Life can be hard, disappointing, frustrating, depressing, and scary too. But the moments of utter joy like when you hold your child for the first time, moments of intense love like a lovers embrace, and moments of childlike wonder and awe like meeting beautiful, strong, intelligent elephants make this life worth living for. This mama and her adopted sister were…
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My Healing Hospital VBAC
(Editor’s note: this was originally published on October 9, 2014) To tell Mel’s birth story, I have to say a few words about Katherine’s and Laeney’s birth stories. Laeney’s birth was a hospital induction. At my final ultrasound, my doctor told me my placenta was failing and she was losing weight in the womb. They told me she would only…
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The Harshe Podcast – Episode #37: Birth Without Fear Australia Conference Recap
January and Brandon return from their brief hiatus to recap the Birth Without Fear Conference in Australia that took place in Sydney at the end of May! They discuss the reality of January going to Australia alone for a week while Brandon stayed home with the kids, preparing for a conference overseas and how January’s grandmother helped improvise some of the…
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The Long, Beautiful Births of Solla Zakara and Winter Lumina {Natural Birth Story of Twins}
(Editor’s note: This birth story was originally posted on August 5, 2014.) I can still feel my heart drop. I can still feel how cold my feet went, as if they weren’t even part of my body anymore. I was 20 weeks pregnant. The ultrasound tech was swiping back and forth, from my left to my right, and in almost…
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The 1st Birth Without Fear Conference in Australia!!!
Saturday May 26, 2018 was the first Birth Without Fear Conference in AUSTRALIA!!! It was a huge success and we can’t wait to come back!!! A post shared by Kayla Rees (@kayla_rees85) on May 26, 2018 at 8:03am PDT Birth without fear Conference today ❤😍👍#Homebirth #sydneyhomebirth #birthwithoutfear #januaryharshe A post shared by Homebirth Access Sydney (HAS) (@homebirthaccesssydney) on May 25,…
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The Harshe Podcast – Episode #35: 5 things Your Doula Wants You To Know!
The Harshe Podcast welcomes its first guest! Tara Brooke from Doula Trainings International joins January to speak about the difference in parenting culture in Spain vs the US, racial disparity regarding birth in the US, the importance of making a postpartum plan, dealing with family after the birth, not being afraid to ask for help from family or your doula,…
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Hospital VBAC After a Month of Prodromal Labor
I had been having prodromal labor for about month straight so when I noticed contractions starting on Sunday evening, I didn’t really think much of it. I went about my evening like normal, put my toddler to bed, watched a little TV, and around 9pm I decided to head to bed. I’m not one to ever have trouble falling asleep but…
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Community Support and Breastfeeding {Make a Difference}
(Editor’s note: this was originally posted in 2013.) I would like to start this post with a story. Imagine a mother – a fresh new mother – with a baby just barely 24 hours old. She drives to another city the day after her birth for her first post-birth checkup with her midwife. After leaving the appointment she and her…
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“I’m Done Now, God.” A Home Birth Experience
I was completely in charge of my pregnancy. Such a wonderfully intimate experience between myself and my baby, God, and our family. Although yes, it was empowering, that is not at all why I do it. I do my pregnancies, and births, and babies this way because this is the choice my husband and I confidently make for our family.…