The Gift of Giving Life: Recent Episodes
Sheridan
The Gift of Giving Life podcast offers – a spiritual look at pregnancy, birth and mothering, for women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other women of faith.
We will be sharing inspiring birth stories and thoughts from real women, scriptures, words of the prophets and other spiritual texts related to pregnancy and birth.
We do not advocate for any one type of birth or approach to prenatal care, rather we intends to unify our families and communities in regard to the sacredness of birth.
Kara shares a tender experience with her adopted daughter as a baby,
letting her know, there were more babies on their way.
How they came to join their family
is a beautiful story
I am happy to share today.
I loved sharing this experience of Shari and the adoption of her son.
I also love that she took this experience and created a children's book
to help adopted children better understand
their journey to their "forever family"
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
Here is a link to Once Upon a Baby book.
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/adoption-it-really-is-about-love-giveaway/
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Giving the gift of life is sometimes
a partnership between twomother hearts
—a birth mother yearning for a loving home for the child in her womb
and another mother eagerly awaiting the child she has “grown” within her heart.
I hope you enjoy Judith’s story of the adoption of her second son as much as I did.
I loved being able to interview Edward who searched for his adoptive mother when he was 68 years old.
The information that he found led him on a journey that was eye opening and led to a greater appreciation for mothers and birth.
The Gift Best Given is his memoir that he wrote after years of delving into discovering his birth mother’s experience.
Sadly he started his search a few years after she passed away.But with DNA testing, Google and many miracles leading the way, he was able to learn so much!
Please sit back and enjoy this inspirational interview that kicks off our adoption series.
We spend a lot of time preparing for our births
and many of us create a birth plan.
Here are 10 things to think of incorporating
into your Postpartum Plan!
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/postpartum-adjustment-plan/
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Robyn had successfully navigated trials before,
but after her 5th baby, she struggled with finding any joy.
She shares a game that helped her to climb out of the pit
and learn to better manage
"being in the trenches" of motherhood.
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/the-just-be-glad-game-and-my-postpartum-struggle/
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
Sign up for our Newsletter
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The Fourth Trimester concept is:
there is another three months of gestating
AFTER we give birth.
It often gets overlooked because we focus so much on the birth,
but the real test comes AFTER the baby arrives.
Here are 10 tips to help you survive!
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/the-fourth-trimester/
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Heather shares -
This Easter thoughts about “the womb” and “the tomb” have been on my mind.
I have been thinking a lot about the lesson I learned after Abraham’s birth. In his birth story I wrote:
I got in the shower to clean up. As I rubbed soap over my belly I couldn’t help but think how strange it was that just earlier that morning, in the same shower, I’d rubbed soap over a full, pregnant belly. Now it was empty. I thought to myself, “Wow, where did it all go!” and the then the phrase “He is not here” pierced my heart and I found myself remembering another part from our “The Gift of Giving Life” book.
Maranda Bower was a wonderful guest to interview for the podcast.
She is the CEO and founder of Postpartum University, supporting both mothers and professionals in health and whole body healing.
She’s a renowned expert in top educator in the fields of functional nutrition and coaching in relation to postpartum, and is nicknamed The Womb Whisperer, named as a bestselling author, international speaker, and has appeared in over 50 publications.
Her latest book is Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness, and it’s a number one bestseller now available on Amazon.
And she also has a podcast that I’ve enjoyed listening to.
She shares 3 specific things we can do to prepare for the 4th Trimester (postpartum) and make our transition to mothering easier.
- Create a Useful Support System
- Harness the Power of Nutrition
- Support your Nervous System Regulation
We also talk about different cultures and how they support postpartum women.
As well as how you and your baby are both on a journey!
[00:00:18] Meet Maranda
[00:01:53] What are some things we can do to prepare for the 4th Trimester?
[00:05:45] first have a support system in place
[00:07:48] Two - Harness the Power of Nutrition!
[00:11:42] 3 - Nervous System Regulation
[00:14:06] Understanding Intrusive Thoughts
[00:17:14] Malaysia’s System of Postpartum Support
[00:19:11] Meal Trains Can Be Helpful...... SOMETIMES
[00:20:22] You and Your baby are on a journey together
[00:22:14] Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Book and where to find Maranda
Here is where you can find Maranda and her wonderful resources.
https://postpartumu.com/
Postpartum University Podcast
Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness
HELPFUL LINKS
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
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Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
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Those 2 moments of birth, when things really change for a woman.
When that mantle of motherhood comes upon her!
Heather shares some beautiful thoughts about these powerful moments
and how God give us this mantle to support us as we transition to mothering our babies.
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/the-mantle-of-motherhood/
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
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It was such a pleasure to talk with Katie and hear her insights and inspiration for many of her pregnancy/birth themed art.
From Eve
to Mary
to Heavenly Mother
to Jochebed
and more.
What were her inspirations to do these paintings
and how have the come to mean different things to different people.
TOPICS COVERED
[00:00:26] Meet Katie Garner
[00:01:07] Adam and Eve Series of Paintings
[00:02:18] Why is Eve never pregnant in paintings??
[00:03:22] "God Blessed me."
[00:04:17] Adam and Eve are not "distant" relatives.
[00:05:43] That They Might Have Joy
[00:07:03] Painting Eve and Mary Together
[00:08:45] Two Women with the Most Pivotal Roles
[00:10:23] Mother to Mother
[00:14:02] The power of God using Katie as a tool.
[00:15:09] Mother's Embrace
[00:17:46] Surrender
[00:19:43] Katie's Experience with The Gift of Giving Life
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/art-to-inspire-katie-garner/
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
Sign up for our Newsletter
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
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All Podcast Episodes
"God is Love"
How can knowing this help us better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
How can knowing this help us to better appreciate this Valentine's Season,
even if we are not being "showered" with love from others?
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/thoughts-on-love/
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
Sign up for our Newsletter
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
You Tube Channel
All Podcast Episodes
I loved hearing the things that Kelly learned with each of her 8 births.
From a cesarean, to a traumatic VBAC to many healing births and some challenging ones too.
Each one taught her something different.
Kelly is also a birth doula and childbirth educator and shares her knowledge with other expecting moms.
This was such a fun interview and I know you will learn a lot as Kelly shares her insights with us.
How to Connect with KellyMindfullyPreparedBirth.com
Instagram/FB @MindfullyPreparedBirth
Southern Utah Locals can find me at PeacefulBirthChoices.com
Jayne struggled with Hyperemesis Gravidarum through 4 of her pregnancies.
It was wonderful to talk with her about her experience and hear the blessings that came from it.
"I found it didn't have to be a dark place if I was looking upward, and like reaching out to heaven and saying,
What does this experience have to offer me? What is here for me to learn?"
She also wrote a children's book When Mommies are Sick as well as a journal for other moms experiencing Hypermesis Gravidarum.
Definitely a must listen to episode!
TOPICS COVERED
[00:00:42] Meet Jayne - Mother and Author
[00:02:13] When Pregnancy Doesn't Go as You Imagined
[00:04:13] Her Doctor Dismissed Her Concerns!
[00:06:45] Learning to Track Symptoms and Speaking Up For Herself
[00:07:42] Challenges Don't Have to Bring You to a Dark Place
[00:08:50] Delving into Understanding Consecration
[00:11:00] Having the Courage and Strength to Have More Babies
[00:14:31] Diving Help was Needed to Make it Through Last Pregnancy
[00:16:12] Writing the Books
[00:20:22] Have the Courage to Be Imperfect
[00:22:12] Where to find Jayne and her books!
LINKS
Find Jayne Here
life-onpurpose.com
@mommingonpurpose
Amazon - When Mommies Get Sick and My HG Journal as well as Watching Over Angels
Gift of Giving Life Links
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/category/podcast/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGiftofGivingLife
https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Find the Show Notes Here
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/hyperemesis-gravidarum-helped-her-deeply-understand-submission-and-consecration/
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/category/podcast/
It was such a joy to interview Katie and Amie about their powerful new book.
This book and journal, helps to lead you through documenting and processing your birth experience.
Leading towards healing and hope.
HELPFUL LINKS
thegiftofgivinglife.com/giving-birth-to-motherhood
https://amiemccrackenauthor.com/
https://katierossler.com/giving-birth-to-motherhood
IG: @katie.rossler
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
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Frankincense is known as the king of oils.
Myrrh is known as the oil of Mother Earth.
When I learned about the spiritual powers
these two oils posses,
I was overcome with awe.
It gave new meaning to the gifts of frankincense and myrrh
that the wise men brought to the baby Jesus
as He left the premortal world
and His Heavenly Parents
to walk among men during His earthly sojourn.
HELPFUL LINKS
thegiftofgivinglife.com/frankincense-and-myrrh
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I’ve always felt at least a little uncomfortable
with the common modern renditions of the conditions of Christ’s birth:
Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem, poor and alone.
They reach the one inn in town,
Mary obviously ready to pop,
if not already in labor,
only to find it crowded
and run by a grumpy and inhospitable innkeeper
who gruffly forces them to leave.
In despair and urgency,
they take refuge in a stable among the animals and filth.
Alone and in the most squalid of circumstances imaginable,
the Christ child is born and
laid in the manger
where the cows and goats continue to nibble the hay out from under his head.
This weeks episode, we dive into another way it could have gone!
HELPFUL LINKS
thegiftofgivinglife.com/mary-and-the-nativity-story
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With Christmas approaching I have been
pondering the concept of “humble birth.”
HELPFUL LINKS
thegiftofgivinglife.com/humble-birth
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There are many beautiful works of art depicting Mary riding a donkey as Joseph led them to Bethlehem.
I never questioned whether or not Mary rode a donkey on her journey with Joseph.
However, as I was researching the symbolism of Mary riding a donkey to Bethlehem
and Christ riding a donkey as he entered Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry,
I realized that the scriptures don’t actually say that Mary did.
In todays episode I share what Robyn learned while doing this research.
HELPFUL LINKS
thegiftofgivinglife.com/did-mary-really-ride-a-donkey
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Morgan had a cesarean with her twin girls
and then a cesarean with her son.
She used some tips from the Creating a Sacred Cesarean
and got some of the things she really wanted with her second birth experience.
She also shares the magical time of those first 2 weeks after a baby is born.
HELPFUL LINKS
Thegiftofgivinglife.com/morgan-postpartum-period
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I can’t get over how different Isaac and Owen’s births were
—from delivering one spontaneously and picking him up within seconds of birth,
to not holding the other for well over half an hour after birth.
And yet, I don’t feel any different about them or their births.
Both were right for the situation we were in
Enjoy this wonderful birth story!
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
thegiftofgivinglife.com/hilarys-footling-breech-cesarean-birth
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
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Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
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I met Krysti on the Hypnobabies Yahoo Group.
She was planning a natural birth, but her baby was persistently breech.
It was interesting watching her journey as she had to make tough choices in regards to her babies birth.
I was excited to read her birth story and see how in the end she had a positive birth despite not going to her original desires.
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/spiritual-cesarean-section
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
there are so many things that I love about this story.
You can tell it made me emotional reading it
just how she was treated with respect
and they read her cesarean birth plan
and did the things she wanted in it.
I think this is why it is so important that everyone should be educated
on where they're going to birth at and choose carefully the hospitals
and care providers that you choose.
Some hospitals are very cesarean friendly,
meaning that they are friendly to mom and baby during cesareans,
and others are a little bit more old school.
Also, what I love is that she was able to have a positive healing cesarean birth,
even though it wasn't what she was planning for.
She was able to shift and then enjoy the birth experience she did.
Thank you so much, Jennifer, for sharing this story with us today
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/my-healing-repeat-cesarean-by-jennifer
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
All births are spiritual, even cesareans.
There are steps you can take to help it be a more positive experience.
I share 12 plus steps you can take as you prepare for your cesarean!
Show notes
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/the-book/read-excerpts/creating-a-sacred-cesarean/
Clear Negative Birth Experiences
https://enjoy-life1.teachable.com/p/clear-negative-birth-experiences
Blessingway
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/3-simple-tips-to-add-blessing-way-awesomeness-to-a-normal-baby-shower/
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
titles never can capture all the awesomeness of my interviews.
I love that a hymn helped Bronwyn to have courage to move forward through her fears.
After her preemie was born at 26 weeks via classical cesarean, having another baby was high risk and doing a VBAC even a higher risk.
I love the many different paths and guidance that God gave Bronwyn, to have not 1, but 2 babies after her preemie.
Her 5th baby she calls her Hallelujah baby, which I love.
Listen to find out why!
TOPICS
[00:00:56] One of the Original book owners!
[00:01:45] Wanted a homebirth for my first birth, but was talked out of it.
[00:03:09] Mis-date on 2nd pregnancy, almost ended up with disaster.
[00:04:05] Long Birth with a Beautiful Birth Pause
[00:05:16] Miscarriage - then preemie born same date as the miscarriage due date
[00:06:42] Cesarean at 26 weeks 4 days
[00:08:24] I knew there was more babies, and it terrified me.
[00:08:53] A Hymn 3 times in a row was an answer to her prayer
[00:10:46] Pregnant with Baby Number 4 - no homebirth options available
[00:13:01] A miscarriage, and sadness about wanting baby 5.
[00:14:22] My husband felt done, but I didn't.
[00:15:01] My Hallelujah Baby
[00:16:20] It was so powerful to sit with my Dad and my Son while they were Both Straddling the Veil
[00:17:47] I had a Great homebirth, but difficult recovery.
[00:19:16] Each birth had a special learning message
[00:21:06] Advice for new moms - create your own story
LINKS
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/i-was-terrified-to-have-another-baby
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
We are doing a give away of 2 books - 1 book for each winner. :)
1 copy of Swaddle Me Up: Baby Wrapping and Baby Wearing for Everyone
and 1 copy of The Gift of Giving Life.
Details on our Instagram Page
or at the Show Notes if you don't have Instagram.
Also I am changing our podcast episode frequency, to every other week!
When I do interviews, it is very time consuming to edit and get everything posted,
so I took it to God and got the OK to change the frequency.
I feel ok about it, because we have so many episodes now, I know when new listeners come, they can go back and listen to older episodes. :)
Show Notes
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/some-changes-are-coming-and-a-giveaway/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftofgivinglife/
This was a wonderful interview with Elizabeth, who shared 2 birth stories.
One where she felt angels singing as her baby was born.
Another where the understanding of her role as the veil helped carry her through challenging parts of her birth.
There are a lot of other wonderful gems in this interview.
Sit back and enjoy!
