Ep. 1 Meet Your Hosts

Welcome to our very first episode...YAY! This episode shares with you our backstory, how we know each other, our transitions in work and into motherhood, what we are doing now and our vision and mission for serving birthing people.

Meet the mamas behind the Aligned Birth Podcast.  We’re not only talking about birth topics such as birth plans, creating a birth support team, and interviewing fellow birth workers, but we’re living the birth world every day as a prenatal chiropractor (Dr Shannon) and a doula and childbirth educator (Rachael).

Be sure to catch episode 2 as we continue this conversation and have a "full circle" moment!

This podcast was created from a desire to share conversations and interviews about topics from pregnancy and birth to motherhood and the importance of a healthy body and mind through it all.  Our goal is to bring you fun, interesting, and helpful conversations that excite you and make you want to learn more.

We hope what we share will make an impact and help someone else along their journey.

We believe that when you are aligned in body, mind, and your intuition, you can conquer anything!

If you like what you are hearing and you don’t want to miss our newest episodes, be sure and tap subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Follow us on Instagram:

Aligned Birth
www.instagram.com/aligned_birth

Dr. Shannon
www.instagram.com/sunrise_chiropractic_wellness

Doula Rachael
www.instagram.com/northatlantabirth

Check out our individual websites:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness - www.sunrisechiropracticandwellness.com
North Atlanta Birth Services - www.northatlantabirth.com

Disclaimer
The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your indi

Transcript

0:08

Hello, hello everyone. Dr. Shannon here with the Align birth podcast, and today is our very first episode so Rachel and I are so so excited to be here and talking with you today sharing some knowledge, and today's a fun episode because it's going to be a little bit more of who we are and why we do what we do and why we are in the birth worker world so fun background little tidbit is that Rachel and I know each other from high school so now we are slightly older and moms to two boys each but we have known each other for years and years now and so one fun thing though is that Rachel, I know you have not always been a doula. So I would love to hear how you got into the doula birth worker world.

1:03

Hi Shannon I am so excited to be here and sharing this with you. I'm super excited, I'll be completely honest, I'm also a little nervous.

1:14

So hopefully that doesn't show too much, right. It's okay.

1:19

So starting as a doula right I feel like I've always been a doula. I feel like it's something I as silly as it sounds, was always meant to be, but I certainly have not always been a doula. I didn't even know what a doula was when I became pregnant with my first son. He is eight, almost eight years old now. So I don't know how so you didn't even know, did you use a doula with that first I did but that was with that pregnancy, it was with that pregnancy, right and I attribute so much to the movie The documentary by Ricki Lake the business of being born, which I still recommend that to all of my expecting mamas or anyone I run into who's pregnant, It really is still such a game changer and an important conversation that she that she created in that movie, it's a documentary and it's beautiful and I highly recommend everyone watch it so that someone shared it with me, one of my dear friends, who was also pregnant at the same time, said Have you seen it, and I was like no, but I will watch it right, very nicely, just like sure, and it opened my eyes to so many things, so she had a doula. She was advocating for, you know, birthing people's rights in the hospital, advocating kind of normalizing physiological birth, and it just shifted it kind of resonated deeply with me. And so that was my first introduction so that would have been, you know, over eight years ago when I was pregnant with Everett. And at that point it wasn't like I knew I wanted to be a doula Right, right, but it led me to take a childbirth education class. It led me to find a new care provider one who was in alignment with my, what I wanted for my birth right who supported some of those physiological normal stays in birth. So I changed providers, we moved during that time which was part of that as well but, um, and then I hired a doula through a recommendation, found my doula. She was the only one I interviewed and I connected with her right away. Loved her just knew that she would make my birth, better right and so had a supportive care provider, and all this was stemmed from just that exposure of like okay well I might need to make some different choices if I want a different outcome if I want to have like the best chance of having the best outcome that I could have. So I took those steps and you know through childbirth education again the person who taught the class was a doula. And before I found my Doula I was like will you be my doula.

