Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the truth behind epidurals and labor anesthesia in our enlightening conversation with Dr. Bella Speight, a board certified anesthesiologist.  What are the actual risks? Dr. Speight debunks these myths and lays it all bare, offering a reassuring perspective on the minimal risks involved for healthy patients and the importance of correct positioning during the procedure. She...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to an insightful conversation I had with Megan McCutchen, a therapist who dedicates her career to perinatal mental health. We navigate the murky waters of intrusive thoughts, a common yet unsettling phenomenon among women during pregnancy and after birth. These fleeting thoughts, ranging from harmless fears to catastrophic scenarios, often serve as indicators of postpartum...

Send us Fan Mail Unpack the mysteries of postpartum mental health with our special guest, therapist Jennifer Byrnes, LPC, PMH-C. Jennifer, an expert in perinatal mental health and trauma, offers clear-cut explanations on the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression – two conditions often misunderstood by many. She helps demystify these conditions, underlining their differences in ti...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we invite you to join an enlightening discourse with our esteemed guest, Dr. Stephanie Waggel. We discuss the groundbreaking science behind the new medications approved to treat postpartum depression, which are sparking new hope for postpartum depression patients. Dr. Waggel adeptly unravels the science behind these drugs, making complex medical terms digestible and fascina...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered about the riveting journey a woman embarks on when entering motherhood? What if you had the chance to hear honest, raw stories from a mother who's experienced it all? Join me as I sit down with Jenna Hodge, a mother to three precious miracles, to hear her tale, filled with unexpected twists and turns, about her childbirth journeys and postpartum experie...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine facing your dream of becoming a mother, only to be met with fertility issues, an arduous 80-hour induction, and a subsequent C-section without adequate anesthesia—this was the reality for Mary Buffington, MSN, RN, my guest for this episode. As a nurse, presenter, advocate, and coach, Mary has used her personal experiences to promote change, specifically in the realm of tra...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Waggel, a perinatal mental health psychiatrist and mother of two, vividly recounts her unique experiences in conceiving, childbirth, and parenting. In this personal narrative, Dr. Waggel unveils her journey of planning her first pregnancy amidst kidney cancer follow-up tests. She shares how she made informed choices about her doctor, pediatrician, an...

Send us Fan Mail Join me for an enlightening journey through the adventures of motherhood with my exceptional guests. Discover why Jennifer Byrnes champions early mental health support, learn to stop and smell the roses of maternity with Michelle Powers, embrace your ability to face challenges with Jennie Weill, and hear Emily Finnell's call to trust yourself and not rely too heavily on outsi...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how you would handle a deeply desired pregnancy with fetal anomalies deemed incompatible with life? In Sabrina's case, the stakes were as high as life and death, not just for her baby, but potentially for her, too, if she continued the pregnancy. I invite you to journey through the heartrending story of Sabrina Fletcher, a mother of three and a TFMR (te...

Send us Fan Mail What if I told you that yoga could not only help you manage the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy, but also transform your labor experience and enhance postpartum recovery? Our guest, Devin Garcia, a seasoned yoga and flexibility instructor and a resilient mother, is here to unravel the transformative power of yoga during the maternal journey. She shares her own exper...

Send us Fan Mail Want to kickstart your fertility journey with the right nutrition? This episode, featuring fertility nutritionist Evelyn Kennedy, promises to be a goldmine of valuable insights. We delve right in by discussing how your diet directly impacts fertility. Evelyn emphasizes the need to take charge of your meals, minimize dining out, and tailor nutrition to your unique needs, helping yo...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine facing the challenges of PCOS, navigating complex fertility treatments, and ultimately experiencing the joy of becoming a mother. That's the journey that my guest, Michelle Powers, a certified nurse midwife and mother of two, takes us on. From her experiences with intrauterine insemination and IVF, to her heartwarming and hilarious story of welcoming her sons into the...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine standing on the precipice of one of life's greatest adventures, only to find the path far more treacherous than you'd ever anticipated. That's the reality for our guest, Erika Fox, a dedicated OR nurse in a fertility center and one-time labor and delivery nurse. Erika’s  journey through the maze of fertility treatments is a testament to the resilience and st...

