Ep. 42 [BIRTH STORY] WITH MIRANDA - FIRST TIME MOM FREE BIRTHS WITH COMPLETE TRUST AND SURRENDER (LIKE A PRO) - PART 1: MOM'S VERSION

Merry Christmas! I am gifting you our first birth story of Season 3.

Miranda and Chris were gracious enough to both come on and tell their version of this incredible birth story. So this is a two-parter - Mom's Version & Dad's Version.

The birth of Elek is extra special to me because I was present for it as Miranda's Sacred Birth Worker.

I had the privilege of walking alongside this family in pregnancy and she totally humbled me. She gave me the gift of witnessing unwavering trust and surrender in her ability to birth this baby, her first baby, free of any medical supervision or intervention.

That's right, Miranda free birthed her first born - like a pro!

I will be sharing the birth video and photo's on instagram so be sure to check them out after you listen to both Mom and Dad's version of this precious, mysterious, and total mundane and normal event: Elek's birth story.

Find me on instagram @⁠⁠birth.advocate⁠⁠ and all of my offerings on my website⁠ ⁠www.birthadvocate.me⁠⁠

To join the FREE educational and supportive Virtual Village Circle for families seeking a natural, physiological, and deeply spiritual conception, pregnancy, labor or postpartum click  HERE.

For all of your FREE resources click ⁠HERE⁠.

To book a FREE discovery call, to interview on the show, or to join my Women’s Circle click⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠.

To find out more about The Sacred Birth Worker Mentorship by Anna, The Spiritual Midwitch and for a special discount on her offerings use code EMILY⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠.

Music The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Find the full transcript below

It has been AI generated so there may be errors

[00:17] Emily: Welcome to Soul Evolution.

[00:19] Emily: My name is Emily and I am the Birth advocate.

[00:22] Emily: A retired nurse, a health coach, a.

[00:25] Emily: Women'S circle and ceremony facilitator, and the host of this podcast. This is a space where we will.

[00:32] Emily: Dive deep to reclaim our rites of.

[00:34] Emily: Passage with a big dose of birth story medicine, intentionally curious conversations with embodied wisdom keepers and a sprinkle of polarity as we will hear from our men from time to time too.

[00:47] Emily: I hope you find nourishment for your soul here. Please let me know what you think by rating and reviewing on Spotify and itunes. Please share it, find me on Instagram at Birth Advocate and stay tuned after the show for details on all of my offerings.

[01:14] Merry Christmas.

[01:16] Emily: I am gifting you our first birth.

[01:19] Emily: Story of season three.

[01:21] Emily: Miranda and Chris were gracious enough to both come on and tell their versions of this incredible birth story. So this is a two parter, mom's version and dad's version.

[01:33] Emily: The birth of Elec is extra special.

[01:36] Emily: To me because I was present at Miranda's birth.

[01:40] I had the privilege of walking alongside this family and pregnancy and she totally humbled me. She gave me the gift of witnessing unwavering trust and surrender in her ability to birth this baby, her first baby, free of any medical supervision or intervention.

[02:01] Emily: That's right, Miranda free birthed her firstborn like a pro. I will be sharing the birth video.

[02:09] Emily: And photos on Instagram.

[02:11] Emily: Be sure to check them out after.

[02:13] Emily: Listening to both mom and Dad's version.

[02:16] Emily: Of this precious, mysterious, totally mundane and normal event. Alex Birth Story.

[02:25] Welcome Miranda to the podcast. I am just delighted that you're here. This is going to be a really epic, super special, amazing podcast because I had the complete honor of being present to witness your incredible free birth as a first time mom and we work together in your pregnancy and it's just I learned so much from you and I'm sure we'll talk about this as the story unfolds.

[02:57] But I just, I really learned so much. You humbled me in a lot of ways and just I'm really grateful and appreciative for our connection.

[03:06] But let's see. So you are.

[03:10] Miranda: How old are you?

[03:10] Emily: 28.

[03:11] Miranda: 28.

[03:12] Emily: 28. And you had like just moved to Maine kind of. I. I don't know, my idea of you, I'll just tell you, my idea of you is you're like this pioneer woman.

[03:25] You seem to like figure things out and you like a little nomadic perhaps and you're an amazing massage therapist because we did a little bit of a trade a Little bit of a barter and trade for part of my services.

[03:39] And you gave me several amazing massages. You just have that intuitive touch.

[03:46] Yeah. And so I, I met you guys, you were homesteading with a. Another friend of ours, living on their land and helping to like take care of the goats and stuff in the garden.

[03:59] And then you moved your tiny home that you were building way out to Dresden, Maine. Isn't that where you are?

[04:07] Yeah.

[04:08] And yeah. And you were like about to give birth. As you guys are building this tiny home, there was so much happening and I would love to just kind of ge.

[04:17] Jump in and start the story wherever it feels appropriate. As far as falling pregnant, deciding to get pregnant, was it a conscious conception? What were your beliefs, your thoughts about birth?

[04:33] Like, who were you when you came into this? I'm going to be a mother stage.

[04:39] Miranda: I guess we'll start it.

[04:41] When I found out that I was pregnant, I had previously, a few months prior to finding out I was pregnant, I had completed the birth doula course. So I had this understanding of kind of what I would want just by taking that course and talking about it with other mamas.

[04:58] And I didn't think that we were going to get pregnant. We weren't trying. It wasn't anything conscious. I think we were both wanting a family and talking about it a little bit, but it wasn't like, let's do this right now.

[05:13] When we found out, we were excited, ecstatic, obviously we were so happy. But it's, it was not planned.

[05:20] So when we found out, I was just telling Chris how I was like, I don't really want to be in Virginia for the hot, humid weather, for the, you know, I don't want to be pregnant in that kind of weather.

[05:32] And then also I knew I had a, like, a like minded community up here, not so much in Virginia.

[05:40] And it just brought me to say, hey, we need to, we need to move, you know, before we give, before I give birth, I wanna, I wanna live in Maine and I wanna be around all the people that I love and that I know will support this type of, you know, birth process.

[05:57] Because everybody in Virginia, everybody was so confused and nobody really, you know, knew what I was doing. They couldn't understand, like why I didn't want to go to the hospital.

[06:07] And so you knew right from the.

[06:10] Emily: Start that you would be doing a wild pregnancy and a free birth. Yeah.

[06:14] Miranda: Yeah. Immediately I was like, okay, this is what I, I know is right for me in our ba. In my baby. But now, which he's, he's waking up a little bit.

[06:24] But, yeah, I think right from the beginning, I had no, never once was like, oh, I'm gonna go to the hospital and have my baby elbow.

[06:34] Emily: And that's just kind of like a reflection of. Of who you are as a. As a woman. Right. Like, as a human. Isn't that. That's just, like an extension of who you are.

[06:45] Miranda: I definitely have always followed, like, my inner, Inner knowing, like, whatever feels like a yes or a no, and I don't really compromise that unless I have to.

