Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast

Merelise Wilson

Enfants & Parentalité

Fréquence : 1 épisode/7j. Total Éps: 38

Is there anything more magical than a new life arriving into this world? Every single person, no matter who they are, begins their life here the same way - with someone giving birth to them.

It's no wonder we love birth stories - birth is an amazing feat. And beyond the wonder of it all, birth stories have served an important role in history, helping to educate and support women as they embark on their own births.

At some point though, birth started being portrayed to us mostly one way - painful, hard, scary. Birth can be those things but it can be so much more, too. Birth can be peaceful, joyful, natural, surgical, triumphant, empowering, and even funny.

Every birth story is as unique as the life that comes into this world as a result. This podcast celebrates and makes room for each and every one of those stories.

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Intro music by Lewis Beard

Disclaimer: This podcast provides general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

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https://www.milescircuit.com/
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A home birth VBAC, a midwife mama, community birth, and opening a birth center

jeudi 30 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:36:25

This week, Merelise is joined by mom, grandma, midwife, doula, lactation consultant, and co founder/owner of Kindred Space Birthing Center. A mom of six and an infinite well of birth wisdom, Kimberly walks Merelise through each of her birth stories, ranging from a C section (her first child) to a home birth VBAC.

She explains how her first experience with birth led to her desire to have physiological home births for her subsequent kids and eventually her passion for midwifery. They discuss Kimberly’s incredible career and her journey to her current role as midwife and co-owner/founder of Kindred Space.

Kimberly explains Kindred Space’s philosophy of community birth, emphasizes on how important it is for women to not let our type of birth divide us, and reflects on her amazing variety of different birth experiences across all six of her kids.

Resource Links:

This episode is brought to you by Mère. Learn more at Mere-foreverychapter.com

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Lire plusRéduire

Part II: A dreamy home birth, an AirBnB birth, Isoimmunization, and posterior baby challenges

Épisode 36

vendredi 24 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:03:11

In the conclusion of this two-part episode, Merelise is joined by mom, actress, podcast host and founder, Teresa Palmer, who shares her fourth and fifth birth stories.

Teresa recounts her surprisingly difficult fourth birth at home and what she learned from it. They discuss Teresa's favorite labor coping mechanisms, including one unexpected but very effective tool. Teresa also shares that, due to her rare Isoimmunization condition in pregnancy, she decided to pursue IVF but then became unexpectedly pregnant naturally with her fifth baby. After a rocky start to labor, her fifth birth was the most gorgeous, dreamy, calm, spiritual home birth experience, surrounded by her family and birth team.

Teresa's stories are a beautiful example that every birth is different and you can learn something from every one, even your fifth.

Resource Links:

This episode is brought to you by Mère. Learn more at Mere-foreverychapter.com

Replay: An emergency C-section, a miraculous birth, maternal mental health, and naming babies

Épisode 28

lundi 1 juin 2026 • Durée 37:11

This week, Merelise is joined by model and mom, Baskin Champion McFarland, who shares the miraculous story of her son’s birth via emergency C-section.

Baskin talks about the life-changing moment she decided to trust her intuition and go to the hospital when she felt like her baby had stopped moving in utero, the extremely fast decision to perform an emergency C-section (her husband almost didn’t make it!), and the miracle of her son’s birth.

They also discuss the dense cloud that is postpartum depression, intrusive thoughts, the healing power of Zoloft, the importance of a supportive community postpartum, choosing unique baby names, and so much more.

This is a beautiful, transparent conversation that you don't want to miss!

Resource Links:

Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here!

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

Follow Merelise on Instagram

A breech baby, a crash C-section, fourth trimester guilt, and finding your village

Épisode 27

jeudi 21 mai 2026 • Durée 01:07:47

Merelise is joined this week by Shannon Howell for a conversation on all "the things they don't tell you" about birth, seasons of life, fourth trimester guilt, and so much more.

Shannon’s first birth story began unexpectedly when she went into labor at 35 weeks while staying at an Airbnb as her husband was out with friends. After the initial disbelief that her water had actually broken that early, the two made their way to the hospital, where she went on to have a smooth vaginal delivery.

But for Shannon, the harder part came after her son was born. She opens up about the guilt and disappointment she felt when she wasn’t instantly overwhelmed with love the moment he was placed on her chest. A kind stranger later offered her a perspective that stayed with her: you don’t have to love every season of parenthood equally. Some stages are harder than others, and everyone has a different favorite season.

During her second pregnancy, Shannon’s daughter remained breech the entire time. After trying every possible method to encourage her to turn, Shannon reluctantly scheduled an ECV — but before the procedure could happen, she unexpectedly went into labor again at 34 weeks.

