100: Gentle Transitions: Planning Ahead Calms The Storm
Birth Education Center
Today marks our 100th episode (and yes—technology tried to take us out), Ashley couldn’t record with me, so I am reading her written intro for the episode.This show’s topic is one that we need to begin speaking about and normalizing in our everyday vernacular. While you may want to shy away from this episode, I invite you to lean in and if it’s uncomfortable, be curious as to why and see if you are ready to do something about it. In a few weeks my SKOOL classroom will open and “Work on it Wednesdays” begin. More to come in a few weeks but this will lead into our conversation. We...
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099: Andrea’s Natural Birth Story: When Baby Has Their Own Plan
Birth Education Center
I love when 2nd timer parents return to share yet another birth story! Andrea and Juan are back to share their little girls debut into the world and you get to hear the actual 911 call of her arrival! Andrea talks about staying grounded through pregnancy with simple routines like rereading, writing affirmations on the mirror (“your body knows what to do,” “your baby knows how to be born”), and focusing on the outcome they wanted while setting fears aside. Andrea also shares how she’d talk to the baby for signs and felt reassured when the baby would move whenever fear came up. Juan...
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098: Katarina’s Twin Birth: Letting Go of the Plan
Birth Education Center
Today I sat down with Katarina from Chicago to share her twin birth story and what it taught her about mindset, advocacy, and letting go. Her twin pregnancy was shaped after an early miscarriage made her became more analytical and anxious while trying to conceive. She then got pregnant again and found out she was carrying twins. As a naturopathic doctor, she prepared deeply—through classes, therapy, and hypnobirthing—focusing on the mental and emotional side of birth, not just the physical. And as with most twins - surprises showed up and her birth plans changed within a moment's...
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097: Legacy Mentor Series: Jenny West on Trusting Your Voice and Not Getting Stuck in Your Training
Birth Education Center
In this Legacy Mentor episode, I welcome midwife Jenny West, who was one of my first mentors as I came into teaching Hypnobirthing and practicing as a doula. Jenny adds so much good advice for student midwives and parents in this episode. We talk about how different the midwifery model of care can look in home birth versus hospital settings, and why parents need to do their homework and practice using their voice—including saying no or asking to wait. Jenny shares how an early client request led her to become a water birth midwife after witnessing a confident 10 lb 6 oz water birth,...
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096: Camila’s Two Empowering Births in Colombia
Birth Education Center
Today I’m talking with Camila from Colombia (she took Hypnobirthing in 2022) and today she shares both of her birth stories—what it’s like navigating a system with a high C-section rate and lots of “stay in bed” hospital rules, and how she still created empowering experiences. We also touch on her fertility journey with Dr. Leah Gordon (coming off birth control, learning her cycle, and rebuilding trust in her body), walking through a loss, and what helped her get pregnant again. Camila breaks down baby #1(Ines) and how staying calm helped her keep her voice and avoid a...
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095: Shanna’s Birth Story: 42 Weeks & Learning to Surrender
Birth Education Center
This show has so many parts to it! Shanna and Eric were in my Hypnobirthing series and Eric was so amazed at their process when I picked up their placenta - he could not stop talking about how awesome his wife was! Shanna and I talk through her journey to becoming a mom- a few losses led her and her husband to a fertility clinic, genetic testing, and ultimately IVF. Important information for parents pre-pregnancy - you may want to look at both sets of genes before you begin trying. We also get into what it looked like to prepare for birth with education, a supportive partner, and a doula she...
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094: Mentoring Call with Niki: Working Through the “Dry Seasons”
Birth Education Center
I’m excited for you to meet Niki, a doula in Houston I’ve known for about three years. Our work together has always centered on birth work as self work—creative, not competitive. Niki is an amazing person who doesn’t give up even though it looks easier to throw in the towel. Niki shares her experience with a clique-ish professional scene that has made networking and consistent client flow difficult. This is a common theme with doulas all over the country. We change this by finding other doulas in our area who are feeling the same way and we change it up! If you are feeling that way - I...
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093: Legacy Mentor Series: Roberta Frank on Midwifery, Birth, and Personal Transformation
Birth Education Center
Today’s show kicks off the Legacy Mentor Series with Roberta Frank, a trailblazing midwife whose impact on my life is indescribable. It is an honor getting to share many of my mentors who have passed on their love, time and advice over the years that I have been in birth work. I credit these people for helping to create the Birth Education Center and all that it has offered. In this episode, we discuss the transformative power of birth, the wisdom of midwifery, and the importance of respecting a woman's natural ability to give birth. And once again, Roberta passes on her observations...
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092: A Hypnobirthing Home Birth: John and Taylor’s Story
Birth Education Center
In today's episode, we welcome the home birth story of John and Taylor. Taylor and John took Hypnobirthing at the center and John got the full exposure to what birth could actually look like. Taylor saw something about home birth in High School and the idea stuck! Her “crunchy lifestyle” choices shaped her birth plan and helped her find a midwife. John opens up about moving from skepticism to being fully onboard with his role as they navigated their birth journey together. He admits he’s NOT the crunchy one in this relationship. With a baby who showed up early and took his time...
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Bonus Episode: Grief, Gratitude, and Trust
Birth Education Center
This is a special bonus episode wrapping up the season! I just wanted to express my immense gratitude for all your emails, heartfelt responses, and questions. Your journey toward better education, finding the best providers, and increased awareness in the realm of parenthood means the world to me and Ashley. This is a summary of what I have been going through this past year. Grief. So if you’ve wondered where I’ve been, here is the tea. I'm excited to share our upcoming mentor legacy series and amazing birth stories in the next season. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me....
info_outlineWe’re back with Jamilah for the final chapter of her surrogacy journey! In this episode, Jamilah shares the emotional and physical experience of delivering her surrogate baby. From the anticipation and pressure of reaching 40 weeks for herself and the Intended Parents, to advocating for herself in the hospital, to the powerful moment of birth.
And there’s an unexpected plot twist here that wasn’t planned but pulled things in full circle. She also shares about the unique postpartum experience of going home without a baby—Jamilah’s story is full of insight for anyone curious about surrogacy, birth, and the bonds formed along the way.
Thank you for joining us for this moving conclusion to Jamilah’s story. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, be sure to check them out for the full journey!
@jamilahallencreative @familymattersurrogacy
𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!
Let’s connect: Have questions or comments for this episode?
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