Ep 257: From Questioning Yourself to Questioning the Birth System with McKenzie Ulmer

Ep 257: From Questioning Yourself to Questioning the Birth System with McKenzie Ulmer

Author: Katelyn Fusco November 20, 2023 Duration: 1:40:29
What does it look like to take charge of your birth experience after a previously disempowering one?   This week, we'll be speaking with McKenzie, a mother to two children and student from The Homebirth Collective--with two very different pregnancy and birth stories. We'll learn how McKenzie's first pregnancy and birth laid a groundwork for questioning herself, yet how that's absolutely not the end of her story-- and what she did to change her experience of pregnancy, birth and motherhood.   Episode Roundup   The way that we feel about ourselves and our experience in pregnancy is extremely related to our birth experience, our postpartum and our motherhood journey. McKenzie's pregnancy with her daughter Cora involved care providers who left her feeling uncertain about herself, her decisions, her ability to give birth and mother her baby.... all of this dynamic was already in play before she even headed to the hospital to have her baby. When the nurse asked, "do you want to try to push?" Her mind immediately began to question, "Well, should I? Surely someone should tell me..." This type of care is so common, and I truly believe that it leads so many mothers to question themselves on all kinds of matters when the truth is that YOU KNOW. You know your body and baby more than anyone else ever could. You are not a small piece of this puzzle... you ARE the puzzle. When McKenzie switched to homebirth and midwife-attended care with her second child, she began to truly embody this reality, which led to starkly different choices, feelings, and experiences. She shared how because of where she is mentally and in her heart, she's able to navigate through the challenges of motherhood with more grace, ease and fluidity than ever before. It's amazing to hear such an undeniable change.     This Week's Sponsors:Araza Beauty: Code HOMEBIRTH for 15% off Informed Pregnancy+   Join The Homebirth Collective Join Happy Homebirth Academy Code PODCAST for 10% off

Hosted by Katelyn Fusco, Happy Homebirth creates a genuine space for conversations that go far beyond the simple how-to of having a baby at home. This podcast centers on the real, unfiltered narratives of people who have experienced natural childbirth, primarily in their own homes. You’ll hear directly from mothers as they recount the intensity, joy, and transformative power of their journeys, alongside the perspectives of midwives and other care providers who support them. While the tone is often uplifting and engaging, these discussions don’t shy away from the raw and challenging moments, offering a fully rounded picture of what homebirth can entail. It’s about building a supportive community through shared stories, where education and encouragement are woven into every episode. Tuning in means connecting with a resource that honors the entire spectrum of motherhood, from pregnancy and birth to parenting and personal health, all while exploring the intersections of family life and personal well-being. For anyone curious, planning, or simply seeking honest dialogue about this profound life experience, this podcast serves as a valuable and comforting companion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Happy Homebirth
Podcast Episodes
Ep 299: The Birth That Rewrote Her Story: Alicia’s VBAC at Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
What do you do when an OB refuses to support your VBAC, and then no other local OBs will take you on as a patient because they don’t accept transfers from other OBs? Where do you go? This week we’re speaking to Alicia Do…
Ep 298: Entering Motherhood with Homebirth and Storytelling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:04
Hey there Happy Homebirthers, I’ve got a fun little treat for you for this week. Instead of our usual interview setup, I wanted to share a podcast that I was on recently. My friend Sarah at Entering Motherhood recently h…
Ep 297: From Darkness to Sunrise: A Freebirthed First Baby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:26
If you choose to have a freebirth, you must be some kind of fearless superwoman, right? This week we’re speaking to Charissa Blair. Charissa is wife to Adam and mother to her freebirthed first baby, Leviticus, with a sec…
Ep 295: When Prayer and Mental Preparation Lead to a Dream Birth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
How would it feel to be supported in your pregnancy and birth by the women of your family? This week we are speaking to Miriam McCuiston, a stay at home mom to her daughter Zoe. She is married to her husband and best fri…
Ep 294: The Root Cause of Your Painful Pregnancy Symptoms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:59
Raise your hand if you’ve experienced a symptom or two in pregnancy that you wish you could get to the root of and heal. Food aversions? Morning sickness? Full on Hyperemisis Gravidarum? This week we are speaking to Jes…