Girly Pop Birth Talks

Becca Gensch & Arielle Mize

Girly Pop Birth Talks is the cozy, unfiltered podcast where birth stories meet real-life girl talk. Hosted by Becca and Arielle, we go beyond just labor and delivery—we dive into the journey to the journey, exploring the heart, humor, and raw truth behind every baby’s beginning.

  1. 2d ago

    Season 2, Episode 3: Choosing Adoption: A Birth Story of Courage & Self-Compassion

    Season 2, Episode 3: Choosing Adoption: A Birth Story of Courage & Self-Compassion  This week on Girly Pop Birth Talks, Becca and Arielle are sitting down with Kaitlyn Gillespie for an incredibly vulnerable, courageous, and heartfelt conversation about pregnancy, birth, adoption, and learning to extend yourself the same love and compassion you so freely give to others.  At just 35 weeks pregnant, Kaitlyn's birth story took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with preeclampsia and needed an early induction. But Kaitlyn's journey into motherhood looked different from many of the stories we typically share. In this episode, Kaitlyn opens up about her experience choosing adoption for her daughter, navigating an unexpected birth, and the deeply personal emotions and decisions that come with a journey like hers. We're making space for a conversation that deserves so much more love, understanding, and compassion in the birth world. A conversation about self-compassion, courage, autonomy, and the strength it takes to make decisions that are deeply personal, even when they may be difficult for others to understand. Because sometimes courage doesn't look like having all the answers. Sometimes it looks like giving yourself grace in the unknown, trusting yourself through difficult decisions, and recognizing that your story is worthy of love and respect exactly as it is. We hope this episode reminds every woman listening that you are allowed to hold complicated emotions, you are allowed to give yourself grace, and you deserve compassion through every chapter of your story. 🎀 In this episode, we're talking about: Being diagnosed with preeclampsia at 35 weeksNavigating an unexpected induction and premature birthKaitlyn's personal journey with choosing adoptionFinding courage through uncertainty and difficult decisionsThe importance of autonomy, informed choices, and compassionate maternity careSelf-compassion, healing, and giving yourself graceHonoring the many different experiences of motherhoodWhether you're a mama, birth worker, adoptive parent, birth parent, or simply someone who believes women deserve to feel heard, respected, and supported, we're so grateful you're here. Our hope is that conversations like these remind us that there is no single way to experience motherhood, no perfect way to navigate life's hardest decisions, and absolutely no reason any woman should have to walk through them without compassion. Kaitlyn, thank you for trusting us with your story and for having the courage to share a part of your life that so many women may experience but so few feel comfortable talking about. We are honored to hold space for you. 💗 🎧 Grab your headphones, get cozy, and join us for another episode of Girly Pop Birth Talks! 💕 Hosted by Becca & Arielle 🌸 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @girlypopbirthtalks 💌 Follow along for more birth stories, honest conversations, and all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. #GirlyPopBirthTalks #BirthStory #Preeclampsia #InductionBirth #AdoptionStory #BirthMother #SelfCompassion #MaternalHealth #BirthPodcast #PregnancyPodcast #EmpoweredBirth

    Season 2, Episode 3: Choosing Adoption: A Birth Story of Courage & Self-Compassion
  2. May 12

    Episode 40: When Birth Doesn't Go As Planned with Aimee Denno

    This week on Girly Pop Birth Talks, we sit down with Aimee Denno—former Labor & Delivery nurse, mama of two, and a woman whose birth journey has held both deep empowerment and unimaginable intensity. Aimee shares her story of two pregnancies, two vaginal births, and two attempted home births—one of which ended in a life-altering emergency when her second daughter needed resuscitation at home before being transferred by ambulance at just 10 minutes old. As someone who has supported countless families in birth as an L&D nurse, Aimee opens up about what it felt like to be on the other side—as the mother, not the provider. We talk about the emotional complexity of birth plans changing fast, NICU stays, trusting your instincts, navigating trauma, and finding healing while mothering little ones close in age. This conversation is raw, honest, powerful, and one that will stay with us for a long time. 🤍 In this episode we cover: ✨ Being both a birth professional and a birth patient ✨ Two very different home birth experiences ✨ Unexpected newborn respiratory complications + NICU stays ✨ Emergency resuscitation and ambulance transfer after birth ✨ Processing trauma while entering postpartum ✨ Motherhood, perspective shifts, and healing This episode is for the moms who know birth can be beautiful and wildly unpredictable—and for anyone who has had to rewrite their story while still finding strength in it. 🎙️🤍

