Built To Birth Podcast

What happens when a first-time mom arrives at the hospital 5 centimeters dilated—and everyone thinks she still has hours to go? In this positive birth story, Kat shares how she prepared for an unmedicated natural birth, stayed calm through labor, advocated for the birth she wanted, and then progressed much faster than anyone expected.

✅ The Built To Birth Class - https://builttobirth.com/?el=podcast
✅ Free Mini Birth Class - https://www.builttobirth.com/free-mini-birth-class/?el=podcast
✅ Free Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide - https://www.builttobirth.com/week-by-week-pregnancy/?el=podcast

🌱 The Holistic Womanhood Course - https://holisticwomanhood.com/
🩸 Free 'Heal Your Menstrual Cycle' Workshop - https://holisticwomanhood.com/period-register

Kat began pregnancy feeling fearful about what pregnancy and childbirth might be like. But as she learned more about labor and delivery, natural childbirth, birth preparation, and the mental side of giving birth, that fear began turning into excitement and confidence. She and her husband prepared together using Built To Birth, learning not only what to expect during labor but how he could support her, advocate for her wishes, and remain a calm presence throughout birth.

Once admitted, Kat was 5 centimeters dilated with contractions less than two minutes apart. As a first-time mom, everyone expected she still had a while to go—but her body had other plans.
In this episode, Bridget and Kat talk about natural birth, unmedicated labor, positive hospital birth, birth preparation, cervical dilation, pushing, birth partners, advocating for yourself during labor, overcoming fear of childbirth, and trusting your body during birth.
Kat’s story is an encouraging reminder that birth doesn't always follow a predictable timeline—and that education, preparation, support, and confidence can make a meaningful difference in how you experience it.
In this episode:
Preparing for an unmedicated natural birth
Overcoming fear of childbirth through education
Early labor as a first-time mom
Laboring at home before going to the hospital
Laboring in the hospital parking lot
Arriving at 5 cm dilated
Why cervical dilation doesn't predict when your baby will arrive
Having a supportive birth partner
Advocating for your birth preferences in the hospital
Being offered an epidural during an unmedicated birth
Going from 5 cm to 10 cm much faster than expected
Being told not to push while waiting for the doctor
Pushing and experiencing a second-degree tear
Kat's positive hospital birth experience
Why she's already excited to give birth again

Follow the Built To Birth Podcast for more positive birth stories, natural birth stories, pregnancy education, childbirth preparation, labor and delivery experiences, postpartum conversations, and empowering stories from real moms.

What if you’re terrified of giving birth but desperately want a positive, empowering birth experience?
In this episode of the Built to Birth Podcast, Bridget sits down with Annaliese to share her journey through pregnancy, miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, fear of childbirth, and two empowering, positive natural birth experiences.

✅ The Built To Birth Class - https://builttobirth.com/?el=podcast
✅ Free Mini Birth Class - https://www.builttobirth.com/free-mini-birth-class/?el=podcast
✅ Free Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide - https://www.builttobirth.com/week-by-week-pregnancy/?el=podcast

🌱 The Holistic Womanhood Course - https://holisticwomanhood.com/
🩸 Free 'Heal Your Menstrual Cycle' Workshop - https://holisticwomanhood.com/period-register

Before becoming a mom, Annaliese was afraid of pregnancy and birth. After an unexpected pregnancy ended in miscarriage, becoming pregnant again brought both excitement and anxiety. She began intentionally preparing for birth through education, positive birth stories, breathing techniques, and learning how to trust her body.
That preparation ultimately led to an unmedicated birth center birth with her first baby—and an experience that completely changed the way she viewed childbirth.
During her next pregnancy, however, a new fear emerged: an overwhelming anxiety that something would happen to her baby during birth. Annaliese shares how she navigated those fears through prayer, positive affirmations, birth education, and intentionally filling her mind with encouraging birth stories.
Her second labor then unfolded incredibly quickly, leading to a fast water birth at a birth center and an intense first few moments after her baby was born.
Annaliese and Bridget talk honestly about pregnancy anxiety, pregnancy after miscarriage, overcoming fear of birth, natural childbirth, unmedicated labor, water birth, birth center birth, breathing techniques for labor, doulas, midwifery care, partner support, and preparing mentally for childbirth.
If you’re pregnant and feeling scared or overwhelmed by birth, Annaliese’s story is a beautiful reminder of how much can change when fear is met with education, preparation, support, and trust.

In this episode:
Overcoming fear of pregnancy and childbirth
Pregnancy after miscarriage and navigating anxiety
Preparing for a positive birth experience
Breathing techniques for labor
Annaliese’s first unmedicated birth center birth
Giving birth in an upright position
Preparing for a second natural birth
Her incredibly fast second labor
Her birth center water birth
When her baby needed help immediately after birth
How her midwives responded
The role of a doula and supportive husband
Why positive birth stories can matter during pregnancy
Using birth education to replace fear with confidence

Childhood friends reconnect to share a positive birth story. Bethanie's journey from pregnancy to labor and delivery is filled with challenges and triumphs, highlighting the importance of preparation, support, and endurance. Bethanie shares her challenging yet empowering birth story, from a long labor to delivering her doctor's biggest vaginal delivery ever. Her experience highlights the mental and physical strength required for childbirth, as well as the importance of support and preparation.