[06:59] This one was easy, I knew for, like, my safety, and it was that instinctual, like, mama bear, nobody's going to, you know, interfere with this process. I know what I need to do.

[07:10] I just need to have my space to do it. So I think that's why we moved so far away, because I had other influences kind of telling me, oh, this is unsafe, blah, blah, blah, and, like, trying to get in.

[07:20] But Jaguar woman, she told me, she said, be like an armadillo. Don't let anybody's opinions and just stick to your knowing. And that was great advice.

[07:30] Emily: Yes, it is. And I just, I really want to reflect to you that you absolutely, like, you honored your intuition this entire way through the pregnancy. And the way it showed up in the birth was, again, so humbling and beautiful for me to witness.

[07:47] You knew right from the beginning exactly what you were going to do and how it was going to go down, and everyone else had to catch up.

[07:56] Miranda: Yeah. I wasn't sure where at first. I was like, I know I want to be in Maine. And we didn't have the tiny house idea at first. And then, you know, that came.

[08:05] That opportunity came up, and I was like, let's just do it. Let's just jump and let's go move different state, build a house and have a baby all at once.

[08:14] Emily: It's so much to handle, so much to hold. So how was your pregnancy then? What was that like for you?

[08:21] Miranda: My pregnancy was actually pretty great. I worked. I worked did massaging in Richmond throughout the whole first beginning of the second trimester.

[08:32] I didn't really have much nausea. I think. I think I threw up, like, three times.

[08:36] I, I, yeah, I don't really have. I don't really have much, but, yeah, I didn't have much issues with being pregnant. I actually kind of enjoyed it. It was kind of nice.

[08:46] Other than, you know, third trimester, that kind of started getting a little intense. I had back pain. I had, you know, just. It was hard, but nothing crazy, you know, it's definitely can handle it.

[09:01] But I think I. I really enjoyed pregnancy. It was really psychedelic for me, honestly, it was.

[09:07] I mean, after experimenting with things throughout my. My youth, I feel like I can compare that easily to a psychedelic experience because of how everything is just moving so quickly and shifting and changing and like you actually have crazy dreams and.

[09:21] Emily: Yes.

[09:22] Miranda: Yeah, it's wild.

[09:24] Emily: Psychic and intuitive abilities really can open up even more so too in pregnancy. It's like the veil is very, very thin.

[09:32] Yeah. So what way. What did you do then to prepare yourself to give birth unassisted?

[09:42] Miranda: A lot. A lot of things. So I think that having done that course with.

[09:48] To be, you know, doula. Doula training, I think that gave me the, like, the physiological birth understanding of that.

[09:57] But other than that, I. I read books, I watched, you know, the badass mother birther thing just to watch physiological births.

[10:09] And I've had a book, really not crazy amounts other than, like, I did. I. I mean, there's another thing. I meditate like every day. So I was doing a lot of meditation and breath work for years leading up to this.

[10:24] So I think that is the key. Really. Yeah, just being able to. And. And also, like I said, doing psychedelics when I was younger, opening up that, like being able to just be in a weird state all of a sudden, because right when I had the mucus plug, you know, I felt that and then I knew I was going into that state.

[10:44] I kind of prepared myself kind of like if I was about to do psychedelics, just like, mentally preparing myself for an experience that's going to change me.

[10:53] Emily: Yeah.

[10:53] Miranda: And. And then having the breath work and the mindset of knowing have everything I need and I can control it with my breath and all that really is all the prep work.

[11:05] But that was like years. It wasn't like when I found out that I was pregnant. Then I started trying to do things. It's the buildup of.

[11:12] I. I feel like I've been preparing myself for this for a while because I stopped taking pain medication like Midol for my periods like five or six years ago. That was the only, like, pill that I was ever taking in my life.

[11:27] And I hated it. I hated doing it, but I was in such pain. So I took, you know, I went and did all these different types of therapies to try and help my period pain so I didn't have to take Midol, which in turn led me to learn all of this other stuff about my cycle and my body.

[11:43] And so I think just years of just trying to get to know my body better.

[11:49] Emily: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, and, you know, we birth how we live.

[11:55] It's one of the truest statements. And again, you prove. You proved that very, very well.

[12:04] Yeah. And so let's talk just a smidgen about, like, community and village because, you know, I hosted your mother blessing and that was really sweet. And like, with you just moving here and, like, not having super established, like, what was that like for you and what takeaways and advice might you have for someone?

[12:23] Miranda: It definitely was, you know, in the back of my head the whole time I was pregnant, like, oh, who am I going to be able to, you know, help? And I knew it was going to take a lot after I gave birth, but I did not prepare as well as I, you know, for that aspect for the help afterward.

[12:40] I didn't prepare as well as I would recommend for some people, because having somebody that can come by, somebody that's close, you know, is so important. And it was definitely something in my mind that I was like, oh, I know I need to do this, but, like, there's all these other things that I need to get and prepare and do for before birth.

[13:00] But I. I think I was just prepping so much for the birth and, like, getting everything I needed that I kind of, like, let that slide. And then when it came time, it's like, oh, yeah, I didn't.

[13:09] I didn't gather my seven sisters like I was supposed to, but it was it. I think it's very much like, should be on top of the priority list is making sure you have care, like, just any kind of help afterward.

[13:23] Yeah. I've had several people come over and help me, including yourself, but they're not super close, so it felt like, oh, man, they had to drive so far to come out here for a few hours.

[13:37] But I'm so thankful for them. And like, everybody has helped so much to. Has come over, but I. I definitely think I could have used few more sisters gathered, you know, that were close by to call because there's been some days when the guys will go to work and I'm just here like, holy cow, this is a lot.

[13:56] I can't even get up and go poop, you know, like, yeah, let's actually.

[14:01] Emily: Let's orient the people to how far out you are postpartum. Because you're fresh.

[14:07] Miranda: Yeah. Like six and a half weeks, I think.

[14:10] Emily: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[14:13] So fresh.

[14:17] Okay, so if there's anything else you'd like to say about preparing yourself for birth or your pregnancy, feel free.

[14:26] Otherwise, we can Dive into like those days before labor, those signs of labor coming on and how that was for you.

[14:34] Miranda: I think just preparing is just keeping your mindset, knowing that, like keeping your intuition and saying set with that. Like, don't let any. Anybody's stories or suggestions or advice, anything like that waiver what you know, because that's ultimately what carried me through it.

[14:53] It was just like, just stick to what I know. Know I'm going to have everything I need wherever I end up, whenever it happens, like, I'll be okay and that's all that matters.

[15:02] Like, don't have any 1% of doubt or that little, you know, questioning is going to come in.

[15:09] Emily: Yeah.

[15:09] Miranda: And, you know, could possibly not make things happen. Right.

[15:13] Emily: Yep. Yep. No, I. I co. Sign that 100.

[15:17] Emily: Yeah.

