Birthkeeper Banter
By HERBAL Birthkeeping
A podcast channel made for birth junkies, discussing birth attending, tips, politics and amazing stories. We are friendly to ALL birth settings and stories, including our personal favorite, freebirth. Join us if you love and believe in BIRTH!
Birthkeeper Banter Apr 12, 2021
00:00
25:08
Rae Of Birthkeeping Sunshine
My dear friend and fellow birth worker Raina and I went deep diving on this episode. Through all the loss she has seen in her life, we explore some tear-jerking emotional experiences first and how those played a hand in her becoming a woman, a mother, and the birth worker that she is today. We talk on how birth attending is a fellowship, the differences in what we offer as traditional attendants as opposed to what the medical model of midwifery offers and how advocacy has been lost in the field of birth workers. We touch on connection with our clients, cause for transfer and how we’ve held space for clients that would have been transferred with literally anyone else sitting at their feet, and yet.. we stayed home. She shared intimately about the births that have made a profound impact on her this year, as well as her own personal birth stories and where she found her calling and her self through her own birthing experiences. We rattle on for hours, affirming what we know to be true, but that others have not yet discovered in this wonderful work we do and how it’s so important to have birth buddies who understand. I am just so thankful that she is in fact one of my birth buddies. I hope you enjoy our friendly banter here.
Dec 06, 202403:19:55
Why Authentic Birth Workers Are Worth Their Weight In Gold
Our longest episode to date… for good reason! Here we are going to talk about why authentic birth workers that show up to walk and sit with women in the true sense of the original meaning are worth their weight in gold. We discuss recent births that have taken a toll on us, what makes it worth it, what behind the scenes hardships and tedious tasks that our clients don’t even know that we deal with, how hard the birth community is and what weight we carry that goes unseen, including motherhood in the midst of mothering women. This is a lengthy but trail mix crunchy of an episode that is sure to hit a ton of points that many can relate with, or need to know before jumping into autonomous birth work.
Dec 06, 202402:48:41
Ashley’s Freebirth
Ashley is a wonderful student of ours, whom went on to birth her fifth baby FREELY! She talks about the variation in her baby’s head, handling dystocia in her freebirth, and how it differed from her previous hospital and midwifery led experiences. Such a good, insightful and informative share.
Aug 04, 202401:08:60
IVF First Time Mom Home Birth at Age 43
On this episode Desirae speaks with Clare, an Australia natural health practitioner, who struggled with infertility and went on to choose IVF. At the age of 43.5 she carried out an IVF pregnancy and chose to birth at home, a birth that ultimately ended up being unassisted! Listen to hear how that came to be. Clare shares about her journey and advocates for other women who desire to choose home as “an older mother”, as well as those who take the IVF route. She wants the world to know that they have options and that they are capable! Her determination and remarkable path to motherhood offers a powerful message that would be great for all women to listen to!
May 09, 202401:30:37
Attending Families While Pregnant and Postpartum
Desirae and Savannah Brigman talk about their personal experiences in attending while they were pregnant and fresh postpartum. What issues they ran into, what joys came along with it, as well as what they wouldn’t recommend or do again. If you are considering attending while pregnant or postpartum, give this podcast a listen. While it comes with its pros and cons, attending others while in the childbearing years yourself is possible and can be enjoyable! Listen to hear more!
Mar 20, 202447:31
Life Updates - Fall 2023
Desirae & Taylor hop on to share updates since the summer, as we have not had a podcast episode in a bit! We hope to share more soon, but as a summary, we are well and thriving. We hope you are all are doing amazing, too!
Nov 13, 202341:39
Perspective Shifts From The Beginning To Now
Desirae & Taylor share their thoughts on a variety of common judgements and understandings others hold, and those they may have held as well, and how their views on it have shifted from the beginning to now. Some have stayed the same despite many many births, and some have taken great shifts. It’s all about perspective and giving each other grace and trying to see from the other persons side, isn’t it? A humble and insightful listen for all, we hope!
