Birth Your Way

Danielle Stenger

Birth Your Way is the podcast where a birth doula interviews local childbirth providers so you don’t have to. Most doulas and childbirth educators recommend interviewing several providers during pregnancy to find the right fit for your birth. It’s great advice! But who has time to schedule a dozen consults, especially while growing a human? On this show, Fort Collins birth doula and childbirth educator Danielle Stenger sits down with the people who support birth across Northern Colorado - OBs, midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, pelvic floor therapists, chiropractors, and more - to ask the exact questions expectant parents are told to ask when choosing their care team. Each episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how different providers approach pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care so you can better understand your options and build the birth team that aligns with your values. Whether you’re newly pregnant, planning a baby, or simply curious about the birth world in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, this podcast will help you feel more informed, confident, and supported as you prepare to welcome your baby. I'm so glad you found your way to this space, and I can’t wait to introduce you to the incredible people supporting birth in Northern Colorado. 

  1. 6d ago

    Homebirth In Northern Colorado | Kindred Origins Midwives

    Love the idea of a home birth in Fort Collins or Northern Colorado, but wonder what happens if plans change? This episode is for you! If you've been down the internet rabbit hole on home birth, this is a calm place to land. I am so thrilled to have Jen Grieco and Jodia Fedchock of Kindred Origins on the show. Someone told me recently they wish they were having another baby so these two could be their midwives. That wasn't the first time I'd heard it! Jen has been a home birth midwife for almost 18 years. She started out as a labor and delivery nurse. Jodia was a doula and childbirth educator for years before she became a midwife. She is also a mom of nine! We start with the question they hear most, from partners especially. Is home birth safe, and what happens if you need the hospital? They walk you through the emergency plan they make with every family, so you know the plan before labor ever starts. We also talk about cost and having your kids at the birth. And yes, they still want you to have a doula! I love that they sit on the floor at births, so they're at eye level with you. As Jen put it, they are visitors in your home. They follow your lead the whole way. QUESTIONS THIS EPISODE ANSWERS Is home birth an option for me? Jen and Jodia care for families with a low-risk pregnancy, one baby, head down. If anything changes, they refer you to hospital care. What happens if I need to go to the hospital? They say most transfers are not emergencies. You make an emergency plan together before your birth. In Northern Colorado, the hospital is usually 15 to 20 minutes away. If you transfer, they still do your postpartum care. What does a home birth cost with Kindred Origins? When we recorded, their fee was $7,200. That covers prenatal care, the birth, postpartum care, standard labs, GBS testing, an assistant, your birth kit and the tub rental. They offer payment plans with no interest. Insurance rarely covers home birth. Health shares tend to do better. Check their website for current fees. Do I still need a doula? They say yes! They love working with doulas. Can my older kids be there? Yes. They encourage you to bring your kids to prenatal visits, so the midwives aren't strangers when they show up at 2AM. CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Jen and Jodia of Kindred Origins 02:13 How two midwives share one practice 06:12 Jodia's path from doula to midwife 09:21 Jen's path from L&D nurse to home birth midwife 15:11 Who is a good fit for home birth 16:54 Prenatal testing and informed decisions 19:25 How home birth midwives train 21:13 How they follow your lead in labor 26:03 Jen's protocol on the drive to a birth 28:34 The questions families ask most 29:46 Safety and hospital transfers 31:23 "Will I poop in the tub?" 31:46 Having your kids at the birth 34:28 Midwife vs. doula 36:34 What home birth costs 38:46 Where to find them FIND JEN AND JODIA Kindred Origins: https://kindred-origins.com Jen on Instagram: @midwifejengrieco Jodia: @jodiasmidwiferyservices More episodes: https://www.birthyourwaypodcast.com This episode is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk with your provider about your care. #HomeBirth #FortCollins #Midwife