What followed was a terrifying experience. Shannon and her husband rushed to the hospital as her labor progressed rapidly, but despite repeatedly telling staff that the baby was breech, she was left laboring for over an hour without meaningful attention or care. When she finally begged a nurse to check her, they discovered her daughter’s feet were already emerging. Shannon was rushed into an emergency crash C-section and placed under anesthesia so her daughter could be delivered safely.

In the aftermath of her daughter’s birth, Shannon faced both physical and emotional challenges as she worked through the trauma of the experience. In this episode, she shares what healing has looked like for her and the ways she’s learned to move forward.

Navigating deep grief with a newborn, a 52 hour induction, and finding love again after loss

Épisode 26

jeudi 14 mai 2026 • Durée 01:30:10

This episode is a candid, deeply emotional look into the realities of motherhood, trauma, and hope. Listener discretion advised for sensitive content involving grief and loss of a spouse.

In this episode of the Arrivals podcast, Merelise is joined by Julie Moran, aka Spilled Milk Mamma, who shares her perspective on the profound experiences of birth, motherhood and unthinkable loss. Julie tells Merelise about her emotional journey through multiple pregnancies, the unexpected loss of her husband shortly after the birth of their second child, and the unique challenges of each of her three kids’ births.

During Julie’s first pregnancy she opted for an induction that resulted in a 52 hour labor before finally meeting her daughter. After more than two days of laboring, they discovered she had scar tissue from a previous IUD that was blocking her cervix from dilating and causing her labor to uniquely stall with full contractions but no dilation.

Fast forward 21 months after her daughter was born and Julie found herself back in the delivery room preparing to give birth to her son. After a beautiful and straightforward birth, Julie truly felt like she had everything she ever wanted in the world.

Tragically, just three weeks later, her world was turned upside when her husband died in a car accident. The next two years were spent in a haze of grief, while she attempted to navigate becoming a widow and single mom of two.

But Julie’s story has a happy ending - a few years after her husband passed away, a man came into her and her kids’ lives that would bring security, happiness, strength and so much more to their family, including a third baby and birth experience for Julie.

Throughout this episode, Julie and Merelise discuss the unique and isolating experience of becoming a parent during COVID, post-eclampsia, the importance of feeling the sun on your face every day, deep grief, finding love after loss, supporting children who are grieving, signs from the other side, and so much more. Their conversation delves into the complexities of grief, resilience, and the healing power of community and new beginnings.

Two birth center births, precipitous labor, and optimizing your birth experience

Épisode 25

jeudi 7 mai 2026 • Durée 46:10

This week, Merelise is joined by Kait Swafford, who shares her two amazing birth experiences at the Atlanta Birth Center.

From the moment she became pregnant with her first, Kait knew she wanted a low intervention birth outside of a traditional hospital environment. When she heard about the option of the Atlanta Birth Center, she felt like it was the perfect “in between” solution for someone who wasn’t sure about home birth but didn’t want to be in a hospital for her birth.

After being sent home at the start of her first birth, labor symptoms, including frequent vomiting, ramped up quickly. They decided to make the drive back to the birth center, where she settled in to labor with her husband as her doula. Two and a half long hours of pushing later, her first daughter was born.

With her second, it was an easy decision for her to plan on delivering at the Birth Center again, and after a long first labor, she assumed it would be similar with her second. But of course, things rarely go as expected with birth! After an extremely precipitous labor and barely making it to the Birth Center, her second daughter was born after a few quick pushes.

Resource Links:

Learn more about Atlanta Birth Center
Learn more about the Bradley Method
Learn more about the Miles Circuit

Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here!

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

A bicornuate uterus, uterine irritability, and navigating pregnancy after fetal loss

Épisode 24

jeudi 30 avril 2026 • Durée 01:32:23

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of fetal loss and miscarriage.

Merelise’s guest this week is Carolyn Donaldson, who shares her experience with a rare condition called a bicornuate uterus. In this heartbreaking but also hope-filled episode, Merelise and Carolyn dive deep into pregnancy trauma, loss, and PTSD, but also the incredible ability of a mother’s heart to heal and hold onto hope. If you’re navigating loss and wondering what’s next, or maybe even looking for a sign that everything will be ok, this episode is for you.

Prior to her first child’s birth, Carolyn had no idea that she had a very unique congenital abnormality, called a bicornuate uterus. Complications from her unknown condition led to a very difficult pregnancy and early delivery via C-section, during which her unique uterus was discovered. Thankfully, even though her son was born at 34 weeks, he was very healthy, and Carolyn and her doctor didn’t have too many concerns about what her condition would mean for any subsequent pregnancies.

