Birthkeeper Banter: Recent Episodes
HERBAL Birthkeeping
A podcast channel made for birth junkies, discussing birth attending, tips, politics and amazing stories. We are friendly to ALL birth settings and stories, including our personal favorite, freebirth. Join us if you love and believe in BIRTH!
On this episode Desirae speaks with Clare, an Australia natural health practitioner, who struggled with infertility and went on to choose IVF. At the age of 43.5 she carried out an IVF pregnancy and chose to birth at home, a birth that ultimately ended up being unassisted! Listen to hear how that came to be. Clare shares about her journey and advocates for other women who desire to choose home as “an older mother”, as well as those who take the IVF route. She wants the world to know that they have options and that they are capable! Her determination and remarkable path to motherhood offers a powerful message that would be great for all women to listen to! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Desirae and Savannah Brigman talk about their personal experiences in attending while they were pregnant and fresh postpartum. What issues they ran into, what joys came along with it, as well as what they wouldn’t recommend or do again. If you are considering attending while pregnant or postpartum, give this podcast a listen. While it comes with its pros and cons, attending others while in the childbearing years yourself is possible and can be enjoyable! Listen to hear more! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Desirae & Taylor hop on to share updates since the summer, as we have not had a podcast episode in a bit! We hope to share more soon, but as a summary, we are well and thriving. We hope you are all are doing amazing, too! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Desirae & Taylor share their thoughts on a variety of common judgements and understandings others hold, and those they may have held as well, and how their views on it have shifted from the beginning to now. Some have stayed the same despite many many births, and some have taken great shifts. It’s all about perspective and giving each other grace and trying to see from the other persons side, isn’t it? A humble and insightful listen for all, we hope!
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Desirae and Taylor discuss how fear-based midwifery trainings are essentially just continuing trauma for women and bringing a watered down obstetrical model into women’s homes. If you feel lead to attend a specific training out of straight up fear, their marketing is working! Listen in for an alternative to the scared hype.
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Desirae and Taylor have a conversation on attending the clients that no one else wants, aka the rejects of the regulated provider world. We talk about why they are rejected by licensed midwives and OBs, and why we simultaneously feel way comfortable, even motivated to take these women. Such a great listen for those that feel pulled to the “rejects” themselves. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Desirae and Taylor hop on this one to discuss the illusion of the necessity of many transfers, whether it was recommended by a provider because of their own limitations or if it was initiated out of a lack of knowledge on part of the expecting family planning a freebirth. We find the freebirth community is just not the same as it was when we were first exploring freebirth and it is hard to even be in the freebirth support groups these days because of it! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Audrey is such a joy to talk to!! Growing up with a mother who was a traditional midwife, homebirth was normalized to her. She talks about what that was like for her as a child having a mother that lived the on-call life. One day Audrey got to attend a birth with her mother and since that day she has had the “birth bug” as she endearingly calls it and supports women herself now as a doula in South Dakota with a heavy focus on postpartum support and placenta services. She did go on to have home births herself and talks about her different experiences between her mother attending her, going unassisted and finding another midwife that she really clicked with. We dive a little into a discussion on Hyperemesis Gravidarum, and attending with our own babies, as well! I seriously loved this episode and could have talked her head off for hours. You can find Audrey on Facebook at Blessings Birth Services, based in Stockholm, South Dakota. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Desirae and Taylor go over the perks of choosing HERBAL courses & programs, in general and in comparison to other similar programs! We love what we have birthed together and we are consistently proud of it. We get reminded all of the time how awesome it is and after a beautiful testimonial was provided to us in a call the other night, we decided we needed to share about all the wonderful things that is HERBAL. We would love your thoughts as well! We hope you join us in making the HERBAL experience the greatest of all time. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Mandy Fae returns to our podcast to share her freebirth story!! Her second baby conceived with her husband post-vasectomy, and she made it the most intentional and sacred birth experience! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Desirae follows up from our previous podcast back in May 2022 on various topics pertaining to the Amish. She shares on how she first connected with the Amish, fun facts about their lifestyle, how their care often differs from our population, how the Mennonite differ from the Amish, various stories of her experiences with the plain community, and much more! If you are fascinated with the Amish and Mennonite culture and would like to hear more about them, give this podcast a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Christina has such a cool background! She learned about unassisted birth because her own mother had unassisted births, and her mom even wrote a book after her experiences! Due to freebirth being her normal, of course she went on to have an awesome uncomplicated first time freebirth. She is now planning another one with more advice based on what she previously felt under-prepared for the first time! We always think it’s so powerful when first time moms say “yes” to home birth the first go round! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Mary comes on to share her four birth stories. Her first was a hospital birth with “all the works.” The next was a planned freebirth, that due to lack of support and fear, lead to a transfer and hospital staff bullying. She went on to have two different freebirth experiences, and stayed home, how healing!! Mary really elaborates on important details and we love her personality. Such a good listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Sammi started her motherhood journey with an emergency cesarean and NICU stay after a failed Biophysical Profile, which left her with a lot of trauma and a desire to heal. She did go on to have a powerful HBAC with a midwife! She talks about her postpartum transfer and different kinds of complications and healing she had to go through, but ultimately felt a lot of heart relief from that birth. She ends the call with stating that she would definitely have a home birth again and hopes her story helps other VBAC moms considering home birth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Kelly is seriously BADASS! She walks us through the diagnosis of a fatal condition with her first baby, how she was treated through the experience, finding out the doctors were actually wrong, and a physically & mentally traumatic birth. Her first steps into motherhood were certainly far less than acceptable and empowering. Kelly goes on to have a natural birth, three at-home losses, and then two more unassisted births that were oh so wonderful in different ways. It doesn’t end there, though! She brings us knowledge on her babies that had galactosemia, navigating pregnancy & birth with a blood disorder, and healing from trauma with her powerful modality of therapy! Every single person can benefit from simply listening to this episode. Kelly is such a light! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Being held in Austin, Texas March 11th and 12th, you will find many birth lovers, educators and professionals at the Sacred Birth Symposium. This event is unique because it incorporates all birth options - including unassisted, which is so near and dear to all of our hearts. Nelson & Allison have a wonderful first time mother home birth story, and they want to share the joy of home birth with their community! Fairly priced, kid-friendly venue, and the speaker lineup is amazing, you definitely want to check this event out. It is such a joy to hear such birth passion from a home birth father especially! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Desirae and Taylor have a raw conversation about the challenges of attending as a birth worker in the childbearing years. Whether it be an impact on you, others, or your loved ones, attending while you have little people at home DOES come with its own hardships that is exclusive to those of us in the Motherhood era of our lives. After visiting the hardships, however, we talk about the beautiful parts of attending in the midst of the childbearing and motherhood years. We would so love your thoughts on this one! What resonates? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Nae has so many creative perspectives to offer! Firstly starting out with her wonderful same sex relationship, she walks us through their intentional pregnancies, conception journey and their initial plans with their births! Both ladies experienced a transfer in their first birth experience and discusses how that looked, what went differently for each of them and how they feel about it. Nae goes on to conceive their third baby, and has a beautiful freebirth, supported by her wife, and recorded by her oldest son. This episode had us heavily emotionally invested! See our Facebook page for the video clips! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
In a powerful and insightful testimony, Brittany shared her stories, ranging from a medicated hospital birth with an OB all the way to a completely unassisted birth! We navigate conversations here on birth trauma, what it’s like to experience all levels of different providers, positive hospital birth, compromising with your spouse, the differences in postpartums after different birth experiences, and even what it was like to be a flight attendant during pregnancy! There is a spot everyone can relate to on this podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Have you ever heard someone say, or maybe even said yourself, “I had to have X intervention done because…” This may have been due to misleading care solutions, and ignorance on your care providers part to give you true informed consent. This happens to so many women and it creates chaos and trauma in their lives. Let’s start being accountable as midwives especially, and stop misleading people, intentionally or unintentionally! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
Alina had 3 wonderful pregnancy and birth experiences, starting her motherhood journey out with a water birth with a licensed midwife for her first. All was well and fine, but ultimately there was so much more power to come for Alina. She found it, birth by birth, as she experienced an accidental unassisted, then went on to have an intentional, surprise baby girl at home after a wild pregnancy and unassisted birth. Alina also shares her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, and Reiki Master and some different tools and suggestions for those interested in enhancing their mindset, and prepping their mind, body and spirit for birth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
On this episode, Desirae & Taylor discuss what it means to be dedicated and have initiative as a traditional birth attendant. These are just two of the most important qualities a good birth worker must hold to adequately serve the families they work with. For more discussion and training on how to be a badass traditional birth worker, check out our Traditional Midwifery Cohort at herbal.teachable.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 very own podcast as well! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 regulations are, you come to find that they truly are not allowed to experience variations of normal or witness them play out at home. Many emergencies, complications, and variations of normal that traditional midwives handle at home, they aren’t legally allowed to in most states due to legislation and regulations. They aren’t able to experience much, frankly. Nor are they usually trained on the many variations traditional midwives witness and experience at the foot of birth. It begs us to ask the question, how experienced are regulated midwives, actually? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 serve our community. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 times, but also the partners and children; the children being far more connected to the spirit realm, holding better connection intuitively. The taboo and sometimes uncomfortable topic of loss/death and how intuition might play into that is also discussed. This podcast is a deep and passionate one between two colleagues who are big on utilizing intuition, as birthing women and birth attendants themselves! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 space, pregnancy and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 hospital - they are still serving the system that limits them and the families they’d serve. Traditional midwifery is not “home birth midwifery” or “out of hospital midwifery”. It is a sacred art and skill set that is passed down from generation to generation, not a skill granted to one who passes a test from the state. Give this podcast a listen to hear more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 people are highlighted in her stories and we so appreciate them!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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 to so many complications in itself. This is a short one but brings up some important points! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/herbal-birthkeeping/message
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!