TOPICS
[00:01:26] "I fell in love with the book"
[00:02:09] Such an incredible experience with second birth
[00:03:53] The Thinness of the Veil During Birth
[00:05:40] Mental Preparation Needed for being Patient
[00:09:04] Allowing Baby Time to Say Goodbye to Pre-Existence
[00:11:16] Live in the Moment
[00:13:15] Birth is a beautiful start to our parenting journey
[00:13:52] Birth as a Testimony of God the Creator
This weeks episode transcripts and links –
Find Elizabeth here -https://www.instagram.com/lizmjwoodfield/
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/woman-as-veil
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
When Phoebe was 18 months old I realized that I still had her placenta in my freezer.
I had just started to date (I was a single mom through most of my pregnancy),
and a boyfriend found the placenta box and asked, “What’s this?”
That’s when I realized it was time to do something with it.
I had always planned on burying it under a tree,
but I wondered if there was some sort of ceremony I could perform.
Todays episode is the ceremony that Felice did with her placenta.
If you want to do a ceremony - check out the show notes!
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes – http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/placenta-burying-ritual
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
Sign up for our Newsletter
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
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Podcast Episodes
I have moms ask about making noises while pushing
and thought this episode would be a great way
to demonstrate different sounds
as well as other ways we use our voice while birthing.
TOPICS COVERED
[00:00:37] Audio is better to demonstrate pushing
[00:01:03] It is normal to make or not make noises while pushing
[00:01:26] A Few Pushing Options
[00:02:19] Breathe Baby Out
[00:02:24] Grunting
[00:02:43] Roaring
[00:04:01] Swearing
[00:04:18] Calling on Heavenly Help
[00:05:29] Cavewomen Type Communication
[00:06:15] Noises Are Our Friends
[00:06:52] Lower Noises are Better
[00:07:51] Holding your Breath and Bearing Down
[00:09:07] Be Flexible
[00:09:28] Low is Open and Down
[00:09:35] I hope you enjoyed these real life examples
HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes – http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/pushing-noises
Links to You Tube Pushing Videos mentioned in episode
- Mother Directed Pushing at Home
- Mother Directed Pushing at the Hospital
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
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Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
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Podcast Episodes
I have been feeling discouraged in my motherhood lately,
wondering if anything I am doing really matters.
I yearn to change the world in big ways,
and sometimes feel so limited by the walls of my home and the needs of my children.
Yet, as I watched Elder Eyring speak about his mother
I had a powerful realization that what I am doing as a mother
is one of the most important things I will ever do,
and that I am exactly where I need to be.
In today's episode we will hear what Elder Eyring said and how it inspired Heather.
HELPFUL LINKS
Find show notes here http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/the-power-of-a-mothers-blessing
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life Book here
Sign up for our Newsletter
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
You Tube Channel
Podcast Episodes
Amanda had 2 very inspirational stories to share with us on this weeks episode.
-
The Power of Prayer turned a nightmare into a miracle
-
The timing of turning her will over to God, regarding having a 3rd baby, was indeed divine.
As well as some really great advice.
-
Ask lots of questions
-
Still do your normal things!
And more.
TOPICS
[00:00:32] Meet Amanda [00:01:52] The Power of Prayer Creates a Miracle for Amanda's 2nd Baby [00:06:09] Turning over her will to God, Amanda gets to the point to be willing to have another baby. [00:10:52] Advice for other Moms - Ask All the Questions! [00:12:36] You will be in survival mode - but still do your normal things! [00:13:46] You grew a human, so you can do hard things! [00:14:18] Find friends that are a step ahead of you. [00:14:47] Motherhood is like a Mission [00:16:13] Where to find Amanda HELPFUL LINKS
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
Find Amanda Here
https://www.instagram.com/writtenritmos
https://www.youtube.com/c/WrittenRitmos
Tik Tok - writtenritmos
Jessica, mom of 1 year old Julia, had quite the journey getting her here to earth.
I was inspired by her faith and the experiences that helped her,
pre-conception as she suffered through a miscarriage,
then struggled to get pregnant
and then throughout her pregnancy and birth.
Listen in as we talk.
Topics Covered
[00:00:12] Meet Jessica
[00:00:46] Jessica has Felt Spiritually Uplifted from Listening to the Gift of Giving Life Podcast
[00:02:28] Married at 26, got pregnant quickly, but then miscarried
[00:04:43] Willing to share and be open about her miscarriage, helped others
[00:06:26] Jessica attends her sisters homebirth, and is amazed.
[00:08:33] Jessica's Baby Conceived 2 weeks after watching her sister birth.
[00:08:52] A blessing while being set apart, brings reassurance.
[00:10:35] A second blessing at the hands of her family, helped ease worries
[00:13:27] Pregnancy was Easy and Birth Started Easily too.
[00:15:07] "My mom thought I was at 2 or 3 cm, based on how I was acting. I was actually at a 7!"
[00:15:25] Pushing the baby out did not go as expected.
[00:18:11] Jessica's sister helped clear a block, that helped her to push more effectively.
[00:19:15] 15 minutes later, her baby is born!
[00:20:07] This sweet baby girl has changed everything, so many unexpected blessings.
[00:21:16] 2 big take aways!
[00:22:27] Why it is so important to take natural childbirth classes!
[00:25:40] It is OK if things don't go according to plan, Gather Knowledge, make a plan, then relax.
Helpful Links
Find Jessica Here – in the Natural Birth LDS Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/430856127077281
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/jessicas-triumphant-journey
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
5 days after Kayla's 6th birth, she had a very scary experience and it made her plead to God to not have any more babies.
God reassured her that it was OK and there was that baby girl still waiting for her.
She did go on to have a safe and successful hospital birth,
Welcoming her last baby to the earth.
Topics Covered
[00:00:17] Kayla Introduction
[00:00:59] Strange Symptoms for Kayla - Lead to some Scary Moments 5 days after his birth
[00:04:00] Seeing God's Hand in the Timing
[00:05:38] Checking Kayla's Heart
[00:07:11] A blessing helps things to shift
[00:12:00] Begging Heavenly Father to Be Done Having Kids
[00:13:35] A positive pregnancy test! I cried all day.
[00:17:49] I finally felt that I was done having kids!
[00:18:17] Reflections - twists and turns and guidance along the way
[00:18:48] Kayla's advice for other moms
Helpful Links
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/needing-extra-courage-to-have-baby-7-kayla-moves-forward-with-faith/
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
Kayla knew from when she was a teenager she would have a boy and his name would be Jacob.
It took her quite a bit longer than she expected to have him!
He ended up being baby number 5!
In this part of the interview you will hear about her first 6 births.
Ranging from 3 medicated hospital births, to a birth at home where the midwife didn’t make it in time.
Topics Covered
[00:00:43] Spiritual Impressions About Children Starting as a Teenager
[00:01:17] First Baby - Kayla was planning an epidural
[00:03:22] 2nd Pregnancy - a boy - Is this Jacob?
[00:05:29] Baby 3 - Try to go natural again - But Coughing Attacks Interfere
[00:06:30] Always right about intuition about gender - 4th baby never "revealed" herself on ultrasound, but Kayla knew she was a girl.
