Shows
MyMaine Birth100. Birth Without Boundaries: Nicole's Maine FreeBirth StorySend us a textGet 10% OFF MyAutonomous Birth, the self-paced, Online Course HEREAre you a soon to be mom, a seasoned mother, or simply interested in the world of birth? You’re in the right place! In this episode, we discuss:Home birth in MaineThe decision to birth without any medical assistanceWhat she did to prepare for this type of birth experienceThe joy of birthing in your full power, and without anyone telling you what to do….and a whole lot more!Additional Resources you’ll LOVE…...
2024-11-1450 minMyMaine Birth99. Embracing an Unassisted Birth: Kiley returns to share her Third Birth StorySend us a textGet 10% OFF MyAutonomous Birth, the self-paced, Online Course HEREAre you a soon to be mom, a seasoned mother, or simply interested in the world of birth? You’re in the right place! In this episode, we discuss:Unassisted Home birth in MaineHaving trust and patience in the physiological process of birthMidwifery care and sovereign birth support options The decision to go to the hospital when her water broke and meconium presented to check on her baby, and her subsequent decision to sign AMA paper...
2024-11-1432 minMyMaine Birth98. Claiming Your Full Power: Rendalyn's Maine FreeBirth StorySend us a text Get 10% OFF MyAutonomous Birth, the self-paced, Online Course HEREAre you a soon to be mom, a seasoned mother, or simply interested in the world of birth? You’re in the right place! In this episode, we discuss:Home birth in MaineRendalyn shares her two birth stories, the first was a birth center birth in another state, followed by her powerful Maine Free Birth storyRendaly shares about her miscarriage between her two birth stories ….and a whole lot more!Additional Resources you’ll LOVE…
2024-11-121h 09MyMaine Birth97. MyMaine Birth: Dessiree shares her Maine Birth story at Mercy Hospital in Portland with care from All About WomenSend us a textImagine being told you might never have children at a young age, and then you grow up and find yourself pregnant. This is the raw and inspiring journey of Desiree, who, against odds, embarked on the path to motherhood. Join us as Desiree shares the rollercoaster of emotions and the unwavering support she received from her partner, James, her mother, and the incredible team at Northern Lights Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine, as she navigated a high-risk pregnancy with remarkable resilience.Throughout her pregnancy, Desiree faced significant challenges, including a subchorionic...
2024-11-0640 minMyMaine Birth96. Overcoming the Unexpected: Leah's Birth Journey at Maine Medical Center in PortlandSend us a textLeah's story is one of resilience, courage, and the power of hope as she navigates what she was told was a high-risk pregnancy. Despite being told from a young ages that she might not conceive due to PCOS, after a recent gastric sleeve surgery, Leah found herself expecting. Join me in this episode as she shares her experience of feeling forced to deliver at Maine Medical Center, confronting past traumas associated with this hospital, and the difficult choices faced when your birth plan is no longer your own.
2024-10-1442 minMyMaine Birth95. Embracing Birth Bliss: Katie's Journey to Natural ChildbirthSend us a textHave you ever questioned the conventional norms of childbirth and wondered about embracing a more natural approach? Join me in this episode as we reconnect with Katie Stroud, my dear friend, inspiring fellow childbirth educator, and co-creatrix of Birth Bliss. Katie shares her transformative journey, influenced by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it led her to explore the philosophy of sovereign birth during her second pregnancy and now again in her current pregnancy. Together, we introduce our exciting new collaboration, Birth Bliss, a comprehensive ch...
2024-10-0735 minMyMaine Birth94. Adapting to Unexpected Challenges: Bekah's Maine General Hospital Birth StorySend us a textBekah's story is an emotional journey of unexpected challenges and resilience, tracing her path from a bustling life in California to her new beginnings in Maine. After meeting her fiancé, Logan, Becca shares the ebbs and flows of her pregnancy, including her initial birthing plans and the eventual decision to deliver at Maine General Hospital. Bekah's experience takes an intense turn at 39 weeks when a scheduled appointment revealed preeclampsia, leading to an unplanned labor induction. She candidly discusses the highs and lows of this unexpected path, including opting for a...
2024-10-0336 minMyMaine Birth93. Navigating a Traumatic Birth and Finding Healing: Emily’s Maine Medical Center ExperienceSend us a textJoin me in Episode 93 of MyMaine Birth as Emily shares her raw and emotional story of navigating motherhood with her boyfriend Curtis. Discover how she found out she was pregnant while on birth control and the prenatal care she received from Intermed in Portland, Maine. Emily’s narrative takes a dramatic shift at the 36th week with concerns over preeclampsia, leading to an unplanned induction immediately following her 37 week appointment at Maine Medical Center. Through her experiences, Emily underscores the crucial need for being informed and proactive about medical decisions during pregna...