4:08

She was amazing, but took, you know, out of hospital job with education class and through that process learned about so much and took some additional steps like each, each point that I did something different I learned something new and it sort of changed my trajectory and was just super cool and I love that. Yeah, yeah, and I can like look back at all those touch points, and that's why I talk so much about like, each exposure when you're pregnant when you kind of build that birth team how it, it changes your direction every time you hear something new and different that you haven't heard before, if you're open to it, it can it can really benefit you and your outcome so that experience I really translate to many of my clients where I tried to.

4:57

So, you know, had my doula and had a beautiful, what was for me a beautiful and empowering and awesome waterbirth at the hospital with my Doula there my mom was there, my sisters were there my midwife was there.

5:14

You know, it was pretty uneventful on, you know, no major issues there.

5:21

Gosh, it was like, 11 hours total. Which is pretty good forever, good for that first birth yeah definitely. Yeah, again, I attribute it to all those things we've already talked about all those touch points, yes. Yeah, yep supporting yourself. Oh yeah, yeah, and, and then I was like in dreamy land with birth after that right I was obsessed and kind of backing up a Scotia is during my pregnancy also I was obsessed with birth stories, like I would just consumed all the resources on birth during that pregnancy and I remember thinking, is this normal or like is this going to go away when I'm after my baby's born normal to read all these stories about birth. Yeah, like I was kind of obsessed and, you know, not knowing that that was probably because it was something inside of me that would, would come out later, but so after the birth of Everett, I it didn't go away and I was like I think I want to be a doula and I had my Doula come back over and visit with me and I shared with her, what I was feeling and she sort of guided me right she mentored me and pointed me in the direction to get started and really supported me in that early exploration of becoming a doula and so, in 2014, I trained with Dona and started serving birthing families. During that time, and I've done it as a kind of a part time work because I had other full time work, and I've been doing that ever since. So that was 2014. And, yeah, that's how I became a doula and then my Doula for my first birth was also my Doula for my second birth, and we're you know, good friends and so I think you know doulas have this, this potential to sort of last with you stay with you for a while and, and it's just been a growing process ever since then and led to many other opportunities and connections and even shifts in career with becoming a childbirth educator, so that's what I was gonna ask you about to say okay I know you've got some new upcoming and recent changes that you've done still in the birth worker world. But I want to hear a little bit too about your journey with diving even deeper into the childbirth education aspect of things. Yeah, yeah. So just last year actually started in 2019 So now we're in 2021 But I don't certify until 2020 as a Lamaze childbirth educator so as a doula. I love love love serving in that capacity and that's you know where you're, you're there with them sort of in late pregnancy through the birth and then a little bit postpartum giving them information and physical support and emotional support, but I was, I felt like there was a knowledge gap when I was when mamas were coming to me, you know 32, Weeks Pregnant wanting support but they hadn't had that component of the childbirth education, where they learn about the normal process of birth.

8:16

So I felt like I was, I was doing that I was providing that education as well as the doula support. And I felt like there was a gap and I wanted I leaned heavily into the education component, and I felt like I wanted to get them earlier in pregnancy so that they had that chance to learn and prepare and have the full kind of comprehensive information for how to prepare for their birth with a foundation of knowledge.

8:46

And part of that also is just being real talk is the on call life is hard with two little kids, so I was able to still serve pregnant people birthing people through childbirth education classes, and I still do the doula work as well but that just that also better just with my life and I just love talking about childbirth and I love talking about the normal parts of it and how to dispel the fear and how to boost confidence and how to really see mamas have that transformation from starting the class to having their baby and feeling empowered on the other side of it, and my approach is not one way or a certain method, there's not a right or wrong way it's just about providing the evidence, the information and then helping them explore their personal preferences and desires and kind of reconciling those together and aligning those two things so that they can have a birth that's right for them with what's, you know, considering their available options as well.

