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Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Kelly Hof, BSN, RN: Labor Nurse & Prenatal Coach
120 episodes
3 days ago
Send us a text Control doesn’t create a meaningful birth experience—clarity does. We dive into the real purpose of a birth plan and show how to turn a rigid checklist into a living compass that anchors your values, guides decisions, and strengthens partnership with your care team. Instead of chasing a “perfect” script, we focus on agency, communication, and the skills that keep you grounded when labor takes an unexpected turn. We trace the history of birth plans from the natural birth moveme...
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Parenting
Kids & Family,
Health & Fitness,
Alternative Health,
Mental Health
RSS
All content for Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals is the property of Kelly Hof, BSN, RN: Labor Nurse & Prenatal Coach and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text Control doesn’t create a meaningful birth experience—clarity does. We dive into the real purpose of a birth plan and show how to turn a rigid checklist into a living compass that anchors your values, guides decisions, and strengthens partnership with your care team. Instead of chasing a “perfect” script, we focus on agency, communication, and the skills that keep you grounded when labor takes an unexpected turn. We trace the history of birth plans from the natural birth moveme...
Show more...
Parenting
Kids & Family,
Health & Fitness,
Alternative Health,
Mental Health
Episodes (20/120)
Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Mini-Episode: What is Prenatal Coaching?
Send us a text Birth often feels like a test you can fail, even when you and your baby are healthy. We tackle the missing support layer that changes that feeling: prenatal coaching that builds a grounded mindset, clear communication, and a flexible plan you can trust when things get real. We start by naming the gap most parents feel between medical safety and emotional steadiness. I walk through how prenatal coaching complements your OB, midwife, nurses, and doula by focusing on beliefs, bou...
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2 weeks ago
8 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Mini Episode: You Can Fire Your OB or Midwife
Send us a text Your prenatal care should feel calm, respectful, and evidence-based—yet many of us hit a point where advice from a provider doesn’t match what we’ve learned or what our gut is telling us. That moment is disorienting. We break down why it feels so heavy, how to get grounded fast, and the practical steps to find alignment without burning bridges. We start by naming the emotional waves that follow a shaken trust: fear that you’re missing something, grief for the relationship you ...
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3 weeks ago
8 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Mini Episode: How to Interview a Doula
Send us a text Birth feels different when the room feels safe. We dig into how to choose a doula by focusing on connection, clarity, and calm rather than running a rigid checklist. Instead of quizzing someone for the “right” answers, we map the questions that actually reveal fit: their vibe during intensity, their range across home and hospital births, and how they help you stay informed without pushing an agenda. If your goal is a steadier nervous system and a smoother decision path, this co...
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4 weeks ago
5 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Holiday Survival For Pregnancy And Postpartum: Scripts, Exits, And Peace
Send us a text The holidays ask a lot from anyone, and even more from someone navigating pregnancy or early postpartum. Between loud rooms, strong smells, and a conveyor belt of opinions about your body and your baby, your nervous system can hit overload fast. We dive into why this happens, how to spot it sooner, and the exact words you can use to step away without guilt or drama. You’ll hear our favorite “golden ticket” exit lines that protect your peace while sounding perfectly reasonable ...
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1 month ago
11 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Mini Episode: Know Your Rights In Labor
Send us a text When contractions hit and the baby feels low, the last thing any parent needs is a clipboard. We walk through the legal protections that guarantee timely care under EMTALA and translate them into practical steps you can use the moment you arrive at the hospital in labor. From spotting red flags of imminent birth to understanding exactly what “medical screening exam” and “stabilizing care” should look like, we break complex policy into clear, actionable moves that keep you and y...
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1 month ago
10 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Mini Episode: What Does a C-Section Feel Like?
Send us a text Birth can be both clinical and deeply human, and few moments capture that better than a planned C-section. I wanted to remove the mystery and the fear, so I walk you step by step through what it actually feels like—from walking into a bright, cold OR to hearing that first cry and settling into recovery with your baby. This is not theory; it’s a grounded, nurse-led guide to sensations, timelines, and choices that help you feel safe and in control. I start with the spinal: what ...