[15:17] Emily: So take us to those text messages I got about I couldn't drive. I couldn't ride in a bumpy car.

[15:27] Miranda: Oh, yeah. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. The days leading up, that was hard, especially because you're. I was wanting so hard to get every little last thing that I needed.

[15:38] Silly things, too. But, you know, taking a target trip and just getting five minutes down the road on these bumpy mate. Maine has some bumpy roads. Like, I'm not. We're not used to that.

[15:48] So I'm super pregnant. Everything's tight, and there's any kind of bump or shift would just be so uncomfortable. I knew I was getting close, but I didn't know when. I was trying to just be like, oh, well, I have a week.

[16:00] I'm just going to. Not going to act like it could be today. Because if you wake up every day and just think, oh, it could be today, you know, you're anticipating it so much.

[16:07] So I dropped that. And it was hard when it came to my due date because everybody's messaging you, like, when are you going to.

[16:13] Emily: Pop that baby out?

[16:14] Miranda: Blah, blah, blah, blah, you know, And I'm like, all right, hold on. We don't know he's going to come whenever. Or I actually thought it was a girl, but I was saying she the whole time, so she'll come whenever she'll come.

[16:26] But.

[16:27] Oh, yeah, you're a boy.

[16:31] He grunted. Oh, and then farted.

[16:35] Yeah. So he. It was like the days leading up, we were going on little, little dates, just Christopher and I trying to get all the food in that I wanted.

[16:46] I was like, I want Mexican. I want Thai food. You know, we were just getting all the food that I wanted because I knew it wasn't going leave for a little while.

[16:53] And I think it was like five days after my due date or four days, I don't know. But it was a few days after my due date. We went to get some pizza.

[17:05] We're sitting at a bar midday, drinkers at the bar, you know, we're. I'm just eating pizza and everybody's drinking, looking at me. And this one man goes, those hot peppers on that pizza, you're gonna pop that baby out tonight.

[17:18] And I was like, nah, you know, probably. Probably only have, like. Probably still got a week left, you know. Try not to anticipate it, you know, but lo and behold, I go home that night and I'm like, got gas, I think.

[17:31] I don't know, maybe it was pizza. And so I'm going to the bathroom and then I wipe and there's, you know, some. Some thicker bloody kind of situation. And I was like, okay, maybe something's going on.

[17:45] You know, Actually, I think I had had a little bit of spotting the day before.

[17:50] Emily: The brown stuff you sent me?

[17:51] Miranda: Yeah, a tiny little bit of brown. Like, it was a tiny little bit. So it could have, like, started the day before, had the pizza, went home. It's about 10:30.

[18:02] I wiped and I was like, oh. Hm. I should probably let Emily know, you know, it could be today. And I knew that you had the birthday party tomorrow.

[18:09] Emily: Right.

[18:10] Miranda: And I don't want her to, like, you know, come all the way out here and, you know.

[18:16] Yeah. So I was trying to just be like, okay, just wait out, you know, just like, feel how it feels and then go to the bathroom again. It's a little bit more.

[18:24] I text Emily and, like, I'm feeling kind of crampy. No big deal, you know, like, thinking I could just like, ride out the beginning of the pregnancy or the beginning of the labor, and then she could have her birthday party and it'd be fine.

[18:35] But it really. I was just like, I'm gonna start a log. So I started texting you just to keep a log of when it was I was feeling things, which also gave me some time stamps because I'm.

[18:45] I can't pay attention to that stuff.

[18:48] And I noticed, like, how close together I was feeling things. It was like 1:30.

[18:54] Emily: What were you feeling?

[18:55] Miranda: I was just feeling low abdominal cramping. So I was doing some, like, movement. It was kind of like period cramps. I was just doing some moving and some moaning and then got louder.

[19:06] And then I was told Chris. I was like, okay, I think Emily needs to wake up and come over. I think I had texted. I Think I. I had called you.

[19:15] Emily: Called me? Yeah.

[19:16] Miranda: And then I was like, hey, you know, I think I'm.

[19:20] Emily: I think I'm in labor.

[19:21] Miranda: Just kind of quietly, like, oh, I'm fine. No big deal.

[19:25] And then you're like, I'm gonna go back to sleep for a little bit. I'm like, okay, cool. You know, 30 minutes pass. I'm like, I hope she didn't go back to sleep.

[19:32] Emily: I barely did. Believe me, Chris, you need to call her.

[19:37] Miranda: So Chris called you? I'm not sure what he said. He left the room because I was just, like, moving and moaning, but what did he say?

[19:45] Emily: I think he just said, she. She's ready to have you here. She's. She's in it. She's in labor. She wants you. I was like, okay, be there in an hour.

[19:53] Miranda: Yeah.

[19:54] Yeah. So I don't. After. After I knew you were coming, and, like, people, oh. I heard Ryan get up because it was the middle of the night, and I'm, like, moaning and moving.

[20:04] And he wakes up, and Chris is in the hallway. Ryan goes, is it baby time?

[20:10] Chris goes, oh, yeah. And then I just hear him go walk outside, and he starts the fire. So he had, like, a really nice bonfire going by the time.

[20:19] Yeah, that was. That was 12, so he had to go on all night. And.

[20:23] Emily: Yeah. Yeah, it was a beautiful fire. I got some of that in your birth video.

[20:28] Miranda: Yeah, I didn't even see it. I didn't. Obviously, I didn't go outside or, like, you know, leave the house for a while, so I only saw it in your birth video.

[20:37] Emily: It's a nice fire.

[20:38] Miranda: Yeah. So he got that going. And I did not look at a clock or ask anybody about times, so I have no idea any times other than when the sun came up.

[20:51] And I saw that it was daylight, and I was like, cool. You know, that's all that really happened. But it's hard to know how long things were happening, because you said.

[21:01] Until you said I was laying on my left side on the table for a while. I was like, really? How long was that? And Chris said it was a few hours.

[21:10] That was on that table on my left side.

[21:12] Emily: Yeah.

[21:13] Miranda: Which is wild.

[21:14] Emily: Yeah, I know. Because you were falling into such a deep sleep. In between every single surge, you would wake up and just breathe and sound, and just, like, you were just so inward.

[21:27] It was the most beautiful thing to witness. And then you would go right to.

[21:32] Miranda: Sleep, like, yeah, well, because that's what I was always told. It's like, rest when you can rest. So I was taking it in whenever I could. I was like, I know this is a lot.

[21:41] Emily: Yeah, yeah. So I got there.

[21:46] I think I got there just after 3:30 or so, and you were still standing upright at your massage table, kind of leaning over the table and, like, doing the birth dance, swaying and moving and moaning.

[22:00] And I sat with you for a little bit and you. I could tell, like, right away, and I hope you can confirm this, but I felt that I could tell right away that, like, you were unfazed by my energy coming in.