✅ The Built To Birth Class - https://builttobirth.com/?el=podcast
✅ Free Mini Birth Class - https://www.builttobirth.com/free-mini-birth-class/?el=podcast
✅ Free Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide - https://www.builttobirth.com/week-by-week-pregnancy/?el=podcast

🌱 The Holistic Womanhood Course - https://holisticwomanhood.com/
🩸 Free 'Heal Your Menstrual Cycle' Workshop - https://holisticwomanhood.com/period-register

Takeaways
Childhood friends reconnect after years, sharing a powerful birth story.
Preparation, support, and endurance play a crucial role in the journey from pregnancy to labor and delivery. Mental and physical preparation are crucial for childbirth.
Support from a partner and healthcare provider is essential during labor.
The experience of childbirth, though challenging, is incredibly empowering and worth it.

Chapters
00:00 Reconnecting with Childhood Friend
03:35 Pregnancy and Motherhood
12:06 Preparing for Birth
16:11 Onset of Labor
20:47 Challenges and Endurance in Labor
27:17 The Challenge of a Long Labor
28:11 The Intensity of Pushing
30:22 The Impact of a Big Baby
43:01 The Journey of Recovery
52:15 Reflections and Encouragement

In this episode of the Built to Birth Podcast, we’re sitting down to talk through Ashley's birth story—from preparing for birth and choosing the right birth team to navigating an unexpected preeclampsia diagnosis and induction.

✅ The Built To Birth Class - https://builttobirth.com/?el=podcast
✅ Free Mini Birth Class - https://www.builttobirth.com/free-mini-birth-class/?el=podcast
✅ Free Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide - https://www.builttobirth.com/week-by-week-pregnancy/?el=podcast

🌱 The Holistic Womanhood Course - https://holisticwomanhood.com/
🩸 Free 'Heal Your Menstrual Cycle' Workshop - https://holisticwomanhood.com/period-register

We talk about what it looked like to make decisions when birth didn’t go exactly as planned, how important it was to feel informed and supported along the way, and why having a birth team you truly trust can make such a difference.

We also get into some of the really special moments from her birth—the photos and videos she has to look back on, her baby being born in the amniotic sac, and what her recovery and postpartum experience looked like afterward.

More than anything, this conversation is such a good reminder that preparing for birth isn’t about trying to control exactly how your birth unfolds. It’s about understanding your options, learning to trust your body, surrounding yourself with people you trust, and feeling confident making decisions along the way.
If you’re pregnant and preparing for birth—or you just love hearing real, honest birth stories—I hope this episode leaves you feeling encouraged and empowered.

Takeaways
How family experiences can shape the way we think about pregnancy and birth
Why preparing for birth matters, even when things don’t go according to plan
Choosing a birth team you feel safe with and trust
Navigating high blood pressure, preeclampsia and induction
Making informed decisions and advocating for yourself during labor
The importance of autonomy during birth
Learning to trust and believe in your body
How education and preparation can help you feel more confident and empowered
Recovery and the postpartum experience

Chapters
00:00 Family and Pregnancy
03:03 Preparing for Birth
12:03 Choosing the Right Team
20:52 Dealing with Pre-Eclampsia
22:25 Preeclampsia Diagnosis and Induction
26:13 Labor and Delivery Experience
29:09 Informed Decision-Making and Advocacy
42:43 The Birth Experience
43:30 The Impact of Pictures and Videos
43:58 The Significance of the Sack of Water
45:08 The Importance of Autonomy in Birth
53:19 Recovery and Postpartum Experience
58:57 Support and Encouragement for Moms

Join me today for my sister in love's birth story! She chose to switch care from a traditional OBGYN at the hospital to a midwife for a homebirth and having her home birth was one of the best decisions Shannon made for her labor and delivery experience.
In this positive birth story episode we chat about how ANYONE can have a homebirth. So many women think you have to be a certain type of person to have a homebirth. The truth is, anyone can have a home birth and I think this story is a beautiful example of how true that is!
Enjoy this podcast about giving birth at home!
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✅ The Built To Birth Class - https://builttobirth.com/?el=podcast
✅ Free Mini Birth Class - https://www.builttobirth.com/free-mini-birth-class/?el=podcast
✅ Free Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide - https://www.builttobirth.com/week-by-week-pregnancy/?el=podcast

🌱 The Holistic Womanhood Course - https://holisticwomanhood.com/
🩸 Free 'Heal Your Menstrual Cycle' Workshop - https://holisticwomanhood.com/period-register