For the Love of Midwifery: Home Birth, VBAC, and Informed Birth Choices with The Midwife Colleen Shulenberger [Ep 38]

For the Love of Midwifery: Home Birth, VBAC, and Informed Birth Choices with The Midwife Colleen Shulenberger [Ep 38]​​In this episode of the Mommin' Together podcast, host Michelle Barnett sits down with midwife Colleen to discuss various aspects of home birth and midwifery care. Topics covered include the differences between personalized midwifery care and the conventional medical model, water birth, VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), advanced maternal age, and managing high-risk situations such as breech presentation and placenta previa. Colleen shares her personal journey into midwifery, the benefits of laboring in water, safety considerations for VBAC and home births, and the importance of informed choice and individualized care in motherhood.00:00 Welcome to the Mommin' Together Podcast01:05 Introduction to Midwife Colleen and Her Journey05:25 The Philosophy and Practice of Midwifery12:14 Preparing for a Home Birth27:31 The Experience and Benefits of Water Birth29:53 Understanding Baby's First Breaths in Water Birth32:10 The Role of Microbiome in Birth33:24 The Benefits and Comfort of Water Birth35:57 High-Risk Pregnancy Considerations42:04 VBAC: Safety and Considerations48:25 The Timing of Birth: 40 to 42 Weeks50:48 Midwifery Practices and Legal Considerations52:28 Final Thoughts and Motherhood AdviceConnect with Colleen: Colleen Shulenberger is a licensed, professional certified midwife who has been serving growing families in East Texas for more than a decade. Her practice, The Midwife, offers prenatal, home birth and postpartum care as well as classes to help prepare couples for welcoming their little ones. Colleen has a moderate to severe coffee obsession, loves being outdoors, and enjoys reading and studying. She is a very blessed wife of 19 years to Jacob and mama to Autumn, Norah, Shawn and Callan and one more on the way. Instagram: @_themidwife_@coll_themidwifeFacebook: facebook.com/TheMidwife.coWebsite: themidwife.coListener offer: Colleen would be happy to offer a free birth class to a listener for July due date or beyond within 2026. Can be given to a family member/friend. Email to coordinate. Resources: BooksThe Birth Partner By Penny SimpkinPregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny SimpkinDr. William Sears collection of parenting, baby, pregnancy books A Sacred Beginning by Sarah BrangwynneThe First 40 Days by Heng OuPraying through the Bible for your kids by Nancy Guthrie Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman Websites/ResourcesEvidencedBasedBirth.comACOG.orgPostpartum.netSpinningBabies.comRisenMotherhood.comBirthing Instincts Podcast VBAC study/statistics of rupture https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(22)00840-7/fulltextVBAC Resources https://www.thevbaclink.com/Evidence and discussion on midwifery https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378%2822%2900799-2/fulltextTypes of Midwives and practice model https://midwife.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Midwifery-Evidence-Based-Practice.pdfEvidence on Waterbirth https://evidencebasedbirth.com/waterbirth/Connect with Michelle:Instagram: ⁠@Mommin_Together @Michelle_Barnett_ ⁠Join our ⁠Mommin’ Together Facebook Community