Becoming Parents - Birth Stories and Birthwork Wisdom

Jennifer Campbell
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Weekly

All about the struggles, surprises, joys, and exhaustion of birth and birthwork. Sharing stories about birth, birthwork, and everything it entails - infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, labor and delivery, bottle feeding, breastfeeding & relactation, self-care after birth, sex to get pregnant and after kids, birth options, to medicate or not to medicate, adoption, midwife vs hospital, and running a successful birthwork business.

  1. Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, Therapist Teaching Love and Infertility with Dr. Clay Brigance - S7 E92

    3d ago

    Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, Therapist Teaching Love and Infertility with Dr. Clay Brigance - S7 E92

    Dr Clay and his wife experienced their own infertility journey, an experience that tested them deeply but ultimately brought them closer together. That outcome sparked a defining question: Why do some couples grow closer after infertility or pregnancy loss, while others grow apart? Pursuing this question, Dr. Clay studied more than 1,000 couples navigating infertility and reproductive loss. His findings identified four consistent factors—the Four Pillars of Connection—that predict resilience in relationships facing reproductive trauma. His research has informed clinical practice, been published in leading journals, and is now used by therapists and couples worldwide. To serve local clients, he founded Shiloh Counseling in Ballwin, Missouri, specializing in reproductive grief and relationship counseling. Dr. Clay Brigance, PhD, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, researcher, and nationally recognized specialist in couple therapy for infertility and reproductive grief. He is the founder and clinical director of Shiloh Counseling, a group practice specializing in relationship therapy for couples navigating infertility, miscarriage, and perinatal loss. He is also the host of the podcast “Love and Infertility”. For over a decade, Dr. Brigance has worked almost exclusively with couples facing reproductive trauma. His clinical and research work has included more than 1,000 individuals and couples experiencing infertility and miscarriage, informing his integrative approach to treatment. He has published in some of the top journals for couples work, including Marriage and Family Therapy, Couple and Relationship Therapy, and The Family Journal, among others. His model draws from interpersonal mindfulness and evidence-based couple therapy approaches, including the Gottman Method and emotion-focused principles, to help couples reduce conflict, process grief, and rebuild emotional connection. Dr. Brigance is also a researcher examining the role of interpersonal mindfulness, stress biomarkers, and relational resilience in couples navigating infertility. His work seeks to better understand how couples can maintain closeness under chronic stress and how therapeutic interventions can foster long-term relational growth following reproductive loss. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Brigance trains therapists nationally and speaks on the relational impact of infertility and reproductive grief. His work is deeply informed not only by research and clinical experience, but also by his own journey through infertility. As someone who has personally navigated the uncertainty, loss, and strain that reproductive grief can bring to a marriage, he brings a grounded empathy to his work that resonates with both clinicians and couples. Dr. Brigance lives in the St. Louis area with his family. His work is devoted to helping couples move from silent suffering toward connection, clarity, and resilient love in the face of disrupted dreams of parenthood. FIND HIM HERE: WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA:  Website: https://www.drclaybrigance.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_claybrigance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Shiloh-Counseling-LLC/100090955350701/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayton-brigance-phd-lpc-99a4381a4/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.ClayBrigance/featured  Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/326IpwHCa0diGyJIz4QgZj?si=51d3e3c2e386477a&nd=1&dlsi=1651f7262f41401b

    47 min
  2. Corporate Life to Parenting Through Divorce and Fertility Coaching with Sonia Ribas - S7 E91

    May 1

    Corporate Life to Parenting Through Divorce and Fertility Coaching with Sonia Ribas - S7 E91

    Former corporate executive turned fertility coach after my own path into motherhood awakened something deeper in meMother of three children, navigating parenting as a single mom after a high conflict divorce Experienced the emotional and identity shift of becoming a parent while building a business and redefining my life Parenting has been one of my greatest teachers in surrender, patience, and self awareness Balancing ambition, motherhood, and healing from relationship trauma Supporting my children through transitions, co parenting dynamics, and emotional resilience Deeply passionate about breaking the silence around fertility struggles and motherhood challenges Have now helped welcome 700 plus babies through my work, supporting women before pregnancy and into motherhood Believe there is no perfect way to become or be a parent, only a more supported and empowered way I am the founder of The Fertility Solution, a global fertility coaching program. I am a fertility coach with over 15 years of experience and have helped welcome over 700 babies. I specialize in helping women optimize their fertility naturally, whether they are trying to conceive, preparing for IVF, or navigating unexplained infertility. My work focuses on a holistic, research backed approach that integrates physical health, nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and personalized strategy so women can get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies. FIND HER HERE: Website: https://soniaribas.com Free masterclass: https://www.thefertilitysolution.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniaribascoach TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soniaribascoach

