When Rachel was 36 weeks pregnant with her first child, she wasn't sure a doula was right for her family. Her husband worried they might end up with someone who'd be distracting during labor, but after meeting Stephanie from How2Mom, everything clicked. "You just felt like family," Rachel recalls of that coffee shop interview. Little did they know this connection would span years and support multiple beautiful births across their family.

This episode weaves together the birth journeys of two sisters, Rachel and Katy, who each found their way to the same doula but experienced vastly different labor stories. Rachel's first birth unfolds as she labors past her due date, finding her rhythm in a powerful shower session before delivering her daughter in water. Though beautiful, a fourth-degree tear leaves medical professionals warning her against future vaginal births.

Katy's story reveals the courage it takes to trust your intuition when facing medical pressure. After being told her baby was "too big" to birth naturally, she holds firm in her belief that her body knows what to do. Her journey stretches to nearly 42 weeks, culminating in an intense back labor that challenges her plans for an unmedicated birth but ultimately leads to her daughter's arrival after 37 hours of labor.

The narrative comes full circle with Rachel's second birth, where despite warnings about her previous tear, she listens to her body's wisdom. In a moment of pure instinct, she catches her own baby boy after just two pushes, healing not just physically but emotionally from her first birth experience.

These intertwined stories highlight how birth unfolds differently for every person—even sisters. As Katy beautifully summarizes, "Honor your intuition, your instincts... Each instance is unique." Whether you're currently expecting, planning a family, or simply fascinated by birth stories, this episode offers powerful insights into the journey of bringing life into the world with courage, support, and deep trust in your own body's capabilities.

Thank you so much for listening to the Mom2Mom Podcast! This podcast is meant to empower women and bring the community together through storytelling and education. Here, you will find encouragement, support and community. We are your community. And we’re so happy to have you!

Join the email list to be notified when episodes go live HERE!

Please also make sure to comment, share and subscribe!

xoxo, Stephanie

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When Christine and Alex welcomed their son via VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) in June 2023, they achieved what many told them was impossible. Their journey wasn't just about a birth preference – it was about healing from profound trauma after a cesarean delivery during COVID lockdowns followed by two devastating pregnancy losses.

"Every birth is a miracle," Alex reflects, "but for us, it just seemed like a different kind of miracle." Their story illuminates how critical provider selection becomes after experiencing birth trauma. When their midwife group suddenly deemed Christine ineligible for VBAC at 20 weeks pregnant, they found themselves searching for alternatives. This pivotal moment led them to a supportive family medicine doctor and birth doulas who would become their advocates, educators, and emotional anchors.

The determination required for their successful VBAC cannot be overstated. Christine pushed for an extraordinary five and a half hours across two sessions – a duration that would have resulted in cesarean in most hospital settings. What made the difference? A provider who trusted her body, doulas who offered positioning strategies and unwavering encouragement, and what Christine and Alex repeatedly reference as their powerful "why."

Most remarkable was the collaborative spirit in their birth space. Their provider took a step back, allowing the doulas to guide positioning and comfort techniques while monitoring safety. As she later told them directly: "You would not have had a vaginal birth had it not been for your doulas."

For Christine, this birth represented profound redemption: "It was the best day of my life, the most healing, the most empowering." And in a beautiful twist of serendipity, throughout labor, Alex had been calling Christine a "warrior" without realizing their son's name, Gunner, literally means "warrior."

Have you experienced birth trauma? We'd love to hear how you've navigated healing and how your birth team has supported your journey.

Thank you so much for listening to the Mom2Mom Podcast! This podcast is meant to empower women and bring the community together through storytelling and education. Here, you will find encouragement, support and community. We are your community. And we’re so happy to have you!

Join the email list to be notified when episodes go live HERE!

Please also make sure to comment, share and subscribe!

xoxo, Stephanie

Let's Connect:
Website (how2mom.com)
Instagram (@how2mom)
Facebook (@how2mom)
TikTok (@how.2.mom)
Twitter (@how_2_mom)
Linkedin (@how2mom)
Pinterest (@how2mom)
YouTube (@how2mom)

Ryan Flash, a Twin Cities therapist specializing in working with dads, discusses the unique challenges fathers face in adjusting to parenthood and the importance of seeking support. He highlights the lack of resources for dads compared to moms and emphasizes that men are increasingly seeking therapy to become better fathers and partners.

Ryan's practice, Discovery Mental Health, offers individual therapy and a group program called Launchpad Dads, designed to help fathers navigate the emotional and practical aspects of parenthood. He stresses the importance of dads doing their own research and building community with other fathers. He also discusses common issues dads face, such as postpartum depression and anxiety, and how therapy can help them understand and manage their emotions, ultimately leading to a stronger family unit.

Thank you so much for listening to the Mom2Mom Podcast! This podcast is meant to empower women and bring the community together through storytelling and education. Here, you will find encouragement, support and community. We are your community. And we’re so happy to have you!

Join the email list to be notified when episodes go live HERE!

Please also make sure to comment, share and subscribe!

xoxo, Stephanie

Let's Connect:
Website (how2mom.com)
Instagram (@how2mom)
Facebook (@how2mom)
TikTok (@how.2.mom)
Twitter (@how_2_mom)
Linkedin (@how2mom)
Pinterest (@how2mom)
YouTube (@how2mom)