91. MOST LOVED [WISE WOMAN] DISPELLING MYTHS FOR FIRST TIME MOMS WANTING A NATURAL BIRTH - WITH ANNA LUNDQVIST OF SACRED BIRTH INTERNATIONAL

This remastered episode revisits one of the most expansive and highly loved conversations on the podcast. I am joined by Emily Maiden, founder of Maiden Medicine, practitioner of ceremonial pelvic bodywork, and creatrix of transformational teachings on women’s physiology, sacred sexuality, and the deep reclamation of the feminine. In this conversation, we explore the internal landscape of a woman’s body through physiology, anatomy, sensation, lineage, and pleasure. Emily shares her journey from athletic hardness to embodied softness, the paper wall illusion that keeps women disconnected from their root, and the process of returning to your womb as compass, oracle, and centerpoint. Together we walk through the pelvic bowl, the cervix, the vaginal canal, and the vast untapped pleasure potential that resides in every woman. We also explore embodied anatomy, fascia, lymph, pelvic tension, womb alignment, sexuality as a rite of passage, oxytocin circuitry, and how reclaiming your erotic nature becomes the foundation for birth, relationships, sovereignty, and the sacred. This conversation is both practical and mystical. It is a remembrance of who we are beneath the conditioning of patriarchy, religion, performance, and perfectionism. It is an invitation to come home to your body. Inside this episode:Understanding the paper wall and why the feminine feels like a cliff before it becomes freedomWomb as compass, creativity, and inner authorityPelvic anatomy as a sacred map for sensation, healing, and awakeningFascia, lymph, stagnation, tension, and how they shape your sexualityThe journey from numbness to sensation and why neither is wrongWhy women hold shame around their erotic body and how to unwind itThe difference between dopamine based sexuality and oxytocin circuitryPleasure as a pathway to birth, trust, and embodied powerSelf touch, cervical connection, and the inward heroine’s journeyHow pelvic work supports womb alignment, menstrual ease, and birthThe feminine as initiator and the masculine as frameWhy messiness, curiosity, and devotion matter more than perfectionReclaiming rites of passage: menarche, sex, conception, birth, postpartum, and beyondInstagram: @maidenmedicineWebsite: maidenmedicine.com----WAYS TO WALK THIS PATH WITH METhe Wise Woman: A Path to RemembranceA six chapter journey into lineage healing, feminine embodiment, rites of passage, sensual reclamation, and returning to your deepest truth. Details at emilygracenixon.comBeyond a DoulaSpiritual, instinctual, physiological support for conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in Southern Maine and worldwide.So You Want a Home BirthMy comprehensive self paced guide for women choosing a natural undisturbed birth.CommunityMonthly Women’s Circle and Monthly Perinatal Village Circle in Southern Maine.Find everything at emilygracenixon.com and join my email list for updates and offerings.Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

This remastered episode brings back one of the most loved and most important conversations from the podcast archives. I am joined by Lily Nichols RDN, author of Real Food for Pregnancy, Real Food for Fertility, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily is widely respected for her evidence based approach to women’s health, nutrition, pregnancy, and postpartum, and for challenging outdated guidelines that fail to reflect what women’s bodies actually need.We go deep into preconception nutrition, egg and sperm quality, the truth about modern nutrient deficiencies, how guidelines were formed, and what research actually shows about protein, fat, choline, and micronutrient requirements. We also explore preventing complications like preeclampsia, understanding gestational diabetes without fear, and the role of blood sugar, minerals, and metabolic health in supporting a physiological pregnancy.A large portion of this conversation centers around animal foods, bioavailability, why plant based protein is not equivalent, and the hidden ways that vegetarian and vegan diets can compromise fertility, the menstrual cycle, fetal development, postpartum healing, and long term health.We close with an in depth section on postpartum recovery, liver health, hormonal shifts, bile production, and the ancestral wisdom around collagen rich foods, soups, stews, and deep replenishment after birth.If you want real nutritional guidance for sovereignty, intuition, and physiological birth, this is essential listening.Inside this episode:Why preconception begins months before conception and how egg and sperm actually developWhat your menstrual cycle reveals about