The Homebirth Midwife Podcast

In this episode, Sarah and Charli discuss Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy, including prevention strategies, probiotic use, and treatment options for families planning a home birth or physiologic birth. They explain what GBS is, why screening matters, and how they support clients before and after a positive GBS test through individualized midwifery care. The conversation also explores herb...

In this episode, Sarah and Charli unpack the causes, risks, and screening options for gestational diabetes while addressing common fears and misconceptions surrounding the diagnosis. They explain why screening matters, discuss alternatives to the standard glucose test, and outline how gestational diabetes is managed in their practice. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize that a diagnosis is...

In this episode, Charli sits down with Hearth & Home Midwifery client Torie to discuss her remarkable journey through four very different home births. Torie shares how her experiences with midwifery care, freebirth, and witnessing a hospital birth shaped her evolving perspective on autonomy, intuition, and support in childbirth. Together, they explore how women can honor their inner knowing while...

On this episode of The Homebirth Midwife Podcast , Sarah McClure sits down with Jess and Will to unpack their family's remarkable path through stillbirth, healing, and the birth of their twins. Together, they reflect on the emotional realities of loss, the importance of supportive care, and what it looked like to pursue a physiologic birth in a hospital setting after tragedy. It's a tender and hop...

In this episode, Sarah and Charli break down the full scope of newborn care provided by homebirth midwives, addressing common misconceptions, especially those encountered during hospital transfers. They walk through immediate postpartum care, first-day assessments, and ongoing follow-up, highlighting how midwives offer comprehensive, evidence-based support in the home setting. The conversation emp...

This episode explores how partners can meaningfully support someone during a homebirth, beginning with prenatal preparation and continuing through labor. Sarah and Charli emphasize that education, emotional presence, and calmness are the most impactful contributions a partner can make. Practical support (such as managing logistics, communication, and the home environment) helps create space for th...

In this episode, Sarah and Charli explore the common and often frustrating experience of insomnia during pregnancy, offering both validation and practical support. They highlight how disrupted sleep is frequently linked to low blood sugar, encouraging nighttime nourishment and more consistent daytime eating. The conversation also covers key supplements like magnesium and iron, gentle herbal remedi...

In this episode, Sarah and Charli revisit Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy, offering updated, evidence-based guidance on screening and treatment. They explain what GBS is, why it matters for newborns, and how current protocols (like antibiotics in labor) significantly reduce risk while also introducing important tradeoffs. The conversation explores both standard U.S. practices and alternat...

In this episode, midwives Sarah and Charli answer listener questions about hospital transfer during planned home birth. They explain when and why transfers may occur during pregnancy, labor, or postpartum, and walk through what the process looks like from the midwife's perspective. The conversation highlights both common reasons for transfer (such as long labor or a client choosing additional supp...

In this heartfelt episode, Charli sits down with past client Regan to reflect on her three very different birth experiences, from a hospital transfer and forceps delivery to two powerful homebirths. Together they explore informed choice, the emotional impact of birth, and how individualized midwifery care can shape confidence and healing. Regan shares candid insights about navigating fear, reclaim...

In this episode, Sarah and Charli take a deep dive into postpartum hemorrhage, one of the most serious risks associated with childbirth worldwide. They explain what postpartum hemorrhage is, what causes it, and how homebirth midwives work proactively to prevent and manage it through clinical skill, relationship-based care, and hormonal support. The conversation highlights the powerful role of emot...

In the second part of her story, Joanna shares her vastly different second birth experience—one marked by calm, confidence, and healing. After a long, complicated first labor that ended in a hospital birth, Joanna enters this pregnancy with intention, preventative care, and trust in her body. Her spontaneous labor unfolds steadily and without complications, culminating in a peaceful homebirth surr...

In this episode, Joanna shares the story of her first pregnancy and birth, beginning with her intentional choice of homebirth midwifery care and continuing through a long, complex labor. After a home induction, intense pelvic pain, stalled labor, and rising blood pressure led to a hospital transfer, Joanna labored for many more hours while advocating fiercely for a vaginal birth. Her journey culmi...

In this episode of  The Homebirth Midwife Podcast , Sarah and Charli explore advanced maternal age care for pregnancies over 40, unpacking what the data actually says about risk while keeping the conversation grounded and compassionate. They explain the difference between absolute and relative risk, discuss maternal and neonatal considerations, and highlight the lack of a universal standard of car...

In this very special episode, Sarah interviews Olivia, a first-time mom who shares her warm, joyful, and honest story of choosing and experiencing a home birth. Olivia walks listeners through her decision to switch to midwifery care, her smooth but emotionally complex pregnancy, and her fast, powerful labor supported by loved ones. She describes the beautiful moment her son was born into his fathe...

In this heartfelt episode, Sarah interviews Kelly, a two-time Hearth and Home Midwifery client, who shares the stories of her two very different births. Kelly describes her long first labor that ultimately led to an empowered hospital transfer, where the skills and confidence she gained through midwifery care helped her advocate for herself and her baby. She then contrasts this with her fast, intu...

In this episode, midwife Sarah McClure welcomes back Melodie and Wes to share the story of their second home birth with Hearth and Home Midwifery. Melodie describes a calm yet powerful pregnancy and an incredibly fast two-and-a-half-hour labor that culminated in the birth of their son. The couple contrasts the warmth, relationship-based care of their midwives with the impersonal nature of traditio...

In this episode of The Homebirth Midwife Podcast , Sarah and Charli explore placenta previa , explaining what it is, how it's diagnosed, and how it can impact pregnancy and birth planning. They discuss risk factors, potential complications, and the reality that most cases resolve naturally. The hosts also challenge conventional restrictions often given to those with previa, encouraging individuali...

In this heartfelt episode of The Homebirth Midwife Podcast , Sarah McClure sits down with Ally, a two-time Hearth and Home client, to share her two very different birth stories. From an unexpected breech birth that led to a calm, supported hospital transfer to a peaceful, empowered home birth years later, Ally's story beautifully illustrates the range of experiences possible in midwifery care. Thr...

In this episode of The Homebirth Midwife Podcast, Sarah and Charli explore the topic of preterm labor, answering common questions about what it is, how to recognize it, and what the risk factors may be. They discuss the unique role midwifery care plays in prevention, offering personalized attention and holistic support that helps many clients avoid complications. The conversation also highlights t...

In this heartfelt episode of The Homebirth Midwife Podcast , midwife Sarah sits down with Colby, a Hearth and Home Midwifery graduate, to share the story of her second home birth. Colby reflects on the challenges of her first birth, including placenta retention and delayed breastfeeding support, and how those experiences shaped what she wanted for her next pregnancy. She describes the deeply perso...

In this episode of  The Homebirth Midwife Podcast , Sarah and Charli unpack the challenging but vital topic of obstetric violence. They explore how mistreatment during pregnancy and birth can take many forms—from subtle dismissiveness and coercive language to invasive procedures performed without consent—and why these experiences are so often minimized or normalized. Drawing on their years of midw...

The Homebirth Midwife Podcast is back! Sarah McClure and Charli Zarosinski share the story of Charli's third birth — a joyful and empowering home water birth of her daughter, Daphne. Charli reflects on her more relaxed mindset during pregnancy, the humorous and sweet moments of early labor, and the calm, celebratory environment created by her birth team. She describes moving through labor with str...

In today's episode of The Homebirth Midwife Podcast, Sarah and Charli answer listener questions about pushing during labor and practicing birth work while pregnant. The conversation begins with a deep exploration of various techniques for pushing during labor, focusing on whether to hold one's breath ("purple pushing") or to breathe through contractions. They go on to unpack their personal experie...

This podcast episode contains potentially triggering content related to sexual trauma, including discussions of abuse, assault, and recovery. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of The Homebirth Midwife Podcast, Sarah and Charli answer listener questions about home birth after cesarean (HBAC) and trauma-informed care in birth. They unpack the risks, safety considerations, and holistic...