Ep. 14 - From Birth Center to Hospital: Kara’s Story of Advocacy and Surrender
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The Role of Faith and Education
Kara's story is steeped in faith. Her spiritual connection to the birth process gave her peace in the unknown and strength when things shifted. She also credits her preparation—educating herself about birth options, interventions, and her rights as a birthing mother—as a key to maintaining calm during the transfer and beyond.
Final Reflections
Kara’s birth wasn’t exactly what she envisioned. But in many ways, it was more than she hoped for. Her story is one of holding both surrender and strength, one of advocacy in the midst of change, and one of deep reverence for the sacredness of birth.
If you’re planning a birth and wondering what happens if things don’t go exactly as planned, Kara’s journey will leave you encouraged, grounded, and inspired.
Encouragement for Expecting Mamas
Whether you’re planning a home birth, hoping for a natural hospital birth, or preparing for the unexpected, Madison’s story will leave you feeling encouraged and grounded in the truth that birth is not just about the moment of delivery — it’s about the journey, the surrender, and the strength you carry with you long after.
🎧 Tune in to this episode of the Bare Birth Podcast wherever you listen, or click the link above to listen now!
From Surrender to Strength: Kara’s Birth Story and the Power of Preparation and Advocacy
Birth is rarely predictable. For many mothers, even the most thoughtful birth plan must bend and shift to meet the needs of the moment. But when we’re supported, informed, and surrounded by care we trust, those changes don’t have to steal our power. In this week’s episode of the Bare Birth Podcast, Kara shares her beautiful and unexpected journey into motherhood—a story of advocacy, worship, and surrender.
Beginning the Journey
Kara and her husband knew they wanted to take a more holistic approach to pregnancy and birth, leading them to a birth center with midwifery care and a supportive, hands-off philosophy. Kara’s preparation included building a strong birth team, including adding a doula at the very end of pregnancy who would walk with her through each contraction, decision, and sacred moment.
A Hands-Off Approach to Labor
The start of Kara’s labor was truly serendipitous (tune in to hear the whole story!) Kara’s midwives honored her rhythms, her space, and her instincts as she labored at home freely, drawing strength from prayer and worship. One of the most memorable parts of her story is how she maintained a worshipful posture during contractions—seeing each wave not as pain to resist, but power to welcome.
An Unexpected Transfer
Despite the peaceful progress, her birth plan shifted when it became clear that a hospital transfer would be safest due to a high blood pressure reading. Transferring during labor can be jarring—but Kara shares how she stayed grounded in the midst of uncertainty. With her husband and doula by her side, and with confidence in the choices she was making, she advocated for her birth preferences even in a new setting.
Though the hospital environment was different, Kara remained centered. She communicated clearly with her care team, asked for what she needed, and continued to labor with strength and grace.
Pushing and the Sacred Aftermath
As transition gave way to pushing, Kara experienced an overwhelming sense of power and release. She describes the moment her baby arrived as sacred—a culmination of all the preparation, faith, and surrender that had defined her birth.
But it wasn’t just the birth that held meaning. It was what came after. Kara reflects on how beautiful and healing postpartum care was once she returned home. With midwives visiting and tending to her in her own space, she felt deeply supported and safe in her recovery.
Postpartum Lessons and Care
Unlike many new mothers who are left navigating postpartum alone, Kara had the benefit of follow-up care from her midwives at home. These visits made all the difference in how she felt emotionally and physically after birth. She speaks openly about the tenderness of those early days—the joy, the exhaustion, and the beauty of healing slowly, intentionally, and surrounded by care.
She also shares important reflections on what she would encourage other mamas to consider: understanding your birth rights, building a strong support team, and preparing just as much for postpartum as you do for labor.
🎧 Listen to Kara’s episode on the Bare Birth Podcast now — available on all major platforms.