your overall healthWhy most prenatal guidelines were created using outdated or male based dataProtein requirements in pregnancy and postpartum and why they are far higher than women are toldThe truth about choline, DHA, vitamin A, vitamin K2, and iodineWhy so many women are unknowingly under nourished before conceptionThe nuanced conversation around vegetarian diets, veganism, and the long term effects on mothers and babiesPreventing complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetesHow to interpret your own blood sugar without fear based testingConstipation, bile flow, digestion, and mineral balancePostpartum liver support, hormone detoxification, and the foods that rebuild you after birthWhy ancestral postpartum meals are physiologically perfect for healingAbout today’s guest:Website: lilynicholsrdn.comInstagram: @lilynicholsrdnBooks: Real Food for Pregnancy, Real Food for Fertility, Real Food for Gestational DiabetesWAYS TO WALK THIS PATH WITH ME:Beyond a DoulaSpiritual, instinctual, physiological support for women preparing for conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in Southern Maine and worldwide.So You Want a Home Birth? Your COMPLETE guideA comprehensive self paced course for women choosing a natural, undisturbed home birth.CommunityMonthly Women’s Circle and Monthly Perinatal Village Circle in Southern Maine.Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

In this remastered and deeply loved episode, I sit down with Nikki, a mother of two, human design reader, former foreign correspondent, and a woman who lives boldly by her own inner authority. Together we revisit her extraordinary journeys through conception, birth, loss, and the reclamation of instinctual motherhood.As we approach 100 episodes and celebrate two years of Soul Evolution, this conversation returns because it is one of the most powerful, multidimensional birth stories ever shared on the podcast. This episode moves through conscious conception, an unassisted freebirth in Mexico, a tender early pregnancy loss, and the home birth of her daughter in Maine.Nikki’s storytelling is vivid, embodied, intuitive, and unfiltered. She brings us into the portal of altered states in birth, the ancestral presence of her grandmother, the intelligence of her body, the raw honesty of postpartum, and the spiritual potency of loss.• Conscious conception, intuition, and the moment Nikki knew she was pregnant before taking a test• Choosing freebirth through deep trust, self-responsibility, and body literacy• How fear dissolves when a woman confronts it head-on, instead of trying to strategize around it• The ancestral story of Nikki’s grandmother giving birth alone in a field• Early pregnancy loss as a rite of passage, and how she released her baby at home in ceremony• How her daughter’s spirit communicated with her after the loss• Navigating pregnancy with a toddler, exhaustion, and fear of positioning• The potent physiological “quietude” rest phase before pushing• Two wildly different labors: a 12-hour unassisted first birth in Mexico and a 5.5-hour birth in Maine• Postpartum shifts, porousness, boundaries, and the deep need for support• The intelligence of birth when a woman is undisturbedNikki is a mother of two, a human design reader, and a former journalist whose life path has taken her across continents in devotion to sovereignty, intuition, and spirit.------For conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support:• Beyond a Doula private support• So You Want a Home Birth? full self-paced course• Birth Integration Sessions• Mother Blessings + Closing of the Bones• One-to-one Wise Woman mentorship• Women’s Circles + Perinatal Village Circles in Southern MaineStay connected through the newsletter for upcoming circles, courses, and offerings.Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As we approach 100 episodes and celebrate two years of podcasting, I am bringing back this powerful, deeply loved conversation from the very beginning of Soul Evolution. This story was originally Episode 1 of the entire podcast, and for good reason.In this remastered episode, Katharine shares the full arc of her motherhood journey:• the early birth and stillborn loss of her first daughter• her second pregnancy and planned gentle cesarean• and her third birth, where she claimed her sovereignty by choosing a vaginal breech birth after a prior c-section.What unfolds is an extraordinary, embodied story of intuition, maternal lineage, grief, self-trust, resilience, and radical reclamation. Katharine offers one of the most courageous and nuanced breech-after-cesarean stories you will ever hear, rooted in her own instincts, her deep research, and the support of a skilled midwife trained through Breech Beyond Borders.Her journey reminds us that our bodies hold wisdom beyond measure, and that even after heartbreak, a woman can rise with fierce clarity and claim the birth she knows she is meant to have.