We talk about trusting your instincts a decent amount around here– but what does it look like to LEARN how to lean into those instincts?

This week we’re speaking with Lisa, who found the confidence to trust her instincts during pregnancy, which has changed her trajectory both as a mother as well as an entrepreneur and coach. Lisa Villani is a rebellious doula, sassy sales coach, hip-hop dancer, and mama to her spunky son in Buffalo, NY. She's married to her ride-or-die and believes fiercely in building a life where both parents get to thrive. After an unmedicated, out-of-hospital birth cracked her wide open, Lisa made it her mission to help women rewrite the narrative of motherhood, money, and identity. A survivor in every sense—of divorce, disordered eating, and a medical system that tried to silence her—she now stands as the loudest voice in the room for women ready to own their power, whether they're giving birth or selling their offers. She's also the host of the Loudmouth Lisa podcast—because playing small was never an option.

Episode Roundup:

1. Connection. We see the theme of connection flowing through Lisa’s story, and I think that we also see connection in the way that Lisa tells her story. Lisa is so clearly a connector. One of my favorite parts of this interview was hearing the beauty in Lisa’s connection with her son, Enzo, from the very beginning. She spent time dancing with him en utero, and she felt this pull their physical connection together. During the first part of the day as she went into labor, she spent time connecting with him as she labored alone, during her pushing phase, we see her turn inward to reconnect with her baby and to tell him that they were going to work together to push him out now— and they did! And then immediately postpartum, Lisa spent those six hours that her husband needed to sleep connecting individually with this beautiful little soul that was now on the outside. As I think of Lisa stepping into this new area of motherhood, where she allows Enzo to go spread his wings through beginning his new co-op, I think of how that connection is what is allowing that little boy the confidence to try new things. Lisa cut the cord after her birth and traded one connection for another, and she like all of us as mothers, will experience those cord cutting moments again and again. The connection didn’t end when she cut the cord, but it transformed. And here she is again with a transforming connection as her little one starts something new. My goodness, the depth and beauty of growing and changing while maintaining tethered to one another.
2. And next, I want to emphasize the power of what Lisa is sharing with other mothers, women and mompreneurs through her deep understanding of sales. She sees that her ability to trust herself and to know and accept the value that she brings to others is what makes herself and the women that she works with successful. These very same lessons that she has learned through motherhood: To listen to her instincts, to be the vibrant, bold mother and woman that she was designed to be. That is her gift to her family, and that is her gift to the world and those whom her work touches.

Links:

Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale

Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page

Youtube |

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

If you had an arduous labor due to your baby’s positioning once, it’s sure to happen similarly if your next baby takes the same position, right?

Ashley Atwood and her husband Sam have 3 active and lively boys. They are a homeschooling family and love adventure and being outdoors. Ashley is a self described birth nerd and loves educating herself about all things birth and pregnancy and discussing all they entail. She feels that education about birth and pregnancy is so important to the birthing experience. Her hope is for all women to take the initiative to learn because birth matters! If it’s in the cards, she would love to become a midwife or doula one day when her children are grown.

Episode Roundup:

1. Ashley’s second birth unfolded in a way that seemed completely different from her first baby’s birth, despite the two being born posterior. I think this is such a helpful reminder to those of you who have had a birth experience that was difficult- and you’re worried about it happening exactly the same way the next time. Remember, this birth is not your last birth. This is a different birth and can be a different experience.
2. For those of us who may fall into the labor denier category, it’s important to remember that someone on the outside may be able to see what’s happening more clearly than we can, and I’ll add this is especially true with second, third and beyond births when both spouses have been through the experience before. When Ashley was doing laundry and dropping to the floor for contractions, it clued Sam in that she was a good bit further along in labor than she realized. Thankfully he was able to reach out to the team and loop them in on what was happening!
3. And now, I want to end with a section of Ashley’s own words from her application. This was so touching, and I feel like it needs to be heard by so many: “And with my third, it was like he was lavishing on his grace- giving me what I absolutely don’t deserve, but did it anyway! It was like he one upped Himself to show me His goodness. He knows me intimately and knows how much birth means to me and how I deeply value it and am in awe of it, and he gave me all my births as a gift, and I am so thankful. He could have made babies come any way He wanted, but He chose to use us, women to bring forth life in a truly miraculous way. I struggle to understand His love and grace and also struggle to believe it about myself and my births have helped me to experience more of His love and to just be in awe of Him that He loves us because He loves us- he chooses to and that’s it. It has nothing to do with what I have done, but all of what He’s done for me. And what a reminder that is of His ultimate love poured out for me on the cross.”