Devastatingly, her second and third pregnancies resulted in losses. During her third pregnancy, they were shocked to find out at 20 weeks that her son had passed in the womb and needed to be immediately delivered. Carolyn then went through the unthinkable experience of birthing her son, knowing she wouldn’t be bringing him home.

They ultimately discovered that her son’s placenta was implanted on the “septum” of her bicornuate uterus, which contains tissue that isn’t conducive to a healthy pregnancy. Blessedly, they were able to correct the septum in her uterus via surgery to avoid the same complication in future pregnancies.

Her fourth pregnancy was physically uneventful but marked by PTSD and extreme mental exhaustion. She delivered a healthy baby girl via C-section at 38 weeks and thought she was “done”...until she wasn’t!

Her fifth pregnancy was a beautifully redemptive experience, free from so much of the physical and mental pain she experienced in her prior pregnancies, and her second daughter was delivered peacefully via planned C-section at 39 weeks.

A successful VBAC, an Aussie birth perspective, obstructed labor, and episiotomy complications

Épisode 23

jeudi 23 avril 2026 • Durée 01:48:22

This week, Merelise is joined by her friend, fellow podcast host and Australian “twin”, Clare Hambridge. Clare shares the birth stories of her son and daughter and in particular, how her experience as an emergency nurse really colored her perspective on pregnancy and birth.

During Clare’s first birth she experienced cervical swelling likely due to her baby being in a “stargazer” position. This swelling resulted in an obstructed labor diagnosis and ultimately led to a decision to move to a C-section. Even though a C-section wasn’t what she hoped for, Clare had the foresight to prepare her C-section preferences just in case, and that prep resulted in her still being able to have a peaceful and personalized birth experience. When she became pregnant with her second baby, she knew immediately that she wanted to have a VBAC and so she found a provider aligned with her goal and excited to support her vision for her second birth. After a few hiccups, Clare had her beautiful VBAC, thanks to her own advocacy, as well as a supportive and skilled team, dedicated to helping her through the process.

Throughout the episode, Clare weaves in education around the differences in the Australian midwifery-led model vs the US obstetric-led model of birth. They also chat about fainting husbands, posterior babies, hypo-birthing, intrusive thoughts, perineal massage, big baby worries, and so much more. This episode is PACKED full of so much birthing-goodness!

Resource Links:

Follow Love Patty Podcast on Instagram
Learn more about Hypnobirthing

Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here!

Finding purpose after tragedy and the fight to end the maternal mortality crisis

Épisode 22

jeudi 16 avril 2026 • Durée 01:09:08

This week’s episode is a heavy one. But this podcast was created to be a space for every type of birth story: the miraculous, the devastating, and everything in between.

Merelise is joined by the indelible Charles Johnson, dad of two and CEO of 4Kira4Moms. Charles shares with me the beautiful birth stories of his two sons, as well as the tragic story of how his late wife, Kira, lost her life after a routine C-section 10 years ago. As we celebrate Black Maternal Health Week, I could think of no better way to honor and bring awareness to that cause than to share Kira’s story.

I talk a lot about how birth shouldn’t be scary, but the fact of the matter is: the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation. What’s more, Black and Brown women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from birth-related complications.

The equally hopeful and heartbreaking news is that 80% of all maternal deaths are preventable. Thanks to the work of people like Charles and others advocating for change, we know there are tangible things we can do to improve those statistics.

Ending the maternal mortality crisis starts with education. As Charles and Merelise both often say, knowledge is power. Let listening to this episode be your first step into that power. Choose to be informed, not afraid.

Resource Links:

Learn more about 4Kira4Moms
Follow 4Kira4Moms on Instagram
Follow Charles on Instagram
Learn more about the Momnibus act

Replay: Gestational diabetes, precipitous labor and the power of saying no

Épisode 21

jeudi 9 avril 2026 • Durée 01:00:12

Join Merelise and her guest, Alexi, this week, as they discuss Alexi’s three vaginal births in the hospital.

This episode has it all - one birth with an epidural and two without, two known genders and one surprise, two babies with gestational diabetes and one without…the list goes on and on for Alexi’s three very different births!

They also discuss the choice to decline medical advice when you feel it won’t benefit you or your baby, pushing when you’re ready vs when someone tells you to, how anxiety is the enemy of labor, when sometimes you just need your own mom when you’re having a baby, funny moments brought to you by Costco faux-Uggs, Heaven-sent midwives and nurses, a baby Swiftie, and so much more.

This episode has laughter, tears and everything in between - just like birth!

Content warning: this episode briefly discusses miscarriage.

Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here!

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

Follow Merelise on Instagram

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