• Katharine’s early birth and stillborn daughter, and how that loss reshaped her understanding of intuition and maternal instinct• The healing that unfolded between Katharine and her mother after their shared loss• Planning and preparing for a vaginal birth after cesarean• Navigating a bicornuate uterus, multiple breech pregnancies, and medical system limitations• The difference between instinctual knowing and fear• Community support, sovereignty, and the GoFundMe that made her breech birth possible• What it felt like to labor for days, push for five hours, and bring her breech baby Earthside• Newborn resuscitation in breech birth and the physiology behind it• How her births shaped the evolution of her intuition, confidence and womanhood• The thread of ancestry, self-trust and soul-path that stitched all three of her births togetherKatharine is a jeweler and artist whose work is deeply influenced by her rites of passage, intuition and sovereignty.Instagram: @katharinejanejewelryWebsite: katharinejanejewelry.comShe creates heirloom engagement pieces, custom fine jewelry, and will be showcasing her work at Common Ground Fair in Maine.For women on the conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum path, Emily offers:• Beyond a Doula private support• So You Want a Home Birth? complete self-paced program• Birth Integration Sessions• Mother Blessings and Closing of the Bones• One-to-one Wise Woman sessions for cycle connection, lineage healing and embodimentIf you’re local to Southern Maine, join the Women’s Circle and Perinatal Village Circle held monthly.Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

In this remastered episode, Emily brings back one of the most beloved and most-listened conversations on Soul Evolution. This intimate dialogue with Maine midwife Gayle Eckey offers deep insight into how to choose the right midwife when preparing for a physiological and undisturbed home birth. Together, Emily and Gayle walk through the essential questions every woman should ask when interviewing a midwife, weaving evidence-based wisdom with intuition, sovereignty and emotional intelligence. Emily also shares that she has a free downloadable resource, Questions to Ask Your Midwife When Seeking a Physiological, Undisturbed Birth: Your Rights and What Is Legal. You can find the link below or directly on emilygracenixon.com.Emily reads from Dr. Rachel Reed’s work on woman-centered midwifery, opening a powerful conversation about informed decision-making, autonomy, and the sacred responsibility midwives hold in supporting physiological birth. Throughout the episode, Gayle shares her philosophy of care as a Certified Professional Midwife, emphasizing continuity, individualized support, emotional intelligence, and the deep relational work that shapes safe, aligned birth experiences. This conversation is a must-listen for any woman preparing for home birth or seeking a midwife whose values honor instinct, sovereignty and physiology.• Why continuity of care and emotional intelligence matter so deeply in midwifery• The difference between fear-based and intuitive decision-making in pregnancy and birth• Laws, regulations and scope for midwives in Maine and New Hampshire• How to ask about ultrasounds, labs, monitoring and time limits with clarity• The nuances of long labor, membrane release, meconium, pushing and fetal monitoring• Physiological third stage, golden hours and protecting the immediate postpartum• When and why a midwife might recommend transfer• How to discern whether a midwife is truly woman-centered• What autonomous, instinctual birth can look like when supported by deep trust and relationshipGayle is a Certified Professional Midwife serving Southern Maine and parts of New Hampshire from her practice Stone Mountain Midwife, offering deeply relational, intuitive and physiology-honoring home birth care. Questions to Ask Your Midwife When Seeking a Physiological, Undisturbed Birth: Your Rights and What Is LegalDownload using the link or find it anytime on emilygracenixon.com.For women on the conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum path, Emily offers:• Beyond a Doula private support (in-person in Southern Maine + virtual worldwide)• So You Want a Home Birth? full self-paced program• Birth Integration Sessions• Mother Blessings + Closing of the Bones• One-to-one Wise Woman sessions for cycle connection, lineage work and embodimentIf you’re local to Southern Maine, join the monthly Women’s Circle and Perinatal Village Circle.Stay connected through Emily’s email list for upcoming circles, courses and community gatherings.Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As Soul Evolution approaches its 100th episode, Emily remasters and re-releases one of the most loved and powerful conversations from the archives — a raw, embodied exploration of sovereignty, lineage, and physiological birth with Lindsey.Lindsey shares her two birth stories with unfiltered honesty — her first, a hospital birth that became a “trial run” in reclaiming her voice, and her second, a fully sovereign free birth at home. Together, Emily and Lindsey trace the threads of maternal lineage, healing the mother wound, and the power of intuition as a compass for birth and beyond.This episode is a deep remembrance of what it means to trust the body, to birth without fear, and to meet the divine feminine within the portal of labor.Lindsey’s maternal lineage and how generational trauma shaped her understanding of womanhoodHealing her relationship with her mother through birthThe conditioning of hospital birth and the subtle ways it disempowers womenSaying “no” — and meaning it — as a sacred act of self-trustNavigating fear and intuition during pregnancyDiscovering the concept of free birth through her doulaThe physiology of undisturbed labor and the cascade of hormonal benefitsHer first birth: standing in her power within the medical systemHer second birth: the unfolding of a conscious conception and autonomous birthThe fetal ejection reflex and the ecstatic surrender of physiological birthHonoring the placenta and postpartum integrationThe spiritual and practical wisdom of cyclical motherhoodLindsey — mother of two, herbalist, and advocate for sovereign birth and cyclical living. Her story embodies what it means to return home to the wisdom of the body, the earth, and the lineage of women who came before.The power of social media as modern story medicine for womenMugwort as a sacred ally for birth and intuitionThe importance of nourishment, rest, and intuitive prenatal careThe placenta as a sacred organ of life and ceremonyPlease rate, review, and share Soul Evolution with a friend or sister who needs this reminder — that birth is not something we endure, but something we are made for.Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As we journey toward 100 episodes and celebrate two years of Soul Evolution, enjoy this remastered re-release of one of the most powerful and beloved conversations from the archive.In this episode, Emily sits down with Jason, founder of Raising Fathers, to explore what it truly means for men to awaken into fatherhood as a rite of passage. Together, they traverse themes of initiation, ceremony, emotional preparedness, and the cultural gap that leaves men uninitiated yet entrusted with the sacred responsibility of fathering.Jason’s work centers on restoring the village that raises fathers through men’s circles, ceremony, and education. He shares his own transformation through two births—one marked by disempowerment and the other by presence—and how these experiences birthed his life’s mission.What it means when Jason says, “It takes a village to raise a father.”The importance of men having elders, mentorship, and initiation.How the loss of cultural rites of passage impacts fathers, families, and society.The sacred framework of separation, transformation, and reintegration in male initiation.Designing and facilitating ceremonies for men preparing for fatherhood.The parallels between men’s and women’s rites of passage.How men can hold space in birth without rescuing or controlling.The difference between presence and distraction during labor.The evolution from uninitiated man to conscious father.Jason’s “CPR” model for new fathers: Connect, Protect, Respect.Jason is the founding father of Raising Fathers, an Australian-based organization devoted to transforming the culture of fatherhood through men’s circles, ceremony, and education. He is also part of the Rites of Passage Institute, where he trains others globally to bring true initiation back into modern life. His programs help men prepare emotionally, spiritually, and practically for fatherhood while fostering heart-centered leadership within families and communities.Find Jason at raising-fathers.com or on Instagram at @raising_fathers.Jason is offering all listeners 30% off his True North course — an eight-week live program for dads-to-be — using the code EMILY at checkout via the link in the show notes.Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