Links:

Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale

Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page

Youtube | https://youtu.be/aeSddUAUrEA

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Vaginal births after cesarean- are they really safe? And what about vbacs at home, or outside of the hospital?

This week we’re speaking with Meagan Heaton, Host and founder of The VBAC Link. Meagan co-founded the VBAC Link in 2018. Although she always felt called to the baby world, she really found her love for birth in 2014 after her second C-Section. Through these two birth experiences, her love and passion grew around VBAC. She wanted to help people feel supported and loved. She had two C-sections and then went on to have a VBA2C, and has now supported over 300 families through their birthing journeys as a doula. Her drive is to help women like herself feel educated, supported, and empowered during their birthing time.

Meagan is so incredible- we’re going to hear her birth stories along with all of the wisdom she has to share for mothers who are seeking to have a vaginal birth after cesarean.

Episode Roundup:

As we head into this week’s episode roundup, here are a few little thoughts I’m having:

1. Partner support is so crucial. Meagan shares about this on her own platform, and she’s got the story to prove just how important this piece is. While Meagan had gained a good amount of education between her first and second birth, her husband was still of the mindset that the doctors truly were the experts, and he trusted what they said. However, when she was able to work with him more on the subjects in their third pregnancy, he was willing to support Meagan in her desire to give birth outside of the hospital- even if he didn’t fully understand it himself. Now, he’s a believer, just like so many other homebirth dads!
2. Next, I love how Meagan mentioned the importance of vetting your care provider, both inside and outside of the hospital. Sometimes we fall into the mental trap that “homebirth midwife equals perfect care provider for me” and honestly, that’s just not the case. There are lots of midwives in my area, and many of them practice quite differently from one another. In fact, many of them are unwilling to take on VBAC clients. Seeking a care provider who knows your story and feels confident working with you- and gives you peace– wow, that’s critical in terms of having a successful VBAC.
3. And finally- I want to leave you with this reminder: It can be different this time. It can be different than before. Maybe you’ve had one, two, three other experiences that all ended in a cesarean– or that whatever happened, ended in a way that felt disempowering to you. I want you to remember that this birth is different, the outcome can be different, and no matter what, your perspective can always be different. Change is possible!

Links:

Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale

Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page

Youtube | https://youtu.be/mSvLScNwm2E

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Is it possible to hold space for both joy and grief simultaneously?

This week we’re speaking with Ivana Burbage. Ivana is a mom, wife and photographer from San Diego but now lives in Hawaii with her husband Justin. She loves being creative, surfing,

spending time in the ocean and since having her babies is passionate about birth and motherhood.

And as Ivana’s story unfolds, you will certainly notice the mingling of both joy and pain throughout and between her two pregnancy and birthing experiences. And isn’t this such a picture of the reality of our lives? We don’t always have perfectly separated, segmented experiences of extreme elation or depthy grief– often times our lives unfold in a way where both must share space and coexist. I am so grateful to Ivana and her family for sharing this reality, both the pain and the beauty.