[22:12] And if anything, you were happy and accepting and grateful and. And like, you didn't mind my touch. I did just did some, like, gentle touch, like taking the energy, like, down your back, down your legs and just offering you some water and some food.

[22:26] But you were just so inward, like a cat. Like, you.

[22:32] You never asked for literally anything, like, the entire time. You were just, like, in it in this most beautiful way. I.

[22:41] I hope you let me share the birth video because I didn't catch, like, all of this amazingness, but it was incredible. Anyway, yeah, so I can tell you my timeline, but I'd rather you tell me what you recall from, like, the timeline of, like, how things progressed.

[22:57] Miranda: Yeah, I definitely was super aware of everybody that came into the house. Everybody, like, where Clover, like, where the dog was, you know, Like, I. I was hyper aware, but super inward.

[23:10] Like, I wasn't looking or talking to anybody, but I knew what was going on. Like, I knew y'all were in the living room talking. I knew Clover was walking around or whatever.

[23:18] So I was very hyper aware and like I said in a psychedelic way, but also didn't know what was going on at the same time. Like, I was just so open to just being like, whatever happens right now.

[23:35] So, yeah, like, I. I do remember being upright, like, moving and moaning and like, hold myself up. And then I remember transitioning to the ball on the floor.

[23:46] And I remember laying on the floor, I had a towel over my legs and, like, I was just rotating my head side to side on the ball and, yeah, that.

[23:55] I don't know how long I was down there. That was. That was a good, like, hang. Have my belly hanging like that really supported on the ball. Felt really good.

[24:05] I don't. Like, it was intense. It was intense, like, surges. But I. I wasn't like, pain. I wasn't in pain, you know, like, I didn't hurt.

[24:15] I don't know how to explain that other than intensity. Yeah, it was. So I feel like it was main. It was really manageable.

[24:23] And then I get on the table, and then I can't. Like, I couldn't stop my body. I didn't want to, but, I mean, there was no way that it was like, you know, when you have a reflex and you.

[24:34] You gag a little bit and you, like, throw. Like, your body just throws up. My body was doing the pushing feeling just, you know, on its own. That's why I think I was so relaxed in between the sleep and, like, I was actually really relaxed.

[24:47] And then I would have these surges, and my body would just, like.

[24:51] Like, and, like, push it down.

[24:54] And it was so. That was so wild experiencing, like, my body just doing all of that on its own. Like, I remember thinking to myself, like, I'm not doing this.

[25:02] It's so weird. It's like I had those tens, the ten muscle. Muscle stimulators on. It was just, like, doing it.

[25:10] It's wild.

[25:11] Emily: That was when you first started feeling pushy. It was when you were on the ball right before you laid down, and you. You said to me, I feel like I have to push a little bit.

[25:22] And I'll just. I'll interject here, because I was like, well, her labor started, you know, like, you're not there yet four or five hours ago. Like, she doesn't really sound, like, too intense.

[25:35] Like, she's really handling this well. And I was just like, okay, you know, like, just, like, taking a mental note. Okay, she feels, like, a little pushy.

[25:43] And then, you know, we helped you, and you got on your left side, and we got you all cozied in, and that was probably, like, maybe five in the morning.

[25:52] I would.

[25:53] Miranda: Oh, wow.

[25:54] Emily: Is when you laid down on your side.

[25:56] Miranda: I was, like, on the ground for two hours. And then. Wow, that's wild.

[26:00] Emily: And your. Your surges were coming, like, pretty almost, like, so consistently, like, every three minutes almost that entire time. Wild.

[26:08] Miranda: That was only three minutes, too, because you told me that later on, and I was like, wow, it felt like such a long time in between them.

[26:14] Emily: Yeah, because you were just asleep.

[26:17] And then. Yeah. And then I kind of, like, really, like, left you guys alone. And you. And Chris, he sat with you for a while in there as you were on your side, or we even completely, like, left you alone, too.

[26:27] You were just doing so well. We'd come in just to check and give you a little sip of water and make sure you're okay and then leave you a bee.

[26:36] Miranda: Yeah, I think I was less aware during that time of, like, I could tell when y'all were in here. But sometimes I'd, like, look over and be like, oh, nobody's in here.

[26:44] Oh, that's cool. You know? But it would only be like, a quite a second when I was even thinking about, you know, what's going on in the room. I was just letting my body.

[26:54] My body was just doing its thing.

[26:56] Emily: But you were laying on your side there doing the pushy thing. The sun came up, and you weren't like, really, really, like, really actively, like, pushing, pushing, pushing, but it was just.

[27:07] There was. There was a push to the surge. You could see it. But as the sun came up, what time was it you got into the pool, like, around 10 in the morning?

[27:19] Miranda: 10:00Am yeah.

[27:20] Emily: Yeah. So Chris came out and he said, emily, she's got some, like, blood or mucus or something coming out. Can you, like, can you go check?

[27:30] And your sounds were getting a little louder at that point. And I went in and I looked, and, like, sure enough, you had a pretty nice show there of some blood and some mucus.

[27:42] And I just remember that coming out, I observed a few more of your surges, and these were, like, getting really extra pushy, like, for real. Real. And I could see, like, your Volvo was starting to swell.

[27:56] And I said to you, miranda, do you want to have your baby in the water? Do you remember that?

[28:03] Miranda: I do. Yeah. I don't think I responded.

[28:05] Emily: You didn't for a little bit. I swear, Miranda, you were so just, like, present and with it and, like, surrendered. I mean, you. I did not witness you being in resistance to this birth.

[28:19] At any point.

[28:21] At any point. You. At not at one point did you have, like, a crisis of confidence? I think you were in transition when you were leaning over the ball and, like, when you.

[28:30] You were like. You got. You were down, and then you got up and you were kind of, like, getting restless, a little restless.

[28:36] And that was probably transition for you.

[28:39] Like, you handled that so well. But, yeah, I was like, she could have this baby right here and, like, not think twice about it. But, yeah, finally you said yes.

[28:48] And so that's when I was like, all right, man, you have a job. Fill the tub.

[28:52] Miranda: Yes. And then it all started. Oh, I'm glad you asked, because, like, like you said, I probably could have had the baby on the bed, but, man, my left side would have hurt even more because my glute.

[29:03] My left glute had been. I think it was like, two weeks, maybe maybe three afterward, that I was just like, ooh, it's so tight. And was not happy in there.

[29:12] But, yeah. And obviously like, the water helped so much with everything. Just like.

[29:19] But, yeah, I'm glad you asked that, because I wanted to have my baby in the water. I didn't. I was trying to just relinquish it, like, the power. Like, whatever happens, happens.

[29:27] But I was like, in my head, I remember telling myself, if I move right now, I'll have this baby. But, like, I was so, like, I didn't want to move at the same time.

[29:38] That was the only bit of resistance I think I had in my mind was, I need to move, but I think I need to rest. So I think it wasn't resistance.

