10/09/2023
Reminder: you don’t have to “figure this out.”
What you need to do is surrender.
Your body knows how to birth your baby.
The time you spend preparing for birth is about avoiding interruptions to a beautiful and well-designed process.
It’s about understanding so you can rest in what will be.
You can prepare for the way our systems “manage” birth and ensure you know how to respond when someone tries to intervene in the process unnecessarily, but you don’t have to teach your body how to birth.
It knows, sweet mama, it knows.
You have all you need right now to birth your baby.
If you find you’re feeling overwhelmed or panicked or even just unsure, I want to encourage you to spend some time today asking the Lord for His perspective.
Let the beauty of His design wash over you, refresh you, and remind you of the truth. He designed you for this ❤️
10/06/2023
Hospitals are not set up to support unmedicated births.
It’s just the truth. Of the hundreds of hospital births I have personally participated in, I can’t think of one birth that happened without some sort of intervention. NOT ONE.
But here’s the thing- that doesn’t mean you can’t have an unmedicated hospital birth.
It just means you absolutely, without a doubt have to prepare.
These are a few of the big areas you need to not only be educated but CONFIDENT(!!!) in order to have a shot at an unmedicated birth:
1️⃣ What questions to ask you provider to understand if they’re even willing to support you having an unmedicated birth, and what to do if they won’t.
2️⃣ How birth works! You need to know what to expect in early labor, when to go to the hospital to avoid unnecessary interventions, and how to interpret what’s happening in your body.
3️⃣ What kind of team you need around you to ensure your desires for your birth can actually be accomplished.
4️⃣ What you value and WHY. If you can’t explain to yourself and to your team why you don’t want something, chances are, you’ll end up with that thing. I don’t say that to be discouraging at all, but rather to help you understand that you can achieve the birth you’re dreaming of in any environment, you just need to be ready.
5️⃣ How to engage with your body’s natural design throughout this process.
Andddddd…. all of these desires need to be clearly communicated to your provider and team verbally during your appointments and also in a visual manner via a birth plan that can be referenced regularly throughout your birth.
I’m sure you’re seeing a theme here. Preparation is key.
You CAN have an unmedicated hospital birth if you’re willing to put in the work to accomplish it.
And guess what. Ya don’t have to do it alone!
If you want some help getting started with your preparation journey, comment ‘BLUEPRINT’ to grab my free Unmedicated Birth Blueprint now.
Unmedicated hospital births don’t just happen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one.
10/04/2023
Birth is normal.
Birth is normal.
Birth is normal.
There are variations of normal.
There are times when extra support is needed.
But the bottom line is birth is a normal process that takes places in women’s bodies.
When we embrace this truth, truly empowered birth can take place.
Double tap if you agree! ❤️
09/29/2023
My big 8 after turning 38
Yesterday, I shared 7 lessons I’ve been learning since my last birthday.
As promised, I’m sharing 8 areas I’m focusing on this year to keep growing in health in every area.
Swipe to see mine & get inspired for your own year ahead!
Which one stands out to you most? Comment below! 👇🏼
09/28/2023
One year older… 38 & ready to feel great!
Yesterday was my birthday and I’m officially in my late thirties. (Hey! 37 is mid-to-late!) I spent the morning sleeping in, eating a phenomenal breakfast & going for a solo walk. Then, I spent a few hours at my favorite local coffee shop journaling and praying about this upcoming year. After that, I was taken for a wonderful late lunch/dinner at my favorite restaurant, complete with a special guest (check out my stories…), and finally a long walk through some of the most incredible neighborhoods in Kansas City.
It was the perfect day!
In honor of me completing my 37th year, I’ve decided to share 7 things I’ve learned or am actively learning because well, 37 things is too many. That’s what happens when ya get older… the years make too many bullet points.
Scroll to read the big lessons I’ve been learning since my last b-day!
Ps come on back tomorrow for the 8 things I’m cultivating this year.
09/20/2023
YOU are the one who should decide your birth experience.
Not your provider.
Not your mom.
Not your friends, or family members, or Instagram commentators.
YOU know your body, your health history, your triggers, your fears.
YOU know what you want and what you need, and your voice should be heard.
YOU are capable of making the decisions about your birth that align with your values.
So make sure you’re the one choosing.
Because if you don’t, someone else will surely choose for you.
09/11/2023
You’ve been lied to.
So have I, honestly. All women have.
The view of birth we’ve been shown is full of fear, pain and an overly medicalized approach to what is truly a natural function of the female body. But the reality is birth is beautiful, awe-inspiring, full of emotion and power and joy!
