Birth Education Center Podcast

In today's show, Brenda and Brenden are here to tell their preterm natural birth story! Hypnobirthing is how we found each other but these two decided to have a baby before they got into class. These parents had so many layers to becoming parents and also had an intentional journey preparing both their bodies and souls for their son to join them. Lot of juicy bits to their story. As educators, we...

I am so excited to have Joleen in today's episode to share her birth story! Joleen took Hypnobirthing practice seriously and did the mental preparation for anything that could happen with her birth. Many times parents feel like the physical prep is the most important - it is NOT! Well rounded education and birth preparation begins with the mind. If your mind is not ready for the twists and turns o...

In today's episode I welcome Sandra! She and her husband shared a fertility journey with a lot of unique parts to it. I had never heard of two vasectomy reversals until now! But once they were on the road to parenthood, they quickly had Irish twins just 364 days apart!  Living in rural Julian, Sandra's biggest fear was being far from services and having a baby at home. I met Sandra via a phone cal...

Today we hear a Hypnobirthing couple's natural birth story. Erica and Brian birthed at a local hospital and went into their experience with a clear picture of who they were as a couple, and what values they wanted present in their daughter's birth story. But before we dive into that, we get to hear about their fertility journey and how Erica's intuition played a key role in knowing what was right...

Today in my Legacy Mentor Series, I get to welcome midwife Gerri Ryan. I met Gerri in the fall of 2008 when I took my first Doula training. That weekend switched my new life into high gear and thankfully, Gerri became a lifelong mentor and friend. I had no idea what was about to unfold. Gerri has been in birthwork since her own births pointed her towards it. She was a doula before being a doula wa...

Today I welcome back Nikki (from episode 70) to share what shifted after her fertility journey - like getting pregnant and having a baby! There is so much in this episode! While Nikki is sharing her birth story, she also shares the reality of what she faced postpartum. Nikki and her husband came into Hypnobirthing after she had switched doctors and started fresh with a new provider. Nikki describe...

In today's show, I got to talk with Trevor, getting his take on his son's birth story. As a dad watching from the sidelines, he opens up about all his feels and observations through their experience. He also praises his doula Kim who had just come off of one birth and then went straight into theirs. Before we get into the birth story, Trevor opens up about his fears and worries leading up to the b...

In today's show, Brittany, a postpartum doula is here to share her home birth story. Brittany came into classes with a lot of "after birth experience and knowledge" due to supporting so many women over the years. But she and her husband were newbies in the birth space. She hired a midwife and a doula and planned for all things homebirth. Brittany developed a deep sense of trust in her baby and her...

In this Mentor Legacy series episode, I am introducing you to Hypnobirthing educator and doula Jo Kilburn. Jo welcomed me in as a new educator. We later became President and Vice President of the San Diego Birth Network and loved serving our community together. Jo was one of my early education mentors, modeling non-competitive, hands-on, engaging education. She then went on to show me what "normal...

Today marks our 100th episode (and yes—technology tried to take us out), Ashley couldn't record with me, so I am reading her written intro for the episode. This show's topic is one that we need to begin speaking about and normalizing in our everyday vernacular. While you may want to shy away from this episode, I invite you to lean in and if it's uncomfortable, be curious as to why and see if you a...

I love when 2nd timer parents return to share yet another birth story! Andrea and Juan are back to share their little girls debut into the world and you get to hear the actual 911 call of her arrival! Andrea talks about staying grounded through pregnancy with simple routines like rereading, writing affirmations on the mirror ("your body knows what to do," "your baby knows how to be born"), and foc...

Today I sat down with Katarina from Chicago to share her twin birth story and what it taught her about mindset, advocacy, and letting go.  Her twin pregnancy was shaped after an early miscarriage made her became more analytical and anxious while trying to conceive. She then got pregnant again and found out she was carrying twins. As a naturopathic doctor, she prepared deeply—through classes, thera...

