PODCAST · health
Birthkeeper Banter
by HERBAL Birthkeeping
A podcast channel made for birth junkies, discussing birth attending, tips, politics and amazing stories. We are friendly to ALL birth settings and stories, including our personal favorite, freebirth. Join us if you love and believe in BIRTH!
Episodes
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Rae Of Birthkeeping Sunshine
My dear friend and fellow birth worker Raina and I went deep diving on this episode. Through all the loss she has seen in her life, we explore some tear-jerking emotional experiences first and how those played a hand in her becoming a woman, a mother, and the birth worker that she is today. We…
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Why Authentic Birth Workers Are Worth Their Weight In Gold
Our longest episode to date… for good reason! Here we are going to talk about why authentic birth workers that show up to walk and sit with women in the true sense of the original meaning are worth their weight in gold. We discuss recent births that have taken a toll on us, what makes it worth…
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Ashley’s Freebirth
Ashley is a wonderful student of ours, whom went on to birth her fifth baby FREELY! She talks about the variation in her baby’s head, handling dystocia in her freebirth, and how it differed from her previous hospital and midwifery led experiences. Such a good, insightful and informative share.
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IVF First Time Mom Home Birth at Age 43
On this episode Desirae speaks with Clare, an Australia natural health practitioner, who struggled with infertility and went on to choose IVF. At the age of 43.5 she carried out an IVF pregnancy and chose to birth at home, a birth that ultimately ended up being unassisted! Listen to hear how that...
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Attending Families While Pregnant and Postpartum
Desirae and Savannah Brigman talk about their personal experiences in attending while they were pregnant and fresh postpartum. What issues they ran into, what joys came along with it, as well as what they wouldn’t recommend or do again. If you are considering attending while pregnant or…
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Life Updates - Fall 2023
Desirae & Taylor hop on to share updates since the summer, as we have not had a podcast episode in a bit! We hope to share more soon, but as a summary, we are well and thriving. We hope you are all are doing amazing, too!
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Perspective Shifts From The Beginning To Now
Desirae & Taylor share their thoughts on a variety of common judgements and understandings others hold, and those they may have held as well, and how their views on it have shifted from the beginning to now. Some have stayed the same despite many many births, and some have taken great shifts.…
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Fear-Based Midwifery Trainings
Desirae and Taylor discuss how fear-based midwifery trainings are essentially just continuing trauma for women and bringing a watered down obstetrical model into women’s homes. If you feel lead to attend a specific training out of straight up fear, their marketing is working! Listen in for an...
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Attending The Rejects: Taking The Clients No One Else Wants
Desirae and Taylor have a conversation on attending the clients that no one else wants, aka the rejects of the regulated provider world. We talk about why they are rejected by licensed midwives and OBs, and why we simultaneously feel way comfortable, even motivated to take these women. Such a…
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Homebirth Transfers: Was it really necessary?
Desirae and Taylor hop on this one to discuss the illusion of the necessity of many transfers, whether it was recommended by a provider because of their own limitations or if it was initiated out of a lack of knowledge on part of the expecting family planning a freebirth. We find the freebirth...
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Audrey’s Stories: Being Raised by a Traditional Midwife & Going on To Carry The Torch Herself
Audrey is such a joy to talk to!! Growing up with a mother who was a traditional midwife, homebirth was normalized to her. She talks about what that was like for her as a child having a mother that lived the on-call life. One day Audrey got to attend a birth with her mother and since that day she...
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What Makes HERBAL Different?
Desirae and Taylor go over the perks of choosing HERBAL courses & programs, in general and in comparison to other similar programs! We love what we have birthed together and we are consistently proud of it. We get reminded all of the time how awesome it is and after a beautiful testimonial was...
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Mandy’s Freebirth
Mandy Fae returns to our podcast to share her freebirth story!! Her second baby conceived with her husband post-vasectomy, and she made it the most intentional and sacred birth experience!
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Attending the Amish PART TWO
Desirae follows up from our previous podcast back in May 2022 on various topics pertaining to the Amish. She shares on how she first connected with the Amish, fun facts about their lifestyle, how their care often differs from our population, how the Mennonite differ from the Amish, various…
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Christina’s First Time Mom Freebirth Experience
Christina has such a cool background! She learned about unassisted birth because her own mother had unassisted births, and her mom even wrote a book after her experiences! Due to freebirth being her normal, of course she went on to have an awesome uncomplicated first time freebirth. She is now...
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Mary’s Stories: Hospital Birth, Freebirth Transfer & Two Successful Freebirths
Mary comes on to share her four birth stories. Her first was a hospital birth with “all the works.” The next was a planned freebirth, that due to lack of support and fear, lead to a transfer and hospital staff bullying. She went on to have two different freebirth experiences, and stayed home, how...
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Sammi’s Stories: From Emergency Cesarean to HBAC
Sammi started her motherhood journey with an emergency cesarean and NICU stay after a failed Biophysical Profile, which left her with a lot of trauma and a desire to heal. She did go on to have a powerful HBAC with a midwife! She talks about her postpartum transfer and different kinds of...
