AskMidwife707

Candace Vanbuhler shares the story of her magical pregnancy and birth of her son Jasper.  Candace followed her body and heart throughout her pregnancy and birth.  Labor and birth often throws curve balls and being prepared and having a good support team is everything. Candace intergrated the experience and realized it's purpose was to Raise the Vibration of humanity. Enjoy...

There is a sacred and often challenging space at the end of pregnancy that no one truly prepares you for… the waiting. If you are past your due date, emotionally exhausted, uncomfortable, questioning your body, or simply trying to make it through one more day before labor begins, this episode offers calming support, nervous system grounding practices, birth wisdom, mindset reframes, affirmations, and encouragement to help you trust the unfolding of labor and soften into the unknown. You are not behind. Your body is not failing. You can't rush a sunrise—and you don't have to navigate this threshold alone. Enjoy...

The Spring Equinox invites us into a powerful moment of balance between light and dark, doing and being. In this reflective episode, we explore what it truly means to find balance in our lives, our bodies. How do we hold the tension of opposites while continuing to grow? How do we listen for the quiet wisdom guiding us forward? Join me for a grounding reflection on cultivating balance and honoring transitions. Enjoy:)

Megan Shaw shares her journey into motherhood with her three boys — a path shaped by deep self-discovery, healing, and unexpected turns. She conceived her first baby during a powerful season of inner growth, carrying a clear vision of how early motherhood would unfold. Then COVID changed everything. The postpartum season she had imagined — filled with community, support, and playgroups — looked very different in isolation. Her births took turns she didn't anticipate, asking her to stretch, surrender, and grow in ways she never expected. And yet, she kept going. Megan continued to hold onto her vision of birth and motherhood. With her third baby, she experienced the birth she had long dreamed of — an epic, earth-shaking arrival that reclaimed her power and trust in her body. This is a story of resilience, revisioning, and what it means to move through "The School of Mom" — learning, unlearning, and becoming along the way. Enjoy this powerful conversation about becoming a mother and finding your way home to yourself in the process

In this episode, we explore the heart behind A Mother's Village — a vision devoted to revitalizing true community care for mothers, babies, and families in Humboldt County. From pregnancy through postpartum and beyond, this conversation centers on what it really means to be supported. We talk about reconnecting families to essential local resources, creating meaningful spaces for education and gathering, and restoring the village model of care that mothers have always needed. This episode is an invitation — to belong, to participate, and to help build a community where no mother walks alone. Together, we can nurture a culture of care that supports families in every season of becoming.

It takes courage to get on the horse — especially when life, birth, or motherhood has asked more of you than you expected. As we enter the energy of the Fire Horse, we are invited to step forward with intention, fierce commitment, and grace. This short rant is a heartfelt pep talk calling you to become deeply intentional about who you are becoming — to listen inward, trust your timing, and set brave goals for 2026 that align with your deepest values. What are you ready to birth next in your life? Whether you are preparing for birth, healing postpartum, growing your family, or stepping into a new season of purpose, this episode is an invitation to move forward with courage and clarity. You do not have to have it all figured out — just the willingness to begin. I believe in you. Be brave.

Jackie George is a total badass. She's a wife, mother, fearless surfer, and co-owner of Surf With Amigas—an all-inclusive surf and yoga retreat that brings adventurous women together to support and inspire one another in surfing and in life. Anyone who knows Jackie will tell you she radiates inspiration. She's a wild, adventurous spirit who isn't afraid of hard work, and she knows that the deepest effort often leads to the most epic experiences. Birth has been one of her greatest adventures yet. In a previous podcast, Jackie shared the story of her first birth with her son, Henry—an experience that unfolded very differently than she had envisioned. When she became pregnant again, Jackie chose to dream it up anew. She planned for a home birth in Costa Rica, where she and her family live and work. So often, a second birth unfolds differently: it tends to be more efficient, deeply healing, and, as I like to call it, a "redemption birth." Jackie's second journey brought her exactly that with the beautiful arrival of her daughter, Frida. Enjoy…

Words invite feels. What words do you use when you talk to yourself? What language do we choose to describe our lives? In birth—and in life—there's a powerful shift happening. People are reclaiming the language we use to describe the experience of labor and birth. One of my favorites is saying "my waters released" instead of "my water broke," or "surges" and "rushes" instead of "contractions." These subtle shifts in language shape how we experience our bodies, our power, and our stories. So let's get intentional. How do you want your life to feel? Start there—and reverse engineer everything else. We all need to nurture and love ourselves first as we navigate this wild, beautiful ride of life.

Cila Hall shares the precious birth story of her son Evan. Cila loves babies and children and always envisioned herself a mother. The day came when she was blessed with a positive pregnancy test. Becoming a mother has been her greatest gift. Enjoy!

Happy Solstice!  As this year comes to an end, let's reflect on the things we are bringing into the year and the things we are leaving behind.  Be fearless and be intentional.  Enjoy!