Ep 311: 11-Pound Baby, 3-Hour Labor: Leah’s Powerful Home Birth Story

Today’s episode is a little different. I’m sharing a home birth story! Home birth can be safe, supported, and deeply empowering when planned well.In this birth story, I’m joined by Leah, a writer, mom of two, and aspiring childbirth educator who planned a home birth after a positive but impersonal hospital birth with her first child. Despite navigating insurance barriers, and anticipating a large baby, Leah created the low-intervention experience she wanted, and welcomed her 11-pound daughter after just a three-and-a-half-hour labor. Her story is full of advocacy, intuition, humor (yes, she was poked in the eye mid-contraction), and practical insights you’ll walk away with.In this episode, you’ll learn:What made Leah choose a planned home birth after a hospital birthHow she advocated for weight-inclusive prenatal careThe realities of insurance challenges for home birth familiesHow she prepared mentally and physically for a fast, intense laborWhy her postpartum experience at home was dramatically different — and betterWhat she wants every pregnant person to know about big babies and birth optionsResources Mentioned:Bradley Method book: Natural Childbirth the Bradley WayFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patientsOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy