Bearing Birth

Little Journey Towards Each Other | Abby, Part 2

In this heartfelt continuation of Abby’s story, Jordan and Sophie sit down with Abby to explore her second pregnancy and birth experience. Abby opens up about navigating a series of unexpected challenges, including a velamentous cord insertion, a bilobed placenta, and a breech baby, which ultimately led to a planned cesarean birth.  With vulnerability and humor, she reflects on her hopes for another vaginal birth, the emotional complexity of a C-section, and the invaluable support she received from her doula, care team, and family. The conversation also touches on twin resorption, advocating for oneself in medical settings, and the tender chaos of transitioning to life as a parent of two. Full of warmth, insight, and honesty, this episode is a moving testament to resilience, informed decision-making, and the power of postpartum support. Content Warnings Include: pregnancy loss, twin resorption, velamentous cord insertion, bilobed placenta, a breech baby, C-section surgery details, epidural details, medical attempts to manually turn the baby (ECV,) separation during and after surgery Website: bearingbirthpodcast.com [https://www.bearingbirthpodcast.com/] Instagram: @BearingBirthPodcast Email: bearingbirthpodcast@gmail.com Free Bearing Birth Podcast Resources * Birth Planning Guide [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13C-lAjHS99a1W1tvnt1tyaa2T_e_iDmieqDIWImnzUo/edit?usp=sharing] * Postpartum Support Plan [https://docs.google.com/document/d/148SClNbzfQT2bFqD0cq1R4fkitPK-zYlZ4uc4hPWZ_M/edit?usp=sharing] * Perinatal Resources & Information [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-KTOsNljBzQiiMMf6sWb63NsRIvbuZ7txSeQtz8eeOE/edit?usp=sharing] To learn more about Jordan or her work as a postpartum doula, family photographer, or infant sleep specialist: bunandbundle.com [https://www.bunandbundle.com/] To learn more about Sophie or her work as a perinatal mental health therapist: midmaplestherapy.com [https://midmaplestherapy.com/] Share your birth story! If you are interested in sharing your birth story with our podcast, please get in touch via email or DM us on Instagram! We’d love to hold space for your unique perspective. We can accommodate guests in-person or virtually from any location in the world!

You're in the Right Place, You Can Let the Baby Out Now | Abby, Part 1

Join us in Part 1 of our conversation with Abby, where she candidly shares her whirlwind of a birth story for her first birth. Abby walks us through the highs and lows of her labor and beyond. With humor and vulnerability, she reflects on the chaotic beauty of birth and the unexpected journey of reclaiming her identity as a new mom.  Stay tuned for Part 2 on April 16th, where we hear Abby’s second birth story and more reflections on what it’s like to be a parent of two kiddos. Thanks for listening! Content Warnings: miscarriage, DNC procedure, physical pain in labor, postpartum anxiety, and tearing during labor.  Website: bearingbirthpodcast.com [https://www.bearingbirthpodcast.com/] Instagram: @BearingBirthPodcast Email: bearingbirthpodcast@gmail.com Free Bearing Birth Podcast Resources * Birth Planning Guide [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13C-lAjHS99a1W1tvnt1tyaa2T_e_iDmieqDIWImnzUo/edit?usp=sharing] * Postpartum Support Plan [https://docs.google.com/document/d/148SClNbzfQT2bFqD0cq1R4fkitPK-zYlZ4uc4hPWZ_M/edit?usp=sharing] * Perinatal Resources & Information [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-KTOsNljBzQiiMMf6sWb63NsRIvbuZ7txSeQtz8eeOE/edit?usp=sharing] To learn more about Jordan or her work as a postpartum doula, family photographer, or infant sleep specialist: bunandbundle.com [https://www.bunandbundle.com/] To learn more about Sophie or her work as a perinatal mental health therapist: midmaplestherapy.com [https://midmaplestherapy.com/] Share your birth story! If you are interested in sharing your birth story with our podcast, please get in touch via email or DM us on Instagram! We’d love to hold space for your unique perspective. We can accommodate guests in-person or virtually from any location in the world!

The Grief Helps Me Remember Her | Samantha, Part 2

Picking up where the previous episode left off, Samantha shares the outcome of her high-risk fetal surgery. While the medical intervention was necessary, the results were devastating—one of her twins sadly did not survive. She opens up about the emotional complexity of grieving one baby while still carrying the other, the medicalized journey that followed, and the struggles of balancing loss with hope as she continued her pregnancy. The episode also explores the birth of her surviving daughter, her hospital induction experience, NICU considerations, and the emotional recovery process. Through it all, Samantha reflects on advocating for her babies, the importance of support, and the resilience required to navigate loss and new life simultaneously. Content Warnings: Pregnancy loss, grief, medical trauma, NICU stay, Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), and rapid labor. If you'd like to get in touch with Samantha directly, you can find her on Instagram @samasaurus_leusink [https://www.instagram.com/samasaurus_leusink/?hl=en]. She felt very isolated when she was going through the TTTS diagnosis and wants to be there for folks who need support and community when facing TTTS.  Website: bearingbirthpodcast.com [https://www.bearingbirthpodcast.com/] Instagram: @BearingBirthPodcast Email: bearingbirthpodcast@gmail.com Free Bearing Birth Podcast Resources * Birth Planning Guide [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13C-lAjHS99a1W1tvnt1tyaa2T_e_iDmieqDIWImnzUo/edit?usp=sharing] * Postpartum Support Plan [https://docs.google.com/document/d/148SClNbzfQT2bFqD0cq1R4fkitPK-zYlZ4uc4hPWZ_M/edit?usp=sharing] * Perinatal Resources & Information [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-KTOsNljBzQiiMMf6sWb63NsRIvbuZ7txSeQtz8eeOE/edit?usp=sharing] To learn more about Jordan or her work as a postpartum doula, family photographer, or infant sleep specialist: bunandbundle.com [https://www.bunandbundle.com/] To learn more about Sophie or her work as a perinatal mental health therapist: midmaplestherapy.com [https://midmaplestherapy.com/] Share your birth story! If you are interested in sharing your birth story with our podcast, please get in touch via email or DM us on Instagram! We’d love to hold space for your unique perspective. We can accommodate guests in-person or virtually from any location in the world!