[29:46] I think I was kind of also listening to my body again, like, hey, I'll keep pushing, but, like, you should rest in between. And so I was resting in between, and then you came in and suggested that, and I was like, yeah, I think I have enough.

[29:59] You know, I think I rested enough, like, laying here.

[30:02] Emily: So they started filling the tub. The water was extremely hot, and I.

[30:08] Miranda: Loved how you were. Every time I would have a surge, you would be like, everybody stop. So, like, the whole room would stop moving and functioning. And then. And then you be like, okay, she's done.

[30:19] Emily: Yeah, it's so.

[30:22] It is so helpful because, like, when you are in that surge, like, you are at your absolute max capacity of any stimuli. Like, any input, noise, sound, movement. Like. Also, Heather Baker had taught me about when a mother is having a surge, everyone should be lower than her.

[30:40] Like, sit down on the ground. Like, if she's standing, like, to be below her, it's like this power thing. It's like giving reverence. It's. It's an energetic situation. Like, do not talk to the mother.

[30:52] Do not be wrestling, setting things up when the mother's surging. Like.

[30:57] Like, you. We need to bow in reverence to what is happening.

[31:02] Miranda: It was. Was so helpful. I was so thankful that you were doing that, because I just had to concentrate on my breath. I had to concentrate on everything else. I didn't want to think about what everybody was doing and moving and.

[31:13] Yeah, but once. Once that birth pool was set up, and then thinking about getting off the table and, like, you know, putting. That was so daunting. I was like, oh, man, this is gonna be a lot.

[31:24] And then I don't know how I did it. I don't remember.

[31:28] I don't know. But I got up, y'all. I think y'all were helping me, probably because I don't remember. And once I put my foot in that pool was like, oh, this is hot.

[31:36] But like, damn, this feels good. And I hadn't taken a hot bath in a while, and I was just like, I need to get in here. And so I get in.

[31:42] It's just up to my waist, you know, just the perfect amount, honestly, because, like, everything could soften and loosen up enough for me to, you know, chill. But I didn't feel like I was sloshing around in the pool.

[31:55] Like, I could still control myself and, like, hold on to something and feel secure, but also, like, warm and soft.

[32:02] And I think they came and brought some, like, lukewarm, like, just the room temp water into, like, raise the level, and it balanced it out really well.

[32:12] But it wasn't long after I got in the tub. I think I moved, like, two different positions. Maybe I was in, like, leaned over, you know, on the side on my knees, on the little seat that was in there that was comfortable.

[32:25] And then I got hot. And so Chris was putting hot or cold towels on my neck while I was in a different position, I think. And then I put my leg up on the wall, I think, and then came up.

[32:38] Oh, I remember.

[32:39] Emily: I do.

[32:40] Miranda: I.

[32:41] I do remember pushing and, like, having the same push feeling happening in my body, just doing it.

[32:50] And then I knew, like, you know, the Ring of fire. Everybody talks about that. So I was like, all right, I'll know when it's, like, when his head's about to pop out, because I'll have that intense, you know, feeling.

[33:02] And that's exactly what happened. I think I just kept. You said, you can. You can put your hand down there to feel if you feel his head. And I was like, oh, it's like.

[33:10] This was like a weird. I don't know if I want to. So I did. I stuck my finger down there, and his head was, like, one knuckle. Like, it was.

[33:18] He was right there. And I was like, it's squishy. And like, you. You said, oh, it's probably still the sack. So he was still in his sack. My water had never broken, and that's what I was feeling.

[33:28] So I was feeling that, like, sack, like, come out and then go back in with every, like, surge. But it would come out just a little bit more every time, and then my body would push a little bit harder.

[33:37] You know, I was. I was never like, oh, I'm going to push this baby out. Until I felt his head and. And everything was stretching to, like, a wide enough point that I thought on my body was.

[33:47] I was like, okay, this is time to, like, actually try, you know, So I knew I had to. I knew I had to try a little bit.

[33:55] A little bit, because I. I felt like I didn't want it to stay there for so long.

[34:03] So, yeah, I was. I was crowning. And I could feel. I could feel that it was being stretched to the point of, you know, some. Some burning sensation. And I was like, okay, I don't want this to last too long.

[34:18] I think I'm gonna help this. This next push when it comes along. I knew I wasn't going to just try it. Push right then and there, but I knew when the next surge came, I was like, all right, I'm going to put a little oomph into this, because I don't want to, like, sit here in this.

[34:31] In this.

[34:32] Yeah. State for a while.

[34:35] And I pushed, and I could hear, like. I. I mean, I. I was kind of. I think I was, like, yelling. It's like, yelling, and then it just. Boom. It was, like, such a weird.

[34:45] I can't even explain that feeling. It's so odd. But I knew his head was out. I knew that the head was out, Wasn't feet. There wasn't anything weird going on.

[34:54] I was just like, okay, cool, there's a head. Okay. You know, now it should. Everything else should just kind of flow out. I was just, like, imagining. I was like, just keep going, keep going.

[35:04] I didn't want to get stuck because I know, like, sometimes their head will just be out for a little while, and then it takes another minute or so and.

[35:13] But I was. I was very happy that everything just kind of. I think it only took, like, one minute for everything. Once his head was out.

[35:21] Oh, did you.

[35:22] Emily: Did you feel him rotate?

[35:24] Miranda: I did not feel it. But now, like, watching the video, you can see it. I didn't know. And that's another thing I need. I want to watch more closely because now, you know, just, you know, chiropractors and stuff, and they're like, he must have been in there, like, this or this list angle, you know?

[35:41] So I should. I should watch it closely and see where he was at, because he keeps his head turned to the right side a lot. And I want to see, you know, what could that have been?

[35:52] Emily: Yeah. So his head came out, and Chris looks up at me, and I said, get ready to catch.

[36:01] Miranda: Oh, my gosh. That look on his face. He's like, huh? I know. Like, what do I do now? Yeah, like, straight possum. He was just like, he did great. Yeah, he did.

[36:12] He did.

[36:14] Emily: Actually, I haven't asked him if he wants to come on and tell his version.

[36:18] Miranda: That'd be fun. I'd love to hear his version, actually. I'm gonna.

[36:22] Emily: I'm gonna do that. Yeah. So then baby came flying out and he caught the baby and one handed, too. One handed?

[36:32] Miranda: Yeah, he's just one handed. Like, holding him. Like a football or something.

[36:36] Emily: Yeah, his cord was kind of over his shoulder, like a sash.

[36:40] Miranda: Yep.

[36:41] Emily: But I'm not gonna tell the story. You tell it. What do you recall?

[36:44] Miranda: Yeah, I. I forget, like, even you just saying that. I'm like, oh, yeah, I won. So. But I just remember I didn't want to be tangled up in the cord. So right when the, like, right when he came out, I put my leg over Chris's head somehow.

[36:59] You did, which is wild. I think back and I'm like, oh, my gosh, how did I do that? Right after, like, I was not thinking. I just knew. I was like, all right, I have to do this.

