A birth story podcast highlighting the emotional impact of birth, the immediate postpartum period, and the years beyond. Hosted by Jordan Monir, a postpartum doula and Sophie Holliday, a perinatal mental health therapist. Jordan and Sophie aim to provide a platform for those who have experienced or supported childbirth in sharing their unique story. Both fierce advocates of mental health and community support, Jordan and Sophie attempt to reduce the stigma of openly discussing the challenges (and joys!) experienced in pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Join us as we chat with a range of guests - from regular folks to birth workers - to explore the magic of healing through storytelling!
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Little Journey Towards Each Other | Abby, Part 2 (00:53:05)
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 re...
You're in the Right Place, You Can Let the Baby Out Now | Abby, Part 1 (00:44:31)
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...
The Grief Helps Me Remember Her | Samantha, Part 2 (00:58:26)
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 daughte...
This is Life or Death, Literally | Samantha Part 1 (00:48:31)
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 ra...
Is It Okay if My Husband Vacuums? | Maxine (00:37:05)
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, humo...
Britnee Spring returns to recount the dramatic, vivid, and often hilarious story of her labor and birth experience—including extreme back labor and unique birthing positions. She also reflects on postpartum recovery, hormone shifts, and the joy of early motherhood. From placenta smoothies to bedsharing with her son, this episode offers an honest, heartwarming look at transformation through birth and the lessons of motherhood. Content warnings: homebirth, tearing, blood loss, prodromal labor,...
A Male Midwife | Britnee, Part 1 (00:29:00)
In this episode, Britnee Spring shares her pregnancy journey, from her unexpected conception to managing relentless nausea and navigating workplace accommodation challenges. She reveals her thoughtful decision to have a home birth with a male midwife and her mother as her doula as well as how she set up a peaceful birthing space. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on pregnancy preparation, mindset, and trusting your instincts! Website: bearingbirthpodcast.com Instagram: @BearingBirth...
Celebrating one year of Bearing Birth! (00:36:44)
In today’s episode, your hosts Jordan and Sophie reflect on one year of their birth story podcast being live! They ask each other questions including what the podcast has meant to them and how they have grown as birth story listeners and podcast hosts. To celebrate one year and to thank our incredible guests, you get to hear a little snippet from each of them! At the end of every episode we ask our guest: what advice do you have for someone about to give birth or become a parent? This ...
In denial about preeclampsia | Sophie, Part 2 (00:59:44)
Join us for Part 2 with our very own Sophie! If you missed the first half of Sophie’s birth story on November 6th, make sure to go back and listen there first. In this episode, Sophie walks us through the rest of her challenging birth experience where she reaches the pushing stage but ultimately ends up needing an emergency c-section. Sophie finally gets to meet her daughter and then navigates early c-section recovery in the hospital. She details her experience dealing with processing a...
I knew too much | Sophie, Part 1 (01:08:32)
Join us for a very special episode today…our very own Sophie gets vulnerable and shares her birth story! In part 1, Sophie talks with Jordan about her experience with pregnancy and what it was like navigating scary and abrupt changes to her birth plan. Sophie describes what informed her beliefs surrounding birth and how learning “too much” about birth in a doula training created the perfect conditions for trauma exposure. Sophie walks us through her fears around giving birth, especially...
Our Partnership is the Centerpiece | Rashida, Part 2 (00:34:13)
In this episode of Bearing Birth, we continue our conversation with Rashida Quinn, the Program Director of the Alliance of Black Nurses Association of Oregon and host of two powerful podcasts, Black Care Matters and Dark Matters. Rashida, a former doula, poet, and advocate for restorative justice, joins us to discuss her postpartum journey as part of an interracial couple navigating complex decisions to protect the wellbeing of her young family. In part two of this conversation, Rashida offer...
Pregnancy is a Struggly Sweet Thing | Rashida, Part 1 (00:46:41)
Join us in Part 1 of our conversation with Rashida Quinn, where we dive into her two pregnancies and birth stories of her daughters. Rashida is the program director of the Alliance of Black Nurses Association of Oregon, also known as ABNAO. Rashida is also the host of two podcasts: the most recent being Black Care Matters and another podcast called Dark Matters, which are both linked below. Rashida touches on the delicate balance of the challenges and joys of pregnancy and birth, her su...
From Water Boy to Diaper Guy | Ryan, Part 2 (01:04:46)
We are back with Part 2 of a conversation we had with Ryan; a first-time dad to a one-year old daughter. Ryan is also the husband of our previous guest Cailley (Season 1, Episodes 5 & 6). In this episode, we talk with Ryan about his perspective of his daughter’s birth as the non-birthing partner. Ryan walks us through the surprising turn of events of his wife’s labor and homebirth and how he processed difficult emotions. We have a candid conversation about identity shifts and some of the ...
I'm a Water Boy! | Ryan, Part 1 (00:26:34)
Join us in a conversation with Ryan, the husband of our previous guest, Cailley (Season 1, Episodes 5 & 6). This is our first episode with a non-birthing partner sharing their experience and perspective on birth, and we absolutely loved hearing Ryan’s take! This episode is just Part 1 of Ryan’s story, so come back on September 18th for Part 2! In Part 1, Ryan walks us through what it was like to experience a miscarriage and then his wife getting pregnant again right away. He talks ...