9:47

So yeah, that's, that's what I'm doing now and I absolutely love it. So I, I'll be talking a lot about that on here I'll be bringing that component into our conversation as well. I love it it's so exciting. Yes, thank you so much for those wonderful questions I would love to ask you a similar question because this is also something I think that's really unique about our story, me and Dr. Shannon, is that you also haven't always been a chiropractor, you had a life before that, can you tell us about it. Right, I feel Yes, had many, many lives before this, um, so what's interesting about my story a little bit too and I do love how birth can change you and sometimes change your trajectory in life as well but prior to becoming a chiropractor, I, I've always loved science I vividly remember at seven my mom bought me a microscope, and I just remember absolutely loving it and looking at things and so I, I started in that scientific journey then I think and so even you know all throughout high school just really immersing myself in science, and wanting to pursue that aspect for long term career and so one of my goals when I graduated from college was to work at the CDC and so, you know, first year out of college, I did not. I worked at a clothing boutique because I couldn't find any science jobs near me did find another science job near me in a lab and then lo and behold, I interviewed at the CDC in Atlanta and so was able to work there as a contractor for about six years so I did a bunch of different things there. I know it's kind of hard, crazy to think about how long I was there, I mean, it went by very quickly but I think it's true because I was able to float around a lot, I mean I got hired as a chemist and I did a little bit of molecular biology work I did some research microbiology as well so it was lots of fun things there. But what's so funny is that I was involved in almost the birth world as it pertains to some of the stuff at CDC. So I worked in the newborn screening quality assurance program so when babies are born in the hospital or you know even home birth, they do the little heel prick. They take the blood sample, I was involved in that as far as like the lab side of things. So, um, I don't know that's kind of an interesting connection there. Yeah, that's for sure. Yeah, and so I also went into the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, and I worked on there for a little bit doing some genetic research. And so while I was there, I became pregnant with my first kiddo. And I loved being pregnant, I, I just loved it. I am a runner, I ran the whole time and exercise, I just, I felt that glow you know you always hear like pregnancy glow like I felt like I was literally glowing like I loved it so yeah there was you know I had some nauseous moments and that's reading a lot of mac and cheese, you know, but, um, I do love being pregnant and so important to hear I love hearing you say that, like, loved it, loved feeling baby move all of those fun things, and I loved kind of learning to be in tune with my body as well. And so, um, you know, when I look back on it, there were a lot of things that I could have done differently and so I use exactly what you're saying like touch points things that I've learned along my journey that I like to bring to the office because I took a childbirth education class at the hospital where I was going to give birth, and that was it. It was a one day, you know, four hour class.

13:40

And that was really it. I was like, I'm a runner, I'm strong, I'm, you know, I can handle this, I can do this, and so I had my husband for support, and I was gonna be with the midwives that my OB practice and just kind of went with the flow a little bit and not really researching a lot of things I guess I guess it was just in that mindset.

14:03

And so, come to the end of the pregnancy I'm 42 weeks. And I just remember sitting in the nursery in the rocking chair just kind of crying because I'm like why does this baby not want to come out you know you hear I was hearing from the hospital. Okay, we're gonna need to induce and all these things, not knowing what they really meant because again I didn't do a lot of the research. And so I do finally go into labor on my own. And then my husband I go to the hospital, and their labor is kind of stalled I membranes stripped. They broke the water for me.

14:45

I was on Pitocin and so I did that for about 18 hours, and then epidural and then push for two and a half hours and 26 hours later I ended up with an emergency C section, and so that was lots of emotions there. And so, lots and lots of emotions. And I, you know, now I'm able to look back on it and I think of, okay, this is how I ended up with this so alright mama in my office, let's talk about what we need to do and what we can do to support us. So, did some healing and everything from that and so flash forward three years, I'm pregnant again. And I'm 36 weeks I remember this too very vividly I'm 36 weeks pregnant with my second, and I'm like, Oh my gosh, if I want to have a VBAC, I've got to do something. I have to do something now, I don't know how that snuck up on me but I was like, I have to do it now and so I go your friend of mine was like, You should find a chiropractor, and of course my mom had always said that but you know how when you hear from my friend, you're gonna do it but to hear from your mom, you're like Oh absolutely. Yep. So, Um, I found a local chiropractor, but didn't know really what I was looking for, you know, as far as chiropractic I've never been adjusted before in my whole life, but you know I go in with this big ol belly and I'm like, I need help. So, luckily this office is amazing because it's still around, and I get adjusted. I follow the care plan, you know, she says this is what I need you to do and I'm like, Okay, we're gonna do this, this is important to me, and I go into labor on my own I was just telling him, you sit in office yesterday my birth story I just remember sitting at a holiday party having contractions trying to talk to my boss and I was like I gotta get out of here. Um, but I go into labor on my own, how far along, were you, I was, I think I was slightly early, so maybe just like four or five days early, Okay so yeah it was, that was pretty good. Um, and, because his due date was that Mayan like the end of the world, you know like 1221 away. Yeah, I was like oh my god, maybe.