This is Life or Death, Literally | Samantha Part 1

In this episode, Samantha Leusink shares her first pregnancy and birth story, describing a smooth and empowering experience at a local Portland birth center. She reflects on postpartum struggles, breastfeeding challenges, and the transition into motherhood. As Sam and her husband decide to expand their family, they receive an unexpected surprise: twins. Initially overwhelmed yet excited, their joy is quickly overshadowed by a shocking diagnosis of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)—a rare and serious condition affecting identical twins sharing a placenta. Samantha details the emotional weight of the diagnosis, the medical risks, and the difficult decisions ahead. The episode ends as she and her husband prepare to undergo a high-risk fetal surgery, leaving listeners on edge about the fate of their twins. Content Warnings: Breast-Feeding Challenges, Tongue-Tie, High-Risk Pregnancy, Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) If you'd like to get in touch with Samantha directly, you can find her on Instagram @samasaurus_leusink [https://www.instagram.com/samasaurus_leusink/?hl=en]. She felt very isolated when she was going through the TTTS diagnosis and wants to be there for folks who need support and community when facing TTTS.  Website: bearingbirthpodcast.com [https://www.bearingbirthpodcast.com/] Instagram: @BearingBirthPodcast Email: bearingbirthpodcast@gmail.com Free Bearing Birth Podcast Resources * Birth Planning Guide [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13C-lAjHS99a1W1tvnt1tyaa2T_e_iDmieqDIWImnzUo/edit?usp=sharing] * Postpartum Support Plan [https://docs.google.com/document/d/148SClNbzfQT2bFqD0cq1R4fkitPK-zYlZ4uc4hPWZ_M/edit?usp=sharing] * Perinatal Resources & Information [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-KTOsNljBzQiiMMf6sWb63NsRIvbuZ7txSeQtz8eeOE/edit?usp=sharing] To learn more about Jordan or her work as a postpartum doula, family photographer, or infant sleep specialist: bunandbundle.com [https://www.bunandbundle.com/] To learn more about Sophie or her work as a perinatal mental health therapist: midmaplestherapy.com [https://midmaplestherapy.com/] Share your birth story! If you are interested in sharing your birth story with our podcast, please get in touch via email or DM us on Instagram! We’d love to hold space for your unique perspective. We can accommodate guests in-person or virtually from any location in the world!

Is It Okay if My Husband Vacuums? | Maxine

In this heartwarming episode, Sophie's Grandma, Maxine, shares her birth stories spanning from the 1960s to the 1970s. She reflects on her experiences with minimal pain management, evolving gender roles in parenting, and the emotional complexities of breastfeeding without modern support systems. The conversation touches on the profound joys of motherhood, intergenerational wisdom, and the transformation of birth culture over five decades. Listeners will hear tender reflections on family, humor-filled anecdotes about diapering with cloth, and the enduring beauty of watching children and grandchildren grow. Content warnings: episiotomy, miscarriage, minimal medical consent, outdated medical practices Website: bearingbirthpodcast.com [https://www.bearingbirthpodcast.com/] Instagram: @BearingBirthPodcast Email: bearingbirthpodcast@gmail.com Free Bearing Birth Podcast Resources * Birth Planning Guide [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13C-lAjHS99a1W1tvnt1tyaa2T_e_iDmieqDIWImnzUo/edit?usp=sharing] * Postpartum Support Plan [https://docs.google.com/document/d/148SClNbzfQT2bFqD0cq1R4fkitPK-zYlZ4uc4hPWZ_M/edit?usp=sharing] * Perinatal Resources & Information [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-KTOsNljBzQiiMMf6sWb63NsRIvbuZ7txSeQtz8eeOE/edit?usp=sharing] To learn more about Jordan or her work as a postpartum doula, family photographer, or infant sleep specialist: bunandbundle.com [https://www.bunandbundle.com/] To learn more about Sophie or her work as a perinatal mental health therapist: midmaplestherapy.com [https://midmaplestherapy.com/] Share your birth story! If you are interested in sharing your birth story with our podcast, please get in touch via email or DM us on Instagram! We’d love to hold space for your unique perspective. We can accommodate guests in-person or virtually from any location in the world!