The Birth Education Center

05/07/2026

𝟭𝟬𝟬: 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺⁣

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 (and yes—technology tried to take us out), Ashley couldn’t record with me, so I am reading her written intro for the episode.⁣

This show’s topic is one that we need to begin speaking about and normalizing in our everyday vernacular. While you may want to shy away from this episode, 𝗜 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 and if it’s uncomfortable, be curious as to why and see if you are ready to do something about it.⁣

In a few weeks my SKOOL classroom will open and “Work on it Wednesdays” begin. More to come in a few weeks but this will lead into our conversation. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 and need to be held accountable for getting our s**t together - well it starts soon!⁣

I share today how my work has expanded from birth into death doula work and aging preparation. Birth and death are the same in so many ways: sacred, vulnerable, and deeply human—and we deserve to talk about them openly. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲: 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳, 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴. ⁣

Grief and avoiding the topic doesn’t spare us—it just leaves us unprepared. I explain why planning ahead (even just a few key conversations and documents) can make everything 10x easier for the people we love. I also walk you through what I’ve partially put in place for my own family,and I share my own end-of-life wishes and the kind of joyful send-off I want. My hope is that we normalize preparation, stop procrastinating, and honor these transitions with more peace, clarity, and

04/01/2026

𝟬𝟵𝟵: 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻⁣
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Never doubt that you know how to meet the moment! ⁣
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I've had so many parents over the years deliver babies with their own two hands in lots of different places other than a hospital room. 99% of the time, when a baby comes that fast, there is nothing wrong; it's just time to be born, and 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴!⁣
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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣
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03/28/2026

𝟬𝟵𝟵: 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻⁣
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Second time moms always have concerns about how fast their pregnancy is going this time around because they're focused on their first baby, who's most likely right now a toddler. It's definitely a source of stress because even though the pregnancy may seem long, time is going by really fast. They don't feel that they're ready, both physically and emotionally, for two kids. ⁣
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But Andrea lets you know that can be just little things set intentionally and done each day that can calm those worries and remind you that you know what you're doing. ⁣
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Education helps you face your fears and create backup plans for those things that can come up. The practices that you learn in classes are the tools that get you through what is unexpected in your birth. Birth always has surprises and that's when you rely on The Daily practice that you found to work in.⁣


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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣
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03/26/2026

𝟬𝟵𝟵: 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻⁣
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I love when 2nd timer parents return to share yet another birth story! Andrea and Juan are back to share their little girls' debut into the world and 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝟵𝟭𝟭 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹!⁣
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Andrea talks about staying grounded through pregnancy with simple routines like rereading, writing affirmations on the mirror (“your body knows what to do,” “your baby knows how to be born”), and 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲.⁣
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Andrea also shares how she’d talk to the baby for signs and felt reassured when the baby would move whenever fear came up. Juan believed that the first birth prepped him for whatever this birth had to offer - and 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁.⁣
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The episode reaffirms that your body knows what to do and so does your baby. We still birth with less fear when we go into it educated and well practiced as Andrea and Juan show us in this show. Thank you for coming on again!⁣
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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣
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03/23/2026

098: Katarina’s Twin Birth: Letting Go of the Plan

Pregnancy and birth offer so many reflections to how we have lived our life up to that point. It can be confronting if you go in unaware that it is happening.⁣

Katarina explored this idea before she was even pregnant with a mother’s group as well as in therapy. I was so impressed with how she was willing to do the hard work in order to be a better human and parent to her boys. Being willing to be vulnerable and self aware during one of the largest of life’s experiences 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲. I am so impressed by that.⁣

Are we willing to look at the sensitive places we hold? ⁣

Are we open to building those into strong characteristics instead of keeping them as weaknesses?⁣

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣

03/20/2026

𝟬𝟵𝟴: 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵: 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿?⁣

Katarina explains that her husband Nate knew how to center and ground the room’s energy along the way. This not only helped her feel safe during an experience that had jumped a few timelines away from her expectations but also helped her to know 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. ⁣

Everyone has different filters, needs, wants and ways of interacting with an unknown experience. There is no cookie cutter answer for how to birth in a comfortable way, both physically and emotionally. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲. Those safety needs are explored in a birth series.⁣

The two of you need to be on the same page with those needs and wants so that no matter where you are in the birth experience, your partner can check in with you and pivot according to how you are feeling in the moment. ⁣