17:01

So luckily you came early in the world. Um, so I go to the hospital and I, I am able to have my feedback so there was a huge 21 hour difference in labor so first labor was, I mean over a day so it was 26 hours and then come in to this one, it was only seven hours.

17:21

I did have my epidural so I did end up with that. Honestly, I feel like it did not work at all. So I think I was right on the cusp of being too far into the birthing process to actually have one so I feel like I felt everything but didn't feel everything, any new I, and I was able to have my VBAC, midwives there and so that was very empowering and I remember the first thing I said was, oh, that's what it was supposed to be like, yes, but for me, you know, that's what it was supposed to be like for me it's not everyone's journey but now I knew that difference and I knew what it took to make that change. And so, I, my chiropractor reaches out and because in my head I was like wow, what is this craziness that caused because I ran still the second pregnancy I did all the things the same my diet and everything but the one big difference for me was chiropractic care and so I remember talking to her and being like, do you, do you like what you do because I loved her office there was moms babies family. Everyone in there and I was like what, what is this Do you like this and so then sat with that for a little bit and yeah I told my husband I was like, Babe, I think I want to quit my job and go back to school, to just give back what I had been blessed with to just amazing, really empower moms as well. So yeah, I went back to chiropractic school for my doctorate, when my kids were three, and almost three and nine months old, so I don't necessarily recommend that.

19:01

But, um, but yeah, I will I have to say that like that recognition of realizing that you need to do something else, make that big shift is a huge thing to talk about because it's your you listen to yourself, right, you were in tune with what you felt like you needed to do and you had that hard conversation with your husband, which I'm sure it's. Same with that was yeah but that's like hard right like my dad's gone back to school I shifted careers like we've been through those hard conversations and looking back on it. What if we had never chosen have those hard conversations and I'm sure you feel, oh yeah, MLS.

19:41

Oh yeah, I went back and forth because I remember being at work and be like, oh my gosh I just don't know what he what he's going to say what he's going to think because we're you know this is a partnership where you know, we're in this together and here I am like really rocking the boat being, you know the breadwinner of the family at that point and then saying well we got to cut everything out everything and he made some big sacrifices for that short term, but the benefit for the long term is, Probably, you probably couldn't have predicted it, but you knew it was bigger than you could have been no it was worth that sacrifice and I'm assuming, yes yes most definitely because even at CDC like doing the work I was doing I was helping people like and I think that's part of what brings me joy too. I love working with people I love science I love helping people and so, but it was so far removed from the people aspect of things because I was in the lab, and so when I saw my chiropractor in her office and just that vibe and that feeling and I was just like, What is this, this is, you know that energy was contagious and I was like, this is a possibility, you know, to be able to work with people but in a different manner. And so and I would want to, when people find out like oh you work at CDC and the chiropractor that's a big difference. Um, I don't know, I don't think so I still have the science background right you know, a little different, and might be you know just view some things differently but still kind of share that same background there so yeah I think that's a cool, super cool and unique background and I love your story coming into chiropractic care and it's a combination of your previous work and then how coming in contact with the chiropractor who served you, and how that kind of launched you on your like new path, as well as your birth like that's just beautiful story and I love hearing and even I've heard parts of the story before, but I learned a couple of new things even just in this conversation which I love and then one of them is that I didn't realize you went to 42 weeks with your first, or maybe I did and I just don't remember but when you said it I was like, I don't think I knew that. Yeah, that's a long time. Yeah, well I carry both of mine, the same so I Yeah, anytime I talk to another 42 week or we're like, Yep, I see you. Yeah, I mean I you know modeling and I ran the day before each pregnancy, it looked so for each birth but I, you know, obviously it looked different, but that is, that's something that's something different, those, because the baby puts on so much weight. Then, and it's just like, I don't know if I could do this anymore. So yeah, that's incredible. You were running that late and pretty well it was, I guess it was like fast paced job.

22:33

I was doing, and I don't think I don't know if I've shared or I kind of want to share after what you said is that I found chiropractic care in my like late in my first pregnancy, and I think it was like 3738 weeks. Yeah and again my doula. She's like, you need to be seeing, like, you should go to the chiropractor and I said, Well, who do I go see and she told me to go. Again, that's where I went, yeah and that I, that changed me too because that interaction with my chiropractor who has specialized in helping pregnant people, right, like she sort of the way she talked to me and the things she shared about how I can help facilitate like pregnancy and labor pregnancy comfort and labor starting and progress and all of that, really, again, was this other avenue of opening up my eyes to the kind of interconnections of the mind and the body and pregnancy. And I think that's also why you and I enjoy talking because we, you are that side and I'm the other that kind of the birthing side and I'm excited to sort of be able to connect those and share that because I think that combination is helpful for other people to hear about, and when you said that it reminded me that that's how I found chiropractic care and that was also a part that really helped open broaden my horizon with birth and the body and working with pregnant people, and I continue to see that carburetor through my next pregnancy and I attribute that certainly to the ease of which I gave birth to my babies.

24:10

I love it, I didn't know that you saw a chiropractor so late in that first pregnancy as well was that the first time you had been to a chiropractor. No, it had been a while, I had seen them off and on since probably High School, which is really the pregnancy like no specific Webster relate oh yeah not pregnancy at all, I probably hadn't seen a chiropractor in several years at that point. But I was familiar interesting and knew that they worked good would be beneficial. I didn't quite realize how beneficial.

24:41

But yeah, that was, that was a wonderful experience for me and then I think helped with both of like my comfort like I've done I carried both of mine to almost 42 weeks. And I think having that those chiropractic adjustments, it does doesn't remove all the pain but it certainly helped me feel not I was not miserable by any means I had, I was very happy to be pregnant, which I attribute that to taking care of my body in that way.

25:09

And you know, that reminds me to a little bit of after I first, um, I got back, you know, into running, that will mean we'll have to do a whole episode on, you know postpartum care and C section recovering returned to fitness and all that because getting into running again was like, I mean that C section recovery was insane. You know I remember like brushing my teeth, and it would hurt to like spit into the sink, I was like oh my god, you know it's major abdominal surgery and so just kind of I do wish I had looked into what it was going to be not that I knew it was going to be that option at the end but it's good to know what this looks like and what this looks like you know like, covering all the things and yes, well some of the stuff I like to go over with my mama's but I really had really bad hip pain after my first, and then in that once I started running again. And I think the big thing was getting adjusted for the first time with that second one and then continuing in that postpartum period that I didn't have that same hip pain, and I was able to run and so I had actually yeah I've forgotten all about that too and how I stuck with it, and it really helped with that postpartum recovery, which we'll talk all about postpartum stuff. Yeah, you got me going down that rabbit hole I'm like it because I think that's an important conversation and bookmark it and say that we will be, or ear market, talking about that because I think, from my experience and your experience and our professional experience like understanding the magnitude of postpartum recovery, especially with a Syrian, but I just don't think it's talked about enough and ways that you can feel better. Right. I had seen a chiropractor for both of my pregnancies, but then postpartum with my second, I was like I escaped my brain, I was like, I was in some discomfort and not feeling great and my midwife was like, You need to go back to the chiropractor I was like oh my gosh, like you're in like a fog Right, exactly. Once I started going back I said that gentle reminder right for my midwife again having people around you who are going to push you in that direction and help think for you. Well yeah, too, too little. Right so aligning with people who can be that for you be and hearing the stories hearing people talk about it like us as far as like normalizing the poor postpartum and and providing some information about how to how to really thrive during that time or or get comfort or just feel better in Britain normalizing it right and talking about the hard hearted hardships of it, but as well as giving you some advice on how to navigate it. And I'll stop talking about the postpartum but I do think that gets me excited for conversations to come for sure. Yeah, definitely. Because I mean, you hit the nail on the head so everything that you said.