[37:08] Like, he's not going to move. He doesn't. He's not thinking about the cord. Like, I just need to get my leg over and then I can hold my baby. Because I just.

[37:15] I just wanted. And just wanted them close and I wanted her clothes. So I thought you were like, get.

[37:20] Emily: Ready to catch her.

[37:21] Miranda: That's what you said in the video. And then I'm like, give her to me, you know, right after, like, bring her here.

[37:28] And Chris goes, it's a boy. Like, I was. I mean, I was very shocked. I really did think that he was going to be a girl for the whole pregnancy.

[37:38] I was set on that. But I mean, also, I didn't really care either way. I was just like, something's telling me it's a girl. I still think there's a little girl floating out there, you know, calling to me because I was so sure.

[37:51] Anyway, but Chris also said he had a dream early on in my pregnancy that I was a boy. And he stuck with that the whole time. He's like, no, it's a boy.

[38:00] You know, I had a dream and I'm like, well, I'm the one that's pregnant. Your dreams don't matter, you know?

[38:07] But he was right, you know, and he did the whole pregnancy. He said, I'm going to catch that baby. And I was like, well, what if I want to? You know?

[38:15] And I couldn't. I honestly, I mean, I could have if nobody else was there. And I knew that that was like, I needed to catch him. I could. I would have got into a different position, I think, knowing that Chris Was going to get in the tub.

[38:28] I got into that sideline position.

[38:31] Emily: Yeah. Oh, actually, let's tell the little funny part before when you.

[38:37] Miranda: Yeah, Like a couple minutes, you were.

[38:39] Emily: Like, pushing, and I was like, chris, do you want to catch the baby? Oh. And he was like, yeah. And I was like, okay, do you want to put some swim shorts on?

[38:48] Like, he was, like, still fully dressed.

[38:51] Miranda: Like I said, he goes into possum mode. I'm the only one that knows this because he looks like he's calm and controlled and he's got things under control, but in his head, he's like, if I don't move, nothing else will happen.

[39:01] Like, I'll be okay. Like, I just need to stay still, you know? He just. He just gets into this, like. But he. I mean, and I could see that in watching the video.

[39:09] I can see that in him. You know, he was doing that possum thing, and then he eventually, like, snapped to it. Right when the baby came out, he was like, oh, my gosh.

[39:17] Like, this was real. I actually caught the baby. I've been talking big game, but I really didn't think I was gonna do it. It shocked him. I think he was really shocked that he actually did it.

[39:26] Emily: Oh, he did. So amazing. He was such an amazing birth support. Like, he did. He did everything right. It was.

[39:34] Miranda: He did everything I told him to. I was like, don't talk, don't move. Don't do anything until I need help.

[39:41] Emily: He was so loving to you, and the presence that he held in the room with you was just, ah, so beautiful. Yeah. So he quickly went and put his swim trunks on and was only in the water with you for, like, five, ten minutes.

[39:54] Actually, I left you guys alone for just a little bit longer.

[39:58] Miranda: Yep.

[39:59] Emily: Because I wanted you guys to have that, like, time to yourself. And that's when your noises got real loud. And I was like, okay, I'm gonna go back. I think I'm gonna pop back in that baby.

[40:08] I'll be here soon.

[40:10] Miranda: Chris was calling, like, emily, come back.

[40:14] This is so funny. I do remember. I do remember being in the tub thinking, like, once you told him to go put some trunks on, I'm like, I'm not holding this baby in.

[40:24] He better hurry up, because this is happening right now, and I can't stop it, you know? I was like, man, that'd be funny if he was putting his swim trunks on and missed the bird.

[40:33] But I'm glad. I'm so glad he didn't. Yeah, I know. Yeah.

[40:39] Emily: So you found out it was a boy. You're snuggling him on your chest and.

[40:45] Miranda: Oh, yeah.

[40:46] Emily: And then we gotta finish up the birth story because it's not over yet.

[40:50] Miranda: Yeah. So what did I do? I got out. No, I was sitting. Yeah, he was snuggling on my chest. I'm, like, getting him acclimated. I remember he didn't pink up really fast, which I really wasn't worried about at all.

[41:04] I saw that his. His. He was moving. He was aware. But he did have, like, some Fleming stuff still coming up. And he was getting stuff out, and I knew, just blow on his chest, suck on his nose, you know, do the.

[41:17] Do the things I can do. And then slowly from his chest outward, he started pinking up, which I thought was pretty fast. I mean, maybe not in the normal. Like, I think it might have caused some concern if I, you know, had medical professionals trying to.

[41:34] Yeah, totally. Tell me.

[41:36] Emily: Totally. And, like, honestly, because I have all the unlearning that I'm doing, I was like, oh, kind of like an oh, like, I don't like that. And then I'm like, looking to you, like.

[41:47] And you did not seem. You did not seem like you were in, like, high alert mode. So, like, I used that to regulate my nervous system too. And you did everything great.

[41:56] You know, you. You sucked a little bit out of his nose. You blew on him, rubbing his hands and feet. We used a little bulb suction, which really didn't work very well, but just keeping him on you and close to you and letting him initiate breastfeeding.

[42:14] And I was. I felt the cord. He had a beautiful, strong heart rate. So, you know. Yeah, it was.

[42:20] Miranda: Got a good latch, like, right away. I remember thinking like, oh, wow, this is crazy. He just came out of the womb and he already knows how to do this.

[42:26] Emily: It was incredible.

[42:28] Miranda: Yeah, it was really cool. And then I was still having cramping, you know, but it went back. It went back to a different kind of cramping. It wasn't like the pushing sensation while I was pushing.

[42:39] Like, I said no pain, but then once, once he came out, my body was doing, like, more cramping. Like, I feel like I was just having, like, period low abdominal kind of pains, but it wasn't like pain.

[42:53] It was just like, ooh, there's something still going on there. Probably because of all the hormones that I had going on. And I just was loving on my baby. But that was not comfortable.

[43:01] Honestly, I was just like, oh, this is uncomfortable. I'm going to get my placenta out So I can be done.

[43:06] And so I think I just started, like, I wrapped my finger around the cord and just gave it a little tug while we were in the pool. I was like, hey, maybe this thing's ready.

[43:14] And then after, like, a couple seconds of pulling, I was like, no, it needs a minute, you know, Like, I. I need to just chill, you know, Like, I have a little bit more uncomfortable to deal with.

[43:25] So I just went back into, like, the breathing and listening to my body and trying to decide, like, what do I need right now? What kind of. What position would feel good.

[43:35] So that's when I decided to get out of the tube. Looking back, I wish I would have just stayed in the pool a little bit longer and just, like, soaked it all up longer because the placenta is going to come out.

[43:47] I think I was, like, ready to be done with it, but now I'm like, oh, man, I wish I would have just sat in that, like, bubble a little bit longer because it's so great like that.