[00:08:23] Husband Plays a Role in Helping Kayla with Natural Birth for her 4th [00:09:50] Kayla decided she needed a break after baby #4, but Baby 5 came quickly
[00:10:22] Jacob's Spiritual Birth
[00:14:30] Baby 6 - a wild ride - SPD
[00:15:30] Wanted to be done having kids - but knew there was still a girl
[00:17:04] 6th birth starts
[00:19:22] Where's the Midwife??
[00:21:47] Reflections - twists and turns and guidance along the way
Helpful Links
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes - http://www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/waiting-for-baby-jacob
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com
Get your copy on Amazon
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
McKenna shared her experience last week of losing her 11 month old baby girl.
Today we will hear her tips for surviving and healing through grief
as well as tips for those of us loving and supporting someone through grief.
Topics Covered
Feeling Supported Right After Loss
[00:05:30] Be OK that They are Not OK
[00:07:03] Transmute the sadness into a greater love
[00:10:12] Reach up instead of horizontally
Helpful Links
Find McKenna Here
Instagram @mothersofedennft
Twitter Mothersofeden
www.mothersofeden.com
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes -
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/3-tips-for-surviving-grief-and-also-supporting-those-who-are-grieving/
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com
Get your copy on Amazon
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
McKenna shares 2 beautiful birth stories.
Claire was an unassisted birth which was lovely.
Sadly she died in an accident at 11 months old.
McKenna discovered she was pregnant a month after Claire died and after a pregnancy filled with grief,
she had a healing birth of Eden,
exactly a year after Claire's death.
Listen to this beautiful and tender story, have kleenexes ready.
Segments
[00:01:27] Introducing McKenna
[00:02:42] Finding the Podcast
[00:03:33] Shifting from traditional care to midwifery
[00:06:25] Traveling in a RV while pregnant with her 3rd baby
[00:08:04] Impressed to birth Unassisted
[00:10:50] Questioning my Impression
[00:11:09] A Midwifes Comment Was Just What I Needed
[00:12:34] Claire's Unassisted Birth
[00:14:37] The Loss of Claire at 11 months, Grief and Healing
[00:15:37] Birth Experience was a preparation for understanding intuition and trusting myself.
[00:17:00] Found out she was Pregnant one month later
[00:17:56] A Questioning and Refining Time
[00:20:47] Eden's Birth
[00:23:47] Eden adjusting to life in her body
[00:25:00] So important to hear this story
Helpful Links
Find McKenna Here
Instagram @mothersofedennft
Twitter Mothersofeden
www.mothersofeden.com
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes -
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/mckenna-2-births
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com
Get your copy on Amazon
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
I was so happy to hear Orchid say, there is hope for my sneeze pee problems!
Orchid is a prenatal and postpartum yoga instructor and has created an online class for moms with fix any ab separation and fix any pelvic floor dysfunction.
This is part 2 of my interview with her.
She shares 3 don'ts for postpartum exercising.
And she shares her inspiration for creating Reconnection Ab Lab.
Topics Covered
[00:02:02] postnatal recovery tips
[00:02:09] no sit ups!
[00:03:36] no frontal planks
[00:04:29] do not do double leg lifts
[00:05:00] true confessions - I still have sneeze pee, 16 years after my last birth, can it help me???
[00:08:14] What inspired you to create Ab Lab?
[00:09:52] Orchid couldn't walk after her
[00:11:01] fixing abs can fix a lot of problems
[00:12:52] doctors don't have the answers
[00:16:29] where to find Orchid
[00:17:32] conclusion
Helpful Links
Find Orchid Here
https://www.instagram.com/orchidcameron/
https://orchidcameron.com/
https://reconnectionablab.com/
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/do-you-have-sneeze-pee-problems-there-is-hope/
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
Orchid, a prenatal and postnatal yoga instructor shares 5 steps for good mental health after the baby is born.
- Have I taken a shower?
- Have I eaten?
- Am I sleeping?
- Am I exercising?
- Have I called a friend?
She also shares other tips for new moms to help them adjust.
This is after sharing her own journey of taking a year to get pregnant with her 2nd child.
Join us for this entertaining episode (Orchid is a comedian and keeps us laughing throughout!)
Topics Covered
[00:02:16] Finding a Community of Women who are amazed by birth. [00:04:34] our bodies are amazing [00:06:02] Took a year to get pregnant with baby number 2 [00:07:22] Sitcom moment of announcing the pregnancy [00:08:00] so many struggle with fertility and loss - you are not alone [00:08:54] fear of baby dying was BIG [00:10:19] when a fart is an answer to a prayer [00:11:10] when overwhelmed and sleep deprived - try to remember how much you wanted this baby [00:11:45] don't overcorrect husbands [00:13:20] find your community [00:14:08] find vitamin "community" [00:14:43] basic 5 list for good mental health after baby [00:17:04] find Orchid here [00:19:00] conclusion Helpful Links
Find Orchid Here
https://www.instagram.com/orchidcameron/
https://orchidcameron.com/
https://reconnectionablab.com/
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/5-steps-good-mental-health
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram@giftofgivinglife
I loved interviewing Melissa and hearing her experiences and wisdom.
As a mom of 8 and birth worker, she had amazing things to share.
I especially loved her experiences with angels at her VBA3C.
Topics and Time Stamps
[00:00:12] Book Review
[00:00:58] Meet Melissa - Mom of 8 and a Birth Worker
[00:01:51] One of Our First Readers!
[00:02:42] Reading The Gift of Giving Life Increased Her Spirituality
[00:04:07] Turning To God, Pleading for Chance to Have a VBA3C
[00:07:18] Angels at the Birth Tub
[00:10:45] I Have to Do This Myself!
[00:12:10] Advice to Other Moms - Trust Your Instincts!
[00:14:45] VBAC Support and Information
[00:19:02] How to Find Melissa
Helpful Links from todays podcast
Find Melissa at birthwithmelissa.com
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes -
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com
Get your copy on Amazon
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
was so great to interview Maile, a mom of 8 and hear about her different births and the way The Gift of Giving Life helped her with births. Sadly, there were a few connection issues while we were recording. I tried to edit them best I could, but you can always read the show notes if it isn't clear. www.thegiftofgivinglife/maile-harnessed-the-power
[00:00:31] Meet Maile and learn a bit about her 8 births [00:01:49] Feeling the presence of another baby [00:04:32] How Maile's 5th Pregnancy helped her better appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ. [00:05:52] Covid Uncertainty led Maile to choose her first homebirth for her 8th baby [00:07:02] The power of affirmations in preparing for her homebirth [00:09:00] The power of spiritual creation [00:10:45] Affirmation tips [00:12:57] Trust that God will help you parent your children Helpful Links
This weeks episode transcripts and/or show notes –
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com/maile-harnessed-the-power
Get your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon https://amzn.to/3LUcGn5
Follow us on Instagram @giftofgivinglife
Meleah found herself unexpectedly pregnant with her 5th baby and it was a struggle to accept. Especially because it seemed like the Lord went silent.
This is the 2nd half of my interview with Meleah, where she shares how she started seeing the Lord in her life again.
How life is even sweeter with Miles in it.
She shares how a part of the Gift of Giving Life, that she thought SHOULDN’T be in the book, she now appreciates that it is there. This experience has brought her greater understanding.
She also shares how she sees God’s hand as she has started being a doula again.
She shares about her new book about baby wrapping and wearing
and so much more!
https://amzn.to/3xcBN06
It was such a pleasure to do this interview with Meleah about her unexpected pregnancy of her 5th baby.
