Happy Homebirth

What happens when the birth you prayed for…doesn’t happen? And how do you move forward when the thing you prepared for so carefullyends in grief, disappointment, and questions you never expected to ask? This week, we're speaking with Raylee, a homeschool mother of two from Texas who is passionate about Montessori education, physiological birth, and intentional motherhood. Raylee grew up in a large homeschooling family and witnessed homebirth from a young age, which shaped the way she viewed birth long before becoming a mother herself. Episode roundup: First… I think this episode speaks so deeply to the grief that can come when birth doesn’t unfold the way we hoped. Raylee prepared intensely for her first birth. She studied. She visualized. She cared for herself well. And yet—her birth ended in a way she never expected. I know that many mothers understand that kind of heartbreak. When your expectations and your reality feel worlds apart. But what moved me most was hearing how her perspective was renewed over time—not minimizing the pain, not pretending it was easy—but Raylee found profound meaning and growth within her experience and decided to take responsibility for her journey. This intentional step out of victimhood catalyzed a huge spiritual change in her life. One she wouldn’t take back even if she could. Next… I kept thinking about the difference between control and prepared surrender. With her first birth, Raylee described feeling very certain about how things would go. And after that experience, she entered her second pregnancy differently. She still prepared, she was still intentional, but her edges truly softened in a noticeable way. Raylee was less attached to perfection and far more open-handed. Surrender does not guarantee a certain outcome—but it changes the way we move through the experience itself, however it unfolds. And finally…Raylee’s second birth was such a beautiful picture of trust– and it was revealed slowly. Over days of early labor, Over intentional healing work, prayer.And through choosing to believe her body was capable again. I loved hearing her describe labor as intense… but not frightening. Powerful… but not pathological. Which is a huge distinction: Physiological birth is not necessarily painless. But it also does not have to feel traumatic. And when women are supported, uninterrupted, nourished, and safe… the body often knows exactly what to do. Links: Redeem ™ | https://hubs.ly/Q03K0Dr90 “Click here to learn more about REDEEM HealthShare Ministry” Whole Mother Homebirth | https://www.myhappyhomebirth.com/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off) Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/FSypyheqzoY

Have you ever noticed how each birth teaches us something different—no matter how many times we’ve done this before? Today, I’m welcoming back a dear friend of the show, Madeline Murray—midwife, mother of four, and someone whose story has unfolded alongside this podcast over the years. Madeline has been here before to share her first and second homebirths, and today she’s bringing us into her third and fourth. Two births that took place in very different seasons of life, and yet both marked by growth, presence, and a deepening sense of trust. Episode Roundup: First, I’m struck by how much presence mattered in these later births. Madeline talks about the difference between surviving a birth and actually participating in it—and that distinction feels so important. Sometimes peace doesn’t come from changing the circumstances, but from being able to stay with yourself through them. Second, I love her honesty about how seasons of life affect birth. Giving birth while navigating business ownership, older children, and a body that’s changed with time looks different than it did before—and that doesn’t make it lesser. In many ways, it makes it richer. There’s wisdom there. There’s perspective. And finally, Madeline’s story reminds us that even when we’re experienced—even when we’ve attended births or lived inside this world for years—birth still has something to teach us. It continues to shape us, humble us, and invite us into deeper trust. So wherever you are on your own journey—first baby or fourth—may this story remind you that growth doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like calm. Sometimes it looks like confidence. Sometimes it looks like finally feeling at home in your body. 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/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What if understanding midwifery care didn’t require convincing—but simply seeing? This week on The Happy Homebirth Podcast, I’m joined by Caleb Phipps, filmmaker and father of four, and Midon Wingo, licensed midwife and passionate advocate for family-centered birth care. Together, they’re creating a documentary called Birthing Revolution—a film designed to show what midwifery care actually looks like. Prenatal visits. Birth spaces. Families. Trust. One of the most powerful ideas from this conversation is the way they frame birth as a story: the mother as the hero, the midwife as the guide. Episode Roundup: First, I’m struck by the power of seeing. Caleb shared how witnessing midwifery care firsthand changed his understanding in a way facts and statistics never could. That’s exactly why Birthing Revolution matters—because when people can actually see birth unfolding with trust and respect, fear begins to loosen its grip. Second, I love the way both Caleb and Midon frame birth as a journey where the mother is the hero and the midwife is the guide. That story deserves to be told well—and protected—so families everywhere can understand what’s possible. And finally, I want to invite you into this work. If this episode resonated with you—if you’ve ever wished your partner, your parents, or your friends could see what midwifery care really looks like—this film could be that bridge. If you’re able, consider supporting the Birthing Revolution project. Even a small contribution helps move this vision forward and makes these stories accessible to families who need them. Links: Donate to Birthing Revolution: https://phippsphilms.com/birthing-revolution-movie/ Birthing Joy: A Home Birth Experience | https://youtu.be/iyhCAG2CQE8?si=YzgT2NRb3J_rd87E Midon Wingo Beautiful Blessings | https://www.beautifulblessingsbirthservices.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/wholemotherhomebirth (use code PODCAST for 10% off)

