the storyteller. I have gathered stories and experiences from birthing people, partners, providers, and more. I would love fo...