Ep 295: Creating Emotional Safety in Birth: A Home Birth Story with Lessons for All

Birth With Power

Dr. Nicole C. Rankins

Parenting, Kids & Family

4.9 • 637 Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This episode is a first for the podcast: I’m sharing a home birth story. While I primarily focus on hospital births, I wanted to learn more and see what we might take away from this experience to make hospital births better.

Lauren joins me to share her beautiful, deeply thoughtful journey into birthing from home after having her first baby in a hospital. This wasn’t a choice she made lightly - she did her research, worked with a trained provider, and had a backup plan in place. What she found was a level of trust, respect, and personalized care that’s worth talking about. Even if home birth isn’t on your radar, this story offers powerful lessons that anyone preparing for birth can take to heart.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

Why Lauren chose home birth for her second delivery
How she weighed the risks and benefits of hospital vs home birth
Who made up her support team
How she prepared for the possibility of a hospital transfer
What changed when Lauren labored in a space that was hers
Which position she gave birth in
What it was like to rest in her own bed right after birth
How the birth certificate and paperwork were handled

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode295

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is a first for the podcast. I am sharing a homebirth story. While home birth isn't
0:07.1	my lane, I primarily focus on hospital birth. I wanted to learn more and see what we might take away
0:13.7	from the home birth experience to help make hospital births better. Lauren Bafgate joins me to
0:19.7	share her beautiful, deeply thoughtful journey into
0:22.6	home birth after having a hospital birth for her first. She didn't make the choice lightly.
0:27.3	She did a research, worked with a trained professional, and had a backup plan in place.
0:32.4	What she found was a level of trust, respect, and personalized care that is worth talking about.
0:39.4	Even if homebirth isn't on your radar, this story offers powerful lessons we can bring
0:45.2	into the hospital setting.
0:51.6	Welcome to the Birth with Power podcast where knowledge is power and power transforms birth.
0:59.2	I'm Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankin's mom of two and practicing board certified OBGYN with over 20 years
1:05.1	of experience and nearly 2,000 births attended. I've seen firsthand how the hospital system can leave women feeling
1:12.5	unheard and uncertain, but that doesn't have to be your story. Here, you'll get the knowledge,
1:18.2	support, and strategies to take charge of your birth experience so you can walk into the hospital
1:23.6	feeling calm, confident, and empowered. Note, this podcast is for educational purposes only and it's not a substitute for medical advice.
1:32.7	See the full disclaimer at Dr. Nicolemeringens.com forward slash disclaimer.
1:36.8	Now let's get to it.
1:40.7	Hey, if you're not getting the birth with power brief in your inbox each week, you are missing out.
1:49.7	It's my free newsletter with trusted tips, mindset shifts, and birth prep strategies to help you feel calm and confident without doom scrolling for answers. Go to Dr. Nicole Rankins.com
2:04.0	forward slash email and get on the list. Hello there. Welcome to another episode of the podcast.
2:12.7	This is episode number 295, whether this is your first time listening or you have been here before.
2:19.7	I am so glad you're spending some time with me today.
	...

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