What does it look like to walk through birth with deep peace — even when things don’t go exactly as planned? This week we’re speaking to Paige Schwickerath, a young mom from central Iowa whose life has been beautifully transformed through marriage, motherhood, and her first home birth. Paige and her husband welcomed their son, Boaz, at home in an experience that tested their faith, strengthened their trust, and revealed the calm presence of God in every moment. In this episode, Paige shares how her husband’s encouragement first led her to explore home birth, the ways she prepared physically, mentally, and spiritually for labor, and how her peaceful birth at home unfolded — even when her baby needed a little extra help transitioning earthside. Her story is one of surrender, support, and steady faith — a powerful reminder that birth can be both holy and human, unpredictable and yet perfectly held by God’s design. Episode Roundup: First of all, I love the role that Paige’s husband played in leading their family toward a more holistic way of living—before they were even pregnant. It’s not often that we hear about the husband introducing the idea of homebirth, but what a beautiful example of partnership and trust. His faith in God’s design and confidence in Paige’s ability to birth set such a peaceful tone for their entire experience. What a gift it is when husband and wife move forward in unity like that. Next, I was struck by how Paige prepared—physically, mentally, and spiritually—while still holding her plans with open hands. She stayed active, saw a pelvic floor therapist and chiropractor, and filled her mind with encouraging homebirth stories, all while surrendering her timeline and experience to the Lord. That blend of readiness and release—that’s such a powerful lesson for all of us. And finally, what a testimony of peace under pressure. When her son needed help transitioning after birth, Paige didn’t spiral into fear. She began quietly saying the name of Jesus over and over, trusting that He was present and that her birth team was equipped to care for her baby. Within minutes, her son was breathing in her arms. From the outside, someone might see this as a scary story, but for Paige, it was a story of God’s sovereignty and the calm assurance that she was exactly where she was meant to be. Wow—what an incredible reminder that even when our stories don’t unfold perfectly, they can still be perfectly the Lord’s. 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)

When you found out you were pregnant, what emotions ran through your brain? Excitement? Thrill? Joy? Or did you experience fear, shame, or a resurgence of old traumas? This week, we're speaking to Amanda Lopez. A mama to 3 children, two of whom were born to her while Amanda was still a teenager. We'll be discussing Amanda's experiences as a teen mother, and how her most recent homebirth (at the time of this recording) brought incredible healing to her previous perceptions of pregnancy and birth. Episode Roundup: I am so blown away by how Amanda used her experience of becoming pregnant at 14, having a baby at 15 to propel her forward in her aspirations. At a time when she felt so alone and was struggling so deeply, she still saw the worth of her child and knew that she was worth the struggle and toil. She turned something so difficult into something so triumphant, even graduating from high school with a 4.0 GPA. When Amanda became pregnant for the second time as a teen, she felt so much pain and confusion, and yet... she looked at her other daughter and knew that this baby was going to be a blessing. I am so overwhelmed at the beauty of Amanda's choices to celebrate life. And what seemed so tragic at the time, having two daughters as a teen herself, turned into the beautiful blessings of her daughters. As Amanda and her mother discussed, sometimes the things that seem so difficult at the time are, in retrospect, the things that save us. Praise God for his provision for Amanda in terms of her ability to raise her babies, and in the loving support, yet firm boundaries that her parents set out for her in the process. And finally, when Amanda became pregnant with her third child... DESPITE the fact that she is a fully grown adult woman and certainly capable of taking care of another baby, one of the first things that happened when she sat looking at the pregnancy test was a rush of old traumas... of feeling down on herself because this pregnancy was "unexpected". But what I loved about this story was the fact that Amanda now so clearly sees... this pregnancy, along with her two other pregnancies... they weren't unexpected. They were known, they were seen, and they were expected by the Creator. Amanda was able to triumphantly and confidently give birth to her third baby, safely in her own home. She was able to reclaim motherhood with a new sense of power and confidence, and I am so thrilled that Amanda's children are able to see what a strong, loving, beautiful mother they have-- one who will lay it all down for them. 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)