Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast

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. Follow Arrivals on Instagram</b

Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast is a kids podcast hosted by Merelise Wilson, with 47 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Merelise Wilson hosts Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast, a kids show with 47 episodes published.

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  Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast

  A midwife doula, a C-section, the UK midwifery model of care, and protecting birthing women

  Oct 1, 202658 min

  In this episode, Merelise is joined by Charmaine McNeil, a UK-trained midwife and doula, now practicing in the US. Charmaine shares her daughter’s C-section birth story before pivoting to insights on birth practices, healthcare systems, and the importance of informed choices in maternity care. She discusses her unique background, the differences between UK and US maternity care, and the critical role of doulas in advocating for women. They also chat a little bit about Merelise’s second birth, as Charmaine was her doula for it! Resource Links: Learn more about Charmaine - Pinkyinc Doula Follow Charmaine on Instagram The Body Myth by Milli Hill 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.

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  Episode #46

  A birth center birth, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a retroverted uterus, and a bifurcated placenta

  Sep 24, 20261h 34m

  Trigger warning: this episode contains brief discussion of pregnancy loss. This week, Merelise is joined by her friend Dr. Charlie Watts, mom, doula and pelvic floor occupational therapist. They discuss Charlie’s winding path to birth work and how the experience of birthing her son has changed both her doula and occupational floor practice. Charlie talks Merelise through her difficult pregnancy, where she was first misdiagnosed with a velamentous cord insertion, then discovered she had a connective tissue disorder and was eventually diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome postpartum. She shares the unique challenges that people with connective tissue disorders face in pregnancy and postpartum and what they can do to prepare their bodies for an optimal birth and postpartum recovery. Charlie reflects on the birth of her son, Judah - a long but beautiful experience, starting with 66 hours of labor at home and culminating in a water birth at The Atlanta Birth Center. However, soon after giving birth to a 9 lb 4 oz baby boy, Charlie’s bliss was interrupted when she began hemorrhaging, possibly due in part to her unexpected bifurcated placenta. The team at the birth center handled everything quickly and got her bleeding under control in time for her to still enjoy a beautiful golden hour with her son and husband. Throughout the episode, they also discuss fertility, pregnancy loss, the value doulas bring, how your partner can support you in pregnancy and birth, Charlie's retroverted uterus, her misdiagnosis that almost led to a scheduled C-section, the importance of strength training, and so much more. Charlie’s pregnancy and birth story is a wonderful testament to the power of midwifery, informed pregnancy, and advocating for yourself. Resource Links: Follow Charlie on Instagram Learn more about Charlie’s Occupational Therapy Practice 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.

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  Episode #43

  The Positive Birth Movement, a 10 pound baby born at home, water births, and the matriflux

  Sep 10, 20261h 15m

  Merelise is joined this week by Milli Hill, mother, author and founder of The Positive Birth Movement. Milli shares how her birth experiences were inextricably woven with her journey towards founding the Positive Birth Movement and becoming a celebrated author. She explains that after she was induced and her first child was born via forceps and with an episiotomy in hospital, she decided to have home water births for her second and third children. She reflects on how both of those births, supported entirely by midwives, were peaceful, joyful experiences, full of small magical moments. She also recalls the moment she birthed her second daughter at home and found out she was 10 pounds 4 oz, and how thankful she was that no one had “caught” her potentially large baby prior to her birth, or she may not have had the beautiful home birth she did. Throughout the conversation, Milli and Merelise discuss the impact of birth stories and the media’s portrayal of birth on women’s perception of birth, the role of environment and support in birth, the importance of inclusivity in the dialogue around birth, hypnobirthing, and so much more. They conclude the conversation by talking about Milli’s latest book, The Body Myth, which is all about the female body through the entirety of its life. Milli explains matriflux, the word she has created to describe all the transformations and versions of ourselves that we experience as women. They discuss the difficulty of living in a world that was created by people without a matriflux, but also how, due to our matriflux, women are naturally more adaptable and comfortable with change. The conclude on the importance of understanding the different phases of our bodies, our menstrual cycles and all the power we contain as women. Resource Links: Follow Milli on Instagram The Positive Birth Book The Body Myth More books by Milli The Positive Birth Movement 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.

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  Episode #42

  Two hospital births, welcoming the unknown, escaping the Woolsey fire postpartum, and accepting help

  Sep 4, 202659 min

  This week, Merelise is joined by her friend, photographer and director, Kathryn Brolin. Kathryn reflects on her experience giving birth to her two girls and all of the imperfect but beautiful moments of motherhood. Both of Kathryn’s girls were born in a hospital, one in LA and one in Atlanta. She highlights the amazing care she received from both of her OBGYNs and how during both of her labors, she got an epidural so she could rest, but then eased off of it when it was getting close to pushing time, so she could feel her contractions and connect with her body more. They spend time reflecting on all the challenges that postpartum brings and for Kathryn, the particularly difficult experience of having to evacuate their home in Santa Monica due to the Woolsey fire, when she was 3 days postpartum with her first. Kathryn also talks about the beautifully unique experience of having older stepchildren, how she chose her daughters’ names, her gratitude for her husband’s playful and adventurous spirit, and why accepting help from your village is SO important. Resource Links: Follow Kathryn on Instagram Dr. Bickman (OBGYN in Santa Monica) Carson Meyer (Doula) Nanny Connie Dr. Vanoyan (OBGYN in Atlanta) 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.

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  Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast

  Unmedicated hospital birth, grief during pregnancy, firing a doula, and the fetal ejection reflex

  Aug 27, 20261h 12m

  In this week’s episode, Merelise invites her husband, Chris Wilson, back into the spotlight to share their experiences surrounding the birth of their second son, Ford, who was born in a low-intervention hospital setting, with no epidural. The conversation unfolds with warmth, humor, and poignancy as they reflect on the unique journey of parenthood and the bittersweet aspect of new beginnings being entwined with a season of loss. Merelise shares how there were two milestones that really defined her pregnancy - their decision to get a puppy and her father passing away when she was 20 weeks pregnant. She talks about how managing grief during pregnancy took a toll on her but also, that being pregnant and then having a newborn also was a welcome distraction. They also discuss the ways they honored her dad and how he’s still present in their lives. They also discuss their decision to fire their original doula and hire a new one with only about 2 months left in her pregnancy and why that was the best decision they could have made. When it comes to the birth of her son, Merelise recalls her water breaking a week after her son’s due date, some medical hiccups that occurred early in labor, struggling to cope with her contractions, mother-led pushing, experiencing the fetal ejection reflex, and the very quick pushing phase she had. Throughout the episode, Merelise and Chris reflect on the God-winks they received, the important role their doulas played in pregnancy, birth and postpartum, what they learned from their first to second birth, and how Resource Links: Charmaine McNeil (doula) Penny Gilchrist (postpartum doula) 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.

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