Jun 25, 202301:06:10
Fear-Based Midwifery Trainings
Desirae and Taylor discuss how fear-based midwifery trainings are essentially just continuing trauma for women and bringing a watered down obstetrical model into women’s homes. If you feel lead to attend a specific training out of straight up fear, their marketing is working! Listen in for an alternative to the scared hype.
Jun 02, 202338:17
Attending The Rejects: Taking The Clients No One Else Wants
Desirae and Taylor have a conversation on attending the clients that no one else wants, aka the rejects of the regulated provider world. We talk about why they are rejected by licensed midwives and OBs, and why we simultaneously feel way comfortable, even motivated to take these women. Such a great listen for those that feel pulled to the “rejects” themselves.
May 27, 202324:27
Homebirth Transfers: Was it really necessary?
Desirae and Taylor hop on this one to discuss the illusion of the necessity of many transfers, whether it was recommended by a provider because of their own limitations or if it was initiated out of a lack of knowledge on part of the expecting family planning a freebirth. We find the freebirth community is just not the same as it was when we were first exploring freebirth and it is hard to even be in the freebirth support groups these days because of it!
May 16, 202333:48
Audrey’s Stories: Being Raised by a Traditional Midwife & Going on To Carry The Torch Herself
Audrey is such a joy to talk to!! Growing up with a mother who was a traditional midwife, homebirth was normalized to her. She talks about what that was like for her as a child having a mother that lived the on-call life. One day Audrey got to attend a birth with her mother and since that day she has had the “birth bug” as she endearingly calls it and supports women herself now as a doula in South Dakota with a heavy focus on postpartum support and placenta services. She did go on to have home births herself and talks about her different experiences between her mother attending her, going unassisted and finding another midwife that she really clicked with. We dive a little into a discussion on Hyperemesis Gravidarum, and attending with our own babies, as well! I seriously loved this episode and could have talked her head off for hours. You can find Audrey on Facebook at Blessings Birth Services, based in Stockholm, South Dakota.
May 12, 202344:45
What Makes HERBAL Different?
Desirae and Taylor go over the perks of choosing HERBAL courses & programs, in general and in comparison to other similar programs! We love what we have birthed together and we are consistently proud of it. We get reminded all of the time how awesome it is and after a beautiful testimonial was provided to us in a call the other night, we decided we needed to share about all the wonderful things that is HERBAL. We would love your thoughts as well! We hope you join us in making the HERBAL experience the greatest of all time.
Apr 18, 202326:45
Mandy’s Freebirth
Mandy Fae returns to our podcast to share her freebirth story!! Her second baby conceived with her husband post-vasectomy, and she made it the most intentional and sacred birth experience!
Apr 13, 202335:20
Attending the Amish PART TWO
Desirae follows up from our previous podcast back in May 2022 on various topics pertaining to the Amish. She shares on how she first connected with the Amish, fun facts about their lifestyle, how their care often differs from our population, how the Mennonite differ from the Amish, various stories of her experiences with the plain community, and much more! If you are fascinated with the Amish and Mennonite culture and would like to hear more about them, give this podcast a listen!
Apr 06, 202357:17
Christina’s First Time Mom Freebirth Experience
Christina has such a cool background! She learned about unassisted birth because her own mother had unassisted births, and her mom even wrote a book after her experiences! Due to freebirth being her normal, of course she went on to have an awesome uncomplicated first time freebirth. She is now planning another one with more advice based on what she previously felt under-prepared for the first time! We always think it’s so powerful when first time moms say “yes” to home birth the first go round!
Mar 07, 202339:58
Mary’s Stories: Hospital Birth, Freebirth Transfer & Two Successful Freebirths
Mary comes on to share her four birth stories. Her first was a hospital birth with “all the works.” The next was a planned freebirth, that due to lack of support and fear, lead to a transfer and hospital staff bullying. She went on to have two different freebirth experiences, and stayed home, how healing!! Mary really elaborates on important details and we love her personality. Such a good listen!
