43. The Downsides of Social Media’s “Calm, Peaceful, and Pain-Free” Birth Narrative with Kelli

In this episode of Empowered Births at Home I sit down with Kelly, a mom of four, birth doula, and birth photographer, to talk about her journey from hospital births to her first home birth in November 2024. While home birth is often portrayed on social media as calm, peaceful, and pain-free, Kelly’s experience was a reminder that birth is raw, intense, and deeply personal.She opens up about the challenges of pregnancy, transitioning from OB care to traditional midwifery, and the unexpected realities of labor—including a five-hour pushing phase that tested her physically and emotionally. We also discuss how social media can create unrealistic expectations about birth and why it’s important to honor every experience, even when it doesn’t fit the “perfect” birth narrative.Kelly’s story is a powerful reminder that birth is unpredictable, intense, and transformative—and that no one experience defines what birth “should” look like.📌 Follow Kelly on Instagram: ⁠@slimmliving_birthsupport⁠👇 Important Links + Resources✨ Explore The Homebirth Vault – your all-in-one space for homebirth preparation: ⁠⁠https://birthsathome.com/pages/the-homebirth-vault⁠⁠🎙️ Want to Share Your Homebirth Story on the Podcast? Fill out the submission form here:⁠⁠⁠ https://airtable.com/appIpUj5HcMj8xspE/shrugm504HmilhpS9⁠⁠🫴 Support the Podcast – if these stories have inspired or helped you in any way, consider making a loving donation: ⁠⁠https://birthsathome.com/products/podcast-donation⁠⁠📲 Connect with Me + More Links – ⁠⁠www.msha.ke/birthsathome⁠⁠💛 Love the Podcast? Share it with a fellow mama, tag me in your stories, and leave a 5-star rating + review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more women find these empowering stories!