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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 midwives, and then a surprise baby girl for her healing freebirth! You can gain so much insight, wisdom and good energy just from listening to this one.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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. They go on to discuss what it is like being the partner of a Midwife. Brad shares on the challenges he’s experienced as the partner of someone who lives a life on-call, discussing how Desirae’s journey to Midwifery had left him to question their relationship entirely and why. Both share on how being a birth attendant impacts not only the attendant, but the partner of, as well as the children in the home as a domino effect. Brad offers helpful suggestions to the partners of birth workers as well as to the partners of women who desire to birth at home that might be hesitant. This podcast is a raw and deep conversation that sheds light on what life is like for Brad, as a father who witnessed 3 freebirths after 2 hospital births, and what it’s like for him sharing his life with a Midwife. You’ll hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly in this unfiltered podcast!
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 take notes! Badass trainings from HERBAL also coming to you soon, online and in person! Stay tuned!
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 had it occurred in a facility would have played out differently. She reminds us that we do not need to birth our first baby in a captive facility to prove that a woman can birth at home. You do not need to endure chaos and lack of autonomy before being able to experience the freedom and empowerment offered in home birth. Her midwife mentioned whom attended and supported her birth experiences was the late Rebekah Knapp, whom will always be honored and appreciated for what she offered women and their families during her time here on earth. A wonderful and encouraging listen for all woman who might be considering home, regardless of what number birth it might be for them!
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 work is not like a customer service situation; you can’t pay someone to guarantee a home birth. This podcast reminds everyone that it is important to value who you hire, their on-call time, and dedication and not hold unrealistic expectations of them. For the birth attendants: you’ll hear about how to avoid these types of situations and how to navigate them should they arise.
Amanda joins us to speak on her journey to motherhood. She was unable to conceive for years, then at age 37 conceived her first baby. She speaks about her hospital birth experience and what she did not enjoy about the care. She went on to conceive 3 more times and had each of them at home, 2 being unassisted. She speaks on the myths of the “geriatric” label and reminds women that if they can grow the baby, they should feel confident to birth them! She also shares about the trauma healing services she offers clients. A great listen all around!
Anna joins us on Birthkeeper Banter to share with us her journey in motherhood and child birth. She chose a freebirth for her first baby before knowing that it was a “thing”. She successfully and confidently freebirthed her first baby at home then went on to have another freebirth with her second. She shares about how different the two experiences were. She also reminds us of why it’s important that we not compare one labor to another when it’s happening, because no two labors are 100% alike! Her story is powerful, you won’t regret listening!
Desirae shares on many aspects of pregnancy and birth that are impacted by the mind. In conception, pregnancy, and birth our mind plays a larger role than that of the physical. Desirae encourages women to address their headspace prior to labor; fears, doubts, or trauma and everything in between. She reminds us that if a baby is not coming down, or is sitting at the perineum and won’t budge, to think beyond the physical. More often than not, complications originate from the mind. We should be wary of our thoughts as they hold the power to manifest outcome. A short informational listen that previews one of the many topics that will be discussed in great detail in the upcoming Traditional Midwifery Cohort with HERBAL Training!
Autumn, an Ohio traditional midwife and IBCLC, joins us to share a bit on her birthing experiences. She experienced a home birth with her first baby, then 3 hospital births to follow - which isn’t often the case! Listen to this short podcast to learn why. Autumn shares on the importance of traditional birth attending, autonomy, and how this generation is normalizing and offering traditional care more than the previous generation. You can tell that walking with women is her heart, we at Birthkeeper Banter can totally relate!
