Happy Homebirth

What happens when your first experience of birth leaves you shaken…

and the providers you’re supposed to trust tell you not to try again?  Where do you go from there?

 

Sarah Marie is the owner of Entering Motherhood, a wife and a mom of three who spends her days soaking up life with her little ones, whether that’s through slow mornings at home, time in the garden, or exploring a new coffee shop.

 

As a certified birth and postpartum doula, Sarah is passionate about walking alongside women as they step into motherhood. She also hosts the Entering Motherhood podcast, where she shares encouragement, education, and real conversations about pregnancy, birth and beyond.

 

Sarah believes that birth is more than just an experience, it’s a beautiful moment to reflect on and embrace. She loves helping moms feel confident, informed, and supported so they can truly own their journey as they are entering motherhood.

 

Episode Roundup:

 

First—how much our early experiences can shape us.

Sarah’s first birth didn’t go the way she expected. It left her questioning herself, her body, and what was possible for future births. And I think many women can relate to that… carrying questions after birth, wondering, “What does this all mean?”

But what stands out to me is this:

She didn’t stay there, stuck and unchanged.  She intentionally began to dig for more– to ask questions, and to physically place herself in spaces where she could see birth differently.

And because of this, over time, her perspective changed– her ideas about what she was capable of changed.

Next—the power of exposure and understanding.

As Sarah stepped into doula work, she witnessed birth again and again. And with each experience, she gathered a new understanding of what the body can do– the vast array of what birth can be like.

And this is such a key point:

What we see, what we hear, what we surround ourselves with—it shapes what we believe is possible.

Sarah went from being told not to pursue a vaginal birth…
to confidently planning and experiencing a homebirth.

And finally—can you guess it? Surrender.

Even in conception, Sarah described letting go of trying to control the outcome… and that was the moment things shifted.

And isn’t that often the rhythm?

We prepare.  We work. 
We do what we can.

And then… we’re left with nothing to do but release.  And so often, that’s the final step.

Sarah’s story is such a clear picture that confidence in yourself and your ability to birth can be rebuilt.  And that your previous story does not have to hold your current experience captive.

 

Links:

Entering Motherhood LLC
www.enteringmotherhood.com
 
Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90

“Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”

 

Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

 

Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

When your body has experienced legitimate physical trauma during two back to back births, what do you do for your next experience?  What would it look like to play it safe– would that be a planned cesarean?  Or… What if you swing the other way and bring it home?

 

This week we’re speaking to Janie Hobbs,  a stay-at-home wife and mom of three littles. She is happily married to her husband Sam, and they recently moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario from Missouri where Sam serves as one of the pastors at a local church. Janie has been a birth enthusiast for years and has experienced so much personal and spiritual growth through the births of each of her children. When she is not chasing her energetic toddlers or nursing a baby, she enjoys baking, photography, coffee, and exploring the beautiful Canadian countryside.

 

Episode Roundup: 

 

The trauma that Janie experienced was legitimate physical trauma.  When she asked a medical professional their opinion on her next baby, a planned cesarean was considered a good idea.  I can absolutely see how this option would have made sense.  And yet, the Lord had something so redemptive in mind for Janie.  Instead of going fully medical, a door was opened in the opposite direction.  Home?! Really?!  I love the thoughtfulness of the midwife who recommended this as a strong option for Janie to consider.  And goodness, we know how amazingly it turned out.

Janie’s honesty with her struggles with God after her second birth are refreshing to hear.  The hardness of life.  The questions of why and for what purpose– and then Janie realized… he had been with her all along.  Suffering alongside her.  What a picture of compassion.  

And finally– scars redeemed.  Janie shared how her scars are no longer seen as something negative to her.  Jesus kept his scars as a sign– a mark of what had happened.  And now Janie’s scars tell a story of redemption as well. 

Links:

 

Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90

“Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”

 

Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

 

Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What if the discomforts we’ve been told are “just part of pregnancy”  are actually signals  that something needs support?

 

This week, we're speaking with Whitney Sippl, a pelvic physical therapist who works closely with women in pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.  

 

In this episode, Whitney walks us through what pelvic physical therapy really is, why it matters in all stages of life, even before birth, and how simple techniques can make a meaningful difference in both birth and recovery.

 

Episode Roundup:

First…
this idea that symptoms are not something to ignore.

So many women experience things like leaking, heaviness, or discomfort
and are told it’s normal.

And while it may be common…
that doesn’t mean it’s something we have to live with.