Episode Roundup:

1. Ivana’s first pregnancy began by greeting new life while also saying goodbye to one of the most important figures of her life. This tension is overwhelming, and the grief of this was so heavy. What I am so happy to hear is the way that Ivana’s community surrounded her. Her husband, Justin, who is familiar with loss himself along with Ivana’s midwife, who stepped in as a support figure both made sure that she was processing her grief in a meaningful way, not allowing the pain to take her as a fearful captive. It is so clear that this made a massive impact in how Ivana was able to experience the rest of her pregnancy, along with her beautiful first birth. When grief struck her family again during her sister’s birth, the same support system came alongside to offer the care that was so desperately needed. What a picture of what it means to live in community and to receive the comfort and love that is so desperately needed in times of such deep pain.
2. Next, keep in mind that each birthing experience is its own– it’s easy to assume that our births will follow a specific pattern or that they will look and feel similarly to a previous experience, but as Ivana mentioned in this episode. Her first birth and her second birth began quite differently, which did add to the experience of labor denial! Ivana thought that her second birth would involve losing her mucous plug over the course of several days and having her water break just like it did with her first, but this second birth followed its own pattern and blueprint! The beauty is that Ivana was able to very comfortably flow with the birth that presented itself, which allowed her to absorb every little moment of her rather short labor.
3. Finally, I want to end with a name. Te’a. God’s promise. We aren’t promised that everything in life will go exactly how we want it to, and this is so clear throughout the stories that Ivana shared today, but there’s one thing that Ivana stands firm on– we are promised that God will be there. That He will show up with and for us, and we will not walk any of it alone. Sweet baby Te’a, a rainbow baby after a tumultuous storm. What a gift.

Links:

Whole Mother Homebirth | wholemotherhomebirth.mykajabi.com/presale

Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page

Youtube | https://youtu.be/4TR1W5_VM2o

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Does an empowering birth change you all at once? Or does it do so incrementally? Pulling back layers as time goes on, exposing truths– behaving more like a well-cultivated seed than an instant shift?

Abigail Pyle is wife to her husband Jeff, and a stay-at-home mom of five very energetic and delightful children ages 10-2 years. She is navigating homeschool and parenting on the Central Coast of California with lots of prayers for wisdom, grace and humility! Through her five unique homebirths, she has become very passionate about sharing with women about what a gift birth was meant to me!

Today we’ll get to hear how Abigail’s experiences have unfolded over time, and the beautiful growth that she has undergone.

Episode Roundup:

1. And really harkening back to the question I asked at the beginning of this episode– Abigail shares how her birth experience did not overhaul who she was in one instant. I’m sure that it did, actually in many ways, but in connection with her perspective, her spiritual life, and beliefs about herself— Abigail’s first birth was a seed planted. Over time and through very different births, that seed was watered, cultivated, and grown to fruit. We see this fruition in her most recent birth where, one week after her due date, she is so ready to meet her baby that she has completely relinquished all fear of how her baby will be born. Back labor again? Who cares. She was fearless and ready to surrender to the process of birth.
2. And that leads me to this second point– surrender and submission. Abigail said something so beautiful that had me thinking about this idea. The more we are able to surrender to our Creator, the more HE will work and do. Here we are circling around the concept she brought up about laboring to rest. We labor, yes, but we MUST rest. We must submit. We must surrender so that he can bring about the bounty that he desires to bring about. If we continually labor whether physically or metaphorically in our own strength, there will be so much less of a harvest. But the more we submit, the more we trust, the more we open our hands to the experience that HE has for us… the more we get to enjoy his great abundance.
3. And finally, Abigail touched on something that I think is such a tangible reminder: You don’t have to experience the negative birth before you plan for the positive homebirth. This is your permission slip. Give it a try, let the Lord bless you however your birth unfolds. Let the seeds be planted.

Links:

Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/

Notify for WMHB Pre Sale! | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/notifypresalelink

Youtube | https://youtu.be/ahv7--6Yfms

Blueshield | blushield.com/homebirth (use code HOMEBIRTH for 18% off of your order today!)