I cannot believe I made you! | Janelle, Part 2 (00:36:28)
Join us in a conversation with Janelle Grizzard, a mother and the new owner of Luna Wellness, a Portland based clinic focused on women’s perinatal physical health and wellness. If you missed part 1, make sure you go back and listen to that episode first! In part 2 we hear more of Janelle’s story and what happens after the birth of her son. After a traumatic situation involving learning how to feed her baby, Janelle talks about what it was like to process something so scary and how she's lear...
I went into a place where nobody else mattered | Janelle, Part 1 (00:58:53)
Join us in a conversation with Janelle Grizzard, mother and the new owner of Luna Wellness, a Portland based clinic focused on women’s perinatal physical health and wellness. Janelle shares how a passion for helping mothers as a massage therapist as well as her own journey navigating motherhood led to her taking over a well-established, holistic clinic. In part 1, Janelle walks us through what it was like being pregnant and shares her labor and birth experience. Luna Wellness of...
Is this science or a game of telephone? (01:17:36)
Join us as we chat with BreaRose Smith, friend of Jordan and Sasha. Brea is a yoga instructor and energy healer based in San Diego. Brea reflects on giving birth one year ago and how rapid everything changes and transitions both for her and her son. She describes how there is both grief and joy intertwined in the experience of parenthood. We also dive deep into Brea’s experience with guilt and pressures to be productive and how she struggles to allow herself to rest. Let’s be real - ...
I didn't get cancer the entire ordeal! (01:39:40)
In this episode we chat with Anna, a breast cancer survivor and new mother. Anna walks us through the challenges of breast cancer treatment, being told she couldn’t have children because of her cancer, and the chapter of her story that started with an unexpected pregnancy. Anna’s resilience is highlighted through her journey as she learns to trust her body and feel empowered in bringing a child into the world despite her challenging medical advice. The universe placed Anna in the ...
Babies Are My Jam (01:25:44)
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Emily Knell Spaeth, founder of Be Well Baby PDX, a Portland-based practice providing holistic prenatal and infant care services. Emily is a neonatal and perinatal physical therapist, yoga instructor, massage therapist, and lactation consultant with years of experience supporting families with newborns. Emily is an expert in her field, incredibly passionate and fulfilled by her work, and a pillar of support to families and other birth workers alike. More impr...
I did feel like a badass (01:23:28)
In this episode, we chat with Sophie’s next door neighbor‘s, Garrett and Jules, in part 2 of a 2-part series called Before and After Birth. This is our second Before/After series, and our first episodes with a couple on the podcast! In this episode, we talk to Garrett and Jules about 3 months after Jules gave birth. It was so special to hear from both of our guests about their perspectives on what happened during the labor and birth of their daughter. Garret describes his experience watching ...
Whipped Cream on Watermelon (01:12:47)
Join us as we chat with Sophie’s next door neighbor’s, Garrett and Jules, in part 1 of a 2-part series called Before and After Birth. This is our second Before/After series, and our first episodes with a couple on the podcast! In this episode, we talk to Garrett and Jules before their birth and they discuss their experiences around pregnancy including getting pregnant by accident, navigating tough choices, and dealing with some possible pregnancy complications. We also dig deeper into h...
Breaking Generational Cycles (01:45:47)
In this episode, we talk with Sophie’s former colleague and dear friend Edith, who shares her three birth experiences (two living, and one miscarriage). She also goes into detail about what it’s like to be a parent and how that compares to how she was parented. Edith is mother to a 16 year old and an 8 year old, and recounts her birth stories as if they happened yesterday. Edith faced some challenges during her pregnancies, including managing gestational diabetes, morning sickness, and ...
Birth Story Processing - What is it? (01:05:35)
Step into the transformative world of birth story processing with Libby Mukhi, PMH-C, who returns as our esteemed guest for the second episode in a row. Libby shares her insights into the profound impact of birth story processing and the art of holding space for folks navigating strong narratives centering around childbirth and the perinatal experience. Libby reflects on her own challenging birth experiences, taking an inspiring class created by Pam England (author of Birthing fro...
I went to war with my hormones (01:32:23)
In this compelling and insightful episode, we chat with Libby Mukhi, PMH-C, a postpartum doula, birth story listener, and mother of two. Libby reflects on her challenging experiences with pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Living abroad in Australia, Libby expressed her desire to absorb as much knowledge as possible to prepare for her first birth. Despite a smooth pregnancy and high hopes for a vaginal birth, high blood pressure ultimately led to an unplanned induction and c-section birth....
...so can I push? (01:09:49)
This episode is part 2 of a two part series called before/after birth. We invite Cailley Roe back on, friend and neighbor of Sophie’s, who shares the birth story of her daughter in May ‘23. Join us as Cailley, a first-time mother, shares her gripping experience going past 40 weeks, navigating a backup induction plan, and enduring a 48-hour labor with a water-breaking story contrary to cinematic depictions. From unconventional castor oil inductions to doubts about her body, Cailley takes us th...
