Clara prepared carefully for the birth she envisioned — a peaceful, natural delivery at a birth center, supported by hypnobirthing techniques, prayer, and a deep trust in her body. But on Christmas Day, her birth story took an unexpected turn.

After being told she was only one centimeter dilated and sent home, Clara’s labor intensified rapidly. What she believed was still early labor was actually transition. Within hours, and without the support she expected, Clara gave birth on the floor of her home with only her husband and a close friend by her side.

In this episode, Clara shares the powerful story of her unplanned home birth, the confusion and heartbreak of not feeling believed during labor, and the faith that helped her find meaning in the experience afterward.

She also opens up about the difficult postpartum journey that followed — navigating breastfeeding challenges, tongue and lip ties, and her daughter’s ongoing health struggles — while reflecting on what she would do differently for a future birth.

This conversation explores intuition, surrender, faith, and the lessons that come when birth unfolds in ways we never expected.

Bonnie returns to share the remarkable story of her second birth—a triumphant VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean). After carefully preparing her body and mind with nutrition, exercise, and birth education, Bonnie faced unexpected challenges when labor began on her due date. Rapid contractions, hospital policies, and moments of doubt tested her determination, but with the unwavering support of her husband and doula, she trusted her body and pushed through. The result? The emotional and empowering arrival of her son, Jeb. This episode is a testament to persistence, self-advocacy, and the incredible strength of the birthing body. ✨

In this episode of The Midwives Podcast, Margie sits down with Bonnie, a doula and first-time mom, to share the story of her first birth.

After a spontaneous rupture of membranes on Christmas Eve, Bonnie entered the hospital hoping for an unmedicated vaginal birth. Instead, she experienced a rapid cascade of interventions that led to a Cesarean birth on Christmas Day. Bonnie reflects on advocacy, vulnerability, informed consent, and the quiet grief that can accompany births that don’t unfold as planned—alongside deep gratitude for a healthy baby.

This episode offers an honest look at navigating hospital birth, processing unmet expectations, and the role of faith, support, and community in healing after birth.

In this powerful episode, Janelle shares her incredible journey of planning and birthing her twin boys with a midwife. After navigating provider changes, insurance hurdles, and pressure to deliver in a hospital setting, Janelle followed her intuition and chose the care model that aligned with her vision for a physiological birth.

She walks us through preparing for a natural twin birth, discovering both babies were breech, and ultimately experiencing a fast and intense seven-hour labor. When a placental abruption led to significant blood loss after the first twin was born, her midwife calmly guided the moment, and just eight minutes later, baby brother made his entrance.

Janelle opens up about hemorrhage recovery, tandem breastfeeding, the realities of twin postpartum life, and the importance of community support. Her story is a testament to informed choice, trust in the body, and the strength that comes from feeling truly supported in birth.

Whether you’re expecting twins, considering out-of-hospital birth, or simply love powerful birth stories, this episode is a moving reminder of resilience, preparation, and the beauty of welcoming two lives at once.

In this episode of The Midwives Podcast, we sit down with Yasmine to reflect on her deeply transformative journey through two very different births. Yasmine shares her first pregnancy during the height of COVID, navigating an IUGR diagnosis, early induction, NICU time, and a challenging postpartum and breastfeeding experience with her daughter, Sophia.

She then walks us through how those experiences led her to question the medical “default,” explore the midwifery model of care, and ultimately choose a home birth for her second child, Sebastian. Yasmine opens up about her initial skepticism, the process of finding a midwife, and how a physiologic, relationship-centered approach to birth reshaped her confidence, autonomy, and trust in her body.

We also dive into her fast and powerful home birth, the importance of a calm and intentional birth environment, the role of the birth team, and how breastfeeding unfolded more seamlessly the second time around. This conversation highlights the contrast between the medical and midwifery models of care and invites listeners to reflect on their own values when making birth choices.

Whether you’re navigating birth options, processing a past experience, or simply curious about home birth and informed choice, Yasmine’s story is an honest, thoughtful exploration of what it means to step off the conveyor belt and choose a path aligned with your values.

In this episode of The Midwives Podcast, Margie sits down with her client to share the beautiful, empowering story of baby Foster’s birth. From early pregnancy beliefs to choosing an out-of-hospital birth, she walks us through how social media, mindset work, and deep trust in her body shaped her decision to pursue an unmedicated water birth.

She recounts the surprising start of labor, the steady build of intensity, and the grounding routines—breathing, darkness, movement, and support—that carried her through. With honesty and warmth, she describes back labor, her water breaking on the “dilation station,” the calm focus of the birth tub, and the powerful moment Foster was placed on her chest.

The episode also explores the realities of postpartum feeding challenges, including discovering her baby had multiple oral ties, navigating latch difficulties, and finding the right specialists for support.

This is a story of intuition, surrender, preparation, and the deep transformation of becoming a mother—an inspiring listen for anyone curious about physiological birth or the power of trusting your body.

In this episode of The Midwives Podcast, Margie and Amy sit down with Cassie, a mother of three, as she shares the powerful, redemptive story of her third birth—her first out-of-hospital, water birth at the birth center.

Cassie reflects on her previous hospital births, describing how bright lights, rushed providers, and impersonal care left her anxious and disconnected. After a particularly difficult second birth with an OB, she knew she wanted something different for her next baby: dim lights, water, trust, and calm.

She walks listeners through her unexpectedly fast labor, the hilarious pizza-induced denial that she was actually in labor, and the dramatic four-minute drive to the birth center. Once she arrived, everything shifted. Supported, grounded, and guided by her midwife’s confidence, Cassie stepped into the tub—and into the birth she had always hoped for. She describes touching her baby’s head for the first time, her husband catching their son in the water, and the overwhelming sense of triumph: her personal “Ironman moment.”

Cassie also discusses her breastfeeding journey, the supportive postpartum care she received, and the deep trust she built with her midwifery team and students. She shares what she wishes other parents knew about choosing a birthplace: trust your body, ask questions, and pick a provider who makes you feel safe.

This heartfelt episode highlights the transformative power of compassionate midwifery care, the importance of feeling seen and supported, and the beauty of reclaiming birth on your own terms.

In this episode, Courtney, a doula and childbirth educator, shares her intense and unexpected birth story. Despite planning for an unmedicated birth, things took a dramatic turn when she experienced severe pain during pushing and was rushed into an emergency C-section due to a placental abruption. She talks about her experience using nitrous oxide for pain relief, how her baby’s heart rate dropped during labor, and how the cord wrapped around her baby's body, causing complications. Courtney also discusses how her knowledge as a doula helped her stay calm during the crisis and how having a solid birth plan and strong support system made a huge difference. She reflects on the importance of education, community, and being mentally prepared for the unexpected. This episode is a raw and honest look at how birth can be unpredictable and how being informed can help parents navigate even the most challenging moments.