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1 month ago
8 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
What No One Tells You About Newborn Vitamin K
Send us a text Making informed decisions for your newborn can feel like navigating a tidal wave of contradictory advice, especially when it comes to routine procedures like the vitamin K shot. As both a labor nurse who's cared for countless babies and a mom who's stood in your shoes, I created this episode to cut through the noise with evidence, empathy, and respect for your values. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, and all newborns—regardless of how healthy the pregnancy was—are bo...
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5 months ago
58 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Embracing the Unexpected: Alex Wachelka's Third Birth Journey
Send us a text When Alex Wachelka predicted her third baby would arrive on December 15th—despite professionals insisting otherwise—her intuition was right. But the path to that moment wasn’t easy. After two very different births—one at a birth center and one rapid home birth—Alex expected another fast delivery. Instead, she faced twelve hours of annoying, spaced-out contractions that woke her up every 10 minutes. It wasn’t until she voiced her frustration to her husband that everything shifte...
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6 months ago
47 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Building Your Birth Dream Team: Finding the Right Doula
Send us a text Navigating the search for your perfect birth doula can feel overwhelming. How do you find someone who aligns with your vision, fits your budget, and helps you feel secure during one of life’s most vulnerable moments? Drawing from over a decade of obstetric nursing experience, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about finding the right doula for YOU. This isn’t about trends or checking boxes—it’s about building a support system that honors your unique journey. We’ll st...
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6 months ago
24 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Making a Birth Plan? Here’s What You’re Probably Missing
Send us a text The birth plan has become a staple of pregnancy preparation, but most expectant parents are approaching it all wrong. What began as a revolutionary tool for restoring autonomy during the natural birth movement of the 1960s has too often devolved into a rigid checklist that sets birthing people up for disappointment and even trauma. I reframe how we think about birth plans, explaining that they were never meant to be a list of demands but rather a foundation for communication, ...
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7 months ago
35 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
One Way or a Mother Episode 1: A New Podcast from Dr. Elliot Berlin, DC
Send us a text One Way or a Mother is a new narrative podcast from Dr. Elliot Berlin, DC, host of The Informed Pregnancy Podcast. Each season is an intimate story of one woman, one pregnancy, and all of the preparations, emotions, and personal history leading up to the birth. Episodes feature the expectant mother along with her family, doctors, and birth work team. In season one of OWAM, we meet Arianna who is pregnant with her second baby after a traumatic first birth experience. Follow alon...
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7 months ago
31 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Reimagining Postpartum Care: The 100 Weeks Project with Dr. Venice Haynes
Send us a text "Congratulations, you're both alive." This shockingly low bar for maternal healthcare success reveals everything wrong with how America treats new mothers. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Venice Haynes, Senior Director of Research and Community Engagement at United States of Care, shares the urgent mission behind the groundbreaking 100 Weeks Project - an initiative transforming postpartum care by acknowledging that maternal health needs extend far beyond delivery. ...
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7 months ago
39 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
When Nurses Become Magicians: Getting Babies Unstuck with Marya Eddaifi
Send us a text From personal birth trauma to revolutionary solutions for laboring mothers—this conversation with Marya Eddaifi reveals how innovative manual techniques are changing birth outcomes worldwide. Marya's journey begins with her own disappointing cesarean birth in 1995, a catalyst that eventually led her to become a labor and delivery nurse determined to find better ways to support women through childbirth. After nearly 24 years in the US Air Force and experience across four count...
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8 months ago
1 hour 25 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
The Birth of Milk in Motion: One Mother's Journey to Help Others with Laci Tang, IBCLC
Send us a text When Laci Tang experienced painful breastfeeding with her first child, she had no idea it would launch her into a career transforming how mothers receive lactation support. Her journey from anxious first-time mom to innovative lactation consultant offers a blueprint for meaningful postpartum care that's desperately needed. Laci's experience birthing at a midwifery center opened her eyes to a different kind of care—one where providers took time to listen, believed her struggles...
