Unmedicated Home Birth: Liv & Matt's Story of The Gift of Their Christmas Baby

Show Notes:

[1:48] Our Reviewer of the Week, momof4, said: "I had felt so defeated after having a traumatic vaginal birth full of interventions and a painful C-section with my 2nd. With my 3rd, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to even try for a VBAC as I had no confidence in my own ability to birth my baby. Then . . . as if by divine intervention, I found this podcast during that 3rd pregnancy. It changed everything for me. I went from feeling like birth happened to me twice to going on to have two more babies via beautiful and redemptive VBACs (last one completely unmedicated). Stephanie does a great job informing mothers on their options and potential hiccups in the pregnancy and birthing process so listeners can make the best decision for themselves and their babies. This podcast and the birth course are a must for any woman. My husband was also grateful for the easily digestible information from both the podcast and course. I am forever thankful and still listen to the podcast weekly!"

[2:45] Our birth story is from Matt & Liv Stouffer. Liv is a professional photographer and entrepreneur based in the metro Detroit area. She and her husband Matt are high school sweethearts and have been married for the past eight years. Together they love to explore, from national parks to local coffee shops, as often as they can. This past December, they welcomed the birth of their first daughter on Christmas Eve.  

[3:59] Liv's pregnancy experience: 

• First Trimester Challenges:
  • Unexpected nausea, feeling like all-day motion sickness.
  • Extreme fatigue, leading to multiple naps a day—totally out of character!
  • A big reality check that adjustments were needed early on.
• Support System: Having a supportive partner (Matt) made a huge difference, especially during the tough early weeks.
• Healthy Pregnancy: Despite early struggles, the journey remained smooth and positive overall.
• Biggest Surprise: Expecting the third trimester to be the hardest but realizing the first trimester hit the hardest instead.

[5:53] Matt had little prior exposure to pregnancy or babies, so everything felt new. He earned a lot about the changes in Liv’s body and newborn care, and he took things as they came rather than feeling overwhelmed. 

[7:03] When did Liv & Matt dive into the birth course? Because the first trimester felt overwhelming, it led to some procrastination. They didn’t start the birth course until the third trimester and waited until 20 weeks to choose a midwife.

[7:40] What were Liv's fears and doubts as a first time mom? Liv loved the idea of a home birth but felt like a first-time mom "wasn’t allowed" to have one. Liv's mom, Deborah, a doula, was a strong supporter of home birth. She said: “You don’t have to have an experience you don’t want in order to have an experience you do want." That encouragement helped commit to a home birth. Around 20 weeks, it was time to make decisions and move forward.

[11:33] What did Liv do before picking a midwife? Liv had minimal prenatal care and only had an early ultrasound (8–9 weeks) to confirm pregnancy, then delayed further appointments. She toured a birth center and considered hospitals but felt drawn to home birth. She felt anxious in medical settings and worried about struggling to advocate for herself during labor. A home birth appealed to her because she had more control over the birth environment. She was surrounded by chosen, familiar support people and wanted a calm, comfortable, and natural experience at home. Ultimately, home birth felt like the best choice for a relaxed and positive labor experience.

[12:59] How did Matt feel about the home birth? He grew up in a family open to alternative medicine and was aware of systemic issues in hospital-based maternity care. He became more receptive as Liv shared her research and wanted to take the decision seriously but ultimately felt it was the right choice.

[14:39] How did Matt and Liv pick their midwife? They discovered Forest River Midwifery through mutual friends. Although they had limited local options, Colleen stood out due to her experience and reputation. Liv felt a huge shift after their first meeting—personalized care, deep conversations, and a sense of calm, which was a stark contrast to rushed hospital visits and solidified her choice. Matt fully trusted Liv’s judgment and didn’t meet Colleen until the 36-week home visit. The decision to have a home birth came together naturally, guided by research, intuition, and finding the perfect midwife!

[16:53] How did Liv prepare for birth? 

• Early Intentional Preparation:

  • First trimester fears shifted into excitement as pregnancy progressed.
  • Prioritized movement, exercise, and nutrition from the start.
  • Continued working as a photographer through 28–29 weeks, keeping active.