[43:56] Just like, right after, you know, he was. He was all warm. Like, I didn't need to move. I didn't need to worry about the placenta. But anyway, looking back, I wouldn't just, like, sat there a little bit longer and just soaked it up.

[44:10] But I got out of the pool, and I think I went straight to the composting toilet. I don't think I did anything else. I was like, I need to sit.

[44:17] I need a squat. Because of the. How short the composting toilet was. It was perfect. It was like I was already had a squatty potty. Like, my knees were up pretty high.

[44:27] I could just lay. I just laid Elec in my lap and was. I think he was still latched, or I think he was latching, and I was just sitting over top of the composting toilet, kind of like, letting the waves of the crampy feeling come.

[44:40] And then I don't know why, but I was like, oh, I think it's time now. And I think I, like, just did the. Wrap my finger around it and I pulled it again, and I was like, no.

[44:49] Like, my butt's uncomfortable on this seat. So, like, the composting toilet had, like, a really hard, like, plastic seat.

[44:57] So, yeah, I got up and I think I squatted over, like, a. Like a puppy pad. Yeah, that's what. That's what it was. I squatted over a puppy pad and did the same thing.

[45:07] Wrapped my finger around the cord and gave it a tiny little tug and then, like, pushed. Like, I was going Poop. And it just, you know, did its weird little plop out.

[45:20] It was a weird feeling. Honestly, I. I felt a lot of relief right after.

[45:25] Um, so that was immediately I was like, oh, all good. You know, placenta's out, he's latched. Like, it was such a cool moment right there. I'm glad you snapped a picture of that because I'm like, I look at that picture, I'm just like nursing him.

[45:38] And like, the placenta just came out and it was.

[45:41] Emily: You were such a primal, amazing woman in this moment. You were holding your baby all by yourself, latching him, squatting, pulling your placenta out.

[45:53] I didn't get a video of that part. I wish I had, but I guess a couple pictures right after when you sat down on the floor then.

[46:00] Miranda: Yeah, so they're great. They're great pictures because, like, you know, you. You do forget all these little details. And yeah, I was very thankful you snapped a bunch of pictures and took videos because, you know, everybody has their, like, birth team, they have videographers and, you know, they do all these things.

[46:16] And I was like, I am not that prepared. Like, I'm prepared in other ways, but I wasn't. I was not ready for.

[46:25] Chris goes, are we gonna have any pictures? Are we gonna, like, do this? I was like, I don't know, like, hopefully Emily will take some. And that's it. I was so glad you did.

[46:33] You were like, do you want pictures? Please? I just didn't want to, like, have different tasks for everybody, you know, I wanted to just like, have who I needed there and then just if people took pictures, people took pictures.

[46:45] But Chris, his pictures are funny. I'm like, bent over the ball, like, in pain, and he's just like, smiling selfie, you know, like, selfies all over the room with just him smiling, and I'm like, oh, like, laid out, you know, it's ridiculous.

[47:02] You were having such a great. He's like, yeah, you were going through it, but I was having a great time.

[47:06] Emily: Oh, my God.

[47:08] Miranda: Just taking pictures. Selfies.

[47:10] Emily: I gotta get him on to tell his version. I didn't know he was taking selfies.

[47:14] Miranda: Yeah, I looked at his camera rolling. It's just like me over the ball, like, oh, like, my face looks so horrible. And he's just like, biggest smile.

[47:23] Emily: He's a happy, proud daddy.

[47:25] Miranda: Oh, he is.

[47:27] Emily: Oh, my.

[47:28] Miranda: Well, yeah.

[47:29] Emily: So this was just like the most gorgeous, precious, beautiful, natural, physiological, instinctual, mother led birth.

[47:40] It was so humbling for me, you know, to witness that, to be able to like, Truly see an undisturbed physiological birth of. With this first time mom who's just like, no, I feel ready and I feel prepared, and I'm doing it the way that I know I need to do it.

[47:58] And me just having to be like, okay.

[48:01] You know, like, okay, I can.

[48:04] Miranda: Yeah. I remember you asking me to write it out a few times. I was like, I can't. Like, I don't know how it's gonna go, but I'm ready for it, you know?

[48:15] Emily: Yeah. And just, you know, the humbling part for me was it's like, I don't. I don't know what other women need. Like, they truly have to be trusting themselves and their intuition.

[48:28] Like, yeah, I have, like, training and ideas and my own intuition and this and that. But at the end of the day, it is as much for me about trust and surrender as it is to the birthing mother, you know, to.

[48:41] To show up in the birth space and to be a witness for free birth.

[48:45] Miranda: It's.

[48:46] Emily: It's a lot. It's a lot.

[48:48] Miranda: Yeah. It's like that mindset that I was talking about. It's like, you have to have the mindset, like, knowing I'm going into this by myself. I'm doing it by myself, you know, Like, I'm not putting it, like, I'm not giving somebody else what is, like, the authority, I guess, to tell me, like, this is what I need to do.

[49:05] I just. I knew I was trusting in myself and that I knew what I needed to do.

[49:11] Emily: Yeah.

[49:11] Miranda: Hi there. Yeah.

[49:13] Emily: And you sure showed me and everyone.

[49:16] And that was such. Such a gift. Such a gift.

[49:22] Yeah. Do you want to touch a little bit on breastfeeding, your postpartum experience or just general wisdom and takeaways?

[49:34] Miranda: Yeah, I think I would have looked into the breastfeeding a little bit more. I don't think I. I really. I think I did one breastfeeding class with the doula training. I was like, cool.

[49:46] You know, I don't really. I don't really know what to expect. I'm excited for it, but I had no idea. I. I didn't even know that breast came. I mean, breast milk came out of both sides when he was nursing.

[49:57] Like, that's something I. That was new. I was not prepared for. Um, I didn't. I didn't just, like, all the latch things. Like, I didn't know about different latches and, like, holding them in different positions.

[50:09] I feel like I was a little underprepared for the breastfeeding journey.

[50:13] That is something I Probably would have looked into a little bit more.

[50:17] It's, I mean, it's so individual, you know, I think I had, I think he has, Well, I know I went to a, I went to a myofunctional therapist. He has slight tongue ties.

[50:27] Nothing that's going to be like affecting him long, long term or anything like that. So we don't need to do anything. But it's knowing what to look for in his latch, like if his lips were tucked in or like tucked or like flipping them out.

[50:40] I just having somebody suggest that helped me so much.

[50:44] Like, it just, it was definitely hard figuring the breastfeeding out because he was, it was painful for me. So once we, once we figured out, like, hey, I just need to like, do some exercises.

[50:58] He's got some tension, you know, I did, I've been doing a little bit of massage on him, making sure his lips aren't tucked in. Like just little, little things that, to adjust so that we can both.

[51:09] Because he, he's learning. I was learning. We, it took us some, I mean, till now, like, I'm still, I still have pain, but it's been almost two months now and were just figuring it out.