2024-09-2430 minMyMaine Birth92. Trusting Your Choices in Childbirth: Christi's StorySend us a textGet 10% OFF MyAutonomous Birth, the self-paced, Online Course HEREAre you a soon to be mom, a seasoned mother, or simply interested in the world of birth? You’re in the right place! In this episode, we discuss:Maine Medical Center Portland, Maine Birth StoryChristi shares about her experience working with me as her birth photographerThe importance of being informed and confident in your birth decisionsDoula support in Maine….and a whole lot more!Additional Resources you’ll LOVE…If you a...
2024-09-1940 minMyMaine Birth91. Pregnancy and Postpartum during a Pandemic: Faith's Maine Birth Story with care from Coastal Women's Health in ScarboroughSend us a textWelcome to Episode 91 of MyMaine Birth, I can’t believe we’re almost at 100 episodes! Thank you so much to all of you who have supported me through this really incredible journey of collecting and publishing Birth Stories from across Maine and to all of you who have offered to share your own birth story on the podcast, it literally wouldn’t be possible without you... so Thank You! For those of you who might not know, all of my guests on the podcast also receive a gift certificate for a family ph...
2024-09-1749 minMyMaine Birth90. Unlocking Pelvic Health with Dr. Emily Wilson of Pelvic Wisdom in Yarmouth, MaineSend us a textUnlock the secrets to better pelvic health with Dr. Emily Wilson of Pelvic Wisdom Physical Therapy. Emily shares her compelling journey into pelvic floor therapy, starting from an unexpected discovery during her education, to becoming a passionate advocate for personalized care. Learn about the transformative power of pelvic floor therapy, especially during pregnancy, conception, and postpartum care, and how it can radically improve your well-being.Discover why Emily emphasizes the importance of relaxation and breath work in preparing your pelvic floor for labor. She explains how stress and tension in the s...
2024-09-0554 minMyMaine Birth89. Navigating a Twin Pregnancy and NICU stay, Crystal shares her Maine Medical Center Birth StorySend us a textJoin me as we uncover the emotional rollercoaster of twin pregnancies and an unexpected, and coerced C-section. Crystal opens up about her scheduled C-section, exposing the fears and confusion that led to her decision and expressing her regret over not being fully informed. Her honest account highlights the critical need for thorough childbirth education and unwavering support during these pivotal moments.Crystal Chapman brings us into her life-changing journey of an unexpected twin pregnancy when she was 20 years old, recounting the myriad of emotions from the first ultrasound to the preterm b...
2024-08-271h 00MyMaine Birth88. Katie's Journey through Pregnancy after LossSend us a textKatie's path to motherhood is fraught with heartache and hope, from the devastating loss of her first pregnancy at 16.5 weeks to enduring four more miscarriages before successfully carrying her daughter, Fiona. She shares the emotional turmoil of each loss and the daunting task of finding the right OB-GYN in Maine, shedding light on the importance of patient advocacy and support in navigating high-risk pregnancies. Her story is a testament to the strength and perseverance required to face such trials and emerge with a family of four children.Katie discusses the psychological...
2024-08-071h 43MyMaine Birth87. Capri's Journey through a Challenging Pregnancy: Bellamy's Triumphant StorySend us a textWhat would you do if faced with the terrifying possibility of your unborn child having severe brain and heart conditions? Capri's harrowing yet inspiring journey through her pregnancy with her son, Bellamy, offers a profound lesson in the power of intuition and the importance of seeking second opinions. Despite being advised to consider a medical abortion by a genetic counselor, Capri chose to trust her instincts. Tune in to hear how Bellamy defied the odds, being born without the initially diagnosed brain condition and overcoming significant medical challenges, including...
2024-08-0532 minMyMaine Birth86. Embracing Home Birth and Hypnobirthing with CashlynSend us a textHow do you navigate childbirth when your intuition clashes with medical advice? Join us as we welcome Cashlyn, a resilient mother of four, whose powerful experiences in advocating for natural birth methods will leave you inspired. Hear about her memorable encounter with a doctor who resembled the Monopoly man, and how her midwife’s support guided her through challenging decisions. Cashlyn’s vivid storytelling brings to life the swift hospital births of her three daughters and the enchanting home birth of her son, all while celebrating the joy of growing a family close in a...