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

What’s the best way to enter birth? Is it with a completely blank slate- not allowing the stories of others to influence your own experience, or…. Is there benefit to listening to the raw stories of others: the gamut of experiences to know what’s possible?

This week we’re speaking with Dr. Elliot Berlin, who we last spoke to on episode 229 titled Have an Informed Pregnancy with Dr. Elliot Berlin. For those of you who have not yet heard of this champion of birth education, let me introduce him. Dr. Berlin is an award-winning prenatal chiropractor, childbirth educator, labor support bodyworker, filmmaker, co-founder of Berlin Wellness Group in Los Angeles, California and the host of the Informed Pregnancy Podcast. Dr. Berlin graduated Summa Cum Laude from Life University of Chiropractic in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Atlanta School of Massage.

Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy® Project aims to utilize multiple forms of media (podcasts, YouTube series, documentaries, and online workshops) to compile and deliver unbiased information about pregnancy and childbirth to empower new and expectant parents to make informed choices regarding their pregnancy and parenting journey.

Dr. Berlin lives in Los Angeles with his wife, perinatal psychologist Dr. Alyssa Berlin, and their four fantastic kids.

Episode Roundup:

1. The mainstream birth narrative is so outdated, and the fact that so many people are making fear-based decisions BECAUSE of what they’ve seen in the media is heartbreaking. To have resources like those that Dr. Berlin has created is such a blessing to so many. It’s restoring the truth of what birth is, for those who are curious and want to make informed decisions.
2. I love the rawness aspect of the content that Dr. Berlin is creating. He’s not trying to paint a false picture of birth, not trying to make it scarier than it is, and also not trying to make it more idyllic than it is. His goal is to give an honest view of how this process unfolds, and the many different ways that that can look and feel.
3. Finally, I want to share with you a very special opportunity that Dr. Berlin has provided. He’s giving a free month of “informed pregnancy plus”, his streaming platform, to our listeners. There’s a link below in the show notes. This will expire on October 1st of 2025, so be sure to hop on this opportunity while you have it!

Links:

Notify for WMHB Pre Sale! | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/notifypresalelink

Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page

Youtube | https://youtu.be/uSDL1pxrvhw

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

Previous Interview: https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/episode-229

Link to Informed Pregnancy Plus: informedpregnancy.tv

Discount Code: HHB725 for 1 month free on a monthly membership (new users only)

How do you discern the difference between fear mongering and true concern?

Scarlen is a home birth mom from Chattanooga, TN. She is a wife to Manny and together they have 5 boys. After a rough hospital birth with her first, she knew there had to be a different way to birth. When she became pregnant with her second boy, she decided she would birth at home and has not looked back since. Her love for birth and postpartum has led her to create a thriving home birth group in Chattanooga, TN called Chattanooga Home Birth Community. The group includes over 400 home birth advocates who are mothers and birth workers local to Chattanooga. This group has successfully connected mothers (in all stages of pregnancy) to doulas, midwives, and other home birth moms.

Episode Roundup:

1. The way we are treated in birth MATTERS when it comes to bonding. Scarlen shared how different she felt after giving birth to her first baby compared to her subsequent homebirths. She felt angry and disconnected because of the way that she had been treated– this interfered with the cascade of hormones of birth, and took away from the euphoric experience that is common after childbirth, especially with an unmedicated birth. With her homebirths, Scarlen was able to experience the fullness of labor and birth, and to feel present as her babies entered her arms. She felt the joy and love well up, just as she had always wanted to. This matters. Wherever you give birth, it matters how you are treated. Being in a hospital does not excuse providers for being inhuman. If you were mistreated during your birth, if you feel capable of doing it now, please complain. Please let these people know that what they are doing is wrong. This system has to change, and it’s going to take our voices to change it.
2. Next, the BOLDNESS. WOW! Scarlen and Manny were not going to be coerced– you can see this with Scarlen in her work situation when she had to fight for her right to avoid an experimental shot, and again when she and Manny asked questions of their care providers that made them uncomfortable during their twin birth. They were so clearly walking in their faith and were unafraid. There’s nothing more powerful than living fearlessly, and that’s what I see in Scarlen’s story.
3. And finally, when you are changed, you can’t help but share. Scarlen’s life was transformed on multiple levels, but her birth experience, especially after her twin birth, gave her a desire to help others. She is providing fellowship, information, and choices to her local community within the facebook group she’s created, and her desire to create a system where she can help support families who need financial assistance have the birth of their dreams– it truly shows her beautiful heart to serve.

