203 What do you mean there is no amniotic fluid? Birth Story with Kristen Stegall
Release Date: 12/10/2024
214 || Birth Order and the role it plays in our lives and parenting with Dr. Robert Hurst
Birth Story Podcast
How does Birth Order impact you and your parenting? Dr. Robert V.V. Hurst was born in Hammond Indiana and has been practicing orthodontics in Covington Louisiana for over 35 years. During this time he has used his office and patients as his living laboratory to study his patient’s personality traits and birth orders. Out of this has come a unique and workable theory that accurately finds a person's real birth order and explains their behaviors. Educated at Indiana University and Harvard, he has taught at both Tufts University and Louisiana State University. He has published numerous articles...
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213 || Doula Diaries: A week of Home Birth, Birth Center, and Hospital Births with MyDoulaHeidi
Birth Story Podcast
Drumroll....I am proud of myself for pumping out the ever popular Doula Diaries! I had a crazy week of births around the full Blood Moon of March 14, 2025. I went to a homebirth, a birth center birth, and 2 hospital births in the same week. Let's see how they all played out. This week was reminding me that birth is unpredictable. It can be long, it can be short, it can be uncomplicated, it can be complicated. Prepare for it....that's why I wrote Birth Story Academy. You can enroll in my online course and be ready for whatever labor throws at you. Enroll at BirthStory.com and use...
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212 || World Down Syndrome Day with Abby Rose Green of the HERSELF Podcast
Birth Story Podcast
Today is World Downsyndrome Day! Celebrating all of our homies with an extra chromy. Thank you for being here and sharing this podcast episode with someone that you know that is parenting and/or pregnant and Down's Syndrome is part of their story. Heidi sits down with Abby Rose Green of the to chat about fertility, an unexpected anatomy scan, an amniocentesis, chromosomal uniqueness, Down's Syndrome, and birth. Abby was originally planning an unmedicated homebirth. She shares how she changed plans and was still able to achieve the beautiful vaginal birth she so desired...
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211 || 8 Minute Birth Meditation Affirmations for labor preparation
Birth Story Podcast
Thank you Michelle Smith for recording these beautiful birth affirmations to help get through birth and to practice before birth! If you have 8 minutes, come back to this episode every day! XOXO Heidi You can find Michelle's Birth Ease Method for Hypnobirthing at
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210 || The Vagina Whisperer Dr. Sara Rearden and her book FLOORED
Birth Story Podcast
What is pelvic floor therapy? Dr. Sara Reardon had two unmedicated vaginal births with no perineal tearing. So, how? Sara has her online pelvic floor fitness platform (everyone can try free for 7 days) and her book available for pre-order now and releasing June 10, 2025 3 Key takeaways from the podcast that listeners will learn today: Pelvic floor issues affects almost 50% of women and there is help to prevent and overcome My book Floored can help guide you through Pregnancy, birth and postpartum to manage common issues like urinary leakage, prolapse and painful sex ...
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209 || Heidi's Birth Statistics 2024 Doula Clients
Birth Story Podcast
Heidi talks through her birth statistics from 2024 with her fall interns Katie, Cat, and Mariza. Take a dive into cesarean section rates, how long labors lasted, and more fun data in this annual episode! We have seats available in Birth Story Academy. Join today for $20 off with code BIRTHSTORYFRIEND at Resources: I’m Heidi, a Certified Birth Doula, and I’ve supported the deliveries of over one thousand parents in my career. On the Birth Story Podcast, I’ll take you on a journey through your pregnancy by providing you education through storytelling. I provide...
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208 || Survivor 46 Winner Kenzie Petty and Her Birth Story
Birth Story Podcast
Are you ready to hear the amazing birth story of Kenzie Petty with her partner Jackson by her side? Let's do this! And since Kenzie is a baddy and won survivor and crushed a primal unmedicated birth...she has a bunch of ways to connect and save you money on all of her favorite things. Make sure to follow her if you aren't already! Here is what you need to know! XOXO Heids Favorite baby product or new motherhood product? What would you buy for someone who was currently pregnant or a new parent?: Chatbooks: CODE: “KENZIETHEHAPPYFAIRY” 20% off HOPE&plum carriers 10% off ...