28:03

I love a little bit of our story too, in how we got reunited through the birth worker world and so I know you and I both are members of Georgia birth network which is just a, it's a birth network of birth professionals in Atlanta, but we also have Athens in Savannah area so just some of the major cities in Georgia, and we like support each other get education from each other, help each other but then we help families in Georgia to like it's such a it's such a wonderful organization we have scholarships that we help birth workers as well and then we're just able to connect and really help families support themselves by creating their birth support team, but I know you and I connected through that so I'm, and correct me if I'm wrong, because I think this is how it was, is, I don't know, maybe Was it something on social media, you said you were a doula or did I reach out to you, because I'm the membership director for GVA, did I say hey you should join virgin birth network I don't remember.

29:09

You pointed me in that direction. I think I was I was early in my Doula days, and we had not reconnected, but yeah, we were probably we were friends on social. And I was sharing or whatever new you piped in and I think you probably sent me a message and said hey, you should join GBN or Georgia birth network, and that was my first exposure to ever being so thankful because you know, I didn't know. And when you don't know you don't know and. And so, that prompted me to join and then that kind of put us back in touch, because we, it was like oh I'm a pipe Rector now and I'm a doula and we went to high school together we have that like that little history and but then it was still a little while before we kind of really connected and started wanting to work together like this. So, but between then and now, always in touch and boosting each other up and, and, you know, sharing about each other's work and just really being a great sounding board for each other and it's it's been fun to have it, reconnect with you and see it grow, your relationship grow over time into what it is now. I know, I know I love it. And so, like you said, you know, it took a little bit for us to kind of get into that groove and flow but it's nice because we would have these like monthly meetings where we would kind of check in and say, Alright what's on your radar in the birth worker world, and I mean sometimes that's good because we are both Mama's and, you know, business owners too and trying to navigate this crazy world doing those type of things so it's almost, I love that level of the professional relationship and the birth work relationship in the friend relationship and then the wanting to support mamas and being able to work with mamas together, part of our relationships. Yeah, I have loved our when we get together monthly or, you know, whenever we can carve out that time and we have those conversations that were aligned in similar ways as far as all the things she said about motherhood and work, and serving families and being entrepreneurs and growing and creating a business so I just cherish, any conversation I have with you, you always help inspire me and, and lift me up and you always say what I need to hear and I'm excited to bring some of those conversations into a public forum because I think people need to hear women talking about being mama, you know, being working mamas and business owners and birth workers and having our different perspectives from the chiropractor to the doula and childbirth educator, I think, I hope it could be inspiring to other people and motivating for people to hear us have these conversations, yes, no, I feel that I'm like everybody needs a Rachel, in their life to encourage, to encourage them so now I am excited and, you know, still nervous with doing a podcast because this is a new adventure for both of us, but I do feel deeply that it is something needed and I think it will be good.

32:20

So what do you see with the future of this and what do you what are your goals with this podcast.

32:31

Well, I believe that, like I said a moment ago, sharing the conversations that we're having about motherhood and the journey to motherhood, normalizing this, this, this time in this process, combined with our, our professional training and our education, and then sharing stories of birth workers, kind of weaving those together in a way that that brings light to becoming a mother, becoming you know when you're pregnant and then that journey into motherhood and then beyond kind of helping set people up for a positive experience by sharing education by helping people make informed decisions by shedding light kind of bringing the veil down on the normal process of pregnancy and birth and postpartum. Learning how to take care of ourselves so that we can have positive experiences and then learning from other birth professionals about how to do that as well from different perspectives. I think when I, when I think about what you and I do together when we're not recording. I just always have this feeling that the other people need to hear these conversations. And in doing that, I hope that we can help you know if you if we help one person have a positive birth experience or a positive pregnancy. I think we're doing good work. Yes, I love it. I agree. And there we've had lots of conversations where we've been, like, oh, we should have recorded that people need to know, and hear this conversation. Yeah, so here we go, here we go we're doing it girl and I'm super stoked to be doing it with you and I am excited for, I think you're a great storyteller, and I think I'm excited to hear the interviews you have planned for some upcoming podcasts, and I am excited to be able to bring my childbirth education component to the conversation and I think that combo will be super fun for for listeners so definitely stay tuned. Yes, most definitely.