Katarina says a few times in this show how her birth experience was more about the preparation she did emotionally rather than the physical that helped her keep her birth from being seen and felt as trauma. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵.⁣

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣

03/19/2026

098: Katarina’s Twin Birth: Letting Go of the Plan

Today I sit down with Katerina from Chicago to share her 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 and what it taught her about mindset, advocacy, and letting go. ⁣

Her twin pregnancy was shaped after an early miscarriage made her became more analytical and anxious while trying to conceive. She then got pregnant again and found out she was carrying twins. ⁣

As a naturopathic doctor, she prepared deeply—through classes, therapy, and hypnobirthing—𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. And as with most twins - surprises showed up and her birth plans changed within a moment's time. ⁣

Katarina used our discussion to process and explain what was in her mind throughout her babies’ birth. At the end of our talk, what she learned and how she processed it is shared with our listeners. Her biggest takeaway was 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵,” processing emotions to reduce trauma, prioritizing health over control, and learning how preparation and calm support helped her and Nate parent with confidence. SO many great things in this episode!⁣

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣

03/13/2026

𝟬𝟵𝟳: 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴⁣

In this Legacy Mentor episode, I welcome back midwife Jenny West, who was one of my first mentors as I came into teaching Hypnobirthing and practicing as a doula. Jenny adds so much good advice for student midwives and parents in this episode. ⁣

𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 and having the parents also join in with the teaching of the students. Jenny shares how her students would oftentimes feel hesitant to use their skills for fear of making a mistake in front of her. Teaching them, took more time in prenatal appointments and Jenny worried the parents would feel annoyed or stressed out by this. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 - ⁣

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣

03/12/2026

𝟬𝟵𝟳: 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴⁣

In this Legacy Mentor episode, I welcome midwife Jenny West, who was one of my first mentors as I came into teaching Hypnobirthing and practicing as a doula. Jenny adds so much 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘄𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 in this episode. ⁣

We talk about how different the midwifery model of care can look in home birth versus hospital settings, and why parents need to do their homework and practice using their voice—including saying no or asking to wait. ⁣

Jenny shares how an early client request led her to become a water birth midwife after witnessing a confident 10 lb 6 oz water birth, and 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. Lots of education comes from what you witness in the birth room in real time and your clients become your best teachers of what “can be” in birth.⁣

One of Jenny’s mentors, Elizabeth Gilmore’s words also fall into this episode about trusting birth while also trusting your skills. Jenny adds some information for student midwives on practicing critical emergency skills until they’re second nature, and also 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 and when to transfer a birth to the hospital.⁣

Jenny emphasizes mentorship, peer review, and timely debriefing to reduce trauma, stay present, and help birth workers remain in practice.⁣

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀!⁣

03/10/2026

03/10/2026

𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦⁣
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Sometimes families sign up early for childbirth classes and are excited about the process of educating themselves... but sadly, those families are few and far between. ⁣
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As a childbirth educator, I see both sides. I see the side of parents where they are fearful and vulnerable about birth and the stories they've heard, and then I see the side of parents where the want to ignore all of that until the last possible minute.⁣
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Not being an active participant in the labor and birth process shapes a fear based experience. ⁣
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𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆.⁣
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In Hypnobirthing, we help you talk about your fears and either resolve them or create backup plans so you can go with the flow of labor.⁣
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You will learn a broad scope of what birth can look like when you are connected to your baby and how many options you ACTUALLY have in the birth place that you choose.⁣
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You come into the first week of class with possible fear and hesitation but after class 5 you leave feeling confident in your body, connected to the experience and are equipped with the mental and physical tools you'll need for this first, major experience with your baby. ⁣
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𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂. ⁣
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They are smart, little escape artists and they take the time that they need to figure out their placement and movement. Sometimes it's fast and sometimes it paced slower. Labor is so much simpler when you are allowing the process to unfold as your baby needs it to. Not placing an expectation on your "performance" is key. ⁣
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YOU are a mammal. 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱. You've never met someone who's been pregnant forever. 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁. ⁣
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There are tools and support available to you in our Hypnobirthing classes. We love to help you find your way to your confidence and the innate power you already have inside.⁣
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DM me with any questions or sign up to hold your spot!⁣
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𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦!!⁣
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