Mar 06, 202353:06
Sammi’s Stories: From Emergency Cesarean to HBAC
Sammi started her motherhood journey with an emergency cesarean and NICU stay after a failed Biophysical Profile, which left her with a lot of trauma and a desire to heal. She did go on to have a powerful HBAC with a midwife! She talks about her postpartum transfer and different kinds of complications and healing she had to go through, but ultimately felt a lot of heart relief from that birth. She ends the call with stating that she would definitely have a home birth again and hopes her story helps other VBAC moms considering home birth.
Mar 05, 202341:49
Kelly’s Stories: From Insanely Traumatic Pregnancy & Birth to Powerful Freebirths
Kelly is seriously BADASS! She walks us through the diagnosis of a fatal condition with her first baby, how she was treated through the experience, finding out the doctors were actually wrong, and a physically & mentally traumatic birth. Her first steps into motherhood were certainly far less than acceptable and empowering. Kelly goes on to have a natural birth, three at-home losses, and then two more unassisted births that were oh so wonderful in different ways. It doesn’t end there, though! She brings us knowledge on her babies that had galactosemia, navigating pregnancy & birth with a blood disorder, and healing from trauma with her powerful modality of therapy! Every single person can benefit from simply listening to this episode. Kelly is such a light!
Mar 01, 202301:20:50
Connect at the Sacred Birth Symposium!
Being held in Austin, Texas March 11th and 12th, you will find many birth lovers, educators and professionals at the Sacred Birth Symposium. This event is unique because it incorporates all birth options - including unassisted, which is so near and dear to all of our hearts. Nelson & Allison have a wonderful first time mother home birth story, and they want to share the joy of home birth with their community! Fairly priced, kid-friendly venue, and the speaker lineup is amazing, you definitely want to check this event out. It is such a joy to hear such birth passion from a home birth father especially!
Feb 28, 202333:41
Attending In The Childbearing Years
Desirae and Taylor have a raw conversation about the challenges of attending as a birth worker in the childbearing years. Whether it be an impact on you, others, or your loved ones, attending while you have little people at home DOES come with its own hardships that is exclusive to those of us in the Motherhood era of our lives. After visiting the hardships, however, we talk about the beautiful parts of attending in the midst of the childbearing and motherhood years. We would so love your thoughts on this one! What resonates?
Feb 16, 202301:12:11
Nae’s Stories: Intentional Pregnancies, Transfers, Cesarean & A Powerful Freebirth
Nae has so many creative perspectives to offer! Firstly starting out with her wonderful same sex relationship, she walks us through their intentional pregnancies, conception journey and their initial plans with their births! Both ladies experienced a transfer in their first birth experience and discusses how that looked, what went differently for each of them and how they feel about it. Nae goes on to conceive their third baby, and has a beautiful freebirth, supported by her wife, and recorded by her oldest son. This episode had us heavily emotionally invested! See our Facebook page for the video clips!
Feb 07, 202348:52
Brittany’s Stories: Stepping Stones to Freebirth
In a powerful and insightful testimony, Brittany shared her stories, ranging from a medicated hospital birth with an OB all the way to a completely unassisted birth! We navigate conversations here on birth trauma, what it’s like to experience all levels of different providers, positive hospital birth, compromising with your spouse, the differences in postpartums after different birth experiences, and even what it was like to be a flight attendant during pregnancy! There is a spot everyone can relate to on this podcast!
Feb 02, 202331:59
Misleading Care Solutions & The Chaos it Creates
Have you ever heard someone say, or maybe even said yourself, “I had to have X intervention done because…” This may have been due to misleading care solutions, and ignorance on your care providers part to give you true informed consent. This happens to so many women and it creates chaos and trauma in their lives. Let’s start being accountable as midwives especially, and stop misleading people, intentionally or unintentionally!
Feb 01, 202333:34
Alina’s Stories: From Home Birth To Free Birth
Alina had 3 wonderful pregnancy and birth experiences, starting her motherhood journey out with a water birth with a licensed midwife for her first. All was well and fine, but ultimately there was so much more power to come for Alina. She found it, birth by birth, as she experienced an accidental unassisted, then went on to have an intentional, surprise baby girl at home after a wild pregnancy and unassisted birth. Alina also shares her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, and Reiki Master and some different tools and suggestions for those interested in enhancing their mindset, and prepping their mind, body and spirit for birth.