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Kelly’s Stories: From Insanely Traumatic Pregnancy & Birth to Powerful Freebirths
Kelly is seriously BADASS! She walks us through the diagnosis of a fatal condition with her first baby, how she was treated through the experience, finding out the doctors were actually wrong, and a physically & mentally traumatic birth. Her first steps into motherhood were certainly far less…
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Connect at the Sacred Birth Symposium!
Being held in Austin, Texas March 11th and 12th, you will find many birth lovers, educators and professionals at the Sacred Birth Symposium. This event is unique because it incorporates all birth options - including unassisted, which is so near and dear to all of our hearts. Nelson & Allison have…
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Attending In The Childbearing Years
Desirae and Taylor have a raw conversation about the challenges of attending as a birth worker in the childbearing years. Whether it be an impact on you, others, or your loved ones, attending while you have little people at home DOES come with its own hardships that is exclusive to those of us in...
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Nae’s Stories: Intentional Pregnancies, Transfers, Cesarean & A Powerful Freebirth
Nae has so many creative perspectives to offer! Firstly starting out with her wonderful same sex relationship, she walks us through their intentional pregnancies, conception journey and their initial plans with their births! Both ladies experienced a transfer in their first birth experience and...
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Brittany’s Stories: Stepping Stones to Freebirth
In a powerful and insightful testimony, Brittany shared her stories, ranging from a medicated hospital birth with an OB all the way to a completely unassisted birth! We navigate conversations here on birth trauma, what it’s like to experience all levels of different providers, positive hospital...
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Misleading Care Solutions & The Chaos it Creates
Have you ever heard someone say, or maybe even said yourself, “I had to have X intervention done because…” This may have been due to misleading care solutions, and ignorance on your care providers part to give you true informed consent. This happens to so many women and it creates chaos and…
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Alina’s Stories: From Home Birth To Free Birth
Alina had 3 wonderful pregnancy and birth experiences, starting her motherhood journey out with a water birth with a licensed midwife for her first. All was well and fine, but ultimately there was so much more power to come for Alina. She found it, birth by birth, as she experienced an accidental...
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Qualities You Must Have To Be A Good Birth Attendant
On this episode, Desirae & Taylor discuss what it means to be dedicated and have initiative as a traditional birth attendant. These are just two of the most important qualities a good birth worker must hold to adequately serve the families they work with. For more discussion and training on how…
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Why We Are Kind Of Tired Of “Evidence Based” Culture
The term “evidence based” is really hyped up in the birth world and honestly, now that the mainstream has taken grasp of it, it’s obnoxious. Tune into this short little episode where we talk about how being “evidence based” can actually do harm! Autonomy > everything, always.
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Two Freebirths After A Cesarean & Hospital Birth Trauma: Kristen’s Stories
Kristen, now a birth photographer and doula from Ohio, comes to share with us her four birth stories, starting with her first two in the hospital, the second being a traumatic cesarean. For her third and fourth births she took her power back into her own hands and had two very different freebirth...
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Are regulated Midwives ACTUALLY experienced?
A controversial discussion between Desirae and Taylor discussing the types of births and situations that licensed and/or regulated midwives are actually able to sit at vs. a traditional/unregulated midwife. It’s so often that regulated/licensed providers are seen as the most competent, highly...
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Dangerous Midwives & The Imminent Threat Of Lay Birth Attendants
Do you have a birth worker in your community that is traditional, unlicensed and yet actively attending births? What is our obligation as fellow birth workers when there is someone in our community that practices differently than us? Join Desirae and Taylor as we discuss this important subject of...
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Utilizing Intuition in the Childbearing Years with Aleyda
Aleyda joins Desirae to discuss the use of intuition in the childbearing years; as the birthing woman and as the birth attendant. From preconception through parenthood, they share on what they have seen and experienced themselves, as well tips for anyone desiring to better connect intuitively.…
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Intuition vs Onlookers Opinions
There are so many situations we have personally witnessed, and stories we have heard that validate this concept. Textbooks simply don’t account for INTUITION. Whether that intuition is in mom, the birth attendant, or both, it is important to listen to it and do as they see fit, not as an onlooker...
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Imposter Traditional Midwives
Desirae & Taylor hop on to define the term “traditional midwife”. Unfortunately, many non-traditional midwives claim to be traditional. Families will hire them based on this claim and they go on to learn that they aren’t in fact traditional in practice. Those who are licensed and certified often...
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Sierra’s Stories: From an English Midwife to American Midwifery to a Healing Freebirth
Sierra comes on to share with us her variety of different experiences! She had a wonderful first time home birth with an English midwife, then a very med-wife experience in America. After her seconds birth, she was inspired to have a freebirth, and then did the darn thing!! She shares her tips,...
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How Your Provider Speaks To You MATTERS
Language, tone, and how we communicate something, even in urgent situations, in periods of vulnerability such as pregnancy, birth and postpartum, will sit with a woman for the rest of her life. Many providers, including some midwives, speak in a coercive, condescending, and cold manner to their...
