S2 EP8 | Emily’s Story: From Hospital Plans to Home Birth and Trusting Your Intuition

In this episode, Emily shares her journey from a conventional pregnancy care pathway to an empowering home birth experience with her son, Kai.What began as a fairly standard pregnancy quickly became a deeper exploration of birth philosophies, informed decision-making, and learning to trust her own instincts. Emily opens up about feeling increasingly disconnected from the care she was receiving, the fears she initially carried about home birth, and the serendipitous meeting with a private midwife that changed the course of her pregnancy.Together we discuss:Discovering she was pregnant and preparing for her first babyWhy she initially planned a hospital birthThe growing feeling that her maternity care wasn't aligned with her valuesHow birth education completely shifted her perspective on birthThe fears and misconceptions she carried around home birthMeeting her private midwife at 30 weeks pregnant and instantly feeling alignedMaking the decision to transfer her care late in pregnancyLearning to trust her intuition throughout pregnancyEarly labour signs and the emotional lead-up to birthLabouring at home with her husband and support teamUsing a TENS machine, movement, water and hands-on support during labourThe intensity of transition and navigating self-doubt in labourGiving birth to baby Kai in a birth pool at homeDiscovering her baby's sex after birthThe beauty of remaining in her own space after birthA physiological third stage and waiting for the placenta to be born naturallyPreparing for postpartum using principles from The First Forty DaysStocking the freezer, creating a supportive postpartum environment and protecting the newborn bubbleThe unexpected challenges of breastfeeding and overcoming latch issues with nipple shieldsWhy finding care providers who align with your values mattersHer advice for women preparing for birthThe powerful role intuition played throughout her pregnancy, birth and postpartum journeyEmily's story is a beautiful reminder that there is no one right way to birth, but there is immense value in finding the path that feels right for youWant more?You can find episode photos over at:⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearemotherspod/⁠You can find me at:⁠https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahcusack/⁠You can find Emily at:https://www.instagram.com/emjenkinsss_/Mentioned in the episode:Dee - birth worker / yoga teacher:https://www.instagram.com/deva_birth_co/The Great Birth Rebellion - The medicalisation spectrum:https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2148900490