Jan 31, 202301:12:55
Qualities You Must Have To Be A Good Birth Attendant
On this episode, Desirae & Taylor discuss what it means to be dedicated and have initiative as a traditional birth attendant. These are just two of the most important qualities a good birth worker must hold to adequately serve the families they work with. For more discussion and training on how to be a badass traditional birth worker, check out our Traditional Midwifery Cohort at herbal.teachable.com
Jan 27, 202357:43
Why We Are Kind Of Tired Of “Evidence Based” Culture
The term “evidence based” is really hyped up in the birth world and honestly, now that the mainstream has taken grasp of it, it’s obnoxious. Tune into this short little episode where we talk about how being “evidence based” can actually do harm! Autonomy > everything, always.
Jan 27, 202316:08
Two Freebirths After A Cesarean & Hospital Birth Trauma: Kristen’s Stories
Kristen, now a birth photographer and doula from Ohio, comes to share with us her four birth stories, starting with her first two in the hospital, the second being a traumatic cesarean. For her third and fourth births she took her power back into her own hands and had two very different freebirth experiences! Come listen in to her insightful perspectives, and stay tuned for announcement of her very own podcast as well!
Jan 24, 202337:08
Are regulated Midwives ACTUALLY experienced?
A controversial discussion between Desirae and Taylor discussing the types of births and situations that licensed and/or regulated midwives are actually able to sit at vs. a traditional/unregulated midwife. It’s so often that regulated/licensed providers are seen as the most competent, highly trained and skilled providers. When you really sit with it and look at how limiting their schooling and regulations are, you come to find that they truly are not allowed to experience variations of normal or witness them play out at home. Many emergencies, complications, and variations of normal that traditional midwives handle at home, they aren’t legally allowed to in most states due to legislation and regulations. They aren’t able to experience much, frankly. Nor are they usually trained on the many variations traditional midwives witness and experience at the foot of birth. It begs us to ask the question, how experienced are regulated midwives, actually?
Jan 07, 202301:13:01
Dangerous Midwives & The Imminent Threat Of Lay Birth Attendants
Do you have a birth worker in your community that is traditional, unlicensed and yet actively attending births? What is our obligation as fellow birth workers when there is someone in our community that practices differently than us? Join Desirae and Taylor as we discuss this important subject of dangerous attendants, why traditional midwifery is viewed as reckless and what we can do to better serve our community.
Dec 24, 202240:52
Utilizing Intuition in the Childbearing Years with Aleyda
Aleyda joins Desirae to discuss the use of intuition in the childbearing years; as the birthing woman and as the birth attendant. From preconception through parenthood, they share on what they have seen and experienced themselves, as well tips for anyone desiring to better connect intuitively. They express that it’s not just the birthing woman and attendant that experience intuitions in these times, but also the partners and children; the children being far more connected to the spirit realm, holding better connection intuitively. The taboo and sometimes uncomfortable topic of loss/death and how intuition might play into that is also discussed. This podcast is a deep and passionate one between two colleagues who are big on utilizing intuition, as birthing women and birth attendants themselves!
Dec 17, 202249:35
Intuition vs Onlookers Opinions
There are so many situations we have personally witnessed, and stories we have heard that validate this concept. Textbooks simply don’t account for INTUITION. Whether that intuition is in mom, the birth attendant, or both, it is important to listen to it and do as they see fit, not as an onlooker or a textbook would say. This applies to both a sense of peace, and a sense of urgency in the birth space, pregnancy and more.
Dec 15, 202214:12
Imposter Traditional Midwives
Desirae & Taylor hop on to define the term “traditional midwife”. Unfortunately, many non-traditional midwives claim to be traditional. Families will hire them based on this claim and they go on to learn that they aren’t in fact traditional in practice. Those who are licensed and certified often claim to be “serving women outside of the system”, when really, they are simply serving outside of a hospital - they are still serving the system that limits them and the families they’d serve. Traditional midwifery is not “home birth midwifery” or “out of hospital midwifery”. It is a sacred art and skill set that is passed down from generation to generation, not a skill granted to one who passes a test from the state. Give this podcast a listen to hear more!