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207 What is Craniosacral Therapy with Meaghan Beams
Birth Story Podcast
3 Key takeaways from the podcast that listeners will learn today: craniosacral is very gentle and can be used on anyone, but especially babies very soon after birth, no matter if the birth was smooth, or traumatic it can help with feeding (no matter how you feed your baby), sleep issues, tongue ties, and meeting developmental milestones it’s never too late to start craniosacral treatments Favorite baby product or new motherhood product? What would you buy for someone who was currently pregnant or a new parent?: a craniosacral treatment!! This is a great way to help the...
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206 Write to Heal Coaching Program with Cora Howard
Birth Story Podcast
Today Heidi interviewed Cora Howard, a mother of two and the owner of Write to Heal, a coaching program for birthing people that have experienced cesarean births. Here is a little more about Cora Howard and this episode. In Cora's words: "In this episode, we’ll explore the emotional journey of recovering from a C-section and rediscovering your sense of self. I’ll share my personal birth stories, including the challenges and transformations I experienced after two C-sections, and how these led to the creation of my mindfulness-based coaching program, Write to Heal. We’ll also discuss...
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205 Relationships and Sex After Baby with Chelsea Skaggs
Birth Story Podcast
Today Heidi interviewed Chelsea Skaggs, the founder of Postpartum Together, a coaching program for parents to continue to grow their relationship after having kids. Here is a little more about Chelsea Skaggs and this episode. In Chelsea's words: "Having a baby creates a huge shift in your relationship. More than half of couples report decreased satisfaction in their marriage after having a baby, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s no sugar coating that it’s humbling and hard work to understand yourself and your partner in the midst of such a big change but there are ways to...
info_outlineToday Heidi interviewed Kristen Stegall, CEO of Novice Studios, a podcast production company based in Charlotte, NC. Here is a little more about Kristen Stegall and this episode.
In Heidi's words: "In this episode, I interview my client Kristen Stegall about her pregnancy journeys, from navigating a missed miscarriage in 2020, to delivering her rainbow baby in 2022. We discuss her long prodromal labor, determining that a c-section was the safest way to deliver her baby, and processing a traumatic birth experience."
While I don't usually work at this hospital, it should be noted that Kristen says, " And it was fun to do the different positions and try the birth sling and to, you know, all the nurses, the staff there. I feel like very lucky that everybody there was so kind. And they were like, you guys do your thing. And they were like, we trust the doula and we trust you to tell us when you need something."
It feels good to be trusted by a hospital system as a doula. This was the last time I was at this hospital until October of 2024.
3 Key takeaways from the podcast that listeners will learn today:
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A D&C is an abortion, and abortion is a healthcare tool that saves lives. Unfortunately the word “abortion” has been villainized, but ultimately it prevented an adverse outcome for Kristen’s missed miscarriage.
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An urgent c-section is different from an emergency c-section. In an emergency, you are completely put under general anesthesia and are asleep for the procedure. In Kristen’s urgent c-section, she was fully awake and numbed via epidural.
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If you had a c-section, you gave birth!! Don’t discount your experience or your role in bringing your baby into the world just because you didn’t give birth vaginally.
3 Keywords that people would want to search when looking for content that you would provide in this episode:
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Missed miscarriage
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Abortion as healthcare
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Urgent C-section
Favorite baby product or new motherhood product:
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Portable Sound Machine with Lights (great for on-the-go naps in the stroller!)
Kristen Stegall is the CEO of Novice Studios, a video podcast production company based in Charlotte, NC. She is a wife to Matt, and mom to a happy toddler and two fur babies.
Website: https://novicestudiosclt.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novicestudiosclt/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@novicestudiosclt
We have seats available in Birth Story Academy. Join today for $20 off with code BIRTHSTORYFRIEND at https://www.birthstory.com/online-course!
Resources:
I’m Heidi, a Certified Birth Doula, and I’ve supported the deliveries of over one thousand babies in my career. On the Birth Story Podcast, I’ll take you on a journey through your pregnancy by providing you education through storytelling. I provide high-level childbirth education broken down to make it super digestible for you because I know you are a busy parent on the go. Plus, because I am so passionate about birth outcomes, you will hear from many of the top experts in labor and delivery.
Connect with Me!