When we support women and remove unnecessary interventions in the process, women have the opportunity to surrender to birth and experience one of the most victorious and beautiful privileges there is.
The trouble with our view of birth is we are all so used to such an extremely medicalized process that we have no idea it’s even possible to experience something different.
But here’s the truth, mama: you CAN experience birth differently. You CAN lean into your body’s natural ability to birth your baby. You CAN have a dignified, beautiful, and
transformative birth experience, even in a hospital setting.
What you CAN’T do though is expect that to happen without preparing.
Our hospital system is set up to save the lives of mothers & babies who need intervention in the birth process. I’m extremely grateful for the lifesaving technology we have because when it’s necessary, it’s a gift many don’t have the privilege to access.
But when we treat all mothers and babies as though they need saving from a natural process, we actually set them up for greater risk along the way.
Birth can be absolutely dignified, and it can honor the experience that women are designed to have, but in order for that to be the case, you have to prepare for the birth you want.
If you want to show up and go with the medical flow, you’re probably already prepared for that.
But if you want to experience all your body was made to do, understanding what you want, why you want it and HOW to get it are essential.
Where do you start though? Well, I’ve created a resource to get you started and it’s FREE.
DM me the word BLUEPRINT & I’ll send ya a link to grab my free Unmedicated Birth Blueprint.
You can do this, mama!
09/05/2023
What I see SO many parents doing wrong… 😬
Sadly, so many parents having bad experiences are NOT LEAVING unhealthy relationships with providers!
You have to understand that your provider is your HIRED support professional.
They have a responsibility to communicate with you with compassion, empathy, and kindness.
They are required to share both the benefits AND the risks of every single procedure they recommend, including the ones often glossed over, like stripping your membranes, scheduling unnecessary inductions, etc.
You should leave your appointments feeling heard, understood, and as though your questions were answered with kindness.
You should feel as though you are under someone’s CARE.
Way too many parents choose to stay in relationship with an assigned or chosen provider who does not honor their choices or treat them as people who have agency and the privilege of choice.
If you continue to come away from prenatals with a provider (or provider team) who leaves you feeling rushed, unheard, or dishonored, know that you have the choice to find a provider who WILL treat you with dignity and honor.
There are so many midwives and doctors out there who will walk WITH you in this process. So many who are committed to honoring this journey into parenthood.
Find someone who will answer your questions, who will help you feel heard, who will ease your fears and remind you of what your body is capable of. After all, you were created intentionally for this very process.
If you need help identifying a provider or location who will support YOU in this process, grab my FREE provider & location guide in my bio.
You can change your mind, sweet mama, and you and your family are worthy of a team who will treat you with respect and kindness. They’re out there, I promise ❤️
08/30/2023
In 2017, I decided to step away from birth work.
I was grieving the sudden loss of my dad, had moved states, and was feeling desperate to end the cycle of on-call life. I had been so positive I wanted a midwifery practice and worked so, so hard to accomplish that dream. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, that dream vanished. I stopped attending births, stopped pursuing relationships with midwives, stopped connecting with families, and said no to any opportunity that came my way except to serve close friends, including one to eventually take over a very successful practice.
In the year surrounding that decision, I began to unpack what had happened in my heart. I had been obsessed with birth since the very first one I witnessed at 17. Becoming a midwife was the only thing I really wanted… until it wasn’t. I pursued midwifery because that was the best way I knew to make a living doing what I was passionate about. I was competent and could do the job well. Heck, I even trained other people to do it well. But when it was time for me do said job, I didn’t enjoy it.
Oh, how I wish I could go back to past Sam & have a heart to heart.
I wish I could tell her there are so many ways to use the education she worked hard for without being on-call.
I wish I could tell her people would be willing to pay for her experience, support + expertise!
I wish I could tell her it was okay to say no for a season in order to unlock what she loved about birth: empowering couples through birth classes that point them to Jesus + help them discover their own personal family values. Because where I am now is full of life! I've uncovered a part of myself I didn’t know was there + worked my t**h off to create a business around what I truly love.
If you resonate with any part of my story, I wanna tell you what I wish I would have known: it really is ok to pause.
It was worth it for me to explore why I wanted to quit so badly because I am no quitter. And more than anything, I wish I would have known that it’s possible to love, love, love every part (ok, almost every part 🤣) of how I’m showing up to do this work.
If this was helpful, I'd love to hear from you! 👇🏻
08/17/2023
Nothing I love hearing more 💕
Want to head into your birth and postpartum feeling like Serena did after Birthing Bravely Academy?
Comment READY below & let’s get ya all sorts of prepared!
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