Dec 14, 202216:37
Sierra’s Stories: From an English Midwife to American Midwifery to a Healing Freebirth
Sierra comes on to share with us her variety of different experiences! She had a wonderful first time home birth with an English midwife, then a very med-wife experience in America. After her seconds birth, she was inspired to have a freebirth, and then did the darn thing!! She shares her tips, advice, details, and the big differences she noticed. The important things she wants to share with people are highlighted in her stories and we so appreciate them!!
Dec 13, 202231:47
How Your Provider Speaks To You MATTERS
Language, tone, and how we communicate something, even in urgent situations, in periods of vulnerability such as pregnancy, birth and postpartum, will sit with a woman for the rest of her life. Many providers, including some midwives, speak in a coercive, condescending, and cold manner to their clients. This can result in a lack of trust in birth and trust in their birth provider, which can lead to so many complications in itself. This is a short one but brings up some important points!
Nov 27, 202219:07
Get To Know Desirae
Desirae taps into the passions of her heart and reaches out to our viewers to share more about her 💕 Take a listen to know her more intimately!
Nov 24, 202236:26
Sam’s Stories: Navigating Motherhood, Stillbirth, Rainbow Pregnancies, and Freebirth
This episode is rich with emotions! Sam shares her journey of becoming a mother, experiencing a hospital birth and an epidural that resulted in long term side effects and how she began researching the natural side of motherhood from there. Then walks us through her stillbirth experience and how she found peace and autonomy within it. She later had her rainbow baby pregnancy, a home birth with midwives, and then a surprise baby girl for her healing freebirth! You can gain so much insight, wisdom and good energy just from listening to this one.
Nov 20, 202201:24:13
BS Reasons For Induction
Have you ever heard somebody say they HAD to get induced for “X” reason and it just didn’t sound right? Let’s talk about some of the BS reasons Desirae and Taylor have heard for induction and why it’s BS! We would love to know if you’ve ever been coerced into an unnecessary induction or know of another reason we didn’t cover!
Nov 16, 202232:40
Differences in Mainstream Care vs Traditional Care
What can you expect by obtaining a mainstream professional versus a traditional attendant? How do we do our prenatal care differently than an OB or licensed midwife might? What about your birth and postpartum support? All important subjects to consider before it’s baby time.
Nov 09, 202252:43
Get To Know Taylor
Made primarily for those considering enrolling in our Traditional Midwifery Cohort, but also for everyone else’s enjoyment too (haha) Taylor brings out her big passions and what makes her heart set on fire! We want you to know us deeply and transparently at HERBAL so you can make a confident decision to take us on as your mentors on this incredibly important life path.
Nov 03, 202232:27
Hardships In Birth Work
Desirae and Taylor discuss what makes birth work challenging! Birth work is so beautiful and we can’t see us doing anything else, however we want others to know it’s not just sunshine and rainbows!
Oct 16, 202219:42
Euphoria In Birth & Postpartum
Desirae and Taylor dive into the subject of EUPHORIA. That birth high that is oh so addicting and that you wait ten moons for. We discuss when and how we experienced our own personal birth highs and why we think they differed among our births, and what we see in attending women that get sky high from their home births.
Sep 05, 202228:17
Abuse In The Childbearing Years
Abusive, toxic and unsupportive partners ARE an intervention, sometimes an even worse intervention than the hospital. Des and Taylor talk about their experiences witnessing and attending women that live in homes where they just aren’t loved well, if at all, and how that impacts their childbearing years.