2024-07-2548 minMyMaine Birth85. From Natural Birth Plans to Medical Emergencies: Lea's ExperienceSend us a textLeah shares her two birth experiences at Houlton Regional Hospital. Her first pregnancy journey is marked by a 19-hour labor, complications, and a severe tear that required reconstructive surgery. Leah also bravely recounts the terrifying postpartum period, where blood clots led to a prolonged hospital stay and intensive treatment. Her narrative highlights the raw and often unforeseen challenges of childbirth in a hospital setting, and the strength required to overcome them.In the second part of the episode, Leah opens up about her twin pregnancy, which brought its own series of t...
2024-07-2033 minMyMaine Birth84. Confronting Birth Complications and PTSD: Jessica's Powerful StorySend us a textIn this episode, Jessica joins me today to share her candid and powerful birth story from Northern Lights Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.Jessica opens up about discovering her pregnancy during 2020, the struggles of being labeled as a high-risk pregnancy due to being overweight, and the cascade of pregnancy interventions that she was faced with as a result. Jessica began experiencing some blood pressure issues during the last month of her pregnancy, and with that reasoning she was scheduled for an induction at 38 weeks. She recalls that the wh...
2024-07-1928 minMyMaine Birth83. Mari's Story of Pregnancy Surprises and Overcoming ObstaclesSend us a textJoin me this week for an eye-opening episode where Mari shares her deeply personal journey, from the shock of discovering she was pregnant just before an IUD insertion appointment, to the intense birth of her daughter, Violet, at Northern Lights Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Mari opens up about her initial anxieties, her connection with the midwives at Belfast Women's Health, and the heart-wrenching decision to transfer to a high-risk facility due to gestational diabetes. Her story is a testament to the resilience and strength required to navigate the unpredictable nature of c...
2024-07-0923 minMyMaine Birth82. Navigating Two Births Close in Age and the Postpartum Period with LizSend us a textJoin me this week as Liz, a stay-at-home mom, recounts her experiences birthing two children close in age and explores the dynamics of her family. From the excitement of discovering her pregnancies to advocating for her own and her babies' needs, Liz’s story is a heartfelt journey filled with joy, challenges, and invaluable lessons. Liz opens up about the importance of exploring various birth care options, sharing how her early pregnancy anxieties were eased with the right support and guidance. Listen as she details her decision-making process between natural birthing at...
2024-06-251h 08MyMaine Birth81. Navigating Birth as a Postpartum Nurse, Kassi's storySend us a textJoin me as I chat with Kassi as she shares her personal journey navigating the complex emotions and decisions surrounding hospital birth, influenced deeply by her experiences as a postpartum nurse. Kassi Reyes, is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and passionately supports mothers through every stage of their breastfeeding journey. Kassie opens up about her return to Maine, her blended family, and the transformative power of prenatal education in successful breastfeeding.We chat about her search for the right prenatal care. From the surprising positive pregnancy test to...
2024-06-1742 minMyMaine Birth80. Embracing the Unexpected, Stacie's Journey to MotherhoodSend us a textDrawing back the curtain on the transformative journey of childbirth, Stacie, a new mother and talented photographer in the Midcoast Maine area, graces this episode with her poignant narrative. Embracing the ebb and flow of pregnancy, she recounts stepping through the veil of fear, armed with knowledge gleaned from candid discussions with friends and educational resources. Her tale is not just a personal triumph but a beacon for mothers-to-be, illuminating the paths less traveled in the realm of birthing options.Venturing from the sun-kissed boulevards of Southern California to the bucolic c...
2024-05-201h 11MyMaine Birth79. Amanda's Two Maine Birth Stories and her Evolution into Holistic Women's HealthSend us a textWhen Amanda DeLorme of Pearl Holistic Health joined me, she didn't just bring her expertise in holistic women's health; she brought the raw and transformative story of her journey into motherhood and self-care. As our conversation unfolds, Amanda's powerful narrative shines a light on the often-unspoken pressures that mothers endure and the vital lesson that taking care of oneself is not just important—it's essential.Embarking on a path from occupational therapy to a more integrative practice, Amanda's personal experiences with childbirth catalyzed her professional pivot. Through her story, we gain ins...
2024-05-1527 minMyMaine Birth78. Nora's Intimate Home Birth in the Heart of Maine's BackwoodsSend us a textHave you ever wondered about the raw and transformative moments that come with welcoming a new life into your family? Join me as Nora returns to share the intimate details of her home birth journey with her third daughter, Theodora, in the tranquil Maine backwoods. This heartwarming episode peels back the layers of childbirth, revealing the supportive dynamics of a close-knit family and the beautiful balance of motherhood and rural living.Nora's narrative offers a candid glimpse into the preparation and emotional landscape of expecting a third child. She reflects on...
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