Alannah, an ER nurse in her native Australia, wanted to have a home birth for her second child here in the States, but she was met with cultural confusion, financial difficulties and medical resistance. Although her first child was induced and born at 34 weeks due to growth restriction, she knew as a health care provider and intuitive mother that this previous experience did not risk her out of a home birth for her second child. She managed to find an OB and a midwife who co-managed her pregnancy and the health of her growing baby. Redemption was sweet (albeit hard work) when she spontaneously went into labor at nearly 40 weeks, supported by her midwife and surrounded by her loved ones.
Up Next in Season 1
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“HAYLEY”
In this episode, your host and midwife, Hayley Oakes, is five weeks postpartum after having her first child. This time she gets to answer the questions! Birth doula Carson Meyer interviews Hayley about her pregnancy, home birth and postpartum experiences. Hayley discusses the benefits of proper p...
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“EILEEN”
Eileen came from a long line of women in her family who had highly medicalized births, including her own, each one with less intervention than the last. After a cesarean with her first child and a vaginal birth after cesarean (also known as a VBAC) in the hospital for her second, Eileen chose to ...
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“ERICA”
Erica Mock knew she wanted a home birth as soon as she found out she was pregnant. Her past experience using alternative modalities helped her trust her body to have the birth she wanted. However, there was more work to be done to prepare her mind for the unexpected and unknown. So, of course, Er...