    Episode 40: When Birth Doesn't Go As Planned with Aimee Denno
  3. May 2

    Episode 39: Surprise Pregnancy, HELLP Syndrome & a Powerful Vaginal Birth with Grace Wixon

    In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful, honest, and faith-filled conversation with a mama in her season of pre-conception for baby #3—reflecting on two completely different pregnancy and birth journeys that ultimately led her back to the same place: deep trust. Grace shares how motherhood wasn’t always something she long dreamed about—but when it came into her life, it became her greatest sense of purpose. Her first pregnancy was filled with awe and constant reminders of the miracle of life… but also fear. What began with a terrifying misdiagnosis of an interstitial ectopic pregnancy ended with an atypical HELLP Syndrome diagnosis, leading to a long and emotional 3–4 day induction prior to 37 weeks—and ultimately, a vaginal delivery that required deep surrender. Her second journey brought a completely different energy—more peace, more connection, and more trust in her body. This time, she experienced a full-term, 40+2 vaginal birth, feeling empowered and supported throughout. In this episode, we talk about:     •    Navigating pregnancies that don’t go as planned     •    Building trust with your body through uncertainty     •    Holding space for both fear and empowerment in birth     •    Faith, surrender, and trusting God’s timing     •    Nourishing yourself through every season of motherhood Grace also opens up about how becoming a mother became an unexpected space for healing—helping her work through years of body image struggles, disordered eating, and cycles of control, and instead learning to honor and trust her body. And a full-circle moment you won’t believe: Grace and her husband were both surprise babies… born on the same day, in the same hospital in Roseville, just hours apart—but didn’t meet until 25 years later 🤍 Oh—and despite a 3 lb and 3 inch difference between her babies, both births came down to just a few powerful pushes. This episode is your reminder that: ✨ You don’t have to have it all planned for it to be exactly right ✨ Your body is wise ✨ And sometimes, the most unexpected paths lead you straight into your purpose

    Episode 39: Surprise Pregnancy, HELLP Syndrome & a Powerful Vaginal Birth with Grace Wixon
  4. Apr 27

    Episode 37: Turning Fear Into Purpose with Michelle Canete

    In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Cañete, a mom of three and doula, who shares her powerful journey through three very different — and increasingly fast — birth experiences. From a first birth filled with anxiety, lack of preparation, and feeling overwhelmed… to two precipitous labors that moved faster than anyone expected — Michelle walks us through what it actually feels like when your body takes over. We talk about: What it’s like going into birth unprepared — and how that shaped everything after The intensity and unpredictability of precipitous labor Transition happening in the car (yes… really) That “I have to poop” moment and what it actually means The mental shift from fear → trust in your body How experience can completely transform your birth perspective Michelle’s second and third births happened in just a matter of hours — with pushing phases lasting only minutes — and her stories are a reminder that birth doesn’t always follow the “expected” timeline. This episode is raw, fast-paced (just like her births), and full of those “wait… WHAT just happened?!” moments. Whether you’re a first-time mom or preparing for another baby, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about birth, intuition, and how quickly things can change. ⸻ Takeaways: Your first birth does not define your future births Preparation and education can completely shift your experience Fast labor is real — and can be intense, empowering, and a little chaotic Your body knows what it’s doing, even when it feels overwhelming ⸻ Connect with Michelle: Instagram: @_doulamichelle

    Episode 37: Turning Fear Into Purpose with Michelle Canete

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Girly Pop Birth Talks is the cozy, unfiltered podcast where birth stories meet real-life girl talk. Hosted by Becca and Arielle, we go beyond just labor and delivery—we dive into the journey to the journey, exploring the heart, humor, and raw truth behind every baby’s beginning.

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