In this most loved episode, Emily sits down with her mentor Anna Lundqvist, the Spiritual Midwich behind Sacred Birth International, to invite first-time mothers into a deeper remembrance of natural birth. Together, they unravel myths, explore Herstory, and illuminate how reclaiming physiological birth transforms both women and the world.Beginning around the 22-minute mark, Emily and Anna discuss:Herstory and the origins of birth’s medicalizationThe truth about mortality rates and cesarean sectionsHow healthy stress benefits your baby during laborThe role of biomechanics and fetal positioningReprogramming your subconscious mind for birthThe lasting impact of birth imprintsWhy peace on Earth truly begins at birthThey also explore purposeful pain—how to understand and cope with the intensity of labor—as well as the roots of postpartum depression and how to prevent it through nourishment, community, and support.The conversation closes with a powerful reflection on choosing a birth team capable of holding sacred space—because the energy of your attendants deeply shapes your birth experience.This episode is a must-listen for first-time mothers longing to trust their bodies, honor their lineage, and reclaim birth as a sacred rite of passage.USE CODE EMILY FOR A SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON ANNA'S OFFERINGShttps://www.sacredbirthinternational.com/thesacredbirthworkermentorshipFind out more about Anna https://www.sacredbirthinternational.com/@sacredbirthinternationalWebsite: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As we celebrate two years of podcasting and journey toward 100 episodes, I’m bringing back this Most Loved episode — the powerful free birth story of first-time father Aaron Cloutier.At 52, Aaron welcomed his son Thomas Cade in an unassisted home birth with his partner Anna. In this conversation, he shares the raw and beautiful reality of supporting his partner through pregnancy, labor, and birth, while navigating moments of fear, trust, and surrender.Aaron reflects on:Growing up the youngest of eight children, surrounded by strong male role models and many sisters who became mothers.How his decades of experience as a chiropractor and natural health practitioner shaped his perspective on birth and physiology.The unexpected detour to the hospital when concerns about bleeding arose — and the powerful decision to leave against medical advice and continue the journey at home.Witnessing Anna’s courage through prodromal labor, the turning point when she fully surrendered, and the radiant moment Thomas was born.The transition into fatherhood later in life and what it means to be truly present as a dad.Aaron’s story reminds us that free birth is not just the mother’s passage — it also reshapes the men who stand beside them, calling forth courage, trust, and devotion.About Aaron CloutierAaron is a chiropractor, natural health practitioner, and nutritional therapist with over two decades of experience in vitalistic, relationship-centered care. A Maine native, he lives in Augusta with his partner Anna and their son Thomas.Connect with Aaron through his website: www.acabarhealth.comWebsite: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As we celebrate two years of podcasting and journey toward 100 episodes, I’m bringing back this Most Loved birth story — a powerful and raw account from Anna Blash on the free birth of her son, Thomas.Anna’s story unfolds over 70 hours of labor, beginning with a prophetic dream, a detour through the hospital system, and ultimately a triumphant return home where she birthed in her own power. Along the way, she faced her deepest fears, surrendered to trust in her body, and stepped fully into her role as mother.In this conversation, Anna shares:The red thread lineage that shaped her relationship to birth and voice.A vivid prophetic dream that foreshadowed her birth.How bleeding in early labor led her to a hospital stay — and the moment she chose to leave against medical advice.The inner work with archetypes, spiritual practice, and Jungian analysis that prepared her for free birth.The ecstatic, liminal, and at times brutal hours of laboring at home — complete with chanting, visions, drumming, and profound encounters with her lineage.How she navigated a short cord, heavy bleeding, and the arrival of her son posterior after days of prodromal labor.The wild postpartum: placenta rituals, burning the cord, and the challenges of early breastfeeding.Anna’s story is one of devotion, resilience, and remembrance — a reminder that birth is both deeply personal and profoundly ancestral.About Anna BlashAnna lives in Maine with her partner Aaron and their son Thomas. She is a craniosacral therapist and space-holder passionate about natural living, spiritual practice, and creating sacred containers for others walking the free birth path.Contact Anna: [email protected]: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam AliDisclaimer:The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.