In the birth worker world, you cannot take just anyone! On this episode, we talk about WHY, what you can do about it, red flags, dropping clients, refunds and more. More to be found in the upcoming midwifery cohort by HERBAL!
Des and Taylor hop on to discuss the different comfort measures they have used, and seen in birth clients and what really worked! It’s important to know precautions with things that have been popularized for comfort, and you may learn something you have never heard of before! Great for a quick and light listen!
Angie joins us to share in great detail about her 4 birth experiences from hospital births to freebirth and a midwife assisted birth in between. She explains her journey and progression to feel confident to freebirth. She shares on the support of her partner, that the gender of baby isn’t of great importance in pregnancy, and how liberating her freebirth was, despite it being one of her more challenging births. This podcast is shared in great detail from the heart. I wonderful listen for all women!
Diving head first into the very hot topic of Roe V Wade and abortion rights/laws, Des and Taylor discuss how they both used to be very “pro-birth”, what their perspectives once were versus what they are now, things that people don’t consider, how this impacts so many including loss moms, and what options people have. Listen with an open heart and mind!
Morgan, The Holistic Doula, joins us to share about her hospital birth experience that led her to birth work. She shares on her journey with sitting at birth and why she only attends unassisted/freebirths. She also offers suggestions for other birth workers who are considering attending freebirths in a state where midwifery is highly regulated. I short but lovely and informative podcast!
Ashley and Sydney are friends that had their babies on the same day - how cool?! These ladies discuss how they connected as friends and kindled a friendship while living states apart. They each share with us about their own previous birth stories, what led them to choose freebirth, and about their freebirth experiences from start to finish. Listen to hear how they were able to support one another despite being many miles apart. They have such a cool story to share with the world!
Mallory joins us to share about her first birth in a hospital and how she went on to have a wild pregnancy and freebirth. For her second pregnancy she decided not to tell others until baby was born; she shares on what that was like and why she chose not to share. We discuss tears and management of, as well as sex postpartum and why one might be desiring to have sex within a week postpartum. Mallory offers great advice for those who may choose to have a home birth; everything from how mindset impacts outcome, the energy in the birth space, how you prepare mentally, and why you should screen a midwife if you’d desire to have one. A great podcast full of helpful topics with a great story to boot!
Savannah shares with us her journey through three birth experiences; a hospital induction, a birth center birth, and a precipitous freebirth. She shares how her personal experiences had led her into birth work herself. She explains how she mentally manifested and prepared for the birth of her dreams and let’s listeners know that they can do the same! She shares insight and suggestions for those who may choose to birth at home, emphasizing that YES you too can do it if you desire!
Desirae speaks about common fears, insecurities, and doubts held by many birth workers and how to work through those, as well as many of her own experiences. She shares the keys to getting started and being successful, without getting in your own way. Imposter syndrome is also a common occurrence with new birth workers, Desirae shares on how to work through that and continue on. An inspiring and motivational podcast for all birth workers, but especially those who are newer, just starting out, or are wanting to gather confidence and get their name out there!
Ashley shares her 4 birthing experiences; 1 hospital birth where she felt robbed of her experience, followed by 3 home births with different midwives each time. She shares what she liked and did not like in each experience, her experiences with Pitocin, going beyond 42 weeks gestation, and offers advice for other women choosing home birth. Ashley shares that if there would be a "next birth" it would be a freebirth or with an unregulated attendant. A great podcast for any home-birthing woman!
This is a very heavy and deep podcast on a taboo topic that isn’t often enough discussed. Desirae speaks about stillbirth and her views surrounding, as well as insight for all birth workers who sit at birth. At the end of the day, if we choose to sit at birth, we are there for whatever may unfold. Rarely, but sometimes, that unfolding is a baby born sleeping. Desirae shares on how souls view this experience and how attendants should treat one another in such situations, as well as what she’s seen in her time attending. A deeply impacting listen for all birth attendants!
In the birth world, radical birth attendants are seen as unprofessional. If you ask Des and Taylor how they feel about that, it’s a big THANK YOU these days, but it didn’t always feel that way. Desirae and Taylor discuss professionalism in birth work and why it sucks big fat episiotomy scissors bad, what licensure means to us, when birth work has been hard, when we have almost given up, and how we got through the hard part, anyways. This episode is here to bunch some panties, buckle up!