• Practical Third Trimester Prep:

  • Committed to daily birth exercises and stretches from the course.
  • Practiced breath work and mindset shifts.
  • Wrote mantras on mirrors to combat fear and self-doubt.

• Overcoming Fear with Mantras & Support:

  • Used affirmations like "My body knows how to birth my baby" and "Fear has no place in this birth."
  • Found peace through repeated reminders of trust in her body and the process.
  • Felt reassured knowing her husband, mom, doula, and midwife were fully supportive.

[20:56] What Matt did to support Liv? Matt didn’t read all the books but stayed engaged through conversations. Their dynamic created opportunities for real-life discussions about pregnancy and birth, and they prioritized communication over consuming information separately. Matt & Liv discussed love languages and how support would be expressed during labor, set clear expectations on presence vs. verbal affirmation, and acknowledged that birth is an unpredictable experience and stayed adaptable. During her pregnancy, Matt encouraged healthy eating, exercise, and birth prep practices. He showed care through small check-ins, reinforcing emotional support and understood that his presence alone provided comfort and reassurance.

[27:37] What were the final week preparations Liv did? Baby arrived at 41 weeks and 5 days—much later than hoped. The uncertainty of "Will it be today?" became exhausting. Staying calm and patient was harder than expected. Liv used red raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, and did lots of walking. She also took castor oil (mixed with orange juice), which helped kickstart labor but was unpleasant. She focused on movement—stair stepping, birth ball, walking—but was reminded to conserve energy. At the start of labor, contractions began gradually, feeling like mild cramps. There was no rush—enjoyed the process, made a birth playlist, set a calm environment. Liv loved the ease of laboring at home without worrying about hospital logistics. She treated it like a marathon—paced herself physically and emotionally. Her excitement replaced fear; viewed birth as an active challenge to accomplish.

[34:53] Matt and Liv walk through their home birth experience:

[48:43] What happened after Liv began hemorrhaging? After baby’s arrival, Liv experienced hemorrhaging, requiring close attention. The midwife administered Pitocin and had her push out the placenta, which relieved the bleeding. The placenta had some calcified areas, but the cause of the bleeding wasn't fully determined, though it was deemed unlikely to affect future pregnancies. A few hours later, after some blood loss, Liv passed out three times while going to the bathroom due to moving too quickly. Her vitals were taken by EMS, who arrived after a 9-1-1 call. They ruled the issue as a result of low blood pressure after standing up too fast. Liv was soon back to normal after rest. Despite the scare, the experience reinforced that home births can still be safe even when complications arise. The midwife was calm and prepared, and with the support of family and a strong birthing team, the situation was managed well.

Matt shared his experience of feeling stressed, especially during the hemorrhaging. He was grateful for having the support of his mother-in-law and the midwife team. His role of staying calm while supporting his wife was emotionally taxing but helped keep the situation stable. Home births can bring unexpected challenges, but preparation, communication with your midwife, and strong support systems make all the difference. Don’t let fear of the unknown deter you from choosing a home birth.

[58:13] Best advice for moms and dads from Liv and Matt:

• Best Advice for Moms (Liv):

  • Surround Yourself with Support: Whether it's a home birth, hospital, or birthing center, ensure you have supportive people around you. Keep your decisions private until you’re confident and comfortable in your choices, and avoid unsolicited opinions from others.
  • Trust Your Body: Your body is designed for childbirth, and you are capable of more than you think. Trust yourself and your instincts as you prepare mentally and physically for your birth.

• Best Advice for Dads (Liv):

  • Be Supportive and Encourage Self-Care: Listen and encourage your partner. Help her take care of herself by making sure she rests and stays healthy, especially during pregnancy and postpartum.

• Best Advice for Dads (Matt):

  • Start Preparing Early: Begin preparing for birth and postpartum sooner rather than later. Don’t procrastinate on exercises, stretches, or logistics.
  • Be Fully Present Postpartum: Post-birth, support your partner as much as you can. Be ready to take on responsibilities and care for both your partner and baby. Preparing ahead (like having frozen meals) makes a huge difference in managing postpartum.

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Links Mentioned:

• My Essential Birth Course
• My Essential Birth Postpartum Course
• My Essential Birth Instagram