Send us Fan Mail What if you had to make an unimaginably difficult decision about your unborn child's future? In a heartfelt conversation, we're joined by the incredibly brave Rachel Redmond as she shares her emotional journey of terminating a wanted pregnancy due to a rare fetal anomaly called Dandy Walker Malformation. Through Rachel's story, we aim to bring awareness, understandi...

Send us Fan Mail What if your personal journey through pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancies, and a home birth could empower others facing similar struggles? That's exactly what Arya Pretlow, a certified nurse, midwife, lactation consultant, yoga therapist, and soon-to-be doctor-of-nursing practice, shares with us in this enlightening episode. We delve into Arya's rollercoaster experiences...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could have a more positive and empowered childbirth experience with the help of a doula? Join me as I sit down with Micah Burgess, a mother of six, doula, and host of the My Doula Micah podcast. Together, we uncover the vital role of teamwork in the delivery room and how a doula can create a comforting atmosphere for mothers during labor and delivery. Our insightful co...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mila Little, a mother of four and former teacher who now works from home in the health and wellness industry. Mila's journey to motherhood has been marked by both joy and heartache, including a traumatic hospital birth, two beautiful hospital births, a pregnancy loss, and a home birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mila begin...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Waggel is a mother, physician, author, motivational speaker, teacher, cancer survivor, marathon runner, and founder of Improve Medical Culture. She has a degree in psychology, biology and medicine and has over 17 years of experience working in the mental health field.   Dr. Waggel completed a four-year undergraduate degree in only three years, receiving the highest distinction...

Send us Fan Mail Chelsea Atkinson is the mother of 3 and an esthetician at Aesthetic Artistry Laser Center. In this episode she shared her birth journeys and challenges. Chelsea’s 3 pregnancies have each been very different, and she has navigated multiple medical complications of pregnancy, and challenges with breastfeeding, all while managing her personal journey with depression and anxiety.  In...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss medications that help ease the discomfort - both physical and emotional, that women are already overwhelmed with when confronted with the difficult choices of considering ending a pregnancy. We focus on two drugs: mifepristone (RU-486) and misoprostol (cytotec). My guest, Dr. Shweta Patel, an OB/GYN, and reproductive health expert, shares her insights o...

Send us Fan Mail Erika is the mother of one, she Is on the advisory board for BRAWS and is a champion for reproductive freedom Erika works as an intake officer in juvenile court, and she was recently a candidate for state senate in Virginia.  In this episode she shares her birth story and fertility journey. If you want to learn more about BRAWS visit the website: https://www.braws.org Support the...

Send us Fan Mail Pearls of wisdom is a series of The Birth Journeys Podcast, where I highlight some of the most profound thoughts that each mother has shared with me. It is so powerful for birthing people to hear from others who have been through the metamorphosis of motherhood. And it is so important for women to have a voice in this process.  In this episode, mothers reflect on postpartum suppor...

Send us Fan Mail Sacha is the mother of 2 and a former labor and delivery nurse. Now she is working in public health policy. Sacha had two inductions: one with and epidural and one without. In this episode she shares her birth stories with us as well as her insight as a former L&D nurse.  Support the show Connect with Kelly Hof, BSN, RNC-EFM 🌿 Get my FREE Birth Plan Workshop! → https://kellyh...

Send us Fan Mail Jennie Weill, BSN, RNC-OB is a mother and a labor and delivery nurse. In this episode she shares her birth story. She talks about her postpartum experience, including how she planned for the emotional responses to pregnancy and postpartum. Support the show Connect with Kelly Hof, BSN, RNC-EFM 🌿 Get my FREE Birth Plan Workshop! → https://kellyhof.com 🌿 Join the Ready for Birth &a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Megan MacCutcheon, LPC discusses Intrusive Thoughts, which are a manifestation of OCD and anxiety, that is very common in pregnancy and postpartum. Megan is a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health. She also offers a Birth Bundle for pregnant moms, coaching for new moms, and a course called Empowered Motherhood. Megan is the mother of three and she share...