  2. May 14

    Can You Switch Providers Mid-Pregnancy? | Ericka Dalton, CNM

    The provider you choose shapes the birth you have, but most families make that decision without ever really knowing who they are choosing or why it matters. That is why I created Birth Your Way - so you never wonder if you chose the right person. This week I sat down with Ericka Dalton, a Certified Nurse Midwife at A Woman's Place in Fort Collins, CO. In this episode: - Why a 3.4% C-section rate out of 230 births tells you everything about how a practice views birth - The difference between a provider who sees birth as an illness and one who sees it as a normal part of life - What prenatal care is actually supposed to feel like and why most people have never experienced it - How to support yourself through fear prenatally and in the birth room Everything you need to know about VBAC and why having an aligned provider makes all the difference - The signs that it might be time to change your provider, even at 36 weeks - What a successful birth actually looks like according to a midwife who has seen hundreds of them Connect with Ericka and A Woman's Place: Instagram: @awomansplacefortcollins Website: awomansplacefc.com Located in Fort Collins, CO: 2620 E Prospect Rd Suite 160 Book a free 15-minute meet and greet at the link above Links and Resources: Website: www.greatestjoydoula.com Listen to the Birth Your Way Podcast  on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birth-your-way/id1891727848 and Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5XaaUhUPmPUB3497gTQSje Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@birthyourwaypodcast #birthyourwaypodcast #certifiednursemidwife #empoweredbirth #birthyourway #childbirtheducation #informedbirth #pregnancypodcast #fortcollinsbirth #northerncoloradobirth #hospitalbirthwife #midwiferycare #midwifevsobgyn #vbacsupport #vbacbirth #vbacmama #csectionrate #physiologicalbirth #holisticpregnancy #birthphilosophy #chooseyourprovider #birthprovider #prenatalcare #firsttimemom #pregnant2025 #pregnancy2025 #newmom #laboranddelivery #birthpreparation #birthplan #maternitycare #pregnancyadvice #birthstory #midwife #hospitalbirth #waterbirth #fortcollinsmom #fortcollinscolorado #northerncolorado #coloradobirth #coloradomidwife #coloradopregnancy #fortcollinspregnancy #awomansplace

  3. May 7

    Is Home Birth Safe? A Colorado Midwife Explains | Camille Friason, CPM

    In This Episode Camille’s journey from wanting to become an OB to becoming a home birth midwifeThe differences between midwifery care and traditional OB prenatal careWhat personalized, holistic pregnancy care can look likeHow to know if home birth is the right fit for your pregnancy and birth goalsWhy your motivation for choosing out-of-hospital birth mattersThe importance of having a fully supportive partner and birth teamHow to navigate unsupportive friends, family, or outside opinions about homebirthCommon misconceptions about “busy” providers vs. quality maternity careThe role of students in midwifery training and why it mattersWhat a home birth transfer to hospital actually looks likeCommon reasons for transfer (and why it’s not a failure)How midwives handle complications and maintain safe, low-risk birthA real, challenging birth story and how a licensed midwife managed itWhat makes someone a great fit for home birth midwifery careWhy finding the right birth provider (not just any provider) is so important Connect with Camille! Instagram: @goldenhourmidwifery and @babycatchercamille Website: https://goldenhourmidwifery.com/ About the Birth Your Way Podcast The Birth Your Way Podcast introduces families in Northern Colorado to the birth professionals serving our community. Each episode features a conversation with a local provider so you can learn about your options and get to know the people who may be part of your birth team. Subscribe for Future Episodes We’ll be interviewing local experts including: • Midwives • Pelvic floor therapists • Lactation consultants • Chiropractors • Doulas • Postpartum specialists Looking for a childbirth education in Northern Colorado? Learn more about Danielle and her services: www.greatestjoydoula.com #NocoMoms #ColoradoMoms #FortCollinsDoula #BirthDoulaFortCollins #NaturalBirthSupport #PregnancySupport #ChildbirthEducation #EmpoweredBirth #BirthPreparation #NorthernColoradoBirthResources

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Birth Your Way is the podcast where a birth doula interviews local childbirth providers so you don’t have to. Most doulas and childbirth educators recommend interviewing several providers during pregnancy to find the right fit for your birth. It’s great advice! But who has time to schedule a dozen consults, especially while growing a human? On this show, Fort Collins birth doula and childbirth educator Danielle Stenger sits down with the people who support birth across Northern Colorado - OBs, midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, pelvic floor therapists, chiropractors, and more - to ask the exact questions expectant parents are told to ask when choosing their care team. Each episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how different providers approach pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care so you can better understand your options and build the birth team that aligns with your values. Whether you’re newly pregnant, planning a baby, or simply curious about the birth world in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, this podcast will help you feel more informed, confident, and supported as you prepare to welcome your baby. I'm so glad you found your way to this space, and I can’t wait to introduce you to the incredible people supporting birth in Northern Colorado.