34:36

All right, ma'am. I've got, um, so we've been pretty serious this whole time you know talking about our birth worker world, and what we do day in and day out and why we're here, What we do, but sometimes it's fun to ask some fun little random questions. So I've got a few random questions for you before we head out so if you were stranded on a tropical island What two things would you want with you.

35:05

Only two.

35:08

Can I say a Corona and a night.

35:13

That's, that's smart.

35:16

That's very smart, I think I was only thinking food was my first head, I had to say what came to my mind, which was a Corona, a beer a cold cold beer a cold cold beer. Yeah, and something sharp to either defend myself or build a, because we all know how Castaway when he really needed stuff so I love it I love it.

35:38

Okay, what's the most interesting thing you have in your purse. It's gonna be good, right, because your mom had recently downsized my purse, and I feel like that's like a marker in motherhood when you feel like it is, you don't need the diaper bag is your purse. Yeah, I know, I know I probably have some old snack and mine always food oh my gosh I'm stuck.

36:07

I love it. My kids Winster. Oh yeah, from the school. The school fundraiser.

36:15

The most interesting thing.

36:19

I love it I love it. The things that we carry as a mama.

36:27

Okay so I have a couple questions for you now. Okay. Are you ready, I think so. Okay.

36:36

What is your favorite donut.

36:39

Oh, um, when I do get donuts. It's the maple bacon donut raised donuts which is near me, and it is. You wouldn't think that make bacon on a donut is good. And I guarantee you it's dreamy, it's dreamy. Have you had five daughters donuts. I have not. Okay. Put that on your radar five daughter stones, we've got, we've had donut donut dollies, that's like that timer which is really good. They had a red velvet one that might be my second favorite

37:15

two favorite, like how many can I list.

37:20

That's fine. I love it I love it. Okay, I'm gonna ask you two more. Okay, right, beach, or mountains.

37:27

Oh, you know, You say this, and to ask. And I think I just commerce that we just booked a cabin for a trip or taking later for my kids soccer tournament, but then I have a dear friend that just bought her beach house to reverse out and so I've been like back on like Oh, which one would I want to ask you this, I mean gut reaction would be beach yeah just there's something about the sand, the salt water. Yeah, salt water, salty air. Yeah, yeah, I'd have to do beach but I do let me the mountains, I know. I'm the same. I'm like, can I just live in Hawaii, where I have both. Yeah, exactly. Okay, last one and I copied this from Jen Hatmaker and I love it. She asked everyone at the end of her Episode What is saving you right now and it can be big or little like funny or serious but what is saving you right now.

38:24

You know, I, the my morning journaling and that I have been consistently. And I mean, I say this working on being present, I think that has been saving me right now and just embrace the moment, you know, enjoy the journey because yes, there's that big destination, I was just talking about this yesterday with a friend, but it's like you've got to enjoy like the journey now and yes the musk and all the things but I don't know.

38:54

How would you answer that, that I'm gonna turn it back around, That's a good one can't sleep that on me.

39:02

I would go, which I love that I love the morning journal practice because that is, that really helps you stay present and I think that's a beautiful practice, I would say my husband and I love real, because yes, he, he has been so supportive of me on this new adventure with the childbirth education as well as doing the doula work and everything else, and he just does my rock and steps up, but today I've am on call my, I've got a mom in labor and he you know, quickly moved a schedule around and is able to help exactly where I need him without me asking too much so, that is saving me literally today. I love it I love it. I mean it takes a village and it takes that partnership, and then that's so beautiful, I love it. Thank you so much.

39:52

All right guys, Well friend it was so good to talk to you today, so good I love it. I'm proud of us. I'm so glad to be doing this with you. I'm excited for our future episodes and just wanted to tell our audience, thank you so much for listening. This is the aligned birth podcast. Also, if you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support us, please share it with others you can screenshot it, tag us on Instagram, we're at alligned underscore birth, or leave a rating and review. If you don't want to miss our newest episodes, be sure to tap the subscribe button, your support is greatly appreciated and as always we strive to bring you lots of information because knowledge is power and apply knowledge is empowerment. Thanks again for being here and see you next week.

Keywords:

Birth, doula, mamas, pregnancy, conversations, pregnant, childbirth education, postpartum, chiropractor, support, talking, people, feel, sharing, hear, helping, love, excited, mom, donut