In this Legacy Mentor episode, I welcome midwife Jenny West, who was one of my first mentors as I came into teaching Hypnobirthing and practicing as a doula. Jenny adds so much good advice for student midwives and parents in this episode.  We talk about how different the midwifery model of care can look in home birth versus hospital settings, and why parents need to do their homework and practice...

Today I'm talking with Camila from Colombia (she took Hypnobirthing in 2022) and today she shares both of her birth stories—what it's like navigating a system with a high C-section rate and lots of "stay in bed" hospital rules, and how she still created empowering experiences.  We also touch on her fertility journey with Dr. Leah Gordon (coming off birth control, learning her cycle, and rebuilding...

This show has so many parts to it! Shanna and Eric were in my Hypnobirthing series and Eric was so amazed at their process when I picked up their placenta - he could not stop talking about how awesome his wife was! Shanna and I talk through her journey to becoming a mom- a few losses led her and her husband to a fertility clinic, genetic testing, and ultimately IVF. Important information for paren...

I'm excited for you to meet Niki, a doula in Houston I've known for about three years. Our work together has always centered on birth work as self work—creative, not competitive. Niki is an amazing person who doesn't give up even though it looks easier to throw in the towel. Niki shares her experience with a clique-ish professional scene that has made networking and consistent client flow difficul...

Today's show kicks off the Legacy Mentor Series with Roberta Frank, a trailblazing midwife whose impact on my life is indescribable. It is an honor getting to share many of my mentors who have passed on their love, time and advice over the years that I have been in birth work. I credit these people for helping to create the Birth Education Center and all that it has offered.  In this episode, we d...

In today's episode, we welcome the home birth story of John and Taylor. Taylor and John took Hypnobirthing at the center and John got the full exposure to what birth could actually look like. Taylor saw something about home birth in High School and the idea stuck! Her "crunchy lifestyle" choices shaped her birth plan and helped her find a midwife. John opens up about moving from skepticism to bein...

This is a special bonus episode wrapping up the season! I just wanted to express my immense gratitude for all your emails, heartfelt responses, and questions. Your journey toward better education, finding the best providers, and increased awareness in the realm of parenthood means the world to me and Ashley. This is a summary of what I have been going through this past year. Grief. So if you've wo...

Welcome back to part two with more education prep on things to think about for Postpartum. Today with Dr. Morgan, we're diving deep into a few things people miss when planning for postpartum life. We're covering the reality of hormone shifts, breastfeeding challenges, and mental health issues like baby blues and postpartum anxiety. She does not miss the importance of proper nutrition and rest and...

In this episode, I am having Dr. Morgan back to really share as much info as possible to get your research inspired and moving for all things Breastfeeding! I think what I have been seeing more and more over the years is a false sense of preparedness when it comes to breastfeeding preparedness. Parents are so focused on labor and delivery education that they skip breastfeeding due to time constrai...

Today on the podcast, we get to hear Kaitlyn's birth story. Kaitlyn, a doula and new mom, shares her emotional and practical experience of labor and delivery with us. Kaitlyn and her husband came through my Hypnobirthing series and proved that taking a class earlier than you think you should may be your intuition prompting you! She is also a masterful writer so this episode is a mixture of story a...

In this last episode of doula education, you get to meet Jessica, a new doula, as she reflects on what she learned from these parents while attending our hypnobirthing class series. Jessica and I discuss each of the five classes. I have loved seeing what each doula has noticed per class because it shows just how much our own lived experiences influence what we are most needing in birth education. ...

In this episode, we welcome Jamilah back for Part 4 of our Surrogacy series. This show is specifically for doulas but Jamilah also adds in some information for those of you who are considering becoming a surrogate!  Supporting a surrogate and the family they are working with has some nuances for sure. Jamilah wants you to feel very prepared from the first interview through the postpartum time. We...

We are back with another Doula education episode - although parents will also learn a lot with these perspectives! In this show, I get to chat with Shannon, a new doula who's bringing her unique perspective as a childless doula.  Shannon and I talk about each of the five classes, discussing everything from reframing fears to the beauty of comfort measures and the importance of following your intui...