Bearing Birth
A birth story podcast highlighting the emotional impact of birth, the immediate postpartum period, and the years beyond. Hosted by Jordan Monir, a postpartum doula and Sophie Holliday, a perinatal mental health therapist.
Jordan and Sophie aim to provide a platform for those who have experienced or supported childbirth in sharing their unique story. Both fierce advocates of mental health and community support, Jordan and Sophie attempt to reduce the stigma of openly discussing the challenges (and joys!) experienced in pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Join us as we chat with a range of guests - from regular folks to birth workers - to explore the magic of healing through storytelling!
Episodes
31 episodes
Little Journey Towards Each Other | Abby, Part 2
In this heartfelt continuation of Abby’s story, Jordan and Sophie sit down with Abby to explore her second pregnancy and birth experience. Abby opens up about navigating a series of unexpected challenges, including a velamentous cord insertion,...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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53:05
You're in the Right Place, You Can Let the Baby Out Now | Abby, Part 1
Join us in Part 1 of our conversation with Abby, where she candidly shares her whirlwind of a birth story for her first birth. Abby walks us through the highs and lows of her labor and beyond. With humor and vulnerability, she reflects on the c...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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44:31
The Grief Helps Me Remember Her | Samantha, Part 2
Picking up where the previous episode left off, Samantha shares the outcome of her high-risk fetal surgery. While the medical intervention was necessary, the results were devastating—one of her twins sadly did not survive.She opens up ab...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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58:26
This is Life or Death, Literally | Samantha Part 1
In this episode, Samantha Leusink shares her first pregnancy and birth story, describing a smooth and empowering experience at a local Portland birth center. She reflects on postpartum struggles, breastfeeding challenges, and the transition int...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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48:31
Is It Okay if My Husband Vacuums? | Maxine
In this heartwarming episode, Sophie's Grandma, Maxine, shares her birth stories spanning from the 1960s to the 1970s. She reflects on her experiences with minimal pain management, evolving gender roles in parenting, and the emotional complexit...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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37:05
Castor Oil Ice Cream & Placenta Smoothies | Britnee, Part 2
Britnee Spring returns to recount the dramatic, vivid, and often hilarious story of her labor and birth experience—including extreme back labor and unique birthing positions. She also reflects on postpartum recovery, hormone shifts, and the joy...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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44:18
A Male Midwife | Britnee, Part 1
In this episode, Britnee Spring shares her pregnancy journey, from her unexpected conception to managing relentless nausea and navigating workplace accommodation challenges. She reveals her thoughtful decision to have a home birth with a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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29:00
Celebrating one year of Bearing Birth!
In today’s episode, your hosts Jordan and Sophie reflect on one year of their birth story podcast being live! They ask each other questions including what the podcast has meant to them and how they have grown as birth story listeners and podcas...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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36:44
In denial about preeclampsia | Sophie, Part 2
Join us for Part 2 with our very own Sophie! If you missed the first half of Sophie’s birth story on November 6th, make sure to go back and listen there first. In this episode, Sophie walks us through the rest of her challenging birth experienc...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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59:44
I knew too much | Sophie, Part 1
Join us for a very special episode today…our very own Sophie gets vulnerable and shares her birth story! In part 1, Sophie talks with Jordan about her experience with pregnancy and what it was like navigating scary and abrupt changes to her bir...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:08:32
Our Partnership is the Centerpiece | Rashida, Part 2
In this episode of Bearing Birth, we continue our conversation with Rashida Quinn, the Program Director of the Alliance of Black Nurses Association of Oregon and host of two powerful podcasts, Black Care Matters and Dark Matters. Rashida, a for...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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34:13
Pregnancy is a Struggly Sweet Thing | Rashida, Part 1
Join us in Part 1 of our conversation with Rashida Quinn, where we dive into her two pregnancies and birth stories of her daughters. Rashida is the program director of the Alliance of Black Nurses Association of Oregon, also known as ABNAO. Ras...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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46:41
From Water Boy to Diaper Guy | Ryan, Part 2
We are back with Part 2 of a conversation we had with Ryan; a first-time dad to a one-year old daughter. Ryan is also the husband of our previous guest Cailley (Season 1, Episodes 5 & 6). In this episode, we talk with Ryan about his perspec...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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1:04:46
I'm a Water Boy! | Ryan, Part 1
Join us in a conversation with Ryan, the husband of our previous guest, Cailley (Season 1, Episodes 5 & 6). This is our first episode with a non-birthing partner sharing their experience and perspective on birth, and we absolutely loved hea...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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26:34
I cannot believe I made you! | Janelle, Part 2
Join us in a conversation with Janelle Grizzard, a mother and the new owner of Luna Wellness, a Portland based clinic focused on women’s perinatal physical health and wellness. If you missed part 1, make sure you go back and listen to that epis...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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36:28
I went into a place where nobody else mattered | Janelle, Part 1
Join us in a conversation with Janelle Grizzard, mother and the new owner of Luna Wellness, a Portland based clinic focused on women’s perinatal physical health and wellness. Janelle shares how a passion for helping mothers as a massage thera...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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58:53
Is this science or a game of telephone?
Join us as we chat with BreaRose Smith, friend of Jordan and Sasha. Brea is a yoga instructor and energy healer based in San Diego.Brea reflects on giving birth one year ago and how rapid everything changes and transitions both for her ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:17:36
I didn't get cancer the entire ordeal!
In this episode we chat with Anna, a breast cancer survivor and new mother. Anna walks us through the challenges of breast cancer treatment, being told she couldn’t have children because of her cancer, and the chapter of her story that st...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:39:40
Babies Are My Jam
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Emily Knell Spaeth, founder of Be Well Baby PDX, a Portland-based practice providing holistic prenatal and infant care services. Emily is a neonatal and perinatal physical therapist, yoga instructor, massage th...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:25:44
I did feel like a badass
In this episode, we chat with Sophie’s next door neighbor‘s, Garrett and Jules, in part 2 of a 2-part series called Before and After Birth. This is our second Before/After series, and our first episodes with a couple on the podcast! In t...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:23:28
Whipped Cream on Watermelon
Join us as we chat with Sophie’s next door neighbor’s, Garrett and Jules, in part 1 of a 2-part series called Before and After Birth. This is our second Before/After series, and our first episodes with a couple on the podcast! In this ep...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:12:47
Breaking Generational Cycles
In this episode, we talk with Sophie’s former colleague and dear friend Edith, who shares her three birth experiences (two living, and one miscarriage). She also goes into detail about what it’s like to be a parent and how that compares to how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:45:47
Birth Story Processing - What is it?
Step into the transformative world of birth story processing with Libby Mukhi, PMH-C, who returns as our esteemed guest for the second episode in a row. Libby shares her insights into the profound impact of birth story processing and the art of...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:05:35
I went to war with my hormones
In this compelling and insightful episode, we chat with Libby Mukhi, PMH-C, a postpartum doula, birth story listener, and mother of two. Libby reflects on her challenging experiences with pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.Living abroa...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:32:23