When Amanda DeLorme of Pearl Holistic Health joined me, she didn't just bring her expertise in holistic women's health; she brought the raw and transformative story of her journey into motherhood and self-care.  As our conversation unfolds, Amanda's powerful narrative shines a light on the often-unspoken pressures that mothers endure and the vital lesson that taking care of oneself is not just important—it's essential. Embarking on a path from occupational therapy to a more integrative practice, Amanda's personal experiences with childbirth catalyzed her professional pivot. Through her s ..read more

Have you ever wondered about the raw and transformative moments that come with welcoming a new life into your family? Join me as Nora returns to share the intimate details of her home birth journey with her third daughter, Theodora, in the tranquil Maine backwoods. This heartwarming episode peels back the layers of childbirth, revealing the supportive dynamics of a close-knit family and the beautiful balance of motherhood and rural living. Nora's narrative offers a candid glimpse into the preparation and emotional landscape of expecting a third child. She reflects on the highs and lows of her ..read more

When Gabby stepped into the birthing room for the first time, little did she know it would redraw her life's map, leading her away from nursing and toward the powerful work of a midwife.  Her story is not just about changing career paths, but a deeper transformation fueled by witnessing the raw beauty and strength of birth. This episode is a heartfelt journey alongside Gabby, a student midwife immersing herself in the profound world of midwifery at Holly No. 7 Birth Center in Bangor. With her, we traverse the intimate space of out-of-hospital births, exploring how these encounters have s ..read more

Have you ever marveled at the sheer unpredictability of life, especially when it comes to the momentous journey of bringing new life into the world? Today on the podcast, we sit with Rachel, mom of 5 boys!   Her first ended up being a hospital birth, although it was a planned home birth.  Two home births following that, a Holly No.7 Birth Center Birth, and then finally another home birth.   She describes every experience as amazing and life changing and says she wouldn't change a thing.  Her babies have ranged from 39 weeks gestation, to 42.  From 8 pounds to 10 pound ..read more

Today's birth story guest is Kiley.  She is going to be sharing her two birth stories with us.  The first was in a hospital with care from an obstetrician.  For her second birth she started care with an obstetrician but after they violated her trust she decided to shift her birth plan, fired her OB and began planning for her liberating free birth with only her husband and the women closest to her present during the birth to witness her.  MyMaine Birth is a space where we share the real life stories of families and their unique birth experiences in the beautiful state of Ma ..read more

Today's birth story guest is Haley and she shares her beautiful Maine home birth story with care from Saco River midwifery.  After her amazing birth experience, she transferred to the hospital to have a tear checked out and while she was there her baby was unnecessarily taken to the NICU and was not allowed to leave for 10 days.    MyMaine Birth is a space where we share the real life stories of families and their unique birth experiences in the beautiful state of Maine.  From our state's biggest hospitals to birth center births, and home births, every birth story deserves ..read more

Today's birth story guest is Maria, she shared her first birth story in episode #32 of the MyMaine Birth Podcast, so go check that out if you haven't had a chance to listen yet for part one of her story!   I'm so excited to have her back today to share all about her most recent birth story which is another Holly No.7 Birth Center Birth Story in Bangor, Maine. MyMaine Birth, a space where we share the real life stories of families and their unique birth experiences in the beautiful state of Maine.  From our state’s biggest hospitals to Birth Center Births, and home births, every birt ..read more

Todays birth story guest is Shandi and she shares all about her Maine birth story.  She originally planned for a birth center birth at Holly No 7 in Bangor, and then changed her plan and began preparing for a home birth in Trenton, and then after a long labor she transferred to a Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth where she gave birth to her baby. MyMaine Birth, a space where we share the real life stories of families and their unique birth experiences in the beautiful state of Maine.  From our state’s biggest hospitals to Birth Center Births, and home births, every birth st ..read more

Todays’ birth story guest is Alexandra and she shares about her two Maine birth stories.  The first was in a hospital and  during that experience she ended up getting an epidural that she regretted.  Because of that first experience, she knew early in her pregnancy with her second that she wanted to birth at home.  She admits that she didn’t know a lot about home birth or birth in general even though she had already been through one experience, but she trusted her intuition and switched her care to Scope Valley Birthing services.    S he spent her second pregnan ..read more

Today's birth story guest is Melanie and she shares her experience of planning for a home birth but after a long labor it was suggested to her by her care provider that she go to the hospital where she encountered everything she had hoped to avoid.  In this episode we talk about the sexual assault that happens during so many hospital births, and the importance of advocating for yourself in these extremely sensitive and spiritual moments in your life - when you really shouldn't have to.  MyMaine Birth, a space where we share the real life stories of families and their unique birth ex ..read more