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Get To Know Desirae
Desirae taps into the passions of her heart and reaches out to our viewers to share more about her 💕 Take a listen to know her more intimately!
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Sam’s Stories: Navigating Motherhood, Stillbirth, Rainbow Pregnancies, and Freebirth
This episode is rich with emotions! Sam shares her journey of becoming a mother, experiencing a hospital birth and an epidural that resulted in long term side effects and how she began researching the natural side of motherhood from there. Then walks us through her stillbirth experience and how…
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BS Reasons For Induction
Have you ever heard somebody say they HAD to get induced for “X” reason and it just didn’t sound right? Let’s talk about some of the BS reasons Desirae and Taylor have heard for induction and why it’s BS! We would love to know if you’ve ever been coerced into an unnecessary induction or know of...
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Differences in Mainstream Care vs Traditional Care
What can you expect by obtaining a mainstream professional versus a traditional attendant? How do we do our prenatal care differently than an OB or licensed midwife might? What about your birth and postpartum support? All important subjects to consider before it’s baby time.
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Get To Know Taylor
Made primarily for those considering enrolling in our Traditional Midwifery Cohort, but also for everyone else’s enjoyment too (haha) Taylor brings out her big passions and what makes her heart set on fire! We want you to know us deeply and transparently at HERBAL so you can make a confident...
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Hardships In Birth Work
Desirae and Taylor discuss what makes birth work challenging! Birth work is so beautiful and we can’t see us doing anything else, however we want others to know it’s not just sunshine and rainbows!
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Euphoria In Birth & Postpartum
Desirae and Taylor dive into the subject of EUPHORIA. That birth high that is oh so addicting and that you wait ten moons for. We discuss when and how we experienced our own personal birth highs and why we think they differed among our births, and what we see in attending women that get sky high...
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Abuse In The Childbearing Years
Abusive, toxic and unsupportive partners ARE an intervention, sometimes an even worse intervention than the hospital. Des and Taylor talk about their experiences witnessing and attending women that live in homes where they just aren’t loved well, if at all, and how that impacts their childbearing...
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The Partners Perspective of Home Birth & Life with a Midwife from Desirae’s Husband
On this episode Desirae’s husband joins her to discuss their journey to home birth, how he felt about it when Desirae first mentioned it, how each birth experience played out, and how each differed and went on to impact them as a family. Brad shares open and honestly about his emotions and…
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Our Personal Birth Choices & What We Would Look For In Hiring An Attendant
Des and Taylor discuss their own birth preferences, how those came to be, and what their ideal birth attendant is. Great listen for any expectant mom trying to pick a birth attendant, or a birth attendant thinking of ways to be the best servant to women and gain additional perspectives from two...
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Birth Work Origins: The Birth Of Taylor & Desirae As Birth Attendants
Des and Taylor gets back to their roots, how they were inspired to start sitting at births, what they wish they knew when they first started, how their births have changed them as attendants, and tips to share for women newly inspired to be birth workers.
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How To Become A Doula Or Midwife
Desirae and Taylor go back and forth on this episode about the different ways to become a doula or how to become a midwife with all the various routes and pathways that there are! If you’ve ever considered or are actively considering a doula training, midwifery school and/or apprenticeship, or…
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Radicals: Why Are We Still Funding Our Enemies? Tax Freedom Information Is Here!
Taylor jumps on to present to you life changing information: you are NOT required to file and pay federal income tax! For real! Though this is a deep subject, Taylor hits the major initial concerns that people have and provides resources to learn more! Please let us know if you have any questions...
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Dependence & Disharmony In The Birth Space
Des and Taylor discuss how every person in the birth space makes an impact, and how the wrong people can be detrimental. We also jump into why depending on someone to hold your hand through births as a new birth worker can impact your journey!
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First Babies Can Be Born At Home; Hallie’s Story
Hallie joins us to share on her 5 home birth experiences. With her first, she utilized OB care the first few visits and quickly realized that their form of care was not her cup of tea. She went on to find a midwife who trusted in her ability to birth her first baby at home and would respect her...
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Asking Your Birth Worker for a Refund
Taylor and Desirae discuss various situations where families wrongfully request refunds from their hired birth professionals; something all birth attendants experience at one point or another. How clients can place blame where it doesn’t belong is another topic discussed. They share various...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast channel made for birth junkies, discussing birth attending, tips, politics and amazing stories. We are friendly to ALL birth settings and stories, including our personal favorite, freebirth. Join us if you love and believe in BIRTH!
HOSTED BY
HERBAL Birthkeeping
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Birthkeeper Banter have?
Birthkeeper Banter currently has 96 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Birthkeeper Banter about?
A podcast channel made for birth junkies, discussing birth attending, tips, politics and amazing stories. We are friendly to ALL birth settings and stories, including our personal favorite, freebirth. Join us if you love and believe in BIRTH!
How often does Birthkeeper Banter release new episodes?
Birthkeeper Banter has 96 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Birthkeeper Banter?
You can listen to Birthkeeper Banter on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Birthkeeper Banter?
Birthkeeper Banter is created and hosted by HERBAL Birthkeeping.
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