    32 min
  3. IUI, IVF and a 3-Year Journey to Becoming “Human Dad with Tony Berardo - S7 E90

    Apr 22

    IUI, IVF and a 3-Year Journey to Becoming “Human Dad with Tony Berardo - S7 E90

    We went through 3 IUI's and 2 IVF's, over a 3 year journey trying to get pregnant, then finally - we had our baby girl.  During this time of trying to conceive we dealt with various health scares, I was let go from my job and had a family death... all within a few weeks. It was a low point in our relationship but we stuck together and pulled through.  I own a content agency and an apparel brand for Dads. We started it because being a dad is heavy. Human Dad wasn’t born in a group chat looking for laughs.It was born in the quiet moments — when responsibility hits harder than you expected, and there’s no manual, no applause, and no reset button... FIND HIM HERE:  humandad.com https://www.instagram.com/humandadbrand

    41 min
  4. Parent, CEO of HomeschoolToGo, bilingual K-12 Personalized Education - Houlie Duque - S7 E89

    Apr 15

    Parent, CEO of HomeschoolToGo, bilingual K-12 Personalized Education - Houlie Duque - S7 E89

    Houlie Duque is the founder and CEO of HomeschoolToGo, a pioneering bilingual (English/Spanish), personalized K-12 education program serving families across the Americas. HomeschoolToGo is the leading organization for personalized education Across the Americas. After a 10 year career as an educator for prestigious institutions, Houlie realized the answer to developing a child for a promising future was not memorization and compliance, but rather unleashing the innate genius in each individual.  Houlie's mission, since starting HomeschoolToGo, has been to make high quality education accessible to parents that want to write a better story for their children. As we enter pivotal times of economic decentralization, and technological artificial intelligence advancements it is crucial that the next generation is being trained and developed to build a better world. Can you imagine a world where children grow to their full potential? With HomeschoolToGo, Houlie intends to revolutionize education by facilitating personalized curriculums and raising a generation of geniuses who had been stripped of their gifts for decades via the public school system. Houlie is the CEO and Founder of HomeschoolToGo the leading organization for Personalized Education across the Americas FIND HER HERE:https://www.homeschooltogo.org/ @houlieduque @homeschool.togo

    51 min
  5. Single Parent of 4, Income Streams, A Book, And Having Fun with It - Tami Gaines - S7 E88

    Mar 18

    Single Parent of 4, Income Streams, A Book, And Having Fun with It - Tami Gaines - S7 E88

    Five months. That’s how long it took my entire life to fall apart. I became unexpectedly pregnant with twins—already a mom of two and married for twelve years. When I told my husband, he gave me an ultimatum: him… or the babies. I couldn’t have both. I chose the babies. I didn’t like him very much anyway. Within weeks, I was on hospitalized bedrest, managing two kids at home with a husband who had already checked out in every way. I was suddenly single in every way that mattered. A few fun facts: My oldest daughter was born after 36 hours of labor, minutes from a c-section. The midwife literally pulled her out. My water broke on the 9th hole -- I was playing golf! My son was born accidentally at home! Yup...I'm one of those women you read about! I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 11. Currently, (as a true entrepreneur) I'm building: * Sexual Health Disruptor: Boom Boom Butter -- the world's 1st sexual lube with health benefits (https://boomboombutter.com/) * Health Disruptor: Revolutionary at-home blood spot testing for balance, diabetes, heart disease and many more!  (www.magpuretesting.com) * Growth strategist and corporate trainer (on all things innovation, leadership, soft skills, strategy & entrepreneurship) (www.tamigaines.com) * Author, Preemie Parents, 26 Ways to Grow with Your Premature Baby (several additional books and courses to come in 2026) * Course creator FIND HER HERE: Tami's Website tamigaines.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tami.gaines.129 Instagram instagram.com/tamigaines LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/tamigaines YouTube  www.youtube.com/@BuildResilienceHere

    35 min
  6. Parenting as a Boy Mom, Children’s Speech Therapist in Orange County with Jessie Kensey - S7 E87

    Mar 4

    Parenting as a Boy Mom, Children’s Speech Therapist in Orange County with Jessie Kensey - S7 E87