She was so honest and vulnerable as she shared her and her husbands experience and emotions as they faced this situation, during the already tulmultuous time of being in lockdown during Covid.
This is part 1, where she shares her struggles and how it felt like The Lord was silent throughout the pregnancy.
Our next episode will be part 2 and she shares how everything turned out.
You can find Meleah at www.innerstrengthbirth.com
It was so great to be able to talk to Meggan in this interview.
Meggan is a mom of 8 children.
She had an amazing experience with her 4th baby, where she was prepared by God to have an unassisted birth. Also her friend who was there at the birth, had a dream before hand, where she was tutored to know exactly what to do.
Take a few minutes to listen to this amazing interview.
After Valerie had her 3rd baby, her doctor advised her to not have any more.
The Spirit reassured her it was ok to and also led her on a journey of healing.
She turned to natural healing methods and after years of healing, she got a second opinion of having more babies and got the OK
She went on to have 5 more babies!
I loved interviewing Valerie.
She was one of my Hypnobabies Student – 2 times, for baby number 7 and 8!
I also was her doula for those 2 births.
She had Toxemia (high blood pressure) during her 3rd birth and was told to have no more children.
However, that didn’t feel right to her and she had a spiritual experience to reassure her she would be safe having more children.
This led her on a path to alternative medicine. This allowed her to become strong enough to have more children. She got a second opinion and changed careproviders and went on to have 5 more children!
I was amazed at the story she shared about her friend who broke multiple bones and after a surgery was struggling with pain. Valerie felt inspired to lend her friend her Hypnobabies CDs and they made a huge difference.
Valerie also shares how Hypnobabies has helped her after having babies.
Of course, she shares her birth experiences and it will be especially interesting to moms who have had posterior babies, as all 8 of her babies presented that way.
When one of my dear friends got preganant and wanted me to be her doula,
I really wanted to be there,
but her guess date was near a cruise my family had planned.
She had other friends that were planning on being there too,
which ended up being a good thing,
as she had a major change of plans the day before I left!
Listen to hear the miracles that happened.
I have been thinking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ lately.
We talk a lot about it in church and we all sort of theoretically get that he descended below all and some way, which neither chemistry or physics can explain, took upon Himself all of our sins, suffering and pain.
I’ve used the Atonement many times in my life, for repentance, but mostly for the healing from sorrows and pain.
And it amazingly works.
But each time something new and painful or sorrowful comes up in my life I have to stop and think, is this something God understands and cares about?
And then, each time, I wonder: How do I do this? How do I access the Atonement?
I am writing this to remind myself and anyone reading that yes, this is something God cares about and he does get it.
Find the show notes at thegiftofgivinglife.com
And sign up for our newsletter to get access to our online class!
You can buy your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon.
https://amzn.to/3wXZIOC
We have an Easter Slant on sympathy pains and discuss how watching with people, holding space is helpful, in all challenging situations.
I don’t know if Christ’s apostles could see Him as He prayed. The scriptures aren’t entirely clear. Perhaps they could see Him or yearned to help Him. Or perhaps they could simply feel a small portion of the heaviness and pain projecting from Him as He accomplished the Atonement. They offered “sacred support” in much the way fathers and doulas support their wives and clients through childbirth (see “A Father’s Sacred Support” in The Gift of Giving Life). They could not remove His burden, but I suspect they were able to feel some of the weight of it as they struggled to remain conscious.
Robins musings as she attends Sacrament Meeting in the midst of the struggles of the First Trimester.
Here is a snippet:
My mind turned to the Savior. He was tired – heavy the scriptures say. Was he overcome with nausea as his body lurched forward taking upon Him the sins of all mankind? I’m sure his bones ached with tiredness. I sat humbled knowing that the cup that He begged taken away was not removed but filled to the brim and consumed willingly. What He suffered for me was much more than I can comprehend, so much more than what I felt or would ever feel. My heart turned to Him and I was grateful for the blessing to give life in similitude of the Savior who gave life to all mankind through the power of the Atonement.
I am likely not the only woman to have felt her “mind called up to serious reflection” regarding the war of words concerning pregnancy and childbirth.
Each pregnancy and birth has brought feelings that were especially “deep and often poignant.”
Every time I have felt a certain measure of conflict inside me between the fear-based medicine of the world and the faith-based wisdom of God.
I can never take for granted that I know it all.
Each pregnancy has offered me the opportunity to study and pray, and, because each time I have lacked wisdom, I ask God.
I loved Valerie's insights she got
when she was pondering how Jesus could understand childbirth.
She was inspired to look up a Hymn
and it gave her a deeper understanding of The Atonement.
Heather wrote a Facebook Post that went viral two years ago.
Have you ever noticed in the scriptures men are always going up into the mountains to commune with god? Yet in the scriptures we hardly ever hear of women going to the mountains, and we know why-right? Because the women were too busy keeping life going; they couldn’t abandon babies, meals, homes, fires, gardens, and a thousand responsibilities to make the climb into the mountains! As modern day women we may feel like we are never free enough from responsibilities, never in a quiet enough, or holy enough spot to have the type of communion we want with God. But this is why God comes to women. Men have to climb the mountain to meet God, but God comes to women where ever they are
I have seen it spread around the internet and still parts of it posted here and there.
I love her attitude, that even if it isn’t contributed to her, she is fine with that.
This viral post led to Heather’s most recent book.
God Comes to Women
Today I interview her to learn more about that!
This is the second part of the Sacred Space Birth Story....
Such a tender experience.
"Then little Aaron left my body, and I pulled him right up to my chest. The emotions that I experienced at that time cannot be described with words. It was overwhelming, it was so special, and yet so normal, like “Of course, I just had a baby.” I was on top of the world. I stayed in the water for just a few minutes as I let it sink in and looked at my baby"
My first encounter with childbirth started with the birth of my first child. That experience was eye opening, disappointing, affirming, traumatic, magical, overwhelming and set the stage for the worst depression of my life. I had resisted an induction but eventually caved to the pressure I was receiving from my obstetrician. The ultimate result was a healthy baby boy born via cesarean and my broken heart and body.
My second birth was an empowering vaginal birth in the hospital, but I was met with mistrust, abandonment and even violence though I had carefully chosen my provider and a “natural birth friendly” hospital. Even more disenchanting was to have my baby caught by a resident student as there was no obstetrician in the hospital at that time. If something catastrophic had occurred, I would either have had to wait until someone arrived or transfer to another hospital. It was then that I asked myself, “Why did I get out of my bathtub at home and tear down the freeway in transition to come here and meet negativity and contention when the help I was going to the hospital to potentially receive wasn’t even there?” I knew my next baby would be born at home. Should a need arise, I would then go to a hospital.
I share the most powerful experience
I have had using affirmations
and share tips on how you can
use affirmations during your
pregnancy and birth
Listen to how this mom adjusted
after her surprise pregnancy.
The Gift of Giving Life played a big role
in helping her to adjust!
Felice shares her experiences with meditation, starting with pregnancy and how that changed her life.
Breath is so powerful and we usually don’t even connect to it.
Breathing is something we all do and all have access to. And we can let it breathe us or we can consciously choose to breathe.
This can change everything.
I am a better mom and wife when I meditate every day.
Join in our conversation and learn about the benefits of meditation and different options to learn how!
Life as a doula.
Every birth changes me in some way. I always learn.
Often the lessons are unexpected.
A little over three years ago, I attended at birth that I recognize as one of those unexpected yet key experiences that shape a doula.
I still talk with this friend and I mentioned to her that this birth changed me profoundly.
She asked me to explain.
I have to admit that I struggle to put it into words on a page because it was a change in my heart and mind.
So I will make an attempt to put words to how my heart was changed but just know that I’m not sure I can fully capture what I want to express.
So I am always looking for a good book to read and stumbled upon The Story of the Trapp Family Singers: The Story Which Inspired the Sound of Music on my mother-in-law’s bookshelf.
I was hoping to find something that was not only entertaining but inspiring as well.
It didn’t disappoint.
Indeed it also included 3 beautiful birth stories.
Hear one in todays episode!
I have already interviewed all of the authors of The Gift of Giving Life.
So today, you finally get to hear my interview!
The person behind the voice you hear
sharing stories and wisdom from
so many contributors.
Perhaps some of you have already set your New Year’s intentions.
Even if you haven’t, that’s okay.
I know that you are often thinking of your hopes and dreams and desires for change or transformation.
And even if you haven’t spoken it out loud–it has already entered your heart.
And what I am here to tell you today is that what you project onto the future,
is actually here now.
In this moment.
Did you know you can pick a word for any season of your life?
From a year, a pregnancy, a birth...
Maybe you would choose - spiritual or joyful...
Have you ever picked a word for the year?
I used to, but would always forget it.
Then I started including letting God help me find my word.
It made all the difference!
I have a free class you can sign up for
5 Easy Steps to Find Your Word!
https://sheridanripley.com/findword/
A small choir where my alto voice was needed.
A call the night before the performance from a doula client
The miracles that helped everything work out the way it needed to.
It was a beautiful afternoon and were sitting at her kitchen table rolling the centers for the mints we were going to dip. My baby was due soon and I was complaining to her how bad I felt that my baby would probably have a birthday around Christmas time.
"It is such a bummer," I told her, "His birthday will always be eclipsed by Christmas and he'll have to wait a whole year before he gets any presents again!"
She listened to me and then smiled at me in a knowing way. My father, her fourth child, was born only a few days before Christmas. She told me about how she'd worried she'd be in the hospital on Christmas and prayed that he would come before then.
But then she looked at me with her deep, wise eyes and said, "But you know Heather, there is something really special about having a baby-- especially a baby boy-- at Christmas time."
One of the best parts of Christmas, is there are Carols being sung everywhere.
At Christmas Concerts
Over the Radio
and so many more places.
Christmas carols were instrumental in my developing my desire to learn more about Jesus.
This glorious birth of which I sang,
I wanted to learn more.
I was a doula at a VBAC's mom birth.
There was this magical moment for me.
She, her husband and I were squeezed together in this tiny bathroom.
She stared up at her husband with that look, “How in the heck are we going to do this?”
This was the look Katie and I had talked about.
That moment that must have passed between Adam and Eve as they realized, this was really happening, somehow this baby was going to come out of her.
I suddenly felt Eve’s presence there with us in the bathroom. I felt her watching with love and concern and reassurance.
“You can make it through, you can find the strength.I did it, all mothers’ have.”
I was amazed, I had never noticed Eve at a birth before.
Usually I just feel angels’ presences in general, not specific ones.
I relished that sweet moment.
Pondering on the sacrifice Eve made so we could all be mothers.
Eve carrying the fruit that caused the fall.
Eve twisted up with the serpent and her humility in the role she was sent to fulfill.
The sorrow and gratitude they have one for the other.
Mary crushing the serpents head and her humility in the role she was sent to fulfill.
Mary carrying the fruit that would help us overcome the fall.
The sacrifice Mary made so we could all be saved.
I wonder…
Were Eve and Mary friends before they came to the earth?
Did they both know the heavy burden they would bear?
Did Mary attend Eve as she birthed her babies?
Was Eve at Mary’s birth of Jesus?
Did they rejoiced as they were reunited, when Mary returned to heaven, having both done as God had asked them to?
Are we not a blend of Eve and Mary?
Carrying a heavy burden of the sacrifice we make as mothers
Often twisted up and tricked by Satan
So very humble as we try to raise these great blessings/challenges of the children we were given
Full of gratitude for the gift of repentance and how that allows us move forward with hope
Because we have the power to crush the serpents head
And will one day enjoy the fruit of eternal life.
How we will rejoice with Eve and Mary sharing our gratitude for the sacrifices they made for us!
On a spiritual level our changing hair is symbolic of the life-giving transition of our bodies.
In pondering this symbolism it appears not an accident that upon experiencing puberty our bodies begin to grow more hair, symbolizing the transition that our bodies make to prepare to give life.
I have to be honest and say that I really did not like the changes my body was making as an awkward adolescent.
I struggled to understand it.
On today's episode we delve deeper into hair and the symbolism and how to help our daughters adjust to those changes.
Some beautiful poems.
thegiftofgivinglife.com/first-blood/
thegiftofgivinglife.com/if-birth-were-a-temple/
What about the “inward ordinances?”
Inward ordinances happen inside a holy temple, in “holy places.”
There are the washings, anointings, endowments, and sealings we have all been taught about that take place in holy temple buildings.
But we are also told that our body is a temple.
If you have read Heather’s essay, “The Two Veils,” you are aware of some of these inward ordinances: intimacy, conception, pregnancy and birth.
I would add to that list, menstruation and lactation.
These girls are preparing to shed blood as did the Savior.
They are a holy place where ordinance work will take place beginning with menstruation and continuing through other the other inward ordinances.
In last week episode we discussed different ways how to help our daughters through their first period.
One of our listeners was willing to share with us how she prepared her daughter for coming of age and how they celebrated it together.
Hear her experience and a few others.
Then here 3 tips to create a Red Party that is ideal for your daughter!
I’ve been thinking a lot about the rite of passage my daughter will soon be passing through
as she leaves her girlhood body behind and transforms into a woman.
For me, that transformation was frightening.
I want it to be positive for her.
Blood is loaded with meaning in the scriptures.
It is life.
It is death.
The middle of each cycle demonstrates the body’s deep investment in the continuation of life.
Sometimes that investment continues for nine months.
Sometimes that potential for life passes away,
and the body cradles that fallen egg in a brief embrace
before letting it go to make way for new life again.
So much of what happens to and through our bodies, as women,
is a strange mixture of the life/death dichotomy.
When I think of this dichotomy,
I think of Eve.
I personally believe, as she crossed the threshold from Eden to Earth life,
she too began to bleed for the first time.
She broke through that red “caution tape,”
bringing life and death simultaneously.
And it was good
When my daughters cross their thresholds,
I want them to be glad, like Eve.
I want them to rejoice.
I want them to feel honored to follow in the footsteps of the women who have come before them.
The path of womanhood (and the womanly cycle)
is certainly a balance of sorrow and joy, life and death, pleasure and pain,
but I want them to move forward into that future confident in their ability to weather those highs and lows with grace,
surrounded by support from the people who love them.
It is hard to let go of that phase of having babies.
Choosing how many babies to have is different for everybody.
It is between you and the Lord.
Robyn and I talk about letting go of guilt about stopping having babies as well as how we shifted to knowing we are done.
It was hard to make that determination on our own and going to the Lord for guidance is helpful.