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8 months ago
1 hour 22 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Balancing Knowledge and Intuition: Birth Insights with Dr. Elliot Berlin of Informed Pregnancy Media
Send us a text Dr. Elliot Berlin transforms how we view childbirth, challenging the check-box mentality that leaves many parents feeling they've failed when birth veers from their rigid plans. Through our conversation, he introduces a revolutionary alternative: approaching birth planning as a flow chart with multiple potential pathways rather than a single desired route. The discussion delves into the delicate balance between modern medical systems and our innate bodily wisdom. As Dr. Berlin...
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9 months ago
58 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Podcasthon Special Episode: Breaking Barriers in Birth Work with BeboMia
Send us a text 🎙️ Special Podcasthon Episode: Breaking Barriers in Birth Work with the BeboMia Doula Scholarship This Birth Journeys Podcast® episode is part of Podcasthon, a global movement uniting podcasters to spotlight impactful causes. We’re shining a light on the BeboMia Doula Scholarship Program, which provides essential training to those who wouldn’t otherwise have access, transforming birth experiences worldwide. Birth educator and doula trainer Bianca Sprague shares how birth experi...
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9 months ago
1 hour 9 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
The Healing Power of Touch: Motherhood, Advocacy & Infant Massage with Khyati Desai-Seltzer
Send us a text What if the journey from womanhood to motherhood offered more transformation than you ever imagined? Join us in a heartwarming episode with Khyati Desai-Seltzer, a mompreneur with a passion for social impact, as she recounts how her own birth stories, including an unexpected cesarean delivery, propelled her into a world of empowerment and community support for new parents. Dive into Khyati's personal experiences with the invaluable support of a doula, as she shares the challeng...
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10 months ago
1 hour 23 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Pearls of Wisdom: If you could go back, what would you tell yourself?
Send us a text Imagine facing the transformative journey of motherhood armed with the insights you wish you'd known before your first contraction. Our latest episode in the Birth Journeys podcast, part of the Pearls of Wisdom series, does just that by unwrapping the wisdom shared by mothers who've navigated the unpredictable, often challenging experiences of childbirth. We promise to equip you with not only practical tips on managing societal pressures and preconceived notions about natural b...
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10 months ago
33 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
United States of Care and 100 Weeks of Maternal Support with Natalie Davis
Send us a text Natalie Davis, a passionate advocate for maternal healthcare reform, joins us to share her journey and groundbreaking work with the 100 Weeks initiative. Natalie’s personal experiences, from navigating the challenges of preterm labor to working in healthcare policy at the forefront of the Obama administration, offer a compelling narrative. Through candid storytelling, she reflects on how these experiences shaped her commitment to extending postpartum support for mothers beyond ...
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11 months ago
45 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Birth Shame and Reconnecting with Your Body with Wendy Powell CEO of MUTU System
Send us a text When Wendy Powell, founder and CEO of Mutu System, first grappled with postpartum challenges, she unknowingly began a journey to revolutionize women's health conversations globally. In our latest episode, Wendy joins us to share her insights on the often-overlooked aspects of perinatal pelvic health and its profound effect on women's lives. Together, we explore the intricacies of dealing with issues like incontinence and prolapse, which extend beyond mere physical discomfort an...
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11 months ago
1 hour 7 minutes

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Send us a text Control doesn’t create a meaningful birth experience—clarity does. We dive into the real purpose of a birth plan and show how to turn a rigid checklist into a living compass that anchors your values, guides decisions, and strengthens partnership with your care team. Instead of chasing a “perfect” script, we focus on agency, communication, and the skills that keep you grounded when labor takes an unexpected turn. We trace the history of birth plans from the natural birth moveme...