Links:

Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth

Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/

Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/direct-to-landing-page

Youtube | youtu.be/meiKqqu_OPE

Blueshield | blushield.com/homebirth (use code HOMEBIRTH for 18% off of your order today!)

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

The pelvic floor: it can be wounded during childbirth– but– could it be healed during the process instead?

Victoria Hedrick is a wife to her wonderful husband Jonathan, and the mother of their almost three year old daughter, Josie. They live on a small piece of land in Virginia that they are slowly turning into a homestead. Victoria enjoys fishing, canoeing, baking sourdough, and all things babies and homebirth. They are expecting their second baby later this year.

Victoria and Jonathan have walked through quite an amazing journey throughout their marriage, particularly in relationship to birth and the physical and emotional healing it provided. You are going to be in awe with this episode!

Episode Roundup:

1. The loving way this couple worked together and their positive outlook. The entrance that Victoria and Jonathan had into marriage was unexpected and highly challenging. These are the types of situations that can so easily cause discord and animosity between couples. How easy would it be for either one to take their hurt and pain and twist it into a weapon instead of allowing it to pull each other closer? Despite the feelings of “why”, despite the darkness, the hurt, the challenge, Victoria and Jonathan continued on as partners working together. And now, they are reaping the benefits of that choice. They now get to experience intimacy on so many levels, and they know that they can trust one another to be steadfast love even in hard times.
2. Confession and repentance. When Victoria told God the truth, it changed everything. “I want to trust you. Help me trust you.” The truth was she didn’t trust Him, and that’s what she was telling him. God can work with that. HE led her to repentance– He changed her mind with HIS truth and was able to finally help her open her hands and surrender. Sometimes we think of confession and repentance as, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” and maybe a few more “I’m sorry’s”. But that’s not really what confession is. When a detective is asking a criminal to confess, is he asking for an apology, or is he asking for the truth? When we confess, we are telling the truth. And repentance, or the Greek word for repentance, is metanoia. It also doesn’t simply mean “I’m sorry.” It’s the way you think differently after having had your mind changed. And who can change your mind best? In my personal experience, confessing to God and sharing the truth of my heart- even the deepest, deepest darkest corners where my real thoughts hide sometimes even from myself– the ones I wouldn’t want anyone to know– when I can search that out and tell Him the truth, he brings about the repentance. He shows me the REAL truth of the situation. He provides me with new perspective, with HIS heart… and boy, when that happens, my mind is truly changed. Truly healed. Now I’m not striving to be better, I’m made new with new revelation and understanding, usually about just how deep the Father’s love for us really is. Now back to Victoria- isn’t it beautiful how we see this play out? She tells God how she’s feeling, and then wow, low and behold, this new ability to release and surrender comes from… where? From nowhere? No, from her good Father who loves her. I’m linking two of my favorite books that dive into these topics in the show notes if you’d like to dive deeper with this.

Links:

Samaritan Ministries | samaritanministries.org/happyhomebirth

Happy Homebirth Academy | happyhomebirth.thrivecart.com/happy-homebirth-academy-checkout/

Interview Application | interviewwithkatelyn.my.canva.site/facebook-landing-page

Youtube | youtu.be/GmPnhTCJx0I

Blueshield | blushield.com/homebirth (use code HOMEBIRTH for 18% off of your order today!)

Restorative Roots | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)