It is a beautiful thing to know our life giving is not done on this earth, that there really will be another phase in the eternities of life giving and we both look forward to that.
I ran across this poem in an old Ensign magazine and felt it appropriate to share for Pregnancy and Infant Awareness Loss Month.
Although many generations stand between her and the women of today, the bond of having experienced loss bridges the gap.
Sending our love to all those families who have experienced pregnancy and or infant loss.
In todays episode we talk about very early pregnancy loss and how sometimes it is hard to feel supported in your feelings.
Sometimes people don't validate what you are experiencing.
But the loss is very real!
Listen to Heather and Lani's experience and get some reassurance.
When I went through a miscarriage years ago, I finally took time to really read the stories of loss in The Gift of Giving Life.
They brought me comfort and peace.
This is my story of getting pregnant at 41 and then my miscarriage and how I handled the emotions that came with that loss.
Did you know that Dr. Ellis Shipp, one of Utah’s first female doctors (who trained many women to become nurses and midwives), wrote a hymn in the hymn book? I had forgotten until yesterday when my friend (who is mourning her second miscarriage) posted this on facebook…
As I sung/listened to this hymn today, I realized that the woman who wrote the words understands me. Some of her own babies did not make it past infancy, yet she pushed forward, continued to bear children, and went on to help Utah women as their midwife and first female doctor. She has been a hero of mine for years, and only became more dear to my heart through the re-discovery of this hymn. Even though it made me cry, her song brought me joy and peace today.
In my interview with Lani, the birth story she chose to share was a miscarriage that felt so spiritual.
She didn’t expect that it could be spiritual, but it was.
“Everything relating to preparing to have children, getting pregnant, giving birth have been a few of the ways I have had the most spiritual experiences of my life…”
We delve deep into how to help your friend in todays episode.
But here are the steps simplified.
1 – Let her talk as much or as little as she wants.
2 – Share your experience, but be careful not to project your own (or others’) experiences onto hers.
3 – Similarly, be careful about making assumptions about the status of this miscarriage as it relates to the mother’s family.
4 – Just do something.
This is part 2 of Jenifer’s interview.
Someone said to her after a miscarriage – “Just don’t worry about it. It was a nothing baby.”
She could not accept that.
It wasn’t until years later that she had an experience that helped her have the courage to face that and heal from it…
all because of a piece of art.
I love how she found healing, years later in an unexpected place.
I hope that this story can help you find healing sooner!
In interviewing women for The Gift of Giving Life podcast, so many shared their miscarriage stories.
I realized we really needed a series to support women through this part of struggling while trying to be Giving Life.
So for October, in honor of Pregnancy Loss month – we are having a whole series of podcasts focusing on miscarriages.
Please reach out to us on Instagram if you want to share your story!
https://www.instagram.com/giftofgivinglife/
It was so fun to interview Jenifer, Heather's co-author of God Comes to Women.
In this first part of the interview she reflects on how God knew her timetable for having babies.
How when she first was married she didn't even want to have babies, but after 5 years she shifted.
Then a surprise revelation that sped up the arrival of a baby!
Find the show notes at thegiftofgivinglife.com
And sign up for our newsletter to get access to our online class!
You can buy your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon.
Robyn shares her insights she had as she learned about buffers in her biology class.
Birth:
While I was attending a birth two weeks ago,
I thought about buffers in the sense of being a doula.
My job is to be a buffer from outside forces or be someone who helps maintain calm waters.
I am supposed to lessen the strain on the mother (and father) so that the shock of the experience is minimized.
Because, let’s face it, no matter how much you prepare for birth, it is something else to actually experience it.
The Gospel:
Jesus is our Best Buffer!
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Something I used to frequently say regarding childbirth was that I was born in the last days because Heavenly Father knew I couldn’t handle a natural childbirth and knew I needed epidurals.
It was something I would always joke about, but also really believed.
I might be mentally strong, spiritually strong, but physically strong?
No way.
That was not for me.
I wasn’t a hardy pioneer woman that pushed handcarts and gave birth along the Mormon trail.
Heavenly Father knew me and knew my mental and physical limitations.
Or so I thought.
This is one of my favorite birth stories from our blog ---- so powerful and wonderful in so many ways.
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Have you had to shift the way you create?
Most of the authors have moved out of the baby creation stage.
In this interview with Lani, she shares how she is shifting from creating life from having babies, to becoming a plant mom.
How the security of her garden helped her survive 2020 and bring her peace during a tumultuous time.
I love how she was able to find peace in such a creative way.
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It was so fun interviewing Melissa from @joyfulandspiritualbirth for this podcast episode.
"For my third birth I really wanted a spiritual experience.
I created a formula for myself - reading only certain things, using affirmations, focusing on what I really wanted to this birth.
My 4th birth stripped me down and humbled me.
It also gave me more power than I ever experienced."
How have your births changed you?
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In an interview with Melissa she shared,
"As I sat in the celestial room, I heard revelation for how my next birth would be.
It would just be me and my husband and NOT a midwife!
I was shocked,
I asked God, "Wait, are you sure???? This revelation is for me and not someone else?"
(She wasn't even pregnant when she got this revelation in the temple.)
It was so fun to interview Melissa @joyfulandspiritualbirth as she shared her journey for her 3rd birth (homebirth) and then 4th birth (unassisted)
Listen to todays episode to hear all she learned and how it pushed her in her faith.
Have you ever gotten revelation that was surprising?
Also as a reminder The Gift of Giving Life does not advocate any specific type of birth, or offer any medical advice.
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When Robyn went back to school, she learned a lot more than biology.
She learned to move into a new phase of life and the skills she is gathering are helping her to delve deeper into finding the history of pioneer midwives.
Why is that important?
Listen to find out!
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This is one of the most powerful spiritual experiences I ever had at a birth as a doula.
I am so excited to share this birth story and the important part hymns played in it.
Listen, enjoy and be inspired!
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A couple of months ago, I was listening to the song “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” and I thought: this would be a great song for childbirth. Especially this line…
*Come, come, ye saints, no toil or labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear
Grace shall be as your day.*
Then I got thinking about some of the other hymns and realized that so many of them could be seen through the lens of childbirth and take on new meaning. For instance,”work,” “toil,” “labor” and related words can be considered in terms of childbirth.
“Temple” can refer to our bodies/wombs or the holy places where we choose to give birth to our babies.
Here are some passages I found particularly meaningful as potential aids for women in childbirth.
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Heather shares her birth stories and how focusing on charity helped her shift one of her births into a more spiritual event.
And of course we talk about all of the joy and challenges of helping to birth The Gift of Giving Life
Heather Farrell:
The Gift of Giving Life helped me articulate all of those thoughts and feelings and take it deeper.
Viewing Birth as a spiritual event versus a physical event.
Viewing baptism as a physical thing, “Oh we are washing you clean.” You would miss everything.
We often approach birth as a very physical thing, a very practical thing.
When you approach it from a spiritual aspect, it transforms everything.
Enjoy this episode where Heather and I discuss how she became a part of the book and how it helped change her births.
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You can buy your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon.
To celebrate Pioneer Day this week Robyn compiled a history about a special midwife.
A special thanks to Shani Allen Dutton, one of our readers and a descendant of Jane Johnston Black, for introducing me to the story of this courageous woman.