[51:20] My suggestion for any new moments, like, definitely wait it out for at least a month because I didn't need to go to that lady. Like, it was confirming to what I was worried about was like, okay, his breathing's all right.

[51:33] It's not going to affect his speech. Like, he's okay. But I, I, I could have just waited it out. It just was so painful that I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.

[51:43] To keep, keep toughing it out was really like, what I was doing because I, I've had, it was very pain. It was more painful, honestly, than birth for me. I said this to Chris because, like, I would wake up, my nipples were cracked, he needed to nurse.

[51:58] You know, it hurt so bad, like, to tears.

[52:03] And I just don't think I was prepared for that at all. I just thought like, oh, Ping's gonna get a lot. Also. I didn't know your milk took days to come in.

[52:11] Like, I thought I would just give birth and there you go, you know, like, he'd be nursing. But no, it takes days. So it was really hard to see him, like, hungry and I didn't have milk, you know, I was really sad.

[52:25] Emily: A few things I'll reflect on there just for, I don't know, education purposes or whoever's listening.

[52:34] Yeah, like, exactly. Like you said, breastfeeding is such an individualized journey. Like, no Two babies are the same. No two mothers are the same. It's so individualized. And it's just an extension of that.

[52:46] Leaning into self trust, leaning into intuition, listening to your body wisdom and doing what you feel is right for, like, you know, you and your baby. But as far as the milk coming in, though, they do get colostrum, which is, like, very high in calories and nutrient micronutrients.

[53:06] And babies are born with a whole bunch of brown fat, which is what they burn and use for energy until that milk comes in. So they are getting calories, but it just doesn't necessarily.

[53:19] You can't see it. And that's usually why babies, like, lose a little bit of weight, too, on that second weigh in, if you're weighing your babies.

[53:27] But yeah, I think when your milk came in, you did have a nice cry that day, didn't you?

[53:32] Miranda: You called it on day three. You were like, day three, your milk should come in by then. You know, you were very confirming about all the things. It made me feel a lot better knowing about the brown fat.

[53:41] Like, I didn't know that.

[53:43] So knowing that he was okay and he had what he needed, but he's, like, fussy, and I need to. That was still just me trying to learn other things, like his cues, knowing when he had to poop, or, like, if he had a, you know, a dirty diaper, he didn't like sitting in it.

[53:56] And I was still learning, like, the checklist of things to check before to make sure he's okay, has what he needs. So it was just you, day three, I was just you ready for the cry.

[54:06] And you were so right. My milk came in, I woke up, it was a hard day, and I just remember, I was like, wow, Emily's right. My. It's like I'm.

[54:14] I can't help it, but I'm crying, like, all day.

[54:17] Emily: It's such a beautiful release to let your tears and your milk flow. It's such a huge transition transformation. You know, this is your first baby.

[54:30] You're now a mom. Like, you're right in the midst of this, like, transformative process. And it doesn't happen like, okay, I gave birth, now I'm a mom now. It's like, oh, I'm like, having to figure out my new identity in this mother role.

[54:49] And that'll continue on for quite some time.

[54:53] Miranda: Yes, I can already tell it has already.

[55:00] Emily: Well, Miranda, I. Again, I. I knew this was going to be a fun story, and I'm so grateful that you said yes to coming on and Sharing.

[55:10] And is there anything else that you would like to say or share before we close up?

[55:20] Miranda: Just that, I mean, don't doubt yourself and know that you can do it too. Because I, like, just because I had years of meditation and all that. Like, I don't. I think that anybody can tap into that.

[55:33] You just have to believe you can. And don't, don't like, accept the, the story that has. Everybody's been telling you, you know, like, about birth. Because it can, it can, it can be easeful.

[55:46] I mean, obviously it was, it was effort. You know, like there was effort and there was some intensity, but it was, it was really kind of awesome. You know, I'm very, I'm very proud and happy that I did it my way because I had a lot of people trying to convince me otherwise and what I was doing wasn't going to be safe or, you know, whatever.

[56:08] So I just feel really proud. And we did it how we did it, right, Bubba? We did it. We did it how we want.

[56:15] Emily: You should. Amazing. Like, literally just so amazing. If people wanted to reach out to you. Do you want to share your Instagram or anything like that?

[56:27] Miranda: I am on and off Instagram, but yeah, I can share my Instagram.

[56:35] Emily: I'll link it.

[56:36] Miranda: Yeah. Yeah. Because I think it's like my middle, my first name and my middle name.

[56:40] Emily: With a bunch of A's or something like that.

[56:43] Miranda: I honestly don't know.

[56:46] But yeah, please, if anybody wants to reach out and talk about birth and like what, what I did, that's. I'm happy to talk about it anytime.

[56:54] Emily: Amazing. Thank you so much, Miranda.

[56:58] Miranda: Yeah, thank you, Emily.

[57:06] Emily: Thank you for listening through to the end. I do hope you found good medicine in today's episode and that it encourages your own soul evolution. I have a few new offers, both in person and virtual, that I'd like to tell you about.

[57:22] Beginning in January, I will host a free in person perinatal women's circle for anyone trying to conceive, pregnant or postpartum. Seeking community and support. There will be a focus on preparing for natural birth and healing from birth trauma.

[57:41] Children are welcome. You can sign up via my website.

[57:45] I also now offer a monthly online virtual village circle for families seeking an empowering physiological conception, pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum.

[57:58] Just $10 a month or free when you purchase my online course. So you want a home birth? You can gain access by signing up via my website.

[58:09] As always, I host women's circles once a month at my home in Southern Maine. All women are welcome for details go to my website.

[58:20] I have 20 years of experience in the medicalized system. I let my nursing license expire in 2023 and now I walk with women seeking a physiological, instinctual and deeply spiritual conception, pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum journey.

[58:39] I help prepare and repair for the most expansive rite of passage that women get to experience in this lifetime. It is my greatest honor and sole mission to hold sacred space and witness women as they claim their own inner authority and power.

[58:59] I am a fierce advocate and guardian of natural birth using the culmination of my life's experiences including my own embodied wisdom when it comes to being a home birthing mother, nearly two decades of experience in our health health care system and a year long sacred birth worker mentorship with Anna the Spiritual Midwitch.

[59:23] I support births with or without a licensed provider present at home birth centers and the hospital.

[59:32] I offer birth debriefing and integration sessions for women, their families and birth workers.

[59:39] I offer therapeutic one to one sessions, individually tailored mother blessings, closing of the bones and fear and trauma release ceremonies.

[59:50] If any or all of this resonates, I offer a free 30 minute discovery call.

[59:57] If you have a birth story to share or if you're a embodied wise woman, witch healer, medicine woman, I am also interested in sharing your contribution to our soul evolution.

[01:00:11] You can book in via the link in the show notes.

[01:00:15] Thank you so much for your love and support everyone. Until next time, take really good care.