Aug 30, 202237:24
The Partners Perspective of Home Birth & Life with a Midwife from Desirae’s Husband
On this episode Desirae’s husband joins her to discuss their journey to home birth, how he felt about it when Desirae first mentioned it, how each birth experience played out, and how each differed and went on to impact them as a family. Brad shares open and honestly about his emotions and thoughts throughout each experience and why he prefers home birth over their first two birth experiences. They go on to discuss what it is like being the partner of a Midwife. Brad shares on the challenges he’s experienced as the partner of someone who lives a life on-call, discussing how Desirae’s journey to Midwifery had left him to question their relationship entirely and why. Both share on how being a birth attendant impacts not only the attendant, but the partner of, as well as the children in the home as a domino effect. Brad offers helpful suggestions to the partners of birth workers as well as to the partners of women who desire to birth at home that might be hesitant. This podcast is a raw and deep conversation that sheds light on what life is like for Brad, as a father who witnessed 3 freebirths after 2 hospital births, and what it’s like for him sharing his life with a Midwife. You’ll hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly in this unfiltered podcast!
Aug 24, 202247:17
Our Personal Birth Choices & What We Would Look For In Hiring An Attendant
Des and Taylor discuss their own birth preferences, how those came to be, and what their ideal birth attendant is. Great listen for any expectant mom trying to pick a birth attendant, or a birth attendant thinking of ways to be the best servant to women and gain additional perspectives from two freebirthers.
Aug 17, 202224:09
Birth Work Origins: The Birth Of Taylor & Desirae As Birth Attendants
Des and Taylor gets back to their roots, how they were inspired to start sitting at births, what they wish they knew when they first started, how their births have changed them as attendants, and tips to share for women newly inspired to be birth workers.
Aug 11, 202257:23
How To Become A Doula Or Midwife
Desirae and Taylor go back and forth on this episode about the different ways to become a doula or how to become a midwife with all the various routes and pathways that there are! If you’ve ever considered or are actively considering a doula training, midwifery school and/or apprenticeship, or just straight up feel confused in how to choose the path for your birth work journey, take a listen and take notes! Badass trainings from HERBAL also coming to you soon, online and in person! Stay tuned!
Aug 11, 202257:44
Radicals: Why Are We Still Funding Our Enemies? Tax Freedom Information Is Here!
Taylor jumps on to present to you life changing information: you are NOT required to file and pay federal income tax! For real! Though this is a deep subject, Taylor hits the major initial concerns that people have and provides resources to learn more! Please let us know if you have any questions or need help understanding! Livefreenow.org is the place to go to learn more!
Jul 25, 202244:37
Dependence & Disharmony In The Birth Space
Des and Taylor discuss how every person in the birth space makes an impact, and how the wrong people can be detrimental. We also jump into why depending on someone to hold your hand through births as a new birth worker can impact your journey!
Jul 25, 202238:12
First Babies Can Be Born At Home; Hallie’s Story
Hallie joins us to share on her 5 home birth experiences. With her first, she utilized OB care the first few visits and quickly realized that their form of care was not her cup of tea. She went on to find a midwife who trusted in her ability to birth her first baby at home and would respect her autonomy and choices. She goes on to share about her other birth stories, including her fourth, which had it occurred in a facility would have played out differently. She reminds us that we do not need to birth our first baby in a captive facility to prove that a woman can birth at home. You do not need to endure chaos and lack of autonomy before being able to experience the freedom and empowerment offered in home birth. Her midwife mentioned whom attended and supported her birth experiences was the late Rebekah Knapp, whom will always be honored and appreciated for what she offered women and their families during her time here on earth. A wonderful and encouraging listen for all woman who might be considering home, regardless of what number birth it might be for them!
Jul 24, 202225:43
Asking Your Birth Worker for a Refund
Taylor and Desirae discuss various situations where families wrongfully request refunds from their hired birth professionals; something all birth attendants experience at one point or another. How clients can place blame where it doesn’t belong is another topic discussed. They share various situations they have seen and experienced and how those situations typically work out. Both relay that birth work is not like a customer service situation; you can’t pay someone to guarantee a home birth. This podcast reminds everyone that it is important to value who you hire, their on-call time, and dedication and not hold unrealistic expectations of them. For the birth attendants: you’ll hear about how to avoid these types of situations and how to navigate them should they arise.
Jul 12, 202219:48