Here is a little snippet - "When she got to Montrose, Iowa, on the other side of the Mississippi River, she buried her gun under her wagon wheel. She was given a tent as shelter for the women that were in labor. The trauma of this final exodus had hastened their births. She recorded, “I was the mid-wife, and delivered nine babies that night.” Their provisions were sparse, “until the Lord sent quails among us. We had nothing to sweeten anything until the Lord sent honeydew, which we gathered in bushes until we got all the sweets we wanted. I also boiled maple juice and got cakes of maple sugar.” If you ever visit Nauvoo Illinois, you can see two plaques bearing her words along Parley Street’s “Trail of Tears.”
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I am so excited to share the second half of our interview with Stephanie from @lightuntolighthomeschool on Instagram.
Powerful Feeling of Love In this episode, she shares that while she didn’t have any specific manifestations of her ancestors at the birth, except for a powerful feeling of love, which she felt was their presence, that the support they gave her through her pregnancy was invaluable.
She also shares a wonderful experience she had at roots tech, with her unborn daughter.
6 tips to help you harness the power of your family history. 1. Look at the details of your ancestor, their birth date, death date, marriage, siblings… all these little details can actually help you to better understand their story. 2. Look at the historical context of when they were living. 3. Read stories about them and/or gather stories. 4. Find one person and really dive deep into him/her. 5. Get your children involved. I love how she talked about how she did this. 6. Download pictures of them! Seeing their faces helps to bring them to life.
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It was so fun to interview Stephanie and hear how she harnessed the power of her ancestors stories to encourage her through her pregnancies and births.
She messaged me on Instagram
I encourage women to latch on to any tidbit of info about their female ancestors in Childbirth. Even knowing the historical birthing practices of their time helps me visualize them. Knowing they have empathy for me helps Me have faith that they can help me.
Their faith sustains me 100+ years later
I really loved the story she shared about how learning one of her ancestors had a baby during a world-wide pandemic and the challenges she overcame, helped Stephanie, as she also had a baby during a world-wide pandemic.
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Take some time to enjoy listening to this beautiful birth story of a VBAC mom.
I came to know Janice when she took childbirth classes from me while she was pregnant with her first baby.
We have become friends since and work together in our local ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) chapter.
I also had the privilege of being present at the birth of her third baby which was also her second VBAC.
For me it was a special birth because of our friendship. It happened on early on a Sunday morning. I got home just in time to shower and go to church. I had a special spirit in my heart that entire day as I reflected on the birth I had just witnessed.
Thank you Janice for sharing your birth story with us. -Robyn
www.thegiftofgivinglife.com
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Robyn shares how she got involved in The Gift of Giving Life.
Her favorite parts and the most challenging parts.
She also shares what she has been up to the past few years, working towards her nursing degree.
It may not lead exactly where she thought it would at first, but she knows God will lead her where she needs to go.
And yes, she thinks birth will be a part of it.
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You are helping to host a “normal” baby shower, but you want to make it a little bit more spiritual and meaningful for the mom. A party with gifts and food is fun, but it is easy to add a few simple things to make this celebration more about the Mom and her journey to mothering this baby and therefore make it a bit more special.
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Write and Share Wishes
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Add some Beads
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Connected by Ribbons of Love
See full show notes here
http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/3-simple-tips-to-add-blessing-way-awesomeness-to-a-normal-baby-shower/
Find your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon.
It was Dieter F. Uchtdorf that said, “Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter”
As women we do not move from one period of creation to the next in the same way or order.
We each have different experiences, talents, gifts, and challenges that pull us toward a particular form of creation.
For a long time it was childbearing for me.
That period of time may be shorter for other women or longer.
It may not even happen in this life, but that period of creation will come,
“If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next.”
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On todays episode I interview Felice Austin.
She is the one who was inspired to create the book and we talk about how the idea first came to her and then all the steps she had to take to actually get the book published and all the joy and excitement in between.
It was so fun to chat with Felice and get all of her insights.
Our conversation will help inspire you to follow through on your inspirations as well as to get a better appreciation for how the book came to be.
You can find Felice online at Tree of Life Hypnosis
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All births are a spiritual experience.
Sometimes we just need to have the eyes to see and ears to hear to be aware of it.
And yes, cesarean births can be just a spiritual as vaginal births.
Kirsten shares her sweet thoughts with us.
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Not long ago, I attended a birth as a doula. Shortly after the baby was born, I heard the doctor quietly say, “that was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” I was touched by her heartfelt words. I was surprised to hear them knowing that she must have witnessed quite a few births. I wish I had thought to ask her to explain her thoughts about it. As I have pondered her comment, I thought of these words by Ina May Gaskin in Spiritual Midwifery:
“[This book] is spiritual because it is concerned with the sacrament of birth – the passage of a new soul into this plane of existence. This knowledge that each and every childbirth is a spiritual experience has been forgotten by too many people in the world today”.
How wonderful that people from many different walks of life see birth as a sacred, transformative life changing event. The definition of sacrament does refer to different rituals depending on the religion. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Sacrament refers to an ordinance held weekly to commemorate the Savior’s teachings of the Last Supper. However, sacrament is also defined as something consecrated, possessing sacred character or mysterious significance; a sign, token or symbol; an oath or solemn pledge.
We go deeper into how birth is like a sacrament in this episode.
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The inspiration for this book came to Felice during her pregnancy. She needed extra support as she was in the midst of a divorce at the time. She was searching for support in the spiritual aspect of pregnancy and birth. Felice found many other resources about this written by women from other religions, but none geared towards women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After her baby was born, she started moving forward on creating the book and step by step was led to others to help in the collaboration.
This episode tells you how all the things came together.
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Our podcast is being born in May of 2021 – but here is the intro podcast episode! The Gift of Giving Life: Rediscovering the Divine Nature of Pregnancy and Birth, book AND podcast offers – a spiritual look at pregnancy, birth and mothering by and for women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other women of faith.
We will be sharing inspiring birth stories and thoughts from real women, scriptures, words of the prophets and other spiritual texts related to pregnancy and birth.
We hope to have guests in to share their experiences, as well as our host, Sheridan sharing essays, stories and thoughts.
The Gift of Giving Life does not advocate for any one type of birth or approach to prenatal care, rather it intends to unify our families and communities in regard to the sacredness of birth. We also aim to provide you with resources, information, and inspiration that you may not have had access to all in one place before.
Though we have written the book unabashedly for an audience of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we hope that birthing women, birth attendants and birth advocates of all faiths will find it useful and informative. If you have any questions about any of the terms used in the podcast, book or the blog, or about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we invite you to visit their website or email any of the authors through this website.
We know that our Father and Mother in Heaven care deeply about the means by which life is created—from conception, to gestation to birth. We have been commanded to “multiply and replenish the earth,” but with this commandment we were also given a reason: that we might have joy. We hope that this book and podcast brings peace, joy, and comfort to your families.
Nothing in this podcast, book or on the blog should be considered medical advice. Couples should always consult with their health care provider and pray about health care decisions as a family.
Though we have made every attempt to be consistent with the correct doctrine and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Gift of Giving Life and all related media are an expression of many of our own thoughts and reflections upon pondering the truths of the gospel that we treasure. Our book, website, and Facebook page are not official declarations of doctrine in regards to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to which we belong and cherish our membership. Please make sure to pray and ponder about everything you read.
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You can buy your copy of The Gift of Giving Life on Amazon.