Desirae brings us a short special expressing her views on how walking with families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum have gently shifted her along the way in her birth work journey. She shares on how she has changed over time as a result of the experiences she’s encountered over the years; further relaying that birth work is one of the most transformative journeys one could embark on. A great, insightful episode for all birth workers!
Steph brings us a detailed account of her journey with her wife Stephanie (yes they have the same name!) through getting pregnant, choosing birth center care, postpartum, legalities, and motherhood as a same-sex family! Happy Pride, y’all!
Surrogacy has become very normalized in our society… but should it be? Desirae and Taylor discuss the hidden truths and traumas of surrogacy that is covered up by fertility physicians, surrogacy agencies, and even parents and surrogates themselves. This one is gonna stir up some emotions, we want to hear your opinions on this controversial subject!
Did you know that Desirae serves the Amish birth community?! In this episode we knock out common misconceptions of the Amish and explore the ins and outs of how they live, and how that plays into pregnancy, birth, postpartum and more. We can all learn so much from how the Amish view everything and apply it to our lifestyle and choices.
Anyone who has spent a good amount of time in the birth work community, you know that there is cattiness and politics that come with it. This episode comes as a suggested call to action to birth workers everywhere, do better for your community, only do to others what you would want done to you, and let’s revolutionize how we TREAT each other as birth workers with different things to offer. Come to this episode with an open mind and willingness to change.
Heather brings us a humorous and enlightening story of her VBAC Freebirth (aka FBAC). Heather, a VBAC, a prior breech mom, advanced maternal age, and in a community unsupportive of freebirth, finds herself in a position of having to channel her patience, intuition and trusted friends to make it through a 26 hour placenta birth. If you’ve ever been told the placenta has to come out within 30-60 minutes, definitely give this one a listen!
Des and Taylor launch the new season of Birthkeeper Banter with an extremely informative episode, you know how we do. Touching on the quick need to knows of emergencies, variations, important prep for planning a freebirth or unassisted birth, and sharing tidbits of knowledge from both of our freebirth experiences. Any level of experienced birthing mama can learn something and appreciate something from this episode! We welcome you back, ya big birth junkies 😘
Desirae and Taylor discuss the hot topic of freebirth definitions, what is and isn’t assistance, what makes a Freebirth free, and all the hypothetical questions that come with that! We would love your feedback on what Freebirth means to you.
Khristie shares her intimate details of all her births, starting with becoming a teen mom, all the way to her healing freebirth. She expresses great tips, information and feelings all throughout! Such a good, long listen.
Colleen has experienced two (and possibly soon to be three) breech births! Her first resulted in a cesarean, then the next baby she pursued a breech home birth, attended by a midwife that serves the Amish community! Colleen brings wonderful insight on WHY some babies are breech, why ECVs can be harmful and her own wonderful, healing experience! Great listen for those facing a breech presenting baby!
Naomi, mother of 6, bravely shares her battle with addiction, finding MAT, and the vast differences between her hospital experience versus her freebirth. One of the best parts of the journey was that her husband is a doctor and so beautifully supports her, as she found her way to healing. Add in a cool tidbit at the end about her postpartum doula support that she has had this time, and this episode is just a mix of so much knowledge and fun energy!
Tune into this episode to learn about the amazing benefits of prenatal massage from a licensed massage therapist and body worker! Who knew that massage could offer so much beyond relaxation?! Mandy goes over a broad range of services in depth, explaining everything from fertility, to infant massage, other modalities incorporated into massage such as energy work and aromatherapy and more. This is an episode you don’t want to miss if you are a birth worker or expectant mama!
CPS/DCF is a huge concern in the natural community when a family needs to take their little ones to be seen by medical providers, or are reported by a toxic individual in their life. Taylor discusses her story and experience with CPS and offers advice from the heart from not only her journey, but others she has supported through CPS cases. This is not legal advice, please consult an attorney if you need legal advice.
Lindsey starts off this episode with talking about becoming a mother to twins at the young age of 18! Coerced into a cesarean and not knowing better, she did exactly as the doctors suggested. She later pursued an in-hospital VBAC which was empowering, but still didn’t feel fulfilled after that birth. Lindsey goes on to have a healing freebirth and as she says, “becoming one of those crazy freebirthers.” Throughout her journey, Lindsey experiences several cool variations of normal in her birth experiences that can be an amazing take away for someone else to learn from! We hope you enjoy hearing Lindsey’s stories.