    -Spent two years trying to conceive before welcoming her first child -Boy mom to a 3-year-old and 1-year-old -Launched her private speech therapy practice during maternity leave with her first son -Owner of Simply Speech Therapy and founder of Young Talker Academy, where she coaches parents on strategies to support their toddler's language development at home Jessie is a Speech Therapist, owner of a private practice in Orange County, CA, and parent coach for parents of toddlers who are late talkers FIND HER HERE: Website: https://www.simplyspeechtherapy.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessiekensey.slp/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089971887864

    29 min
  7. Parenting and Finances - Reducing Stress to Increase Joy with Ryan Johnson - S7 E86

    Feb 25

    Parenting and Finances - Reducing Stress to Increase Joy with Ryan Johnson - S7 E86

    Everything changed when our son entered the world almost 3 years ago. We moved to a new state, launched a business, and my wife (who originally never wanted kids) decided to stay home. We now have 2 kids (our youngest, a daughter, just turned one).  I'm excited to share parts of my own experience becoming a parent and why those early years completely reshaped how I think about money, stress, and family life. My mission now is to help parents feel more grounded and confident in their financial world so they can be more present with the people who matter most. I work with families in their 30s and 40s who are juggling careers, childcare, saving, and the constant pressure to “get everything right.” I’ve seen how money stress quietly drains joy and energy from the home, and I believe clarity is one of the most powerful gifts we can give ourselves (and our kids). My work focuses on simplifying decisions, removing guilt and overwhelm, and helping parents align their money with the life they’re trying to build. If you’ve ever felt behind, unsure, or stretched thin, my goal is to show you that you’re not alone, you’re not failing, and there’s a clearer way forward. I run a solo financial planning firm focused on high-earning parents ($200k+ per year).  FIND HIM HERE: www.Hundredfp.com Blog: Can I afford to stay home with the kids: https://www.hundredfp.com/blog/can-i-afford-to-stay-home-with-the-kids

    39 min
  8. Fertility Specialist & FREE Online Program, Host, Telehealth CEO with Gabriela Rosa - S7 E85

    Feb 18

    Fertility Specialist & FREE Online Program, Host, Telehealth CEO with Gabriela Rosa - S7 E85

    Gabriela Rosa, DrPH (Candidate, Harvard), is a Harvard-awarded fertility specialist, founder of The Rosa Institute, and author of Fertility Breakthrough: Overcoming Infertility and Recurrent Miscarriage When Other Treatments Have Failed. She pioneered telehealth-based, integrative fertility care, making evidence-based solutions accessible worldwide. Gabriela also created and hosts The Fertility Challenge, a free online program that reaches tens of thousands globally each year. Her F.E.R.T.I.L.E. Method® has supported more than 204,000 people across 111 countries, with published research demonstrating a 78.8% live birth rate among patients in her signature program—even after years of infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and failed treatments. Gabriela Rosa is the founder and CEO of The Rosa Institute, the world’s first telehealth integrative medicine fertility clinic. She has scaled the institute into a multi–seven-figure global enterprise, leading a team of 30+ members across six continents and guiding over 204,000 people in 111+ countries through educational and clinical programs. FIND HER HERE: Website: https://fertilitybreakthrough.com/Gabriela Rosa https://www.facebook.com/FertilitySpecialistGabrielaRosa https://www.instagram.com/dr.gabrielarosa/ https://x.com/gabrielarosa https://www.tiktok.com/@gabrielarosafertility?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc FREE BOOK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1q5RJSIx7M Fertility Challenge: https://fc.fertilitybreakthrough.com/fertility-challengeInfertility Diagnostic Tool: https://gabrielarosa.samcart.com/products/what-your-doctor-isnt-testing-but-should Fertility Breakthrough https://www.instagram.com/fertilitybreakthrough/ https://www.facebook.com/rosainstitutefertilitybreakthrough TalkSex Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talksex-with-gabriela-rosa/id1587037481 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielarosa_talksex/ Twitter: https://x.com/talksexpodcast?s=21&t=lwWaCKsiAmQM1pGIsdMIzg

    36 min
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All about the struggles, surprises, joys, and exhaustion of birth and birthwork. Sharing stories about birth, birthwork, and everything it entails - infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, labor and delivery, bottle feeding, breastfeeding & relactation, self-care after birth, sex to get pregnant and after kids, birth options, to medicate or not to medicate, adoption, midwife vs hospital, and running a successful birthwork business.

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