Our bodies are communicating.

And when we listen early—
during pregnancy—
we often have the opportunity to support healing before we ever reach postpartum.

Second…


 I love the shift from thinking about the pelvic floor as something to “strengthen”…
to something to balance.

Because labor itself is not just about being strong — it’s also very much about release.

 

And finally…
this reminder that preparation can be gentle.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or feel overwhelming.

Small, consistent awareness of your body—
your breath, your posture, your movement—
can create significant change.

 

Links:

 

Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90

“Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”

 

Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

 

Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

You’ve done it- you’ve decided to give birth at home, and NOTHING is going to stop you, right? 

 

This week we’re speaking to Heather Whitehead, a mother to 5 living in East Tennessee.  We’ll hear how Heather and her husband settled on homebirth for their most recent pregnancy, and how they navigated certain obstacles that arose after their decision.  You know, like the realization that they were pregnant with twins, to start. 

 

Episode Roundup:

 

First, I love that Heather chose to continue care with her midwife, even knowing that there could be a larger number of reasons for a transfer of care as her pregnancy went along.  When she considered the whole situation thoroughly, she decided that BECAUSE she was pregnant with twins, she actually needed a midwife more: The individualized care, the preventative approach, and the loving support. Even if it meant paying for two providers, she and her husband decided midwifery care was worth the cost.

Next, Heather really has experienced the gamut when it comes to pregnancy and birthing experiences.  From different types of inductions to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, she’s seen some things– and I love that she allowed those experiences to inform her decisions in the future.  Especially when combined with midwifery care, she was able to take hold of potential “high risk” issues preventatively this time around.  The 2 mile post-dinner walk?  I would LOVE to hear if you give that a try and what it does to your fasting blood sugar numbers!

And finally- this was so ordained, wasn’t it?  As Heather said, there were so many potential issues that could have occurred as she gave birth to her preemie twins, but… her husband made it home.  Heather took her time with a few last minute tasks that allowed her midwife to be there– quite divinely.  Heather was able to avoid further intervention with her birth by having her babies before arriving to the hospital, and her midwife most assuredly impacted Baby B’s life by staying with Heather in the ambulance and providing the care that she and baby needed.  What an amazing series of events.

Links:

 

Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90

“Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”

 

Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

 

Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

Pregnancy is the height of creativity– you are literally creating a brand new human… from scratch?  But have you noticed that sometimes the creativity of pregnancy moves into other aspects of your life?  

 

This week, we’e speaking with Khylir Patton, a mother of two and a homebirth mom based in Tampa Bay, Florida. After navigating an unexpected late-pregnancy loss of care and ultimately experiencing a deeply empowering homebirth, she became passionate about helping mothers feel supported, informed, and less alone in their journeys. Khylir is the founder of IYA, a maternal care platform inspired by her own experiences navigating pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. At her core, she believes birth is intuitive, sacred, and a powerful initiation into motherhood. 

 

Episode Roundup:

 

Moving into motherhood is not always a perfectly smooth transition.  You are growing, regenerating, renewing as a human.  Your responsibilities shift completely, and the entire focus of your life, both long term and day to day, must yield to this new experience.  Khylir mentioned the struggle of her time no longer feeling like her own– She couldn’t sleep when she wanted to, work when she wanted to.  She had to relinquish the grip she previously easily held on her schedule.  But– while it’s not all easy, it is all an invitation to transform.  How can you hold onto your identity, grow in your identity, and care for your baby, too?  Sometimes the balance takes time to establish, but I love how Khylir was able to move through the experience and eventually come out on the other side capable of caring for her two little ones while also creating something she felt called to create.  

Which leads me to my second point- isn’t it amazing how pregnancy truly is an incubator?  For new life, of course, but also an incubator for ideas and creativity.  I’ve had some of my very best ideas and revelations during the pregnancy and postpartum phases of my life.  

And finally, I love hearing Khylir’s experience of– awakening to invitation.  One day in postpartum, she heard “get up.”  Such a small phase, but it changed everything about how she was interacting with her life.  She accepted the invitation.  She took small steps– taking a bit of time to wash her face and brush her teeth, then going on walks… suddenly, as she listened and responded, she was given more direction– take this dream you’ve had and turn into something new.  Something that will impact others for years to come.

 

Links:

 

Redeem ™ |  https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90

“Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry”

 

Restorative Roots  | restorativeroots.com (use code HAPPYHOMEBIRTH for $20 off your first order)

 

Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/presale (use code PODCAST for 10% off)