On the episode, we dive into drug addiction, coming out of addiction by utilizing MAT medications, and how that impacts the pregnancy and birth experience. Jill shared with us her cesarean birth, in-hospital VBAC, and her freebirth stories. She hopes to share with others that birthing safely while on MAT is possible and nothing to be ashamed of!
Desirae and Taylor discuss the various challenges in being a birth attendant that might not align with the mainstream ways. They talk about handling harassment and slander, navigating having limited resources, the struggles with networking, deciding whether or not to carry medicine, and discussing the misunderstanding that birthkeepers aren’t “cheap midwives”.
Linaia comes to tell us, full of radiant energy, her oh so healing unassisted breech birth story, occurring just 3 weeks prior to the making of this podcast.
And as a bonus; her husband even jumped on to share his thoughts on the birth experience!
With her sister-in-law present as a doula, a birth photographer, friends, and her husband by her side, she powerfully brings her sweet boy into the world, frank breech.
But wait there is more, Linaia shares with us that she is also considered advanced maternal age, and shares with listeners to not be afraid of the infamous “old placenta” myths.
After a shoulder dystocia experience in the hospital for her first, and being given the runaround in her second pregnancy by providers, Sam finally connected with a home birth midwife as she entered early term! Then, to her and her husbands surprise, she ended up birthing unassisted and had such a healing and empowering experience, that she sweetly recalls in this episode, noting that this birth saved her life and was exactly what she needed. Join us for a loving episode that starts with trauma and ends with nothing but bliss.
Marie comes to share with us her attempted home birth that led to a transfer, which resulted in a shoulder dystocia caused by the providers, and how they handled that was quite traumatic. The next baby she took back her power and had the freebirth she originally desired. She also discusses with us some tips on lotus birthing with her placenta! We hope you enjoy this healing episode as part of our Dystocia Series.
Welcome to the second episode of our shoulder dystocia series! In this episode, we explore the details of a teen mom choosing to birth at home with a midwife, for her first baby! Jess discusses her reasoning, her fast labor, her daughters shoulder dystocia, and her home birth after that experience. She truly offers some excellent tips to first time families and anyone who may be concerned about their baby getting stuck.
Listen in as the vivid story is told of Jackie’s home birth after two cesareans. We are blessed in this episode to experience both the mother and birth attendants perspective of the Dystocia event, what they both felt, saw and would recommend to others to know. Get ready for serious goosebumps and tears because the energy, love and emotions in this episode are sky high.
Sarah joins us on this episode of Birthkeeper Banter to share her pill combination abortion experience. We discuss her rationale behind choosing abortion, what her state laws are, what the initial appointment was like, how she felt physically and emotionally, and what she would like other mothers and birth workers to know. Take a listen with an open mind and heart as this is such a fragile subject.
We feature, on this episode of Birthkeeper Banter, our amazing HERBAL student & Indiana Birthkeeper, Bryce. We find it incredibly important to discuss her breech cesarean because it brings up multiple important subjects such as midwifery limitations, lack of provider training on breech, missing support for FTMs, especially those that get transferred out of midwifery care, and more. Bryce, Desirae and Taylor want others to know that a cesarean is NOT your only option for breech and we process those emotions and realities of that here in this heartfelt episode.
An essential episode that touches on current events related to COVID19. Dive deep with us into how restrictions, policies, and vaccine developments have impacted fertility, pregnancy, birth and children, all in one year!!
A 4/20 chat on cannabis use while trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding. Let’s get controversial and discuss this medicinal plant, myths, studies and more surrounding it, as it pertains to many in this season of motherhood.
A MUST listen for all first time expectant mothers! Mitchies confidence going into her freebirth, as a first time mom, is extremely empowering and what all mothers should feel and experience. Come enjoy her high-spirited energy with us!
Meet Sabrina, mom, breastmilk jewelry business owner & HERBAL Doula! She had an empowering Unassisted Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and wants to share with others that if she can do it, so can you!
Come listen to Desirae and Taylor chat about the inconsistency, myths, harms, and benefits of cervical/vaginal checks! Disclaimer: we were outside for this podcast, we apologize for the wind
Come chat with Taylor, Desirae and Valerie Clark as we discuss military wife life, infertility, rainbow babies and birth photography!
Come chat with Desirae and Taylor for a short introductory episode on who we are, why we do what we do, and what you can expect from this podcast. To view class options, our blog, and more, go to herbal.teachable.com :)