Ep. 5: Roman's Birth Story — Our At-Home Birth

Brielle and Michael share the full story behind their decision to have an at-home birth — from frustrations with the hospital system to the 46-hour labor that brought Roman into the world.

Show Notes:

- Intro & static noise apology

- Life update: sold the Arizona house, new Jeep, Roman's diaper blowout story

- Why they chose to share their at-home birth story

- Starting with the hospital system — feeling like "just a number"

- C-section statistics & suggestive language from hospital staff

- Brielle's anxiety and the weight of restrictive hospital guidance

- Talking to friends who'd done an at-home birth

- Researching doulas and midwives

- Doula vs. midwife — the difference explained

- The birth class & taking accountability

- Cost comparison: doula/midwife vs. hospital

- Finding out it's a boy

- Labor begins — November 22, 2024, Brielle's birthday

- Early labor, walking, and natural positioning exercises

- Hip pain & signs the baby wasn't positioned well

- Active labor intensifies — the belly-lift technique

- Stalling at 7cm for 10 hours

- The tub, wine, and calming the nervous system

- The "shock" scare & considering a hospital transfer

- Brielle's mental shift — surrendering into the pain

- Water breaking & the meconium scare

- Final stretch — pushing begins

- Roman is born — Michael catches him

- The spiritual moment of catching Roman

- Brielle's recovery & would she do it again

- Wrap-up & final thoughts on the decision

Follow along:

Ma-Honeys Podcast

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Michael

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.michaelmahoney

Website: http://www.iamconductr.com

Brielle

IG: https://www.instagram.com/brielle_colleen/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/brielle.colleen.music